Relma awoke and wished she hadn't as the light entered her eyes.

Her head felt like bells had been ringing inside it like a temple during mass. Her tongue felt like lead on the base of throat. Her body ached all over, especially where Ajax had kicked her. Just moving an inch was painful. Little by little, she pulled herself up and found that the sky above was turning to twilight. There was a campfire where the last of the firewood was burning.

Ronald was cooking stew on it, stirring a ladle in one of his pots. He looked oddly content while he did it and looked up. When he saw her, he put down the ladle and hurried over with obvious relief. At least somebody cared. "Relma, you're awake. Thank Barden."

"Unfortunately," said Relma with a wince. Note to self: It was not possible to become a master swordsman over a few weeks. Picking a fight with Ajax had been a bad idea. "What happened?"

"You healed my wounds," said Ronald, raising a bandaged arm. "Well, some of them. All my bones are fine, but I've got a bunch of scratches."

"What happened with Ajax and Ergath?" asked Relma.

"I don't know," admitted Ronald. "They slipped off a ravine, still fighting. They might still be fighting. Estela followed them to watch the fight.

"What now? We have Lightning Trail."

Relma looked down at the shining blade by her side. It lay there, naked, gleaming, and very beautiful in the light. It really was the most magnificent thing she'd ever seen. No wonder Zeya had thought it worthy of Anoa the Bright. "Well, I guess we head back home. I'd love to see the look on Pandora's face when she finds out that I've gotten Lightning Trail-"

And then a white owl descended and took on the form of Aunt Pan. Her hair blew around her as she threw back her black cloak. Her eyes were alight with fire. "Relma Artorious!" "

Relma smirked and raised Lightning Trail. She called this a victory; there was no possibility of being just another link in the chain now. "Aunt Pan. Look upon my achievements and despair."

Aunt Pan froze in place, eyes wide. "I... you... you drew... why would..." She stalked forward and snatched the blade out of her hand. "You stupid girl! You run off into the middle of the wilderness, into enemy territory! You drag me away from the battle line! And now you, you derail centuries of work for pure spite!"

"Mmmmhmmm," said Relma, smile widening.

Just as planned. Relma had already surpassed Hadleim by this alone. No matter how many battles he won, he'd never gotten Lightning Trail in hand.

"Stop smiling! Do you have any idea what you've done?!" roared Pandora.

"Screwed up your plans for me," said Relma. "And Elranor gave me permission to wield it, so there."

Pandora shook visibly, clenching a fist. Then she breathed and looked to the lands below. "... We'll discuss this later. We're going back to the battle line at once. There is bound to be a war soon, and I have to be there. "Where is Estela? Or have you gotten her killed?"

"She went to watch a battle between a giant and a werewolf-" began Ronald.

And then Estela staggered out of the darkness, carrying Ajax over one shoulder. "Man wolf. And the giant won." She threw him down.

"Ajax," said Ronald. "Why did you bring him back here?"

"He was beaten into unconsciousness," said Estela. "Ergath limped off into the mountains after that. I think he was afraid I'd finish him off. Relma, can you heal him?"

"Heal him?" asked Pandora. "Relma doesn't possess..." She froze and looked at Relma. "So you did meet with Elranor. What is he thinking?

"No matter. Ronald, do you have any rope left?"

"Yes, actually," said Ronald. "I bought an extra set of it."

"Good," said Pan. "Get it out. Telix's favorite son will make an excellent hostage. Once we've gotten back to the village, we'll discuss your adventure."

"What about the girls Telix seized and made into his slaves?" asked Relma. "Do you think maybe we could get them returned?"

"Possibly," said Pandora. "However, that would likely require an exchange. Our primary goal is to avert the war." She set her hands on Ajax and closed her eyes. The numerous wounds on him faded away, leaving only the bloodstains. "Now, help me tie him up."

Pandora only tied his arms to his waist, and Relma thought it was meager. Pandora looked to Relma. "He was hit with several powerful spells. It took a great deal of work to fix. Do you know how this happened?"

"We met an ogre sorcerer named Ergath," said Estela. "He helped us slip under your view and got us here."

"You worked with an ogre?" asked Pandora.

"Well, yes," said Relma. "He was actually very nice."

"He planned to eat us, Relma," said Estela.

"Yes, but he didn't," said Relma, failing to see her problem. "Anyway, after Ajax attacked us, I convinced him to go after Ergath, and they fought. Then I healed Ronald and fell unconscious."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What were you thinking, Relma?" asked Pandora. "You are lucky this Ergath did not eat you alive?"

"I don't think luck had anything to do with it," said Estela. "She kept her cool and interested him on her own."

"And if she had run into one of the dumb ogres?" asked Pandora. "The ones that live to eat?"

"Well, I guess I'd have to kill it," said Estela. "Anyway, I'm more worried about what we'll do when we get to Gel Carn.

"Relma will probably have to swear off any claim to the Kingdom."

"She will do no such thing," said Pandora.

Estela shrugged. "Then, I suppose she'll have her throat cut in the night."

"The Steward wouldn't do something like-" began Relma.

Estela howled with laughter.

"As if I would allow that," said Pandora.

Estela stopped and gave her a look. A severe one. "Who died and made you King of Harlenor Reunited, Lady Pandora? Relma has no support. Only a bloodline that hasn't been in power for over a thousand years. The three kingdoms aren't going to unite just because you tell them to.

"Hell, the Vortegex's sure aren't going to. No offense."

"None was taken," nodded Relma. "I'd be pretty skeptical, too."

"I never said she would be King," said Pandora, raising the sword. "I should put this back. But if I tried, Elranor would probably refuse it." She sighed. "We've still got to deal with Telix. We have a hostage.

"Do you think we can get him it to make Telix go away?" asked Ronald.

"That'll never work," said Estela. "Ajax might be the favorite, but Telix has other children. He isn't going to give up everything he's won for one child."

"Even so," said Pandora, "we'll be able to get some concessions."

"Sounds good to me," said Estela. "That's how we Vortegex's do things. Take a little at a time until your enemy has nothing, and it is too late to stop us."

"The wolf demon is waking up," said Pandora.

Ajax awoke. Instantly, he had thrown himself onto his feet and surged at Pandora with bared fangs. The rope broke around him, and his claws were bared. Even as he did, she raised a hand, and he collapsed to one knee.

"What is..." he gasped.

"Stay where you are, cur," said Pandora. "My will is upon you. It is within my power to end your life with a thought. Now stand and follow us."

"What... get... get out of my... head..." hissed Ajax.

"You will follow us," said Pandora. "And if you turn away, it will be the worst for you."

Ajax turned and seemed to be striving against invisible chains. He snarled and growled like a cornered wolf ." Never..."

Then he collapsed to the ground. Then, a moment later, he arose, his eyes empty and his posture strange and relaxed.

Pandora breathed out. "He is strong-willed. Come Relma. We need not fear him escaping."

"Was that necessary?" asked Ronald. "That was a good rope."

"I had hoped it would hold him," admitted Pandora. "Demons vary in power a great deal. Even the ones who come from the same parents. This one is obviously a potent variety.

"I'm sorry about the rope, Ronald. When we return, I'll see if I can get you a replacement."

"It held his sister," noted Estela.

"No doubt, that is why Ajax is his favorite," noted Pandora. "Demons value power above all else. They have differing views on how to get it and what exactly power is. Now, we must stop fussing.

"We must go now. Before Adrian Wrynncurth catches us here. He does not always keep his gaze this high but may have noticed the fighting."

"Yes, Aunt Pan," said Relma.

The journey back down the mountain was fast. Far too fast to be natural. The ground seemed to shift beneath them. It sped their progress as they went faster and faster down. It was a little disorienting, and Relma began feeling sick.

Ajax walked behind them, eyes empty and hands by his side. As if he were an empty shell. "What is going on, Aunt Pan?" she asked.

"I have friendships with the spirits of this mountain," said Pan. "I have asked them to speed up our progress. This is the kind of thing you will have to learn if you hope to use that sword."

"I thought you didn't want me using the sword," said Relma.

"I don't," said Pandora. "But Elranor has changed the plan as usual.

"This happens every time. First, we have everything laid out. Then he pulls the rug out from under us, and Father and I have to spend the next two hundred years compensating for it."

"Father always told my brother that no plan can survive its own first step," said Estela. "So, you always have to be ready to shift."

"Your father understands much," said Pandora. "But the purpose of a plan is to achieve an objective. So, the first step is figuring out what you are trying to achieve.

"In this case, we are trying to achieve Harlenor Reunited."

"What was the original plan?" asked Relma.

"Steward Benarus has no direct heirs," said Pandora. "And since he is sterile, he will not have any. The one who will succeed him is a niece he despises. I hope your son or daughter will be brought up within Gel Carn and adopted by him.

"When they eventually ascended to become Steward, his true lineage would be revealed. This would leave them in possession of a kingdom."

"Now hang on," said Estela, "Gel Carn is a vassal of Antion."

"I am well aware," said Pandora. "That is why that son would quickly marry a Princess of Antion. This would ensure that King Andoa's line controls their kingdom. It would also cement control over a full third of Harlenor."

"And then things would crash and burn," said Estela.

"What makes you so certain?" asked Relma.

"Look, everyone touts the Harlenor Reunited ideology," said Estela. "But in the end, no one really believes in it. It's just an ideology to justify wars. You might be able to hogtie Antion, but Haldren and Escor wouldn't just join the fold."

"On the contrary," said Pandora, "events are already in motion. In time, Haldren might have become a vassal of Antion. Had things gone perfectly, the only independent state would have been Escor.

"I'm certain we could have negotiated an understanding with your descendants. One which benefited everyone involved."

"How would swearing loyalty to someone who's never even been to Escor help us?" asked Estela.

"Well, if you joined Harlenor Reunited, you would be a recognized royal family. Under the reign of a High King, of course," said Pandora.

"Which meant that if any of the Barons and Lords rebelled, you would have a massive amount of support to rely on.

"I would have done this if you hadn't run off at night and drawn Lightning Trail. What were you thinking, Relma?"

"That I don't want to fade out of history," said Relma. "I want to be someone great. I want to be remembered for all time."

"Being a great player in history isn't as great as you would think," said Pandora. "I've seen good men turned into monsters by the power they wield. I've seen other good men who weren't corrupted break under the strain of reign.

"I never wanted this for you, Relma. I never wanted this for anyone."

"Maybe," said Relma. "But I do."

Her decision was made. Now, she just had to follow through.