It had been quite an adventure, actually. They'd seen Master Garacel in action, even seen him face an equal. A war between ghosts and mortal men had played out before their eyes. But at last, it was over. They were finally going home.

Narcissa was more than glad of the fact as she slid her one-piece leather outfit on. She slipped the straps onto her left shoulder and stretched. She enjoyed the sensation of the soft leather as she slipped on the other.

Wearing a glorified tin can was not fun at all. However, she felt and looked much better like this. Narcissa admired herself in the mirror. Had there ever been a servant of Zigildrazia to look so flawless?

Aside from Alkela, of course. Her blonde hair and perfect complexion were something to be shown freely. Her other excellent features were something that ought to be appropriately foreshadowed. Especially those fabulous breasts and hips...

All the more fitting for Narcissa's twin sister. Who else could compare in looks?

Narcissa drew in a breath as they crossed the border. Even now, she could feel the energy of Zigilus flowing through her as they drew nearer. The sky had already returned to normal. She began tying her hair back into its original ponytail. As she looked at Alkala's reflection in the mirror. Her twin had finished some minutes ago; she always dressed quickly and held her mace.

"Ugh, it feels so good to be out of that armor and back in leather," said Narcissa. "Right, Alkela?"

Alkela moved forward and set a hand on Narcissa's left shoulder. Narcissa met her gaze, and something seemed off about her. Ever since Alkela had seen the Sword of Chaos, she'd seemed odd. There was steel in her eyes that hadn't been there before. Though Narcissa felt somewhat bizarre herself.

They had set foot in a world that did not revolve wholly around Zigildrazia's will. Or even Baltoth's. It had been strange, and somehow Narcissa felt stronger. But, on the other hand, she thought she would not be the same even when she was back in Zigilus. And she wasn't sure she wanted it to be the same.

Narcissa shoved Alkela's hand off her shoulder and walked past. "Come on, let's go see Garacel," said Narcissa. "We'll be getting back to Zigilus in a few hours. The first thing I'm going to do is eat a feast. What do you think?"

Alkela looked at her flatly. Narcissa sighed. "Yeah, right. I know, 'choose a healthy diet or die.'" Alkela suddenly looked up. Her eyes flicked to the door, and she picked up the mace she'd kept. Narcissa looked at her oddly. "What's wrong?"

Alkela made for the door. "Akela, where are you going? And why are you still using that stupid mace? You looked better, making use of hand-to-hand anyway."

Alkela didn't turn back. Narcissa waited a moment. Then she sighed, snatched up her axe, and propped it over one shoulder. She followed her sister out of the room and into the halls. As they walked, Narcissa guessed she thought someone was on board. She moved toward her and grabbed Alkela by the shoulder. "Okay, seriously. Nobody is going to be able to stow away on this. Master Garacel would never miss them.

"Let's head to the bridge."

Alkela looked at her and finally nodded. So they went off. As they did, they noticed that several of the patrols had been there before had been removed. Was someone slacking off? Or had Grakus found some other task for them?

Personally, Narcissa didn't see the need. They were miles in the air. Who was going to attack them up here? She'd heard that dragons flew in the fast western regions of the world. But the golden dragons of these lands crawled on eight legs. Even if they had wings, their armor was too heavy to take flight.

They turned a corner, and at last, they reached the bridge. The guards saluted and opened the way for them, and they walked through. The bridge was an area of many magical displays that showed information. A three-dimensional map of light was coming from a table in the center. Garacel and Grakus were there, looking at it. They seemed to discuss something, but Narcissa couldn't explain.

As they approached, Garacel looked up. His arms were crossed, and the eyeholes of his helm glowed in satisfaction. "Ah, Narcissa, Akel, I'm glad you arrived. We'll be arriving shortly. But, for now, we have things to discuss."

"What sort of things?" asked Narcissa.

"I've been in communication with Her Radiance. She is pleased with your conduct," said Garacel. "Both of you are to meet with her once we arrive. I recommend you prepare yourselves. Depending on how she presents herself, she can be overwhelming to look at."

"Right," said Narcissa, not sure of herself. "That's a great honor. I'm honored."

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

"I have also received word regarding Zarana," said Garacel. "She is to be afforded a trial shortly after you arrive."

Narcissa shifted. She didn't want to think about Zarana right now. There was nothing she could do about it anyway. She should change the subject. There had been something she'd been meaning to ask. But how did she say what she needed to say? It had been bugging her for some time. Maybe it had been bugging Alkela as well. A pity she couldn't say anything. "Master Garacel, can I ask you something?"

"You may," said Garacel.

"Why haven't we seized the Blade of Chaos before now?" asked Narcissa. "We could have done it years ago."

"A just question," said Garacel. "The Emperor has, until now, forbidden it. He fears the might of Calisha. But, now that he has turned on us, we have no reason not to seek its power.

"Thus, Zigilus may fulfill its purpose. More importantly, however, the wars on the seal were designed to keep us out. We could pierce them only thanks to some inside help."

"What manner of inside help?" asked Narcissa.

"Dakan has many contacts," said Garacel. "And you do not need to know their names. Leave such matters to me, Narcissa. Concern yourself with your task today and plan for tomorrow only when necessary.

"A man can spend his whole existence making plans and schemes greater than any other. But they will amount to nothing if he does not act on them. Fortunate favors those who act."

"But, of course," said Grakus, "one ought to wait for the right time. The one who rushes in with no plan dies without achieving anything. Though far faster, I expect."

Narcissa looked at Alkela. "You said that Zigilus may fulfill its purpose. What do you mean? Do you mean Zigildrazia founded an entire city on stealing the Blade of Chaos?"

"There were several reasons," said Garacel. "And it was on my recommendation. But that was one of them, yes. We needed a convenient place from which we could seize the sword.

"Her Radiance made that sword, long ago, to Typhos' specifications. Just as Barden forged the Sword of Order for Valinor. Typhos gave the Blade of Chaos to Baltoth so that he could defeat Valinor. But he cast it aside when he took Valinor's domain.

"It has lain where it is for years."

"Why would Baltoth cast aside so powerful a weapon?" asked Narcissa.

"The Blade of Chaos is the antithesis to the domain of Order," said Grakus. He uncrossed his arms and set one hand to his sword. "When Baltoth became the God of Order, it would hurt him to hold it."

"Well then, why not use the Sword of Order instead?" asked Narcissa.

"Baltoth prefers to work through other people," said Garacel. "Although a formidable warrior, he never does anything himself. He cannot achieve nothing through a proxy, at any rate. Thus, he passes the Sword of Order to a worthy warrior whenever the Blade of Chaos is in ascent. It fuels his pride to delegate.

"But that has not been for many ages since the fall of Typhos."

Narcissa paused. She found all this interesting and wanted to know more. "So what are we going to do with the Blade of Chaos? Are we going to use it against the Emperor?"

"We might gain a great victory that way," said Garacel. "But our plans are more... cosmic in nature."

"Our goal is to restore Typhos to life," said Grakus, punching one massive fist against his hand. "Once the Blade of Chaos is plunged into her still-beating heart, she will live again. Her form shall be restored, and she will consume all our enemies.

"We need only pay the blood-"

Garacel raised a gauntlet, and Grakus fell silent. "Enough," said Garacel, gazing hard at Grakus. "Narcissa is not yet advanced enough in Her Radiance's service to understand her will. And that should not have been spoken of so openly until we were safe within Zigilus."

Suddenly, the door opened, and a soldier burst into the room. He did not march with any decorum; sweat was on his brow as he kneeled with a clang. "Lord Garacel, we have a problem."

"What is it?" asked Garacel, turning to him. His grip on his sword tightened.

"Several dozen of our patrols have disappeared," said the soldier, bowing his head. So it hadn't all been in Narcissa's head. Alkela must have noticed it. "We found a number of them unconscious and in storage closets."

Garacel drew the Sword of Chaos and focused on it. It thrummed and seemed alight with green flame. "...Interesting, the Blade of Chaos senses its enemy.

"We have an intruder."

Alkela slapped Narcissa across the back of the head. Narcissa rubbed it. "Okay, okay. You've made your point, sis. Lord Garacel, grant us permission to look for them.

"We'll find this intruder and kill him."

Was it the warrior from before? He'd survived fighting Garacel. Could he have followed them back by stealth?

Garacel remained silent. The flames within his body seemed to flicker red, and Narcissa sensed a presence within. Then he looked at them. "No," said Garacel. "Prepare to evacuate to the other ships immediately."

"You heard him!" said Grakus. "Prepare for evacuation!"

"Why?" asked Narcissa. "We could just kill him."

"Of course, we could. And we will," said Garacel. "But not directly."

"Why not directly? You already beat him once," said Narcissa.

Garacel looked resigned. "Zigildrazia is more interested in winning than playing the game with style. She has some particular preferences for how this should end.

"I intend to channel those preferences into an actual result."

"I don't understand," said Narcissa.

"Just bear with her," said Garacel. "She has her reasons, I'm sure."

"I'm going to send searches to find the unconscious guards," said Grakus. "No sense in losing any fighting men."

"Good," said Garacel. "Just be sure to move quickly. We've been ordered to scuttle the vessel when we see Zigilus."

"But airships are expensive," said Narcissa. "And Zarana told me the magic seeps into the land below it when they explode. This could scorch the land beneath it. "

"Narcissa, I am well aware that these orders do not appear to make any rational sense," said Garacel. "Her Radiance is aware, as well. She likes it that way. Now, retrieve your armor and things and prepare to leave.

"Rest assured, things will be explained when you deliver the Blade of Chaos to her."

Narcissa nodded and then looked at Alkela. "Let's go."

As they left, Narcissa looked at Alkela. "This explanation Zigildrazia has for us had better be good."

Alkela nodded. Then, the sound of fighting reached their ears, not from the halls but from below.