He was swimming in a sea of blood. The limbs of the slain reached up to grab at him, and William could hardly keep his head above water. He gasped for air, grabbed out for anything, and found a chain.

Pulling himself up, he tried to get away from the grasping corpses. Then he realized that blood was soaking his hands. The chain was made from bone and tendon, and far above him, he saw the face of his enemy. But it was only Tanith, drenched in blood.

He screamed and fell backward into oblivion as the chain broke.

He awoke, grasping for his sword, and found himself safe. Around the ashes of the campfire were the rest of his group. Felix was on watch, a little ways off.

"Bad dreams?" asked Felix.

"I see them, Felix," said William. "The faces of the people I've healed."

"That's ironic." mused Felix. "Usually, one sees those they have killed."

"They all thought I did it," said William as he stood and moved to stand beside him. "Every village we visit, everyone there thinks I'm the one who did it. And every time I think I've seen the worst Laughing Wraith can do, he proves me wrong."

"We're done with the villages now," said Felix. "I'm sure you'll be able to distract yourself from your healer's guilt soon. Try ending the lives of some sentient creatures."

"Don't take that tone with me, Felix," snapped William. "You had the luxury of sitting outside the village while I tended to the wounded."

"You had the luxury of only facing Laughing Wraith for a day or two!" shot back Felix. "He hunted me for nearly a week. Every moment was a living nightmare. You'll forgive me if I'm less than sympathetic about you having to heal a few cuts."

The disrespect in his voice set something off in William. Felix was a servant. Yet because of their history, he presumed to treat William with disrespect. It didn't matter that no one else was around to see. Before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed Felix by the throat and shoved him down against the ground. The other boy grappled with him, trying to pull him off. His fingers tightened their grip as naturally as breathing. Then it dawned on William what he was doing, and he pulled back in horror.

"Felix..." William said. "Felix, I-"

Felix rubbed his neck. "Forget it. I know exactly what it is to come into direct contact with Wraith's will. I'm surprised you didn't do something like that sooner."

"How... how did you survive all that time?" asked William. "Weren't you affected by him?"

"When I got back to you and Kiyora, I had these impulses," said Felix, "murderous impulses on an emotional level. They hit you repeatedly until they seem natural, and then you start falling victim to them."

"So how did you keep from acting on them?" asked William.

"Wraith confuses you on an emotional level," said Felix. "I convinced myself that killing you or others would be suicidal. Monsters respond better to pragmatism than they do morality. Even the monsters of the heart."

"You're a lot stronger than I am," said William.

"Well, you were the one who said it, not I," said Felix. "With your permission, William, I'd like to go on ahead and scout a bit. If you'll take my watch."

"Of course," said William.

Felix disappeared into the shadows, and William took his watch as promised. Soon enough, he was joined by Tanith, who was an early riser at the best of times. She sat down next to him and began cleaning pieces of her armor. Neither one said anything for a while; they just sat there.

"How long ago did you leave Carn Gable?" asked William.

"Three," said Tanith. "I was Raynald's squire, remember? And you were still a complete weakling."

"I was," admitted William. "Seathorius did wonders for me."

"Well, I guess if you didn't have it in you to be strong, you would have died." mused Tanith. "I'm jealous, though. I mean, I've been going around fighting in all kinds of skirmishes. But you got a better reputation than me just by writing a book and publishing it."

"That was Father's idea," said William. "And I don't see why it should make me anything special. I just wrote down what happened to me and got it published because of my rank. I'm sure you've had plenty of adventures like that. You should write some of them down."

"Well, I do have a few," said Tanith. "I doubt I'll have many from this campaign, though. There is no glory in this. Or profit, for that matter."

"No, there isn't," said William. "Still, those people needed our help, Tanith. There was no shame in helping them."

"Yes, yes," said Tanith, "but I joined Raynald to get rich robbing Calishans and winning renown. Not to go around watching you heal the sick and injured and trying to keep me from throwing up.

"Besides, I was talking about Wraith."

"What do you mean?" asked William.

"When I started as a mercenary under Argath Marn, we raided Calishan shipping. We plundered them from all over," said Tanith. "Then, one day, we got bold and risked an attack on a Calishan coastal settlement. I was against it at first, and others were, but once we got into the thick of things, it was addicting. We took a lot of enslaved people, stole everything we could, and burned everything we couldn't.

"We must have killed at least a hundred Calishans, probably more. I remember we put a bunch of their elderly, you know, the ones who wouldn't sell on the slave market. We barricaded them in a house and set it on fire.

"I remember hearing those heathens screaming. It was the best day of my life." She was smiling wistfully. "The best part was when I had my way with a priestess beneath the sight of Baltoth's statue. It was great."

William stared, remembering the dream. You thought you knew someone, and then this happened. "Elranor above! Why would you do that?"

"They're enemies," said Tanith. "Besides, we ended up rescuing a bunch of Harlenorian prisoners. The Calishans had done the same thing to us. An eye for an eye, you know. Where was I?"

"Laughing Wraith, profit, and glory," said William.

"Oh right," said Tanith. "Anyway, we never did anything like this. Wraith didn't take anyone to sell as slaves. He didn't kill anyone. He didn't even steal anything. He just did this to make them suffer. It's sick."

"But you enjoyed causing suffering to the Calishans," noted William.

"Sure, but that was part of the crusade," said Tanith. "The Calishans killed Anoa IX and ended our golden age. We have a right to rape and murder them; they do the same thing to us. Wraith is just doing all this for fun."

William needed to learn how to respond to this. He should pretend the whole village burning thing didn't bother him. Yes, he could focus on her hatred of Wraith.

"Well, that's why we need to stop him," said William. "Besides, we've dealt with all the villages now. And Father has Lord Asimir under siege. Once we've captured him, we should be able to stop Wraith." He sighed. "I wish Massacre was here."

"What, the chimera?" asked Tanith. "How did you tame that thing anyway?"

"I didn't," said William. "She likes my music and hangs around me to listen to more of it. I asked her to come with me, but she didn't want to. I'm not sure why."

At that moment, Felix came out of the shadows of the hills above them. His hand was on his sword. Tanith looked up. "Where have you been, Felix?"

"Scouting ahead," said Felix. "Lord Asimir's castle is breached. Duke Vanion is launching his assault as we speak. We're too late to join the fight."

"Thank Elranor," said William.

"Damn it!" said Tanith at the same time. "All of you up! Get your armor on! We've got to join the battle and see some goddamn excitement! At least before this miserable war ends with us the victors! Come on!"

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The men got up with much kicking and swearing by Tanith to move them. Soon, everyone had donned their armor and moved through the rocky hills. Tanith was in a fury and drove them on without rest.

It was a wasted effort. By the time they came out of the hills, they saw Lord Asimir's castle flying the banner of House Gabriel. Screams could still be heard from within, but from the looks of things, the battle had ended. The village outside the castle was intact, oddly enough. William had expected to see it in flames.

Father's pavilion stood beyond the battle. A man was being escorted toward it none too gently, and Raynald was with him. William quickened his pace and soon reached the pavilion as the man was being dragged in.

"He is laughing... he is laughing..." muttered the man.

"On your knees, you worm!" snarled Raynald. "And speak plainly, or I'll cut your throat."

"Tanith," said William, "could you wait outside?" Having Raynald and Tanith in a negotiation could be overpowering.

"Right," said Tanith, "maybe reinforcements will arrive for me to fight."

William was let through by the guards and found the man he had seen standing unsteadily in front of Father. Father had his hands clasped before him as he sat in a chair as though he were on a throne. The man was gasping.

Father glanced up to see William and nodded before turning his attention back to the man. The man was perfectly ordinary in appearance. You could miss him in a room where only he was standing. He wore a yellow doublet that was stained with blood.

"You have much to answer for, Lord Asimir," said Father. "Laughing Wraith has been wandering the realms tormenting your people. And you have done nothing. Agents of Calisha have been operating on your doorstep, and you have done nothing.

"Explain yourself and why I shouldn't have you hung?"

"It wasn't my fault," said Asimir. "I never intended things to get to this point."

"Really?" asked Vanion. "You defied my demand that you open your gates and surrender to my justice. How do you account for this?"

"I didn't have a choice!" said Asimir. "None of us did! We could hear him laughing, and it was all we could do to question it. You don't know what having him inside your mind is like. You do things even though you know you shouldn't!"

"Father," said William, "what he says is true. I was nearly driven to attack a lifelong friend from moments in his presence."

"I see," said Father, "Very well, Lord Asimir. Tell me everything that has led to this point, and I will consider showing you mercy."

Asimir paused. "I... it started years ago when Argath Marn was the governor. My family we had... we never supported Harlenor coming in, even if we never said it. We loved Calisha and would have given our lives for Baltoth."

"So you made a deal with Laughing Wraith?" surmised Father.

"It didn't start like that. At first, it was just patriotism," said Asimir. "A young man named Korasus approached us. He had been a mercenary in the Calishan army and said he wanted to ensure Calisha could retake Artarq. But to do that, they had to be supplied with malas. Malas was the key to all of it, you know.

"A sorcerer who takes it has their powers heightened. If the Calishans had no, it would give your kind a terrible advantage. So we helped him. We gave them some of the malas from the mines and were paid. Argath Marn looked the other way and got a cut of the profits, and everything worked."

"And then Argath Marn was removed for corruption," mused Father. "I begin to see where this is going."

"Yes, you came in, and we couldn't bribe you," said Asimir. "You wouldn't negotiate. You brought in your armies and made everything go your way, cracking down on the gangs. Our profits were decreasing.

"Then, a few years ago, Korasus came to me. He said he had a new plan to take Artarq away from Harlenor once and for all. He had been reading some ancient texts. He believed that releasing the goddess Typhos would cause great chaos—enough for Calisha to seize control of Artarq.

"He asked permission to begin digging on my territory, and I granted it. I fancied myself a patriot."

"Then what?" asked Father.

"At first, everything went well," said Asimir. "But when we came to the seal... it was too great. The gods themselves had made it. It would take a being of massive power to break it, even weakened.

"Everything ground to a halt.

"Then Korasus met with a boy named Laurus a few months ago."

Laurus. So Felix was right.

"Laurus said he had a plan that could break the seal. Laughing Wraith would put elements of his spirit into the malas we took. Then, we would sell it to the common people at a loss.

"It worked wonders. Gradually, they became addicted, and their wills were subverted. And over months, Laurus began to ebb away at the seal. But... but things started happening. Villagers kept reporting a strange, horrifying figure appearing around them. I saw him a few times myself.

"He never killed anyone, but people started to have... bad dreams. Night terrors awoke them screaming. Korasus assured us that progress was being made. That soon, the seal would be broken.

"Then, just a few days ago, Laurus appeared. He said that the power he was getting from the malas was waning. That someone was breaking his hold over them. And he said he had to cause pain and horror among the villagers."

"And you let him, you damn coward!" roared Raynald.

"I didn't!" cried Asimir. "I refused! I told him I wanted nothing more to do with him, but then... He appeared. He had been inside Laurus all along. He appeared, and he wouldn't go away until I agreed! I tried, but... I couldn't say no! I couldn't!"

"Well, I think that just about tells us what we need to know," said Father. "Lord Asimir, you are a fool and a traitor, and to slay you would be within my rights. However, I am inclined to be content with stripping you of your rank and title. Provided you lead us to this dig site at once. Perform your duties properly, and you may live through this and have a chance to rebuild what you lost. Betray us, and I can assure you your family will not.

"Understand?"

"Y-yes, Duke Vanion," said Asimir.

"Good," Father smiled. "Take Lord Asimir to his family and treat them with dignity. I want no atrocities put upon his people. They have suffered enough."

"Vanion," said Raynald, "the men have been slogging through this for weeks. If we don't let them loot the place, they won't be happy."

"Yes, I suppose not." mused Vanion. "Very well, we will seize Asimir's treasury and distribute some of it among the men. Just don't destroy any artwork or bring harm to the people. Reinforce that this is a mission of mercy and liberation upon an imprisoned populace."

"As you wish," said Raynald.

Everyone else filed out. However, Father motioned for William to stay. At last, the tent was empty save for the two of them. Except for Felix standing by the doorway, he didn't count. Father made his way over and looked over William. "Well, you've had your first experience of campaign life. How is it?"

It's best to put on a bold front. "I can't complain," said William. "I have shoes and food to eat, so I think I've already seen worse during my trip to Seathorius."

"Yes, I suppose you have," said Father. "You have learned that war is lengthy periods of unpleasant boredom—that and brief stints of terror. I don't know what your mother sees in it.

"Do you have anything new to report?"

"I... yes," said William. "Kiyora was right. Wraith is pure evil."

"What is evil, William?" asked Father.

"Wrong actions," said William. "Things you shouldn't do."

"And why shouldn't you do them?" asked Father.

"Because they aren't right," said William.

"And why aren't they right?" asked Father.

"Because," William paused, "because they hurt people."

"I see," said Father. "Do you believe it is wrong for a brother to sleep with his sister?"

"Of course," said William.

"Why?" asked Father. "Who are they hurting?"

William thought about that. He wasn't comfortable with this topic, but Father had asked a question. That is a very odd question. Where was he going with this? "Um, the children who would be born. Their souls would be incarnated in flawed bodies. And their families with scandal."

"I see," said Father. "So what if Rusara came up with a spell that prevented the negative effects of inbreeding? What if, thanks to that spell, society changed to accept incest as right? Would it change from being wrong to being right?"

"No!" said William. "Right and wrong don't change just because people want them to change. The gods laid down them long before this world was even born."

"Ah," said Father, "so you would appeal to the authority of the gods as the ultimate source of right and wrong, would you?"

"Yes," said William.

"Yet the gods themselves have differing opinions of what is right or wrong," noted Father. "When you heal a man beset with a horrific disease, are you doing a good thing, William?"

"Yes," said William.

"What about the disease?" asked Father. "It feeds upon the person. Much like we feed on animals, we hunt. You are harming it when you use magic upon it."

"This is absurd, Father," said William. "You can't think that incest and flesh-eating diseases are good things, can you?"

"Of course not," said Father. "To me, they are abominations. However, others may have a different opinion. And some of those others are gods. The truth is, son, I don't believe there is such a thing as good and evil as we understand it. What we think of as good is a survival reflex of sorts.

"Societies which acted a certain way survived. Those who acted otherwise imploded in on themselves and were wiped out. Thus, our ideas of right and wrong. Ultimately, evil is our most destructive impulses let loose without restraint."

"But Wraith is evil!" said William.

"Yes, of course, he is," said Father. "We both agree on that. Our difference is that I believe that evil is an entirely subjective affair. While you believe that he violates laws laid down since before the dawn of time."

"So you believe that if believing something is right makes it so?" William halted, trying to grapple with the idea. "That whether Wraith is evil or not is a matter of opinion? You can't believe that."

"I can believe something, even if it isn't a pleasant thought," mused Vanion. "What of you, William? What if Elranor came down from on high tomorrow? What if he proclaimed that murder, theft, rape, and lying were now good? That mercy, charity, love, and truth were now evil?

"Does Elranor love good things because they are good? Or are things good because Elranor loves them?"

"I..." William halted. "I don't know."

"Good answer," said Vanion. "It is never wrong to admit you don't know. Unless you are in public, you must pretend everything is going according to your plan. There is something to be said for the appearance of omniscience." Then he turned and looked at Felix. "Still, I must commend you, Felix. Your judgment of Laughing Wraith was quite accurate."

"Thank you, milord," said Felix.

William seized at the chance for a change of subject. "What I want to know is how was this Laurus able to hide his true intentions from Kiyora? She sounded like she was close with him."

"We can ask him when a sword is at his throat," said Vanion. "For now, take this time to rest. In the morning, we resume the hunt once and for all."