The journey north was met by snow and wind, as was common in these parts. It was like coming home for Tanith, who had lived here for years.

Several times, Tanith and Atria halted to take shelter in farmsteads. Tanith kept a keen eye on Atria and slept with her blade nearby. While also being polite to the farmers and paying them for their trouble. However, no dagger was ever put into her, and things became dull. Eventually, they moved onward until they came to Gel Carn.

Tanith had come far and through many adventures to come back here. And now she loved the very sight of it. The skull-engraved walls are cast with dark magic. The stout towers rose high with black stone and mortar. The fridged surroundings and wind tore at them.

This was the kind of place where a great warrior ought to reside.

It was sad that it was no longer the capital of Duke Vanion's Empire.

"Carn Gable at last," said Atria. "This is the first time I have seen your home, Mistress."

"Yes, it is," said Tanith. "I was expecting you to try and kill me."

"Why would I do that? My full purpose in life is to serve you," said Atria.

Tanith could respect that. "You don't have any lingering loyalties to Calisha or your family?"

"I am no longer of Baltoth," said Atria. "My powers were taken from me after I fled from you into the temple. Nevertheless, a Priestess of Baltoth must fight, and you struck fear into my heart that turned to love.

"Baltoth has always commanded that slaves submit to their masters." Didn't she have any pride

Tanith did not like the false adoration she had convinced her to hold her in. "...Love someone else. I need you, not love.

"Let's go."

Atria nodded and became a bit more professional.

But when Tanith got to the gates, she felt a wave of foreboding, and she knew why. The gates were unbarred and wide open, and the guards were waiting. As if expecting to be relieved. "You, what's going on up here? Why is the gate open?"

"Lady Telus, King Gavin is en route with an army. We had been about to yield to him," said the guard.

"None of that! Send word to the villages!" said Tanith. "Tell them to raise their arms to defend the castle. Pull supplies into the fortress and prepare for a siege!" She pointed to Atria. "You, send word to Ran Telus, tell them what has happened at once. Then, Anborn, take a spear and stands at the gate. We must prepare to defend Gel Carn with our lives."

"But the King-" began Anborn.

"If the King attacks us, then we must defend House Gabriel," said Tanith. "You swore an oath like everyone, and now you must fulfill it!

"Prepare for war!" Then she halted and took Atria by the shoulder, surprised. "Don't you want to go back to your family?"

"Would they have me?" asked Atria.

Tanith nodded and sent her off.

Moving into Gel Carn, she felt alive again as she rallied the men and stocked supplies. The garrison had become lax but otherwise had held strong. So that when the King arrived, they found them ready.

A large force moved toward them, clad in mail, and the King and Gail Arengeth were at the head. The gates were shut by Anborn, who stood beside Tanith on the wall. Were they going to fight a defensive siege? Tanith had always wanted to fight on a wall before unending hordes.

She'd hoped to do it in Gel Carn, but this would do. Tanith stood and called down. "Who here will treat me?

"Not you, Arengeth. You're not even a man, let alone a Harlenorian."

"We have not come to treat with you, Tanith," said Arengeth. "We have come to lay claim to that which Duke Vanion has long left vacant. Therefore, open the gates and do not force there to be more blood than there has been already."

Tanith looked down. "You really think you'll get away with this, right?

"You think you're going to be able to pin all this on us.

"Oh, you'll do very well out of it. The Furbearers will have their homes destroyed. Their lands were plundered, and their suffering was disregarded on your orders. You can blame House Gabriel and put Humer in charge of Carn Gable.

"Well, it won't work.

"If you try to storm this castle, I'll kill every one of your men, and then I'll kill you. Everyone up here has been wronged by King Gavin; he's all but made war on his own people. And once you're dead, Tavish won't have anything to play Father off.

"A King who betrays his own country is replaceable."

The harsh statement surprised them. Gail Arengeth seemed about to declare the country under siege.

"Hold on a moment, Arengeth," said Gavin, coming forward. And he did not look old at all. He had curly black hair and was fair-skinned. "Explain what you mean by that, Commander? It has been reported that House Gabriel has engineered strife through Harlenor."

"By who?" asked Tanith.

"Many different sources, each one reliable in their own way," said King Gavin.

"Well, they're wrong," said Tanith. "We've spent the past few weeks scrambling all over those places, trying to rein in a plague. That, a civil war and a criminal network House Kern created.

"To say nothing of Arkan Lantan and others."

"Messengers from Ran Telus inform us that Arkan Lantan recently seized the ford. They killed royal troops," said King Gavin. "Among them was House Gabriel."

"I don't believe it," said Tanith. "Unless there has been a switching of sides. Antion was in complete chaos when William arrived. Tavish Kern held a position of authority, and the guard had gone lax.

"It may be that William has been forced to cooperate with them. Or Arkan Lantan was not the main enemy. As for the ford, why was it held against House Gabriel? William is an old friend and does not love violence as I do.

"He would never have launched such an assault. Not unless he perceived either betrayal or that my land was held against me."

Silence.

"Then why did you enslave the Furbearers?" asked Gavin.

Tanith halted. "We didn't. Or they didn't; I'm not part of House Gabriel; I'm an ally in the right place and time."

"Merrin," said Gavin. "If you would."

Merrin came forward; he was a blonde-haired younger friend of the Kings. He wore a green cloak and drew out a scroll. "I have here reports that the son of Edmund Telus, Anborn, has set up a slaving operation. One that sprang up in the wake of House Kern's conflict with the Furbearers. After they drove them to the sea, Babarassians set up colonies in their territory."

"But Lord Kern said you authorized that," said Tanith.

Silence.

"...It would seem that there is a great deal we have not told one another," said Gavin. "Will you come down?"

"I can't," said Tanith. "I'm the only commanding officer in this place. If I go down, there won't be anyone to hold it if I'm arrested."

"I give you the promise of safe passage," said Gavin.

"With respect, King Gavin, our trust in the rules of hospitality is exhausted," said Tanith. "A good man and King in your position could invite me out to arrest me because a decisive end had to be made.

"Depending on what you believe, I could be a total monster who has lost the protection of the law."

"No one is out of the protection of the law," said Gavin.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"Yes, but you are the law," said Tanith. "You have the authority to arrest anyone; the only check on that power is if you can do it. So if I open these gates, I'm surrendering."

"Well, we can't just sit out here on the doorstep yelling up and down," said Gavin with a sigh. "Perhaps I could go up."

"Your majesty, the inverse applies here," said Gail Arengeth. "If they took you hostage, it would be disastrous. And Tanith Telus has a reputation for violence that cannot be wholly ignored. She strikes a better character than when last I saw her, but she lives for war."

"So neither of us can trust one another because we can't communicate," said Merrin. "And we can't communicate because we can't get close enough to talk. But we can't get close enough to talk because we can't trust one another.

"This is brilliant."

At that moment, a shadow landed quite silently. Tanith knew by the shadow and turned around to see the vast figure of Auga perched on a tower. Her wings stretched outward, and the men quilled. But Gavin drew his sword and steadied them, face composed. "Calm yourselves and spread out.

"Ready bows and mark shelter, but loose no arrow without attack or command.

"A dragon?"

"The dragon who destroyed the Babarrassians," said Anborn.

"Auga?" asked Tanith, feeling intimidated. Why was her hand shaking? "I uh...

"I wasn't aware you were-"

"What's the situation?" asked Auga, shifting into her standard form.

"A complete impasse," said Tanith, yielding command. "King Gavin wishes to negotiate and clarify what has been going on. I came up here to head off an invasion."

"Well then, we'll just have to open the gates and let him in," said Auga.

"You're not serious," said Tanith.

"I'm a dragon. They'll be in an enclosed location if they are in here and start a fight," said Auga. "And this is my castle now anyway." She offered Tanith a scroll, and Tanith read it.

"This is an authorization that Auga takes over command of Gel Carn," said Tanith. "I yield command at once."

So the gates were opened, and Gavin came in with some guards. They looked well-experienced and were well-armed. They went inside, and Tanith sat at a table she had not eaten at in a long time. She remembered better days with William and Felix and wished to relive them sometime.

"Alright then, we can start things by explaining what happened," said Gavin.

"Well, this a long and very complicated story," said Tanith. "So, it started when the Tournament of Kings was announced..."

The story went on.

And on.

And on.

And often, Gavin or Arengeth would reveal other aspects she hadn't known. Among them are descriptions of reports from Lord Kern and Tavish of crisis. It meandered about from misery to misery, and the only actual theme was that Harlenor was doomed.

Tanith thought it made it all the better.

There was no story greater than a battle against total destruction.

"If what you say is true, then Lord Kern has been deceiving us for some time," said Gavin at last.

"But he hasn't been, Gavin," said Merrin, showing reports. "Look at this. All the information we wrote here is consistent with what they told us. For instance, Anborn is clearly listed as being in charge. This is correct; he was in order unless everyone was lying.

"The thing is, we last saw Anborn almost a decade ago. We knew he'd had bad luck with money, but plenty of competent people do. If Tavish thought he was an ineffectual fool. Putting him in a position of influence would be an excellent way to implicate House Gabriel."

"Who is this Tavish Kern, though? I have never heard of him?" asked Gavin.

"He is a bastard son of Lord Kern," said Merrin. "Very smart and very good with money. He's been operating the organization intended to create your Sorcerer's Guild. I knew he was an agent, but I was given to understand he was a mere contact."

"A lot more than that," said Tanith. "He's a genius. He managed to put together a working Kingdom with the approval of the nobility. His second in command is a Blackguard named Lamech, and he can keep him under control.

"But I don't think he has anything to gain by sabotaging all this. He advances himself purely through Lord Kern's good graces. Unless he can arrange a political marriage."

"Then why the attack on the ford?" asked Gavin.

"It might be," said Tanith. "That Tavish is trying to get into my Father's good graces. He must have a lot of money. If his holdings in Antion fail, paying Father's debts with his money could buy his pardon."

"William is a compassionate but dangerous young man," said Arengeth. "He spent many weeks healing the sick and injured in Antion. And he has been courteous and careful in all his dealings.

"I do not believe he would launch such an assault without a serious provocation.

"The only other possibility I see..."

"Yes," said Gavin.

"William might have gone insane," said Arengeth. "He is a veteran of the Khasmir Campaign and was in the thick of the fighting. He clashed with Melchious and many demons and has many contacts with the spirit world.

"It could be that the events in Antion drove him to madness. His being here at all is an anomaly. He might have a good reason for it; we do not know. But it is possible that the horrors of the crisis caused him to snap.

"The accounts detail he wore no armor, and no servant was with him. If he returned with his armor stolen and his friend dead. All to find his way barred by an impudent guardsman..."

"He might snap and strike him down in a rage," said Gavin. "I pray that is not the case. But something can only be done once we know more.

"But what is this about a Sorcerer's Guild?"

"You mean..." Tanith halted. "You mean to say that you didn't authorize the creation of a Sorcerer's Guild in Haldren."

"Well, it seems like a good idea now," said Merrin. "However, we've had much more serious concerns. We've had several engagements with the Babarassians on the shores. They like to raid, though it hasn't been as bad as it once was.

"Rumors are coming in of Duke Vanion amassing power, and Lord Kern has kept us informed. By nature, he processes what information he gives us. I remember I did send Kern a letter asking him to look into breaking our reliance on Magicora, but that was years ago. Back when it looked like Magicora might be sacked by House Stormstrike. However, nothing came of it.

"Perhaps he has been following that order all this time."

"Do you have any other sources?" asked Auga.

"To our south is Lord Kern, and we must travel through Furbearer territory to get any further," said Gavin. "To our east is Gel Carn, House Gabriel's territory. The west leads to Babarassia, and merchants rarely take that route. The northern lands are all ours, with House Acas ruling well. But the mountains make passage difficult.

"And House Gabriel, we thought was our enemy."

"We do, however, have other, independent assurance. I have established several sources in Antion and Artarq. And some of our soldiers went to Khasmir to fight and observe things. However, they did not wear my banner.

"They informed us that William had been causing a stir, to say the least."

"I think there was going to be a stir anyway, Your Majesty," said Arengeth. "William just started it before it could get bad and ensured it was less destructive. The Paladin Order might have besieged Ascorn. All while the land was plagued and the Furbearers enslaved."

"I am interested to note that no report of these returning Furbearers has come to me," said Gavin. "Why did you not speak to me?"

"We had taken you for our nemesis," said Auga. "And it was hard enough to keep in contact with our neighbors who might have been at war with us.

"No one thought of it."

"I thought of it," said Tanith. "I tried to get to King Gavin and figure out what was happening, but Kern caught me at the border. So I went with him; he apologized and then explained everything.

"I thought that the whole situation was over. The way Lord Kern told it, everything had been a misunderstanding that got out of hand. Everyone acted honorably, but our information was terrible, and we were in combat.

"I actually fell for it!

"I was dead set on talking to you about all this and...

"I didn't even think he was lying! It never even entered my thoughts!"

"Well, if it's any consolation, Lord Kern is very good at making people see things his way," said Merrin. "I wonder if we should not have been paying more attention."

"What would you advise, Merrin?" asked Gavin.

"Well, there's nothing for it," said Merrin. "If things are as they appear now, we've got to speak to Lord Kern and his son, Tavish. At the very least, they must account for their actions. They may have a good reason for why they have been lying about having royal authorization.

"But if they do, they ought to explain it."

"It would have been better if he'd cleared it with us. Then we'd have avoided all this," said Gavin.

"It can't be Kern," said Anborn.

"What do you mean?" asked Gavin.

"I've visited Edward Kern and Lord Kern," said Anborn. "They are both excellent people. Kern didn't want to invade the Furbearers at all. But the war went too well, and he ultimately won.

"And both sides believe the other started it. They'd never betray King Gavin; this wasn't some dark scheme."

"Kern's shadow could have been used to appoint Anborn," said Auga. "Well-placed suggestions could convince people to appoint Anborn and leave another."

"Not all powers sit in Council chambers," noted Arengeth.

"If so," said Gavin. "It would have to be a merchant. Someone with a lot of influence who often is of use to others. But who no one thinks of?

"Jehair perhaps?" said Merrin. "She's a bit too neutral for our good."

"No," said Gavin. "Jehair usually works against the worst sorts of business. She works with slavers, but she does not intervene in politics.

"It could be virtually anyone. Someone helpful and subtle."

"Rius had a meeting with many merchants," said Tanith. "And refused to let me be at it."

"Could Rius be it?" asked Merrin.

"Too easy," said Gavin. "Besides, Rius has made himself a figurehead in his own city. I cannot imagine him engineering anything like this. Though he was likely an ideal means to get the appointment."

"It doesn't matter," said Anborn. "We're all villains in this.

"Not one person in all this is the hero, except maybe the Furbearers. Not one."

And no one said anything.

Because there really was nothing to say to it. Tanith could not argue and opened her mouth to object but shut it.

"William is a hero," said Auga. "Not the hero, but he is a hero. And so are a lot of others."

"Then we are at war with ourselves," said Gavin. "What need have we of demons now?"

"Your majesty," said Arengeth. "This matter is not concluded. And I fear we may face a major disaster if we do not complete it soon. We must get to Ran Telus and speak to your son.

"No doubt he will have made some progress."

"Prince Aras was not even in the city when I arrived," said Tanith. "And there was talk of marriage alliances."

"Marriage alliances?" asked Gavin. "Preposterous. My son has had his eyes fixed on one another for years. He and the Paladin Farwa often walk together beneath the moonlight. They hunt dark creatures together. He often has walked the wilds of Antion seeking her.

"And my other children are either uninterested in marriage or already married.

"These must have been mere rumors."

"My Mother spoke of it," said Tanith. "Someone put the idea into her head.

"But he and my Father were out hunting. So I could not meet with him."

"Aras never goes out hunting," said Gavin. "Not really.

"He loves animals. When he goes out hunting, he needs some good reason to be elsewhere. And that is often.

"If these men tried to turn William back, what purpose could it serve?

"Lady Telus, what did you see when you arrived?"

"Nothing," said Tanith. "I came in behind an ox-cart, went straight to my Mother, and spoke with her. Then I learned you were coming and went to take command here.

"I thought we were about to have a war, and my Father was going to be forced to betray House Gabriel."

"Who were the guards who went with Aras?" asked Anborn. "And how many?"

"A small group company of elite men,"' said Gavin. "Small for royalty."

"How could William have forced his way across without any armor?" asked Tanith. "He's not that good. He'd be no match for elite men in armor by himself."

Silence.

"Ran Telus has been taken hostage," realized Gavin.

What could bring him to that conclusion?