After Imogen disappeared into the shadows, William went into a flurry of activity.

Praying to the land, the spirits, Laevian, and Elranor, he moved as fast as he could from village to village. He healed everyone he could each time, suggested they free their slaves and moved on. He spoke to those there as they had Uther and learned much.

Most of the time it was not interesting.

After a few minor skirmishes with bandits, Jehair began to lead them in zig-zags and proved to know the land well. Soon enough, it began to rain. Eventually, William took shelter beneath some trees. There, he watched the water pour down on the tree branches. The trees were much larger here and the earth richer, so you couldn't see the treetops.

It almost seemed like an old elven realm, like were in the tales. But no sign of any fairy or elf was found. William guessed it was a remnant of some ancient town burned out by Anoa the Bright. Or perhaps some other human warlord.

Elven ruins had a way of staying erect for long ages, for they did not fall apart. Villages did not scavenge them for stones, and nature did not eat away at them. It was one of the things that reminded men of how the world had been. Once or twice, they saw druids and heard tales of wild animals growing in number.

"Where is all this rain coming from?" asked William.

"The Flower Maiden is testing us," said Jehair, sitting across from him and munching on some bread. "With enough time, she can shift the trees to channel the winds. So she is doing it now."

"Why?" asked William.

"Who can say?" asked Jehair. "Perhaps she wishes to stop or slow us for her own purposes. Or it may be that the Flower Maiden simply desires to test your resolve and will. She is not by nature a talkative deity."

The rain was pouring harder now. The ground turned to mud.

"This is no good, William," said Felix. "We can't possibly heal every village here, not like this. The Paladin Order will already be heading out, and we've got to go on. We'll be able to save the lives of the villages on the way."

William looked into the cave and saw vines growing up the walls. Moving up to one of them, he saw a flower upon it. Reaching forward, Jehair caught his hand. "That may not be wise."

William nodded. He remembered the sight of bones uncovered by Massacre's flames. That had been a near thing; even Kiyora had been taken in by their scent.

The rain slackened, and Jehair led them on a more direct path. They did as they'd done before, and told stories of Ascorn. In return, they heard other stories of slave escapes and robberies. Jehair kept giving William curious glances, and he wondered why.

"We're near legal territory," said Jehair over a warm fire beneath the stars. "I should warn you, slavery is a way of life here. I should not make any bold declarations of the practice as inherently evil."

"Why would I do that?" asked William.

"You strike me as an abolitionist," said Jehair.

"I'm not," said William. "Slavery isn't evil. It's just not an effective means of utilizing subordinates."

"You may think your words somewhat naive later," said Jehair.

William wondered how she could come to that conclusion. The storehouse had been bad enough, but surely there were better ones. "I've seen a great deal already."

"...Wonderful," said Felix, checking his pack.

"What is it?" asked William.

"Our little side adventures have caused us to run low on money earlier than expected," said Felix. "We'll never make it to Gel Carn at this rate." They'd bought supplies in various towns, and it had added up.

"Perhaps Imogen stole some," said Jehair.

"No," said Felix. "I've kept careful track of it and put wards on the purse."

"We could travel faster," mused William.

"Faster than this?" asked Jehair with a slight smile. "You'd run us ragged if you did so. I was already surprised at the speed at which you moved. Most do not keep such a pace."

"Our first adventure saw us dashing from danger into danger," said William. "It set the pace for all our other adventures. And we worked with Tanith during the Khasmir campaign, and she keeps a relentless pace.

"We'll seek food and shelter with the villages we heal when we need rest. We'll ask for it without expectation and request supplies. That should save on money."

"What about inns?" asked Jehair.

William blinked. "...Why would we be staying at an inn?"

"Most nobility do," said Jehair. "Do you mean to say you don't stay at inns?"

"I've never even slept in one," said William. He frowned. "It's too expensive. I wish I knew where Massacre was. She ought to have met us by now. What could be taking her?"

"She is a servant of Typhos," said Felix. "Perhaps Massacre has some other business in these parts on her behalf."

"Perhaps," said Jehair.

It rained again, and they were shut down several times between villages. Finally, the ground became muddy, and the path was nearly impossible. Soon, they had to wait for it to dry and find more water. The woods led them astray several times, and they had near misses with satyrs.

Once, Jehair halted and stooped low by some hoofprints. The roots of many trees had been eaten up, and there was much destruction.

"What is it?" asked William.

"Wild hogs," said Jehair. "There have been an increasing number of them lately.

"Traditionally, the lords hunt them.

"They have become a plague on the environment. They break fences and devour crops in outlying farmsteads."

"Wild hogs as a threat to Harlenorians?" asked William, raising an eyebrow.

At that moment, a huge, bristling thing leaped from the underbrush, tusks rushing at him. William raised his shield and was slammed head-on. The beast bowled him over, and his sword was knocked from his hand. Both went down to the mud, and the tusks knocked his breath from him. His armor stopped it, and his hands grabbed it.

Throwing it to one side, Felix struck it with his sword. Yet the pig howled in anger at the cut and went at him. Then, darting away into the shadow of a tree, the boar went for William. Jehair was assailed by an even large hog, darting away while slashing at it.

As to hog came William took his sword in two hands and smote the beast on the neck.

The blade cut deep but not deep enough. And it kept charging, so his armor sent him knocked hard against a tree. The beast wheeled around and rushed at him in rage, and William brought his sword down to hit it head-on. The blow crushed into the skull and smashed its brain. But it charged on, and he ducked low as it sailed and smashed against a tree. It fell down and lay still.

Jehair, meanwhile, kept slashing at the pig as it attacked. Little by little, she whittled away at its flesh. Blood flowed more and more as it became ever more enraged. Its tusks smashed the bark off a tree while its eyes flared red.

Finally, it smashed into a tree and halted.

Turning with pure hate, it limped forward, bleeding. But Felix stabbed it again, and William hit it once more. At last, it slumped dead.

"You were saying?" asked Jehair in amusement.

"As I said," said William, wiping off his blade. "Wild hogs are no threats to Harlenorians." And he controlled the pain of his bruised ribs.

The pain of their wounds was long in healing.

"I know that roar," said William. "But it is far off."

"Should we head for it?" asked Felix.

"No need; Massacre can find us well enough on her own," said William. "For now, we'll take a meal early so we don't have to later and rest while we can.

"Jehair, take us to the nearest village."

"There are not very many villages left this way," said Jehair. "Most who dwell here are expert tradesmen or enforcers for the Plantation Castles.

"All of the regional farmers were thrown off."

"Then take me to the nearest equivalent," said William.

Then Felix grasped William by the shoulder. "William." And he pointed.

William looked up and saw Tavish Kern and Lamech walking together in a company. They were heading toward a tall castle. Near it was encamped a small army, with the banner of the Paladin Order flying distant above it. It symbolized a hand clutching a sword writhed in lightning bolts. There was also the banner of House Marn and many others.

"So Farasa has led us here," said William.

"Give the order, William," said Felix, taking his sword in hand.

"Not yet," said Jehair. "We can use them and follow them to their contacts."

"We can take it from their corpse," said Felix. "They must have identification."

"Perhaps they are from one of those houses," said Jehair. "Lord Dunmoore will no doubt be in the castle of Lady Atravain. It seems someone has come expecting a real battle. Or a larger campaign."

The castle was very tall indeed and not all that wide and of gray stone. The spires were high above them, and a banner was flying above. It showed a deer leaping. A deer was on the road, and Tavish was watching it with interest. He seemed to be sketching it while Lamech stood guard.

So, William stepped into sight and moved toward them. Lamech looked up in surprise and set a hand to his sword, while Tavish looked disappointed. The deer had leaped away from others standing nearby.

"Greetings to you," said William.

"William Gabriel, I presume," said Tavish Kern. "You know me?"

"We passed one another on the way in Ascorn," said William.

Tavish looked to Lamech warily, then back to William. "You showing up was common discussion. A lot of people banked on you, shutting Reg's operations down."

"I should be flattered," said William wryly. "At present, I am trying to handle the plague that is spreading throughout this place. To whom would I speak for permission?"

"Dunmoore or Atravain, I guess," said Tavish, adjusting his hair with a laugh. "Atravain is up in the fortress over there, and Dunmoore has her forces at rest now. Paladins have a nebulous kind of authority.

"Why do you care?"

"Do you want to live in a realm where everyone is dying?" asked William.

"No, probably not," said Tavish.

"This one is dangerous," said Lamech.

"I know," said Tavish before looking to William. "So, what happens now?"

"The Lord Rius is trying to make you take the full blame for what happened to the Furbearers," said William. "The Babarassians believe you cheated them. If they do not withdraw their forces, I expect Rius will use Dunmoore to crush them.

"The Furbearers have become his ally."

Tavish looked to Lamech, then William. They didn't trust eachother. "Alright, what is this exactly? A shakedown? Or are you just blustering?"

"Well, someone is likely to hang for this, and you seem the ideal scapegoat," said William. "Arkan is too far away, Rius is in a position of strength, and I only just arrived. I thought I might give you a chance to explain yourself."

"Ah, so it's going to be that kind of conversation, then," said Tavish, putting his sketchbook back into his bag. Then he put an arm near his dagger. "Fine then.

"I'll make this simple. Everyone is afraid of House Gabriel. You've destroyed the system of bribes and patronage that people use to keep control in Artarq. Once you did that, you started taking out the nobility and replacing them with people loyal to you.

"You've been cutting deals with Baltoth, which hurt many pocketbooks.

"The general consensus is that you're trying to turn Artarq into your own kingdom. You already have major holdings in Brisgald, and Edmund Telus is loyal to House Gabriel. Gel Carn is still yours, and more and more people owe you big.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"I'm just a smuggler trying to look after his interests. I was asked to set up a network, and I did it. So I guess it's my turn to ask you for an explanation."

"I'm not sure I owe you one," noted William. "But, as you wish. The bribes and patronage system interfered with our ability to do our duty. Vast amounts of money were being embezzled, and malas operations were being disrupted.

"As for systems of bribes and patronage, we refuse to pay people extra for doing their job.

"The nobles we disinherited were given the means to regain their title. It was through political marriage to a replacement. And we disinherited them for rebellion." William looked to Lamech, who seemed to be judging both.

"Which only happened because you shut down the system of bribes and patronage," said Tavish. "Giving you the perfect excuse to gain control. Seeking great justice has made you do exceedingly well out of things."

"Corruption is corruption, regardless of the scale of it or how it is done," said William. "Lawful authority must be maintained."

"Yeah, and what about the villages you came through here?" asked Tavish. "That only happened because of corruption. Atravain, up there in her high tower, forced people into homelessness. What she did was perfectly legal.

"What does your lawful authority say about that?"

"Legal codes are inferior reflections of the true moral law," said William. "No lawful man is obligated to follow any law that is evil in nature."

"So you only have to follow the laws that suit them?" asked Tavish. "How convenient."

"Well, obviously not," said William. "Only an idiot would disobey a heavily armed knight to his face. And people need only follow the laws that suit what they believe is right.

"Likewise, the nobility must enforce the laws they believe are right. They abolish those that don't. They must also follow them and fight for them if need be. Just as if ordinary people believe a law is unjust, they should rebel. They must force the nobles into submission."

"You're not serious," said Tavish. "Lamech, what would you say to that?"

"A man who cannot keep control of the domain he rules deserves to lose it," said Lamech. "And a man who allows himself to be collared without resistance deserves his fate.

"Weakness should be purged."

"He is right," admitted William. "Evil thrives in its presence more effectively than the worst fatal flaws." This seemed to irritate Lamech for some reason. There was a sense of wicked vileness about him.

Not all that important. William had known not to trust him from the start.

"And what makes you think you won't get a rebellion with that kind of mindset?" asked Tavish.

"What makes you think you won't get a rebellion here?" asked William. "Do you suppose those people you employ in those villages would submit to starvation if you did not? What would they have to lose?

"From a certain perspective, you are an integral part of the system around us."

Tavish nodded. "...Fair enough.

"Lamech, take it easy. I'll show our friend here where he wants to go.

"The Calishan slave stays here."

"Felix is a servant, but I shall respect your wishes," said William.

Why did people always assume as much? The sun was high overhead, and an east wind blew through their hair.

"You two will stay here with them while I handle this," said William to Jehair and Felix. "See what you can learn about recent events. Lamech, I believe you and Jehair are already acquainted."

"We made our marks on one another," said Lamech, adjusting his sword.

"Is this wise?" asked Felix.

"I am in full armor, and he has only a knife," said William. "I don't think someone who wanted me dead would choose this time and place for it."

"He's right," said Lamech. "I'd probably just poison you."

William and Tavish moved to one side toward a series of buildings. As they did, William noticed Tavish and became relieved. So, he was concerned about Lamech as a subordinate.

"You are associated with Arkan Lantan?" asked William.

"Yeah, what about it?" asked Tavish.

"I'm curious about the nature of your organization," said William.

"Why?" asked Tavish. "You looking to make some money on the side?"

"Nothing of the sort," said William. "But I think it would be very foolish to become involved in a situation I do not understand.

"I know Arkan operates with royal approval, but I don't receive reports on the subject."

"Well, I'm not giving you one," said Tavish, nearing a large building.

So he had some loyalty or at least feared being killed off. "As you wish.

"So, when you willingly signed the Furbearers over to be enslaved by their own King, did you feel anything?"

"Not really," said Tavish. "I wouldn't have done it for revenge, but King Gavin wanted it done. So if it's my royal duty, I make a lot of money by it, and they are my enemy...

"What's the problem? They aren't really citizens of Harlenor."

"They are people," noted William.

"Right," laughed Tavish. "Explain to me why it's worth selling a bunch of people as slaves to work plantations than to lay waste to villages. A lot of people get glorified for the latter."

"Raiding villages is an act of war, conducted to weaken the enemy," said William. "And had you taken these slaves by war, I would have no argument.

"However, what is being done to the Furbearers seems to me treachery. Princess Kata informs me that you were a guest in their house."

"What about it?" asked Tavish. "It was the most effective way to get their numbers and the lay of the land. And anyway, the Furbearers have hardly fought back. Not effectively anyway."

"Will!" cried a voice.

William looked up and saw a boy running toward him. Then he realized he was a man much older than him. He wore a green cloak and brown and had a harp at his side.

"Do not call me that, Anborn," said William.

"You never had a problem with Tanith saying it," said Anborn.

"Because Tanith is a better fighter and my oldest friend," said William. "She is close enough for the familiarity to be appropriate."

"Oh, okay," said Anborn. "So it's sort of a romantic thing."

"Not at present," said William, knowing being offended would waste time. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know anything about it," said Tavish.

Anborn looked to Tavish, opened his mouth, and smiled as if playing some game. "Oh right, um, I'm sort of taking a walk. Before I get back to a position of really big authority."

"My congratulations," said William. "What position did Edmund Telus give you?"

"Oh, it's sort of acting as the head of a trading post," said Anborn.

"And what are you doing here?" asked William.

"Well, it seems to run pretty well without me," said Anborn. "So I thought I might see how some of my old friends are doing. Some of them are mad at me."

"What is it?" asked William, walking past.

"Well, I sort of accidentally led them into an ambush by bandits," said Anborn.

"And?" asked William.

"I sort of let myself get captured," said Anborn. "But I seduced the bandit leader and convinced her to let them go. Although I guess they lost most of their money."

"So you were useless to them," said William. "Anborn, why don't you return to the trading post and do your job?"

"Well, I figure I could go on adventures with you," said Anborn.

"Anborn," said William, wondering why he was the adult here. "I'm going to cure plagued people. What skills exactly can you offer my quest?"

"Well," said Anborn. "I can play the harp really well and sing."

"Anborn, I have all of that too," said William.

"Yeah, but I specialize in those things," said Anborn brightly.

"Maybe so,," said William. "But my goal is a swift journey to Gel Carn without unnecessary detours. I don't think you'd enjoy that kind of adventure.

"Go back to the trade post."

"But it's boring," said Anborn. "I don't know a thing about the numbers, and no one consults me on anything anyway. And no one there wants to hear music."

"Anborn," said William. "You have a job to do.

"Someone is counting on you to be at that Trade Post and contribute. If you can't contribute, then stand still and watch. Observe what is done, ask questions, and learn how. It'll be boring, but you'll be glad you did it.

"Knowing how these trade posts work could be the key to saving the world someday. You never know. You need to start taking responsibility, or you'll never succeed your Father."

"But I don't think I'm cut out for rule," said Anborn.

"It doesn't matter," said William. "Your Father is counting on you to do all you can to be worthy of the position. Maybe he won't find you worthy, and you'll get lucky. But Tanith and Sunthred can only do some of this.

"Tanith has been in a bad way since returning from the wars. They need your help. And the best way to help them is to learn, pay keen attention, and do what you can to help House Telus. You'll have to start with small, minor responsibilities and minor good deeds.

"But it'll get easier over time.

"Eventually, you'll be able to do the thing you never want to do without blinking. I remember you always liked telling stories when I was younger. If you get started now, you might be the hero of one of those stories someday.

"But you've got a late start.

"So you've got to speed up."

Anborn nodded. "Right, I won't let you down."

And he hurried off.

"I have never seen anyone get through to him before," said Tavish.

"Anborn is what I could have been," said William. "So I know where he is coming from.

"He's in for a nasty shock, though. Laziness pays off right now, but you stop being lazy sooner or later. And then you've got a bitter price to pay."

"I wouldn't know," said Tavish.

On they went.

"What is your connection to Imogen?" asked William suddenly.

"She does whatever she wants," said Tavish.

"And how are all these foreign gods moving about Antion freely?" asked William.

"The God Triumvirate is done in these parts," said Tavish. "Or almost done. Nobody worships Elranor. Not for real; it's all beautiful goddesses from afar, something like that.

"Around forty years ago, the nobility, the church, and the merchants. They decided foreign gods were more profitable than Elranor, Laevian, and Barden. So they all cooperated to shut him out."

"What is Imogen's plan in all this?" asked William.

"It's a very... vague sort of thing," said Tavish. "She has this idea of creating a Thief King."

"So a King, then," said William.

Tavish laughed. "Nice retort, but no.

"The whole idea of a Thief King is somebody who robs others in his Kingdom and is still a good king. The basic idea is that they control a place so corrupt that embracing organized crime is the best way to make it work.

"But they'd have to be a good King too."

"Such a thing is impossible," said William. "Stealing is wrong. Acceptable in extreme circumstances, but never consistently. And most situations where it is acceptable could be classified as plunder.

"A thief can be a good person. But he cannot remain a good person indefinitely. Sooner or later, he'll either die or be corrupted."

"Doesn't that apply to you, too?" asked Tavish.

"I never claimed it did not," said William.

At last, they came to a door in a large, two-story house that had yet to be painted or maintained. It was guarded by armed men. "We're here. All the sick are being kept from the villages around here."

"Hold on," said a guard. "This area is quarantined."

"I am a Paladin of Elranor, and I am here to heal them," said William.

Tavish blinked. "...I don't believe it; you're actually going in there. I didn't; you'd be stupid enough to try. You know that place has a powerful plague demon in it, right?

"They come into existence when things get bad enough. They form in places where the sick concentrate."

"I have no choice," said William. "I am a Paladin of Elranor; my purpose is to heal people."

"Nice knowing you," said Tavish. "Open the door."

So Tavish stood back as William entered the room. Within, he was assailed by a haze of filth and the stink of rotting flesh. People lay about, nearly dead or worse, their eyes glazed and piled over one another. The sheer presence of it staggered it, and William nearly stepped back.

Yet he raised his harp and played against it, and the music resounded throughout the room. As it did, however, it came back to him distorted and horrifying, and his skin crawled. The pain came over his body as sweat dripped under his armor. Yet he played on, and the people stirred, even as he put forth his power.

Revealing, uncovering injuries, healing...

And then, a figure horrifying to the eyes appeared swaying in a wind of rotting fumes. It rose from the corpses, unveiled as pale flesh and dark eyes. It chanted a speech of horror, selfish actions, betrayal, and unbroken chains. Flesh in filth was rotted as others turned away. Healers demanded coins and forced others to crime. Garments that had plague on them were given away as nobles counted gold from bribes.

And the pain of William's wounds flared up as he was forced back beneath the onslaught of darkness. He saw visions of trust betrayed, of women and children forced into dark coves. Meanwhile, those he deemed noble looked on. He, too, would succumb to plague in time.

And as the thought was made plain, great black wings surrounded the demon, and darkness crept in. The sky itself faded around them as the wind died and the earth rotted. A clawed hand reached forward for his throat as the energies of evil surrounded it. But Tavish cut the hand with his dagger, and it was drawn back. The creature reeled away, only to arise now in new hatred.

But William stayed with his music. He summoned memories of escape and trust between friends. Of battles fought and won against impossible odds. Of sails raised above the sea as brave men marched to defend their country.

Yet, in turn, the vision came...

Tanith Telus hacking through innocent women and children. And Argath Marn looked on in pride. Of Raynald De Chevlon speaking of looting and pillaging his allies in Khasmir. Of 'good' men thrown out onto the streets and stripped of their lands. While others helped to enslave them.

And he, who profited by this, now presumed to cast out his benefactor?

But William scoffed at this.

The demon had not been called up by his will or those around him. Efforts were underway to correct the error that had been made. And though the plague had been turned to good, that good could have been achieved another way. It was only made necessary by the failures of men. And those who were suffering from the plague were not guilty. It had been done to them by others.

Innocent people were dying.

And the plague was targeting them instead of the wicked. By what means could that be called justice if that was truly it?

Back and forth, the power of healing and darkness went, and William seemed to hold the mastery for a moment. Yet the plague, in turn, drew from the minds of its victims new power.

It was a plague.

A creature that cared not for good and evil.

It targeted the innocent and guilty alike where it could. Beyond the darkness of wickedness and good, it was outside good and evil.

William laughed.

"You contradict yourself," said William. "You who would use human evil as justification now declare it to have no hold on you! You are not a god, nor a child!

"Why should you be afforded such protection?"

Rage boiled within the disease, and it rose to new heists. The walls around them crumbled as the roof burned away. Starlight glimmered down upon them. As time passed, it blocked, covered by a great cloud, written in living darkness.

"I know who you are," said the plague. "The heir of Anoa the Bright!"

And then William's flesh began to burn as the sick rose around him, chanting a song of misery and horror. Disease crept up his skin and agonized him, but he used his power first on himself to battle it off. Even as he did, more corruption came against him as the energies of darkness descended.

He stood now alone beneath a clouded sky in a darkened world.

All around him were enemies, and he was unworthy of living. And yet his song still played, not for hope, love, or friendship. But simply the hope that the world would change for the better. And if it did not, then he would fight nonetheless.

He waited for a eucatastrophe, but none came. And the plague demon laughed.

"Where are the prayers for salvation?" asked the plague. "Where is the service of the faithful?

"Where are those seeking to aid the righteous? Where are the good people trying to do their part?

"There are none.

"Only scheming monsters practicing enlightened self-interest."

"One can be both," said William, and light came from his harp.

And he felt good works distant from the port and villages he visited. Conducted with ulterior motives and yet genuine in their own way. And even those works that were done purely for selfish reasons had value. They could start greater things; a paradise could be established in a week.

All it would take would be for all men to do their part.

"You will not seize my flesh from me, Paladin..." said the plague.

"And what value does a rotting corpse have to you?" asked William.

At last, their wills matched in a clash as the ground beneath their feet seemed to blacken. The winds swept in, but the plague demon pressed anyway. The starlight gleamed downward, illuminating the horrifying form. And from the trees, there came birds singing as day dawned again.

Then, suddenly, with a fry of frustration, the demon reeled back. And finally, unwilling to depart the world or remain, it screamed in rage. "I YIELD!!"

William's harp shattered in his hands, and the strings slashed against his gauntlet. He stared at the harp, falling to his knees to pick up the pieces. A look made him see the plague demon fading into nothing like it had never been. It had gone back to whatever place had spawned it.

Falling to his knees, he picked it up and looked around.

The house was destroyed, but the people rose in new health.

"...The Fortress of Plague is destroyed," said William.

"To be honest," said Tavish. "I was rooting for the demon that time."

"My harp is broken," said William bitterly.

"What about it? You're rich; get a new one," said Tavish.

"I traded the Goldenwood Harp to get this thing," said William. "I played music for Massacre with it. I took it with me all this way, and it's broken. It'll never be the same."

"Can't you just get a new one?" asked Tavish.

"Could you just get a new knife?" asked William before looking at the people. "Can these people's friends and loved ones get new people? It's not the same."

"It is for them," said a guard. "We'll take these back to the field-"

"No, you will do nothing!" said William. "I did not battle a plague demon with a harp to save these people just so you could work them to death!

"They're all free!"

"This is theft of Lady Atravain's property," said a man.

"It's reincarnation," said William.

"She still owns them," said the guard.

"Then make the Healer's Guild pay the difference," said William. "They haven't been doing their one job. It's only fair they compensate Lady Atravain for the loss.

"I've just expended a lot of divine power here.

"Putting these people in chains could be considered a grievous insult to any number of gods. And they aren't all as forgiving as Elranor."

"He's got the point," said Tavish. "The slave trade is out anyway at this point. The entire market chain is broken. Why don't you two get these guys a job and see if you can get them back to their families?

"I've got the connections; talk to me later."

"Fine," said the guard. "But you'll have to answer to Lady Atravain."

William nodded. "You men are good soldiers. You do your work well.

"What about the Paladins? Haven't they done something about this? Why has the plague festered to his level?"

"They didn't ask," said Tavish. "That's the answer to pretty much everything these days."

"Why don't you ask, then?" asked William.

"What?" said Tavish.

"Talk to some of the Paladins and ask them to fan out and start healing people," said William. "You can tell them what I told you."

"Why don't you do it?" asked Tavish. "You're the idealistic noble crusader."

"I don't think I can. For a start, I cannot possibly heal everyone in this place personally," said William. "I'm a rival, you see. If I go to them and ask them to start healing people, they might take it as a challenge or slight. At best, I could make them try for it if only to not be outdone.

"But, at the same time, they'd give it up as soon as I left.

"You, on the other hand, are a slaver. It'll shame them if you request they start healing people, even for pragmatic reasons. They will realize that a mass pandemic is going on, and all they can think about is punishing the wicked."

"What's in it for me?" asked Tavish.

"Has it occurred to you that these Paladins may run into one of your villages by doing this?" said William. "They may speak to the people there and learn about what Atravain's has been doing.

"It might be enough to make them realize the system's problems.

"And it will also bring you recognition as benefactors of the common man."

"Or it might get us all killed," noted Tavish, looking to the witnesses.

"No one is working with the Thieves Guild because they want to be among the nobility," said William. "You are involved because they must make use of you.

"But you'll also be the first person they sacrifice if they need a scapegoat. Now, what happens if it turns out you are a benefactor of the poor and exiled?"

"It makes it much more inconvenient for my head to stop rolling," noted Tavish. "Which might buy me some time.

"Alright, fine. I'll talk to them about this, but this had better be worth it."

"I can't guarantee it will be," said William. "For you, at least.

"Tavish, you have been of great help here, and at present, our interests align. However, I feel I should warn you:

"We are not friends. The existence of your organization is an abomination to me. The fact that it has become necessary is an unforgivable oversight at best by the nobility.

"The moment my alliance with you is no longer convenient, I will dispense with it. Our interests cannot coexist indefinitely.

"One of us will eventually destroy the other if things remain as they are."

Tavish laughed. "You have a practical mind, don't you?"

"I wouldn't be a leader if I didn't," said William. Then he checked his wallet, just in case. Tavish tossed it to him, and he caught it with the other hand. "Good luck."

"You as well," said Tavish. "I'll most likely kill you the next time we meet."

And they parted amicably.

William wondered if he should be concerned by that.