A FEW MINUTES PASSED, DURING WHICH THEY RESTED. THEN KIYORA'S EYES FLUTTERED OPEN, AND SHE STOOD SLOWLY, RUBBING HER HEAD. FOR A MOMENT, WILLIAM WAS AFRAID SHE WOULD COLLAPSE, BUT SHE MADE IT TO HER FEET. SHE LOOKED AT HIM BLEARILY, EYES ADJUSTING TO THE LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE TREES.

"UGH..." SHE GROANED, "WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I WAS HIT OVER THE HEAD WITH A SWORD?"

"BECAUSE I HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH MY SWORD," SAID FELIX.

"WHY?!" ASKED KIYORA.

"YOU WERE UNDER THE FLOWER'S SPELL," SAID WILLIAM. "WE COULDN'T RESTRAIN YOU AND RESCUE MASSACRE AT ONCE."

"WHAT SPELL? WHAT FLOWERS?" SHE ASKED. "EVERYTHING IS A BLUR. I REMEMBER ENTERING A CLEARING OR SOMETHING..." SHE RUBBED HER FOREHEAD. "DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER EVER TEACH YOU NOT TO HIT GIRLS?"

"WHY WOULD I NOT HIT GIRLS?" ASKED FELIX. "THEY ARE JUST AS CAPABLE AS MALES AND THEREFORE WARRANT NO SPECIAL TREATMENT."

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT," SAID KIYORA. "IT'S ABOUT CHIVALRY."

"IF I HADN'T KNOCKED YOU OUT, MASSACRE OR YOU MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE BEEN DEAD," SAID FELIX. "I'M NOT APOLOGIZING."

"YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A REAL JERK," SAID KIYORA.

WILLIAM TOUCHED HER SHOULDER AND POURED A HOLY POWER TO HEAL HER BRUISES. THEN HE LET GO AND LOOKED TO THE BARREN, WASTED CLEARING LEFT FROM MASSACRE'S FLAMES. HE SIGHED.

"WE HAVE NO TIME," SAID WILLIAM. "WE SHOULD MOVE ON NOW."

"WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND FORCED MARCHES?" ASKED KIYORA. "COULDN'T WE TAKE IT EASY FOR ONCE?"

"WE CAN 'TAKE IT EASY," SAID WILLIAM. "WHEN WE HAVE REACHED ARTARQ. THIS PLACE IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN I THOUGHT, AND I WANT OUT."

"CONSIDERING WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH UNTIL NOW," MUSED FELIX, "THAT IS SAYING SOMETHING."

SO OFF THEY WENT, LEAVING THE BLACKENED CLEARING BEHIND. THEY CONTINUED ON THEIR WAY NORTHWARDS. OR AT LEAST WILLIAM ASSUMED THEY WERE GOING NORTH. KIYORA SEEMED HAZY ABOUT THE EXACT DETAILS OF WHERE THEY WERE GOING. EVEN SO, THEY MADE GOOD TIME AND PASSED THROUGH THE WOODS RAPIDLY.

THE TREES AROUND THEM BECAME SMALLER AND SHORTER. THEIR ROOTS NO LONGER DELVED AS DEEP, AND THEIR LEAVES CHANGED. THE GROUND BECAME LESS MARSHY. THE GRASS BENEATH THEIR FEET BECAME STEADILY LONGER. BEFORE LONG, ITS COLOR TURNED YELLOW. WILLIAM HAD HEARD THAT THE GRASS IN ARTARQ WAS YELLOW, AND HE TOOK THIS AS A SIGN THAT THEY WERE DRAWING NEAR.

THOUGH THEIR SUPPLIES BEGAN TO RUN SHORT, MASSACRE CAUGHT ANIMALS FOR THEM. AND AS THEY WENT ONWARDS, WILLIAM FOUND HIS SPIRITS STARTING TO TAKE FLIGHT. IT WAS ONLY A LITTLE FURTHER NOW, JUST A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE THEY REACHED ARTARQ.

EXCITEMENT GREW WITHIN HIM. HE FOUND HIMSELF MORE AND MORE IMPATIENT FOR THE DAY OF HIS HOMECOMING. EVERY MOMENT SEEMED TO STRETCH INTO ETERNITY AS THEY GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER. THE AIR BECAME DRIER AND HOTTER. THE TREES GREW STILL SMALLER.

THEN, JUST AS HE THOUGHT HE COULD NO LONGER BEAR IT, THEY CAME OUT OF THE TREES AND INTO SIGHT OF THE BORDER FORTS. THEY ALL LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE BALTOTH'S RETRIBUTION. EACH ONE HAD THE SAME TOWERING SPIRES AND WHITE WALLS. BUT THEY WERE SMALLER AND IN ALL WAYS LESS GREAT. NOR DID THEY SEEM TERRIBLE BENEATH THE SURFACE. THEIR WALLS WERE CRACKED AND DAMAGED IN SEVERAL PLACES. AND ON ONE OF THEM, THERE WERE SIGNS THAT IT HAD BEEN BROKEN OPEN. ABOVE THE WALLS, THE BANNER OF CARN GABLE STOOD, A GOLDEN COBRA POISED TO STRIKE UPON A RED BACKGROUND.

THEN WILLIAM REALIZED WHAT HE HAD ACHIEVED.

"YES!" HE ROARED SKYWARD. "I SWORE I WOULD MAKE MY WAY ACROSS SEATHORIUS ON FOOT AND FIND ARTARQ BY MY POWER, AND I HAVE DONE IT!" HE LAUGHED. "LET US SEE MOTHER FIND FAULT IN THAT!"

"SHE WILL," SAID FELIX.

"ARE YOU OKAY?" ASKED KIYORA.

"YES, I'M FINE," SAID WILLIAM. "I'M REVELING IN MY ACHIEVEMENT."

"DON'T YOU MEAN OUR ACHIEVEMENT?" ASKED KIYORA.

"RIGHT, YES, OF COURSE," SAID WILLIAM, EAGER TO BE ON THEIR WAY. "WHEN WE REACH ARTARQ, I'LL TRY TO CONVINCE MY FATHER TO SHELTER YOU IF YOU'D LIKE. I MEAN... UNLESS YOU INTEND TO GO BACK TO SEATHORIUS."

"NAH," SAID KIYORA, "I'M TIRED OF THAT DREAM. I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS ARTARQ PLACE FOR MYSELF."

"GOOD," SAID WILLIAM, "AS SOON AS I GET A CHANCE, I'LL..." HE TRIED TO THINK OF SOMETHING TO SAY. "I'LL SEE ABOUT ERECTING A SHRINE TO YOU."

"OH, THAT'S NICE," SAID KIYORA. "CAN WE MOVE?"

WILLIAM WAS CRUSHED, THOUGH HE TRIED NOT TO SHOW IT. HE LED THEM TOWARDS THE NEAREST BORDER FORT, NOTING THAT THE SUN WAS SETTING. IT WOULD BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE DARKNESS FELL. LOOKING TO THE EAST, HE SAW IN THE DISTANCE SAVIOR'S RUN COMING OUT OF THE WOODS. IT FORMED THE BORDER BETWEEN ARTARQ AND CALISHA.

"SO THAT CITY IN THE DISTANCE," SAID KIYORA, "IS THAT ARTARQ?"

"NO," SAID WILLIAM, "THAT IS ARSHEEN, THE CAPITAL OF ARTARQ. EVERYTHING AROUND US IS THE PROVINCE OF ARTARQ. YOU DON'T THINK THEY WOULD NAME THE PROVINCE THE SAME THING AS THE CAPITAL, DO YOU?"

"I SUPPOSE IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT LAZY," SAID KIYORA. "SO, ARE WE TAKING SHELTER IN ONE OF THE FORTS? WON'T THEY TURN US AWAY?"

"NO," SAID WILLIAM. "MY FATHER HAS SOME MEN COMMANDING EACH FORT. THEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE FELIX AND ME." THE PAIN BUZZED BENEATH THE SURFACE OF HIS WOUND, AND HE WINCED.

"IF YOU SAY SO," SAID KIYORA.

MASSACRE YAWNED, LOOKING TIRED. WILLIAM LOOKED TO THE CHIMERA WITH SUDDEN CONCERN. SHE HAD BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO THEM, BUT HOW WOULD SHE HANDLE BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE?

"MASSACRE," HE SAID, "WHEN WE GET TO CIVILIZATION, YOU CAN'T EAT ANYONE, UNDERSTAND."

MASSACRE GAVE HIM A LOOK. WILLIAM DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO IT. "LOOK, I'M SERIOUS. PEOPLE MIGHT BE SCARED OF YOU, AND I NEED YOU NOT TO GIVE THEM A REASON TO BE SCARED. JUST... BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR, OKAY."

"BAH," SAID MASSACRE'S GOAT HEAD.

WHEN, AT LAST, THEY CAME TO THE DOORS OF ONE OF THE FORTS, WILLIAM REFLECTED THAT HE WAS USED TO SEEING THE SHAPE OF A SKULL. IT HAD ALWAYS LOOMED OVER HIM WHEN HE CAME TO CASTLE GATES. NEVERTHELESS, THESE GATES WERE STRANGE TO HIM.

THEN, SOMEONE LET OUT A CALL.

"WHO ARE YOU? STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" CAME A CALL.

WILLIAM LOOKED UP TO SEE A LOOKOUT STANDING ATOP THE GATEHOUSE, CLAD IN THE BLACK ARMOR OF CARN GABLE. HE COULD NOT SEE THE LOOKOUT'S FACE BENEATH HIS HELM. "I AM WILLIAM GABRIEL, SON OF DUKE VANION GABRIEL. I HAVE TRAVELED THROUGH MANY GREAT AND TERRIBLE ADVENTURES TO COME TO ARTARQ TO SEE MY FATHER.

"MY COMPANIONS ARE MY SERVANT FELIX AND THE MORTAL AVATAR OF THE DREAMING GODDESS." HE PAUSED. "HER NAME IS KIYORA. LAST OF ALL, THERE IS A MASSACRE THE CHIMERA. I DESIRE TO SEEK SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT."

THE LOOKOUT STARED, THEN REMOVED HIS HELM AS THOUGH UNSURE WHAT HE SAW. "I DON'T... I CAN'T... YOU TAMED A CHIMERA?"

"NO," SAID WILLIAM. "MERELY TOOK HER AS ONE OF MY COMPANIONS."

"...HOLD A MOMENT WHILE I OPEN THE DOOR, WILLIAM. I WAS NOT READY FOR TODAY." THEN HE DISAPPEARED OFF THE WALLS.

FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THEY WAITED, AND THEN THE DOORS SWUNG OPEN. THE LOOKOUT APPROACHED. THEN WILLIAM SAW THE CRIMSON PLUME OVER HIS BLACK ARMOR. HE WAS THE COMMANDER. WILLIAM WENT TO MEET HIM. AS THEY NEARED EACH OTHER, THE COMMANDER DREW OFF HIS HELM TO REVEAL BROWN HAIR AND DELICATE FEATURES.

"SARRIS," SAID WILLIAM, "FATHER HAS PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF THIS FORT."

"YES," SAID SARRIS. "THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE I LEFT CARN GABLE. WE'VE BEEN DEADLY AFRAID BALTOTH MIGHT LAUNCH AN INVASION INTO ARTARQ. THERE WERE RUMORS THAT HE HAD FOUND ALLIES IN SEATHORIUS." HE PAUSED. "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?"

"IF THE TIME WE'VE HAD IS ANY INDICATION, I DOUBT ANY ARMY COULD MAKE IT THROUGH," MUTTERED WILLIAM. "CAN WE EAT? WE'VE BEEN LIVING OFF RATIONS AND RABBITS FOR WEEKS, AND THE STORY IS TOO LONG TO TELL OUT HERE ANYWAY. AS FOR MY FACE, I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T HAD A MIRROR."

"OF COURSE," SAID SARRIS. "WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO EAT OUR MEAL. IT IS MY CUSTOM TO SPEND THE LATE HOURS WATCHING SEATHORIUS FOR YOUR COMING."

"WHAT ABOUT MASSACRE?" ASKED KIYORA, MOTIONING TO THE CHIMERA.

"I... UH..." SARRIS PAUSED. "I SUPPOSE I COULD FIND MEAT AND FOOD FOR, ERM... GOATS?"

MASSACRE WAS STARING AT SARRIS, LICKING HER CHOPS. WILLIAM TURNED TO HER. "MASSACRE, WHY DON'T YOU WAIT OUT HERE? THEY'LL HAVE SOMETHING SENT FOR YOU TO EAT SOON ENOUGH."

HE LED THEM INTO THE GATES AND TO THE KEEP. THEY WERE LED INTO THE GREAT HALL, WHERE PLATES WERE BEING SET DOWN EVEN NOW. THEY ENTERED THE KEEP AND ENTERED A LARGE RECTANGULAR ROOM WITH MANY LONG TABLES. SITTING AT THEM WERE MANY MEN WHO WERE SPEAKING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AS THEY ENTERED, ALL EYES TURNED TO SARRIS.

"COMRADES," SAID SARRIS, "WE HAVE TODAY AS OUR GUEST THE SON OF OUR DUKE VANION AND HIS COMPANIONS. SO THERE WILL BE AN EXTRA ALE RATION FOR EVERYONE AND DOUBLE PORTIONS!"

CHEERS CAME FROM THE MEN. KIYORA, WILLIAM, AND FELIX WERE ALL SEATED AT THE EMPTY SIDE OF ONE TABLE, AND THE FOOD WAS SET BEFORE THEM. BUT, EVEN SO, WILLIAM FELT UNEASY, FOR SOMETHING THAT SARRIS HAD SAID STUCK IN HIS MIND.

"YOU WERE EXPECTING US?" ASKED WILLIAM.

"YES," SAID SARRIS, "A SHIP ARRIVED FROM CARN GABLE UNDER CAPTAIN HRUNGELD. HE BROUGHT A MESSAGE FROM RAYNALD DE CHEVLON. HE SAID THAT YOU HAD FALLEN OVERBOARD DURING AN ATTACK BY SATYRS. RAYNALD AND LADY RUSARA CAUGHT SIGHT OF A SIGNAL FIRE FROM THE SHORES OF SEATHORIUS AND FOLLOWED IT.

"WHEN THEY LANDED, HOWEVER, THEY FOUND ONLY YOUR FOOTSTEPS AND THE FOOTSTEPS OF SATYRS. THEY WENT DEEPER TO FIND YOU AND SENT CAPTAIN HRUNGELD A MESSAGE TO ARSHEEN."

"HOW COULD THEY HOPE TO RESCUE YOU FROM AN ENTIRE ARMY OF SATYRS?" ASKED KIYORA AS PLATES WERE SET BEFORE. "OH, CAN I HAVE WATER INSTEAD OF ALE? I'M UNDERAGED."

WILLIAM HAD NO IDEA WHAT SHE MEANT BY BEING UNDERAGED. "RUSARA IS A POWERFUL SORCERESS, AND RAYNALD, THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN IN HARLENOR." THAT WAS WHAT HE SAID. "EVEN IF THEY FACED A THOUSAND SATYRS, I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO EMERGE VICTORIOUSLY."

"WELL, THEY WOULD MAKE A FIGHT OF IT," SAID SARRIS. "SHORTLY AFTER DUKE VANION GOT THE MESSAGE, LADY AZGORA DEMANDED TO KNOW WHERE YOU WERE. SHE WAS FURIOUS WHEN SHE ARRIVED AND BECAME EVEN ANGRIER WHEN SHE LEARNED YOU WEREN'T THERE.

"SHE WANTED TO TAKE THE GARRISON AND START SCOURING SEATHORIUS FOR YOU. HOWEVER, DUKE VANION REFUSED TO DO SO."

"GOOD," SAID WILLIAM. "SEATHORIUS WOULD HAVE CLAIMED MANY LIVES AND LEFT ARTARQ DEFENSELESS AGAINST THE CALISHANS."

"WELL, AZGORA WAS NOT HAPPY AT ALL," SAID SARRIS, SIPPING A CUP OF ALE. "WE'VE ALL BEEN GIVEN STANDING ORDERS TO WATCH FOR YOU."

"CAN WE CHANGE THE SUBJECT, PLEASE?" ASKED WILLIAM. "I'D RATHER NOT DISCUSS THIS."

"WELL, I SHOULD LIKE TO HEAR JUST WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME," SAID SARRIS. "FROM THE SOUNDS OF THINGS, YOU'VE HAD ONE OR TWO ADVENTURES."

"ENOUGH FOR A LIFETIME," SAID WILLIAM. "IT STARTED WHEN THE SATYRS ATTACKED THE SHIP..."

WILLIAM AND FELIX BOTH DESCRIBED THEIR ADVENTURES ONCE AGAIN IN FULL. WILLIAM THOUGHT HE TOLD IT BETTER THAN LAST TIME. THIS TIME, THERE WERE MANY THINGS THAT FELIX HAD NOT BEEN THERE FOR. HE TOOK GREAT DELIGHT IN DESCRIBING THE CHASE THROUGH BALTOTH'S RETRIBUTION. IT HAD BEEN TERRIFYING AT THE TIME, BUT NOW THAT IT WAS OVER, WILLIAM FELT EXCITED TO RELATE TO IT. BUT, OF COURSE, HE LEFT OUT HIS CONNECTION TO MELCHOUS. HE DID NOT WANT THE ORDINARY SOLDIERS TO KNOW THAT YET.

HE FELT VERY PROUD OF THE EVENTS AS THEY PLAYED OUT, AND NOW HE SAW WHAT RAYNALD SAW IN ALL THESE ADVENTURES. FELIX, AS BEFORE, MANAGED TO OUT-DESCRIBE HIM BY A GREAT DEAL. BUT HE HADN'T SEEN THE MORE EXCITING PARTS OF THE CONFLICT WITH THE DEMONESS. HIS STORY WAS ABOUT DODGING AN ELDRITCH HORROR IN A DARKENING WOOD, AND HE WAS VERY DESCRIPTIVE. SEVERAL PEOPLE SHUDDERED AT HIS TALES.

AS TIME PASSED, THE TALE BECAME MORE GRAND AND HARROWING. HE NOTED THE SOLDIER'S EXPRESSIONS. THEIR GAZE WAS DOUBTFUL OR CONDESCENDINGLY AMUSED. SEVERAL WERE GLARING AT KIYORA.

"THIS ELF IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GODDESS?" SCOFFED ONE AS THE TALE WOUND DOWN.

"BE SILENT, ACON," SAID SARRIS. "YOU WILL SHOW RESPECT TO OUR GUESTS."

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM. WILLIAM COULD TELL BY THE WAY SOME OF THEM SPOKE. ANGER WELLED IN HIS HEART. "IF YOU WISH TO CALL ME A LIAR, YOU MAY."

"IT IS NOT THAT," SAID SARRIS, "IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE THAT YOU COULD HAVE SEEN ALL THESE THINGS. ON THE CONTRARY, YOU MAY HAVE... EXAGGERATED WHAT WAS DOUBTLESS A DANGEROUS JOURNEY."

WILLIAM DREW OUT HIS SWORD. "THE NAKMAR DWARVES FORGED THIS BLADE. FELIX DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A SWORD BEFORE. IF YOU DOUBT MY STORY, YOU MAY SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ONE OF SIMILAR MAKE."

"YES, BUT-"

WILLIAM DREW THE HARP OUT AND SET IT ON THE TABLE. "AND THIS IS THE HARP I TOOK FROM THE CHIMERA'S LAIR."

"AND I HAVE THE GOLD," SAID FELIX, DRAWING OUT A JEWELED SILVER NECKLACE AND SEVERAL COINS TO SET DOWN.

"AND AS FOR THE CHIMERA ITSELF," SAID WILLIAM, "ANY OF YOU MAY GO OUTSIDE TO SEE IT! THAT PROVES AT LEAST HALF OF MY STORY; NEED YOU TO DOUBT THE OTHER HALF?!"

THAT GOT THE POINT ACROSS WELL ENOUGH. SEVERAL MURMURS WENT THROUGH THEM, AND SEVERAL MEN WENT OUTSIDE TO LOOK FOR MASSACRE. OTHERS CAME TO GAZE AT THE SWORD, WHICH WILLIAM OFFERED THEM TO LOOK AT FREELY. IT WAS PASSED HAND TO HAND, AND EVERYONE MARVELED AT ITS QUALITY. AS THEY DID SO, WILLIAM LOOKED AT FELIX.

"FELIX, GO OUTSIDE AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH MASSACRE," HE SAID. "I DON'T WANT ANYTHING UNFORTUNATE TO HAPPEN."

"YES SIR," SAID FELIX, ARISING AND FOLLOWING AFTER THEM.

SILENCE FELL OVER THEM. THE SWORD CAME BACK TO WILLIAM, AND HE SHEATHED IT. THEN, JUST FOR EFFECT, WILLIAM PLAYED THE HARP, SENDING THE MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE HALL. THE SOLDIERS LOOKED ON IN WONDER, AND HE STOPPED.

"NOW, WOULD ANYONE ELSE CARE TO QUESTION OUR DEEDS?" ASKED WILLIAM.

"VERY WELL," SAID SARRIS, "YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT. FORGIVE US, BUT WE WERE EXPECTING HALF-STARVED CASTAWAYS, NOT BOLD WARRIORS."

"NEITHER WAS I," ADMITTED WILLIAM.

"SOMETHING IS BOTHERING ME," SAID KIYORA. "I THOUGHT MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS HAD SOLDIERS EAT IN A DIFFERENT HALL FROM OFFICERS."

"IN ANTION AND SOME OTHER KINGDOMS, THAT MIGHT BE SO," ADMITTED SARRIS. "HOWEVER, WE ARE HALDRENIANS. ALL OUR WARRIOR BANDS, OR GARRISONS, EAT IN THE SAME HALL."

"THE TRADITION ORIGINATES FROM THE DAYS BEFORE KING ANOA II BROUGHT US INTO THE FOLD," SAID WILLIAM. "YOU SEE, OUR CHIEFTAINS SERVED ANOA THE BRIGHT BUT WENT THEIR WAY AFTER THE ELVES WERE DEFEATED. THEY WERE RULED BY A GREAT KING, GAVERN THE DIRE, AND HE MARRIED THE SISTER OF ANOA II.

"AFTER ANOA II DIED WITH NO HEIRS, HIS SISTER BECAME KING. SHE AND GUNTHRED RULED OVER HARLENOR, AND HER SON, ANOA III, BECAME KING AFTER HER."

"KING?" ASKED KIYORA. "WOULDN'T SHE BE QUEEN?"

"NO," SAID WILLIAM. "ANOA THE BRIGHT REFUSED TO DIFFERENTIATE THE POSITION BY GENDER. QUEENS CAME INTO PLAY AFTER THE BREAKING OF HARLENOR UNITED. HE COMMANDED THAT WOMEN FIGHT ALONGSIDE MEN IN BATTLE. AND HE SAW NO REASON THEY SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY."

"I SEE YOU'VE BEEN STUDYING YOUR HISTORY AS ALWAYS," NOTED SARRIS IN AMUSEMENT.

"I TRY," SAID WILLIAM BEFORE FEELING VERY TIRED. "FORGIVE ME, BUT I'D LIKE TO RETIRE. I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN A PROPER BED IN WEEKS."

"OF COURSE," SAID SARRIS. "I'LL HAVE ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR YOU AT ONCE. AND ALSO FOR YOUR CHIMERA, THOUGH... I'M NOT SURE HOW TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A CHIMERA."

"MASSACRE MOSTLY EATS GRASS, ACTUALLY," SAID WILLIAM. "AND VARIOUS PLANTS. SHE'S TERRIBLE WHEN ANGRY, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE NEEDS MEAT TO SURVIVE."

"THAT IS VERY REASSURING," ADMITTED SARRIS.

ROOMS WERE SET ASIDE FOR THEM, AND FELIX WAS RECALLED. AS THEY WERE LED TO THEM, KIYORA LOOKED AT WILLIAM STRANGELY. WILLIAM TRIED TO IGNORE HER LOOKS AND THEN SNAPPED.

"ALL RIGHT, WHAT IS IT?" HE ASKED.

"NOTHING," SHE SAID. "YOU SEEM VERY DIFFERENT FROM HOW YOU WERE WHEN I FIRST MET YOU."

"BRILLIANT DEDUCTION," SAID FELIX.

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO SNARK AT HER, FELIX; I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF," SAID WILLIAM. "YES, YES, I AM DIFFERENT. I USED TO THINK THAT ADVENTURES WERE HORRIFYING, TERRIBLE, AND EXHAUSTING. SOMETHING THAT ONE WANTED TO BE OVER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. NOW..."

"THEY ARE," SAID FELIX.

"WELL, YES, THEY ARE," SAID WILLIAM. "BUT THE GLORY GAINED BY PARTAKING IN THEM? THE HONOR ONE ACHIEVES THROUGH SUCH HORRORS IS MORE THAN WORTH THE RISK.

"WHEN THIS BEGAN, I THOUGHT I'D NEVER WANT TO LEAVE CARN GABLE AGAIN AFTER RETURNING. NOW... NOW I WONDER IF I WANT TO GO BACK."

"YOU'RE DOING IT BACKWARD!" SNAPPED KIYORA IN SUDDEN FRUSTRATION. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GROW UP DREAMING OF FANTASTIC AND GLORIOUS ADVENTURES. THEN HAVE YOUR HOPES ABRUPTLY DASHED AND COME OUT WISER! INSTEAD, YOU'VE DECLARED YOU HOPE TO SEE MORE OF THEM!

"THIS ISN'T HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO."

"IF ADVENTURES WERE ALL BAD, I DOUBT PEOPLE WOULD SEEK THEM OUT." SHOT BACK WILLIAM. "ANYWAY, THERE IS A WAR WITH CALISHA ON THE HORIZON. SOON ENOUGH, BALTOTH WILL SEEK TO AVENGE HIS PREVIOUS HUMILIATION. THEN, THE ARMIES OF THE GREATEST EMPIRE THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN WILL DESCEND ON ARTARQ.

"AT THAT TIME, MY FATHER WILL NEED EVERY SWORD HE CAN GET. INCLUDING MINE."

"STOP SOUNDING SO EXCITED!" SAID KIYORA.

"BUT I AM EXCITED," SAID WILLIAM, DECIDING TO ANNOY HER. "ADVENTURES ARE GLORIOUS THINGS. THE SUFFERING ONE EXPERIENCES PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE"

"JUST STOP, OKAY? I'M SORRY I ASKED," MUTTERED KIYORA.

WHEN HE REACHED HIS ROOM, WILLIAM WAS PLEASED TO FIND A MIRROR WITHIN IT. LOOKING AT IT, HE SAW HIS FACE. OVER ONE OF HIS EYES WAS A LONG, JAGGED SCAR. THE DEMONESS' CLAW HAD RAKED ALONG FROM A LITTLE OVER HIS LEFT BROW TO HIS LEFT CHEEK. HE'D NARROWING AVOIDED LOSING HIS EYE. IT HURT, OF COURSE. STILL, AT LEAST IT WAS PROOF OF HIS ACHIEVEMENT. AND HE WAS A BIT TOO TIRED TO CARE ABOUT ALL THAT.

HE HAD NEVER SLEPT MORE SOUNDLY THAN THAT NIGHT.