The sparks were bright and vivid, glaring and unforgiving.

The Shadow Warbler cried out, lashing at the invaders.

The Middlings were ill trained by Lordling's standards, but they were trained. The three worked in sequence. Slash, attack, dodge, and retreat. Had the shadow warbler been a thoughtless monster, this may have been enough.

But the shadow Warbler was more than a repeating pattern, and it learned. Slowly, but it did.

The first to get wounded was Marrin. The green hatted fae was a little slow in evading, and one of the shadow warblers claws lashed and tore the Middling's unguarded back.

Pale blue blood splattered, and even from his vantage point, Daniel felt the sting of hot blood.

Poorly trained Middlings were not formidable enough for this.

Which was why Daniel's strategy was more complex.

"Esra, now!"

And the great Gravity Mage moved. The wave of gravity shifted, and suddenly things became a lot more confusing.

"GRAVITY BULLET!!" Esra yelled, striking a pose and swiping with his arms. He yelled for no reason, because his words were not linked to his power in any way.

But that was Esra. And the loose debris suddenly 'fell' from all around the room as Esra created a gravity well, centered on the shadow warbler. Soon the debris began pelting it. Not enough to hurt it, but it was enough to distract it.

Daniel felt his own gravity slip, but Esra had done well this time, and only things below a certain weight were pulled toward the middle of the room. It was offputting, like suddenly being in a riptide. But not so much that one was in danger of being dragged away.

Vye stepped in and followed through to another attack on the Shadow Warbler, her twin daggers focused and slashing. She was doing well.

Daniel moved now. Not too close, of course. But close enough to grab Marrin and pull him behind a pillar while Vye and Frank took turns dealing with the shadow warbler, with Esra for support.

Daniel pulled Marrin's coat off from behind. The shirt he tore, the smooth cotton ripping easily as he tore along the grain. In the shadow of the pillar, Daniel examined the wounded Fae's back. Flesh wound. The slash had left a swallow but unfortunate cut across the wing buds. Marrin would probably never have enough power to grow wings. But now after this...Daniel looked at the jagged flesh.

"Did you hope to fly one day?" Daniel asked, quickly pulled a nearby tablecloth away and pushing it against the jagged wound.

Marrin would probably not be able to grow wings ever. Given how much it was bleeding, it seemed the wing's main artery had not been cut, but the bud itself was slashed. No wing would grow now.

"Wings aren't fashionable anyway." Marrin said, voice tight. "Can you stop the bleeding?"

Pressure would be best. "Prudent decision. High Fae seem to disfavor wings now a days." Daniel found another tablecloth, and used that too. It wasn't clean. But the blood needed to be stopped.

There was a bellow, as the Golem tried to fight the shadow warbler. But the reduced stone creation was hardly a threat for anything now. Frank kicked it and scooted it out of the way.

"Did you have wings?" Marrin said.

"No. Most High Fae chose not to pass that trait along to their children." A lie, but true. Kane had had the possibility of wings, but it more showed her 'bumpkin' status, as most high Fae society had truly moved past them. Griffins were superior, and by the time one became a true and mature Lord, one had power to overcome mere trivial things such as 'flying'. She had chosen not to develop them, and even had the bud removed.

"My grandpa had wings." Marrin said. "He was old. From long ago. Took him a long time to settle down. My grandma will be so disappointed."

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"GRAVITY ALPHA!!!" Esra called, back at the fight. Daniel shifted his position. Alpha meant Esra was changing the general flow of gravity to the left, making it feel like the floor was sloping. Esra was amazing, but inconsistent and unreliable. It was difficult to fight with him in a large scale battle. Esra's tactics were always 'what made sense to Esra' at the time. Daniel braced himself as the wave came. It was rather heavy. Frank, the other Middling, grumbled as he lost his footing.

The only problem was it was ALWAYS Esra's left, at the moment and direction he was facing. Meaning that if you weren't paying attention to which direction Esra was, you could be in a world of hurt.

Daniel placed a carefully folded napkin to Marrin's wound, as the pale blue blood slowed. The Middling didn't whine when Daniel started applying pressure, but he did inhale sharply. "I am so grateful to you, sir." Marrin said. "I would have died without you. I would have gone in alone and died before I knew what happened."

Marrin would not have been in danger without Daniel. If the Game was not on, this never would have happened. "I don't deserve your favor." Daniel said, the words dry and bitter in his mouth. The Shadow Warbler was out because Daniel had released it.

There was a cry, of anger, from the trio still fighting. Daniel glanced, his practiced hands carefully tying the bandage in place. He saw the golem launch an attack at Vye. But the Golem was now the size of a doll, and it's full attack was barely larger than an average lump of coal. Vye deflected it without glancing, and continued attacking the Shadow Warbler.

"But you have my gratitude, my favor." Marrin said, clearly agitating to return to the fight.

And Daniel could feel time flowing, and the safety of this hour was nearly over. "I will trade your favor for two answers." Daniel said, pleased that the pale blue blood ceased staining the cloth. He was going to force Marrin back out there. Because that was the only thing a weakling like Servant Branch could do.

Lordling Elswith could have overcome this on his own.

Lordling Elswith was truly dead. Killed by his own kindness.

If Lordling Elswith was dead, why did Daniel still have the urge to take care of everyone? Shouldn't have that kindness died too?

Kindness with no power...

"Servant Branch." Daniel said, as cold and still as he possibly could. "Cannot afford your favor."

Marrin was no fool, and accepted that Daniel did not want, or could not take, such favor from a Middling. Sometimes it is much worse holding a debt over someone much more powerful than oneself. Like leashing a griffin. Should the griffin desire to fly, it didn't matter how tightly one held the leash, one would be dragged into the sky.

"As my benefactor requests."

"First Question: Can you return to the fight?"

Marrin shifted, testing his body. "I can't move my right arm without the bleeding starting again. But I am left handed, so I should still manage..."

Daniel stopped and blinked. "To clarify the first question," because he was saving that second question "You were fighting for your life...using your weak side."

"Aye, milord." Said Marrin. "Lordling...um...Lord Fredar wanted everyone to use the same hand for unity, despite more than half being lefties. He commanded it, and now I get stabbing pain when I use my left arm with anything regarding a blade." Marrin laughed nervously. "I...can't even make dinner using my left hand now..."

Of course Fredar would. Because Fredar cared about the lowest, least important aspects of Power. Lord Fredar had only been a Lord for barely a month, and it seemed his stupidity had yet to leave his thick skull. Suddenly the disorder of the Sky Court's Enforcers made much more sense.

Daniel wished he could simply overrule it. But Fredar had him absolutely beat on Authority of the Sky Court Enforcers. Daniel thought about his own bindings on his limbs. Each one was a cruel punishment.

But at least it was intentional.

Powerful Lords and Senators hated Lordling Elswith. They had plotted and schemed and devised ways to make his life miserable.

Lord Fredar had bound his own Enforcers...almost by accident, because he was sloppy. "As your temporary battlefield guide, as you are weakened, it is your duty to survive. Therefore, it is only logical to use your left hand."

Marrin nodded, and pulled out his weapon again, with his left hand. He was silent for a moment. "It seems like it will work." The Middling said.

Daniel finished tying the knot. "Second question."

Marrin nodded.

"How long have you known Frank and Vye?"

Marrin turned and faced Daniel. Stupid to turn your back on a fight, but Marrin apparently wanted to look Daniel in the eyes. "Frank has been a companion for a year. He was a King's loyalist when we started, but now...I don't know if I trust his loyalty." More information than Daniel had asked for, but Marrin was free to share details as he wished. Especially should they not tangle with the Game. "Vye...I met her for the first time today..."

"Enough." Daniel nodded to himself quietly, gazing over the wounded Marrin's shoulder to observe the fighting. "It will get more intense from now on." He handed him back his coat, small protection though it was. "Trust your instincts. One word of advice."

Marrin nodded.

"Do not turn your back on your enemies, ever."

Marrin glanced over his shoulder.

There was the Shadow Warbler, the long rivets of shadow and the gleaming knives of its presence. Frank came and slashed it, followed shortly by Vye.

Marrin glanced at Daniel, and his face went pale.

"Time to go." Daniel said, and picked up his own weapon.

His plan depended on this.

Because it was almost the turn of the hour.

The golem's assassination attempt was practically over.

And who knew what would happen next?