"That idiot!" Magdala sat down on the ground, and let the excitement drain from her limbs. They had been so close to capturing Liraya, saving her lord uncle, and protecting all of Soura, but Huan's stupid rush had gotten in Dwayne’s way and stolen the time Magdala needed to isolate the enemy and force her to submit. He really was a thief.

She surveyed the damage.

The giant's attack had left the western side of the garrison a pile of rubble and debris, and while the infirmary still stood, it now sported a massive hole in its side. Through it, Magdala could see nurses, doctors, and medics working to save the soldiers that had been hurt during the attack. It would take a long time for the garrison and its soldiers to recover. Next time, Liraya would have a softer target. Two nurses passed Magdala, carrying Lord Kalan into the infirmary through the hole. Her lord uncle's face was covered with sweat, but he was still conscious, and maybe tomorrow he'd feel up to fixing up the garrison.

When Dwayne and Saundra sat down on either side of Magdala, their presence unraveled a knot in her stomach, and even though the corporal's armor was dented, Dwayne's hands shook, and all three of them had cuts and bruises, Magdala smiled. If only Mei were here, but although she was apparently uninjured, the hunter had followed her brother into the infirmary, looking like she’d been punched in the gut. Magdala wasn't sure what that was about, but she hoped her friend was okay.

Dwayne sighed. "I thought he had more control over it."

The memory of Huan's attack stirred up hot rage In Magdala's belly. "That reprobate doesn't know what control is. He's lucky that you were there to support him. He'd be minced meat otherwise."

Saundra patted Magdala on the back, causing her to wince. "What does it matter? We won! Did you see that move I did? Slipping under his arm and cutting it off?"

Dwayne frowned. "There's no way that Fo mage is going to give up. If we’d been a little slower-”

“If we?" Saundra glared at him. "We got here on time. What were you doing up there in your comfy study?”

Dwayne met Saundra's glare with a cool look. “Research and preparing for a party.”

“A party?”

While the two of them bickered, Magdala closed her eyes and tried to distill objective facts from emotional memory. It was hard with the town bells still ringing and the distant sounds of battle, but she managed to tune all that out. Would the Fo mage return to finish what she started tonight? No. Dwayne's attack had surprised her and Mei's had shocked her. Having faced a rare Ri mage and a powerful weapon with unknown range and accuracy, Liraya would have to modify her plans considerably, which would take time. If she did, there was still Dwayne and Mei's combination attack, which would end even Liraya’s hardier creations. Unless, of course, some idiot with a dumb mask and a dumber plan interfered.

Magdala's rage, hot and viscous, returned. "He just needed to work with us instead of in spite of us.”

Saundra cut off her retort to Dwayne and nodded. “I’ve never seen anyone fight like that. Nathan told me stories of what happened when you all fought that dragon, but I just thought he was telling tall tales. Huan just seems so... so...”

“Sloppy?” suggested Magdala.

Saundra snorted. “Yes, sloppy, milady.”

Dwayne rolled his eyes. “Oh good, more people throwing around titles."

Saundra's glare returned. “I’m showing respect. Why don’t you?”

Dwayne looked Magdala in the eye. “Do you want me to?”

Now caught in the argument, Magdala imagined Dwayne saying “milady” with Galkin’s deference. It was sad, somehow. She didn't know why. “No, I mean- you're my lord uncle’s apprentice and heir. We’re the same rank so it just wouldn’t be right.”

Dwayne blinked. “Oh, right, I, uh, read something about that. I’m supposed to use your title, right? Lady Magdala Gallus.”

Magdala grinned. “What, Lord Dwayne Kalan?”

Dwayne laughed. “Yeah, that’s never going to sound weird."

Crossing her arms, Saundra said, “I’m not going to call you milord."

Dwayne's smile widened. “I’ll never ask you to.”

Saundra looked away and coughed. “So long as we’re clear.”

After standing up, Magdala tried to clean off her blue dress, but between the blood stains, the holes in the skirt, and the caked dirt, it was completely ruined. She gave up. “I suppose I should go back to wearing armor. And I need a new cloak.”

Dwayne got to his feet, his eyebrows rising. “What happened to your old one?”

Magdala sighed. “Burned in a fire.” Her mother had given her that cloak.

Saundra was already on her feet. “I’ve been meaning to ask, milady. What was that mask Mei’s brother was wearing? That some sort of Tuqu thing?”

Magdala and Dwayne looked at each other.

Saundra's eyes narrowed. "What?"

Magdala shrugged. "I have no idea. He had it when my lord uncle hired him."

Dwayne rubbed his chin. "My best guess is that it's a delayed spell with a mental trigger. It would require a thaumaturigical source of some sort though...”

Saundra said, "Show off."

"That's just a description of what we've seen so far." Magdala stepped closer to Dwayne. "Yes, Xa magic is tied with organic traits. Yes, there's probably some significance that the mask looks like a tiger's face, but there has to be more to it. Have you ever heard of a spell that can be delayed and reactivated over and over again? It’s more like a magical animal like a dragon or a shaderat than an inanimate object."

Dwayne's eyes rose to the night sky. "What if it's like the spell preparation technique?" His eyes dropped to meet Magdala's. "They must teach it in Tuqu too."

"No, it's a Souran technique, and only Sourans know it."

Dwayne grinned. "Just give me another day, and I'll have cracked it."

"You've been learning the spell preparation technique? When?"

Dwayne shrugged. "Earlier today."

"That's amazing! How does it work with Ri magic?"

"Not well. I-"

"Milady." Saundra put her hand on Magdala's shoulder. "We need to figure out what we're going to do next."

Magdala groaned. "If only Huan had just worked with us! If we have to try again with him, he'll lower our chances for success."

"Working together." Saundra smiled. "What a novel concept, milady."

Magdala elbowed the corporal, who oofed theatrically. "I'm working on it. As for what we're going to do next, I need to make more bullets and powder for Mei."

"She was awesome," said Saundra. "When she shot that firework out of the sky-"

"It was amazing, yes." Magdala frowned. "but she didn't take down the enemy mage. She... Dwayne, do you think she can shoot to kill? If she had to?"

Dwayne closed his eyes. "Yeah, I think so, but I think she'd rather not. If I had asked her to kill the mage back in Yumma, I think she would have refused."

Magdala pursed her lips. "Those things do look like people. Would that-"

"Those things are not people," said Saundra. "I looked that big one straight in the eye and saw an animal, a thing ready to tear me apart. A person cares. They don't."

Magdala glanced at the infirmary. "Okay, then I'll figure out something for Mei. As for Huan... Dwayne, can you keep him out of the way?"

Dwayne shook his head. "There's too much to do up at the estate. The stables have been cleaned out for the most part, and we've got the kitchens stocked, but the rest of the estate needs so much work. If I'm lucky, Lord Kalan will help but-"

"He won't. Somehow he'll find something else to do." Magdala sighed. "There's also the repercussions of this attack. The local mayor is probably going to have a field day, whoever he is."

"Oh, you don't want to know him," said Saundra. "I've been on guard duty when he comes by to talk to Colonel Harvey, and he's just the worst. He hasn't been by the estate?"

Magdala looked at Dwayne, who shrugged.

"Well," said Magdala. "Let's hope he's a reasonable man."

Dwayne counted on his fingers. "Him, the merchants, Baron Harvey, and whoever's in charge of the church. What are you going to do now, Magdala?"

Magdala pointed at Walcrest. "Research. I need more information about Fo magic."

Dwayne grinned. "I can help you with that."

***

Mei followed Huan's stretcher into a lamp lit room where a doctor peeked at Huan's wounds, cursing under her breath. "What happened this time?" she asked.

Mei let her chin drop to her chest. "We knocked him out."

"I'm sorry, you did what? Why?"

Mei knew why but had no way to describe the stomach dropping dread she'd felt when Huan had surrendered to Tiger. After all, the doctor hadn't listened to Dwayne and Maggie's account of how Huan had fought in Yumma, hadn't heard Huan's many excuses as to why he'd put the mask back on, hadn't watched gold leak into his eyes at the very hint of danger. She couldn't express how it just felt normal, expected even, to see Huan's eyes alight with glee and triumph as he charged at his opponent. She'd seen that expression many times just after Huan's scams had come to fruition, and so all she could say to the doctor now was, "We had to."

The doctor rubbed her temples. "Right." She gestured to the nurses. "Remove his shirt. Let's see what else they thought they had to do to him. I'll need more light."

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

A nurse nodded, grabbed a step stool, and reached for a lantern hanging from the ceiling. She twisted a knob, and white light blinded Mei, who shrank away.

"Are you okay?" asked the nurse.

Mei waved away her concern and forced her eyes open.

"Oh cups, that's bad." The other nurse had cut off Huan's tunic, revealing a mess of leaking blood-soaked bandages. The only thing that was clean was the Tiger Mask, which stared at Mei, daring her to rip it off her brother's chest.

Before Mei could do anything, the doctor stepped between Mei and Huan. "Boy nearly gets himself gutted and then charges right at an abomination. He's got bruises, cuts, and his stitches are definitely torn open.” She opened Huan's eyelids and peered into his eyes. "Looks like the iris is responsive. No damage there." She placed a couple of fingers on his wrist and counted under her breath. "Pulse is strong, if a little slow."

A nurse brandished a clean knife. "Remove the bandages, ma'am?"

"Yes, please do."

When Huan's bandages fell away, Mei's knees went weak, and she had to lean against the wall. How had her brother even moved with those wounds?

The doctor cursed. "Honestly, I shouldn't have bothered to stitch him up yesterday. Do the usual, please.”

While the two nurses got to work, the doctor peered into Huan’s nose and mouth. “Blue flecks in the nose. Bluecap mushroom poisoning. Not a bad way to sedate someone, though the dosage was probably arbitrary. He'll be fine. Miss, do you want us to wake him up?"

Mei stared at the mess Huan had made of his own body. If he'd just asked, she would have been able to help, and he wouldn't have gotten hurt so much.

"Miss?"

Mei's eyes shifted to the pristine Tiger Mask. As the nurses worked, it remained affixed to Huan's chest, which was strange. She peered closer. The edges of the mask had blurred into her brother’s skin, and the little chest hairs nearest the mask were white not black. Her stomach flipped. The mask was becoming part of Huan.

"Miss?"

Mei's vision filled with white cloth, and she looked up at the doctor.

The doctor looked her over, the white of her coat nearly blinding Mei again. "Are you injured anywhere?"

Mei shook her head.

"Are you sure?"

Mei nodded.

The doctor relented and stepped back. "Okay, then, did you hear my question?"

Mei's eyes returned to her brother. "Do I want you to wake him up?"

“Do you?”

Right now, Huan looked the most relaxed he'd been since before their parents' execution. She wished he could stay like that, but he wouldn't want to lay around and do nothing. While Tiger's behavior and Huan’s lies both worried her, she knew he would do the right thing in the end. “Wake him up.”

The doctor nodded. "Okay then." She turned to the nurses. "Get me a draft of umma oil and some water."

Mei slipped out of the room and into the now open air corridor. The alarm bells had finally quieted, allowing her to hear her own thoughts. One thought in particular chilled her. She could leave Huan, go hunt in Anders's forests, explore sand blasted Yumma, and keep her parents’ legacy safe without having to worry about keeping their son safe too. There were things she liked about her life now, Maggie's sincerity, Saundra's fun, and Dwayne's delicious breakfasts. ButShe stayed for her brother.

“How is he?” Sir Marcus peeked into the room.

Mei crossed her arms. “He will live."

Sir Marcus let out a breath. "Good, good.” He turned to Mei, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I was wondering if... if you could join me on a mission. I think that it will help him, keep him safe.”

Mei faced Sir Marcus. “What kind of mission?”

“The monster killing kind.”

***

With Magdala now in the infirmary, Dwayne was forced to wait outside with the soldier, and after a minute or so of silence, he put out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. Miss...”

The soldier glared at him and pointedly saluted. "Corporal, sir, Corporal Taylor.”

Dwayne didn't drop his hand. "Nice to meet you." She wasn't flinching from him, curling her lips, or narrowing her eyes, so she wasn't afraid of, disgusted by, or resentful of him. In a novel departure from the norm, Corporal Taylor had an issue with Dwayne himself, not his Wesen heritage. That meant he still had a chance.

When the soldier finally took his hand, clamping it in an iron grip, Dwayne accepted the challenge with a stiff smile. “Corporal Taylor. I'll remember that."

Taylor released his hand. "You'd better."

"I need a new cloak." Magdala joined them with her notebook, which she'd left in one of the infirmary's labs. “I don’t understand how either of you manage without sufficient storage.”

Corporal Taylor tapped her scabbard. “I usually just have weapons.”

Dwayne patted Na'cch, which was strapped to his back. "And this is usually enough," he said, earning himself another glare from Corporal Taylor. Hopefully, he'd figure out why soon enough.

Oblivious, Magdala sat down and opened her notebook, which had several pages torn out of it. “Okay, I'm ready," she said as Corporal Taylor sat down next to her. "Dwayne?”

Dwayne started to pace. “Right, Fo magic. I've experienced it directly. It's capable of manipulating emotions and healing wounds and... it's how they keep slaves working in the plantations. First, they suppress any feelings of fatigue or pain, then force you to work for hours. The next day they heal any injuries you may have suffered and do it all over again.”

Magdala circled healing in her notebook. "So the fact that Mei shot her in the shoulder..."

Dwayne nodded. "She'll be back. I've seen them heal worse wounds, wounds that should have been fatal."

"So there's another mage?"

Dwayne stopped pacing. "No."

Magdala looked up. "You said that... They can heal themselves?"

Dwayne frowned. "Yes, they can. Does that matter?"

Magdala stared at her notes. "So, she's doing this all alone." She tapped the page with her pencil. "You haven't mentioned them using their power on animals... or corpses."

Dwayne resumed pacing. "As far as I've seen and as far as I've read, Fo magic only works on humans."

Corporal Taylor hugged herself. “Those things aren’t human.”

“They were though.” Dwayne met Magdala's eyes. “I read the accounts from when the Southern Line was being built."

"The Vanurian counts tried to prevent it," said Magdala. "They sent hordes of people to attack the construction crews. That's why Qe mages were involved in the defense."

Dwayne shook his head. "Not people, corpses. The accounts reported three main kinds of flesh automatons. The ones running around, the ones that witch threw over the wall? Those are Hounds. They act the most like animals with just one focus, one desire.”

Magdala tapped her pencil on her chin. “Like... attacking whoever enters a certain place?”

Dwayne paced back and forth for a bit then shook his head. “More like ‘attack whatever you see’. Hounds are incapable of following complex orders but can be directed at a thing.”

Corporal Taylor scoffed. “That doesn't sound like any of the ones we just fought. All three of them were more than capable of following complex orders.”

Dwayne noted her hostility again. "There are two other kinds, Puppets and Revenants. Puppets, unlike Hounds, can follow complex orders but lack volition."

Corporal Taylor raised an eyebrow. "Volition? What's that?"

Dwayne's pacing stopped, and he tried to explain. “Volition is, uh, well it’s the ability to decide to do things. Like when you're hungry, you go and get something to eat.”

Corporal Taylor's eyes widened. “Those things eat?”

Dwayne's mouth fell open. "No, they don't need to eat."

"Then why are we talking about them eating?"

Magdala circled "lack volition" in her notebook then turned to Corporal Taylor. “Imagine a soldier who has to be told to eat, to sleep, to go to the bathroom, everything. A Hound will do what it feels like, but a Puppet will only do what it’s told. I’m guessing that controlling Hounds requires some ability to manipulate how they feel on a moment to moment basis, and since feelings are imprecise...”

Realization dawned on the corporal’s face. “They work on cravings."

Dwayne grinned. “Exactly."

Corporal Taylor glared at him again then turned pensive. “So the giant, the wraith, and that little one could follow orders but didn't need detailed instructions for anything. What does that make them?”

“Revenants, right?" Magdala looked up at Dwayne from her notes. "I’m guessing if you combine the ability to follow orders like a Puppet with the volition of a Hound, you get a Revenant."

Dwayne nodded. "Yes, you get something that's a little closer to human.”

Magdala connected "Revenant" to both "Puppet" and "Hound", then frowned. “You said that Fo mages use human corpses, and, sure, a monster would use a child's corpse, and the wraith looks like a normal human, but that giant? No real human is shaped like that.”

Dwayne said, “I have some guesses about that-”

“Lady Gallus, Corporal Taylor, I am glad you are safe." Colonel Harvey strode up to them with her aides in tow.

Magdala and the corporal both stood up, the former giving a brief curtsy, the latter standing to attention.

Dwayne stood to the side, noticing that the colonel had left him out. He cleared his throat. "You're looking well, Baron." He bowed.

Harvey's eyes narrowed, but she returned the bow. "As are you, Master Dwayne."

Sure, it had been like pulling teeth to get the colonel to lend him a few soldiers to help out around Walcrest, and now with this attack, it was going to be impossible to get any more help from the garrison, but Dwayne had to try anyway. “Baron, we should discuss what we’re going to do when Lord Gallus and his retinue arrive. I've received a list of attendees, and in addition to his staff, there’s a high ranking mage among-”

“My preparations are simple, Master Dwayne. I’m sure even you can figure out the rest. Besides, I’m told that Lord Kalan is shaky but awake.” She smirked. "Maybe, he'll be of some help."

Dwayne hid his clenched fist behind his back and smiled. “Good."

“Unfortunately, that’s the only bit of good news.” Harvey turned to Magdala. “I lost a half dozen soldiers tonight, there were more than twenty civilian casualties, and the garrison itself is in serious need of repair.” She picked up a piece of the infirmary. "Time's up, Lady Gallus. I will be petitioning your father to allow me to gather a force, enter Vanuria, and put an end to this threat."

Magdala shook her head furiously. “That's reckless. Without some indication that this is a military operation and not the actions of a sole agent, it would be-”

“In the meantime, I intend to reduce the danger to wall, town, and queen,” continued Harvey. “In two days time, every Vanurian in Walton will either be on the other side of the Southern Line or dead.”

***

As Colonel Harvey’s pronouncement hung in the still, dusty air, Magdala's grip tightened on her notebook. Everything she'd just learned, everything she'd experienced over the past two days, all of it spoke to Liraya's intelligence, cunning, and determination. With just her own magic and a few cheap fireworks, the enemy mage had wrecked chaos in Walton, distracted the entire Southern Line Garrison, and nearly kidnapped Lord Kalan. In that moment, Magdala coveted that freedom, the ability to do as she wished.

She cleared her throat. “I, I mean we, almost had her tonight. With more time, we could-"

"With more time, the enemy could rally her allies and bring this garrison to its knees." Colonel Harvey sighed. "When a barrel of sage apples goes bad, what do you do? Toss out the whole barrel."

Magdala shook her head. "Walton needs the Vanurians to thrive. Out here in the middle of nowhere, what else has this town got?”

Colonel Harvey squared her stance. “It has us. This garrison has stood here for a hundred years, and it will stand for a hundred years more." She put a gauntleted hand on Magdala's shoulder, her expression softening. "Your investigation was well intentioned and well led, but it’s time you went back to your studies.”

Magdala pulled away from her. “How are you planning to eject the Vanurians?”

The colonel’s eyes narrowed, and one of her aides sniffed and said, “Go to the Jungle, gather up every man, woman, and child dressed in those ridiculous scarves they wear, and march them right through the gate."

Magdala glared at the aide, who was the same one who'd challenged Magdala in Colonel Harvey's office. “And if they resist?”

The aide looked down her nose at Magdala. “We'll use force.”

“Yes, that sounds sensible.” Dwayne's words were slow, deliberate. “They’re just heretics after all.”

The aide smiled. “Yes, exactly."

Dwayne swept his hands wide, encompassing all of the destruction. “Then let’s condemn them all. They're nothing like you Sourans after all. They don’t take people from their homes and transport them across a dark and terrifying sea to work in plantations and mines for masters who care nothing for their well being. Nothing like you Sourans.”

Magdala's jaw dropped, and the aide’s face turned red. “See here-”

“Enough.” Colonel Harvey stepped between Dwayne and her aide. “Master Dwayne, remember your place.”

When the Ri mage stepped back with his fists clenched at his side, Magdala stepped in. “How are you going to guarantee that they get into Vanuria safely?” she asked Colonel Harvey.

Colonel Harvey waved her hand dismissively. “We’re not.”

“Two days is a short amount of time to prepare. What provisions are you giving them?”

“None.”

“Have you informed my father about-”

“I am the ranking commander in the field, Lady Gallus." Colonel Harvey stepped up to Magdala. "I am doing this to keep Soura safe, and those are Vanurians out there, not our people. Need I say more?”

Magdala didn't retreat. "Only that I can continue my investigation to catch the real culprit.”

Colonel Harvey's jaw flexed, but then she let out a breath. “You may do so, but without garrison resources or aid. Corporal Taylor?”

Saundra’s salute only came a moment too slow. “Yes, ma’am!”

“Join Marlon squad. Report to the sergeant.”

“No!” said Magdala.

Colonel Harvey’s face flushed. “Excuse me?”

Magdala opened her mouth, but she couldn't find a single argument that would keep Saundra assigned to her. Defeated, she closed her mouth.

Colonel Harvey nodded. “Good, you know where you stand.” She glanced at Dwayne and then lowered her voice. “I assume you two have business up in Walcrest now that your lord uncle is awake. I suggest you attend to it.” The colonel turned away and with a sweep of her cloak, left, her aides in tow.

Magdala didn't move, her mind belatedly offering possible responses. Maybe she should have invoked her father again? No, Colonel Harvey hadn’t liked her appeal to a higher authority before and wouldn't like it now. What if she pointed out that only Saundra had experience fighting off Liraya’s creations? No, that was untrue. After tonight, every soldier and town guard had experience fighting the fiends. Maybe if she just admitted that she liked having Saundra around?

“Well, this is it, milady.” Saundra smiled weakly.

Magdala looked up into the corporal’s brown eyes. “I’m sorry. I just... I..."

Saundra patted Magdala on the back. “It was fun."

Magdala took Saundra's hand. “It was epic. Better than the time I fought a dragon.”

Saundra grinned, her eyes bright. “That’s a story to tell then.” She saluted. “I’ll be seeing you, milady.”

Magdala released Saundra's hand. “Be seeing you, corporal.”

The corporal turned and marched away.

“Are you okay?” asked Dwayne.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Magdala turned to him, ready to lie, to say that she was fine, but she knew that he knew, so she said, “No.”

Dwayne gave her a half-smile. “With any luck, you'll see her again. What are you going to do now? Go back to studying?”

Magdala shook her head. “No, I’m going to find that witch.”