1

We relaxed by Keeper Dearbhaile, keeping watch over her. Something bothered me, but I couldn't put words to it. Angriz sat cross legged on one side of the fire and I on a log on another. She lay between us.

"Carter, a thought has been troubling me for a while: How do you recognize a lot about our world one moment, then, you profess to be almost unfamiliar with anything?"

I sighed, wondering how my big friend would react to what I intended to reveal. "In my world, Angriz, the Realm is part of a fantasy role playing game called 'BattleHammer.' The adventure is part acting, part story-telling, part war-game and part dice rolling. One person sets up the core of the story, describing the scene and controlling all the characters not controlled by his friends in the group. His friends control the main characters in the story. They grow and develop as they overcome challenges which the first person, called the Game Creator, develops."

I paused and looked over at Angriz to gauge his reaction. He glanced over at me, his face blank, and indicated I should continue.

Bracing myself, I continued, "The character I controlled within the game was named, 'Drago the Clanless.' He is a hero and Lord Mordecai is the villain."

"I understand, now. This is why you called him a good guy when you arrived here." I nodded. "So, in your world, this is all make believe?" I nodded again. "How shocked were you when you learned otherwise?"

"When Lord Mordecai showed up in my bedroom? Terrified would be a more accurate way to describe my feelings. But, afterwards, I was too excited to be here to feel anything else. Of course, I was a bit upset when the Crimson Walker appeared. They aren't in the game."

"Upset?" Angriz laughed. "You tore through the doors of the throne room, eyes the size of coppers, and face white. I thought you were going to soil yourself!"

"Makes sense," I said. "I almost did!"

We both laughed and this drained some of the left-over tension from our battle. We fell silent; lost in our own thoughts for a while. I tried to figure out what a Walker of Worlds was, and what I was supposed to do as one. We checked on Keeper Dearbhaile every so often to be sure she was comfortable and she didn't get any worse. After two hours, I turned to Angriz with a question which had been floating in the back of my mind.

"What is Vashara?"

He grinned. "As I learned the tale from my father and clerics of Darastrix, the Father of Dragons, Vashara is Paradise for our kind. Darastrix created another world, similar to this one, but perfect, for our afterlife. Verdant forests, soaring mountains, barren deserts and steaming jungles, in short, every type of place members of dragonkind prefers to lair are within. All is unspoiled by anything or anyone. Every dragon gets their own territory, plenty of food, even for the most gluttonous of us, and endless treasure for their hoards with peace and love everlasting. Even better, from my perspective, you are reunited with all of your loved ones."

I didn't plan on pointing out to him from the way he described Vashara, he would never be reunited with his human mother, or even if he'd be allowed in as a half-dragon. 'The place sounds like something for pure dragons. How cruel not to spell this out if true.'

Instead, I said, "Sounds wonderful."

"Is there anything similar in your world, Carter?"

"Magic doesn't exist in my world," I reminded him. A niggling feeling tickled my mind for a bit before coming forth. "Angriz, how much time would you say passed since the attack?"

"At least several hours. Why?"

"The sun hasn't moved! It still seems like an hour after sunrise!"

"An illusion because we are under the effects of Stop-Time."

"What?" I said, showing my brilliance.

"A spell," Angriz said. "Magic is not my forte; you will need to wait for Keeper Dearbhaile to awaken to learn more. I guess she cast the incantation sometime before she lost consciousness."

"I did wit' Carter's assistance," she said as she struggled to sit up, startling me.

I picked myself up from where I had fallen off the log and hurried to her side. I helped her rise. Once upright and leaning on a log Angriz had dragged over for her, she summoned her pack with a wave of her hand and pulled out an emerald green robe, trimmed in white. With our aid, she dressed and explained how her spell worked.

"With a Stop-Time spell, you think time stopped, hence the name," she said. "In actuality, the name be misleadin'. The way the magic works is nae by stoppin' time, but by creatin' a bubble within a circle of special gems. Within this bubble, everythin' be increased in speed to the point everythin' outside the bubble seems tae be locked in place. For us, a month will go by. For the rest of the world, only eight hours will pass."

"Incredible," I said, awed. "Why do we need a month of time?"

"Two reasons," she said. "One, so Angriz and I may recover from our injuries. Two, we may begin teachin' ye."

"Teaching me what?"

"Angriz will be teaching ye more about th' use o' a sword. I will begin teaching ye about yer Moment o' Prescience."

"My what?"

"Yer Moment o' Prescience. 'Tis an ability tae peer into the future, but only a few seconds. 'Tis what aided ye in yer recent battles."

"How do you know this?" I asked.

"The night before we left her home, the Vaush-Tauric spoke o' some awakenin' powers ye might develop and gave me special stones so I might be aware of when this happens."

"Oh really?" I said, pissed off. "What else did she tell you, and neglect to relate to me?"

"Carter," she said, plaintive. "There is nae reason tae be angry. The Vaush-Tauric dinae do this tae be malicious. She could nae identify what abilities ye might develop. She only gave me some magic items which may identify them when they be activated."

"Sure," I growled.

I rose to my feet and stalked away from the fire. 'I'm fed up with being lied to and used. Who do these fucking people think they are?! They say they need my help, yet they keep secrets from me! This isn't how you get help from someone!'

I seethed in silence for a few minutes before I heard Angriz come up behind me.

"What do you want?" I said, icy voiced.

"You should not be angry with me, nor Keeper Dearbhaile, or the Vaush-Tauric. The one you should direct your anger against is Drago and his mysterious benefactor. They caused you to be drawn from your home. Had we a choice, you would still be there."

My anger deflated and I became ashamed of how I'd reacted to my friends.

"You are right. I wasn't fair in directing my anger at you. I'm sorry."

"No apologies necessary."

We headed back to the fire. I walked over to Keeper Dearbhaile and knelt before her as I had seen Japanese warriors do before their lords in movies: knees together, hands stretched out and together, bent at the waist with my forehead on my folded hands. I could think of no higher honor render as I prepared to beg her forgiveness.

"Keeper Dearbhaile, I thought wrong of you in believing you meant to take advantage of me. With the aid of Lord Angriz, I at last remembered you are not this kind of person. You do not wish me harm, nor to control me or my actions. Though I am unworthy, I beg your forgiveness for my thoughts and words."

I waited for her decision.

"Carter, though I be hurt by yer accusations and misunderstandin' o' me intentions, I do nae hold them against ye. I believe I would feel tha same way in your place. Forgiveness be not for me to give because ye did no wrong. Nonetheless, if ye require me tae do so for us tae resume as before, I forgive ye," she said.

"Thank you milady." I rose to a seated position.

"Now tae other matters. Angriz, as Carter assisted me in setting up Stop-Time, he informed me ye met one of me attackers before. How is this?"

I had a lot of questions myself, but decided to wait for my answers. I remained at Keeper Dearbhaile's feet while Angriz perched on the log next to the fire. He folded his arms and took a deep breath. He seemed to be gathering his thoughts. After a while, he began to speak.

2

"As you are aware, during my eighth summer, my mother was attacked by the red dragon named as Skoroth. After my father battled him, he left Skoroth's fate in my hands. The red informed me he had been paid to harm my family. He didn't tell me who, or why. On the flight home after I slew the red, my father initiated me into the ways of the ranger. He taught me to read sign - evidence of life traveling through a forest -, track my quarry and survive off the land. Other than those, I had no aptitude for the skills of a ranger. My father saw this and apprenticed me to a legendary Leviathan Warmaster friend of his named Mercado. This seemed to be something I was well suited for! Mercado protected an Ultimate Magus named Nicodemus Vasharin who I later learned to be his best friend.

"Mercado was twice my size. He had gray skin, broad shoulders and bulging muscles from a lifetime of swinging his massive sword. He had close cropped black hair, a jutting eyebrow ridge, wide jaw and glowing silver eyes. The Warmaster possessed gold studs in his brow just above each eye and almost always dressed in spiked ebony plate mail. A battle I never learned about left him limned in an eldritch blue light. He was a stern, yet fair, taskmaster. When I received disciplining, I did so for an infraction he'd already warned me of.

"I rose each morning before dawn and commenced my daily drills. They lasted until mid-morning, followed by my morning bath, then breakfast. After the morning meal, he would instruct me in various fighting forms. Each form expanded on the last. Mid-afternoon was another meal. Again, we washed. Later, I would practice what I had been taught earlier in the day and attempt to blend the lesson with what I had already learned. Mercado would watch and correct me on occasion, but for the most part, everything flowed with ease for me. This part of my training would last until sunset. I'd wash for the third time at this point and eat another meal, then I would engage in mock battles. Mercado called them mock, but I received my fair share of scars until my scales grew in. After they did, Mercado seemed to push me harder than ever before.

"Nicodemus also took part in my training, but only in creating constructs, mindless drones, for me to battle against. One summer, just before my nineteenth birthday, Nicodemus and Mercado went to town leaving me alone. I explored Nicodemus' tower as usual when I finished with my other tasks. I found the Ultimate Magus' laboratory to be unlocked. This had never happened before, and I was curious as to what was within. I snuck into the room, my heart pounding - I knew I was forbidden from entering the laboratory.

"Shadows and dimness filled the room with many different tables and shelves, covered with sheets of white cloth. I peeked under a couple, but couldn't make out anything. They were all hidden by magical darkness. Further in, near the back wall of the laboratory, I discovered a column of crimson light. Within this light stood the Demon King, Lucien. I recognized him from tales of my childhood."

***

"I think all children grow up with tales o' th' Demon King," said Keeper Dearbhaile.

***

"He was taller than Mercado," Angriz continued, "And covered with a scaled, ebony hide. The crimson light surrounding him reflected off his skin. He had a crown of horns circling his head. His bat-like wings were furled against his back. His massive arms crossed his thick chest. He wore crimson leather pants and gold dragon hide boots. Electric blue-green eyes pierced to my soul. He watched me approach as if he had been expecting my arrival and smiled as I stopped just short of the column of light. In a voice as smooth as butter, he spoke.

'Hello, Angriz,' he said.

'Hello, Lord Lucien,' I said, cautious.

'You have a question for me.'

'I do.'

'You wish knowledge of who your family's secret enemy is.'

'I do."

'I can assist you with this information.'

'I'm not surprised. What would you want in exchange for this information?'

'A small favor: a group of deep elves abducted my son. I would get him but for this,' he gestured at the crimson light.

'You are a father?' I asked, surprised.

'I am. By Zatanna, the Sorceress Queen of Amcorath.'

'Why doesn't she get him back?'

'She is too preoccupied with becoming a lich,' the Demon King stated.

'Wonderful. And what do I do with your son once I rescued him?'

'Nothing. He is able to fend for himself. After he is rescued, I will grant this information to you. Fair?'

'Fair,' I agreed.

"Due to the terms of my apprenticeship, I wasn't able to look for Lucien's son for another three years. However, soon after I began my search, I found he was being held in the Utterdark. At the same time, I found out about the deep elves. They are almost the epitome of evil. They had no understanding of mercy, kindness, or love - even for each other. They had no aversion to gore, filth, rape, incest or torture. They had an elected democratic council of elders, but they were figureheads and administrators because the deep elves had few laws. Each did as he, or she, wished and took what they could, believing one could keep what belonged to him only if he were strong enough to. Somehow, this organization worked."

***

Angriz paused to take a drink of water. I took advantage to ask him a question.

"Why do you speak of the deep elves in the past tense? What happened to them?"

"Patience, my friend," he said with a chuckle. "I'm getting to it."

"Ye are aware yer deal was nae fair, don't you?" Keeper Dearbhaile asked.

"I do now. Remember, I was only nineteen. I thought I knew everything."

Keeper Dearbhaile moved with care until she sat next to me. He took another swallow, set the water skin down and resumed.

***

"I wasn't eager to head down to their village, but I had made a bargain. I followed an ancient map I had discovered in the back of a forgotten library to a cavern which led into the Utterdark. It would end with me being within a mile of the village where Lucien's son was being held. I gathered supplies and set off on my journey. It took me a month of travel from the town where I found the map but I located the cavern. The entrance was in the side of a cliff which fell to the sea below. Just as it was pictured on the parchment map, the cavern was shaped like a demon's skull. The opening was the mouth of the 'skull.' I missed the symbolism. It took another three days to reach the village. Nothing I had researched prepared me for the depravities before me.

"While I scouted the perimeter of the village, I saw my first deep elf. I couldn't tell if it was male or female. About the same size as Keeper Dearbhaile, the creature possessed a hairless head with the filthy pale green skin pulled so tight you could make out the features of its underlying skull. The creature was hideous. I named it Ugliness in my mind. He wore an iridescent outfit which resembled padded leather armor. He was approached by another who looked just like him. The two got into an argument, their chittering voices were high-pitched and piercing. Ugliness pulled a thin-bladed weapon which resembled a rapier studded with barbs and rammed the sword into the middle of the other one's gut. Ugliness pulled the blade out slow as the second grasped his shoulder and seemed to be begging. He laughed and twisted his weapon, sawing the sadistic blade in and out of its victim's body. Though I watched for about twenty minutes, the wounded one still didn't die. I slipped away and resumed my scouting, trying not to lose my last meal.

"It took me an hour to scout the village perimeter. I understood I would have to take extreme care after what I had witnessed a little while ago. During the hour, I saw fifteen murders, seven rapes, three robberies and a fire. I despaired, certain I wouldn't find Lucien's son alive. When I made my way back to where I'd seen Ugliness, I found him seated and feasting on the flesh of the other. I moved with rapid stealth back towards the tunnel to the cavern and vomited. Afterward, I sat to attempt to come to terms with what I had seen.

"How do I begin to describe my thoughts about it? I was horrified: I had never seen anything like this before. My parents raised me to believe life is sacred. I was disgusted with myself for not doing anything to help the deep elf. I was also almost scared witless. I understood if I didn't rescue Belial, Lucien wouldn't give me the information I so needed.

"An hour flew by before I decided to deal with my disgust after my mission was complete. My father and Mercado would have been disappointed in me for allowing this to stop me for so long. I headed back to my previous position, resolved to advance. I knew I wouldn't be able to utilize the usual methods to find my quarry, so I began to run through other methods to get what I wanted. By the time I had reached the village once more, I had my plan. I would head into each building I found and look within. Any that attacked me would forfeit their lives.

"I had counted ten dilapidated structures on my scouting, so I slipped through the shadows until I was able to enter the nearest. It was empty, as were the next four I searched. I found Lucien's son chained to a wall in the fifth. He was filthy, covered in rags and had silvery blood oozing from different wounds on his face and arms.

'I'm Angriz,' I said. 'Your father sent me to rescue you.'

'I'm Belial,' he croaked. 'My asshole father sold me to these maggoty little worms.'

I felt my eyes widen and I shook my head in disgust. 'Why am I not surprised?' I said, almost to myself.

'I do not know, maybe because my father is the King of Demons? See if you can find the keys to these damned chains, and let's get out of here.'

"I was congratulating myself on having been so sneaky as I turned to find a key for the chains and discovered I hadn't been as stealthy as I had thought. The room was filled with deep elves. They had swords bared, pikes raised and axes ready to cleave.

"I drew my sword in a slow and deliberate manner and gestured over my shoulder at the half-demon. 'He's coming with me,' I said with a boldness I didn't feel.

"The tallest of the nearby deep elves shook its head. 'Dinner not going anywhere."

"I sighed. Somehow I figured the creature wanted a fight. I drew a deep breath to shout, hoping to freeze some of them in place as Mercado had taught. I felt a tickling sensation in my throat like I had to cough. I tried to clear my throat, forgetting I had filled my lungs for a shout, causing me to gag. At the same time, I lost the air in a violent exhalation. A gout of flame roared from my mouth, scorching my tongue and incinerating about twelve of the gathered deep elves. It also set the place on fire. The remaining deep elves shrieked in terror and bolted from the now burning building. I whirled around, searching for the key, but I couldn't find it.

"In an act of desperation, I raced over to the chained demon-spawn, gripped the red hot chains, and pulled. The heated metal seared into my flesh but was weak enough that it parted with only a little effort on my part. The room was an inferno; the super-heated air scorched my lungs. The walls were aflame and the exit was blocked by fire. Belial teleported out. I didn't want to burn to death, so I did the only thing I could think of which was to gather my waning strength and charge the nearby wall of flame. I exploded through it and hit the ground which was about five feet lower than the floor I had been on. My feet tangled and I slammed to the ground.

"After a second, I rolled to my feet and got ready to run, but discovered myself surrounded by deep elves. One tried to run me through with one of those barbed rapiers I noticed earlier. I raised my sword arm to block the strike, only to realize I dropped my sword when the deep elf's sword drew a furrow of pain along my arm. Roaring with the pain, I grabbed the elf's arm which was preparing to saw at my wound. My left fist locked around the wrist of the elf. At the same time, I slammed my right fist into its arm just beneath where I had my grip. The arm broke, causing the deep elf to shriek in pain. I ignored the scream and forced it to plunge its blade into its neighbor's heart. Next, I released my grip and punched the elf in front of me, breaking its nose. I lifted it bodily and flung it into its companions. With that few moments of breathing room, I bent and swept my blade into my hand. Clasping the greatsword in both hands, I scythed into the crowd of deep elves.

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"Cruel, and evil though they were, the deep elves were no swordsmen. Their fighting style was more suited to mob fighting and sneak attacks. Against a trained warrior, they wouldn't have stood a chance. Against one who'd been trained by Warmaster Mercado, they were as grain at harvest time. I was Death personified as I danced through them. Their blades proved no impediment to my own. Whenever one of the rapiers was brought up to block, or deflect my assault, the weight of my greatsword, and my own strength, shattered the thin blades. Soon, all had either fallen before me, or had run off.

"Belial reappeared beside me and congratulated me on my handiwork. I shrugged him away, and headed back to the surface. When I returned to Nicodemus' Tower, I learned I was no longer welcome within. While I was away, Lucien had been busy turning my teachers against me. The only reason I wasn't attacked by them, they said, was because of what was owed to my father."

3

Angriz fell silent. I was ready to begin my questions, but before I could, Keeper Dearbhaile spoke.

"That's terrible," she said. "Did ye at least get yer answers?"

"Not for a long time, and not from Lucien. I guess he comes by his title, 'The King of Liars,' honest," Angriz said.

I chuckled, causing my friends to look at me with curiosity.

"The King of Liars doing something honest," I explained. "Pretty ironic, don't you think?" Still nothing. "Never mind."

"That was the first time ye used yer breath weapon, Sir Angriz?" Keeper Dearbhaile asked.

"Indeed," he said. "I admit, I was a little burned up that my father hadn't told me."

They both laughed at this.

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed. "Puns you laugh at, but not irony?"

"I'm sorry, Carter," Angriz said, "But your joke had no humor."

I growled, then decided to have my questions answered instead of debating jokes. "What is a Moment of Prescience?"

Keeper Dearbhaile seemed taken aback by my abrupt subject change, then shrugged. "'Tis a momentary glimpse into yer personal future, serving to alert ye tae imminent danger."

"Great," I muttered. "Of all Spider-Man's powers, I get the Spidey-Sense. I'd rather have the proportional strength of a spider."

"I'm sorry? Who?"

"Never mind. What other powers might I manifest?"

"I do nae know, Carter. The Vaush-Tauric dinae inform me. Perhaps she dinae either."

"That's another thing I've been wondering about: Why do you two all of a sudden call her the Vaush-Tauric? At her palace, you had no problem with calling her Lady S-"

Angriz clamped his hand over my mouth.

"She told me about this one," he said. "Because of who she is, Keeper Dearbhaile and I, and anyone else who knows her, cannot speak her name away from her home. You, however, because of who you are, can. Not only that, but if you speak her name, you are able to summon her to you."

He released his grip on me. I rubbed my jaw before speaking again.

"Alright, we'll table that one for now. Next question: Keeper Dearbhaile, what do you know about the Bloodtaste?"

"Tis a type of madness that be inflicted on half-dragons when they taste humanoid blood, renders them animal-like. However, before they are able tae do anything else, they seek out and destroy those who were closest tae them before th' contagion hit. Certain magic, if employed fast enough, purges them of that drive, but does nothin' else. If the mage be powerful enough, th' half-dragon may be restored tae what they were."

"I've never heard of this before," Angriz said, surprised.

"That be because there has nae been a mage powerful enough tae do so in many a century."

"Are you saying that I am such a mage?" I asked, filled with disbelief.

"Nae, Carter. Ye be more. Ye be th' Walker o' Worlds, remember?"

"So I've heard," I said. "Will you tell me what that means, now?"

"I would, Carter, but I do nae know."

I sighed. "Alright. You said that if a half-dragon tasted the blood of a humanoid, they'd be stricken with the Bloodtaste. When I fixed Angriz' jaw earlier today, my fingers got sliced pretty bad. My blood flowed into his mouth, yet no Bloodtaste."

"Tis because o' who ye be," she said again.

"What does that mean?" I asked, frustrated.

"I'm sorry I do nae have answers for ye, Carter," she said, unhappy. "I am frustrated nae knowin' tha answers tae yer questions."

"Indeed." I turned to Angriz. "Do half-dragons, or dragons in general, have a rapid healing factor?"

"No," he said.

"How do you explain his rapid healing?" I asked Keeper Dearbhaile.

"Maybe yer blood has healin' properties?"

I shook my head. "Your wounds didn't heal as fast as his did. I was still bleeding when I began to bandage your cuts. And you are still sore, I can tell from how you are sitting. Angriz has no pain."

"I'm sorry, Carter. I do nae have answers for ye," she said, plaintive and near tears.

"Relax, Keeper Dearbhaile. I'm not upset," I said. After a few minutes to allow her to calm herself, I asked, "Is Keeper Dearbhaile your full name?"

"Ye took a while tae ask," she said with amusement. "But nae, 'tis not my full name. My name be Dearbhaile Galonadriel. Keeper be me title."

"Oh," I said. "What is a Keeper?"

"A Keeper be one who learns magic from a Vaush-Tauric. They be apprenticed for two centuries, then they return to their clan. After about one hundred years, or so, they lead their clan."

"Wow. That's impressive," I said.

She smiled. "Do nae worry yerself, Carter. We still be friends."

I smiled back. "Have there been other Walkers of Worlds?"

"Aye," she replied. "One before ye. He assisted the mighty Chokkan in a great war Almost four thousand years ago."

"Four thousand..." I paused, thinking, trying to figure out why that particular number was so familiar. "So was he involved in the war that led to Chokkan crowning Kandel Orwen king?"

"Aye," she said again, "'Twas th' Walker's suggestion that made Kandel king. Chokkan was going tae name th' Walker king at first."

"Wow. Do you know his name?"

"Nae, I think that be lost tae history."

4

"When does my training begin?" I asked my friends.

"We'll begin your swordsmanship training in the morning. I'll wake you," Angriz said.

"I'll train ye in yer powers as they appear. Th' only one ye won't be needin' trainin' in be yer Moment o' Prescience. That one be like breathin'."

"Understood."

I began to prepare the mid-day meal as my friends stretched out and relaxed at my suggestion. I got some wire from Angriz' pack and began rigging a rack to place over the fire. I intended to grill some rabbit. First, I had to snare a few.

I headed over to the brush, hoping the spell had trapped some game. Moments after I stepped into the tree line, I encountered an enraged boar. I forgot all about the rabbits and raced back to the camp with the boar hot on my heels. I hadn't thought someone could outrun a boar, but I've discovered that fear can give you wings. I spotted a clear path to the fire, so I directed my feet to it. As soon as I was within five feet of the blaze, I dove over and rolled to my right. The wild pig ran right through the flames, with horrible squeals. The sounds came to an abrupt end as I scrambled to my feet. Angriz had embedded the blade of his sword in the back of the animal's skull.

"Boar okay for lunch?" I said, dusting myself off.

"Nae, I do nae want tae eat ye, Carter," Keeper Dearbhaile said.

I admit: I missed that one for a few minutes. I started dressing the boar for lunch and had my hand clutching its entrails when the realization she insulted me hit me.

"That was a messed up thing to say, Keeper Dearbhaile," I said as Angriz began laughing. "Are you sure it is wise to laugh at a man with his hands filled with bloody intestines, Angriz?"

"Are you sure it is wise to threaten a man who can breathe fire?"

Keeper Dearbhaile giggled. "Looks like ye have been topped, Carter!"

"Indeed," I said.

I tossed a handful of boar guts at her. She shrieked and flung her hands up, stopping the flight of intestines with a spell. She made a complex series of gestures, and they came flying back my way. I ducked at the last moment and the boar guts wrapped themselves around Angriz' face nice and neat. Keeper Dearbhaile and I exploded with laughter. Angriz growled, pulled his sword and leaped to attack. I wasn't going to move, but then my Moment of Prescience kicked in, slowing the world around me.

I saw myself cut in half by the mighty swing of his greatsword. Blood, my blood, flew through the air and drenched Keeper Dearbhaile who sat, stunned by what occurred. Angriz fell to the ground, lamenting that I hadn't moved as he'd expected me to. Then, the world snapped back to normal speed.

I dropped to the ground. As I fell, I felt the breeze from the near miss. I rolled to my feet and grabbed my sword from where it lay near my bedroll. I drew the blade from its sheathe, which I then discarded, as Angriz came at me once more. I managed to block, or deflect, his next three swipes.

"What the fuck are you doing, Angriz?" I said near the top of my lungs.

"Training you," he yelled back, swinging his sword from his hips.

"That wasn't supposed to begin until after we slept, you rat bastard!" I jumped back from the assault.

"I lied," he said with a laugh.

I growled, and moved to counter attack. He parried each of my swings. Growing frustrated, I swung my sword with both hands from behind my shoulders. I was swinging for the fences, as they say in baseball. He leaned back, allowing my swing to whirl me, off balance, in a circle. As I spun, he slapped me on my ass with the flat of his blade.

"Take things easy, Carter," he instructed. "Watch your opponent and study his movements. Do not over swing as you have just done. In a real battle, you opponent won't swat you with his sword, he will take your life."

Nodding my head, I exchanged strikes with him once more. After a few moments of watching Angriz, I was certain I would be able to hit him with my next swing. I turned the sword so I would strike him with the flat of the blade. I swung, moving my sword on a path running from his left shoulder to his right hip. Somehow, Angriz caught my blade with his and deflected my strike away from his body. At the same time, he kicked me in my chest, sending me tumbling across the ground. I lost my sword as I rolled in a reverse somersault. I attempted to catch my breath, but the big half-dragon warrior was having none of that. He continued to press his attack. He raised his greatsword above his head in both hands and attempted to bring it crashing down on my skull. I rolled to my left at the last instant and when the sword got buried in the dirt, kicked Angriz in the back of his right knee. The joint buckled and his forehead collided with the hilt of his sword, dazing him. I sprang to my feet and swung my leg sideways, catching him alongside his face. He crashed to the ground and raised a shaking hand.

"I yield, Carter," he said.

I stood over him with my hands on my hips, breathing hard. I looked down at him, wondering if he intended this as a ploy to resume our battle. At last, I gripped the outstretched hand and helped him to his feet. He clapped me on my shoulder, near to knocking me from my feet.

"Good thing for your Moment of Prescience, eh? I would have had you a few times otherwise," he said.

"My power never activated," I said. "I think it only does when my life is in true danger."

"What are you talking about? I was trying to kill you. This how you are able to get the edge you need to win: when your life is in danger."

"What the fuck? I thought I was important to you fuckers! Now, you try to kill me and say it is necessary for my training? What if you had succeeded?"

"Keeper Dearbhaile would have resurrected you," Angriz said, his voice mild.

"Oh, is that what she would have done? Well, what is wrong with me? Getting upset and all."

"Carter," Keeper Dearbhaile said.

"Stop." I stalked off, away from the fire, moving as close to the invisible wall of the Stop-Time spell as I could get. If the enchantment hadn't been in place, I would have continued on my way, abandoning them.

5

I don't know how long I stood in the dark, nursing my hurt and anger. A twig snapped, then a light curse cut the air. Keeper Dearbhaile approached. I turned to her.

"You shouldn't be up," I admonished. Worry for her well-being pushed my anger aside.

"I had tae come talk tae ye," she replied. "Angriz be tae upset tae."

I helped her to sit on the ground and sat next to her. "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you.

"Nae, ye should nae have. But I understand. I am also tae blame because I should have realized now might nae be a good time tae try tae explain things."

"Yes, you should have," I shot back. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I guess I'm still a bit upset over someone who I thought was my friend trying to kill me."

"That makes sense. However, I'd like ye tae consider that Sir Angriz is yer friend, yet. He knows about the Moment o' Prescience ability and thought 'twould keep ye from harm."

"Why didn't he say something?"

"Because," she said, "he wanted yer reactions tae be real. The way he was trained was in real combat situations. His life was in danger all the time."

"So does that make it okay for him to do the same to me?"

"Nae. However, do ye think he knows any other way to train someone?"

"No," I conceded. "Why do you think my Moment of Prescience ability didn't activate?"

"I dinae know. Maybe 'twas as ye said. Somehow, you knew yer life was nae in real danger, so it did not."

"Hmm, do you think so?"

"Again, I dinae know. I hope so."

I decided to think on that a while. "If I may, I'd like to ask you about yourself."

"Aye?" she said. "An' what would ye be wantin' tae know?"

"Tell me about your early years," I invited.

"How early are ye askin' aboot?"

"I don't know," I said. "What were your parents like?"

"Ach, me folken. That be a gran' tale indeed. Where shall we be startin'?" She mused. "Aye, I'll tell ye o' one o' me earliest days, eh?"

"That would be grand, dear lady," I said.

6

"Me father be a priest o' th' god Kellün. He tended th' clan temple. He would sit me on his knee an' regale me wit' tales o' our Father, as Kellün be known tae th' Elven. Me mam would also listen as she prepared our meals. She be a bard, a travelin' singer an' tale-spinner. We had a simple life, yet a wonderful one tae me.

"One day, a dwarf came tae our temple an' asked tae speak wit' me da while I be helpin' him prepare for th' evenin' ceremony. He had a tan face, and long, black hair which fell tae his shoulders. An ugly scar ran down his forehead, across his left eye and ended at his chin. His eyes be a light, light blue and sparkled wit' evil. He leered at me an' me da told me tae leave. I tell ye, I ran from th' temple as if chased by orcs. I didna stop runnin' until I be at me mam's side. I told why I be runnin' when she asked, an' she hurried tae th' temple, orderin' me tae stay behind.

"Of course, I followed behind her. I didna know what I would be able tae do, but I didna want tae leave me folken tae deal wit' th' evil by themselves, do ye understand? Me mam strode right intae th' temple and I scurried aroun' tae a window near where me da had been standin' when I ran home. I was able tae hear everythin'.

'Ye would be helping yerselves, is all I'm saying, th' dwarf said in a voice like a rockslide.

'Not relevant,' me da replied. 'We Renline be a peaceful folk. I can nae urge me people tae war against th' orcs. Fighting be against our ways.'

'At least come with me an' witness their wickedness for yerself,' the dwarf urged.

"Me mam spoke up. 'I'll go with this one who scared our daughter so,' she said in Gaeilge tae me da. 'I will discover if he tells th' truth.'

'I'd rather ye didna, but if ye must, be careful, lass. I do nae wish tae loose ye,' he responded in kind.

"I never saw her again."

7

"When did you learn the dwarf was Drago?"

Keeper Dearbhaile seemed surprised. "How did ye know?"

"Seems like his method of operation."

"A short while before me first century, I learned it be he who visited me clan."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank ye, Carter."

"Why did your father allow her to go alone?"

"Allow her?" Keeper Dearbhaile laughed aloud. "Carter, me father naevair allowed me mam tae do anythin'. They had tae much respect fer each other tae talk so. Besides, me da had tae stay behind tae tend tae th' temple. And he had nae reason tae think she might be in danger. Neither o' them did."

"Didn't you try to tell them?"

"I'd have had me bum warmed for eavesdroppin' on their words."

"What does Renline mean?" I asked to change the subject while trying to push away the mental image of said bum in the light of the moon.

"'The Chosen of Kellün,'" she said. "The humans call us High Elves."

I felt my jaw drop. I wondered if she knew what had happened to her clan. 'How isolated has she been from the rest of the world?'

"Seventy-three years ago," she said, "He almost killed every one of my people."

'Which answers that question.' Aloud, I said, "Are you reading my mind?"

She smiled. "Nae, I would nae do so tae ye."

"Good to know," I replied. "What do you like to do to relax?"

She gazed at me for a few moments before answering. "I like tae wander the forest near the Vaush-Tauric's home and I like tae paint. Why do ye ask?"

"You are an interesting lady. Feel free to ask me anything you like."

"Where did that come from?"

"I realized I've been asking you all these questions, and wanted to let you know you're allowed to do the same with me."

"Ah, okay. Tell me a bit aboot yer world, Carter."

"Alright," I said. "Here is something: In my world, we don't have magic like what exists here in the Realm."

"What do ye mean nae like here? Is magic nae the same everywhere?"

"No. For example, here in the Realm, you're able conjure a ball of fire and cast it at someone, or something. In my world, we need a machine to do this."

"What be a ma-sheen?" Keeper Dearbhaile asked.

"A device used to do things. In the case I just mentioned, the machine is two tanks worn on your back, filled with air and fuel. A hose is connected to a trigger with a tiny flame burning at the end. When the trigger is pressed, the mixture flows down the hose and is blown through the flame which produces a large river of fire."

"Can anyone do this?"

"The machine is restricted to soldiers, but any of those are able to with proper training," I said.

"Ye said other ma-sheens exist?"

"Yes. In my world there are machines which allow people to travel through the air, on land without horses, on and under the oceans. We have machines to allow deaf people to hear, give the blind sight and make the sick well. We have machines which allow one man to plant two thousand acres of wheat by himself in one day."

"Amazing. How else be our worlds different?"

"Well, the only race on my world is that of humans. We were not created by a god, despite what certain humans wish were otherwise. Swords, spears, bows and crossbows are considered antiques. We have these machines called guns that allow one to kill many."

"How can this be?"

"Well, if an army of a thousand were to stand before the one with the gun, he would be able to kill them all because the gun shoots these things that are like arrow heads, very fast. It would be like this one man fired three thousand arrows in about a second."

"How horrible. There must nae be many of ye humans living in yer world."

"On the contrary, when I left, the 7 billionth person had been born. Or to simplify a bit, seven times one thousand thousand thousand."

Keeper Dearbhaile's jaw dropped. "I can nae picture that large o' a number."

"Not many can," I said. "One billion is a number so large; it would take all your life if you did nothing else to count so high."

"That be a big number, then," she said. And then, "Tae change th' subject, what do ye like tae do for fun?"

"I like to read and solve puzzles. I also like to wander through the forests in National Parks."

"What be nash-on-ul parks?"

"National Parks are areas of untouched nature where no one is allowed to build so all may enjoy them."

"Oh," she said.

She still seemed confused, but I ignored her confusion to ask her another question about herself. "What about you? What do you like to paint?"

"I find landscapes and dragons tae be th' most soothin' subjects."

"You did the blue dragon in the bathroom," I said, leaving my words vague enough for her to complete the statement if she were the artist.

"Aye. Th' blue on the plinth with Renline worshippin' at her feet be mine. Not one o' me best, but the Vaush-Tauric likes the painting because it be the first I did at her home."

"You do not like your work?" I said with astonishment. "In my world such would hang in a museum!"

"What be a moo-zee-um?"

I chuckled. "The word is pronounced museum."

"Moo-zee-um."

"Say 'muse.'"

"Muse."

"Now say, 'E'.

"E".

"Now say, 'um'".

"Um," she said.

"Now put the sounds together, 'Muse-E-Um."

"Museum."

"Excellent," I said, happy.

"Now answer my question, Carter Blake," she said, peevish.

"A museum is a place where wonderful works of art are displayed so everyone may come and enjoy them," I answered, still grinning.

"Oh. Now how would me paintin' end up in this place?"

"Someone would have purchased the picture, donated it to the museum, or someone from the museum would have asked you to donate the art yourself."

"Would I have tae give it?" she asked.

"No. As the creator of the art work, you can do as you wish."

"Good," she said, relief evident in her voice.

"What is your favorite food to eat, Keeper Dearbhaile?"

"I enjoy boar," she said, slanting her gaze at me. I laughed. "What be yer favorite food tae eat?"

"Steak and potatoes. The steak has to come from cattle, though. How do you prefer your boar prepared?"

"Slow roasted over coals with a pan beneath tae catch th' drippin's. At least three times an hour, ye have tae spoon th' drippin's over the beastie as it turns."

"Damn," I said. "I'm hungry. Let's go eat."

"Have ye decided what yer goin' tae do aboot Angriz' teachin' methods?"

I grinned. "Patience."

I rose to my feet using only the muscles in my legs. Then I bent and scooped Keeper Dearbhaile up in my arms and proceeded to carry her back to our fire. She blushed and gave my chest a light hit with her fist. "Ach, ye galoot! Put me on me feet! I can walk!"

"Walking isn't good for you right now," I said, continuing to carry her.

"Why are ye doin' this?"

"Taking care of you?"

"Aye."

"Because I care about you. You are a good friend." 'And maybe one day something more.' I didn't have the courage to say this aloud.

"Oh." She snuggled her head against my chest, and remained quiet for the rest of the short trip.

In a short while, we arrived back at the fire. Angriz sat on a log, turning the boar on a spit. As I walked over, he ladled some of the drippings over the roasting meat. He glanced over at us as I set Keeper Dearbhaile on the log next to him, but didn't say anything. I walked over to a tree and cut two branches with my sword. They were both near the length of my weapon and that of Angriz. I walked back to the fire, trimming twigs from the branches until both were smooth. I looked at Angriz and waited until he met my gaze, his expression unreadable.

"Keeper Dearbhaile, would you take over the preparations for our meal?" I continued to hold Angriz' gaze as I spoke to her.

"Aye," she said and accepted the ladle passed to her.

"Angriz," I said, "We are friends who have a grievance between us. Am I wrong in guessing that words of apology will not suffice?"

He shook his head. Left, right, back to center.

"Then we are in agreement. We battle until one of us yields to the other."

He nodded in agreement, still silent. I tossed him his branch, trimmed to a shinai, a wooden training sword.

"Defend yourself!" I bellowed.

We charged each other like a pair of enraged bulls. Knowing he was too large for me to crash head on into, I dove for his legs. He anticipated my maneuver and raised his right leg to stomp on my back. I had hoped he would do something like that and had already begun to twist my body so that I could whack his bent knee. He understood what I was getting ready to do at the last moment and leaped to his left. We both rolled to our feet at the same time and circled, each wary of the other's next attack.

As I passed Keeper Dearbhaile, I heard her say, "Males!" with exasperation. I turned for a split second, then realized my mistake, and whirled back to face my opponent. Too late. A thud echoed within my right shoulder and a tingling sensation scurried down my arm. The pain announced itself. All this took place in a split second.

I tossed my weapon from my right hand to my left, took a large step to my right and swung backhand. My backhand swing proved to be unexpected because I caught Angriz across the throat. He let out a croak, and slashed at me on a sharp right-left diagonal, cut back across my middle and then chopped down on my left clavicle. The diagonal attack knocked my shinai too far away from my center for me to recover in time. The cut across my middle left a deep scratch and the chop broke my clavicle.

Excruciating agony shot up the side of my head and down my left arm. The kendo stick dropped from my numb fingers. I tried to scream, but the pain had knocked the wind from my lungs. I was aware of something wet running down my chest, but couldn't spare anything to wonder what. Every fiber of my being was locked on the pain that vibrated out from my busted collarbone and over my body. I became aware of being on the ground when my eyes flew open as I at last managed to pull a breath into my aching lungs. I looked into the early morning sky as I pulled in a deep breath of air, causing fresh waves of pain to radiate through me. A shadow fell over me and the world grew darker. Before I lost consciousness, I recognized Angriz was the one casting his shadow over me.

8

I awoke to a warm tingling running down my arm and along the line of my collarbone. I opened my eyes to the sight of the lovely Keeper Dearbhaile's face close to my own.

"Wow, you are beautiful," I said, fuzzy voiced.

"Hush yer mouth," she said, her voice soft, and face red.

I smiled. "You are pretty when you blush."

"Thank ye, silly man. Now, hush. I be tryin' tae heal ye."

I attempted to raise my head so I could watch what she was doing, but she shoved my head back down. It thudded against the ground.

"Ow," I said.

"Sorry. Hold still. I almost be done."

A moment later, the tingling stopped and the warmth at my collarbone faded. She took her hands from my clavicle and made as if to rise. I captured her left hand in my own and placed a kiss on her palm.

"Thank you," I said, my voice husky, as she gasped.

She pulled her hand away, rose to her feet and hurried off. I sat up and stared after her. I noticed Angriz sitting nearby.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked, bewildered.

He ignored that. "Carter —"

"Looks like you won. Are we on good terms again?"

"That depends on you," he said. His tone was flat "Do you plan on throwing any more tantrums?"

"Tant—," I paused to restrain my rising temper. "I think we might need another round," I said through clenched teeth.

He sighed and rose. With his back to me he said, "Maybe we can talk when you decide to stop acting like a child."

Heart pounding in my ears, I leaped to my feet and drew my sword. "Defend yourself, Angriz!" I challenged. Before he could answer me, Keeper Dearbhaile charged over and slapped me. "What the hell was that for?" I demanded.

"Why are ye determined to destroy yer friendship?" She yelled. "Ye need tae pull yer head out of yer arse an' grow up! Yer supposed tae be our leader, nae a bloody liability!"

I froze. "A liability? Is that how you perceive me, Keeper Dearbhaile?"

"At th' moment? Aye!"

My heart fell. I hadn't expected this turn of events.

"Alright," I said. "I will remove myself from your presence, and then I will not be in your way any longer."

"Dinae be daft, Carter. Th' spell can nae be ended early."

"We shall see about that. By the way, Keeper Dearbhaile, my friends do not try to kill me. I trust them with my life." I turned, picked up and slung my pack over my shoulder, and stalked off towards the nearest of the gems. I found one glowing orange. I reached down to pick the artifact up and felt someone tugging on my shoulder.

"Carter, do nae try! 'Twill kill ye. I dinae want ye hurt!"

I ignored her words and picked the stone up from the ground. A hollow Thumph hit the air and we got knocked, tumbling, to the ground. 'What the hell? Why am I looking at the sky? Wait a minute. Where am I?'

A groan came from my right. I looked over to the sound, trying to figure out why my head hurt, but could not. I rose, shaky as a newborn colt, to my feet. I spotted a young woman lying on the ground. I walked over to her. When I recognized the woman as Keeper Dearbhaile, I raced the rest of the way over, splashing through the brook. I went to my knees, sliding the rest of the way to her.

"Keeper Dearbhaile!" I shouted, "Are you alright?"

Her eyes fluttered, and then opened. After a couple of seconds, her eyes focused on me. She shrank away.

"W-who be ye?" she stammered.