As I walked away from the gruesome scene, I was in complete shock. I didn’t even bother returning to the car I had driven to the house in. I simply wandered down the dark road on this dreary night back into town. The woods around me were quiet but they could have been blisteringly loud and I wouldn’t have noticed. How could this be happening? After all the work we had done to save Anabel and Stephanie. All the blood, sweat, and tears over the past couple of months. I thought I had everything figured out. Even if I went after the Rod of Resuscitation now, it wouldn’t be worth it, because this Emily wouldn’t remember me anyhow. The events of the last year had been banished from memory.

But the worst part of it was…I never even told her I loved her. And the truth is, I did. I couldn’t have made it as far as I have without her. Not that it mattered now, since everything had been erased. Was this the work of one of the Devils? Or was it some kind of divine punishment for not taking my family legacy seriously at first?

About an hour after leaving the crime scene, I heard movement in the woods. From out of the darkness, an all too familiar werewolf sprang forth to attack me. I simply cast, “Flash!”, to create an enormous white light that sent the beast whimpering back from whence it came. My eyes never left the pavement.

I needed to think. Somehow, someway, I needed to conjure up some clarity. I walked onward, deeper into the night. Just me and the lonely highway through this dreadful forest. It would be dawn soon. I still had many miles ahead of me before I would reach Sin City and the entrypoint to the well. Time didn’t matter to me, given that an entire year could evaporate in an instance. And as far as I was concerned, I was a thousand miles from nowhere.

Anabel and Higgins were probably worried sick about me. I know they wouldn’t try following after me, but there was no sense in worrying them for too long. No matter what I decided to do, I wouldn’t be able to do it alone. So after hours of walking, I found my resolve. I needed my allies!

I looked with my tear swollen eyes from the roadway in front of me. The first light was peering over the trees to the east. I stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and then tore off into a full sprint back to the city!

Once I reached the sewer, I quickly went back to the house. Higgins and Anabel were happy I was okay but I didn’t have time to explain what had happened to them just yet. I needed to make some phone calls!

* * *

“Hey, Eric. What’s up?” said Stephanie on the other end.

“Hey, Steph. This might seem kinda sudden, but I really need your help with something.” “Oh really? What can I do? You’re Mr. Moneybags now,” she joked.

“It’s not something money can fix. I just really really need you and Wraith here as soon as you can. Do you think you could take some time off work and come to England? I’ll cover your airfare.”

“Well, sure. But why are you sounding so serious? Is everything alright?” she asked, with concern in her voice.

“I’m not gonna lie to you Stephanie. I’m pretty down right now. Probably the worst I’ve been in my whole life. Can I count on you to meet Wraith at the airport once I make some travel arrangements?”

“Of course. Just give me five days to sew my life up and I’ll be there.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you soon. Bye.”

Great. Stephanie was on board. Now I just needed to call Wraith. I knew getting him here wouldn’t be too hard since we were approaching the time he invited himself. Best I have him and Steph come at once to make this all easier to explain.

“What’s up, Eric? Got some more tall tales for me?” Wraith said, as soon as he picked up.

“Something like that,” I replied, “but listen. I really need your help with something. Can you meet Stephanie at the airport in a few days and fly out here?”

“Whoa! Seriously? What’s going on?”

“I can’t explain right now but just know that I’m gonna need your expertise,” figured I could stroke his ego to get him more amped up. I was definitely gonna need those skills of his at some point again.

“You bet, buddy! Just give me the word.”

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“Awesome! I’ll text you the details. Steph needs a few days. See you soon.”

Okay, this was a start. Now I just needed to bring Anabel and Higgins up to speed before I went looking for Arduwan. With Stephanie needing a few days before she could leave, I had some time to look for her on my own. Hopefully I could find her around Braytown like when we first met.

I came down from my room where Anabel and Higgins were patiently waiting and started to apologize, “Hey, sorry to scare you both like that. I know this is a lot. It’s a lot for me as well”

“It’s okay, Eric,” Anabel comforted, “it must be hard to process everything you’ve been feeling.”

“So here’s the plan so far. I have two friends from America that will be coming in a few days. They will be instrumental in me figuring out what’s going on. In the meantime, I’m going to Callist to look for another friend.”

“Callist?!” shouted Higgins, in surprise, “that world is incredibly dangerous, Master

Noble. Are you sure now is an appropriate time?”

“Ha! You said something similar to me before. It’s alright. I know my way around. There’s not much the two of you can do to help right now so just stay here and root for me from the sidelines, okay?”

The two of them agreed. I left almost immediately. I needed to use every moment I had before the others got to my place and there was no guarantee I’d find Arduwan right away.

Unfortunately, this time I didn’t have chainmail, my weapons, or even a horse. I’d gotten so used to Arduwan’s Call of the Wild being readily available. Nonetheless, I had to press on. So I began the arduous march westward through the desert. I was smart enough to bring some water canteens this time…and avoid a certain village.

* * *

After meeting with a merchant's caravan and using my Thieves Cant to locate someone amongst them friendly to the guild, I managed to get a horse. The following day I made it into the northern part of the plains, in the city of Braytown. I went to the tavern and asked around for Arduwan. I got many funny looks. Probably due to the fact that Arduwan, despite her looks, wasn’t exactly a sought after adventurer.

I spent a good hour talking to people at the tavern and out about town. No one had seen her in a while. Perhaps she was off with some other poor adventuring party. After all, this was several weeks before the point in time when I had met her in the other timeline. I guess I would have to spend the next few days searching the nearby villages.

So I did…and that was a fail. I’d searched from the southern coast to northern mountains, from the western Dwarf mines back over to the desert in the east again. Arduwan was nowhere to be found. I was beginning to get depressed again. I only had a couple of days left until Stephanie and Wraith arrived and I’d hoped to have Arduwan with me when I returned to the mansion to meet them.

Sad and with few ideas left, I made it a point to do one last thing before returning home. I went to Arduwan’s village in the Barbarian Lands. I knew it was a slim chance she’d be there, but at the very least I could revive her people for her. I retrieved the severed Gorgon head she had left in that crate and began using it to un-stone all of the villagers.

One by one, each of the people knelt to me in thanks after rescuing them. When I got to King Ardu, he did the same, and said, “brave warrior, I thank you for slaying that awful Gorgon and freeing my people. I am forever indebted to you.”

“Oh, I didn’t slay…wait a minute,” I paused.

The king knelt down in front of me, followed by all the villagers encircled around us. Did what I think just happened happen?

King Ardu lifted his head and said, “My liege, it is with our utmost gratitude that I and my people swear a life debt to you. It cannot be broken by any foe and transcends time and space.”

No way. Did I just inadvertently raise a barbarian army?! Gotta admit, that’s pretty cool. Things weren’t looking so hot for me right now, but at least with this new tool at my disposal, I could exercise my experience at real time strategy games around Callist.

“Okay, first of all, King Ardu, I’m looking for you daughter.”

“My daughter? Do you wish to marry her? Or perhaps just take her to bed? I could arrange both!” he said, eager to please me.

“No no! That’s quite alright. She’s just a friend of mine and I can’t find her. Do you think maybe you can help widen my search?”

“Of course! I shall send riders in the directions of the four winds to search for her.”

“Excellent! Now, is it possible to unite the other chieftains in the event we should need a larger army?” I said, thinking ahead for when the Devil King of Callist decided to make his move on this continent.

“Alas, I wish it were so, but it is not possible. For without my Great Horn, I am no longer ruler of all barbarians and can only commit to you my village.”

Oh, that’s right! Arduwan took the Great Horn when the king was turned to stone and it was later stolen by thieves hired by Davol, the Lich Lord. Ardu must’ve just realized he was no longer in possession of it. Probably best not to tell him that his daughter took it and had it stolen.

“King Ardu, what if I told you I knew of who had the Great Horn?”

“Then I would only be further in debt to you,” he said, as he groveled on the ground further, followed by the other villagers.

Perfect.

“To the west of your lands, there stands an iron fortress. Inside is a sorcerer by the name Davol. He is the one who sent the Gorgon to your village. If you took this information to the other chieftains, do you think they would support you in retrieving the Great Horn rightfully to you?”

“They would mount an offensive so large that the ground would tremble as they tore his fortress asunder,” he said, with angst in his voice.

“Okay, now we’re talking. Send messengers to all the other chieftains and go do your thing. Once you’ve taken your revenge, have your warriors comb the continent and find

Arduwan. I’ll draw you a map and show you where to take her once she’s found.”

“Of course, my lord!”

Looks like if I was given lemons I’d have to make lemonade.