"Do you think he could make me something?"

"Why would he? He's a Prime… you know how they are. They only do their Deity's bidding or go after the young men and women."

"Quiet, fool. What if he hears you?"

I groaned as the trio of guards ran forward to walk beside one of the other wagons, casting furtive glances at me. They had been ten feet away and not whispering. Of course, I'd heard them. Still, was this how the common people saw Primes? I'd never really talked much with anyone but guards, other primes, and deities. And those I had talked with had known me beforehand.

It makes sense, I thought as I thought back. Most Primes belonged to one of the big three, which reminded me. What had happened to Preyatar, Lischen, and Cinderage? Or to the others, for that matter?

I'm so out of the loop, I thought as I focused on the wood. I was riding a ten feet long, three feet wide log being dragged behind one of the wagons. I'd worried the char bull might struggle with the extra weight, but after I'd convinced Galir I really needed to bring the whole bloody tree, he had just ordered some men to chain it up to one of the middle wagons. He'd cleared out the cargo, redistributing it amongst a group of disgruntled wagoners asking where they had to sleep, and told me I could bunk there. That was almost a day ago, and I'd been hard at work, making my next mount something special. I'd only taken two breaks, one for a painful session of increasing my mindscape and the other to drain the lifeforce from the surrounding trees.

Looking back down at the smooth green wood, I grinned. The thin section of scales was coming out nicely, and the road was a lot smoother than I'd worried. With how heavy the log was and the smooth, sled-like slope id chopped at the front, it was flattening any minor bump as if it was nothing.

I took a look at the finished tail, upper leg, back, and neck muscles, and the outline of the head and grinned wider. I wasn't sure the people on this world had ever seen a dragon before, but I couldn't wait to see their reaction. If I could have given it wings, that would have been even better, but the wood I was using was far too heavy.

Who'd have thought I'd come across such a large Basilwood Tree out here, I thought as I patted the wood. Without my softened wood, it would have been impossible to carve it, as at full hardness, it was similar to steel. It even sounded like it, although it wasn't cold. Instead, it was warm, and the smaller sections I'd kept had retained their warmth even after being removed from the tree. I planned to make myself some new armor and weapons from those.

The sound of a soft trot came from the side, and I looked up to see Galir stare at the wood with hungry eyes. Ever since he'd seen I could carve it, he had been pestering me for things all the time. I wondered what he had come up with this time.

"Prime! I was chatting with Dibidi and Libidi before, and they said their daggers have seen better days. Dibidi's actually has chipped corners from when he was dodging you back in the tower!"

Seriously… that obvious? I thought as I looked at him. After continuing for ten seconds, Galir scraped his throat and looked at the ground, embarrassed.

"Can't blame me, can you? Basilwood weapons are used as family heirlooms around the coast! The only ones left are from armories from lost empires of old."

I shrugged and focused back on my woodworking. "Sure I can. If those two need daggers, tell them to ask me tonight."

Galir looked at me, his eyes wide. Then he swallowed and nodded. "You sure you wanna let yourself in with those two? I hear you… entertained them in your wagon this afternoon?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "It's not what you think. They are helping me learn a new spell."

Galir sniffed, then kneed his Cindermare. "Sure," he muttered, probably thinking he was out of earshot. "And learning requires all that screaming and grunting?"

I felt my ears turn red as I suddenly worried what kind of stupid rumors were going to be circling around. If Eliandra ever heard those, I'd have a lot of explaining to do. A quick look around showed that a few of the guards next to the wagon behind mine were watching me, as was the coachman. As soon as they saw me look, they turned to stare at something else.

With a sigh, I continued carving out muscles and definition, adding minuscule scales as I went.

When it became time to train my mindscape again, I had a hard time ignoring the constant looks and smiles when we went into the wagon. I tried hard to bite my teeth and not make too much noise, but when we exited, most of the wagoneers were leering at me without even bothering to hide it.

I need some spell that can create silence, I thought as Dibidi and Libidi stumbled off, seeming oblivious to the gazes they were getting.

We reached the next waypoint by nightfall without any incident, which seemed to confuse and surprise the guards and Galir. I was just happy as I looked at the dark, shadowy place and found no movement. Still, Galir didn't seem to want to take any chances. At the head of the caravan, he spoke with the same stealthy archers that had waylaid me, and they disappeared into the woods as the caravan waited.

I jumped off the wagon and looked around for Linery. She didn't seem to be anywhere nearby, and relieved, I made my way towards Galir.

"Are you expecting more Goblins?"

Galir shook his head, keeping his gaze firmly locked on the waystation.

"No, but I didn't the first time. There is just one more way station after this, and then we finally leave these accursed woods."

I was about to say that it had been pretty quiet so far, but I kept my mouth shut. It wasn't a good idea to jinx our luck.

A low howl reverberated through the woods that surrounded us, and Galir turned his head around. This time I saw a minute panic in his eyes.

Shit, I thought. I didn't even say it out loud!

"Please no surge, please no surge," Galir whispered, making me look from the woods to him.

I didn't know what a surge was, but to me, it sounded like an old documentary I'd seen about wolves. When they hadn't gone extinct yet, they were said to communicate by howling, and this reminded me of it.

The howling increased and seemed to echo from all sides. It was as if the forest had turned to Torpel Tree's, all agitated.

"Cinderage's flaming balls," Galir whispered.

He turned his attention to the wagoneers. "Get ready to go inside as fast as you can, forget the safety guidelines and just keep going so the others can come in after!"

The wagoneers had been gaping in fear at the woods and snapped to attention. A few moments later, they all sat at the ready, staring at the waystation. As soon as the archers popped up from the gate, the first wagoneer flipped his reins up, and the charbull snorted a stream of smoke as it ambled forward.

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"We need to get inside, fast," Galir said as he kicked his cindermare and rushed forward.

"I got that much," I said, jumping forward, sprinting alongside him.

In under a minute, the entire caravan was inside the compound, the doors closing as the howling increased in strength. I stood beside Galir on the wall, looking out across the forest, not asking anything yet. It seemed everyone else knew what a surge was, and I didn't want to add ignorance to my quickly lengthening list of oddities.

"I've never seen a surge this big," Galir whispered. "And it's only Wirgs and Wargs so far. Do you hear anything else?" At this, he looked at me expectantly.

"No…" I said slowly. The fact that he thought it was only the ugly dogs got me thinking. It must have something to do with the Warg I'd befriended. Had it gone and gotten its friends?

"It seems like they aren't coming closer," Galir said, shaking his head in dismay. "Have you ever experienced a surge?"

"No," I said, glad that seemed an option. "I've always been lucky."

"It's horrible," Galir whispered as his eyes glazed over. "It starts with this howling and roaring as all things in the forest start fighting each other. It just seems to infuriate them more, though, and soon they begin rushing outside, finding towns, keeps, and anything undefended…"

I expected him to continue, but Galir was just looking out at the woods, his face slack.

"Galir?" I asked softly.

"What?" he started, then shook his head. "Sorry, I… my..." He tried to speak, then lowered his head and turned away. "I need a moment. Whatever this is, it's no normal surge. If you see anything, warn the guards."

I quietly watched the old grey soldier walk off across the wall to the eastern tower. He disappeared inside. Then I turned back to the forest and looked around.

The howling continued for a long time, but as it continued, I was getting more and more convinced I was right. It sounded like some form of communication. The thing was, why would Wirgs and their ugly cousins need to communicate? It stopped when a louder, more high-pitched whine came far from the southwest. As if a switch had been flipped, the rest of the howling stopped, and the forest quieted.

I looked around, noticing that the guards and wagoneers were standing on the walls, most holding bows or spears. They were looking around in wonder. Galir was nowhere to be seen.

I guess whoever they were calling answered, I thought. I still feared I had something to do with it, and that meant I needed to hurry with my mount.

"There you are."

Like some devil from a box, Dibidi and Libidi appeared behind me. I hadn't heard them come, but that seemed normal.

"You said to warn you when four hours passed," one of the two said, gazing at me with hungry eyes.

Remembering what Galir had said earlier in the day, I wearily shook my head. Perhaps I should practice out in the open? That way, people saw I wasn't actually doing anything like what they were imagining.

Better not. Their expressions will just work against me.

"Let's go," I said, moving down the stone staircase and towards my wagon in the center of the courtyard. It was quiet, people just whispering. As they watched us move to my wagon, I saw raised eyebrows and sly grins.

Great. Just marvelous, I thought with a sigh.

I opened the door, beckoned the two inside, and closed it. This was going to take far too much explaining. I sat down on the chair, and both of them kneeled next to me, staring at me like puppies ready for a meal. It just made me more uncomfortable, and I decided to just get it over with. I closed my eyes and began forming the first of the gestures in my mind. Initially, the pain was the same as always, but halfway through, when it usually got excruciating, the insufferable grating edge wasn't there.

As I grit my teeth and finished the last mental gesture, I tried hard to hold back the moans and grunts of pain. The gesture finished, as it had the previous two times, and I felt relief as the pain dissipated. Sagging down in my chair, I sucked in air, trying to calm my raging heart. I was sweating again, which always happened.

When I opened my eyes, I found Dibidi and Libidi huddled on each side of the couch. It was readily apparent now who was who, as Dibidi had turned less feminine as he lay there, intoxicated by the pain he'd shared. Libidi, on the other hand, was more feminine, and as I saw them like this, I wondered if they tried to look alike during the day on purpose.

"Right," I said, my voice slightly grittier than normal. "In four hours, I will do one more practicing session, which will be the last."

Libidi's eyes widened, her lower lip trembling slightly, but Dibidi just shook his head.

"No. We haven't had this good substance since arriving in this horrible world!"

"Dib!" Libidi hissed, turning round as she looked at her brother in panic.

I looked at Dibidi, who suddenly seemed to realize what he had said, and his face calmed as his eyes frosted over. A threatening vibe came from him as his hands moved towards his dagger. Before he could do anything, I grabbed his arms with two of mine, shoved him over, and sat on his chest. Although he was obviously still partially intoxicated, he began struggling immediately.

"Calm down," I snapped, pointing a finger in his face while shushing Libidi, who tried to get up.

Dibidi's heels thudded on the ground, and he tried to wriggle out from under me, but his arms locked in my hands didn't move an inch. After a few moments, he stopped struggling, appearing to realize I was only holding him.

"No," I said quietly. "Just because you are from another world doesn't mean you have to attack me."

There was no reply, as Dibidi and Libidi looked at me as if I was an alien.

"What?" I said with a frown. "It's not that weird!"

"You actually believing that is weird..." Libidi said coldly. She sat back down, putting one of her daggers back in its sheath.

When did she grab that, I thought, as my hair stood on end.

"Let him go. I think it's time we talk," Libidi said.

As Dibidi had stopped resisting and the cold, dangerous vibe had left him, I carefully released him before backing up. The two Isirow exchanged a glance, and after a second, Dibidi lowered his head without a word. Libidi turned to me, her face once again almost an identical copy of Dibidi's.

"Why do you not think it is a problem that we are from another world?" she asked me, her eyes deadly serious.

Now, how am I going to reply to that without giving something away? I thought as I focused on her. There were too many people who knew I wasn't from this world already. Adding more was something I should probably try and prevent, at least until Steadfast was strong enough to defend itself from any possible trouble. I was about to concoct a lie when I recalled what she had said.

Actually believe…

It was as if she could tell I hadn't been lying. That made things a lot more complicated.

After a second, I frowned. "Does it matter why? I won't harm you just because of that."

"You are a Grablon?" Dibidi suddenly asked, and I looked at him in confusion.

My mind was spinning again as I thought about what to say. If I didn't answer fast, they would have an answer, but if I lied…. I'm still not sure if she can tell, I thought. At a minimum, this would confirm that.

"Yes," I said, turning to Libidi.

She blinked, her mouth opening and closing, then she turned to Dibidi.

"He isn't a Grablon!"

"You can detect lies," I said, turning to Libidi.

"You already guessed that," she said as both of them looked at me.

"Are you from Leralion?" Dibidi asked very carefully. At the same time, both he and Libidi tensed, and I readied myself for battle.

"No."

Libidi sighed, the tension draining from her.

"Thank Obrinin," she said.

"Where are you two from?" I asked, slowly feeling the tension leave me.

"Leralion," Dibidi said softly, looking at me as if he expected a reaction.

I just shrugged. "So?"

Libidi giggled. A soft, pleasant sound that made her more feminine and somehow defused most of the remaining tension.

"This is going to be a long story," Dibidi said with a sigh, and he got up to sit down on one of the few chairs in the wagon.

"Then start talking," I said, both curious and worried at the same time.