Eric glared down at me, his straight nose screwed up like he was looking at a cockroach and not a man decked out in green boots and a hot pink bum bag. He pointed his jeweled dagger directly at my face. The gemstones on the hilt glimmered in the light streaming through the window.

“You are one of the vermin that has invaded my city,” he snarled.

I slowly rose from my crouch, his dagger following me as I rose. “No, I am the vermin that set you free.”

“I had no need for your assistance.”

“I’m sorry, did you enjoy being Count Banksia’s little serving boy?”

“He was one of you; the people from the before times. What is to say you will not do just as he did and imprison my people in your ill-fated attempt to depose Melumek?”

The way he spoke was beginning to hurt my head. “Melumek and his toilet croc invasion need to be expunged. Enslaving you and your people would not help with that.” Although, an army of NPCs might actually be helpful. A new form of canon fodder as we figured out how to free Nigel the Sentinel. I didn’t say that part out loud though. I didn’t feel like dying as the Count had or, now that I thought about it, the dead girl who had shown Miranda the way to the portal. The King’s dagger was unique. I couldn’t believe it was anyone other than him who had slain the girl.

“Then what is that you want? I grow tired of this talk,” he said.

I pointed a finger at the paper plane that still lay on the ground by his desk. “That will return you to your former glory. Just remember, the Shadow Walkers are your friends.”

With that awesome line, I Shadow Rushed across the room and out the door. I heard him shout behind me but I didn’t bother trying to make out the words. I bolted toward the stairs that led up to the next level as the pounding of feet on the stone floor sounded behind me. I was halfway there when I changed my mind.

I turned and Shadow Rushed past the crowd of guards tailing me and sprinted down the servant stairway I had come from earlier. There was no way for me to be sure I could activate or even use the portal without a mage with me. Besides, there was one more teammate I had to retrieve before I left this place.

I don’t know if my magicka regeneration was boosted by my high health. It was a game mechanic I hadn’t quite figured out yet and one that didn’t emulate any game I’d ever played before. Either way, it seemed to be replenishing faster than before, making it much easier for me to Shadow Rush more often.

Every time I did the thrill swept through me as I vaulted forward at incredible speed. Something was lacking though. I needed more of it. I needed the thrill to course through me and stay that way so I didn’t feel the sudden drop that came with leaving the rush. The shadows called to me. Every time I saw one the urge to Shadow Rush overcame me, even when it would not have been practical to do so. I knew this feeling was wrong. That I should be avoiding it at all costs but it was hard to do. I shoved the feelings down into a box in my brain where I could analyze them later. Now was not the time.

The servant stairs led me to an old-fashioned kitchen with an enormous hearth and a long solid table taking up most of the cramped space. Pots and pans hung from the ceiling as well as drying herbs and animal carcasses. I didn’t stop to observe it all as the servants and cooks screamed. One of the cooks threw an enormous cleaver at me as he ducked behind the table. I knocked it from the air with a swing of my blade and pushed through the door into a well-stocked garden.

I leaped over the small wooden fence and turned, heading for the stables. The bells tolled again, their raucous clang was jarring. Guards rounded the building, all of them shouting as they charged toward me. I ignored them, racing right at them and Shadow Rushing before the first swing of a sword could hit me. A notification flashed up in front of my face but I looked through it, shoving the stables door wide as I bolted inside.

Sob, standing in his stable despite the fact that the little wooden door couldn’t really hold him, reared and screamed at my sudden appearance, his blue lighting sparking around his mouth. I rounded him and leaped into the saddle, kicking my heels into his powerful sides.

The charge through the town was a little easier this time without the powers of a Weather Wizard raining down on us. Sob ran like the wind as I clutched onto him. The guards followed us on their chosen steads but without the added weight of a second person Sob could easily outstrip them. Even the emus were no match for his speed.

We flashed through the Upper Heights and tore through the Religious Sector heading for the main gate. There was no point trying to leave through the docks and my scouting of the place earlier had not shown me any other exits.

As we neared the gate guards swarmed like flies and the enormous iron portcullis began to lower. Fear started to eat at me as I saw how pathetic our chances were. Sob whinnied and shot a bolt of lightning at the gathered guards. They screamed and scattered but reformed almost immediately.

The shadows called. I eyed my magicka, not sure it being almost full would be enough for what I was planning. Hell, I didn’t even know if what I wanted to do was even possible. There was only one way to find out.

I wrapped my arms around Sob’s neck and focused on the shadows of the gatehouse just past the portcullis. I felt the skill fight me as I called it but I just knuckled down, forcing it to do what I wanted. Together we morphed. Losing form as we shot across the short space. My small pool of magicka drained to zero so quickly sending us tumbling out of the shadow form much sooner than I was used to.

Sob’s hooved landed hard on the ground almost dislodging me as my head spun. I felt like I was going to hurl. Even the thud of the portcullis slammed closed right behind us, so close it grazed Sob’s blue-tinged tail barely registered through the spinning in my mind.

Sob screamed as he started to run again. His speed had dropped significantly from what I could only assume was vertigo from Shadow Rushing.

A new notification flashed up in front of my face. It was hard to read when I was literally wavering atop a speeding horse but I managed it.

Skill Upgraded: Enhanced Shadow Rush

You have submitted to the siren call of the shadows and they have blessed you with greater power. With nothing but sheer will, you can transform your body and that of a party member into nothing but a shadow and traverse short distances in seconds. Magicka usage is determined by the combined Intelligence score of members submitting to the shadows. Be wary, the shadows can be addicting. Staying insubstantial for too long will make it impossible to return to your true self.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I leaned over Sob’s back and let lose the torrent of bile that rushed into my throat. It was good to know I could upgrade my skills but I didn’t think I’d ever be Shadow Rushing with another being again. There was no thrill with it, only an overpowering sickness like I’d eaten something rotten and my whole body was revolting against it.

The sounds of screaming and the bells tolling dampened as we charged into the forest surrounding the castle city. For whatever reason, probably because their programming restricted their movements, the guards didn’t follow us.

Sob stopped his charge near a small stream. I practically fell off his back and crawled to the water shoving my whole face into it as I drank deeply from the cool, fresh liquid. It washed away the foul taste in my mouth and soothed some of the fog in my head.

Never again.

I lifted my head and fell back on my haunches. Sob wandered a short distance away, blue fire blazing in his eyes. I figured he was probably mad at me but seriously, I couldn’t care less. Let him be mad.

I focused on the insistent little flashing bell and read through the notifications I’d missed in our mad rush to escape Castle Condamine.

Quest Updated: Ill-gotten Crown of Reverence

Description: You have completed your mission. Return to Master Kendrick to receive your reward.

Level 10!

New specialty skills available.

New Skill Unlocked: Evasion

Passive skill. Through trial and error, you have gained an otherworldly ability to sense danger. This talent allows the thief to better evade physical attacks. +15% chance to dodge physical attacks. +20% to avoid physical effects such as Knockdown and Stun.

I closed out of my notification menu and touched the tattoo on my inner wrist. My character menu appeared. I allocated my free point and glanced over the changes.

Health:

16/17 (2)

Magicka:

0/6

Fatigue:

16/16

Level:

10

Ability

Score

Agility:

12 (1)

Charisma:

8

Constitution:

12

Endurance:

7

Intelligence:

2

Perception:

12

Magic:

1

Strength:

6

Not bad but not great either. It felt like I should have been further along this far into the new world. It was hard to tell without someone to compare my stats to, however.

I itched to look at my new class skills but before I could a strong hand grabbed me by the scruff and yanked me to my feet. I yelped and swung my blade but it was knocked clear out of my hand by Nora’s gauntleted fist. I flinched as her hand came flying back at me, ready for the strike she was sure to deliver.

Only she didn’t. Instead, she wrapped me in her arms and gave me a painfully tight hug.

“Come on,” she said, her voice too gentle for my liking. “Let’s go home.”

Miranda hit me like a ton of bricks, almost knocking me face-first into the ground, Nora steadied me, keeping me on my feet.

“You made it!” Miranda squealed.

Stella came with her, jumping up on me and trying to lick my face. Her added weight from her unexpected growth spurt made it hard to dislodge her.

“Hi girl,” I managed. “I missed you too.”

Theo stomped up behind her but thankfully, he didn’t feel the need to hug me. I watched the man carefully as he stood waiting. His face was bland. The perfect poker face. Hiding his thoughts away from me.

I turned to the man, rising to my full height despite the fact it still left me a few inches short of his.

“And what are your plans now that we are free Elder Theo,” I said, practically spitting out his title.

The man shifted his weight to his other foot. “I’m going to help you.”

“Why?”

Movement behind the man distracted me. A girl I’d only seen once before peeked from behind the man. I frowned. When she’d walked into the ball on Theo’s arm I’d thought her as old as Nora but seeing her now, I realized she was younger than Miranda; only a teenager. Brown freckles peppered her nose and cheeks. Her long red hair was tied in a tight plait that hung down her back. Most interesting of all though, was her outfit. No longer decked out in noble finery she was wearing leathers just like mine with a row of daggers lining her belt. She even wore a black cloak with a deep hood although it hung limp at the base of her neck for now.

“Who is this?” I asked.

Nora rounded me to stand between me, Theo, and the young girl. “This is Gabrielle,” she said. “Theo’s daughter.”

I blinked. His what?

Theo nudged Nora aside gently. “I joined the Elders to buy us some protection from this mess. Now I see that was the wrong decision. Let us ride with you and I’ll take you to Nigel the Sentinel.”

It was my turn to shift awkwardly. I didn’t trust him. It felt wrong. Gabby still stared at me from behind her father's back, her steel grey eyes colored by fear. God damn it. I needed to get to Nigel. There was no way around it that wouldn’t be unbelievably risky.

“Fine. Let’s go. We’ve got a long trek back to Oliver’s Rest.”

I took the lead as all the others fell into line behind me. I didn’t like being in charge but for now, this would have to do. I couldn’t shake the distrustful feeling that made the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Maybe it was my high perception. Maybe it was just a lingering danger sense from my youth. Whatever it was, I clutched to it. Hoping it would protect us when the shit hit the fan.

Overhead, hidden among the branches of a tree, the willie wagtail watched them go. She fluttered her wings and tilted her head, captivated by their pretend alliance. She could see now why Kendrick was so interested in the bulky sneak thief. He had a lot of hidden potential. She leaped into the sky, flapping her wings furiously as she rushed away.