It wasn’t the screams that exploded over the whizzing arrows. Nor was it the arrow itself. She stared at the weapon. Straight and true with a bone tip. It brought disturbing images to her mind. Corpses cut open. Skeletons with missing parts. All of it disturbed her. But it was the realization that for the first time she felt there was something bigger than her out there.

While she did dishes and ate among them, there were other mortals playing a different game. A group led by an Innocent named Tota. Who had the power to foresee an attack like the one before her. Once again, she felt small. Unprepared for the sheer vastness of the mortals' lives.Another arrow pierced the canvas tent beside her.

“Run Osana!”

Rebekah grabbed her hand, yanking her away from the tents. They joined a group running towards the mines passing a rank of Crims as their commanders called for reinforcements. She kept her eyes forward, but she felt their magic bloom over the air. Fire and wind to curtail the arrows. Despite their stoic demeanour there was fear underneath their composed movements.

The tired camp took on the chaotic energy of a churning river. People spilled out of their hiding places and joined the group on the road. Each pushing and shoving each other to get away from the arrows and the Mage’s flames. Her heart slammed in her chest, like a deer in a chase.

It amused her, she had always been the hunter. The circumstances had changed, and for a moment she indulged in the novelty. She recalled her past hunting trips. Remembering what the herd did in while out racing the wolf. She surveyed the area looking for a way out.

A man beside her screamed, stumbling into her gasping for air. His face frozen in painful terror as his hand clawed at his chest. It only took a nudge, and he tumbled forward, revealing the arrow in his back. The sight of the man’s blood seeping into his dusty shirt caused Rebekah to scream. Women beside Rebekah panicked. Like a bull they were led the charge to safety and her friend was caught in the frenzy.

Someone pushed Osana to the left. Her grip on Rebekah’s hand loosened. Her friend's nails dug into her wrist and Rebekah’s wide-eyed fear made her stomach hit her feet. When she lost sight of her, her pale fingers were all she had of her. And one by one they slipped from her wrist.

It was her fault. Again. She should've told Rebekah and ignored Sam’s command. She could've got her mortal out. As another finger slipped off, the heaviness of failure turned her heart to iron. Never again.

She grabbed her hand just before Rebekah disappeared into the mob. It was so insignificant compared to her overpowered grip. She pulled her friend close, then used her free hand to push through the crowd. It was never easy fighting against the weight of the racing river, but Osana did it anyway.

Some tumbled and fell, others fell in line, and she was given the space she needed. Her only thought was to get out. It happened without her realizing it. As natural as taking a breath. One minute they were on the ground, the next, they stood on a crooked roof of a shed overlooking the street.

“Osana…what did you do?” She wrapped her arms around herself staring at the Mages fighting an unseen foe from the top of the wall.

“There’s no time, we got to go.” She grabbed her waist, summoning her magic, they traveled further from the wall. Appearing on an empty street.

“Osana. What are you?”

She met Rebekah’s demanding eyes. She had the same feeling when Kelani would scold her for spilling ink on Jhee. Her mortal’s frustration boiled to the surface. It showed itself in her pursed lips, her hands on her hips, and a glare that could crack glass.

“The truth Osana. You aren’t an Innocent like me. And your magic isn’t like theirs. So, what are you. It’s your last chance to come clean.”

“Please Rebekah, don’t make me tell you. Don’t make me break my promise to Papa.”

“You owe me an explanation.”

“For what?”

“For what?” She mocked her as she threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know, how about where you got that gem that tempted greedy Mrs. Knaggs. How you beat those people to paste back in the kingdom. Or why the camp’s being attacked. Maybe you can start with how can we pop in and out of existence in a blink of an eye! The truth Osana. Or I walk away and never see you again.”

“No, you can’t. I need you!”

“For what? To grant me my heart’s desire? How on Umara do you plan to do that? It’s impossible, my freedom is impossible.”

“It’s not, I can do it!”

Why won’t she accept her help? She had more power than any Mage in the kingdom, if only Rebekah believed in her. She felt Rebekah’s heart close towards her. Shuttering the doors she had temporarily opened. Once that shut completely Osana’s mission was done. Her path to the Pantheon depended on helping the mortal.

Without her, she would start all over. Worse yet, Kelani would make it before her. Able to sit with Papa, Alma, and the rest as equals. While she was left alone. Kelani didn’t deserve the seat, all she did was read and draw in her book. She was stronger, she would be better equipped to help more mortals than a would-be scholar.

“Rebekah you can’t go.”

“I’m tired Osana. I’m worse off here than I was at the Citadel. The camp is in chaos and I’m starting to believe you have something to do with it.”

“No! It wasn’t me. It was...someone else.”

“Who?”

“Please Rebekah...”

“I’m done.”

“Fine, it was Sam. He knows these people who somehow knew this was going to happen.”

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“Stop lying Osana, Sam wouldn’t be mixed up in this.”

“Why won’t you listen!” Curling her hands in fists, she thumped against her chest to quell the fury inside her. “You switch between wanting answers to not wanting to hear the answers. Why are you mortals so confusing!”

She slapped her hand over her mouth before she said another word. But it was too late. Rebekah latched onto her words like a nursing kitten latches to its mother.

“Mortal?”

In the distance she heard people scrambled to safety. Grey smoke drifted on the wind. The faint hollers of the Mages trickled into her ears. But Rebekah stood still. Her eyes calculated the truth, and she waited desperately for the answer. An answer that would have consequences Osana feared. She dreaded Papa’s wrath. The way he distributed his cold justice was enough to keep her in line. And she felt that wrath creeping over her while she spoke.

“I told you; I’m not from around here...”

The seconds of silence passed like an eternity before Rebekah sighed and relaxed her shoulders.

“Did you or your kind do this?”

“This isn’t me.” she motioned to the panic consuming the camp. “As for my kin, Kelani would never. The others, I don’t think they’re here. Believe me I’m not here to destroy anything.”

“But you can. You’re more than capable of destroying all of us.”

“ButI wouldn’t!”

Another silence. More grave and cold than the last time.

“I’m sorry Osana, but I just can’t right now. Between Sam ignoring me, the camp in chaos and you. It’s too much.”

“I don’t understand...”

“I need some space; it's a lot just to dump on me while the world is falling apart. I’m going to the mines with the others. We’ll talk later.”

She wiped something from her face before running down the empty street. Each step brought her further from her, and another knife through her heart. She watched her turn a corner and vanish out of sight. She didn’t have it in her to follow.

It was useless to say more, to continue going in circles. Rebekah, like all mortals, needed to open their hearts and have faith in her kin. If her mortal was closed off, then there wasn’t much to do. She still held hope her friend didn’t give up on her yet. But that was for Rebekah to decide.

She surveyed the unfamiliar quiet corner of the camp. Ever since she arrived, there had always been someone around. But where she stood, she was alone. That was, until she heard the quiet frantic whispers. It was a purposeful sound, one of urgency and secrets. She followed them until she was at the west gate of the camp.

Miners, in their torn clothes and hoods huddled around the gate. Their eager eyes surveying the empty road. Their leader knocked on the wicket gate four clear distinct times and waited. After a moment a brown hawk swooped over the wall. Its shrill whistle made the miners smile. They unhatched the door and pulled it open.

Osana gasped as they allowed a person in beige desert robes enter. She glanced around for help, for a Crim, but they were all busy at the other side of the camp. The stranger was tall, standing a foot above the tallest of the group. He carried a curved sword at his hip.

She didn’t believe they were letting the enemy in, giving them access to do only what the Great Star knew. The stranger motioned outside and four men entered, carrying something long draped in blankets. Together the miners and the newcomers picked up the supplies and carried them away from the door. More members of the camp appeared, helping with the load and concealing it in the rock carts.

The strangers showed no aggression, even embraced a few men in greeting. The scene was strange, the camp was under attack yet the people before were merry. Sam revealed himself among the miners, smiling as he shook the stranger’s hand.

The rune from before foretold an attack. Sam warned her to stay away, she thought he was worried about their safety. She was wrong. He didn’t want her to know the attack was a distraction. What role did the newcomers play, she didn’t know. But she sensed the magic of a Mage prickle the base of her neck. Whatever they were up too, needed to end.

She rushed to Sam, waving to get his attention. The tall stranger drew his sword as she neared. Sam recognized her and he motioned for him to lower his blade.

“Sam!” she spoke in a whispered voice. “A Crim, they’re coming. Your friends need to hide.”

“Who is this child?” The stranger hissed.

“Do you want to ask questions, or do you want to get caught?” she shot back.

“She’s right Brother, this isn’t the time. We’ll handle the rest, retreat before it's too late.”

They securely close the door, behind the last person as a Crim turned the corner.

“Halt! What are you doing here, you should be at the mines.”

“This isn’t good,” Sam whispered in her ear.

“If I help you, will you tell me everything I need to know?”

“Osana, he’s a Mage, you don’t have a chance.”

“What are you two whispering about. Knock it off!”

“Everything.”

“You’re all coming with me.”

“Okay, okay, whatever you want. I’ll send word tonight.”

“Get everything out of here. I’ll handle him.”

She cracked her knuckles as she took the formative steps toward the lone Crim. If it weren’t for them, Rebekah could be with her family living happily near the snow cap mountains. The Mages were the ones who harden her heart. Who made her suspicious of her kin.

He lowered his staff priming for an attack. His stance shifted as she approached. It wasn’t about Rebekah anymore. She and Sam were caught in the middle of the Mage’s cruel game. It wasn’t a fair fight. But she could even the odds.

Under the red hood she saw the anger flash in his eyes. The kind that was appalled by any form of insolence. She was a bug to him, and the way his eyes locked on to hers, would have sent a shiver down any Innocent’s spine.

The sensation traveling over her muscles wasn’t fear, but her magic exploding over every nerve ending. The three steps it took to be in arms reach, her muscles had grown three times their size. The power flooded through her, from the tip of her fingers to her toes.

The Mage’s magic exploded over the staff casting a flickering light across his body. Without hesitation she threw her first punch, disrupting the shield before it even formed. He recoiled, taking a step back, but she wasn’t going to let him regain control. Two paces and she’s on top of him, smelling the sweat and dust on his robes. She slammed her fist into his gut, forcing a gasp from his lips.

He toppled forward but remained standing. He swiped his staff over her. She ducked, dodged, as he forced a breath into his lungs. She was in the air, her hands together and when they met the curve of his back, she heard something crack. He was on his knees. A place every Mage belonged when in the presence of her kind. It was time they learned their place.

The fear in his eyes emboldened her. It made her light like a feather. Which made her next punch all the more deafening. His cheek collapsed around her knuckles. Blood mixed with spit flew over the sand. She expected more of a fight. But he laid like a dog at her feet. Already his eye was swollen in on itself. His empty hand twitched. Broken and gasping in the sand like the wretch his kind was.

The reign of the Mages, was about to end. If they refused to accept their subornation to Zander. To throw his teachings and guidance to the wind. Then she would remind them of their place. Under her foot. She brought her knee to her chest, slamming her foot down on his head. The brittle crack made her heart sing. The crimson blood stained the soft leather of her boot. A warning for the others. But to her, it was a badge of honor.