Blink watched on as his oldest friend writhed and screamed in pain. He struggled against his own chains and shackles wanting to come to her aid. Come on you stupid sword where are you? Help me get us out of this mess. You’ve come every other time things looked tough so why aren’t you here now! No matter how he pleaded with his thoughts for the sword and that power to come, it never did. It was not long after that the great doors behind them began to open. Marching forward and escorted by guards was Danu in shackles that gave off a faint glow of intricate runes. Danu’s expression appeared downtrodden but changed as she saw and heard Ra’Handa’s agony.

‘What’re they doing to her?’ she asked Blink, a frantic look on her face and in her words.

‘Looking through her memories,’ he said. ‘They said that Pavreck was talking to you earlier, did he hurt you?’ he asked Danu looking her over for any signed of harm. She looked tired and forlorn but otherwise unharmed.

‘No. Not really. He wanted to know more about my staff and how to use it. He’s kept me under close watch since they took us in… and I’ve not been able to change my form,’ she said hopelessly holding up the glowing shackles. They look different than ours. Those runes must be like Brigid’s and stopping her from using magic, Blink thought.

‘Quiet,’ said Bornwald without looking at them. He was fixed on the scene before them. Ra’Handa had stopped fighting the process. She slumped to the carpeted floor still shaking from the experience. Lady Jadissa’s eyes stopped glowing and she stumbled a little from her return.

‘She fought me harder than I would have expected,’ she said catching her breath. She looked to the new arrivals of the Daybreakers and Danu.

‘Did you find it?’ asked Bornwald redirecting her attention.

‘After a sort yes. It seems that it was in their packs. Another has them with her. I believe the girl from the Iron Lioness Guild,’ she said.

‘Then I shall send the Daybreakers there to retrieve it,’ he said motioning to order his men.

‘Wait! That is her domain and I’ll not have all the Daybreakers killed before we are ready. We will consult the Neverset first,’ she said turning to the corpse on the throne. ‘But first take this one back to her friends,’ she said indicating Ra’Handa on the floor. They did as she asked, and Blink and Danu leant down to tend to their friend. She was awake but weak, it would take her some time to regain her strength. Blink seethed with white heat and that small flame he kept at bay within himself flickered dangerously at the edges of himself. Oddly it was stronger than it had been since their arrival, yet he still found he could not grasp it and command it. It always seemed out of reach; but then how did one grab hold of fire? He wanted to make Jadissa, Bornwald, and Demera pay for what they had done but all he was able to do was glare. He felt helpless, all those years of his life spent in servitude, never allowing himself the heat of anger, never allowing himself the hope things may be different. It had been too painful, too dangerous to set free, it had been safer to let the hopelessness in rather than risk punishment and death from Horrog and Demera. That had changed when Ra’Handa had helped him escape and now those long denied parts of himself could be free. I will get us out of here Ra, and I’ll make them pay. I will never be caged again. I swear it Ra, he thought to himself. He stared at Jadissa, waiting for the flame of anger to somehow come close enough for him to hold firm to. You will pay for all of this.

Lady Jadissa walked to the corpse before them and began to speak words of power, the flows of The Torrent licked at her arms and trailed off to the dead king before her. The magic filled the corpse from within and it gradually began to twitch with life and movement. She continued to speak the words of power, chanting rhythmically without pause, until sitting upright before them was the undead king of Dayargain.

‘This is forbidden! You can’t use that magic,’ Danu said to Blink. Blink gritted his teeth and could not take his eyes from the scene before him.

‘What is it you wish to ask of me? For what ruling have I been awoken?’ came the breathless echoing voice of the Neverset King. Every word he spoke was if it came from the bottom of a dark empty well.

‘It is I my love, think hard and remember,’ spoke Lady Jadissa with a true tenderness that surprised Blink. She had spoken tenderly to him when they first met, though it seemed to mock him and make him feel like a boy of little experience.

‘Morgwenn, is that you?’ breathed the Neverset King. Lady Jadissa smiled sweetly her eyes adoring of the rotting king.

‘Yes. I am most pleased that you remember me,’ she said and reached out to touch its face. A skeletal hand took hers and drew her in close. Blink and Danu watched in horrified disgust as Lady Jadissa kissed the Neverset King. Her lips and hands caressing the paper-thin sheets of his mummified skin.

‘This is an abomination,’ said Danu, terror stricken. Blink agreed wholeheartedly and any thoughts that this woman had been beautiful were dashed from him mind. When they finally separated, they seemed to notice they were not alone in the room.

‘Please my love. In this Age I have taken the name Jadissa… at least until your true awakening is complete. It is best to use that name amongst our guests,’ she said looking to them. The Neverset King nodded with recognition and if it were possible, the mummified flesh and skull appeared to smile.

‘Who are these before me then?’ spoke the Neverset King indicating Blink, Danu, and Ra’Handa. Blink shivered to have this being regard him, rotten and eyeless.

‘They are the ones that stole the numinian piece from you in Bonny. It is no longer in their possession, but we are aware of its location,’ she said speaking more as an advisor than a grotesque lover to the undead king.

‘Then you will bring it to me,’ he said turning a creaking head in her direction.

‘I would have it no other way. However, it seems that it is in Her possession. Ey’Vennara has the piece and is unlikely to give it up willingly. How do you propose we take it back my king?’ she asked humbly.

‘She is weakened, and her mind is held within the prison. She will not take from us again. Go… retrieve it by force and kill all that stand in the way. They shall be revived in the coming of my ascension. Their pain matters not,’ he said every word as though it were booming wind through open catacombs.

‘But are we ready for such an assault? I do not think our plans have reached this place,’ she asked.

‘It is time. Pavreck will begin his work immediately and you will make the preparations for the breaking of the seal. With freedom from death the light of my life shall never set again…,’ the Neverset King breathed deeply in a death rattle and went on. ‘We will never… be separated… again… Morgwenn,’ the Neverset King gasped through words despite having no breath. Whatever spell it was, it was limited, and he began to expire again the more he spoke. Lady Jaddisa’s expression hardened as she watched the Neverset King expire and slump against the throne. There was a wrenching pain behind those elegant elven features. How often had she seen her lover die in such a way? Although the scene had been something from a nightmare the sorrow and anguish of it couldn’t be ignored. She deserves no sympathy for what she has done. Find that flame again. Find that rage, Blink told himself forcing himself to see her as only an enemy to be stopped. He searched inside himself for the flames that would lick at the side of his heart. They were there, still just out of reach.

‘Very well. Let us get things moving along then. Bornwald use whatever force you have at your disposal. If they resist, then kill them,’ Lady Jadissa commanded. She had regained what cool composure she had. The flowers and music gone from her voice, there was no lull to cloud the senses now, only determination.

‘And these three?’ Bornwald asked.

‘Take them back to their cells. When all is done, I may search the rest of their minds,’ she said looking directly at Blink. The guards dragged them from the throne room. Blink saw that Ra’Handa was still weak but now able to walk on her own. She stumbled along slowing the pace. The guard would give her a shove from time to time to move things along. Blink snarled at him and barked that he leave her be. He was rewarded with mailed fists to his face and gut. As they walked, they were separated from Danu who was taken to another floor of the dungeons, presumably the same place she had been interrogated by Pavreck. She looked back at Blink as she was guided away. She really seemed out of her depth and far away from whatever life she had led before they met. Who am I to say she’s out of her depth. She knows more about the world than I do. I have no idea what I’m doing, Blink thought regrettably. He wished so much that he could free them and protect them. He wished that the sword would come and that he had the strength to wield it. It was for nothing. The sword ignored his calls.

Once they were in their cell the guards came over to unlock the shackles that kept them bound. The guards were having trouble with Ra’Handa as she was slumped over.

‘Get up! On your feet!’ the largest one commanded. Ra’Handa made no indication that she had heard. He walked up to her, the threat of pain in his movement.

‘Just leave her alone, can’t you see she’s hurt,’ Blink said hoping she had the strength to do as the guard asked.

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‘Filthy half-breed you’ll feel my fist for this when you wake,’ said the guard bending down to drag her to her feet. It happened faster than Blink could register but suddenly the guard stopped where he was, and his body went limp. Ra’Handa was on her feet and was already moving to the next guard in her way, a bloody and sharpened bone in her hands. Her and the guard’s fought and no matter what they tried they couldn’t land a hit on the lithe green form of Ra’Handa. Her chains and shackles clanged, and she moved between them and even managed to use them to guard against their swords. Wherever she saw an opening she easily moved in with the sharp bone and stabbed felling one guard after another. When she was done, she returned to the cell to find Blink already at work unlocking his shackles with the keys from the first guard she killed.

‘Can ya get mine for me to ey?’ she said between heavy breaths. Despite her quick movements in the fight, she was exhausted from whatever Jadissa had done to her. Blink obliged and undid her hands first and then her feet. They had just enough time before another contingency of guards came down the hall to investigate the noise. Blink grabbed a sword discarded on the ground by a dead guard and made short work of them. It wasn’t the same as his sword of bone, but it was well made and accomplished the task. Ra’Handa took some daggers from the guards and left the bloody bone discarded on the floor. They found another set of keys and went to work unlocking the cells. They released the last survivors of Tory, some of them seemed healthier than when they first found them in the caverns. They had been fed and given water. It seemed that the Daybreakers had been far kinder to those that did not fight against their memories being extracted. Those that had fought looked far worse, they appeared lost in thought, and it was difficult to wake them. There were others that refused to leave the cells. The villagers that were better off managed to coax them out but not before much arguing from Blink and Ra’Handa. They were relieved to find Wick with Yirranna. Wick was unharmed, however Yirranna had paid dearly for her defiance. She was barely able to move, and it appeared she had faced more than the mental probing of Jadissa. Her face was battered, bruised, and she walked with a limp, the Daybreakers most certainly had beaten her. After some searching, they found their belongings and handed them to Blink and Ra’Handa. The bone sword was not there, and Blink had not been conscious when they left the sewers. He tried again to summon the sword but found it would not come. Blink regarded the villagers and particularly Yirranna. Few would be able to fight to protect themselves and if they were to force their way they would most likely die. They’re going to slow us down and if Bornwald and Jadissa come for us I doubt we will be able to hold them off. Can we leave them here? Blink felt shame for having had the thought. His desire to be free and help Brigid wavered his resolve to help the others. He looked to Ra’Handa as Yirranna was guided out of her cell. Her face spoke the same thoughts, yet Blink knew she would never leave anyone behind, if she could help it. She had always been that way. He remembered Nessus at that moment. It must have hurt her deeply to leave them in the sewers with that monstrous creature.

‘We all leave or none at all,’ she said in response to his silent question. ‘We will find a way through,’ she said through gasping breaths. Blinked nodded in agreement. He wouldn’t abandon any here as they had with Nessus.

‘What about Danu? How are we going to find her in this place?’ he asked concerned for her.

‘Wait here and I’ll go look,’ said Ra’Handa.

‘You’re hurt Ra. You can’t go alone,’ he said.

‘You’ll only slow me down and who’s gunna watch over these people?’ she said gruffly. Blink knew she was right, but he didn’t want to lose her too. She stared him down and looked exhausted, yet she would not take any further disagreements.

‘Fine… Just don’t take any risks Ra,’ he said.

‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ she said with a wink and was gone from the room. While they waited Blink did his best to help tend to the wounds of the villagers. He knew little of healing but could at least clean their cuts and ensure that Yirranna was given water. Despite the beating she must have endured, she managed to maintain the stoic authority she had when Blink frst met her. The villagers, even those that were most broken and afraid kept close to her as if seeking strength through her. Blink wondered how anyone could command such respect. He had tried to lead them through the tunnels toward Dayargain but had only argued and fought with everyone along the way. They had followed him, but they had not drawn strength from him as these people did from Yirranna. He was no leader, and he knew it.

Ra’Handa stalked the halls of the tower and made her way down many flights. She was surprised to find the tower almost empty at every turn. There had been Daybreakers and even guard of the Watchdogs about shouting orders and grumbling about having to move quickly. She had truly been in a pained daze following the experience with Jadissa and the numinian piece. Despite that haze she had heard the commands for an assault on the guild. Would they really need so many? Ra’Handa remembered seeing members there, though they seemed few compared to all those that wished to join. She found it difficult to believe they could take on the entirety of the Daybreakers and Watchdogs together. Her concerns for them only drove her harder down the levels of the dungeon in search of Danu. They may not be able to save the guild, but Ra’Handa would not allow any more people to be lost when she could do otherwise.

When she finally came to where they kept Danu there were only a few guards stationed. Ra’Handa wasted no time in dealing with them. She had learned well from The Magpies and felt a swelling of pride in herself. When at last she came to Danu’s cell, Ra’Handa opened the door to find her bound to the floor with shackles and chains. A circle of runic magic surrounded her and took up the entirety of the space. It glowed with a threatening arcane aura. Danu looked at her with big round green eyes that watered.

‘You alright Danu? Let’s get ya outta here ey?’ said Ra’Handa. She was careful walking up to the magic circle.

‘It’s not trapped. It supresses magic and prevents me from connecting to The Torrent,’ said Danu choking back tears. Despite the reassurance from Danu, Ra’Handa gingerly stepped into the circle. Nothing happened and so she unlocked the shackles and moved Danu out of the room as quickly as she could. Ra’Handa looked back at the circle and the room as though a surge of golgeists may appear at any moment.

‘Where are the others?’ asked Danu once they were seated in the at a table used by the guards.

‘Further up. I’ll go get ‘em and bring ‘em here. You rest and stay outta sight,’ she said and moved quickly back through the halls. Danu sat alone on the hard wooden chair. She looked to the table where the remains of a game of cards had been left by the guards. She lifted the card in front of her absent-mindedly. It was the Queen of Hearts and a Queen of Clubs. This could have been a winning hand for the guard, and he lay dead and bleeding in a corner at the far end of the room. She tried not to look in his direction. It wasn’t that she was afraid of seeing a dead body, after all it was a natural part of the world, and his soul would be cleaned in The Torrent. She did not want to see his face, the frozen face of a man whose fortune and expectation had changed so suddenly.

‘I don’t understand how you could send me here Cernunnos. I was so certain that I could not fail. That I was doing the right thing,’ she said to herself still staring at the Queens before her. Their expressions twisted in sadness wielding flowers. Perhaps they too felt sorrow for the guard, and for Danu? Danu slumped back in the chair breathing out heavily.

‘What would my mother say if she saw me now?’ she said to herself. ‘That is enough of your pouting young lady. Keep pressing your lips and someone is likely to put a trumpet there,’ she said in a high-born pompous voice. It made her smile a little to think of the woman. They had never seen eye to eye and more than once Danu had been threatened never to hold the Seawing Seat of the Citadel. If only her mother had understood there was nothing Danu wanted less than to take up that seat in her mother’s stead. Let one of her brothers have it, Rictor and Talis where far better suited to that. Even her youngest sister, Lilla would be better suited to courtly gossip and intrigue than her. All Danu had ever wanted was to run free in the deep wood, feel the dirt and grasses on her feet, and make chase with the rabbits and deer.

‘I wish I could return to the woods. If only I could speak to you Cernunnos and know why you sent me on this duty doomed to fail,’ she said feeling her face tighten slightly into a pout. She quickly scolded herself and breathed back further into her seat. It was an agonising wait there alone in the room. When Ra’Handa finally returned she and Blink were assisting Yirranna and the other villagers. Danu ran to them quickly and inspected their wounds.

‘Where is my bag?’ she said urgently. Blink handed her a woven bag she had carried with her since leaving the forests. Danu went through her things and found the container of cool cream she once used to heal the burns on Blink’s arms. The twisted scarring still showed a flaming pink colour but no longer hurt. Danu began applying it to Yirranna’s face and other wounds.

‘I need my staff to heal this faster, but the cream will help for now,’ she said.

‘Thank you miss Danu. She fought them bastards as hard as she could,’ said Wick never leaving Yirranna’s side. ‘We’re gunna be alright yeah?’ he said meekly. Noone answered him. None there were willing to get the boy’s hopes up. It was more likely they would be struck down in the attempt, yet voicing those words would have been admitting defeated before even trying.

‘We will do our best,’ said Danu trying to sound brave and not frighten the boy any further.

‘Can you change your shape now?’ asked Blink watching her work.

‘Maybe, I don’t need my staff for it, but it will be harder,’ her eyes glanced at Blink for a moment.

‘Do you think you can be something big enough to carry people out?’ he asked, a plan forming in his mind. Danu looked for a moment at the people around her.

‘Some… the weakest I can carry. Though I can’t think of any animal large enough to the task. If I can, then the rest will have to fight their way out… but…’ she looked away. Blink came to her side searching for the words to encourage her.

‘Just… do what you can ok,’ he said and cursed himself for sounding so hopeless. I’m no leader, he thought, not for the first time.

‘What I mean is… Ra and I will handle the rest. You just do what you can ok?’ he said attempting to recover his composure.

‘It may not be as simple as that… I don’t have the strength or training for something big enough. I would need to speak with…Him,’ her voice trailed off toward the end.

‘Speak with who? Can’t you just transform into anything?’ Blink asked. Of course she can’t you fool. You can’t make some cursed sword appear whenever you like. Why would that be any different for her magic?

‘He… it is forbidden for the druidic tribes to speak of it with outsiders… especially where I am from,’ she said trying not to meet Blink’s eyes.

‘So don’t tell us… just do what you need to. We will trust you, right Ra?’ he said turning to her. She nodded her breathing laboured. The journey back through the halls and stairs had taken most of what she had left. They would need rest soon; they would need to get to the guild and safety if they could even make out of here.

‘Very well… but I’ll need time, and someone might come,’ she said.

‘Most of ‘em are out of the tower. I don’t think they’ll come looking for us,’ said Ra’Handa.

‘Alright. Anyone that can carry a sword grab one from the racks over there or off the dead Daybreakers,’ Blink said ordering the others into position. He did his best to sound commanding and confident. He was sure that he still looked very much like a boy playing at being soldier to these people, but none of them showed it. They needed someone to guide them, someone to tell them what to do. Without it they would not move at all. Danu, having finished tending to the wounds of Yirranna made herself comfortable cross-legged on the floor. The doors to the guard station were sealed with whatever they could find on hand, barrels, a table, and even the shackles that had kept them bound. The group waited nervously as Danu closer her eyes.