The six elven guards looked at each other and then to Max. Their expressions told Max they were lost, confused.

“Captain Fineblade will explain,” Max told them. “Follow me,” and he led them out of the audience room, hoping that the elven captain could indeed explain. He led them down a wide stone stairway to the large entrance hall. The pair of elven guards at the main door were also looking lost, the destruction of the dark shards having freed them from the dark influence. Max instructed them to open the door and lower the drawbridge.

Walking over the drawbridge, over the deep chasm surrounding the mayor’s house, Max saw more lost elven soldiers. He had gathered quite a party, and they all deferred to his status as a Mage. One even thanked him and called him “Master Mage.” He didn’t correct the elf.

Max was wondering how long he could keep order when he saw Elderon, Anita, and Jahrod walking up the main street through the town towards the mayor’s house. Accompanying them was Captain Fineblade. The elven soldiers gathered around their captain, looking for instructions and explanations.

“Can we get back to the tavern now?” Max said to Elderon, the rain dripping down his hair. “There’s a meat pie and tankard of ale waiting for me.” He felt sure Jahrod and Anita would back him up.

“The mayor’s house will serve us well,” Elderon said and led them back to the house as Fineblade took charge of the elven soldiers.

The mayor’s reception chamber was warm and dry. A fire of brown coal and thick logs was burning in the large stone fireplace. Once the lanterns about the room were lit, it was quite comfortable. Carpets lay over the flagstone floor and tapestries hung on the walls between the tall windows that gave views over the grubby town.

“I resisted the darkness as best I could,” Fineblade said, joining the party in the reception chamber. He shook the rain from his long coat and stood by the fire. “Many of the company were less able, particularly those closest to the witch.”

“You did very well,” Max said. “Those closest to the witch were utterly consumed by it.”

“Where is the witch?” Fineblade said. “She must be taken back to Deepwood where she might be freed from the darkness that consumed her.”

Max shook his head. “She jumped,” he said. “She may be at the bottom of the chasm, or she may have gotten away.”

Fineblade nodded. “I will send search parties to track her and find her.”

“What orders will you give your company now, Captain?” Elderon said. He levitated a large log towards the fire.

“I’m not sure. We were supposed to be gathering all the dark shards, and I thought we were destroying them, but now I seem to recall how the witch was sending dark shards to city armies across the Awen continent. We passed one to the Deadtide army. Perhaps we should start there.”

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“We eliminated that shard a few days ago,” Max said.

Fineblade nodded. “And it was immediately replaced.” Fineblade’s head drooped. “And many more have been sent to the Kingdom of Deepwood.”

An elven lieutenant reported to Fineblade that the company was recovering their senses. Fineblade passed the news to Max and his party.

“My soldiers report dark dreams and feelings of having been drunk on dwarven ale or having been kicked in the head by an ox.”

“You are strong-willed people indeed,” Elderon said. “Many would not recover so quickly from being in the presence of so many dark shards.”

Fineblade nodded. “It drove us to madness. We must make sure we rid Eveirea of their darkness.”

Elderon clapped Max on the shoulder. “Only Max can withstand their power. Only Max can rid us of them.”

“How?” Fineblade looked at Max, intrigued, disbelieving, suspicious.

“I do not know,” Max lied. He did not want it generally known that he had arrived through the dark portal, that he was somehow bound to it, that it was in some way part of him. Elderon knew this, Anita too. It appeared that the Dark Mages knew it and would do anything to harness the power. Max hadn’t even told Jahrod of his connection to the dark portal. The fewer people who knew about how Max had arrived here in Eveirea, the better.

“I had a vision when I made my first Mage level. There is a dark portal spreading darkness to Eveirea. I believe if I find the portal, I can close it. Only then can Eveirea be free of the darkness.”

Elderon nodded. “Some Mages have powerful visions when they make their first level.”

Fineblade looked at Max and Elderon. He appeared to be considering whether he could trust these Mages. “And the dark shards?” he asked after a moment.

“They were created by the dark portal and have been scattered across the world,” Max said. “There are really only very few, but we must find them all, and once I have them, I can eliminate them, and I believe they will lead me to the dark portal.”

“Then you have a very great power,” Fineblade said. “And a very great duty. And you are in very great danger. Dark Mages have been attacking us for weeks, trying to steal the shards we have. We in the Kingdom of Deepwood believed the Dark Mages were an extinct sect.” He looked at Elderon.

“Indeed, the Mage council thought so too. Their return to Eveirea is no doubt another effect of the dark portal.”

Anita spoke up. “The Dark Mages think Druid blood can help them summon dark portals of their own. Our connection to nature must somehow connect us to the dark portal. The Druids are in danger as long as the dark portal persists.”

“I wish you well in your quest, Max Lightfoot,” Fineblade said. “I will tell the elven elders and our king that your party should receive any elven support we can offer.”

Max nodded. He took Fineblade's hand in friendship.

At that moment, a bell rang out somewhere in the town. A shout went up across the town. Max looked out of the tall window. People were running towards the town palisade armed with swords, spears, mining tools, hammers, and picks. Flaming torches were lit across the town. The rain started to fall heavily in the darkness of evening, raindrops flickering in the torchlight.

The frail and very young started up the hill towards the mayor’s house, seeking its protection. They came across the drawbridge and started filling the entrance hall. A Karbon town guard burst into the reception chamber. He looked to Elderon to Fineblade, then back to the old Mage.

“Master Mage. Inform the mayor. Everyone to arms,” he said. “We are under attack. The Deadtide army is approaching, and they have allies.”

“Dark Mages?” Jahrod asked.

The town guard hesitated.

“Spit it out, man,” Captain Fineblade said.

The town guard stammered. He shook his head before speaking. “Goblins. A pack of goblins is with them.”