“What sort of devilry is this?” Benkin asked.

“Chaos,” said Leonidas. “Chaos at its finest.”

“What do you mean?” Maeryn asked.

“Chaos magic is considered the most powerful form of all magical arts. It is what one tries their hand at when they have mastered every other art there is to know.”

“Why does that not give me much comfort?” Silvius asked.

“It’s considered past the point of accepted risk by many trained in the magical arts.”

“Did you know of it, Jeanne?” Kveldulf asked.

“Enough to stay away,” Jeanne replied as she tried to stay away from the instruments and other artifacts in the room.

“I’m almost afraid to ask what this place was being used for,” Kveldulf asked.

“If I was a betting man,” said Leonidas, picking up an astrolabe and examining it before placing it back down, “it was for something beyond foul.”

“But The Wraith King was never associated with this type of magic,” said Hypatia, “Why would he take on this now?”

“Most people who do, rarely advertise it, given the stigma. This is considered the most forbidden of all the magical studies. And this could be an acolyte of his.”

“Does that matter?” Benkin asked.

“I’ve come across more than a few people who wanted to impress or surpass whomever they served,” said Leonidas. “Again, most of them not knowing how much fire they were messing with.”

“But why?” Hypatia asked, “This just seems like there’s more risks involved to justify the usage.”

“What makes chaos magic so alluring is you get to pick and choose what of the other schools you want to use. Similar to how you learn several martial art styles and then form your own that’s tailored to your strengths.”

“Then what was he doing here then?” Jeanne asked.

“Now that is the question of the hour,” said Leonidas. He turned to find an orb hovering over a pedestal. It was craved with an ornate pattern, hollowed in the middle and glowing blue on the inside.

“What is that?” Benkin asked as he reached to touch it before Leonidas stopped him.

“It’s a ley stone,” replied Leonidas.

“A what?” Benkin replied.

“You use it to anchor ley lines so they don’t start wandering about.”

“What’s a ley line?” Cid asked.

“Oh,” both Leonidas and Hypatia said as both tried to answer the question.

“I’m sorry,” said Hypatia.

“By all means,” Leonidas replied.

“Well, from I read in the archives, ley lines are part a vast body of energies that intersect all over the world. Usually at places where spiritual and magical energies have joined together. Sometimes it’s places where high energy gathers, such as a religious site, and in others it can where something major occurred, such as a battle or natural catastrophe.”

“Is there a use for ley lines?” asked Cid.

“Generally, they can be used to help a magic caster perform exceptionally powerful spells. The ones that tend to need days to prepare and conduct. So, for example, Jeanne can do a fireball spell without the need of a ley line. But if she wanted to cast one large enough to destroy an entire city, then she’d need a ley line, or ten for that case.”

“That’s a lot of ley lines,” Jeanne replied.

“A common misconception is they have unlimited access to magic. But similar to a road you travel on, there’s only so much power than can be funneled in a line. And depending on where the line begins and how much power it’s acquired between conjurations, it can greatly affect what you can do with it. So, one spell might only need one line, whereas another can require a dozen or more to complete,” said Leonidas.

“So, what does it mean that this thing is here?” Maeryn asked.

“I can’t say,” said Leonidas. “But just being here in all places is rather discomforting.”

“We could go back to the archives of the university to see if this crosses over any other ley lines,” said Hypatia.

“Certainly can’t hurt,” said Leonidas.

“I think we need to inform the Council back at Orumus,” said Silvius.

“You think they’ll listen?” Jeanne asked.

“We can’t just sit around and not tell anyone,” Silvius insisted.

“We should at least inform the reeve here,” said Cid.

“The reeve thinks we’re thieves and brigands,” said Hypatia.

“We bring him the bandits and our bounty and that should take care of that problem,” said Kveldulf.

“And the giant snake lady?” Jeanne asked, grabbing a book from the table.

“I mean, how can one deny a giant severed head?” Benkin replied.

Leonidas crossed his arms, grimaced out of the corner of his mouth.

“Something on your mind?” Kveldulf asked.

“I’ve down this road before and it can be … problematic.”

“What do you mean?”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Leonidas let out a grizzled sigh. “Let’s just say I felt the same once and wound up beaten to a pulp and with a target on my back. I’m not saying we should be silent, this could turn against us, and quick.”

Cid growled in thought. “That is a good point. Not a comforting one, but a good one.”

“I still say we go to the reeve, at least inform him of the bandits, and get your names cleared before we see what our next move is,” said Kveldulf.

“I agree,” said Cid. “We will collect the bounty, get that off our plate. And I feel it is imperative we alert those back at the city of our findings. I know it may not lead to anything, but what would we do if we sat by and let something go unknown and lead to horrible tragedies?”

Everyone exchanged glances, saying nothing to challenge the point.

“Good, we’ll grab what we need and then go see the reeve tomorrow,” said Cid. “Now let’s get out of here, this place is making my fur stand on end.”

***

The reeve stared at the head of Belthory, mouth agape and unable to find his words.

“Did – did we petrify him?” Maeryn asked.

Leonidas shook his head. “She’s not a gorgon, so he should be fine … I hope.”

The reeve rose from his chair and walked around his desk to get a better look at the severed head. “Where did you get this from?”

“In the cave system not far from here,” said Jeanne, pointing with her thumb.

Cid turned to her. “It’s over that way,” he said pointing in the opposite direction.

“Oh, shush, Lord I Know My Directions von Smarts.”

The reeve didn’t notice the back and forth, still gazing at the head. “I still cannot believe the wife of the great tyrant was such a short distance from our doorsteps.”

“We also found many of the stolen animals from farms,” said Kveldulf.

“Oh, oh! Yes, I could imagine that. My apologies to your friends,” he said sincerely, “I’ll make sure let the town know of what you’ve done. No need to spread any false hearsay and innuendos. Most unbecoming.”

“Hear hear,” said Ben, clearing his throat and looking at the others with a smile.

“I think we should also get word to the proper channels back at Orumus.”

“Oh, oh gods, yes! Of course,” the official blurted out. He rushed to his seat, pulling out a quill and ink well. He wrote as fast as he could, stopping only to check his writing. “Oh gods, I’ll be hearing all about that spelling error,” he murmured to himself, “They’ll get that figured out.”

Finishing, he folded the missive, grabbed a sealing wax stick, heated one end with a candle and let several drops land on the tip of the final fold. He pressed his office’s seal on the wax blot and handed it to Cid. “Take that the Council,” he then reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a metal medallion, placing it on the desk and pushing it towards Cid. “Bring this with you as well, it’s a badge of my office. It should help expediate the process,” he said while sitting back down in his chair.

“We appreciate the assistance,” Cid said to the reeve as he took the medallion from the desk.

“Yes, anything to help, the last thing we need is for this to escalate into something dire.”

“And the bounty?” Kveldulf asked.

“Oh, gods, I almost forgot,” said the reeve. He rose from his seat, went over to a tapestry and as he lifted it, revealed a safe sunk into the wall. He inserted a key hanging from a necklace on his person to unlock the door reaching in to pulling out a palm-sized bag of coin he handed it to Kveldulf. “Please, take this, that should more than compensate you for all of your efforts.”

“Much obliged,” said Cid bowing hid head, “But if you’ll excuse us, we’ll begin making our way to Orumus.”

“Absolutely,” said the Reeve, “May Caeltru's blessing guide you.”

***

The city of Orumus held a different influence on Kveldulf than it did on his first arrival. The air was not scented with the sense of adventure and wonder. The buildings did not shine with an aura of a civilized, yet untamed spirit. The sounds did not carry a melodic quality to them, likened to a bard creating an improvised tune to demonstrate the musical enlightenment of the moment.

Even as he looked down from his horse along the outer ridge lines, he could smell liquid waste permeating from the canals of western and northern districts. He could see the discoloration of the roads from rich, healthy earthen colors to miniscule spots of the cobbled streets covered in muck and waste of animals and people. Even the buildings changed hues as one passed from the farms along the outskirts and into the city proper.

“Everything all right?” Cid asked him, nudging his horse to Kel’s.

Kveldulf nodded. “Just had something on my mind.”

“I can imagine this is the last thing you want us to do.”

“Yes and no. It’s hard to explain.”

“Well, the others are resting, and the weather is nice for a chat.”

Kveldulf took a deep breath, considering his words carefully. “I’ll be honest, I had a few reservations in coming back here. I’m always afraid the actions of those long before my time would mire what, if anything, I do in this life. But I am just tired of running from a past I cannot escape. I want people to see me, not the sins my ancestor committed. I acknowledge what he did, and refuse to make excuses for him, but I am not him, despite how much people insist I am.”

“I know how easy it is for people to hold onto the past. Especially when they’re wanting to some terrible event from happening again. But they would prefer to keep staying where they are, never wanting to move forward. They even weave newer fantasies to reinforce crimes to paint succeeding generations as the same martyries as their own ancestors. Or commit the same crimes done to them on another for some semblance justice satisfied when none was made. Because deep down they know they’re just as bad as the people they hate. They’re not perfect and that truth drives them insane. For in a generation’s time they will be mocked and ridiculed for the same reason they mock you.”

“I’m not sure I’m getting your point, Cid,” Kveldulf said.

“I’m getting there. My point is, those people down there, you don’t need them to redeem your house. That is for you, and only you to decide. Eventually they will see you the way I do. But until then, fuck all of them, you’ll probably outlive them in the end.”

Kveldulf chuckled. “Thanks, Cid. I needed that one.”

“Anytime. So … did you think we would be confronting The Wraith King, or his allies?”

“Gods no! And I would rather be facing anything other than them. I was expecting us out in the field of some great battle. Earning fame and glory, possibly reclaiming some of that lost luster to the old family name. But this, this is something else entirely.”

“Yes, this is something from those old stories you as a child. Quite different know when your grown and the intricacies of the real world begin to alter your view on things.”

“You can that again.”

“I could, I can’t remember everything I said.”

Kveldulf chuckled. “I needed that one, too.”

“A good laugh is always in need, in both good and bad times.”

“I just wish I knew how things would turn out with this whole damned affair.”

“I’m certain most of us share the same opinion. But I like to look at it this way. If we knew exactly how things would turn out, then it would take all the sense of adventure out of life.”

“You always were one to jump into the unknown with the utmost vigor.”

“Makes the journey that much more fun.”

There was a stillness as they looked out over the cityscape.

“You know there’s a good chance you’ll be meeting her, yes?”

Kveldulf nodded. “I know.”

“Are you comfortable with that possibility?”

“I don’t know, to be honest.”

“I can’t imagine she’d know who you are.”

“If she does, we may have another problem on our hands.”

“You think she’d be that concerned?”

“Elves are known to playing the long game, those of the Elder lines especically. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was something in the works.”

“Well, let’s hope this is all over before we have to worry about that bridge.”

“I’d prefer to take a ferry is that’s possible.”

“Oh right, you and the water are not on good terms.”

“Just oceans, lakes and anything where I can’t see the bottom after a certain depth.”

“You are a peculiar cat, you know this, yes?”

Cid shrugged. “I’d like this it’s a part of my charm.”

“It’s something all right.”

Jeanne came up to the two, leading her horse up to the top of the ridgeline. “What are you two plotting?”

“We’re not plotting,” said Kveldulf.

“I know my plotting,” said Jeanne, “and you two look like you’re doing quite a bit of that.”

“And since when did you become such a master in the fine art of espionage?” Kveldulf asked.

Jeanne shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Oh gods,” said Cid, shaking his head. “I can’t believe I’m associated with you two sometimes.”

“Like you don’t enjoy our partially unhinged banter,” Jeanne replied.

“I swear I am beside myself,” Cid said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“No, you’re not, you’re right there,” said Kveldulf.

“I’m going back to the others,” Cid said, turning his horse around and riding back to the camp.

“This is when I know we broke him,” Jeanne said to Kveldulf.

“I know, it’s a nice feeling sometimes,” Kveldulf replied. As Jeanne began making her way back to the others, Kveldulf looked once more over the city and felt an uncomfortable feeling grow in the pit of his stomach.