Everything happened at once. Yorun drew rapidly in the air with his wand, a symbol forming faster then Triss could have imagined. Percival had his wand out and was also rapidly drawing, an incredibly complex symbol taking shape. Triss dove to the ground, trying to avoid whatever the wizard was going to send her way. And Reginald continued to fly backwards.

The symbols in front of both wizards started shrinking at the exact same time, both turning into tiny pinpoints of light. From Yorun the spell was a small purple orb that started moving towards Triss, rapidly growing in size and speed. By the time it had crossed half the distance, it was taller than she was, and moving faster than she could have run. The ball grew large enough to scrape the ground as it moved and it left a perfectly smooth groove in the soil, whatever it touched seeming to be completely removed from the world.

Percival’s spell just disappeared. The form shrank down until it disappeared, and then nothing else happened. Yorun looked at Percival triumphantly as his spell closed in on Triss. Percival just smiled.

Triss scrambled to her feet and ran. The ball stopped growing, its final diameter half again her height. It continued to speed up, and she only made it five steps before it slammed into her back.

The world was suddenly black. Triss couldn’t see anything, couldn’t feel anything. She floated in a realm free of sensation. Am I dead? Is this what happens when you die? She thought.

Suddenly, she was falling. She barely had time to register that the moon was back when she crashed into something hard. Well, not that hard, she realized.

Beneath her, Yorun groaned, then started struggling to get up. In addition to Triss, there was also large pile of rocks and dirt covering the wizard. A few steps away, Percival was nearly falling over with laughter. Triss clambered off the pile and backed away from the fallen wizard, putting Percival in between her and Yorun.

It took Yorun a couple minutes to extricate himself from the pile of debris. As soon as he was free he jumped to his feet, pulling his wand and casting a spell. A fireball flew towards Percival, which Percival deflected easily, sending it off harmlessly into the grass. Yorun cast a bolt of lightning next, and it hit the ground a foot before reaching the older wizard. “You can’t win.” Percival said. “You’ve already paid a heavy price. I would strongly suggest you gather any troops you have left and leave, before something bad happens to you.” Percival took on a darker tone.

Yorun screamed, casting spell after spell. Fireballs and lightning bolts flew at Percival, and they were all deflected easily. Yorun paused, catching his breath. Then he cast another lightning bolt, but it wasn’t aimed at Percival.

It was heading straight for Reginald. He was still laying on the ground, seeming dazed from whatever had thrown him back. He didn’t even raise a wand in defence. The bright bolt crackled through the air as it flew unnervingly towards it’s target. Suddenly the bolt reversed course, flaying back the way it had come. It slammed into Yorun, exploding in a bright shower of sparks. The wizard was thrown backwards, crashing into the ground a few feet away.

Percival walked up to the still smoking body. Triss could see from here that part of the chest had been vaporized. Percival sighed as he looked down at the mangled corpse. “What a waste.” He started striding into town. “Come along Reginald, lets make sure none of these miserable creatures are left.”

Reginald tried to stand, and after a few stumbles he managed it. “Yesss, massster.” He said, wandering unsteadily after the wizard. Triss ran to the lizard, taking his arm to help him walk. He smiled up gratefully at her, his eyes mostly focusing on her. “Thanksss.” He said.

For the rest of her life, Triss would try to forget what she saw in town that night.

There were a few sights she would never forget. When they found the first body, bloody and torn. When they found a pile of bodies, feeding a river of red that ran down the cobblestones. When they found five of the grey skinned creatures playing in the blood. How the creatures died screaming.

It took nearly an hour to cross the town. They found pockets of survivors, too few and far between. They found monsters nearly every street. Percival destroyed them with ease.

Eventually, they made it to the council building. A small horde of nightmare creatures were milling around the square as two spikewalkers attacked the building’s wooden doors. Percival made a quick gesture, and a ball of lightening formed in front of him. It flew over the horde, flashing out bolts as it passed. Every bolt hit a monster, and every monster died.

Percival didn’t slow as he walked towards the main doors, except to move around bodies. He reached the large double door, then stood there and waited. “We need to get up there.” Reginald said. He was doing much better than before, but had stayed by Triss’s side. Whether that was for his sake or hers, Triss didn’t know.

When they reached the doors, Reginald let go of her hand and took a step forward. “People of Thalonia!” He announced. “Your Lord, Percival Arcanus the First has delivered you from your enemies! Come forth, and pay homage to him!”

“Really?” Triss asked.

“There is a proper order to things.” Percival said. Triss was shocked that he actually addressed her. “In times of chaos, a small bit of familiar order can be a lifeline. Now. Remain silent.”

The doors eventually swung open, and Elder Nert stepped out. “As representative for the counci-“ He didn’t manage to finish, Triss running up and clutching the old man in a hug. “Triss? Thank all the ancient gods!” He turned his head and yelled back as loud as his old voice could manage. “It’s Triss!”

Percival glared at her, but said nothing. After a few seconds the rest of the elders began to shuffle out. They looked at the field of corpses covering the square, and more than a few turned white at the sight. Elder Horst spent several minutes throwing up. Reginald, Percival and Nert had a short conversation, discussing what to do with all the corpses. Triss almost laughed at the indignation, then resignation on Percival’s face as he yelled loud enough for the ancient elder to hear him. It turned out that a great number of townsfolk had hid in the council building, as there was a huge underground cave system made specifically to keep the people safe in times of invasion. A contingent of younger men was organized and sent up, and they worked to gather the bodies to the center of the square to be burned.

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Triss was shocked when Thrend limped out of the building, a blood soaked cloth wrapped around his head. She did her best to crash into him gently as she wrapped him in a hug. “Well, miss. Glad to see you made it.” He said.

“You too.” She said as she squeezed. She had only known the mercenary captain for less than a day, but she was just so relieved to see any survivors she couldn’t help herself. She pulled away from Thrend after a moment. “Did any of your soldiers make it? What about Jonal and his family? Are they in there? How did you get hurt?” The questions tumbled out faster than she meant for them to.

“I don’t know about my men, but I fear the worst. I managed to take out a spikewalker that came in from behind the line, but I got knocked around pretty good. Was out of it for a bit. They told me two of my men dropped me off and ordered the council members to keep me safe. By the time I came to half the horde was camped outside this building.” He sighed. “Jonal was the shopkeeper who came with you earlier, yes? I’m afraid I don’t know where he is. The caves here are quite extensive, so there’s a chance he’s down there somewhere.”

A knot of fear formed in Triss’s stomach. She wasn’t sure she could take it if Jonal were dead. Nothing in her life had even remotely prepared her for the things she was dealing with now. She hadn’t been a soldier, hadn’t worked with injured people, hadn’t ever had to deal with blood and fighting and death. I’m not ready. She thought. I’m not ready to deal with someone I know dying.

“How long are we staying here?” She asked Reginald. As much as she wanted to help, wanted to comfort people and make things right again, she couldn’t. Her mind was at the limit of what she could bear, and she needed to get out of town and back to the castle where it was safe. When did the castle suddenly become safe? She thought to herself.

“We’ve got to get a few things organized.” Reginald said. “We should really stay as long as we possibly can. The townsfolk have been quite shaken, and our presence will comfort them. This far away from the main kingdoms we are often left alone, and hiding has been the best way to keep the town safe. The only reason someone would might come out here is for us.” He sighed, and frustration was plain on his face. “Unless, of course, they were bringing an army across from the Hordelands and using our lands as a staging area.”

“Oh. Ok.” Triss barely heard him. All she really caught was that she wasn’t going anywhere soon.

Reginald noticed the look on her face, and his own expression softened. “There are beds inside. Come, get some rest.”

“No chance of that.” She muttered, but she dutifully followed Reginald inside.

She expected them to head to the basement where all the other townsfolk were, but instead Reginald took a door right near the entrance. They entered a small apartment with a sitting area, some bookshelves, and a small attached bedchamber. “Living quarters for visiting dignitaries.” Reginald explained. “Lesser dignitaries, obviously. Not kings and queens. More other town elders and lawyers.”

“You guys have lawyers too? Thought that would be pointless if the law book contains only one law.” Triss said.

“You’d think so.” Reginald said, a hint of weariness in his voice. “You’d really think so.” He gestured to the bed. “Don’t worry about making a mess. They’ll wash everything later.”

“I’m not going to be able to sleep.” She said as she walked over to the bed.

Reginald pulled his wand and waved it at her. Triss staggered and almost fell over as a wave of exhaustion hit her. “Whoops. Sorry.” Reginald said. “Should have warned you. I removed the energizing spell I cast earlier.”

Triss glared at him half heartedly, then climbed onto the bed. She kicked off her shoes, and sank into the pillow. She groaned in satisfaction, and was asleep within seconds.

****************************

King Fontaine tapped his fingers against the arm of the throne. The golden gilding was beginning to flake off from years of constant nervous tapping. “Where is he?” He snapped for the fourth time this morning. “That blasted wizard should have been here by now!”

“I am sorry, King Fontaine. I was briefly delayed.”

Fontaine felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end as the silky smooth voice spoke from behind him. He spun around, looking.

Behind and slightly to the side of the throne was a small door, hidden behind the large tapestries that hung across the back of the throne room. It was meant for servants to bring the King food or drink or anything else he may need while holding court. It was also meant as a safe escape should violence break out in the courtroom. The door was guarded at all times, two of the large, armoured royal guards on each side at all times.

The only person there now was a small woman. She wore a long white robe, tied at the waist with a bright yellow sash. The hood of the robe cast part of her face in shadow, but Fontaine could see a cascade of straight red hair that spilled out of the hood, and a smooth white chin and full red lips.

“Mistress wizard?” Fontaine said with trepidation. It was one thing to complain about wizards when they couldn’t hear you. The council knew that some people didn’t like them and usually didn’t hunt down those who spoke ill of them. But insulting a wizard to their face? That was a dangerous move, even for a king. Especially if the wizard had the yellow sash.

“Obviously.” The wizard strode in, coming to stand in front of Fontaine, though slightly to the side. “I understand the last wizard we sent you has disappeared.”

“Um. Yes. That is, I mean, we can’t find him.” Fontaine’s pulled an embroidered handkerchief out of his robe and began to dab at the sudden sweat on his forehead. “He just disappeared one night.”

“That’s the gist of what I said, yes. Do you know what he was working on?”

“Um, we had some sort of attack, a strange thing was summoned here. He was investigating it, and then the next day he wasn’t here anymore.”

“Ah.” The wizard seemed disappointed. “Likely a summoning spell gone wrong. I’ll have to investigate. Can you have one of your servants take me to his chambers? I’d like to study what Hortlan was working on.”

Fontaine wanted nothing more than to send for a servant. He definitely didn’t want to correct the wizard. “Who’s Hortlan?” He heard himself say. He cursed inwardly at his inability to control himself at times.

“Hortlan is who we sent when you requested a court wizard two years ago.” She said slowly. “Did you really forget his name?” There was a hard edge to her voice that made Fontaine sweat even more.

“Oh, of course not.” He reassured her. “Hortlan. Of course. Can’t forget Hortlan. He just normally went by his middle name?” He lied, trying to placate the dangerous wizard.

“Which was?”

“Thomas.”

She froze. “Thomas who?”

“Thomas Crest. Hortlan Thomas Crest I guess?”

The wizard started to swear, and didn’t stop for several moments. Fontaine was mildly impressed. “Thomas Crest. By the ancient gods. You had Thomas Crest here?” She barked a short laugh and continued without letting him answer. “Unbelievably arrogant of him to use his own name. Is he still carrying that skull with him everywhere?”

“I’m a little lost.” Fontaine said.

“Don’t worry about it, my liege.” The wizard’s attitude shifted quickly, becoming formal. “The council will be taking charge of this matter. We shall provide you with a new court wizard immediately. We will track down your wayward wizard and deal with him.” She bowed slightly and left through the same door shed come through.

“What in the name of all the ancient gods was that about?” Fontaine asked the empty room.

Portia Den Hedden, Secondary wizard of the Assassins order could hardly contain her glee. The initial thought had been that Fontaine’s legendary temper had been the cause of Hotlan’s disappearance, the kings rage upsetting the wizard to the point of abandoning his post. Had that been the case, she would have had to replace Fontaine with a new ruler.

To find that Hortlan had never made it and instead was replaced by Thomas Crest? Her superiors were going to be ecstatic. Thomas hadn’t been seen in almost five years now, not since he killed four council wizards sent to bring him back. Why the council sent negotiators first instead of assassins she would never understand.

But this time. This time it would be assassins who tracked him down. And this time, Portia thought with a smile, I'll be one to take a wizard's life.