“I still don’t see why we had to be the ones to escort the caravan to the Irikashi colony. The Warrior Guild already provides guards against bandits and monsters.”

Lady Dreama Tadrianus, Order of the Rose, Order of the Sapphire, shook her head and smiled fondly at her husband. “Because the Knight Commander wanted a Knight presence in the caravan. Because the Council wanted someone to talk to the Irikashi. And because you have a pre-existing relationship with the Ikikashi from your family and your time before coming to the Jeweled Gate.”

Dathan narrowed his eyes at his smiling wife. “You know, you make it extremely difficult to properly complain when you bring things like logic into things.”

A soft chuckle escaped Dreama and she shook her head in a way that sent her curls bouncing, a sure way to distract the man. Indeed, the smile on his face told her she had succeeded. The One knew she loved him but there were times where he tended to be overly dramatic, especially when he was bored. A bored Dathan invariably sought out ways to entertain himself.

“Dathan, dear, we are here to protect this caravan, just as much as these Warriors are. You need to set an example of what it means to be a Knight so that when the time comes, they will have complete trust in you in battle. Especially with what we believe to be coming.”

That seemed to sober him up. He was usually very conscious of his responsibilities as a Knight, especially as he felt the need to prove that his achievements were based on skill, that his appointment as a Knight and Lord at such a young age were justified. Even now, almost eight years later, there were Knights who doubted and resented him.

Dathan saluted her, fist to heart, a smile on his lips, then urged his war mount towards the front of the caravan, the Bancroft lashing its tail. Her own war mount shifted beneath her, as if sensing her thoughts, which was a possibility. She’d had him for nearly fifteen years, almost since she became a Knight.

“Easy fella. Nothing to kill yet.” Dreama patted the Bancroft on the neck, her gauntlets thudding against the thick hide. She guided him towards the rear of the caravan, checking in with the Warrior Guild escorts along the way. Each of the drivers also waved their greetings as she passed.

Trailing slightly behind the last wagon, Dreama kept her gaze sweeping the surroundings. This far from the city the forest moved back in, pressing against the road, though there was a line of stumps immediately abutting the road to offer a sight line for travelers.

A smile came to her lips as Dreama realized they were near the spot that her husband had first truly become interested in her, though she hadn’t even met him at the time. So much change caused by a simple attack by a gigadon.

A reptilian scream pierced the air, shattering the calm of the forest. An assortment of small and medium animals surged across the road. Fortunately, the oxen had been trained to ignore any interruption of their duties and continued to plod on.

Dreama urged her war mount forward, heading for the front of the caravan, where it seemed the sound had originated. Three spear wielding Warriors, two humans and a Prada, stood facign the forest, while Dathan had dismounted and drawn his blades. She moved her mount next to his, who looked annoyed to be left out of a potential fight, stamping his hoof.

Another scream ripped out, accompanied by the sound of breaking branches and suddenly the beast could be seen through the trees.

Dreama frowned. “That’s no ordinary gigadon.” Dathan seemed to have heard her as he turned his head slightly to nod her way.

The usual gigadon was fifteen feet of muscle and malice, not counting the tail, wrapped in tough hide and driven by six powerful legs, each ending in razor sharp claws. It could and would bite a person in half, guzzling down on portion before ripping the other to smaller pieces for the pleasure of it. They ate any animal it could get its jaws and claws into and was completely without fear.

This specimen was easily over twenty feet long and looked to have some kind of bony crest protecting its head and neck. Dirt flew into the air, churned up by the beast’s claws. It screamed again as it turned slightly and aimed for the defends.

Dreama swung down from her mount, the sound of steel on steel announcing her blades as she took a step towards her husband. Dathan suddenly called out. “Stay with the wagons! I want to try something.”

Frowning, she decided to let him try, though she remained ready to intervene. “Fool man. Better not get injured. I have plans for you when we camp for the night.”

Dreama watched as Dathan shifted his stance slightly, deliberately attracting the beast’s attention. The Warriors were standing clear of the man, back and off to the side. The gigadon came crashing and screaming in, massive maw agape as if to swallow Dathan whole.

Dathan stepped into the attack, spinning away from the snapping jaws and slamming his blades into the legs along one side of the body, slicing the front and back legs on that side. He was rewarded with a slap of the tail that sent him tumbling.

The gigadon crashed trashing onto the road, one leg not enough to support one side of its body. The three Warriors stepped in, spears stabbing into the side of the beast, over and over. It took a while for the thing to die, squirming to try and bring people into range.

Dathan returned to help finish the monster off, along with Dreama, who deemed the caravan safe for the time being. One of the wagons pulled alongside the carcass and a crew of people loaded it onto the bed of the wagon. The Irikashi would be able to make good use of the body.

Dreama pondered keeping the corpse to show to the Mage Guild, discussing the possibility with her husband.

Eventually everything was settled and Dreama and her husband moved to the front of the caravan together. They continued to talk about the strange gigadon and where it might have come from.

***

“That went as I expected it.”

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Lorcan Fortune, Knight of the Jeweled Gate, frowned at the Mage. “Your monster failed. You told me it would be able to kill that upstart Knight. He wasn’t even wounded!”

The Mage shrugged and waved a hand at the crystal sphere, bringing back the imagery of Dathan and the gigadon. “Had the Knight been alone, it is likely he would have been killed. That tail whip had him knocked off balance and prone. The gigadon retained enough mobility to have finished him off. Unfortunately, he was not alone and my creation was defeated. As I told you it would be if you did not pay for additional monsters.”

The mage slipped his hands into his sleeves. “Your contempt for your target and unwillingness to spend the coin were the causes of failure. I fulfilled my contract as negotiated.”

Lorcan scowled and reached for the hilt of his sword, only to belatedly remember he’d been required to disarm before being admitted to see the Mage. Firsts clenched, he glared at the Mage. “He deserves only contempt as the upstart he is. He cheated his way into his positions.”

The Mage appeared unconvinced. “He was an upstart eight years ago when he gainst his Knighthood. Since then he has had time to establish himself as a person of means and influence in the Jeweled Gate. Lady Dreama Tadrianus would not have considered his offer of marriage had he not proven himself in her eyes.”

“Don’t you dare taint Lady Dreama with that cursed name!” Lorcan slammed his fist on the table, making the crystal wobble in its setting. “She’s under a curse and I will rescue her from his vile clutches.”

Spellwork ignited to life beneath the Mage and a ball of flame appeared above his head. “And I will remind you to be respectful. The law is quite clear on what I am allowed to do to defend myself, Knight.” The flames appeared to flicker in the man’s eyes.

Lorcan continued to scowl, though he did take a step back from the table. After a few moments the spellwork winked out and the flames drifted into motes and vanished. The Mage continued to regard him with a level gaze.

“Knight Fortune, the Mage Guild laws allow me to fulfill this contract but it does not require me to do so. Additionally, I gave you the best advice on how to achieve your stated goal, even though it was the contract you wanted to agree to. I do not like to waste my time and the project itself intrigued me. You, however, continue to vex me with your willful disregard for reality.

“Now, I don’t normally give out free information, but in the interest of future contracts you need to be clear on the facts. First, that Lord Dathan Tadrianus has been a Knight for over eight years, during which time he has only grown in skill and strength. He is no longer the ‘young upstart’ you think him to be. Second, he is a Lord of the Jeweled Gate, with all the privileges and responsibilities that entails, and with a successful estate of moderate income. Third, and most importantly, he and Lady Dreama are in love. She will always come to his aid and she remains the strongest Knight in the city, if not in the history of the Knights.

“If you can remember these things you will be more successful in the future. If not, you will continue to fail, as you have for over a decade. Now, our business today is concluded. You know how to contact me in the future should you wish for a new contract.”

Lorcan felt the presence of two men at his shoulders. Still scowling, he turned and left the room before he suffered the indignity of their touch and guidance. Once outside, he looked around for his war mount before remembering he had left it in the stables to avoid notice. Same reason he wasn’t wearing his armor and only a plain cloak without adornment.

It felt strange not wearing any jewelry, not even a hairpin for his ponytail, which was secured with only a simple leather tie. Feeling practically naked, he stomped his way home.

***

“Why do you put up with people like him?”

Allyn Brooking turned to grin at the man who had just entered the room. “Because he is an amusing way to pass the time until The Appointed Day. If I cannot be in Central working directly on the project, I need something to entertain myself. Besides, it allows me to play with creation and get paid for the efforts. The Council never said I couldn’t make a profit while watching over things up here. Speaking of which, why are you here, Darius? I wasn’t expecting you for several more months.”

Darius leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. “The Council got your report of what happened with the encampments. They’re concerned that an escalation here could pull Mages off the Leyline Project and want to ensure that those in the city deal with the things on their own rather than asking for help from Central.”

Allyn nodded, leaning back in his chair, hands still in his sleeves. “Interesting that they chose not to inform me directly but instead sent you along early. And much faster than I would have thought possible. How is it you managed to get all the way here in record time?”

Darius grimaced. “It seems someone was able to build a tower of their own out in the forest, fully equipped with a teleportation node tied into the Matrix. One of the Council members knew of it and forced the man to give up a one way crystal. An air elemental was waiting for me. I had to conjure a force globe for hours to protect me as the thing hurtled me through the forest. It would have been more of an incredible trip had it not been so terrifying. I was worried each time I collided with a tree. Barely made it here.”

Allyn winced. “I can see that being a harrowing journey. It still doesn’t answer the question on why they could have told me directly.”

This time Darius shrugged. “That I do not know. They ordered me to get here sooner with no explanation other than what I’ve already given you. Sorry, man.”

A sigh escaped him as Allyn tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. “I’m sensing politics. I hate politics, particularly when they involve me.” For a few moments neither man said anything. Finally he looked back at Darius. “Well, it looks like we have an important decision before us.”

“Oh? And what is that?”

“Do we save the city or help crack it open?”

“That is an important decision.”