The Beast of Akune

By Yuka Miura

Translation by Kaito Shumi

English editing by: Jess Bogdan and James Anderson

Art by: Ameshin

Book One

map [https://i.imgur.com/64b9UyD.jpeg]

image [https://imgur.com/GNsOg0l.jpeg]

Where were we?

The Eden River, narrow and calm, flowed down from the old Desmore Hills. Split by a watermill, it spilled past ancient stone to a wooded valley and on to a place where the river bent along Akune’s crumbling fortifications. It moved under the bridge of the West Gate, past the cemetery and out to the sea. Someplace far north, in the mountains of Toth, fed a river made to brim from endless sources and unfathomable springs. Early morning peasants toiled along its banks with one eye on the graveyard and the other on the open sea. This was the cage which subdued them – the promise of freedom and the folly of rebellion.

From these banks, as their daily tasks carried them back into the heart of darkness, they would gaze at that horizon and think of distant lands where men lived free beneath bluer skies.

Possibly for this reason, no one noticed a sharp flash of lightning on that summertide morning at the edge of the market district. Even as it split the cloudless sky, it delivered such a hushed thunder that if anyone had noticed, they might have called it polite. Abandoned shops and homes seemed to shine against its glare, only to fall back into shadow as reality parted to deliver a well-dressed gentleman.

The sun hurt his eyes and for a split second, everything seemed wrong. Any magic that involved translocation was dangerous, yet Goge had run out of options and been forced to flee.

Although these buildings limited his view, he knew the city to be Akune. How foreign it all seemed. Rising from the filthy pavement, he lifted his gaze to survey his surroundings. The sun had risen. Yes, his spell had been successful.

Glancing down at his hands, he took the time to brush shards of broken glass from his fine clothes. How long would he have? He set off for the administration buildings of the city center. He did not fix his eyes on the cemetery or the sea. Neither held his interest.

****

Flour, sugar, salt, butter and milk. Put all of these together and a man can enjoy a biscuit. For some, these ingredients were hard to find. For others, impossible. Depending on one’s definition of the word 'Flour', they might be able to source a small amount before it was carted off.

Sugar was an entirely different matter. Even the smallest unsold supply could result in a private auction on board one of the many ships that found themselves in Akune's harbor.

Salt came from the northernmost parts of the Toth Kingdom and often passed by a great number of wealthy cities before finding its way here. Discovering a caravan that offered salt was the same as stumbling over a merchant who was allergic to profit. Despite how difficult all this may have appeared, butter and milk required outright theft.

The 'Black Oven Brotherhood' was a bakery that offered biscuits. A tiny establishment with crumbling walls and a thatched roof in dire need of repair. It operated just outside the North Gate. Contrary to the name, it was run by one man and his elderly mother. They charged five copper coins for a biscuit and it was a price so outrageous – that the city's price controls had effectively barred them from operating inside the walls.

Yet, Hammond knew he would be paying much more than five. He stood at the counter in his thick brown cloak, with a worn short sword on his belt and an iron badge hooked around the cloak's folded collar. He weighed nearly twice as much as the average Akunian and his clothing did a poor job of concealing his overly muscular body. His soft eyes had already apologized.

"One biscuit please."

"How dare you." Touma threw his rolling pin into a pile of other rolling pins.

Hammond averted his eyes and felt his shoulders sag. "I did not mean to."

"You pushed me to the ground."

"I did not mean to."

"Your friend laughed, yes? He laughed like you meant to!"

"He is not..." Hammond made an effort to stand up straight and look the baker in the eye. Despite being a skinny man, the baker was much older and his glare was too intense. It made Hammond uncomfortable.

"The Baron favors your friend so he can do what he pleases, yes? Only laws for the rest of us, yes?"

"Baudin is not my friend."

With a scoff, Touma turned back to the many trays stacked behind the counter and began sliding them out. "I know that. He needs someone to do the throwing or he would have to do it himself. Types like that have no friends. If the Baron says you owed taxes, then it would be you that gets tossed on the floor, yes?"

"You should have paid."

"Go away!"

Hammond uncrossed his arms and slapped both meaty hands on the counter. "These are not common bandits, Touma! They have the power of the king. If someone gets in their way..."

"If you bring that noble back in here I swear I will cut his eyes out!"

It was the kind of comment that might make your heart stutter. A special kind of fear that forces you to take inventory of your surroundings. The question of who might have heard those words and how far they might have traveled immediately entered Hammond's mind. The shopfront had only recently opened, and it was still early. As long as it did not happen again, it could be forgotten. "Baudin... Baudin is not a noble."

"He works for Baron Eckard, yes?! What does that make him?!"

"Please just pay next time. I won't always be around..."

Touma pointed to the door. "Get out!"

Hammond took his hands off the counter and clenched them at his side. There was nothing more that could be done if the man was determined to kill himself. Before he could turn and move toward the entrance's rickety wooden door, he heard a more composed voice speaking from behind the counter.

"And take this with you." Touma placed a small cloth basket on the counter.

"What is it?"

"Mother left it for you."

He was left alone with the basket when Touma returned his focus to the trays and brought two of them into the backroom. As if it were a gift, the basket’s lining had been carefully folded over the top of each layer. He took a moment to quietly unwrap it as the unmistakable smell drifted up from the two biscuits inside. Hammond placed fourteen copper pennies on the counter. More than the price, but less than they deserved.

The aroma of dust and horse dung took the place of freshly baked bread as he exited the establishment and trudged back through the North Gate. Normally, he would wave and smile at his fellow watchman, but since this was the hour of shift change, everyone appeared to be quite busy.

Hammond's tenure on the citywatch had given him insight into the city's inhabitants. A merchant offering a gift was not uncommon. It was the biscuit equivalent of a promotional price cut, upgraded service, larger portion, or extra serving.

And the implication was unmistakable; they appreciated his company. No vendor would ever refuse some added protection. And if a pleasant attitude and some nice words were all it cost, they would do their best to invite it.

Hammond had made it a point to visit the Black Brotherhood Oven almost every morning due to its location. Hardly anyone patrolled the north road and because the establishment was outside the city walls, they were not guaranteed protection. Hammond would not always make a purchase and he would not always receive a gift. Yet, they had always been thankful for his diligence... until this morning.

He thought that buying the most expensive thing he could afford would be the best way to say "I am sorry." Yet Touma and his mother shared a personality trait that occasionally made things difficult: they were too smart for their own good.

They had not only expected his apology, they had also foreseen his choice and offered it as a gift. Providing him with two only served to break his heart. The way Baudin had acted was unspeakable, yet if Hammond had not been there it could have gone much worse; now he was forced to wonder whether this gift was intended to be forgiveness or a plea for mercy.

Hammond took a bite as he walked. It was delicious. The most extravagant thing he had eaten all month. Could it be poisoned? Hammond stopped in his tracks. No, no, of course not. How could he imagine such honest people doing something like that? He pushed it from his mind and continued on, savoring each bite.

Such amazing flavor. It was possible they had been baked with extra butter, though this could have just been his imagination. He promised himself that he would make his way back and give them another visit before the end of his shift. Perhaps Touma's temper would have subsided by then. Either way, it would give Hammond time to find the right words.

A small crowd gathered outside City Hall’s service entrance. They dressed like laborers and spoke with the task-man. Hammond watched them suspiciously before entering the great chamber where the day guard would take up positions. The walls were adorned with portraits of kings long dead – ancient faces painted on canvas. Each bore different expressions: some angry, others proud. All wore simple crowns of the finest gold and silver.

The center portrait depicted King Silden and here, at least, he appeared stern and dignified. Not a hint of a smile revealed itself as he looked on without judgment or pity. The relief of the great hall's cool shade was much appreciated; the heat wave would only increase, if today was anything like yesterday. Upon entering, he was greeted by a few recognizable faces, mostly clerks and watchmen eager to start the day.

That is when Hammond caught sight of the man. White hair, well-groomed, thin and kind of short. He wore a black suit with a vest underneath and held an ornate cane in his left hand. The man, however, seemed to have no trouble walking, and as he ascended the stairs to the entrance, he carried it halfway up the shaft.

He was likely a foreigner, confused or looking for directions back to the dockyard. Or perhaps this fellow was a merchant who had been sent to pester the clerks. This sort of thing happened from time to time, fools would disembark their ships with the belief that they could simply march into the bureaucratic center of Akune and start demanding special dispensation.

Hammond cleared his throat loudly. "Hey!"

The man stopped at the double doors and turned to reveal the face of a much older gentleman. Deep lines creased around his eyes. The skin was pale – strangely, a little too pale for this climate. But there was no mistaking the striking blue color of his irises, or the scars that distance had concealed. Some lines were jagged, some were thick; it was enough to make Hammond wonder if a scoundrel had once tried to slash the man's head off.

"Walk back out. You can't come in here." A few of the other guards watched as he confronted the trespasser.

"I'm sorry, sir." An officer by the door involved himself rather than listen to Hammond’s shouting. He wore the same brown cloak as the other guards, though the badge clasping one of its corners was made of brass, not iron. "We don't allow any visitors in this room without special permission from council members."

"I do not require permission." The accent was strange and although the docks attracted a lot of accents this time of year, Hammond was certain he had heard it once before.

Another watchman moved to stand beside his superior, offering agreement. "Sir, we're not allowed to let anyone else in besides the clerks."

"Who governs this city?" The foreigner did not sound annoyed, so far as Hammond could tell. His voice was smooth and even. Almost playful.

He stepped forward to stare the man down, a sneer melting into feigned pleasantry. It was time to demonstrate the proper method for ejecting foreigners. “Hello there, my good fellow. I'll tell you what: since you obviously don’t want to leave, how about I lock you in the rogue-house? We can talk then."

"Is this city run by a mayor? A lord? A king?" The man’s tone had not changed.

"Aye, it is run by a lord. What is it to you?"

"I want to see this lord."

"You got an audience?"

"Yes."

The officer glanced at Hammond nervously. No one would lie about that – no one but an ignorant foreigner who didn't know where he was.

"Be straight with us. Do you really..." the officer said, leaning forward with a look of concern.

"No, no!" Hammond nearly pushed him out of the way. "This man said he has an audience with Lord Nath! You hold him here and I will go check with the clerks."

The officer leaned in again. “It is a serious offense to…”

“No, no, no! I believe him. Surely the scheduler will confirm it.”

“I don’t think Lord Nath is here today.”

“Hold him here.” Hammond turned toward the stairway which led up to the second floor…

****

image [https://imgur.com/DiEfgXK.jpeg]

Goge waited patiently for the guard to return.

The main hall appeared to have seen recent construction. All new wood, and yet the stonework was old and scratched. The portraits on the wall ranged from recent to more recent; it made him wonder how many times this city had changed hands in the last hundred years.

An exquisitely crafted bench next to the door allowed plenty of room beside him to lay down his cane. It was nice to relax after all of that walking, but he resisted the urge to close his eyes. The officer standing next to him shifted nervously, he was far too young to be experienced and failure to control subordinates had not gone unnoticed.

Time passed, perhaps an hour or less: Lord Nath emerged from the stairwell. He was a tall, skinny man with a goatee and thin mustache. He seemed to glide over the floor, dressed in exquisite materials and jewelry. Hammond trailed behind him with a troubled frown.

Throughout the hall, the guards came to attention. Goge snatched up his cane and stood to greet the pair. He wondered for a moment what the greeting ritual of this world had become. Waving? Bowing? Shaking hands? Did they still greet?

Lord Nath smiled and offered a small nod. Goge stepped forward and returned it with a polite bow.

“Are you the gentleman sent by the guild? I am afraid they did not give me much of a description.”

"Apologies, Lord Nath, you have mistaken me for someone else. My name is Goge. I am back from a thousand year absence and I shall resume control of my city."

Lord Nath glanced at his guards. "Ha-ha! What?"

"Your services are no longer required."

The guards continued to stare in bewildered silence, leaving Lord Nath to return his expression with a gradual smirk and an awkward chuckle. "Ha-ha! Yes… I think I understand. A joke, right? Yes, hilarious, but I fear that I have made a late start this morning."

"I will allow you to remain in Akune."

"Ha-ha… quite humorous. I am Lord of this city… and you are not." The levity drained from the nobleman's features.

Goge held the cane in his left hand and stretched out with his right and cast a spell called ‘Wither’.

Everyone startled at the sight of green lightning, which suddenly brightened the great hall. A loud crackling noise made their ears ring. Lord Nath collapsed as the spell flew from Goge’s grasp and pinned the man to the ground. The nobleman screamed; his bones pulled apart by constricting flesh, yet no blood was visible. The wood floor beneath him turned black as his corpse grew still and began to sizzle.

Goge swung his hand shut. It was over.

"You were mistaken." He lifted his gaze from the charred body. Someone dropped a sword and ran from the room. The rest froze in terror, hands on their weapons. With two slow steps he approached the guard from earlier. "What is your name?"

The man’s face had gone pale and with hands by his side, his eyes fixed on the body at his feet. "Y-y-you shouldn’t…"

Goge stepped in close. "Breathe... Breathe deep or you are going to pass out."

The guard grasped at the edges of his brown cloak before finally settling on the belt that held his sword. He did not even seem to remember the blade was there. Another moment passed before his chest expanded and he took in a long audible breath. Then another. His trembling ceased.

"What is your name?"

The guard kept his eyes on the steaming remains. "H… Hammond."

"Hammond, please take me to Nath’s former office. I am resuming my role as Lord of Akune." Goge made an effort to smile comfortingly, yet the guard did not lift his gaze. Instead, he stepped back and turned before leading them up the stairway. Goge could hear the commotion of men in chain armor scrambling for the exit before they ascended.

****

The office was a mess, no doubt ransacked by bureaucrats and secretaries. Goge wondered if Lord Nath had ever set foot in it. Books and reports stood stacked on the desk, while shelves overflowed with papers and stamping supplies. A thin sheet of dust had been pushed from the door to the desk and from the desk to the shelves. It had the appearance of a chancellor's haven or perhaps a storage room.

"Ha! It is so small. I guess it is also fitting."

He seated himself behind the desk and leaned back against the lip of the window. Hammond remained at the door with a blank expression.

“No doubt there will be some angry people who wish to shout at me. When they arrive, please bring them here."

With barely a glance, Hammond departed. Goge spent the rest of the day dealing with paperwork. Accounts and edicts. The text required translation magic yet the contents were fairly straightforward. He arranged them into stacks according to things he would delegate and things he would eliminate.

At first glance, one might think that the city accounts were far too complicated for one man to address. This is what Goge referred to as the ‘Illusion of Disorganization’. Things appeared chaotic on paper, but the true complexity was only visible once you understood the relationships between the unique elements of the structure. Simplicity came at the cost of removing everything that did not truly matter. Or to be more blunt, the people who did not matter.

He wished he could send out for lunch, but decided against it. Poison would surely find its way into any food the good people of this city would deliver. Patience seemed the better option.

A crowd formed on the street outside his window and he would occasionally detect the murmur of whispered gossip filtering up through the open window, yet he did not give in to curiosity, instead he continued to comb through the documents and ledgers well into the afternoon.

Hammond returned just before sunset with four men. They wore heavy plate armor and carried maces, swords, daggers, crossbows and other assorted weaponry.

Goge removed his reading glasses and folded them neatly on the desk. "If you have a civil mind, then let us speak."

An eerie calm descended. Tense expressions painted the faces of the watchmen as they glanced at one another. One stepped forward. He was a large man with dark hair and a mature face. He appeared to have something important to say. As it was probably a threat, Goge interrupted him before he could speak. "Please, introduce yourselves and have a seat."

They did not sit. But they did not draw their weapons either. The man’s eyes scanned him carefully. “I am Teric, Commander of the Akunian Citywatch.”

"Welcome, Commander Teric. I am Lord Goge. I understand that you were under the employ of the former land holder. What can you tell me about him?"

Teric’s right hand flexed closer to the sword at his belt. "Lord Goge… Is it true that you murdered Lord Lorca Nath this morning?"

"Yes."

The group scowled at such a straightforward response and carefully changed positions. Even if they had wanted to surround him, it would have been impossible to spread out in such a small office.

"May I ask how?" Teric’s question was a simple one, yet not something Goge had considered. He knew well that there were magic casters in this world – however, there was no way of telling how rare they had become.

"I do not see how that is relevant. Yet, if your curiosity requires satisfaction, it was with Necromancy. I am a Necromancer."

"Magic is illegal in the Toth Kingdom unless sanctioned by the Royal College."

"Akune is no longer attached to the Toth Kingdom."

Teric's lips parted briefly. Goge had been sitting for most of the day and had to suppress the urge to stretch his legs. On any other occasion he would not have hesitated, yet these men were poised to strike and anything might set them off. "This city has always belonged to me. I am grateful to the kingdom for managing this region in my absence. Now I have returned. Toth's laws no longer apply."

Teric leaned forward and placed a hand on the desk, a little braver now. “The King will not stand for this!”

"I suspect he will not. I suspect he will send an army to attack me. However, that does not involve any of you. Your job is to honor the oath you took to defend the people of this city."

"We swore an oath to King Silden. Not the city!"

"If you wish to honor your oath to him, why not continue to safeguard it until he arrives? There is no use in throwing your lives away against an impossible foe."

Goge had not meant those words as a threat, but as the commander stared at him from across the table he could see that they had certainly been taken as such. Teric removed his hand from the desk and stood upright. Rather than continue this dialogue, he gestured to the others before filing back out into the hall.

And it was a wise move; Teric had sized him up without declaring his intention and would withdraw to plan his next course of action. Cooperation was still on the table, and yet, as he listened to the sound of their heavy boots making their way toward the stairs, he realized that could have gone better.

Goge stood up and stretched. It was evening. The sun was going down and still so much that remained to be done. He sorted through a few remaining documents, picked up his cane and found his way out.

The upper floor had been evacuated. Only silence welcomed him as he proceeded to the stairs and descended to the lower level. Lord Nath's corpse had been collected and the only remnant where it had been was a black stain across the hardwood floor. He speculated that the nobles were currently standing over it right at this moment, no doubt arguing over who’s fault this was.

He stepped through the double doors of the entrance to find a horde of citywatch waiting for him outside. Their whispers lapsed into silence and glared.

In the distance he heard what sounded like thunder, but he knew it was just his imagination. If the citywatch planned to attack, he preferred they do it now. Goge transferred his cane to his left hand and calmly walked to the street as if nothing was wrong.

Not brave enough to step forward but too ashamed to step back, they did not attempt to bar his way. A horse-drawn carriage approached. Goge signaled with his free hand.

With at least thirty sets of eyes on his back, Goge paid the driver two silver coins and climbed inside. It was cramped, but comfortable enough. Brittle wood made up its walls and ceiling, interspersed with leather padding. Wobbly seats in rather poor condition were undoubtedly worse than they looked.

The horses pulled forward at a brisk walk, making the whole carriage bounce and sway. The driver seemed like a mild-mannered young man. Goge could see him through the little window in the front as he craned his head around. "That was a lot of people you had waiting for you. Are you some kind of prince?"

"No. I have never been a prince."

"Where will you go, sir?"

"The Temple of Mynar." The carriage made a quick turn toward the eastern streets. After only a few blocks Goge called for him to stop. Pushing open the door, he got out and scanned the surroundings.

The temple was ahead, its white stone gleaming in the darkness, a street where the wealthier homes transitioned into eastern slums. The well-swept streets still smelled sweet and inviting. Yet there was something decidedly wrong with this stretch of space. This world felt more real than his own, but as his eyes scanned the horizon he was sure he could sense...

He tipped the driver and asked him to wait. A long line of run-down buildings pressed against the north side as he scanned from east to west and an intense stare locked up his expression. There, a building that looked like it had once been a school was now being used as a beggar’s home or...

The hours he spent translating allowed him to decipher this strange sign without the aid of magic. ‘Akune Home for Children’.

****

Lily shook as her eyes fell upon him. Heavy boots, shoulder width apart, marked a stance assured and immovable. The man was surrounded by the bodies of his victims. They littered the street in the thousands and stretched from one end of the city to the other.

Lily pulled herself up from the ground. Her nightgown was sewn from expensive cloth, sized to fit a child of her age yet it was not the sort of thing she would normally wear. Despite how filthy it had become, she recognized the fact that only a girl with wealthy parents would find herself sheathed in something this fine.

A voice from the shadows made her blood run cold. "What are you doing here? What is your name?"

Tears leaked from her eyes even though she knew they were useless. Dark clouds covered the shattered moon and poured over the city as if from a hole in the sky. A spark and a thunderous sound unleashed a torrent of rain. Lily lifted her hands as they began to turn red. It was blood.

"Do you understand? I am a beast. Absolute Evil." The wind picked up, and lightning cracked behind the Shadow Man. The liquid red separated like glass around his form as his voice echoed through the streets. It rang out like laughter, but Lily could hear no joy in it. An intense pain pressed her chest and she struggled to draw breath.

The Shadow Man’s hand reached down and grabbed her by the hair. "You have completely wrecked my plans!"

Lily woke up with a start. It was less than an hour since she had lain down and Kenta was still awake. The boy reached across the tiny room to pat her shoulder.

"It’s a bad dream…" he whispered.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed to plant her feet against the tile, but found them unresponsive. A falling sensation washed her to the ground.

"What’s the matter?" Ritsu rolled over in her bed next to the door and opened her eyes.

"Shadow Man, Shadow Man is coming." Lily wrapped her arms across her chest despite being tangled in a ratty blanket.

Kenta shook his head at Ritsu and carefully climbed out of bed. Although still a young man, he was considerably older than Lily. He slid himself down next to her and put an arm over her shoulder. "You’re safe here, Lily."

"I can feel it. I can feel it this time."

Kenta pulled her closer. "Shhh... Don't wake everyone up. It’ll be fine, you'll see."

She looked across to Ritsu and the young girl smiled back. "Twas a bad dream, Lily."

The darkness of the room closed in on her. Only moonlight shone through the windows. She leaned her head against Kenta's shoulder and felt the call of sleep fast returning. After a moment she was nearly ready to climb back into her bed.

The feeling of dread returned with a vengeance. "No... No..."

"Shhh... it's alright." Kenta pulled her closer once again, but not even his warm embrace could soothe her this time. She felt her breath catch as it had in the dream.

"He’s coming."

"Nobody’s coming," Ritsu whispered with eyes half-closed.

Someone walked across the hall just outside the room, bending the ancient tiles upon each footfall. A sharp knocking sound erupted somewhere in the distance. Kenta looked up. The knocking came again, this time louder.

Ritsu opened her eyes a bit wider. "Who’s that?"

Kenta waved her words away. "Nobody. A visitor for the caretaker or the headmaster."

Lily shook with fear. "– can feel him."

No longer knocking, a repeating banging vibrated through the building, only interrupted by the groan of the locks being thrown on the main entrance. Everyone was awake now and one by one the heads of children lifted from their beds. Kenta put both hands on the floor. "I’m going to stick my head out and see."

Lily latched onto him. "No! It’s Shadow Man! I can feel him!"

"Stop it, Lily. There’s no Shadow Man. Don't get the young ones upset." Kenta tried again to push himself up, but the girl refused to let go. With gentle hands he took a moment to pull free from her grip and slipped away. A few lumbering steps brought him to the door.

Lily closed her eyes, but the feeling was still there; a dark and sinister presence sat just stone’s throw away. It moved quickly, crossing through the building and settling somewhere in the north.

Kenta opened the door and peered down the hall.

"What’d you see?" Ristu asked, still in bed but wide awake.

"Someone for the headmaster."

"Why are they here so late?"

"Don't know. Maybe… Maybe someone from the palace. Maybe they have news."

"Or food." Ritsu smiled and looked back to Lily, yet Lily's expression had not changed. Kenta closed the door and shot her a silly expression. After a few steps he stood next to her, but did not bother to sit again.

"Come on, Lily. Get back in your bed. It’s just someone for the headmaster. I’m sure he will tell us in the morning."

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Lily thought about standing again and decided against it. She wanted to climb under her bed, but she feared what Kenta would think of her if she did. She breathed in deeply and brought her legs in under her. Before she could stand, the staccato of running caught everyone's attention. It was followed by shouting and doors scraping open: crying, screaming, adults yelling orders and children yelping in confusion. The door to their room flung open and one of the few caretakers stuck her head in.

"Everyone in the corridor!!"

****

The headmaster was a bald man, dazzled by coin; he moved up and down the corridor pushing open doors and barking orders. A few voiced their terror, but no attention was paid as the children were dragged from their slumber one by one. It was further down the hall, Goge could feel it.

The enchantment was so intense that Goge had to resist the urge to avert his eyes. A moment later, he froze. There it was. Not just one, but two. An unconventional power source concealed by a deceptively simple illusion.

Goge’s glare fell upon the girl, she could not have been older than ten or eleven. The glamour was so thick he could see it ripple against the lamplight. He looked directly into her eyes and reached for one of the many pins hidden under his vest. It silently began its work and the illusion dissolved.

Gradually, the color of her eyes changed from green to dark brown and her hair from blonde to black. Two boney points appeared just above her brow. Horns... or at least they would one day be. She was a Domainer. An abyssal. A demon. Three things that were extremely rare on this obscure world. Yet that was not all she was.

Goge’s eyebrows bent in confusion. "What is a red-sorc Nakiri doing here?"

The girl looked away. She was truly a child, the spell had not disguised her age, but this only served to further confound him. Who had cast it? How many demons were in Akune and why would they hide their young? These questions bubbled to the surface, yet time allotted to this detour had run short.

He gestured to the bald man. "This young lady is coming with me. As for you, we shall be merging the orphanage with the temple. And it will richly compensate you." He glanced at the other children, dressed in rags and staring back. "All of you."

As he took the girl’s arm, she turned to her friends to see looks of horror painted across their faces. A few whispered pleas for help went unanswered as they watched her led away by this stranger.

Outside, they found the carriage still parked on the empty street and the driver pretending not to be curious. Goge waited for the child to climb into the carriage before following. The interior seemed just a little more cramped now that there was someone sitting across from him. The demon child stared down at the scuffed wooden floor.

"If you value your life you will tell me where the others are. Do not mistake the truth or I shall become quite merciless. How many abyssals are in my city? Where are they? How long have you been here?"

The girl did not answer, instead closing her eyes.

Goge leaned forward, intent on raising his voice. "What is your name?! If you seek to test my patience then you shall find it short. This climate annoys me and I can think of no worse time of year to visit. Although this humidity was once tolerated, the memory escapes me and has left me miserable. I am absolute evil, a monster, a villain. A cold, heartless man who does bad things to good people and I have not slept in two days. Another hour and I may lose myself to madness. Speak!"

Her voice came as a whisper. "Lily. I am Lily."

They sat for a moment as the carriage bumped along the cobblestone streets. His eyes scanned up and down her terrible appearance, and it was only now that her odor was beginning to advertise itself.

One might assume the girl was tired, given her sagging shoulders and hands in her lap, but as Goge stared at her trembling form he realized that she was not difficult to read. This was the behavior of someone who had been dragged from their slumber to be screamed at by strangers, so it was safe to wager that she had very little idea of what was happening.

He glanced away and allowed himself to ease back into his seat. "Ignore my passion. You have wrecked my plans and although I am pressed for time I must keep my mind sharp. Not far from here there is a small temple that I had wished to visit. Under normal circumstances it would not have been an issue – however, the hour has grown late.”

A quick close of his eyes only reminded him that he must remain awake. Daylight would come again, but not for the unprepared.

“Honestly, it is my fault. Making an earlier start would have been better, yet I resigned to wait for the citywatch to approach me. A mistake, perhaps. It was a conversation that needed to be had and yet it did not go as well as I had hoped. So here we are, out of time and out of place. It would not be wise to bring you to the temple in such a state... And I ought not leave you in the carriage because you are not trusted to remain inside.”

Casting his eyes from the open window to the demon child, he caught her looking at him for a moment. Was her expression accusing him of something or was his mind being lost to exhaustion?

“Yes, yes, I know, why did I take you out of the orphanage if you were such an inconvenience? Well, I shall not have red-sorc Nakiri running around my city either."

Goge slapped his cane against the window. "Change of plans. Bring us to the best tailor in the city."

****

The best tailor in the city turned out to be the only one still open at this hour: Mosasaur Bonin's Clothworks. It was a sprawling establishment seated on the second floor of a dry goods shop. More of a workshop than a place for customers, it was packed with barrels and looms, all clustered around empty chairs.

A well-dressed man met them at the door. "Sir… We sell in bulk, however, we do not provide delivery."

"I am Lord Goge of Akune. This is my slave Lily. She requires new clothes. I am a man of means and I need this done as quickly as possible."

As if on cue, two middle-aged women appeared from the back and folded up the objects they had been working on. "It would lead me to employ additional help."

"I am a man of means!"

"One, perhaps two hours."

Goge pushed Lily forward unceremoniously. "She requires a bath."

"That can be... Good sir, your slave has horns." The man's expression did not change.

"My slave is some type of elf."

"Yes sir, but your slave has horns."

"I believe it is time for you to see what I offer." Seemingly from nowhere, Goge produced a small satchel fashioned of dark brown leather and a clasp in the shape of a silver dragonfly. He held it open for inspection.

The man’s eyes gleamed in the candlelight. "Nele, Sara, take this gentleman’s slave upstairs and give her a bath immediately. Mind the horns, she is some type of elf. Wake the others, we start work at once."

Goge spied a lush sofa in the next room as the women descended upon Lily. They tried to be gentle at first, but her struggling forced them to carry her away.

"Would my lord enjoy a glass of wine while he waits?"

"No thank you, I am expecting someone. But I would be pleased to rest on your sofa."

"As you will, please excuse my absence."

The man bowed briefly and retreated to the office as Goge cast another glance at the crimson sofa. Even if he could have occupied himself with other pursuits, the couch's plush upholstery was irresistible. Closing his eyes for a moment, he sat on the folded plush surface, promising himself he would not sleep.

He awoke some time later. The man stood in the center of the room with a small army of workers. Hands wide, he presented a furious little girl. Goge allowed a few moments to appreciate what they had done. Her hair was shoulder length and neatly cut. Her skin freshly washed. She wore a black and white dress with tiny black shoes and a large silky black bow on top of her head. Or was that a hat? A hat shaped like a bow? Lily slouched. Her transformation had proved amazing, but the child was clearly annoyed by all the attention.

"I hate it." Their lingering expressions faded. "I commend your work. I trust that this style is the edge of Akunian fashion, but Lily is the property of your governing lord. She requires something which befits the honor of her station."

"Good sir..."

Goge interrupted him with a raised hand. "We will take this, yet I require something appropriate. I shall raise your fee to two hundred tani and give you another hour."

The man swiftly wrapped his hands around Lily’s shoulders and led her back to the fitting room. Goge reclined on the sofa, unsure whether he had purchased a second attempt at a suitable appearance or another hour of bliss with such a comfortable piece of furniture. For a brief moment he wondered how much it would cost to keep the man at bay for the rest of the night.

Too soon -- and Goge pulled himself back to the waking world. With an assortment of fine black cloth, they had sewn an elegant suit. Feminine yet professional, beautiful yet respectful. It was as if they had attempted to create attire in the style of his world.

Although the fabrics were different, it was easy to determine that she was connected to him based solely on how she looked. Shoes and pants that were not overly complicated, a respectful neckline and a thin black coat wrapped it all together. It seemed as though the edges of the coat had been purposefully designed to cover a thin cloth vest just like his.

Bones ached as he forced himself to stand. "You have outdone yourselves. Please consider using your fee to hire more staff, as I shall be recommending your services to my court."

Lily and Goge left the shopkeeper to count his coin and crossed the darkened streets to a nearby inn. The first floor was a large dining area with wooden tables and benches. A servant rushed over to them and offered a thick leather menu with tiny symbols printed on the back. Goge retrieved his reading glasses to examine the selection.

"Lily, what shall you order?" Goge was starving. And still sleepy. He reckoned that if he did not get a hot meal and a proper bed, it might send him into a murderous rage. Lily was tired, yet her eyes sprung open at the smell of food. With a serious face, she examined the bill of fare. She held it upside down, however that did not appear to be an issue. Wait… Goge turned his menu right side up.

"I'll have chicken casserole."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how to read?"

"No. But I want chicken casserole please."

"Make that two."

They were disappointed to find the most expensive rental to be a two-bed single room. Now fattened by a heavy meal, Goge dreaded the idea of staggering around the city in search of better lodgings.

He swung the door wide and set the lamp holder on a dented table. Lily secured the bed by the far wall while Goge examined the bed in the center. It was soft and stuffed with cotton, compelling him with a siren's song. He deactivated a limited invisibility spell that hid the equipment he wore. His clothing changed with a soft shudder to reveal a satchel, a bandoleer of wands, a cape with a golden symbol embroidered on the back, and a container for his cane.

Lily stared with unblinking eyes as the decorative pins on his vest brightened into view. Tiny jeweled figures lined the fabric in rows. Symbols, insects, drakes, and various animals appeared to be crafted from simple base metals, yet most were adorned with gold and precious gems. Goge removed it all and stacked it next to his bed.

He held his fist in the air until it glowed with a sickly green light. Black smoke rose from the floorboards and moved to the door of the room, licking up the sides and consuming it in shadow. Lily stared in awe as she crawled onto her mattress.

"What is that?"

Goge fell face first onto the bed nearest the door, momentarily muffling his words. "A shade. It will watch over us for the night. Stay away from it."

Lily watched a few moments more as thin red eyes appeared beneath the writhing smoke. She climbed under the covers and hid her face, hoping that if she could not see it, then perhaps it could not see her. Shadows washed across the floor and filled in the cracks of cheap furniture until finally finding its way to the lamp holder. The flame sputtered and died.

****

The body was finally cold.

At the North Gate Garrison, Teric's men had covered it with a sheet and placed it on a table in the backroom. A tall man with a neat beard, a long nose and piercing blue eyes was the first to approach. He was Baron Eckard, and the only faces he knew how to express were serious ones. "How could this happen? Where was citywatch? Why did they not defend him?"

Teric glared. "They... This happened at the administration building. At least five watch in the main hall and another ten around the offices, he had plenty of protection. Magic is what killed him. My men are not..."

Eckard shook his head. "Your men just stood there and did nothing?"

"My men saw him use magic. What would you have them do?"

"Something. Anything. Surely they could have stopped this."

Teric scowled and straightened his posture. "How?! The only mages I know are either foreign dignitaries or appointed by Toth. This Goge person is dangerous. We do not know what he is capable of."

A younger man named Park took up a position alongside Eckard and leaned in to examine the shrouded body through spotless spectacles. "A myth, Goge is a myth from the age of the second empire. He was never real."

Baudin entered, leaving his entourage in the hall outside and raising his voice. "Real or myth, everyone is in a panic right now. They would point a finger at any storybook villain. However, I think you might agree that this 'Lord Goge' is a strange choice.”

"Then who is he really?! It is said that this man speaks with an accent. Could he have come from the docks? Arrived from the island kingdoms or some far away land?" Eckard glanced back at the bold gaze of this newcomer.

Baudin considered the question. "Well, it would explain why he is unrecognized, but not why he hated Lord Nath. Foreigners with local interests are too rare to be suspected."

Teric stared at the corpse, unable to lift his eyes. "I was face to face with him. He may not be who he claims, but he calls himself The Lord Goge. ‘Says he owns the city."

Eckard shrugged. "That makes little sense. Why impersonate someone so obscure? How old is this myth?"

Park leaned in to repeat himself. "Around a thousand years. The mage kings of the second empire used stories of Goge to keep each other in line. It shows the ignorance of this man, claiming to be someone so old. Not even the oldest of elves live so long and by all accounts, our impersonator is human."

In walked another: Baroness Hana Stella, an older woman straight from the highest levels of the Akunian aristocracy. Apparently hailing from a quite different occasion, she wore a wonderfully expensive blue and gold ballgown with her hair arranged by the best dressers in the city.

"If he arrived by ship then how do we know this is not a plot from the Oceanic Council?”

On a normal night, most of her peers were happy to see her, but from the angry glares she was drawing it was safe to assume that her speculation was not appreciated.

"With respect..." Park gave a quick bow in her direction. "For me, it is difficult to understand what a foreign power would hope to achieve. When it comes to plots of this nature, the Toth kingdom is not typically a target, and especially not a city of this size."

"This size?"

Eckard grumbled and tried to wave her question away. "Tiny. He means small and insignificant. What could they possibly gain? Kill Lord Nath? They would not recognize the name."

Teric sighed. “There is no sense in guessing. Whether his claims are true or not, this is what I can report: He killed Lord Nath in front of witnesses. He used magic to do it. We met with him and he threatened us. I set men to follow him, but we do not know how to proceed against someone like that."

The baroness glared at Teric. "Lord Nath was no commoner – something must be done. We are talking about the murder of a King’s Vassal. Large or small, he held a title. When the court hears of this..."

Eckard kept his eyes on the body as if he were still searching for clues. "I agree. And it falls to me to take action. This man should be executed immediately."

She crossed her arms. "Only trouble would come of that. And you have no right to extend your authority over the city – only myself or Vassago are capable."

"The King would not stand for such bickering! He would demand swift action and we both know he would demand it from me. It is better to put this animal down as quickly as possible."

Baudin shifted nervously. “How would it look to his Majesty if you removed Nath's killer? He might assume you were trying to silence an agent.”

"His Majesty would never accuse me of such a thing, he knows of my loyalty and would agree that this should not stand!"

Stella's voice rose to a pitch that was slightly less comfortable for those present. "Perhaps he would, yet others may decide to examine your recent investments."

Park swept under a fleeting look of surprise that the Baroness should mention that, but Eckard clenched his fists and turned. "Are you accusing me of being in league with this criminal?!"

"Am I surprised?!" The voice of a young man echoed from the corridor as the door swung open to reveal a figure dressed in a fine suit of silver and gold. A red trim cape hid his hands. "Lord Nath was slain, and you worms are already fighting."

Relief washed over Eckard's face. "Rav, I thought you departed last night."

The mage known as Rav approached and raised his hands up for dramatic effect. "I had. I made it as far as Wolfpine before turning around. Seems my carriage was slower than the news."

"Does the king know?"

"By now? Undoubtedly."

Rav stepped up to the table, seized the edges of the sheet in both hands and pulled it from the corpse. Everyone recoiled at the sight of the charred body. Stella and Park covered their mouths.

Eckard shook his head. "Rav, what do you make of this? Was this magic?"

"The spell was over-cast and ran too hot for a single target. He was cooked solid before he hit the ground."

Eckard tried to keep his composure as he stared at the blackened remains. "Can you slay this man?"

"Not without a precept. Am I stupid? I require that Commander Teric declare this ‘Goge impersonator’ a rebel.”

Rav’s eyes darted to the commander, followed by everyone else's.

Stella shook her head. "This is ridiculous. If we are incapable of performing a capture then we should leave him for now."

"Are you suggesting we ignore a threat to the crown?" Park countered.

"I am suggesting that no one knows what is going on and there is no reason we should not set the citywatch upon him. If he is taken alive, then we can find out who set him to this task. Why do you oppose this?"

Rav draped the sheet back over the dead man. "He apposes it because only Lord Nath could have given that order. Wielding the king’s power without right would see you summoned for examination. Yet, with a precept from Commander Teric, I can kill this man as a mage of the royal college. We put aside his crime of murder and engage him for his illegal use of magic."

Stella blinked. "And what if you fail? What if he wounds you and turns his attention on…"

"Do you think me a novice? It would require more than some delusional peasant to defeat me. To prevail against a true college mage, he would have to be the genuine Goge."

Teric cleared his throat, and the group turned to face him. "If we fail to capture him… you will have it."

****

image [https://imgur.com/0cXrfSd.jpeg]

Nina was a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, pale complexion and a mischievous grin. She was slender and yet rarely graceful, a person who would glide across the floor only to stumble over her own two feet. Not a standard city squatter, none would find her choice of clothes on a rack in the market district. She wore a soft leather skirt that did not reach her knees, a wrinkled blouse and a man's belt. In the last five years, a cobbler had fixed her worn boots several times, and her hair was tied with a thin cord of cowhide rather than a ribbon. The only thing she owned to which anyone would pay the name “fancy” was a small gold locket that encircled her neck, yet upon inspection one might question its value as well.

The fountain in front of the library served as an adequate bench, and this late in the evening it made for a quiet place to sit. Ink from her latest journaling session stained her fingers.

Nina often wrote for hours at a time. Thoughts. Feelings. Dreams. Everything, from what she saw to philosophical meanderings and poetry. When she ran out of words, she would sketch.

Hammond emerged from the darkness and passed closer to the library. He was still on duty, wearing his faded brown cloak with a large iron badge clasped to the collar. Nina put away her journal and quill after seeing him and wiped her hands on a clean rag. It was time for dinner. Hammond joined her on the fountain's edge and began nibbling at the bread she had set out.

"You always have the best food. Where do you find this stuff?"

She opened her basket and produced a tiny bottle of wine, no larger than a fist. The library had food delivered for the staff, but today it came with a little something extra.

He cast a suspicious eye. "What's this?"

She poured him a mug of red liquid. "Something special. Do not hasten your drink, they make these bottles so small."

He gulped it down and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. "Wow. This is good. What's it called?"

"That is the best part! Look at the markings on the bottom of the bottle. It’s from Koko village."

Hammond tipped the bottle to see the markings underneath. Nina’s smile had infected him. "Koko? Are you kidding?"

"Can you believe it?"

"Things must be getting better if they are making wine again."

"Every day, it seems. Things get a little easier."

"I wish that..."

She searched through her basket for more bread. "You wish what?"

"Did you hear about Lord Nath?"

"Yeah. I heard a merchant attacked him."

"More than that. He's dead and I saw the whole thing. This foreigner came to City Hall and hit him with magic. It was like green lightning. Scared the hell out of everyone."

Nina set a slice of meat between two pieces of hard black rye. "Maybe now the farmers will get a few extra days to harvest before the taxes are called."

"I'm serious."

"So am I. When people hear he is dead and not injured – I bet they will celebrate from Tamworth to Callow."

Hammond lowered his voice and leaned in closer. "I wish… I wish it had been Eckard."

She refilled his mug and pinched off a small piece of the cheese for herself. Nina had hoped he would take it all with him, but this type of cheese proved far too addictive. She held up a piece for inspection. “I do not know what this is called. But I could eat an entire wheel of it.”

Hammond raised an imaginary knife. “If I stabbed Eckard tomorrow… do you think I could convince everyone that Goge did it?”

“Who?” Nina tried not to talk with her mouth full. Unsuccessfully.

“The foreigner.”

She took another piece. “That name sounded familiar.”

“Does it? Did you date him or something?”

Nina leaned over to hit the big man on the shoulder. She had to do it twice so he would notice.

“Hey! Stop that, I’m an officer of the watch! I’ll drag you off to the gatehouse for assault!” He pushed her away with a playful sneer.

“The nobles wouldn’t allow it. I know all their secrets.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than Hammond’s smile disappeared.

“Don’t joke about that. Nina. I am being serious right now, don’t joke about that.” His eyes darted up and down the street reflexively, but no one was around.

“I was only teasing.” She turned and placed her boots on the ground for a moment. With her hands by her sides she gave him her best puppy dog look. “If you said that to the people you work with…”

"Would it be so bad? Then you would have to run away with me. "

Hammond rolled his eyes. “Ah, this again.”

“Well, would it? Would it be so terrible just to leave and forget the debt?”

He took another draw of the wine and let out a moan of appreciation. "Eckard would hunt us down for sure. Forty-four silver. That is all I owe. We are so close now."

"I know."

"Nina, a year. Or maybe two. Then we are working for ourselves. We can go to the docks and sail away."

"I know."

"We can work the trade lanes for some of the larger ships and get passage to Teras or Brinn. We’ll be free of this damned city and start over somewhere better. But we have to do this the right way. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder everywhere we go. That’s no life. We would never be rid of him, he has friends at every port. He will find us, Nina.”

"I know."

The night grew colder and light from the shattered moon filled the square. Nina stifled a shiver, but Hammond noticed. He stood up and collected a few pieces of shortbread to put in his waist pack. "You should get home. Get some rest. There is a call to arms tonight, so I won’t be back until morning."

Nina’s expression turned to concern. "A call to arms? Why?"

"The foreigner. Commander Teric met with the nobles and came up with a plan. If it works out, there could even be a bonus involved."

"You won't be in danger, will you?"

"We're all in danger until we bring that spellcaster in. But no one is more important to Eckard than me. He won’t risk losing his debt payments by sticking me at the front. Besides, Goge will have to be on guard with me around. I’m sneaky."

Nina stood up to see him off. “Show me how sneaky you are by not getting hurt."

"I will. Get some rest, Nina. And thank you for another lovely dinner." He smiled and started back down the street.

"Have a care! Who will I feed if anything happens to you?!"

"Yourself, for a change! Don’t worry, I shall keep you from growing fat!"

Nina packed up and got ready to head home. Yet she couldn’t help but linger a few moments as she watched him walk away.

****

image [https://imgur.com/C54cWE4.jpeg]

Goge woke to the sound of splintering wood, he slowly turned his gaze to Lily and found her perched on top of her mattress, staring back. She had already dressed and appeared to have been awake for some time.

Her voice was calm and practiced. "There is someone at the door."

The old man hobbled onto his back and shielded his eyes against the daylight. From the window, he could not tell how much of the morning he had slept through, but midday was not far off. Goge forced himself to climb off the bed as sounds of battle raged from the hallway. He rubbed his eyes and took a moment to lean against the wall.

"Get help!" someone screamed.

Goge looked down at his belongings and carefully began collecting them. With no mirror in sight, he wondered how crazy his hair must look. He finished reattaching his equipment by activating the limited invisibility pin, which obscured most of the important bits. Lily was still staring.

"Are you ready to go?"

She nodded.

"Alright, let us proceed. I have one stop to make, but then we are off to the palace."

Lily followed him to the door, which lay in several thick pieces. Two citywatch huddled amidst the wreckage, nursing their broken bones. In the hallway, the shade was pushing against a column of armed men. The creature’s long arms battered the watchmen into walls before herding them back in the direction they had originally approached; as of yet, the men seemed incapable of inflicting any damage upon this raging creature.

Goge carefully stepped over the broken wood and looked back to Lily. She was too short to step over it. One man shouted a string of threats from the floor. Despite a shattered nose and bruised eye, he still had the strength to hurl obscenities. Goge gestured to Lily and carefully lifted her over the debris before taking a moment to properly inspect the corridor. A trail of brutalized men traced from the room toward the shade – now reaching the end of the hallway.

"Wicked rotter – going to kill you!" one watchman yelled.

Goge carefully avoided the man and set Lily down next to him. A dazed combatant stumbled into Goge's path with arms flat across his ribs. Without a second thought Goge grabbed the man by the shoulder and pushed him down. The shade halted its attack with a whistle from its master. After a quick gesture the shade blurred slightly and vanished into a cloud of smoke, a haze so thick that it seemed to fill the corridor.

"Stay close, Lily." They proceeded through the darkened hall as it echoed the cries of the wounded, down the stairs and out into the city streets. It did not take more than a few steps before they arrived at a row of shops.

And at the end of the block, there sat a small bakery. Large windows revealed the massive ovens inside, and a door had been propped open as if on invitation.

Lily adopted a nervous expression as she gazed at the bakers inside. “Am I to work here?”

"No, stay close. This shall take a moment."

They walked in and quickly assessed the options. Lily inhaled the fragrances as they approached the counter. Goge took a look around and noticed a young woman working with dough. He waved to her and motioned to the display.

"What shall you require, sir?"

He pointed to one of the top racks. "I require twenty of those."

She set down what she had been working on and quickly filled an empty flour sack with an assortment of the round bread.

Goge handed one to Lily. "Bagels. We had these in my world too. Not quite an effective breakfast, but they are enjoyable."

Lily bit into the bread and was quick to follow it up with another. The old man bit into one of his own and collected the sack with the rest. Finding a carriage at this hour was easy. He let her have the rear seat while she finished her meal.

"Where are we going now?"

"We are going to meet a man who lives at the temple. Listen carefully, I need you to put this on.” After a few moments of searching through his satchel, he produced a thin piece of cord with two tiny brown skulls laced through the center. It appeared to be a necklace; however, the young girl could not fathom why someone would want to wear something so hideous.

She folded her arms defiantly. “No.”

“You will do as I say or I will stop this carriage and lash you.” Goge held it out. The cord itself was an ugly piece of uncured leather, but the two tiny skulls had a thin shine around their edges.

She turned the skulls over in her hands. “What kind of animals are these?”

“What kind of animals?” Goge repeated.

“What kind of animals are the skulls from?” Lily could swear she felt a vibration coming from the one on the right.

Goge tucked his satchel back into the invisibility field under his arm and pointed at the necklace. “They are carved from wood. Put it on.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I did not ask if you wanted to.”

“There is something wrong with it.” The skulls were relatively mundane in appearance, but she found it hard to look away from them. Goge leaned forward and grabbed her by the belt of her skirt. With a pair of quick hands he tied the necklace to one of the belt loops.

Goge sat back on his bench and replaced the cane across his lap. “There, never take it off. Keep this on you at all times, do you understand?”

“Why? Why must I wear it?”

He rolled his eyes. “It allows me to know where you are. Do not for a moment believe you can evade me by simply removing it. If, even for an instant, I do not know where you are, I shall summon a ghast and task it with dragging you back. Regardless of how cruel you think of me, be assured that no mercy exists in such a creature.”

She glared as if she would soon strike. "What are you?"

"I told you already."

"You said you were a monster."

"Yes."

"What kind of monster?"

"The very bad kind."

“Are you the Shadow Man?”

Goge’s eyes darted as he attempted to recognize the term. “No idea what that is. What is a shadow man?”

"Are you a demon?"

"No." He paused again after answering. It had been a fair question, but it made him unsure of whether or not Lily understood what she was. "I am human. No doubt the cruelest you have ever had the misfortune to meet."

The carriage finally arrived at the temple. The white stone building seemed radiant from a distance. Up close, it would take a blind man not to see the dirt and neglect. Half-crumbled statues flanked the main entrance. All but one of the steps were in dire need of a mason. Or perhaps a wrecker.

They disembarked the carriage and made themselves presentable. Lily took a little longer to brush down the folds of her new clothes. "Do you eat people?"

Goge pondered this as he scanned the yard. "No more questions."

"Do you drink blood?"

"Certainly not." He started toward the entrance. Lily staggered before she could follow, the new shoes making her unsteady. "No talking when we go inside. I need to find this David fellow."

Just inside the door, two acolytes swept the stone tiles of a large mosaic. Goge looked over the images, but could not recognize any of them. Ships. The ocean. The sky. People and sunbeams. Truly a work of limited skill.

Although the entrance had been left in a state of invitation, none of the priests showed an interest in visitors. A young man with stringy hair stood beyond the door. He was tall and thin, dressed simply in a brown robe, and led three others in sweeping out the presentation hall. "Excuse me. I seek the archpriest known as David."

The man paused and held his broom at the ready. "Father David does not receive visitors. I am Joon, may I be of service?"

"I need to speak with him. My name is Goge, Lord of Akune."

Joon’s eyebrow rose after the mention of a title. "Father David is unavailable. Please do not take offense, but the archpriest is too busy."

"I am not offended, yet I suspect you underestimate my talent for bribery."

The man suppressed a thin smile. "Sir… I have no doubt that you are talented, however, Father David remains unavailable."

Goge set the tip of his cane against the floor and held out the thin white sack with the symbols for "Flour" written on the side. The priest made a puzzled expression and patiently watched as the bag’s contents were revealed. The smell of freshly baked goodness slowly filled the room.

"Actually, I think you are right. This demands his attention." He accepted it with a smile and his associates paused their morning chores to seemingly present themselves in case Joon required their assistance with carrying such a heavy bag.

Although their aid was not required, they were permitted to trail behind as the group proceeded through a set of double doors and down a long hallway. Passing through an empty kitchen and beyond a variety of locked rooms along darkened halls, they arrived at the rear of the temple. With little ceremony, they found themselves delivered to a small room with a window and the priests abandoned them to a young man inside.

David wore the same brown robes as the others, but with a colorful vestment across his shoulders. He was much shorter and thinner than Goge had anticipated, with light brown hair that had clearly gone uncut for some time. He sat idly in a large chair at the window.

There were enough books to fool one into thinking it was a library, but it was really just a storage room. Little book mountains, some only waist-high, crossed here and there while others looked like they'd recently fallen over. Goge painted a smile across his face. "Are you the archpriest I have read so much about?"

"I… I am David. I oversee the… the temple here in Akune." David folded his hands in his lap, but soon decided to rise in greeting.

"I am Lord Goge."

"One of... one of my brothers announced you but I... I did not… not believe he had… pronounced it correctly. Is it Goge?"

"Goge, yes."

"Well, we are glad to have you here in the Temple of Mynar."

"This is my slave, Lily." Goge gestured to Lily, who quickly dashed to his side and gave a low bow. David quickly returned it with a nod, yet his eyes locked on her forehead.

"Your slave has horns?"

"Yes... She is a rare breed of horned elf."

"Mmmmm..." Lily let out a disappointed moan.

Goge glared in response.

"...really." The priest gestured to a larger seat next to his window and cleaned off some books, of which many piled it full to brimming. His smile shifted nervously as Goge sat down across from him. “Please pardon the mess."

"David, what god do you worship? It was not mentioned in any of the documents I inspected."

"Documents? I.... well yes... I worship Mynar. This is the Temple of Mynar."

Goge tried to keep his attention, but David was staring at Lily's horns again. "Please forgive my ignorance of local customs. Archpriest? Sage? Guide? How would you prefer I address you?"

"Father David is fine. We do not use titles as much as some sects do."

"Very well, Father David, are you aware that I have replaced Lord Nath?"

"W… what? How? When?"

"Yesterday morning."

“Why would you do that?"

"I require Akune and I feel it is my right to retake it."

"You... Do you really claim to be Goge? Goge of Qar? Goge the Mage King?”

“I was never a king.”

“That is… impossible."

He shrugged. "It would seem that it is not as impossible as one might initially believe."

"How can you be alive?"

"I do not age. Not anymore, at least."

David blinked. "Sorry… forgive me, I do not wish to offend... "

"Proceed."

"Well, it is not my intention to upset you, however I feel that I must ask..."

"Yes?"

"Please do not be offended by my question..."

Goge glanced at Lily and back to David before fixing his posture. A playful smile appeared. "I suspect I may soon be insulted."

"I hope not. Because it is not my intention."

The priest increased his breathing as a frantic expression began to descend. Goge leaned forward and grabbed the man’s wrist. It was a friendly gesture, a display of concern, which seemed to take David by surprise. "Calm yourself. There is no way to know how it will be taken. Ask and I will endeavor to be patient."

"Is there a way in which you can prove that you are this person?"

Goge pressed his lips together and leaned back into his chair once again. His eyes wandered for a moment. "I had not considered it until just now. Do you know of anyone who might recognize me?"

"Anyone who might recognize you would have to be over a thousand years old. Even among the elves there are very few who live... and elves rarely travel to our corner of the world."

"Just as well. I did not associate with many elves back then."

"Might I also ask... where have you been this whole time?"

"Around."

"Surely someone would have seen."

"I was noticed by those I chose to associate with. Yet I doubt you and I would associate with the same people. Father David, would it truly matter if I was or was not this person? As a matter of trust, I can understand why you would seek the answer, yet it should be undisputed that I claim to be him. Also, I have assumed governance of Akune. For our purposes, at least, should that not be enough?"

David stared for an uncomfortable length of time. "W... What do you intend?"

"I would like to invest in your temple."

"You… you want me to give you the temple?"

"No. It is nothing like that. I simply want to support your efforts. Your cause."

"My cause..."

"To spread the worship of Mynar."

"You asked me who I worshiped. You asked me who this Temple is... who this Temple is dedicated to. Because you did not know. Why would you support us if you do not know our cause?"

Goge found himself considering his next words with great care. He took a long slow breath. "I spent most of yesterday scouring city reports for mentions of your name. I want to restore this city to its former glory. Yet this is not possible with corrupt nobles who sell farmers into slavery and lords who report shipping manifests to pirates. Every single merchant in this city pays half their income to a wasteful institution and ends up in the gutter if they have a bad month. I will be straight with you, David. I do not need Mynar. I need someone that would rather starve than abuse a man's trust. I need someone who the people can put their faith in. Someone who can represent them. Someone who can speak for them. That man is you."

"I am flattered. But I think… I think…”

"Then allow me to proposition you. If the Temple took in every orphan and vagrant in the city, how much coin would you need to operate for a year?"

David drifted. “A lot. One hundred gold tani every week."

Goge stood up and gave a nod. "Then it is done. As of tomorrow, City Hall will open an account for your temple with the sum of ten thousand tani."

The priest nearly fell from his chair. "Ten... thousand?"

"Ten thousand. When people learn of your services they will flood into the city. I suspect you are underestimating just how ambitious a venture I intend."

"I… I cannot promise anything. If… if you can provide such coin, then… I will see what we can accomplish in… with that.”

"Excellent."

With the meeting concluded, Goge turned to the door and gestured to Lily. She seemed intent on giving a departing bow of her own, yet there was little room to maneuver in such a confined space.

"Indulge me.... Just one question, Lord.... Lord Goge." They paused and slinked around to face him once again. Father David was staring at Lily."Is she... what I mean to say is... You say she is an elf.... by elf... do you mean demon?"

"Demon?"

"An Abyssal."

It appeared many of these books had been read. As David stood up from his chair, Goge pressed his lips together and once again repositioned himself opposite the man. He grinned warmly as he placed his hands on the priest's frail shoulders."We only find ourselves in Akune because we are running from something. Me. You. And her. We all escaped our past and we are looking for a better future. A fresh start."

David smiled. "A fresh start."

****

The sun was high in the sky. The heavy carriage door slammed shut and Goge exhaled. At the sound of the driver’s voice, the horses jolted forward.

Lily leaned back on the leather bench and fidgeted with the two wooden skulls attached to her belt. "Why are you lying to people?"

"Shut up, slave girl! You bring me nothing but bad luck! Everywhere we go I can feel your eyes burning into my back and what is that sound you make when I speak to others? It is like a scoff. Can I not converse with the people of my city without you judging my every word?”

"Well, why don't you tell people the truth?"

Goge clenched his teeth. "That is what I have been doing!"

"You are a liar. I bet you don't even have powers."

"I... you! You saw me summon a shade! Last night! I summoned a shade right in front of you!"

"That didn't look like a shade."

"Very well, if it was not a shade then what was it?"

"Smoke monster."

"Shades are smoke monsters! That is what they are!"

"I bet you are not really Goge."

"Who else would I be?! Who would claim to be me that was not actually me?!"

Lily bit her lip and looked away. A moment passed as she stared out the window. Homes ambled into market stalls and finally turned back to homes. Goge rubbed the back of his neck. "No one is interested in the truth. The truth is as foreign to this world as you and I. They prefer lies. When someone speaks the truth they simply dismiss it as a new type of falsehood."

She peeled her eyes from the window to glare at him. "So you lie?"

"Yes. Cads and scoundrels are notorious liars. As my slave, you may as well know."

They sat quietly for a moment. She returned her attention to the window. “I am not your slave.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I am not.”

“Yes. You are.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

Lily pointed to a small group who stood on the street corner, waiting to cross. “I am a normal person just like everyone else.”

"Do not deceive yourself. Whether they have chains on their feet or not, those people out there are slaves. Each and every one."

****