With the help of Bem, Kallem was able to catch Foldrin before he fell.

“Wow, he is heavy!” Bem said as they started to carry him through the gate.

Foldrin started mumbling and reaching for something. Looking Kallem saw a pack near the gate. Dropping Foldrin’s feet he picked it up and slung it on, lifting his legs, again they continued on their way.

Seeta was waiting for them by the open door, “Dad says to put him in the third room,”

“Does he have to be so close to us? You saw what he did?” Bem argued.

“Dad said to put him in the third room. If you want to go back and live in the village, be my guest. And don’t even dream that Levea would hide you for a second; they will have you strung up for the Darkness by noon.” She stormed away after that.

“What did I say?” Bem grumbled as they made their way through the entry to the guest hallway.

“She is still upset about Devrin siding with the rest of the town over her.” Kallem offered.

“So?”

“He proposed to her last week, remember?” Kallem could not believe how oblivious Bem was.

“Oh. I guess I forgot. Man, do you think Cami would still want to see me?” Bem asked.

“You really only think about yourself, do you?” Kallem said as he watched Bem bang Foldrin against the door frame, unable to do anything from where he was.

“Sorry about that,” Bem said to the unconscious man.

“Let’s just get him in the bed.” Kallem gruffed at him.

Their father found them in the den by the fire after. “She fell asleep. I think she will be alright.”

“Father, what is happening?” Bem asked; Kallem nodded, curious as well.

He sighed as he sat beside them, “I think this had better wait till the morning when I can talk to our guest as well. There are some questions only he can answer, I feel.”

“What about you confronting the Darkness?” Kallem asked eagerly.

“Yes, how did you do that?” Bem asked as well.

“I wasn’t sure it would work. Remember how the man, this Foldrin said something about having a master.” When they nodded, he continued, “Well, my father taught my brother and me. My brother didn’t believe, and I was only half committed. Your Grandfather wanted to teach you as well, he started with Sevin, and after he passed I told Sevin to forget the training. I think that is part of why he hates me.”

Kallem nodded, finally understanding why there was so much tension between his oldest brother and their father.

"There is, there are oaths that our ancestors took during the war of Vermud."

"Like the stories?" Bem asked incredulously.

"I thought they were just stories as well, till last night." Tarlin paused, "There are things that I can't explain unless I take those stories as true. I couldn't continue living as we were. Living in fear. I should never have left this place."

"Why can't the Darkness enter here?" Kallem asked.

Tarlin sighed, "Because of oaths sworn long ago. The blood of our fathers is buried here, and they died for what they believed."

"What did they believe?" Bem questioned.

"The stories," Tarlin whispered as he rubbed his knuckles. "I don't know which are true and which are make-believe, but right now I am willing to believe them all.

*****

Foldrin awoke with a sense of peace. Which was strange; he sat up, not knowing where he was. He was in a bed with woolen blankets, throwing them off and releasing a puff of dust that caused him to cough. Clearing his throat, he noticed his blood-stained clothes had ruined the sheets as well.

"Not a dream then," he said as he struggled out of the bed. His muscles ached from the long run and the fight at the end, but he didn't feel that strained, empty feeling that was present the last time he used the Truth. He wondered what was different. Looking around, he saw a new set of clothes atop a chair that had been dusted off, next to it was a basin of clean water and a bar of lye soap with a note next to it.

Sorry about the boys throwing you in the dirty bed last night; we hope you slept well. These are some clothes that I hope fit well enough. -Seeta

"Well, that is convenient." He said as he pulled off his old clothes. The water wasn't warm, but that was something he was used to. The shirt was a little snug, but the brown trousers and green tunic felt comfortable. Buckling his belt, he used a bit of twine to tie his hair back. Shaved and clean, he thought he looked rather respectable, but sadly, that was up to other people's opinions. Taking another look around the room, he noticed fine woodwork all along the trim, and the furniture was exquisitely crafted and yet over everything was a thick layer of dust as if the room hadn't been disturbed in years.

Stepping out of the room, he found himself in a corridor with similarly well-crafted doors lining the hall. Deciding to go right, he found the entrance hall that had made vague impressions on his dreams. There were three passages: two main doors leading to the outside on his left and another one open on his right leading deeper into the house. Going to the open door, he found himself in what he would call a sitting area. It had a bookshelf along the left wall and a fireplace across from it placed here, and there were several comfy-looking chairs that looked well-loved. Sitting by the fireplace was the man he had seen the previous night.

"Hello, I am Tarlin of the House of Cromlin." the man said, standing.

Taking the proffered hand, "Foldrin, last son of Kelmu."

"What brought you North Foldrin," Tarlin said as he seated himself again.

Taking the chair across from him, Foldrin couldn't help but feel as though he was defending himself from a crime he knew nothing about, "I came North after wandering through the Center for over a year; I felt a pull to that I cannot explain. Since I have been here, I can only speculate that I either have found that which I was supposed to find or it has moved on from me." Foldrin thought back to a couple of days ago but couldn't remember what had happened the day before last. What had he and Karrina found? Why was he so eager to leave the far North? That feeling of a void in him wasn't nearly as present as it had been the other day.

"Karrina and I found something on the Edge of the World." he said hesitantly, "I can't recall what it was, but I will check my notes."

"Your notes?" Tarlin asked.

"Yes, my Master always told me to write down everything I didn't want to forget. He said that the way between Worlds always had a price, and memories were the preferred payment." Foldrin said, not really expecting Tarlin to understand. When he didn't say anything, he continued, "There is a problem in this part of the land."

"Yes, it wasn't always this way; the Darkness came some eight years ago." Tarlin offered when Foldrin paused.

"It isn't unlike some things I have seen." Foldrin said, "My master named them the Kesivlack. They are those who abandoned the order of Creation and desire to shape it in their image."

"Kesivlack, I have never heard of that before," Tarlin murmured.

"It is a name they were given after Kelmu Sealed them away. It has several meanings, but the primary is the Fallen; Traitor is a close second." Foldrin looked at Tarlin; seeing that he was taking all this surprisingly well, he continued. "I have crossed paths with them before; like in the stories, they aren't just the Shegika but men and beasts, Rua, and other immortals. Several have made attempts on my life, but as you can see, they haven't succeeded yet."

*****

Karrina groaned as she lifted her shirt to see the bruises that mottled her stomach.

"You think he would have treated you better," Seeta said from beside her with a frown on her face.

"Wongers were trying to eat us." Karrina winced as Seeta applied a salve.

"I didn't say he shouldn't have saved you, but did he really have to throw you."

"Worngers, Seeta. They had teeth and smelled awful. Besides, he dropped me not the same." Karrina held back a gasp as Seeta wrapped strips of linen around her stomach.

"At least he didn't break any of your ribs." Seeta inspected her work.

"Why are you back here anyway?" Karrina asked, putting her shirt back in place.

"Ha," Seeta let out a bark of a laugh, "After you ran out of town, they wanted Dad to 'Answer some questions.' he turned them down and told us to pack up, and we moved back here. I say good riddance to the cowards."

"What about Devrin?" Karrina asked hesitantly.

Seeta scowled, "Coward, he would rather stay in Town than strike out on his own."

"Wasn't he going to move to Mekra with you?"

"Apparently not. Glad I broke off the engagement if that is how easily he folds when they want to string people up for the Darkness."

Karrina couldn't repress a shudder at the thought. "What will you do now?"

"Well, we are used to providing for ourselves. Now that you are here, you can help me clean this place up as the boys finish bringing our stuff from the Town."

Karrina grimaced, "I never noticed this before, but this place is like a fortress."

Seeta grinned, "That isn't the only secret."

"What?"

"Come on, Do you want to see my Dad talk to Foldrin?" Seeta gave her a mischievous grin.

Following her, Karrina found herself in a dark, dusty, narrow passage with slots along one of the walls. When Seeta closed the door behind them, she could hardly see. Karrina felt a tug on her shoulder and leaned toward Seeta and heard her whisper, "My great great grandfather built this place; it has tons of secrets like this; if family stories are to be believed, then our ancestors built most of the old castles and forts during the War of Vermund."

"What!"

"Hush, you have to whisper." Seeta scolded her, "I will tell you more later. But look here and listen." She moved one of the panels, revealing the gap between the tops of books and the shelf above.

"This is amazing," Karrina murmured.

She saw Foldrin and Tarlin talking, "Let me introduce my sons." Tarlin was saying as he stood to open the door. Bem and Kallem walked in and shook hands with Foldrin.

"Ew, have you told Bem he needs to shave?" Karrina whispered to Seeta.

"I told him, and I quote, 'It looks like a mangy rat died on your face and got stuck.'" Seeta whispered back.

Karrina held in a snicker as Foldrin spoke, “Kallem, I believe we have met before."

"Yes, you told me you would keep Karrina safe and that if I didn't fear the Darkness, it would have no hold over me and that you might teach me more," Kallem said as he shook Foldrin's hand.

"Well, yes, that is true, and I keep my promises. It would be more appropriate for your father to teach you."

"Do you mean you can teach me to control fire?" Bem asked excitedly.

"Possibly, the Sons of Vermund each possessed different strengths in the diverse gifts given by the Creator. I am of the line of Kelmu. We were the ones who brought vengeance upon those who massacred the innocents. I am sure you have heard the stories."

"You will have to excuse my sons and my curiosity; last night was the first time we saw a manifestation of the power of the Creator," Tarlin said. "If I may be blunt, what was that we saw?"

Karrina listened eagerly as Foldrin paused, "That was the Laramin; it is a manifestation of the Truth. Used correctly, it will push the Kesivlack out of its light. You can also use it in battle, allowing it to fight with you as it burns away the evil in the world. Let go of all worldly attachments as you bear the Laramin, lest it also consume you. That is what my master taught me." Foldrin paused again, “I hate to be rude, but do you have anything to eat?”

*****

Foldrin couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him from behind. The only thing other than the men in the room was the bookshelf, and he could almost swear it was looking at him.

"Sorry, we don't have much. Once the chickens are settled in their old coops, they will lay more eggs again." Kallem said as he set a plate of biscuits and cold cuts on the small table.

"If you want, you can take some of the things I took from the Town before we were chased out," Foldrin said as he tore into a biscuit.

"So, what does it mean to be the last son of Kelmu?" the young man named Bem asked; he was almost as large as his father, making him a fair bit bigger than Foldrin, unlike some others he had known there didn't appear to be much fat on either of them. He wasn't usually the thoughtful type from the scant questions he had heard him ask.

"It means much as it sounds. Of the line of the descendants of Kelmu, I am the last. The last of a line that has sworn to protect the innocent and to see oath breakers and traitors brought to a fitting end." Foldrin gazed at the three men before him. Well, two of them were still kids; even if Bem must have been a bit older than him, they knew little of the world.

"We have been isolated this far in the North. What is the news?" Tarlin asked when Foldrin's gaze made the boys uncomfortable.

"Depends on which news you want. Out among the world, trade between the Center and Zenziril grows, and industry is booming. Produce in the South continues to supply much of the food demands. Frankly, it is a fine age to be a trader." the boys glanced at their father as he said this. "On the other hand, the Kesivlack's grip on the world tightens. I haven't seen a governor of a major city that isn't working with or for them. I have seen men possessed by Shegika raving like lunatics. Criminals rule the streets, and they all pay tribute to the Kesivlack. So I would say it is a dangerous age. The Seals of Vermund and Kelmu weaken."

"Is that why you came here?" Kallem asked hopefully.

"In part, I am looking for a way to fix the seal, but I have been told there was a key that would free the innocents. This is an oath I have taken to free the innocents. To continue what Kelmu started.”