SHE KNELT AMONG THE FLOWERS, TRIMMING THE USEFUL FROM THE MERELY PRETTY. HER AUNT HAD TAUGHT HER HOW TO HARVEST HERBS SO THAT THE PLANT NOT ONLY SURVIVES BUT THRIVES. A PLANT THAT GAVE YOU HEALING HERBS YEAR AFTER YEAR WAS MORE VALUABLE THAN ONE YOU HAD TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE NEXT TIME. SHE PLACED THE BUDS OF THE SLEEPING PRINCESS FLOWER IN HER POUCH, SLOWED ONLY BY WHEN SHE CAME ACROSS A SPECIMEN OF ANOTHER USEFUL HERB. THE MOONSHADOW ELF TOOK ONLY HALF OF THE BLOSSOMS IN THIS PATCH, JUST THE BUDS THAT HADN'T OPENED, THE REST NEEDED TO POLLINATE EACH OTHER SO THERE WOULD BE MORE NEXT YEAR. BUT HALF WOULD BE ENOUGH, IT'S MORE THAN HER FRIEND NEEDED FOR HER ELIXIR, AND SLEEPING PRINCESS WAS RARE. BY HER KNOWLEDGE THERE WERE NOT A LOT OF STAR PRIMAL PLANTS IN TOTAL, AND PRINCESSES WERE RARER YET. THE BEAT OF WINGS HERALDED THE ARRIVAL OF ANOTHER FRIEND, THE SKYWING ELF TOUCHED DOWN AND FOLDED THEIR SILVER/BLUE WINGS AGAINST THEIR BACK AND DROPPED A SACK TO THE GROUND. "I FOUND LUNCH," THEY SAID WITH A SIDEWAYS SMILE, "HOPE YOU LIKE ROASTED SINGING WEASEL, ARLEY." ARLEY GAVE A SLIGHT GRIMACE, BUT SHE WAS HUNGRY. SHE WAS TOO SOFT-HEARTED TO HUNT HERSELF, BUT WHEN SHE ATE IT, SHE MADE A HABIT OF TRYING TO NEVER THINK OF WHERE MEAT CAME FROM. "SOUNDS GOOD, I GUESS, I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE WHEN YOU CLEAN IT ZEPHYR." THE MOONSHADOW ELF STOOD UP AND DUSTED OFF THE KNEES OF HER TROUSERS. "PLUS I'M ALL FINISHED, SO AFTER LUNCH WE CAN START OUT FOR LUX AUREA. VAKKE NEEDS THESE FLOWERS. ARE YOU COMING WITH ME AGAIN?" "YOU WOULD GET LOST WITHOUT ME." THE SKYWING ELF REPLIED. ZEPHYR WAS THE GREATEST TRACKER IN THE MOONSHADOW FOREST, THEY HAD FOUND THIS PATCH OF SLEEPING PRINCESS FLOWERS FROM THE AIR. ARLEY HAD OFFERED THEM THREE MESSENGER BIRD ARROWS MADE BY ETHARI TO FIND IT SO ZEPHYR COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILY ON LIBERTY PEAK, WHICH WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF XADIA. EVER SINCE THEN THE TWO HAVE BEEN THE CLOSEST OF FRIENDS. AFTER LUNCH, AND ZEPHYR DISPOSED OF THE EVIDENCE OF LUNCH'S ORIGIN, THE TWO BEGAN THE JOURNEY TO LUX AUREA. IT WOULD TAKE JUST OVER A WEEK BUT THEY HAD MADE THE TRIP A FEW TIMES BEFORE. ARLEY HAD LEARNED MEDICINE FROM HER AUNT ALONGSIDE VAKKE, A SUNFIRE ELF WHO CAME TO ARLEY'S AUNT SEARCHING FOR A TREATMENT FOR A CONDITION THAT ALTERED HER NATURAL SUNFIRE ELF ABILITIES DANGEROUSLY. THEY EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED AN ELIXIR THAT COULD HELP, BUT IT DEPENDED ON A SUPPLY OF THE SLEEPING PRINCESS FLOWERS THAT HAD, SO FAR, ONLY BEEN FOUND IN ARLEY'S HOME OF THE MOONSHADOW FOREST. SO ZEPHYR AND ARLEY MADE THE TRIP TO THE SUNFIRE ELF CITY TWICE EACH MONTH. THE TRIP WAS LONG, ESPECIALLY SINCE ONLY ZEPHYR COULD FLY, THEY HAD TO DO IT 'THE HARD WAY', AS ZEPHYR CALLED IT. THE TRIP HOWEVER GAVE ARLEY THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP IN VARIOUS SETTLEMENTS AND HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED TREATMENT FOR ILLNESS OR INJURY. MANY SETTLEMENTS IN XADIA LACKED A PERMANENT HEALER EVEN WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, AND LOOKED FORWARD TO ARLEY'S VISITS. THESE TREKS ALSO LET ZEPHYR EXPLORE. MOST OF THEIR STOPS WERE THE SAME BUT NEVER DID THEY TAKE THE SAME PATH TO ARRIVE. WHILE ARLEY TREATED FOUR ILLNESSES, A SPRAINED WRIST AND A BROKEN FOOT BEFORE THEY LEFT THE MOONSHADOW FOREST, ZEPHYR HAD FOUND A SPRING THEY HAD YET TO STOP AT, A GROVE OF PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN XADIAN ORANGE TREES AND A PACK OF MOONSTRIDERS THAT THEY ALMOST GOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH BEFORE THE PACK DASHED AWAY. THEY WERE ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE JOURNEY WHEN ZEPHYR NOTICED SMOKE FROM A FIRE. THERE WAS AN ENCAMPMENT SURROUNDING A LARGE OPEN TENT. THE TENT WAS FOUR POSTS WRAPPED IN FANCY, COLORFUL LINENS, AND INSIDE WAS A FIRE BEING COOKED ON WHILE A DARK SKINNED YOUNG MAN LOUNGED ON CUSHIONS WITH AN OLDER WOMAN. SOME OF THE DOZENS OF OTHER PEOPLE BROUGHT HIM FOOD AND DRINK WHILE OTHER MENIAL JOBS WERE PERFORMED BY THE REST. ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TENT BEHIND THE BOY WAS AN ENORMOUS GRAY BEAST WITH LARGE EARS AND AN EXTRA ARM ON ITS FACE THAT MADE OCCASIONAL NOISES LIKE THE SOUND OF A SIGNAL HORN. "IS IT AN ARMY?" ASKED ARLEY, LOOKING AT HER SKYWING COMPANION. "NONE OF THEM LOOK LIKE SOLDIERS." WHISPERED ZEPHYR. "AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH TO POSE A CHALLENGE TO MOONSHADOW OR SUNFIRE. UNLESS THAT BEAST IS A WEAPON SOMEHOW." THE TWO STARED AT THE CREATURE ONCE AGAIN. SUDDENLY, ZEPHYR GOT UP AND BEGAN TO STALK DOWN THE HILLSIDE. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" WHISPERED ARLEY. "I WANT A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT BEAST." THEY REPLIED, "YOU SHOULD STAY HERE." ARLEY FROWNED AND STOOD UP TO FOLLOW, "LIKE YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT BIOLOGY THAN ME. I NEED A LOOK TOO." ZEPHYR ROLLED THEIR EYES, "FINE, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE QUIETER THAN YOU USUALLY ARE, AND STEP WHERE I DO." THE TWO ELVES MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SCRUB AND AROUND THE CAMP. BEHIND THE TENT ANOTHER MAN WAS FUSSING WITH THE BEAST, PRESSING AND PRODDING AND LISTENING TO ITS SIDE REPEATEDLY. HE'D DO THESE THINGS IN A CYCLE, ENDING WITH A SHRUG OR A SHAKE OF HIS HEAD OR BOTH, THEN START OVER AGAIN. "THAT EXTRA ARM IS ITS NOSE, I THINK," WHISPERED ARLEY. "SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG WITH IT," REPLIED ZEPHYR QUIETLY, "THAT MAN KEEPS LOOKING IT OVER. "THERE IS," REPLIED ARLEY, "IT'S BEEN STUNG." SHE POINTED THE BLUE BUMP OUT ON THE BEAST'S LEG. "BUMBLESCORP STING. THEY MUST HAVE DISTURBED A NEST AT SOME POINT." "WELL IT WILL BE TOO SAD TO GO ANYWHERE FOR A FEW DAYS, SO WE'RE SAFE FOR NOW." ADDED ZEPHYR, GETTING UP. "LET'S GO!" AS ZEPHYR GOT UP, THE MAN CARING FOR THE BEAST THREW UP HIS ARMS ONCE MORE AND WALKED AWAY INTO THE TENT. THE CREATURE LET OUT ANOTHER SAD BLART FROM ITS NOSE, PROMPTING ARLEY TO CREEP OVER TO IT. AFTER SEVERAL YARDS ZEPHYR REALIZED THEY DIDN’T HEAR ARLEY'S FOOTSTEPS BEHIND THEM. ZEPHYR STOPPED, ALREADY KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING. "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD," THEY MURMURED, TURNING BACK TOWARD THE CAMP. ARLY APPROACHED THE MASSIVE ANIMAL, UTTERING SOOTHING SOUNDS. THE LARGE EYE OF THE CREATURE WAS WEEPING. SHE EXAMINED THE SWOLLEN BLUE STING AND BEGAN TO PULL HERBS FROM HER POUCH. SHE MIXED A PASTE FROM THEM AND GENTLY SMEARED IT ON THE BUMP. AFTER WAITING A FEW SECONDS TO BE SURE THE SPOT WAS NUMB, ARLEY PRODUCED A SILVER INSTRUMENT THAT RESEMBLED A SHARP V AND POKED IT INTO THE STING BEFORE PULLING OUT AN INCH LONG STINGER. THE ANIMAL TRUMPETED AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO STAND. ZEPHYR HAD NOW REACHED THEIR FRIEND AND GRABBED HER BY THE WRIST, "THERE, YOU DID YOUR GOOD DEED, NOW LET'S GO." BUT SEVERAL HUMANS NOW BLOCKED THE WAY THEY HAD COME. THE ANIMAL WAS SOUNDING OFF FEVERISHLY NOW WHEN THE BOY WHO HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE TENT STEPPED OUT FROM AROUND THE BEAST. "EREPATO, DOWN. EREPATO SIT." HE REPEATED MAKING SHUSHING SOUNDS AS HE DID. EVENTUALLY EREPATO SAT AND WAS CALM. THEN THE BOY FACED THE ELVES, "HELLO, HONORED GUESTS. I AM BULSARA, EFENDI OF NOELANDIA. AND WHO MIGHT YOU LOVELY ELVEN LADIES BE?" HE EXTENDED A HAND BUT ZEPHYR IMMEDIATELY HAD THEIR BOW DRAWN AND KNOCKED. ARLEY PUSHED DOWN ON THE ARROW POINTING IT TO THE GROUND, "HE IS NOT ARMED, NONE OF THEM ARE." SHE SAID QUIETLY. "MAYBE THEY JUST DON'T NEED WEAPONS," ZEPHYR WHISPERED BACK, NODDING UP AT EREPATO. "IT'S A HERBIVORE." REPLIED ARLEY, IN A HUSHED TONE, "I SAW ITS TEETH." "THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T SQUASH YOU." "HE IS AN HERBIVORE," INTERRUPTED THE BOY WHO INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS BULSARA. "THE TUSKS ARE USED TO KNOCK OVER TREES TO GET AT THE FOOD." HE SMILED SUCH A LARGE SMILE AS TO BE UNNERVING. "PLEASE, WE ARE TRAVELERS IN YOUR LAND, AND OFFER YOU OUR HOSPITALITY IN RETURN FOR YOURS." AT THIS HE MOTIONED TOWARD THE TENT, AND BEGAN TO WALK. ARLEY TOOK A STEP AND COCKED HER HEAD TO ZEPHYR TO FOLLOW. PROMPTING ZEPHYR TO RAISE THEIR EYEBROWS. "WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE HERE, AND THIS IS AS GOOD A WAY AS ANY." SAID ARLEY, GETTING A SIGH FROM ZEPHYR BEFORE THEY RELUCTANTLY FOLLOWED. INSIDE THE TENT THERE WERE TWO MORE PEOPLE THE ELVES COULD NOT SEE BEFORE. A THIN AND PALE BOY IN SPECTACLES, AND ANOTHER BOY WRAPPED IN CLOTH AND WEARING A MASK. THIS SECOND BOY GAVE ARLEY AN UNEASY FEELING. THE ELVES TOOK SEATS ON PILLOWS ACROSS FROM THE OTHERS, BACKS TO THE COOKING FIRE. ARLEY HAD TO ADMIT THE SMELL OF THE FOOD WAS BEGINNING TO MAKE HER HUNGRY. THEIR HOST WAS BROUGHT A BOWL OF RICE AND VEGETABLES TOPPED WITH SOME KIND OF MEAT BY ONE OF THE OTHER HUMANS AND BEGAN TO EAT IT WITH HIS FINGERS. SOON THE OTHERS WERE SERVED, THE THIN BOY PRODUCED THEIR OWN SILVER UTENSILS CARVED WITH FANCY LINES AND PICTURES, AND THE STRANGE BOY LIFTED ONLY THE BOTTOM OF THE MASK TO PLACE FOOD IN ITS MOUTH EVERY FEW MINUTES. THE ELVES WERE BROUGHT BOWLS AS WELL BUT AS THEY BEGAN TO EAT THE THIN BOY SPOKE UP. "GREETINGS, I AM THISTLE. I HAIL FROM DURAN ACROSS THE BORDER. YOU HAVE MET BULSARA, AND THE OTHER IS NEIMAND WHO WE PICKED UP IN A TOWN ON THE OUTER EDGE OF KATOLIS." ZEPHYR ATE THE FOOD BUT DID NOT SPEAK, KEEPING A COLD EYE ON THE HOST. ARLEY SIGHED, NOT WANTING TO BE THE ONE TO ENGAGE. SHE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE WHO NEEDED HELP, CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM TENDED TO CENTER AROUND WHAT WAS WRONG. BUT NORMAL INTERACTIONS OUTSIDE THAT AREA WERE UNCOMFORTABLE TO ARLEY. "I AM ARLEY, UM, I AM A MOONSHADOW ELF. AND ZEPHYR HERE IS A SKYWING ELF. AND, I GUESS, WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO LUX AUREA." "AH, YES THAT IS THE CAPITAL OF XADIA, RIGHT?" GASPED THISTLE. THEY TOOK OUT A BOOK AND SCRIBBLED FURIOUSLY. "WELL, NOT THE CAPITAL OF XADIA, JUST THE CITY OF THE SUNFIRE ELVES. IT'S THE BIGGEST CITY, AND THE MOST ADVANCED I GUESS. BUT THE QUEEN OF XADIA DOESN'T LIVE THERE, JUST THE QUEEN OF THE SUNFIRE ELVES REALLY." ARLEY EXPLAINED NERVOUSLY. "OH," THEY RESPONDED WITH A HAND TO THEIR LIPS, "WELL, WHERE DO THE RULERS OF THE OTHER ELVES LIVE?" "THE OTHER ELVES DON'T REALLY HAVE A KING OR QUEEN. WE JUST LIVE WHERE WE LIVE." SAID ARLEY CONFUSED. "MY WORD," SAID THISTLE, "JUST LIVING WITHOUT RULE? LIKE SAVAGES?" "WE ARE NOT SAVAGES," SAID ZEPHYR FINALLY, "WE JUST DON'T NEED ONE PERSON TO TELL US WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG. SEEMS LIKE YOU NEED A KING OR QUEEN LIKE A CHILD NEEDS A SITTER." "ZEPHYR, BE NICE," SAID ARLEY, WORRIEDLY. "SHE MAY BE RIGHT, THISTLE," LAUGHED BULSARA, "MY HOMELAND IS WITHOUT A RULER CURRENTLY AND IT IS IN CHAOS." "THEY," SAID ARLEY SHARPLY. "I'M SORRY, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?" BULSARA ASKED, CUTTING HIS LAUGHTER OFF SUDDENLY. "ZEPHYR IS NOT A SHE, ZEPHYR IS A THEY OR THEM." CORRECTED ARLEY. "APOLOGIES, BUT YOU ARE BOTH VERY PRETTY GIRLS, I MEANT NO OFFENSE." SAID BULSARA WITH A SLIGHT BOW. "I AM PROUDLY A HIM, BUT THISTLE HERE IS A THEY AS WELL, AND I BELIEVE NEIMAND HERE MAY WELL BE AN IT." HIS GREGARIOUS SMILE RETURNED AS HE INDICATED THE COVERED UP PERSON ON THE PILLOW. THE BEING INDICATED AS NEIMAND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF EITHER ACCEPTANCE OR ANNOYANCE AT THIS TITLE BUT CONTINUED TO SLOWLY FEED BITS OF THE RICE DISH BENEATH ITS MASK. THIS PIQUED ARLEY'S CURIOSITY BEYOND HER DISCOMFORT AT INTERACTING. "WHAT IS NEIMAND'S STORY?" SHE ASKED SO QUIETLY THAT A PAUSE FOR CONSIDERATION AT FIRST MADE HER THINK SHE HAD NOT BEEN HEARD. "FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN WE FOUND NEIMAND AT, ITS MOTHER WAS A DARK WIZARD. SO DEDICATED WAS SHE THAT SHE PRACTICED HER CRAFT WHILE PREGNANT. NEIMAND WAS BORN BARELY CLINGING TO LIFE. SO SHE DID WHAT ANY MOTHER WOULD DO, SHE PERFORMED DARK EXPERIMENTS TO SAVE HER CHILD. BUT THE COST WAS GREAT. THE CHILD REMAINED TWISTED IN FORM AND THE MOTHER DIED FROM HER SOUL BEING TWISTED BY THE MAGIC." THISTLE COMPLETED THE TAIL WITH A TISK SOUND. "THE TOWN DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH POOR NEIMAND, SO BULSARA DECIDED TO BRING IT ALONG IN CASE WE DISCOVERED A TREATMENT IN THE WILDS OF XAIDA." "THAT RAISES A GOOD QUESTION," SAID ZEPHYR, "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING IN THE…WILDS OF XADIA?" ARLEY WAS BOTH RELIEVED AT NOT HOLDING UP THE CONVERSATION NOW, AND AFRAID BECAUSE HER FRIEND WAS NEVER KNOWN FOR THEIR TACT. "WE ARE HERE FOR THE PEACE TALKS." THISTLE SAID, WITH AN AIR OF CONFIDENCE THAT IMPLIED THEY SHOULD KNOW OF WHAT WAS BEING SAID. AFTER A MOMENT OF SILENCE ZEPHYR AND ARLEY BOTH ASKED IN UNISON, "WHAT PEACE TALKS?" AFTER A MOMENT OF STUNNED SILENCE ON THEIR PART, THISTLE EXPLAINED THAT IN THE WAKE OF THE ASSASSINATION OF KATOLIS'S KING AND ATTEMPTED SLAYING OF THE CROWN PRINCE, THE ONLY ONE OF THE ASSASSINS TO SURVIVE HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE EGG OF THE DRAGON PRINCE WAS ALIVE. ARLEY KNEW OF THE ASSASSINATION, RUNAN AND HIS TROUPE DEPARTED SHORTLY BEFORE SHE AND ZEPHYR LEFT ON THEIR JOURNEY. SHE DID NOT APPROVE OF THE ACTION BEING TAKEN, BUT SHE WAS RELIEVED AT LEAST THE PRINCE SURVIVED. THE ASSASSIN AND THE PRINCES THEN TOGETHER UNDERTOOK A JOURNEY TO RETURN THE EGG AND STOP FURTHER CONFLICT. IN THEIR ABSENCE A MAD WIZARD APPARENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF KATOLIS. HE TRIED TO UNITE ALL FIVE KINGDOMS IN AN ATTACK ON XADIA, BUT THEY AT FIRST REFUSED. UNTIL THE ASSASSINS STRUCK AGAIN, KILLING OR WOUNDING THE RULERS OF THE REMAINING KINGDOMS. WITH THEIR KING DEAD THE PRINCE OF NEOLANDIA ALIGNED WITH THE WIZARD AND STORMED XAIDA WITH THE COMBINED MIGHT OF THE ARMIES OF BOTH KINGDOMS. BUT THE WIZARD AND HIS ARMIES WERE PUT DOWN BY THE UNIFICATION OF THE ELVES AND THE KINGDOM OF DUREN. AND NOW A TRUE PEACE WAS BEING DISCUSSED IN THE CAPITAL OF XADIA. "MY QUEEN IS THERE NOW," FINISHED THISTLE, "BUT AT HOME OTHERS PLOT TO TAKE THE THRONE WHILE THE QUEEN IS AWAY. I AM ON MY WAY THERE TO WARN HER OF THIS BETRAYAL." "AND MY PRINCE DIED IN THAT CONFLICT, I HAVE BEEN SENT TO SPEAK FOR NEOLANDIA WHILE THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHO WILL ASCEND TO THE THRONE." ARLEY LOOKED AT THEM CONFUSED, "HOW DID THIS ALL HAPPEN?" "I AM SORRY," REPLIED BULSARA, "WERE YOU NOT LISTENING? DO I NEED TO REPEAT THE STORY? WELL, FIRST THE MOONSHADOW ELF ASSASSINS ATTACKED…" "NO," SIGHED ARLEY, "I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAPPENED, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW. AND WHICH ELF ACCOMPANIED THE PRINCES?" "I BELIEVE SHE WAS CALLED…" SAID THISTLE, PAUSING TO RECALL THE NAME, "RAYLA." "AND THE REST DID NOT SURVIVE?" SHE CONTINUED. "THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD." ANSWERED BULSARA. ARLEY REALIZED THIS MEANT RUNAN WAS GONE, AND ETHARI WOULD BE HEARTBROKEN, BUT SHE COULD NOT DWELL ON THIS, SHE CONTINUED HER LOGIC, "SO IF ALL THE ASSASSINS WERE DEAD AND RAYLA WITH THE PRINCES OF KATOLIS, WHO ATTACKED THE OTHER KINGDOMS." "SURELY THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE ASSASSINS." SAID BULSARA. ARLEY SHOOK HER HEAD, "THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE TRAINED. THAT WOULD TAKE YEARS, DECADES EVEN MAYBE. WHOEVER ATTACKED YOUR KINGDOMS, THEY WERE NOT MOONSHADOW ELVES." "YOU DON'T HAVE MORE ASSASSINS?" ASKED THE NEOLANDIAN BOY IN SURPRISE. "THE ASSASSINS ARE NOT TRAINED OR USED LIGHTLY. WE DO NOT TAKE LIFE UNLESS WE HAVE NO CHOICE. USUALLY ONLY ONE ASSASSIN TAKES ON A JOB BUT THE QUEEN OF THE DRAGONS PUT THE MARK ON THE KATOLIAN ROYALTY. SO THEY SENT EVERYONE TO INSURE SUCCESS. THERE ARE NO OTHER ASSASSINS LEFT." "SO THE FAMED MOONSHADOW ASSASSINS ARE NO MORE." SAID THISTLE. "VERY USEFUL TO KNOW." WRITING ONCE AGAIN. "UNLESS RAYLA TRAINS MORE," SAID ARLEY, "THEN YES." SHE FINALLY TOOK A BITE OF THE DISH SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN. IT WAS STICKY AND SPICY, BUT GOOD. SOMETHING LIKE SUNFIRE DISHES SHE HAD EATEN WITH VAKKE. "IF THERE ARE PEACE TALKS OF SOME KIND THEY WOULD BE AT THE STORM SPIRE, I WOULD THINK." SHE CONTINUED AFTER TRYING THE FOOD. "IT IS THE HOME OF ZUBEIA, QUEEN OF THE DRAGONS." "WHERE IS THIS STORM SPIRE?" ASKED BULSARA. ARLEY OPENED HER MOUTH TO ANSWER BUT WAS NUDGED BY ZEPHYR WHO GAVE HER A CONCERNED LOOK. "UM, IT IS WEST OF LUX AUREA, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE HEADED. WE CAN SHOW YOU THAT FAR, BUT THE REST OF THE JOURNEY WOULD BE UP TO YOU." AND SHE RETURNED A CONFUSED LOOK TO HER FRIEND. "EXCELLENT, WE SHALL ENJOY YOUR COMPANY AS WE TOUR YOUR LANDS ON THE WAY." REPLIED BULSARA, AS ZEPHYR STOOD UP AND WALKED OUT OF THE TENT. "IS THERE A PROBLEM?" ARLEY WINCED AND STOOD UP AS WELL, "I DON'T KNOW, LET ME SEE," AS SHE EXITED AS WELL. ARLEY CAUGHT UP TO THE SKYWING ELF WHO WAS FURIOUS WHEN SHE TURNED AROUND. "ZEPHYR, WHAT IS WRONG?" "YOU JUST TOLD THEM THE LOCATION OF LUX AUREA, AND TOLD THEM OF THE STORM SPIRE. THESE ARE STRANGERS IN OUR LAND, HUMAN STRANGERS. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? ARE YOU THINKING? ARLEY, CAN'T ALWAYS WALK INTO A SITUATION WITH YOUR HEART!" NOW ARLEY WAS UPSET. HER FRIEND WAS ALWAYS THE LEVEL HEADED ONE BUT ARLEY WAS NOT A FOOL, "SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED. YOU HEARD THEM, PEOPLE FROM MY VILLAGE ARE DEAD. PEOPLE I KNEW. WE WERE INVADED, THE PRINCE IS ALIVE, AND NOW THERE ARE TALKS OF PEACE. ZEPHYR WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. EVEN IF THEY ARE UP TO NO GOOD, WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THEM, NOT TO MENTION WE WILL BE MARCHING THEM INTO LUX AUREA, INTO THE SUNFIRE ARMY! AND IF THEY ARE A PROBLEM, THE QUEEN WILL DEAL WITH THEM!" ARLEY WAS NOW PANTING, REALIZING HOW LOUD THEY MUST HAVE GOTTEN. SHE LOWERED HER VOICE, "I DO NOT DO THIS LIGHTLY, ZEPHYR. I HAVE THOUGHT THIS THROUGH." "I'M SORRY, ARLEY." THE SKYWING ELF SAID SOFTLY AS SHE GAVE HER A BIG HUG, "YOU ARE SO CARING AND HELPFUL ALL THE TIME I FORGET HOW MUCH SMARTER YOU ARE THAN ME." THE ELVES ELECTED TO ACCOMPANY THE HUMANS THE NEXT MORNING AS THEY BROKE CAMP AND LOADED EVERYTHING ONTO THREE CARTS PULLED BY HORSES. THE BIG TENT WAS TAKEN DOWN AND LOADED UP ONTO EREPATO, WHO ARLEY TOOK IT UPON HERSELF TO CHECK OVER BEFORE. MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF BULSARA'S ELEPHANT KEEPER. BUT THE LARGE BEAST WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. ARLEY FOUND IT STRANGE THAT BULSARA AND THE OTHERS DID NOT SEEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO PACKING UP THEIR CAMP. THEY LET ALL THE OTHER HUMANS DO IT FOR THEM. SHE ASSUMED THIS WAS THE MEANING OF NOBILITY, LIKE CHILDREN, WHERE EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO DO THINGS FOR YOU. ZEPHYR CHOSE NOT TO RIDE ON THE BEAST, CIRCLING OVERHEAD TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT THEY WERE APPROACHING. EREPATO HAD A CIRCULAR BASKET THAT SAT ON HIS BACK WHERE EVERYONE COULD SIT, WITH THE TENT ROLLED UP BEHIND IT. BULSARA SAT IN FRONT OF THE BASKET CALLING OUT VERBAL COMMANDS TO THE ELEPHANT WHILE ARLEY RODE IN THE BASKET WITH THE THISTLE, NEIMAND AND SHERAZAD, APPARENTLY THE NAME OF THE OLD WOMAN WHO TURNED OUT TO BE EITHER A NURSEMAID, OR SOME FORM OF FAMILY, SHE WAS STILL NOT SURE. A WIFE OF HIS GRANDFATHER BUT NOT HIS GRANDMOTHER, ARLEY DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. "SO YOU ALL LIVE IN ONE ROOM? THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY KEEPS YOU ALL THERE, ALL THE TIME." ARLEY ASKED THE OLD WOMAN. THE WOMAN NODDED, BUT AGAIN MUMBLED SOME ÀNSWER SHE COULD NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND. THISTLE TRIED TO BE HELPFUL, "AS A LORD OF NEOLANDIA, HIS GRANDFATHER AND FATHER HAVE MANY WIVES, DEAR. I THINK EVEN A HUSBAND, IN HIS FATHER'S CASE, AND THEY ALL STAY IN THE SAME PLACE." "IT IS CALLED A HAREM. ALL OF THE WOMEN AND THE MALE CHILDREN UNDER A CERTAIN AGE ARE KEPT THERE FOR THEIR SAFETY." ANSWERED BUSARA, "GUARDED AND PROTECTED, WE ARE EVEN EDUCATED AND TRAINED WITHOUT EVER LEAVING THE HAREM. YOU SEE, I AM NOT JUST IN XADIA FOR THE FIRST TIME, I AM OUT IN THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME." ARLEY SUDDENLY REALIZED BULSARA REALLY WAS A CHILD IN NEED OF A SITTER, AND SHE JUST PUT HER AND ZEPHYR SQUARE IN THAT POSITION ESCORTING HIM THROUGH XADIA. THE CARAVAN TRUDGED ON BY DAY AND CAMPED JUST BEFORE SUNSET. ON THE ROAD THE PEOPLE WITH BULSARA PASSED OUT FRUIT OR LEFTOVERS OF THE DISH FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND AT NIGHT NEW FEASTS WERE COOKED. THE THREE WAGONS BEHIND THE ELEPHANT SEEMED TO JUST BE SUPPLIES FOR THE TRIP. TWICE DURING THE DAY ZEPHYR HAD TO STOP BULSARA'S PEOPLE FROM PICKING FRUITS AND PLANTS NOT FIT FOR CONSUMPTION, AND WARD OFF ANIMALS OF WHICH THEY HAD ATTRACTED THEIR ATTENTION THAT THE ELVES WISHED THEY HADN'T. BUT EVEN THROUGH THESE DISTRACTIONS. ARLY AND ZEPHYR WERE COMPLETING THEIR JOURNEY MUCH FASTER. THE ONLY STOP BEFORE THE MIDNIGHT DESERT WAS HOLLOW WOOD, A MOONSHADOW FARM AND TRADE HUB. THE VILLAGE WAS IN A STATE OF DISTRESS. THE FIELDS WERE INFESTED WITH SOME KIND OF PARASITIC WORM AND THEY WERE LOSING CROPS RAPIDLY. BULSARA OFFERED TO BUY SUPPLIES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE ELVES HAD NO USE FOR HIS MONEY, SO HE TRADED A BUNDLE OF SPEARS FOR THEM TO USE TO ROOT OUT THE WORMS. ARLEY VENTURED INTO THE FIELDS TO CAPTURE A SAMPLE WORM, PROMISING TO CONFER WITH VAKKE ON HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST THEM. ARLEY PLACED THE WORM IN A GLASS VIAL AND TURNED TO GWENYN, HOLLOW WOOD'S ELDER, "IF WE FIND A SOLUTION THAT WILL GET RID OF THE WORMS WE WILL SEND BACK WORD. I HOPE WE CAN HELP." "I ALSO HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING INTO SOLUTIONS, AND YOUR HUMAN FRIEND'S SPEARS ARE HELPING DESTROY AS MANY OF THESE PARASITES AS WE CAN FIND. IF YOU FIND SOMETHING, YES LET ME KNOW, BUT PLEASE DON'T WORRY, I HAVE MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE ON THIS MATTER." REPLIED GWENYN, AS SHE HUGGED HER AND TOUCHED HORNS TOGETHER. "YOU ARE ALWAYS A JOY TO SEE, MY GIRL." SHE REPEATED THE GESTURE WITH ZEPHYR, "YOU TOO, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE MORE SCOWL THAN SMILE." ZEPHYR TOOK TO THE AIR AS ARLEY MOUNTED EREPATO ONCE AGAIN, "YOUR PEOPLE ARE MOST WONDERFUL." SAID BULSARA, AS HE NUDGED THE ELEPHANT ONWARD. "WE DECIDED TO ALSO LEAVE THEM MANY BAGS OF FERTILIZER, TO HELP KEEP THE CROPS HEALTHY UNDER THIS ONSLAUGHT OF VILE WORMS." "YOU CARRY BAGS OF FERTILIZER WITH YOU ON TRIPS?" ASKED ARLEY, CONFUSED. "OH, NO," LAUGHED BULSARA, "WE DON'T HAVE TO CARRY IT. EREPATO MAKES SOME OF THE BEST FERTILIZER IN NEOLANDIA." "WAIT, EREPATO MAKES..." SHE BEGAN, NOT FOLLOWING, UNTIL THE CONVERSATION DAWNED ON HER. "YOU LEFT THEM BAGS OF…" THEY HAD NOT TRAVELED HALF A DAY WHEN THEY BEGAN TO PASS GROUPS OF SUNFIRE ELVES ON CARTS. THEY WOULD HAVE SEEMED LIKE STANDARD TRADERS HEADING FOR HOLLOW WOOD BUT THEY WERE HAGGARD, THEIR CLOTHES WERE IN TATTERS AND BURNT IN PLACES, AND THEIR EYES BLANK AND SULLEN. ARLEY GOT THE ATTENTION OF ZEPHYR, WHO FLEW TO ONE OF THE CARTS PASSING THEM BY. WHEN THEY RETURNED THEY WERE IN TEARS, "HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT A WAR." INDICATING BULSARA, "HALF OF THE CITY IS DESTROYED, THE QUEEN IS DEAD, THE SOUL FORGE HAS BEEN CORRUPTED BY DARK MAGIC AND IT HAS BEEN CORRUPTING THE PEOPLE OF LUX ARIA, INCLUDING A DRAGON NAMED ORTA. SHE IS ATTACKING PEOPLE AND DRIVING OFF REFUGEES. IT'S BAD, ARLEY." "VAKKE?" SHE GASPED IN REPLY, "IS SHE OK?" "UNKNOWN," ZEPHYR WRAPPED THEIR ARMS AROUND HER, "LAST THOSE PEOPLE KNEW, THE SUNFIRE ELVES HAD SET UP A REFUGEE CAMP AROUND HER CLINIC." THE NEXT TWO DAYS ARLEY WAS MOROSE AND WITHDRAWN, WORRYING ABOUT HER FRIEND, THE PLIGHT OF THE SUN ELVES AND WHAT THIS MEANT FOR ALL OF XAIDA. ZEPHYR HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT ARLEY ATE. SHE SPENT MOST OF THE TIME CURLED UP IN EREPATO'S BASKET OR CRYING INTO ZEPHYR'S LAP. "SHE IS SO SAD," BEGAN THISTLE, AFTER SHE HAD CRIED HERSELF TO SLEEP FOR THAT NIGHT, "BUT SHE IS NOT A SUNFIRE ELF." ZEPHYR EYED THEM COLDLY, AS THEY STROKED ARLEY'S WHITE HAIR, "SHE FEELS FOR OTHER LIVING THINGS MORE THAN ANYONE I HAVE EVER MET. SHE WOULD CRY FOR YOU AS WELL IF SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAD BEFALLEN YOU. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE JUST MET YOU." AFTER THE SECOND NIGHT THE CARAVAN WAS NEARING LUX ARIA, A DARK CIRCLE HOVERED OVER THE CITY. THE SUNFORGE, A POWERFUL SUN PRIMAL ARTIFACT AND SOURCE OF THE SUNFIRE ELVES POWER WAS DARKENED, LIKE A HOLE IN THE SKY ABOVE THE CITY. THE CITY ITSELF WAS CRUMBLING, TOWERS AND WALLS TOPPLED AND WAVES OF SOME DARK ENERGY PULSED OUT FROM THE FORGE. THE CARAVAN CAME TO A HALT WHEN, FROM ABOVE CAME A BLOOD CHILLING SCREECH. A SHADOW PASSED OVER THEM AS THE HUGE SILHOUETTE OF A DRAGON SOARED OVER TOP OF THE GROUP. "THIS IS HORRIBLE." WHISPERED ARLEY. THE CLINIC WAS ANOTHER HOUR AWAY, BUT JUST AS THEY WERE PREPARED TO MOVE AGAIN, A TWITTERING SOUND EMANATED FROM SOME NEARBY BRUSH. ZEPHYR SWOOPED DOWN TO FIND A BIRD, MADE OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE BRASS, SAT UPON A BRANCH OF THE SHRUBBERY AND PIPED OUT THE WHISTLING THAT HAD CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION. JUST AS ZEPHYR NEARED IT THE BUSHES ERUPTED, SPILLING FORTH A RUMPLED MAN BRANDISHING A SWORD, BRANCHES AND LEAVES STUCK OUT HAPHAZARDLY FROM HIS WHITE HAIR AND WHISKERS. "HAVE AT YOU BRIGANDS." HE CRIED. ZEPHYR ATTEMPTED TO BACK PETAL AND STRING AN ARROW, BUT THE MAN WAS QUICK WITH THE BLADE, KNOCKING THE ARROWS FROM THEIR GRASP JUST AS THEY PULLED THEM. "AH, NOT SO QUICK ARE YOU, WAT WAT." THE MAN SUDDENLY STOPPED AS IF HE HAD FINALLY, TRULY LOOKED AT HIS ADVERSARY, "WAT, BLESS ME, YOU'RE AN ELF." "DID THE WINGS AND HORNS NOT GIVE IT AWAY," SNAPPED ZEPHYR, GETTING AN ARROW KNOCKED AT LAST. THE STRANGE HUMAN DROPPED TO ONE KNEE, DRIVING THE POINT OF HIS SWORD INTO THE GRASS, "MY LADY FORGIVE ME. I WAS HOPING TO PROTECT THE PASS AGAINST REINFORCEMENTS OF THE ARMY THAT DESTROYED YOUR FAIR CITY AHEAD." ZEPHYR HAD THE ARROW POINTED RIGHT AT THE HUMAN'S HEAD, HE DIDN'T CHANGE HIS STANCE, DIDN'T MOVE TO DEFEND HIMSELF. THEY LOWERED THEIR BOW WITH A CONFUSED LOOK, "WHO… ARE YOU?" THE MAN STOOD, ADJUSTED HIS ARMOR AND GAVE A FLOURISHED BOW, "MY NAME IS EKKERS, MY LADY. MAN AT ARMS FOR TROOP TRAINING IN THE KINGDOM OF KATOLIS. MY WORD!" THE EARTH TREMBLED AT THE ARRIVAL OF EREPATO. EKKERS STOOD WIDE EYED AS BULSARA SLID DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GREAT BEAST, BRANDISHING A SPEAR THAT MORE RESEMBLED A SCIMITAR STUCK ON THE END OF A POLE. THE YOUNG NOBLE LEVELED THE SPEAR AT THE ELDERLY WARRIOR, "WHO ARE YOU TO ACCOST MY TRAVELING COMPANION?" EREPATO KNELT DOWN TO LET THE OTHERS OFF HIS BACK BEHIND THE NEOLANDIAN. "HIS NAME IS EKKERS, HE IS A KATOLIAN SOLDIER." REPLIED ZEPHYR, AN ARROW STILL POINTED AT THE MAN. "KATOLIS? ISN'T THAT THE KINGDOM WITH THE DARK WIZARD?" ASKED ARLEY, STEPPING UP TO ZEPHYR AND USING HER FINGERS TO LOWER THEIR BOW WITH ONE HAND AND BULSARA'S SPEAR WITH THE OTHER. THE MAN SEEMED TO BREAK AT THE MENTION OF DARK MAGIC. HIS SHOULDERS SLUMPED AND HIS FACE SAGGED, "HE WAS A MAD MAN. HE TURNED OUR MEN, BOYS SOME OF WHICH I HAD TRAINED, INTO MONSTERS. TO CLAIM TO WANT TO DEFEND HUMANITY, ONLY TO THROW THAT HUMANITY AWAY FOR POWER. THAT IS EVIL." HE LOOKED UP AT ARLEY, "EVIL ABSOLUTE. I COULD NO LONGER STAND WITH THEM. I LEFT WHILE THEY LINED UP TO BE MUTILATED. I VOWED TO DEFEND THE INNOCENTS OF THIS LAND FROM SUCH EVIL." ARLEY STEPPED UP TO THE MAN AND HUGGED HIM. "ARLEY…," BEGAN ZEPHYR, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY JUST PUT THEIR HAND OVER THEIR EYES AND SIGHED. "WE ARE HEADED TO LUX AURIA, I BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE BETTER OFF HELPING THOSE IN NEED THAN WAITING FOR ARMIES THAT NEVER COME." OFFERED THISTLE. "FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE WAR IS OVER, THE DARK MAGE HAS BEEN CAST DOWN AND TALKS OF PEACE BETWEEN XAIDA AND THE HUMAN KINGDOMS ARE UNDERWAY." "THAT'S BRILLIANT, WAT WAT." BRIGHTENED EKKERS, "WE SHOULD NOT TARRY AN INSTANT THEN." THE MAN REACHED INTO THE BUSHES AND SLUNG A PACK OVER HIS SHOULDER AND BEGAN TO MARCH IN THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" ASKED ZEPHYR, LOOKING DOWN AT ARLEY, "WE DID NOT NEED ANOTHER HUMAN TO BABYSIT." THE CLINIC WAS SURROUNDED BY A SEA OF REFUGEES. COTS AND WAGONS AND MAKE-SHIFT TENTS SWAMPED THE AREA AROUND THE SMALL STABLE-LIKE BUILDING. IN THE DISTANCE, BLACK CLOUDS SWIRLED AROUND A DARK HOLE IN THE SKY OVER THE RUINED CITY. THE BUILDINGS OF THE INNER CIRCLE LAY TOPPLED OR, IF STILL STANDING THEY STOOD WITH CHUNKS KNOCKED OUT OF THEM. EVERY SO OFTEN THE SWIRLS OF CLOUDS PULLED IN TOWARD THE DARKENED SUNFORGE AND EXPLODED OUTWARD WITH A LOW DRONING SOUND THAT RATTLED THE BONES OF THOSE IN EARSHOT. AND CIRCLING THE CITY WAS A FIRE DRAGON, ROARING EVERY FEW MINUTES OR STRAINING THE CITY. ARLEY TURNED TO HER SKYWING ELF FRIEND, "TAKE ME IN, PLEASE." ZEPHYR WRAPPED THEIR ARMS UNDER ARLEY'S FROM BEHIND AND WITH A BEAT OF THEIR WINGS TOOK THEM BOTH INTO THE AIR. THEY GLIDED OVER THE THRONGS OF THOSE SUFFERING TO THE CLINIC PROPER. BUT THE DRAGON HAD TAKEN NOTICE OF THEM AND BANKED HARD, RACING TOWARD THEM. THE DRAGON'S EYES WERE GLAZED OVER BLACK TRAILING THOSE CLOUDY WISPS THAT ENCIRCLED THE FORGE. SHE CLOSED IN ON THE AIRBORNE ELVES OPENING HER MAW OPEN WIDE. ZEPHYR FOLDED THEIR WINGS AND DROPPED THE TWO OF THEM STRAIGHT DOWN AS THE DRAGON THUNDERED PAST. JUST BEFORE THE GROUND THE SKYWING ELF OPENED THEIR WINGS BACK UP AND GLIDED THEM INTO THE OPEN DOORS OF THE CLINIC. THEY LANDED WITH A THUMP AS ZEPHYR STRUGGLED TO REGAIN THEIR BREATH. "THAT… WAS A LITTLE…. TOO CLOSE!" "I'M SORRY ZEPHYR, I GUESS FOR NOW FLYING IS NOT A GOOD IDEA." GASPED ARLEY SHAKILY AS SHE STOOD UP FROM THE TUMBLING LANDING. "DID YOU SEE HER EYES?" ASKED ZEPHYR, "WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HER EYES?" "DARK MAGIC." A THICK SUNFIRE ELF ACCENT REPLIED. IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM A MALE ELF WAS GATHERING INSTRUMENTS FROM THE TABLE VAKKE USED FOR SURGERY. "ORTA RETURNED FROM THE STORM SPIRE AND GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE SUNFORGE. SHE WAS INFECTED AND IT IS DRIVING HER MAD. SHE HAS ATTACKED PEOPLE FLEEING THE CITY, AND THE CITY ITSELF." "MAL, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE CITY?" ASKED ARLEY. "I HAVE A PATIENT TO ATTEND," SAID MAL WITH A SIGH, "BUT COME WITH ME AND I SHALL ENDEAVOR TO EXPLAIN." HE LED THEM OUT THE BACK TO THE STALLS, COVERED FROM ABOVE BUT OPEN TO THE AIR IN FRONT. "EVER SINCE THE DARK MAGE FROM KATOLIS CORRUPTED THE SUNFORGE, THE DARK ENERGIES HAVE SEEPED OUT FROM IT, MAKING THE PEOPLE OF LUX AUREA SICK. SO IN ADDITION TO INJURIES OF THE REFUGEES, THEY AND THE LOCAL ANIMALS ARE SUFFERING MALIGNANT EFFECTS OF DARK MAGIC." THEY STOPPED IN FRONT OF A STALL CONTAINING A TWIN-TAILED INFERNO-TOOTHED TIGER. "KLORS HERE IS SUFFERING BOTH." HE OPENED THE GATE, AS THE TWO ELVES STEPPED BACK. BUT KLORS JUST LAID THERE, BREATHING HEAVILY, TAILS LIMP AND WINGS FOLDED AT HIS SIDES. MAL KNELT DOWN AND PICKED UP A MASSIVE PAW. "KLORS IS QUITE SAFE, HE IS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL GUARD. HIS PARTNER BROUGHT HIM HERE FOR TREATMENT BEFORE RETURNING TO RESCUE EFFORTS IN THE CITY. VAKKE IS BUSY HELPING TEND TO THE PEOPLE, AND SINCE I AM LESS SKILLED AT WORKING ON PEOPLE, I AM CONTINUING TO HELP THE ANIMALS." MAL GRASPED SOMETHING IN THE GREAT CAT'S PAW WITH A PAIR OF FORCEPS AND PULLED. THE STRANGE SLIVER GLOWED WITH A GOLDEN LIGHT. IT WAS A LITTLE LONGER THAN AN INCH AND ONCE REMOVED IT VIBRATED IN THE TOOL'S GRASP LETTING OUT A SHARP, HIGH PITCHED CHIME. IN THE DISTANCE ORTA ROARED, AND MAL QUICKLY TOSSED THE SLIVER AWAY FROM THE INFECTED TIGER. ONCE AWAY ITS TONE AND VIBRATION CEASED. ARLEY PUCKED UP THE SHINING OBJECT, "IS… IS THIS A PIECE OF THE SUNFORGE?" "IT MAY BE." ZEPHYR COMMENTED, LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER, "SO THE FORGE IS NOT JUST CORRUPTED, IT IS BROKEN. "AND WHEN IT MAKES THAT NOISE IT ATTRACTS THE ATTENTION OF THE DRAGON." "THAT SOUND, IS IT REACTING TO THE DARK MAGIC IN KLORS." ARLEY THEORIZED. "ARLEY?" CRIED ANOTHER SUNFIRE ACCENTED VOICE, A FEMALE ONE THIS TIME. "VAKKE!" CRIED ARLEY, AS SHE RAN UP TO HUG HER FRIEND. "IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY FRIEND." WHISPERED THE SUNFIRE ELF. "ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES." SHE LOOKED UP AT THE SKYWING ELF. "AND I AM GLAD SHE STILL HAS YOU TO PROTECT HER." "I AM HERE TO HELP, THERE MUST BE MANY INJURED." OFFERED ARLEY. "BUT HOW DO WE TREAT THIS DARK MAGIC?" "FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK." VAKKE NOW SMILED, "HAVE YOU BROUGHT THE FLOWERS?" ARLEY OPENED HER BAG TO REVEAL THE SLEEPING PRINCESS FLOWERS. "IT SEEMS MY ELIXIR NOT ONLY HELPS MY CONDITION, BUT TREATS THE DARK MAGIC." VAKKE SHOOK HER HEAD, "BUT I AM NOW ALL OUT AND THIS IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH." A COMMOTION RANG UP OUTSIDE, THOSE CAPABLE OF STANDING WERE RISING TO BETTER VIEW THE APPROACH OF THE TITANIC GRAY BEAST. EREPATO TRUMPETED AS HE KNELT DOWN ALLOWING BULSARA TO SLIDE RAKISHLY DOWN HIS TRUNK. THE NOBLE LANDED WITH A FLOURISH, SHAKING HANDS WITH THE GATHERED ELVES AS HE MADE HIS LONG WINDED INTRODUCTION, "GREETINGS, I AM BULSARA EFENDI OF NEOLANDIA, NEPHEW OF THE FORMER KING, AND BROKER OF PEACE TO THE ENCHANTED LAND OF XADIA." THE ELVES IN THE STABLES SLOWLY WANDERED TO MEET HIM HALFWAY. ARLEY TOOK A THICK CLOTH FROM HER POUCH AND WRAPPED THE SHARD TIGHTLY. BULSARA'S EYES GREW WIDE WHEN HE SAW THEM, PARTICULARLY VAKKE, "ANOTHER LOVELY ELF LADY." HE SAID, TAKING VAKKE'S HAND AND KISSING IT. "OH… I'M NOT… I REALLY DON'T… " STAMMERED VAKKE, AS SHE BEGAN TO HEAT UP QUICKLY. BULSARA WAS FORCED TO LET GO OF HER HAND AS SMALL MOTES OF BLACK FLAME POPPED OUT OF HER BODY AND BEGAN TO ORBIT AROUND HER PERSON. "OH DEAR. I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE NO MORE ELIXIR LEFT TO TREAT THIS." SHE WHISPERED FRANTICALLY AT ARLEY. "YOU'RE LUCKY I DO." ANSWERED THE MOONSHADOW ELF, PRODUCING A SMALL VIAL FROM HER POUCH. SHE TOSSED IT PAST THE CIRCLING FLAMES TO THE SUN ELF. VAKKE PULLED THE CORK OUT AND QUICKLY DOWNED THE CONTENTS OF THE VIAL. THE SMALL BALLS OF FLAME FADED AND POPPED OUT OF EXISTENCE. "THAT WAS EXTRAORDINARY," COMMENTED THISTLE, WRITING ONCE MORE IN THEIR BOOK WHILE APPROACHING BULSARA WITH EKKERS AND NEIMAND IN TOW. "IS THIS A NORMAL OCCURANCE FOR ELVES?" "NOT QUITE," ANSWERED ARLEY. "SOME SUNFIRE ELVES CAN HEAT UP FROM THEIR CORE WHEN ANGRY, IT INCREASES THEIR STRENGTH AND FEROCITY. BUT VAKKE HAS A CONDITION THAT MANIFESTS AS YOU JUST SAW WHEN SHE IS STRESSED. BUT WE DEVELOPED THAT ELIXIR TO CONTROL IT." "BUT NOW IT MAY BE OUR SALVATION FROM THIS PLAGUE OF DARK MAGIC." VAKKE SAID MEEKLY, TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND ARLEY. THE TWO ELVES HAD ALWAYS BEEN BIRDS OF A FEATHER. BUT WHILE ARLEY COULD INTERACT WITH PATIENTS AS HER INSECURITIES WERE OVERSHADOWED BY HER CONCERN FOR THE SUFFERING, VAKKE CHOSE THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, FOR THOSE PATIENTS HAD NO NEED FOR CONVERSATION. "MY ELIXIR SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO TREAT THOSE AFFLICTED BY THIS BLACK MALEVOLENCE." SHE SIGHED, "THE PROBLEM IS THE FORGE. IT CONTINUES TO SPREAD ITS INFLUENCE AND ITS REACH GROWS EVERY DAY." "NOT FOR MUCH LONGER." THE RASPING VOICE OF NEIMAND STUNNED EVERYONE PRESENT TO SILENCE. IT HAD BEEN STARING, TRANSFIXED AT THE CORRUPTED SUNFORGE, AS IF PLUMBING ITS DEPTHS SOLELY WITH ITS EYES. "SUN PRIMAL MAGIC AND DARK MAGIC ARE EACH OTHER'S ANTITHESIS. THE PULSES AND WITHDRAWALS ARE REACHING CRITICAL MASS, AND THE TWO ENERGIES WILL SOON ANNIHILATE EACH OTHER. I CANNOT BE SURE HOW MUCH THE DETONATION WILL WIPE OUT. IT COULD BE AS LITTLE AS THE CITY OR AS FAR REACHING AS THE WHOLE CONTINENT OF XADIA." THE BANDAGE WRAPPED YOUTH TURNED TO THEM WITH ITS MIRROR-LIKE BLACK EYES. IT WAS NOT READY TO HAVE SO MUCH ATTENTION FOCUSED IN ITSELF AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOWLY BACK AWAY. "NO YOU DON'T," SAID ZEPHYR AS THEY GRABBED HOLD OF THE RAG CHILD. "IF YOU KNOW ALL THIS, HOW DO WE STOP IT?" "WOULD THE ELIXIR HELP?" OFFERED THISTLE, GARNERING GLANCES FROM THE ASSEMBLED PEOPLE. "I MEAN, COULD WE JUST POUR IT OVER THE FORGE?" "I'M… NOT SURE," BEGAN VAKKE, NERVOUSLY. "I… HAVE BEEN TREATING… WELL LIVING THINGS. I DON'T… I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL REACT." ALL EYES, SEEMINGLY IN UNISON, TURNED TO NEIMAND. "WELL?" SPOKE ZEPHYR AT LAST. TURNING ITS HEAD TO NOT ENGAGE ANYONE'S EYES, NEIMAND CROAKED, "IT IS PLAUSIBLE. BUT EVEN IF THE ELIXIR NULLIFIES THE DARK MAGIC, THE SUN MAGIC REMAINS UNSTABLE." "STILL, A SMALL BOOM IS BETTER THAN A BIG BOOM." REPLIED ZEPHYR, "I THINK IT'S WORTH THE ATTEMPT." "SO YOU ARE SAYING WE NEED TO GET INTO THE CITY." SAID ARLEY. "FIRST," SAID VAKKE, TAKING THE FLOWERS FROM ARLEY. "WE NEED AS MUCH ELIXIR AS WE CAN GET." "I'LL HELP," HASTILY RUNNING AFTER VAKKE. "MY LADY," SAID EKKERS WITH A BOW TO ZEPHYR, "I OFFER YOU MY SWORD ON THIS QUEST. I AM AT YOUR SERVICE." "OK, BUT…" ZEPHYR BEGAN. "I TOO WILL ACCOMPANY YOU," ADDED BULSARA, DRIVING THE END OF HIS SPEAR INTO THE GROUND IN SOME FORM OF NEOLANDIAN SALUTE. "I'M COMING TOO," SAID THISTLE, BEFORE ZEPHYR COULD OBJECT. "I WISH TO SEE WHAT IS LEFT OF THIS MARVELOUS CITY WHILE IT STILL STANDS. NEIMAND RAISED ITS EYEBROWS AND TURNED QUICKLY TO WALK AWAY. ZEPHYR SNATCHED HOLD OF AN ARM, "OH NO, YOU I ACTUALLY WANT ALONG. IN CASE I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS." "BUT," NEIMAND CROAKED. "YOU ARE APPARENTLY THE DARK MAGIC EXPERT AND I MAY NEED ANSWERS OUT THERE." ARLEY AND VAKKE HAD THE ELIXIR MIXED AND WERE BREWING THE DARK PURPLE LIQUID IN A KETTLE. IT WAS NOT A LOT, SHE ONLY BROUGHT ENOUGH FOR JUST OVER WHAT VAKKE USUALLY USES IN A MONTH, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ENOUGH. "YOUR FRIEND," VAKKE BEGAN AS SHE STIRRED THE SIMMERING POT, "THE NEOLANDIAN. HE IS VERY CUTE." "IF YOU THINK SO," ARLEY REPLIED AS SHE TESTED THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ELIXIR. "AND QUITE CHARMING." HER FRIEND CONTINUED WITH A STRANGE SMILE. "HE IS A CHILD WHO HAS SPENT HIS LIFE IN THE SAME ROOM, AND IS NOW IN A WORLD WITH NO CONCEPT OF THE DANGERS IN IT." SHE ANSWERED SHARPLY, WITH NO IDEA WHERE HER ANGER WAS COMING FROM. I MEAN," VAKKE STARTED HESITANTLY, "HE SAID I WAS LOVELY." A BLUSH HAD RISEN ON HER CHEEKS. ARLEY ROLLED HER EYES, "HE SAID AS MUCH OF ME AND ZEPHYR. I DON'T THINK HE HAS SEEN A GIRL IN HIS LIFE BEFORE THAT WASN'T KIN IN SOME WAY." SHE COULD SEE THE EXPRESSION OF HER FRIEND FALL. BEFORE THE SUNFIRE ELF COULD WITHDRAW INTO HIMSELF COMPLETELY SHE ADDED, "BUT IF YOU LIKE HIM YOU NEED TO TALK TO HIM. LET HIM KNOW YOU FANCY HIM. DON'T JUST GUSH AND HOPE." ARLEY FEARED WHAT SHE HAD SET IN MOTION. THE GROUP HAD GATHERED AT THE ROAD LEADING INTO THE CITY WHEN ARLEY AND VAKKE ARRIVED WITH THE DECANTER CONTAINING THE ELIXIR. ARLEY LOOKED ABOUT AT THE ASSEMBLED CREW, "YOU ARE ALL GOING?" "YES," ANSWERED BULSARA, "THIS TASK IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. WE WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT HELP." "YES, WE ARE COMING TOO." PIPED UP VAKKE, A LITTLE TOO EXCITED. SHE WAS LOOKING AT BULSARA THE WHOLE TIME. ARLEY CLOSED HER EYES AND TOOK A DEEP BREATH. SHE STEPPED PAST THE ASSEMBLED TEAM AND STARTED DOWN THE ROAD, "THEN WE BEST BE UNDER WAY." EKKERS AND BULSARA QUICKLY MANEUVERED IN FRONT TO TAKE UP PROTECTIVE POSTURE. AS IF THEIR HONOR AS MEN WAS IN QUESTION OTHERWISE. ZEPHYR SOON FELL INTO STEP BESIDE THE MOONSHADOW ELF. "YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO COME," THEY SAID QUIETLY, "I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO." ARLEY SMILED AT HER LONG FRIEND, "SOMEONE HAS TO PUT YOU FOOLS BACK TOGETHER WHEN YOU INEVITABLY GET HURT." THE TWO GIGGLED AND NUDGED EACH OTHER AS THEY WALKED. THE TRIP INTO THE CITY WAS HARROWING. BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED BUT THE DAMAGE ON THE PEOPLE WAS JUST AS OBVIOUS TO ARLEY. THE REMAINING CITIZENRY OF LUX AUREA EITHER HUDDLED TOGETHER IN CORNERS AND BACK ALLEYWAYS OR BUSY SHAMBLING TOWARD THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY THROUGH THE LABYRINTH OF COLLAPSED STRUCTURES AND BLOCKED STREETS. VOICES MOANED AND SUNFIRE SOLDIERS DUG THROUGH RUBBLE TO REACH THEM. THE SWIRLING DARKNESS BLOCKED OUT THE REAL SUN, AND IN THE PURPLE LIGHT OF THE CORRUPTED FORGE EVERYTHING WAS PAINTED IN SHADES OF GRAY. SEVERAL TIMES ARLEY WAS DRAWN AWAY FROM THE GROUP BY THE RELENTLESS PULL OF THE SUFFERING ONLY TO BE DRAGGED BACK BY ZEPHYR REMINDING HER THEY WERE ON A MISSION. "IF WE DON'T PURIFY THAT FORGE, EVERYONE DIES. EVERYONE!" EVENTUALLY THEY REACHED THE INNER WALL OF THE CITY. IT WAS BROKEN AND CRACKED BUT STANDING THROUGH EITHER SHEER DETERMINATION OR STUBBORNNESS. OVERHEAD THE ROARS OF ORTA SHOOK THE WALLS AS SHE CIRCLED THE INNER-CITY, RAINING FIRE DOWN RANDOMLY AS SHE PASSED. "YOU DIDN'T SAY WE'D HAVE TO GET PAST THE DRAGON" GASPED THISTLE. "WE WILL BE FRIED TO A CRISP BEFORE WE REACH THE TOWER." "MAYBE IT WOULD BE WISER TO CURE THE DRAGON FIRST." OFFERED EKKERS. "THEN WE COULD GET HER HELP WITH THE FORGE." "WHAT?" CRIED VAKKE, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! WE NEED ALL WE CAN SPARE FOR THE FORGE!" "AND HOW DO YOU SUPPOSE WE GET IT THERE THROUGH THE DRAGON?" COUNTERED EKKERS. "WILL YOU ALL BE QUIET," HISSED ZEPHYR, "LEST YOU DRAW THE DRAGON YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT STRAIGHT TO US." "WE DON'T KNOW IF THE ELIXIR WILL WORK ON THE FORGE," ARLEY WHISPERED MEEKLY, "MUCH LESS HOW MUCH IT WILL REQUIRE IF IT DOES. I'M AFRAID WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WASTE ANY. BUT WHICH IS THE WASTE?" "I THINK IT'S BETTER TO CURE THE DRAGON," BULSARA OFFERED, "THEN MAYBE SHE COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FORGE." "IT IS FUTILE TO CURE THE DRAGON BEFORE THE FORGE," THE GRAVELLY VOICE OF NEIMAND BROKE IN, "SHE WOULD JUST ATTACK THE FORGE AND GET CORRUPTED AGAIN. AND IT WOULD WASTE TIME WHILE WE TRY TO GET THE ELIXIR TO HER. WE MUST FOCUS ON THE FORGE BEFORE IT DESTROYS EVERYTHING." THEY ALL STARED AT THE BANDAGED YOUTH, THE LOGIC IT PRESENTED SEEMED IN ARGUABLE. "WELL WE NEED A WAY IN, PAST THE WALL," THE QUIET VOICE OF ARLEY BROKE THE STUNNED SILENCE. "THE WEST GATE IS JUST OVER HERE " ONCE AGAIN THE REST WERE FORCED TO CATCH UP WITH THE MOONSHADOW ELF MOVING AS SHE WAS WALKING AWAY ALONG THE WALL. THEY ALL CAUGHT UP AS QUIETLY AS THEY COULD, TRYING TO AVOID THE NOTICE OF THE MAD DRAGON. "THERE YOU GO," WHISPERED ZEPHYR, "WAY TO BE ASSERTIVE." "SHUT UP," SHE REPLIED SOFTLY, BUT ZEPHYR COULDN'T HELP NOTICE THE SMILE SHE WORE. WHEN THEY APPROACHED THE GATE THREE LARGE PEOPLE WERE EITHER SLAMMING THEIR FISTS AGAINST BENT AND WARPED GATES OR PRYING AT ITS SEAMS TRYING TO GET IN. SUDDENLY THE AREA WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AS ORTA STRAFED THE GROUND AT THE GATES. THE FLAMES QUICKLY DIED DOWN, SEEMINGLY SUCKED INTO THE OVERLY LARGE MEN. THEIR BODIES CRACKED AND GLOWED WITH FIRE LIKE THE ANGRY SUNFIRE ELVES AND THEY ROARED INHUMAN SCREAMS OF RAGE AS THEY CONTINUED TO TEAR AT THE GATE. "WHAT KIND OF CREATURES ARE THOSE?" ASKED THISTLE. "MEN, CORRUPTED AND TWISTED BY THAT BLACK WIZARD INTO MONSTERS." SAID EKKERS SOLEMNLY. "THAT IS WHAT THAT EVIL MAN DID TO MY MEN. MADENED AND FEEDING ON THE FIRE FOR STRENGTH, HE OBVIOUSLY LEFT THESE BEHIND TO DESTROY WHAT REMAINED OF THE CITY." A PIECE OF DEBRIS SUDDENLY TOPPLED OVER THE WALL, CRASHING TO THE GROUND NEXT TO THE MONSTER MEN. DARTING AMONG THE RAMPARTS ABOVE A SUNFIRE SOLDIER COULD BE SEEN READYING ANOTHER PIECE OF RUBBLE. "THEY NEED HELP," SAID ZEPHYR. "AND IF WE CAN HALT THE ATTACK ON THE GATE MAYBE WE CAN GET THROUGH." "THEN LET US PUT THESE BEAST MEN TO REST," REPLIED BULSARA, PULLING HIS SPEAR OUT AND CHARGING TOWARDS THE GATE. ZEPHYR LOOKED TO ARLEY, "THERE HAS TO BE A WAY IN THAT GATE. THE REST OF YOU NEED TO SNEAK DOWN THERE WHILE WE KEEP THEM BUSY AND FIND A WAY IN." ZEPHYR FLICKED THEIR WINGS BEFORE THE MOONSHADOW ELF COULD REPLY AND GLIDED ACROSS THE GROUND TOWARDS THE OTHERS. EKKERS RAN AFTER THE SKYWING ELF, SWORD DRAWN. ARLEY LOOKED AWKWARDLY BACK AT VAKKE, THISTLE AND NEIMAND, "I GUESS WE NEED TO FIND A WAY… PAST THAT WALL?" SHE SAID MEEKLY. THE MUSCLES OF THE MAGIC CURSED MEN WERE SWOLLEN, THEIR SKIN DARKENED AND LACED WITH GLOWING LINES THAT LOOKED LIKE MOLTEN METAL. THEY POUNDED WITH FISTS AGAINST THE GATE. ONE LIFTED A SLAB OF STONE THAT HAD TO WEIGH MORE THAN ZEPHYR, AND POUNDED IT AGAINST THE METAL. THE ELF KNOCKED AN ARROW AS THEY TOUCHED FEET TO THE GROUND AND RELEASED. THE MAN RECOILED AS THE HEAD STRUCK SPARKS OFF THE STONE NEXT TO HIS HAND. THE ROCK THUDDED TO THE GROUND PROMPTING A SCREAM FROM HIM AS ONE OF HIS FEET WAS BETWEEN IT AND THE DIRT. BUSARA CAUGHT BACK UP WITH THE SKY ARCHER AND SWUNG HIS SPEAR AROUND, SLICING ACROSS THE FOREARMS OF ONE OF THE BEASTMEN. A SPIN AND A FLOURISH BROUGHT THE SPEARHEAD BACK BETWEEN THE MONSTERS AND THE NEOLANDIAN. THE MAN HE HAD CUT REACHED DOWN AND PICKED UP A PIECE OF HEAVY BEAM. THE CREATURE DIDN'T EVEN BLEED AS HE RIPPED THE CHUCK OF WOOD UP OUT OF THE CRUMPLED BUILDING. THE BRUTE STUMBLED UP TO BULSARA AND SWUNG THE TIMBER AT HIM. THE NEOLANDIAN NOBLE DROVE THE SPEAR POINT INTO THE GROUND AS THE CLUB MADE CONTACT WITH THE HAFT INSTEAD OF HIM. THE IMPACT DROVE THE WEAPON OUT OF THE GROUND AS BULSARA SPUN THE SPEAR AROUND HIS BACK WITH THE ENERGY OF THE ATTACK AND RAKED THE BLADE ONCE MORE ACROSS THE DEFORMED SOLDIER'S CHEST. THE MAN STUMBLED BACK FROM THE ATTACK BUT SEEMED MORE ENRAGED THAN INJURED FROM THE ATTACK. EKKERS FACED DOWN ANOTHER WARPED WARRIOR, SLICING AT THE GRASPING HANDS THAT SEEKED TO TEAR HIM APART. THE OLDER SOLDIER'S BLADE WHIRRED STROKE AFTER STROKE BUT EVEN WHEN FINGERS FLEW AWAY UNDER HIS ASSAULT THE MONSTER MAN CONTINUED FORWARD, FORCING EKKERS BACK. BULSARA SPUN AND FLIPPED BUT HIS OPPONENT CARED LITTLE FOR PROTECTING HIMSELF FROM THE SPEAR BLADE, INSTEAD ALLOWING THE STEEL TO BITE HIM SO HE COULD STEP IN AND SWING THE CLUB AT THE NEOLANDIAN. A SOLID BLOW FROM THE CORRUPTED HUMAN KNOCKED THE WEAPON FROM BULSARA'S HANDS AND SENT HIM FLYING. THE LARGE MONSTER MAN RAISED HIS CHUNK OF TIMBER OVER HIS HEAD TO SMASH THE NOBLEMAN AS THE DARK SOLDIER WITH THE ROCK PREPARED TO HURL IT AT THE BACKPEDALING EKKERS. ZEPHYR PULLED BACK AN ARROW AND WHISPERED "ASPERO" AS RUNES DOWN THE SHAFT LIT UP. THE SKYWING ELF RELEASED THE STRING AND BLEW AIR OUT FROM BETWEEN THEIR LIPS AS THE ARROW TOOK FLIGHT. THE WIND SWIRLED ABOUT THE BOLT SEEMING TO GUIDE ITS PATH AS IT FLEW TOWARD ONE OF THE MONSTER MEN. THE SHOT STRUCK THE ROCK WHERE HE HELD IT, SENDING A SHOWER OF SPARKS OFF THE STONE AND SENDING A THUMB FLYING. THE ROCK ROLLED BACK BEHIND THE MAN BEFORE HE COULD SEND IT FLYING AND THE ARROW CONTINUED ON ITS WAY, MAKING A SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TURN TO ROCKET AT THE CLUB WIELDING BEASTMAN. THE ARROW SHEARED THE END OF THE CLUB OFF NEAR THE DARK SOLDIER'S HAND AND TURNED IN THE SEMI SENTIENT BREEZE ONCE MORE TO BURY ITSELF IN THE CHEST OF THE ONE PUSHING EKKERS BACK. THE MAN SIGHED HEAVILY AS THE GLOWING CRAGS IN ITS SKIN FADED AND WENT COLD. THE SOLDIER COLLAPSED TO HIS KNEES, FELL ON ITS FACE AND WAS STILL. ARLEY AND COMPANY HAD ARRIVED AT THE WALL AND SKIRTED THE SURFACE IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE NOTICE OF THE CORRUPTED SOLDIERS. AS THEY REACHED THE GATE ITSELF THEY COULD SEE IT HAD DEVOLVED INTO A MASS OF HASTILY SLAPPED UP SECTIONS AND PARTS MELTED TOGETHER IN AN ONSLAUGHT OF DRAGONFIRE. IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THE GATE WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO OPEN AGAIN. "THERE HAS TO BE A WAY IN." WHISPERED ARLEY IN DISAPPOINTMENT. THISTLE BECAME AWARE THAT THE WALL ITSELF WAS LOOKING AT THEM. THROUGH A HOLE IN THE WALL ITSELF AN EYE WAS PEERING AT THEM. "WHO ARE YOU?" CAME THE THICK SUNFIRE ELF ACCENT BEHIND THE WALL. "WE ARE HERE TO FIX THE SUNFORGE." THISTLE SAID IN SMOOTH CALMING TONES. "WE NEED A WAY THROUGH THE GATES." "THE GATES HAVE TAKEN A BEATING FROM THE DRAGON. WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING THE ATTENTION OF THE HUMAN MONSTER MEN WHILE DIRECTING REFUGEES TO THE NORTH GATE." "DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO GO AROUND TO THE NORTH GATE?" ASKED THISTLE. "THERE IS NO TIME." CROAKED NEIMAND. "THE FORGE IS REACHING CRITICAL MASS." THE BANDAGED YOUTH LOOKED TO ARLEY, "BUT PERHAPS I CAN MELT A SMALL HOLE THROUGH THE WALL USING THAT BROKEN OFF PIECE OF THE FORGE. YOU STILL HAVE IT?" ARLEY WAS TAKEN ABACK. SHE DIDN'T THINK ANYONE BUT ZEPHYR AND MAL KNEW OF THE SHARD. "YES," SHE SAID HESITANTLY AND DREW OUT THE BUNDLE SHE HAD WRAPPED THE SHARD IN. THE MOON ELF UNWRAPPED IT SLOWLY AND HELD IT OUT. IT IMMEDIATELY LET OUT A PIERCING RING WHEN IT WAS A FEW FEET FROM NEIMAND. FORCING ARLEY TO RE-SWATH IT AND HOLD IT TO HER TO MUFFLE THE SOUND. THE ROAR SHATTERED THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE. ORTA WAS BEARING DOWN ON THE COMBAT. THE SOUND OF THE SHARD ONCE MORE SENT PAIN RADIATING THROUGH HER SKULL AND SHE SOUGHT TO DESTROY IT. AND THOUGH THE SOUND WAS SHORT LIVED THE SMELL OF DEATH ON THE DARK MAGIC TAINTED MEN BELOW STOKED HER RAGE. ORTA INHALED AND PULLED IN HER WINGS AS SHE DOVE. A SCANT FEW DOZEN FEET FROM THE GROUND SHE OPENED HER WINGS AGAIN AND SPEWED FIERY HOT DEATH ACROSS THE GROUND AS THE DRAGON SAILED BY. "ZEPHYR!" ARLEY SCREAMED AND SHE YANKED THE OTHERS AGAINST THE WALL AS THE TORRENT OF FIRE TURNED THE BATTLEFIELD INTO A SEA OF FLAME. ACROSS THE WALL OF THE BLAZE SHE SAW ZEPHYR STAND. THEY HAD LEPT TO SAFETY AHEAD OF THE DRAGON'S ATTACK. THEN SHE SAW EKKERS PULLING THE NEOLANDIAN PRINCE TO HIS FEET. HE HAD PULLED BULSARA OUT OF THE PATH OF THE DRAGON'S STRAFING RUN. INSIDE THE FLAMES TWO FIGURES STOOD, GROWLING AND HOWLING AS THE FLAMES THEMSELVES DREW INTO THEIR BODIES. MUSCLES SWELLED AND WOUNDS HEALED AS THEY TURNED THEIR ATTENTION BACK AT THE ELF AND THE TWO HUMANS THAT HAD OPPOSED THEM AND STRODE TOWARD THEM. ABOVE THE INFERNO ORTA WAS BANKING FOR ANOTHER PASS. ZEPHYR FLUTTERED ACROSS THE FIRE TO ARLEY. "WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO ARGUE THIS." SHE SAID AS SHE TORE A PIECE OF BANDAGE FROM NIEMOND'S ARM AND TURNED TO PULL THE SHARD FROM ARLEY'S GRIP. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?" ASKED THE MOON ELF AS THEY TIED THE RAG AROUND THE CRYSTAL, INCITING ITS EAR SPLITTING TONE ONCE MORE. THEY TIED IT AROUND THEIR NECK SAYING, "IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT DRAGON WILL ROAST US ALL." AT THAT THE SKYWING ELF SPREAD THEIR WINGS AND SHOT INTO THE SKY. "ZEPHYR. ZEPHYR NO!" CRIED ARLEY AS HER FRIEND SHOT STRAIGHT AT THE DRAGON BEFORE BANKING SHARPLY ALONG THE WALL, FOLLOWING ITS BEND. ORTA WAS FORCED TO TURN HARD AND LOSE MUCH OF HER SPEED TO FOLLOW THE WINGED ELF. ZEPHYR KNEW THE DRAGON WAS STRONGER AND SHE WOULD BE FASTER, SO THE ELF WOVE BETWEEN STILL STANDING BUILDINGS AS THEY SKIRTED THE WALL TO SLOW THE DRAGON DOWN. THE BEAST MEN STUMBLED OUT OF THE DWINDLING FIRE, WHAT WASN'T BEING ABSORBED BY THE MEN WAS SUFFOCATING IN THE BARE DIRT. THE TWO MEN READIED THEIR WEAPONS FOR THE RENEWED ASSAULT. "YOUR FORM IS GOOD MY BOY," EKKERS TOSSED AS A SIDE NOTE, "BUT YOU NEED TO BE MORE ADAPTABLE. NO ENEMY IS GOING TO ATTACK THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME. WOT WOT" "I WAS TRAINED BY THE BEST WARRIORS…" BULSARA BEGAN. "TRAINING IN KATAS, BASIC FORM. SO FAR I HAVE ONLY SEEN…" EKKERS GRUNTED AS THE MAN GRABBED HIS BLADE AND THE OLD SOLDIER WAS FORCED TO KICK HARD ON THE DARK WARRIOR'S STOMACH TO FORCE HIM BACK. "...WHAT WE CALL PARADE FORM. SHOWY MOVES TO PLEASE CROWDS AT PARADES. BUT YOU NEED TO LEARN TO…" THE SECOND DARK SOLDIER SIDE STEPPED THE YOUNG NEOLANDIAN'S SPEAR THRUST AND WAS INCHES FROM HIS THROAT WHEN EKKERS REACHED OVER AND SMACKED ITS HAND UP WITH A SWORD STROKE. "...ACTUALLY FIGHT AN OPPONENT." THE OPPONENT OF THE ELDERLY SOLDIER FOUND HIMSELF FACE DOWN IN THE CHARRED DIRT WHEN HIS ENEMY WAS SUDDENLY ABSENT. EKKERS SPUN BEHIND BULSARA AND SHOVED HIS BLADE UNDER THE ARM OF THE DARK WARRIOR AND INTO HIS CHEST. ONCE MORE THE LIGHTS OF THE MAGICAL RENTS THAT COVERED THEIR BODIES FADED AND THE MAN COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. "IN A TRUE FIGHT," EKKERS SAID IN A SOLEMN TONE, "YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR THE REAL POSSIBILITY THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO END THE LIFE OF ANOTHER." BULSAR COULD SEE THE WEIGHT OF MANY OF THESE KIND OF FIGHTS IN THE SORROWFUL LOOK OF THE OLD SOLDIER'S EYES. HIS SMILE RETURNED AS THE LAST OF THE CORRUPTED MEN GOT BACK TO HIS FEET. "NOW, READY THAT SPEAR AND FOLLOW MY LEAD. WOT WOT!" "NOW, WITHOUT THE SHARD HOW DO WE GET THROUGH THE WALL?" ASKED THE GRAVELLY VOICE OF NEIMAND. "I DON'T KNOW." ADMITTED ARLEY, TEARY EYED. I'M SORRY, MY FRIEND IS LEADING AWAY A DRAGON THAT I AM SURE IS GOING TO CATCH AND EAT HER, WITH IT RIGHT NOW. SO I AM A LITTLE PREOCCUPIED!" AS THE WARPED YOUTH WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE USUALLY TIMID ELF'S BOLD RESPONSE A RED HOT BLADE PIERCED THE WALL FROM THE OTHER SIDE AND BEGAN TO MAKE A SLOW CIRCLE IN THE METAL PLATES. SOON A HOLE LITTLE MORE THAN A COUPLE FEET WIDE WAS FORMED WHEN A SIMILARLY SIZED DISC FELL TO THE GROUND. A SUNFIRE ELF GIRL IN SOLDIER'S ARMOR STARED OUT AT THEM. SHE SPLASHED THE HOT METAL WITH A BUCKET OF WATER AND SAID., "WELL, DON'T STAND THERE WAITING TO GET BURNT TO A CINDER. YOU WANTED THROUGH THE WALL." THE FOUR SQUEEZED QUICKLY THROUGH THE STILL WARM HOLE. A YOUNG SUNFIRE SOLDIER MET THEM HOLDING A SUNFIRE BLADE, STILL BURNING HOT. SHE STEPPED OVER TO ANOTHER SOLDIER IN MORE ORNAMENTED ARMOR LAYING AGAINST THE WALL AND PUT THE SWORD INTO HER SCABBARD. "I AM SANNI. THIS IS YOKOBU AND MY CAPTAIN RACHIDA." SHE SAID WITH A VOICE TOO SWEET IT SEEMED TO BE A SOLDIER. THE OTHER TWO SHE INDICATED, A MAN AND A WOMAN, LAY PROPPED UP AGAINST THE WALL. BY THE BLACK MIASMA THAT SWIRLED ABOUT THEIR EYES, ARLEY COULD SEE THEY SUFFERED FROM THE CORRUPTION BEING SPREAD BY THE FORGE. SANNI ALSO HAD SIGNS OF A FAINT DARK AROUND HER EYES. SHE WOULD SOOD SUCCUMB TO THE TAINT LIKE THE OTHERS. "YOU ALL HAVE THE SICKNESS," SAID VAKKE FINALLY, "YOU NEED TO GO TO THE CLINIC AND BE TREATED." "WE WILL DO OUR DUTY AND HOLD THE WALL AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE. UNTIL WE HAVE WORD ALL THE REFUGEES HAVE ESCAPED THE CITY." SNAPPED THE SOLDIER BACK AT HER. ARLEY TOUCHED THE GUARD'S ARM GENTLY, "THEY CAN NO LONGER HELP." SHE SAID SOFTLY, INDICATING HER TWO TROOP MATES. "AND SOON NEITHER WILL YOU. YOU MUST FLEE NOW. WE ARE HANDLING THE SITUATION. YOU HAVE FULFILLED YOUR DUTY. GO." "BUT THE DRAGON, THE MONSTERS?" SHE ASKED, BEGINNING TO WEEP. ARLEY LOOKED BACK OUT THROUGH THE HOLE, WHERE HER FRIENDS FOUGHT FOR THEIR LIVES. THE MOON ELF WAS FORCED TO JUMP BACK AS THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE DARK SOLDIERS POPPED THROUGH. ARLEY RECOVERED QUICKLY AS SHE NOTICED HIS EYES WERE CLOSED AND HIS HEAD FLOPPED AROUND LIMPLY AS THE SHOULDERS WERE BEING FORCED THROUGH THE NARROW CIRCLE. BEHIND THE MAN BULSARA AND EKKERS WERE SHOVING WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" YELLED ARLEY. "THE BOY MANAGED TO RENDER THE MONSTER UNCONSCIOUS, NOW HE REFUSES TO LEAVE HIM BEHIND, WOT WOT." "I RECOGNIZE HIM." REPLIED BULSARA, "OR AT LEAST WHO HE USED TO BE." HE CONTINUED THROUGH STRAINED GRUNTS TRYING TO PUSH THE ENLARGED MAN THROUGH THE HOLE. "WHAT REMAINS OF HIS UNIFORM IS OF THE 4TH LEGION UNDER COMMAND OF MY FATHER. HE MAY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. BESIDES THAT," WITH MORE STRAINING NOISES, "HE IS MY COUNTRYMAN AND I WILL NOT ABANDON HIM." "YOU MAY NOT HAVE A CHOICE, WOT WOT." EKKERS EXCLAIMED WIDE EYES STARING AT THE NORTHERN CURVE OF THE WALL. ZEPHYR HAD BECOME VISIBLE PAST THE CURVE OF THE WALL, WINGS NEARLY STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN BANKING ALONG THE SURFACE. EVEN AT THE DISTANCE THEY WERE STILL THE MEN COULD SEE THE LOOK OF PANICKED CONFUSION AS ARMS WAVED FRANTICALLY TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL. BEHIND THE SKYWING ELF THE LOOMING FORM OF ORTA THE DRAGON BEGAN TO DRIFT INTO VIEW LIKE A SHIP CRESTING THE HORIZON ON A SIDEWAYS SEA. EKKERS AND BULSARA ALTERNATELY TUGGED AND PULLED BUT THE CORRUPTED SOLDIER WAS STUCK FAST. ARLEY GROANED AND WAVED THE OTHERS ON HER SIDE OVER. "PUSH AS HARD AS YOU CAN." SHE YELLED THROUGH THE WALL THEN MOTIONED FOR ALL THE ABLE BODIES ON HER SIDE TO GRAB AND PULL. "ONE, TWO, THREE…" SHE CRIED, AND IN UNISON THE CREW FORCED THE UNCONSCIOUS MONSTER MAN THROUGH THE HOLE. ZEPHYR WATCHED AS THE TWO HUMANS SCRAMBLED THROUGH THE HOLE WITH INSUFFICIENT SPEED. THE ELF TOOK THE SHARD FROM AROUND THEIR NECK AND TIED IT TO AN ARROW. A QUICK WING OVER GAVE ZEPHYR TIME TO DRAW BACK AND AIM AT THE RAPIDLY GAINING DRAGON. THE ARROW FLEW AND IMPACTED ORTA ON THE SIDE OF HER SNOUT. THE MINOR BUZZ OF THE SHARD FROM NEIMAND'S BANDAGE WAS MAGNIFIED A HUNDREDFOLD BY CONTACT WITH THE CORRUPTED DRAGON. ORTA QUICKLY SHUT HER EYES AND INSTINCTIVELY BANKED AWAY FROM THE PAINFUL SOUND. BLIND AND ENRAGED THE DRAGON COLLIDED WITH A BARELY STANDING BUILDING AND SENT IT TOPPLING ON TOP OF HER. ZEPHYR GRACEFULLY LOOPED IN MIDAIR AND SNATCHED UP THE ARROW WITH THE SHARD AND SOARED UP THE OUTSIDE OF THE WALL AND DOWN TO THE GROUND ON THE OTHER SIDE. ARLEY RAN UP TO HER FRIEND AS THEY LANDED, WRAPPING HER ARMS AROUND THEM. ZEPHYR RETURNED THE HUG BUT AS THEY SEPERATED ARLEY SMACKED ZEPHYR ON THE ARM. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" SHE YELLED. "DO YOU REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THAT WAS?" "YES, AND I'D DO IT AGAIN," ZEPHYR REPLIED, "BECAUSE IT SAVED YOU FROM BEING EATEN." ZEPHYR TURNED AND STOMPED AWAY IN A HUFF. NEIMAND TOUCHED ARLEY ON THE HAND. SHE HURRIEDLY WIPED AWAY TEARS AS SHE TURNED TO SEE IT POINTING AT THE MONSTER SOLDIER. "I THINK I CAN PURGE THE CORRUPTION. BUT I NEED THE SHARD FOR ITS SUN MAGIC." SHE LOOKED AT THE CROAKING THING IN RAGS AND WONDERED JUST HOW TRUSTWORTHY NEIMAND WAS AND IF SHE WANTED TO CONFRONT HER FRIEND WHO WAS ALREADY MAD AT HER TO GET THE SHARD. SHE TURNED TO LOOK BACK AT NEIMAND, "MAYBE NOT…" "WHAT, STOP," SCREAMED SANNI AS ARLEY PULLED RACHIDA'S SWORD FROM ITS SCABBARD. "YOU CAN'T TOUCH THAT!" ARLEY TRIED TO HOLD THE HEAT RADIATING BLADE AS FAR FROM HER AS SHE COULD. SHE POINTED AT THE MONSTER MAN, "I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL BE OUT OF IT, BUT UNLESS YOU WANT IT WAKING UP ON THIS SIDE OF THE WALL MY… FRIEND…I GUESS… NEEDS TO PURGE THE SPELL FROM IT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS." SANNI JUST STOOD THERE, TERRIFIED OF THE IDEA OF THE MONSTER WAKING UP, INDIGNANT THAT THIS PERSON WOULD JUST TAKE HER CAPTAIN'S SWORD, ILL FROM EXPOSURE TO THE CORRUPTED FORGE AND JUST OVERWHELMED FROM EVERYTHING AT ONCE. ARLEY LOOKED AT HER SHOCKED AND SILENT FOR A FEW MOMENTS THEN JUST TOOK IT AS COMPLIANCE. SHE WALKED OVER TO VAKKE AND NEIMAND, ALREADY KNELT DOWN BY THE DARK MAGIC SOLDIER. "THIS WILL BE TRAUMATIC AND PAINFUL," NEIMAND SAID TO THE TWO ELVES IN THAT CRACKED VOICE, "THE SUN MAGIC BURNS OUT THE CORRUPTION, SO YOU NEED TO KEEP HIM ALIVE WHILE IT PASSES." AND WITHOUT WAITING FOR A RESPONSE, BEGAN CHANTING IN THE DRACONIC TONGUE THAT ARLEY LEARNED WHILE STUDYING MOON MAGIC WITH HER MOM. THE BOOM OF STONE TUMBLING OVER STONE THUNDERED FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL. BULSARA RAN UP THE ROUGHLY COBBLED TOGETHER STAIRS ON THIS SIDE OF THE WALL TO THE GANGWAY ABOVE. BELOW IN THE REMNANTS OF THE TOPPLED BUILDING ORTA WAS FREEING HERSELF FROM THE RUBBLE. HER ROAR CRACKED THE AIR AS HER HEAD CAME FREE. SHE EYED THE GATES HATEFULLY AND CHARGED THE TWISTED METAL. THE GATE BUCKLED WITH A BOOMING SOUND BUT THANKFULLY HELD. BULSARA WATCHED FROM ABOVE AS THE DRAGON PEERED THROUGH THE HOLE CUT IN THE WALL THEN PULLED AWAY TO TAKE A SHARP INTAKE OF AIR. "SHE IS GETTING READY TO BREATHE," BULSARA YELLED. "MOVE!" THE NEOLANDIAN QUICKLY NOTICED THE LARGE STONES PLACED ON THE PLATFORM THE SUNFIRE ELVES HAD BEEN USING TO DROP ON THE CORRUPTED HUMANS. BULSARA JAMMED HIS SPEAR BEHIND ONE OF THE STONES AND PRIED. ORTA EXHALED AND FLAMES CRASHED AGAINST THE WALL SENDING A JET OF FIRE THROUGH THE MAKESHIFT HOLE. AS ARLEY AND VAKKE WERE ADMINISTERING AID TO THE CORRUPTED SOLDIER THEY COULD FEEL THE BLISTERING HEAT ON THEIR BACKS FROM THE FLAMES ROARING SCANT INCHES FROM THEM. THE STONE BULSARA WAS LEVERING ROLLED FREE, TUMBLED OVER THE SIDE OF THE CATWALK AND PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE HOLE. THE BLISTERING HEAT OF THE DRAGON'S BREATH INSTANTLY CAUSED THE ROCK TO GLOW RED AND MELT AGAINST THE ORIFICE. ORTA ROARED IN FRUSTRATION AND SLAMMED HER HORNS AGAINST THE GATE. THE BARRIER GROANED AND STRAINED BUT HELD AGAINST THE MASSIVE CREATURE. THE SHE-DRAGON LET OUT A LOW GROWL AND BEGAN SCRABBLING UP THE WALL. BULSARA SCREAMED, JUMPED ONTO THE HANDRAILS OF THE RICKETY STAIRS AND BEGAN SLIDING DOWN YELLING "DRAGON INCOMING!" ZEPHYR HEARD THE SCREAMS OF THE HUMAN AND GLANCED AT ARLEY'S DISCARDED PACK AND BACK TO THE FORGE, NOW SUCKING IN THE HAZE COVERING THE CITY ONCE AGAIN. IT WAS GOING TO BLOW, AND IT WAS GOING TO SOON. THE SKYWING ELF RAN OVER TO THEIR FRIEND'S PACK AND GRABBED THE DECANTER OF VAKKE'S ELIXIR. "ZEPHYR!" YELLED ARLEY. "NO TIME TO ARGUE!" RESPONDED ZEPHYR AS THEIR WINGS POUNDED HARD AND SHOT THEM INTO THE SKY. ORTA CRESTED THE WALL TO HAVE THE FLEEING SKYWING ELF BE THE FIRST THING SHE SAW. WITH A MIGHTY PUSH OF HER HIND LEGS, SHE SHOVED THE WALL SO HARD IT CAME CLOSE TO FINALLY TOPPLING. THE DRAGON SPREAD HER WINGS AND GAVE CHASE TO THE FLEEING ZEPHYR. "ZEPHYR! ZEPHYR NO!" ARLEY CRIED AS TEARS STREAKED HER CHEEKS. "ARLEY!" CRIED VAKKE "I NEED YOUR HELP." THE SOLDIER WAS SURROUNDED BY SWIRLING DARK ENERGY AS THE CHANTING NEIMAND LAID THE FLAT OF THE SUN-BLADE ON HIS CHEST WITH A SICKENING SIZZLE OF FLESH. THE SOLDIER SCREAMED AND VAKKE DUMPED HER CANTEEN OVER THE BLADE TO KEEP THE MAN FROM CATCHING FIRE. ARLEY DROPPED TO HER KNEES NEXT TO THE MAN AND DUMPED A BOWL OF HERBS SHE HAD BEEN GRINDING OVER THE BALDE AND THE FLESH BENEATH. CONCERNED, ARLEY TOUCHED HER HORNS TO THE MAN'S HEAD AND CLOSED HER EYES. SHE GASPED AS SHE FOUND HERSELF STANDING IN A FIELD OUTSIDE THE CITY. SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY HUMAN SOLDIERS AND ON A HILL WAS A HUMAN WITH A STAFF IN WHITE ROBES, PALE SKIN CRACKED IN BLACK LINES AND EYES AS BLACK AS NIGHT. HE DRIPPED WITH DARK MAGIC. STANDING WITH HIM WAS A DARK HAIRED GIRL, A WHITE STREAK FLOWING IN HER HAIR AND A NEOLANDIAN PRINCE, DRESSED MUCH LIKE BULSARA. THE MAGE WAVED THE STAFF AND THE PRINCE WAS TURNED INTO A MONSTROSITY LIKE THIS MAN. AS SOON AS IT WAS DONE HE SPOKE TO THE CROWD OF POWER AND GLORY AND BEGAN TO TRANSFORM THEM ALL. THE MAN SCREAMED ONCE MORE AND ARLEY WAS WRENCHED FROM THIS VISION. THIS CRY WAS CUT OFF BY VAKKE POURING SEVERAL TONICS DOWN HIS THROAT. AS NEIMAND CHANTED THE GLOW FROM THE SWORD BEGAN TO FADE AND THE CORRUPTED MAN BEGAN TO SHRINK. THE TWISTED FORM SLOWLY RETURNED TO WHAT WAS NORMAL FOR A HUMAN AND THE GLOWING CRACKS IN HIS FLESH SEALED AND VANISHED. AS THE TRANSFORMATION ENDED THE MAN COLLAPSED FROM THE PAIN AND LAY STILL, SAVE FOR HIS LABORED BREATHING. VAKKE SIGHED IN RELIEF BUT ARLEY JUST STOOD UP GAZING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DRAGON PURSUING HER FRIEND. ZEPHYR FLAPPED WITH AS MUCH MIGHT AS THEY COULD MUSTER AND MADE A BEELINE TO THE FORGE. THE INVERSION HAD STOPPED AND THE SPHERE LET OUT MULTIPLE SHORT PULSES OF ENERGY. AS EACH PASSED THROUGH THE FLYING ELF EVERY NERVE IN ZEPHYR'S BODY WAS CONSUMED BY PAIN. BACK AT THE WALL NEIMAND LOOKED TO THE FORGE AND WHISPERED IN ITS SCRATCHY VOICE, "WE ARE OUT OF TIME." ZEPHYR FOUGHT AGAINST THE PAIN TO TOSS THE BOTTLE OF ELIXIR OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR PATH AND QUICKLY DRAW AND NOTCH AN ARROW. THE HUNTRESS WHISPERED "ASPIRO" AS THEY PULLED BACK AND RELEASED THE SHOT. THE ARROW FLEW AS THE MAGIC WIND FLARED UP BEHIND ITS FLETCHINGS. THE ARROW JUMPED AND TURNED IMPOSSIBILITY AND IMPACTED WITH THE BOTTLE. ZEPHYR FOLDED THEIR WINGS AND DROPPED FROM THE SKY, TIRED AND ACHING AS THE DRAGON ONCE MORE ROARED PAST OVERHEAD. THE WIND PUSHED THE DECANTER AHEAD OF THE ARROW AS IT GUIDED IT DIRECTLY AT THE SUNFORGE. THE CONTAINER SMACKED INTO THE DARKENED ORB A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE THE ARROW PIERCED ITS SHELL AND SHATTERED THE GLASS. ELIXIR SPRAYED ALL OVER THE FORGE. A LOUD RINGING SOUND, MUCH LIKE THAT OF THE SHARD ESCAPED THE FORGE JUST BEFORE THE DARK COLOR IMPLODED IN ON ITSELF AND THE WHITE LIGHT OF THE FORGE EXPLODED OUTWARD. ALL SOUND SEEMED TO LEAVE THE UNIVERSE AS THE BALL OF WHITE LIGHT EXPANDED IN ALL DIRECTIONS. IT ENGULFED ORTA, AND SLAMMED THE FALLING ZEPHYR SIDEWAYS FROM THEIR PLUMMET TO THE GROUND. BUILDINGS DISINTEGRATED IN FRONT OF THE GROWING WALL OF LIGHT. "TAKE COVER!" ARLEY BARELY COULD HEAR SOMEONE'S MUFFLED SCREAM. AS EVERYONE MOVED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. VAKKR AND THE BANDAGED BOY HELPED ARLEY DRAG THE CURED MAN TOWARD A GAZEBO-LIKE STRUCTURE. BULSARA WAS HELPING SANNI DRAG HER SQUADMATES INTO ANOTHER OPEN BUILDING. THEY HAD JUST GOTTEN UNDER THE SHELTER WHEN THE WAVE HIT. THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF THEM CAME APART, SHOVING ITS FRONT WALL INTO THE SUPPORT PILLARS OF THE SHELTER. THE DUST SWIRLED IN THE AIR AS ARLEY CRAWLED OUT FROM THE RUBBLE. NOTHING WAS VISIBLE PAST A FEW DOZEN FEET. VAKKE WAS HELPING THE PATIENT OUT FROM UNDER THE COLLAPSED SHELTER. SHE WAS SCRAPED UP AND BLEEDING IN SEVERAL SPOTS. THE MAN WAS AWAKE BUT SEEMED IN SHOCK AS TO WHERE HE WAS. HE HAD THE DARKENED OLIVE COMPLEXION THAT BULSARA HAD SO IT PROVED HIM RIGHT THAT THIS WAS ONE OF HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN. NEIMAND CRAWLED OUT HOLDING HIS SIDE. ARLEY HELPED HIM STAND AND EXAMINED HIS SIDE. THE BOY HAD SEVERAL CRACKED RIBS. "I'LL HAVE TO BIND THIS," SHE SAID THEN LET OUT A SLIGHT CHUCKLE. "GOOD THING YOU ARE ALREADY BANDAGED." SHE PULLED THE RAGS ALREADY AROUND THE BOY'S UPPER TORSO TOGETHER AND TIED THEM. "IT MAY BE HARDER TO BREATHE FOR A WHILE." SHE THEN MOVED TO VAKKE, POINTING OUT SHE WAS INJURED WHEN SHE PROTESTED. "SO ARE YOU," COUNTERED THE SUNFIRE ELF POINTING OUT SCRAPES AND CUTS ON ARLEY SHE HADN'T EVEN FELT. THE TWO SMILED AS THEY PATCHED EACH OTHER AND MOVED ON TO THE NEOLANDIAN. "AND JUST WHO ARE YOU SIR? DOES IT HURT ANYWHERE?" ARLEY ASKED AS SHE LOOKED HIM OVER. "ALBINZO," HE REPLIED, HIS EYES GLUED TO HER HORNS. "YES, I'M AN ELF. NO, I'M NOT YOUR ENEMY." SHE REPLIED, STILL LOOKING HIM OVER. COUGHING WITHIN THE WALL OF DUST DREW EVERYONE'S ATTENTION. THOUGH THE DUST CLOUD APPEARED SANNI AND BULSARA HELPING SANNI'S TEAMMATES WALK. THEY WERE AWAKE BUT STILL VISIBLY TAINTED. "WE NEED MORE ELIXIR," VAKKE WHISPERED AND RECEIVED A NOD FROM ARLEY. "WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN." SHE REPLIED. THE CLOUD OF DUST WAS RECEDING AND THE COLLAPSED WALL COULD BE SEEN. THE GATE WAS DESTROYED BUT THE WALL SEEMED TO CONTAIN SOME OF THE BLAST. THE BUILDINGS OUTSIDE THE INNER RING WEREN'T PERFECT BUT MOSTLY STILL STANDING. JUST PAST THE WALL THE BUILDINGS WERE RUBBLE AND AS THE DUST PEELED BACK THE CLOSER YOU GOT TO WHERE THE FORGE WAS THE MORE OBLITERATED THE CITY WAS. "ZEPHYR." ARLEY WHISPERED WORRIEDLY. "HELP!" CAME A CRY DOWN THE RUINED STREET. THISTLE CARRIED THE ELDERLY SOLDIER ON HIS BACK. "HE'S HURT!" THEY CRIED AGAIN. BULSARA RAN TO HELP. WHEN ARLEY CAUGHT UP SHE COULD SEE EKKERS WAS COUGHING UP BLOOD AND BARELY CONSCIOUS. "HE SAVED ME." MUMBLED THISTLE, "WHEN THE BUILDING WE WERE IN COLLAPSED HE THREW HIMSELF OVER ME TO SHIELD ME FROM A FALLING BEAM." HIS RIBS WERE CRUSHED, SO MUCH WORSE THAN NEIMAND'S. SHE TRIED TO SET THEM WITH VAKKE'S HELP BUT THEY WERE SPLINTERED AND PIERCING HIS LUNGS. SHE SET HIS HEAD ON HER LAP, PROPPING HIS HEAD UP AS HE STRUGGLED TO BREATHE. SHE CRIED AND TOUCHED THE HORNS OF HER HEAD TO HIS. ONCE MORE SHE WAS NOT IN THE CITY. ONCE MORE THE MAN WAS ON THE HILL, TURNING MEN INTO MONSTERS. SHE SAW EKKERS MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD STANDING THERE IN RAPT INTEREST AS THIS MAN TURNED THEIR FELLOW HUMANS INTO SOMETHING ELSE. HE LOOKED BACK WITH WORRIED EXPRESSIONS SEVERAL TIMES AS NO ONE NOTICED HIS ESCAPE. BUT WHEN HIS EYES MET HERS HE ACTED LIKE HE NOTICED HER THERE. "YOU," HE MOUTHED. "YOU WERE NOT HERE." ARLEY MADE HER WAY TO THE MAN, THE OTHERS NOT ABLE TO SEE HER AS HE COULD. "EKKERS, WHAT IS HAPPENING?" SHE ASKED AS SHE REACHED THE MAN. "HE'S WARPING THEM. MAKING THEM INTO MONSTERS. AND I JUST RAN AWAY. I ABANDONED EVERYONE ELSE." THE SOLDIER SAID, CRYING. "BUT THERE WAS NOTHING YOU COULD DO. AND BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOU WERE THERE TO PROTECT THISTLE. YOU DID NOTHING WRONG." SHE TOUCHED HIS CHEEK AS HE SMILED AT HER REASSURANCE. "I JUST DON'T KNOW IF I CAN HELP YOU NOW." "BUT YOU HAVE," HE SAID WITH A WIDENING SMILE, "YOU REMINDED ME THAT A KNIGHT'S JOB IS NOT TO KILL, BUT TO PROTECT PEOPLE. SHE WAS BACK WITH THE OLD MAN'S HEAD IN HER LAP WHEN EKKERS SUDDENLY TOOK IN A DEEP GASP. HE SAT UP, COUGHING UP BITS OF DRIED BLOOD, BUT HE SEEMED TO BE BREATHING FREE. ARLEY RAN UP TO EXAMINE THE MAN. HIS RIBS SEEMED INTACT AND HE SEEMED HEALED. VAKKE WAS LOOKING AT HER WITH WIDE EYES. "ARLEY," SHE SAID ALMOST BREATHLESSLY, "YOUR HORNS WERE GLOWING. IT WAS LIKE MAGIC" ARLEY SHOOK HER HEAD IN DISBELIEF, "I GAVE UP STUDYING MOON MAGIC. MOON MAGIC IS LIES. IT DOESN'T DO THINGS LIKE THIS." "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS," CONTINUED VAKKE, "BUT IT IS DEFINITELY MAGIC." ARLEY GLANCED OVER VAKKE'S SHOULDER AND COULD SEE A FIGURE APPROACHING. ZEPHYR LIMPED ACROSS THE DUSTY FIELD THAT WAS ONCE BUILDINGS. AS ARLEY APPROACHED SHE COULD SEE BLOOD CAKED IN THE CORNER OF HER MOUTH AND SHE HELD A WING CRADLED LIMPLY IN HER ARMS. THE MOONSHADOW ELF THREW HER ARMS AROUND HER FRIEND TO A SHARP "OW." "I'M SORRY, WHAT YOU DID WAS SO BRAVE, AND YOU SAVED THE CITY AND YOU SURVIVED AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TRUST YOU…" "ARLEY," SAID ZEPHYR THROUGH GRITTED PAINFUL TEETH. "IT'S OK." THEY LEANED ON THEIR TEARFUL FRIEND'S SHOULDER AS SHE HELPED THEM BACK TO THE OTHERS. "YOU CAN FIX ME RIGHT?" "ALWAYS." ARLEY ANSWERED WITH A LAUGH. A ROAR PIERCED THE SKY AS ORTA FLEW OVERHEAD TRAILING DUST FROM HER WINGS AND STILL SWIRLING WITH DARK ENERGY. THE DRAGON PASSED OVER THE REMAINS OF THE CITY, OVER THE CLINIC AND THE THRONGS OF REFUGEES AND WAS STILL DISAPPEARING INTO THE HORIZON AS ARLEY AND ZEPHYR REACHED THE OTHERS. "SHE'S STILL SICK," FRETTED ARLEY. "AND WITH THE FORGE GONE NOTHING IS HOLDING HER ANGER HERE." REPLIED VAKKE. "WHERE IS SHE HEADED THOUGH?" ASKED BULSARA. "AT THAT HEADING," RESPONDED THISTLE, "SHE IS HEADED STRAIGHT TOWARD DURAN. MY HOME." "SHE WILL LAY WASTE TO ANYTHING IN HER PATH." SAID EKKERS AS HE REMOVED HIS HELMET AND PLACED IT OVER HIS HEART. "WE HAVE TO HELP HER." ARLEY SAID TO ZEPHYR. "HER?" ASKED THISTLE INCREDULOUSLY. "SHE IS A VICTIM TOO. AND IF WE HELP HER WE HELP EVERYONE IN HER PATH." "HERE HERE." REPLIED BULSARA. "THEN WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR, MY LADY? WE PICK UP EREPATO AND FOLLOW THAT DRAGON. FOR THE GOOD OF XADIA! WE FOLLOW YOUR LEAD MY MAGICAL MISTRESS!" "ME?" SQUEAKED ARLEY. "LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN CHARGE," SMILED ZEPHYR, "MY LADY." THEY FINISHED WITH AN EXAGGERATED BOW. ARLEY PINCHED HER NOSE AND LET HER HEAD FALL SIGHING. "MERCIFUL HEAVENS!"