Emeryn and Tvalfager buried the bodies before they left the clearing. They were exhausted by the end, but each of the trickster beast’s victims ended up cremated or buried in the ground.

The return to the village was a solemn affair. Tomford’s and Sarien’s disappearance weighed heavily on Goslin’s shoulders. He told himself and the others the two would find their way back, but he couldn’t shake the gnawing doubt in the dark corners of his own mind. Sarien’s power could close the openings, and he’d sent the luison away, but he’d never created an opening on his own as far as Goslin knew. They couldn’t wait any longer in the clearing. Their quest was still unfinished and there was no telling if their lost friends would appear in the same spot or not. Sarien and Tomford knew that the group was heading to Tyralien and Goslin hoped that the two men would meet them there.

With everyone’s injuries, the return trip back to the village was slow. Goslin counted themselves lucky that none of them were injured grievously now that they had lost the only two healers in their party. Goslin wasn’t even out of Eldsprak yet, and he’d already lost so many.

He let out a sigh. What a failure of a leader he had turned out to be.

Kax poked his shoulder. “Cheer up, Goslin. We’ve saved the villagers!”

Goslin glanced back over his shoulder. Kax’s dirt-splattered face suddenly made Goslin all too aware of how much he needed a bath. The rotten stench from the beast’s ichor permeated in his clothes and it took every effort for Goslin not to undress right then and there to burn it all.

“We’ve saved them. But we lost Tomford and Sarien in the process.”

“They’ll be fine. You said so yourself. Tomford will keep Sarien safe.”

“You’re right, of course. They’ll be fine.” He reminded himself that the others needed him to be in control. If he wavered, then they may all fall into despair and grief for their lost friends. He could not be the weak link in the chain.

“Shouldn’t the animals be back by now?” Lana asked.

“What do you mean?” Heylien asked. He was restringing his bow as they walked.

“If that monster scared them off, shouldn’t they have returned by now?”

Heylien shrugged. “Who knows how far they ran. Could be days before they dare return.”

“Right,” Lana said, though she did not look convinced.

“We’ll rest for a day in the village before continuing on,” Goslin said as they neared the edge of the forest.

“I’m not staying here a moment longer than I have to,” Tvalfager said. “The tower needs my report.”

“Aw, you’re not coming with us?” Kax asked.

Tvalfager didn’t pick up on the sarcasm. He drew himself up tall. “Afraid not, my short companion. As a firemagi, duty is everything to me.”

Kax rolled his eyes and continued in silence, too tired to mock the young pyromancer any further.

When they finally exited the forest, Goslin could barely stay standing and it appeared he wasn’t the only one. Emeryn’s face was still pale. Heylien limped along, doggedly, but winced with every step. Only Hart looked to have escaped without any serious injuries.

People were bustling around the small village in tight groups as they went about their day. Rowan hurried from the gathering crowd to greet them.

“You’re back! Never thought I’d see you again!” He gestured to Tvalfager. “And you found one of the pyromancers!”

Goslin did his best to project an aura of control and reassurance. “We have successfully dealt with the beast that haunted your village, my dear man.”

The lessons from his father and tutors made him ill at ease. They were patronizing to people born outside of the noble class, and much to his chagrin, the lessons worked. If he spoke to a commoner, the same way he would to another noble, all they did was squirm uncomfortably. “Unfortunately, the others had already perished when we arrived.”

“You killed the trickster beast?” Rowan asked. He did not look convinced.

Goslin nodded. “Your village is free from its torment. You may rest easy.”

“What are they saying?” a woman yelled from within the crowd that formed behind the mayor.

Rowan turned to face the crowd. “The king’s men here say they have killed the trickster!”

“They’re lying!” a man yelled.

Rowan held up his hands to calm the crowd. “Easy now! We’ll know the truth of it tonight! Keep your windows shuttered and your doors locked for now!” The crowd muttered and glanced back at Goslin and his friends, but they dispersed quickly.

“You don’t believe us,” Goslin said.

“I want to believe you, I do. No one would be happier than me. Look, you can stay at my house tonight. By tomorrow, all should be well. No?”

“We do need to rest,” Goslin agreed. “We will take you up on your hospitality, mayor.”

The young mayor smiled. “I have someone here who’s been waiting for you.”

A thrill of expectation rushed through Goslin. Had Tomford and Sarien returned?

The hope made the disappointment all the more when he heard a bark coming from the mayor’s house as they approached.

“Your dog sounds fine,” Kax said to Hart.

Hart looked thoughtful, rather than happy. “Right. The dog. Daisy.”

Rowan opened the door and Daisy barreled out to throw himself at Hart but stopped abruptly. Hart kneeled on the ground and stretched out a hand toward his companion. “Here, dog.”

Daisy sniffed the air and tilted his head to one side. “I’m sorry we left you behind,” Hart continued. “We didn’t know.”

Daisy barked, wagged his tail, and then walked over to sit by Lana.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“What’s the dog’s problem?” Lana asked.

Hart shrugged. “Probably angry I left it.”

“I’m starving,” Kax said. “Do you have anything to eat, mayor?”

“Please,” Rowan said, gesturing for them to enter.

“I’m out of here,” Tvalfager said. “What’s your full name, Goslin? You’re a noble, right?”

“House Steerian,” Goslin answered. “Take care, Tvalfager.”

Tvalfager blinked and cleared his throat. “Steerian? The Steerian? Right. Well, I’ll add your name to my report.”

Lana grabbed the pyromancer’s robe, keeping him in place. “Ever heard of a woman named Mia?”

He shook his head, confused at her outburst. “No, never.”

“Get lost then,” she said, letting him go.

“Right. Well. Thank you. For saving me.” He turned on his heel, darting down the road that led back to the main road.

“Weird kid,” Kax said. Goslin caught Kax clutching tightly to the pommel of his short sword and remembered the sickening sensation he felt when he used it against the beast. He didn’t like the weapon and liked his friend’s strange attachment to it even less.

“He’s even younger than us,” Emeryn said.

Lana snorted. “Young, but already arrogant.”

As everyone entered mayor’s house, Goslin stopped Rowan and asked, “Do you have a bathing tub? Or perhaps a stream nearby?”

Rowan shook his head. “Sorry, but no. There’s just the well. I’ve a barrel around back full of water that you’re free to use.”

“Thank you, good man,” Goslin said. “I’ll be in shortly.”

The night progressed without incident, no scratching at the door, no cries from the dead. Everyone in the group slept soundly, as far as Goslin could tell, and Rowan didn’t wake them until late in the morning.

When they woke, the villagers were less hostile, and they begrudgingly relented that Goslin and his friends might have killed the trickster beast. Too good to be true, or perhaps after weeks of fear and torment, it would take just as long for them to trust again.

At least the villagers didn’t complain when Heylien bartered with them for supplies and sturdy clothing to ward against the chill of the oncoming fall.

Goslin spent the time before they intended to depart in writing a letter to his father. He should’ve reported back home earlier, but he resisted the chore as there wasn’t much to report until now. The luisons and trickster beast were nothing he had seen or heard of before and he feared that there may be more creatures like it roaming freely.

Goslin left his letter with a merchant traveling through the village from the opposite direction. The man promised a swift delivery to Fyrie after Goslin pressed a bit of gold into the man’s awaiting palm and promised more from his father upon delivery. Goslin couldn’t help but feel a little pride as the man rode off. He’d be the first to go through that way in some time, and it was the group’s doing.

The moment soured when his thoughts turned to Sarien’s and Tomford’s disappearance, and he was happy when he heard Kax call out his name stating that they were ready to leave.

“Where did the dog go now?” Kax asked when they were all mounted.

“It wanted out last night,” Hart said. “Ran off somewhere.”

“Should we look for it?” Emeryn asked.

Hart looked confused for a moment, then shook his head. “It’ll find us.”

“Are you well, Hart?” Goslin asked. “Did you hit your head back in the forest?”

“Just a small bump,” Hart confessed. “It’s nothing.”

“Where’s your spear?” Heylien asked.

Goslin blinked. He hadn’t even noticed it missing. “Yeah, where is it?”

Hart dismounted. “Right. Forgot it back in the mayor’s house.”

“You forgot Sarien’s spear?” Lana asked, incredulously after him. “The one with a damn soul trapped inside it?”

“I forgot!” Hart yelled. “Get off my back!” The large man trudged back toward Rowan’s house.

“Didn’t he trap one of those luisons in it?” Kax asked.

Goslin looked at Kax, who leaned forward to rest his head against the horse’s neck. “What?”

“Yeah. I think he told us the bandit was pushed out or something, right?”

Heylien agreed, “Yep.”

“And the trickster beast’s wound, the one in the shoulder where the spear struck, had turned blue like Emeryn’s arm when she was bitten,” Kax continued. He looked at her and cleared his throat. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Emeryn said. “You’re saying that the luison doesn’t have a soul?”

Kax sat up straight. “I’m not sure what I’m saying. The weapon was imbued with a special power by having the luison inside it, like it was poisoned. Sarien’s magic can be chilling. What do you think would have happened if he trapped the trickster?”

Kax’s eyes glittered and the way he spoke and wet his lips made Goslin uneasy. There was an eagerness, a hunger, in his expression. His search for the perfect weapon was more than just some nobleman’s fancy. Goslin would have to talk to his friend when they were alone.

“The concept of a soul is moot now anyway,” Heylien said. “Our god is dead. What use is a soul when there is no one to claim it?”

“Enough!” Lana barked. “Theology is pointless.”

Heylien glanced at Emeryn but let the matter rest. Goslin couldn’t help but remember the time when they met at Eldsprak Academy. Heylien had asked Emeryn about Taera. He’d heard somewhere that the god of earth was still alive, somewhere deep within The Kinship of Jordfaste, Emeryn’s home. The thought was ludicrous, of course, but she hadn’t denied it.

Hart returned with the spear in his hand. He lifted it as he approached. “Happy now?”

“I could take it,” Kax offered.

Hart pulled it away. “I don’t think so.”

Kax sighed. “Can you at least tell me if the luison is in there?”

“I don’t know. Sure.” Hart said, mounting his horse.

“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Kax asked.

“Enough of that now,” Goslin said. “It’s time to leave. Don’t forget to bring along Sarien’s and Tomford’s horses.”

“Already covered,” Heylien said, holding up a piece of rope that connected to their horses’ bridles. “So, next up is Kleotram?”

Goslin nodded. “That’s right, then we’re crossing the border into Tyriu.” The end of his quest. Goslin thought about his father’s letter, the urgency for him to return home after acquiring his wife, to lead a regiment of soldiers. Something was happening and Goslin suspected it had to do with all the strange creatures they had encountered on their journey thus far. And, likely had to do with the strange gates into another world.

“What are we doing in Kleotram?” Lana asked, breaking Goslin out of his thoughts.

“We have a standing invitation at the lord’s keep. He might have word from my father too. It would be rude to cross the border without meeting with the man, at least.”

“You just want a proper bath,” Lana teased.

Goslin sighed. “That would be lovely.” The bucket of well water last night was unsatisfactory, to say the least.

“Who is this lord, then?” Emeryn asked.

“Goslin’s father’s cousin. His uncle of sorts,” Heylien answered.

“You know him?” Goslin asked, surprised.

A sly smile crossed Heylien’s face. “I know of him. Keeping track of your kingdom’s nobles is always a good idea.”

“Well, then,” Goslin said. “His name is Sanders. Haven’t met him in a few years, but from what I can remember, he’s a bit of an ass. Try not to take it personally. Also, he loves parties, so we’ll probably be expected to attend one.”

Lana groaned. “I hate parties.”

“You should try one without nobles sometime,” Heylien said. “There’s more fun to be had.”

“Eh, I don’t know,” Kax said. “Noble parties can be pretty fun. Always full of pretty girls, at least.” He looked to Hart, expecting a snide remark. Goslin couldn’t help but smile. It was a recurring thing between the two. However, the insult at Kax’s ineptitude never came. Hart just rode on without as much as glancing in their direction.

Kax shrugged. “So, we’re just there to relax and have fun? No heroic quests or people to save from nightmarish creatures?”

“Just a state visit,” Goslin confirmed. “It’ll do us good to recuperate a little before heading into Tyriu. I don’t expect much trouble on the road to Tyralien. The king of Tyriu is expecting us.” Goslin glanced at Emeryn. Her bright red hair gleamed in the sunlight, and she smiled at the glare Lana was casting at Kax when the young man’s back was turned. When they arrived at Tyriu, Goslin would marry one of the princesses. That was his quest. It was what his father and his king commanded.

Goslin swallowed hard against the rise of regret.

“Well, I’m having a grand time,” Kax said, taking note of Goslin’s somber mood. “You should cheer up some, or the guards might not let you into Kleotram. I’ve heard somewhere that they don’t like people who mope about. We might even find a nice boy for Lana to dance with if she bothers to stop glowering for one second.”

“I will stab whoever dares,” Lana said.

Kax cleared his throat. “Perhaps someone in armor, then. A nice, armored knight to escort you around and protect everyone else from you.” Lana didn’t answer. Instead, she pulled out a dagger from her belt and started cleaning under her nails with it.

Goslin laughed. Sure, Tomford and Sarien were lost, and all the servants and soldiers were gone, and he was bound to marry a complete stranger and not the woman of his choice, but at least for now, they had each other. He was grateful that his friends had chosen to accompany him on his quest. Without them, the journey would have been a dreadful, and, honestly, a short-lived, affair.