
#  SENTINELS:

Forsaken Knight

B.H. Savage 
TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS © 2013, B.H. SAVAGE

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARCUS WILLIAMS

COVER DESIGN © 2013, B.H. SAVAGE

COPYRIGHT 2013 B.H. SAVAGE

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE USED OR REPRODUCED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.

SAVAGE, B.H.

SENTINELS: FORSAKEN KNIGHT / B.H. SAVAGE - 1ST ED.

ISBN: 978-0-9896754-0-6

I. SAVAGE, B. H.

FIRST EDITION

PUBLISHED BY B.H. SAVAGE AT SMASHWORDS

# Prologue

Fires raged as people ran, fearful for the safety of their lives. Smoke billowed from the roofs of burning buildings up towards a crimson sky. A sky that cried tears of death and destruction...

Nobody knew what had caused the event or what purpose it served. Many had already perished in the suddenness of the fires, and many more when trying to save those they could with little success. The flames would not be purged by water, and wind only strengthened them as they spread.

The screams of agony from those who could not get away rang in the ears of those who did, tormenting them throughout the night. "Why?" they cried. "What have we done to deserve this?"

By the end of the night, when the sun finally rose, the village that was the unfortunate victim to the fires was no more. It had been transformed into less than a husk of what it had once been. The green grass and sturdy homes that had dotted the area were now nothing more than charred piles of rubble. The bodies of those who did not escape were lined along the side of the ruins, if they were found at all.

The governing noble stood on a hill overlooking what had once been a peaceful village under his rule with sadness in his eyes. Many of those lost that night had been good people who served him and their kingdom well. None of them deserved the fate that had befallen them, and yet received it they did.

The nobleman was accompanied by a single knight who had helped evacuate any survivors that were fleeing from the burning village. He had seen many battles in his time of service and much death, but nothing quite like what witnesses were dubbing _Sky Fire_ , named such because it looked like the very clouds of the night sky had been set ablaze. It was a horrible thing to witness.

"Will you return now to your kingdom?" the tall standing nobleman asked the knight.

"I will, and I will tell them of what I saw here," the knight said.

The lord of the land replied with a slight nod. "Then I wish you safe travels. You have my thanks for your aid."

"It was and is my duty," the knight said as he bowed his head. "I live to serve. If there are innocent people in danger my sword and shield will protect them."

"I only wish you could have saved them all..." the saddened leader commented.

The knight took a breath and looked behind him to the carriage carrying the supplies and trinkets he had accrued on his travels. A rider sat atop of it with the reins for the horses in his hands, waiting for the knight's order to move out. "As do I..." the knight added. "As do I..."

# Chapter 1

_A Knight's Honor_

Many years had passed since the eldest daughter of Lord Romulus Everdyne joined the ranks of the royal army of the Kingdom of Delrich. The girl had always been courageous and outspoken growing up, even to the point of being disobedient towards her father's will to help those whom she had witnessed needing it.

In that time the auburn haired girl grew to be a remarkably talented soldier, and eventually knight, in the king's service. She quickly moved up the ranks until she became Captain of an entire division of the royal army. Dubbed the Holy Knights, they competed against another specialized division called the Dragon Knights for the king's praise and recognition.

She had participated in many battles against the neighboring country that would lay siege to the land she called home, returning victorious after every one without much more than scratches. The war had been waged for longer than her life, so such feats were extraordinary. Her fellow knights and soldiers praised her abilities with the sword and shield daily, often begging her for private lessons should the opportunity arise.

The woman's name was Anye, and it was well known throughout her home. Her beauty led her to meet many men in her life. Some were soldiers requesting personal training or tutoring. Others were possible suitors that were often sent by her father. Regardless of the reasons, she declined each visit and reserved herself to train alone unless ordered otherwise by her superior officers or the royal family. She had dealt with her share of heartbreak and didn't wish to deal with superfluous relationships anymore, at least not with strangers.

On a night not unlike most other nights, the moon was full in a cloudless sky filled to the brim with stars. Anye sat in a chair in front of a fire that she had set in her personal quarters. Recent evenings had been hard on her, plaguing her dreams with nightmares of fire and death. They had taken a significant toll on her, but she always managed to push the thoughts from her mind enough to get some. She couldn't help but wonder why she was having the strange dreams though, and searched for answers within herself after the soldiers in her care had gone to sleep and the night watch began to patrol the castle's corridors, when she could be alone.

That night would have been just like every other night in the young woman's life had it not been for the unexpected sound of tapping her door. She beckoned the visitor to enter, and the sound of its hinges creaking echoed through the quiet room as the door slowly opened. Standing there was a slender old man in simple robes. Anye instantly recognized him as one of her father's servants; an individual who had served her family since she was a child.

"Pardon the intrusion, My Lady," the old servant greeted as he entered her room.

"Think nothing of it, Arnold," Anye replied with a warm smile as she stood to greet the man. "How are you?" Honestly she was relieved to see the old man. His presence distracted her from the thoughts of her nightmares.

Arnold bowed his balding head towards the female knight as he answered. "I am well. Thank you, Lady Anye, for your concern." He took a deep breath before raising his head to continue the conversation. "But I am sorry to say that this is not a social visit. Your father, Lord Romulus, has requested that you accompany me back to the estate at once. He claims it is for an urgent matter of great importance."

"On what manner of business is this _important_ meeting for, Arnold?" she asked, as her face grew stern. "You know don't exactly see eye-to-eye."

Arnold wiped a small amount of sweat from his forehead as he answered the question. "I'm afraid I do not know. That information was not given to me, Miss Anye. I was only told to deliver the message to you and return to the estate."

Anye turned her face away from the old messenger and gazed at the fire for a moment. Ever since her adolescence she had been at odds with her father, but it had transformed from common familial disagreements to outright disgust at being around one another. The tension grew to its worst when she enlisted in the royal army to fight in the war. Doing so abandoned the station appointed to her by her father as a healer with the church. The time following her promotion to the rank of Captain, which had proved her capabilities with the sword and silenced most of the naysayers that opposed her, did little to remedy the family tension. Every time the pair was together they appeared more like a politician accompanied by their guard rather than a family. Now her father wanted her to travel home for some reason in the middle of the night. The thought of it put knots in her stomach. Unfortunately there was little room for her to argue against complying with the request, and she let out a sigh.

"Very well..." Anye answered with the sound of annoyance in her voice. "Please wait out in the hall while I change, Arnold."

"Of Course, My Lady," the old man replied. Bowing his head, he turned back to the door from which he came and exited the room.

It only took a few minutes for Anye to dress appropriately for travel. She tied her hair back in a ponytail and dressed in one of her formal uniforms, consisting of a pair of tan slacks and a matching button-down blouse. On her waist hung a sword sheathed in leather bearing the emblem of the royal house of Delrich; a pair of lions facing outward on a shield. Her soft peach skin radiated in the orange glow of the torches which hung on the walls.

"Thank you for waiting, Arnold," she said as she locked the door to her quarters. She then pulled out a sheet of parchment from one of her pockets and attached it to the door. "You never know if those under my command will need to find me. Best to leave a record of where I am, you know."

"Of course, Miss Anye," Arnold replied with a smile. "We can leave whenever you're ready."

______

The trip to the Everdyne estate was far from what anyone would describe as enjoyable. While the family's carriage was as comfortable as could be, the thoughts of what her father could have wanted at such a late hour, mixed with the memories of her recent nightmares, occupied Anye's mind. Thankfully the sky was clear so the travelers didn't have to deal with any encumbering weather.

After Arnold stopped the horse pulling the carriage and stepped down from his seat, he opened the door leading to where Anye sat in wait. It took several attempts of him saying her name to get her attention, though.

"My Lady, is there something on your mind?" Arnold asked with a concerned look.

Anye sighed and brushed aside some stray hair from her eyes as she turned to answer him with a smile. "No, Arnold, but thank you for your concern."

"My Lady, if it's about your father..."

"No, Arnold, it isn't," she lied, hoping to end the conversation. She stepped down from the carriage and looked around at the large manor she had grown up in. The building itself was constructed mostly of wood and had a front entranceway lined with several marble columns. The windows were framed with white molding and matching doors. The only visible light was coming from the first floor, where Anye assumed her father was waiting. "This place hasn't changed a bit, I see," she commented.

Arnold simply smiled and closed the carriage door before walking towards the manor. "This way, Miss Anye," he called out to her as he opened the main entrance.

With a shudder Anye composed herself and strode into the entranceway of the place she used to call home. After Arnold closed the door he led her through a long hallway, decorated with family portraits and a coat of arms. At the end of the hall was the brightly lit room she had seen from outside where her parents and an unfamiliar young man sat in wait.

Arnold entered the room first and bowed his head low as he spoke. "My Lord, I present your daughter, Lady Anye, captain of the Holy Knights."

Lord Romulus Everdyne the Fifth was a politician of some renown throughout the kingdom and a close friend of the king. The Everdyne family was known to produce fine political figures throughout history, as well as talented soldiers that served in the royal army. Romulus himself had a head full of slicked-back gray hair and pointed eyebrows to match. His face was cleanly shaven, but the wrinkles in his skin gave away his ever growing age.

Appropriately dressed for the hour, the nobleman wore a long red silk robe lined with golden thread. The seams were detailed with an intricate pattern that appeared to be woven from the same golden thread. His fingers were adorned with jeweled rings, and a silver necklace engraved with the family crest hung from his neck.

The younger man sitting with Anye's parents was dressed in typical business attire from what he had been doing throughout the day. He wore a blue coat with white trim along the edges with matching pants, which had been bloused into a pair of clean brown boots.

Anye's mother was slightly younger than her father, but kept her youthful beauty with an unhealthy amount of makeup. Her hair was up in a formal bun with loose strands curling down the sides of her face. She wore an evening gown woven from dark purple silk trimmed with a white frill with no discernible markings or patterns.

Anye strode past her elderly companion and bowed down as a sign of respect, for her father and his station. When she spoke, a sound of disdain echoed in her voice. "You wished to see me, Father?" As she picked up her head she continued her greeting with a hint of annoyance. "Arnold informed me that it was an urgent matter that could not be delayed."

"Yes, Anye..." her father replied. "Our guest here is the son of count Melvus; Jean," he explained with a simple gesture to the well-dressed young man sitting beside him.

Jean Melvus looked slightly older than Anye, but he had already made a name for himself in the region's political circles. Being the son of a prominent count of one of the territories under Delrich's control had placed Jean in the public's eye from childhood, so talk of the young man actively seeking a bride had already met Anye's ears. From what she could see she wasn't impressed.

Jean stood and placed a hand across his waste as he bowed down, but kept his gaze locked squarely on Anye. "It's a pleasure to finally meet with the famous Anye Everdyne of the Holy Knights," he greeted.

A small chill ran down Anye's spine as her fears were realized. For years her father had sent possible suitors to Anye's door, yet each one was met with a polite decline and sent on their way so she could go about her duties. She immediately intended to do the same to this one, no matter what his social status was.

"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure," Anye replied sarcastically as she looked at the well-dressed man. Shifting her gaze towards her father, she began to speak once more. "Father, with no disrespect, is this really what you sent Arnold out to get me for? Another suitor?"

"Anye, you wound me," Romulus replied as he placed his aged hand on his chest. "I'm merely looking out for your best interests."

"I do not want nor need you to be looking out for what you think my best interests are, Father," Anye lashed. "If this was the only reason for you calling me here then I'll take my leave. Good night." Her temper, she realized, had almost eliminated the polite dismissal she had planned. "I'm sorry for my father wasting your time, Jean, but I am not interested in marriage at the moment." she said as she turned around to leave.

Romulus's face changed from a lighthearted smile to a rock solid sneer. As he rose from his chair his wrinkled hands changed to fists. "Anye Rosalynn Everdyne, you will not leave this estate until our business is concluded!" he yelled loudly.

Anye stopped where she stood and turned back around to face the old man, meeting his eyes with her own. "And what business exactly would that be, Father? I've already given you my answer."

"I have already entered talks with Count Melvus, Anye," he explained. "You and his son are to be wed. I've had enough of this foolish rebellion of yours. The Marshall boy was acceptable, but he is gone. It's time to move on!"

Anye's eyes widened with rage. "How _dare_ you speak of Leonard in such a way!? And I am a knight in the king's service! You cannot force me to marry!"

"Anye, I am a powerful man," her father said quietly, though his anger was obvious. "I can end your service if I wish, and if you do not agree to this I will do so whether you like it or not."

The red haired girl looked back and forth from her mother, who was avoiding matching eyes with her, to her father. Her hands were in fists, trembling with fury. She was tempted to bear her sword against him out of pure rage and spite, but knew that would solve nothing.

"I'm sure you'll be quite happy with me," Jean said quietly as he smiled. His grinning face only seemed to anger her more though, like he was insulting her.

"Silence yourself, you pampered twit!" Anye spurted out at the man. "I do not wish to be wed to you nor anyone else! Father, if you think your threats will stop me from leaving, you are sorely mistaken."

Jean was taken aback, but Romulus grinned and chuckled slightly. "Did I mention that she has a bit of a temper?" he jokingly asked.

Jean, with his face still full of surprise as he looked at the raging woman, slowly nodded his head. "Yes, you may have mentioned it."

"So, you will continue to rebel, Anye?" Romulus asked. "You intend to force my hand?"

Anye glared angrily at her father, but knew full well that he wasn't joking. A man in his position could end someone's career instantly if they wished, as well as propel someone through the ranks of social status. She knew that her pride would never allow her to give in to his demands, though.

"Good night, Father, Mother," she muttered quietly. "I have my duties to attend to." She turned around and walked out of the room, leaving Arnold standing alone before her parents.

"Anye!" her father yelled out to her as he followed her to the open door. "Anye, if you walk out of this house you _will_ regret it!"

Anye continued her stride towards the main entrance and, without even turning around, opened the door and marched through it. She never had the intent of listening to what her father wanted, no matter what the consequences were. She was stubborn to the end, and knew that somehow she would get out of whatever it was the old man had planned.

______

The walk back to the castle from the Everdyne estate was lengthy to say the least. Had it not been for a merchant traveling along the same road as her, Anye would have had to march the entire way back, a journey which would have taken until dawn easily. She was still irritated at her father's latest attempt at forcing her into a marriage, but had calmed down considerably.

As the merchant's carriage rolled off Anye approached the main gate to the castle she was sworn to protect. It was an impressive display of architecture resting on a cliff overlooking the western sea. As the years went by it became more of a home for her than the family estate had ever been.

An armored soldier wielding a pike approached her as she made her way towards the door. She wasn't wearing her issued armor, but she was wearing one of her dress uniforms, so the guard on duty stopping her before granting her entrance was somewhat surprising.

"Sorry miss," a gruff sounding voice said from beneath the guard's helmet. "The castle is off limits to civilians, especially at this hour."

"Stand down, guardsman," Anye answered. She turned to face him without realizing that her sword was still strapped to her waist.

"And what would a pretty girl such as yourself need with a sword?" the guard asked as he pointed to the blade. "Surly not to defend yourself," he joked with a gruff laugh.

"Watch your tongue, guardsman, or I'll have you reported to your captain," Anye replied slyly as she pulled part of her blade from its sheath, showing the insignia of the Holy Knights engraved in the steel; two crossed swords in front of a shield all within a circle surrounded by lines symbolizing the magic the unit used. "Now do you know who I am?"

The guard, upon seeing the crest, immediately brought himself to attention. "Beg your pardon, Captain Everdyne," the guard replied nervously. "I didn't recognize you!"

"At ease, Cole" she said with a sigh as the blade slid back inside its sheath. "How goes the night watch?"

"Nothing new to report ma'am," the guard replied with a salute. "Oh, but I was told that Captain Sturmwind was looking for you earlier. I think I heard him and Sir Astley training in the courtyard."

"Thank you, Cole," Anye replied, although she was surprised at the report of her friend training in the middle of the night. Still, the news lifted her spirits slightly. "Return to your duties. I'll find Glenn myself."

"Yes, ma'am."

Anye entered the castle grounds and looked up at the sky, taking in the sight of the stars and the moon. She wasn't sure how long she'd been gone but fatigue was starting to get the better of her. She assumed it was sometime after midnight, but there was no way to be sure.

As she continued to walk through the deserted castle grounds the sound of metal clanging grew louder. "It looks like Cole was right," she mumbled to herself. A turn around another corner led her to the area where the kingdom's lancers commonly trained, where she found the armored figures of Glenn Sturmwind and Amador Astley dueling with their lances. Rather than interrupt the bout she decided to watch the two for a moment before making her presence known.

Glenn Sturmwind was a well-built man with light skin wearing a blue colored set of light armor. It was crafted out of a mix of leather and polished thin steel that reflected the moon's light in an almost surreal sort of way. Rounded shoulder pads adorned the armor, protecting his arms from overhead assaults while helping to deflect enemy blows. Amador Astley's armor was similar in design but was darkened steel with jagged edges and spikes along the shoulder pads.

The choices in armor design were clear indicators of how different each fought when compared to the other. While Glenn preferred a more agile and defensive approach to combat, Amador used more power and strength to overwhelm his opponents. Both of the men had been recognized for their prowess and skill with the lance, but Glenn always seemed to come out on top when they were compared. A bitter rivalry formed between them over the years as a result, which had led to many fights similar to the one currently happening.

After Glenn deflected some of Amador's attacks, Anye saw that Glenn had noticed her. Several more jabs were made with Amador's weapon, but Glenn dodged each one of them before leaping against a wall and pushing off of it, pinning his opponent down to the ground with his foot and knee. Holding the point of his weapon to Amador's neck, he spoke.

"Not bad," Glenn said as he breathed heavily for air, "but still not good enough, either. I thought you would have learned to make sure you can actually live up to what you boast before running your mouth. You're lucky I don't have you reprimanded."

Anye grinned and slowly clapped her hands at the result of the duel. As she walked towards the pair, Glenn got to his feet and allowed Amador to get up. "Impressive, Glenn," she commented, ignoring the irritated grunt coming from Amador.

"Well thank you, Anye," Glenn replied.

"Well, if it isn't the lovely Anye Everdyne," Amador sneered as he picked up his lance.

"That's _Captain_ Everdyne to you, lieutenant," Anye replied. "I suggest you go clean yourself off. There's mud on your armor." Amador's face started to match the angry expression she had seen on her father earlier in the night, but he remained silent and stormed off into the adjacent barracks. Turning her attention back to Glenn, she sighed. "I was told you wanted to see me?"

"Ah yes," Glenn answered as he cleared his throat. "I went to your quarters earlier but I saw you had to leave for your family's estate. Is everything alright?"

"It's nothing. What did you want to see me for, Glenn?" Anye persisted. She didn't want to seem cross but it was late and she didn't feel like getting into a drawn out conversation with him, though a small part of her wanted to.

"Sorry," Glenn replied as he rubbed the back of his head. "His Highness, Prince Robert, will be leaving for Mitus' capital city in the morning to negotiate terms of peace with the emperor."

"I know that already," Anye replied. "We were tasked with selecting twenty soldiers from each of our units to act as an escort a week ago."

"Yes, well plans have changed," Glenn said back to her. "King Justin wants you to go with them personally." Anye was stricken with surprise, and gawped at her comrade in disbelief. "As you know, I was supposed to go, but His Majesty insisted that I remain here to protect the castle and send Amador with you instead."

"You're serious, Glenn?" Anye asked with a sound of elation.

"Quite..." Glenn raised an eyebrow at the woman as he observed her face go from shock to complete joy. "Why are you so happy about this?"

Anye's face was lit with glee. With news of the escort assignment she didn't need to worry about her father or his schemes until she returned, and by that point she would have thought of a plan of her own to evade being caught in his marriage trap.

"Hello?" Glenn persisted as he waved a hand in front of Anye's face.

Anye blinked herself back to reality when his hand passed in front of her. Her joyfulness had confused the man and she only now realized it. She composed herself and wiped a loose strand of hair from her face before she spoke. "I'm sorry, Glenn. The news couldn't have come at a more perfect time."

Glenn raised his eyebrow at the woman a second time in response. "Your father again, I take it?"

Anye nodded her head. "This time he's threatening to end my career. At least now I have some time to think of something," she commented as she crossed her arms.

"Don't worry about it," Glenn replied. As he spoke he placed one of his armored hands on her shoulder. "I'll see what I can do about your father while you're away."

"Thank you, Glenn," she answered.

The two remained silent for a moment in the moonlight. Anye would have bid any other companion good night by then, but it was different with Glenn. The two had become very close friends during their time in the military, each moving through the ranks of their respected divisions quickly, and a friendly competition formed because of it.

But there was more to their relationship for Anye than was common knowledge. Although she wouldn't admit it to anyone she felt particularly close to Glenn. She had only felt the same for one other man who had been a friend to both she and Glenn in their youth, a nobleman's son by the name of Leonard Marshall. They were to be married, but he lost his life in battle some years ago during a surprise attack by Mitus in the eastern reaches of the kingdom. The loss affected both of them greatly, and prompted her to becoming more reclusive over the years. As time passed though, she unexpectedly found herself more and more attracted to Glenn.

Glenn was married however, and she wouldn't dare attempt to destroy his marriage. If word had gotten out that the only man she was interested in was married after, the slander alone would be enough to destroy her reputation. She couldn't allow that to happen and kept her feelings to herself, slowly becoming the hardened woman everyone knew.

A moment later, the two broke away from each other. The hour was late and Anye would now be marching with the prince at dawn along with forty other men and women, which unfortunately included Amador. It wouldn't do her well to be sleepless before they set out.

"Well, I think I should head to bed," she said as she turned away from her companion. "Thank you for your help, Glenn. I appreciate it."

The lancer smiled and nodded his head. "Of course, Anye. Sleep well. I'll see you at the gate before you depart to help with the inspection of the troops."

Anye nodded her head in acknowledgment. "See you in the morning then," she replied, and walked off into the darkness towards her room.

______

Twenty armored soldiers stood in a rectangular formation mirroring twenty armored lancers. In the middle of the two was a white steed with ceremonial gold armor mounted by a man dressed in a matching set of armor, augmented with a cape that had Delrich's seal stitched on it. Standing in front of the elegant horse and rider were Anye, dressed in a freshly polished suit of white armor with a cloak tied at her shoulders, Glenn, with the same armor he had worn the previous night only cleaned to perfection, and Amador, who had done the same with his armor but was wearing a cloak that hung over his back similar to Anye.

The sun had just barely started to rise over the hills to the east, casting long shadows across the castle grounds. The mist from the nearby ocean kept the air cool, and reflected the morning light in a myriad of colors. The two knight captains had finished their troop inspections only moments before the elegantly armored man had entered the archway where they were waiting.

"Good morning to you, Captain Sturmwind, Captain Everdyne," the prince greeted from the saddle of his horse. "Quite the monumental day, isn't it?"

"Yes, Sire," Anye answered.

"My Prince," Glenn started to say as he and the others took a knee. "The soldiers of your escort have been inspected and are ready to depart at your leisure."

Prince Robert Ferdinand Delrich the Fourth was well liked by his people and respected in the country's political circles. His father had him trained in both the ways of the sword and the spear from an early age. He wasn't very adept at the magical arts that were practiced by the Holy Knights, nor was he as deadly with a spear like the Dragon Knights as a result. He was well built due to his militaristic upbringing however, and he was also quite humble and polite to any who addressed him.

The prince kept his flowing blonde hair tied back, similar to Anye's, exposing his bright blue eyes. His gaze, coupled with his demeanor, seemed to command respect from any who would approach him, making him a perfect choice for the task at hand; negotiating peace with their neighboring warring country, the Empire of Mitus.

"Thank you, Captain Sturmwind," the prince replied. "You may all rise." Each of the three kneeling knights stood and faced their sovereign. As the prince looked at each one his gaze fell upon Glenn once more as he spoke. "I understand you will not be accompanying us on our journey to Mitus, Captain, but that your lieutenant will be in your stead?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Glenn answered. "Your father, King Justin, wished my presence here to help defend the kingdom and that I send sir Astley in my stead."

Prince Robert turned his gaze to the darkly armored Amador Astley. "Lieutenant, I hope you understand the expectations I hold for the Dragon Knights, especially those given the rank of an officer."

Amador bowed his head to the prince before him. "Of course, your majesty," he said. "I promise you will not be disappointed in my presence here."

Prince Robert nodded his head to the individual before turning lastly to Anye, who stood patiently next to the two lancers. "Captain Everdyne, it is always a pleasure to have someone as beautiful as yourself at my side. It is also reassuring knowing your skill with the blade."

Anye bowed her head with a smile. "Your Highness, you flatter me," she said lightheartedly.

"Not at all," the prince commented back to her. After taking a deep breath and looking over the troops that would be accompanying him, he looked back at the three knights in front of him and smiled. "If everything is in order I think we should depart."

"Yes, Sire," the three of them said in unison.

Glenn turned to Amador and nodded at him to take charge of their platoon. Once Amador was with the group Glenn looked to Anye and smiled. "Be safe, Anye."

"And you, Glenn," she replied with a smile before turning away to take charge of her own group of soldiers.

Once Glenn moved to the side, Prince Robert moved his arm out in front of him. Within a moment of the gesture, both Anye and Amador vocally gave the order to begin marching. The prince and his escort began marching forward through the castle gates and into the open terrain, officially beginning their trek to the neighboring country of Mitus.

Anye was thrilled to be both out of the castle and away from her father. She was also appreciative that Glenn was doing what he could to stop her father's plan, but she felt that the responsibility was on her shoulders to find a way around the predicament. Now there was plenty of time to think during the journey.

After the group had passed through a small town along the road outside of the castle's gate, Anye heard Amador begin speaking with the prince and was keen to listen in on the conversation. She didn't like the man at all, and with good reason, but the king had granted him an officer's rank in the military. He was recognized as a knight of the realm for a reason. Such an honor by itself was enough to deflect most accusations about one's character.

"My Liege, what say you for a little extra protection in the sky?" the dark armor-clad lancer asked.

"I have no objection, Lieutenant," Prince Robert answered. "We are at war after all, truce or not."

"My thanks, Your Highness," Amador replied.

The prince ordered the convoy to halt and Amador stepped forward. He unslung his lance from shoulder and held it vertically in front of him. Everyone stood in wait as he prepared the spell taught only to lancers knighted into the Dragon Knights to summon their dragon companion to their side.

The magic itself wasn't a closely guarded secret by any means. It was simply a summoning spell taught to lancers which was unique to each knight and dragon. The dragons themselves were kept within the castle and were only able to leave when called by their human counterpart. To ensure that the dragons couldn't run away and wreak the havoc they had done in the past they were housed in special stone stables when not summoned. When they were with their human they were bound to them by a magical link. If the lancer felt that the dragon was becoming unruly or was injured and needed to return to the castle they merely needed to chant a return spell and the dragon would be whisked back to Delrich.

As the group watched Amador perform the summoning spell with his lance the wind picked up around them. Dust in the air formed a small whirlwind around Amador as a portal formed in the air above. Moments later, a glass-like seal in front of the portal shattered as a moderately sized black-scaled dragon flew through. The creature circled the group once before it landed at Amador's side and the dust settled.

"Hello, Oscar," Amador greeted the noble beast. He patted his armored hand on its scaly snout and grinned. "To the sky with you. Act as a lookout."

The dragon, not incredibly large but of a sizeable enough mass to carry a person or two, spread its wings as the command was given, and flapped them heavily to lift into the air, eventually reaching high enough to keep a good watch over the group.

"Very good," the prince commented as the dragon soared overhead. "Let's keep moving then."

"Yes, Sire," Amador replied with a bow.

Anye gave the order to her soldiers as well to keep moving. Over the years she had seen many dragons summoned to the battlefield so she wasn't very impressed by that one. Without giving a second thought to the matter, she returned to her duties keeping watch as they marched, though she couldn't help but contemplate how to outwit her father's latest marriage scheme.

______

It took roughly a week of nearly constant travel for the small convoy to reach its destination. The imperial city of Mitus, capital of the empire, stood tall at the border of what was known as the Frontier Lands, far to the east of Delrich. The kingdom and the empire were bordered naturally by a mountain range commonly referred to as The Devil's Spine, a stretch of black-rocked mountains aptly named for their menacing appearance. Much of the architecture in Mitus was built with the black stone mined from the mountains, giving the city a foreboding appearance to any who did not frequent it. Due to the populace's encouragement of the study of black magic the areas both surrounding and within the city itself appeared to be twisted in a manner that nature would never have intended. Had Anye not battled against the empire's army before she would most likely be horrified at the sight of such things, much like many of those under her care appeared to be.

As the entourage approached the imperial walls they were met by a man dressed in robes of jet black with red and gold trim who was accompanied by a group of four men in shimmering black armor. He was balding, with silver hair lining the sides of his head. The wrinkles on his face showed that he was particularly old, but the cold stare he gave to the group told Anye that he was no fool and knew exactly who they were and why they were there.

"Prince Robert Ferdinand Delrich the Fourth," the old man greeted. "We've been expecting you, Your Highness." He stepped forward and bowed his head, obviously knowing the repercussions for not showing such a display. "I am Chancellor Breen, in service to his eminence, Emperor Rosch Gregorious Mitus. Welcome to our lands."

"Thank you, Chancellor," Prince Robert replied. "It pleases me that our two countries can finally come together to negotiate a peace. After so many years of violence, hatred, and bloodshed, it is long overdue."

"Our emperor feels the same, Your Majesty," the chancellor said back. As he rose his balding head up to look at the visitors his hand waved in the air. A moment later, the massive gates leading into Mitus opened as if pulled by invisible chains. "We will guide you to the imperial palace, where you can rest before negotiations begin. Quarters for your escort have also been arranged."

"You have my thanks, Chancellor," the prince said.

The elderly robed man and his armored guard stepped through the gate first. Prince Robert and his protective detail followed. Amador's black dragon circled the city above in the event of an emergency, but against the black color of the stone buildings the creature actually looked right at home.

The traveling guard and the prince were met with stares comprised of envy, fear, and disgust from the citizens of Mitus. The two countries had been at war with each other for roughly a century, so animosity without provocation seemed normal. The soldiers from Delrich held the same angry gazes in their eyes as well. Everyone wanted peace and to stop the killing, but after losing loved ones to enemy blades the grudges were hard to drop.

It was during their short walk through the city that Anye truly felt the concentration of magical energy she had heard about. Although she had fought and felled many dark knights of Mitus, who wielded the forces of black magic on the battlefield along with their swords, she had never felt its power so condensed in one place. To those sensitive to it, it was almost enough to make one dizzy.

Along the walls of the many guard towers that lined the streets Anye saw what looked like cannons that simply floated in the air. Children played games by throwing rocks with their newfound powers, and single men performed tasks that would normally require many. Such things would never be allowed by Delrich's royal family, if not for their innate fear of such types of magic but for fear of sparking a revolution by practically giving every citizen weapons of immense power. The fact that they allowed the officers of the Dragon Knights to learn a summoning spell was risky enough by their standards.

As the group approached the emperor's palace it became more apparent how powerful the sorcerers of that nation really were. In front of the group stood not a castle fit for a king, but a fortress bursting from the seams with magical energy. The fortress's grounds were adorned with statues of previous emperors. Military units marched around in formation and the tallest tower of the structure rose through the middle of the grand building like a massive pike.

"Your Highness, his eminence has requested that you trust and accept his hospitality. As such we ask that only one of your escorts accompany you throughout the imperial palace grounds," the chancellor stated with a bowed head as they entered the grand hall of the building. "I assure you that you have nothing to worry about."

"I understand the emperor's request," Prince Robert replied with a cautious tone. "However, would it be acceptable to allow two of my knights to accompany me instead of just one?"

The chancellor looked around himself as he contemplated the request. Anye knew full well that the prince didn't feel safe or comfortable at all in such a place, and was fully prepared to argue on his behalf if she needed to. As she looked around her soldiers she saw that Amador was uncharacteristically relaxed. She had known him to be irritating and arrogant, and he often came across as keeping his cool when he was really panicking, but at that moment he genuinely looked relaxed. Before she had a chance to say anything though, the chancellor spoke once more.

"I do not think the emperor would object. He would understand your concern and desire for protection," he explained.

"Thank you, Chancellor," the prince replied. As the royal figure dismounted his horse one of Mitus' caretakers approached and took the reins. As the caretaker took the horse away, Prince Robert turned and addressed both of the commanding knights in his charge. "Anye, Amador, I would have you both be my escorts during the negotiations."

Both knights bowed in accordance with the prince's request, voicing their recognition of the order and then straightened their backs once more.

"Well then, if that is settled I'll have one of my servants guide you and your escorts to your quarters, Your Majesty," the chancellor continued, clapping his hands to summon another person. "The rest of your countrymen may set up camp within the palace grounds if they wish. We will send for you at sunset."

"Thank you again, Chancellor," Prince Robert replied. "I will see you then."

______

Anye's initial feeling of caution did not disperse during the day she spent guarding the prince with Amador, and his unusual calmness didn't help. If the two spoke to each other it was very short and to the point. She did take comfort knowing that the man had at least not forgotten his rank when addressing her, though. The sheer size of the imperial palace was intimidating, and her lack of information about it kept her on her guard.

While the prince toured the massive fortress of the emperor, both Anye and Amador had been granted permission to observe some of the empire's training methods. From what they could tell the basic infrastructure of their military didn't differ from Delrich's much at all. The main difference was that instead of white magic, which was used primarily for defensive purposes and healing the wounded, specialties of the church's clerics and the Holy Knights, Mitus' army learned black magic for dealing out as much damage as possible in a short amount of time.

Over time the soldiers of Mitus' military would learn basic spells from casting a fireball or freezing spell to enchanting their weapon with various attributes such as poison, lightning, or various other elements. Enough practice would develop those skilled enough into the deadly warriors Anye had faced known as the Dark Knights. Delrich had touched upon the study of black magic in the past, but it was found that without close supervision the use of those types of powers could warp the users mind, corrupting them and in some cases transforming them into something inhuman. Because of those risks, Delrich outlawed the use of such types of magic entirely. This led those who still wished to study the mystic arts to excel in the white magic, allowing them to protect themselves and others from countless tragedies.

The sight of such powers was not something new to either of the knights, but to the prince it was mesmerizing. He spent the entire day clamoring on about the spectacular displays of might and magic Mitus' army held, regardless of what Anye had to say about the risks of it and the damage it had caused. The prince knew full well of his kingdom's history, but it didn't stop him from fantasizing about the possibility of a warrior who could wield both light and dark magic on the battlefield.

As the sun began to set over the western horizon, the echoes of footfalls reached Anye and Amador's ears. A pivotal moment in the histories of both Delrich and Mitus had arrived; the negotiations of peace between the two warring countries were about to begin.

The chancellor, dressed in the same robes he had been wearing earlier in the day, approached the chamber where Prince Robert rested, accompanied by two similarly dressed scribes. Anye turned and entered the room she had been guarding as they got closer to inform the prince that the time had come.

"Your Highness," she greeted as the door closed behind her. "Chancellor Breen is here to take you to the imperial conference room to begin the peace negotiations."

Prince Robert had changed into his political attire during his stay in the room; a chamber fit for dignitaries, decorated with fine cloths and furniture, lavish windows, and a balcony facing the western horizon. Polished black boots protected his feet, which were partially covered by a contrasting colored white military uniform. The trim of the outfit were the colors of Delrich's flag, white and blue, along with a golden rope hanging from his right shoulder. His hair was pulled back as it was during their journey, but it had been brushed and seemed to shine like the golden rope in the light of evening sun peeking through a window before fully setting.

"Thank you, Captain," the prince replied nervously. As he turned to face the woman, the buttons of his blouse reflected the sunlight brightly, forcing Anye to cover her eyes for a moment. The prince chuckled when he realized what he had done and promptly moved away from the light. "My apologies, Anye."

"Think nothing of it, Your Grace," she replied with a smile. "If you're ready we will accompany you to the emperor's chamber."

"Yes," the prince said. "Let's go."

Anye left the room first, presenting the prince as was proper etiquette, and stepped aside to let him through. When the prince followed, everyone present bowed their heads in respect to the royal figure. It was interesting to compare the two opposing men as they greeted each other, being dressed in completely opposite colors.

The chancellor led the trio to the emperor's conference chamber. It was a large room fit to hold hundreds of people, with drapes hanging from balconies high above covering the windows. Two massive and beautiful chandeliers hung above, lighting the room with thousands of lit candles accompanied by torches along the walls. In the center of the room was a long table covered in food and drink with a single man sitting at its head.

As soon as the chancellor led the prince to his seat at the opposite end of the table he immediately walked over to the other man and helped him up. His robes were similar to the chancellors except that they had much more detail. He was elderly, with a long gray beard. A golden jeweled crown sat on his head. Anye could see the coldness in his eyes as he glared at the visitors.

"Presenting his magnificence, Emperor Rosch Gregorious Mitus," the chancellor announced. "My Liege, I present to you Prince Robert Ferdinand Delrich the Fourth."

"Welcome to my empire, Prince Robert," the emperor greeted with a deep, booming voice. "I am delighted you have come all this way in your father's stead so that we may finally make peace between our nations."

"As am I," the prince responded with a bow. "I am grateful for your hospitality and openness to the idea of peace."

The emperor took his seat again, and the prince followed the action soon after. "Am I to assume that one of your companions is the famous Lady Anye Everdyne of Delrich's Holy Knights?" the emperor asked, shifting his gaze to the red-haired woman.

"You are correct, Emperor," the prince answered.

"I have heard many tales involving your skill with the blade, Lady Anye," the emperor continued. "You have felled many of my men on the battlefield, but it as an honor to meet you in person."

Anye bowed in a similar fashion as the prince did before. "Thank you, Emperor." When she picked her head back up, Anye shifted her gaze towards Amador. The look of disdain and aggravation on his face was priceless to her and she struggled to keep from showing her delight.

"Your Highness..." the emperor bellowed, shifting his attention back to him, "I grow weary of the conflict between our countries. The efforts of my forefathers to bring ever more lands under the empire's control have led to countless unnecessary deaths. For these acts, I apologize on behalf of the empire."

"My country has lost much during this war," the prince replied. "But my father would be pleased to know that you feel this way. He expresses his condolences for the losses your people have suffered as well."

The emperor nodded his head with a grin. "Well then, we shall dine first; afterwards the negotiations will begin."

______

Much to Anye's surprise, the leader of the empire was willing to accept nearly all of Delrich's terms for peace. All forces deployed within Delrich's borders would be recalled, all surviving prisoners of war would be released, and all personal belongings of citizens that had been plundered by raiding parties would be returned should they be tracked down. The only request the emperor had for the royal family of Delrich would be to send experienced healing mages to train their own people in the arts of white magic.

The finer details of the peace treaty were all politics that bored Anye incessantly, so she was very happy to be journeying back home. The mission had given her the time she needed to think of a way out of her father's ploy to marry her off if Glenn was unsuccessful, so she looked forward to the possible confrontation. Everything was set as the escort party formed around the prince in a protective formation. She walked over towards her own lieutenant to verify inspection before reporting back to the prince for the marching order.

"Lieutenant," she said. "Are the soldiers inspected and ready to go?"

The knight turned to face Anye and nodded his head. "Yes, My Lady. We are ready to march at his highness' command."

Anye nodded her head. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Await the order," she replied, and turned back towards the prince.

As she strode to her place beside the prince's horse she noticed Amador doing the same. She assumed he had just completed his inspection of the accompanying lancers in preparation for the journey home. Something seemed off about him though. She couldn't put a finger on what it was but he seemed anxious, perhaps excited by something. Nothing had happened to the prince's company, and none of the soldiers were granted leave to explore the city due to them still technically being enemies until the king finalized the peace treaty back in Delrich. There was no reason to confront him though, and assumed it was simply her dislike of his character.

"My Liege, the lancers in your escort have been inspected and are prepared to march at a moment's notice," Amador reported with some obvious hints of excitement in his voice.

"As are my soldiers, Your Majesty," she added. "Shall we give the order?"

"Yes," the prince replied quietly. "I long for the fields of our homeland with news of peace. Give the order."

Both Anye and Amador bowed their heads respectfully and turned towards their respective soldiers. They gave the marching order in unison and the sound of the forty-plus footfalls echoed throughout the black city. Admittedly she was ready to return home as well, and as they walked through the streets of the imperial capital remembered just how intimidating the place was. It was enough to make her tense up and remain on her guard quite obviously.

"Anye, you seem troubled," the prince said to her from his horse. "Something on your mind?"

"Nothing to worry about, Your Highness, I assure you," she replied.

"Please, share your thoughts with me."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," she answered after a slight pause. "We have been at war with Mitus for longer than both of our lives combined. There are sure to be those who wish to undo the peace you and King Justin have established with the empire for the sake of old grudges and whatnot."

"I understand your concerns, Anye," Prince Robert said. "But I do not think that any possible revolutionaries would dare attempt anything in their own capital. Such a thing would only make them enemies of their own home and strengthen the resolve of peace my father and the emperor have agreed upon."

"You should listen to His Majesty, _Captain_ ," Amador chimed in. "Regardless, we have the forty best men and women from each of our respective units, the most respected divisions of Delrich's military, serving as escort guard. If anyone dared attack us they would be dead before they could give the retreat order."

The prince found Amador's bold claim amusing, proving so with a few hearty laughs in response. "Lieutenant, your confidence is refreshing. Now let us-"

An explosion in front of them stopped the prince's words, and his company, in their tracks. Before anyone knew what was happening they were being bombarded with a combined force of arrows and magic from all directions. Several soldiers went down, either scorched or from arrow wounds, before they could even draw their weapons.

Anye drew her sword and readied her shield. Within seconds she had deflected two arrows and a fireball aimed at either her or the prince's horse. "My Liege, we must get you to safety!" she yelled out.

The prince nodded his head, but before they could move they were surrounded by a group of men, all dressed in dark colored robes and armed with swords. Open hands held a small fiery glow in place of a shield. Anye recognized them immediately as Mitus' light armor combat mages, soldiers who proved to be expert swordsmen as well as adept wizards similar to dark knights. They could cut an opponent down just as easily as conjure fire, ice, lightning, or any other type of magical attacks to fell entire groups by themselves.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Anye shouted at their attackers. "This is Prince Robert Ferdinand Delrich, ally of your leader, the emperor! You would dare commit this act of aggression against a sworn ally of your empire!?"

"We're no allies of Delrich," one of the mages yelled back to her. "The peace treaty isn't finalized until you return back to your precious kingdom."

"Your emperor has already called for you to lay down your arms and let us pass!" Anye yelled. "Would you disobey these orders?"

"Orders can be rescinded, Captain," the mage replied.

The group didn't give Anye or the prince enough time to say another word. They continued with their assault as soon as the one she assumed was their leader finished speaking. The sound of yelling and swords clanging against one another filled her head. She had to fight off two of the mages at once as soon as the fighting started. Their target was the prince, and it didn't look like they wanted to keep anyone else alive, if they even wanted _him_ alive.

Without heavy armor or shields to lug around the combat mages were more agile than Delrich's warriors, and their skill with magic allowed them to use projectile attacks as well as their swords. Luckily for Anye and the prince she was quite skilled with healing and protective spells, and managed to counteract most of the attackers' bombardment. The soldiers from her unit utilized a similar strategy as well, but many from both sides had fallen.

Anye realized that Amador was missing from his post defending the prince after a few minutes had passed. She thought it was possible he had fallen from a stray arrow or had been struck unexpectedly by one of the many magical attacks being thrown at them, but pushed the thought from her mind. She didn't like him, but she recognized his skill in combat and knew that he wouldn't go down easily. Still, his absence begged the question of where he was, though.

Her sword cut through the cloth armor of a third assailant as a large shadow swept over the chaos and caught Anye's attention. She looked up for a moment to see Amador's dragon swoop down into the fray with Amador riding on his back. The impact of the dragon's landing shook the ground and flung several of the attackers backwards. The dragon roared and fire flew out of its gaping jaw like liquid, setting the dark robed attackers ablaze.

"Amador, where the hell were you!?" Anye shouted at him. "You left His Highness undefended! Do you have any idea what could have happened!?"

Amador used his lance from his mounted position to sweep one of the attackers off his feet, plunging the tip through the attacker's chest when they landed on their back. "When the attack started I thought I saw one of the archers that shot at us and went after him. By the time I realized it was a trap you were already surrounded. Calling Oscar was the best way to get back to you and defend His Majesty, _Captain!_ " he yelled back at her.

Anye deflected one more attack and cut down another attacker before turning to face the prince and lancer again. Most of the attackers had been killed by now, their blood staining her sword and armor. Many of their soldiers had fallen as well. Only a few on each side remained. The bodies of the fallen all lay scattered around. Scorch marks from the combat mages' attacks and the blood of the slain covered the area. Luckily the prince was unharmed, although visibly shaken. His own sword was drawn and dripping with red liquid, indicating that while Anye had fought off the majority of the mages he had to defend himself at least once.

"Captain Everdyne, look out!" one of her soldiers shouted from behind her.

She quickly turned to see one of the last mages was charging towards her. The blade he carried was being held in both of his hands and had been set ablaze. He intended to overpower her and claim his prize before she could react.

He was fast as well. She barely managed to get her shield in place before the swing from the enemy connected. He hit her with such force that the shield shook itself from her grip and fell to the ground away from her. He came back around for another swing, but this time she was ready. Her blade met with his and deflected it around her. Sparks flew off of the enchanted metal as they slid across each other, threatening to blind her.

The mage continued his assault on the knight. Each attack he sent her way was met with her own weapon, now starting to glow with heat from repeated contact with the fiery sword. His exhaustion and visible anger were making him careless though, and Anye recognized the weakness quickly. She defended herself, waiting for the right moment to counterattack. It came when he tried a forward thrust with the blade. She easily deflected it to her side with her sword and spun into the attacker, bringing her weapon over her head in masterful display of swordplay and swung horizontally. The blade hissed as the hot metal slid through his flesh, removing his head. The fire surrounding the enemy sword ceased to be, and the attacker's body slumped to the ground at her feet...

Anye looked around quickly to assess the situation. It appeared that the enemy she killed was the last one. Only two of her soldiers and one of Amador's were still alive, along with the prince. "Prince Robert, it appears that the enemy-" Before she could finish speaking she was struck in the back of the head with a hard blunt object, the force of which knocked her off her feet and planted her face into the dirt of the road. The object that struck her pushed into her head, keeping her in place.

"Things never go as planned...do they?" a voice said from above her. "No matter, this could actually work out in my favor."

"What?" she mustered from the dirt. The ringing in her ears and the throbbing in her head kept her from being able to focus on what was continuing to happen around her.

"Anye, I'm surprised you didn't see this coming, especially with your great _intuition_ ," the voice said. "If I hadn't convinced the king to send me on this little expedition instead of that self-righteous clown, Sturmwind, this wouldn't have been possible."

Anye started recognizing the voice through the ringing in her ears as she heard the screams of her last remaining men falling to the ground, and then being silenced. "Amador? What...what are you doing?"

"Oh no, Captain, not me," Amador said. "I admit, this wasn't part of the original plan, but pinning the blame on you for the prince's untimely death suits my needs just as well."

Anye's eyes opened wide and she attempted to get to her feet. Her sword was still in her hands, gripped tightly, but the pressure being applied to the back of her skull had her pinned. "Amador, you can't do this!"

"Oh, but I can, _Captain_."

Anye heard the thump of Oscar's massive feet move around her. She realized that the blunt object holding her to the ground was the back end of Amador's lance, and he was using the dragon's weight to help to keep her down. "You won't get away with-AH!" Anye yelped in pain as the dragon's foot pressed down on her sword arm, forcing her to release the handle of the weapon.

Amador released the pressure on the woman's head and slid down from the dragon's saddle to pick up the blade. The dragon's weight on her arm put her in such pain that she couldn't move and watched helplessly as the armored traitor walked over her. "I will get away with this. Not you, Sturmwind, or anyone else can stop what's happening," he whispered to her. He laughed at her, sounding as if he'd gone mad, and then kicked the side of her head.

Stars filled her vision as she began to lose consciousness. The world around her started to go dark, and sound seemed to all but disappear completely. The dragon's foot lifted, releasing her from its weight, but there was nothing she could do. She was quickly losing consciousness, barely able watch what was happening while blood slowly exited the fresh wound on her head. She could hardly see the prince being held by Amador's cohort, apparently loyal his treasonous cause, and Amador himself slowly walking towards him with Anye's sword in his hand.

She tried to speak, to tell him to stop, but the words wouldn't come. Before succumbing to her injuries and passing into unconsciousness she saw Amador raise her blade towards the captive prince, and then slowly push it through his heart. The betrayer's maniacal laughter, mixing with the prince's agonizing screams, echoed in her head as she lost the strength to keep conscious. It fell to the ground as she finally slipped into darkness.

# Chapter 2

_Lost hope_

The weeks following Prince Robert's murder while on his mission of peace in Mitus were tumultuous. Only Anye and Amador remained after the assault, showing that Amador didn't even spare those who would aid him. When Anye had woken from her head injury, she found that her sword and shield had been taken from her and her armor had been stripped, having been replaced with prison garb. She tried not to think about what may have happened while she was unconscious.

She had been told that Mitus' guards rushed to the scene after a civilian told them they heard the groups fighting. By the time they arrived, Anye was already unconscious, the prince was dead with her sword still plunged through his heart, and only Amador and his dragon remained alive with the point of his lance held at her throat. According to their report Anye was a "warmonger" who couldn't stand the thought of peace coming for both her kingdom and their enemy, and had conspired with a renegade faction of the imperial army to stage the assault and blame Mitus. Such an accusation caused Mitus' emperor to withdraw from the offer of peace, claiming that if one such as her couldn't follow the royal family's orders then there was no reason to believe others would uphold the peace. As a sign of respect and sympathy for the king though, he did return Amador and Anye back to their kingdom so she could be tried, along with the bodies of the prince and the escort party.

Each attempt she had made to try and convince the guards of her innocence, be them of Mitus or Delrich, ended in failure and usually with their weapons hitting the bars of her cell accompanied by a stern reminder to "shut up". Anye knew that Amador was lying, plotting something that could only end in disaster for her kingdom at the very least, but nobody was willing to listen to her, not even the soldiers that were under her charge until recently. As much as she wanted to hold hope that someone would believe her, panic was starting to set in. She spent just under a week in the castle's dungeon before she finally had her first visitor. To her surprise it was her father. She hadn't thought about his marriage prospect since the day of the attack.

"Hello, Anye," the brooding man said in greeting. His tone was less than friendly and his facial features matched.

"Father," she replied with a mixture of hope and sorrow in her voice. "I hope you and mother are well."

"Your _mother_ has been in a state of depression since word reached the estate," he answered coldly. "We've been harassed by citizens of the kingdom and accused of conspiracy because what you have done!"

Regardless of everyone's lack of belief in her Anye was shocked. "What I've done? Father, I did my duties as a knight to protect his majesty! Amador is the betrayer but nobody will listen!"

"Your sword was the one found shoved through his chest, you ungrateful child!" her father yelled. "Sir Astley barely survived your little revolt and has been in mourning with the king since you two returned. You should be grateful he decided to spare your wretched life so that the royal family could see their son's murderer."

"Murderer!? Father, why won't you believe me?" she cried.

"Humph," he snorted. "You're no daughter of mine, you never were! I should have left you in that burning house where I found you."

Anye was speechless. Tears poured through her eyes as she fell to her knees against the iron bars of her cell, and watched as her father turned heel and left the dungeon with his escort. Never before had she felt so abandoned and hopeless.

______

Another day passed. Whispers of the king ordering Anye's execution reaching her cell. After her father had left her there to die she had lost any hope she still had of anyone listening to her, simply waiting for the time when the executioner would come for her. A storm outside the castle walls felt somehow appropriate in her dejected state. What had once been a bright future for the aspiring knight captain had turned into a dark, cold, and dishonorable end.

"Captain, I'm sorry, but we are under strict orders to-"

"I am both your and his superior officer, soldier. If I give you an order then that order takes precedence over his. Do you understand?"

Anye looked up towards the dimly torch-lit corridor leading into the dungeons that had become her home, listening to the faint voices of two men near the entrance. The sound of the rain and thunder echoing off of the stone walls made it difficult to hear what they were saying though.

"I don't care if he's under direct orders from His Majesty...takes his orders from me..."

Whoever the other individual was, he didn't seem to be friendly with the guards. The conversation actually piqued Anye's interest enough for her to make her way to her feet and press her face to the bars to try and listen better.

"...very well, sir, but I can only allow you a few minutes..."

"Guards, who's there?" Anye asked the two men standing in front of her cage. She didn't expect an answer, but with nothing left to lose she didn't see the harm in annoying the men any more.

As she expected one of them turned around and slammed his halberd into the bars, making a very loud clanging sound. "Shut up, you. You'll only speak when spoken to."

"And as such she shall speak to me now," the voice of Glenn Sturmwind said from the shadow of the corridor. He emerged a moment later dressed in all of his armor, holding his open-face helmet under his arm. The helmet was adorned with two wings that reached behind his head from his temple like two outstretched dragon wings and colored to match the rest of the armor. Only the Knight Captain of the Dragon Knights was given such equipment to identify him in the field.

"Guardsmen, you may leave your post," Glenn ordered. "I wish to speak to the prisoner...alone."

"Sir, we're under direct orders from-"

"Lieutenant Astley, yes I know," Glenn replied quickly without hiding his annoyance. "Have you forgotten my rank, guardsman?"

"Captain, sir."

"And does the rank of Captain not hold more weight in its orders than that of Lieutenant?"

"Yes...no, sir!"

"Then I fail to see the issue. Leave, that is an order," he told them coldly. "If Sir Astley has a problem with it he can see me in my private chambers."

Both guards gestured with a salute and quickly exited the dungeon the way Glenn had arrived.

When the echoes of the armor bouncing had silenced Glenn let out a sigh and looked towards Anye with a small smile. It quickly vanished when he saw the pitiful state of his close friend. "Anye, are you alright?"

"Nice to see you," she replied with an attitude. "Finally taken the time out of your busy schedule to visit me?"

"Anye, you must listen to me," Glenn told her as he gripped her bars.

She could see the look of distress in his face and dropped the visage of anger. Something had to be very wrong in the castle for Glenn to be so visibly worried about something. "What? Has Amador done something? You believe me?"

"Of course I believe you," Glenn told her. "But there's nothing I can do. Amador is in the king's ear now. He won't listen to a word I say. He's already threatened to strip me of my rank and throw me in here with you for sympathizing with you on more than one occasion."

"That's why you haven't been here," she said. "Glenn, are the rumors true? Am I to be executed, even without a trial?"

Glenn took a deep breath and slowly nodded his head before answering. "I'm afraid His Majesty has been...different, since your return from Mitus. I don't know what it is but he wouldn't be like this if he, and Her Grace, were simply in mourning. Amador has done _something_ to affect him, but without proof I can't do anything about it, rank or not."

"Is that why you've come, then? To say goodbye?" she asked sadly.

"No," he told her. "I'm here to get you out."

Anye stepped back in shock as Glenn lifted a key out of a pocket underneath his armor and opened the door to her cell. Her eyes swelled with tears as she could not contain her emotions. She immediately broke down and ran out to hug him. She hit him hard enough to knock the air out of him.

"Come on, we don't have much time," Glenn explained. "The guards are sure to have reported my actions to Amador by now. We need to get you out of here."

Anye backed away and dusted herself off. "But how? All of the corridors are patrolled, and if the king is going as mad as you say he'll have doubled the patrols."

"He already has, but there's another way. Come on," Glenn told her. He took her hand and a torch off the wall. "There are other passages throughout this castle that aren't patrolled. You just need to know where they are to use them."

The pair ran through the halls of the dungeon, ignoring the foul smell and moaning life-long prisoners that dwelled there. The darkness would have engulfed them had Glenn not taken the torch from the wall to light their way. Eventually they reached a dead end. The only thing around them that Anye didn't recognize was a large statue of a dragon against the wall resting on top of a stone altar.

"Glenn, this is a dead end," she said to him as she frantically looked for a door. It took her a second before she noticed Glenn wasn't looking around, but rather kneeling in front of the statue. "What are you doing?"

"Paying my respects," he explained as he got back to his feet. "The door is here, known only to very select few. Watch."

Glenn gripped his lance from the sling across his shoulders and rested the tip at a circular point on the statue's chest. With a heave, he pushed the lance forward and the circle on the statue gave way, acting like a keyhole for the weapon. He turned it clockwise until the sound of a click echoed from behind the walls.

Anye heard hidden weights slide against the stone within the walls as a panel on the floor in front of the statue slid away, revealing a staircase covered in dust and cobwebs. "Glenn, where does this lead?" she asked.

"To the cave beneath the eastern wall," he told her. "There is a horse, clothing, and...a weapon waiting for you there. You must take them and go."

She looked at him questioningly. "You're not coming with me?"

"I can't," he said. "I need to stay and find out what Amador is up to."

"I need to help!" she told him. "Amador framed me, I need to-"

"You'll be killed on sight, Anye. You need to leave!"

Anye stared at him. Her emotions stirred around; fury, sadness, understanding. She knew why he told her she needed to leave and she understood that if she didn't she _would_ be killed without a second thought, but leaving her closest friend to fight this battle without her didn't sit well in her mind.

"I'll come find you when I learn something, Anye. Trust me," he pleaded with her. "And don't worry about the guards. I'll tell them you jimmied the lock and overpowered me before running into the darkness. By the time I thought I'd caught up with you, you had somehow disappeared."

Anye's anger quickly left her as she looked into Glenn's eyes. He was begging her to go, to survive. She didn't want to, her heart wanted her to stay, but her mind told her it was the right thing to do. She nodded her head and started to walk towards the hidden passage. She stopped for a second though, and turned back to face the man who had set her free.

She either wasn't thinking clearly or circumstances had forced her to no longer care. She ran back up to Glenn and embraced him passionately on the lips. She caught his surprise, but noticed he didn't push her away either as she concluded the kiss. Her emotions ran wild with excitement and sadness. She was finally giving herself to the man she cared for, but knew that they couldn't be together. She needed to take what joy she could from the moment before it was over.

Eventually she pulled away, and felt lightheaded for a moment after. When she looked up at Glenn she thought she could see a mixture of utter shock and happiness in his eyes.

She backed away and, before heading towards the passage she smiled at him. "If I never see you again, I at least wanted to do that," she told him.

Glenn blinked his eyes for a second in disbelief before coming back to reality. "Right...be safe, Anye," he told her. With a counter-clockwise twist of the lance the mechanism hidden in the wall activated again, closing the opening in the floor.

With no way back and no desire to get caught, Anye made her way through the darkness to the entrance of the cave. She worried about Glenn and how he would get out of the situation he had put himself in for her escape, but her primary focus at the moment had to be survival and escaping the kingdom. Returning to her family's estate for whatever belongings she thought may help was out of the question as well; if her father didn't turn her in, then the guards who were undoubtedly keeping an eye on her family would try to kill her. It was a painful thought, running away, but it was her only option.

Just like Glenn had told her, waiting at the mouth of the cave just out of the storm's reach was a brown horse from the castle stables. A sack and a sword rested on top of it. She rushed over towards them, opening the bag to see what Glenn had provided for her.

There was nothing particularly befitting of a knight, but Anye realized that was for the better and was probably intentional. Inside the sack was a small pouch of gold coins, a small sailcloth, and some clothes consisting of a pair of old boots, a leather belt, a few pairs of trousers, a couple of shirts, and a hooded cloak. All of the clothing was designed for a man, likely Glenn. She doubted he had gone out to buy clothing for her and had just grabbed whatever he could spare. The sentiment touched her and she smiled at the thought.

The sword that rested along with the clothes Anye recognized immediately. Her suspicion was confirmed as soon as she pulled the blade from its leather sheath. The emblem of the Holy Knights was engraved on it, proving that the blade was her own as well as the one used to rob Prince Robert of his life. Somehow, Glenn had managed to sneak the blade away for her. For what reason he made sure she had that weapon she didn't know, but she assumed it was to let her know that he wouldn't forget what had happened and that she shouldn't either.

"Glenn, how did you manage this?" Anye asked herself as she looked down at the steel. The thought was interrupted by a bright bolt of lightning followed by a loud crack of thunder that reminded her of the situation. The storm conveniently provided the perfect cover she needed to get away.

She quickly changed out of her prison garb and into the clothing provided, attaching the sheath to the belt on her waist and wrapping the cloak around her for protection from the weather. Everything else she kept in the sack which she slung over her shoulder. When she mounted the horse, she turned back to look at the cave she had escaped through.

"Be safe, Glenn."

She turned the horse out to face the storm and took a deep breath before pulling the cloak's hood over her head. She had no idea where she'd go, but she knew she had to go somewhere. She heeled the horse to get it running and galloped into the rain.

______

Sunlight broke through the treetop canopy to Anye's camp in the forest far to the south of Delrich's castle, waking her from another troubled sleep. Her ride through the dark storm had been far from pleasant. Not only did she need to avoid being seen by anyone out of fear of being turned in, she also had to deal with the torrential rain and winds. If that wasn't bad enough, when she reached the relative shelter of the southern forest and made a tent out of the sailcloth, she constantly heard the voice of her father repeating his last words to her. The uttering mixed with her recurring dream of fire, which combined for an especially bad series of nightmares while she slept.

Regardless of the dreams, she did manage to get some rest and come up with a plan. Mitus was officially still at war with Delrich, and even though most of the hostilities between the two nations had temporarily stopped, fleeing to the imperial capital was out of the question. North of Delrich and Mitus were the snow plains of Toran, and to the south through the forest was the neutral nation of Belrun.

Toran and Delrich had an alliance which allowed the kingdom to herd dragons from the northern peaks for the Dragon Knights in exchange for protection, and for goods manufactured in Delrich. The alliance also meant that they were at odds with Mitus and would likely report her presence to the capital if she were discovered, so Anye ruled out that possibility as well.

Belrun remained neutral in the war against Mitus, wishing not to provoke the sorcerous empire from attacking them at their harbors in retaliation for supporting Delrich, or the latter pushing through the forest and razing their farmland if they chose to aid Mitus. The sheer amount of land under the kingdom's control provided a large enough supply of people to keep their army and navy formidable regardless, but they still preferred to remain out of the conflict. Since Anye was already in the bordering forest and there was no real reason for them to turn her over if discovered, continuing south seemed like the best choice. The port towns within the kingdom also provided transportation to other lands beyond the ocean, so leaving the continent was also an option if the need arose.

Luckily the road leading through the forest connecting the two kingdoms was hardly ever populated. The only location she expected to find anyone besides random traveling merchants was at the border tolls. Anye only needed to come up with a new identity for herself when questioned by Belrun's guards. She'd sneak around it to get out of the forest away from the road, just as she'd snuck in, except the toll was literally the only way in; at the edge of the forest was a gorge that dropped at least two hundred feet and was about half as wide across. It stretched along the entirety of the forest edge, cutting off access completely except for the toll bridge.

Packing what little belongings the woman had with her took up very little time, but the words of her father hung over her still. It wasn't that he had practically disowned her that bothered her. The words that stuck in her memory the most were his angered admittance to something she had suspected since she was a child; Anye was not her father's biological daughter. The difference in hair color, her attitude compared to her younger siblings, the way she thought about things. All of those aspects had set her apart from her family, and although they had helped shape who she had become over the years, there was still the lingering feeling that she somehow didn't _belong_ there. Of course her parents had never admitted to her being adopted, and being the eldest child didn't afford her the option of asking an older sibling.

Anye also constantly thought about the other thing her father had said to her, the angry snap that he should have _left her in the fire he found her in_. She didn't remember being in any fire, but she did remember stories about her father when he was younger, as a knight in the king's service just about to start his political career. He had served in tours primarily in Belrun during some small revolution that was taking place as an ally from Delrich. From what she was told the revolutionaries weren't fond of Delrich, so King Justin had sent some of his men to defend the current monarch with the intention of preserving friendly relations with the southern neighbor. There was only one event from her lessons in history she could remember that matched how old she was to her father's time in service, an event referred to as the day of the S _ky Fire_ , and Sir Everdyne, as he was called then, was in Belrun at the time.

There was also the recurring nightmare about being surrounded by flame. She doubted it was a coincidence, but that only begged the question of why she was having the dream to begin with. If they were connected, it meant she was dreaming about the day her father saved her from burning to death in the _Sky Fire_ , but why was she dreaming about it at all? Had Anye's life not been so drastically changed she would spend more time thinking about it, but focusing on the here-and-now took priority. Still, that didn't mean she couldn't do some research on her origins.

The fire her father mentioned being connected to that historical event was a long shot, but it was all Anye had to go on. There was no way for her to help Glenn investigate what was happening with Amador and the king. She wanted desperately to return and help him, but she knew that would only result in either her or both of them being executed, with Glenn being branded as a traitor as well. South was her best and only option.

Anye had been thinking about what she should do so intently that she had arrived at the toll bridge without even realizing it until the massive structure loomed overhead.

The Belrun toll bridge was a marvel of architecture and design. Crafted out of stone and edged with silver and gold, the bridge had been built into each cliff-side of the gorge and had an arch on the underside supporting the structure's weight across the middle. Each end had a small tower where travelers would pay the toll to use the bridge to enter Belrun or Delrich, depending on where they were going. The towers also served as guard barracks and were appropriately fortified with archer positions and a lookout post on each of the roofs, just above a stained glass window of Belrun's royal seal; a visage of the people fishing, farming, and bearing swords in three separate segments.

A pair of armed guards stood outside of the entrance of the first tower. Unlike the knights and soldiers of Delrich, Belrun's military used very light armor crafted out of thin metals, cloth, and leather that left most of their arms and legs exposed. The heaviest part of their attire was the helmets, adorned with beastly horns. The naturally warmer climate of the area explained the extra skin exposure, but Anye preferred her full-body coverage in combat.

The soldiers of Belrun often specialized in the use of larger two-handed swords as well, ignoring the use of magic. This resulted in a much more physically imposing opponent, but also one whose defenses relied on the quick dispatching of their enemies. If you could block or avoid the powerful swings of their blades you could likely win the battle by outmaneuvering them and landing quick precision strikes.

"Hold, traveler," one of the guards said to her as she approached the tower's entrance. "State your business."

Anye was surprised. She hadn't expected to be questioned, though the imposition validated her assumption in needing a new identity. "Simply traveling, sir." She answered. "Is there something wrong?"

"Rumors of treason and conspiracy," he answered. "King Edward, to ensure his continued friendship with the king of Delrich, has ordered that all incoming travelers show credentials before being allowed passage across the bridge." His voice sounded strained and annoyed.

"Credentials?" Anye asked. She hadn't planned on needing any kind of identification. "I'm afraid I don't have any, I'm just a poor traveler. Who but noblemen and merchants carry credentials with them anyway?"

"I'm sorry miss, no credentials means no entry. King's orders," the other guard replied sounding just as annoyed with the rule as the first.

The situation didn't look good. She couldn't go back, and causing a scene would do nothing more than cast more suspicion on her. She had an idea though, and removed the hood from her head and shook her hair loose, letting it rest just above her shoulders. "Please sir," she pleaded. "I've heard the rumors from the capital city and wished to get away from there as quickly as possible. I've got little money and not enough clothes to stay warm if I headed north. Isn't there _anything_ you can do for me?"

The two men looked back at each other and then to her, filling their chests with air in an obvious attempt to impress the woman with their physical prowess. A large grin formed on their faces and they nodded their heads towards her. "I'm sure we could make an exception," one of them told her with some enthusiasm. "What was your name, miss?"

"Amy," Anye told them. "Thank you, um?"

"William!"

"And John!"

Anye feigned a laugh and bowed her head at the two guards. "Thank you, William and John," she told them. "Maybe I'll come by later to properly thank you for your kindness," she flirted.

"Of course, Amy!" one of them said to her. "Safe travels!"

Anye didn't like using her looks or implying certain actions to get her way, preferring to prove herself in a battle of wits or with the sword, but doing so did have its advantages. She of course had no intention of returning to the bridge to fulfill whatever disgusting ideas the two guards had, but she did intend on thanking them when she got the chance, somehow. At least now she was free to continue into Belrun to find out whatever she could about the day of the S _ky Fire_ and her father's tour of duty.

Anye bid the guards farewell and rode towards the tower to pay the toll to continue over the bridge and across the ravine. The view looking down at both sides of the cliff was spectacular, and comparing the forested edge of Delrich's side of the border to the open area leading to Belrun's villages and cities was remarkable. It literally felt to her as if the forest was forcibly cut off by some divine force right where she was standing.

She took in the natural beauty for a minute before moving on. She needed to make the best of her situation, and riding to the nearest village for a warm bed, hot meal, and some information was going to be the first start.

______

The view of the bridge's towers from the window in Anye's rented room for the night was serene. The ride across the countryside was peaceful enough without the fear of being discovered. She had very rarely been to Belrun, so passing as a simple traveler with little money and only a single blade to defend herself was easy, and if any men tried giving her a hard time she only needed to bat her eyes and charm them for a minute.

Glenn had left her enough money for food and lodging for at least a month, but that was it. Either he assumed she would be able to return home by then or really hadn't thought his plan through. Mercenary work was common in Belrun from what she had heard though, so hopefully finding a job wouldn't be too difficult. After she was able to support herself under her new name she would fully investigate any connection she might have to the infamous _Sky Fire_.

# Chapter 3

_The Tournament_

__

Anye's money dried up faster than anticipated. Finding mercenary work as a woman, with no armor or reputation, proved harder than she'd thought it would as well. A few odd jobs had come up here and there but nothing that would give her a decent enough wage to buy property or continue living out of the inn for much longer. And she didn't have the resources or the skillset to build a home for herself on unclaimed land.

Rumors from Delrich also spoke of the king losing his sanity, the war growing in intensity again, and a Dragon Knight being stripped of his rank and sent to the north, alone, to subdue a rabid group of dragons that had been terrorizing the herders there. She hoped it wasn't Glenn but there was no way for her to contact him to be sure.

In spite of all that, gathering information about the S _ky Fire_ event proved to be a little easier at least, but nothing she found was very conclusive about what had caused the event or where it actually took place. Nobody wanted to really talk about the event or how many casualties there were. Whatever solid information she came up with was kept written down in a small journal she had purchased.

A month passed since her escape from Delrich. Anye let her hair grow out some and kept it mostly tied back in a ponytail, leaving a few strands loose along the sides of her face while growing out her bangs. She had purchased new clothes she thought would be more fitting of a mercenary looking for work and a second sword for her offhand. Her skill with a sword and shield was well known even if her face wasn't, so she thought it would be less likely someone would discover her identity if she used two swords instead.

The town she had made a temporary home out of was Bridge Port, adeptly named for its proximity to the bridge leading in and out of the two kingdoms. It was the first or last stop for any travelers crossing the border, so it had a reputation as being a busy merchant town. It was also known to be a hub for information trade, provided you knew who to talk to and could pay the broker's fee. Ideally Anye would have kept moving further from the border to avoid any possible search parties, but decided against it with the argument that if anyone really was going to be looking for her in Belrun they wouldn't assume she stayed so close to Delrich.

"Amy, good morning," the old voice of the innkeeper said to her as she descended the stairs. "Sleep well?"

"As well as you could expect," she sighed. The consistent fiery nightmare had ceased, but new stresses kept her occupied at night.

Byron Stonemaker was the owner of the Bridge Port Inn, the oldest inn in the entire town with the lowest prices. He was a skinny old man dressed in civilian clothing and a robe. A long white beard hugged his face, and he had been a resident of the town longer than anyone else. He walked with a cane now, but in his younger days he was known to be a skilled swordsman and hunter who made his living adventuring to dangerous locales for a nominal fee.

"Still having a hard time finding decent paying jobs, I take it?" he asked. "You know I could always use a pretty face like yours in the tavern."

"I appreciate the offer, Byron," she told him, but ignored the comment. "Here's the money for last night."

Anye reluctantly handed him the money for her stay the previous night. Now she didn't even have enough for the next day unless she found something, and her hopes for that were dwindling. "Has anyone come to you posting any work I could take?"

"Nothing you'd like, I'm sure," he told her. "Andrew Burns is looking for someone to help tend to the animals on his farm...the McAlister's want to hire a nanny-"

The thought of caring for infant children made Anye shiver.

"That's what I thought..." Byron said with an old laugh. "And...oh yes. I just remembered there is something you might like."

Anye raised an eyebrow at the old man. "Well, what is it?"

"Lord Taggart's annual tournament is coming up in a few days," he told her. "He calls for all the strongest warriors in the land to battle it out for gold, glory, and in most cases women."

"A tournament? Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Anye asked him as she tried to hold back her annoyance. "I've been looking for work as a mercenary and nobody will hire me for a job. If I won a tournament I'd have enough reputation to overshadow my being a woman, Byron!"

"True, but there's a one hundred gold piece entry fee, and you said you're tight on money," he explained.

Anye's irritation turned immediately to disappointment and understanding. "A hundred gold coins?" she repeated. She didn't have enough left for another night at the inn, let alone enough for a spot in the tournament brackets with a cost that high, and if he had told her about it sooner she wouldn't have been able to stay at the inn as long as she had.

"That's also what I thought," the old man told her.

Anye slumped into one of the chairs of the inn's lobby where the old man worked and sighed. She felt hopeless again, but not as much as she had when she was stuck in the castle dungeon, but being homeless and poor was almost as bad. At least in the dungeon she would have been fed and sheltered until she was executed.

"I'll make you a deal, Amy," Byron said to her as he opened a drawer behind his desk. Before he continued to speak he pulled out a sack that jingled with the sound of coins and placed it on the counter where Anye could see it. "I'll sponsor you in the tournament."

Anye felt beyond confused. The old man had been kind to her, but never like that. "For what, exactly?" she asked. "And why? You never actually believed me when I said I could handle a blade."

"A cut of the prize money and a promise that you'll return to stay with me exclusively in Bridge Port until you purchase your own property," he explained to her. "I'm too old to fight in these things now but you can, and word of the victor of the tournament staying at my inn would boost business."

Anye got back to her feet and walked over towards the innkeeper carefully. "That's all you want?" she asked with suspicion.

"Amy, I won't deny that a night with you would be worth more than the share of the reward," he joked. "But you could use the help."

Anye stared at the old man before cracking a smile. Her eyes seemed to sparkle in the reflected sunlight from outside. She leaned over the counter and hugged him like she would her father when she was younger. "Thank you, Byron. I promise I'll come back."

"Ha, I know you will, Amy," he chuckled as he patted her on the back. He slowly pushed her off of him and looked at her seriously though, sharply contrasting the moment the two were having. "But be careful. Those men are ruthless killers. They won't hesitate because you're a woman, no matter how pretty you are."

"Trust me, Byron," she told him as she patted her long-time sword. "I know how to handle myself around _ruthless killers_."

______

The next few days had totally transformed Bridge Port. Banners hung for varying competitors from windows, traffic into and around the town increased dramatically, and people were out drinking and making bets about who they thought would win. Of course Anye didn't hear a single person make a bet in her favor, but she figured that would play to her benefit.

The day of the tournament arrived with a bang, and Anye waited patiently in the preparation area beneath the stands in the arena where the tournament would take place. Byron waited with her as she had designated him her coach, which also got him the best seats to see the action. Otherwise he would have had to purchase a ticket like everyone else and sit in the recently constructed stands.

Lord Taggart apparently spared no expense on the tournament every year. The nobleman who served as the regional lord owned a large expanse of land for his estate just outside of town which he used as the grounds to build the arena. Seating was set up around the small uncovered grassy area in the middle with a special booth at the top facing directly down the middle reserved for Taggart himself and his invited guests. Underneath the seats in the middle section was where the contestants waited for their turn in the brackets. The fighters were restricted from watching other competitors under the claim that it gave those yet to fight an unfair advantage. Only the registered coaches were allowed to go out and watch the fights from the sidelines if they wished, but they weren't allowed to reenter the prep area for the same reason.

Outside of the arena proper, shop owners from far and wide gathered to set up stands trying to peddle their wares to the other travelers who had come for the show, hoping they would want a souvenir to remember the event by. To any newcomer like Anye it looked like a giant, disorganized outdoor market that never stayed in the same place for more than a day.

Both Anye and Byron were alone in the prep room for the majority of the day. The other fighters hadn't entered the room yet, but they both knew they would soon. Lord Taggart had already been sighted making his way from his home to the arena, evidenced by the cheers of the people from outside and the music being played.

"You seem unnaturally calm, Amy," Byron said to her as he leaned on his cane. "Trying to hide any fear from your opponents?"

"It's hard to hide fear when you don't have any," Anye replied. "Even still you underestimate me."

"Overconfidence can be just as dangerous as inexperience, Amy," the elderly man warned. He stared her down a moment before chuckling softly. "You bet everything you own on yourself winning, didn't you?"

"Not that I had a lot left to begin with, but what of it?"

"Ha! Now I see how you're staying so calm. You're imagining the looks on everyone's face when you walk away with all of their hard earned money. The anger, shock, disappointment, confusion...how clever," he said.

Anye laughed in response. "I admit that thought has kept my spirits up, but that's not why I don't fear these men."

"Then why, pray tell?"

"Byron, I would wager that I have more training and experience with a sword than almost every other person in this tournament, and just as much as the rest." Her face tightened up, making her look dangerously serious, even if she was a beautiful woman. "I've cut down every enemy who stood before me, no matter how powerful or confident they were, except for one."

Byron looked at her surprisingly. While Anye never made her past known she had also never been as serious looking as that and the statement visibly shocked the old man. Anye hoped her display of skill in the fights to come would prove what she had been saying.

Their moment was interrupted when the echoes of heavy footfalls barreled in to the prep room. The other fighters had arrived to get ready for their turn in the brackets. Anye and Byron both looked at them as they entered. As suspected, nearly every one of them was a mountain of muscle or extremely toned man that had either a claymore, axe of some kind, or swords like Anye with them. Only one person who entered with the group stuck out from the rest.

The individual caught Anye's attention. He was young, possibly no older than fifteen, dressed in simple robes carrying an exceptionally crafted ornamented blue staff with some sort of pristine clear jewel floating at the top. His skin was brown, like the hair of her horse, and he had little to no hair on his head. She had never seen someone like him in person, but rather illustrations in history books back in Delrich. He was a member of the tribes that inhabited the Frontier, people who were extremely attuned with magic but were very rarely seen outside of their homeland.

The weapon he carried was unlike any staff Anye had seen before. The top of the weapon, where the magically charged stone floated, was made up of three golden rings. The outer ring of which was stationary while the other two within orbited around the stone. The base where the stationary ring was attached was crafted out of the finest looking gold. Two majestic looking wings were attached to each side of the base. The rest of the staff, the main body and bottom ornamentation, looked to have been made out of some sort of blue metal or wood that looked amazing and shimmered in the light.

Anye suspected he felt her presence when he entered the room. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her, just as she stared at him. He didn't show any kind of emotion, he simply watched her for a moment before continuing on to a bench where he sat and waited quietly. He didn't speak a word to anyone, and everyone left him alone in return.

"Amy?" Byron asked. "Amy, who is that boy? Do you know him?"

"No," she replied, but keeping her gaze on him. "He's a frontier tribesman, though. I didn't expect this."

"Expect what?" he said. "The boy is barely armed, and has no armor."

Anye shifted her gaze from the strange foreigner to her old companion. "You've never read about the people of the frontier? In all of your youthful years as an _adventurer_ you never once thought it would be wise to do some research on a potential adversary?"

Byron closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? I was stupid when I was young. I didn't understand the concept of 'know thy enemy' until I neared my retirement years. That and I never took a job that went beyond the Devil's Spine."

"I see," Anye said. She looked back at the boy who now seemed to be performing some form of meditation. "The people of the frontier don't commonly use armor and weapons like we do. They're said to be extremely well adept at the arcane arts, both light and dark. I wouldn't know personally as I've only been beyond the Devil's Spine once, and it wasn't to venture into the frontier."

"Oh?" Byron replied with interest. "Do tell?"

Anye's face tightened as she remembered the events of Amador's betrayal in Mitus. "Not right now, Byron. One of these days I might."

The old man grunted. "Well, don't wait too long, Amy. I don't exactly have all the time in the world."

"Contestants, if I may have your attention please!" a loud plump man yelled from the center of the room. "The first match will begin momentarily. Please wait for your names to be called before exiting the preparation area. If you do not comply you will be disqualified. Lord Taggart wishes you all the best of luck and looks forward to watching today's event. Coaches, you may take your seats by the side of the arena if you wish at this time."

"That's my cue!" Byron exclaimed. "Good luck, Amy! I'll be cheering for you! Ha ha!" The happy old man practically danced through the opening to the seating area on the ground. Anye would have scoffed at him but he had never been able to sit that close to the fighting before, let alone sponsor someone. He was allowed to be excited.

And so was Anye. Unfortunately, the first two names that were called didn't include her. She took a seat across the room from the brown skinned boy and turned back towards him. He was still meditating in his seat silently. There was something about him she couldn't place, something powerful. It unnerved her because she could usually feel how strong someone's magical talent was. The rumors about the strength of the people who lived in the frontier were told all over the world, and she assumed the people who had come to Bridge Port were going to witness some of that strength first hand whether they realized it or not.

The cheers from the crowd outside almost drowned out Anye's thoughts in her head. From the sound of things the first two fighters were returning competitors and crowd favorites. The sound of their weapons making contact with each other barely met her ears.

"Well look at this little princess we got here!" a gruff voice from behind Anye said. "I didn't realize Lord Taggart allowed frail little girls to fight! Ha!"

Anye turned around to see a large red-bearded man with a large axe in hand cracking jokes about her. Judging from his size and looks she guessed he was around forty years old, and his scars suggested he'd seen his share of fights, but he was also cocky.

"Is this how you win all of your fights, by trying to scare your opponent before actually meeting them face to face?" She said to him as she rose to her feet. She noticed the expression on his face change from humor to anger, which made her smile in return. "What's the matter? Don't like a woman who can stand up for herself against a _big strong_ man?"

"Bah! Do you know who I am, woman?" the buffoon yelled at her. "I doubt it, or you'd be wetting yourself right now."

"Anyone worth knowing doesn't go about taunting his opponents with idiotic jokes," she told him as she strode up to him. He was at least a foot taller than her, probably more because he was hunched over in his anger. "I suggest you control yourself before you become blinded by your stupidity."

"Why you little-" he said as he lifted his axe.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a heavily accented voice said from behind the brute.

Anye's would-be attacker turned quickly to see that the boy from the frontier had somehow appeared directly behind him without making a sound. The cold stare in his eyes made the large man freeze. Anye looked at the boy as well, surprised that he had intervened at all.

"Save your strength for your turn in combat," the boy continued. His gaze shifted to meet Anye's eyes. She felt something when he did, something powerful that the boy was keeping concealed. He stepped forward to go around the man, stopping just as he reached Anye's side. "You're going to need it." The boy continued past Anye and sat back down on another bench, resuming his meditation.

After the boy's stare-down with Anye and the idiot she wasn't sure if he was advising her aggressor against what would have been a very bad mistake, or warning her that she was going to need all of her strength if she faced _him_. Maybe it was both.

The sound of the crowd outside cheering shook both of them out of the trance they'd found themselves in. The muscle-head with the axe scoffed at Anye, annoyed that he'd been told off by a boy and a girl, but he stomped off and waited for his turn in the arena.

"Our winner for this battle is Marcus Williams!" Anye heard through the shouts of the crowd. The first round had been won, and now everyone in the waiting area listened intently for their names as the victor returned inside. The loser of the fight was given a choice of sitting on the sidelines to view the rest of the show or leave, embarrassed by their defeat. Byron had told Anye earlier that day that normally they left to avoid having objects thrown at them by their disappointed fans.

Following the returning victor, a younger man in light armor with a massive axe-shaped war hammer, who Anye had deduced was Marcus Williams, was the plump man from earlier who briefed them on the tournament's proceedings. "Amy Karst and Yarik Boulderson, you two are the next contestants. Be ready when your names are called!" he yelled at them, and then turned and headed back outside.

Anye checked her equipment and walked over towards the entrance to wait for her name. Her opponent, the man named Yarik, stood next to her. He was skinny, very skinny in fact. He also looked very young compared to the other contestants. Appropriately for his size, he had two blades at his waist like Anye, instead of the larger varieties of weapons the other competitors wielded.

The boy looked nervous underneath his armor. Anye saw him visibly shaking. "Are you alright?" she asked him.

"I'm fine," he said, but she could tell he was lying. "My father was a famous admiral in the kingdom's navy. Lot of pressure and all, you know."

"Best of luck to us both then," she replied. Anye thought his name sounded familiar when she heard it. She had read reports of Admiral Boulderson's exploits during her training. The boy had a lot to live up to, and his participation in the tournament was likely his father's doing as well as their match up, but there was no way he was going to beat her. She told herself that if she ever met the good admiral after her life returned to normal, _if_ it returned to normal, she'd have herself a word with the man for putting his son up to such a thing.

The oversized man called their names and the crowd started cheering. They both walked out next to each other into the bright sunlight.

The stands Anye had seen empty earlier were now filled to the brim with people. Children and young women waved homemade banners with the names of their favorite fighter and it was obvious that more than Bridge Port's population was in attendance. Even the sideline area where Byron cheered her on was packed full of people.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer yelled through a wooden cone. "Introducing; a young man on a quest to prove his manhood, hailing from the capital city of Belrun and son of Lord Admiral Anton Boulderson, his son...Yarik Boulderson!"

The crowd cheered the boy on as he waved his hands at the crowd and made his way to the far corner of the arena. The announcer hushed the crowd with his own hand signals and continued with the introductions. "A sell-sword with no home to call her own, seeking fame, fortune, and glory, I give you the mercenary...Amy Karst!"

The crowd's reaction to Anye taking her position was substantially less energetic than that of Yarik's, but she expected it. The boy was the son of a prominent admiral, close to the king and known throughout Belrun. Anye was a no-profile mercenary, and a woman at that. Had she not been thoroughly trained in swordplay and warfare the odds of her winning the tournament, let alone the first round, would be much lower. Luckily only Byron knew of her training, and she doubted if even he believed her yet, regardless of his sponsorship.

"Are the contestants ready?" the announcer asked. "Let me remind you that the death of the defeated is frowned upon, but not entirely unexpected. Should the defeated not yield to the blade of the victor, the victor may choose to finalize duel with blood. Only a yield, unconsciousness, or death will end the match. Understood?"

Both fighters nodded their heads as they pulled their blades from their sides.

"Then let the fight...begin!"

Anye took a step to begin running towards the boy but he was much quicker and got in front of her unexpectedly fast. He skidded to a stop while slashing rapidly and accurately. The crowd erupted into a mixture of cheers and laughter.

Anye deflected the attacks, realizing that his previous fidgetiness wasn't out of nervousness but rather magic enhancing his ability. It wasn't against the rules. Anye just hadn't detected it due to her focusing on the boy from the frontier. It looked like Yarik hadn't expected her to still be standing at that point either though, as his facial expression betrayed his surprise.

Luckily for Anye, part of her training growing up was defense against all forms of magic. Provided she could focus on a counter spell she could dispel the boy's enhancements and hopefully force him to yield.

Using her opponent's momentum against him, Anye used her two blades to force him to the side and tumble out of reach. She used the time to separate herself from him even more and begin the spell. She only needed a few seconds of concentration, but the boy's reaction time made that difficult.

Yarik was back on her with his swords, swinging wildly like a human cyclone. Anye could barely keep up with the assault, but the fact that she could confirmed her suspicion that the boy was inexperienced and likely scared out of his mind. If he had been a hardened fighter she would have been cut down just as the match started due to her not paying attention. Knowing of his lack of actual skill bolstered her confidence enough to continue defending herself while she gathered the magic needed for the counter spell. What he did next made it even easier.

Yarik backed away and stared angrily at his opponent. "How are you still standing!?" he yelled at her.

Anye simply smiled through her tired breathing. Her spell was nearly ready, and talking to him now would only slow the process. She couldn't afford that kind of risk.

"Yah, fine!" he yelled back at her. "A woman doesn't belong on the battlefield anyway!" Yarik poised, holding his swords down at a wide angle as he prepared to sprint towards her. The blades of each weapon started to emanate a light green color, signifying his enchanting of the weapons with the power he was using for himself. That made his strikes more dangerous, but that also meant he was going to be slower, if only slightly.

Anye held her swords up defensively, waiting for her attacker to make his move. The spell was just about ready. When it was, all she needed to do was unleash the power while near him and he would be practically defenseless.

The boy ran, still faster than what would be natural, but noticeably slower than he was before. His momentum aided him in a jump towards Anye as he raised the blades behind his back in preparation for a downward strike. The green glow of the weapons left behind a transparent streak that quickly disappeared.

Yarik came down on top of her, bringing the weapons down from overhead. Anye raised her swords up in a cross formation to block the strike. The magical energy had just finished gathering, and as their steel met she let it loose in a brilliant display of color and light. The boy was thrown backwards, pushed by the magical explosion away from Anye as the energy left her body, and landed on his back in a loud metallic thud. The green glow of his swords' enchantments dissipated from the effects of the counter spell and his body stopped shaking.

Anye uncrossed her swords quickly. Dust and dirt swirled around her as the spell's effects faded. The crowd had gone silent in anticipation while watching. Nobody had expected her to succeed fending the boy off it seemed, and if anyone had realized he was using speed enchantments they likely doubted she would be able to dispel them.

Without a word she ran towards the boy with her weapons at her sides.

"Yield!" Yarik shouted as she approached. "I yield, woman!"

Anye stopped short of the boy, accepting his surrender. The crowd went ecstatic and the announcer walked in to the arena and towards Anye. He grabbed her hand holding her sword from Delrich and raised it skyward.

"The winner, Amy Karst!" he yelled.

The crowd's cheers grew louder. Anye couldn't help but smile as she placed the other sword back into its sheath. She had finally proven herself as a capable fighter to the people around her. All that was left for her to do was win the tournament and she would have enough money to finance her new life and, with hope, eventually return to Delrich to clear her name.

______

From what Anye could tell from sounds alone, the matches following hers played out the same as the one before hers with minor differences. The foreign boy, whom Anye had learned was named Amadi from seeing him rise when the announcer called the name, participated in the final match of the first round and had won in seconds. The crowd's cheers had changed to a barely audible murmur as he returned inside.

The second round was unremarkable. Anye had been paired against a man with no magical ability that used a single sword in combat. His fighting style appeared to be more for show than survival but there was some merit to the fact that he was agile. When she grew tired of putting on a show for the people she swiftly and skillfully knocked the sword from her opponent's hand, forcing a submission and granting her passage to the semi-final round.

Now only four competitors remained; Anye, Amadi, the brute who had tried to pick a fight with Anye before whose name had turned out to be Nitram Illenas, and a slender, yet very toned, man who claimed to be a member of a clan of warrior monks from the islands across the western sea who fought with his fists rather than a blade, named Tao Long.

Byron remained outside along with the other coaches as they were still prohibited from going back into the prep area. When Anye left the stage after her first match he stared at her with a wild, but cheery, disbelief. She knew that whatever doubts he had of her abilities before had completely evaporated along with the Yarik's speed spell. He laughed like a young girl after her second victory, but there wasn't really much to that one. Anye assumed he was just happy she was winning.

Anye sat on the bench near the opening leading back outside. Nitram and the monk stood in opposite corners waiting for the third round to begin. The boy from the frontier however was walking towards Anye. She didn't know why, but by the way he was looking at her she assumed he had something he wanted to tell her. Amadi sat next to her. "I wasn't sure if my senses were right about you earlier," he said to her. "I'm glad that I was right."

The boy's accent was especially thick, but not so much that she couldn't understand him. She didn't trust him though, based on her intuition. There was definitely something about him she couldn't place, but interrogating him then wouldn't get her anywhere. She figured she needed to act normal if there was to be any chance of learning anything. "What are you talking about?" Anye replied simply.

"Do you know about my people?" he asked.

"The people of the Frontier?" she said. "I know you're dangerous, using black magic wildly without a care."

Amadi laughed at the remark and looked down at his sandaled feet. "A common misconception, I assure you. We are very much attuned to the natural forces of our world. There is no such thing as _white_ or _black_ magic like your people believe. Magic is simply a force of nature we are able to use. The labels you place on it are simply labels. At its core all of it is the same, it is only different based on how you utilize it."

Anye stared at the boy suspiciously. She had been trained, raised to believe that the use of darker magic would warp your mind and that the people of the frontier were dangerous savages, but Amadi wasn't acting like that at all. In fact he seemed to be the exact opposite.

"I can tell you are hesitant to believe me," he said to her. "I could feel your connection to magic the moment I entered this room, as well as that of the boy you defeated...but yours was different," he explained. "You have a gift, a natural talent to easily harness magic in ways our elders strive to do through lifetimes of study and training. The way you stopped that boy's enchantment is proof of it."

"How did you know about that?" she asked as she got to her feet. "You're not supposed to be able to see the other fights."

"I can see many things, Anye," he answered quietly. "Being physically present, to use your eyes, is only one way to see."

Anye was speechless. Nobody in Belrun was supposed to know what her real name was. She had been extremely careful about making sure she never said it to anyone, anywhere, or even wrote it down on anything, including her journal.

"Anye? I think you're mistaken," she eventually told him. "My name is Amy Karst."

Amadi laughed again. "Of course it is," he said. He got to his feet using his staff as leverage and looked into her eyes. "I too was affected by what your people call the S _ky Fire_ ," he said as he walked away from her.

Anye was speechless. How did he know her name? And how did he know she was trying to find out about the _Sky Fire_? She had been asking the people around town what they knew about it since she had arrived, but Amadi hadn't appeared in town until the day of the tournament. A chill ran up her spine at the thought that someone from Delrich had tracked her down and had hired him to bring her back, but if that were the case why would he have mentioned the S _ky Fire_ at all?

"Amy Karst and Tao Long!" the announcer yelled. He must have entered the room when Anye was being distracted by the conversation. "You two will be starting the semi-final round. Be ready when I call you to the arena!"

Anye shook away the thought that she had been discovered by Delrich and readied her gear. The chances of such a thing were remote, even if she was staying near the border for the time being. And if the boy really was an agent of Delrich he would have already detained her, or at least tried. Right now she needed to focus on the tournament and beating her opponent, the monk from the west.

Tao Long was dressed in bright orange robes bearing markings of what Anye assumed to be the temple his brethren and he trained in. His jet-black hair was tied back in a long thick braid that reached halfway down his back. He also appeared to be extremely calm, but that was likely due to him concentrating on his training. He had won his first two matches just as Anye had, and now they were both vying for the spot in the final round.

The announcer called the two of them outside and the crowd went ecstatic. Tao Long's match had apparently been quite the spectacle. Unarmed combat wasn't very common on the continent and very few people from there had ever been in the western islands long enough to learn their methods. The only person she knew personally who had done so was Glenn, and he returned to Delrich because he preferred the use of his lance.

"Ladies and gentlemen, lords and ladies!" the announcer shouted through his cone. "Returning for the semi-final round ...Tao Long of the Western Isles, and Amy Karst, the wandering mercenary!" The crowd chanted both of their names against one another. Apparently Anye's surprise victory had earned her some fans and hopefully some reputation. "Would the competitors please take their positions?"

Both fighters walked to their corners and readied themselves. Anye drew her swords while the western martial artist entered some sort of fighting stance.

Anye was nervous. She'd never had much training against an unarmed opponent. She knew, from some very short sparring matches with Glenn, that a trained monk from the Western Isles was much more agile than an armored foe holding metal in their hands. Fortunately it also generally meant that her armor, however thin, would help her more than usual as the punches of her opponent would have to strike extra hard to do any real damage unless he landed a blow directly to her face. She also hoped that he wouldn't be very adept at using magic since she hadn't really felt a strong presence of it within him. If he could he was masking its presence expertly.

The announcer called the match and the two fighters ran at each other. Tao Long was slower than Yarik had been, but that wasn't necessarily indicative of his agility. When the two approached each other he jumped off the ground and stuck his foot forward, attempting to land a hard kick to her chest. Anye side-stepped the attack and immediately began a counter assault as her opponent landed.

The man was as agile as she had predicted. Each swing of her blade was avoided with some sort of odd bend at his waist. Each punch or kick he sent her way was caught with her armor, resulting in her only briefly being nudged back and forth. She thought something seemed odd though; as toned and disciplined as he seemed to be his attacks felt amateurish.

The thought passed from her mind and was immediately replaced with panic. Anye had decided to try and out maneuver her foe with a one-handed overhead slice, which he had caught with his bare hands mere inches from his face. She felt a surge of power come from him, inducing her panicked reaction, and used her second hand to attempt a horizontal slash.

Tao Long used the weight of Anye's vertical strike to accelerate a drop to the ground. That resulted in her arms colliding and the monk dodging the stumbled attack. Before Anye could react he'd flipped on his back and kicked his legs around, spinning on the ground. His foot met Anye's offhand, kicking her newly acquired sword away from her and out of the boundaries of the fighting area.

When he spun to his feet in front of Anye the surge of energy from the man gathered again. Anye's reflexes simply weren't fast enough to react to his next attack; a single foot slammed to the ground in front of Anye and both of his fists came from his sides with the force of a battering ram. The impact forced the air out of her lungs and knocked her skidding on her back to the edge of the arena.

Anye coughed as the dust around her settled, grasping for air to refill her lungs. The force of the attack was extraordinary, and she now understood the reason for the sudden surges of power. The man didn't use magical energy the way everyone she knew usually did. Depending on the spell and its strength, the user would usually be summoning the power constantly, channeling it to suit their needs. But Tao Long gathered the energy lightly while fighting and stored it for specific tasks, using it for extremely powerful attacks when it was used.

Anye had barely managed to stop coughing when she felt the surge of power again. She looked up past her feet towards where her adversary stood. He looked like he was getting ready to jump. A second later, he did with an amazing display of strength.

Anye and the crowd watched in suspense. The foreign fighter had seemingly leaped twenty feet in the air before she felt the power surge again and knew she had to act. She forced herself to roll to the side and get to her feet just has the man came down blindingly fast, burying his arm elbow-deep into the ground where she had been laying.

The show of power was terrifying, but the crowd loved it. Fear was starting to settle within Anye. She had lost one of her swords, had a feeling of intense pain in her chest from the previous hit, and had come to the realization that she hadn't managed to even wind her opponent even slightly.

Tao Long turned his head and stared at the woman as he pulled his arm from the ground and focused his strength again. The surges of power Anye had felt earlier now felt constant. She assumed it was because Tao Long had assumed she would either be out-cold or dead by that point and was becoming frustrated. That didn't make her feel any better.

And then he was on her, swinging his leg with incredible force at her side. For the first time since she was a squire in training with the sword, she didn't know what to do, and did the first thing she could think of; she held her sword vertically with her hand flat against the side of the blade and clenched her eyes shut.

Everyone in the audience went silent. Anye remained standing, pushing back against the force of Tao Long's leg. The energy she felt coming from him was astounding, but what was even more shocking was the fact that she remained on her feet. She felt something happening within her, but she wasn't controlling it. It felt primal, like her body was no longer her own. She opened her eyes to see Tao Long staring at her with a mixture of disbelief, anger, and fear.

Swirling air spun the dust around the two in a violent cyclone. Anye's eyes glowed brightly with the uncontrolled magical power she was somehow channeling. The crowd of people had to shield their faces from the flying debris being flung around.

_"_ What's going on?" she tried to say, but her mouth remained shut and the words simply echoed in her mind.

Tao Long focused himself again and quickly lowered his foot to attempt another finishing blow against the comparatively small swords-woman with his fists. Anye reacted with lightning speed, using the flat edge of her blade to meet the monk's punches. Small white fragments of pure energy exploded from the metal, halting his punch instantly.

The two of them continued their enchanted dance for another minute, astonishing everyone in attendance. Nobody cheered or even whispered to the person next to them about the exemplary skill of the two fighters. The small explosions of magic from each contact of fist, foot, and blade never ceased to temporarily blind everyone who watched, and Anye's luminous eyes amazed them all. Nobody in living memory had ever seen someone channel such power, they had only read about it in history books and fairy tales.

Eventually Tao Long got tired of his fruitless attacks and backed away. Anye didn't pursue, she merely stood there staring at him with the frightening glow in her eyes. He was getting tired after using all of his strength only to have it seemingly, and effortlessly, blocked. His robes were soaked with sweat and his breathing was heavy.

"What are you!?" he shouted at her. "What kind of power is this!?"

Anye remained quiet. She wanted to speak but her mouth just wouldn't move. She was compelled to hold her position for some reason, never letting her guard down even to speak. She simply stared.

Her silence angered the man even more. His face tightened as he shouted at Anye more. "Vile woman, I will end you here and now!"

Tao Long's rage gave away his weakening focus. His stance shifted in a way that left a small part of his midsection exposed. A lesser force would either have missed it or decided they wouldn't be able to land the blow. Anye, at the moment, was not a lesser force.

The woman struck like a bolt of lightning without even thinking about it. To the naked eye she looked like she had simply passed through the man like he was an illusion. Anye herself didn't understand how she did what she did, but Tao Long had fallen to the ground in a cloud of dust and the mysterious power she had summoned in her panic dissipated, returning her eyes to normal and finally allowing the air around her to stop spiraling.

She finally regained control of her body and dropped her sword to the ground. Her mouth opened and she gasped for air as she fell to her knees and turned her head to face her fallen foe. Her lungs burned like she hadn't been breathing for ten minutes and her muscles shook rapidly.

The announcer carefully walked into the arena over to where Tao Long lay motionless on the ground. Anye wasn't sure if he was dead or unconscious, and while she had killed men before she had never done so when lacking self-control. The thought that she was capable of such power both shocked and unnerved her.

"Tao Long is unconscious!" the announcer yelled. "The victor of this round is Amy Karst!"

The crowd, after a dumbfounded moment of confused silence, finally resumed their cheering. Anye breathed a sigh of relief that the monk was alive but she was still confused about what exactly had happened. The last time she panicked and pulled a stunt like hoping her sword would _magically_ defend her, she'd found her face half buried in the dirt because her instructor had knocked her clean off her feet and then insulted her that a woman's place was in the kitchen, or weaving tapestries, or making children. Of course the insult wasn't genuine, having only been meant to motivate and train her to not panic, which it did.

Byron hobbled up to her from his place on the side of the arena and knelt beside her. Anye could tell he was wholly concerned for her well-being at that point. If he had been amazed or excited for her the emotion had already passed and she couldn't see it.

"Amy, are you alright?" he asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "You're shaking as if you've been swimming in ice water."

"Byron, what was that?" she asked. "What did I do? I didn't feel like I was in control...I don't think I _was_ in control."

Byron lifted Anye to her feet and supported her as best as he could over his shoulder to help her back towards the entrance of the waiting area. "Let's, uh, let's not think about that right now. The important thing is that you won! You've made it to the final round, which guarantees us at the least a runner up prize! Ha ha!"

Byron's subject change back to the prize money cheered Anye up slightly. Her muscles stopped shaking and she walked herself the rest of the way towards the waiting room after picking up the sword that had been knocked away from her earlier. The announcer had already called Amadi and Nitram outside, the latter of which bumped his shoulder into Anye rudely as he passed. Amadi on the other hand paused in his stride to say something to her.

"Don't worry," he told her. "I'll make this quick, and then I can tell you about what that was." His gaze was cold and stiff as he spoke.

Amadi continued off towards the arena while Anye stared at him suspiciously before continuing back inside. The unsettling feeling of not knowing how he could possibly have any idea of what was going on had returned, but there was nothing she could do about it. He knew her real name, was able to tell just from entering the same area as her that she had some prowess in magical abilities, and now he had told her that he knew exactly what had happened during the fight with Tao Long. Her best bet, and only option, to finding out what he knew and how he knew it, was to trust his words and wait for the small window between the end of his match and the final round.

______

Amadi was true to his word. Anye had only been sitting on the bench near the entry way for a few minutes before Amadi returned, victorious over his opponent. He spotted her quickly and took a seat next to her, keeping his tall staff upright in hand.

"Brutish men like him commonly make themselves out to be easy prey for mages of my caliber," he confidently told her.

Anye didn't even look him in the eye. "How do you know these things about me?" she asked bluntly with a somewhat angry tone, going straight to the point. They didn't have much time before the final round began and she wanted to know what he knew before it started, but she also suspected he wasn't going to tell her anything that would deprive him of an advantage.

"Straight to business it is," he commented. "My people, the Azubuike tribe, are renowned in our lands amongst the other tribes for our strong connection with the powers of the world, what is most commonly referred to as magic. Everything in this world is connected to it. Think of it like a giant world-wide spider web, with every individual thing acting as a point which the strands connect to. You can use this web to connect to a person's mind if you know how. I am one who can do so."

"You can read my mind?" Anye replied sarcastically. "Forgive my skepticism, Amadi, but I've studied the uses of magic extensively. There is no such ability or connection."

"And that is why you do not understand your significance, Anye," he said quickly. He shifted his gaze past her for a second, but quickly looked back at her. He looked extremely serious. "I left my village to pursue something, and you are the key to unlocking it. I can help you understand your potential, what you tapped in to earlier, but I require your assistance."

"My help?" Anye replied. "And why should I trust you?"

"Because I know what the _Sky Fire_ was and who your parents were," he told her bluntly. "That is why you are here, regardless of the circumstances that brought you to this place. You are not a traitor to your king or home, Anye. You are an honorable person. This I know to be true."

Anye turned her head sharply, staring directly into the boy's dark brown eyes. "And how could you possibly know that? You're barely even old enough to be considered a man. What could you _really_ know about it?"

"Do not let my age fool you," he told her coldly. "Come, we are about to be called to the arena." Amadi stood and walked towards the opening, tapping his staff to the ground with every right footstep. "I will prove to you that I am no mere _boy_."

Anye's emotions were running rampant through her mind. The confusion and powerlessness she felt from earlier still lingered, and was now coupled with a strong sense of disbelief and anger. Amadi's comment about the _Sky Fire_ caught her off guard, and everything else had infuriated her. She had studied extensively in the castle's library as a child in Delrich, but information about the event was scarce and was never discussed by her instructors in any great detail. How could a boy from the savage frontier know anything about it?

Her thoughts were interrupted by one of the attending workers grabbing her attention. She had apparently missed her name being announced in the final round against Amadi. Begrudgingly she got to her feet and walked to the opening. At the very least Amadi was correct that they were about to be called. He had already walked outside to the arena by the time she reached the open walkway.

The crowd had decided to either forget the earlier battle or thought of it as something to be celebrated. The cheers and chants directed towards her shook the very ground she walked on. That, at least, made her feel a little better. When she reached the center of the arena the announcer began his proclamation.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Lord Taggart expresses his greatest appreciation to all of you for attending this year's tournament. As always, it is his great honor to provide you with entertainment, and he is grateful to our competitors for keeping the deaths to a minimum. Now, without further delay, let us begin the final round between our victors!"

The announcer gestured towards Anye. "With fame and glory now within her grasp, the mysterious mercenary need only overcome one final challenge. For the final round, the miraculous mercenary...Amy Karst!" he yelled. The crowd went wild as she strode towards her corner. "His intentions are unknown, and the mysterious mage of the frontier has left any who stood before him pleading for mercy...if they could speak at all! Will he do the same to our mercenary? Presenting...Amadi~!"

Anye watched closely as the boy calmly walked towards his corner. His steps looked light, but firm at the same time. She could feel his power like it was oozing out of him, unlike the quietness of before. She had never felt anything quite like it, and prepared her own defenses accordingly. She had been channeling magic continuously ever since her first match which eased the strain induced and sped the process of spell casting. If she needed to dispel something, provided it was some sort of enhancing spell, her counter spell would be much faster as opposed to before, as well as any other abilities she may need.

The oversized announcer gestured to both fighters before stepping back to begin the fight. When he did, Amadi's magical power exploded in potency compared to what Anye felt just before, but she couldn't let the surge distract her. She knew he was a mage, his clothing and staff alone was indicative of that, but the level of control he exuded far exceeded that of the most powerful opponents she had ever faced. To say it wasn't nerve wracking would be a lie.

As Anye ran closer to Amadi he waved his staff and free hand in the air. A seal of some sort appeared before him that shot out three balls of fire in her direction. She easily dodged the first one and cut through the second and third ones with her two blades. When She got close enough to attack the boy directly, she swung her swords at him. The seal he had summoned apparently doubled as a barrier of some sort, blocking her attacks perfectly. She chanted the words of a spell to invoke a dispelling wave of energy, destroying the barrier and allowing her through to the boy.

Amadi must have felt the build of up power coming. As soon as his seal was shattered he conjured up a gust of wind which he shot outward with his hand. The force of the blow knocked Anye off balance. Another twist of his hand and the very earth beneath her feet shot upward, launching her into the air.

The way Amadi's hands moved were reminiscent of an orchestra conductor. As Anye rose to the air, his hands and the staff waved again, this time forcing rocks from the ground to fly up at her. Anye may not have had the advantage in using magic and attacks that would toss her opponent around like a rag doll, but she was a hardened fighter.

Among Anye's defensive spells learned from the time spent with the church during her youth was a barrier that could withstand ethereal assaults, even if they manipulated physical surroundings like rocks or furniture. Using the spell in conjunction with one's own weight when landing from certain heights would result in a shockwave effect. The result would disorient any who were caught in it, and at the time it was her best option.

Anye curled into a ball as she fell back to the ground with the barrier up. As she landed she pushed as hard as her mind would allow and the shockwave trailed out. Amadi, as well as the people standing at the edge of the arena were all knocked over. She used the opportunity to close the gap between her and her foe, sprinting towards him with both blades at the ready.

Amadi regained his balance and lifted his staff horizontally as Anye's swords came down from above, holding her off. Neither of them said a word to one another and they started battling physically, with Amadi using the staff to block and counter Anye's advances. For a boy of his age and build he was surprisingly fast, and used the staff to deflect her attacks masterfully.

Amadi's use of magic to enhance his physical abilities was obvious. Anye wasn't particularly trained to use enhancement spells herself, but she could recognize them. She knew that if he was toying with her she was going to lose. She needed to think of something fast.

Anye wished that whatever power she used before would come back, but it simply wasn't happening. Amadi wasn't doing anything particularly threatening though, which confused her. It was possible, although unlikely, that he was starting to weaken as well, having overestimated his abilities while underestimating hers regardless of what he felt within her.

Then she felt it, a sudden dip in power coming from the boy. The moment was enough for her to overpower him and knock him away from her, giving her an opportunity to move in close. She followed him with one of her swords aimed at his throat and dashed forward.

Anye didn't expect Amadi to feel the sudden shift in the fight and spin the staff around. By the time her sword tip approached his neck the rings at the end of his staff did the same towards hers, with the stone glowing with energy Amadi had channeled into it. He had as little intention of yielding in the fight as she did.

"Stop!" a booming voice from above the two fighters shouted.

Both Anye and Amadi halted their movements with their weapons each inches away from the other's head. Both of them were sweating heavily from the extreme movements and were breathing just as hard. The order had been given to stop the match in the nick of time, and luckily they each still had the self-control to obey.

It was then that Anye had actually noticed just how excited the crowd was. All of Amadi's fights had lasted mere seconds, with him as the winner. Anye's were impressive displays of a woman swordfighter who had wowed the audience with displays of untapped magical potential and expert skill. Their match was probably the most spectacular battle anyone present had ever seen.

Both of them looked up to see who had given the booming order. If it had been the announcer they wouldn't have even heard him over the sound of their weapons. Whoever it was that wanted the match to end had _really_ wanted them to stop, and had some means of ensuring they would hear him and obey.

In the center of the stands looking down over the arena was the elaborate booth where the host of the tournament, Lord Micah Taggart, sat behind a transparent curtain. The main difference the booth had from before was that the curtain was open and Taggart was openly visible to the public.

The man was the size of a large horse. He wore a regal gown elegantly detailed in varying colors of red, orange, purple, and black, and gold thread. His skin color, surprisingly, was the same as Amadi's. His head was also either bald or his hair was extremely short. Anye couldn't tell from the angle she was looking at him from.

"That is enough," Taggart bellowed. His voice was exceptionally deep and he spoke with the same heavy accent as Amadi. A large smile formed on his face and his arms opened wide. "I declare this match to be a draw!"

The crowd went wild, but also sounded confused at the same time. The confusion, Anye thought, was likely from what was going to happen with the bookies and people's winnings. A draw wasn't something anyone had planned on. To her knowledge it had never happened before.

"Thank you all for joining us!" Taggart continued. "This year's tournament has undoubtedly been the best one yet! It has been my pleasure, and my honor, to host it for all of you. Praise to the two champions!"

The corpulent announcer waddled over to where Anye and Amadi were standing, taking in the cheers of the crowd and glancing back at each other. "My Lord and Lady, Lord Taggart has made a request that the two of you join him at his estate to discuss a matter of business."

"Business?" Anye asked through bated breathing. "Regarding the prize money?"

The announcer laughed. "That's quite humorous, but no. The prize money is yours, of course, but this is another matter. Please be at the estate by sundown for this evening's supper, and do _not_ be late." The announcer bowed his head at the two of them before walking away to handle post-tournament dealings for his employer.

Anye stepped away from her opponent as she calmed her nerves and filled herself with feelings of relief. The tournament was over, but the relaxation wouldn't last. She looked over to Amadi who had already cleaned himself off and was starting to walk to the exit of the arena. "I suppose I shall explain everything tonight," he said to her. "Trust me, I will tell you everything I know."

"Amy! You did it!" Byron's voice shouted from behind her. The happy old man wobbled over to her and hugged the woman as she turned around. "I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "I really can't believe it! You'll be known throughout Belrun! And not just here, your name will be talked about everywhere by anyone who knows about the tournament!"

"Byron, Lord Taggart invited me to the estate this evening," Anye told him. "Did you know about this?"

Byron nodded his head. "Of course!" he told her. "It's customary for the victor and their coach to be treated to a celebratory dinner at His Lordship's estate. It's rumored he sometimes offers a job to the victor, in which the pay is especially nice!"

Anye took one more deep breath and sighed as she fixed her hair, which had become unkempt from all of the fighting. "I suppose I should clean myself up, then. I don't want to look like a slob, now do I?"

# Chapter 4

_Legends and Artifacts_

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__ The estate belonging to Micah Lord Taggart, the governor of the region, amazed Anye the moment she saw it when she had first arrived in Bridge Port. The amount of land the man owned completely dwarfed her family's estate. The mansion itself was several stories taller and could be considered a castle in its own right. Hundreds of uniformed workers tended to the fields, gardens, and to the building itself. Housemaids and stewards busily carried out their duties even at the late hour Anye and Byron arrived during the sunset.

Anye had cleaned herself up after the day's events. It took her nearly an hour of washing to get all of the dirt out of her hair alone. She didn't wear a festive gown or anything that would contradict her abilities, and even though she had unjustly fallen from grace in Delrich she still carried herself as an honorable knight would.

Instead of the usual formal wear of a woman, Anye had decided to wear a fitted pair of green pants she had bought, along with new knee-high brown leather boots and brown leather vest that covered a white blouse, and a belt that fastened snugly on her waist to hold the sheathed swords at her sides. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail and she let her bangs hang loose in the front. The style made her feel as though she presented a more dominant appearance instead of a submissive one if she had dressed like a 'proper lady.' All in all she didn't look like a weak woman who required protection, which was just how she wanted it.

Byron cleaned himself up a bit for the evening as well. His usual old robes were replaced by nicer, but still lower-class ones. He combed his hair neatly to the side, but the stubble on his face remained, and his ever-present cane remained in his hand.

As the pair approached the large wooden doors of Lord Taggart's home, the entrance opened to reveal the announcer from the tournament, appropriately dressed in a servant's robes and cleaned up nicely with his thin hair neatly combed to the side.

"Miss Karst and Master Stonemaker, I welcome you to the Lord Taggart estate," he greeted them. "My Lord eagerly awaits your meeting, My Lady. He was quite taken with your skills today. Master Stonemaker must have trained you well. If I remember correctly he won the tournament himself a few times in his youth."

Anye grinned and looked over at her old companion. "Really?" she commented. "Byron, you never told me about that."

The old man blushed and waved his hand dismissingly. "Oh it was a long time ago," he replied. "Living a life of travel and battle, entering a tournament or two felt natural towards the end of my career."

"Indeed," the attendant said dryly "Now please, do come in."

The two guests were ushered inside and the massive doors slowly closed behind them. The interior of the manor was magnificent. Paintings of landscapes and long dead noblemen, noblewomen, and even legendary heroes of the past hung on the walls. Exotic vases lined the support beams painted in all kinds of different designs. Some of them Anye recognized, having designs originating from Delrich. Others appeared to be from Mitus, Toran, the Western Isles, and even the Frontier. The plants within the vases were all local flowers the servants had likely cut from the estate's garden and placed for decoration.

Elegant tapestries hung along the walls between the windows, each one with a different story sewn into it. A giant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, lit with hundreds of candles to illuminate the foyer. The hall was magnificent, but Anye was sure that whatever truly fascinating treasures the wealthy man possessed were stored elsewhere, maybe in a private room or vault of some kind.

"It just occurred to me that we don't know what to call you, sir," Anye said to their guide. "You know our names, but we were never told yours at the tournament."

"Oh, of course," he replied. "Forgive my absentmindedness. You may call me William, head steward in service to Lord Taggart."

"A pleasure to formally meet you, William," Anye told him as she bowed her head politely.

The portly servant merely smiled and continued to guide them through the hall, eventually leading them to a room on the second floor overlooking the fields to the west of the mansion. The sunset filled the room with a warm orange glow. A cool evening breeze blew in from the open balcony adjacent to the room where Amadi stood looking outside.

"Here you are. Lord Taggart will join you momentarily. For now, please make yourselves at home in his private library," he said to them.

"Thank you, William," Anye replied.

The hefty servant smiled again as he backed himself out of the room and closed the doors behind him.

Lord Taggart's library was just as elegantly decorated as the foyer. Vases filled with plants stood in each corner while various paintings hung on the walls. There was no crystal chandelier, but candlesticks had been fastened to the walls and a large fireplace rested at the far end of the room. A massive round table was situated in the center of the room with enough chairs to seat twenty people, and so Anye assumed that the library was where the governor carried out meetings with his subordinates.

The shelves that held the nobleman's private collection of books were enormous and filled to the brim. They lined the walls almost all the way to the ceiling and were only each separated by the presence of one of the paintings. The sheer volume of books reminded Anye of Delrich's royal library in the castle, where she had many memories studying countless amounts of subjects both before and after joining the royal army.

Amadi stood on the balcony overlooking the western expanse of the estate, and did not appear to have changed his clothes from earlier in the day, but they were miraculously clean. Anye suspected that the boy had used some form of magic to control air and blow the dust off of his clothes. It was an effective way to clean, but she thought it was careless to use magic in such a way. It was because of this thought that she was hesitant to believe that the boy had the information she sought, let alone that he was from the frontier and instinctively didn't trust him.

"I can sense your hesitation," he said to her. Amadi didn't turn to face the woman or her companion. "I know it must be hard to accept, but I have given you proof of my sincerity already. Choosing to ignore that would be...unwise."

"Why are you offering to help me?" she asked him as she walked to stand with him on the balcony. "First you claim that I'm someone else, and then you tell me you know what it is I seek, _and_ that you understand what happened to me in the tournament."

Now Amadi turned towards her. He remained silent though, instead choosing to stare at her. She didn't turn away, but his lack of an answer wasn't helping.

"Miss Everdyne, as he said it would be unwise to mistrust Amadi," the deep voice of Micah Lord Taggart said to her from behind.

She turned quickly to see that the large nobleman had entered the room unnoticed.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, My Lord. She is everything you are looking for and more," Byron commented with a smile.

Lord Taggart laughed heartily and walked towards Byron from the door. William pulled the doors to the room shut behind him again, presumably leaving to attend to other duties. "Byron, you don't need to be so formal with me right now," he told him. "Thank you for keeping an eye on her."

Anye went rigid. Byron smiled as he turned towards her and stepped next to their host. "Yes, we know who you are, Lady Everdyne of the Holy Knights."

Anye spaced her feet defensively and gripped the handle of her old sword, ready to defend herself if necessary. "You knew? How do you know who I am?" she asked.

"Relax, Captain. I'm not turning you over to Delrich for the bounty placed on you," he explained. "Nor are Amadi or Byron, I assure you."

"Then what do you want with me? And how do you know who I am?"

"First, you and Amadi were the champions of my tournament. As I do every year I congratulate the victor, or in this case the victors, with a feast here in my home," The nobleman answered. "But what I do not make openly known to the public is that I propose a job to the victor, something that would arouse...suspicion otherwise."

Anye relaxed her muscles but remained on her guard. "You still haven't explained how you know my identity."

"Captain, I am the governor of this region of Belrun. It is within my interests to know who enters the territory under my charge," Lord Taggart explained. "When I received word from my agents that a beautiful red-haired woman that had recently crossed the bridge alone, _without identification_ , and was carrying a sword _and_ looking for work as a mercenary...well, let's say I became curious. Women do not commonly seek that type of work, nor do they commonly travel alone."

"And?"

"And I contacted Byron. He agreed to board you for a reduced price while I put the pieces together," he replied. "Amy Karst was not a name known to any of my men both in and out of Bridge Port. The former captain of the Holy Knights of Delrich, who had recently been imprisoned on charges of treason, had escaped from the castle's dungeon. That woman, if I recall my information correctly, had flowing red hair, fair peach skin, and was exceptionally skilled with a sword and shield, although I can't say I had ever met this person before."

"I'll admit I wasn't sure if you were really her until the tournament," Byron added. "But I was sure after your first round. Mercenaries are commonly mages or warriors. A hybrid such as you is quite rare as you know, and usually limited to royal militaries like those of Mitus and Delrich."

"Why aren't you going to turn me over to Delrich, then?" Anye asked. "I'm sure there's a hefty price on my head for what His Majesty believes me guilty of."

"Captain, I am wealthy and powerful, and my influence already reaches far and wide. Turning you over to your kingdom for a crime you are obviously innocent of serves me no purpose," he answered. "You are a much more valuable asset to me alive."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Byron, please explain the job to our guest," the governor requested. He walked over to the large round table where Amadi had taken a seat, conversing with him quietly so Byron could explain to Anye what she wanted to know.

"Anye, if Micah wanted to collect on your bounty he would have done so already," Byron explained. "I've known him for three decades, fought beside him in countless battles. You can trust him."

"Byron you lied to me!" Anye yelled at him angrily. "I can't even trust _you_ right now, and you expect me to take your word for it and trust _him_?"

"Anye, if I had told you I knew who you were would you have stayed in Bridge Port?" Byron asked in response. "Would you have fought in the tournament, and be here now? Micah has access to information that you want, and this job is right up your alley if you're looking to make a new name for yourself and leave your past behind."

Anye stared at the old man but calmed herself more, eventually letting go of the sword's handle. She didn't say anything at first until she let out the breath she had been holding to calm her nerves. "I don't want to leave my past behind, I want to find out the truth and expose the bastard who did this to me...but why did _you_ help me then?"

Byron laughed at the young woman. "Anye, besides the fact that Micah asked me to, I haven't had someone as beautiful as you stay in my inn for as long as you have in years. You're easy on the eyes!" The comment on her looks didn't help matters, and it made the old man sound more lecherous than she assumed, but he sounded genuine. "But the job Micah is offering I'm sure will pique your interest."

"What do you mean?" she asked, looking back at the large man at the table.

"It's a simple matter of locating and retrieving something for him; nothing too dangerous or boring. He'll give you the specifics about it," Byron replied.

Anye and Byron approached the large table and sat opposite of Lord Taggart and Amadi. The nobleman was holding Amadi's staff in his hands, examining it with a childlike wonder in his eyes. The gemstone floating at the end of the staff was glowing with a pale blue light, and now that Anye wasn't focusing on fighting she could see that the weapon itself was even more masterfully designed and decorated than she thought, and also incredibly old.

The governor handed the staff back to the boy after he realized his other two guests had finally decided to join him at his table. "So I take it you trust me now?" he asked the woman.

"Trust is something that does not come easy, Lord Taggart," she replied. "But I do believe that you do not have the intent of turning me in to Delrich for a bounty, at least not while I'm still _useful_."

"Very well, before we feast I shall tell you about this job I would like to offer you. Keep in mind that you were chosen for this based on your skills in battle, not because I knew who you were," he replied.

The nobleman looked at Anye with that same look of youthful excitement as he had when looking at Amadi's staff. "Captain, as I'm sure you've either noticed or heard, I'm a bit of a collector of all things historic. I am fascinated by our world's history and legends, and I've dedicated my life to learning more. My home is decorated with some of the oldest artifacts ever discovered. Some of them date back to the times before the kingdoms as we know them existed. Being a citizen of the Frontier, like Amadi here, the outside civilizations of the world gripped me as a child and grew into my life's passion."

"Micah and I traveled together when he was a little older than you are," Byron commented as he looked at Anye. "He was quite the talented mage in his youth."

"Yes, well...tell me, Captain, what do you know of the holy land of Del'Mond?" he asked.

Anye was surprised. "Del'Mond?" she repeated. "I read about it while I was a student of the church, and later during my training," she answered. "It's a lost land, said to be the source of all magical power in the world. It was a gift left behind by the gods who created the world, and it is thought that our ancestors made it the capital of their country. It is said that it was lost in the great war of legend, but Del'Mond is just a story to tell children to lull them to sleep and explain where magic comes from."

"Legends are often steeped in truth, Anye," Lord Taggart replied. "What if I told you Del'Mond was real?"

Anye laughed. "Real? My Lord, if the holy land really did exist, it would have been found long ago by some cartographer. Del'Mond is a myth, simple as that. Now what's this all about? I thought you said you wanted to hire me for something that would arouse suspicions if done through normal means. Byron says you want me to find something for you; looking to increase your collection?"

The nobleman rose from the table and walked to one of his bookshelves before answering the question. He pulled out a visibly old, dusty red tome and walked back to the table with it, placing it in front of Anye before sitting back down himself. There was no title on the book's cover, only a symbol or seal of some sort shaped like a tree growing out of a sphere, with the tree's roots reaching all the way around. Anye had only seen that symbol once before in her life, and the presence of it printed on something like an ancient tome created more questions when she remembered it.

"Where did you get this?" she asked quietly.

"Do you know what that is?" Lord Taggart replied. "If you do, then you know that this is proof of Del'Mond's existence, or at least that it existed."

Anye recognized the seal from her childhood, in an ancient book that was kept in the castle's restricted library. She found it after she had snuck in to the parts of the old building that had been forbidden to those not granted special permission by the king to enter. The book, as she had been told by historian who found her, was a journal kept by someone many years ago and contained information that could be used against Delrich. She was so young at the time she didn't press the matter further.

"That symbol was Del'Mond's sigil, its mark," Lord Taggart went on to explain. "Our people, the tribes of the Frontier, know this mark as the _Punt van Gaia_ , the Mark of Gaia, the mother of our world and source of all of the world's magic. Other countries also know this symbol by various names, or at least their history does. Mitus, for example, calls it the _Heimat der Götter_ in their native tongue, or the Home of the Gods. The people of the Western Isles refer to it as the _Seinaru ōkoku_ , the Holy Kingdom. Of course most people would not recognize this if they saw it anymore," Lord Taggart explained. "Any serious study on the subject of Del'Mond was ceased long before our time. Now it is commonly shrugged off as a myth, left to decay in the sands of time and to be forgotten by the minds of man. This book, however, proves that Del'Mond _does_ exist!"

"And how did such a thing come to be in your possession?" Anye asked, less skeptical than before.

"I found it during my travels after I left my home tribe," he told her. "I decided to leave the teachings of my shaman behind to make my own mark on the world as a mercenary. That was when I met Byron. A wealthy landowner desired more treasure for his private collection and hired the two of us and a few others to protect him while he explored some ruins he had discovered in Toran."

"The ruins were up in the mountains, where Delrich's military gets dragons for their lancer knights," Byron explained. "On the surface they were half buried in the snow and mostly collapsed from years of neglect, but the passages underground were mostly intact. Our employer was afraid of bandits and wild dragons, hence the protection."

"He was wise to be wary of the creatures," Lord Taggart added. "Not long after we had arrived at the ruins we were set upon by the largest dragon we'd ever laid eyes on, and were forced to flee inside to the catacombs." He paused for a moment as he searched his thoughts, remembering the events of the day. "I remember the surge of magic I felt coming from it. It felt like it was trying to protect something."

"The morons that came with us thought they could make some extra coin if they brought in the dragon's scales and bones to sell to the armorers in Toran," Byron said. "We tried to warn them, but they saw nothing but gold. I remember their screams as the beast burned them alive in seconds. We had no choice but to continue further in to the tunnels and hope to find another way out."

"Eventually, we stumbled in to a set of chambers that we thought may have acted as emergency shelter at a time," the nobleman continued. "Our employer was ecstatic to find that some of the inhabitants had left their possessions behind. I on the other hand decided to follow a feeling I had and search a seemingly empty room, where I found that book tucked away alone on a shelf and covered with dust."

"That's quite a story, My Lord," Anye commented. She failed to see the point of the lengthy explanation however, and was showing her impatience in her face, as well as her words.

"Anye, do you know the story of Stragus Markal?" Byron asked.

"The legendary arch mage?" Anye replied. "I don't see what an old fairy tale has to do with this."

"What do you know about him?" Byron persisted.

Anye paused for a moment as she recalled the tale, pushing aside her annoyance. She still wanted the job, after all. "Well, I remember the story saying that he was a powerful wizard who became twisted by his unchecked use of magic," Anye answered. "Eventually the king he served realized how dangerous he had become and sent his six strongest warriors to put an end to him. It's the basis for Delrich's policy on unchecked magic use, really."

"Do you know the names of that king's warriors?" Lord Taggart asked.

Anye had to think about that question hard for a minute. It had been several years since she had been told the story or recited it herself, but the names eventually came back to her after remembering that Glenn shared the surname of two of the six warriors, the likes of which had led to several jokes over the years. "I remember. They were Ottovan Bersty, Armonde and Orlinde Schultz, Bethany Lightstone, and Doluka and Delilah Sturmwind. I still don't see what this has to do with anything, though."

"Captain, this book is the diary of Delilah Sturmwind," Lord Taggart told her. "She was a citizen of Del'Mond, a real person, not a fairy tale."

Anye was of course doubtful of the validity of the claim, but nonetheless opened the book to its first page when she was prompted to do so. The characters written on the obviously ancient paper were handwritten in a language indecipherable to her, but newer papers had been folded in with the pages with notes written in her own language. Anye looked up at the aging lord and saw his childlike excitement return.

"Before you ask, remember I have spent much of my life studying Del'Mond's history based on whatever information I could find," he said. "Translating Lady Delilah's words has not proven to be easy, but enough cross referencing with other sources of the ancient language has been enough for me to prove the book's legitimacy."

"Ok, let's say I'm interested," Anye commented. "Say this really is Delilah Sturmwind's diary...so what?"

"Based on my translations, Lady Sturmwind knew of the fate of Del'Mond, though I haven't been able to quite translate the tale completely," Lord Taggart explained. "But she also knew the locations of three sacred artifacts that were said to have originated from the holy land and were hidden away from the rest of the world. I want you and Amadi to travel to one of the locations and bring the artifact back to me."

Anye was perplexed. "Pardon my incompetence, sir, but why did you need to hire the champion of the tournament for a simple fetch job? This hardly seems worth the effort."

"Lady Sturmwind's diary claims that the artifacts were not only carefully hidden away from the world, but they are closely guarded by vicious creatures of unmatched strength and wit," Byron told her. "We didn't believe it at first, thinking the tales were made to ward off thieves, so we hired whoever would take the job to go and retrieve it. It was when they didn't come back that we thought there may be some truth to her words. Constantly sending men to their apparent deaths, over enough time, would warrant some speculation and suspicion."

"I thought you said this wasn't too dangerous..." Anye asked, annoyed at the old man.

Byron shrugged with a grin. "Well, based on how you performed today I doubt it will be for you."

"While I appreciate the compliment, it would be preferred if you ceased withholding information," she answered. Anye contemplated the details of the lengthy story silently. Amadi had remained silent the entire time. She wondered why, considering that he was probably going with her on this journey. That was something she thought she should know if she was going to be working with him. "What are you thoughts, Amadi?"

The boy looked up at her, somewhat surprised that he had been addressed. "I do not need convincing that the _Punt van Gaia_ or the legends surrounding it are indeed truth. I have seen such things in my meditations, and more."

"I see," she replied. It wasn't the answer she was expecting nor looking for, but it at least clarified that he believed all of what she had just been told, no matter how farfetched she thought it was. She had already earned the prize money from the tournament, so if she took the job it wouldn't be for the gold, but compensation wouldn't hurt. "And what should I expect in form of payment for this request, Your Lordship?"

"Anything you desire if it be within my power and of fair price," the governor replied.

"Then I desire information," Anye said.

"Information can be a powerful weapon, Captain. What is it you seek to know?"

"I have no want for a weapon from you, sir. I wish to know of a specific event in recent history and of the current goings on in Delrich."

"The S _ky Fire_..." Lord Taggart answered quietly. "Yes, I have heard of your inquiries into that event. It was a truly terrifying sight to see."

"So you know?"

"Captain, I know exactly what you wish to know." Lord Taggart stood from his chair and walked towards the balcony to look out over the fields. The sun had completely set, leaving the sky to glow in a tranquil purple twilight before night completely came. "I believe you will want to hear this in private. Byron, Amadi; if you would please take your leave, the Captain and I will meet you in the dining hall shortly."

All three of the nobleman's guests stood in unison. Byron and Amadi gave a slight bow towards their host before walking through the door and exiting the room, leaving Anye alone with Lord Taggart on the balcony. The cool evening breeze blew her hair around lightly behind her as she avoided the tall man's gaze.

"Before I begin, Captain, please tell me what it is you know," he requested.

"I only know that many lives were lost in an event that could not be explained," she answered. "Belrun was not the only country affected by the event either. The S _ky Fire_ affected Delrich, Toran, Mitus, and even the Western Isles, and various other locations around the world if reports are to be believed." Now she turned to look at the dark-skinned man's face, who stared down back at her. "I also know my father, or rather the man who raised me, found me as a baby in a burning house. His service record places him on tour here in Belrun at the king's behest during my time of birth to help quell the revolution. I am the same age as the number of years that have passed since that night, so I logically concluded I was found in this country and brought back to Delrich."

The nobleman closed his eyes and nodded his head. "Yes, you were wise to make the connection," he replied. "The S _ky Fire_ destroyed a village not far from here. Almost everyone who lived there died that night. The fires were...unnatural, coming down from above as shards of pure magical energy that had been concentrated into a physical object which exploded on impact, spreading the flames of chaos to everything around them and beyond. Your father, Sir Everdyne as I knew him then, assisted me and several other mages in trying to evacuate the citizens when we could not stop the flames." he paused as he took a deep breath and looked at Anye. "Your parents were two of my best."

"You mean...?"

"Yes, I knew your birth parents. Your mother had just given birth to you the night before the fires. I needed your father for a matter of some import for a few hours, and so he left you and your mother in the care of one of my handmaidens until our business was concluded. When we received word that your village had been set ablaze we dropped everything and rode there as quickly as possible. When we arrived, your father looked as though his heart had ceased to beat in his chest. I tried to stop him but he couldn't hear a word I said," Lord Taggart went on to tell her. "He ran straight through the flames into your home to try and get you and your mother out while Sir Everdyne and I attempted to hold the flames back and guide what few survivors there were to safety. That was when we heard you crying."

Anye stared intently at the large man describing the horrible night to her. Emotion started to swell within her, but she kept them in check as he continued to explain.

"Sir Everdyne looked back to see that your father had not yet emerged from the burning home. Only the sounds of your cries reached his ears at that point, and he too entered the flames." He paused a moment before continuing on with the tale. "When he emerged a few minutes later, he was carrying you in his arms."

Anye was barely holding herself together, with tears threatening to pour out of her eyes. Although she didn't actively remember the night, to her it felt like her body was remembering the heat of the flames and the feeling of being torn away from her parents by some stranger.

"So, it's true then," she muttered. "And now my father despises me..."

"Lord Everdyne could never despise you, Anye," Lord Taggart consoled. "I saw the way he looked at you after he pulled you from that fire. He requested that I let him take you back to Delrich to be raised as his own."

"And you're sure I was the child pulled from the inferno?"

"I see both of your parents in you, Anye. There is no mistaking the resemblance you have of them."

"So I have no family here?" she asked through the sadness in her voice. "A grandmother or an uncle? Anything?" her companion remained silent on the subject, resigning to merely shake his head at the question. "So I really am alone..."

"You are never alone, Anye," he told her. "Lord Everdyne will always love you, as will your mother. He may have been angry for what you are accused of, but I assure you it pained him greatly to have seen you like that, and he wishes you are safe."

"How could you know that?" she asked angrily.

"He sent me a letter." Lord Taggart reached in to his robe and pulled out a small scroll rolled up and tied with a string. "Read it when you have the strength," he said, and handed it to her.

Anye was speechless. It had been over a month since she had fled to Belrun. She was sure that her father would have wanted nothing to do with her anymore. The fact that he had sent a letter, one that Lord Taggart told her contained his love, completely shattered any misconceptions about what she thought she knew about him.

"Thank you," she replied softly as she took the paper into her hand. She composed herself, stopping the tears from breaking through any more than they already had so she could ask of the other half of her request. "And what of Delrich now?" she asked. "I assume an individual such as you is privy to that sort of information."

"I am. What is it you wish to know?"

"There was a knight in Delrich who was a close friend of mine..." she started to say. "He was the captain of the Dragon Knights."

"Ah, Captain Sturmwind." Lord Taggart paused a moment before going on with the information he knew. "He was sent to Toran by the king's order to prove his loyalty to the crown. My informants tell me he is to aid the local tamers in slaying a feral dragon that had been terrorizing the local populace as of late while they attempted to herd the young creatures. There has been no report of his return, and Sir Astley has assumed command of the unit."

Anye felt her heart stop in her chest. The one person she hoped to see again more than anything was now missing, and possibly dead.

"Stop what you're thinking, Anye," Lord Taggart said sternly, interrupting her thought. "I've met Captain Sturmwind before. The lack of his return does not indicate his death. I have heard other reports that a large dragon was seen flying south from the mountains recently with a man, wielding a magnificent spear, riding its back westward. It could be him, but my people within the capital have not sent any more word on the matter."

"You think it really could be him?" Anye asked.

"I cannot afford the luxury of assumptions, Captain. Without proof of his death, I cannot resign myself to believe in his death," he explained to her. "If I learn of anything more I will tell you of it when you return. Is there anything else you would like to know?"

Anye wiped the tears that had managed to slip down her face, finding resolve in what she had learned. Glenn may yet be alive and her parents had not forsaken her as she had originally believed. She had a reason to fight on, a stronger reason than simply survival. She had a home to return to, people to return to, when she proved her innocence. But there was one more thing she wished to know for the immediate moment.

"Yes, actually," she said as they started to walk through the room to the door. "Two things; one, I want to know what Amador Astley has been up to. Where he's been, who he's been with, and if possible why he was with them, but that can wait until tomorrow. Right now the only thing left I wish to know was what their names were...my parents, that is."

Lord Taggart smiled. "Jacob and Meredith Schultz."

______

The feast that had been promised to the champions of the tournament lived up to its reputation. There was enough food present to feed the entire town. Whatever was leftover, Anye was told, would be given to the estate's workers for their families. It was a kind gesture, one which was quite rare amongst nobility.

The days following the dinner were spent primarily preparing for the journey Anye and Amadi would be taking. Lord Taggart provided Anye with whatever information on Amador he was privy to, but there wasn't much. The lack of knowledge was discouraging in regards to her plan of returning home. Hiding his movements so carefully meant that he was likely planning more than what Anye initially suspected, which was usurping Delrich's crown. Unfortunately, having no information didn't help matters, so she tried to focus on the job she had been hired for until new information could be obtained.

According to Delilah Sturmwind's diary, the three artifacts of interest were kept in towers at separate locations around the world. The first of which was in the far south-eastern stretch of the Frontier. Amadi and Lord Taggart claimed that it was in a location the tribes referred to as _The Shroud_ ; a cursed ever-present fog regarded as the land of the dead, where no living soul ever returned from.

The second was to the north, located in the mountains of Toran, surprisingly near the ruins Lord Taggart and Byron had explored many years prior. Due to the presence of the dragon they encountered that day, and accounting for the longevity of a dragon's life, the governor advised that they not attempt searching that location with the risk that there may be more like it in the area.

Unsettling news of Delrich's military being deployed to Toran while Glenn was still missing, being led by Amador no less, also troubled them. Amador had also somehow been granted the title of Military Advisor to the King. The war between Delrich and Mitus had escalated since the prince's untimely death which Anye attributed Amador's corrupting influence and scheming. Even more, Lord Taggart's reports didn't indicate what purpose the deployment served. There were rumors that Amador was leading the men into the mountains to look for something, though whether it was one of the artifacts or not, they weren't sure.

The third location seemed to be the safest and most logical choice. Delilah Sturmwind had written in her diary that the tower had been built on a landmass to the west of what was now known as Delrich, beyond the islands that dotted the foreign coast across the sea. The landmass beyond the Western Isles was referred to as the Sun's Bed; a giant desert, given its name because of where the sun would set each day. There were no known cities, wandering caravans, or any knowledge of people or any sort of life that lived there. It was believed to be a completely desolate wasteland, and it was Anye and Amadi's destination.

Before the pair had departed from Bridge Port, Lord Taggart granted them permission to study the artifacts pertaining to Del'Mond in his possession, hoping it would give them some insight on what it would be the pair would face when they found the tower. Delilah's diary was kept at the estate when they left, but translated excerpts had been given to them if they referred to the artifacts at all. There wasn't much to go off of, though. The descriptions had been written centuries ago, and many of the phrases didn't make much sense when translated literally, so some extent of metaphoric interpretation was needed.

What they did learn was that as time had passed from the events of the diary being written, the true history of what had happened with the woman and her companions slowly began to change into the modern version of the legend they all knew. Contrary to the story about the six heroes of an ancient king, Delilah's diary referred to several monarchs, twelve companions in total, and that most of the heroes did not serve the same kingdom save for Del'Mond itself, which was a separate entity. Also, while it could have simply been an error in Lord Taggart's translation, Delilah constantly referred to the artifacts as he or she, like one would use to describe a person, instead of it. Anye brushed it off, believing in her initial assumption that it was probably a mistranslation and moved on. It was either that or another metaphor.

Lord Taggart had also recovered several maps and scrolls from the ruined vaults of forgotten countries. Many of them pointed to the locations of other ruins he had excavated, but none of them really contained any significant information and were thus largely ignored during their research. Amadi took some liking to them, but he claimed that there was nothing of value to be found and was simply entertaining himself for a time.

After finding what they could during their week of studying, which wasn't much, Anye and Amadi decided it was time for them to depart. Lord Taggart provided a pair of horses to carry them south-west through Belrun's countryside to a coastal town by the name of Mark's Landing. A ship heading for the Western Isles had been commissioned for them and was awaiting their arrival. The two rode in relative silence for two days. When they made camp on the third night, Anye judged they were half a day's ride away from their destination.

The two days of quiet riding had given the woman a lot of time to think about all of the information she had been given. She hadn't yet asked Amadi about the magic she had used in the tournament, focusing more on the personal history she had discovered as well as the contract. She thought it would have taken significantly longer to uncover what she had learned, but what she had been told was more than Anye could have hoped for, and she had to admit the truth was a bit overwhelming at first. Still, even though her parents had passed on, she had been given a loving home and knew that her father, however strict and harsh he may have been, only tried to do what was best for her and she loved him for it. She hadn't opened the letter he had sent though, feeling far too guilty for what she had put him through over the years to receive his words just yet.

Amadi sat away from the fire Anye had set up. He had his back to her and was looking at the stars above their heads. He wasn't sitting like he was meditating though, just gazing at the stars. Anye wondered what was on his mind, and the fact that he still had information about her which he had yet to share bothered her. He had promised to explain everything, and now was as good as any for him to do so, especially after having remained silent for two days since their departure.

Anye walked up beside him and took a seat. He didn't seem to notice, or was simply ignoring her. She wasn't sure which. "Something on your mind, Amadi?" she asked him. She didn't look at him as she spoke, but looked out at the stars like he did. "You haven't really said a word to me since we left Bridge Port."

"That is because you have not asked me about what you want to know," he stated. "I am not the only one who has been silent."

"Well, Lord Taggart did tell me about the S _ky Fire_ , so I suppose I didn't need to ask you about that," Anye replied. "But you didn't tell me _how_ you knew I was trying to find out about it, or how you knew my name. You also haven't told me what it was that I... _did_ during the tournament."

"You still do not trust me," Amadi said coldly. "But if I tell you about these things you will?"

"That depends on what you say," Anye claimed. Although she sat close to the boy to speak with him, her main hand rested on the handle of her sword, and she was ready to draw it at a moment's notice. "Lord Taggart can't protect you right now, so I'd advise you to speak the truth."

"You are a fool to think I relied on him for protection," Amadi commented. "You were not as close to defeating me as you may think. What you faced in combat with me was far from the extent of my abilities." The boy turned his head and stared right into Anye's eyes for a few seconds before continuing on. "But I suppose mistrust is to be expected given the circumstances. Very well, I will explain what I have promised."

Amadi turned his head away from the woman and turned his gaze back to the sky. "When we were waiting for our turns in the tournament, you saw me meditating. It was then that I used our connection to the world to touch your mind. I saw who you were, who you wish to be, and where you come from. I'm honestly surprised you did not feel me do so. The effect is quite potent."

"Yes, I remember you mentioning that before our match," Anye stated. Now she was looking at the boy suspiciously. "But you never explained _why_ you did it."

"As I told you when we first spoke, I felt that you are quite attuned to magical power," Amadi answered. "Very few people are so naturally adept at such things, especially if they are not from Qul'rah."

"Qul'rah?"

Amadi nodded. "It is the word the people of the tribes use to name what you call the Frontier. Many people born there are skilled in the ways of magic, but fewer are as skilled as you or I."

"You're telling me I'm as good at magic as you?" Anye asked skeptically.

"Do not misunderstand, Anye. I have been trained since I was a child to master magic energies in all ways. You have not," Amadi told her. "But you do have the potential to be very powerful, as was shown during your battle with the island monk."

"I see," Anye said. "And what exactly was that?"

"Simply put, it is a state of being. Many elders from my land have trained tirelessly to be able to enter such a state, commonly until death, with little success," Amadi explained. "There is no direct translation for what we call it, but the closest word for it in your language would be _enlightenment_."

Anye remembered the feeling vividly. The power running through her was extraordinary and frightening. It felt like she was being guided by something that knew exactly what her foe was going to do and that her senses had been heightened to a point that she would be able to hear her opponent's foot shift even slightly amidst the sound of the crowd.

"The memory of such a thing is frightening to you?" Amadi asked.

"Yes, it is. What exactly was it? And how was I able to do it without realizing it? I've been under extreme amounts of stress before, but nothing like that ever happened," Anye asked.

"The enlightened state can be best described as an overcharge of magic being concentrated within you," Amadi told her. "When under its effects, the caster is granted extraordinary abilities because it draws from not just the magic summoned by you, but the connection of everything in the world, the very essence of magic itself. You become stronger, faster, and your magical capabilities become incredibly potent because you are tapping into the collective power that forms the metaphorical web I described to you."

"If it takes your elders a lifetime of meditation and training to be able to use this... _enlightenment_ , then how was I able to do so in a regular moment of panic?" Anye asked.

"I...do not know," Amadi replied with a sigh. "I have meditated many more hours about this than you realize, seeking answers...but none have come to me. All I can do for you regarding this is to teach you how to use it."

"What? But you just said..."

"I don't need to touch your mind to know what you are going to say," the boy interrupted with a slight laugh. "No, I am not able to enter an enlightened state, but it is just like any other form of magic. I am one of the most talented mages from my land. I can teach you how to harness this power more effectively."

"I see...so, you seemed to have been acquainted with Lord Taggart by the time Byron and I arrived," Anye said, trying to change the subject. She thought she had received her fill of overwhelming news, but was wrong.

Amadi caught her intent, reacting with a slight laugh, but he went along with it. "If you wish, we will begin your exercises in the morning. And yes, I am acquainted with him. He is my uncle."

"What?"

"Uncle Micah is my father's brother," he told her. "He left our tribe long before I was born to seek a life outside of Qul'rah. I normally only see him when he makes his pilgrimage every five years. He was quite surprised to discover that I had left the village and was entering the tournament."

"He didn't try to stop you?" Anye asked.

Amadi laughed again before answering. "He and I are similar in our desires to prove ourselves. He knew I wished to show him my strength. Besides, if someone knew that I was the governing nobleman's nephew, it may have caused...complications."

"For your uncle?"

"For those who would complicate things," he said. "I have a bit of a temper. Provoking me would not have proved healthy, as I made clear to mister Illenas."

Anye remembered Nitram Illenas, the brutish fighter with the battle-axe who tried to pick a fight with her in the prep area. In the days following the tournament, while they researched Del'Mond and the artifacts, Anye decided to ask some of the workers if they had seen Amadi's fight against him. They described his quick defeat as a 'humiliatingly beautiful display of Amadi's talents.' They cited that as soon as the match had begun, Amadi stunned his opponent with a rising chunk of the ground, knocked him on his back with a blast of air, and then lifted him into the air with a vortex that he lit ablaze, finishing the fight by dispelling the fiery column of wind and slamming the brute to the ground with a conjured chunk of ice.

"Yes, I heard about that," Anye commented. "Very impressive..." Amadi didn't react to the comment, but Anye could see there was something else on his mind. "I suppose I'll go and-"

"There is more to this than what my uncle knows," Amadi said. The statement caught Anye off guard. "You should know this."

"Know what?" Anye asked.

"The _Sky Fire_ was not a natural phenomenon, Anye," he explained. "Something very old and very powerful caused it when attempting to break free from its cage."

"What are you talking about, Amadi?" Anye asked.

"I do not know what this evil entity is," he explained. "But the artifacts written of in the ancient book are the keys to finding it out, and stopping it. This much I have seen both in my visions and in person."

Such a claim was ridiculous, even for one as strange as Amadi, but he seemed completely convinced of himself. Anye didn't wish to anger him, but his relationship to the governor suggested that her contract may be more about the boy's feelings rather than simple artifact acquisition. "Is that what this contract is really for? To find out what this evil is?" she asked.

"No, he knows nothing about this," Amadi told her. "I did not tell him for his own protection. I tell you because I sense that you are somehow connected to this, as am I."

"Well, that's interesting...makes me feel all the better about this job," Anye commented.

"There is something else I have seen in my visions, Anye," Lord Taggart explained. "A pair of dragons locked in combat, with their riders each wielding lances. One of the riders stabs the other, knocking him from his mount and killing him."

"Dragons? And their riders?" Anye asked. Her heart pounded in her chest, thinking of Glenn and his disappearance.

"I do not know what it means, if it is literal or simply a message to be interpreted in some way," Amadi explained. "The vision is covered in shadow. All I can see are their shapes and the silhouette of a city unlike anywhere I have been."

"I see..."

Amadi got to his feet and dusted his robes off. The soft glow of the gem floating at the top of his staff illuminated his brown face with a blue glow. "When we arrive at the Sun's Bed, we must be extremely careful. I fear that agents of that evil being will be waiting for us."

"I'll keep that in mind," Anye replied, though she found it difficult to sound sincere. The talk of Amadi's premonition reminded her of something else he told her during the tournament. "Amadi, you also told me you were searching for something, and that I was the key to finding it. What did you mean by that? Was there another vision?"

Amadi widened his gaze and looked down at the ground for a moment in silence before answering. "Let's just say...I have a feeling that our meeting was not by chance."

It wasn't the answer Anye was looking for, but the boy had his quirks and believed in visions of the future so she felt it was best to leave the matter alone. "I see. Thank you, Amadi. Good night."

______

Anye awoke the next morning to a lecture explaining various fundamentals about the basic nature of magic as a whole. Amadi claimed she would need to know, and understand wholly, those fundamentals before trying to strengthen her bond with it. Her previous training helped so the boy skipped over the basics of _summoning_ magical energy, instead going into the concept of meditation so she could practice during their voyage over the sea. Mastering that would bolster her capabilities considerably. There were also several exercises Amadi told her she should do when they could, but attuning herself to the collective energy of the world was more important.

And as Anye predicted, the pair arrived in Mark's Landing within half a day of riding from their camp after her first lesson.

The unexpectedly small fishing village was nothing if not hospitable. Because of its relatively safe location on the south-western coast of Belrun, the town hadn't seen any kind of warfare for over a century, even during the revolts. The town's position also made it the primary location for any ships heading westward or north to Delrich's capital, so the dock had been designed to deal with people not so acquainted with fishing.

The ship Micah Lord Taggart had commissioned for the pair sat waiting at the far end of the docks. It was one of the largest ships in port. The captain of the vessel and his apparent first mate stood waiting for them at the gangway.

"Miss Amy and Master Amadi?" the heavily grey-bearded, perfectly round captain said to them as they approached on their horses.

Anye was surprised to hear her alias. Her few days spent with Amadi and his uncle at the estate had made her accustomed to being called by her real name again, somewhat forgetting her status as a fugitive.

"Yes, you are the captain of this ship I presume?" Amadi replied.

"Aye," the bearded man answered. "The name's Bikke, but just _Captain_ will do. Mister Evans, my first mate, will help you with your things. The _gracious_ Lord Taggart also paid me for the voyage in full, so we may depart whenever you're ready."

Amadi looked to Anye, seeking any indication that she may wish to delay the trip any further. She nodded her head at him without a word, indicating she was ready to go. The less time spent on land other than the Sun's Bed, the better.

"We are ready to depart now," Amadi said.

"The horses will need to stay in the stables," Bikke told them. "They don't do so well on open water."

The lanky first mate walked up to the pair of horses as Anye and Amadi got off of their backs, carrying their sacks of possessions on with them. "Will you not need assistance with your things then?"

"We do not have much," Amadi answered. "We can carry them ourselves."

"As My Lord wishes," Evans replied, and then walked down the dock back to the stables with the horses.

"Your lady friend seems to be a mute, Master Amadi," Bikke commented as the three of them walked up the gangway on to the deck. "Is she alright?"

"I'm fine, Captain, but thank you for your concern," Anye replied.

"Oh!" Bikke said excitedly. "And she's got a pretty voice too!"

"And quite the skilled sword arm," Amadi countered. "I suggest you remind your crew of that before any of them attempt to engage my friend in any lewd or inappropriate conversation."

Bikke coughed as he laughed at Amadi's retort. "Don't worry. My crew and I are all honorable men of the sea. After all, I'm not known as Bikke the _Pirate_ , now am I? Ha!"

Anye and Amadi continued to follow the ship's captain as he waddled across the deck inside to their cabin, underneath the captain's quarters above. The vessel was old but incredibly sturdy. Bikke told them he had been ferrying people to and from Mark's Landing for over twenty years on that ship, which he affectionately referred to as _The Empress_. The trip to the Western Isles was nothing new and would only a take a few days if the wind was on their side.

Anye and Amadi placed their bags in the cabin and followed the captain back out on to the deck, where he had begun barking orders at his crew to begin casting off. Anye decided to look over the edge of the ship facing north, thinking about her life and how it had changed. She still hadn't read the letter her father had sent.

Amadi noticed his partner's subtle distress and followed her over shortly after she had leaned over the edge. "Something on your mind?" he asked.

Anye was surprised at his apparent interest, but appreciated it nonetheless. "My life has changed drastically in so little time," she answered. "Just over a month ago I was a respected knight and my biggest worry second to the protection of the realm was my father trying to marry me to some pompous bureaucrat or their son. Now, I have to live by a false name as a mercenary because of a murder I didn't commit, while the man responsible is free to carry out whatever plan he has. Wondering what troubles my home may be facing due to his schemes is taking its toll. I should be doing something about it, not hiding."

"You fear he may be conspiring to do more to your country?" Amadi asked.

"Wouldn't you?" she replied quickly. "The bastard murdered Prince Robert, rest his soul, right in front of me and then convinced King Justin, his _father_ , that I was the one who had done so! Now he is military advisor to the king and the war with Mitus has escalated once more. He's up to something more than taking the crown for himself, and I can't do anything about it. And now Glenn...Glenn was supposed to come find me when he found something, but I fear that he may be another victim to Amador's plot..."

"I see," her companion said. The two of them remained quiet for a time, feeling the wind blow on their faces, enjoying the serenity while it lasted. "Do not worry about your friend. If something had happened to him, my uncle would have surely told you."

"That's just the thing, he did tell me. Glenn's disappeared after having been sent to Toran _alone_ to deal with wild dragon attacks," Anye explained as she turned around to lean her back against the edge. "His Majesty would have never sent him to do such a thing if he were in his right mind. Glenn was like a second son to him. Whatever Amador is up to, he needed Glenn and me both out of the way. After this is over I need to go back."

"Do not let your emotions control you, Anye. Doing so makes one careless and stupid," Amadi said bluntly.

"Excuse me?"

"What would you do once you returned home?" he asked. "As soon as you were seen, your king's soldiers would either cut you down or force you to submit, and you would be right back where you started."

"And what would you know?" Anye snapped. "You weren't framed for a murder and forced to flee your home to avoid the executioners axe!"

The crew around the two of them slowed in their work, looking at the pair oddly. Anye realized that she still needed to maintain her false identity and calmed herself down, but Amadi's statement still angered her.

"I apologize," he said to her. "I do not usually travel with people, and I am told that I can be rude. Please forgive me, I only wish to advise you to err on the side of caution rather than reckless endangerment."

Anye stared at the boy as he spoke, but she saw the sincerity in his eyes. He was right, of course. Blindly marching back to Delrich wouldn't gain her anything except a return visit to prison if she wasn't killed on sight. Her honor still compelled her to seek the truth and see justice be served of course, but she needed to be smart about it.

"I know," she finally said to him after letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

"Do not worry about it," Amadi replied. "But I have another bit of advice, if I may?"

"What is it?"

"Read the letter," he said. "It will bring you some closure, at least from that aspect of your life."

Amadi didn't say another word, nor did he give Anye a chance to respond before he turned and walked back towards the cabin. She had been putting off reading it since it had been given to her, either out of fear that Lord Taggart was wrong in his statement about her father or how she would feel if he was right.

She pulled the rolled paper out of her pocket and stared at the string holding it closed. The ocean wind threatened to snatch it from her fingers, and she was tempted to let it. But whatever it was her father had to say to her he deserved to have it be read, not thrown away never to be seen again.

Anye pulled the string holding the paper rolled together, untying the knot and releasing it. The parchment bounced lightly as it uncurled, before she held the bottom with her other hand, and she began to read...

_Anye, my daughter,_

_  
_

_I hope this letter reaches you safely. I've heard of your disappearance from the castle, and because of my last words with you I assume you think me disappointed and furious that you fled from your punishment. I am not, but rather I am relieved that you are hopefully alive and well instead of hanging from a rope...or worse._

_Do not worry about how I know where you are. King Justin has of course inquired if I had any hand in your escape and where you may have fled to, but I told him I did not know, and that is the truth. I sent this letter to Lord Taggart assuming you had traveled south. If you have indeed gone to Belrun, then he will make sure you receive this._

_Your mother and siblings are well, and we all pray for your safety and good health._

_Anye, I am sorry I did not believe your claims of innocence. I cannot excuse how I acted. I am your father and I never should have treated you that way. For that, I truly am sorry. I was blinded by foolish pride and refused to listen to you for all these years. I should have supported you, especially after what transpired in Hammerdrop..._

_Things are happening in the kingdom. King Justin has...changed, somehow. The castle gates have been sealed ever since your escape, opening only for those who have been summoned by his majesty. Your friend, Captain Sturmwind, has also been on the receiving end of our king's newly discovered paranoia. He has been stripped of his rank, title, and had the link with his dragon severed on charges of conspiracy, He was sent to Toran alone to prove his loyalty to the crown. He came to me as he left on his mission to try and convince me of your innocence, of which he had no need by that point. I have not heard from him since, but he wishes you are safe as well, and bids you stay safe until you can return home._

_If this letter has indeed reached your eyes, please give Lord Taggart my thanks. Again, my daughter, I am truly and deeply sorry. Be safe..._

_  
_

_Love,_

_Your Father_

_  
_

Anye was in tears by the time she finished reading the letter. She knew what would be in it, but reading it was still reassuring. It had to have taken a significant amount of effort for her father to admit such things, especially Hammerdrop. The battle that took place at that small village in eastern Delrich was what claimed the life of her fiancé, and her father's near immediate movement to see her married to someone else afterward was almost enough to completely destroy what remained their relationship. The fact that he admitted the error of his ways proved to her that he really did care.

The news confirming what was happening in Delrich was troubling, and she knew that Amador was at the center of it all. She still had the intention of returning and stopping whatever it was he had planned, but now she knew that she had to be especially careful about it.

Until that time, she indeed had the closure Amadi said she was searching for, and it was enough for now. The reassurance that her family didn't despise her gave her more reason to fight on and return home. She still needed a plan, but just knowing she could eventually return home when the time was right was enough.

______

The presence of a powerful mage on board _The Empress_ had at first troubled most of the crew, but Amadi quickly changed their minds when the sea's wind had stopped blowing their sails. Amadi used his powers to summon a strong and steady gust of westerly wind to keep the ship moving. Anye knew he performed the task so they would arrive at their destination quickly, but Captain Bikke and his crew saw it as a tremendous and kind favor, as well as an incredible feat. Both Anye and the boy were treated almost as royalty after that for the duration of the voyage.

When they arrived at the Western Isles, Anye and Amadi immediately left for the main hub of the foreign city. The evening sun cast long shadows from its soft orange glow to the west. Their destination, the Sun's Bed, was visible from the island, and even though it appeared as nothing more than a silhouette of rocks, the feeling Anye got when looking at it was that of dread. She couldn't explain it, assuming it was simply her nerves being on edge.

The architecture on the island was vastly different than what either of the pair was accustomed to seeing. The roofs of each of the structures had been shingled in an odd layered pattern. Instead of coming down at straight angles for each of the corners, they were curved so the tips were pointed upward at the sky, similar to a hook. The walls looked to be made of some sort of rough clay substance, and at the center of the port city stood a large tower that looked like a stack of the smaller buildings instead of a singular structure.

"That must be our destination," Amadi commented.

"The tower?"

"Yes."

"Why the tower?"

"If rumors are to be believed, then the Sun's Bed is a forbidden place, which means we will need special permission from their leader to go there. Where do you think the leader resides?"

Anye laughed at the comment whether it was supposed to be funny or not. "Fair enough," she replied.

As they walked through the streets of the port city, Anye noticed that they were being stared at almost constantly by the island's citizens. She knew that visitors to the region were rare, but she had underestimated exactly how rare it seemed. She also doubted that any of them had ever seen someone from the Frontier as well, which made Amadi's presence even more awkward.

Luckily the pair wasn't given any trouble. Anyone who stood in their path quickly stepped out of the way before joining in the stares. Even the side conversations in their foreign language came to a halt as they approached the tower. The entire experience was unsettling for Anye, but Amadi didn't seem fazed by it at all. Anye assumed that he was probably used to being treated that way due to experiencing similar treatment everywhere he went outside of his homeland.

The two front doors of the strange tower stood at least twenty feet tall, crafted out of iron with an engraving of a large serpent on each of the doors. To Anye it looked more like the symbol of a temple than the home of a reigning monarch or governing body. Two incredibly buff men dressed in robes identical to Anye's opponent from the tournament, Tao Long, stood at each of the doors staring at the two cautiously. Seeing this, the pair stopped their advance some distance away from to avoid any unintended provocation.

"Do you know any of these people's customs?" Anye whispered to Amadi.

"I was hoping you did, actually," he whispered back.

Anye thought for a moment what she should do. Training in foreign diplomacy had always bored her as a child, so when it came time for those lectures she had tended to either daydream or skip class. Now she wished she hadn't, but there were minor things she did remember and she hoped they would work. She stepped forward a step from Amadi and placed one of her hands over her stomach, bowed her head slightly, and then began to speak loud enough for the two apparent guards to hear her.

"Greetings. My name is Amy Karst," she shouted to them. "My companion and I seek an audience with your leaders."

The two native islanders exchanged glances at each other before looking back at Anye and Amadi, but neither of them said anything.

"Amadi, can't you use your ability to connect to their minds and learn their language or something?" Anye asked.

"I can, but it requires tremendous concentration, remember?" he told her. "Doing so here would likely be viewed as a threat, especially if they can sense changes in magical energy. I can tell you for certain that these men would notice."

"You mean they're like that monk from the tournament?" Anye asked. "Oh goodie..." She sighed and eventually looked back up at the pair before speaking again. Words either weren't working or being understood, so she thought showing physical intent might get their point across and took another step forward, although she hoped that they could understand her.

The single step definitely sparked a reaction in the two men, but it didn't appear to be the one Anye and Amadi had hoped for. Both men had placed a single foot forward and raised their arms defensively.

One of them shouted at her in some foreign language angrily, obviously showing that they would be aggressive if she proceeded further.

Anye was speechless. She had never heard the western people speak their native language before. "I don't understand," she shouted back. "Can you understand me?"

The man shouted back at her, again in his own strange words.

Anye felt his magic energy growing rapidly, as did Amadi. She gripped the handles on her swords as Amadi held his staff forward, summoning his own powers. She did not show the blade however, instead choosing to try words once more, hoping to avoid any bloodshed. "I do not wish to fight you, but we will defend ourselves!"

The other one shouted back at her before they yelled together and ran towards Anye and Amadi. Anye drew her blades and prepared herself for combat.

A third voice from within the tower bellowed a singular word during the warriors' charge and the two guards stopped in their tracks. They spun, immediately placing their hands together and bowing low as the monstrous iron doors slowly swung open.

Anye stood mystified and confused. The sudden surge of magic from the two men had completely vanished at the sound of the third voice. Whoever it was that yelled at them must have been extremely important or powerful. Either option prompted her to stay on her guard.

Her assumption about the voice being powerful had been correct. From within the dark hall of the tower before her walked out the familiar frame and face of Tao Long, no longer dressed in the robes he had fought in, but now donning a much fancier set of clothes indicative of a teacher or leader of some sort.

Tao Long spoke to the two men loud enough for Anye and Amadi to hear regardless of the fact that they couldn't understand. The two guards raised their heads and bowed again before retreating silently into the tower and out of sight, leaving Tao Long alone with Anye and Amadi.

"Amy Karst," he called to them. "And Amadi, of Qul'rah's Azubuike tribe...I did not expect to see you again."

"Nor I, Tao Long," Anye shouted back to him.

"Please excuse my lack of etiquette, but for what reason are you here?" he asked suspiciously. "Our lands do not have visitors from the east often, and such visits are commonly not pleasant."

"We've come to travel to the Sun's Bed," Anye told him.

Tao Long narrowed his gaze as he stared at the woman, obviously concentrating hard on her and Amadi. Trust among foreigners was rare back in her home, and it seemed even worse on the islands.

Anye noticed what the man was doing and put her weapons away, signaling Amadi to relax himself as well. Acting defensive wouldn't gain them anything if they wished to avoid conflict. They needed to show that they meant no harm to the people of the islands if they wanted their cooperation.

Tao Long took note of her yield and nodded his head. "I see," he replied. "Please, enter our temple. We shall speak inside."

Tao Long turned around and walked towards the doors, but waited patiently for Anye and Amadi to accompany him before reentering the structure himself.

"Well that was unexpected," Anye said as they approached the doors.

"Yes," Amadi added. "I had hoped things would go smoothly with these people, but Tao Long was not foreseen. My uncle did not know much about him during the tournament. He will be pleased with this information."

Anye and Amadi tightened their lips as they entered earshot of the martial artist. They needed to watch their words carefully while in his presence until they trusted him and he fully trusted them. Hopefully it wouldn't take long, but it was hard to judge when dealing with a completely foreign race of people.

Another monk dressed in similar garments to the two men Anye and Amadi encountered before pushed the door closed behind the trio as they entered the large building. The interior design of the place was breathtaking. Statues of what Anye assumed were deities the islanders worshiped lined the walls surrounded by candles. An extremely ornate carpet decorated the floor with a crest unknown to Anye or Amadi; a circle with two serpents devouring each other by the tails forming another circle, surrounding a strange character of lines. Anye assumed the character was a symbol or word in westerner's native language. Men with similar hair to Tao Long sparred all around them.

"Welcome to the Kirameku Shotō," Tao Long said as they walked past the training men.

"Excuse me?" Anye asked.

Tao Long laughed slightly. "In the words of your language, it means the _Shimmering Islands_. But from what I remember, your people mostly refer to my home as the Western Isles."

"Ah, yes," Anye replied. "I'm relieved to see you've recovered, by the way."

"The wounds you inflicted upon me at the tournament were not fatal, but I had exhausted my strength attempting to defeat you," Tao Long explained. "It was a...humbling experience, one which I desperately needed."

The three reentered silence as Tao Long led them up a large stairwell through several floors to where Anye had assumed was the uppermost level. She observed training similar to what occurred on the ground level in the first few floors, but after that the rest seemed to serve other purposes like meditation and resting.

Tao Long's personal quarters, at the top of the tower, was an exception to the rest of the structure. The room took up the entirety of the floor and had an area in the center dedicated to martial arts training, complete with straw-men and racks of various weapons. Based on his attire and the location of his residence, Anye assumed he was a master of all of them.

Tao Long also had a separate area that looked like it was used for meditation near his bed, and a large ornamented desk with a jar of ink and a quill. He led them to a pair of cushions on the floor and sat, prompting the other two to follow suit. "I apologize for needing to bring you to my personal quarters to speak, but your destination is forbidden to my people, and especially to outsiders. I could not risk any who have been learning your language to overhear. It would cause unneeded questions to arise."

"Your people?" Anye asked. "We weren't aware you were the leader of the islands."

"This island," Tao Long corrected. "I am the master of this dojo and temple, and as such I am one of the seven leaders of Kirameku Shotō. The other islands have their own martial arts schools and together we govern the people of our islands."

"I see. Please forgive my ignorance," Anye replied.

"Do not worry. We rarely venture away from our homes. It is common for your people to not know of our ways," Tao Long said. "But as I mentioned, your destination is forbidden. The thought of allowing anyone passage, especially foreigners, would be to defy the gods."

"Why is the Sun's Bed forbidden?" Amadi inquired. "We have been told it is nothing but a desert wasteland."

"You are correct, child of Qul'rah. It _is_ a giant desert, which has served as the tomb for an army of demons since ancient times," Tao Long explained. "Our people have been carrying on our ancestors' charge of protecting it for generations, so the demons may never return to our world."

Anye scoffed at the explanation, but immediately saw the annoyance in her host's eyes and changed her tone. "My apologies, Tao Long," she said. "I simply find tales and ancient legends about demons and other such hellish armies to be a little farfetched."

"People use the energies of our world to do remarkable things that extend beyond the limits of our bodies, Miss Karst. You yourself do this as well, if you recall," Tao Long countered. "And yet you have a hard time believing in something of legend simply because it exists in legend?"

"I do not believe in such things as demons because history does not prove they do or did exist," Anye replied.

Now it was Tao Long's turn to laugh. "Books written by man can only date back so far. There is nothing I can do to convince you, but your friend appears to be another story." Tao Long shifted his gaze towards Amadi, who had remained silent and somewhat rigid during their conversation. "You know of the ancient creatures, do you not?"

"I do."

"Then you know why I cannot grant you passage," Tao Long replied. "We are charged with protecting the Sun's Bed so the horrors of the past may never return, and you wish me to simply let you go there and do as you will?"

"My Lord, we have simply been tasked with locating an artifact that is rumored to rest there," Anye told him. "We have no intention of-"

"Regardless of your reasons, Miss Karst, the fact that you wish to disturb _anything_ there at all is the problem," Tao Long interrupted. "Even if your intentions are noble, your actions can lead to unexpected consequences. That is a risk my I cannot take."

"Master Tao Long," Amadi said as he got to his feet. "The horrors of the past are already returning. If we do not reach what we have come here to seek, you will not be able to stem the tide that will rise against your shores."

Tao Long stared at the boy for a moment in silence, as did Anye. He hadn't mentioned anything involving demons or an army of any kind during their time together.

"I have seen the demons myself, in The Shroud."

"I suspected as much," Tao long said. "You confirm what I have feared, but that only serves to strengthen my resolve. I cannot allow you or your companion to travel to the Sun's Bed. You will return to your ship and leave our islands at dawn."

"Do you think we fear you?" Anye asked as she quickly got to her feet.

"No, I do not," Tao Long answered. "But you are surrounded by my students, all of which have been extensively trained. If you provoke an act of violence, you will not live to regret it."

The threat was clear, and it was obvious that nothing Amadi or Anye said was going to change Tao Long's mind. For the first time since Anye had met the boy though, she saw fear in his eyes.

Anye calmed her body and nodded her head towards her host. "Very well, we shall leave," she said. Amadi turned his head quickly towards her, but remained silent with his fearful gaze. "Thank you for your hospitality."

Tao Long nodded his head in response. "It pleases me to see you understand. I wish your predecessors were as wise."

The words sent a chill down Anye's spine, with the realization of what had happened to Lord Taggart's previous parties now becoming clear. She turned towards the door leading out of the island leader's room with Amadi close behind her, but both of them remained silent as they exited the building. Whatever it is they wanted to say, they both knew they needed to wait until they were outside.

The sun had completely set by the time the pair exited the massive structure. Stars filled the skies above as the soft glows of paper lamps hanging from some of the buildings illuminated the city streets. Most of the townspeople that had been going about their daily activities had retreated to the warmth and comfort of their homes, leaving Anye and Amadi almost alone in the city streets.

When they got a good distance away from the tower, Anye finally spoke. "Care to tell me what that was all about in there?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Amadi replied, but he avoided looking at her as he still seemed visibly shaken by what Tao Long had been talking about.

Anye grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him into a wall. "I'm not stupid, Amadi, so cease the charade. Why are we here? It's not for some stupid old piece of gold or flower pot, now out with it!"

Amadi stared at her silently, with his face still taught but more relaxed than before. "Release me and I'll tell you."

Anye hesitated. She knew what the boy could do, and she didn't doubt that he'd do it if their situation came to that. She let him down, but kept close to him and continued to stare angrily. "Speak."

"We should keep moving," he said. "Please."

"Fine." The two continued their walk but increased the pace, hurriedly moving closer to the docks where their ship waited. "Now out with it. I don't very much like being lied to," Anye said.

"Your assessment is only half-correct," Amadi started. "My uncle does want us to find the artifact mentioned in the diary for his collection, but I believe it is something much more important."

"Like what?"

"I believe it is item that once belonged to one of the ancient heroes," Amadi explained. "A relic of some kind that contains great power...power strong enough to stop what's coming."

"What do you mean 'what's coming?' Are you talking about that presence you felt?"

"Let me explain. When I was a boy..." Amadi started to say, but he paused. "When I was a boy, I ran away from my village and into The Shroud. Old stories passed down by our elders said that the spirits of the dead dwelled there, and that it was a sacred place we should never go to. I lost my mother when I was very young, and in my ignorance I believed that I would see her there. I couldn't have been more wrong."

"What do you mean?" Anye asked.

"There were things there, Anye," he said with fear in his voice. "Horrible things...ancient creatures, born of evil, and hatred, and greed... When I laid eyes on them, I ran in terror, fearing for my life, until I...I eventually made it back to the village and told the elders what it was I had seen." Amadi turned his head and looked at Anye with the same fearful look that was in his eyes before. "Those creatures will cover our world in darkness, Anye, and nobody from my village believed me until it was too late. The artifact we're searching for will help us stop them and any others that may appear. If we don't find it, everyone we know and care about will be killed or enslaved by them, and our world will fall into chaos and despair."

Anye felt herself go a little cold after hearing the boy's story, but as chilling as it was she still wasn't sure if she believed in such things. "How do you know that this wasn't something your imagination came up with?" she asked.

Amadi sighed, apparently upset that he had to explain further. "Because...because I did not leave my village to be more like my uncle. I fled the village when the creatures left the shroud and attacked. I saw them butchering my people, and ran away. Uncle Micah and my clothes are all I have left of my home."

Anye suddenly felt a tingle of nausea in her stomach, and she felt guilty losing her tempter with him before, no matter how much she hated being lied to or having information withheld. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Now you understand," he told her. "We must-"

Their conversation and path were interrupted by the sound deep shrieks in the sky. Anye recognized the sounds immediately as that of dragon roars, but one of them sounded much deeper in pitch than the others. She hadn't heard such a thing since she left Delrich, and while it brought back pleasant memories it also struck fear in her heart.

"Those were dragons..." Amadi commented. "The sounds came from the west, towards the desert."

"Glenn?" Anye asked herself, but before she could focus her thoughts, the memories of the treason in Mitus flooded back into her mind. "Amador!" Anye shouted in a rage. "We need to get there, now!" Anye turned and ran towards the boat, forgetting what Amadi had told her for the time being. If Amador was present and flying to the Sun's Bed, she needed to get there.

"Amador?" Amadi yelled as he tried to keep up with the woman.

"The bastard who stole my life from me!" she yelled.

The pair reached the docks where Evans sat on a barrel at the gangway, keeping watch for the time being.

"Evening," he greeted the pair as they came to a rushed stop. "Did you hear that dreadful noise just now? Terrifying..."

"Where is the captain?" Anye asked through rushed breathing.

"In his quarters, I imagine," Evans answered. "Is something the matter, Miss?"

Anye pushed passed the boy and ran up the walkway without another word, hurriedly moving across the deck to Bikke's chambers, and banged on the door repeatedly to get the old man's attention. When he opened the door, the woman didn't even give him time to ask what it was she needed. "We need to leave, now!"

"What?" Bikke asked. "Woman, are you mad?"

"We're heading west, to the Sun's Bed. We need to get there now!" she yelled again.

Bikke was an old man who had lived his entire life on the sea. Taking orders from a woman he had been paid to ferry to the islands and back east wasn't part of the deal, and he didn't like the conversation. "Miss Karst, it's close to midnight. My crew is sleeping, we won't be fully stocked until the morning, and _I'm_ the captain of this ship!"

"I'll pay you double what Lord Taggart did on top of what you're already getting if you take us there now!" Anye blurted out. She didn't have the money to hold that promise, but she hoped he would believe her.

It looked like he took the bait. Bikke's tone shifted from agitated to excite with the next sentence. "Now that's how you do business!" he yelled. He waddled past her and started ringing the bell hanging near his door as he started shouting over the ship. "Hey all you dogs, get your lazy behinds out of bed! We're shoving off of this rock!" The old captain continued to bark orders as he rang the loud bell just over Anye's shoulder, echoing over the water and likely through the island's streets.

Anye's heart was pumping as she stood next to the old captain and Amadi, who had been standing silently behind her as she yelled at the old man. If they were caught heading towards the westerners' forbidden island, she was sure they would use their own ships to blast them out of the water. Hopefully the sound of the dragons caused a bit of a panic and they wouldn't notice the ship leaving.

When _The Empress_ was finally clear of the docks Amadi decided to help a bit by conjuring some wind as he did to help speed their journey like before. The gesture was more than appreciated by the crew as there was no natural wind blowing, which meant they were about to start using the paddles and drums. With some luck, and Amadi's help with the wind, they would arrive at the forbidden desert in a few hours.

______

The assumption that the sound of the dragons had caused a bit of a stir on the island proved to be correct. Whatever naval defenses Tao Long usually had in place between his island and the Sun's Bed were nowhere to be found, and _The Empress_ dropped anchor just off the shore so Anye and Amadi could take a small boat to reach the landmass.

The sun was still down but early morning glimpses of its light started to peek out from the east. Anye and Amadi caught what little sleep they could before leaving the ship, knowing that they would likely need it, though rest did not come easy for the woman. The assumption that Amador was close, and that he could have been pursuing Glenn, caused her to worry greatly, making troublesome dreams appear while she slept. The nightmares Anye had suffered from involving the fire had finally stopped at least. She suspected it had to do with her subconscious remembering the _Sky Fire_ , and learning about it from Lord Taggart had put it to rest.

First viewing of the island alone was enough for anyone to call it a forbidden place in Anye's opinion. The barren landscape appeared completely devoid of life, covered in sand without a building, tent, tree, or person in sight. The only bit of landmark she could see was an outcropping of rocks in the distance, similar to a mountain if it wasn't one itself.

"There," Anye said as she pointed towards the rocks. "If there's anything here, I would expect it to be in those rocks," she explained. "If those dragons we heard last night were anywhere else we would be able to see them. This entire place is flat enough..."

"We should move quickly. When the sun rises it will become very hot," Amadi said. "Do you have your water?"

Anye patted a leather pouch of water tied to her waist affectionately. "Yes, and I've got some water and food too. What about you?"

Amadi nodded. "Let's get moving."

______

The rocks Anye spotted while the sun was still down had turned out to be much further away than either of the two walkers had anticipated, and they looked to actually be a mountain. The sun's heat beat down on them relentlessly as they walked through the sand. Beads of sweat formed on their brows and dripped through their clothes. Anye's hair had become matted and unruly from the heat as well.

"Anye...how far...do you think...those mountains are?" Amadi asked. The boy was exhausted from the heat, and his robes weren't well designed for desert travel, which caused him to feel like he had been taking a bath while they walked. Fortunately he still had some water left, but the fact that it felt like it had been taken right out of a hot spring didn't make it very refreshing.

"Not sure..." Anye replied. "I thought I saw...something glint...in the sand before...but I think...it was nothing..."

The pair continued to drag their feet through the sand when their legs became too weak to lift up any more. Anye's mind raced from thought to thought, wondering why the rocky outcropping still looked so far away, how far they really were from the boat they left at the shore, and mostly why they hadn't heard any dragon cries since the previous evening. If the entire group had indeed flown to the landmark then that would explain why she hadn't seen any, but she thought for sure she would have at least heard one of them at some point.

Both of their water pouches ran dry by the time the sun began to fall. Their mouths were dry and felt like cotton, and Amadi had already tripped over himself a few times. Anye felt like a fool for rushing into the desert so unprepared based entirely on a gut feeling, remembering Amadi's advice to her before they left Mark's Landing. She had been smart enough to avoid capture entering Belrun, had won a tournament nobody thought she could even place in, and had been learning to control magic in ways she'd never seen or imagined. Why she had let herself get in to such a stupid situation, especially after Amadi advised her against such rash thinking, she wondered and regretted.

Anye heard a thump behind her and stopped. Slowly, she turned to see Amadi lying on the ground with his eyes closing. "Amadi...? Amadi, you need...to get...up..." Anye tried to say to him, but she was so exhausted the words barely came out above a whisper.

When she tried to walk to him she felt her feet get caught in the sand and went tumbling down too, dirtying her face even more. Anye felt too weak to get back up, and the darkness of her eyes closing felt more comfortable than trying to stay awake. She knew what was happening, but she also knew that she just didn't have the strength to fight it. It was like having two voices in your head screaming at you, one saying to get up and the other saying to give-in. Quite unlike herself, the choice to give-in sounded like a much better option and she started to close her eyes. With the last of her strength before succumbing to exhaustion she whispered a single word.

"Glenn..."

# Chapter 5

_Inheritance_

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The roar of the dragons boomed, echoing all around with such ferocity that they shook everything on the ground. Anye's eyes quickly opened in shock from the sound, but unlike the sandy bed she remembered passing out in, she found herself in a hammock set up in a dark tent. Amadi was nowhere to be seen. The tent was strangely decorated, with plants and burning incense hanging on ropes, filling the room with a particularly strong odor. If she was being held prisoner it didn't feel like it, but the mystery of her location and companion placed her in an immediate state of panic.

She swung her feet from the hammock and placed them on the dusty floor. The feeling of cool sand between her toes opened her eyes to the fact that she had been completely undressed and garbed in a light robe that felt like silk. She had no idea where her weapons were, and being unarmed heightened her fear. The panic started to subside as she realized that she should at least be grateful she was alive. If someone had taken her prisoner, she doubted she would be anywhere but chained in a cellar.

Anye walked through the opening of the tent to the sight of a village nestled at the foot of the rocks, which she assumed to be the mountains she saw before. People all around her stopped as they saw the woman emerge from the tent to stare.

Being a knight, or at the very least a warrior, caused her to notice that every single person she could see was armed with an oddly fashioned curved blade. None of them had any armor on, but rather light cloths and wraps around their heads, along with sacks of what she presumed was water tied to their waists. Who they were, she had no idea; people weren't supposed to be living in the Sun's Bed.

"Ah, the desert princess wakes!" a light womanly voice yelled through the crowds. "We had feared the sands had taken you. It is fortunate you have returned!"

Anye looked to see a woman, similarly dressed but different enough to be identified as a leader of some kind, walk through the crowd in Anye's direction with Amadi beside her still holding his staff. The woman looked older than Anye, possibly at least ten years her senior, and had long black hair. Her skin had been tinted the color of the sand, and she had large medallion hanging from her neck.

"Who are you?" Anye asked. "Where am I? What's going on, Amadi?"

"Anye, we owe our lives to these people," Amadi answered.

"We are the watchers of the desert," the woman answered.

"You found us? How?" Anye was confused, unarmed, and while she tried to keep her composure she was afraid. "Where are my weapons? Why have I been undressed?"

"When our scouts saw you and your friend collapse in the wastes, they brought you here," the woman explained. "Your clothing was not helping your condition, so I had my maidens change you. Your weapons and attire are safely stored in my quarters." The woman paused and extended a hand towards Anye. "Please, come with me and I will return them to you."

Anye didn't feel like she had much choice, but at least it didn't seem like a bad one. She agreed and stepped forward to walk with Amadi and the strange woman.

When the trio started their pace, the rest of the people in the tent city began to go about their usual business, making the area sound more like a common market than a desert wasteland. The mountains Anye and Amadi had been trekking towards now loomed overhead, casting a long shadow across the sands. The length of the shadows indicated that either Anye had not been unconscious for long or she had been out for at least an entire day.

"There is not much time for introductions, I'm afraid," the woman began to say. "Since the arrival of the invaders, the mountain has been under constant siege, and our defending of the sacred ground has forced the invaders to begin attacking with more force."

"Invaders?" Anye asked, but she quickly knew what she meant. "You mean the dragons?"

"It seems the man you mentioned is indeed here," Amadi explained. "He arrived with his men shortly before we did, claiming the temple in the name of Delrich."

"The mountain temple is a sacred place. We cannot allow it to be disturbed by any except the ones destined to entire its hallowed ground," the woman continued. "To allow that man passage is sacrilege, and we denied him access. He answered with the fiery breath of the beasts he rode here on, but we are people of the desert. We have been holding them back with the unexpected help of another. But this Amador is powerful, and we cannot hold him off for much longer."

"Amadi, did you tell her why we are here?" Anye asked.

"I did, and she has granted us passage to the temple," he answered.

Anye seemed surprised at the quick answer. After the trouble they had been given on the islands only a day or two prior, she expected to have to fight her way there.

"You are the ones we have been waiting for to allow into the temple," the woman said before Anye could comment.

The trio finally reached the woman's tent as she began to explain how they had defended the temple for generations in secret, waiting for the day foretold in ancient prophecy when the youths destined to claim the artifact of the past would appear.

The tent was larger than all the others, made of a brighter colored fabric and decorated with symbols similar to what she saw in the research Lord Taggart had done on Del'Mond.

"Anye, before you become skeptical I proved to them that we fit the description of the youths in their prophecy," Amadi said.

"Amadi..."

"There is a chant among my people, the people of Qul'rah, which we use in times of anguish," Amadi explained. "That saying is in a language unlike mine, yours, or any other known language. It is the same saying these people recite in prayer, it is the words of Del'Mond."

Anye saw the neatly folded pile of her clothes and weapons at the foot of the village leader's bed and walked towards it quickly. "Amadi, I don't care about these ancient legends, or prophecies, or demon armies. Amador is _here_ , and I need to stop him! That's what I need to do!"

"What about your duty as a knight?" Amadi asked. "What about preventing any more innocent lives from being lost? What about your honor?"

Anye spun angrily the moment Amadi said that. "My honor? My _honor_ was stripped from me by a man who conspired against the crown and kingdom I swore to serve! That man is here, _now_ , and you want me to forget about him for some quest to save the world from a _legend_ because you had a _bad feeling_? I entered that tournament so somebody, _anybody_ , would hire me as a sell sword! Not because it was my destiny or some rubbish you think it was!" Anye blurted out. "I took the job your uncle offered me because he paid me well and gave me the information I wanted!"

Anye was fuming. If she could get Amador right then and there, she wouldn't care about anything else anymore. She wouldn't feel the need to hide anymore, she wouldn't be afraid of returning home, she wouldn't care about any of it.

"The one you seek, this Amador," the woman started to say. "He pushes even now to try and reach the temple. If you go with this boy to retrieve the divine relic we will not prevent him from reaching the temple. You will then have your chance for vengeance."

Anye stared at the woman for a moment trying to measure up her intentions. "Why? Why allow him to reach your sacred grounds just for me?" she asked. "You just said only the destined youths of prophecy may enter, yet now you seem so willing to let him trespass just for me. Why?"

The woman shrugged. "Call it a gesture of faith," she said. "I allow him to reach the temple while you and the boy are there, and you kill him. The siege stops, my people are safe, and our laws are not broken. But do my reasons really matter to you?"

At that point Anye really didn't care for the woman's reasons. So long as she got to stick her sword through Amador's gut, she would be happy. "No, I suppose they don't."

______

Anye and Amadi agreed, although through a fair amount of arguing, that they should continue to rest for the remainder of the day and depart for the temple in the morning after they had recovered enough from the incident in the desert. The boy was worried about her, claiming that she wasn't thinking clearly because of Amador's presence, a fact that Anye openly admitted and that she didn't care about thinking clearly.

She did eventually calm down some over the course of the evening while she rested, but the occasional sound of a dragon's shriek bouncing off of the rocky cliffs reminded her of what had happened to her, something she tried very hard over the past few weeks to try and not think about. There was also the possibility that Glenn was nearby somewhere, but he hadn't made his presence fully known, at least not to her. She assumed, or rather hoped, that the one helping the tribe defend the temple was him, but she still knew that the chances of it were slim and that there was little reason for him to be there. Lord Taggart's information suggested he was traveling south as well, not west.

When the sun started to peek again from across the sands to the east, Anye and Amadi were both led out of the village to a mountain path by a guide assigned to them. Amadi had noticed Anye's significant change in attitude, but he kept his distance so he wouldn't provoke another argument.

The path leading through the mountains to the temple was treacherous. Sudden drop offs, rock slides, and narrow edges they needed to traverse all hindered their trip, but none of the obstacles outright stopped them. Eventually the trio came to what seemed like the safest part they had seen in the mountain, where the guide suddenly stopped in his tracks and kneeled.

Before them on either side of the path were two worn down and practically shattered stone columns. If an arch had been placed at the top it was no longer present, likely reduced to the rubble and rock that lay around them from the elements. At the end of the path stood a tall round stone tower surrounded by the rocky edges of the desert mountain rising up.

"What's the matter?" Anye said to the guide.

"We've arrived at the sacred ground, I assume," Amadi commented. "Remember what their leader said? Only the chosen ones may enter."

"That tower must be the temple then." Anye stepped forward without a second thought, leaving the guide behind, knowing he wouldn't follow and likely wouldn't leave. Those people knew the mountains intimately, and if they had been defending that place from Amador there were probably others hiding in the rocks he would join up with.

Amadi followed Anye closely as they walked down the path. Based on the general landscape in front of the tower, it appeared that at one point in time the entire area was a well-kept garden with statues of monstrous creatures placed in decoration.

"Quite the demonic army," Anye sarcastically commented.

Amadi was not amused by the joke. "You have no idea," he muttered as they approached the tower.

The two continued in silence until they reached the massive doors at the tower's base. As old as the area appeared, the tower itself was surprisingly well preserved. While simple in design, Anye hadn't seen architecture quite like it anywhere before. The stone that comprised the tower's main body had been visibly worn down by years of exposure to the wind and sun, but there wasn't a single piece that had fractured and fallen away. There were no visible windows along the walls rising into the sky, so Anye questioned whether anything living actually waited inside for them.

"Well, let's see about getting this door open then," Anye commented as she walked towards the structure. She was interrupted before she reached it by another shriek of a dragon, this time much closer than before.

"Anye, get down!" Amadi yelled at her as he turned around and raised his staff in the air.

A blue light shone from the gem in his staff when he held it high, which spread wide to block the stream of fire that came down at them along with the cry the two had just heard. Anye didn't waste any time and drew her swords.

When the fire stopped Amadi lowered his staff, and the two watched as a black scaled dragon landed on the ground with at least fifteen more of the creatures behind it. The ground shook slightly as each one landed, threatening to throw the pair off balance, but they remained upright while the dust settled.

"Now _this_ is a surprise," Anye heard from in front of her. "Lady Anye Everdyne, you were the last person I expected to see here."

As soon as he was visible, Anye glared right at the man who had wronged her; Amador Astley, still riding his black dragon and now in command of Delrich's Dragon Knights. Quick observation showed that he had also changed weapons, replacing the usual issued lance from the castle's armory with a custom weapon crafted out of a black metal with a slightly warped shape. The bottom of the weapon's main body was given two small blades forming a fork, likely for tactical reverse strikes, but the most drastic difference from the usual lances was the blade at the top. Instead of a cone shape, which the user would use to skewer their foes, this weapon had a blade shaped like a black dancing flame, sharply edged all around.

"Amador, you bastard!" Anye yelled at him. "I'm glad you're here! You've saved me the trouble of having to sneak back into Delrich to kill you!"

"I'm here on His Majesty's orders," Amador replied. "Although I did not expect to find you for some time, your being here has saved _me_ the trouble of having to hunt you down like the traitor you are."

"Me!? A traitor!?" she blurted out. "It was your hand who pushed the blade through the prince's heart!"

Amador laughed from his mounted position. "And who do you think the people will believe? The _noble_ knight who ousted your dear, sweet friend, Sturmwind, and brought home the prince's murderer? Or the traitorous, rebellious runaway with no honor who fled from justice?" he asked tauntingly.

Anye yelled in frustration at him, but Amadi kept a hand up to hold her back. "Anye, do not let him bait you! That is what he wants!"

"I don't care!" she yelled. "I'm going to tear off his head and cut out his vile heart!"

Anye pushed past Amadi's arm and rushed towards her foe without another word, using her rage to fuel her magic, and move like the wind was at her heels.

Amador pulled back on his dragon's reigns, prompting the creature to rear up on its legs and breathe fire in the woman's direction. The movement of his spear prompted the soldiers under his command, all of whom with dragons as well, to take to the skies and prevent Anye and Amadi's escape.

Anye's magic enabled her to cut through the fire as she ran, leaping up towards the dragon's neck and grab on. The creature roared in anger at the unwanted rider and swung its head violently to try and shake her off. She held tightly until it tired and she pulled herself closer to Amador, who was waiting with the blade of his lance pointed at her.

The grin Anye saw on Amador's face was maddening, as if he was enjoying the fight or was insane. He stabbed at her a few times, but the dragon's movement kept him from aiming properly and he eventually struck the creature itself when Anye moved away. The injury forced it to jerk back and knock both rider and attacker to the ground as it took to the sky.

Anye rolled to her feet as Amador did the same. They each held their weapons towards each other while the remaining riders circled around like buzzards. Amadi used his magic to take out a few of the riders, but their large number made it seem like he had barely put a dent in them.

"So, this is how you want to play!?" Amador yelled as he jumped towards the woman. "You think you can best me!?"

Anye avoided the initial attack and countered with her own swings, each deflected away as well. "Of course I can!" she yelled in his face. "You've always been a show off and a pushover with no talent, hiding behind your family whenever things went wrong!"

The two battled, each using their anger and hatred towards one another as fuel for the fight. Anye wasn't even paying attention to anything around her, leaving her only hints to Amadi's state being the sound of another dragon or rider falling to the ground in agony.

Eventually the two duelists came face to face again as they pushed against each other's weapons. "You know, putting the blame on you for that pompous little brat's death was just the start," Amador told her. "Now getting Sturmwind out of the way, that tasted sweet!"

"What have you done to him!?" she shouted.

The two broke away from each other and Amador jumped away to avoid a blast of magic coming from the side, the force of which hit Anye and knocked her off of her feet. The impact knocked her new sword out of her offhand and out of reach, and she struggled to breathe as she recovered. Whatever had hit her was powerful and very fast.

"Amadi!?" she coughed as she turned her head in the direction of what hit her. Who she saw wasn't the boy who had traveled with her from Belrun though, but a woman she hadn't noticed that was strikingly familiar to her.

"Poor little Anye," Amador gloated over her. "No matter how hard you try you won't win. Give up now and _maybe_ I'll let you live long enough for His Majesty to behead you himself."

"Yes, you'd like that..."Anye replied as she got to her feet. She was missing one of her swords, but she was used to fighting without two anyway. If anything, she was a more effective fighter with only one blade. The second weapon's main purpose really was to help prevent people from finding out her identity. "Too bad that's not going to happen!"

As she tried running towards her opponent she felt her body become frozen in place against her will. Her feet had been fastened to the ground and her arms were as flexible as stone. The only part of her body she could move was her head, and that couldn't swing a sword. She was helpless.

"Did you really think I would let you do that?" the woman said as she approached.

Anye turned her face to look at the familiar, young looking woman. She was dressed in a hooded black robe with ornate gold and silver jewelry, and her long blonde hair rested over her shoulders and down over her chest. "You...I know you..."

"It's so nice to see you again, Lady Everdyne," she said. "I do hope you've been well."

Amador continued to grin madly as the pair approached the helpless woman. Amadi had disappeared somewhere in the chaos of the dragons surrounding them, possibly dead.

"Now, Kiya, don't waste your breath on her," Amador commented. "She's beneath us."

"But she's so helpless, my sweet," the woman replied. "Just look at her, she's simply frozen with fear."

"Kiya?" Anye asked. The name brought back the memory of who the woman was. Kiya Sturmwind...you're Glenn's..."

"Yes, I am...or was," Kiya confirmed to her as she placed a hand on Anye's cheek to look at her face. "Hmm, I can see why the fool was taken with you, though. You're quite pretty."

"What? What are you talking about?" Anye replied.

"Enough, Kiya," Amador growled. "Finish her off and let's get on with it. I need that seal broken."

Kiya smiled lightly and gave a soft laugh. "As you wish, darling."

" _Darling_? You betrayed Glenn for _him_!?" Anye tried to yell. "Why!?"

"Dear, Glenn is a foolhardy weakling with a false sense of honor and pride," Kiya told her. "I'll send him your way soon!"

"I would doubt that!" Amadi shouted from beside them just before launching a boulder at the woman with his powers.

Kiya had to stop what she was doing and get away from the flying rock unless she wished to be flattened on the spot. Anye still remained frozen and helpless though, unable to fully see what was happening. Amador saw the opportunity to strike down the red haired woman once and for all fading though, and rushed towards her. The spell binding her broke soon after he began his sprint due to Kiya losing her concentration, and she was able to parry his lunge in time.

Anye felt her anger boil to the point that she started attacking without reserve, or mercy, channeling magic in to her body and increasing her strength and speed. It wasn't the same as Enlightenment, but it felt similar. Each swing of her sword bounced harder off of Amador's lance as she drove him back. She noticed him starting to become confused at the sudden change of strength and speed, and that served to her advantage.

Amadi had a mages duel with Kiya off to the side, exchanging volleys of magical energy with the woman and keeping her away from Anye and Amador. The unit of lancers under Amador's charge had either been defeated by Amadi as they circled around or fled in fear for their lives. Either way it was only the four of them who remained in front of the colossal ancient tower.

"What is this!?" Amador yelled at her. "You're not a battle mage! You shouldn't have this much power!"

Anye concentrated to the point that her magic began to enter the enlightened state, making her eyes glow faintly. The power was intense but she hadn't been able to master controlling it like she needed to, and it felt unstable. What she _did_ have control over looked like it would be more than enough to deal with her adversary, though.

The pair exchanged attacks back and forth for a time with sword and spear, but even with Anye's increased strength Amador continued to prove to be difficult to cut down. She wasn't sure, but it felt like there was something guiding his hand not unlike Anye's newfound abilities. That made using the magic more strenuous, and she found herself commonly using protective spells if Amador started gaining the upper hand. The entire experience proved to be draining, and the moment she started displaying signs of fatigue was when Amador pushed his offensive even harder.

"Why won't you die!?" Amador lashed out at her.

"Because a bastard like you doesn't deserve to kill me!" Anye replied.

"Bah!" Amador pushed back from Anye unexpectedly and jumped up towards the tower away from her.

Anye was confused but the moment of pause let her hear Amadi as he shouted painfully after what sounded like an explosion of some kind. She turned her head quickly to see the smoke rise from what was assumedly a fire spell, and Amadi tumbling to the ground with Kiya standing triumphantly above him.

"Amadi!" she shouted, but before she could do anything Amador used the distraction to leap back down next to her and hit her with a hard knee to the gut, knocking the wind out of her and breaking her concentration to the point that she lost control of the magic she was using. Not a second later, he stepped back and kicked hard with the bottom of his foot to her chest. The force of the impact caused her hand to release the grip on her remaining weapon and she tumbled towards Amadi, landing near the boy in excruciating pain.

"Enough of this!" Amador yelled angrily as he and Kiya walked towards the defeated pair. "I'm going to what I should have done in Mitus and kill you like the whore you are!" As Amador approached, he raised his lance in the air above Anye's chest with the flame-shaped blade pointed down, and smiled as if possessed. "Good bye, Anye!"

Time felt like it stood still as Amador and Kiya loomed over them. The glint in his mad eyes, the spear in his hand, the dragon descending towards them from the sky, it all seemed motionless and silent until she realized the dragon above them wasn't Amador's, and was much, _much_ larger.

The lancer's glee turned to befuddlement and then rage again as the shadow being cast from the dragon above them grew in size rapidly. He spun, and as he swung his weapon in time to make a loud clanging sound as it collided with another lance of a design Anye hadn't seen before.

The dragon overhead roared loudly as it flew towards them, much more loudly than Amador's beast or any of the others from before. It was the same roar she had heard the night she and Amadi were on the western island. It was a massive creature with a wingspan the width of at least ten horses. Before it got too low, it pulled away, and a man leapt from its back down towards the small group.

Amador couldn't move out of the way of the descending person fast enough, and he took the brunt of a kick to his chest. He sprawled into the dirt while the new assailant quickly shifted his attention to Kiya. Anye could barely see her savior after the beating she took, coupled with the dust and sweat that had fallen in her eyes, but she could tell he was fast and quite strong. He moved next to the woman before she had a chance to cast any kind of spell and, using some sort of magic, launched her away from them and into the rock wall behind her. His hand reached out without moving his feet or twisting his body, and the lance that Amador deflected away spun through the air, flying into his hand.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, Sturmwind," Amador coughed as he got to his feet, wiping blood away from his lip.

"Glenn...?" Anye whispered as she struggled to breathe.

"You must have a death wish, Amador," he answered. His voice was low, and trembled slightly with fury.

"Not today," Amador replied. He stood squarely against his rival, but kept his distance knowing that if he were to fight him after his battle with Anye he'd likely lose, no matter how powerful he had become. "I think Kiya and I will take our leave of you pests."

"Glenn dear, it's so nice of you to visit me," Kiya commented as she got back up.

"Silence, witch!" Glenn yelled as he pointed his spear at the woman. "You're lucky I don't cut you down here and now."

"Now is that any way to speak to your wife?" she joked.

"You're no wife of mine, you never were," he replied quickly. "Leave, both of you. I won't say it again unless you want Eisenzahn to dine on your corpses tonight."

The giant dragon that had nosedived towards Amador when he had Anye within his grasp came down from its place in the air beside Glenn and roared. Unlike the dragons commonly found in Delrich's army, or Amador's rare colored black dragon, this one had a light blue hint to its scales and stood at least three times the size.

"Have it your way, Sturmwind," Amador said. "I may have lost here today, but you'll see that it matters little compared to what's coming!"

Amador's dragon flew down and landed next to the beaten knight, allowing him to climb onto its saddle. Kiya used a form of levitation magic to fly over towards them and climbed up as well, wrapping her arms around his torso as she looked seductively at Glenn.

"Goodbye, dear," she said as the dragon took to the sky. "We'll be seeing you soon."

Glenn watched silently with the point of his spear still pointing at them until they flew out of sight, at which point he lowered the weapon and turned to quickly kneel down beside Anye.

Anye managed to focus her vision a little more. She could tell that Glenn wasn't wearing the same armor he had been issued when he was promoted to captain, but little else was clear. Her blurred vision stung in her eyes and she desperately wanted to clean them or at the least wipe them off.

"Anye?" Glenn called out. He knelt down and lifted her in to his arms to cradle her as he spoke. "Anye, speak to me!"

"Glenn...?" she managed to say. "It really is you." The pain in her stomach had started to fade but it still hurt to speak, and the cuts on her exposed skin stung from the dust sneaking in.

"Hold on," he told her as he laid her down. He turned his head to face the blue dragon with him and yelled, "Eisenzahn!"

"Yes, I know," the incredibly deep voice of the creature said as it lowered its head towards the humans.

Anye may have been exhausted, and badly beaten, but that didn't stop the shock of hearing a dragon talk. She closed her eyes from the stinging, but continued to listen as it took in a deep breath of air and slowly exhaled over her. She expected warm, sticky, and most likely very smelly animal breath, but instead she felt cool, refreshing, and rejuvenating magic flow through her. When she inhaled the dragon's breath, she felt the pain in her gut and chest fade away, and the stinging in her cuts ceased.

The magic faded, and Anye was able to sit up and move her arms to wipe the sweat and dirt away from her eyes. She opened them afterwards, finally able to see clearly again. Amadi groaned as he got up from the ground as well, also healed by the dragon's breath. It took a second for her eyes to focus on the image of her old friend and the head of the massive beast beside him.

Anye's heart raced, but not out of panic anymore. The happiness of seeing Glenn again, regardless of the circumstances, was hard to hide. She jumped from her place in his arms and hugged him tightly.

"I can't believe you're really here!" she exclaimed.

Glenn lightly moved her away from him and smiled so they could look at each other's faces again. She was shocked to see that he had grown a beard, and his short brown hair was now long and shaggy. The most shocking change of all however, was that he was wearing a patch over his left eye. A scar now ran down his face from his forehead down the side of his cheek, passing underneath the small leather patch.

Now that Anye could fully see clearly again she examined the new armor her friend was wearing. The armor was more of a purple color than the light blue Glenn used to wear, and it was outlined and reinforced by what looked like silver. The main bulk of it looked to be made out of dragon scales that had been dyed to the near-azure hue. It almost looked savage in appearance. The chest plate also had a distinct emblem in its center of a tree growing out of a circle. The helmet on his head was a similar design to the one he used to wear, but was made out of the same materials as the rest of the armor. An old tattered cloak hung from his neck.

"It's good to see you again, Anye," Glenn told her. "But what are you doing here? I was sure you'd fled to Belrun to hide."

"I did," Anye told him. She wanted to explain everything that had happened, but before the woman could begin they were interrupted by the groaning of Amadi still recuperating from his earlier defeat.

"Friend of yours, I assume," Glenn commented.

Anye released Glenn from her grip and placed a hand on Amadi's shoulder while she examined his face. Judging from the look of his quickly-healing wounds he had taken quite a beating from Glenn's wife while she was fighting Amador.

"Amadi are you alright?" she asked him.

"I am ok," he answered. "The pain has mostly subsided...oh my." Amadi paused mid-sentence when he noticed the dragon standing beside Glenn. "You're..." Amadi quickly bowed his head and kneeled. "I meant no disrespect, Ancient One."

The dragon snorted and lowered its head for a second to examine the boy kneeling before it. "Rise, child of the mother lands," it answered in its deep, booming voice.

Amadi lifted his head high and rose to his feet proudly. "Thank you, Ancient One."

"Glenn, this isn't your dragon from the castle," Anye commented softly, somewhat awe stricken, as she realized what was going on. "And it can talk..."

"I have a name, human," the dragon sneered at her. "You would do well to show some respect like your friend there."

"Eisenzahn, please don't get started...Even I didn't know who you were at first," Glenn interrupted exasperatedly.

The dragon huffed at its companion, but eventually grumbled an inaudible apology to Anye and lifted its head up high. "My name is Eisenzahn, guardian of the North Tower, and current monarch of dragon kind."

Anye blinked her eyes in amazement. "Eisenzahn? Monarch of dragon kind?" she asked. "I was unaware dragons could speak, let alone had a king."

"That is because your kind has been enslaving my kin for hundreds of years without regard for the old pacts," Eisenzahn replied angrily.

"My apologies," Anye quickly answered. She turned her attention to Glenn again, even though she was still in a little bit of shock and awe that a dragon of that size was with him and could speak. "Glenn, what happened to you?" she asked.

He walked towards her with his majestic spear in hand and pointed to his eye patch with his thumb. "You mean this? That was Amador," he told her in a low and somewhat angered tone. "He's all but taken over the throne since you escaped. What's worse, I believe his goals reach beyond just Delrich."

"I've recently started to suspect the same," Anye replied. "I've received word of the changes that have happened back home. None of it seemed to make sense."

"Oh, it makes sense," Glenn commented. "He needed us out of the way to be able to manipulate His Majesty. After you fled, King Justin lost nearly all trust in me faster than I expected him to, and the situation rapidly degraded from there. You're right; Amador's after something bigger than the throne."

"Do you have any idea what it could be? What his plan is?" Anye asked.

"If Amador was simply after the throne he would have taken it by now," Glenn explained. "He wouldn't have come here without a reason. He wanted what's in that tower for that end...for whom he's working for."

"For whom he's working for? You think it could be the emperor of Mitus?" Anye inquired. "If he was, that would actually make a lot of sense..."

"Unfortunately no, I do not believe that to be the case. If my suspicions are correct, the person your adversary serves is a being of great evil that has been sealed away for centuries," Eisenzahn explained. "A man I nearly lost my life fighting against with your companions' ancestors. A dark wizard named Stragus Markal."

"The dark one of legend," Amadi commented. "So, the stories _are_ true then."

"Stragus? You mean the evil wizard from the stories of the ancient war?" Anye inquired. "And Glenn's ancestor..." She paused for a second while she stared at the man and examined his attire. "That armor...and Eisenzahn, you're the same from the stories as well. You fought alongside Doluka Sturmwind?"

"I did."

"Glenn, your name wasn't a coincidence...?"

Glenn laughed a little. "No, it turns out it wasn't. I'm a direct descendent of the Sturmwind bloodline. This was the armor he wore and this..." Glenn stopped as he held the intricately designed tri-bladed lance in front of him. "This was his weapon."

The lance was magnificent looking. A single blade in the center, lined up with the main body, jutted out from the middle of a gold engraved frame that had been adorned with a single round green gem on either side. Two smaller curved blades were attached to small extensions on the left and right of the gold fitting, making the design appear to be similar to that of a trident. The main body of the lance was fashioned out of the same mysterious blue metal as Amadi's staff, which looked soft to the touch but shimmered like diamonds in the light. The center of the body had a soft looking gray wrapping of some sort held in place by two clips, and the bottom end had a similar, albeit smaller, gold ornamentation that served as the base for another two thin blades that, when viewed from a slight distance, looked like a set of pincers as opposed to the forked design at the bottom of Amador's new lance.

"Starting to believe in myths and legends now, Anye?" Amadi asked her.

"I'm surprised she didn't already after traveling with someone like you," Eisenzahn commented. "Or have you not told her the origin of the weapon you wield?"

Anye turned to look at Amadi suspiciously. "No, he hasn't," she answered.

"If I may, we don't have a lot of time for idle chat," Glenn commented as he interrupted the scene. "Every second we waste gives Stragus more time to rebuild his strength." He turned to look to Anye, who was looking at him a little shocked. "Anye, why are you here?"

"I took a job," she answered. "I tried to live the life of a mercenary in Belrun and was sent here to recover an artifact for my employer, this boy's uncle, but Amadi believes the artifact holds some sort of power that will stop an evil presence he felt."

"I know of the horrors of the past returning," Amadi answered. "I witnessed firsthand what they were like in The Shroud."

"I imagine you did, boy," Eisenzahn said. "You were much too young to undergo that trial. It is surprising that you survived."

"Glenn, what are they talking about?" Anye asked.

Glenn looked dumbfounded, as if unsure how to answer the question. He eventually answered, though not without the sound of reservation in his voice. "These weapons, the lance and the boy's staff...they're keys that acted as seals over segments of Stragus' ancient army," Glenn explained. He turned towards the gargoyles lining the dusty area. "These statues aren't replicas of monsters; they _are_ monsters, the ones that served in that dark legion. The trial Eisenzahn speaks of is for the would-be owner of the weapons. Removing them from their resting places breaks the seal locking demons in time, and the new owner must defeat them. Otherwise, they are killed and the weapon returns to its place to lock the demons away once more."

"Then we should leave this place alone and tell Lord Taggart about this," Anye said towards Amadi.

"No,'" Eisenzahn interjected. "Your foe was here to claim the weapon himself. With Stragus' magic helping him, he would have likely been able to, and he would have taken command of this portion of the demons instead of destroying them. Leaving it here unguarded risks giving the dark one a significant portion of his army back without resistance."

"Then what do you propose we do?" Anye asked.

Eisenzahn snorted as he chuckled. "You are more important to all of this than you realize, child," he told her, but before continuing he walked towards the massive sealed door to the tower. Each footstep he took caused a small tremor beneath their feet. "You three should head inside."

"But the door is sealed," Amadi countered. "I can feel the magic. It is old, very old..."

"Patience, young one," the great dragon said. It turned its gaze towards the tower while its eyes filled with the light of magic. He spoke, but not in words that the three humans had ever heard before; an ancient language with words only the deep vocal chords and tongue a dragon could say. The wind picked up, and a barrier appeared in front of the door; a seal of some sort making the shape that was on the cover of Delilah's journal, appeared before them while Eisenzahn spoke. Before long, the barrier faded and the doors slowly swung open as the dragon finished his incantation.

"Amadi," Eisenzahn said as he backed away from the now opened structure. "When you return from within, you must tell me how you got inside the tower of The Shroud. A human, let alone a child, should never have been able to break the seal on its doors."

"I will, Ancient One," Amadi replied as he bowed his head.

The trio remained silent. Amadi was humbled, Glenn seemed confident, and Anye was simply confused. First Tao Long had his legends, then Amadi with his ridiculous stories of demons, the woman in the village whose name she had forgotten to ask in her tunnel vision and thirst for revenge, and now Glenn with his talking dragon who claimed to have once fought alongside Doluka Sturmwind.

But Anye's doubts about everything quickly faded as they walked within the tower and climbed the stairs. The torches along the walls instantly went ablaze as they approached. She could feel the old magic resonating within the structure, and as they climbed the feeling only became stronger and more concentrated. It was overwhelming, like smelling too much of a fragrance at one time and becoming lightheaded by it.

The walls that surrounded the winding staircase in the center that lead to the tower's upper chambers were lined with murals depicting battles that had presumably been fought long ago, centuries before present day. Images of armies clashing against one another, dragons ruling over their own land, even murals dedicated to the memory of specific hung in place, forgotten by time. History animated before them, telling the story of how the tower came to be and eventually culminating with the image of an elegant sword and shield shining light from what Anye assumed was supposed to be within the tower they now stood inside. Above each of the murals, Anye noticed a symbol, the same symbol she just saw the magic seal take the shape of, on the ancient diary, on Glenn's armor, and throughout various portions of the history she'd seen in Lord Taggart's research; a giant tree growing out of a spherical shape, with its roots wrapping all the way around to the bottom.

The stairs came to an end in the uppermost chamber of the tower, evidenced by the shattered glass along the floor that had once been roof of the structure. A circular rug had once been present, but it had rotted away over the passage of time. At the far end of the circular room stood a massive statue of a man dressed in armor holding the most masterfully designed sword and shield Anye had ever laid her eyes on.

Anye and her companions approached the statue, stepping over the shards of glass while making a distinct crunching sound underfoot. As they got closer, they realized that the room was devoid of anything else. The statue was the only inhabitant until its visitors had arrived. As they got closer, Anye realized that the sculpture was breathtakingly lifelike regardless of its size. The features of a man, tall and handsome with long smooth hair dressed in a fashion of armor that was reminiscent of heavy chain mail. The imperfections of skin, details in eye shape, and even general human frame were amazing. Even more surprising, the sword and shield weren't a part of the statue at all, but rather real armaments.

The blade was crafted out of the same sparkling blue material as Glenn's lance and Amadi's staff, shaped with a wider section near the tip that narrowed slightly in the center, widening again until it was a few inches from the guard where it sharply narrowed again to make the connection. The guard was crafted out of what looked to be gold, reaching to the left and right with smaller, sharply pointed talon like attachments underneath each end, making it appear to have four sharp points in total. The metal was engraved beautifully to give it a rough surface on the outer reaches while the middle had a design that could either have been a plant or wings. In the center of the shape rested a red jewel. The handle itself was wrapped tightly in black leather that had miraculously not rotted away, and the pommel looked to be made of gold like the guard with a matching red gemstone resting in the center like one would rest as the centerpiece on the top of the ring.

The shield was similar in shape to the kite-shield design she had grown accustomed to during her time in service, but the craftsmanship was remarkable. To the naked, untrained eye, the shield would have simply looked like any other piece of equipment, but to one with as much experience as Anye, she could see that the person who had made it was no amateur. It was perfectly symmetrical, which would allow the wearer faultless control over it when used in combat. There were no separated seams where the metal used to forge it had been placed together, and the attachment of gold pieces making up the image of the tree and circle had no open spacing from what Anye could see, being perfectly fastened in all locations. Even the red stripe of paint running down the middle of the assumedly iron shield had no missing spots, chips, or excess anywhere she could see.

"So, you've _finally_ arrived..." a disembodied voice echoed within the room.

Anye gripped the handle of one of her weapons and froze where she stood, but Glenn and Amadi both remained calm and relaxed. She looked at the two of them suspiciously. "Didn't you two hear that?" she asked.

"We did," Glenn answered.

"Observe," Amadi said as he went to place a hand on the statue's weapon.

"While I could do with the entertainment, you are not my heir, child of the old lands..." the voice stated as Amadi's hand went to touch the weapon. "Only the heir of my wielder's bloodline may remove me from this place to undergo the trial. I would have thought you'd known of this."

Amadi smiled and turned. "It is as I have foreseen," he stated. He lowered his hand to his side as he looked towards Anye. "What I told you was no falsehood, Anye. When we met, I said that I felt you were important. This is why."

Anye stared at Amadi in disbelief. He remained silent, but his gaze was fixed on her, and so she looked to Glenn, who was also looking at her. "What? What are you saying?" she asked.

"Anye, _you're_ the chosen heir," Amadi told her. "It was something preordained long before our time. Just as I was destined to wield this staff, it was your friend's destiny to wield that spear. And it is your destiny to claim the arms before you."

"What do you mean 'chosen heir,' Amadi?" she replied. "This is ridiculous!"

"Anye, he speaks the truth," Glenn commented. "There is a reason for your presence here, and this is it."

"What do you mean?" Anye asked.

"Touch the handle of the blade," Glenn told her. "Trust me, you'll see."

Amadi stepped aside to allow Anye to walk closer to the statue. She remained still for a second before swallowing out of nervous tension and stepping forward. The voice they had heard remained silent as she reached her hand up to grip the sword's handle. A quick glance back to see Glenn nod to her gave some comfort in what she was doing, even though the concentration of old magic in the room was intense and making her a dizzy.

Anye gripped the blade with her hand and felt the magic around her suddenly funnel itself in to the blade and through her arm, making the air in the room spiral around her, prompting her to raise her other arm to shield her eyes from the dust. The belt holding her two swords on her waist snapped loose violently and fell to the floor, sliding away from the group and coming to a rest alongside the wall. The feeling was both painful and exhilarating, and although she was fearful of what was occurring, she was also excited by it. It was strange, but it felt right.

The armor covering the statue faded away, reappearing on Anye's body as the magic cyclone around her continued. The armor fit miraculously, like it had been crafted specifically for her. The armor gained color as it faded from its original tan stone color. Like Glenn's new attire, it was outlined with silver. But instead of a purple hue, the majority of the armor's coloring was deep red-brown. A piece of red cloth with the image of the tree and sphere stitched in the middle covered a sheet of thin steel plate that rested over her chest and back. Chain mail lined the sides of her abdomen, and pointed spaulders protected her shoulders. Anye's hands became covered by the gauntlets the statue had been holding the sword and shield with; a matching pair of expertly crafted metal gauntlets that each had the symbol of a tree growing out of the circle she saw engraved on the upper side of the forearm. The clothing on her legs and feet had also changed to the statue's once-stone armor, similarly colored to her chest and arms in red, black, and silver.

Once the transition was complete, the hands of the statue opened, releasing the blade and the shield it carried to their new owner. The magic cyclone ceased and the air in the room settled. All became quiet for a moment while Anye took in the reality of what had just transpired.

"Finally," the voice that had echoed in the room said, only this time it seemed to originate from the sword in Anye's hand. "Centuries spent waiting for his heir, over at last!"

Anye was shocked as she listened to the words. "You...you can talk!?" she asked as she brought the sword's handle in front of her face. "What...that's...this is impossible!" she exclaimed as she looked at Glenn and Amadi with panic in her eyes.

"We can all talk," the unfamiliar voice of a woman said to her in response.

"Indeed, we each have been bound to serve our masters from within these objects," a third voice, this time that of an older man commented.

Anye's head started to spin, completely forgetting that a set of armor had magically appeared on her body. She was hearing voices with no bodies to match them, thinking herself to be going insane from all of the stress she'd endured over the past month. She looked at her friends, confused by the fact that they didn't seem fazed at all by the turn in events until she realized exactly what was happening and her head stopped throbbing.

"You mean..." she started to say. "You, and..."

"Yes," the sword said to her. "We are no ordinary arms, Master."

"Well, I can't say I expected _this_ ," Glenn commented as he looked at Amadi. "I thought we were going to have to carry the whole statue out of here somehow."

"As did I, Master," the lance replied. "But this does bode well, provided she can control Alistair's power and conquer her trial."

"Alistair?" Anye asked. "Wait, Glenn, what in the name of the gods going on!?"

Before Glenn could answer her, Anye felt a strong pressure in her head and she fell to a knee. Visions of events she had never seen before flashed within her mind quickly, giving her information about things she had never known in a short amount of time. She saw magic, ancient magic, being used in ways that pushed people beyond the limitations she thought were possible. She saw battles being fought against giant beasts, and creatures born of darkness and flames. And she saw people who looked amazingly familiar to her, yet she had never seen any of their faces before.

When the visions stopped the nausea set in. "What..." Anye had to stop and cough, feeling like her stomach was going to retch up what she ate that morning. "What's happening to me?" she asked through a strained voice when she could.

Glenn knelt beside her, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll pass. The spirit of the blade is showing you the history you need to know, so you understand what is at stake."

"I saw them..." Anye said through bated breath. "The dark army, the death..." she paused, breathing heavily and sweating profusely from the strain. When she calmed herself, she looked at Amadi with dread-filled eyes. "I saw the demons...I believe you," she said.

"Saw what?" Glenn asked, but his gaze moved from Anye to Amadi. "What does she believe? What did you tell her?"

"There will be time for that later. We should let her recover from the spirit's effects on her. I'm sure you would not wish her to undergo the trial in such a state," Amadi answered, dismissive of Glenn's inquiry.

"Glenn, please, you can trust him," Anye said softly before giving him a chance to speak. "Just let me rest for a bit."

But her words fell on deaf ears, and Glenn continued. His tone suggested anger and frustration. "What did you tell her? Tell me what you know, boy."

"Master, I advise you to calm yourself," the older male voice from earlier stated.

"You should heed Darius' advice," the disembodied female added. "We are not your enemies. Your friend will recover as you yourself did."

"I know _that_. I want to know what exactly you told her," Glenn argued as he stood. "What do you know that you are not telling me?"

Amadi stared for a moment before answering. Anye wanted to break up the fight before it began, but she felt too weak to move, let alone remain conscious. She was hanging on by a thread of her strength and had no choice but to let them continue.

"Your friend here was having a hard time believing stories I told her about my encounters with the freakish beings like the ones below. She only knew, at the time, what was necessary for the job which she was hired to do. I now suspect she has a better grasp on the situation and our destinies, though."

Anye forced herself to stand against the aches of her body and mind, and gripped Glenn's arm firmly with her hand. "Glenn, I'm fine..." she struggled to say. The extra effort was accelerating her decline into unconsciousness, but she needed to do _something_.

"Anye, I promised I would protect you..." her azure armored friend argued. He looked into her eyes, but said nothing beyond that.

"And you have, more than you should have," Anye replied. "Now stop fighting with him and sit with me...I want to know...how you've been..."

The pair slid down the dusty stone wall, never breaking each other's gaze as they sat. Her heart was at ease with him so near again, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Exhaustion got the better of her though. Within an instant of resting her head, she was asleep.

______

When Anye awoke, she found her head still resting against Glenn. The sun was still up, though noticeably lower than when they had entered the tower. A few hours had passed at least, but she felt refreshed having been able to rest.

Her movement upon waking up gave the fact away, and Glenn looked down at her and smiled. He had taken his helmet off sometime during her slumber, and his now-long hair rested lightly above his shoulders. She could clearly see the scar running beneath his eye-patch, and wondered of the circumstances that led to such a wound.

"Feeling better, Anye?" Glenn asked as he looked down at her.

"My head is still dizzy, but the nausea has passed," she replied, choosing to ask about the wound later. She looked around her surroundings as she sat up. The swords she used to carry were resting against the wall near her, and she was in a set of armor she didn't bring with her. She was shocked at the change, at first, until she remembered what transpired before. "Glenn, what happened?"

"You passed out," he answered. "It seems the strain acquiring Alistair was a bit much for you."

"Alistair?" she asked, looking down at the shimmering blue sword beside her. "Yes, I remember...the ancient sword, Alistair. Wait..." Anye pushed herself away from Glenn and looked at him angrily, shifting her gaze between him and Amadi, who sat opposite of them. "You both _knew_ about this! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Anye, if I recall correctly, you thought I was making up my story, and that ancient myths and legends were simply fiction," Amadi answered. "And even when faced with proof of such things, your focus on this Amador blinded you to what was truly happening."

"I couldn't risk dragging you into this, Anye," Glenn added, cutting Amadi's explanation off. "I should have known this would happen, seeing you here, but I refused to accept that. I swore to Leonard I would protect you, no matter the cost. This was too dangerous to risk exposing you to it."

Anye's was shocked at the mention of her former fiancé. Glenn had felt guilty after his death, and she knew he looked out for her after. But using that as a reason for keeping the truth hidden from her was infuriating, even if she cared for him. "Don't blame this on him. I am fully capable of defending myself, Glenn. You of all people should know this!"

"I could not risk it!" Glenn argued. "I couldn't risk your life for the burden I must bear..."

"Well it's _our_ burden now isn't it?" Anye countered. "And the roof of this place is completely shattered. Why couldn't Eisenzahn just fly us up here instead of making us climb those infernal stairs?"

Glenn coughed, maybe from the copious amount of dust in the room. "The magic that has protected this place over the centuries is quite potent. The ceiling may appear to be glass and shattered from within, but from the outside the entire place is closed in with stone and mortar. Eisenzahn and I were keeping watch from up there for the past couple of days, waiting for Amador."

"The seal is only completely broken when the item and the accompanying spirit are claimed," Amadi interjected. "It is possible for the Ancient One to retrieve your friend and myself because our weapons are not bound here. _You_ must still undergo the trial and thus would be prevented from leaving this room by any means other than the way we entered it."

When Anye felt well enough to walk and fight again she got to her feet. "I see...alright, I think I'm ok," she said. "That was...intense."

"I do apologize, Master," Alistair said to her. "I wish there was a way to prevent such discomfort, but that seems to happen with each succession, unfortunately."

Anye continued to speak with the blade's spirit as they left the room and made their way down the stairs back to the entrance where Eisenzahn waited for them. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"This is not the first time I have been inherited, Master. On the contrary, my brethren and I have existed long before any of your histories, or those of your ancestor, Master Armonde," Alistair explained.

"Armonde?" Anye asked. "You mean Armonde Schultz?"

"Indeed," the sword answered. "He was quite the skilled warrior, utilizing his physical ability alongside his talented magical prowess. I look forward to comparing your skill to his."

"But I..."

"You sell yourself short too often, Anye," Amadi interrupted. "You are quite skilled at using magic along with your martial prowess. You simply favor defensive spells over offensive ones. Do not lose your confidence. We're going to need it."

Anye continued to be dumbfounded left and right. Everything in the past few days had been something she never would have expected. If it wasn't enough that she found herself to be the inheritor of a talking sword, she was the blood descendant of Armonde Schultz, which meant that the name Lord Taggart had given her about her birth parents wasn't a coincidence, much like Glenn's surname.

"Wait," she said and stopped in her place on the stairs. Glenn and Amadi looked up at her questioningly. "If Glenn and I are both related to heroes of the legendary war, and their weapons can only be wielded by their descendants, then Amadi must be a descendant too."

Amadi smiled and nodded his head slowly. "Indeed I am, Anye," he told her. "Legeia was wielded by Bethany Lightstone, and I am her descendant, though I was not fortunate enough to inherit her name like you two inherited yours."

"This can't be a coincidence," Anye commented.

"It is not," Darius chimed in. "Though Master Glenn did not realize it when he laid eyes on you, the three of you coming together was foreseen long before your births."

"What?" Glenn asked. "Why didn't you tell me this, Darius?"

"The dragon has the answers," the spear replied. "Speak with him. He shall tell you everything."

"Eisenzahn?" Glenn asked, but the weapons remained silent. "Darius, tell me," he demanded, but still the lance's spirit did not speak. "Bah, stubborn old man...spirit."

The trio continued in silence. Anye contemplated the circumstances that led to their current location and situation more seriously, and on a grander scale of thought. Simple coincidence was no longer a viable explanation, with their situation having been preordained. Such a revelation worried them all whether they wanted to admit it or not.

The silence broke when they reached the ground floor and saw the open door pouring sunlight in to the darkened chamber. The sound of the great dragon's breathing echoed up to them. Anye worried about the trial she was to face. Alistair revealed no details about it or what it would entail, but she suspected it would present itself when they reached the door.

It was like the dragon sensed their presence behind him. As they approached, he stood and turned to face them, lowering his head to be eye-level with the humans, and glared at Anye as if looking in to her soul.

"Child, I see you have recovered the arms of your bloodline," the dragon said to her. "Well done, but now you must prove your worth."

"And what must I do, dragon?" Anye asked. She wasn't happy about having to do _anything_ more, and she wasn't going to pretend to be.

"Step outside. You shall see," Eisenzahn told her.

The creature spread his wings and took the sky before she placed a foot on the dirt outside of the tower, kicking up a dust storm around her. Anye closed her eyes and put an arm over her mouth to keep the dirt from getting inside as she took a step forward. She felt the effects of the trial begin just as her foot fell.

"What!?" she yelled. Anye turned to look to Glenn and Amadi for some kind of explanation, but as the dust settled she saw that they were nowhere to be found. "What is this? What's going on!?"

Anye spun and looked everywhere, but neither her human companions nor the giant dragon were anywhere to be seen, even in the air above. The sound of stone cracking and breaking in front of her caught her attention. She looked out through what had once been the decrepit garden at the base of the tower to see that the figures placed all about were shaking free of their pedestals, shedding the gray stone skin and revealing the unnatural red flesh underneath.

"What is this!?" she cried out as she drew her new sword. "Alistair, what's happening!? Where are Glenn and Amadi!?"

"This is your trial, Master," the sword answered. "They cannot help you here. This is something you must do alone. Emerge victorious against your foes, and the rite of succession shall be complete. Fail, and perish."

"Oh, that's comforting..." Anye replied sarcastically.

The high pitched wail of the creatures in front of her chilled her to the bone. She had never heard such a hellish cry, and a lesser person would have wet themselves and tried to flee. She _wanted_ to flee, but something inside her wouldn't let that happen.

The first demon flew at her from the crowd quickly, using its small thin wings for momentum. It was brandishing a small axe in its hand that looked like it was made of bone and rock. Anye's reflexes kicked in and she managed to block the attack with her shield and cut the creature down from the air quickly, but instead of spilling blood and falling to the ground, it disintegrated in the air, turning to dust and dispersing in the wind.

"What...what just happened to it?" she asked.

"These creatures are...not natural to this world," Alistair explained. "They do not have the same characteristics are man or beast. They are beings of nearly pure magical energy. Cutting them down severs the magic keeping them alive, and turns their bodies into dust.

"How is that possible? Magic needs to be controlled," Anye persisted.

"And so it is, to a point. But these creatures have lost conscious control, and mindlessly serve their master, Stragus. For that, they must be destroyed."

The explanation didn't make much sense, but there wasn't any time to think about it. The creatures obviously wanted her dead, which meant she needed to kill them. She was a knight, trained in the way of the sword and had taken lives before. This would be no different.

Anye moved through the small horde of demonic creatures with ease, enchanting her sword with magic that helped it cut through an opponent's protective spells, and her shield with a charm that would help push them back. Both uses of magic were spells she already knew, but Alistair's memory infusion, coupled with Amadi's training exercises, boosted their potency remarkably.

"Very good, Master," Alistair said as she sliced through another of the foul creatures. "You tap in to your ancestral skills quite well."

"I've had some practice," Anye remarked. She jumped away after killing a couple more of the grotesque creatures to survey how many remained. There were only three left, each standing in front of her and screaming angrily as she stood there. She assumed it was because she was still alive and their friends had all been cut down.

"I'm getting tired of this," Anye said to them. She used as much magic as she could gather and effortlessly entered the state of enlightenment, feeling the overwhelming power come over her. Her eyes glowed white as the air around her swirled and kicked the dust up. The strength, speed, power; all of it was just as exhilarating as the first time she felt it, only without the fear and lack of control. She felt omnipotent, invincible even.

The demons each moved against her, but the state of enlightenment made them look as if they were moving in slow motion. She could tell what they were intending before they did. With her sword held high, she struck. She moved through the first of the demons, cutting through its chest like butter, using the same momentum to spin and decapitate the second, coming around to reverse-stab the third from behind her. She removed the sword and turned again, kicking the creature away from her with such force that it tumbled to the ground. Anye jumped on to the creature's chest and swung the sword's blade low across its neck, turning her last opponent to dust.

"Impressive..." Alistair commented.

Anye released the magic she was using and felt her head go dizzy for a second. "I guess even with this newfound strength, that's still difficult to manage..."

"Indeed, such capabilities require much discipline, but you have performed admirably. The trial is concluded," Alistair answered.

Anye stood as the dust around her swirled again, similar to how it did when Eisenzahn took to the sky, but this time it only lasted a second. When it settled, she looked around to see that Glenn, Amadi, and Eisenzahn had reappeared where she last saw them near the tower's entrance. The statues of the demons were all in piles of rubble where they originally stood as well, as if they had crumbled upon themselves instead of what she saw happen.

"Anye!" Glenn shouted as he ran towards her. "You disappeared...what happened to you?"

"The trial happened," Anye answered without going into detail as she placed Alistair back in his sheath. "But I'm fine...hungry, and very thirsty, but fine."

Glenn sighed in relief. "Good," he said, relieved. "The sun is starting to set. We should go to the village and rest. There's much we should talk about."

"Yes, there is," she replied. "But how about a ship instead?"

# Chapter 6

_The Forgotten Kingdom_

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Anye and Glenn sat themselves down in a set of chairs within her cabin aboard _The Empress._ Small flames danced in the darkness from the candelabras on the walls of the cabin. A single candle stood on the small wooden table between them. Amadi, in his youthful wisdom, noticed the desire for the pair to converse alone, and decided to spend the evening with the crew below deck and uncharacteristically indulge in some ale and storytelling. The way he figured it, he'd been through more than most elderly people in a lifetime and he deserved to unwind a little bit, although Legeia didn't agree and nagged him the whole way down.

Eiesnzahn thought it would be best if he remained on the shore so as not to frighten the crew. They saw him, of course, as he flew the trio down from the mountains and across the desert back to the rowboat Anye and Amadi had taken ashore, but they assured the captain and crew that he wasn't a threat. Glenn's promise of an additional sum of money for the extra passenger also helped the captain make the decision to trust the newcomer, and he welcomed him aboard.

Lookouts in the crow's nest of the ship had spotted Tao Long's naval fleet move back in to position through the use of their spyglasses, and it appeared that the islanders hadn't noticed the ship's presence near the desert shore and remained some distance at sea. It was either that or they believed the crew to be dead from some curse or sorcery due to their superstitious view of the landmass, however accurate the stories turned out to actually be.

Alistair and Darius were placed near the beds Anye and Amadi had slept on during their voyage across the sea. Neither presented any argument to being placed away from their owners as they conversed with each other, opting instead to go to sleep or a state of meditation. Anye wasn't particularly sure _what_ it was the spirits did and Glenn didn't provide an answer, but they kept quiet and that was all she wanted.

"It really is good to see you again," she said to him. Her heart raced. "But what happened to you? What happened in Delrich after you helped me escape?"

Glenn looked away as he searched through the memories. Anye saw that the thoughts bothered him, but she wanted to know. She needed to know what had happened to him and their home.

"The night of your...disappearance, did not go quite as I had planned," he began to explain. "I'm not entirely sure how he knew, but Amador showed up at the castle's dungeon as I was making my exit after you went through the old passageway. I, of course, fed him my story of you surprising me and fleeing, but he saw right through me. The next morning he had already told the king about your escape and I was having doubt cast upon me by the man who raised me as a son. I don't know why he listened to him or how Amador gained His Majesty's unwavering trust so quickly, but he convinced him that my loyalty to the crown was debatable."

Glenn paused as he looked out through the window at the starry night. "Amador was suggesting that I not only be stripped of rank and title, but be tried for treason and thrown in the dungeons. Thankfully King Justin isn't _that_ big of a fool, and he recognized what Amador was trying to do; remembering our past quarrels with each other over the years. But he believed he had a point. I was sent to Toran, alone, and stripped of my link with my dragon to investigate reports a feral dragon that had been attacking herders while in the mountains. Honestly, while I didn't want to leave, it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened."

"What do you mean?" Anye asked. "You look like you've been through hell and back, Glenn."

"Well I'm not proud about it but I was almost sent there," Glenn replied. "I visited your family before I departed. Have you heard from your father? He was quite worried about you." He looked like he regretted asking the question as the words finished exiting his lips.

Anye nodded her head, remembering the letter she had received. "He wrote a letter. Lord Taggart, in Bridge Port, delivered it to me."

"Lord Taggart is a good man," Glenn replied while looking surprised. "I've met him before...even escorted Prince Robert, rest his soul, to attend his yearly tournament. Quite a show he puts on for his people."

"Yes, I'm aware. I won this year," Anye proudly proclaimed. She gained some amount of pleasure looking at the surprise in his face at the comment. "Before you say anything, I was _trying_ to keep a low profile, but the only thing I'm good at is combat, and nobody wanted to hire a female mercenary, especially one without any sort of reputation. The tournament was supposed to get my name out there as a woman with a good sword arm. Besides, I needed the money. What you left me was all but gone."

Glenn laughed and took a swig of the drink he had in his cup. "I'd heard of a woman winning the tournament this year. News travels, but I didn't think _you_ were the infamous Amy Karst!"

The two shared a laugh for a moment before calming down and continuing on with their stories of the past couple months. Glenn started, beginning with Toran and the herders he was supposed to help. An old colleague of theirs from Delrich's military, Aldrin Fawkes, was living under a new identity as the leader of the dragon tamers. When they found the dragon, it fought off its attackers ferociously until Glenn injured the creature. By that point, many of the Toraners were dead or missing. Amador appeared and attempted to murder Glenn, but the dragon returned and drove him away. That was how he met Eisenzahn.

The dragon tended to his wounds from the battle and took Glenn to the North Tower, the location Eisenzahn mentioned when Anye first met the enormous creature. It was there that Glenn acquired Darius and his new armor. Knowledge of the goings on with Stragus demanded that they fly west, to the Sun's Bed, to either move Alistair by some means or guard the location until the sword's heir appeared. Luckily, the tower was Anye and Amadi's destination, though memory of the prophecy foretelling of their claiming the artifacts made it less luck and more destiny.

Once Glenn concluded the obviously abbreviated story, Anye began to tell hers. She explained how she crossed the toll bridge and had been living at Byron's inn, having settled in Bridge Port. Her tale was much shorter compared to Glenn's though, as much less had happened with her until the tournament and the events leading up to her arrival at the West Tower. Still, thinking about the lecherous old man and his filthy jokes made her miss the simplicity of things during that time, and she wished to return there regardless of her obligation to Lord Taggart. "Well, this ship is headed back to Belrun, is it not?" Glenn asked. "We'll need to warn the kingdoms of Stragus' return. If Lord Taggart has been studying Del'Mond's history and believes in the legends, then having him on our side could help us convince the reigning monarch of the validity of our warning."

"True," Anye agreed. "So you'll be coming with me then?" she asked anxiously. She was looking forward to being with him again, but her excitement was cut short when he shook his head in reply. "Glenn, why not?" she asked. She sounded as a girl who'd been denied permission to attend a ball or social gathering.

"I must return to Delrich," he explained. "It is likely Amador has either reported me dead or traitor. If he is serving Stragus, I need to warn King Justin of what's coming. Amador's been keeping Delrich at war with Mitus for the sole reason of weakening both of their defenses...I know it."

Anye looked down at the table and cradled the cup in her hands before remembering something else that had happened at the tower. "Glenn, what was that with Kiya?" she asked. "I've never known her to be adept at using magic, let alone black magic, and to be in bed with Amador."

Glenn furrowed his brow and got to his feet, visibly angered at the thought of his wife. "Kiya...that woman did nothing but use me, all these years," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"If you'll remember she was married _to_ me," Glenn said. "I want to make that clear." He paced around the room as he gathered his thoughts before continuing. "I tried to love her, to be the husband she apparently wanted me to be, but in actuality she used her position as my wife to move about without restriction. She had been having an affair with Amador for some time, perhaps as long as our entire sham of a marriage, I don't know. The day King Justin ordered me to Toran she left me a letter," he continued. "She told me she was leaving me because I was a disgrace, and had dishonored her by my infatuations with you and suspected involvement in your escape."

Anye blushed slightly at the mention of the infatuations, but tried to hide it from Glenn.

"The next time I saw her was when I was in Toran. I didn't know how she got there at the time, but she and Amador were working together. She's the one really responsible for...well, this," he said as he pointed to his bad eye and scar. "I nearly died in that frozen waste, and would have if Eisenzahn didn't drive them off"

"Conveniently left that part out of the story before," Anye commented.

"I prefer not to think about it," he replied. "I suspect you enjoy the memory of Prince Robert's murder about as much."

The comment stung, but the man had a point. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We've both been stabbed in the back," Glenn sighed as he sat back down in his chair again. "I'm just happy I was able to see you again."

The two stared into one another's eyes for the moment, enjoying the ambient sound of the water splashing against the hull of the ship, and the soft glow of the candlelight on their faces. Anye had forgotten what it was like seeing him every day, and she wanted to continue to do so. She hoped he did too.

"Now what's going on in here!?" a loud and drunk sounding Amadi yelled through the door before barging in, effectively ending the moment Anye and Glenn were sharing. "Did I interrupt something?" he said with a slur.

"Amadi...are you drunk?" Anye asked with a smile on her face. The way the boy moved along with the ship's rocking indicated that he had indeed drank too much with the crew and she started laughing at the boy. Glenn, while less enthused by the boy's antics, also smiled and laughed.

"Those men..." Amadi said as he stumbled over towards his friends. "Now _they_ know how to have a good time...I should do this more often!"

"Okay~," Glenn commented while catching the boy's stumble. "I think you've had enough, Amadi. Let's get you to bed."

"Bed...yes...bed seems smart..." Amadi tried to reply in his drunken stupor.

Glenn helped the boy walk. His staff was still miraculously in his hand, although Legeia may have had something to do with that. The pair slowly stepped towards one of the beds in the cabin and Amadi lowered himself down to sleep. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was out cold and snoring.

Anye could barely control the laughter, a feeling which she hadn't really felt in a while, and it felt good. She laughed as Glenn shook his head at the boy similar to how an older brother would treat a younger sibling in a similar situation, reminding her of the nights she'd spent in Delrich's tavern near the castle with friends and colleagues. They were good memories.

"We should get some rest," Glenn told her as he picked up Darius from where it rested. "I'm going to find a hammock below deck."

Anye stood surprised. "You won't stay with us...?"

Now it was Glenn's turn to blush. "I wasn't sure if you...um," he tried to say as he nervously swallowed.

Anye walked up to him, the smile completed faded from her face, and she got close to him. She looked him in the eyes and he looked back, although an obvious feeling of nervousness and awkwardness was around them.

"Anye, I..."

"Glenn, what are we?" she asked. "Is there..."

Before Anye had the opportunity to say anything else he placed his hands on her cheeks, pulled her close, and pressed his lips against hers. Anye remembered the kiss she'd given him the night of her escape, but always wondered if that was wise. She'd hoped so, but this moment now cemented the feeling that it was. She kissed him back, feeling her body grow warm as she leaned into him, but the moment lasted only briefly. Glenn slowly ended the kiss and pulled his head away from her while keeping his hands on her cheeks, looking into her eyes as she looked back into his.

"Glenn..."

He stepped away from her and smiled. "Good night, Anye. I'll see you in the morning."

As he moved away from her, Anye grabbed the hands resting on her cheeks, savoring the moment. She had dreamed of a moment like that for years, and it was euphoric for it to have finally happened. She only wished it could last longer and had occurred under less stressful circumstances. Still, she was happy and didn't want to ruin the moment. "Good night," she whispered before she let go.

Glenn backed out of the cabin, keeping his gaze locked with hers until the door closed in front of them. Anye stepped away from the door towards the beds, feeling as if she was walking on air. It would have been a perfect end to the evening if Alistair didn't decide to be a jokester and whistle a cat call at her, apparently having observed the entire interaction.

"Shut up, Alistair," Anye barked as she fell to the bed to sleep.

______

The journey back to Mark's Landing aboard _The Empress_ was uneventful. The crew and passengers all expected to be harassed by the foreign navy on their return from the 'forbidden' land but the ships all kept their distance. Bikke assumed it was because of the large dragon they had picked up that circled around them as they sailed. "There's something about seeing a giant fire-breathing monster that just seems to strike fear in people," was a joke captain Bikke took a liking to saying.

Whatever supplies were still needed had been quickly purchased when they reached the island's port, and then they quickly departed once more continuing east across the sea on their way to Belrun. During the time on the water, Anye used the open area of her cabin to practice using her new weapon and abilities. Not much of the magic she had learned was new per-say, but rather an enhanced form of what she had been taught during her training and years of servitude.

The new magic she _had_ learned was what took up most of her time. The ancient blade contained knowledge of magic she'd never heard of before. There was a method of utilizing raw energy to deal extra damage with each blow she could land, another for drastically enhancing her senses, and even storing magic in isolated locations, releasing it when deemed necessary for tactical reasons. Control over the elements also became much easier for her to grasp than before, and she mastered enchanting the blade with various charms quickly, much like Yarik Boulderson had done in the tournament. But the most useful, and notable, augmentation to her abilities was the ease of which Anye could enter an enlightened state. Unfortunately, doing so was not without cost and she knew it would be best to save such magic for dire situations.

Glenn offered to spar with her, to help the physical aspects of her sword play, something she hadn't had a partner for since before she had left Delrich. In doing so, the lancer surprised her with new techniques of his own, showing increased mastery of the spear. He explained that he also knew a form of magic she hadn't heard of before. He called it a Spirit Link, and explained that it required a temporary union of both the dragon's and the rider's souls. The act was terribly straining on the human body, but it granted so much power and strength that the caster became nigh invulnerable, if only temporarily. When asked if he would demonstrate it for her Glenn declined, telling her that he "didn't want to risk not being able to use it should the need arise unexpectedly." It sounded extremely similar to the enlightened state, and she wondered if they were connected in some way.

The evenings became increasingly romantic for Glenn and Anye as each day passed, something that Amadi caught on to quickly enough. He allotted to sleep below deck with the crew to provide the newly christened couple with some privacy. Anye didn't complain, nor did Glenn. They took advantage of the solitude, letting loose desires for one another that had been pent up for years. The courtship was exhilarating, and was everything Anye had dreamed it would be and more. Captain Bikke asked them to keep it down on several mornings following as a result.

_The Empress_ finally returned home to the port at Mark's Landing after only a few days more than it took for them to reach the Western Isles. Eisenzahn had flown higher than the clouds to avoid causing a panic in the town, informing the group that he would wait for them in the hills outside of its borders, and that Glenn would know where to find him.

At the end of the docks leading to the town stood Captain Bikke, along with Mr. Evans, who looked to like he wanted to have a word with the ferried passengers. Anye suspected what it was they wanted to discuss based on the look on the old captain's face; money.

"Glad to see you've recovered from your illness, Master Amadi," Bikke joked regarding Amadi's lack of alcohol tolerance. "Don't worry. The more you partake, the less you feel."

Amadi chuckled and nodded his head to the vessel's captain. "I'll remember your advice, Captain."

"Now then, down to business. There's the matter of the money I was promised during our stay in the Western Isles," the captain stated. "When should I expect to receive payment for our additional passenger?"

Anye opened her mouth to speak and give an answer she had been brewing in her head, but Amadi stepped up and spoke unexpectedly. "Lord Taggart will happily send a courier with the funds you are owed," he explained. "He is an honorable and trustworthy man, I'm sure you know."

Bikke nodded his head towards the dark-skinned boy. "Aye, he is. He's never left a debt unpaid if the stories are true."

"Then we have a deal?"

" _You_ are not Lord Taggart, Master Amadi...but you helped us when the sea's wind refused to blow. Aye, we have a deal."

The two grabbed hands and shook their arms to seal the agreement. Bikke looked happy enough to have been promised more than double his original payment, and so after releasing the boy's hand, he and Evans bid farewell to the travelers and returned to their ship.

The horses Anye and Amadi had rode to the town when they originally left Bridge Port had been well cared for in the town's stables, and were ready to go the moment Anye and Amadi showed their faces. Just like the ship that had carried them west and back, Lord Taggart had previously paid in full for the care of the horses, so the group was not bothered for any more payment when they took them out and left the town.

"It's been a while since I rode horseback," Glenn commented. "I've actually become rather accustomed to riding bareback dragon."

Anye climbed on to the saddle of her steed and patted behind her lightly, indicating to Glenn to hop on and hold on to her. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't fall off," she joked, though the grin on her face denoted the subtle statement she was making.

"You could always ride with me, Sir Glenn," Amadi grunted as he climbed aboard his horse.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Amadi, but I think I'll ride with Anye," Glenn replied. The trio shared a laugh as he jumped on and wrapped his arm around Anye's waist.

"So, how far out did Eisenzahn land?" Anye asked as they rode out of the town's main gate. "He said you would know how to find him."

"And I do," Glenn answered. "Our minds are connected to one another. He can see what I see, feel my emotions, even communicate with me. I can do the same with him."

"Your link with the dragons in Delrich wasn't so potent," Anye replied. "You and the creature were linked, yes, but not to such a degree."

"I'm ashamed to even say I was a part of such an abominable practice," Glenn told her disdainfully. "The way the order of Dragon Knights was formed was based on the methods I learned in Toran. It is a bastardization of what the bond originally was; of what it truly meant and symbolized."

"What do you mean?"

"In ancient times, long before Delrich became a kingdom, before and during the time of the legendary war, those who fought with dragons were part of an honorable order," Glenn explained. "The dragons were not hunted down, herded, and bound to a soldier against their will. The way Eisenzahn told me how he and Doluka came to fight together was that he had to prove his worth to the dragons; to show that he was worthy of fighting alongside such a proud race of creatures."

"So what changed? Why did those practices stop?" Anye inquired.

"Mankind is a fickle, power hungry race. Eventually, people thought they deserved to control the dragons instead of prove their worth. Now, they're hunted, taken away from their roosts, and kept in cages. They are forced to obey their _masters_ ," Glenn told her. "The magic that binds the dragon to their master is cast by man. It enslaves them, preventing them from fleeing until the day they die and shackling their minds, tearing away their free will. My link with Eisenzahn is mutual; it is a bond between us like we are brothers. I would give my life to protect him and he would do the same. That bond is what gives us our link to one another."

"I see..."

"Tales of the order are known to my people, Sir Glenn," Amadi chimed in as he rode next to the pair. "The dragons and their riders were highly revered in my home."

"Thank you, Amadi." Glenn was grateful for the praise but he still seemed troubled to Anye. The look on his face changed a second later though, as he picked his head up and looked to the left, to a small wooded area beyond a hill in the plains. "There, in the woods."

"You're sure?" Anye asked. "He said he'd be hiding in the hills somewhere."

"I'm sure," Glenn told her confidently. "He needed to hide, but he also needed to eat. He's waiting for us in there."

Anye and Amadi didn't argue, so they changed their courses and headed off of the beaten path towards the woods. Birds flew out from the tree tops as the ground shook slightly, presumably from Eisenzahn taking a step that shook the trees and made the leaves rustle.

Glenn yelled out as he dismounted Anye's horse. "Eisenzahn, come out!"

A low grumbling came from within the trees, accompanied with the snorts of the large creature as it breathed. Before long, the trees in front of the group swayed as he took to the air and flew around to meet them, landing beside the trio just on the edge of the woods.

"Good, you've arrived," the dragon greeted. "We don't have much time to waste. I can feel Stragus' power growing stronger."

"You can sense him?" Amadi asked.

"I can. We dragons are much more attuned to concentrations of magic than humans are," Eisenzahn explained. "As we grow older, our senses become more acute. I was able to sense your power grow even as a child, young one," he said as he faced Amadi.

"You humble me," Amadi replied.

The dragon turned his head back to Anye and Glenn before speaking again. "He has yet to return to his full strength, but we must warn your kingdoms before we break the seal," the dragon informed them. "He has been summoning fractions of his power from within the seal for centuries, but he should still be weakened. Regardless, if we fail in our task, they must be prepared for war."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Anye asked, surprised by the definitive statement. "You have a plan? Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Nor I," Amadi added. "Sir Glenn, what haven't you told us?"

Glenn climbed on to Eisenzahn's back before giving his comrades the explanation they sought. The action visibly annoyed Anye. "Stragus Markal was sealed, frozen in time in the hidden kingdom of Del'Mond," Glenn told them. "Our weapons are the keys to breaking the seal binding him and the holy ground. We need to bring them to Del'Mond to do so and kill him before he is able to break free himself and wreak havoc on the world."

"Wait, if he was trapped there and is sealed within, in _time_ , then how is he able to do anything at all?" Anye asked. "That doesn't make sense."

"The seal binding Stragus is not the first that was used to try and stop him," Eisenzahn explained. "Even with all of our might, those who fought alongside your ancestors could not defeat the dark wizard. After many attempts, we eventually came to accept that it was ultimately futile, but it was also the only way to stop him from destroying everything. So we locked him away, knowing that the time would eventually come for him to be stopped once and for all. The seal that still holds him has done its job well, limiting how much power his consciousness could control, but it has been a very long time. If we allow him to finish gathering his strength unchecked, he _will_ break free, and the horrors Amadi fled from in the mother lands will spread like wildfire to every place on this world."

Anye and Amadi remained speechless. Eisenzahn hadn't spoken much of Stragus since they had met, but being that he was alive during the battles against him, and he still spoke with such fear, indicated that the horrors they spoke of really were as terrible as the legends made them out to be.

"Now, climb on my back. I shall carry you to the town you call Bridge Port, where you will convince your allies to help prepare for his return," Eisenzahn said.

Anye and Amadi did as they were asked, leaving the horses to graze on the grass of the plains. Before the dragon spread his wings he let out a mighty roar, one that was likely heard for miles all around, causing the horses to flee in terror. Anye hoped that someone would find them and take them back to a stable for caretaking.

The dragon flew high into the air, higher than the clouds, and soared at speeds faster than Anye had ever traveled. It was terrifying being so high in the air, but it was also amazing. The view of the land below was magnificent, making everything look like little children's toys. Anye was also surprised at how much faster they were traveling than by land, covering the distance needed to reach Bridge Port in comparatively no time at all.

"Glenn!" she shouted over the sound of the wind rushing past them. "Why didn't we do this to get back home in the first place?"

"Eisenzahn is a living creature, not some flying ship!" Glenn yelled back. "He's carrying at least an extra five hundred pounds of weight on his back right now! It gets tiring!"

Anye laughed at the response, not because she thought it was a joke, but because it simply sounded funny. Still, she was appreciative of the ride and their presence. She knew full well that if they hadn't appeared when they did, she would have found herself being the new owner of a hole in her chest and the resident of a vulture's stomach.

Bridge Port came in to view just over an hour into their flight, and from Anye's vantage point in the clouds it looked like the most peaceful place in the world. She could see everything, from the town's entrance through the market square, the open area where the arena had been built and was still being deconstructed, and then Lord Taggart's estate.

"Remind me where the governor's manor is located. It's been many years since I last saw him!" Glenn shouted to her.

"Beyond the town. It's the building surrounded by farmland," Anye replied.

Glenn patted Eisenzahn on the neck and leaned forward to where Anye presumed his ears were, telling him where they needed to go. Soon after, they entered a rapid dive towards the ground and increased their speed. Air rushed past them, creating waves on their skin that made them look like they were composed of gelatin.

Eisenzahn's descent had been spotted by the people going about their business in the town, being that he lowered himself to be just above the rooftops. They ran screaming, scared of the apparent assault by the creature, but Anye laughed like a child pulling a prank. She knew Eisenzahn wouldn't cause any harm to them as they soared overhead.

When the dragon reached the entrance to Lord Taggart's estate, he slowed his advance with his wings, bringing himself to a slight hover above the ground. The wind he kicked up moved everything that wasn't fastened to the ground all around until he landed with a loud thud that shook the building.

Guards from within the home of the nobleman poured out from the building and ran all around the giant dragon, pointing swords and spears at the group while they jumped down from the Eisenzahn's back. Anye assumed that they had never seen a wild dragon before and likely had no idea what to do about the situation.

"Guards, I am Amadi of the Azubuike tribe of the Frontier! You know who I am, I must speak with my uncle!" he yelled out at the men.

"You expect us to believe that?" a guardsman yelled at them.

"Of course I do," Amadi replied annoyingly. "Do you not remember me?"

"Guards, stand down!" the voice of Micah Taggart yelled from behind the circle. "That is my nephew and his company. You will treat them as guests."

The guards instantly raised their weapons upward in a form of attention. A single one of them turned around to face his leader and speak with him. "Sir, they have a _dragon_ with them!"

"I can see that," Taggart replied agitatedly. "You will do it no harm. Return to your posts!"

The guard bowed his head and turned away, joining the men as they dispersed.

"Amadi, you have returned!" Taggart exclaimed as he approached his nephew with open arms. "And Anye, you have returned as well, and with friends."

"Yes, Your Lordship," Anye replied as she bowed.

"Your attire has changed, as has your weapon," Taggart commented. "I take it that sword is the artifact I sought?"

"It is..." Anye paused, unsure if she should share knowledge of the weapon's sentience.

"So you really are the heir of Armonde's bloodline," Taggart interjected before she could finish her thought. "I thought as much. Come, I assume you wish to speak with me. I want to know everything."

______

"I see...so the tales are true," Taggart commented. "All of them, and now we are on the cusp of history repeating."

"Yes," Glenn said. "We would have traveled to the capital directly, but we understand how unbelievable our story is. We were hoping you could help Anye convey to your king how important it is that he readies your kingdom's army for war, should we fail in our task. I will take Amadi to speak with the emperor of Mitus and then try to convince King Justin of Amador's treachery and the impending situation in Delrich."

"Of course I will," Taggart replied. "I have been a student of history my whole life. King Edward will listen to me. I hope the emperor and your king will be as wise."

"We should leave immediately," Glenn said. "Every second we take is another he uses to build his power. We can't afford to waste time."

"I agree. Come, we shall leave at once." The nobleman that governed the region escorted his guests through the mansion back to the main entrance, where he ordered one of his workers to ready a carriage for him and Anye.

Anye wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea of splitting up, separating herself from Glenn again, and she continued to protest the idea with him privately until they reached the door, but she knew it was what needed to be done. She feared for his safety returning to Delrich, but there was no other choice.

When the servant left the group they continued through the main door back to the front of the manor where Eisenzahn waited for them to return. The people who worked for Lord Taggart were still visibly afraid of the creature and kept their distance, so all of the tools they had dropped when they fled during their arrival still remained on the ground around his legs.

"Sir Glenn, may I speak with the dragon?" the governor asked. "I suspect there is something he may be able to clarify for me."

Glenn looked to Eisenzahn, who stared at the decoratively dressed man for a minute before nodding his head at the inquiry. "What knowledge do you seek, human?"

Lord Taggart walked up to the creature and looked right up at its snout. "Forty years ago, I was part of a group of men that traveled to the mountains of Toran to explore some ruins there. While we searched, we were set upon by a dragon that seemed to be outraged at our presence. Do you remember this day?"

Eisenzahn stared down at the man and narrowed his eyes as he searched his extensive memory for the event that was described to him. A minute passed before he grunted and nodded his head. "Yes, I remember, human. I felt the intrusion in the home of my last rider and investigated. I feasted well that day."

Taggart lowered himself to a single knee and bowed his head while he opened his palms upward when he heard the dragon's reply. "I apologize for the intrusion, Ancient One. Please forgive this transgression against you."

Anye, Glenn, and Amadi alike were all surprised at Lord Taggart's action. They had never seen someone of his stature bow down to anyone other than a king or member of royalty, and he was doing so for a dragon.

"You are forgiven, human," Eisenzahn replied. "The transgression is passed and all but forgotten. You may rise."

"You have my thanks, Ancient One," Taggart said as he stood again.

"It is good to know there are those who still honor the ancient ways," Eisenzahn told him. "I would know your name."

"Of course, Ancient One. I am Micah, of the Azubuike people."

"Your brethren are of a bloodline with close ties to the dragon race," Eisenzahn explained. "We knew your ancestors since the first days, who were the first to make the pacts. You honor your forefathers, Micah."

"Your words do me honor," Taggart replied.

The conversation came to an end as the carriage that had been sent for arrived. Lord Taggart bowed his head towards Eisenzahn again before turning to walk towards it and climb inside, bidding that Anye join him when she was ready to depart.

"I'll come for you after I've convinced his majesty of the dangers that approach," Glenn told her as he took her hands. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Do we really need to separate ourselves again?" Anye asked. "If the king doesn't listen..."

"I will be fine," Glenn reiterated slowly. "I won't let anything stop me from getting back to you."

Anye wasn't completely convinced, but he gave her a passionate kiss to calm her nerves. It helped, but she still worried as they pulled away from each other and bid farewell. She stood beside the carriage and watched as Eisenzahn took to the skies with Glenn and Amadi on his back, flying northeast towards Mitus. She continued to watch until they were completely out of sight, holding her hands together in a ball just in front of her chest, making what was likely the most feminine pose she had _ever_ found herself standing in.

"Lady Anye, are you ready to depart?" Lord Taggart asked from within the carriage.

She took a breath and turned. She was alone again, but at least this time she wasn't completely hiding under a fake name. She found determination in what Glenn said to her, and she promised herself that she'd find him too. "I'm ready."

______

"Your Majesty, I have traveled here to speak on the behalf of Lady Anye Everdyne, Knight Captain of Delrich," Lord Taggart claimed before the king of Belrun. "She has come to deliver to us a warning in hopes that you will prepare our land and people for what is to come."

The great hall where the throne of Belrun sat in the capital city of the country was home to King Edward Belrun and his wife, Queen Ellen. The king's advisors, personal guard, and several onlookers who worked in the castle all stood present to watch the kneeling knight and nobleman make their address.

The room had no carpeting on the main floor, reserving the fabric for where the throne sat and the steps immediately before it, but that wasn't very indicative of how the room was decorated. Two intricately designed glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, reflecting the light from outside in all directions. Pillars with arches at the top held the room upright and had been adorned with long banners displaying Belrun's sigil; the visage of the people fishing, farming, and bearing swords in three separate segments, the same as was on the bridge that led to and from Delrich.

The windows along the walls were all stained glass images that represented different past members of Belrun's royal family, except for the very top near the ceiling itself, which was simply clear glass that allowed the sun's light to shine in naturally.

King Edward was an older man than Micah Taggart, being closer to King Justin of Delrich, if not outright the same. He had a white beard and moustache, the same as King Justin only styled differently, and wore intricate robes of silk and fur colored with shades of azure and emerald, as well as various jewels on his rings and crown.

Queen Ellen looked to be about the same age as the king, though Anye wasn't quite sure if she was. She had never seen the queen before and there wasn't much talk about her anywhere to let Anye get any idea about what kind of person she was. Based on her appearance, she looked to be kind enough, but as she had learned looks can be deceiving.

"Knight Captain Anye Everdyne, of the Holy Knights of the Kingdom of Delrich..." King Edward repeated as he rubbed his beard while leaning on his left arm. "The same Lady Anye who murdered Prince Robert on a mission of peace in Mitus, I presume?"

"Charged for the crime, Your Majesty, but not guilty," Anye answered while keeping her head bowed.

"And yet you fled from your homeland and became a fugitive, living your life under an alias in my kingdom's borders. For what reason did you do this if you are not guilty of the crime?" the king asked.

"Your Grace, Prince Robert's murder was part of a plot to destabilize my home," Anye replied. "Placing the blame on me helped to serve the true killer's intentions."

"Sir Astley," King Edward commented. "Lady Anye, Lord Taggart, rise. I will hear what you have to say."

Anye rose to her feet, but her expression was one of confusion instead of relief. "I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but you know of Amador's treachery?"

"Not explicitly. I've known of Delrich's continued war with Mitus, though after attempting peace with their foe it did not make sense to keep fighting with them in retaliation of Prince Robert's murder if the murderer was you," the king explained. "There was the possibility that you had fled there, but that did not seem likely based on our information. Sir Astley's recent whispering in King Justin's ear has also been known to me, and you're coming here has proven to me that he is indeed manipulating events there."

"I see, Your Majesty. Thank you," Anye replied.

"Now, what is it you wish to warn us about? Micah believes it is of great urgency that you speak with me," King Edward asked.

"Yes, Your Grace," Anye said. "I've come to urge you to prepare for war."

"War? Against whom?" the king inquired. "Delrich does not seem interested in fighting with us, although Mitus has made threats before. But they have never acted upon them."

"Neither, Your Grace. Stragus Markal will soon return, and is gathering his strength to reawaken the nightmares of ages past," Anye explained.

"Stragus...Markal?" the king asked skeptically. "The same Stragus Markal of legend? The dark warlock who commanded legions of monsters from the holy land of Del'Mond?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Anye answered, but she could hear the laughter starting to echo from the onlookers, although the king had yet to join them she doubted it would be long.

"Surely you must be joking," King Edward asked with a smile on his face. "At first I thought it was odd that the armor you wear bears the symbol of that mythical place, but I did not expect a story like this! Micah, was this your idea? I know how seriously you take your studies."

"No, My Liege," Taggart replied with a serious tone. "Lady Anye speaks the truth. I have spoken with an ancient one myself, the great dragon Eisenzahn, and seen the weapons used by the heroes sung of in those tales personally. She bears one with her now."

King Edward and his wife's laughter lasted for a brief second before he really listened to what his regional governor was telling him. When the humor faded from his face and turned into true curiosity, the laughter surrounding them also faded. "You speak true?"

"I do, Sire."

"How do you know that what you speak of is indeed true? Do you have proof?" the king asked.

"Your Highness, I am a descendant of Armonde and Orlinde Schultz," Anye explained. "This sword was his sword, their blood is my blood. What I speak of _is_ true."

The king seemed mystified. His gaze was fixated on her like a child eyes a toy, except mixed with disbelief that what he was looking at was really there. "Can you prove your heritage?" he asked. "Can you prove to me and these witnesses that you are indeed the heir to his bloodline?"

Anye was stumped. She had no evidence linking her to the man spoken of in legend except for the memories imparted on her from Alistair, and the blade did not like speaking in front of strangers. She had no idea how she could convince the king of what she was saying until she heard Alistair's voice echo in her mind, like a thought of her own.

"Draw me forth and point me towards the heavens," the blade told her. "I will give him the proof he desires."

Anye looked down at the blade, furrowing her brow in contemplation. Drawing a weapon in front of royalty was forbidden unless called upon by said royalty. If she did so the king's guard would likely seize her. Asking the king for permission to show her blade could work, but it could also be viewed as distracting which wouldn't help either. Still, she had little choice in the matter.

"Your Grace, I request permission to draw my blade," Anye asked.

"Do it," King Edward ordered without wasting a single breath.

Anye took a breath as she stood, hoping that Alistair wasn't joking with her, and slowly drew the sword. The blue sheen of the strange metal it had been forged from reflected the light of the chandeliers magnificently. When the sword's tip became exposed, she lifted the blade high, pointing it skyward.

The metal beyond the handle in Anye's grip started to glow, softly at first, but it steadily became brighter until it was so bright all of the onlookers had to cover their eyes. The light flashed briefly before it faded. Anye could smell smoke, like something had been quickly burned while they had been blinded. When Anye was able to see again, she saw that Alistair had burned the symbol of Del'Mond into the stone floor in front of her.

The onlookers surrounding Anye and Lord Taggart murmured amongst themselves, with some phrases leaking through to Anye's ears like "it's true!" and "I can't believe it," although there was a naysayer or two who claimed it was "dark magic," and she "shouldn't be trusted" to go along with it. King Edward looked like he believed that the proof Alistair had provided was good enough. He raised his hand in the air to silence the people around them so he could speak.

"From the time of my father, and my father's father, nothing like this has been seen," the king said. "I am honored and pleased to have been alive to meet the heir of one of the great heroes of legend." He stepped down from his throne and walked slowly towards Anye and Micah with a look of bewilderment in his face. He turned his head towards the onlookers and spoke. "All of you...leave us. I must discuss this with Lady Everdyne and Lord Taggart in private."

Anye slid the sword back into its place on her hip while silently thanking Alistair for his assistance as the crowd scuffled away into the halls of the castle, including the king's guard and the queen. "You have my gratitude, Your Grace," Anye thanked as she kneeled once more before the elderly man.

When it looked like everyone in the room had finally gone, King Edward placed a hand on Anye's shoulder and spoke. "My Lady, I would not have the wielder of the legendary sword, Alistair, bend a knee for me. Please, rise."

Anye stood again, this time with confidence in her face. "Will you prepare yourselves for war then?" she asked.

"I will," the king said. "But there is something else I must show you. Come with me."

The royal turned to lead Anye and her escort to the wall behind his throne. He placed one if his hands behind a curtain that hung from the ceiling and pushed. The sound of stone sliding indicated that he had activated a mechanism of some kind.

The king backed away and watched, along with Anye and Lord Taggart, as a section of the wall in front of them slowly slid open like a door, revealing a hidden chamber lit only by a soft blue light at the end of a hallway.

"Come," King Edward ordered. He led his guests into the darkened secret chamber and walked as the stone door behind them slid shut. "This place has been a secret known only to the current king of Belrun for longer than our history knows," he began to explain. "For centuries we have been charged with protecting this place until the symbol of the holy land was burned before the throne. I honestly thought it was just a myth, and that we should never show this place to anyone."

"What _is_ this place, Your Highness?" the nobleman asked in amazement. While the room was indeed dark except for the soft glow of the light at the end of the chamber, the walls and ceiling looked like the night sky with stars twinkling in the darkness.

"We call this place the starlight chamber," King Edward explained. "It is said that in times of strife, the past kings who ruled this castle would use this room as a retreat. It serves, or at a time served, as a gateway to Del'Mond if recovered documents are to be believed."

"A gateway?" Anye questioned. "What do you mean, Your Grace?"

The three walkers reached the end of the room before King Edward would answer, instead choosing to place a hand on the glowing blue rock that was placed at the center of a round pedestal. The stone cylinder housing the luminous object was engraved with the same tree and sphere symbol Anye had become familiar with.

"What is this, Sire?" Lord Taggart asked.

"That stone is a mineral found primarily in my place of origin," Alistair claimed aloud from his place on Anye's hip. "It is a mineral with magical properties called Fularium, and it is what my cohorts and I are primarily composed of."

"So, the stories of the talking sword of Armonde Schultz are also true," the accompanying nobleman commented, although he sounded somewhat startled by the new voice added to their conversation.

"The legendary blade _can_ speak..." King Edward added, though his tone suggested that he expected such a thing as opposed to Lord Taggart. "The abilities of our forefathers were truly amazing..."

Anye drew the blade and held it upward in front of the glowing stone. "Alistair, do you know about a gateway to Del'Mond?" she asked.

"Indeed, though I must admit I was certain the gateways had all been destroyed over the ages," the sword replied. "It appears I was mistaken in my assumption, as this gateway is still intact. It is currently locked and cannot be used, however."

"Locked?" Anye asked. Judging by the faces made by her companions they were just as curious as she was about what Alistair meant.

"Yes, this side of the gateway has been sealed by a charm not unlike the one binding Stragus," Alistair explained. "It is very old, likely placed by the person who reigned over this castle during the battle when he was sealed and the holy capital became lost. I can easily remove it and allow us passage to the other side."

"Anye, if you can defeat Stragus, you can put an end to the threat of his return!" Lord Taggart exclaimed to her.

"But what of Amadi and Glenn?" Anye replied. "Glenn told me he would come find me when he convinced King Justin of the dangers Stragus posed."

"The Ancient One can feel surges in magical energy, Anye. He will know you've arrived at the holy land. They will find you there!" the nobleman encouraged. "You must do this! It was you all who told me that the longer we wait, the stronger he becomes."

"Anye, as a knight of Delrich, your sworn duty is to protect the citizens of your country," King Edward began to say. "Launching a pre-emptive attack would be wise. We will ready our defenses regardless until you return."

Anye looked between the two men as she held the weapon of her ancestor in her hand, unsure of what she should do. Could she defeat the Stragus alone? Hundreds, if not thousands, of people lost their lives fighting against him in the past, and even the combined strength of the heroes of legend couldn't defeat him. Stragus was at full strength then though, as opposed to being able to access only a sliver of his power which supposedly weakened him significantly.

"Alistair, what do you think?" Anye asked as he held the blade up to her face.

"I cannot tell you how to use me," Alistair answered. "The dark mage is weakened, of that I am certain, but he is still quite dangerous even while trapped in Del'Mond. The hold on time will not be broken until all three of the keys are returned or he gathers enough power to break the seal himself, in which the chances are growing ever more in his favor. Still, if there are any individuals who have fallen to the influence of the dark one and found their way to him, it would be wise to eliminate them before attempting to fight Stragus himself. His followers proved to be cunning in the past, and I would not doubt he has garnered new support since then beyond those of whom you are already aware."

Anye thought silently for a minute. Neither of the people who stood with her said anything, but she already knew they thought it would be best if she departed and met her comrades there instead of waiting in Belrun. Both Eisenzahn and Glenn had said that every second they wasted gave Stragus more time to regain his strength. The choice, when put into that kind of light, seemed obvious.

"What do you need to do?" she asked the blade.

"Simply touch me to the stone and the seal will be broken," Alistair told her.

"And the gateway will open?"

"Indeed it will."

Anye took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. Her life had changed dramatically in an incredibly short time, from serving as a knight to being a fugitive, then traveling across the world and back, and now she was about to travel to a kingdom forgotten by history and turned into myth. She was amazed at herself for remaining sane in light of it all.

"Good luck, My Lady," King Edward told her. He bowed his head and placed a hand over his heart. Lord Taggart did the same, and they both stepped away from Anye and the stone.

Anye raised the sword in front of her face one more time, looking at herself in the blue reflection of the blade before slowly lowering it to the top of the glowing rock.

They touched, and the soft light grew intense. A high pitched ping echoed within the room as the light engulfed Anye. She felt herself being pulled rapidly through something like a tunnel. She could hear noise, but none of it made any sense. The light was so bright she could barely keep her eyes open, but it only lasted a second. When the brightness faded and her eyes adjusted, Anye found that she was in a chamber that looked nearly identical to the one she was just in.

A telltale sign that the room was indeed a different location was that there were several stones, not just one. Strangely there was no color anywhere. Everything she could see was a shade of grey. She wasn't sure if it was her eyes having been affected by the sudden teleportation or not. There was also no sound except for her breathing, and there was no soft glow from the rocks like in Belrun. It was a strange feeling, as if she truly didn't belong, or even mean to exist there. She started to walk towards the corridor that looked like it would lead her out of the chamber, but nausea struck her swiftly and she fell to the ground retching.

"Oh yes, I forgot about that...magical teleportation can have that effect," Alistair joked as she spit up what was in her stomach.

Anye was in no mood or position to deal with the sword's spirit and tossed it to the side while she dealt with her stomach's unpleasantness. She hated the way nausea felt; thought it made her helpless. The feeling passed quickly enough, and she eventually got back on her feet.

"Please...give me some warning next time," Anye asked as she walked over to where the weapon landed. She gripped the sword's handle tightly before sheathing it.

"If it keeps you from throwing me away like common garbage then I'll comply," Alistair commented in huffy offended tone.

The quietness of everything around her was unsettling. When she reached the end of the walkway, she found a door that was surprisingly not made of stone, but wood, which indicated that this room, unlike the counterpart in Belrun, was not a secret. She opened the wooden door, expecting to find herself in some other grand castle or hall, or anything other than what she found.

The door opened to reveal a fountain, surrounded by trees and paths. The buildings all around her had been damaged by some sort of battle, but the eerie thing about it all was that, like inside the room, there was absolutely no color anywhere, even in the sky.

Bits of stone from the buildings that had been fragmented off during the apparent battle hung in the air, unmoving. She couldn't tell what time of day it was, there was no wind, no birds chirping, no _anything_.

Stills of people clad in armor clashing with creatures that looked like the ones she fought at the tower where she received Alistair stood all around her. It took a minute of looking around, but Anye eventually realized that the curse placed on Del'Mond, freezing it in time was not figurative. The location wasn't simply hidden away, left to decay in the annals of time. It was a literal effect, and that the statues she remembered from the tower at the desert mountain were the same as the statues around her, people and monsters that had been caught in the curse all those centuries ago.

______

As Anye explored the frozen kingdom, she marveled at how beautiful it was even in its present state. She wondered what it must have been like before the battle. Magnificent gardens and fountains were everywhere, and in what Alistair told her was the center of the city was a giant structure that rivaled the largest castles she'd ever seen. The sword told her that it was called the Temple of the Gods, built in tribute to the divine beings that gave shape and life to the world, where the high priests would pray and where Stragus made his last stand. There was no sign of anything not frozen in time anywhere, and Anye wasn't sure if she should be relieved by that or worried.

"Who's there?" an elderly voice echoed around her suddenly.

Anye drew Alistair and looked around quickly, but saw that there was nobody around. "Who are you!?" she yelled. "Show yourself!"

Surprisingly wind started to blow around her, but nothing in the environment moved to it. It was a strange and chilling feeling to say the least.

"Ah, the second of the keys has returned..." the elderly voice whispered through the wind. "And you...a child of Armonde, I see..."

"Steel yourself, Anye," Alistair said. "You're speaking with Stragus Markal."

"What!?" she exclaimed.

"Does it surprise you, child?" Stragus' voice whispered around her.

"You're supposed to be frozen here, along with everyone else!" Anye yelled around her. Stragus wasn't making himself seen, but that was probably intentional to make her nervous and throw her off guard. "How are you free?"

"Oh, I am far from free, child..." he replied through the dreadful wind. "But the magic of your ancestors was never strong enough to truly contain me, though I admit they did succeed in keeping me trapped here...until now."

"What do you mean!?" Anye shouted. "What do you mean 'until now!?'"

"I grow tired of speaking with you..." Stragus replied. "Kiya...kill her, and bring the sword to me."

"Kiya...?" Anye questioned, but as the wind ceased she felt a surge of magic from behind her and spun in time to raise her shield and block a ball of fire that had been thrown at her. "Kiya!"

Across the way in front of a collapsed building stood Kiya Sturmwind. Her long blonde hair rested over her shoulders like it did when Anye last saw her. She wore the same black robes as before, except this time the hood was down, exposing her features even more. For as twisted as she was, she was a physically beautiful woman.

"Well, if it isn't Glenn's little robin, flown so far from her nest," Kiya taunted. Her hands were empty, which was unusual, for most mages usually held staves, like Amadi, to help focus their energy. Either she was very foolish, or she had been granted extraordinary power, and remembering that she had bested Amadi once it was likely to be the latter.

"Kiya, why are you doing this!?" Anye yelled at her. "Why did you betray Delrich? Why did you betray Glenn?"

Kiya laughed at the girl's questions. "Delrich? I never served Delrich, or its foolhardy king and prince. And Glenn...well, he was a little fun. I'm sure you _agree_. Why, you're practically glowing!"

Anye was outraged at the woman and charged at her. Kiya grinned and prepared for the assault, floating away with her powers to avoid being sliced by the armed woman's sword. "Careful now, little bird, lest you hurt yourself," she taunted.

"Foul woman!" Anye blurted out. "What reason could you possibly have to justify all of this!?"

"My reasons?" Kiya asked as she flung shards of conjured ice at Anye's shield. "For power!" As she yelled she channeled a bolt of lightning through her hands towards Anye.

Anye saw the attack coming and knew that her shield alone was useless against something like that without a protective charm of some sort, so she did what her only option was and jumped away to avoid it. She used her own powers to place a protective barrier in front of the shield just in case the mage decided to try something like that again. Kiya was much more powerful than Anye expected her to be, and wished she had more time to fight her before. With nothing to compare her to, she was essentially fighting blind. Not knowing what the limits of her opponent were was one of her biggest pet-peeves.

"You're quick, I'll give you that," Kiya commented as she landed on the ground. "You may even hold out against me for a while...but I wonder how my _dear husband_ is faring?"

"What? What do you mean?" Anye yelled.

"Take a look," Kiya answered. She waved her hands around before her, charging magic in her hands. A second later she shot the gathered energy outward towards Anye, guiding it to land just at her feet. The spell didn't appear to have any offensive properties, rather giving her a view of another part of Del'Mond like a window. It showed Glenn dueling with Amador, and Eisenzahn battling in the sky with Oscar. "How _is_ my husband faring?"

"Glenn!" Anye shouted, but he couldn't hear her through the projection. He looked to be holding his own, but Amador was fast and hitting hard, using his own magic to turn the tide in his favor.

Kiya used the distraction to her advantage and flew up to Anye quickly without her noticing until the last second, and moved to kick her in the head. Unfortunately for Kiya, Anye's reflexes were well honed, and she managed to lower her head beneath her shield and push the mage away from her.

"Damn you, Kiya!" Anye shouted. "You and Amador will pay for this!"

"If it weren't us it would merely have been someone else, Anye," Kiya told her. "The dark one's influence is quite strong. There are those who don't even realize they were having their strings pulled...like your friend in Belrun. What was his name? Micah?"

"What?"

"Well you didn't believe he really thought it would be wise for you to come here by yourself, did you?" Kiya taunted. "You're more foolish than we thought."

"And yet here I still stand," Anye replied. "I suppose it's too bad for you I'm not as dim-witted as you."

Kiya's attitude changed in response to the taunt thrown her way. Her smile and cocky gesture faded and were replaced with aggression and annoyance. "So you got lucky," she snorted. "Everyone's luck runs out."

"Yes, it does!"

Anye acted on instinct and reinforced the enchantment on her shield as she sprinted towards her opponent. The magic boost she had tapped into before felt more natural as she summoned its energy, and she felt herself feeling what Kiya was planning on doing as the spells materialized.

She blocked away a few small bolts of magic with her shield as she approached the blonde mage and readied her sword to strike. Anye was a skilled fighter, but Kiya was an adept mage who wasn't wearing any armor, and thus was more agile than Anye. When Anye swung her arm, she released some magic she had charged into the blade, which appeared to cut the very air where Kiya was standing, leaving behind an after-image of the weapon swinging.

The women danced around each other, each trying as hard as they could to kill the other. Kiya was too fast for Anye to follow completely while casting her own spells continuously, but whatever defensive and enhancing charms she could conjure she did due to the nature of her enemy. Safety and survival were paramount; she'd reminded herself enough in the recent days that brash thinking and acting without forethought could be fatal. Still, whatever she did manage to land on Kiya didn't seem to be enough. Each second that passed made it feel more evident that she would need to fully enter the enlightened state.

"You can't defeat me with your amateur level abilities, girl," Kiya teased as she created some distance between Anye and herself. "Just give up. It'll be easier!"

Kiya launched another fireball at Anye which she easily cut through with her sword. "And why would I want to do that?"

Both women ran at each other again, each flinging insults at one another and simply pissing the other one off even more. Neither really gained any ground on the other, a small cut or a burn here and there but nothing particularly threatening to them aside from each woman's growing fatigue.

"Master, you need to stop holding back!" Alistair yelled at her. "You can't beat her as you are. You _will_ lose!"

"What if I become too weak to fight against Stragus?" Anye asked.

"You can't help your friends fight him if you're _dead_!"

"Starting to go delirious?" Kiya teased. "Allow me to put you out of your misery!"

Kiya lit her hand on fire and swiped at Anye with her hand like a blade. Anye avoided the attacks but doing so was draining. Anye knew that she should tap in to the powers that lay dormant, but her pride didn't let her. She wanted to beat Glenn's traitorous wife, _needed_ to, without them.

"Master, listen to me!" Alistair pleaded with her.

The sword's incessant begging was making Anye even angrier and agitated, but she noticed that in her building rage she was becoming more focused than before. Her attacks were getting more accurate, and her shield strikes more powerful. She had focused, and started turning the tide of the battle in her favor.

Kiya seemed to become annoyed at her inability to easily dispatch the red-haired knight, and was getting sloppy with her spell casting. Each fireball, blast of wind, lightning bolt, and shard of ice she conjured grew weaker and weaker. "Why won't you die!?" she yelled as she floated herself away from Anye to get some distance and hopefully regain some of her strength.

Anye wasn't having it and made a gamble based on her instincts. Alistair knew what she was planning and shouted in protest, but she ignored him. Using all of the strength she could muster, she flung the weapon point-first at her foe.

Kiya saw the weapon flying towards her and swatted it away easily, placing a grin on her face as she expected to be able to throw some quick witted remark about what a fool Anye was, but the moment she opened her mouth to speak Anye's shield came upward and slammed in to her chin. Her head jerked back as the cold metal hit her jaw.

Anye, in a moment of tactical genius, had used the thrown blade as a distraction to cast a speed enchantment on herself and sprint up next to Kiya so she could land the blow with her shield. While Kiya was stunned from the impact, Anye reached her hand outward and summoned the sword back to her. When the weapon reached her fingertips, she gripped the handle tightly and quickly shoved the tip of the blade through the witch's gut, forcing it through her body until it was exposed through her back and dripped with her blood.

Kiya's eyes opened widely, shocked at what had happened, and lowered her head slowly to see the blade that stuck through her. Anye was holding her up with her shield arm, but the cold, stern look of determination in her eyes spoke volumes. Kiya had been defeated, and Anye was damn proud of it. The blonde mage tried to speak, but the words wouldn't form. Anye pushed the blade further through her body, prompting her to cough up some blood in place of what she was trying to say while increasing her already obvious pain.

Anye remained silent as she stared into Kiya's dying eyes. The woman had essentially stood in her way for many years, and had betrayed the man she loved. There was no room for mercy, only disdain and pity for the sorry state Kiya had placed herself in.

Anye pulled her sword from her dying opponent's chest, but held her up for a second to say something before she let her fall and die. Her honor as a knight compelled her to, no matter how much she hated the woman. "Find peace in the afterlife, for there is none for you here," she told her, and gently let the woman go.

Kiya fell on her back. The blood from her mortal wound stained the black robes she wore, and spilled into a large red puddle that contrasted the gray timeless landscape. Her eyes looked around painfully, filled with panic as she coughed her last breaths of air, still apparently in disbelief that she had been beaten. She tried to raise a hand towards Anye, but whether it was out of anger and a vain attempt to cast one last spell, or a final gesture of pleading, Anye didn't know. When she gave her last breath, the hand fell to the ground and the woman remained motionless.

Anye remained standing over her fallen opponent for a few minutes while catching her breath and calming her nerves. Each fight she found herself in had been increasingly more difficult than the last, but she always survived. And just like the battles she fought in during the war, she always would.

"Alistair," Anye said as her breathing finally slowed. " _Never_ doubt my abilities again."

The sword remained silent.

______

"Glenn!" Anye yelled while she ran around the timeless capital. "Can you hear me!?" For as loud as she cried and as far as she ran, Anye's companion was nowhere to be found. Even Alistair, who claimed that the very nature of his, Darius, and Legeia's existence allowed them to feel one another's presence, said that he could not find her friends.

The window Kiya had opened showing Glenn's battle with Amador had faded shortly after her life came to its end. There were no identifying landmarks shown in the bland landscape, and they were likely far from where she stood. There were no sounds of battle echoing anywhere, and although Eisenzahn and Oscar had fought in the air she could not see them above. Either the battle had concluded, or Stragus was preventing Anye from finding them somehow.

She paused to look around at her surroundings, hoping to gain some bearings using the temple at the center of the city as a base. She had already traveled a good distance from where she left Kiya's body and needed to keep from getting lost.

Anye's suspicions aroused suddenly, prompted by an unexpected sensation of magic, which faded quickly. There was still no wind, and Stragus had remained silent, but there was definitely something that had happened. It felt like a pulse, or perhaps a sudden spark of magical concentration coming from the direction of the temple. It was very brief, but it was enough to get the woman's attention.

"Alistair, did you feel that?" Anye asked the blade.

"I did, but I do not know what it was," Alistair replied. "Proceed with caution, Master."

Anye, determined to find Glenn, stepped towards the massive building through the frozen landscape. She hoped that whatever the sensation was would be felt by him as well and she'd find him there. Alistair remained silent, keeping watch for anything Stragus may have planned, but nothing happened. Aside from the sound of her footfalls they were surrounded by absolute silence.

The steps of the temple, a massive square-shaped building with a tower jutting out of the center, were littered with the frozen bodies of man and demon alike, each trapped in perpetual battle. The damage to the area from the magic and steel being used was extensive except for the temple itself, which looked pristine amidst the chaotic battle. The doors were open, and so Anye stepped inside.

The section of the temple Anye entered was shaped similar to the tower she had claimed Alistair in, though based on his description of the area there were many more sections of the structure that served different purposes. Stairs climbed upward in a spiral fashion. The condensation of magic was also just like the desert tower, only much more potent. It caused a dizzying sensation in Anye's head that prevented her from going any further until she got used to it.

"The center of the seal is located in the upper chambers of the temple, Master," Alistair explained. "It is possible that the pulse we felt earlier has something to do with it."

"That explains this concentration..." Anye commented while her eyes remained shut. "I don't think I'll ever really get used to this." When she could look straight and move without issue again she proceeded up the stairs.

The pulse of magic Anye felt from outside came again, this time also accompanied by the light sound of feet shuffling in one of the corridors above her. The sound did not remind her of armor. Anye drew Alistair from her hip and gripped his handle tightly, ready for anything.

After several floor breaks and having to move closer to the center of the building before climbing upward again, Anye entered a room more ornate and decorated than any other. It was magnificent, decorated with beautiful drapes embroidered with the finest looking threads. Murals had been painted on the walls by master artists, and in the center of the room on an intricate pedestal was the largest gemstone she had ever seen, surrounded by three people. There was a tall slender man with smooth long hair wearing armor just like Anye's, a large muscular man with short hair wearing armor identical to Glenn's, and a woman dressed in robes with long black hair tied into a single thick braid. None of them were holding any weapons, but they each looked like they should be or had been at some point. Both of the men were standing in combative poses facing the large gemstone while the woman had a single arm out, like she was holding something to touch the stone with.

Anye was about to ask Alistair if he knew what that room was and what she was seeing, but the thought was interrupted when the magic pulse happened again. She turned her head to the side to see a shadow the size of a man rushing towards her. It made a sound like it was yelling at her, but she heard only foul demonic noise coming from it.

Anye raised her shield and pushed back against the shadow's attack, focusing her magic in to her shield. She pushed, using the charge to launch the creature away from her, and moved on the offensive. She raised her arm to strike when a second shadow appeared from one of the adjacent stairways. Before Anye could lower her arm, the second creature threw a sphere of darkness towards her. She had no choice but to halt her advance and raise her shield again to protect herself.

The second creature yelled in its demonic language, visibly angry at her quick thinking. Anye turned her head to look towards it, but the distraction left her guard open, and the first shadow's foot kicked her in the chest. She tumbled away, but the quality of her new armor took the brunt of the damage and she remained unharmed. Outnumbered two to one, Anye had to think quickly. Alistair tried to say something to her but she wasn't paying attention, choosing instead to deal with her immediate predicament.

The second shadow raised its weapon in the air and swung. A blast of darkness flew towards her, but to her surprise another blast also flew towards the first creature, which swatted the magic away with its own black staff.

"They're fighting each other?" Anye asked herself.

Before she could think about what was happening, the first shadow leapt towards the second while it ran towards her, and she found herself in a three-way duel with the two creatures. Their actions were strange; they didn't move like the demons she fought in her trial, but rather like particularly skilled humans. They even had the same basic shape as people. Their fighting didn't last long, as Anye had swung her sword down from overhead. The shadow she was attempting to strike down slid away quickly, and the blue material of the blade in her hand struck the giant gemstone in the center of the room.

Color radiated from the center of the rock, illuminating the shadows and shattering the darkness surrounding them. Both Glenn and Amadi appeared in place of the darkness, holding Darius and Legeia combatively. "Glenn!? Amadi!?" she yelled at them.

The two fighters, both equally as confused looking as Anye, stared down at each other.

"Anye? What is going on?" Amadi asked. "Why did you both appear as shadows?"

"If you would have listened to me you wouldn't have been at each other's throats!" Alistair angrily yelled out. "I don't know why I even bother. Humans never change..."

"Indeed..." Darius added with his own air of annoyance.

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked as he caught his breath.

"The shadow forms you saw each other as were illusions generated by Stragus' influence," Darius informed them. "The same trick was used against us when we attempted to defeat him before."

All three of them visibly looked ashamed of themselves. They had taken ownership of weapons housing ancient spirits who could give them insight for nearly any situation, and they had all ignored them in favor of following blind instinct. Anye had done the same during her fight with Kiya, and her pride nearly cost her life. It would have had it not been for some quick thinking.

"Regardless, we are at the place where the seal can be broken," Legeia explained.

"Yes, just as it was cast centuries ago..." Darius commented.

"What do we need to do?" Amadi asked.

"The color that radiated from the Fularium Crystal was time being allowed to return to Del'Mond," Alistair informed. "As you'll recall, we are the keys to unlocking this place from its prison. Touch us to the crystal as they, your ancestors, did to reverse the effect."

"You mean...?"

"Yes," Darius chimed in. "The three people you see here are indeed Doluka Sturmwind, Armonde Schultz, and Bethany Lightstone. Preserved as they have been since the day they helped cast the spell that saved our world."  
Anye, Glenn, and Amadi all stood in shock and amazement. Three of the heroes of legend, in one place, locked in time standing before them. They had looked up to those individuals, being told stories of their exploits during their childhoods. Seeing them in person was a feeling unmatched by anything any of them had felt before.

"While we appreciate your acknowledgement of your forefathers and foremother, we must hurry," Legeia urged. "Every moment we waste allows Stragus to gather more power. You must break the spell and stop him before he is strong enough to stop you!"

Anye looked at her companions and nodded her head, taking a place in between where Bethany and Armonde stood. Glenn took a similar position between Doluka and Armonde, and Amadi between Doluka and Bethany. They each raised their weapons high and looked to each other for support. All of them looked nervous, but also dedicated.

While in the air above their masters the three weapons began to speak.

"In accordance with the ancient pact..."

"...the laws of both men and gods...

"...and the vows we swore to keep...

"We return to that which has been locked away; the flow of time and the freedom of life and death! Lehtierra tierromeh offloucca yeehrreh omoore!"

Anye, Glenn, and Amadi all lowered the weapons to touch the stone at the same time. A high pitched hum resonated in their ears as light washed out all around them, filling the room with color. The stagnant air blew around them as the drab lifelessness that gripped the city faded away. Vibrant colors took hold on the environment, and gave life back to those it had been stripped from.

When the brightness faded away, Anye looked around to fully realize what had happened. The lifeless statues they stood between looked back at them in confusion. The confusion soon turned to fear and aggression when the sounds of the battle outside began to echo within the temple.

The three ancient heroes backed towards the giant glowing stone and reached their hands out, calling the names of the three weapons Anye, Glenn, and Amadi held, but nothing happened. Their faces' grew taught with frustration, and they yelled at them in the strange language the weapons uttered as they broke the seal.

The spirits each replied in the same language rapidly, sounding as if attempting to calm the three legendary warriors down and convince them of what was happening. It looked to be working, because Doluka pointed to the ceiling after Darius finished talking.

"Anye, you are going to feel something like a stinging sensation in your head," Alistair warned quickly. "Prepare yourself."

"What? I-" Anye tried to ask for an explanation, but the feeling the sword warned her of came too quickly. Fortunately it faded just as fast. "Alistair, what was that all about!?"

"You know the sword's name?" the unfamiliar voice of one of the ancestors asked her. "Who are you?" Anye opened her eyes in shock to see Armonde was looking at her. The color and design of his armor was the same as hers, and his silver colored hair rested lightly on his head. "Is what he claims true? You're the Sentinels of this era?"

"You...I..." Anye was in too much shock from speaking with the man after breaking the spell on Del'Mond to be able to think clearly. If that wasn't enough, the menacing laughter she recognized as Stragus started to echo within the room.

The ceiling of the room somehow started to move, circling around like a giant wind-up toy as it opened a way to the roof of the temple. The floor shook and started to rise through the opening, knocking all of them off their feet. It continued to rise until the six people found themselves outside on top of the temple. Frigid wind blew around them, biting at their cheeks and turning them red from the cold. The sky was blue and cloudless above, and in every direction the distance showed nothing but the blue color of the ocean and glaciers.

"I must thank you, descendants of the three _heroes_ , for breaking the spell that bound me for so long," Stragus' voice said to them, but it was no longer carried on some supernatural wind. The voice came from above them. "Although, I must give credit to where it is due my _dear friends_ , for your seal actually managed to hold me...mostly."

Anye looked up to see a balding elderly man dressed in exquisitely decorated robes of red, gold, and black, hovering above them with his palms up towards the sky. "Stragus!?" she yelled.

"We won't let you destroy everything!" Glenn shouted. He leapt in to the air to strike the dark wizard with Darius in his hand.

Stragus stared down at the people below and grinned. He shifted a single arm downward towards Glenn as he approached, and clenched his hand tightly to form a fist. Glenn froze in the air and his body tightened as if tied by an invisible rope. "Destroy everything?" Stragus asked as he slowly lifted the lancer up to him. "Is that what they told you? I suppose that _would_ have been the end result of my actions..." He stared in to Glenn's eyes silently, watching as fear and terror filled him. "You're Doluka's boy...aren't you?" he asked slowly, and looked down at the remaining people below him.

"Glenn!" Anye shouted.

"Yes...now I remember," Stragus commented. "Glenn Sturmwind...Amador had much to say about you, boy." A smile formed on his cold looking lips and pale face. "But even with all the power I gave him he was still no match for you." The smile disappeared, and his gaze shifted down to Amadi and Anye who were both looking up at him fearfully. "Your plan was foolhardy, Sentinels!"

"You must stop this!" Doluka yelled up at him. "All those who have wronged you are dead! Your desire has been fulfilled!"

"Fulfilled?" Stragus asked as he dropped Glenn back down to the roof of the temple. He landed with a thud and a cry of pain. "You seem to have misunderstood my intentions, old friend. I did not want to simply kill those who wronged me. I wished to make them suffer, and make their children suffer! I wish to take from the world what the _world_ took from me! And _THAT_ is far from fulfilled"

"You can't do this!" Amadi yelled out, and summoned a fireball to fling at the dark wizard.

Stragus absorbed the magic with a single hand without looking like he was trying. "Boy, you have no idea what I am capable of. Your pathetic attempt at magic is laughable, and you thought you could defeat me!?" he told him. "Your plan, instruments of a corrupted council, has failed you! While my body may have been frozen in your prison, my mind was free! I could see everything through the Fularium Crystal. You thought my body being trapped made me weak...well, far from it. Control over magic comes from the mind, and my time spent here without interruption has only made me stronger!"

"No!" Bethany yelled. "Stragus, you must stop this!"

"Be gone from my sight!" he angrily yelled at them and swiped his hand in front of him, summoning a powerful gust of glacial wind to push them off of the tower. "Consider yourselves fortunate that you will not live to witness the horrors I shall unleash!"

The six people tumbled through the air quickly. Cold air rushed by as they fell, helpless and powerless against the gravity that willed them towards their deaths.

"Glenn!" Anye yelled towards him, but he wasn't listening. His eyes were closed tightly and she thought he was fearful of his own death until he opened them and yelled as loud as he could.

"EI-SEN-ZAHN!"

There was an exponential burst of magic that flowed through Glenn's body as he called the dragon's name. Below the group, above the ground where they seemed destined to meet their end, a circle of magic appeared. A moment later the giant dragon shattered the seal and flew upward towards them. His eyes glowed with magic while he chanted words in his own draconic language.

Anye felt herself being pulled somewhere as the dragon spoke, but not by anything physical. She looked quickly at the others around her to see that Glenn and Amadi were glowing slightly. Doluka, Armonde, and Bethany however were not. She wondered what was happening for a second before it clicked in her mind; the dragon was sending them away and moving to catch the falling heroes. She opened her mouth to protest the spell, but Eisenzahn completed it before she could say anything, and she watched as the world around her warped away. Glenn, Amadi, and everything else faded into the light, and the sounds of the battle and wind disappeared. Anye screamed in anger, knowing that she had been separated from Glenn _again_. The rush of magic carrying her became too much for the woman's mind to handle though, and even amidst the bright lights carrying her across space, she eventually succumbed to her exhaustion and passed out.

# Epilogue

When Anye came to, she had a pounding headache. Her head rested on warm stone in a room partially filled with sunlight from above. There was no rug, not even a pillow around her. The floor on which she found herself laying on was instead covered with fragments of shattered glass, dust, and sand, and under one of her hands she could feel the softness of a leather belt.

When she stood, her head felt dizzy and her vision was blurred. She couldn't see where she was very well until her eyes focused, and there was a loud ringing in her ears. A voice tried to reach her, but it was lost in the echo reverberating within her ears.

"Glenn...?" she groaned. "Is that you?"

"Master...!" the voice cried out to her. "Master Anye, finally you're awake!"

"Glenn, where am I?" she asked, but the pounding in her head was too much and she fell to a knee, leaning back against a wall. She cradled her forehead in her palm. "What happened?"

The voice didn't have time to answer as the images of Stragus, the falling from the temple, and Eisenzahn whisking her away came back to her. She then realized that the voice she was hearing wasn't Glenn's at all, but Alistair.

She tried to get back on her feet again, this time pushing through the dizziness and shaking the ringing out of her ears. When she opened her eyes, her vision remained blurry, but it was recovering quickly. Alistair rested on the ground beside her next to a pile of clothes and the belt her hand graced before, with two other swords attached to it. She knelt down to pick up the sentient sword and slid it back inside its sheath on her hip.

"Alistair, what happened? Where are Glenn and Amadi?" she asked.

"I do not know, Master, but I am relieved that you have awakened," the sword replied.

Anye looked around at her surroundings to try and figure out where exactly she was. She quickly recognized the room in the tower that had been built in the Sun's Bed where she claimed Alistair as her own. It then clicked that the clothes, belt, and swords were hers. The heat of the sun beating down in the room was intense, indicating that it was probably about mid-day there.

"How did we get back here?" Anye wondered.

"The great dragon, Eisenzahn, used his draconic power to save you from your predicament," Alistair explained. "Unfortunately, your companions did not arrive here with us, nor did your ancestors."

"What happened to them?"

"The dragon stayed behind to catch them as they fell," the sword told her. "Beyond that, I cannot say."

Anye was satisfied with the answers she had been given so far and remained silent as the memories flashed through her mind. She walked down the stairs of the tower to the entrance and back outside into the desert mountain's sun. The shattered remains of the stone demons were still piled up where they had been standing, but Anye was alone.

"Well this is wonderful..." she sarcastically said to herself. "How am I supposed to get back?"

"There are ways..." Alistair said to her. "...if you know where to look. Search for the Albana. They will show you the way."

Anye was perplexed by the riddle the sword spoke in, but was distracted by something she saw off in the distance and didn't comment. To the east was the island Tao Long ruled and called his home, but what accompanied it froze her with terror. In the sky, flying above the Western Isles was a massive black swarm. It was too far of a distance to see what the swarm was, but the sound it gave off was chilling. It reminded her of a savage, animalistic shriek similar to dragons, but much more sinister. The echoing of their cries rang out over the mountains, telling her what was happening. Stragus had rebuilt his foul army and was continuing the war he had started centuries past.

Anye shook the fear away and found her determination again. She had been framed, forced to flee her home, prove her worth, and become the inheritor of a legendary weapon. During the course of the past month she had been beaten, bruised, cut, and placed near death, but she had also pushed herself beyond her limits and overcome any obstacle placed in her way. Being trapped on an island was just another obstacle.

"Well, I'd better start looking, shouldn't I?"
