"It's just a game."

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

“Tamber! Tamber, where the hell is that child?” The screams of the proprietor of the ‘Prideful Lion Inn’ cut through the early morning air, muffled only by the walls of the Inn.

Outside was nearly silent, the sun not even begun to rise. A thick fog had settled through the night, leaving the mind to wonder at the nearest shadows beyond the gray wet veil of the morning, even the grass had not been spared as it was covered in a cold slick dew.

A faint startled yelp arose from the stables a short distance from the Inn, followed closely by a light thud as the man called once more.

In moments there was a short frantic scurry of a pair of feet with a clatter of noise before a young girl with short blonde hair dressed in patched clothing came running out.

With her desperate race to get ready to answer the summons from Samson, when she awoke, she had fallen from her bed of hay and now had a small splotch of horse shit on the back of her clothing. In addition to this filth freshly added to her already poor attire were stray reeds of nearly dark brown hay from the ground.

Fortunately there had yet been any business of riders stabling their horses the past week, the previous ones having already gone on their own ways of journeys beyond the small world Tamrie knew of.

Tamrie, the child with her hair cut, and her small body that had yet begun it’s growth into adulthood appeared as a boy. Only her voice was what made her sound like the girl her master, Samson had made her appear as.

At this time, due to the lack of travelers, Tamrie had found a small bit of warmth in the loft of the stables, it was her rare chance to sleep with an actual roof over her and the added warmth and comfort had her feeling as if she were somewhere else. In her mind as she continued, trying to keep from tripping in the dirt, she was fearful of having to pay for her desire for comfort.

Heart hammering in her chest, Tamrie came to a halt, finishing her sprint across the way to the back door of the Inn. As she reached to open the door, it swung open hard, smacking her in the face and sending her flying back onto her ass.

In a fit, Samson emerged from the kitchen and looked around before spotting Tamrie on the ground, one hand on her nose, eyes closed, his eyes narrowed as he glared at her, his jaw set.

She knew the sting of pain, but she also knew the price to pay should she let a single tear fall.

Ensuring she was not bleeding, Tamrie immediately moved to lower herself properly on all fours before the man who permitted her life to continue. Her small frame seemed nearly insignificant against the large mass of fat and muscle both.

Prostrating herself before the man was the best way to start the day she had learned from these past two winters.

She sat there, on all fours, head down on the dirt for a second before she heard a throaty noise. Following this, she felt something wet and sticky struck the back of her head was all she needed to know.

It would be a good day.

“I swear, by the Gods, you are worthless. Git yerself in and git ta work,” with that, Samson turned and went back in.

With a second to spare, Tamrie allowed herself, the briefest of smiles before hiding it and getting up to go inside and begin her work of chores.

During the day, while busy with her indoor chores, she spotted an occasional glimpse of a man she had never seen before. His face, and even his eyes seemed to tell he had traveled far. His dressings were filthy and slightly ragged, but still showed there was money to this man.

The women in the kitchen chatted away about the stranger. Or, at least, by women, it was the usual two women who spoke, while the third remained as silent as always.

Mira, Samsons wife who was always talking about gracing her husband with a strong son to make her husband proud, but seemed incapable. She was very beautiful once when she was in her youth, or so she says. Her once golden curls had long since darkened and lain flat. Her body had plumped slightly over the years, large amounts of stress from her life after marrying Samson had taken its toll, and left her with many early wrinkles and a few gray hairs.

Sidea, a woman traded from a working farm as a slave of one to now a slave in the kitchen. She never spoke, always looked at the floor and was always busy preparing plants, spices, herbs, and some meats as her family had once taught her. Her way of cooking food was the only reason she was taken from the farm. Word had already traveled to the three nearby cities, each a few days or more riding by horse.

Tamrie had come to like Sidea, and sometimes envied her, and even her way with food. To Tamrie, Sidea was different and strange, as if she was not meant to be in a place like the ‘Prideful Lion’. Tamrie considered her beautiful, despite being made to wear long thick dresses, and even a bonnet of black and white. It was said to be what her kind wore. Tamrie never quite understood what Samson or Mira meant by ‘her kind’. To Tamrie’s eyes, Sidea was a tall woman, thin, but not weak. Her form seemed to hold, or maybe even hide some sort of strength. Her skin was a dark brown color, one to which Tamrie could not even properly think of a proper name. She had at first thought the woman was part tree because there were what was called darkwood trees. The trunks of these trees were so dark brown, they seemed capable of hiding in the shadows of forests. Some people even claimed they held dark spirits locked away in them, and if you were near them for too logn you would become fouled with evil. Though, this was as close to a resemblence as Tamrie could think of, she felt it wrong to co0mpare the woman to something considered so dark and evil. Her eyes were dark brown like her skin, her hair, black, like the night sky and curly.

What usually caught Tamrie’s attention was Sidea’s smile and the glint in her eyes she could see from time to time. This together always seemed to have her radiate peace and kindness. There were a few times she could be found sitting under a tree enjoying a small bowl of food she would have for herself. While working chores, going between the Inn and the stables, or anywhere else, Sidea seemed to always catch her for a brief moment and smile. A smile, that to Tamrie, made her feel the woman spoke volumes, or even just a small private message.

‘Worry not child. There is more for you, and you will know it, when it comes.’

This would always make her day, seem just a little brighter.

When alone, and having trouble sleeping, she would imagine in her mind that Sidea would reveal herself as a princess, a lost warrior of a hidden race, or even a sorceress. At these times, she would smile as she imagined Sidea using magic to turn the large and sometimes frightful Samson into a small and helpless mouse, while his wife would be turned into a cat and sent to chase him. Only after which, Sidea would take Tamrie and they would share wonderful adventures. Leaving the little inn behind and looking to an unknown large world. A world where creatures could be free to fly through the sky like a bird, cities with spires that would scrape the skies, and various people of any color and height, from tiny red men called dwarves, to large blue men she called giants.

Pleasant dreams and sleep would find her soon enough until the next day revealed the same thing. Yet, for Tamrie, these were her own private treasures, for her to keep close.

The last woman, Breah, was only recently said to have become a woman as her figure, though usually hidden beneath her clothing was very curvy, something ti was said top attract men. She even said she was close to a young man, a farmers son beyond South Town. She would sometimes leave for a few days when it was slow like this to go and visit him.

Tamrie had found out, once by accident, where she actually went, as well as to why she was now only weeks latter, with a child.

The distraction was enough for Tamrie to sneak a glance at Samson, who would, himself steal a feel on the younger Breah.

A woman slightly shorter than Mira, with dark brown hair, light blue eyes, and a line of freckles that crossed over her noise, from one cheek to the other. Her figure was said to be slightly more curvy, or appealing than Mira, which none would dare speak this when the older woman was near.

Breah was the only one permitted to interact with customers other than Samson himself.

All in all the ‘Prideful Lion Inn’ had some of the greatest food any traveler would be willing to separate at least one gold from their pocket, and even more when their eyes and stomachs were filled. Even some of the sparse hunters would stop by trading a few furs for a few nights rest, and some meats of animals they were able to tackle in any surrounding wilderness.

This man who visited the Inn was for a completely different type. He was in fact a far traveler hired as a herald for a rich merchant who had recently made friends with the Duke of the lands. He wanted a stop at the ‘Prideful Lion Inn’ to sample the food before moving on to a neighboring rulers land.

He was to be expected at the fall of the sun. Additional word was that he had certain appetites that needed satiated, and many other patrons would surely visit bringing a hefty haul for the Inn.

Samson finished his deal with the man, with a hearty shake of hands, as his other hand pocketed the small bag of gold.

In his mind could be heard wheels turning over and over a single thought, ‘That little brat will finally be of use.’

The day continued on, the sun rising and sending away the early morning chill with it’s veil of fog. When it was high over head, and bright, it faintly resembled a bright yellow eye of a creature not of this world, as he looked down. The only difference was the two different sized red pupils.

His form was difficult to express and describe, as he was a mixture of various parts of creatures and animals. The form of space he was used to being a part of he considered his very own. His powers allowing him fun from time to time, despite the various headaches he gave to those around him. His form of fun and revelry was not truly intended as malicious, just harmless fun, that he could change or alter if he were in the mood.

Looking up from the world he had been seeing briefly, he looked across the table map to the entity that had some how brought him here without his knowledge, or consent. Of which he tried to verbally berate said being as he was in the middle of tea-time with a friend, and was secretly enjoying a fun little tirade of an angry white bunny, whose name did not match his personality have it out with an equally irate carrot. Tea-time was fun, but sometimes he just enjoyed livening things up with a show to go with his visits.

The character he had chosen, he could sense was not native to this world, the description and traits proved this when Discord looked over the information.

Name: Maxwell Hammond

Level: 2

Race: Human

H.P. 14

Alignment: None

A.C.

Class: None

St. 14

I. 15

W. 12

Cn. 12

Ch. 10

Dx. 11

Equipment: Weapon:

T-Shirt
Jeans
Hiking Boots

Spells:

Description:

Average Six foot height. Broad shouldered, Dark brown hair, dark green eyes, light skinned, slight muscular build, usually unshaven, but never a full beard. Hair falls naturally parted down the middle.

Background:

Maxwell lived on Earth with three women, each of whom knows him on a personal level.
These three women were not normal, as Earth was not their original home. These three were once powerful sea creatures from a neighboring world existing on a nearby plane.
An old powerful wizard had found the three had been corrupted and changed by three identical crystal artifacts. Through these, they became known as sirens, and with this new found power, they began to bring out the darkest, or hidden parts of others.
Time and trial, the sirens fell to the wizard, but he could do almost nothing more except to use a single final spell to banish them from his world.
Time came as they rose to power on Earth, using their magic to get what they wanted. Until they fell to a small group of girls, likewise enchanted in their own ways, by the powerful bonds of friendship.
From their fallen and defeated forms, the sirens attempted to flee to find what they had lost, when fate seemed to intervene. Maxwell, even younger then, had offered them his hand in friendship, the very thing which had defeated the three. Despite the uncertainty, they were alone and seemingly powerless. They gave this human’s offer of friendship and help a chance.
Despite the differences of the four, a powerful bond was formed, which only grew over time. Hardships came as obstacles that each was able to overcome.

Era of the Champion Kings
10th of the Christened Moon

Maxwell awakens near a dirt road, stolen from his life, all but the vaguest memories left as a haunting spirit playing in his mind. His mind assesses all he can think of, only his name, a familiarity of a world this is not, and a maiden of blue hair are all he has to go by.

Languages:

Common
Cultured
Computer

Personality traits:

Curious, headstrong, protective

Special Traits:

Equivalent to low level thief when sneaking
Potential intelligence may permit basic spell casting
Fluid mind - Can grow in whatever field chosen
Unique Mind - A form of thought and spirit has culminated in this individual. Potential to establish personal class only available to this individual, if discovered and pursued.

Not all of his power had been taken away, but, he could tell he was still only at a fraction of his former power. This entity that had stolen him, had obviously also stolen this world he claimed to have created, as well as these characters. He could almost see himself as being chained, and it grated on his mind that this thing had the gall to do such a thing to him.

Discord took a moment to take a breath and calm himself, he would just have to figure a way to take control of this situation and get back where he belonged.

In the meantime, this could also be a way to liven things up for him, depending on how much control he was permitted when the game began.

Tamrie fidgeted as she remained in the corner, watching as Mira continued on diligently. No expression could truly be discerned by the look on her face as she focused intently.

If one had the power to hear the mind of a woman such as she, they would hear the ranges of emotions flooding through her ranging from anger, to regret, and in some cases when thinking on what she had been told of what was to become of the child, she felt a form of jubilation.

True, the child had been beneficial when they needed the extra help but didn’t want to spare the coin. Now, she would no longer be their burden, she would be someone else’s problem. On top of which her husband had already received incentive, with promise of more, if none knew of the child and her destination.

A few more minutes of sewing, before Tamrie was called over. Once the dress was pressed against her shoulders, Mira took a moment to analyze the fit the best she could. Once finished, Mira nodded and got to work again.

Once more, Tamrie felt herself embarrassed. First was the cold bath she had been practically thrown into with soap that stung her eyes, brushes which had previously been used on horses were now used to scrub her clean. Now she had to deal with this, the small pins still in the dress, scrapping and sticking against her skin as the dress was moved over her head and down her body.

Once the dress was fitted to her, and the pins were slowly, agonizingly removed, the left her alone in a small closet in the kitchen with nothing more than an apple to eat, a stool with an old well used pillow, and a promise of pain should she utter a sound.

Alone, in the dark, Tamrie sat there on the stool, eyes cast down on the floor, though nothing could really be seen. At least, nearly nothing, there was a small crack in the door, which only permitted her a small view of the kitchen in the soft light of a single candle across the way.

When she got hungry, she ate the apple, which barely was enough to quiet her stomach.

Thin walls allowed the sounds and smells of others to drift in and out of the small space. The smells of cooking meat, pheasant, boar, and multiple stews of vegetables and spices, as Sidea could only make them. It was enough to make her mouth water, and a small rumble shook her with fright for a moment. Tamrie worked to press her arms against her stomach as she remained as silent as possible. To take her mind off of the smell of food, she tried to focus on other things.

Of course, with her being in the dark for as long as she had, her nose seemed capable of picking up even more, just as her ears began to separate different sounds as well. There were other smells, such as the stench and tang of sweat of so many bodies moving about so close together, the bitter smell of the brown liquids, Samson always called a man’s drink, but what caught her attention was a smell that seemed pleasant, but so different from so many of the others.

It was strange, and alluring, distracting her and seemed to tease Tamrie’s nose as the scent seemed to appear and vanish on occasion.

The consistency of the scent fading and re-appearing, Tamrie began to make a game of it, trying to match it to other scents her mind could remember, or even make up for the fun.

So much time passed, it took a few minutes before she realized that everything had quieted down in the common room beyond the kitchen.

Standing, Tamrie carefully approached the door where the small single crack gave her its limited view of the kitchen now cast in shadows, as the candle had burned down to a small strange pile of droplets of white, which ran over the edge of the holder which carried it, and the cooler wax had seemed to cool as it dripped over the edge of the counter where it had been placed.

The span of a few heartbeats, she stood there, trying to move her head and get a better view with one eye or the other, when sounds of booted feet seemed to approach rapidly.

In that moment, as well, she could hear Samson’s voice ring out in laughter and the sounds began once again. The door opened, and something in Tamrie’s mind screamed for her to run, to escape as something wasn’t right. Two large figures stood there, towering before her, blocking the door, and her only real escape.

Backing away, her body beginning to shake in fear, Tamrie only had one left thought of her own. She wanted to hide in the back of the closet, to become one with it, so that whatever was coming would be impossible.

The two men were quick as they saw her taking steps back away from them. One, who seemed older of the two with his large beard reached in, his hand grabbing her upper arm, his large fingers and broken nails digging deeply into her soft flesh.

Tamrie opened her mouth to cry out, but the other man grabbed her hair, and just as a shriek began to emit from her throat, something bitter and foul filled her mouth. The man held his hand over her mouth and nose, tilting her head back with his other hand that surely seemed capable of tearing her hair out. It took her mind a moment to realize he had stuffed some sort of bitter leaf and liquid into her mouth.

Her need to breath was overwhelming, as she had been frightened and caught by surprise. The two men had moved fast enough to stuff her mouth with more than enough of the bitwit medicine they had been given for this very job.

The younger of the two men, leaned forward, the stench of his breathe the last thing Tamrie was aware of before her eyes closed of their own accord, half of the bitter leaves and juice in her mouth already swallowed by accident. Her body seemed to collapse as she passed out, the two men collecting her small form, in her newly made dress and carried her out the back door of the kitchen.

As they moved quickly, they passed by a large pool of dark liquid which reflected the light of the full moon in their passing. A similar reflection could almost been seen in the dark empty eyes of a young dark skinned black woman who had thought to stop what was about to happen to the young girl. The skill of her ancestors fighting spirit, was indeed fierce, as she had incapacitated three men, who had already weakly made their way back to the coach to be treated for their injuries.

However, no matter how strong one’s resolve is, it pales in comparison to a poisoned blade shoved into the back by a woman who had helped bring her into the Inn and kitchen.

Indeed, the Prideful Lion would no longer be as famous as it had been previously, the unknown hardships of this greedy act by its two owners yet to rear its ugly head.

At the edge of the trees nearby, soldiers stood watch, acknowledging the two delivering the promised package. The two men quickly moved the small form to the carriage door and opened it.

Within at each corner of the roof were enchanted lights hovering within small glass and metal wire containers. The inside had been altered and enlarged from normal carriages to have one side with a wide comfortable bench with large pillows of the softest down, nestled within purple silk, the edge embroidered in gold, each corner closest to the door ended with a small tassel.

The other side, though was an moderate plush bed, covered in even more, though smaller pillows and cushions, a light sheer curtain at each side held by a light matching tie.

It was onto this bed that the child was placed upon. A young man approached with a bowl and a cloth. He began immediately, under the scrutinizing eyes of the soldiers, dipping and wetting the cloth in the water, which was littered with red rose petals and a fine light scented fragrant oil. He carefully washed her feet, legs, hands, and arms before backing away. Finally a small bag of similar smelling incense was laid nearby.

Once their task was done, the soldiers closed the door and returned to the post, awaiting their master to find his purchased package awaiting to be opened, and ripened in his own pleasures.

A little distasteful for some of them, but they were not here and given extra coin to be disgusted by their masters way of entertainment for himself, they were to ensure nothing happened, keeping all danger at bay.

There was still more than a score of miles to yet traverse before they could even begin to consider requesting a change of jobs, for those who were new, or not of the same mind as the master.

Hours passed before their master appeared from the Inn, his form wavering from the intoxication he enjoyed, though, as it always surprised him, once he was out of sight of the Inn, and within the light of the carriage did he seem to change. Despite the blush of the drink well marked upon his visage, he seemed sober, his eyes already assessing the stature of the men.

A stop before the commander of the soldiers, he was given the answer he wanted. His purchase was ready, as were they to move on. With a malicious grin, the slightly shorter, balding man, with a trollish squat face, and slightly larger frame turned and quickly moved to the door.

Stopping he turned to his driver, “Onward, let us leave this filthy shit house. I still wish to meet up with King Anquaff before the beginning of next week. To the rest of you,” he growled, as he turned to the soldiers, “you know I am not to be disturbed. See to it.”

With that, he opened the door and clambered in and closed the door immediately.

The driver looked to the commander and nodded, all knowing it was time to move on. The crack of the whip and the sounds of struggling hooves, the carriage lurched forward, the commander, and his remaining men, three of which had been lost this night as with their injuries they would slow them down.

“I’m, sorry, you what?” The man asked.

“I follow the carriage, and don’t stop at the Inn. I have, or I should say, my character has already looted the corpses of the fallen soldiers for what is needed, and I follow the carriage.”

The man sat there, the look of his face seeming to hold shock and disbelief, eyebrows raised, crinkling the brows below a slight receding line of brown hair with a few well maintained wisps of gray. The robes he wore reminded Discord of some of the monks he had once come across in the Neighponese mountains. Simple hoof, or supposedly in this situation, hand stitched cloth which was to represent humility and more, seemed a mere farce in this instance.

Discord looked down at the character sheet he had, and noted how the added items faded in, to their proper designation.

Weapon:

3 daggers

Short sword

In addition to this, he smiled seeing the appearance of a new line,

Gold Bits: 70

It was a good start, as the three men had not yet to have been robbed of all their belongings to which some was hidden, though a quick enough check would have benefited others, it seemed they didn’t care. So, it was, in Discords mind, going to a good cause.

With a shrug, the man continued, “Very well. So, what do you wish to do from here?”

“Stop the carriage, of course. My character moves with haste, not spell, just dexterity, to get ahead before they get a good speed going. The soldiers seem to be mere footmen, who are accustomed to a good pace. My character has decent movement and speed with his stats, though I doubt he would be able to keep up for long once they get a good pace.”

The man smiled and clapped his hands, “As you wish, my dear friend. You seem to have caught a grasp of this game already, and with so little of the rules explained.”

“Well, what can I say? I’m flexible.” Discord stated, as he stretched his body into a pretzel knot, where a small salt shaker appeared. It dissipated quickly though, before he had a chance to continue.

“It seems. So, your character moves through the trees, just beyond the vision of the guards; I take it, you still wish to remain as you arrived?” He asked, Discords nod enough for him to continue, “And just before they are able to get into a good pace, in the next-” He grabbed a dice, and rolled it. It was a small six sided die, its colors a dark blue, with black spots, and red swirls which added to its array rolled over the table, remaining well above the clouds, and the portion of the world that had been zoomed in on. With the light of the moon, and the few lights the soldiers carried, Discord, and the other man were able to see the group and the carriage well enough.

The six sided die bounced along before spinning on a corner and falling onto a two.

“Ah, well it seems it won’t take but two kilometers more before they are able to catch their pace. Now, you character has gotten a few yards ahead of them, what will he do?”

Discord closed his eyes, and lifted his talon claw to clear his throat before he opened his mouth to speak, a twenty sided die appearing in his lions paw.

“I attack.”

As the twenty rolled along, a nice clear light blue with golden specs trapped inside of the die, it’s numbers a nice soft silver color, it sounded almost light thunder in his ears, and Discord privately thought about forming a prayer, though he and his host were the only ones who would hear it. Though, it would be nice to have Tia, or even Lulu here.

His eyes opened and then widened, as his devious mind began to churn out multiple things at once as he thought more upon this, and the die landed.

Those around the carriage heard a faint grunt, and were surprised to see the carriage lurch slightly as though running over an animal. A few seconds passed as the horses seemed to suddenly buck and jerk their heads, the reigns falling to their hindquarters, free of their master and his whip they began to move as they wanted, even with the heavy load they were still pulling.

The carriage moved back and forth, as the horses attempted to go their separate ways, but were still connected to the carriage.

Swearing from within the carriage could be heard, and the commander rushed to the seat to chew out the driver, only to see it empty.

Calling out, he had another man rush up and climb aboard the seat, though it took a few tries as his foot had slipped slightly from fresh spilled blood unseen in the dark.

Grabbing the reigns the soldier jerked on them just as they were coming to a turn which held a small lip of dirt to remind those of the potential danger of wheels being damaged or broken should they miss the road.

As the carriage came to a halt, the horses snorting and crying out wanting to continue their run, the commander turned to his men.

As he turned, a shadow seemed to rush out from the tree’s, flying through the air, hitting the back of one of his men, landing him roughly on the ground, and two more falling to their knees, familiar red handled daggers sticking from their throats.

“I call balderdash!”

Discord looked up, a simple smile on his face, “Oh, do you? You saw the rolls, the eighteen for the first dagger. The nineteen for the jump, the sixteens, back to back for the dagger throw, and this one is a twenty, pure and simple.”

“Still, what is your characters class? Traits? Spells, abilities? How are you able to pull this off?”

“Oh? Didn’t you look over the character sheets before starting the game? Why, I do have a special trait where I can move as a low level thief, if desired. You saw that proof, the rest was a sequence of lucky, very lucky rolls. Honestly, this is why I’m not permitted in Las Pegasus anymore.” Discord explained with a simple satisfied grin and shrug of his shoulders.

The other gave a huff and waved a hand for the game to continue.

The shadow that emerged from the trees seemed to vanish as it moved into the trees on the other side of the road.

The commander called out to his men the signal they were under attack. The remaining eight on the ground, the commander, and the man on the seat where the driver had been all turned their backs to the carriage, weapons drawn now, as they peered into the darkness.

The sound of something hitting metal to the other side, signaled the commander, moving he saw the men still standing looking into the trees, swords raised.

“Just a stone, sir.” Came the report of a man who looked pale with fear.

“Stand firm. It was just one that I saw. He is trying a ghost tactic, making it seem as though there are more.”

Another die roll, this time, Discord was the one who frowned at the outcome.

“Ah!”

A voice screamed from the other side, the commander once more running to the other side. A man was down, back on the dirt, struggling with his feet partially under the carriage. The men who had been by him had stepped back, one with a torch was quick to spot something and threw the torch down.

A yelp emitted and the commander, smiling, grabbed at the figure who was now rolling out from under the carriage to put out the flames that had caught his clothing.

The commander and the man scrambled with each other, one rolling over the other a few times.

The figure seemed to win out with strength as he had gotten atop the commander and began using the back of another dagger, grabbed from the fallen soldiers pants.

The men went to their leaders rescue after a few hits, dragging the man to his feet.

The commander stood, wiping his face, and spitting a glob of blood onto the road.

“What in the hell is going on out here?” Came thew voice of their master.

“Sir, it appears a highway man attempted an attack on us, but we have it well in hand now.” The commander reported.

The master turned and squinted his eyes at the commanders face, then over to the man in simple but strange clothes.

“What’s the damage, aside from your broken nose?”

“A few of my men fell to his blades, as well as the driver. Haymin knows how to drive the horses, though. He can replace your driver.”

The master stepped down from the carriage to get a closer look at the brazen thief. Behind him, the sight of a young girl in a tousled bed and dress, seemed to alight something in the man.

Slipping his wrists with a twist, the man easily got out of the grips of two of the soldiers and dropped faster than they could react, and tripped the men where he grabbed their weapons and stabbed each man without aim before moving on to the next man. As fast as he was, it was difficult to follow as he moved, enraged now beyond comprehension to these soldiers.

The next man he approached, after seeming to avoid the master at first had attempted to pull his sword to spear him, but was rushed instead. His arm was jerked away from its home at the hilt of the sword where the arm was yanked up, hit at the elbow with a sickening crack, before the man moved leaping into the air. His legs wrapped around the mans head as his body seemed to fall towards the earth, pulling and twisting, a second snap was heard as both bodies hit the ground.

The man that was attacking let out a roar as he finished removing the sword and now rushed at the vile thing which stood before him.

The master, now in fear from seeing what was no longer human, but obviously some night demon yelled and moved to get away, tripping over one of the bodies.

Fallen to the ground, the master continued to back away, waddling with his fat body, screaming, “Save me. Stop this thing!”

A click, an echo of a loud crack, and smoke filled the air. The body of the thing before him, was hit by a bullet from the soldier at the seat, one of their few, additional weapons, was a small hand held musket gun, one of only four, each with only a single shot used for an emergency of the gravest.

The man seemed to fall back a little, taking a moment to check the wound as others surrounded him, the commander taking no chances and tackling him to the ground.

Another struggle, the man seeming to have another surge of strength, yet the commander was able to hold him down, using his fingers to dig into the wound he found. The ball must have fallen out, as small rocks and dirt had blasted the man’s flesh and left a burn mark upon a shoulder.

The commander turned the man over when he though he had him and called for rope and chains to hold the man.

As the man was rolled over, the commander turned away, he missed one thing. A light of the man’s eyes as he sat upon him.

A hand smacked the commander in the face as he called out again. A sudden explosion of heat and light emerged from his hand, knocking the commander back. Standing, the man stood from the ground, his eyes still strangely lit from whatever power made his hand glow, and he approached their master. The other soldiers quickly backed away, unsure of what to do.

Reaching down, he grabbed their master and the light in his hand seemed to engulf the large squat man, and continued to grow, nearly blinding anyone looking.

When it cleared, their master was gone, a large black silhouette of his body in the ground.

The remaining soldiers began to run in the opposite direction, screaming demon as they fled.

The light in his eyes faded, and Max fell to his knees, his strength nearly completely gone. He remained there, trying to breath, sweat falling down his face and body, his eyes finally rising to view the carnage that seemed to be of his own hands.

He was still tired, from whatever happened, he couldn't explain it, and he felt tired. Turning he looked into the carriage and shook his head in disgust. He had hoped when he realized what was going on that he had not acted too late.

As he struggled to reach his feet, he heard a small cry from inside, he moved over to the still open door, and found the girl huddling in a corner. When he appeared, the girl seemed to jerk back out of reflex, until she was able to get a good look at him. Realizing it wasn't the same ugly man as before, she still seemed hesitant.

Max held his hands up, showing he had no way to hurt her, "It's okay. He won't hurt you anymore. I'm not here to do the same. I just want to help you, is there someplace else I can take you?"

He stood there, hoping and praying, doing all he could to fight the tears. He knew the possibility of being too late, as many in his past had been too late for him as well. Something he would never speak to another about.

"He didn't hurt me... not yet."

A feeling of happiness erupted into his chest, but his mind began to halt it, fighting it back, 'she may not know what you mean.'

Max slowly held a hand out to hear, palm up, "I don't want to hurt you, I promise. Maybe I can get you someplace, a home where they will take you in, and care for you.But we have to hurry, I don't know how long it will be before more come." He pleaded with her.

Still she would not approach, as she looked at him. It took a whole another minute.

For Max, it was a long frightful minute of uncertainty, as she didn't seem to want to trust him, and he couldn't blame her.

Finally, she moved, slowly, turning around and crawling towards him. Max remained as he was, fearing a single movement might be taken the wrong way. It was also taking all of his strength of will to keep from passing out.

Tentatively, the girl reached a hand out to his.

Max looked at her arm, and his eyes widened, in a nearly fresh rage as he saw the bruises on her arm, but he held himself as still as possible as she reached her hand to his. Once her hand was in his, Max raised up slightly, a sorrowful look on his face.

"Here, just take it easy, little one, I said I don't want to hurt you, and I mean it. I want to get you away from here, away from these men."

With a nod, she moved further and began to step down from the bed. Max offered his other hand to help her, but the way she shied , he could tell she didn't want to be touched, so he nodded and pulled his hand back to allow her the time she needed.

As she climbed down, and out of the carriage, Max looked over, "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

The girl shook her head, "Well, believe or not, I was born and raised on a small farm, and when I was a boy, I had a chance to ride a horse. I'll help you." He walked her over to where the horses remained, impatiently stamping their hooves.

As he began, he untethered one of them, before he decided to free the other and send it on its way.

"My name is Max, by the way," he told the girl, hoping to get her to talk a little more. As he worked, he noted the silence that followed, and glanced back to see the girl standing there, with her head down.

'This is going to be a while, I guess. Fine mess you found yourself in, Max.'

He didn't mention anything about his actual first time riding a horse ended disastrous with him falling under in the saddle and nearly being bludgeoned, or trampled. He continued to work, slowly figuring out how to prep the horse, and fortunately there was no saddle to help him with this one, he would have to bareback it. Hopefully he could keep the horse at nothing more than a steady walk at first until he became accustomed to the ride.

Holding the reigns, he looked back to the girl, who was now standing there and looking back down the road they had come from.

"Is that where your home is?" he asked, hopefully. If they had kidnapped her from her parents, maybe he could get her back to them.

"No, Samson and Mira don't like me." With that, she began to walk over to him.

It was then, Max realized she was barefoot, surely walking like this was uncomfortable, "So, uh, Samson, and Mira, aren't your parents?"

She shook her head.

Kneeling down, to look her in the face, Max began to speak the first thing he could think of, "Whatever you have been through, I am sorry. But don't let this get you down. Life can be hard, sometimes, but there is a better and bigger world out there. You can, and you will find people who can care for you, and love you as any child should be. I can't do much for you, but, I would like to help you find that place where you belong."

With that, she nodded and allowed Max to help her up to the horse. He stood there for a moment, before returning to the stagecoach and grabbing one of the blankets. It was the best he could do to make this comfortable, at the very least, for her. Setting it folded over, he had her sit back on it and hold the mane of the horse lightly, but still firmly.

"I'll start by walking with the horse for a little bit. Just stay there, I'm gonna go slow for starters, alright?"

"You talk weird," she said as he started with the horse. He held a hand on it's neck for a few seconds, trying to show the horse he wasn't going to harm it, wanting it to trust him.

"I'll bet. I'm not from here," he explained.

"Tamrie."

"Tamrie?"

"My name, it's Tamrie. Samson never did like my name," she explained before going quiet again.

Max nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth, "Well, it sounds like a good name, Tamrie. I like it. I like names that are unique, and I don't hear of girls with a name like yours all that much, if ever."

"What's Uki?"

"Uki?- Oh, Unique," Max was confused but for a moment before he realized what she meant, "Well, Unique, it means, something, or in this case, someone who is rare, or one of a kind." He looked back at her to see her smile.

'You may be unique, but you sure as hell are strong. Not a tear, for all of this. I truly, truly hope I wasn't too late in helping you. But I can still tell you have been through a lot anyways.'

Max continued on, Tamrie on the horse, he walked until he staggered and the sun began to rise over the horizon. To him, it was another world where the sun circled another Earth. To Tamrie, the Gods were bringing the sun up over the edge of the world to give them another day.

They stopped to rest, taking the horse into an thinner part of the forest. There, Max tied the reigns of the horse to a broken log. He leaned against a tree, after ensuring Tamrie was comfortable on the blanket he set on the ground for her. He made her promise not to go anywhere for her safety, and if anyone should be nearby, she was to wake him.

After her promise, he leaned back, closed his eyes and began to sleep, there he began to dream as well. A dream of a young woman with a beautiful smile, and strange, but alluring blue hair.

Despite his hosts displeasure, he didn't show it this time. Discord smiled, "It would seem from the adventure during the night, my character gained a level."

"So it would seem, and even some power. Does it say anything on the character sheet?"

Discord looked down, the words had begun to appear, but then faded when Max had stopped the assault after killing the rich merchant to rescue the girl. The only thing that did remain was an alignment: Neutral good. One he would normally consider boring if he didn't know its true form, and Max seemed set on the path now.

"How about we take five, and enjoy some refreshments?" Discord looked up at his hosts suggestion and smiled in agreement.

Chapter 2

As the last trace of his host vanished, the confident look on Discords face fell. With a heavy sigh he scratched the back of his neck with a claw and turned to await what was next.

“Luna? Luna are you there? I seem to have fallen asleep at another meeting. Can you fetch a maid and have her bring me some coffee? A-and maybe a pound cake? I know I’m supposed to be on a diet, but honestly, the sugar helps.”

A pause as the echoing voice seemed to hesitate.

“Luna, are you there?”

At this Discord twitched an ear, the voice coming closer through a mist was accompanied by a familiar shadowed form. A few seconds and it was joined by a second.

Grinning he waited, not wanting to say anything as yet.

“Luna?”

“Tia, where - Oof.”

The two shadows had joined and bumped into one another. Discord smiled, with a soft chuckle in his throat.

It was the small things in life that were worth enjoying.

“Sister, what is thou doing?” The smaller shadow spoke, looking to the slightly larger.

“Wandering in a dream, apparently. I was calling you, what took so long?”

“Sister, this is not the dreamscape.” Luna informed.

“Then -”

A large regal white mare with a flowing multicolored mane separated by a large white horn, wings folded neatly at her sides framed her body came into focus. Beside her a slightly smaller mare of dark blue fur, flowing mane like the purple and black of night, broken by glitters like stars, her sides as well, framed by feathers.

“Discord?” Celestia looked up at him in shock.

“So, this is your doing then, Draconequus. I wonder what Fluttershy would say if she knew of your shenanigans.”

Discord took the comment as well as he could, choking back a hurt filled response.

Luna held an arrogant look and began to say more when Celestia poked a hoof into her side. The look of sorrow filled in Discord’s eyes struck something in her mind.

Without wasting another second, Discord snapped his fingers and was dressed in a business suit and tie, a briefcase in one claw, a pair of glasses in his lions paw.

“My dear Celestia and Luna, I am here to speak to you of urgent matters.” Discord began with a brief but formal bow before walking past them to a desk that had not been present seconds ago.

“Uh… Did I fall and hit my head before I went to bed?” Luna muttered to herself.

Celestia herself stood and began to follow Discord with a look of disbelief in her eyes.

“Discord, what has happened? Is Fluttershy alright? You seem…” Celestia paused knowing what she wanted to say, but her mind and heart felt at odds. She bit her lip and closed to eyes to gather herself. “Discord, you seem weighed with something. You have never spoken or presented yourself before us like this.”

Discord sat behind the desk, settling comfortably in a large black leather chair. He set the briefcase down, and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the hard wood, resting his head in his hands.

“We have much to discuss. We have time, but not much. Please, would you do me one favor and listen carefully, think of what I am about to speak about.”

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

It felt as if their journey had been long, but was just a few days before they had reached the nearest town Tamrie had felt was okay to enter.

Their arrival was accompanied by the ever growing storm from the South.

Max and Tamrie walked through the streets, Tamrie staying close to Max. He could feel her body shaking as he kept one hand on her shoulders.

They approached a small tavern, one that was said to have a few rooms still open.

“Keep close, Tamrie.” Max warned. His response from her was only a small whimper.

He worked his way through the crowds that were standing around a few tables here and there.

The sounds of the tavern were nearly overwhelming. His ears were beginning to hurt from the loud talking as voices seemed to rise up all around like a wave. Voices seemed to somehow clash and flow with the poundings of fists, laughter, and more.

Finally the two reached a large bar area where a young man was quickly filling drinks and sliding them down to the men waiting impatiently.

“Excuse me!” Max yelled, “I would like a room for the night for my daughter and I.” He called over the noise, leaning forward slightly to make sure the man heard him.

“You don’t have to yell.” The man responded as Max realized the volume had suddenly quieted to scattered murmurs.

Feeling the eyes of so many behind him, Max couldn’t help the flush that rose in his face.

“If it’s not too much trouble, we would also like a meal.” Max added, his voice lowering. The man stopped and looked hard at Max, before glancing behind him.

Max turned his head, suddenly expecting someone standing right behind him ready to start something. To his relief of mind, the other patrons returned to what they were doing, the ruckus returning to what it was before.

“Money?” The man inquired. Max removed a gold coin from his belt waist.

The man eyed it before lifting it up, turning it from side to side. With a shake of his head he spoke, “This is good money, but it won’t get you but a meal. I’ll need more if you want a comfortable place to sleep, or you could try the gutter.”

With a sigh, Max lowered his shoulders, looking exhausted before nodding and moving to kneel down, there he raised his pant leg. There where his sock rose over his ankles was a strange looking lump. From it he removed another coin before placing it on the counter top.

As he looked at it, he seemed hesitant, as if the last of his life was held in this one single coin.

The man waited for Max to pull his hand away before snagging it. He had a triumphant look on his face, before turning his eyes hearing a voice.

“Daddy, you can’t give him the last of our money…”

“Shh, I know it seems hard, sweetie. But we’ll manage. We will have some food, and a warm place to sleep tonight.” Max said to her soothingly.

The man seemed to grimace before pocketing both coins, “You both will get a hot meal, and a bed for the night. But that’s as far as my kindness goes.”

“What do you say sweetie?” Max said turning to Tamrie.

“Thank you, sir.” Tamrie said, with a sniffle.

“Go on up the stairs over there,” the man pointed to a staircase at the other side of the tavern, “it’s the last room on the left. I’ll have someone bring your food up.”

“Thank you sir.” Max said as he turned with Tamrie and headed for the stairs.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

With a sigh, Max leaned against the door as Tamrie walked over to the bed.

“I don’t like lying like that. Was it really necessary?”

“Shhh,” Max turned an ear to the door and waited quietly for a little bit. Once he was satisfied he crossed the room and placed his left hand under his right armpit and withdrew the bag of money he had been hiding.

“Much better, that was really hurting holding this under my arm for so long.” Max laid the bag down, before removing his boots and dropping the bag inside one carefully. He then shoved his hand into it and worked to move the bag of coin as close to the toe as he could.

“Remember, we have to be careful. If they or anyone else knew we had more money they would try to hurt us to get it. I know lying is not a good thing to do, but right now it’s to help us.” He explained in a rushed whisper.

He was grateful for his time playing DnD with people. He had always worked to try and figure out unique ways to hide money from others so his characters wouldn’t get robbed. Same with sharing loot, he always played a rogue and did his best to get out with a larger portion than his teammates. Granted they didn’t appreciate it, at least until they were robbed and he was able to help them.

After learning lessons it got others he played with to begin thinking of things a bit unorthodox.

Now he had to check the whole room before the staff arrived with their food to make sure there were no peep holes where someone was watching them right then and there.

A few minutes of checking around the room, he nodded as he heard a knock. He remained by Tamrie as a precaution to protect her.

“Come in,” he called out facing a window.

Despite the grime on the window he could still see faint reflections in it giving him a chance to watch whoever came through the door. If they thought they could get away with pulling one over on him, this would be it.

He was playing it through his head as the doorknob turned, a slight creek to the door as it opened. The door had looked to have just been nailed down planks of wood in a vertical row. Each plank was about four or so inches to his estimated guess, and there were five. Two more were placed horizontally, one at the top and one near the bottom.

With the vague visibility he could see what appeared to be a woman holding something, he assumed a tray with their food, carefully balanced in one hand as the other opened the door. Once the door was opened she used both hands to maintain her load.

“Where would you like your food, sir?” She asked, standing stiffly.

He waited, watching a few seconds more. When she did not move or say anything more, he turned his head, “Sorry, I was lost in thought. Place it on the table in the corner if you would please.”

She did as instructed, and as soon as her back was turned, Max turned away from the window.

She wore simple poor clothing that was worn through in some areas, her hair was short and from what he could see her skin was fair.

When she turned and smiled, Max’s breathe was caught in his throat, he stepped back, almost falling over his boots.

The woman before him was just slightly shorter than he was, with short blue hair. He knew who she was, though his mind raced to think of her name.

“If that is all sir,” the woman began with a bow, “I’ll take my leave. Please enjoy your stay.”

As she turned and moved to the door, Max quickly jumped and moved a few steps and caught her by her arm. He turned her, “I know you, your my lo-”

Stopping himself, Max realized he was mistaken. There was fear in her eyes, but she did not look the same as she had seconds ago. The woman before him, in his grip, had dingy brown hair pulled back from her face. He could tell it was set up in a bun with a large blue kerchief as a way to keep her hair in control and out of her face as she worked throughout the day. Her skin was white, her eyes he thought he recognized were now foreign and brown.

“I-I… I’m sorry.” Max choked out releasing her arm. The woman responded with a cry and ran out of the room.

He stood there, a shocked look on his face, staring at the empty doorway to the hall. The image had been so clear, he had been so sure.

Now, it was already fading, replacing the image in his mind with a woman who was scared for her life when he grabbed her.

Max moved stiffly and closed the door before moving back and sitting down on the rough bed. There was a strange sound and he felt something sticking in his back. Reaching behind him, he removed a large stiff piece of straw that was used for the bedding to keep it clean and comfortable.

Well, not as comfortable as the beds he had known, but this was better than sleeping on the ground where one could manage to find a stone under their back, or a random tree root.

Max dropped the piece of straw on the ground and dropped his head in his hands.

“Max, are you alright?” Tamrie asked, uncertainly.

“I’m fine.” he assured her as he moved his head up, just so his eyes were above his fingertips. “Why don’t you go ahead and eat. I’ll get some myself soon.”

With a nod, Tamrie made her way over to the tray of food. She grabbed an old pocked marked spoon that was of obvious poor making and dipped it into a bowl of what appeared to be stew. There was another bowl, spoon, and a piece of bread.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

Celestia and Luna both stared at Discord, taking in what he had just informed him.

“How many?” Celestia was the first to break the silence.

“I don’t-”

“How many of my ponies who have entrusted me with their very lives has he taken?” Celestia demanded.

“I really don’t know, a few, enough that a town now sits empty, the entire nation. I really don’t know, Celestia, but it’s not just them, he’s taken humans as well, and probably even more before I met him. He only brought you here upon my request.”

Luna had begun to slip away, as she saw her sister slowly standing. A glow was being cast around them all, but it was not a glow of magic from Celestia’s horn, no it was a glow of unbridled rage filling the seemingly calm immortal. The entirety of the power of her sun was filling her being, as she stood over Discord.

“I DO NOT CARE FOR THIS GAME DISCORD. I DEMAND TO SPEAK TO THIS GAMEMASTER. THE LIVES OF THOSE UNDER MY CARE ARE NOT PLAYTHINGS!” Celestia, standing, wings spread out wide seemed to grow as the power continued to course and build within her. The torrent of her royal Canterlot voice was a bit of a surprise to Luna, as in all her time, years after her return, her sister had not once used her Canterlot voice.

Luna was looking desperately for something to hide behind. Finding nothing, she simply gulped, lowered herself to lay on the ground and covered her eyes and muzzle with her wings.

Discord stood, everything he had brought in as simple props vanishing in an instant. He walked forward to the God-Like Alicorn before him and did something none thought was possible.

Discord dropped to his knees before Celestia and lowered himself, “I know this very well, Celestia. Never had I thought to, or attempted to bring direct harm to anypony. I did what I could to ensure those who have been taken have a chance.” Discord looked up at Celestia from his prone position, “Celestia, Luna, I beg you to help me put an end to this. We must do as he wants for now to ensure no harm comes to anybody. With the two of you participating in this game, you can help them, and me to bring a proper resolution to this. For now, we do not have the power to stand against him.”

Gritting her teeth, Celestia let out her breathe in a hiss, trying to calm herself down. It took some time, bringing in so much power was easier than letting it out without harming or in truth, obliterating her target.

“How I wish I had a magical trinket I could have around your neck that drops you to the ground when you raise my ire by merely saying, ‘sit boy’.”

Discord lowered his eyes, and with the last of her power fading from her body, she began to turn away from Discord before stopping and turning one glowering eye to him. “Very well, I shall participate in this game. But if I find that you are looking to harm anypony-”

“You have my word, as both a Draconequus, and a friend of Fluttershy, the element of Kindness. If I could, I would too, swear by Applejack, the element of Honesty. I do not seek to bring harm to any. We are merely pawns until we can turn the tables on this being.”

With a snort, Celestia turned her eyes from Discord, her brow furrowing, desiring the destroy something suddenly. It took a few moments before she began to feel her calmness return and regain control of her emotions.

“I will take what you say as truth. Just finding out someone has so much power they are merely wishing to play with others…” Again, another internal battle waged, but was brought to an end quicker this time.

“So, from what you told us, we will be taking on new forms, similar to these humans. We will have no memory of who we truly are, nor will we recognize any others, we will also be stripped of almost all of our powers, and left to wander this world. Have I forgotten anything as yet?”

“Correction, Celestia,” Discord stated as he rose to his feet, you will have some power that can grow bringing you back equal to what you have now, in time. Both of you, but yes in a manner of speaking you will be separated and sent to this world to live anew temporarily. In truth you will be like newborn foals.” Discord explained.

“First, though, to help you, I was given some time to instruct you on how to act. Giving you a new form, and taking all that you know and dropping you into the middle of this world will surely be as a death sentence. We have three months of time of this world to prepare you. You will be able to learn their ways, become accustomed to moving in your new forms so that you are as adept as any other of these humans, and more.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Celestia asked as Luna had managed to pull herself together and strode over to the two.

With a grin, Discord snapped the tips of his claw. The two Alicorns before him screamed.

“Where is my coat!?”

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

The door closed, the woman leaned her back against it for a moment, tears streaming down her face. Seconds of silence dragged by before she lifted her head and slammed it lightly against the door. She began to do it more, increasing the hit. Her head began to hurt, her head starting to hit hard enough to bounce. Despite the physical pain, it wasn’t taking away the confusion, anger, or the ache in her heart.

She stopped, raising her hands to her chest. Her fingers grasped the cheap clothing, at that moment she wanted to rip them to shreds, she wanted to do something, she wanted to go back, but she couldn’t.

All she could do was just sit here and sob, her cries beginning to catch in her throat.

Turning suddenly she began to beat her fists against the door, screaming working to push out all of her feelings. The door made of poor quality materials was rattling as she beat upon it. She could feel the pain in her hands, moving to encompass her wrists. It only seemed to draw out more anger and now she began to kick at the door.

“My, my, my. What did that poor door ever do to you?” Came a voice from behind her.

She knew that voice despite having only heard it for such a short period of time. She wanted to turn her fury upon him, but as she slowed she could do nothing more than fall to the ground.

As he approached her, she began to feel powerless and weak before him.

“Did you do as you were told?” Came the voice once more, this time sounding so cold a chill ran down her spine.

“Y-yes.” She squeaked out. So much to deal with, too much, and it was beginning to take a toll on her as she felt bile rising from her stomach.

She moved a hand to her stomach as she gently laid her head against the door. It felt so empty now, where life had once been. Life granted to her by the man she just ran away from.

“Good.” She heard a faint sound. A sound of a small newborn child.

Turning, the blue haired red eyed Sonata Dusk saw the man carrying a small bundle in his arms.

He smiled down at the child in his arms, who began to whine before crying.

“Please, give her back, give them both back. I did what you said, you promised you would give them back.” Sonata choked out, her face becoming red, tints of blue appearing as she quietly sobbed out more air than she was breathing in.

“Oh, shh, shh, shh. Now, now, calm down little one. Mommy is right here, and if she continues to do as I say, you will be in her arms again.” The man said as he gently rocked the baby in his arms.

Sonata reached out for the baby, but the man deftly moved back well out of her reach. The baby began to cry even louder.

“Please, they need me.” Sonata begged.

“Oh come one, this is just getting annoying,” the man said as he tried to bounce to quiet the bundle in his arms. “How can you mortals stand this noise? It’s maddening, I feel like I just want to-” Turning he took the bundled form and threw it as hard as he could across the kitchen of the tavern.

Sonata screamed and jumped trying to rush to her baby.

Everything seemed to slow as it hit the wall and the blanket covering the baby came off, pieces of plastic and porcelain shattered and broke apart falling around.

Sonata covered her mouth with a hand before running to lean against a wall and began to vomit.

The man merely stood back and laughed as he watched her reaction.

‘It wasn’t real, that wasn’t my real child, just a doll. Oh god!’

“Don’t worry, they are still safe.” With that Sonata and the man seemed to appear in a strange large room. He moved over and sat down at a throne of gray stone, where beside him was an old motherly looking woman tending to two young infants.

Still shaking, and slightly reeling, Sonata took a few cautious steps forward, the intense gaze of the man watching her every move. She was able to get just close enough to see that her children were real and seemed fine.

“Ah, ah, ahh. Remember, they are under my care, and my nanny here, while a wonderful caretaker, does tend to show her true nature from time to time.”

With that, the elderly woman turned with a smile that seemed far too large for a normal person. In fact, everything about her was off.

She was just barely five feet tall, wide hips, slightly smaller shoulder and chest, her breasts sagging in her dress. Her limbs were like someone took them off the body of a person who was practically starving to death. Her face, long and fat, multiple chins hid her neck from view, her nose was large and crooked, making one think of an old styled cartoon witch, complete with a hairy brown mole. Her eyes were ovals of creamy white, but held black slits. Her hair appeared patched with a few bald spots, where it was grouped together hung with slight bends like they had been curled perfectly once and then left for gravity to straighten out, but never quite completing this.

Sonata spotted the drool at the corner of the woman’s mouth, then realized her mouth looked as though it were filled with razor sharp teeth, much like a sharks. Her hands were long and emaciated like her arms and legs, but her fingers seemed to end in red claws.

“Itshiburai is quite hungry, and she savors the flesh of a child so much.”

Shaking, Sonata did her best to stand firm before the two, “What do you want from me?”

“What do I want from you? No, no, no my dear.” He responded laughing. “I want something from all of you.” Lifting a hand, behind him appeared in clear crystal two familiar young forms.

Closing his hands, the crystals shattered, dropping the two women to the ground.

The first to open her eyes was the eldest of the three. A woman with large orange curly hair, three blonde streaks flowed from her head and through her hair. She was wearing simple pants, a shirt with a woman and man anime style looking at each other with various sized hearts floating around them, her boots the usual platform style giving her several inches that gave a sense of intimidation rising up to her calves. Her eyes which usually held a sinister or lustful appearance were hazy as she tried to focus.

She struggled to raise herself from the ground, grimacing from the pain of suddenly falling.

“Did I drink too much again?” Adagio asked as she tried to clear her vision and get a look around.

“Only if you used the bottle to beat upside the head. Ugh, this is the worst.” Came a response of the woman next to her as she rolled over to her side.

Aria, who once held a punk rocker look, dark mascara around her eyes, and pigtails to keep her wild looking purple hair in check had been replaced with a woman who seemed to be older and wiser. She was dressed in a comfortable summer dress and a sea green sweater, pulled at the top to leave her shoulders exposed.

She raised a hand and covered her eyes as she groaned out, “Where the hell are we?”

A few more minutes and the two were able to begin taking in their surroundings.

They were confused to find themselves in what appeared to be an old decrepit cathedral, windows broken and partially covered with creeping vines. Birds above their heads fluttered here and there from nest to nest. The strangest thing that caught their attention was the seemingly out of place gray stone throne with a man sitting in it, a bassinet with two babies, a frightening old hag, and Sonata looking as if she had been through a horrible incident. She stood at the bottom of a set of stairs that seemed to lead up to the throne, her clothing nothing but rags.

“Sonata?” The two called out as they rose to their feet and made their way down the steps to Sonata.

“What the fuck is going on?” Aria asked as she looked over to the Bassinet, “Wait are those…”

“Girls, I’m not going to lie, but in this predicament, I would say you are metaphorically fucked. But, I’m not a complete ass.” We a devilish smile and a wave of his hands there before him appeared three familiar red gems.

The gems floated closer, short black lace collars seeming to flow out of the emanating energy. The three looked at the amulets, the glint catching their eyes. Yet Adagio and Aria glared back in defiance.

Adagio and Aria looked to one another, then to Sonata. Her eyes were blood shot, dark heavy bags could be seen beneath them, her face streaked with dirt and tears, she was a complete wreck.

What were they supposed to do.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

Two weeks prior.

A wall.

A large stone wall, 30 feet high, and stretching from one end of the continent to the other.

It was to cut off the Southern areas of the continent due to the various soft lands. Bogs, swamps, inlets, quicksand, creatures that would devour you from the inside out, and what ever other kinds of monstrosities laid in wait.

Leaning along the top of the wall-walk, Erin sighed, his brows furrowed. He was bored and frustrated. Two weeks he had been made to walk the wall from morning till dusk, then to scrub the floors of the bathroom before bed.

“Damn old geezers, laughing it up while I do all the actual work.” With that he drew his mouth to the side before pursing his lips and sending a stream of spit down over the wall towards the trees ahead of him.

At varying times he could spot animals moving around here and there, depending on the part of the wall he was walking and what time of day it was.

Right at this moment, the sun had only been up for barely an hour, a thick mist had covered the canopy of the majority of the Southern lands but was already dissipating.

“Hey! Erin, food is up!” Came a call.

With a sigh, Erin raised himself up from the wall and began to stretch. His stomach grumbled at the thought of food. As he moved to turn to the stairs leading down and into the barracks he stopped.

Down in the mist, the base of the trees were heavily shadowed, but he thought he had seen something. Something a little off, he turned his head, keeping his eyes on the spot he had seen.

The seconds stretched as he remained still watching, trying his best not to blink.

He had been at this post for a month now, he was accustomed to the things that moved below at the edge of the the trees. Birds, snakes, and many animals that moved along the ground.

What was it he had seen, he began to try and remember it. Looked as if something was beginning to emerge from behind one of the tree’s, but then moved back. He had only caught a glimpse of it. He was sure he had seen what looked like a person down there.

“What the hell is keeping you boy? If ya don’t get yer ass down here, I’ll eat your food.”

Erin kept his eyes staring at the spot a few seconds more before his stomach grumbled in protest. With a feeling of defeat he turned away and made his way to the stairs.

All he had that morning was just a piece of bread, his head wasn’t sitting right cause he was hungry, and tired. That was all.

The stairs lead to the base of the wall, where another door lead to another set of stairs leading directly into the barracks through the kitchen area. Erin looked around as he came to the bottom of the steps. It was warm, a small fire in the pit was going, a pot of simmering steaming stew could be seen. Looking around there were hooks for dried vegetables, empty dusted jars where spices were to be stored, and a cabinet pantry where they were supposed to have a supply of dried meats to enjoy with whatever meal they desired.

Each barracks placed every mile was set up this same way. For Erin and his company, the pantry was empty saved for some old droppings from rodents that had vacated long before even he had arrived.

“Lane, when was the last time someone went into the Southern lands?”

“Eh? What’s that boy? Are you some kind of an idiot? It’s been well over ten years. Still shittin yer pants and suckin yer mammas teets I bet you were. You know the story. The only man the kings banished was left to die out there by the grace of our God so that we could be blessed. Now quit yer questions and sit.”

Lane was well into his sixties, what little bit of hair left on his head seemed always covered by his helmet. His face was brown from exposure to the sun, and wrinkled. He was always in a bad mood, but for some reason he was quick to yell and complain today, as if something were bothering him.

Erin grabbed his bowl and sat down in his chair, leaving the spoon. The soup was more water with a few shredded cabbage leaves in it. He could drink it more than get anything solid from it.

Erin grew up on a farm miles away from the wall. His families farm had been on the verge of being lost when the Kings had returned from the Southlands. He could only remember the day as he had been eating an old potato, shriveled up with roots trying to grow from it and a cup of old dingy dirty water. He had been careful to eat around one particularly bad spot as it had grown black, and he knew it would make him sick.

After the Kings had returned, they stopped at any and all towns to place in their declarations. Their true God had seen the suffering of the land. He had sent them an old wise man and a warrior to find the demon in their midsts who had been the cause of their problems. The kings had taken care of him, according to the commands of their God. They were to share only a handful of coin with those who needed it the most to make it through that winter, and it was promised that the following spring, their ground would be fresh and ready for seed.

The kings were not taken seriously, at least, until the people were given about ten gold each.

Sure to their word, somehow, the following Spring when the farmers went out to their fields and began to churn the soil for a new year of crops, they were surprised by the rich blackness mixing with the brown of the earth.

At first no farmer would go to their field to do anything. It wasn’t until riders from the castles had ridden out with word from the Kings for the people to not be afraid. It was proof that they had been given a gift. Churn the soil for three days, they were told, then bed the seed.

Erin shook his head, he had spent a good few minutes just staring into his bowl partially raised to his mouth.

He finished lifting the bowl to his lips and began to drink the soup.

“Hey, Erin, we need you off the wall today. You’ll be doing the three hour walk from now on.”

Erin lowered the bowl, mouth still full of cabbage flavored water. He swallowed it carefully so as not to choke.

The three hour walk was exactly what its name described it. Thing was, it was always tough to find someone willing to do it. It always broke down to the older soldiers fighting and arguing to try and get one or another to do it. Usually it came to none doing it at all.

The duty of the job entailed a soldier going out on the Southern side of the wall and walking along there, checking everything that may bring up something suspicious before compiling the report to memory and presenting it to the captain of the guard after three hours of constant inspection. In addition, it was also to check the wall itself for any potential weaknesses, broken stones, weather, age, or what have you.

“Alright, I’ll go right after I finish this lunch. I thank you for the meal.”

“What? You… Uh, yeah sure that’s… that’s fine.”

Lane seemed completely taken of guard by Erin accepting his new duty.

There was no company leader, so the older soldiers just did whatever they wanted and usually put the younger, or new recruits through hell to do all the work for them.

One of the worst parts soldiers said about the walk, was the potential to get attacked by a creature and dragged away never to be heard from again. That or to get bit by a serpent. There was nothing to treat a venomous bite, or even a fever.

This was the farthest thing from Erins’ mind, though. His mind as he went back to finishing his soup was on the shadow he had thought he had seen.

The fog was completely gone by the time Erin got outside. There was a single small door, hidden in the wall. What helped it to hide was the fact that none had used it in a few years. The cracks of the door were actually completely covered with moss.

Erin had not expected the door to be heavy. From the inside the door was just a large wooden door with iron clasps and hinges. From this side, the door blended in with the wall so well because it was set with an additional, though thinner layer of stone similar to the rest of the wall itself.

Erin took a minute to use a stick and scrap away some of the moss that had grown up along the wall and door. He wasn’t permitted to leave it open on the walk, no one wanted a random animal or anything to get in.

He didn’t want to forget where the door was, because as he thought, when he closed the door, aside from the streaks of smeared green fungus he almost couldn’t tell where the door was. Even the release from this side to get in was hidden in a small hole in a single stone.

Turning, Erin looked around. His shifted his shoulders, the weight of the additional armor and sword felt uncomfortable. He was grateful the old codger Lane wasn’t being a complete ass, despite the foul mood he had been in.

He had told Erin he didn’t want to be responsible for something happening to the kid if he didn’t at the very least let him go out armed.

The sound of the armor hitting against itself as he moved was annoying. How was he supposed to hear something if his armor made more sound than he did when he walked. Not even that, if there was someone or something out here, it would know he was coming.

Erin took his time walking down along the wall, trying to inspect it. He couldn’t be sure what was actually something worth reporting as almost every part of the base of the wall and close to his height was covered in some sort of plant over growth. Grass, weeds, moss, creeping vines, and even a few small trees seemed to have taken root and begun to grow.

Erin made a mental note, at the very least it didn’t take a genius to figure out trees growing roots in the dirt reaching under the wall was bad. He looked up the wall to the top, trying to pinpoint where he had been standing before.

He circled around the space for a little bit, before he felt he was about where he had seen the shadow before. Looking around he couldn’t see much of anything, until he started around the tree.

Despite how dark it was under the thick canopy, there were small shafts of sunlight that cam through in areas. Right at the tree he spotted a footprint, and something that looked as if it had been dragged in the dirt.

With a grunt, Erin tried to move so that he could kneel down and get a better look, but the size and coverage of his armor didn’t exactly allow it to be done comfortably.

With a grunt of frustration, he looked along the ground stepping over the roots of the tree and making sure not to damage the place he had found.

A short distance and all that was left to see was just the drag mark. Erin felt confused, but definitely wanted to make a note of this.

At that moment, he heard a hiss near his ear and looked up to his left.

Falling back with a startled cry Erin saw a thin green snake hanging from a branch. Stepping back, and away from the tree, a longer look helped him to realize that was not a branch, but the snakes body wrapped around it, along with a few feathers sticking out here and there.

He turned and quickly moved back to the wall where he caught his breathe. He thought he was going to be attacked by something venomous. In truth, he guessed, he was disturbing a constrictor of sorts while it was busy preparing for a meal.

With a final look back, Erin decided he was done with his investigation. He made his way back to the scraped moss and searched for the hole. He was able to slip a finger in and carefully pull at the hinge. Once it was far enough that it was sticking out of the hole, he grabbed it, pulled it back releasing the door and pulled it open.

“Eh, what’s this, back after barely an hours time?”

Lane was already coming down from the top of the wall when Erin entered.

“Snake.”

Lane took a long look at Erins pale face and nodded.

“Come on then, got something to help ya forget all bout that. Once you get a little more comfortable, you can tell ol’ Lane all about what happened.” With a gruff laugh, the old soldier led Erin into the kitchen and had him remove the armor and sword.

After that, Lane shoved a clear vial into Erins hands with what looked to be water inside it.

He popped off the old brown cork and downed a mouthful of something bitter, and immediately regretted it.

Coughing, he handed it back to Lane who watched with a peculiar gleam in his eyes.

“Ugh, what is that stuff? I canf pheel mah tung.” Erin shook his head as his throat was assaulted by what could only be described as fire. His eyes watered, and his face suddenly flushed and he coughed for a bit before he was able to breathe.

“Ah, this stuff? My best firewater. You ain’t lookin so bad now, eh boy?” With a laugh, Lane slapped Erin on the shoulder before he took a small quick sip. He could feel the heat rising, but he knew how to handle this kind of drink as he had been taking to it for decades.

“So, tell me what happened that got you so shook up. Wasn’t a woman in white floating, was it? Hah! I remember when I was a lad the old geezers I had to look up to used to tell me all sorts of tales about her in these places.”

Erin shuddered involuntarily, the air suddenly feeling as if it was cold. He waved for the drink again to chase it away before he began to tell Lane everything he had seen from when he was up on the wall, to just coming in.

Outside, a green snake was busy dislocating its jaw as it began to move its head between it’s coils that were slowly loosening. Its mouth, filled with two long rows of tiny teeth clamped down just past a beak. It worked slowly, moving one side of its mouth then the other as it slowly pulled in its meal.

(/\/\*,_,*/\/)

Above from somewhere farther South there seemed a storm cloud was building.

Growing larger and darker, a few flashes of lightning could be seen in the darkest part.

That night it came upon the wall suddenly, like a wave crashing against a cliff face.
The trees were suddenly emptied of all animals, but between their trunks were forms moving about. They gathered and waited, eyes glowing in the darkness.

Further East of the wall, the first night patrol had been lazy when they noticed the cold chill. Looking out they saw the storm and felt the wind, not that of a cold storm that brought whipping rain beating down on you, no it was like the cold breath of death.

Screams and calls echoed out into the night as bodies rushed forward, clinging to the wall and climbed. Men rushed to the tops of towers where there were still some and grabbed the logs of fires and began beating the bells hung in the tops.

They were quickly silenced as those that had been crawling up the walls rushed the last few feet and found their way in.

Men in confusion stared into darkness beside their beds, grabbing the closest solid objects and swinging against anything that moved, so frightened were they.

As the night wore on, men fell to creatures, or their own mates in confusion and blind fear.

Among them was one tall, imposing form that made it’s way to one spot of the wall.

Even without light of day, or light of the moon or stars, he was still able to see the scraped away moss and the hole.

Without wasting time he placed his fingers within it and felt around until he found what he sought. Pulling the switch back he opened the door and entered, many of those of the night right on his heels.

Lane and Erin were passed out ion a drunken stupor. It wasn’t long for them to be killed with their throats exposed as they were.

Turning the figure looked to the fire, his features were that of a man, but his skin was pale and cold. His eyes glowed crimson as his hair, the creatures that were behind him, barely lit by the light of the fire were no longer really humans. Their skin had long since rotted, hair mixed with vines of things growing from within their skulls.

Despite this, he seemed capable of maintaining control over them.

“Go, this wall will no longer be a testament to keep things out, but mark it as a tomb of death.” Instantly the creatures shambles away to do what they were told.

Alone, the man knelt down, still facing the fire.

There within it he could just make out something. A vast chamber, where a woman was held in chains, filthy, parts of her body bare and exposed.

He didn’t know who she was, nor did he understand why this vision burned his rage so.

Without a second thought he thrust one fist into the fire, grabbing at the white burning logs, turning them into the ash. Sparks flew up, a fresh wave of heat leapt at him, and he could feel the pain of the fire searing his flesh. He fought to remain quiet, but he could not last long.

Removing his arm from the fire, he let out a loud blood curdling scream, that sent any nearest to hear the pain and anger fleeing.

Chapter 3

The room was lit with the glow of a single candle, a lone man with his head down on an arm slept at a table, softly snoring.

The light of the candle wavered at the soft breeze of the door opening, and once more as it closed softly. The orange light could not reach very far, but it did reach as far as some books on the middle shelves close by the table.

The woman looked down at the man, unsure of what to do, that is until she saw something just under his free arm. He still held a slim chunk of hard charcoal, as he often complained about his lack of skill with a quill.

For a man who claimed he could read and write he was about as bad as a child.

It didn’t take much to remove the book to take a look. She knelt down near the candle to read and began to slowly turn the pages.

There was a mix of both his language and hers. She tilted the front cover and let the pages flip to the beginning where she began to once more flip through. The first few pages were in his language, the marks felt similar to what she knew of hers, but overly simplified.

She could also see that he had taken time to write out sentences as if practicing, phrases she didn’t understand but could read.

It wasn’t until a good number of pages that the mix of the two languages seemed to balance out.

Day whatever,

I know I’ve been here for over a month, but I’ve had to focus on constantly moving about trying to find a place stable enough. I can’t even begin to figure where to start, my mind feels jumbled by everything.

I know, when I first came here I couldn’t remember much of anything. I moved without really having control, like I was compelled by something. The feeling didn’t last long, and I was also able to remember things. The problem has been like I’ve been assailed with a wave of things.

I find myself with headaches from time to time, and easily disoriented. I find myself dependent in a way on a child who is native to this place, this world. I at first thought to just help her find someplace where she could get help, but the culture and living of the people here seem to be like renaissance or maybe a bit before? I can’t really tell.

So, finding a place for her isn’t really very possible. Something about the people here I don’t feel any kind of connection or trust to.

For now, I suppose I just have to act like I am her father, as that has been the lie that has worked so far.

I suppose it’s good practice.

Right. I do need to keep in mind no matter what happens, I have to find my way home, or preferably, back to the world I was supposed to go to. I have to get back to Sonata, Aria, and Adagio. One of the last things was meeting with this teenager outside of a high school in the middle of the night. She had promised us safety since the Sirens had lost their powers and were not seen as a threat.

That in of itself is a long story and my head is beginning to hurt just trying to think about it.

I’ll have to wait until the headache has passed and try to write more-

The woman looked up, seeing the candle flame beginning to flicker. The candle was low and had built up enough liquid wax that it was threatening to go out. She reached over and tilted it slightly to pour out some of the wax into it’s holder.

“Getting a good read in, Whisper?”

“A thief caught red handed. I am ashamed of myself.” Closing the book, Whisper set it down on the table and slid it over to Max.

Max wiped his eyes before looking down at the book and leaned back in his chair.

“If you were curious, you could have just asked.”

“Funny, I have asked about your past. I thought you were making a joke when you said you weren’t from this world. Then after that you just refused to say anymore.” Whisper looked up at Max, and waited.

“Yeah, it was enough proof that I didn’t need to say anymore. So, what, you read my diary and suddenly you believe me?”

Whisper sucked her bottom lip and idly nibbled on it. “Well, I don’t know about that. There is certainly more to you than I thought. I’m still curious as to why you adamantly refuse to kill. Something tells me you know the feeling.”

Max seemed to refuse to meet her gaze.

“You’re going to hide it now? Fine with me,” She said with a smile, “I’ll see it as a game and go looking for it.” Whisper said with a devious smile as she eyed the book.

“Please don’t.” Max said simply as he stood up. “What time is it?”

“Night time. The sun will be up at some point, probably soon.”

Max stretched out as best as he could before turning back to Whisper, “Any work?”

“For the guild or the docks?”

“What do you think? I’m asking about both.” Max was beginning to get annoyed.

Whisper frowned, she enjoyed teasing people, but Max was one she couldn’t get to, not without putting him on edge. There was something in his book about it, and she wanted to know more.

“If you want a day off, you have it. This whole weekend there is some sort of last minute festival, the king will be addressing the whole town throughout the weekend. He has halted all work, even trade coming and going. I’m starting to wonder what’s going on.”

“Doesn’t sound like a day off to me.” Max returned.

“No, I only need to get some information. I can take care of that, even if I needed help, we have more than enough people.”

“I’ll see you then. Thank you.” Max left the room, quietly closing the door.

Whisper looked around the room as the candle once more began to flicker. The room was small, the table was set off to the side of the center of the room. It was positioned close to the bookshelves, but still with enough room to move the only two chairs around the table. The bookshelves were not very thick, but reached from floor to ceiling in a ‘L’ shape in one corner of the room. On the other side of the room was a portrait of a young girl sitting next to an slightly older woman in a dress. Beside the portrait was the only window with a small chest beneath it.

Shuddering suddenly, whisper stood and approached the window. Beyond she could see nothing but dark shapes of buildings in the distance.

As if subconsciously, Whisper reached a hand up and began to play with the end of some of her hair. Twisting and twirling the blonde locks around a finger. Her eyes flashed with memories of her past, of the last time she was with her mother, and the last time her father was sane.

Max opened the door to the library before moving to shut and lock the door. He turned to the small table where a small lone candle sat. He took a minute to spark a light before picking up the candle and walking to the back of the library.

There he opened a gate to restricted books, closed and locked it as well and made his way further back. The smell of age old knowledge no longer touched filled the air. The air felt oppressive, but Max was used to it. Finally at the back of the area he turned left to a small bust.

He pressed a finger under the chin and opened a hidden passage. The light of the candle revealed a set of stairs going down. With only the slightest hesitation, and one hand against the circular wall surrounding the stairs going down, Max made his way into the depths of the building.

After a couple of minutes of walking, Max reached the bottom of the stairs where he faced a small alcove with a wooden door, one of fine material and well kept.

Opening the door, Max was faced with light almost as bright as the sun Before him was a field of flowers and grass. Brick and stone structures were scattered about.

A single cobbled path lead from the door straight ahead to a fountain where it circled and split into three additional paths. Max blew the flame of the candle out before setting the candle down just on the other side of the door before setting forward on the path.

Max walked past the fountain and headed down the nearest path to his left and continued on past a row of yellow flowers and up to a building.

Max sighed as he continued on inside and down a hallway of doors.

Passing through the area the mages set up was annoying to him as it seemed like he walked so far for a simple bed. Though, one thing Max did not want to do was to let them know how fascinated he was with what they could do.

Since he was a child he was always fascinated with all things that was a part of the worlds of fantasy. He always adored characters who could use magic, yet after a long time he began to no longer see magic the same.

Once he came to see everything here among the mages, he could almost feel that old feeling again. The only problem was a lone voice in his mind that kept telling him it couldn’t be real. All of this had to be some sort of dream or fantasy he had made up himself. Because of this, Max kept as quiet as he could.

Before he went to his room he stopped one door away and quietly opened it and peered inside. There in the bed he could make out a small lump. He knew it was Tamrie, sleeping, but he stepped inside and looked over her sleeping form to make sure everything was well with her.

Max didn’t even realize the change that came over him as he peered down at Tamrie. The tension reflected in his face that he felt throughout his whole body eased, the months of confusion and anger that hung like a dark storm in his mind cleared, and in truth he appeared happy, almost, fatherly as he looked after this child he was beginning to feel was like his very own.

Max smiled as he laid a hand on her shoulder, he was happy to have some time of to spend with Tamrie. He had a few things planned out, he felt Tamrie would be overjoyed with the next day.

Helping, protecting someone, it was a strange feeling, and it wasn’t often he experienced it, but it felt good, it felt right.

“So, where are we going?” Tamrie asked once again, “Are we going to study more?”

“No, I was planning on us taking a break. You’ve been doing very well with your schooling, at least the librarians say so.”

“Okay, but what are we going to do?” Tamrie asked, her mind seemingly insatiably curious.

“You will see.”

“That’s not an answer!~” She sung out.

Max laughed as he turned a corner and came up to double doors.

Sandra made her way through the hallway, her lips moving as she breathlessly grumbled. There was someone in her kitchen. Max had said he was going to cook something and be done. But she had not seen him in well over an hour.

As she turned a corner she could hear laughter and noises, and what sounded like a little girl screaming. As she approached the doors to her kitchen she saw a small opening between the doors and a cloud of something flowing out.

Furiously throwing open the doors, she could see clouds of flour scattered about and Max and Tamrie covered in white flour as well. A bowl overturned and dishes piled in the sink. A lump of slowly rising dough on the counter was about to spill over the edge.

“What in the Hell is going on to my kitchen!?”

Max and Tamrie froze, lumps of flour sifting through their fingers as they turned as one to face the woman at the entrance.

Max did his best to hide his caught red handed grin. A feat Tamrie was failing at completely.

Though seeing the woman there for the few seconds as she slowly turned her head from one side of the room to the other, he could see the twitching of one of her eyes.

“Get out.” She whispered.

“Sandra, right? Uh, look, I’m sorry about all of this. I can clean, er, WE can clean-”

“Get out or I will kill you.”

“Right.” Max turned and scooped Tamrie up in his arms, and headed for the door.

Tamrie couldn’t help but to squeal with laughter. Max didn’t have the energy or time to try and quiet her, he just did his best to rush out of the kitchen without them getting attacked by Sandra on the way out.

After they had left, Sandra simply fell to her knees, her lips quivering as tears began to leak from her eyes. The only sound that broke the silence aside from her fighting her throaty cries was the sickening slap of the still wet dough as gravity finally won.

From the window of the second story house, Whisper watched the crowd gathering in the square down below. There was still several hours before the King would appear and give his speech.

She had been there since mid morning. She had gotten some sleep after her talk with Max before making her way around giving her instructions to those she wanted to gather what she wanted to know. Her attention turned to a group of birds sitting across the way on another roof when she heard a knock.

“Come in.” She called out clearly.

The door opened and in came a young man in tattered and dirty garb, his hair was cut short, but looked like it was growing out and looked like spikes. His eyes were a dark brown, many said looked black, his face was unshaven and his body was lean and thin.

At a simple glimpse he looked like any other beggar on the streets, but he was much more.

“Eclipse, I wasn’t expecting a report from you, but please, go ahead.” Whisper turned her head to appear as if she was paying attention to the crowd once more.

“Well, we all got about the same answer, and it’s not something the King is exactly hiding. What took so long was trying to make sure the information was authentic.” Eclipse scratched at his head, his brow furrowing in frustration as he thought things over.

“Go on.”

“The King is setting up more than just a festival, his announcement will be at dusk. There is another country across the ocean that has been over run by dark magic and corruption. There is also word of magic and treasure waiting to be plucked. The King is giving an open invitation to anyone that wants to go.”

“And what does our good King want in return?” Whisper asked to get Eclipse to the point.

“Any treasure brought back will have taxes added to it. The King will promise it won’t be much, but…”

“But that can change at any point in time. Anything else?”

“The reason the Docks have been taken up, we will be busy over the next month building ships. The king plans on sending a group of soldiers and supplies to a safe area to build a port town. Construction workers are already being called in to begin planning and preparation. Word is, you and your father will also be getting called in shortly.”

“Of course, because of our majority ownership of the docks and business there. Well, he certainly is getting our attention since he made all of our businesses close down for the whole time. He wants us to understand how prosperous this endeavor will be if we agree. Looks like I will need to call in a few people for help.” Whsiper went silent as she quickly began to work out what she could do to prepare for this task. “Get the veterans together, I need an updated list of everything we have currently, an estimation of what we might need based on what we know. Let’s see if we can get first dibs on shipwrights, carpenters, and others. I don’t care if we have to call in a few favors.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“There is more going on here, and things are changing. I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to stay on top of this.” Whisper said to herself once she was alone.