Spirits of the Earth

@Eckhart_Von_Musel

Zantaric's northern bridge saw little use. It expanded over a brackish swamp and into the scrubby forest beyond. Two scruffy boys sat atop the rails, trying to spot crocodiles. They'd been given a day's break from their chores. It was noon, now, and boredom had settled in. "If you want to play marbles again you'll have to lend me some more. You keep winning them all." Ewan, who was smaller and with a shaved head, fished through his pockets. Three copper coins and a stone disc with an eye. "I don't really have much money left."

"We could go hunting for frogs? Armwrestle? Or we hunt for frogs, I make a little potion for us to slip in Joan's next drink, and she's got slimy green skin for a week? She does deserve it. Sometimes anyway" An impish smirk crossed the little wizard's face, along with a twinge of guilt. "I guess I'm supposed to set a good example for you and all. But you're only this age once, unless you're like me, and a little harmless mischief is natural."

"That or maybe Eckhart will give us some money. Hardly seems fair to get two coppers a week." Ewan was slowly coming to accept he was definitely the lowest ranked among the "Friends", and that the gang had little interest in whatever magic he claimed to possess.

***

Three figures on horseback clopped down the backwood trails of the Blackweald. A pretty young man atop a white horse lead them. Thick mod and prickervines had covered much of the path, and it was slow going. There had been a scuffle at the west gate between a gang and some Duhjari slavers, and they had no choice but to go the long way.

"How do you suppose we'll even find Sarah in this place? As far as I can tell there isn't even a King I could have lunch with. Though would I want to have lunch with him? The entire thing makes me think of cucumber sandwiches with some wrinkly old man. Then again you've got to figure the ruler of a City like this would be more interesting than that. Though this is all hypothetical..." He sighed sharply, not liking the butterflies in his stomach. "And what to say when I do find her?"

"Tell me where to find Basil." Xamuu heaved a shrug of his thick shoulders. Only an enormous draft horse could bear his weight.

"I think she is bound to be a little sore over, I don't know, being banished from the family?" he squirmed, stretching his neck. "That is the problem. Seems a bit rude. And I just don't think she would take Basil."

"You did not banish her. You were younger then. She is older now."

"Oh well. We'll make something up when we arrive." It was important to seem confident and easy in front of men. Of course, the stakes here were enormous. His gaze turned to the crumbling walls and labyrinth of mismatched towers and rooftops beyond. "Finding her should be our real worry. When smelly toothless beggars see people like us they're going to get jealous; try and turn us around. Its a sad state of affairs Xamuu, but what can you do really?"

Through the vegetation the Kishahni man spied a crumbly old bridge over a swamp and two small figures perched atop it. "They have teeth still, I think. I do not know about the smell."

"Hmmm... Maybe..."

Randal pursed his lips, peering over the bridge and into the murky water below. Everything had been a blast since Ewan came to Zantaric, but Randal was running out of cool things to show him. They'd been in the catacombs, visited the creepy antique shop, gotten lost in Porcelina's artwork, and played more games of marbles than you'd think was possible. What was left that they hadn't done yet?

"I know!" he said finally, springing to his feet. "We could go looking for Something in the woods! Taza won't let me go by myself, but I bet if we asked Joan or Griselda they'd take-"

The sound of horseshoes on dirt could be heard feintly through the bracket, just barely audible over the crows who often gathered there. Randal froze, then slowly lowered himself so he was half hidden behind the bridge's crumbling guardrail. "Do you hear that?" he hissed at Ewan. "Nobody ever uses this road! That's why Taza let's us come here without someone to watch us!"

The boy bit his lower lip nervously. "We should hide."

"Something in the Woods? You think they'd let you?" his face lit up. "Wonder if we could get her to turn into something cool. I wonder how it even knows if its never seen the person? Oh we've got to try! I've always wanted to see!"

Ewan did not give the trio a second thought at first. Zantaric was filled with terrible people, most of whom paid them little mind. The little wizard was certain he still had enough magic to change into a small dragon, finish one of them with fire, spook the horses, and take down the other. If they were unfriendly. If he wanted to. Probably? But there was a palpable fear in Randal's eyes still. Maybe it wasn't the time to prove anything. The kid did need looking after.

"Oh fu- frog poop, come on!" There was no way to get back to the City without being spotted. The boys scrambled to the edge of the bridge. On the other side of the rail was a small ledge, wide enough to catch dropped objects and allow maintenance. They scaled the wall and sat in silence, poised for the sound of hoofbeats.

***

The trio of horses and dog zig-zagged through the swamp and up to the old bridge. Sage had his broadsword, Xamuu his painted spear, and Iain's hackles raised on account of the many slitted crocodile eyes watching their march.

"I guess we scared them off." The long bridge into the city was empty. Either the boys were fast or invisible to have vanished. "I don't think I've ever scared anyone off before. Usually the children chase me for card-playing tips, the women for a kiss, the men for some scraps of glory. Or maybe more than that. I always say it's annoying. But this? This I don't like." He mussed his silvery hair with a sigh of discontent. It fell right back into place.

"A cruel city. The children of Kishahn flee strangers like squirrels, too. These people know no gods." Xamuu's own people had warred much with tribes of the deeper jungles. They were short lived peoples grasping at whatever they could while they could. No priests or Faces who cared for the future. Pitiful.

While they chatted Sage could not help but feel butterflies in his stomach. A sort of primal thrill. "Xamuu there is definitely an aura here. I'd like to find it. Tell me if I'm doing this wrong-" Sage dismounted and touched his palm to the stone. The masonry twisted and roiled as if it were a bowl of soup, forming the face of a very old and very cranky man. "Hello? Bridge? Were there two children on you some moment ago? Sorcerous ones?" Just how do you talk to a bridge you just woke up?

"Ah..." the stone face clenched his jaw, yawning. The entire bridge began to shake and tremble ever-so-slightly, as if alive and breathing. It stood strong. "Sorcery? Mm?

"And children? Yes I feel them. I do not know why I should tell you. Why don't you give me a hand, mm? Put some some of my bricks back? Scrape some moss..."

Randal dashed after Ewan, hiding himself under the ledge. The soft clopping of hoofbeats grew louder, only stopping when they were just above the two boys. Randal's breathing grew sharp as a soft male voice began to speak, followed by a deeper baritone. Were they being followed? The young dealer's mind raced. These men must be working for the Dwarven hero! Why else would they be searching for him and Ewan?

Suddenly the bridge itself began to rumble as a third voice joined them. Randal's swallowed nervously. "The bridge is talking? But..." he thought in a panic. "But we're still on the bridge! He'll rat us out for sure!"


The boy narrowed his eyes. Slowly he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small yellow pill. Making a shushing gesture at the child next to him, he put the pill in his mouth, resting his hand on the stone masonry as he did so. He swallowed, and his eyes began to glow a rainbow of colors. "The bridge can't answer questions if it's on a datura trip..."

"Very well. You'll soon be the finest bridge in all of Zantaric." Sage clapped his hands, and a small army of white gloves materialized and set to scrubbing and polishing the stonework. It did not work miracles, of course, but loose stones were put to order and particularly brazen patches of moss apprehended. "How does that feel?"

The stone face of the bridge chirped in reply, sounding a good less tired. "Very good! Very good! Such fine white hands you have. And so many! Perhaps I could make some too? Oh ho ho! Why don't we find out!" The bridge began to tremble and gyrate, its face contorted in anger as it attempted to move whatever constituted its arms and legs. "Oh. I don't have them. But oh! Oh! Is this what dancing is? I had always wondered..."

"Xamuu? Usually I just place my hand here, whisper some complements and a charming hello, and it wakes up nice and friendly. This one does not seem very lucid. Now granted he has been stuck here, unloved, and utterly alone for many years. But I've managed just fine with rocks out in the forest. Did I- did I do it properly?" Sage frowned, voice turning small and plaintive with worry. He never-ever-ever got a spell wrong. His replication of magic was always flawless, an improvement upon what was.   

A frown creased Xamuu's chiseled features. He vaulted to the ground, rattling his many jewels and ornaments. "Sometimes they go bad. The stone remembers even before it awakens. We should put this to rest." It was best not to elaborate. Once he awoke a particularly bloody altar of sacrifice. The thing howled and roared and pulled itself from the ground. "You must force it still." He motioned Sage to his side, placing his hands on either side of the stone face to stop it speaking. It was giggling and making dog-noises now.

***

It was the strangest possible time to be eating candy, but then again Randal was a strange boy. Ewan was more concerned with how they might drop down to the moat and avoid crocodiles. But then the junior florist's eyes began to shimmer with a rainbow of light. What did he just eat?! Ewan rushed to pin him to the retaining wall, to stop him tumbling off. Knowing Taza and Randal it was some strange poison but why? They huddled in silence. And then the bridge started to talk.

It turned into a smile, though, when the bridge tried to dance. "How did you-? Oh nevermind!" Slowly they crawled along the retaining wall toward the wood. Safest thing to do would be doubling back.

***

As the young men tried to coax sense from the animate bridge, Sirala grew bored of orbiting Sage. The human-faced jelly, encased in a bubble of water, floated off to find the boys on her own. She was just a little bit indignant no one asked her help on the matter. And there they were! Silent as an owl she hovered closer...

"Nailed it!"

Satisfied with the results of his power, Randal hastily began to follow Ewan towards the forest. It was a difficult task- the bridge's attempts at dancing felt like an earthquake, and both boys were nearly thrown off more than once- but after a few seconds they managed to make it off safely.

Grabbing his Friend's hand, Randal would lead Ewan into the brush. "I gave it a datura trip!" he hissed, trying to make it as far from the bridge as possible. "I don't know how they brought it to life, but the bridge won't be safe to cross for at least a day now..."

Ewan's eyes widened with delight at the dancing bridge. "You did not tell me you could do that!" The boy lingered some to watch Randal's fantastic distraction, before being tugged deeper into the marsh. They padded along the muddy road and away from the trio of strange sorcerers. Their getaway was nearly complete when a torrent of brackish water rose from the swamp and knocked them over. For what felt an eternity they were submerged, paddling through a mess of mud, rotted cattails, and squirming mosquito pupae. They swam and swam and never reached the top!

And the reason soon became clear. Ewan and Randal were encased in a floating bubble of water, flying right back toward the bridge. Behind them a jelly-fish, with an almost human-like face, bobbed through the air with unbridled glee.

***

Starshine and the other horse's had bolted from the rocking bridge. Only Sage and Xamuu remained, frantically trying to undo the magic. "Get these itsy bitsy spiders off of me! Off! Off! Off!" the animated bridge shrieked.

"Yes, Stone Man. They are squashed. It is time to sleep! For bed!" Xamuu laid his calloused hands on the stone face, trying to put the stone back to sleep. No one ever put the Stone to sleep. It was their decision alone to stop speaking. Xamuu knew now it was that magic faded with time, but it still seemed cruel to snatch their intellect away.

"So much trouble for simple directions. I hope the entire City isn't going to be this way. Wait! I've got it!" And with that he picked up a loose brick, laying one hand upon the face.The young lord could feel the prickle of magic re-entering his body. The fleeting sensation was truly wonderful. It mixed the warmth of hugging a friend, the thrill of combat, the majesty of standing atop a mountain. Nothing came close. Slowly but surely the Stone Face grew quiet, turning smooth, while the bridge ceased its rumbles. Now it was the bridge who had the face, laughing and wriggling.


***

Was she trying to capture them? Drown them? It was not ending this way. Their panicked flailing was achieving nothing. But there was only so much water... with the last bit of air in his lungs he uttered a spell.  Green scales erupted from the boy's skin, and arms shrank into a serpentine body. Ewan's new bulk shattered the sphere of water, sending the basilisk and Randal tumbling to earth. It hissed, sending a jet of toxic vapor toward the jelly. She shrieked in pain, darting back to Sage and Xamuu. The Kishahni man hefted a golden shield from his back, gaze narrowed...

"We just wanted directions, really. We're not going to hurt you." Sage stepped from the bridge. beckoning Sirala closer. It was hard to tell if she was in a mood, or simply did not grasp that Sage wanted directions and not drowned urchins. "And Sirala is sorry. She was worried about the crocodiles. But I think you can take care of yourselves. Quite impressive, really..."

Ewan coiled himself into striking position, spreading his frills. This magic would soon fade. If they needed to fight this man it would have to be now. It was nice to feel strong for a change, too.

"Trade secret!" Randal whispered as he pulled his friend further down the path. "If I told you everything, I'd- whoah!"

The muddly water from the nearby bog had moved all at once, scooping the boys up effortlessly. Randal's lungs strained as he tried to hold his breath, panic growing inside him. The water was salty, and stung his eyes. Were they heading back towards the bridge? It was hard to tell, and Randal was beginning to feel his consciousness slip away...


There was another spash, and the boy felt himself landing in the mud. The boy coughed up water, fresh air reaching his lungs. One of the men from the bridge was saying something, but the boy's ears were ringing and he couldn't quite make it out. He looked up groggily, still weezing. Had the big snake rescued them?  Where was Ewan? Everything was still spinning...

Ewan's mind raced. if they'd given him a proper staff like he'd been whining for for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks this would be easy! Ewan's Fungoid Friendship could have infested the big one with the spear and made him a murderously loyal drone, or Morrigan's Mangling Maw could have just eaten them all. Sadly, being a big snake would have to do. The wizard's slitted eyes darted to their trio of assailants. The big one? The pretty one? A second jet of venom arced toward the bobbing jellyfish. And with a shriek she fell from the air like a rock; turned to stone. The basilisk wasted no time and lunged at his white-haired assailant.

Sage shut his eyes. He could feel the strands of magic around him, all knotted up and into spells. Untangling them, or making alterations, was a bit like solving a mathematical problem in your head. The handsome heir was well practiced. And with that the snake transformed into a small boy in a dragon costume, who promptly fell into the muck. "Boys! I am sorry we've gotten off on the wrong foot. Someone is going to get very hurt, or dead, if we don't stop this!" Eyes never leaving Randal, Sage scooped Sirala from the water. She was petrified. Thank Myyla that sort of thing was reversible, usually.

Xamuu had fished the shape-changer from the water, and the squirming boy was now in a tight headlock. With his spell diverted to turn his clothing into a costume there was no threat. His dark haired companion, meanwhile, was looking quite frightened and disoriented. At least he was not trying to kill them, or run off into crocodiles. "Why don't we start with names? I'm Sage Whitechalk. Do you need help getting up?" The young man gave Randal a smile, as if the scuffle had never happened.

It was all going horribly wrong. The snake turned out to be Ewan, who was quickly felled by some strange spell. The big man soon had his Friend in a headlock, and Randal's mind raced to try and find a way out. They couldn't just lose here! The boy slowly pushed himself up, only pausing when he saw the smaller man looking at him...


Randal's eyes widened, then narrowed. Wasn't that Sarah's last name? He pushed himself away from the man, silently placing his hand in his pocket. "No pills left? Drat!" The boy wrinkled his nose. "My name is Nigel Ironboot." he lied. "Nobody uses this road, like... ever. What do you want?"

Ewan was exhausted from his last feet of magic, and the Kishani had a tight grip. He flashed Randal a smile of encouragement at the lie. At least the boy had hits wits about him.

"I'm utterly charmed, Mister Ironboot." Sage bent down to extend a hand. "My friends and I were looking for a way into the City. The main gate is blocked. There's rubble everywhere, a dead ogre, panicked horses. I suppose if I had the time I'd fix it all myself, but I don't really know anyone here and I'm in a bit of a hurry to see my cousin. Her name is Sarah Whitechalk. Perhaps you might see a bit of a resemblance? Her hair is a little more gold then silver?" He brushed whisky bangs from his eyes.

It was completely amateur, really. Transmutating a shapechange spell like Ewan's was entirely pointless in most wizard duels. It might buy a few moments time and Ewan could always change again. That was the beauty of it, really, constant adaption! The stupid idiot just got lucky Ewan was missing the proper tools. "From this angle it looks more gray- guh!" Ewan mumbled ruefully, yelping in pain.

"No magic and no talking. Not unless you promise to be good. And if you are not..." Xamuu tightened his grip. The trickster spirits of Serendipity were no different from the great cats of Kishahn. They simply required a strong hand, and an understanding of their inevitable defeat.

"Wise and clear-minded as ever Xamuu. But we're all friends now. And they are only children." He looked at Sirala again with a worried frown. It might have been so much worse. "This should not be much different than bringing stone to life... right?"

Randal glanced at Ewan, wincing as the big man tightened his grip. The giant almost looked like Griselda- just shorter and without the wings. He wasn't any less scary, though, and Randal could feel his heart running laps in his chest. He swallowed nervously, looking back at the white-haired man. He kept his hand in his pocket, balling it into a fist. "Sarah always says we're her family..."

"I don't think I've heard that name before." he said, trying to fein uncertainty. "You could, uh... Ask around town?"

"We gotta find her before he does!"

Sage took a purse of coin from his belt, tossed it into the air, and caught it. "If you know the way into the City, and to a good tavern, my friends and I will be in your debt. We'll do what we can to make it worth your while..."

"Well, I'm glad your friend is alright. But is this going to wear off? I only have the one tunic..." Red-faced, and now dressed in a green smock and crude dragon-mask, Ewan sidled beside his friend. The young man did look like Sarah, and it seemed to add up, but Randal seemed cagey about it. The boy's safety was more his concern than whatever family intrigue was afoot. Losing their captors at the nearest tavern seemed the most sensible thing.

"Oh. Whenever I care to reverse it. But I think its quite fetching really. You with your little costume. Me with my pretty silver hair. Don't you agree?" he flashed a smile. Not everyone was well-suited for power, but Sage figured he was. A lesser man might have beat or killed them for all this trouble. A little wounded pride to put them in their place was all you needed, really. "Now what do you say, Mister Ironboot? Do we have a deal?"

Randal stared at the man in front of him, barely glancing as his Friend stood next to him. His mouth thinned, and the boy's expression was that of somebody who was in the middle of a rather difficult game of chess. After a few moments, he finally gave a tenative smile. "The best inn is in the south side of town!" he exclaimed. "I can take you there, if you'd like!"

"Please give up and say no!" the boy silently begged. "Just leave!"

"That would be absolutely, positively, magnificent!" Sage smiled and took the reigns of his horse.

The boys lead Sages and his entourage across the bridge. The gate into Zantaric was a heap of rubble, and impassable, but there was a crack in the mortar of a nearby guardtower. It took some coaxing to get the horses through. A single trip through a dusty old barracks and they were in northern ward of Zantaric. "It's charming in a rustic sort of way isn't it? A maze of alleys and cramped houses; a thousand and one mysteries and crime capers playing out at once. It's like something out of a novel!" Sage smiled wistfully at a pair of scarred, ragged men dicing on a stoop. "Lead on, Nigel. But I do have a question for you boys. Something has been on my mind!

"So your little friend can turn himself and into animals. Amusing. But what can you do? Very impressive to see you drive that bridge to madness after Xamuu brought it to life."

Ewan shot a panicked look to Randal, even overlooking Sage's veiled dig. Children gifted in magic were, always, plum targets for slavers. The last two months had proven that much. "I did it. I know a few spells, um, sir. I can change the bodies and minds of living creatures."

"Really now? Because I see a spark in both of you. And it does beg the question why two very talented children are scampering around like ragamuffins. Of course you're not bound to share. I just collect spells. And I've never seen anything like that before."

Randal remained quiet as he led the man and his entourage through the city streets, barely paying attention to what the man was saying. As long as they were in Friends territory, Sarah could be at risk- he had to get them at least as far as the town square before he'd be safe to lose them. "Yeah, we're not bound to." he he said darkly, turning down a small back alley. "That's not a question you should ask around here."

"Just a few more blocks." Randal thought, pace quickening. "Just a few more blocks, and we're in the clear."

"Are you really suggesting I not be myself for fear of some sad little nobodies? That's no way to live. Not for anyone." Sage canted his head, gesturing to a gangly urchin girl with a knife, and a bulbous nosed drunk. Street people always were funny. A few years of poking each other with knives and their tenements and they think they can stand toe to toe with the great and the good. "As for you, kiddo, you lost a fight. That's how it goes, but no one was hurt. You should really cheer up." He clapped his guide on the shoulder with a smile. Less than wide-eyed adoration from everyone was insufferable.

Xamuu grunted as the jelly began to twitch, Ewan's venom finally wearing off. Cities were strange to him still. It was as a jungle, but of people rather than plants. The big man moved slower than his companions, offering stiff smiles and curt greetings to the many-passers by. "Hello.

"It is a fine day.

"You are well, yes?

"It is good the sun rose today."

And so it went. Soon they were on Orgrest Promenade, the intersection of five main thoroughfares and the heart of Zantaric. Its cobbles were long worn away to dirt, and the various Princes of Thieves, Slaver-Kings, and Warlocks in exile could never settle on just who owned the courtyard. A cramped fringe of ragged tents and stalls lined the periphery. Off in the distance Ewan and Randal spied the gables of the 'Gentleman of Lessure' a large, rowdy, and often packed aleness favored by travelers. "So. She drinks here, does she?"

"Haven't lost anything yet." Randal thought, fists clenching. "Just wait..." They were approaching the center of town now, and the most popular bar in the city was within their view...

"I think? I mean she's gotta, right?" Randal said, still pretending he didn't know who Sarah was. "Everybody drinks here, sometimes, I think." He gave the man a slightly frightened look, shuffling backwards a bit. "Can... can we go home now?"

"Well, its a start. My family is very distinct. She won't be that hard to find." Sage peered up at the tavern. It was two stories, filled to the brim with raukus laughter and a haze of pipeweed. A tipsy little man in a pointy hat pranced along its upper-balcony, swinging his flagon to and fro. "Its a good place to start. But would Sarah like this sort of place? We were pretty close as kids, but its been so long she might have changed. I guess you two haven't known that yet. But you'll part ways one day, and meet up again, and really wonder if that man you're seeing is your little friend deep down inside. It's strange."

"People are more like trees. Same stuff inside, you just add rings, if you want to get all philosophical. But I'm pretty sure you know I'm going to look this way forever if you're even a decent mage." The boy cracked a smirk. His face faltered, somewhat, as he looked down. Knobby little knees, nails crusted with dirt, the way he seemed more concerned with playing marbles than magic: maybe he was different now? More likely that Zantaric drew something from him already in existence. But it was a mystery to Ewan as to why he hadn't run off by now, good company as Eckhart or even Randal could be...

Sage was far too busy staring dramatically off into the space to notice or care for the boy's insight. "Young forever? That does sound amusing. But that's hardly the point, I mean the tragedy of the little ways you drift away from people with time...

"Oh! And, yes, you can run along now. But let me give you something for the trouble." Sage produced a pair of golden suns from his purse, and then stopped, probing his pockets in search of something else. It was case deck of cards and a little dog-eared book. Monster Mash! was embossed onto the cover, which depicted a hexagonal playing card with glowering eyes and bat wings. "Gold won't suffice. This is a game children play in Serendipity. I'm quite good at it. I'd teach you, but I suppose you can figure it out."

Randal rolled his eyes. This guy just went on and on and on! Did he ever stop talking?

"Taz- my older Friend says I'm not allowed to play that game." he said, eying the card game suspiciously. "Too much violence, and it promotes gambling." He grabbed Ewan's arm, dragging him away. "Come on, we have to do our chores now..."


"Oh wow! That would look, like, so cute on you Porcelina!"

Sarah Whitechalk peered into a shop window, pointing to a deep violet dress on display. Porcelina Juarez crossed her arms, huffing impatiently. "No. That is not my color." She continued down the street, eye twitching. "Besides, it wouldn't fit anyways."

Sarah shifted on her feet. "Whaaat? It is totally your color!" She moved quickly to catch up to the dwarven woman, a spring in her step. "It'd like, compliment your skin! And you could always, get it hemmed- I bet Tiffany would be happy to do it!"

Porcelina's eye's narrowed, pursing her lips. "Compliment my...." She shot the assassin a funny look, then shook her head. "Look, I'm only in the market for new watercolors. I never said this was going to be a big shopping trip."

Sarah hung her head melodramaticallg. "Fiiiine. If you say so..."

"He does, huh? I guess I used to kind of be like that..." the boy mused as they pattered through the streets, back to the Friends' territory. He cast a glance from Sage back to Randal as they departed. "The card game did look, well, fun."

"And it can't be that bad. Fake monsters isn't that much worse than selling poisons and things..." the little wizard added in a small voice. Randal was surely clever enough to grasp peddling drugs and poisons was not so different from violence, but his friend seemed fiercely loyal where-ever Taza was concerned. He did not hesitate much to tattle on Ewan for accidentally swearing, after all. It was almost concerning how sheltered she had kept him, sometimes. "Sure ya don't want to try?"

***

"Oh... so soft!" a colorfully dressed bar-maid ran her painted fingers through Cody's fur, scritching the back of his neck. The mage-knight couldn't stop his curled tail from wagging. It just felt so good! He was never that pretty before this ill-fated wish. If it won him attention like this, maybe it wasn't so bad? The corgi-featured youth leaned in to kiss her, a little awkward with his wet and black little nose. The wench giggled, tousling his ears. "Silly puppy! I don't suppose you could introduce me to your friend?" Cody's face knit itself into a frown, amber eyes following her gaze to the Kishani.

Xamuu, whose well-sculpted body dwarfed Cody's, strode about the crowded festhall like a giant. "I look for one called Sarah Whitechalk. She has yellow hair." The shaman tried a few times in earnest. A suave man in a big had tried to direct him toward a blonde woman, who was decidedly not Sarah. At least she seemed sensible. Unlike other northern women she was not dressed stupidly; so foolish to wear clothing if it was not cold. The big man settled for a seat at the bar and a mug of beer.

Meanwhile Sage was perched atop a bar-stool, a goblet of wine clutched in his hand. "So her name is Hildegarde? I've never understood the Connlaothian language. Its so ugly and guttural. Hildegarde, von Groffenheim, Vergensweig, they sound like something you'd name a pig or a cow. But then again its all about what you're used to, isn't it?" the heir ruffled his mane of silvery hair with a smile. "So she's an assassin, this Sarah? How does she manage that?"

"Uh-uh." Randal said firmly, pace quickening. "No way. If Taza says something is bad, it's bad. She hasn't been wrong before, at least..." The boy was running now, a determined expression on his face. "There's no time anyways! We gotta tell Sarah about that guy!"

Randal would lead Ewan back towards the apartment building, hoping to find the Verdan woman there...

Well, Randal could have turned out much worse. At least Taza raised him polite. "I am old older and wiser than Taza, ya know. Doesn't that count for anything?" he flashed a smirk. That Randal considered him more of a peer was irritating at times, but Ewan couldn't really argue that they weren't equals in most regards now. "I think you just want to stick with marbles because you know you can beat me."

As the boys rounded the corner they spotted Joan watching the door. Ewan was not sure if it was her nature, or that he did stuff for Tiffany, but she always seemed to give him and Randal a hard time. If either left something indoors they'd have to wait until sunset to be let back in. "Hi Joan. Yeah, yeah. We're pipsqueaks. You could beat us both up at once when you were our age. If we weren't so lazy we wouldn't be scrawny. We smell bad and you're going to throw us in the water, again. We've heard it all," he enumerated on his fingers. "Right now we got to find Sarah. Someone saying he's her cousin with a bunch of armed guards is looking for her!"

***

Sage and his entourage doubled backthe way they came. Xamuu strode along at his right, Cody scurried along on his left, and Sirala fluttered through the air overhead. The Kishhani shaman had, fortunately, managed to banish the toxin which petrified her. "I just don't see her as an assassin. She always had such a cheery disposition; I think you'd really need to be a certain type to earn money from murder," he flipped a strange, cyathil tuning fork up in the air. "But I can't imagine anyone of the family really working as some common thug. Or serving some insignificant savage from Connlaoth. I think that's the worst of it really..."

"Does she keep young Basil?" The shaman found the youngest Whitechalk amusing if tiresome. He would sometimes tell Basil stories of his homeland. Ordinarily Xamuu kept such secret things to himself, but it was good to reminisces. There was no going home.

"No sign of any boy, but Hildegarde does take in all sorts of strays..." If Sarah shared what Basil was he was probably not allowed free roam. Sage preferred not to consider that possibility. Not yet.

Randal exhaled sharply as he turned the corner, home finally within view. Joan stood in her usual spot, leaning against the wall casually. She gave the boys a nasty grin as the approached, which faltered as she listened to Ewan's hurried explaination. "Sarah's cousin..." she repeated slowly, eyes narrowing. "Hmph. Fun."

"Joan, please." Randal urged, beginning to panic. "We need to-"

"She's gone out." the woman interrupted, scowling. She pushed past the two boys brusquely, heading in the direction they'd come from. "Go inside, tell the boss. I'll deal with this..."


"Ooh, look at this color Porcelina!"

Porcelina blinked slowly, turning away from the shelf of watercolors she'd been examining. Sarah held out a bright pink jar for the dwarf to see, beaming excitedly. "Isn't it just, like, gourgeous?"

Porcelina blinked again, huffing in annoyance. "Sarah, no. Hot Pink is gaudy." She turned back to the watercolors, pursing her lips. "Completely manufactured too. You won't find any flowers or birds that color."

Sarah frowned, halfheartedly putting the jar back on it's shelf. "Well, I still like it..."

Ewan and Randal sat with their faces pressed to the smudged glass of his bedroom window. It had not changed much since the boy was first installed. There were no spellbooks or arcane herbs stashed away, just a chalk circle drawn on the floor. The little wizard had tried to smudge it out but it was clear he was practicing with marbles after countless losses to his new friend.

"You don't have to tell me, not if you don't want to, but exactly is that magic you got? And why are you and Taza keeping it so secret? At this point I guess I'm kind of one of you, aren't I?

"Will take ten years of saving to go north if I'm paid two bits a week. And I'm sure you and Tiffany would miss me doing all your worst chores." He cracked a little smile, framing it as a joke, but it really was true. It would be a little sad to leave so soon besides. As much as Taza cared for Randal there was something unsettling about it all given her line of work. Not to mention Kauz and Tiffany were surely not good role models for the child...

If Ewan had anything now, it was time.

***

Sage could see some figures lounging about outside the boarding house with a hooded woman at the fore. They had the look of peasants, mostly. Even the well dressed ones had the sort of gaudy outfits you expected of the poor playing at nobility. It was cute in a way, like when you put a little scarf on a cat! But these lowborn in Zantaric didn't fear their betters. And that was dangerous. Perhaps you could cut down a few with a sword but you could not get cocky. Especially given some of these people were sorcerers, and Basil was maybe inside.

The youth counted silently to three, and strode forward. "Is this Hildegarde's house?" he paused, heart racing. Anything could happen. "I'm Sage Whitechalk. My cousin Sarah lives here, or so I'm told.

"I want to have a chat; catch up with her."

"I pass drugs to people. They get high instead of me."

Randal sat by the window, eyes glued on the street below. Hildegarde had not taken the news of Sage's arrival very well, and immediately sent Griselda to gather people for "Nightmare Scenario Five"- whatever that was. The group outside was small, consisting only of Griselda herself, Winnifred, and the new boy he'd been told not to talk to yet. Would that be enough? Randal's heart began to pound as he saw Sage approach the building, entourage following behind at a distance. "Ewan, it's happening..."


Griselda stood outside the boarding house, feathered wings swaying gently in the November breeze. A small boy crouched in her shadow, face hidden by a oddly realistic mask. A scrawny Connlaothian woman stood nearby, a bulky contraption strapped to her arms and back. On a normal day, one person would be more than enough to guard a single door- but today couldn't be called normal in any sense of the word.

""Um, miss..." the boy in the mask whispered, tugging on Griselda's shirt. "Sister says they'll be here soon..."

"Them? Y'mean her whole family showed?" the Connlaothian said, a pang of anxiety in her gravelly voice. "Sweet fuckin' Ansgar..."

Griselda snorted, smiling wryly. She put her hands in her pockets, taking a deep breath as a young man turned the corner onto their street. It had been happening more frequently as of late- somebody would emerge from a Friends past, usually a family member, and cause needless drama. The Yorieqi woman had hoped Eckhart would be the last, but here she was...

But in a way, didn't it make sense? Griselda took a step forwards, smiling at the approaching man absentmindedly. The vast majority of the Friends were people who were running from something- people who wanted a second chance. The man stopped and introduced himself, and the woman pointed at her badge in response. Observation had taught her that life wouldn't give second chances that easily- no matter how far you ran, your past would always catch up to you eventually. It was probably better to face these things head on, lest your history chose to bear a grudge...

Still, Griselda had job to do. There was a flash of metal as the woman aimed a punch at Sage's gut without warning, enough force behind the blow to knock over a man twice his size...

"Oh! You working at the Blue Orchid I should've guessed. Well, thanks for telling me." Ewan joined Randal with face pressed to the glass, wincing as Sage was struck. Maybe this would end fast. But then the swords came out.

"Are ya sure you should be watching? This is going to be lots more violent than cards ya know." He made a sort of half-hearted effort to tug the boy back. "Taza might not be happy about it..."

***

"Take that to mean ya got young master Basil captive? Turn him over now!" Cody's ears flattened reflexively at the assault. "Harm a hair on his head? I'll take pleasure lopping every last bit off your Hildie!" In a flash his sword was out, and the dog-knight rushed forward to flank Griselda. He swung the weapon, aiming a careful blow at her wings from above.

The big man grunted with annoyance. The winged woman was beautiful. Such a pity. Xamuu clenched his bow in annoyance and whispered a prayer to the ancients. The cobblestones between Griselda and her companions rumbled. A great Stony hand erupted from the earth, followed by second, and a snarling face...

Sirala shrieked in rage. Shrouded in a globe of water the jelly rose from her perch on Xamuu's shoulder. She would not be insulted. Not twice in a day. She would fill them all until they burst. Their innards would be torn to shreds and they would scream and wail. But first! But first she must do her duty. One of them had a machine and human machines did not like cold and water. The jelly waved her tendrils and conjured forth an explosive torrent of icy brine aimed at Winnefred and the masked child.

Sage darted backwards but not quite in time. His breastplate saved him any serious injury, but the surprise blow sent him reeling. The youth scrambled to draw his weapon before Griselda could advance. They must have his brother. There was no chance at negotiation now, though, not if they died here. But that raggedy little boy's magic was in him still. He had to focus. As he'd changed the snake back into a boy, he changed himself Cody and Xamuu. Their bones thickened. Draconic scales erupted from their bodies displacing fur and hair.

Griselda raised an eyebrow as Sage stumbled backwards, somehow shrugging off her blow. Two members of the man's entourage now targeted her, and the winged woman couldn't help but to grin. Deflecting the dogman's sword with her brass knuckles, Griselda sprung into the air...


Winnefred lifter her arms, pointing her armored fists at the approaching men. She licked her lips in anticipation- she had never gotten a chance to test the firecracker launcher on human targets before! Before she could activate the trigger mechanism however, what she'd assumed to be a flying snowglobe doused her in some kind of cold liquid. The woman cursed loudly, reaching for her musket and taking aim at Sirala...


The masked boy stood firmly in place barely reacting to being splashed. Green eyes stared at Sage through the mask's eyeholes, studying him. "Sister says that basil is a plant." he whispered. "Didn't you come for Sarah? Sarah's not a basil plant..."

If he was paying attention, Sage would hear slow, scuffing footsteps directly behind him...


Joan stormed down Ettin street, a snody glare fixed on to her face. Passersby instinctively moved out of her way, and those who didn't were pushed. If Sarah had gone on errands with Porcelina, then there was only one place they could be...

The door to Murderer's Masterpiece flung open, nearly coming off it's hinges as the woman made her way inside. Her eyes darted around the room, scowling. "Sarah?" she called, shooting a glare at one of the shop clerks. "You in here?"

"Oh, hey Joan!" Sarah replied cheerily, stepping out from behind a shelf to greet her Friend. She held up a jar of paint excitedly. "Look at this color! Isn't it, like-"

"Your cousin is in Zataric." Joan inturrupted harshly. "Looking for you."

The jar shattered, neon yellow paint splattering across the floor. Joan could hear Porcelina curse loudly from the back of the shop, but decided go ignore her. Sarah's face was frozen in a state of shock, her normally warm gaze now icy. "Which cousin." she finally said, a darkness in her voice that Joan had never heard before. "This matters."

Cody was expecting a counter-attack. The dog-man was one of the Whitechalk's better warriors, and ready to sever the Brawler's hand if she made a move. But the sudden transformation Sage brought upon them all had thrown him off - and the woman expertly parried his blade with a brass knuckle. A brass knuckle. He swung a riposte with a snarl. "Basil's the boy you're holding here. Or don't you know you're in with kidnappers, runt?"

Sirala saw the flash of the musket. Would it work in the rain? She did not understand such things. Her mind raced to formulate a plan. She drifted slowly for cover, but she was far too slow to evade the weapon. There was a rush of cold air and the water around her froze, forming a barrier, as she braced for the impact...

Xamuu watched the fray from a distance. He saw the Connlaothian take aim for the jelly, and drew his bow in turn. And then the crack of a rifle rang out. Without hesitation the man loosed an arrow, a narrow-pointed bodkin, at the woman. 

Sage thought he heard something off in the distance. And a boy talking, some nobody without a drop of sorcery. That did not matter right now. He'd urgently wanted to try out this new power that had already armored them with dragonskin. The sensation was intoxicating. But even that didn't matter. Sage had fought and trained beside Cody since they were children, and used Griselda's parry to rush forward as the fat woman spun, slashing at her wings and soft meat of her back and thighs...

The ground roiled, shook, and a giant of stone and clay erupted from the cobblestones. With a roar, and jolt of alarming speed, it snatched for the masked boy!

The masked child tilted his head. "There's no boy here named Basil." he said, pushing his long bangs out of his eyes. "I thought you came here to- eep!"

The ground had swelled beneath his feet, coalescing into a large figure. It grabbed the child in it's stoney hand, lifting the boy off his feet. "Pawel!" Winnifred cried, face livid. "You let 'im go right now, or I'll-"

"It's ok. Sister tagged him." Pawel said, cutting the woman off. He hung limply in the giant's hand, making no attempt to free himself. "She says to shoot the fish again." Nodding in understanding, the Connloathian woman would hastily begin to reload...


Sage would suddenly find himself being held tightly in place by an ethereal hand, pinning his arms to his side. If he listened closely, he'd hear the soft pitter-patter of footsteps begin to move towards Xamuu...


Griselda smirked, dodging the wolfman's strike in midair. With a mighty flap of her wings she ascended higher into the sky, allowing herself a momentary glance at her surroundings. Pawel and Winnifred were tied up in their battles, seemingly struggling. A throwing knife sped through the air towards the Kishahni man, though Griselda hadn't seen who'd thrown it. And in the distance, she could see three small figures rushing down Ettin Street...

It had barely been a second, but that was all she needed to memorize their position. With a wild grin, Griselda would dive towards the dog man with the intent of crushing him...


Sarah strode angrily down Ettin Street, long jacket billowing behind her. Her usual lax demeanor was gone, replaced by a energy that could only be described as regal. Joan and Porcelina trailed behind her nervously. "What the fuck is going on?" the dwarf whispered, struggling to maintain pace. "What did you do to her?"

Joan merely shook her head in reponse, eyes fixated on the woman in front of her. She'd known that Sarah had come from a wealthy family - hell, Hildegarde practically advertised her as such. But to think that this had been underneath the assassin's laid-back attitude the entire time...

That, Joan decided, was impressive.

Xamuu's arrow missed. The hunter readied a second shot, but was thrown off-kilter by a dagger slamming into his back. The blade struck true, but barely grazed the dragonscale that coated his skin. He whirled with a grunt to face his new assailants. Fingers splayed, arms crossed behind his head, a barrier of jagged rock rose from the cobbles. "COME NO CLOSER! I HAVE YOUR BOY. HE SHALL BE CRUSHED, AND YOU NEXT."

Cody stood strong, eager to split Griselda in twain. But the dog-man thought better of it as she swooped with alarming speed, and darted aside. The weight of her against his shield sent him tumbling backward with a curse.

The Jelly had not been fast enough to evade the arquebus, and the bullet shattered the feeble shield of ice. It ricocheted, but the force of it knocked her from the sky and into a heap of gelatinous tissue, two of her Tendrils blown clean off. "Sirala!" Sage meant to rush forward but found himself stuck. His fingers and toes moved but his arms were held fast, but by what? The tuning fork at his belt was keening. Immediately he recognized the pitch as corresponding to spirit magic. A compulsion. It would not be hard to break, just a matter of seizing the spell! But did he need to? On the very edge of his perception he could feel their heartbeats. Seven heartbeats and so much more. The boy's mind drifted instead to the Jelly. She was cold. Dry. Too dry. Where are the other two legs? And pain. So much pain.

Sirala's form began to shift and twist... growing... changing... and in mere moments she was made whole. There came a shriek of rage, and the creature propelled itself into the air with renewed vigor and malice.

"You'd better listen to Xamuu. He isn't the joking sort. But- but if you don't have my brother" came ragged gasps, quivering with anger. "-why do you think we came to this lice ridden, rat-shit-filled heap of a City? To kill Sarah? Living here she's as good as dead. And you? You're in charge?" Not the most clever retort but mending the jelly was agony. It was painful but it was done. Just a moment and he could free himself.

***

Ordinary, Ewan made a valiant effort to give Randal some sense of logic and morality beyond Taza being right all the time. He might've needled his friend further, but both boys' noses were pressed to the glass. "There's no way she survived that! And- and Wyrmskin is mine! Its my spell. Highland wyvern scale absorbs magic and that's why I made it like that. H-how did he..." his voice broke with frustration, as if a child beaten at checkers one too many times.

Terrence crouched behing a crooked streetlamp, knife in hand. His eyes fixated on the Kishahni man, studying his movements in an attempt to find an opening. This fight had persisted for too long- they should have gained the upper hand by now. The boy poised his arm to throw, taking aim at the giant's neck...

"Sage. Enough."

A voice cut above the chaos of battle, causing the teenager to hesitate. Sarah had arrived, looking angrier than he'd thought possible of the woman. Joan and Porcelina weren't far behind, and Terrence felt a weight lift from his shoulders. It would end soon, one way or another...

Sage's draw dropped in surprise at Sara's approach. He was prepared, almost, to have them all stand down.

"I didn't come to fight. I came to talk, and-" his voice faltered, suddenly sounding very young. The girl did not look so different from the one he used to go sledding with, who stole his cards to admire the pretty pictures. But then an anger rose in Sage. Who were these people to attack him? Snare him with a spell? He could not forget this. Could he? This wasn't how you were supposed to be as a Lord or as a brother. "We aren't going drop our guard unless your friends stand down."

Cody hefty his blade, ready to strike to the Connlaothian if she reloaded. Sirala bobbed in the air, a shroud of frost encircling her. And Sage's body, though snared by magic, seemed to twitch ever-so-slightly.

How long had it been?

Sarah locked eyes with her cousin, studying him apprehensively. He looked nothing like the boy she remembered-and yet, he was exactly the same. Memories of her childhood came flooding back to her all at once. The snowforts they'd build, the silly board games she'd make him play...

She shut her eyes tightly, breaking the trance. Why was he here now? How did he even track her down to begin with, for that matter? All she'd wanted was to forget and be forgotten, and she couldn't even have that.

"The only way we'll stand down is if you leave." Joan said hoarsely, stepping forwards to place a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "If talkin' to sweetcheeks here is all you came for, you can do it someplace else. If not..."

"Joan, it's fine..." Sarah murmured, cringing slightly at the nickname. She looked at Sage sadly, then nodded towards Pawel. "It's okay. You can let them go. I don't want to fight..."

Sage exhaled and the dragonscale faded from his companions, who lowered their arms in turn. What the hell was that? The boy did it? So many mage-children in one place.

"There's an inn around the corner. We can talk there. If you want." He shifted awkwardly, voice shy and quiet without any of his bravado. Xamuu, Sirala, and Cody trailed behind the pair as they clomped through the mud in silence. Already the crowds of Zantaric were returning to old business. "I'm glad you have Friends down here. But- why and how are you so far south?" Other questions burned that he was not yet ready to ask.

Sarah gazed at her cousin sadly, eyes clouded. Her only response was to nod silently, putting her hands in her pockets as she followed the man down the road. People were beginning to reappear in the streets now that the fighting had ended, and the low buzz of chatter soon filled the air. The inn wasn't far now...

"How could I have stayed?"

A pang of sadness ran through the woman like a dull knife, her eyes fixating on the ground beneath her feet. "Everybody would know who I am- was. Who I was." The inn was now in sight, inebriated patrons milling about outside the building. "I had to leave."


"Is that it?"

Joan watched as Sage and his party made their exit, not letting her guard down until they had quietly disappeared down a side street. Once convinced they were firmly out of earshot, she let out a frustrated groan. "I don't know, shorty. It might not be."

Porcelina made a clicking noise with her tongue. "That's... problematic."

"How do we know they aren't leading Sarah into a trap?" Winnifred asked, pulling the mechanichal contraption off of her back to inspect it. She grimaced- it'd take at least a month to repair the damage done to it. "We shouldn't leave her alone with them..."

"I'm not worried." Pavew squeaked, clutching his ribs in pain. The golem's grip had left dark bruises on the boy's arms, and he was having difficulty breathing. "Sister saw Thomas go with her."

"Who?"


"He looks really hurt..."

Randal stared out the window, anxiously picking at his hangnails. "Should... should we go get Eckhart?"

Sage walked in silence trying to formulate a reply. There wasn't any. When they reached the inn a squat Adelan opened the way and Sage tossed him a coin. It was filled with the smell of smoke and meat and raukus laughter. It was dark but for firelight, with a great sand-filled put in the center. The doormen lead them through a crowded maze of tables and up a flight of stairs to a private table on the dias. Xamuu and sage one side; Cody and Sara on the other.

"I wish you could have at least made a life in Serendipity.

"But I can bring you back now. If you want. It will be my decision." It felt good to say and was true. Juniper and his mother did not matter; not really. He was the first, the strongest of them, and it would go his way.

The young lord took a deep breath and a long sigh. How do you accuse someone of kidnapping? No right way to do. His gaze flickered, ever-so-briefly, to Cody. "But the reason I'm here... is that Basil is missing."

***

The masked boy's sharp, labored breathing was visible even from the window. "Eckhart? I can fix him!" His mind drifted to Belladona. The stupid cat always worked in some little jab! Too reckless. Shouldn't be allowed to touch Vanya's book. Much better at streetsweeping than magic. Ewan turned to a few jars and scribbled notes on his nightstand. It was mostly stuff Eckhart lent him: dead bugs, garlic, and crocodile scales. Maybe good for cleaning a wound or making grass grow. Not the time to go showing off. 

"Actually, um, maybe you're right. Just hope Belladona isn't there..."

The townhouse steps thundered as Ewan and Randal stomped their way down, vaulting over the banister in succession. "Hey! Eckhart! Its us!" came loud knocking at the healer's door.

Sarah followed her cousin into the tavern, flicking her hood over her head. Arriving at a private booth, the young woman sat down bemusedly. You were more likely to be eavesdropped on when you seperated yourself from the crowd like this- people would take notice and assume you must have something valuable to say. The assassin's nose wrinkled at the idea of returning to Serendipity, but before she could open her mouth to retort Sage had spoken up again.

"Basil..."

She'd nearly forgotten about her youngest cousin. How old had he been when she left? Two? Three? Her aunt and uncle had always kept the boy away from prying eyes, so Sarah had only ever met him once or twice. If Sage was here now, did that mean...

The assassin crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that." she said flatly. "But if you think you'll find him here..." She paused, taking a deep breath begore continuing. "I left all of this behind me years ago, Sage. Why would I want to... involve myself again?"


"Um... Do you think it might be safe yet?"

"That's the third time you've asked. What was my answer the last two times?"

"Right... uh, sorry..."

Eckhart sat on his bed, fiddling with his necklace anxiously. Belledonna the cat sat on the desk, making notations in Maladies Most Unusual. The sounds of fighting had stopped a few minutes ago, but the window in his room didn't offer a clear enough view for him to make out what had happened. It wasn't that scuffles like this were uncommon- quite the opposite- but there had been an uncharacteristic seriousness in his sister's voice when she'd told him to stay inside. That worried him. "It's just, Hilda said that-"

There came a knock at the door, and Eckhart froze momentarily. He exhaled when he heard a familiar voice, and got up to answer the door. Sweet Ansgar, nearly gave me a heart attack..."

He cracked open the door, giving the two boys a nervous smile. "Um, hey. What's going on?" he asked, trying and failing to hide the worry on his face. "Shouldn't you two be in your rooms? I think there's something going on outside..."

"Nah it just ended." Randal said quickly, grabbing hold of the healers arm. "That boy with the face is hurt though! You gotta help him, c'mon!"

From inside the room, Eckhart heard Belladonna mewl in resignation. "Of course he is. Go on, I'll grab the bag..."

Violet eyes bored a hole in Sarah. He could ask her and use Cody. And yet, somehow, that all felt wrong. "We thought maybe living here you might have told people about the family. About Basil. And that maybe someone overheard and got the idea to take him.

"I don't think you would've done it. Not even to be spiteful, but I have to look." He fell silent, and then gave a small nod to the dog-knight. "Is your life here good, at least?"

***

"At least we weren't the only ones sent to our rooms!" the boy cackled with laughter, flashing Randal a wicked grin. "Was it Hildegarde or the cat?"

The mood darkened as they stepped out into the street. There was a massive crater in the cobblestone where the elemental emerged, and a small crowd of onlookers gawked at the destruction. Griselda and the Connlaothian were tending Pavew. The youth's breaths were slow, short and labored punctuated by something between a cry and a cough.

"Ribs got squeezed into his lungs I guess. Busted them. Do you got anything for that?" his gaze fell to Eckhart's book, reaching to grab and page through it if not stopped.

Sarah remained silent, face expressionless. She had briefed Hildagarde on her family members and their abilities, but that had been years ago, and in the privacy of their own home. Besides, it was common knowlege that her boss despised human traffickers- she'd never kidnap anybody, much less a child Randal's age. Though, thinking back on the information she had given...

"I think I'm missing something here..." Sarah said, frowning. "Was there, like, a randsome note? Anything at all to tell you why he'd been taken?" There was a genuine confusion in her voice- if anybody in the family was to be kidnapped, wouldn't it have been Auntie Rosemary?


"I cant believe she made you come out here! You could have been killed!"

Kneeling down in front of Pavew, Porcelina haphazardly felt at the boy's ribs. He winced in pain, and she immediately drew her hands away. "Careful!" Winnifred snapped, crouching down next to her. "Do you even know first aid?"

"Of course I don't!" the dwarf replied angrily, crossing her arms. "Do I look like Eckhart to you?"

"Then move it! You're just gonna get in the way!"

"Sister..." the boy's voice moaned from beneath his mask. "Sister says... stop fighting..."

"Sweet Ansgar, are you okay?"

Porcelina opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Eckhart's voice before she could say anything too nasty. She glanced upwards, sighing in relief as she saw the Connlaothian boy hurriedly approaching them, Randal and Ewan in tow. "Pavew got crushed," she said, shuffling back to give him room. "He's hurt."

"Ribs got squeezed into his lungs I guess." said Ewan, reaching for Eckhart's book. "Busted them. Do you got anything for that?

The young man grimaced. "Um... Let me- hey!" He lifted the book out of the child's reach. "Knock it off!"

Getting up from where she'd been sitting, Griselda gave the redheaded boy a stern glare. She began to walk towads the center of the crater, motioning for the two boys to follow...

A woman with scaly skin drifted near the table, setting down a tray of fried dumplings still glistening with oil. She filled poured a frothy dark stout into their cups.

"They did not leave- Oh! This is nice. It smells absolutely enchanting. Tell the cook thank you." He flashed smiled at the wench, eyes twinkling, as she departed.

"Sorry. No, they did not leave a note. The reason they want him is-" Sage paused. This was the moment to ask, to see what she knew or might've told anyone. He looked to Cody and gave a soft nod.

The dogboy was, daintily as possible, trying to chew the dumplings. Some were stuffed with potato, others pickled cabbage and salted. It wasn't quite working. Licking his chops, Cody edged just a bit closee to Sarah. He could smell liars...

"Tell me what you remember about Basil. He was really small when you left, right? Did his magic even show back then?"

***

"Sorry! I was just- sorry." A blush rose in the little wizard's pale cheeks until he looked like a strawberry. Maybe it was stupid to get in Eckhart's way with that kid looking so injured. He sullenly marched off to join Griselda and Randal by the pit.

"Hope I didn't mess him up... I really did just want to help..." He mumbled, looking to the young florist and thug for some consolation. "I guess you'll be wanting us to fill this in?"

Sarah flashed a grin at the waitress, hungrily taking a plate of perogis and setting it in front of her. Picking up a fork, she stuffed one of the dumplings in her mouth. "Basil was... two? Three?" she said after swallowing, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "All I really remember is that Uncle- uh, your dad basically hid him away..." The assassin looked at her plate of food sadly. "I assumed he was in the same boat as-"

The sound of loud chewing caused Sarah to pause, face twisting into a disgusted grimace. She turned to look at the wolfman, one eyebrow raised. "Uh... Could you maybe, y'know... Not do that?"


"Ewan?"

Randal tried lifting one of the larger chunks of cobblestone, gritting his teeth together. "Sometimes- sometimes you just-" He dropped the stone unceremoniously, panting. "-You just gotta let the adults do their job."

Griselda sighed audible. Shaking her head, she picked up the stone effortlessly and threw it into the crater. "Ha!" Randal said, grinning. "See?"

The same boat as-

As who? Sage paused. A flicker of rage clouding his thoughts. Basil was not ordinary! How could she think that? The young lord took a deep breath, "He's much more than that. Basil can do, well, anything. If you know what to ask for. And he's wonderful, really, just very naive.

"But it doesn't seem like you even knew. So this is a dead end." He gave a heavy sigh, running a hand through his white mane of hair. The dog just gave a nod.

"Uh, sorry! Not used to eatin' these..." Cody's ears flattened. The dog-man wished, very dearly, not be doing this. Even if it was for Basil the entire affair was just humiliating! He plucked a napkin from the table and cleaned his muzzle, trying to be more subtle. "S-sorry."

***

"So you don't believe me about being grown? Or if you just really enjoy the idea that someone else around here has to be back by dark." Ewan turned to watch Eckhart tend the masked boy. How was he so squeamish about this? The worst possible result would be an extra lung or more ribs. You could get rid of those later! Ugh.

"It doesn't matter. We're the same now. I guess." Working together their scrawny arms managed to lift a single flagstone. Not quite at Griselda's efficiency.

"No, I didn't." the assassin affirmed, shaking her head. "I... haven't been keeping tabs on any of you."

"Kinda hoped you'd just forget I was here." she added silently.

Sarah gave her cousin a gentle look. "Sorry this turned out to be a waste of time." she said, half a smile beginning to form on her lips. "It's really nice to be able to see you again, though. I mean that."


"Will you stay out of his way? You aren't helping!"

"So you expect me to just sit here?"

Belladonna and Porcelina glared at each other angrily, each daring the other to speak. The other Friends had all left Eckhart to tend to the wounded boy in peace, but the dwarven woman had insisted on staying to help. The healer sighed in resignation. "It's fine Bella." he said quietly, gently lifting Pavew's shirt to get a better look at his injury. "I, um, could use an extra pair of hands..."

"Yeah, right." said a voice in his head. "You just don't want her to yell at you."

Porcelina huffed loudly, crossing her arms. "You're just saying that to say it!" she exclaimed angrily. "I know you, Eckhart."

"Then what do you want?" cried the Eckhart, throwing up his hands in confusion. "Either help or don't!"

"Sister says she's going to shiv you if you don't hurry up." Pavew said darkly. "I'd listen to her, she sounds really mad..."

Eckhart and Porcelina exchanged worried glances. "Um..." the healer said. "Why- why don't you start by fetching a bucket of water, okay?"

"You have nothing to apologize for. And Basil, well, he's special." Sage took took a swig of his beer with a cough. He preferred sweet wines and meads. Zantarian alcohol was too strong and bitter for the young man. "He's like Green Gaelyn. If you remember those old stories. That's why someone might want him." Green Gaelyn was a stock character in Verdan folklore. He was a miserly little goblin and sorcerer who would often test the heroes of various tales with puzzles or tributes. It would always end with him granting a wish or some other wondrous treasure.

"And it was good to see you, too." Sage studied her closely. "I wanted to say that you're welcome to come home, if you want to." Even if Sage was not technically lord he would be eventually. There was little point in questioning or contradicting him because, eventually, he would be getting his way.

***

There was a midden heap not far from the Blue Orchid. The lizard sometimes pawed through it for scraps. Wagym's Wort was an annual plant, pus colored, and with a rank odor. Its leaves and pollen were harvested to make a calming tea, but the flower had to be discarded before making a horrible stench. Darkhun had developed a taste for them. Four weeks he had watched the store, like the beard-man said, but the dark haired boy was never alone. Never far were the cruel women who beat and taunted Darkhun. Today, after much watching and waiting, Darkhun found his luck.

Two boys with shovels, one with dark-hair and one with none, had ducked behind a building to relieve themselves against a wall. Now was his chance. The lizard crept closer, slinking between the rubble, scales shifting color as he went. People feared Darkhun. To talk to the human child he would need to get close.

"So is Taza okay with me now? She was pretty suspicious when I started. I mean I know Porcelina doesn't like me but I can't figure that one out. What- whoa!" the bald boy whirled in surprise.

"Hello, hello, hello boy who sells flowers. Such nice flowers." Darkhun bared his teeth like the humans do, tongue tasting the air. "They smell so very good. I am Darkhun. And for you I have questions."

Sarah giggled at her cousin's inability to stomach the alchohol. It was just like him to try and play it off as casual like this. She nodded at the reference to Green Gaelyn, remembering the plush goblin she had as a small child. She was about to open her mouth to comment, but what Sage said next caused her to pause.

"Come... home?"

The memories were so strong that Sarah could almost smell them. The pine forests surrounding the manor, her aunt's diamond garden, Juniper's deviled eggs, her mother's perfume...

Sarah shook her head. "Sage, I appreciate it- really, I do, but..." She glanced sideways. "This is home for me now."


Stones were heavy- much heavier than the potted plants Randal was used to carrying. Sweat rolled down his forehead as he carried a large chunk of basalt towards the pile, grunting in annoyance. "I... I think you're fine now." he panted, setting down the boulder so as to catch his breath. "It's... it's you gotta- AH!"

Hearing a voice, Randal spun around to see a terrible-looking lizardman approaching them. He looked familiar somehow, though the boy wasn't sure where he'd seen him before. "Um..." Randal looked at Ewan for help. "The shop isn't open on weekends..."

"Well, it shouldn't have been your home. It was a mistake to send you away." Sage whipped some of the foam from his chin and throat. "But I know your life's here now. I just wanted to know you can come back, if you want, I know it won't ever be the same.

"I don't think either of us will be hiding in the diamond garden anytime soon." There used to be lavish parties on summer nights, children ducking and weaving through the brush catching fireflies. Now it was very quiet and empty. A sad smile crossed his face and he stood up, hand still on the table, as if debating whether to stay or go.

"We'll be staying here a few more days. There is one last lead here I want to follow."

***

"No, no, no. Darkhun takes the old flowers. Very good. Very tasty. Very delicious." The lizard hunched forward, making himself big, in order to corral the boys into a corner. Stalking and ambushing prey was innate to his kind. "Darkhun has questions!

"You have a little friend. A pale boy. Red hair. Painted with magic. He is lost and far from his master. He must go home."

Ewan gave Randal a look and positioned himself between the two. Clutched his shovel like a spear, shaking and white-knuckled, the gangly boy peered upwards. He was still grown and ought to protect the kid. Maybe it was a mistake to keep his body this way. The mutagen he kept for emergencies was gone and there was nothing to do but buy time. "Well neither of us have got red hair or tattoos. S-see?" Good thing Tiffany had removed them.

The lizard snorted, spraying them with hot breath and spittle, probing the air with his tongue. "You are fearful. Slippery. Darkhun has seen you and the boy in your shop. Where? Where does he go?"

Sarah looked her food solomnly. She hadn't even gotten a chance to finish it, and her cousin was already leaving. "You're right." she said flatly, poking a perogi with her fork. "It wouldn't be."

The assassin stood up, now locking eyes with the man in front of her. "I want to help. Hildegarde, she has connections to half the people in this city. I'm sure if I asked, she'd be able to make your search much easier..."


Randal's fear slowly subsided, eyes narrowing as he studied the lizard man. "I think you're confused, sir." he said firmly, putting on a fake smile. "We don't have any employees who look like that." He put an hand on Ewans shoulder, grip unusually tight. "Come on Rolf, let's ask Taza if there's a shop like that in town!"

If Ewan didn't resist, Randal wold begin to lead him back towards the Friends' boarding house...

"Well, after that nasty business, I'm not sure she'd want to help." Sage cracked a weak smile. It wasn't the first time they'd gotten in a scuffle on their journey. A good fight was sort of fun besides. The jelly trilled in agreement. A geleatinous skeleton, all that remained of the fish she swallowed, slowly undulated beneath her membranous skin. "In any case we'll be here another day and set off tomorrow. Cody thinks he passed through here but has gone further south."

The youth's gaze lingered on Sara. "It was good to see you again."

***

The boy stumbled as Randal tugged him along. For a moment he was awash with indignity that being slightly taller made Randal the defacto leader. At least the lizard was cowardly enough not to ambush in broad daylight and the street was only a few paces away. Just a few steps.
Darkhun's small mind raced. Cornering the boy was not hard. Easy. Simple. But how to make him tell the truth? Darkhun did not think of that! With enormous speed the reptile darted into their path, hunched low, tongue flicking. "I taste your lies.

"I see you, you and the boy, in the tunnels. I know this. You. Will. Tell!" 

Sarah's expression was crestfallen for but a moment, quickly shifting to something more adamant. "Sage, no. I can't just let you leave." The woman squeezed her eyes shut, searching for the right words to say. "I can't just... not do anything."

Her voice lowered, and she leaned in closer. "There is a trafficking group on the south end of town. The boss has been... watching them for a while. They might be your guys."


Randal sqeaked in fear, his grip on Ewan tightening as the lizardman blocked their path. "S-stay back!" he stammered, eyes darting as he searched for a way to escape. "I'm warning you, I can- whoah!

A loud thud shook the groud beneath them, nearly causing the young drug dealer to fall over. A shadow fell over them, and Randal looked up to see Griselda was now towering over them. The giant gave the reptillian a quizzical look, as if it was her that he should be directing his questions towards. The boy smiled breathlessly "We're saved..."

Sage turned to appraise her, expression blank. Why didn't she say earlier? Maybe she didn't care, maybe she was involved, or maybe this was a wild goose chase? - an excuse to be together again or feel she did her part. "Well, come on then. Let's go!" He flashed a smile, looking genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.

Soon Xamuu and Cody were at his side, the big man drinking deep from a wineskin. Sirala bobbed merrily along in her bubble, fishbones visible in her translucent belly.

Dark eyes fell upon Sarah as they walked. "Xamuu wonders why your, 'Boss', seeks these men. There is trade in flesh from the lands of Serendipity to the jungles of Kishahn. And here. Here always."

***

The lizard's reflexes were well trained. It shrieked and spun away as the bird woman landed, slipping somewhat as a clawed foot landed in manure. It kept low to the ground, one might think it were bowing to grovel, but threads of smoke rose from his nostrils. "Ah! B-big bird! So good to see you, yes, yes, yes! Darkhun was just talking to nice boys. Good boys. Clean and sweep dung so nice."

A look of faint indignity crossed the Ewan's face. He did not need saving. Not from this stupid lizard and not by Griselda. He would swing the shovel and-! And he was shivering too, and squeezing Randal right back. The boy heaved a sigh of relief. "He was trying to scare us! Um, Randal I mean..."

Sarah exhaled softly, relaxing her shoulders. Pushing her meal to the side, she stood up to follow her cousin. There was a nostalgic glitter in her eyes- as if this were just another one of the adventures they had been on as kids...

Xamuu's question, however, brought about a pause. Stepping outside the tavern, Sarah placed a finger on her chin. "I dunno." she said finally, as if the thought had never crossed her mind. "Maybe I should ask..."


Griselda's eyes narrowed, studying the lizardman carefully. She had seen this creature before, scurrying around the sewers and back alleyways. She had never payed it much attention until now- there was simply no reason to.

"That monster is lying!" squeaked Randal. The boy would hastily pull Ewan behind the Yorieqi woman, before peering out from behind her legs. "He keeps asking about a boy that we don't know!"

Griselda raised her eyebrows, opening her mouth as if to say "aha". She took a single step forward, raising her arm as if to strike...

Xamuu's dark eyes fell on Sarah, unimpressed. "Yes." he tapped his head slowly, "It is good to understand."

"Well, we know he came through the City, right?" Sage looked to Cody for confirmation. The dog man was busy sniffing at passersby. Already a scales woman bored a hope in him with her eyes for getting too close. Not that Cody could help it. "So there has to be some clue. Speaking of, uh, Hildegarde? How did you meet her anyway. You don't have to talk about her if you don't want to. It's just a long way from home to here..."

To get to the northern district they had to pass through the Bleeder's Way. It was a winding section of the City once rules by a powerful blood mage, designed to be an enormous Ritual Circle. There were few main roads but hundreds of cramped alleys. To get corners Sarah lead them through one of the more desolate routes...

***

"No! Darkhun sees you! You and the-" Griselda's fist connected with Darkhun. The lizard was sent feeling back and into a jeep of garbage. It was a solid blow. The lizard narrowed his yellow eyes at the woman, frill expanding, fangs bared. And then he lunged with a gout of flame and ash!

"Geddown!" the smaller boy tugged Randal to the side with an ear-splitting shriek. It really wasn't all that much fire, but enough to be scary. It shouldn't be scary. Fire was nothing, his skin could become dragonscale. He could turn a vampire into a quivering mass of fat and flesh if he wanted! How could he be so dumb to get caught unprepared while playing street urchin? Randal could be dead and he was scared enough to piss himself, hiding and shivering behind some stupid mute thug.

"Gods, that was forever ago..."

Sarah led the group through the winding alleyway, sliding her hand along the stoney walls as she did so. "So after I, ah... left, I kinda just wandered around looking for work. I eventually ended up at this super fancy restaurant in Ketra, you know that one where the teacup dragons bring you your food? The owner was like, super stingy with pay, but the dragons were totally cute so I was like 'I gotta stay!'"

There was a spring in the girl's step as she walked now, her mind filled with happy memories. "So, like, after a few years of that, Hildegarde just, like, walked in! She talking to that invisible kid about magic and stuff, and I was like 'I have magic too!' And she was just like, 'Cool! You could totally use that for-'"

Sarah paused abruptly, ears perking up. Shouting could be heard on the road ahead- young, frantic voices, followed by a loud crash and a belching noise. The assassin's eyes narrowed, then widened as she realized exactly who the voices belonged to. She abruply charged ahead, bursting out of the alleyway just in time to see Griselda's fist collide with some sort of lizard-person, sending the creature staggering backwards. Randal and Ewan cowered behind the Yorieqi, clearly terrified.

Regaining it's balance, the scaley humanoid charged at her friends, a plume of flame escaping it's mouth. It hadn't noticed Sarah yet, which put her at a distict advantage. The assassin narrowed her eyes, focused on a small area on the creature's neck, and made the cut...

"Oh I remember that. Didn't you end up getting a dragon after that? Or try to?" I don't think your mother liked animals. Sage had to hold his tongue. He wondered if they wrote letters. He did not like Aunt Sianna very much. Even before all this she was cold and seemed to have little time for Sage, who was rather used to everyone loving him. If things were reversed there would be armies raised, he was quite sure.

"What did you even do there? Did you really take orders and cook and all that? I guess its like that time we the innkeeper caught us nipping ale, and we were too embarrassed to tell him who we were, and ended up mopping the whole floor. You really should have taken a lot more jewels when you left. The fortune is yours too. And-" And then were was a scream and Sarah went charging ahead. Cody's sword was already drawn, and Sage followed.

--

"Skraaahh!" The bird woman's fist slammed into Darkhun's bony chest, sending him reeling back with a screech. It was a solid blow but thick scales and a flexible body shielded his innards from the worst of it. The lizard was angry and scared and confused now. He spread his frill, throat turning red, smoke billowing from his nostrils. She would burn.

But as Darkhun moved to spew forth flame he was struck by a wave of Vertigo. There was no fire. He could not even draw breath. "Cannot... breathe..." Gasping, a smoking hole in his throat, the lizard slumped forward. Dead.

--

When Sage arrived he found Sara with the enormous Yoreiqi with an ugly dragon man at their feet. At their feet was an ugly dragon-man, gasping and sizzling. And to his surprise two grubby urchins, rather familiar at that, had rushed up to Sarah bouncing on their heels. "Thank-you-thank-you-thank you-you-saved-us!"

"That was amazing! Your aim was, like, perfect!" one nudged the lizard with a barefoot, exposing the open wound, clogged with ashy blood. "Ya think he's still flammable?"

Sage looked from the mysteriously dead reptilian, to his cousin, and back. "Your aim's a lot better. Been practicing?" He gave her a hopeful smile, trying his very best to look encouraging and positive. In truth As a teen she was able to burn holes in archery targets but little else. Improved accuracy aside, pinpoint destruction was a pittance of arcana. Not that he'd say anything...

The reptillian shrieked and slumped to the ground, blood gushing from his neck. Randal cheered as Sarah emerged from the alleyway, rushing towards her. "Whoah! That was so cool!" he yelled, practically bouncing on his feet. "I never get to see you use your powers!"

Sarah smiled, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "Aw. It's not that cool..." she giggled, clearly happy with being praised. "Your magic is like, way better!"

Cautiously, the assassin knelt by the fallen creatures neck. Placing a finger to the wound she'd inflicted, she grinned wildly. "Dead!" she exclaimed triumphantly. She looked over to her cousin, who'd just caught up to her. "I practiced for something like this to happen, like, a million times! Normally I use binoculars though, so I was like, super sure I was gonna miss! But look!"

Griselda gave Sarah a thumbs up, eying Sage suspiciously. Randal's eyes widened. "Ewan, it's him again!" he hissed, nudging the redheaded boy's ribs. "Come on, we should leave..."

"Well I don't think he's gonna hurt us. This was all just an accident. Besides I want to see what this is all about- hey!" Once more he was tugged off down the street and back the Blue Orchid. There was a small lot behind used for composting and drawing wellwater. Joan had always seemed rather annoyed with letting the boys in and out of the Boarding House, so it was a place to rest during the day.

"Do you, um, think Taza's going to be cross?" he added in a small voice. She was not going to take kindly to today's excitement.

Sage just smiled. He was glad to see Sarah happy about her magic. Of course when he used mimicry, even when they were young, he was able to carve an entire ice sculpture. Not a very good one and more of a snowman, mind you. Not that he'd remind her. He  gave his sword a twirl and sheathed it with a flourish, something the young lord had practiced more than he cared to let on. "In any case I suppose we should meet your friend. Hilda? No. Hildegarde.

"You were telling me something about her and slavers before all this happened..." he gave the dead lizard a nudge, watching as the two boys scampered off. "I hadn't meant to frighten those two. Met them on the bridge and they thought I was a robber..."