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How the story came to be

In loving memory of my Mother, Joni Stacks.

My Mother was diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd and final time in July 2018. Over the weeks that she fought for her life, I coped by creating a world in my head. It’s a sad coping mechanism I know but it’s how I managed.

Over the months after her passing the story grew and I started to realize I needed to write it down for even more therapy. Finally, on 8/12/19 (the one year anniversary of my Mother’s passing) I put “pen to paper” for the first time.

I have been writing ever since then and am going to share the story with the world. Maybe it’s for further therapy but I wanted to do it to honor my Mother one more time.

I decided to write this story in short story form for easier access into my world. I hope you enjoy it. these characters helped me through some of the hardest times of my life.

  • Adam

Don’t Call her Midwinter

The Royal envoy has stopped. Bellumi scouts returned with reports of a battalion marching from the south. The loyalist have quickly stationed themselves in a strategic defensive position as they await. A small delegation was sent out to greet the scouts from the unknown armed force. The King stands in command, Will at his side with his Resurgent’s ready to prove their honor to their King,

“An entire battalion riding our way with no banner. This can’t be good, Will.” Aero states as he looks out over his small force.

“Yes King Aero, it is very unusual.” Will replies.

Aero hears the word, but he isn’t processing the statement. He is worried about their exposure on the road. Even though his defenses are strong, and he possesses the Royal Blade, his concern is for the Queen and his unborn child. She’s only been on the mainland for a few weeks and has already had an assassination attempt on her life. A full blown battle will not make her feel safe in this strange land.

“Our riders are returning!” Will shouts.

The Bellumi scouts ride directly to the King.

“They claim to be friendly, from the city of Currie. Their Delegate claims to be your cousin.”

“Tony?”

“It’s a woman,”

“Oh… no…” Says the King in disbelief.

“She claims she has important news; she will be arriving shortly.”

Aero has his security force stand down and works quickly to receive guests. The Queen comes out from her armored carriage with Roasa and her sister-in-law Shoala. Aero tries to give the Queen a short update on the situation, but his cousin arrives with a small escort.

“Cousin! I’ve come on behalf of my family to support you on your mission to Gilbertown.”

“Midwinter, Great to see you, why didn’t your father send your brothers?” The King asks.

“They were busy riding horses or something, and I know you are King now, but if you ever call me by my full name again, I will find you alone and will knock you out. I promise!”

Queen Asna bursts into laughter. “Oh, I already love you!”

“My Queen, I am Winter. My father and Aero’s father are brothers.”

“Winter, please call me Asna. Why did you stop us with such urgency?”

“Ya, Winter, it’s not like you to be so dramatic.” The King adds.

“Drama? Aero, you may be King, but I can still beat you like when we were kids.”

“Midwinter!” Aero says sarcastically.

“That’s one!” Winter says with an evil grin on her face. “Actually, Father sent us to add security for your trip, but we had to rush to you when we picked up your friends walking on the road, Ser Matthew, and his soldiers. They were carrying Prince John Henry’s body too. They will be here soon, they were exhausted, so they are resting in our wagons.”

“What? Walking on the road? John Henry’s body? They were supposed to be in Orlea, what happened?”

“It was a trap. Marco’s forces trapped your men and took their horses. Marco set Orlea on fire, the city is gone. He bragged to Matthew that you were heading into Gilbertown and that they would betray you for him. It appears that you are walking into a trap of your own.”

“Dammit!” Aero exclaims.

“How is Matthew and his soldiers?” Asna interjects.

“He lost quite a few soldiers; he was going to get a casualty list after conferring with the Bellumi leaders. They were in bad shape; they hadn’t eaten or drank in days. They had walked a long way.” Winter responds.

“Let’s wait for the rest of your team to arrive. We can send word ahead that I was sick which caused us to be delayed. That will allow for us to properly tend to Matthew’s team and for me to get some time with Winter. I am sure you have some Aero stories to tell me.” Asna says.

“Do I?” She responds with that same evil grin that Aero has seen his entire life when Winter wants to mess with him.

A few hours later, Winter’s entire force has joined with the Royal force. Asna and Winter have spent the entire afternoon together, much to the dismay of the King. He couldn’t take it any longer and left them after the first hour of constant laughter at his expense. He ran off to discuss strategy with his leaders.

Asna, Winter, Roasa, and Rain continue to talk. Asna’s thoughts turn toward the Royal cousin. She looks at her and sees her beauty. Winter is above average height with the distinct royal hair color with wavy curls. Her greenish-blue eyes seem to tell a story without words. Asna understands just by looking into them that she has lived a tumultuous life even though she is still young.

“You’ve told me so much about my husband, but now I ask you to tell me about yourself.” The Queen asks.

“I was the only girl of the family. Which meant that my father was quick to marry me off to powerful allies to keep the crown strong. When my first husband died in battle, I was quickly remarried. When he died in a jousting accident, my father again found me a husband, he was killed in single combat protecting his family’s honor. I am the widow of three husbands with three sons and a daughter. I was never given the opportunity to live my own interest. As soon as I was of age, I was used for the family’s gain. Well, your family’s.” Winter responds.

“Oh my. I’m so sorry. So many women have endured similar stories. It’s not fair, and what did your brothers have to do for the family?”

“Ride horses, play games, and marry younger women… you know boy stuff.”

“That sounds about right!”

“Queen Asna, please promise me that you won’t let Aero use me to get an ally through marriage.”

“I give you, my word.”

“Good, because I’ve done my share of duty for the crown. I married three times to men who were not real men at all. I’ve carried four children in my womb in service of the family. If I ever marry again, it will be for love… I deserve that much.”

“Yes, you do. You will not be asked to marry for the benefit of the kingdom again.”

“Not that the first three benefited the kingdom in any way.”

Across the camp, Aero is being debriefed by Matthew, before the rest of the leaders.

“Orlea is gone, they killed thousands, and are staging an army in the southwest. There’s a war coming, and it may start in Gilbertown.” Matthew explains. “They hung John Henry’s body from the city gates.”

“The Gilbert Knight’s are the oldest and most loyal in all the kingdom. They served my family for centuries. Even after the schism, they have never stood against the crown. I think Marco is trying to sow dissent in our minds before we get there so that we don’t trust them.”

“Maybe, but if it weren’t for the Currie battalion, I would have never made it to you. He kept us at the gates of the city for three days so that we couldn’t get to you in time.” Matthew responds.

“So how do you manage the Gilbert Knight’s? Do you want me and the Resurgent’s to stay with you?” Will asks.

“No, you have an important mission, we will just have to be on guard. I’m not sure if the Gilbert Knights wanted to fight us that we would be able to stop them, even with the three thousand soldiers that we have.” Aero tells Will as he turns back to Matthew. “Matt, what about John Henry? He was Marco’s ally.”

“Marco has declared himself king as I told you before, he has vowed to kill your entire family. He gave me this box to present to you.” Matthew says as he picks up the box with the owl carving from the table.

Aero opens it and immediately recognizes the contents. “This is the dagger he took from me the night of the feast. David made this for me, Marco took it from me that night. It’s still covered in blood. We will have to deal with him… if we survive Gilbertown.”

Aero spends a few more minutes discussing strategy with his leadership council. They make preparations for entering Gilbertown and returning John Henry’s body to the Capital for burial in the family tomb. Once all the preparations are made, the King returns to his tent that had been set up during the delay. He enters to find it empty.

The Queen has spent the day with Winter, personal guard, and Shoala. They were sitting together around a fire when they saw Aero enter his tent.

“Your Highness, Aero is in his tent, alone.” Roasa tells her.

“Oh, I better get in there with him.” The Queen replies.

“No, I don’t think you understand. The King is alone.” Roasa reiterates as she nods toward Winter.

“Oh…” The Queen says with a smile.

They get up and walk toward the tent. Asna looks to Winter and nods. She steps in. From outside, the women hear Aero say Winter’s name baffled. Then they hear a smack, and Winter proclaim, “I promised you cousin!” The women outside burst into laughter.

Out of the Ashes

As the ancient city of Orlea burns, a Broussa fishing fleet is patrolling the fertile fishing grounds about twenty miles south. Ships run an effective dragnet filling their hulls quickly. The men on the ships are from families that have been serving the Broussard’s for centuries. For at least twenty-five generations these waters have been bountiful for the southern coast cities. Ancient magic ensures that these honey holes are filled with high quality fish.

The ships are too far out to sea to know that their homes are being burnt to the ground. That all of their loved ones are trapped in the burning city with no way to escape. They have no idea that their boss Leonardo Broussard is dead and that his son Marco is burning his family’s legacy to the ground. To these men it’s just another day at work. Day three of their seven day trip.

Six ships float side by side with the nets collecting the bounty. As always, the sea is calm, the magic is strong here. The men work about the ships performing their monotonous tasks without a care in the world. If they only knew the horrors of home…

However, this day is not like the rest. This day is different. As the men focus on the fish, a sea dragon jumps out of the water and crashes down on the end ship, crushing it instantly. Before the other captains can even register what has happened, the sea dragon dives onto the next. Then it pokes its head out of the water in front of the next one and breathes fire onto the ship setting it ablaze.

Chaos ensues. The ship on fire crashes into the next one igniting the oaken ship. Then the sea dragon’s tail whips around the other side of those boats crashing into the other two, breaking them down the middle. In under two minutes all six ships are either sunken or fully engulfed in flames. Each man forgets everything and throws themselves into the water. No time for lifeboats or captain’s orders, panic has set in.

As the two ships continue to burn, the men are not safe as lion sharks begin taking the men one by one. Hundreds of men are at the mercy of the sea. Dozens of sharks go on a feeding frenzy. In a twisted sense of justice, the men who’s families have eaten the fish for generations have become food for that same sea.

The sea runs red with blood. Slowly the screams of the men die down. All voices are eliminated in a matter of minutes. All the men are dead, except one. As he floats in the ocean awaiting his fate, he is all too aware that the area has grown silent. He awaits the inevitable; but nothing happens. He floats for minutes on end. Eventually the current takes the blood soaked waters away, and he is just a man floating alone in a vast sea with circling sharks.

After an hour or so the sea dragon pops its head out of the water towering over the man. Dozens of lion shark heads poke out the water all around him. They just stare blankly. The man is terrified. Slowly the sea dragon lowers its head beside the man. Without hesitation, perhaps on some sort of innate instinct the man grabs ahold of a horn and allows himself to be pulled out of the water. The sea dragon sets the man on its back. Then the dragon and sharks all swim in the same direction.

The man stays on the sea dragon’s back for three days and three nights. The shock of it all weighs heavy on the man’s soul. Why didn’t they kill him too? Where are they taking him? He cannot figure out what is going on. He just believes it has something to do with magic but can’t be sure, lack of food and water has made him weak. Try as he might, he cannot rationalize what is happening.

On the fourth day his envoy carries him until dusk, then they stop. The sea dragon carefully rolls the man off its back and swims away. The lion sharks begin to circle him at a distance. Exhausted the man doesn’t try to escape. Faster and faster the sharks swim the circle. As they speed up it appears that the water inside their circle is being pulled away. The sea lowers as the man floats helplessly.

After several minutes, he is hundreds of feet lower than the circling sharks. He feels the sea floor below him and stands up. As he does, he notices that he is standing on dry land. Before him is a giant oyster which begins to open slowly to reveal an old woman unconscious inside. He steps forward to check on her. The lion Sharks roar above them.

She is awoken by the thundering roar that echoes off the magical sea wall.

“How long has it been?” she asks.

“I don’t know.” The man says confused.

“You don’t know how long ago the Great War was?”

“Oh, about a thousand years. I think, forgive me… I am not an educated man.” He offers reluctantly.

“We don’t have much time.” The old woman says as she tries to sit up.

“For what?”

“My body will collapse soon; my time is at an end.”

“Why?”

“The magic was to keep me alive in an unconscious state. Now that I am awake, my body will fail me soon.” She says as she finds what she is looking for inside the giant oyster goo beneath her.

She pulls out a trident of pure pearl. “This is Sol’s Trident of the Sea. It is one of the ancient wonders from before the war. Whoever holds it, controls all the Oceans on the planet. It has the power to give and take life, raise up and break down. Like a scale at the market, it measures both sides. With its power, the thrones of men could crumble.”

“And it’s mine?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It can only be wielded by a woman as per the ancient magic and the magician that formed it. A woman of virtue, who will use it for justice, who will stand against oppression of the weak, and discipline the principle powers of this world. You were chosen to live but a fleeting moment longer because you know such a woman.”

“Yes, my wife!” He exclaims as he imagines this woman’s viewed concept of time.

“If you didn’t know a woman worthy of this mantle then you would have been eaten.”

“Like all of my friends?”

The woman glances a knowing look without answering the question.

“Take this to your wife, for she is chosen. With Sol’s Trident she will rule over the sea. She can call upon the fish to give themselves up for harvest or to use the creatures of the sea to enforce her wrath. Take it, deliver it to your wife for she has a mighty part to play in the war to come. The other six Wonders must be revealed before the final reckoning of Paul’s World Order will be dismantled brick by brick.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Leo, it’s not your place to understand, it is just your job to place Sol’s Trident into her hands, and she will know what to do. Do you accept your task?”

“I do.” The man says as he takes the trident, shaken that this old woman knew his name.

“The creatures will take you home, the magic will guide them. Complete your mission as I have completed mine. I must rest… Go now!” The woman says as the oyster closes her up behind her.

The sea dragon pokes its head through the wall of water and the man grabs ahold. As soon as he is on the sharks stop circling and the empty hole closes up and the surround the sea dragon as before. The sea claims the old woman’s body in an instant.

This time on the creature’s back something is different. They take off at top speed as if they were attacking prey. The man lays upon the back of the sea dragon and finds himself unable to stay awake, exhaustion has set in. Sometime later… a few hours, a few days… he isn’t sure. The sea dragon awakens him with a nudge.

He raises his head to find that Orlea is smoldering before him. It’s dark but the dwindling fires still light the night sky. He hops off the creature’s back and frantically makes his way to shore. At the destroyed dock he arrives on land. No one is left alive. Thousands dead because of a citywide fire.

The streets are clear enough to navigate as the buildings continue to burn lazily from the days old fire. It’s hot, scorching hot next to the still burning areas. He is able to find his home or what’s left of it. The building must have been near the cause of the fire because the rubble is no longer burning. Frantically he goes about searching through it.

The smell of burning flesh is never far from him. In fact, in a strange way it guides him. He finds his children’s scorched bodies first. Then he found the completely charred body of his wife.

Why was he too late? How is this possible, he was chosen to deliver the trident to his bride…

Broken mentally, physically… he collapses.

As he lays next to what’s left of his wife, he is overcome with grief. But then there’s a whisper. “Place the trident in her hand.”

“What?” he says absently.

No one says anything. There’s no one here.

He gives up and returns to the dock to get away from his burnt family. He looks for a way out of the city along the edge of the shore.

“Put the trident in her hand.”

He looks up. That was an audible voice.

In the bay, the sea dragon stares at him with its head out of the water.

“Do it and give yourself up. You were chosen.” The sea dragon demands of him then disappears beneath the sea.

Reluctantly he returns to his home. He places the pearl trident into his wife’s hands.

Nothing happens.

He is overcome with grief. He was too late, he gives up. He leans in to kiss his wife’s forehead. His tears fall down on her burned body. He kisses her and fades away.

In that moment, the transfer of his lifeforce takes effect. He dies so that his wife may be reborn.

She screams as she is awoken in her still burnt body. The sea immediately rises throughout the city. Hundreds of sea creatures rush to her and surrender their lifeforce to her, healing her with each sacrifice.

She rises above the sea, trident in hand. Completely transformed. A pearl crown adorns her head as if it is coming from her own skull. Mystic fish scale armor of pale blue covers her body. It’s ancient from the time before the war. This woman that has done nothing more than the most honorable womanly calling of motherhood has been reformed into the Queen of the Sea and one of the most powerful forces on the planet.

She stands on top of the sea and walks out of the city. As she does so, creatures from the sea enter the flooded city and collect the charred dead. None are left behind. She walks out to the sea dragon and mounts his back. The procession of the dead follows her carried by octopuses, dolphins, giant crabs, and the like. Slowly they disappear into the night. No one was left to witness this strange ordeal.

Final Places Part 2

Roasa and Rain

On the road to Gilbertown, the royal envoy just restarted after stopping for midday lunch. The two members of the Queen’s personal guard ride atop her carriage. Rain is on alert, ever committed to her job. Roasa is bored.

“It must be hard being back in the Capital. Are you okay?” Roasa asks.

“Why would it be hard? I am protecting the Queen; it is a huge honor.” Rain responds.

“Rain, you were the Queen, now you’re protecting your replacement.”

“I was not the queen. I gave birth to a child by the King to maintain the unity between the royals and my people. It was just an assignment.”

“What about now? Is this an assignment? I’ve thought of you as a friend… are you telling me that everything we have been through was you just doing your duty?”

“Friends? Bellumi do not have friends. Bellumi has fellow warriors, you are a fellow warrior.”

“So I am the same as one of the infantrymen, say that one over there?” Roasa asks as she points to a random Bellumi soldier marching in line.

“No, I do not know that soldier, but I have a history with you. We have fought beside each other, we have protected each other and confided in each other on the pathway.”

“That’s what friends do. I know you say that Bellumi people don’t do a lot of things, but most of them are things that you do. You are not the same as the average Bellumi, your path took you on a journey that no other Bellumi has been on. Queen, guide to a prince in a foreign land, protector of the Royal Family, my friend.”

“If we are friends, Roasa, you must answer a question for me.”

“Anything.”

“Why do you look at the King the way you do?”

“What? How? Rain, you know I have taken a vow of celibacy until the evil that killed my Jose is driven from the land!”

“I cannot help but notice the way you look at him… the way he looks at you.”

“I’m not in love with him if that’s what you’re wondering.” Roasa says with that famous Durrie temper rising.

“I do not think that I just know it’s different.”

“The King buried my Jose while Stephan and Matthew rode off to find those evil bastards who killed him. His kindness helped me through those hellish days. I feel connected to him, like I was supposed to be found by him. I think he feels it too, when I went to visit him in his cell in Meego… he said that the next time we spoke, that he needed to tell me something. But the Queen’s father never let me return. I think he was going to tell me something along those lines.”

“What is the connection like?”

“It’s weird, I’ve tried to deny it, but I can’t shake it. It’s like we were meant to be together, not like romantically… but at the same time, I have this feeling that if it were a different time we could have been. I don’t feel that it was just he and I that were brought together, but the Queen, David and Stephan, Matthew, and my friend, Rain.”

Rain looks away to hide the tear that formed in her eye. She doesn’t understand this feeling.  Bellumi don’t cry.

Ser Robert

At an undisclosed location somewhere in the kingdom, Ser Robert sits in his cell. He has been here for months but doesn’t understand why. Aero spared his life and turned him over to a stranger. A stranger that he hasn’t seen since arriving here. He is lost and hungry, sweating and freezing, he is exhausted and ready to burst out of his cell. The knight is full of contradiction. This place, whatever it is has broken the once proud royal official.

A rattle at the door, must mean it’s feeding time. In walks a young mid-teen girl with ratty clothes. She places a plate in the floor without looking at the disgruntled man.

“Where did you come from?” the man asks.

The girl doesn’t pay him any attention. She begins cleaning his cage as if he wasn’t there. At one time, the man wouldn’t take this indignity, but all these months of confusion and mental abuse have broken him.

“Please, I haven’t seen a girl in months. Will you tell me your name?” He asks sheepishly.

The girl stops what’s she is doing and turns toward the man. She looks to his eyes. Her gaze pierces his… one blue eye and one brown.

Ser Robert’s heart sinks, he has seen these eyes in dozens of people over these past months. He begins to tear up as he whispers “Gyn.”

The girl turns back to her duties.

Ser Robert weeps. “Please… Gyn… I’ve talked, I am no value to you. Why keep me here?”

“You live to serve the us now.” She says as she walks out of the cell and slams the door.

“Who are you?”

“You thought the Whispering Owls is a secret society, we watch them and the rest of the kingdom. To know our name is death to anyone who isn’t a member.”

“Does Aero know the name?”

“Of course.” The girl says as she leaves the room.

Once again Ser Robert is alone with his splintered mind. What horrors await him at the hands of the ever-changing Gyn?

Ser Matthew

Matthew and his Bellumi force have been pinned down in the corner as Orlea burned since he was ambushed by Marco. After the first night, the cries died down. The honor bound knight has been forced to standby as genocide rages in the city. The city is silent as it still burns at first light on the third morning. Out in the distance a group of riders approach at a distance. By Matthew’s estimation he is outnumbered three to one not counting the archers above them. Once again, he is facing impossible odds.

“Ser Matthew! You may approach.” A man yells out from the riders.

Matthew steps out cautiously. Several of the Bellumi leaders follow a few steps behind. As soon as they step out of the shadows of the wall, the archers on the wall strike them all down.

“Just you knight.” One of archer yells.

Matthew is tired of all the senseless death of his Bellumi companions. He is exhausted from days of staying alert ensuring that no one stepped out of the boundary of safety. Arrows hit around Matthew’s feet trying to force him on.

“Move!” The archer yells.

Matthew steps forward, as he does three riders leave the rest of their group. They meet in the middle ground.

“Look boys, the Captain of the Guard. The man who took my job and saw fit to strip us of our knighthoods.” Oliver says as his horse stops before Matthew.

“This is him Ser Oliver? The dolphin rider chose him? What a disgrace. We should kill him now.” Says the other man.

“Ser Carlisle, King Marco gave us direct order, we deliver his gift now and kill him later.” Oliver says.

“However, if this outlaw were to do something stupid, we will have to defend ourselves.” The third man adds.

They all laugh.

“No, Ser James. I know that you have a knack for finding an angle to bend the rules of engagement for our entertainment but the King gave strict orders. Just look the man in the eyes and know that we will kill him very slowly and painfully soon.” Oliver rebukes.

“And publicly.” Carlisle threatens.

Matthew stands quietly taking in all the indignities these three false knights throw at him.

Oliver dismounts and pulls a small wooden box with an owl carved into it.

“Ser Matthew, King Marco has chosen to allow you to live today to serve his purpose. Perhaps completing this task will grant you mercy. The King commands you to remove John Henry’s body from the gate and take it along with this box to your king.” Oliver says as he places the box at Matthew’s feet. “Just so you know, it has the blade that Marco used to kill John Henry in it. It’s the blade that he took from Aero last year. He don’t need it anymore.”

Matthew bends down and picks up the box. He opens it to see that Oliver was telling the truth.

“Go now, you have a three-day ride to Gilbertown.” Oliver says as he mounts his horse.

Matthew’s eyes widen “How did you…”

“You were kept here for three days so that you couldn’t reach Aero in time. Marco wanted you to know that we know Aero’s on his way to try to find allies with the Gilbert’s. But for fun, he wanted to have you wait here long enough that you would never be able to reach them in time. Because King Marco has already secured the loyalty of the Gilbert’s, Aero and his entire royal court is walking into a trap. Maybe my math is off. Perhaps you can make that journey in time if you hurry, but you won’t do it with horses, you will walk The archers will kill every horse you have left. We will see you soon. Be sure to take John Henry with you or every Bellumi soldier you have left will be cut down by the archers!”

Matthew sprints back to the gate, he must hurry…

Jackson vs M’hel

In the wilderness of the northwest territory somewhere east of the Iron Mountains, M’hel is chanting again. His soldier stands at attention ever watchful over his master. Suddenly, something catches his eye. A young woman walks directly toward the camp.

“Hello, may I approach?” the woman asks.

M’hel stops chanting and takes a breath. “No you may not, Jax’n. Stay there or I will unleash my Abaddon upon you.”

“You know he is no threat to me; I go by Jackson these days.”

‘Why hide your mystic name? We are the gods of this world; these people are mere bugs beneath our feet.”

“The old ways must not return; you must not succeed.”

I have my champion, the general of my legion but you came here alone. You don’t have a champion. You’re just a weak old man, a shell of your former self.”

“Interesting that you should use those words.” Jackson says as he reaches out his hand toward Abaddon. He begins chanting in the ancient tongue, white light races out of his hand striking M’hel’s monster.

M’hel instinctively lashes out with a similar lightshow, the same black light from the Night of the Black Sky.

Abaddon stands motionless as the two sorcerer’s wage mystical battle upon his body.

Jackson swiftly holds his opposite hand up toward M’hel sending out a blinding light into his glowing black eyes. M’hel’s magic faulters for the briefest of seconds. Just enough time for Jackson to complete his mission.

His light pulls Nunley out of the blackness. He collapses upon the ground, the moment that he does, Jackson grabs him and blinks both of them away.

M’hel regains his sight to find Abaddon still standing before him. He laughs, all Jax’n has done is removed the weakness from his minion. He made him even stronger by purging any conscious that was locked inside him.

About a hundred miles away, Jax’n and Nunley blink into a small cave.

“What happened?” Nunley asked.

“You have been removed from M’hel’s monster.”

“But I was the monster, are you saying that it lives without me?”

“M’hel’s Abaddon was brought about by increasing all of your negative personality traits while suppressing everything else. I was able to strip away everything that M’hel suppressed.”

“So I am not truly me anymore?”

“You are a new you, one that doesn’t possess the violent rage, and sadism. You will be noble, and just, a true knight of the realm. You will be my champion against M’hel.”

“I… I am a murderer. The things I have done… I deserve… death.”

“No, my friend, the guilt you feel is of crimes committed by everything left behind in the monster. Instead of feeling guilt, dedicate your life to defeating evil. The evil that was once in you is gone; you are now pure. Become the sword of justice and bring salvation to this land. This is your destiny, that’s why I warned you at Village Harbor and why I came for you now.”

“Yes… I swear my life to protecting the land from the darkness that rises!”

Final Places Part 1

Matthew and Marco

Ser Matthew and his Bellumi delegation approach the city gates of Orlea. Matthew is on edge because he doesn’t trust the Broussard’s. Not after everything that Marco has put them through over the past year. Even with the seal of the king and the waving of a flag of truce, Matthew has learned to not trust this family.

Suddenly an alarm from the tail of the convoy. Matthew turns to look back to find that a military force of a few thousand has come up from behind them. But then there is an alarm to the left flank, then the right flank almost in unison. They are surrounded on three sides by an army of at least ten thousand.

The army aggressively pushes Matthew’s accompaniment toward the city walls. Matthew orders a tactical retreat toward the city gate, but it is just as the first Bellumi soldiers reach the city walls that the trap is set.

The steel portcullis gate is dropped. Attached to the gate is a black hooded figure with a golden owl mask. He is clearly dead. Ser Matthew and his small force are trapped by a much larger army. Backs to a city gate that will not open. Matthew draws his sword to make his final stand.

“That’s not a smart move, but you aren’t a smart man.” Says a voice coming from the mass of horses, and men surrounding them. A man steps out into the open. It’s Marco.

“The new King’s drinking buddy. A huge gift at my doorstep! Perhaps sending him your head in a box would get his attention… Sheathe your sword!”

Matthew looks toward the Bellumi, through their training they know that delegation is the only hope for survival. Matthew returns his sword to its sheathe.

“I want you to know that I am not going to kill you… if certain concessions are made. First, I demand that ten Bellumi die right now.”

“No!” Matthew screams.

But the Bellumi Captain points to ten men without hesitation, and they all draw their daggers and plunge them into their own hearts. Ten Bellumi soldiers fall dead. No hesitation, no last words, no pleading.

“You see Matt, you think you are safe with these Bellums… But their code is so idiotic that in a pinch, they are prepared to die without question. You don’t have loyal men; you have obedient mindless pawns. Men who surrender to a greater power. Just warm bodies and nothing more.”

“There was no sense in that…”

“Shut up! I am in a forgiving mood. It must be all the blood I’ve shed. The rest of you can live… for now. You will be my messenger to that false king and queen of yours. Tell them that I will snuff out the remaining members of the royal family. Spilling their blood is addicting!” Marco says will a maniacal laugh.

Matthew turns to the body hanging from the gate.

“Yes, John Henry failed me. Killing him was the greatest moment of my life. Well… until I kill that dolphin rider in front of his wife! Then she will be the first member of my new harem! It is going to be amazing!”

“You’re crazy!” Matthew utters in disbelief.

“Stupid commoner, you don’t know when to keep your mouth shut. I am altering our deal. Ten more Bellumi’s must die. The Captain points to ten more, all die following orders.

“Stop dammit!”

“Ten more! These ten are on your hands Matt.”

“Ten more Bellumi fall to meet Marco’s terms.

“Next I want you to kneel before me. Kneel now or I will order twenty more!”

Indignantly Matthew kneels before Marco to save Bellumi lives.

“I got to be honest with you Matt, this is just for my amusement. As far as your king’s demands go. I surrender the city to you now. I have no use for it. It’s dead…”

Suddenly screams can be heard from inside the gates. Marco had some of his men set fire to the city. In moments every corner of Orlea is burning. Citizens screams are blood curdling, which brings a large smile to Marco’s face.

“I have about a hundred of my best archers on top of the wall. If anyone tries to escape the city, they are dead. You will stand right here until the third morning, then you can recover the prince’s body and deliver my message to your king. But if anyone steps out of these shadows before then my archers will kill you where you stand!” Marco says victoriously.

Matthew begins to stand.

“No! Stay knelt until we are out of sight.” Marco says as he turns to leave with his army.

Zee and Kat

On Perga Lyne, the main island of the Peel Islands, Katina has just healed Zyno’s injured wing with her dark magic. Zyno now has matching black wings.

“We can’t stay here long; this is the first place they will look?” Zyno says as he embraces his witch lover.

“Mother is still here; she will know what to do.” Katina responds.

Katina calls out for her mother, but she doesn’t get an answer. They wait around for a few minutes before they begin to search the island for her. It doesn’t take long for them to find the decaying body of the witch’s mother.

“What happened to her?” Katina asks.

“She was murdered.”

“By who?”

“It had to be Nunley, when he was searching for us.”

“At least he is dead. I guess we can go to the mainland, my mother’s sister lives in plain sight on an old farm.”

“No, she doesn’t. I saw her die on that farm when I was running. Nunley killed her too. I didn’t realize it until just now. I guess I was in too much of a panic at the time to notice her family resemblance, but she looked extremely old.”

“That nasty man took so much from us, I wish I had known what he had taken from me when you threw him off the forge top.”

“He’s dead, he can’t hurt us anymore.” Zyno tells Katina trying to comfort her.

“He’s not dead!” someone says from behind.

“Betta!” Zyno says as he steps in front of Katina.

“Zee, I’m not here as your enemy. I come bringing news.”

“What is it?”

“After the fight, Ayepex conducted a search for Nunley’s body. He found the impact area but found two sets of footprints walking away from it.”

“How?”

“The same way you’re able to fly again. Magic.” Katina says as she steps out from behind Zyno.

“The sky went dark; some powerful magic was used last night.” Betta tells them.

In their haste to leave the forge, they did not notice the events of the night before. In fact, Katina was so focused on healing Zyno’s wing that she never even noticed the black sky.

“What do we do now?” Zyno asks.

“Ayepex said that you will be welcomed back to the Forge.”

“No, that is not our home.” Zyno responds.

“Neither is this place.” Betta answers.

“You’re both right, until Nunley is dead and in the ground, we have no home!” Katina says in anger.

The Kind Old Man

The old man has been west for a week since his night spent in the Bend. For the most part he has kept to himself. He’s only had a couple meaningful conversations since he met Kate. She has dwelled in his thoughts. He has even dreamed about her.

Today, the old man sits at a table at an inn in the small crossroads town of Doan. Just like he has done since he left Kate’s, he is trying to mind his own business.

“I tell you Pete, the new King isn’t even light skinned, he favors his mother. That woman from the Breaker islands. Blond hair… he has blond hair! He doesn’t look like a King at all.” A man says tells his friend from a couple tables over.

“Hell, I hear the Queen is a Meegan witch who charmed Prince Aero and used her magic to trick King William into stepping down.” the name named Pete says.

“You’re right! The witch Queen, is hideous but she casts spells on every man who looks at her!”

The old man can’t help himself. “Gentlemen forgive me, but I can’t help but overhear your discussion. I’ve seen the King and Queen. You’re both wrong, the King is the son of William, his skin is just darker than the other Royals. It looks like he has stood out in the suns for days, but he is a royal. As far as the Queen goes, she is Meegan brown and very beautiful but she’s no witch. They work as a team unlike the past King’s. Hell, King Aero doesn’t even have a harem because the Queen is enough woman for anyone.”

“Maybe you’re right old man, but no one is going to allow a brown Queen to rule them. It’s one thing for a King to take a woman as his glorified whore, like King William but to say that some Sand Charmer has equal say in ruling the Kingdom is different.” One of them responds.

“Then what happens with the next King? He’s going to be dark brown too.” The other one adds.

“Then he will marry a Bellumi or go out west and mix with one of them yella women. They will be ruling us soon.”

“Men, I respectfully disagree. They will bring a new restoration to the Kingdom. Just give them a chance.” The old man responds.

Both men laugh.

“It’s not going to happen. You see old man, there is an army forming southwest from here near Horntown. The pay is good, and its sole purpose is overthrowing the Crown. I’ve heard that they already have fifty thousand men. We are on our way to join them. The King and Queen will be dead before winter!”

The Pecking Order of Owls

As Marco enters the gates of Orlea, he breathes a sigh of relief.

After days of riding back roads in the dark, he has entered the confines of his home city. A fortress city with it’s back to the sea. With the combined resources of his family and the Coven, he has no fear of the new King now. The city could withstand a siege forever in his mind.

Marco also feels that he can salvage his plans with John Henry safely under the Broussard’s protection. Aero sweeping in and claiming the throne is nothing more than a minor setback. One easily remedied with his superior intellect. The dolphin rider may have had a successful opening salvo, but Marco knows the boy king doesn’t have the mind for this chess game. He is confident that he can rid the world of this pretend king in swift fashion.

Marco was quick to ask the guards about riders from the Capital and found that only a single rider carrying a king sealed note for his father three days ago. The ride through the streets of Orlea from the gates to Broussard Castle takes about fifteen minutes. More than enough time to figure out how to spin the events of the past days to his father.

Word travels fast in Orlea. Ears are everywhere; the Broussa spy network ensures that news of the arrival of Marco reaches the castle before he does. Marco anticipates this and is not surprised when His father’s house greets them at the castle gate.

“Father, may I present King John Henry the Fifth.” Marco says as his father approaches their wagon.

“We need to speak alone, get cleaned up and be in my study afterwards; the help will see to the king.”

“Yes father.”

About a half an hour later, Marco is in his father’s study spinning his story. Doing his best to frame the events in the Capital to minimize them. Marco knows very well that he must convince his father if he has any hope of winning over the Inner Circle. Gaining his father’s favor almost assures unity with the Covenant. Marco uses his oratory skills with expert precision, with each word his confidence grows. He knows he is in the zone and that his audience is being moved. For minutes on end, he explains with great detail his plan to defeat the usurper and place the Coven’s puppet king on the throne.

Leonardo finally stops his son. “You’ve spoken long enough son. This has always been your problem; you always speak first without having all the information.”

A jolt of fear travels down Marco’s spine. He has been so used to manipulating his way through life without any hardship but he may have miscalculated this time.

“I’m sure you are aware that the new King sent a letter a few days ago, but you didn’t even ask about it.”

“Because Father, I know Aero. He sent you a letter demanding that I be turned over to him. He is in over his head.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong. He did demand you, but he also demanded so much more, everything from routine royal inspections to auditing the books for taxes…”

“You’re not considering this are you? Our family has ruled this city for two thousand years! Give me a chance to make this right, my plan will work and end this whole ordeal. We will kill Aero and have his sand charmer queen working the rest of her life in our brothels.”

“King Aero also demanded the immediate disbanding of the Covenant. His demand mentioned the Coven by name. How could he know about us?”

“I didn’t say anything to him. I swear to you father!”

“If you didn’t then who did? Who else would have told Aero?”

“The only options would be Gerwin, Ser Robert, or John Henry.”

“Robert is missing, Gerwin is dead, and your King is here. Aero demands him as well.”

“Father… Let’s convene the Council, I will layout my plan.”

“The Inner Circle met two days ago. We are giving into Aero’s demands.”

“WHAT!?!” Marco screams.

“The Coven has worked in secret for centuries, until you pushed for too much too fast. The Coven must go back into the shadows. Generations of work undone in an instant! We will endure in secret again. You have brought the Owls to our knees. By your oath, you will give your life to ensure the survival of the Coven. The King is sending a security force to recover you and John Henry soon. I am sorry son, you flew too close to the Suns and got us all burned. Go spend time with the family, when the King’s dispatch arrives you will go willingly and keep your mouth shut for once in your life. Your death ensures the survival of the Coven. The Council will meet with you in the morning to get the whole story.”

“But father!”

“Shut up! I have spoken!”

Marco leaves his father’s study absently. How could this have happened? He has no idea. Marco goes straight to his childhood bedroom and locks himself in. Sometime in the middle of the night his mind breaks. By the time of the first Sunrise nothing is left of the old plotting Marco, he is now filled with rage. He spent the night imagining the deaths of Aero and Asna among others.

By breakfast the castle is roaring with news. Old man Leonardo passed in his sleep.

Rumors swirl quickly that Marco killed his father, but Leonardo had armed guards stationed outside Marco’s room and they testify that Marco never left his room.

By midmorning the Council sends word to Marco that their meeting is still on. Marco immediately sends word back that he will attend.

At midday, Marco enters the chamber of  Owls with his cloak and owl mask on.

“You must take off that mask now, you are no longer the Horned Owl.” The Snow Owl demands.

“You are correct.” Marco says as he removes the golden mask and throws it on the table before them.

He then reaches into his cloak and pulls out his father’s mask, the mask of the Great Overseer. The mask is designed after ancient cave carvings of the mythical Spedis Owl by the primitives that inhabited the land before recorded history.

“How dare you!” The Snow Owl yells.

When he does, the doors fly open to the chamber. Dozens of Broussa guards pour into the room and encircle the room.

“Brethren, I have here a sealed letter from my father naming me as his successor on this sacred board. By my right, I am now the Great Overseer!”

“A forgery to be sure!” says the Pygmy Owl.

“No brother. I convinced my father that the time to strike this false king is now! He turned over leadership of the Council to me to ensure his plan. He drank Broan laced Ale before bed last night. His letter says that his time has passed, and it’s my time now. Pledge allegiance to me now, we have much work to do.”

The Broussa guards draw their weapons as intimidation.

‘Your father drank poison last night? I’ve known Leonardo for over forty years! There’s no way…”

“Choose your next words carefully…” Marco pauses midsentence “No, never mind, don’t bother.”

Marco waves his hand and three of his guards step forward stabbing the Snow Owl over and over again.

Marco looks around the room, evaluating the remaining council members. The room is silent, aside from the last gasps of the Snow Owl. When he speaks, he gets straight to the point.

“Anyone else want out or can we get down to business?”

Quickly, each member of the Council pledge allegiance to Marco officially naming him the next Overseer under threat of death.

With his authority cemented, Marco gets straight to business.

“Bring in John Henry.” Marco orders.

John Henry enters the old chambers of the Covenant for the first time.

“Wow, this is the Inner Circle?” John Henry says as he looks around the darkened room.

“It is.” Marco responds.

“Marco? Is that you behind the mask?”

“Yes.”

John Henry nods in acknowledgement.

“Is that my mask?” John Henry ask pointing at the Horned Owl mask on the table.

Marco reaches for the mask and holds it in his hands. “Your brother sent a letter to my father, demanding our surrender and the disbanding of the Coven.”

“He is an idiot; he doesn’t have any idea just how in over his head he is.”

“He seems to be smarter than I thought, he is one of the few people to even know the name of the society.”

“He’s only knows because I told him the night before he left for Meego.”

“You told him?”

“I did, when I was gloating that I was going to be King.”

“You told him…”

Marco reaches into his cloak and pulls out the dagger that he took from Aero the night John Henry spoke to Aero. He stabs him in the gut, John Henry hits the ground screaming. All the owls stand up in shock.

Marco, kneels over the prince “All you had to do was keep your mouth shut and I would have made you the most beloved king in history, but you couldn’t.” He looks at the owl mask in his hand. “You want this mask?”

Marco raises it over his head and brings it crashing down on John Henry’s face, he then raises it over again. He brings the Horned Owl mask down again. John Henry’s facial bones break as Marco continues his assault.

The prince’s screams die down as Marco keeps beating his face. John Henry’s face breaks as Marco takes all his frustrations out on him. Blood, bone and brain matter spill out on the floor of the chamber.

Marco reaches into the dead prince’s blood and smears it across his mask.

“This isn’t the last royal blood I will shed.” Marco says arrogantly in his rage. “Clean this up, we have work to do.”

Marching Orders

“The people are already calling it the Night of the Black Sky.” Yorba says to the Court.

“How do we know that it was just one night?” Rune asks.

“That’s a good question, we will find out soon.” Queen Asna states.

“Rumor is that it started in the west.” Matthew adds.

“We must send a scout party to find answers.” David suggests.

“I would volunteer but I must accompany David on his… her diplomatic mission that you assigned my King.” Stephan tells Aero.

“Then I volunteer. We must know what happened.” Matthew says.

“The people of the Bend are frightened and look to the Crown for comfort. What should we tell them?” Yorba interjects.

“That we are sending out our best men to find answers. Ser Matthew…”

“No.” Aero stops Asna before she can command him. “The answer is simple; magic is back in the land. I suspect it has something to do with the Royal Blade returning to the mainland. A powerful magician, or sorcerer, or witch or something cast a strong spell last night…. We do need answers and will search for them, but we have more immediate issues to deal with. Matt, coordinate with the Master at Arms, and take a Bellumi force to the gate of Orlea and see if you can draw Marco out. The quicker he is dealt with the more stable our rule will be.”

“Understood.” Matthew says.

“And Matt, I’ll have official orders drawn up before you leave. I will be offering the Broussard’s a peaceful end to this quarrel if they turn Marco over to you.”

“Then who do you suggest we send to lead the survey party?” Asna asks.

“Ser Stephan is correct; I need him to accompany David. Per the letter Adam sent to us this morning, we need to visit Gilbertown to wrangle their knights back to the crown. Especially if magic this kind of magic has returned to the land. We must leave as soon as possible, as they are expecting their final son to be born soon. As an official State visit, I am placing Ali in command of our security, while Master at Arms will continue his duties here in the Capital.” Aero adds.

“Then who does that leave for this urgent mission?” Asna asks.

“Will and his Resurgent’s. They will go.”

“Are we willing to take a risk on them with such an important mission?”

“My Queen, I assure you that the Resurge’s will do their duty.” Will speaks up from the back, excited for such a high-profile mission.

“I have no doubt that you will lead them honorably.” Asna replies.

“Gather supplies and weapons for a four-month journey. You will accompany us until Gilbertown, then you will continue west. Speak to the people as you travel, you should be able to find clues from them. If you receive good information perhaps you can solve this mystery. At four months, return to the Capital with all your findings.”

“Yes, My King, it will be done.”

“We must assign stewards to stay behind to hold the castle and maintain the daily duties of the crown.” Aero adds.

“I believe that we should entrust Yorba and Rune in this task. It will allow them to remain in the Capital and oversee their passion project, the renovation of the Bend.” Asna says.

Aero looks to Rune and Yorba “As the Queen commands.”

The remainder of the court dealt with odds and ends, planning the movement of everyone. Aero is learning that nothing comes easy in kingdom politics. Later dinner is served, then the goodbyes begin.

At dusk, King Aero stands in the stables as Ser Matthew saddles his horse.

“Brother, I want you to allow the Bellumi to command themselves. You are a diplomat on this mission, not a soldier.”

“That may be the plan until the arrows start flying. The Broussard’s will not give up Marco.”

“I know, but the entire Kingdom will know we offered peace before we strike. I want you to approach the gates of the city and wait for their delegates to meet you. Provide them with my sealed decree and await a response. Honor demands that they honor your nonaggression. Once you have either their response or Marco in hand, ride to me in Gilbertown.”

“I will do what the Crown requires.”

“Matt be safe, and I’ll buy the next round when we return.”

“I understand that the King drinks for free.”

“I’ve heard that too, but we all drink for free at Maverick’s.”

“When we get back, we drink at the Grove Stone! I’m holding you to the promise that you made before we left for Meego.”

“Deal. Safe journey, and I’ll see you in about a week.”

Matthew mounts his horse and departs to meet the Bellumi convoy for Orlea.

The next morning, the remainder of the crew meet in the throne room to say their goodbyes.

“Have you made your decision yet big brother; I mean sister.” Aero asks David awkwardly.

David smiles at the awkwardness, it has been a constant since the transformation. “I am still debating it; I don’t have to make my final decision until tomorrow morning. I’m just hoping time speeds by, I don’t know if I can stay in this unknown for much longer. I know Stephan can’t either.”

“Well whatever your decision is, know I love you. I couldn’t have made it through this past year without you. I don’t care what you look like on the outside, I know who you are on the inside. That’s everything I need to know.”

David overcome with emotion hugs Aero “thank you!”

While Aero and David have their moment, Ser Stephan is going over the mission details with Will, giving him pointers on how to get information out of the citizens of the kingdom.

Across the room Asna speaks with Yorba about her duties while they are away. Rain listens closely, her ever-present hovering over the Queen shows her commitment to her duty.

Roasa enters the throne room with Gaia and Shoala.

“My Queen, Shoala has asked to accompany you on your journey.” Roasa says.

Asna smiles “What a wonderful idea! We haven’t had much time to get to know each other, but this trip will give us that opportunity. Of course, my sister can come with us.”

Shoala hugs the Queen, thankful to be a part of the Crown’s affairs. King William never allowed her to participate in his royal duties. Her mixed parentage was always frowned upon until now.

Asna leans into Roasa and whispers “we have to get Shoala and Rain together during the trip. This girl needs her mother.”

“And her mother needs her.” Roasa responds.

The women share a look of understanding.

Stephan and David go around the room wishing everyone good fortune on their travels before they depart. Everyone does their best to show support for David and comfort Stephan. After their long goodbyes, they depart on their secret mission to Crimson.

Asna and Aero give Yorba, Rune, and the Master at Arms final instructions, then they depart for Gilbertown in hopes of restoring their relationship with the Gilbert Knights.

“I’m excited to witness the birth of a Gilbert Knight, hopefully we can restore our relationship with them. Those magic Warhammers are powerful.” Aero tells Asna.

Aftermath of the Battle

M’hel and Nunley

Nunley has been quietly following M’hel for hours. Even though he has many questions, everything from his resurrection to this obedience he finds himself trapped in. His rage is boiling over in his mind yet his body follows M’hel. Nunley’s eyes are fixed on the old man’s feet before him, unable to gain any control.

“This is far enough friend.” M’hel says to Nunley. “Gather wood for a large fire.”

“Yes Master.” Nunley hears himself say much to his dismay.

A short time later, M’hel stands before a raging fire.

“It is time for you to step into your true purpose, stand in the fire.”

Nunley suddenly regains his speech. In shock, he speaks out loud “Hell no!”

“My friend, I understand your fear, but remember six hours ago you were dead. Trust me.”

“No!”

“Nunley, you are a blunt object chopping away at the world but when you step back out of the fire you will be the tip of my spear. You will be my Abaddon.”

“What?” He says overcome with fear.

“Walk.”

Nunley loses his ability to speak as he begins stepping toward the fire.

As he does, M’hel begins a rhythmic chanting. Nunley doesn’t understand any of words. The chanting mixed with the heat on his skin causes Nunley to piss himself. Still he walks.

Just steps from the fire, it begins to darken. The flames turn black with an almost anti-glow. The heat is excruciating as Nunley steps into the fire.

As Nunley reaches the center, he screams internally but his face remains expressionless. M’hel chants louder and begins circling the fire. As he does so the fire begins to swirl into the air. A fire column raises hundreds of feet into the air. In the dark of night, the fire is darker. It appears as if the black fire is sucking the moonlight out of the sky, making the entire region darker. The fire acts as an amplifier for M’hel’s voice. His chanting can be heard from miles around. But the darkness conceals his location.

Louder and darker, everyone in the barren region is awoken by the unnatural calling. Children scream in fear. Mothers hold their babies tight; fathers reach for weapons in the dark. A night of great fear is upon them.

Suddenly M’hel steps into the black fire with Nunley. His chanting lowers and the flame begins to lower with it. M’hel unsheathes Kobi’s green blade sword and holds it to the sky. As he does so, all the black fire enters the blade turning it into the same anti-light black as the flames. Over several minutes the process is continues.

Finally, when the fire dies and the smoke clears, M’hel stands in the middle of the ashes; Nunley kneeling at his feet. M’hel is no longer a frail old man bandaged up. He as been transformed into his prime. Long black hair, as black as the evil fire. His eyes burn black with red pupils.

In the sky above them, the effects of the evil fire is evident. The entire moon is black on this night and the stars seem to have disappeared. Every corner of the country can see the powerful display.

In the Capital, standing on the terrace of the Queen’s Tower, the blackened moon catches Roasa’s eyes. Bellumi warriors pause from formation to gaze upon the evil. Witches standing on the top of the Heroes Peak tremble at the display of pure power.

“Rise my spear; my Abaddon.” M’hel says.

Nunley stands. As he does so, he notices that the skin on his arms are darkened pitch black.

“What do you think?” M’hel asks.

“What the Hell?”

“Nunley, I grow tired of your attitude. You are no longer needed. Away with you.” He says as he waves his hand before Nunley’s face.

Instantly Nunley feels himself fall from his own mind. M’hel has pushed him to the brink of consciousness. Something grows in his mind before him.

“Nunley, you are now a passenger. I have created a new consciousness to inhabit your body. I cannot push you completely out so you will be but a whimper in the background of my new creation.” He says with a malevolent grin.

“Now, my Abaddon. Your skin is now reinforced, a blade can no longer penetrate it. Your speed and strength are enhanced to superhuman levels. You have a killer instinct that no simple man can possess. You are my first, but not my last. You exist to be my fist to punch this world into submission. You will help me bring about my new age.”

“Yes Master.” Abaddon says obediently.

Ayepex

“Captain we have been searching for hours, we have combed the forest… He’s gone.” An underling reports to Ayepex.

“I am aware, expand your search. A dead man walking shouldn’t be hard to find.” Ayepex commands.

Three hours after the battle they are still searching. All the Skymen want to give up yet Ayepex keeps them working. Night has fallen but the Skymen’s eyes are still as sharp as in the daylight.

Nunley is a threat and must be found.

For another couple hours, they search with no sign of Nunley. Just as Ayepex is preparing to call off the search, he receives a report of a strange human aimlessly walking through the forest. In hopes of finding Nunley, Ayepex makes his way to the location.

He lands in front of the man a few dozen feet away.

It’s not Nunley.

This man is light skinned, with an average height… for a human. His head is shaved bald, and he has a number engraved into his forehead- 10905. The expressionless gaze upon his face is unsettling.

“I am Ayepex, Captain of the patrol searching these woods for a dangerous man. He wears skins about his chest, has a belt of hair and wears a skull as a helmet. Have you seen anyone like that?” Ayepex asks the mysterious man.

“This drone is designated ten nine oh five; this drone has not seen any person for weeks.”

“Drone? What do you mean?”

“Ten nine oh five, is a part of a collective of minds but the other voices disappeared months ago, designate Ten nine oh five has been alone ever since.”

“Where did you come from? Who are the other voices?”

“Ten nine oh five exists as one voice in the collective of many. The collective serves the Masters.”

“How long have you been walking, searching for this collective?”

“Ten nine oh five has been walking three months, two weeks, three days, seventeen hours, twenty-three minutes, and thirty-eight seconds.”

“Constantly?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t rest?”

“Ten nine oh five does not require rest. The Master’s made the drones to be most efficient.”

“Where are you going?”

“Ten nine oh five does not know, the other voices are missing.”

“10905, I know some people who may be able to help you with your problem. May we take you to them?”

“Ten nine oh five will go with you.”

Ayepex calls the patrol off, as big of a threat as Nunley is, the unsettling speech of 10905 causes greater fear. The entire conversation happened so fast, and at no point did 10905 show any sign of emotion or expression. He just blankly stared forward and calmly answered the questions to the best of his ability.

Ayepex doesn’t know what to think about this “drone” but hopefully the witches know something. Ayepex believes that 10905 must have been created by some sort of magic.

Once they reach the mountain top, Ayepex passes 10905 over to the witch leaders for questioning.

As the witches take 10905 into the forge, Ayepex, Betta and Kobi meet up.

“Nunley is alive. We found his impact point. His blood is everywhere but there are two sets of footprints walking away. The trail ends about a hundred feet away.”

“What? That’s impossible!” Kobi shouts.

“I’m afraid not. I believe the trail was purposefully left to cause fear in our people.”

“Zyno must know. Him killing Nunley was supposed to be his freedom. Should he ever cross his path again, the shock alone would kill him.” Betta says.

Ayepex thinks for a moment before agreeing. “We don’t know where he is though.”

“Yes we do, Katina only knows two places in the world… She took them home to the island.” Betta explains.

“You’re probably right. Betta I want you to fly alone at first light. Tell no one where you are going. Warn him and try to convince him to come home. He may listen to you.” Ayepex directs.

Betta begins to respond but a chanting shout echo’s throughout the land. The night sky darkens, the moon and stars disappear.

The witches exit the forge to see the horror. Terror grips the mountaintop.

David’s Imbalance

“It’s been three days, and I haven’t been able to do anything productive.” David says in frustration.

“You’ve seen distracted, like you are struggling with something in your heart. Magic takes focus, you need to focus… the entire population of Meego is depending on you.” Crimson responds.

“I’m trying! I just have a lot on my mind okay.”

“Your aggravation isn’t going to help your focus at all.”

“I’m sorry, we have been at this for days with hardly any breaks. How many hours have we been going in this session?”

“I’ve been in this cave for a thousand years; I don’t think I am the best judge of time.”

“I guess not. I’m just tired.”

“It’s more than that. You’re so conflicted. You are at war within yourself. Go, rest… I have a spell that I need to work on for you, it will help you focus. Spend the night in your camp and return to me at daylight.”

“Okay.” David replies as he leaves the cave.

Once out of the cave, he goes to his tent where Ser Stephan is waiting for him.

Aero sent David on this mission with Stephan alone to help protect Crimson. Only a handful of people in the entire Kingdom know where to find him. Secrecy is key so they did not get the usual troop detachment to follow them.

“That beast is difficult to work with! I don’t know why Aero likes him so much.” David says in frustration.

“So it’s still not going well?”  Stephan replies.

“Not at all. He claims I am too conflicted to focus on the magic, yet he insists that I am the best man to try because of my blood. He claims he is making some potion for me to make me whole or something.”

“Do you think he means us?” Stephan asks as he embraces David.

“No, that may have been true a couple weeks ago, but since Asna’s decree I have felt the weight of the world being lifted off my shoulders. Knowing I don’t have to hide from people has brought me peace, I don’t know what that foul beast is thinking.”

“Then what could the potion be for?”

“I don’t know, for Meego I will do my best; but I think the beast is losing his mind. Been in the cave too long.”

“Give him a chance, he helped set so much of the last year into motion with Aero. If it wasn’t for him, we would still be sneaking around behind everyone’s back.”

“So you trust him?” David asks.

“I trust Aero, and the King trust Crimson… That just works out in my mind.”

“We shall see. Let’s lay down, my mind needs rest.”

David and Stephan lay down for the night, after a few minutes of intimacy, Stephan falls fast asleep. David on the other hand allows his anxiety to keep him up most of the night. What is Crimson planning?

Stephan wakes David at daybreak. Just as the other mornings, Stephan accompanies David into the cave to meet Crimson.

Upon arriving inside Crimson is waiting on them.

“Ser Stephan, I apologize for not speaking with you more. I have been focused on the task with Meego, but I hope you will sit down with me to talk when you return. You are one of the great influences on Aero’s life. Right now, you must go break down your camp because you two need to return to the Capital before dark.”

Ser Stephan nods and exits the cave to make the preparations.

“Prince David, thank you for your patience with me. I know that my conversation skills are lacking after all this solitude. I just want you to know that I appreciate your tolerance of me during these past days.”

“I understand, we both want to help Meego. I also know that it must be so exasperating working with someone who can’t do what you ask.”

“There was a time that I would have sensed your imbalance sooner and could have helped you, but I am sadly out of practice. Do not take the burden of this on yourself, I should have seen this sooner.”

“What about the potion?”

“Yes, Prince David… I give you this potion for you to take with you back to the Capital. At dusk, you will drink it. This potion will put you in balance for one week, during that time you must make efforts to maintain your balance. This has had many different outcomes; I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t. You must go on this journey without me. On the seventh day, you will return to me.”

“I don’t understand, why can’t I do this here?”

“You need to be in your home and experience your daily life in balance to make an educated decision about your future. This is an awakening, whatever happens you may not understand or even realize that the change is what you needed. But you need to live life for the next week as normal as possible because your entire life will change in an instant. I will be here at the end of the week to assist you in whatever decision you make.”

“If this will balance me, why will I need to make a decision?” David asks.

“You are conflicted, this potion will balance you but not as you think. You are one side of the coin but feel like you belong on the other. This potion will give you a glimpse of that side of the coin, but at the end of the week you will decide on what side of the coin you must live.”

“I don’t understand, I have balance. The Queen gave me the legal balance I needed.”

“Perhaps deep inside of you, there is something more. Another side of the coin you have never fully admitted that you desired. You will know in one week.”

“I will do what I must, for Meego, for Aero, for everyone.”

“I know you will, you have a true heart for the people, but I must warn you… this decision must be for you and you alone. Making a decision for anyone else will prevent the balance you need. Live this week as if it were any other, then make a wise decision for yourself.”

With that Crimson walks out of the room into the depths of the cave.

For a few moments David stands in the cave with potion in hand. Unsure of what tomorrow holds for him.

Ser Stephan gets them back to the Capital in the late afternoon. Aero and Asna were surprised to see them. Aero had a lot of questions about Crimson, Asna had a lot about Meego. Both were disappointed with the cryptic words that Crimson left with David.

In the evening, Aero and Asna has a private dinner for the four of them. Aero encourages David to drink the potion before them. He reluctantly does so. To everyone’s disappointment, nothing happened. The thought of seeing magic in action is still taboo to everyone.

Later, David lies in bed with Ser Stephan unsure of what to expect. With every passing moment, he waits for a change. It’s very overwhelming for him, expecting some kind of change but not knowing what it will be.

Sometime in the early morning hours, David finally drifts off to sleep.

“What the Hell!” Ser Stephan screams.

His screams wake David up.

“Who are you?” Stephan screams.

“It’s me.” David says. His voice didn’t sound right.

Stephan looks absolutely shocked and horrified at David.

Frantic, David jumps up to stand in front of the mirror.

What has happened to him that has frightened Stephan so much? Did Crimson turn him into a monster too? David grabs random things off his desk throwing them aside looking for his mirror.

The screams alerted the guards who begin breaking into David’s room. The castle guard have been on edge since the assassination attempt. The Bellumi guard break the door as David finds the mirror.

Stephan holds his hand up to stop the guards, who turn to David and look on as he brings the mirror to his face.

David’s heart seems to stop, the color from around his face fades as he gazes upon himself.

“I’m a… woman.” David says in astonishment.

The potion has balanced David. He has never felt comfortable in his own skin but never would allow those feelings to rise to the surface. The magic has changed him everything.

David feels his face, and lips. His skin is softer.

He lowers his hands to his new female body, feeling his breast and hips before finally reaching between his legs to find that he is fully female now.

David turns to Stephan with a look of confusion. David and Stephan just stare in disbelief. They do so until Aero bursts into the room. A guard ran to notify him of the commotion.

Aero joins in the uncomfortable stare.

A couple of minutes pass until Asna, and Roasa enter the room. Roasa looks at Aero and Stephan with their dumbfounded looks. “Really? Men can be so ignorant sometime.”

Asna allows herself to break a smile for the briefest of moments before her and Roasa approach David and hug him. They seem to have more compassion and understanding for David than the men do.

In their arms, David begins to weep.

“I’ve tried hiding this down in the bottom of my heart my whole life. I never thought anyone would ever find out.” David tells them.

Roasa looks back at the men, who still have the look of utter shock upon their faces. “David let’s go to my room to talk. The three of us can have breakfast in there and let you talk us through this. We will help you. Maybe Aero and Stephan need to meet up with Matthew at Maverick’s for an ale.”

“But it’s so early.” David replies.

“Yes, but they need it.”

Aero looks at Stephan and gives him a nod that gets Stephan to move towards the door.

A few hours later, David enters Maverick’s with Queen Asna and Roasa. They had been busy these last few hours. While the men drank away their confusion, the women had dressed David in one of Roasa’s dresses and done his hair.

“Stephan, can we talk?” David asks.

Stephan has been drinking heavily over these past few hours. Aero drank with him but was trying to pace him. Aero was unsuccessful. Surprisingly, Matthew has not drank a single cup.

Stephan agrees and they walk over to a corner table to be alone.

Roasa approaches the bar and asks for a cup of ale. Even though the place is a fraternity exclusive to the knights of the kingdom, Matthew pours her a drink. She sits next to Aero on his right, while Asna sits on a stool on the other side of him. They both spend a few minutes checking on Aero.

Across the room, David tries to explain himself.

“I’m sorry for this, but this has been my most secret dream. I’ve never felt like I was in the right body.”

“So, you’re going to stay this way? You’re beautiful, but I’ve never been attracted to women. You know that.”

“I know… I’m not sure what’s going to happen over this week, but I have to make a decision at the end of the week. For Meego to be free, I have to make a decision that gives me balance.”

“Don’t give me that ‘needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few bullshit!’ I love you, David! Not whatever this is…” Stephan replies in anger.

“I know, and I am sorry. I didn’t ask for this either, but it’s a journey I have to take. I want you to take it with me.” David says as tears form in his eyes.

“How can I? You’re not even you anymore!”

“I am me; my body has changed… Not me. Please understand this. I am David, and I love you!”

“I don’t see it; you have long hair. You have breast and a vagina. You are a woman. Everything about you is different. Even your eyes. If I could see into your eyes and know you’re in there, maybe I could do this. But when I look at you all I see is a strange woman. You may have my David’s memories, but you aren’t him!” Stephan says as tears form in the knight’s eyes.

“Do you mean it? Or is this the ale talking?”

Stephan takes a pause. He tries to find the answer to that question but can’t focus.

“I don’t know, I’m too drunk to answer that. I need to lay down.”

“Let’s go to bed and discuss it tomorrow. Just promise me that. No more talking today.”

Stephan agrees and they set out to leave. As they pass the bar, Aero grabs David and hugs his brother and whispers in his ear.

“Whatever makes you happy.”

The others take turns hugging Stephan and David. Everyone knows that this week will be a very difficult one for both of them.

After Stephan and David leaves, Matthew pulls out two more glasses. He tops off Aero and Roasa’s while filling two for him and the Queen.

They all look at one another and grab the glasses.

Asna says “Maybe one.”

They all drink.

Nunley’s Attack

Ser Nunley stands at the top of the Lesser Heroes Peak of the Iron Mountain at the place that Kobi built the rock ladder to the top of the forge. This time he came alone.

This is personal.

The second piece of his cape is at the top. It’s time he collects his trophy and be done with this month’s long ordeal. The hunt started out as a sport, but he didn’t intend it becoming the labor that it has.

Just as he begins to step out onto the ledge, he hears a stirring behind him.

“So, Ser Nunley the greatest huntsmen in the world. I am M’hel. I have need of your services.” Says a frail old rotting man wrapped in bandages underneath a red cloak.

Ser Nunley pulls out a dagger and stabs the old man through the heart. From the looks of him, Nunley did him a favor, or at least that’s what Nunley tells himself. He doesn’t have time for any distractions.

The old man just looks down and pulls the blade out.

“I said, I need your assistance.”

“How did you?” Nunley mumbles.

“I can show you; I can give you this ability and more, but I need you to do something for me on top of the forge.”

“I’m here for one thing, and you aren’t it.” Nunley says as he unsheathes his sword and brings it roaring down on the old man’s head. The blow shatters his skull. Nunley turns to begin his climb.

“Was that meant to hurt me?” M’hel says to Nunley’s surprise.

“How???” Nunley asks in shock.

“I’ve already told you that I will give you this ability if you just help me with one little favor.”

“You will give me this ability?”

“Yes.”

“Name the favor.”

“The boy who restarted the forge made a sword; I want it. It’s by the orchard propped up on one of the benches. The Skymen are preparing to take it to Mt. Veylon to drop it in the lava. They intend to leave at dark, I need you to get it before they leave.” M’hel tells Nunley.

“How will I know which sword it is?”

“It is a bastard sword, and it will be the only one that has a green blade.”

“Green blade? Deal. I will get it after I get the rest of my cape!”

Nunley begins his climb.

After a few minutes, he is peaking over the edge at the forge top. He sees a boy standing at the tables, he’s looking into the sky. No one else is around.

With the boy distracted, he climbs onto the forge top. He rushes toward the boy, sword in hand.

The boy sees him and grabs his sparing sword in defense.

Nunley crashes his blade into the boy’s blade knocking him down.

“You’re the boy who started the forge? Stupid boy… wait. I know you… You squired for the Raging Tiger. Is Hiroshi here?” Nunley asks.

“No, he is a monster! I ran from him.”

“You think he is a monster? Hahahaha.” Nunley replies laughing showing his malice intent.

Nunley raises his blade to end the boy, but as he does he hears a rushing wind behind him. Two Skymen are flying behind him about ten feet above his head.

In one smooth motion, Nunley grabs and throws two darts that impale both Skymen in their wings. They both fall to the ground getting the breath knocked out of them.

Nunley steps over stabbing one in the heart, then swings his blade at the other that was trying to get to his feet. His blade decapitates the birdman.

He turns back to the boy, who has gotten back to his feet. The boy takes a defensive stance. Nunley laughs at the boy again.

As he steps toward the boy, he makes a lunging thrust that Nunley just side steps. Nunley holds his blade toward the boy just toying with him. The boy backpedals to get away. The boy trips over the edge of a table, he hits the ground dropping his sword.

Nunley notices the green blade sword at the table. He picks it up and admires it for a second. He notices the boy trying to get up, so he places his blade at the boy’s chest.

“You made this sword? Great craftsmanship, I can see why the old man wants it.” Nunley says.

“You can’t have it!”

“Do you think you can stop me? You’re completely outmatched. I’ll make you a deal, I will let you live if you tell me where the one-winged birdman is, he owes me a wing.”

“You’re the one that attacked Zyno!”

“One chance boy, where is he?”

Suddenly, Nunley is pushed from behind. He stumbles but doesn’t fall. When he turns around, he sees a young witch standing at the door of the forge. She must have used magic to push him from that distance.

“You tried to kill my love!” The witch says in anger as she raises her hands. The orchard trees limbs grow to grab Nunley, but he quickly slashes them with his sword. He looks back at the boy and kicks him in the face, knocking him out. Nunley runs toward the witch.

She raises her hands and roots spring out of the ground tripping him. He uses the green blade to cut the roots from his feet and stands facing the witch.

“You’re love? How could you love an ostrich like him?” Nunley asks.

“You hurt him! He is a peaceful soul; he was just exploring. How could you do that to him?!?” the witch asks with tears flowing down her face.

“I am a bad man, where is he? I need that other wing to complete my cape.”

“I’m here, Nunley.” A voice comes from behind him.

Nunley turns around to see Zyno landing about twenty feet away, he picks up his claymore sword that he uses to spar with Kobi.

Nunley looks him over, as he does Zyno stretches his wings out showing off the new black wing.

“Well, how did you get that?” Nunley asks.

“I’ve been dreaming about this moment. You are going to pay for what you did.”

“Good luck with that!” Nunley says as he begins his attack.

Nunley throws the green blade full force into striking Zyno. The Skyman’s claymore blade deflects the attack. They begin parrying, the clashing of swords on the mountain top echoes all over. With each clash it is clear that Zyno’s power is too much for Nunley. The weight of the blade and the strength of Zyno is a perfect storm. But Nunley is a master tactician, he fakes a low swing forcing Zyno to try to block it, but Nunley pulls back swinging high towards Zyno’s defenseless face.

Zyno instinctually throws his wings in front of his face. Nunley’s blade bangs into the black wing. The blade is deflected by the wing. Zyno is shocked that the blade didn’t hurt him.

Zyno takes the moment to attack. With his heavy blade crashing down, time after time he has Nunley on the defensive. Nunley retreats and Zyno is forcing him toward the ledge of the mountain top. In desperation, Nunley throws darts at Zyno but his black wing deflects them.

Zyno keeps the pressure on, continually stepping forward making Nunley to retreat.

Nunley throws his last dart at Zyno’s white wing. It hits into the bone. Zyno’s advance stops. Nunley thrusts at Zyno because of the opening.

The witch uses magic to push his blade away from Zyno.

The Skyman recovers and swings with all his might striking Nunley’s blade. The knight stumbles back, and trips over a root that sprung from the ground from the witches’ magic.

Nunley plummets over the edge of the Heroes Peak, falling hundreds of feet.

Zyno turns around to the witch who runs out to him. They embrace in a passionate kiss. Zyno with the help of his love has defeated his demon.

They spend some time in their embrace.

They only stop when they hear noise around them.

They look back to the forge to see dozens of witches including the elders looking at them. They emerged from the forge when they heard the commotion. Several dozen Skymen are also flying above them responding to the sound of battle.

Their love is no longer a secret, the two factions will tear them apart.

Zyno’s white wing is severely injured and can’t fly them away.

Looking around at all the witnesses, they know that everything they knew is over.

In a moment of panic, the witch grabs Zyno and ports them off the mountain. There is no going back now.

Several hundred feet below, M’hel stands over Nunley’s lifeless and broken body. He picks up the green blade sword. As he holds it up to inspect it the blade begins glowing green.

He looks back down at Nunley.

“What a waste.” He says to himself.

He bends down and places his hand on the knight’s heart.

Nunley gasps in agony.

“I will make this offer only once. I will heal you and give you everything I promised if you vow to serve me for the rest of your life. If not, I will leave you here until you die again.” M’hel says.

“Yes! Please take the pain away!”

“You vow to serve me?”

“Yes! I vow it!”

Instantly, Nunley’s bones are healed and his strength returns.

He stands up “I’ve changed my mind.” He says as he turns to walk away but stops in his tracks unable to move.

“No, you vowed to serve me. You are my slave now. Follow me.”

“Yes Master.” Nunley hears himself speak in disbelief.

Nunley follows M’hel obediently as he leads them away from the forge.

Restoration at the Forge

The Forge has been busy these last weeks. The entirety of the Peel Island population has relocated in a short time. The Skymen have return to their ancestral homes on the cliffs of the Iron Mountain, while the witches have taken refuge in the old magic wing dormitories of the inner forge itself.

Much has been made about Kobi’s foolishness in making the sword, but also there is a lot of thankfulness as he is the catalyst for their return. The elder witches have taken to reading the ancient texts of the mage library. Knowledge is power they say, and they are committed to knowledge. One of the elder’s assistants, Katina has been reading as well when not serving her superiors.

Katina is a relatively young witch at three hundred and sixty years old. The mainland is a strange place to her, but she is being brave and trusts the elders completely. She stands around five feet two inches tall. Her eyes are foliage green, with near brown pupils. Her hair is bark brown with light green highlights. Her skin is light that has a distinct green tint. More powerful witches have darker green skin, this is something she hopes to change with her knowledge seeking.

She has a hidden agenda as well. She is looking for a cure for her secret love, Zyno. For the past forty years, they have had a forbidden love that they have worked hard to keep a secret. Now, with her love injured in body and mind, she hopes to find some magic that will return his sanity and his wing.

Katina spends most of her time reading, but every once in a while, will sneak off to see Zyno, or she will venture off into the storeroom to find ingredients for a possible magical cure. If only she were a healer, this would be easy. Being a Woods Witch is a bit different. She may can heal a plant or a tree, but a Skyman is different. So she gives herself to her studies.

Zyno on the other hand, has gotten somewhat better mentally. He still has very clear trauma from the ordeal with Nunley, but he doesn’t have constant panic attacks or screaming episodes. Katina’s presence helped him so much. While he was running for his life, it was his desire to see her again that kept him moving and fighting. With his injury, he remained inside the forge instead of moving over to the cliffs. His inability to fly keeps him from seeing the homes of his forefathers.

Her touch heals him more and more.

Zyno has also taken a liking to Kobi. They spend a lot of time together. Zyno has grown fond of their sword training time. Kobi has been teaching him the ways of fighting like a knight, like a human. Since he can’t fly, Zyno figures this is the way to help defend the forge in case of an attack. His towering frame is a sight to see holding a claymore sword. In the sky, the blade would be too heavy to carry; but on the ground, Zyno can be devastating with it.

Even though he enjoys his training, and his friend Kobi, and the forbidden love of Katina, his heart still drops when he sees a group of Skymen flying through the sky. Nunley called him an Ostrich, and Zyno feels like one.

During training with Kobi out by the orchard, he catches a glimpse of Katina staring at him through one of the trees. She is using magic to check on him. She also uses magic to speak to him, and only he hears it.

“I found something big! I am gathering supplies. I will come to you in the middle of the night.”

With that, she is gone.

He was distracted for the briefest of moments, but Kobi capitalizes. He places his sword beneath Zyno’s chin, he has lost the sparing match.

Kobi smiles and asks him if he wants to meet up again tomorrow. Zyno agrees without much thought.

The rest of the day, Zyno meets with other Skymen as they come in for a visit. Their stories of the cliffs, and the fishing offer little comfort for him. Just like every other day Betta checks in with him and tries to make sure that his friend is recovering. It’s always a short talk between them as is customary with Skymen. Zyno always dreads seeing his friend flying away. He eats alone by the orchard before turning in for the night.

In the early morning hours Zyno lays awake. He doesn’t sleep well as it is, but the expectation of seeing Katina again has him on edge. Both nervousness and excitement. What has she found? His mind runs with countless possibilities.

His mind comes to an immediate stop as his love ports into the room with magic. It’s something she has done a million times over their relationship. It helps keep their love private.

“I’ve found something! I’ve made this concoction that I found in the books. All I need is a to take a look at your broken wing. I need to see it to complete the spell.” Katina says as they embrace.

“For what?”

“You just need to trust me.”

Without hesitation, he turns and kneels. His near eight feet tall frame towers over her. Even when he is on his knees, he is still eye level with her.

She stands behind him and unwraps his bandage. She gasps a little once she sees the break. The bone to the wing is blackened and dying. The remaining bone fragment is rotting off his back! This frightens the witch and quickens her to use the magic spell to save him from this cruel fate.

She pours the magical liquid over the broken wing and allows it to fall inside the bone canal.

She begins reciting a rhythmic chant. The words of a forgotten tongue from times past ignite the atmosphere of the room. Wind stirs a sulfur smell as the candlelight is blown out. In the darkness, Katina’s chant grows louder as the wind stirs quicker. Then light begins to emanate from the broken bone. Red light. It’s a burning fire coming from within his own body.

Zyno begins to scream! His broken wing is being cauterized on his back. It is extremely painful, and he cannot hide his pain.

Katina is dedicated to her work; she is lost in the focus of the spell. She doesn’t even hear Zyno’s screams.

A full flame rises from the bone.

Fire magic, she found a fire spell and is using it on him. He can’t believe it. He should have asked her for details first.

The flame grows in intensity and heat. The same goes for Katina’s chants and Zyno’s screams.

Suddenly, the flame spreads into a fire wing! The fire burns brighter and brighter and the heat fills the entire room. The chants are screams now as Zyno collapses on the floor face down. The fire wing flares out and darkness fills the room. A thud sounds out in the darkness, it’s Katina passing out from exhaustion.

Early in the morning hours, Zyno is stirred awake. He groggily stands to his feet.

What the events of last night a dream? Or a nightmare?

Katina ignites a flame to relight the candles.

She turns, toward Zyno and is shocked at what she sees.

His wing has regrown completely, but it is blackened. It’s what those who practice fire magic call burnt, a byproduct of the magic. Zyno has his wings but now he has a white wing and a black wing!

Katina knows she will be punished for this, and that their love will be exposed. Her thoughts are to run now while they can.

But Zyno stares at his new wing in amazement. His love has restored him! He loves the black wing. In his excitement, his thoughts are on touching the sky again. He has no inkling that their love will be exposed or that Katina will be punished. He has his life back, and this black wing will make him stand out among a sky of white wings.

He turns and embraces his love, she’s healed him.

“I must test this wing out. Thank you, you have given me my life back.” He tells her.

She looks up to meet his gaze. She wants to tell him her concerns about what the elders of the witches and Skymen will think but she doesn’t. She wants him to have this moment.

“Go touch the sky my love!” She encourages.

He rushes out of the forge. As he steps into the early morning sunlight, he spreads his wings wide, then jumps into the sky for what feels like the first time. He flies away from the forge at top speed.

From the orchard benches, Kobi looks on in disbelief. His eyes catch something out of the corner of his eye. It looks like one of the trees has eyes, and it is watching Zyno fly away.