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<blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 2815370" data-attributes="member: 5203"><p><strong>Storm of Chaos</strong></p><p></p><p>It only took a day for the party to exit the mountains and reach the wide, fertile plains of the Peca Provinces. The branch of the river they had followed rejoined the Plingold, and they followed the north bank, intending to cut north in another week and aim for the city of Tengolt, where they could use the tunnels dug under the Confederates to reach Tlaxan. With the weather fair, they expected to reach Noxolt in a little over a month, close to Midsummer.</p><p></p><p>During their travels, Arrie made use of the sending enchantment in her wedding ring to communicate with Herion, giving him the specifics on the ship they would need to make their journey to the southern pole. Though trying to impart so much information at twenty-five words a day was frustrating, the party hoped that by the time they reached Noxolt, some of the groundwork might have been laid so that they could start their voyage as quickly as possible.</p><p></p><p> About three days after leaving the mountains, the party saw a rather large ship coming toward them, traveling on the Plingold heading upstream at an unusually rapid pace.</p><p></p><p> “Can you see who it is?” Arrie shouted at Maddie and Razael, who had both walked to a higher spot to get a better look at the approaching vessel.</p><p></p><p> “They’re flying a flag,” Razael said. “Yellow, with blue symbols.”</p><p></p><p> “Those are government banners,” Lanara said to everyone. “Probably the provincial governor.” She called up to the two elves, “Can you see what the symbols are? Every governor has a different symbol.”</p><p></p><p> “I thought you said you’d never been in the Provinces,” Kyle said to Lanara.</p><p></p><p> “I’m a bard. It’s my job to know things.” She shouted out again. “Anything?”</p><p></p><p> “Just a minute,” Maddie called back. “The wind’s shifting a bit, so we’ll get a better look… yes, there it is. Looks like two dolphins circling a star with several points, not quite twenty, I’d say.”</p><p></p><p> Lanara blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”</p><p></p><p> “That’s what I see, too,” Razael said. “What’s the big deal?”</p><p></p><p> Lanara smiled. “It’s the Overgovernor.”</p><p></p><p> The cansin’s assertions were confirmed about thirty minutes later, when two small gnomish craft flying the same yellow and blue banner sailed up the river and approached the group. Uniformed sailors on the deck informed them that Overgovernor Garlen had requested the honor of meeting them, and had dropped anchor a short distance away. As they followed the ships back downstream from the bank, Lanara and Arrie explained politics in the Provinces.</p><p></p><p> “Every province has a governor, of course,” Arrie said, “and for the most part they’re in charge of affairs in their territory. The governors elect an Overgovernor to represent the nation as a whole, to coordinate the military, and so on. They serve for ten years.”</p><p></p><p> “Unless he’s voted out by two-thirds of the governors,” Lanara added. “They only do that if the Overgovernor goes crazy, or senile or something.”</p><p></p><p> “So, where does the Overgovernor, well, govern?” Kyle asked.</p><p></p><p> “Well, they couldn’t really decide where to put a capital city,” Lanara explained. “Thought it wouldn’t be fair for one province to have that kind of clout. So, the Overgovernor just travels with his court all over the place. Sails up and down the coast and the two main rivers. Rather than people going to the Overgovernor when there’s trouble, he comes to them.”</p><p></p><p> “Interesting way of doing things,” Maddie said.</p><p></p><p> “It works for the gnomes,” Arrie said. “Of course, I can’t see where governing a race that tends toward decent behavior and fairness would be terribly difficult.”</p><p></p><p> The party made their way to the Overgovernor’s vessel. The massive ship had lowered a ramp onto the north bank, and a number of people had disembarked to greet them. Several people in smaller ships surrounding the Overgovernor’s vessel sailed by to wave at the visitors. Most were gnomish, with several water-touched, a few aasimar, and a scattering of other races, though orcs and orc-touched were notably absent. The Overgovernor’s ship itself was larger than any other vessel they’d ever seen, with sails that seemed to be spun out of fine silk rather than sailcloth. Despite its size, it seemed to just barely rest in the water, betraying the fact that the ship was enhanced with powerful enchantments.</p><p></p><p>After dismounting, the horses were led to a hastily assembled canvas shelter to be cared for. The party was offered a few moments to freshen up in more tents erected for privacy, before being escorted on board. They were led to the rear of the ship, and taken down into the lower decks, where they were stopped in front of a plain-looking door flanked by two gnomish guards.</p><p></p><p> “The Honorable Overgovernor Garlen awaits inside,” one of the guards announced.</p><p></p><p> “This is it?” Razael whispered to Arrie. “We get to cram into the cabin with the king of the gnomes?”</p><p></p><p> “Yes, Razael,” Arrie whispered back, “and if one of your snide comments that you think no one else hears reaches his ears, I won’t wait for Herion’s permission to have you flogged and executed.”</p><p></p><p> Razael smiled at her. “You know, at times you remind me of Herion’s dad.”</p><p></p><p> The party cautiously opened the door, wondering if they’d all fit or if they’d have to take turns. By their best guess, the room beyond was only about ten feet from the outer hull.</p><p></p><p>Going through the door, they each stepped into an enormous indoor courtyard, surrounded by fountains. Flowering plants all around them were home to dozens of tiny songbirds flitting about.</p><p></p><p> “Extradimensional,” Kyle said, looking around, “makes perfect sense. Opulent enough for a head of state, but portable.”</p><p></p><p> “And makes it darned hard for the enemy to figure out what part of my ship to shoot,” said a jolly voice. The party turned to see a throne appear suddenly at one end of the courtyard, supported by a small, shallow dais. Sitting in the throne was a wrinkled old gnome with bright eyes and a snow-white mustache that matched his hair. A crown of coral and pearls sat on his head.</p><p></p><p> “And I assure you that we do have them,” the gnome said. “Enemies, that is. Does tend to make governing a bit… terribly difficult at times.” He glanced quickly at Arrie as he spoke his last comment.</p><p></p><p> Arrie bowed, and turned a little red. “You Honor, I assure you that I…”</p><p></p><p> “Psh!” Garlen said, waving Arrie down. “There’s far worse been said about me and my country, Princess. The truth is that we gnomes aren’t a hard lot to please as long as you know how to listen to them.” He smiled. “And I do know how to listen.” Garlen plucked the coral crown off his head and set it aside. “Forgive the pomp. My advisors insist I need to make an impression on visitors, look as impressive as the kings and emperors that run the other countries.”</p><p></p><p> There were a series of quick bows and introductions. “May we ask why we’ve been invited, Your Honor?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Of course you may, Duchess,” the Overgovernor said, then added, “well, officially I should say almost-Duchess, right?”</p><p></p><p> “Of course, Your Honor.” There were a few moments of awkward silence before Autumn spoke again. “Excuse me, Your Honor?”</p><p></p><p> “Yes?”</p><p></p><p> “You haven’t answered my question.”</p><p></p><p> “Of course I did, dear. You asked if you could ask why you were invited to see me, and I gave you permission to ask.” He winked at her. “First rule of being in charge, almost-Duchess. Choose your words carefully.” Garlen looked over to Kyle. “You’d best pay attention to this too, you know. From what I hear you’re an almost-almost-Duke yourself. Congratulations, by the way, though I don’t envy you the conversation with her parents. No offence to either of you, I hope,” he said, nodding toward Arrie and Autumn.</p><p></p><p> “None taken,” Arrie said. “So, Your Honor, why have we been invited to see you?”</p><p></p><p> “Oh, well, I just wanted to extend my personal thanks to you for your assistance in helping my people with that kuo-toa incursion. We were coming out this way anyway – seems with the slide in the pass between M’ioch and Krek, there’s been a lot more traffic coming down the Plingold, and the provincial governor’s asked for assistance with supplies and logistics and such. Since my ship was close, and I heard you were heading this way, I decided to make a stop.”</p><p></p><p> “You honor us, Your Honor,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “Please, it’s nothing,” Overgovernor Garlen said. “I’m especially pleased to meet you, Lanara Rahila. I’ve heard that you’ve made quite an impression on Tlaxan’s Imperial Court. Of course, I’d expect someone who possessed one of the True Instruments to do great things.” The Overgovernor pointed at the fiddle strapped to Lanara’s back, and then lovingly rested his hand on a magnificent harp resting near his throne.</p><p></p><p> “You’re a bard?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> “Many of Peca’s Overgovernors have been bards,” Garlen replied. “Bards make the best leaders, you know; very knowledgeable, very persuasive, know how to entertain, and know how to find things out. Plus, I save a fortune by not having to hire entertainers.” He grinned and winked again. “Oh, and by the way, what you did with her twin sister? I loved that. Very ironic.”</p><p></p><p> The party looked at each other, slightly uncertain. “Your Honor,” Lanara said, “we appreciate your compliments. You certainly seem… very well informed about us.”</p><p></p><p> “Of course I am! It’s my job to know things, especially when they pertain to my kingdom! I’m a bard, remember? And a pretty good one, too, so I know how to find things out. Besides, it wasn’t as hard as you might think. You bunch are better known that you realize, I think.”</p><p></p><p> Overgovernor Garlen waved a hand in the air, as if swatting something away. “Well, enough stroking your egos. Vain adventurers quickly become useless adventurers, if you ask my opinion. And I know you didn’t, but you get to hear it anyway. It’s good to be in charge.” Garlen laughed at his own joke before continuing. “Anyway, rest assured that the plight of the town you just saved hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’m sending a few people up that way to assist with the rebuilding, and I’ll be advising the provincial governor to post a small garrison up there. After all, we can’t have our nation’s natural resources being tampered with.”</p><p></p><p> The tone in Garlen’s voice told the party that when he said ‘resources’, he wasn’t talking about exotic fish or scrimshaw. Now doubt the garrison would be there to secure the newly rediscovered Fire Node.</p><p></p><p> “As for the lot of you, well, I’d like to give you a little token of appreciation.” He pulled an object out of a pocket, and tossed it to Lanara. It was a disk made of a bluish crystal, about the width of a gnome’s palm, with the royal symbol carved into one side. Small white pearls were embedded into the crystal at each of the star’s eighteen points.</p><p></p><p> “It’s a Mark of Passage,” Garlen explained. “It gives you access to all roads and waterways in the Provinces free of tolls or taxes, and exempts you from any fees for entering any settlement in the Provinces. Hopefully you’ll consider coming through here from time to time in the future.”</p><p></p><p> “Thank you, Your Honor,” Lanara said, bowing.</p><p></p><p> “Not at all. Now, I’m afraid I’ll have to cut things short – we really do need to be on our way upriver. Good luck and good journey to you all.”</p><p></p><p> A few moments later two liveried servants came through the door and offered to escort the party back to their horses. After they left, another gnome approached the throne from the other side of the courtyard.</p><p></p><p> “How did it go, Your Honor?” the gnome asked.</p><p></p><p> “Oh, fine, fine, Pench. Short and sweet.”</p><p></p><p> The one called Pench nodded. “And did you get a chance to see the one you wanted to see?”</p><p></p><p> Overgovernor Garlen nodded. “Yes, but not nearly as long as I would have liked. Couldn’t even ask any questions, more’s the pity. But we’re in a hurry, they’re in a hurry – to stall them any longer would have made them impatient, even suspicious.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, there’s always the Mark,” Pench said.</p><p></p><p> “Very true. Hopefully they don’t decide to sell it.”</p><p></p><p> Pench’s eyes widened. “Your Honor, you don’t think they would, do you?”</p><p></p><p> “Probably not, Pench, but they are adventurers. They can be a funny lot.”</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p> The party arrived in Noxolt on the third day of Midsummer. The streets were crowded with people milling about, going from shop to shop visiting with their favorite vendors and gossiping. Several of the adults wore crowns of flowers that had been given to them by their children to commemorate the day. The weather had done little to suppress the festive mood; there had been rain and a nearly constant cloud cover over Tlaxan for the past two weeks, but even today, when there was no rain but the humidity had made the heat oppressive, people were smiling and laughing. A number of the city folk, seeing the party ride by along with the Imperial honor guard that had met them at the gate, stopped what they were doing to run up and wave or cheer. Young elven children scampered up and tugged at their cloaks, while blushing maidens batted their eyelashes from behind decorative fans. Razael grinned and almost stopped his horse to talk to some of the young women, until a questioning look from Maddie pulled him away.</p><p></p><p> In the courtyard just in front of the gate marking the entrance to the Imperial Palace itself, a new structure had been erected. It was a simple glassteel box, about ten feet square. Inside the box, a lone ghoul paced back and forth, occasionally slamming itself into the transparent walls or clawing at them as people went by. A small plaque was mounted to one wall, which Lanara rode up to read.</p><p></p><p> “Does that ghoul look familiar to anyone else?” Maddie asked as it hissed at her and slapped its long tongue against the glassteel wall.</p><p></p><p> “It should,” Lanara said, “this is the assassin that killed the Emperor’s son last fall.”</p><p></p><p> The party remembered that day well. They had been guests of the Palace then, shortly after the previous Emperor had died. It was while investigating the mysterious death of Haxtha’s young son that they first encountered the strange being known as Xerxes, and the party had taken its first step into the hidden world of the psionic races.</p><p></p><p> “It says that his sentence is to remain caged here until the time it would be expected that his victim would have died naturally.”</p><p></p><p> The party nodded. Haxtha’s son had been ten years old when he was killed; the assassin’s ghoul would be inside the cage for centuries to come.</p><p></p><p> They rode through the gates to the palace complex, and a few minutes later were dismounting in front of the grand stone stairs that led to the great hall of the palace proper. Herion was there, dressed in formal garb, along with a bevy of officials, courtesans, and servants. A large crowd of onlookers had also gathered. The party climbed the stairs, but stopped when they realized they would have to endure a formal welcoming ceremony. About an hour later, they were allowed to go inside, all of them sweating profusely.</p><p></p><p> The party was shown to their rooms in the palace, and that evening enjoyed an informal dinner with Herion and his sister Aralda.</p><p></p><p> “While you were traveling,” Herion said during dinner, “I have undertaken to find a suitable ship for you, based on what my wife has told me you would need. A ship has been found, and for expediency I purchased the ship from the Imperial treasury. All you will need to do is reimburse the treasury for the cost. Hopefully with the weight of the crown behind it, the sale price was slightly less that what you might have paid on your own.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s handy,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “It was not clear, however, if you would require a crew,” Herion added. “I presumed you would, but I have found that my presumptions in regard to the eight of you are often inaccurate.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, I know how to sail a ship,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “Great!” Osborn said, “That’s one!”</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, one person does not a crew make,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “I’m just saying…”</p><p></p><p> “Well then, it seems you will need a crew,” Herion said. “Word can be sent out after the end of Midsummer.”</p><p></p><p> “Make sure they’re cute!” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “They’re… sailors,” Osborn said. “The two ideas really don’t go together.”</p><p></p><p> “I spend as little time as possible on boats,” Lanara said. “How would I know there are no cute sailors? Can the cook be cute?”</p><p></p><p> “The cooks are usually big and fat,” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “At least the good ones are,” Kyle commented. “If it’s that important to you, Lanara, then hire yourself a cabin boy for the voyage.”</p><p></p><p> The cansin’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! Good idea! Say, Arrie, want to help me pick out a cabin boy?”</p><p></p><p> “So, anyway,” Kyle said, “how much do we owe for the ship, Herion?”</p><p></p><p> “The price was fifteen thousand gold,” Herion replied. “It was a bit more than usual for a vessel of its size, but you did have some unusual specifications. We have also bought some cold weather gear for you, which unsurprisingly was relatively inexpensive in the middle of summer.”</p><p></p><p> “Okay, well, we have enough stashed away in our shared pool for that,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “When should we meet with your financiers, Herion?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “I’ll take the money to them,” Razael offered.</p><p></p><p> “No,” Autumn replied.</p><p></p><p> “Why not?”</p><p></p><p> Herion looked at Razael, and almost smiled. Almost. “I think perhaps they are not yet willing to trust you with that much coin, Razael, since we seem unable to trust you with more… valuable goods.”</p><p></p><p> Razael threw up his hands. “It’s never my fault,” he cried. “I don’t chase.”</p><p></p><p> “Which is an unusual trait in a Huntsman,” Aralda interjected.</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, he’s over five hundred,” quipped Osborn quietly. “He might break a hip.”</p><p></p><p> “What was that?” Razael asked, looking at the hin. Osborn declined to repeat his comment, so Razael grumbled quietly to himself but let the matter drop.</p><p></p><p> “I’ve also taken the liberty,” Herion began, but then he paused. “No, let me rephrase that. I was going to take the liberty of locating scholars familiar with the southern polar region, but by fortune two such men arrived here on their own. They said that they knew you were coming and knew you would need their advice. They’d like to meet with you tomorrow, if so inclined.”</p><p></p><p> “Research is always good,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> Talk around the table moved on to other topics. Herion’s older brother, the Emperor Haxtha, had taken a new consort, and the birth of a new heir was expected within the next two years. They spoke of affairs at court and major news from the rest of Affon, generally catching up on the world at large. The group also provided tales of their travels since leaving M’Dos, via Lanara and her music.</p><p></p><p> “So, what’s going to happen with Autumn?” Kyle asked after a while.</p><p></p><p> “My brother will put you through a formal ceremony the day after tomorrow at noon,” Herion said to the aasimar. “Tomorrow being the Midsummer Day of Mourning, of course, it would be in poor taste to do it then.”</p><p></p><p> “What if she says no?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> “Abdicating her title is a decision she could make. She would still be royalty by relation, but she wouldn’t have responsibilities here in Tlaxan, and there would be a loss of status as well as the security of land and income.”</p><p></p><p> “See, Autumn?” Lanara said, “you can roam around the world with your wizard all you like.”</p><p></p><p> “But I can do that anyway,” Autumn said, “I just have to come back from time to time.”</p><p></p><p> Razael glanced down at the ring on Autumn’s finger, flashing and sparking even in the dim candlelight thanks to the mild enchantment Kyle had placed in it. “Okay, Kyle,” Razael said, leaning in toward the wizard, “I’ve got to know. Where did you steal that from?”</p><p></p><p> “I didn’t steal it,” Kyle said, “I made it myself.”</p><p></p><p> “Oh, come on,” Razael scoffed.</p><p></p><p> “No, really! I bought the gems and metal in M’Dos!”</p><p></p><p> “Since when do you know how to make jewelry?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> “I’ve known how for a long time,” Kyle protested, “I’ve just never had the chance.”</p><p></p><p> “You bought that rock?” Razael asked, looking at the sizable sapphire in the center of Autumn’s ring. “Now I know you’re pulling my leg.”</p><p></p><p> “I have just as much money as the rest of you, you know,” Kyle said. “I saved it up.”</p><p></p><p> “All right, enough teasing the wizard,” Arrie said. “I think we should get some rest for the ceremony tomorrow. Autumn, you know our parents will probably be coming for that. Which means they’ll be here. In person. To see you.” She glanced over at Kyle, “and your friends.”</p><p></p><p> “We plan on speaking with them after the ceremony,” Autumn said. “We’ll inform them of our engagement then. That way there are no surprises.”</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p> The next day dawned stormy and overcast, casting a shadow over the whole city. Razael, looking out across the sky from a balcony, was slightly disturbed, though he couldn’t say why. The city was fairly quiet, as people marked the Day of Mourning and remembered lost relatives and friends. The Imperial Palace was adorned with ivy garlands at every entry, to mark their observance of the deaths of the previous Emperor and the current Emperor’s young son less than a year ago. Maddie was seen only briefly in the morning, wearing funerary white vestments as she went to the temple of Erito in the city to observe the day. Many of the other elves in the palace, including the Imperial Family, wore white as well</p><p></p><p> There was a loud knock at the door to Autumn and Kyle’s rooms at dawn the day of Autumn’s investiture ceremony. Autumn responded to the sound by shoving Kyle at the shoulder, pushing him out of the bed.</p><p></p><p> “Ow!” he complained, rubbing his side where he’d hit the floor. “You’re darned lucky there’s a rug on this floor, you know.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn’s had stuck out of the covers and she waved in the general direction of the sitting room, where the knocking continued.</p><p></p><p> Grumbling, Kyle crossed the bedroom and began pulling on clothes. “I’ll make a morning person of you yet, Autumn,” he said. There was mumbling from under the covers.</p><p></p><p> Kyle walked out of the bedroom and into the sitting area. He crossed the room to the door leading out into the hall, glancing out the windows as he walked.</p><p></p><p> Gods, it’s dark this morning, Kyle thought. He assumed the knocking was a servant who hadn’t gotten word that they wanted to sleep late this morning. He swung the outer door open, and looked straight into the face of Lord Zanich and Lady Auror.</p><p></p><p> Kyle just stared for a moment, turning white. Zanich tried to look anywhere but directly at Kyle, while Auror just stared coldly, a vein on her temple throbbing.</p><p></p><p> “I see the servants must have given us poor directions,” Auror said. “Do you know where Autumn’s chambers are located?”</p><p></p><p> “Well,” Kyle said after a long pause, “actually, she’s here. If you’ll come inside, I’ll go get her.” Kyle stepped back and let Zanich and Auror inside. “Um, if you’d like to have a seat…”</p><p></p><p> “I think we will stand, thank you,” Auror said flatly. “You go fetch her now.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle hurried back to the bedroom, and gently started shaking Autumn’s shoulder.</p><p></p><p> “What?” she moaned.</p><p></p><p> “Um…”</p><p></p><p> “Don’t tell me they want me to start getting ready now,” Autumn complained.</p><p></p><p> “No,” Kyle said, “you… have a visitor. Two, actually.”</p><p></p><p> “Who?”</p><p></p><p> “Your parents.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn looked at Kyle, then looked at the door leading into the sitting room, then peeked under her own blankets, confirming the fact that she was wearing nothing underneath them. “Oh, no.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn jumped out of bed and threw open her wardrobe. “Why don’t you go out and entertain them while I make myself presentable,” she said, trying to force calm into her voice.</p><p></p><p> “You’re kidding, right?”</p><p></p><p> “Do you see another choice here, Kyle?”</p><p></p><p> “Yes. I think I have a reasonable chance of dimension dooring both of us out of here.”</p><p></p><p> “That will only make things worse,” Autumn said, pulling a shift over her head. “Go. Go do something!”</p><p></p><p> Kyle walked out of the room, trying not to panic. He approached Autumn’s parents. “Lady Auror, Lord Zanich,” he said, bowing slightly, “it’s good to see you again. Autumn is getting dr… she will be out shortly. Can I get you anything?”</p><p></p><p> “We have already broken our fast,” Lady Auror announced. “We will await the arrival of our daughter.”</p><p></p><p> “Sure, sure,” Kyle said. “Are you sure you won’t sit down?”</p><p></p><p> “Quite,” Auror said tersely.</p><p></p><p> “So, Kyle,” Zanich said, “I understand…” he faltered as his wife shot him a withering look, “… that you’ve… been… places.”</p><p></p><p> “Oh. Oh! Yes, of course! All over the continent!” Kyle began talking rapidly about their travels in the Haran Desert, then across the Khag Steppes. “We were in Miracle in a while,” he said. “Lovely place, what with the not being able to hurt people. We bought a house there, you know. Well, actually, we just obtained the house from an undead necromancer who we destroyed.”</p><p></p><p> “Fascinating,” Auror said, in a tone that made it clear that it wasn’t.</p><p></p><p> “And then… well, we were in M’Dos for a while, and then… we came here.” Kyle was desperate, having run out of conversation pieces.</p><p></p><p> Fortunately, Autumn emerged from the bedroom at that moment, and quickly crossed the room to greet her parents.</p><p></p><p> “Ah, Autumn, you are here.” Lady Auror turned to Kyle. “Thank you. You are dismissed.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle’s jaw clenched, and he turned to look at Auror squarely. “Actually,” he said slowly, “this is my room, too.” He sat down on the end of one of the couches. Inwardly, Kyle fumed.</p><p></p><p> Auror stared at Kyle, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Outside, thunder rolled across the sky.</p><p></p><p> Autumn sat down next to Kyle, resting her hand on his. “Mother, father,” she said, “Kyle and I are engaged.”</p><p></p><p> There was a long, stony silence. “I would have thought better of you,” Auror said, and then she turned and walked out of the room. Zanich stood unmoving for a moment longer, and then with an ‘I’ll talk to her’ gesture to Autumn, he smiled weakly, nodded to both of them, and followed his wife out of the room.”</p><p></p><p> The two of them sat there for a while longer, holding each other’s hand tightly. “I guess we can cancel our dinner plans with the folks, eh?” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, I think so.” Autumn sighed. “I don’t think I’m in the mood for breakfast.”</p><p></p><p> “Yeah,” Kyle agreed, then after a while he said, “I’m sorry.”</p><p></p><p> “For what? That’s just her way.”</p><p></p><p> “I just don’t like the fact that I’m making this harder just by being me,” he said.</p><p></p><p> Autumn squeezed his hand. “I don’t think any man would have been good enough for her,” she said, “but you’re good enough for me.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn and Kyle spent the remainder of the morning studiously avoiding Auror and Zanich. They got a sympathetic look from Arrie when they passed by her in the hall, who had just finished visiting with their parents. By eleven Autumn was escorted away to prepare for her investiture, and Kyle joined the other members of the party in the audience.</p><p></p><p> The ceremony itself was mercifully brief. Even so, the hot, oppressively humid weather had put everyone on edge. The entire morning had that feel as though a storm were just about to break, though it never did. Autumn was able to tolerate the ceremony only thanks to the endure elements spell Kyle had given her that morning. She noted that her mother, standing nearby on the dais, never even looked at her, and when her gaze did wander to where her friends sat, she seemed to look right through Kyle. Throughout the event, Razael continued to glance at the sky uneasily, though he couldn’t put words to why the weather unnerved him so.</p><p></p><p> After the ceremony and a brief reception in Autumn’s honor (which Auror and Zanich left very early), the party was escorted to the library to meet the scholars. Outside, the storm had still not broken, but lightning and thunder flashed and rolled across the sky so frequently and loudly that conversation was difficult. They were led to what would normally be a very quiet and secluded wing of the building, but today there were an unusual number of people milling about, a number of them women. When the party exited the shelves and came to an open area with a large table, they had a good idea why.</p><p></p><p> Seated at one end of the table were two elves. One was very tall and thin, almost gaunt, with very dark skin and hair that looked as though it had been bleached by the sun. He was dressed in fine, but unpretentious clothing, and wore dark lenses over his eyes that hid his pupils. By contrast, the other elf was just as tall, but appeared sturdier in build, though that might have been due to the many layers of rich, extravagant clothing he wore. His skin was tanned, though not as dark as his companion, and he had platinum blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Both exuded a presence that was magnetic, almost entrancing, and their every gesture seemed to draw attention. Several library staff and patrons were going out of their way to walk by frequently to catch a glimpse of the two scholars.</p><p></p><p> “Welcome,” said the more opulent of the two. “Please, sit down.”</p><p></p><p> The party took seats around the table. Lanara, who sat next to the opulently dressed scholar, felt a brief chill, as if the room had suddenly become slightly colder, but the sensation passed. Introductions were made; the gaunt elf introduced himself as Tiranel, and the extravagant elf gave his name as AnAnduriel.</p><p></p><p> “So, what can you tell us about where we’re going?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “What do you want to know?” Tiranel asked.</p><p></p><p> “Everything.”</p><p></p><p> “Is there a way to get there without using a damn boat?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> “Not unless you can fly,” AnAnduriel interjected. “Next question?”</p><p></p><p> “How far would we have to fly?” Lanara persisted. “Can we buy something that will do it?”</p><p> “It depends on what you use, and who is flying,” Tiranel said. “And whether your transport has wings, will need to rest or can sleep while flying…”</p><p></p><p> “It’s longer than you can flap your arms, let’s put it that way,” AnAnduriel said. “I’d rule that idea out if I were you.”</p><p></p><p> “Damn,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “What kind of dangers should we expect?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Big, icy ones,” Lanara suggested.</p><p></p><p> “That’s a fine answer,” Anduriel said. “I’d also worry about the living dead.”</p><p></p><p> “I’m not so sure you’re going to be getting around to facing any of the dangers there, living or dead,” Tiranel interjected, “unless your boat is really, really nicely outfitted.”</p><p></p><p> “Herion bought it for us,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “Yes, but there are limits to what even a kingdom’s treasury can reach,” Tiranel said. “It’s the arctic, after all, and I doubt any of Tlaxan’s shipbuilders have even an inkling of what is required. You are going to need assistance.”</p><p></p><p> “So, you guys are coming?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> Tiranel shook his head. “I can’t. I study, I don’t work.”</p><p></p><p> “Would it possible for you to inspect the ship we have,” Kyle asked, “and make suggestions for modifications that might improve our chances?”</p><p></p><p> “I could,” Tiranel agreed, “I can also provide you with some trinkets that might be useful in getting past the natural harsh habitat so that you can perish at the hands of the living dead or whatever other horrible things my associate thinks are going to be there.”</p><p></p><p> “So, have either of you ever actually been there?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> “Once,” Anduriel said.</p><p></p><p> “Both of you?” Razael asked.</p><p></p><p> “I study,” Tiranel repeated, “I don’t work.”</p><p></p><p> “So, how’d you get the tan?” Lanara asked the gaunt scholar.</p><p></p><p> “Studying outside.”</p><p></p><p> “What… why would there be so many undead?” Kyle asked. “My understanding was that the southern pole would be deserted. Nothing there to make undead from or to sustain them.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, it kind of makes sense,” Arrie said, “The cold won’t bother them.”</p><p></p><p> “Yes, but why are they there in the first place?”</p><p></p><p> “Imagine you found something,” Tiranel said slowly, “that you didn’t think anyone else in the entire world should have. Where would you put it, and what would you set to guard it?”</p><p></p><p> “I’d put it in the sun, and let Grabâkh do it,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “Right. Problem is that the gods aren’t usually willing to just… do that because you tell them to. You’re going to have to do it yourself, and so the best alternative on this planet are the poles.”</p><p></p><p> “We’re looking for pre-Cataclysmic stuff here, right?” Osborn said. “Maybe before the Cataclysm, where this stuff is wasn’t the pole.”</p><p></p><p> “Before we get too far off track,” Anduriel said, “I don’t know how much you’ve read about the polar region already, but let me share a few concepts with you, like… undead frost giants.” The richly dressed scholar looked around the table for their reactions. “Just an example.”</p><p></p><p> “We can go around,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t know how much you’ve read about the polar region,” Anduriel repeated, a little condescendingly, “but it is the ‘around’.”</p><p></p><p> “Are you saying the world is round?” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “No,” Anduriel said, barely suppressing a smirk, “there are some things you need to discover for yourself.”</p><p></p><p> “I assume that would be implied in calling it a ‘pole’,” Tiranel said, “rather than the ‘hub’ or the ‘edge’.”</p><p></p><p> “You’re assuming he would know the difference,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “I make no assumptions about your knowledge,” Tiranel stated. “That’s why I’m speaking to you like you were three years old.”</p><p></p><p> The party bristled a bit at the implication. “So, we can expect lots of undead,” Kyle said, steering the conversation back on track, “and I assume lots of creatures that thrive in the cold, like polar worms.”</p><p></p><p> “Yes,” Anduriel said.</p><p></p><p> “Dragons?” Razael asked.</p><p></p><p> “As a matter of fact,” Anduriel nodded, “that’s the reason you should be interested in what we’re saying.”</p><p></p><p> “They should be interested?” Tiranel said to his companion. “I don’t know about you, but I’d find that somewhat dissuasive myself.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s because you don’t work, you study,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “All right,” Tiranel said to him, “if you want to go down and challenge a dragon, more power to you. As I said, I do have some trinkets that might help you in that respect, but…”</p><p></p><p> “It’s not my choice,” Razael said, pointing to Maddie, “It’s hers.”</p><p></p><p> “Wait, wait, wait,” Kyle interrupted. “So, there is a dragon down there?”</p><p></p><p> “Yes,” Anduriel replied.</p><p></p><p> “Interesting,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “What?” Autumn asked, “Would it be an undead dragon?”</p><p></p><p> “No,” Anduriel said slowly, “though the lines blur a bit.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s an amazing leap of logic,” Tiranel said, “I’m proud of you.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, here’s the interesting thing about dragons,” Kyle said. “According to legend, the dragons were placed on the world for a reason.”</p><p></p><p> “Indeed,” Anduriel agreed.</p><p></p><p> “There’s speculation on what that reason is. Some say they guard locations of elemental power, or protect the balance of magic in the world. The concerning myth is the idea that the dragons are here so that if the world ever becomes out of balance again, as it did during the Cataclysm, they can help remake the world anew.”</p><p></p><p> “In other words, eat everyone and start over,” Tiranel said.</p><p></p><p> “Right. Given the possible nature of the information that may be down there,” Kyle continued, “I find it interesting that there’s a dragon down there as well, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I also think that means there’s going to be no chance of us avoiding a confrontation with this dragon.”</p><p></p><p> “Did you actually see the dragon?” Autumn asked Anduriel.</p><p></p><p> “No.”</p><p></p><p> “Then how do you know it’s there?” Razael asked.</p><p></p><p> “Trust me,” Anduriel said, “I know.”</p><p></p><p> “Can they be charmed?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> “No, they can’t,” Tiranel said testily.</p><p></p><p> “Have you ever tried?”</p><p></p><p> “No,” he said again, “study, not work.”</p><p></p><p> “Trust me,” Anduriel said, “on a practical level, I can personally assure you it is not possible to charm a dragon.”</p><p></p><p> “But can you assure us that it’s there?” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “Yes.”</p><p></p><p> “How?”</p><p></p><p> “Trust me,” Anduriel said slowly, “I know.”</p><p></p><p> “There’s not a trust here,” Razael said. “How do you know?”</p><p></p><p> “I know more than you,” Anduriel said, “and I know it’s there.”</p><p></p><p> “If you know so much, you can describe how you know.”</p><p></p><p> “I could,” Anduriel said, “but there are certain things that you don’t need to know, and how I know there’s a dragon there is one of them. It’s there.”</p><p></p><p> “He’s lying,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “Look at it this way,” Tiranel interrupted, “if there’s no dragon there, you have nothing to worry about. But if it is there, you’re prepared. Either way, what’s the difference? The point is that you need to be prepared.”</p><p></p><p> Razael stood up, and walked away from the table, muttering.</p><p></p><p> “Let’s start over at the beginning,” Arrie said after an awkward pause. “What do we need to equip ourselves and our ship with to deal with the environment?”</p><p></p><p> “I’ll defer to my esteemed colleague on this subject,” Anduriel said.</p><p></p><p> “Your ship needs to be bound in metal, with a wooden hull underneath. It needs to have a special ram, extending in front of the ship at least nine feet, which is wedge-shaped and constructed of a very solid metal; preferably adamantium, though other steel alloys will suffice. You need to make sure that the ship can be rowed as well as sailed, because you cannot count on the wind being there, or blowing in the right direction. Cross-sailing is not always possible. The oars should be reinforced; most military-grade oars are strong enough for this. You need to be able to pull down the entire mast, so that it doesn’t just snap off when the storms start. You need to be able to set up some sort of cover over the deck, so that the ship is not weighed down with snow and ice. You will need to pack several barrels of coarse salt to melt the ice that does build up. You will need to keep the room in which you store your fresh water heated so that it doesn’t freeze. In short, you must prepare for conditions the like of which none of you have ever seen.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s great,” Lanara snapped. “That ought to be easy enough. ‘We have no idea what we need, and we’ve never seen it before, so can you outfit the ship for that?’”</p><p></p><p> “But, he just told us,” Arrie said.</p><p></p><p> “Yes, but we have to describe this to other people,” Lanara pointed out. “I hope you’re taking notes, Kyle.”</p><p></p><p> “Would you be able to describe these things to the shipbuilder?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Certainly,” Tiranel said, “though I don’t know if he’ll be especially receptive to my comments. I’ve noted that there is little respect among those who work for those who study.”</p><p></p><p> “Having done a fair bit of both,” Kyle said, “I think I can translate for you.”</p><p></p><p> “I actually have everything you will need written down here.” Tiranel withdrew a large roll of parchment from a shoulder bag, and handed it to Kyle, who unrolled it long enough to peruse the notes and schematics before putting them away.</p><p></p><p> “There are other minor items I have that might make the trip survivable, if not pleasant,” Tiranel continued. “I have logs that will burst into flame on command, regardless of the surrounding conditions. I have rings that will afford some protection from the elements as well.”</p><p></p><p> “What about people such as myself, who wear heavier armor in battle?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Be prepared to be very cold,” Tiranel said. “You’re an aasimar, and so have some natural resistance to extreme cold. It will not be enough. Wear thick, absorbent material underneath your armor. Or obtain magical items that protect against the cold. Better yet, do both. That goes for all of you.”</p><p></p><p> “Stick to the subject of environment and travel for now,” Anduriel said. “I can field questions about personal items, weapons, and tactics later.”</p><p></p><p> “What about navigation?” Kyle said. “Once we’re there, I’m assuming steering by landmark is out, or by stars.”</p><p></p><p> “I still have that wand that tells us which way is north,” Lanara reminded him.</p><p> “That’s a good resource,” Tiranel agreed.</p><p></p><p> “Okay, what about travel hazards, other than the obvious things like blizzards?” Kyle asked.</p><p></p><p> “You mean, like sinking into the snow?” Tiranel asked. “That far down, the snow pack is firm enough that it shouldn’t be a concern, but you’ll want to take snowshoes just in case. Watch for crevasses, which you should be able to go around or cross using ropes and ice picks. You’re leaving soon, I take it?”</p><p></p><p> “We hope to get there by late summer,” Xu said.</p><p></p><p> “Good, then you’ll avoid the worst of the weather. If you find yourself delayed, do not try to make the journey in the winter. Wait a year.” Tiranel dug into a pocket, closing his hand around something inside. “Here’s something that will aid you, but whoever takes it should treat it with care. It’s rather fragile.” He pulled out what looked like a small snow-globe and set it on the table. “If you shake it, it will create an area into which wind and snow can’t penetrate. It only lasts about an hour, and it takes twenty-four hours to recharge. But if you’re caught in a blizzard, it will protect you long enough that you can set up actual shelters.”</p><p></p><p> “Osborn, can you carry it?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Sure,” he said, picking up the globe and putting it away.</p><p></p><p> “That is most of the information I had to share,” Tiranel said. “My associate can answer more questions now.”</p><p></p><p> “Does somebody want to go find Razael?” Maddie asked. “He should probably hear the stuff about weapons and tactics.”</p><p></p><p> “I’ll go,” Kyle said. The wizard rose and walked toward the nearest balcony, assuming that the tracker would have gone outside.</p><p></p><p>“How many of you are going on this expedition?” Tiranel asked, as Kyle left.</p><p></p><p> “Well, all of us,” Autumn said, “all eight.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, then,” Tiranel said, “I can provide you all with rings that will help – you’ll still be cold, but it will keep your body temperature from dropping. Those are all the trinkets I can provide.” Tiranel dug into a pocket and put eight rings on the table. “I’ll have the firewood I mentioned left at the palace for you.”</p><p></p><p> “Your help is appreciated,” Autumn said, “Thank you.”</p><p></p><p> Just then Kyle and Razael returned, looked somewhat disturbed.</p><p></p><p> “There’s a magestorm coming,” Kyle said. “Razael thinks it’ll hit us in about two hours, maybe less.”</p><p></p><p> “A magestorm?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “It’s a brief surge of wild magic that manifests as a violent storm,” Kyle explained. “They happen all the time, but usually in unpopulated areas, or over the ocean. Magestorms over cities are rare.”</p><p></p><p> “Do we need to go back to the palace?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t think so,” Kyle said, “There was a messenger outside. They’re going to be raising the palace’s anti-magic shields in about thirty minutes. That should keep us safe here. If anyone has anything they need stored in any sort of extra-dimensional space, though, you’d better get it out now. All our magical items aren’t going to work when the shields go up.”</p><p></p><p> “How long will the storm last?” Xu asked.</p><p></p><p> “Well, it’s kind of hard to predict, just based on the nature of a magestorm,” Kyle explained. “Most last a couple of hours, but some only last minutes, while others can stretch out for days.”</p><p></p><p> As the party took a moment to talk about what they wanted to do, Tiranel and Anduriel looked at each other, and then suddenly stood up. “Unfortunately,” Anduriel said quickly, “I think my colleague and I will have to adjourn for the day.”</p><p></p><p> “You’ll have to excuse us. Goodbye.” Tiranel said, and walked away.</p><p></p><p> “If you need anything,” Anduriel said, “I’ll be available whenever the magestorm passes. Good day.” Anduriel also beat a hasty exit.</p><p></p><p> “Okay,” Kyle said slowly, after they left.</p><p></p><p> “Well, that was abrupt,” Razael said. He glanced over and saw that Tiranel’s eight rings were still laying on the table.</p><p></p><p> “Well, some people do get freaked out by magestorms,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “It seems our schedule for the rest of the day has been cleared,” Autumn said. “I, for one, would like to get out of this corset as soon as possible.”</p><p></p><p> “Hey, Kyle, I saw that Lord Zanich and Lady Auror were here,” Razael said. “Maybe you could go spend some time with them.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle shook his head. “I think I’ll go back to our room with Autumn for a while instead.”</p><p></p><p>“Okay, we know where Kyle and Autumn are heading,” Arrie said. “I should probably go see my husband, too, now that I have some time.”</p><p></p><p> “I’m going to go spend some time with Aralda,” Lanara said. “Maddie, want to come?”</p><p></p><p> “I would,” Maddie said, “but I should go to the High Temple. Not everyone in the city will be protected by the shields.”</p><p></p><p> “You know,” Xu said quietly, “it seems odd that those two scholars left so quickly. They did not seem the type to panic over a magestorm, especially knowing that the palace would be protected by anti-magic.”</p><p> “Yeah,” Osborn said, “it’s almost like they were more worried after they heard about the shields. Maybe we should go see where they went.”</p><p></p><p> “I’ll come with you, too,” Razael said. “All of the people I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on are going places safer than here, anyway.”</p><p></p><p> Everyone separated, and Razael, Osborn and Xu went off in search of Tiranel and Anduriel. They asked a few people still at the library, and sure enough several people had noted their departure. “I think they went that way,” one scribe said, “toward the palace kitchens.”</p><p></p><p> The trio of adventurers made their way to the large building that housed the kitchens. There were few people about, most having left after hearing about the impending magestorm. Even so, there were enough people around who had noticed a tall, gaunt elf accompanied by a richly-dressed elf that they were able to track the scholars down as far as the pantries in the basement.</p><p></p><p> They walked through the labyrinth of vast chambers, were enormous quantities of food were stored. “I had no idea they had an entire room just for beans,” Razael commented.</p><p></p><p> “I want to find the bacon room,” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “That would be dangerous knowledge in your hands, Osborn,” Xu commented.</p><p></p><p> “Ooh! That reminds me!” Osborn pulled out the pig statuette that Kyle had given him long ago, and rubbed it, summoning a pound of fresh bacon. “Better get it now before the shields go up,” he said.</p><p></p><p> A few minutes of searching went by before they felt the strange pressure of the anti-magic shields going up. They took a few minutes to adjust their gear, which now sat heavier on their bodies, and continued looking. After another several minutes, Osborn noted a set of footprints in a fine layer of flour on the floor.</p><p></p><p> “These shoes look too fancy to belong to a cook,” Osborn said. “Looks like they split up; one heads off into that room, the other into that room.”</p><p></p><p> “I say the left door first,” Razael said. “I think those stuck-up know-it-alls can delay their snacking long enough to give us a few straight answers.”</p><p></p><p> They opened up the door, throwing it wide in the hopes of startling whichever scholar had holed up in that room. The chamber beyond was large, but was now mostly filled – not with food, but with something alive.</p><p></p><p> Xu, Osborn, and Razael stared up, white-faced, at the creature that stared at them. Glistening red scales covered a long, thin body, and a pair of leathery wings scraped the ceiling. Burning eyes regarded them with a mix of disdain and irritation, and it bared large, razor sharp teeth. Waves of heat rolled out of the room and washed over the three adventurers.</p><p></p><p> Very slowly, Osborn reached into his pouch and withdrew the pound of bacon he’d created earlier. He extended it out toward the massive creature.</p><p></p><p> “Bacon?”</p><p></p><p> The dragon opened his mouth, and the world turned into flame.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p> Autumn and Kyle walked back to their suite, conversing intimately with each other. As they reached the palace, they felt a strange snap in the air as the anti-magic fields activated. The ambient light in the palace dimmed, as the magical lights winked out, having been hastily supplemented by more mundane illumination.</p><p></p><p> “Wow,” said Kyle, as the shields went up, “that’s an odd sensation. I never realized how different it feels not to have any magic at all. It’s a little unnerving, really.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, it’s not like you’ll need your magic to deal with anything in the palace,” Autumn observed.</p><p></p><p> “Except maybe your mother.”</p><p></p><p> “Kyle!” Autumn mock-punched him in the shoulder.</p><p></p><p> “I know, I know.” Kyle sighed. “I should probably at least make an attempt to talk to her in a couple of days, shouldn’t I?”</p><p></p><p> “Yes,” agreed Autumn, “but don’t expect too much.”</p><p></p><p> “I won’t. But I’ll talk to her just the same. Maybe she doesn’t like it, but we’re getting married regardless of what she thinks. Maybe I’ll never be treated like a son, but at least she can stop treating me like a servant.”</p><p></p><p> “You know I’ll be behind you, no matter what,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p> “I know.”</p><p></p><p> They walked a little further, climbing stairs up to the wing where their rooms awaited them. “You know,” Autumn commented, “it would be nice if we could have both sides of the family at the wedding.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle sighed. “I’m working on it, really. I’ve tried scrying for my father a couple of times, but I’m getting… odd results. I think maybe there’s some sort of interference from Targeth’s barriers. After we get back from the south pole, maybe we can arrange a trip back into Targeth and I can try again then. Even if that does the trick, it’s going to be a slow process finding everyone.”</p><p></p><p> “I can wait,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p> “I’m not so sure I can. Besides, even if I find Pa and my brothers and sisters, there’s not much chance they’d be able to come to the wedding. I doubt any of them married nobles, so they can’t just pick up and be gone for weeks just for a wedding. Common folk gather for weddings that are the next village over, not the next country over.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, they’re still getting invited, if you find them,” Autumn said. “I at least want to meet your family once.”</p><p></p><p> “Like I said, I’m working on it. But can we leave off talking about weddings and family for a while?”</p><p></p><p> “Not yet,” Autumn said, “we have some letters to write to announce the engagement, and you have better penmanship than I do. You can write by candlelight as well as you can with magical light.”</p><p></p><p> “Fine,” Kyle sighed, “but do we have to start doing that as soon as we get back?” He put his arm around Autumn’s waist. “You did say you wanted out of that corset, right?”</p><p></p><p> Autumn pulled close to Kyle. “Well…”</p><p></p><p> They reached the door to their suite a minute later. They paused for a while, listening to the fury of the magestorm outside, which shook the palace even though the shields were up and they were deep in the interior of the building. Finally, they went into their chambers, which is when they were attacked.</p><p></p><p> Two men clad head to toe in black jumped out of the shadows and grabbed Kyle and Autumn from behind, wrenching them apart and throwing them to the floor. Their assailants quickly and expertly immobilized them, and pressed cloths onto their faces. Foul vapors drifted into their lungs, and they both felt themselves getting light-headed.</p><p></p><p> Kyle managed to pull the hand away from his face with brute strength, and began shouting for help even as he struggled to break free. But they had closed the door on the way in, so the sound didn’t carry very far out into the hall. Kyle was twisted so that he couldn’t even see where Autumn was, and thus couldn’t see that she was in a similar predicament. The man attacking Kyle seemed somewhat surprised that a wizard was able to put up such a fight, and reacted by punching him hard in the ribs. There was an audible snap, and the breath exploded out of his lungs. The attacker used the opening to press the cloth on Kyle’s face again.</p><p></p><p> Autumn was having similar problems. Though she was able to pull her face free from the drugged cloth as well, she couldn’t breathe well in her corset, and it kept her from twisting around at the torso to grab her assailant back. With the cloth off her face, Autumn’s attacker also resorted to brute force, slamming a fist into Autumn’s face. Blood sprayed onto the carpet, and she felt herself swooning. She was dimly aware that the blows were very precisely aimed at pressure points, much as she had seen Xu do when in battle. Briefly Autumn wondered if these might be monks sent by Hungai to kidnap Xu, when she heard another hard blow next to her, another snap of bone, and Kyle’s shouts were suddenly silenced.</p><p></p><p> Outside in the hallway, Arrie approached her sister’s suite. She’d gone to find Herion, but he was gone, working on securing the palace from the magestorm. So instead she’d gone to her own rooms and changed out of her formal clothes into her armor and weapons. She hoped Autumn might be up for a bit of exercise, to work out some of the frustration she must be feeling after her morning encounter with their parents. As she drew up to the door, she heard a commotion behind it; the sound of people struggling, and Autumn shouting in rage.</p><p></p><p> Arrie kicked open the door to see her sister sprawled on the floor, held down by a large man wearing black clothing and a mask. Blood flowed from her nose, and she looked as though she were gasping for breath. The man punched her in the back of the head, and she went limp. A second masked assailant had picked up an unconscious Kyle, slinging him over one shoulder like a sack of flour.</p><p></p><p> Arrie whipped out a set of bolas and hurled them at the man carrying Kyle, who casually batted them out of the air. But he was now faced with trying to get past Arrie, who blocked the only exit from the interior suites, her spiked chain already in hand. The man moved forward, and suddenly hurled Kyle’s body at Arrie. She managed to spin and avoid the wizard’s bulk, turning to face the black-clad attacker again and Kyle landed heavily in the hall outside. Arrie waited patiently for the would-be kidnappers to make the first move, at the same time shouting for guards through the now open door. The man who’d had Kyle tried to roll past Arrie, but she was ready, and lashed him with her chain. In response, he punched and kicked at her, landing a few telling blows.</p><p></p><p> “Oh, you really want to fight, do you?” Arrie growled, as she whipped her chain around again. With blood dripping from several wounds, the man again tried to spring past Arrie, this time slipping through and fleeing down the hallway. The other kidnapper, who had made certain that Autumn would not be getting up, stood and circled near the center of the room, wary of the reach of Arrie’s weapon.</p><p></p><p> “You may as well surrender now,” Arrie said, “the guards are no doubt already on their way.” She repeated the warning in a few languages, but got no response. The masked man suddenly leaped, trying to get past Arrie rather than face her. She tried to get her chain around his feet to pull him down, but he danced out of it, and began running very quickly down the hall. Arrie threw her second set of bolas at him, and managed to snare his knees. The man fell, but was wriggling out of the cords and standing even as Arrie ran up. She was able to get off one last parting blow before the kidnapper ran off again, too fast for her to follow. Moments later a squad of guards ran up, and Arrie ordered them to capture the two kidnappers, pointing out the blood trails.</p><p></p><p> “Secure the palace,” she ordered, “Bring all my companions to my sister’s chambers immediately.” As the guards ran off, Arrie rushed back to Autumn and Kyle. She pulled Kyle back into the room, laying him down next to Autumn before rolling her sister over. Both were deeply unconscious, and a lingering foul odor surrounded them. Arrie inspected the wounds as best she could, cursing the fact that she had no skills as a healer. Autumn’s nose was still bleeding, and possibly broken, and she had several bruises and minor scrapes, but otherwise she seemed intact. Arrie cut her sister out of her corset with a knife, allowing her to breathe more deeply, then inspected Kyle. He looked far worse off; his face was covered in blood and bruises, and his jaw sat at a strange angle. She could feel a rib move inside his chest when she pressed gently on his torso.</p><p></p><p> After a few minutes, Autumn began to stir, coughing weakly. “What happened?” she asked.</p><p></p><p> “You were attacked, but they’re gone now.” Arrie gently stroked Autumn’s hair to reassure her. “The guards are looking for them now.”</p><p></p><p> “Kyle?” Autumn said, a slight panic in her voice.</p><p></p><p> “He’s here, but still out cold. Looks like they were a little rougher with him than you.”</p><p></p><p> “Don’t think… they expected to be out-muscled by a wizard,” Autumn laughed weakly.</p><p></p><p> “I think you’re right.”</p><p></p><p> “Arrie,” Autumn said, “do you think it was Hungai again? Those two fought like Xu does.”</p><p></p><p> “Hopefully we can capture one of them, and find out,” Arrie said. “But why attack the two of you if they were after Xu?”</p><p></p><p> Kyle took another ten minutes to wake up. He opened his eyes, and saw Arrie and Autumn looking back at him.</p><p></p><p> “Don’t try to talk,” Arrie said quickly. “Your jaw…”</p><p></p><p> Nodding, Kyle reached up and felt along his jawline. After a moment of exploration, Kyle placed the heel of his left hand against his jaw, and with a hard shove over and down popped the jaw back in.</p><p></p><p> “Kyle!” Autumn cried, “be careful!”</p><p></p><p> “I know what I’m doing,” Kyle said slowly, after working his jaw back and forth a couple of times. “Us farm boys can’t always nip off to the cleric’s every time we get hurt, so you learn a thing or two. Dislocated joints are easy.” Feeling down along his ribcage, he winced as he felt the sting of his broken rib. “This will take a bit more effort.”</p><p></p><p> “We’ll get the healers,” Arrie said, “once the storm passes you’ll be good as new.”</p><p></p><p> “What was that stuff they were trying to force us to breathe?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Insanity mist, I think. It’s nasty stuff, and not cheap. Fortunately neither of us got a very big dose, or we’d be drooling idiots for a while.”</p><p></p><p> “Who do you think did this?” Arrie asked.</p><p></p><p> “No idea. Could be old enemies, could be people trying to kidnap and ransom some nobles.”</p><p></p><p> “They certainly caught us at our weakest point,” Autumn said. “Do you think they planned their attack to coincide with the magestorm?”</p><p></p><p> “Impossible,” Kyle said. “No one can predict a magestorm. They were just lucky on their timing.”</p><p></p><p> “Okay, no more talking for a while,” Arrie said. “Everyone should be showing up here soon. I’m going to help you both up into bed.”</p><p></p><p> It was some time before anyone else reached the room. Lanara was the first to arrive, looking peeved. “What’s this all about, Arrie? I was having a perfectly good time with Aralda, and suddenly I’m chased out of her rooms by guards and escorted here. What’s the…?” Lanara then saw Kyle and Autumn laying in their bed. “Oh.”</p><p></p><p> Maddie came a short while later, and saw Lanara cleaning up Kyle and Autumn’s wounds while Arrie paced. Guards were coming in giving regular reports; the attackers had not yet been found, but the search was narrowing.</p><p></p><p> “So, no one else got attacked by angry men in black pajamas?” Arrie asked. Lanara and Maddie shook their heads.</p><p></p><p> “Where are the others?” Maddie asked.</p><p></p><p> “They went off to find the scholars, last I knew,” Lanara said. “Haven’t seen them since.”</p><p></p><p> Thunder from the magestorm rumbled through the walls, causing the room to shake, and the lamps flickered as though a breeze had blown through the room.</p><p></p><p> Just then, Razael, Osborn and Xu burst into the room, panting from exertion.</p><p></p><p> “What’s wrong?” Arrie asked. Their clothing and hair was slightly singed, and all three looked as though they’d run non-stop all the way across the palace complex.</p><p></p><p> “Did you just fight with men in black pajamas?” Maddie asked.</p><p></p><p> “No,” panted Razael, “there weren’t black pajamas, and they weren’t men. And we weren’t fighting.”</p><p></p><p> “We… we just saw a dragon,” Osborn gasped.</p><p></p><p> “A what?” Kyle said, almost forgetting not to sit up.</p><p></p><p> “A dragon!” Razael confirmed.</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, right.” Lanara said. “The kind that comes out of a bottle?”</p><p></p><p> “No, it was the scholars. Anduriel and Tiranel. They’re dragons.”</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, they’re in the pantry,” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “Now I know you’re pulling my leg,” Lanara said.</p><p></p><p> “Lanara,” Xu said, “have you ever know me to lie?”</p><p></p><p> “No.”</p><p></p><p> “There was a dragon.”</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, a big red one!” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “I thought there were two dragons,” Autumn said.</p><p></p><p> “We didn’t see the other one,” Razael admitted. “We were too busy running.”</p><p></p><p> “If you didn’t see the dragon, how do you know it was there?” Kyle said, not bothering to hide a slight grin as he mimicked Razael’s earlier conversation with Anduriel.</p><p></p><p> “We tracked down Anduriel and Tiranel to the pantries,” Osborn said. “Their trail split up and stopped at two doors, and the red dragon was behind one of them.” The hin’s face suddenly broke into a grin. “It was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. I offered him some bacon!”</p><p></p><p> “Well, I guess that explains why those two had to leave so suddenly,” Kyle said. “Shape changing is a magical ability.”</p><p></p><p> “I don’t think I’ve ever run like that from anything,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “That would have been what I did,” Maddie commented.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t think so,” the tracker retorted. “The way you act, I think you would have run up and brandished a stick at it.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, at least she wouldn’t have egged it on like you did,” Osborn said.</p><p></p><p> “He probably didn’t hear me,” Razael said.</p><p></p><p> “I’m pretty sure he did,” Osborn countered. “You ran off screaming ‘I know how you know there’s a dragon at the pole, ass!’”</p><p></p><p> “All right,” Maddie said, “can we get a coherent explanation of everything that’s happened?”</p><p></p><p> The group spent a few minutes getting their facts straight. Just after they finished, a squad of guards came into the room. Two of the guards were dragging one of the black-clad attackers behind them, the body leaving bloody streaks on the floor from several spear wounds.</p><p></p><p> “Excellent!” Arrie said. “Good job!”</p><p></p><p> “We thought you’d want to see the body,” the guard said. “The other one escaped.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s one of the ones that attacked us,” Autumn confirmed.</p><p></p><p> The guard pulled off the mask, revealing an unremarkable elf. “The only marking we found was this.” He pulled up one of the dead man’s sleeves, revealing a symbol branded into the forearm. It was a vaguely diamond shape, with lines radiating upward from the lateral corners. It was vaguely shaped like bird’s beet. Kyle looked at the symbol, turned white, and passed out.</p><p></p><p> “Why did that just break Kyle?” Arrie asked.</p><p></p><p> “Your Highness, shall we take the body away to be cremated?” the guard asked.</p><p></p><p> “Why don’t we have him interrogated by a priest first?” Arrie suggested. “Leave the body here for now and send someone to pick it up later.”</p><p></p><p> “Of course, Your Highness,” the guard saluted, and they exited the room.</p><p></p><p> Once the guards were gone, Autumn shook Kyle awake. “What happened?” she asked as his eyes fluttered open. “Why did you faint?”</p><p></p><p> “What… what does he have on him?” Kyle asked.</p><p></p><p> “Let’s find out,” Razael said. He began going over the body, pulling off a belt stuffed with vials. He opened one, sniffed it, and winced. “Damn, that’s foul. Mind if I keep this?”</p><p></p><p> “Does he have a knife of any kind?”</p><p></p><p> “Nope, unless he’s smuggling one in,” Razael said. “I can search him more… thoroughly if you want.”</p><p></p><p> “No, the kind of blade I’m looking for wouldn’t work for that,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “So, what’s the deal?” Razael asked.</p><p></p><p> “I’ve… seen that symbol before,” Kyle admitted.</p><p></p><p> “Where?” the tracker asked.</p><p></p><p> “It was months ago, last fall when we were in Tlaxan last time,” he began. “Actually, it was during that brief stay in Merlion at you parent’s castle. Remember the day you went out to investigate those goblin attacks on caravans, and I wasn’t around?”</p><p></p><p> “I remember,” Arrie said.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t,” Maddie was sure to say, “I wasn’t there.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle nodded, knowing that Kavan had been there, but that Maddie was only trying to firmly separate the two identities. “Well, it turns out that I have a cousin that lives in the village surrounding the castle, one of my uncle Seamus’ sons named Kevin. Found him quite by accident, when his wife Elsie mistook me for Kevin’s brother. See, Kevin had been expecting a visit from his brother – adopted brother, actually – Nicholas, who was a merchant. But Nicholas was overdue, and I volunteered to go up to the next town to see if he’d been through – the town, Balnad’s Ford was supposed to be his last stop on his trade route, and it’s only a couple days ride from Castle Verahannen. I went because I could get away more easily than Kevin or his wife, who both work at the castle, and because I could use magic and make the trip in a day.</p><p></p><p> “Well, I made it to Balnad’s Ford fine, and found out that Nicholas had been there several days ago, and was seen heading toward the castle, so should have been there by then. But I also found out that there had been other men looking for Nicholas too… men who carried disemboweling knives. So, I backtracked on the road to about where I figured these men would have caught up to Nicholas, and looked around.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle paused, swallowing to wet his throat. “Well, I found him, or what was left of him, in a ruined house just off the road. It wasn’t pretty. He’d been killed… ritually killed. Magical diagrams were scribed in blood all around him, I’m assuming in his blood. His eyes had been cut out, and so had his tongue, his kidneys, and his heart, and he’d been castrated. Every bone in all his fingers had been broken. Two iron nails were driven into his ears. Most of it was done while he was still alive. As far as I can tell, the purpose of the ritual was not only to make sure he was dead, but that his soul was destroyed as well. Not trapped, or sent to the Shadow Plane, but eradicated.”</p><p></p><p> Autumn leaned over the other side of the bed and threw up.</p><p></p><p> “I have no idea if the ritual really worked,” Kyle continued when his fiancée had recovered, “that’s just what it was intended to do. The only other thing I saw was that symbol painted on the wall in blood.” Kyle pointed at the diamond-mark on the dead elf’s arm. “It wasn’t part of the ritual, I know that. I never really said anything at the time about it. I figured it was a small cult of Fiel; the symbol on the wall was rather crude, and it sort of resembles a spider. And honestly, out in remote rural areas, little cults like that spring up all the time. A farmer has a couple of bad harvests, a shepherd loses his flock to disease, they get desperate and start blaming others for their misfortune. Most of those kind of cults don’t to anything worse that sit in someone’s barn wearing black robes and burning candles, maybe killing a chicken. The worst will kill one or two people, and then they’re rounded up by the sheriff and are hung. At the time we were in a hurry to get up to Noxolt because the previous Emperor was dying, and I figured it was worth bothering all of you with something that the local law could probably handle.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, I don’t know if they ever were caught,” Lanara said, “and I don’t know what it has to do with anything, but that symbol is pretty old, and it has something to do with magic and preservation, though for the life of me I have no idea how the two ideas are connected.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, you know more than I did,” Kyle said. “I looked for a reference to that symbol in the library here, but found nothing other than it probably wasn’t a symbol of Fiel. I let it go, honestly; I figured it was a random thing, they probably picked Nicholas out of the crowd. I didn’t think I’d ever deal with it again. But to see it now, here, after someone attacked my fiancée…”</p><p></p><p> “And you, too,” Autumn reminded him.</p><p></p><p> “It was a little unsettling,” Kyle admitted. “I guess with everything else today it was just a little too much. And now, once again, this comes up when we’re pressed for time again.”</p><p></p><p> Thunder shook the palace again, startling everyone. However, they noticed that it seemed to be lessening in intensity.</p><p></p><p> “Can someone get me a pen and parchment?” Kyle asked. “I want to copy that symbol down.”</p><p></p><p> “We could just cut it off for you,” Maddie offered.</p><p></p><p> “Paper’s fine, thanks,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> After making a copy of the symbol, Kyle rolled up the parchment, and then slowly started to rise out of bed.</p><p></p><p> “You shouldn’t be doing that,” Maddie said.</p><p></p><p> “I’m fine, I’ll just walk slow,” he replied.</p><p></p><p> “Kyle, the man’s not going anywhere,” Maddie said, pointing at the man who’d attacked them.</p><p></p><p> “I’m not worried about him.”</p><p></p><p> “Kyle, lay down and rest tonight,” Lanara said. “There’s not much you can do with this storm going.”</p><p></p><p> “Where did you say the dragons were?” Kyle asked, seeming to ignore Lanara.</p><p></p><p> “In the pantry,” Osborn said, “basement of the kitchen.”</p><p></p><p> “Kyle,” Arrie said slowly, “if the dragons tried to immolate them…” She pointed at Xu, Osborn, and Razael.</p><p></p><p> “Well, clearly with the shields up I’m not a threat,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t think the dragons thought these three were a threat either,” Maddie countered, “and look what happened.”</p><p></p><p> “I don’t think he was really trying to immolate us,” Osborn said, “because he would have if he wanted to.”</p><p></p><p> There was another blast of thunder outside, which abruptly cut out mid-tremor. The torches and lamps flickered, and then seemed to steady, and the light seemed somehow cleaner. Razael left the room, and returned a minute later. “Magestorm’s gone,” he said. “Not a cloud in the sky now.”</p><p></p><p> “Which means that they’ll drop the shields soon,” Autumn said, with the message for Kyle clear; and the dragons might see you as a threat now.</p><p></p><p> “Fine,” Kyle said, “I’ll stay.” He settled back down into the bed. “But promise me one thing. I assume we’re going to meet the scholars tomorrow?”</p><p></p><p> “Assuming they don’t leave tonight,” Arrie said.</p><p></p><p> ‘Well, if we do, can we not play that awkward game where everyone pretends they don’t know that Anduriel and Tiranel are dragons? I kind of wanted to go now to avoid the whole issue.”</p><p></p><p> “I think we can agree to that, Kyle,” Arrie said.</p><p></p><p> Fifteen minutes later the anti-magic shields were dropped. “Oh, good,” said Razael, “Now those two can get some help.”</p><p></p><p>“Hey!” Lanara protested, “I’m the one that stopped their bleeding!”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, yeah, that,” Razael said, shrugging.</p><p></p><p>“I can’t offer healing to Autumn,” Maddie said, “because she’s not one of Erito’s flock. But I can do nice things for Kyle.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, you could,” quipped Lanara, “but wouldn’t that require Autumn’s permission or cooperation?”</p><p></p><p>After a laugh, Maddie healed Kyle while Autumn accepted a potion from Osborn. After a while, Arrie summoned some guards, and had the body of the elven assailant dragged out of the room and placed under guard until an Eritan priest could speak with the body. They continued to discuss the night’s events, until they heard a loud knock at their door.</p><p></p><p> “Now what?” Arrie asked, heading to the door. “Is everyone decent?”</p><p></p><p> “As decent as we get,” said Lanara.</p><p></p><p> Arrie opened the door and saw Tiranel and Anduriel standing in the hall, looking just as they did when the party had first met them. Razael, who could see who was at the door from his angle, quickly looked around, and seeing that Kyle and Autumn’s suite had no windows, he dove into a closet.</p><p></p><p> The two ‘elves’ quickly pushed their way into the room. “Okay, everyone,” Anduriel said, “sit down. This isn’t a request.” Anduriel walked over to the closet, and pulled Razael out, setting him down on the end of a couch.</p><p></p><p> “So, do you actually live at the south pole?” Kyle asked Anduriel.</p><p></p><p> “No.”</p><p></p><p> “But you know who does, right?”</p><p></p><p> “Right. Okay, since it seems the mage is a little incapacitated…”</p><p></p><p> “Can you do something about that?” Lanara interrupted.</p><p></p><p> “No.” Anduriel pulled a large, leather-bound tome from his robes and handed it to Arrie. “Allow me to summarize the contents of that book. At the southern pole, you will find an insanely angry, insanely powerful dragon. This is of concern to me, because this dragon is not doing what he’s supposed to be doing.”</p><p></p><p> “Does he have anything that belongs to you,” Lanara asked, “or would like to own?”</p><p></p><p> “Irrelevant,” Anduriel spat. “Essentially, because this dragon isn’t doing what it’s supposed to be doing, it no longer enjoys it’s membership in ‘the club’, if you will.” Anduriel turned to look at Autumn. “In answer to your question about armor; I would either wear as little as possible and maximize your protection in other ways, or I would get as many thick, heavy furs as I could, and try to get them large enough to go on outside the armor.”</p><p></p><p> “Or you could wear the rings I gave you,” Tiranel muttered quietly.</p><p></p><p> “In regard to threats you’ll find,” Anduriel continued, as if he hadn’t heard his companion, “there are a lot of undead, as I said before. These undead are unhappy with their state of existence, and they’ll take it out on anything living they can find.” The dragon-elf gestured at the party.</p><p></p><p> “Are you sure we have to go there this summer?” Lanara asked.</p><p></p><p> Anduriel scowled, clearly irritated by the cansin’s constant interruptions. “Don’t talk,” he said to her, his words clearly laced with the power of a suggestion spell. Lanara was actually able to slip off the draconic enchantment, but decided not to talk anyway, just to avoid more confrontations.</p><p></p><p> “As I was saying,” Anduriel continued, “Have you faced the undead before?” The party voiced their assertion that they had. </p><p></p><p> “Then you know what’s effective against them,” Anduriel said. “Positive energy, disruption weapons, anti-undead magic. I can tell you that the dragon at the pole has delved so far into the realm of undeath, that although he’s not actually undead himself, it’s speculated that he’s close enough to it that some of these same weapons might affect him in the same way. I’d at least give it a try. I strongly recommend against using negative energy of any kind.”</p><p></p><p> “What about sonic energy?” Lanara asked, breaking her silence.</p><p></p><p> Anduriel looked irritated that the bard wasn’t obeying his suggestion. “Go wait in the closet,” he snapped, though this time there was no sorcery behind it.</p><p></p><p> “It’s a legitimate question,” Lanara stated calmly.</p><p></p><p> “You’ll have to forgive him,” Tiranel said, stepping up, “elemental energies are not his forte. Beyond the obvious reasons for avoiding cold energy, try not to rely on electrical attacks too heavily. There may be constructs down there reinforcing the undead that are immune to electrical damage. Sonic and acidic energies should be fine. And although I may have a bias, I would say that fire is best.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, at least we know which one it was,” Razael whispered to Osborn.</p><p></p><p> “Hope you enjoyed the bacon!” Osborn said to Tiranel.</p><p></p><p> “Are there any questions?” Anduriel asked.</p><p></p><p> “Well, since you’ve pretty much told us to shut up and listen to you…” Lanara grumbled.</p><p></p><p> “I have an unrelated question,” Kyle said, “so I’ll wait for others to ask things related to the south pole first.”</p><p></p><p> “That’s fine,” Anduriel said, “ask your question.”</p><p></p><p> Kyle unrolled the parchment that he’d copied the symbol on. “Do either of you know what this is?”</p><p></p><p> Both dragons peered at the parchment. “No idea,” Tiranel said.</p><p></p><p> “A human glyph of some sort?” Anduriel offered.</p><p></p><p> “I thought that since you’re scholars, you might have an idea,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “I don’t spend much time with humans,” Tiranel said.</p><p></p><p> “I’m not real sure it is human in origin,” Kyle said, “but never mind. If you don’t know, you don’t know.” He rolled the parchment back up.</p><p></p><p> Anduriel looked around at the party. “I apologize for the heavy-handedness. We try to move in much less overt circles normally.”</p><p></p><p> “So, why aren’t you taking care of this upstart dragon yourself?” Razael asked.</p><p></p><p> “Yes, would not dragons wish to deal with draconic affairs?” Xu added.</p><p></p><p> “There are a few reasons,” Anduriel said. “It would be in my capacity to do this, certainly.”</p><p></p><p> “It wouldn’t be for me,” Tiranel admitted. “The environment is contrary to my very nature. I’d be at too much of a disdvantage.”</p><p></p><p> “For me,” Anduriel said, “I have other things to worry about, honestly. My role is not simply to ‘deal with draconic affairs’. I have other responsibilities, and my presence at the pole or my absence elsewhere could have grave effects in other areas.”</p><p></p><p> “So, it’s like the same reason the Emperor of Tlaxan doesn’t personally deal with every trade dispute or border conflict,” Kyle said.</p><p></p><p> “Exactly. The reason we’re trusting this to the eight of you is that you’re relatively high-profile, and you’re reasonably competent. I’d hoped we could have convinced you to deal with our friend down there without being so direct about our interest in the matter, but through no fault of your own, it’s happened.”</p><p></p><p> “How is it ‘no fault of their own’?” Tiranel asked.</p><p></p><p> “Well, they didn’t summon the magestorm, did they?”</p><p></p><p> “No, but they did come snooping around the pantry looking for us.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, never mind that. Any other questions?”</p><p></p><p> “How long will you be in the city?” Autumn asked.</p><p></p><p> “Not much longer, I’m afraid. But if any of you absolutely needs to speak with me, here.” Anduriel produced a platinum ring embossed with a golden dragon, and gave it to Autumn. “Concentrate on the ring, and I’ll do what I can to help.”</p><p></p><p> “You already have what help I can give,” Tiranel said. “When you return, I’ll find you to get back what I’ve loaned you.”</p><p></p><p> “Thank you,” Autumn said in Draconic. “We appreciate your help.”</p><p></p><p> Both Tiranel and Anduriel nodded. “You’re welcome,” Anduriel said. “Good luck to you.” With that, they both turned and walked out of the room.</p><p></p><p> The party milled about for a bit, still absorbing all the information they’d heard. Looming largest in their minds was that not only had they met two dragons, the most powerful and legendary creatures on the planet, but they were preparing to set off for the ends of the earth to challenge a third.</p><p></p><p> Kyle broke the silence first. “Hey, Arrie? Can I have that book they gave you? With everything that’s happened today, I don’t think I’m going to sleep much anyway.”</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>* * *</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p> Tiranel and Anduriel walked side by side, down the wide road leading away from the Imperial Palace. They conversed quietly in Draconic.</p><p></p><p> “Ten thousand gold says they don’t make it past the first guardian,” Anduriel said.</p><p></p><p> “I’m not a betting creature,” Tiranel replied. “Besides, I have at least that much invested in them just in the magic I’ve loaned them. If they die, you can fly down there and get it from them.” Tiranel snorted. “Besides, what happened to ‘reasonably competent’?”</p><p></p><p> “They are,” Anduriel admitted, “but they’re still only humanoid.”</p><p></p><p> “Be that as it may, they’re all we have right now. If this doesn’t work, it will make things complicated for all of us.”</p><p></p><p> “I know that,” Anduriel snapped, then sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just hungry. I could use a few sheep right about now.” The extravagantly garbed scholar glared at Tiranel. “You could have at least shared the hin’s bacon.”</p><p></p><p> “It was obviously a burnt offering to me,” Tiranel said.</p><p></p><p> “But you burned it!”</p><p> “Details, details,” he waved the accusation away. “But it’s nice to see that some humanoids still have the sense to know how to show proper respect to a dragon.” Tiranel thought for a moment. “I should go to the temple of Erito, and donate some money and ask for a special blessing for the hin.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Delemental, post: 2815370, member: 5203"] [b]Storm of Chaos[/b] It only took a day for the party to exit the mountains and reach the wide, fertile plains of the Peca Provinces. The branch of the river they had followed rejoined the Plingold, and they followed the north bank, intending to cut north in another week and aim for the city of Tengolt, where they could use the tunnels dug under the Confederates to reach Tlaxan. With the weather fair, they expected to reach Noxolt in a little over a month, close to Midsummer. During their travels, Arrie made use of the sending enchantment in her wedding ring to communicate with Herion, giving him the specifics on the ship they would need to make their journey to the southern pole. Though trying to impart so much information at twenty-five words a day was frustrating, the party hoped that by the time they reached Noxolt, some of the groundwork might have been laid so that they could start their voyage as quickly as possible. About three days after leaving the mountains, the party saw a rather large ship coming toward them, traveling on the Plingold heading upstream at an unusually rapid pace. “Can you see who it is?” Arrie shouted at Maddie and Razael, who had both walked to a higher spot to get a better look at the approaching vessel. “They’re flying a flag,” Razael said. “Yellow, with blue symbols.” “Those are government banners,” Lanara said to everyone. “Probably the provincial governor.” She called up to the two elves, “Can you see what the symbols are? Every governor has a different symbol.” “I thought you said you’d never been in the Provinces,” Kyle said to Lanara. “I’m a bard. It’s my job to know things.” She shouted out again. “Anything?” “Just a minute,” Maddie called back. “The wind’s shifting a bit, so we’ll get a better look… yes, there it is. Looks like two dolphins circling a star with several points, not quite twenty, I’d say.” Lanara blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?” “That’s what I see, too,” Razael said. “What’s the big deal?” Lanara smiled. “It’s the Overgovernor.” The cansin’s assertions were confirmed about thirty minutes later, when two small gnomish craft flying the same yellow and blue banner sailed up the river and approached the group. Uniformed sailors on the deck informed them that Overgovernor Garlen had requested the honor of meeting them, and had dropped anchor a short distance away. As they followed the ships back downstream from the bank, Lanara and Arrie explained politics in the Provinces. “Every province has a governor, of course,” Arrie said, “and for the most part they’re in charge of affairs in their territory. The governors elect an Overgovernor to represent the nation as a whole, to coordinate the military, and so on. They serve for ten years.” “Unless he’s voted out by two-thirds of the governors,” Lanara added. “They only do that if the Overgovernor goes crazy, or senile or something.” “So, where does the Overgovernor, well, govern?” Kyle asked. “Well, they couldn’t really decide where to put a capital city,” Lanara explained. “Thought it wouldn’t be fair for one province to have that kind of clout. So, the Overgovernor just travels with his court all over the place. Sails up and down the coast and the two main rivers. Rather than people going to the Overgovernor when there’s trouble, he comes to them.” “Interesting way of doing things,” Maddie said. “It works for the gnomes,” Arrie said. “Of course, I can’t see where governing a race that tends toward decent behavior and fairness would be terribly difficult.” The party made their way to the Overgovernor’s vessel. The massive ship had lowered a ramp onto the north bank, and a number of people had disembarked to greet them. Several people in smaller ships surrounding the Overgovernor’s vessel sailed by to wave at the visitors. Most were gnomish, with several water-touched, a few aasimar, and a scattering of other races, though orcs and orc-touched were notably absent. The Overgovernor’s ship itself was larger than any other vessel they’d ever seen, with sails that seemed to be spun out of fine silk rather than sailcloth. Despite its size, it seemed to just barely rest in the water, betraying the fact that the ship was enhanced with powerful enchantments. After dismounting, the horses were led to a hastily assembled canvas shelter to be cared for. The party was offered a few moments to freshen up in more tents erected for privacy, before being escorted on board. They were led to the rear of the ship, and taken down into the lower decks, where they were stopped in front of a plain-looking door flanked by two gnomish guards. “The Honorable Overgovernor Garlen awaits inside,” one of the guards announced. “This is it?” Razael whispered to Arrie. “We get to cram into the cabin with the king of the gnomes?” “Yes, Razael,” Arrie whispered back, “and if one of your snide comments that you think no one else hears reaches his ears, I won’t wait for Herion’s permission to have you flogged and executed.” Razael smiled at her. “You know, at times you remind me of Herion’s dad.” The party cautiously opened the door, wondering if they’d all fit or if they’d have to take turns. By their best guess, the room beyond was only about ten feet from the outer hull. Going through the door, they each stepped into an enormous indoor courtyard, surrounded by fountains. Flowering plants all around them were home to dozens of tiny songbirds flitting about. “Extradimensional,” Kyle said, looking around, “makes perfect sense. Opulent enough for a head of state, but portable.” “And makes it darned hard for the enemy to figure out what part of my ship to shoot,” said a jolly voice. The party turned to see a throne appear suddenly at one end of the courtyard, supported by a small, shallow dais. Sitting in the throne was a wrinkled old gnome with bright eyes and a snow-white mustache that matched his hair. A crown of coral and pearls sat on his head. “And I assure you that we do have them,” the gnome said. “Enemies, that is. Does tend to make governing a bit… terribly difficult at times.” He glanced quickly at Arrie as he spoke his last comment. Arrie bowed, and turned a little red. “You Honor, I assure you that I…” “Psh!” Garlen said, waving Arrie down. “There’s far worse been said about me and my country, Princess. The truth is that we gnomes aren’t a hard lot to please as long as you know how to listen to them.” He smiled. “And I do know how to listen.” Garlen plucked the coral crown off his head and set it aside. “Forgive the pomp. My advisors insist I need to make an impression on visitors, look as impressive as the kings and emperors that run the other countries.” There were a series of quick bows and introductions. “May we ask why we’ve been invited, Your Honor?” Autumn asked. “Of course you may, Duchess,” the Overgovernor said, then added, “well, officially I should say almost-Duchess, right?” “Of course, Your Honor.” There were a few moments of awkward silence before Autumn spoke again. “Excuse me, Your Honor?” “Yes?” “You haven’t answered my question.” “Of course I did, dear. You asked if you could ask why you were invited to see me, and I gave you permission to ask.” He winked at her. “First rule of being in charge, almost-Duchess. Choose your words carefully.” Garlen looked over to Kyle. “You’d best pay attention to this too, you know. From what I hear you’re an almost-almost-Duke yourself. Congratulations, by the way, though I don’t envy you the conversation with her parents. No offence to either of you, I hope,” he said, nodding toward Arrie and Autumn. “None taken,” Arrie said. “So, Your Honor, why have we been invited to see you?” “Oh, well, I just wanted to extend my personal thanks to you for your assistance in helping my people with that kuo-toa incursion. We were coming out this way anyway – seems with the slide in the pass between M’ioch and Krek, there’s been a lot more traffic coming down the Plingold, and the provincial governor’s asked for assistance with supplies and logistics and such. Since my ship was close, and I heard you were heading this way, I decided to make a stop.” “You honor us, Your Honor,” Lanara said. “Please, it’s nothing,” Overgovernor Garlen said. “I’m especially pleased to meet you, Lanara Rahila. I’ve heard that you’ve made quite an impression on Tlaxan’s Imperial Court. Of course, I’d expect someone who possessed one of the True Instruments to do great things.” The Overgovernor pointed at the fiddle strapped to Lanara’s back, and then lovingly rested his hand on a magnificent harp resting near his throne. “You’re a bard?” Lanara asked. “Many of Peca’s Overgovernors have been bards,” Garlen replied. “Bards make the best leaders, you know; very knowledgeable, very persuasive, know how to entertain, and know how to find things out. Plus, I save a fortune by not having to hire entertainers.” He grinned and winked again. “Oh, and by the way, what you did with her twin sister? I loved that. Very ironic.” The party looked at each other, slightly uncertain. “Your Honor,” Lanara said, “we appreciate your compliments. You certainly seem… very well informed about us.” “Of course I am! It’s my job to know things, especially when they pertain to my kingdom! I’m a bard, remember? And a pretty good one, too, so I know how to find things out. Besides, it wasn’t as hard as you might think. You bunch are better known that you realize, I think.” Overgovernor Garlen waved a hand in the air, as if swatting something away. “Well, enough stroking your egos. Vain adventurers quickly become useless adventurers, if you ask my opinion. And I know you didn’t, but you get to hear it anyway. It’s good to be in charge.” Garlen laughed at his own joke before continuing. “Anyway, rest assured that the plight of the town you just saved hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’m sending a few people up that way to assist with the rebuilding, and I’ll be advising the provincial governor to post a small garrison up there. After all, we can’t have our nation’s natural resources being tampered with.” The tone in Garlen’s voice told the party that when he said ‘resources’, he wasn’t talking about exotic fish or scrimshaw. Now doubt the garrison would be there to secure the newly rediscovered Fire Node. “As for the lot of you, well, I’d like to give you a little token of appreciation.” He pulled an object out of a pocket, and tossed it to Lanara. It was a disk made of a bluish crystal, about the width of a gnome’s palm, with the royal symbol carved into one side. Small white pearls were embedded into the crystal at each of the star’s eighteen points. “It’s a Mark of Passage,” Garlen explained. “It gives you access to all roads and waterways in the Provinces free of tolls or taxes, and exempts you from any fees for entering any settlement in the Provinces. Hopefully you’ll consider coming through here from time to time in the future.” “Thank you, Your Honor,” Lanara said, bowing. “Not at all. Now, I’m afraid I’ll have to cut things short – we really do need to be on our way upriver. Good luck and good journey to you all.” A few moments later two liveried servants came through the door and offered to escort the party back to their horses. After they left, another gnome approached the throne from the other side of the courtyard. “How did it go, Your Honor?” the gnome asked. “Oh, fine, fine, Pench. Short and sweet.” The one called Pench nodded. “And did you get a chance to see the one you wanted to see?” Overgovernor Garlen nodded. “Yes, but not nearly as long as I would have liked. Couldn’t even ask any questions, more’s the pity. But we’re in a hurry, they’re in a hurry – to stall them any longer would have made them impatient, even suspicious.” “Well, there’s always the Mark,” Pench said. “Very true. Hopefully they don’t decide to sell it.” Pench’s eyes widened. “Your Honor, you don’t think they would, do you?” “Probably not, Pench, but they are adventurers. They can be a funny lot.” * * * The party arrived in Noxolt on the third day of Midsummer. The streets were crowded with people milling about, going from shop to shop visiting with their favorite vendors and gossiping. Several of the adults wore crowns of flowers that had been given to them by their children to commemorate the day. The weather had done little to suppress the festive mood; there had been rain and a nearly constant cloud cover over Tlaxan for the past two weeks, but even today, when there was no rain but the humidity had made the heat oppressive, people were smiling and laughing. A number of the city folk, seeing the party ride by along with the Imperial honor guard that had met them at the gate, stopped what they were doing to run up and wave or cheer. Young elven children scampered up and tugged at their cloaks, while blushing maidens batted their eyelashes from behind decorative fans. Razael grinned and almost stopped his horse to talk to some of the young women, until a questioning look from Maddie pulled him away. In the courtyard just in front of the gate marking the entrance to the Imperial Palace itself, a new structure had been erected. It was a simple glassteel box, about ten feet square. Inside the box, a lone ghoul paced back and forth, occasionally slamming itself into the transparent walls or clawing at them as people went by. A small plaque was mounted to one wall, which Lanara rode up to read. “Does that ghoul look familiar to anyone else?” Maddie asked as it hissed at her and slapped its long tongue against the glassteel wall. “It should,” Lanara said, “this is the assassin that killed the Emperor’s son last fall.” The party remembered that day well. They had been guests of the Palace then, shortly after the previous Emperor had died. It was while investigating the mysterious death of Haxtha’s young son that they first encountered the strange being known as Xerxes, and the party had taken its first step into the hidden world of the psionic races. “It says that his sentence is to remain caged here until the time it would be expected that his victim would have died naturally.” The party nodded. Haxtha’s son had been ten years old when he was killed; the assassin’s ghoul would be inside the cage for centuries to come. They rode through the gates to the palace complex, and a few minutes later were dismounting in front of the grand stone stairs that led to the great hall of the palace proper. Herion was there, dressed in formal garb, along with a bevy of officials, courtesans, and servants. A large crowd of onlookers had also gathered. The party climbed the stairs, but stopped when they realized they would have to endure a formal welcoming ceremony. About an hour later, they were allowed to go inside, all of them sweating profusely. The party was shown to their rooms in the palace, and that evening enjoyed an informal dinner with Herion and his sister Aralda. “While you were traveling,” Herion said during dinner, “I have undertaken to find a suitable ship for you, based on what my wife has told me you would need. A ship has been found, and for expediency I purchased the ship from the Imperial treasury. All you will need to do is reimburse the treasury for the cost. Hopefully with the weight of the crown behind it, the sale price was slightly less that what you might have paid on your own.” “That’s handy,” Lanara said. “It was not clear, however, if you would require a crew,” Herion added. “I presumed you would, but I have found that my presumptions in regard to the eight of you are often inaccurate.” “Well, I know how to sail a ship,” Kyle said. “Great!” Osborn said, “That’s one!” “Yeah, one person does not a crew make,” Razael said. “I’m just saying…” “Well then, it seems you will need a crew,” Herion said. “Word can be sent out after the end of Midsummer.” “Make sure they’re cute!” Lanara said. “They’re… sailors,” Osborn said. “The two ideas really don’t go together.” “I spend as little time as possible on boats,” Lanara said. “How would I know there are no cute sailors? Can the cook be cute?” “The cooks are usually big and fat,” Osborn said. “At least the good ones are,” Kyle commented. “If it’s that important to you, Lanara, then hire yourself a cabin boy for the voyage.” The cansin’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! Good idea! Say, Arrie, want to help me pick out a cabin boy?” “So, anyway,” Kyle said, “how much do we owe for the ship, Herion?” “The price was fifteen thousand gold,” Herion replied. “It was a bit more than usual for a vessel of its size, but you did have some unusual specifications. We have also bought some cold weather gear for you, which unsurprisingly was relatively inexpensive in the middle of summer.” “Okay, well, we have enough stashed away in our shared pool for that,” Kyle said. “When should we meet with your financiers, Herion?” Autumn asked. “I’ll take the money to them,” Razael offered. “No,” Autumn replied. “Why not?” Herion looked at Razael, and almost smiled. Almost. “I think perhaps they are not yet willing to trust you with that much coin, Razael, since we seem unable to trust you with more… valuable goods.” Razael threw up his hands. “It’s never my fault,” he cried. “I don’t chase.” “Which is an unusual trait in a Huntsman,” Aralda interjected. “Yeah, he’s over five hundred,” quipped Osborn quietly. “He might break a hip.” “What was that?” Razael asked, looking at the hin. Osborn declined to repeat his comment, so Razael grumbled quietly to himself but let the matter drop. “I’ve also taken the liberty,” Herion began, but then he paused. “No, let me rephrase that. I was going to take the liberty of locating scholars familiar with the southern polar region, but by fortune two such men arrived here on their own. They said that they knew you were coming and knew you would need their advice. They’d like to meet with you tomorrow, if so inclined.” “Research is always good,” Lanara said. Talk around the table moved on to other topics. Herion’s older brother, the Emperor Haxtha, had taken a new consort, and the birth of a new heir was expected within the next two years. They spoke of affairs at court and major news from the rest of Affon, generally catching up on the world at large. The group also provided tales of their travels since leaving M’Dos, via Lanara and her music. “So, what’s going to happen with Autumn?” Kyle asked after a while. “My brother will put you through a formal ceremony the day after tomorrow at noon,” Herion said to the aasimar. “Tomorrow being the Midsummer Day of Mourning, of course, it would be in poor taste to do it then.” “What if she says no?” Lanara asked. “Abdicating her title is a decision she could make. She would still be royalty by relation, but she wouldn’t have responsibilities here in Tlaxan, and there would be a loss of status as well as the security of land and income.” “See, Autumn?” Lanara said, “you can roam around the world with your wizard all you like.” “But I can do that anyway,” Autumn said, “I just have to come back from time to time.” Razael glanced down at the ring on Autumn’s finger, flashing and sparking even in the dim candlelight thanks to the mild enchantment Kyle had placed in it. “Okay, Kyle,” Razael said, leaning in toward the wizard, “I’ve got to know. Where did you steal that from?” “I didn’t steal it,” Kyle said, “I made it myself.” “Oh, come on,” Razael scoffed. “No, really! I bought the gems and metal in M’Dos!” “Since when do you know how to make jewelry?” Lanara asked. “I’ve known how for a long time,” Kyle protested, “I’ve just never had the chance.” “You bought that rock?” Razael asked, looking at the sizable sapphire in the center of Autumn’s ring. “Now I know you’re pulling my leg.” “I have just as much money as the rest of you, you know,” Kyle said. “I saved it up.” “All right, enough teasing the wizard,” Arrie said. “I think we should get some rest for the ceremony tomorrow. Autumn, you know our parents will probably be coming for that. Which means they’ll be here. In person. To see you.” She glanced over at Kyle, “and your friends.” “We plan on speaking with them after the ceremony,” Autumn said. “We’ll inform them of our engagement then. That way there are no surprises.” * * * The next day dawned stormy and overcast, casting a shadow over the whole city. Razael, looking out across the sky from a balcony, was slightly disturbed, though he couldn’t say why. The city was fairly quiet, as people marked the Day of Mourning and remembered lost relatives and friends. The Imperial Palace was adorned with ivy garlands at every entry, to mark their observance of the deaths of the previous Emperor and the current Emperor’s young son less than a year ago. Maddie was seen only briefly in the morning, wearing funerary white vestments as she went to the temple of Erito in the city to observe the day. Many of the other elves in the palace, including the Imperial Family, wore white as well There was a loud knock at the door to Autumn and Kyle’s rooms at dawn the day of Autumn’s investiture ceremony. Autumn responded to the sound by shoving Kyle at the shoulder, pushing him out of the bed. “Ow!” he complained, rubbing his side where he’d hit the floor. “You’re darned lucky there’s a rug on this floor, you know.” Autumn’s had stuck out of the covers and she waved in the general direction of the sitting room, where the knocking continued. Grumbling, Kyle crossed the bedroom and began pulling on clothes. “I’ll make a morning person of you yet, Autumn,” he said. There was mumbling from under the covers. Kyle walked out of the bedroom and into the sitting area. He crossed the room to the door leading out into the hall, glancing out the windows as he walked. Gods, it’s dark this morning, Kyle thought. He assumed the knocking was a servant who hadn’t gotten word that they wanted to sleep late this morning. He swung the outer door open, and looked straight into the face of Lord Zanich and Lady Auror. Kyle just stared for a moment, turning white. Zanich tried to look anywhere but directly at Kyle, while Auror just stared coldly, a vein on her temple throbbing. “I see the servants must have given us poor directions,” Auror said. “Do you know where Autumn’s chambers are located?” “Well,” Kyle said after a long pause, “actually, she’s here. If you’ll come inside, I’ll go get her.” Kyle stepped back and let Zanich and Auror inside. “Um, if you’d like to have a seat…” “I think we will stand, thank you,” Auror said flatly. “You go fetch her now.” Kyle hurried back to the bedroom, and gently started shaking Autumn’s shoulder. “What?” she moaned. “Um…” “Don’t tell me they want me to start getting ready now,” Autumn complained. “No,” Kyle said, “you… have a visitor. Two, actually.” “Who?” “Your parents.” Autumn looked at Kyle, then looked at the door leading into the sitting room, then peeked under her own blankets, confirming the fact that she was wearing nothing underneath them. “Oh, no.” Autumn jumped out of bed and threw open her wardrobe. “Why don’t you go out and entertain them while I make myself presentable,” she said, trying to force calm into her voice. “You’re kidding, right?” “Do you see another choice here, Kyle?” “Yes. I think I have a reasonable chance of dimension dooring both of us out of here.” “That will only make things worse,” Autumn said, pulling a shift over her head. “Go. Go do something!” Kyle walked out of the room, trying not to panic. He approached Autumn’s parents. “Lady Auror, Lord Zanich,” he said, bowing slightly, “it’s good to see you again. Autumn is getting dr… she will be out shortly. Can I get you anything?” “We have already broken our fast,” Lady Auror announced. “We will await the arrival of our daughter.” “Sure, sure,” Kyle said. “Are you sure you won’t sit down?” “Quite,” Auror said tersely. “So, Kyle,” Zanich said, “I understand…” he faltered as his wife shot him a withering look, “… that you’ve… been… places.” “Oh. Oh! Yes, of course! All over the continent!” Kyle began talking rapidly about their travels in the Haran Desert, then across the Khag Steppes. “We were in Miracle in a while,” he said. “Lovely place, what with the not being able to hurt people. We bought a house there, you know. Well, actually, we just obtained the house from an undead necromancer who we destroyed.” “Fascinating,” Auror said, in a tone that made it clear that it wasn’t. “And then… well, we were in M’Dos for a while, and then… we came here.” Kyle was desperate, having run out of conversation pieces. Fortunately, Autumn emerged from the bedroom at that moment, and quickly crossed the room to greet her parents. “Ah, Autumn, you are here.” Lady Auror turned to Kyle. “Thank you. You are dismissed.” Kyle’s jaw clenched, and he turned to look at Auror squarely. “Actually,” he said slowly, “this is my room, too.” He sat down on the end of one of the couches. Inwardly, Kyle fumed. Auror stared at Kyle, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Outside, thunder rolled across the sky. Autumn sat down next to Kyle, resting her hand on his. “Mother, father,” she said, “Kyle and I are engaged.” There was a long, stony silence. “I would have thought better of you,” Auror said, and then she turned and walked out of the room. Zanich stood unmoving for a moment longer, and then with an ‘I’ll talk to her’ gesture to Autumn, he smiled weakly, nodded to both of them, and followed his wife out of the room.” The two of them sat there for a while longer, holding each other’s hand tightly. “I guess we can cancel our dinner plans with the folks, eh?” Kyle said. “Yeah, I think so.” Autumn sighed. “I don’t think I’m in the mood for breakfast.” “Yeah,” Kyle agreed, then after a while he said, “I’m sorry.” “For what? That’s just her way.” “I just don’t like the fact that I’m making this harder just by being me,” he said. Autumn squeezed his hand. “I don’t think any man would have been good enough for her,” she said, “but you’re good enough for me.” Autumn and Kyle spent the remainder of the morning studiously avoiding Auror and Zanich. They got a sympathetic look from Arrie when they passed by her in the hall, who had just finished visiting with their parents. By eleven Autumn was escorted away to prepare for her investiture, and Kyle joined the other members of the party in the audience. The ceremony itself was mercifully brief. Even so, the hot, oppressively humid weather had put everyone on edge. The entire morning had that feel as though a storm were just about to break, though it never did. Autumn was able to tolerate the ceremony only thanks to the endure elements spell Kyle had given her that morning. She noted that her mother, standing nearby on the dais, never even looked at her, and when her gaze did wander to where her friends sat, she seemed to look right through Kyle. Throughout the event, Razael continued to glance at the sky uneasily, though he couldn’t put words to why the weather unnerved him so. After the ceremony and a brief reception in Autumn’s honor (which Auror and Zanich left very early), the party was escorted to the library to meet the scholars. Outside, the storm had still not broken, but lightning and thunder flashed and rolled across the sky so frequently and loudly that conversation was difficult. They were led to what would normally be a very quiet and secluded wing of the building, but today there were an unusual number of people milling about, a number of them women. When the party exited the shelves and came to an open area with a large table, they had a good idea why. Seated at one end of the table were two elves. One was very tall and thin, almost gaunt, with very dark skin and hair that looked as though it had been bleached by the sun. He was dressed in fine, but unpretentious clothing, and wore dark lenses over his eyes that hid his pupils. By contrast, the other elf was just as tall, but appeared sturdier in build, though that might have been due to the many layers of rich, extravagant clothing he wore. His skin was tanned, though not as dark as his companion, and he had platinum blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Both exuded a presence that was magnetic, almost entrancing, and their every gesture seemed to draw attention. Several library staff and patrons were going out of their way to walk by frequently to catch a glimpse of the two scholars. “Welcome,” said the more opulent of the two. “Please, sit down.” The party took seats around the table. Lanara, who sat next to the opulently dressed scholar, felt a brief chill, as if the room had suddenly become slightly colder, but the sensation passed. Introductions were made; the gaunt elf introduced himself as Tiranel, and the extravagant elf gave his name as AnAnduriel. “So, what can you tell us about where we’re going?” Autumn asked. “What do you want to know?” Tiranel asked. “Everything.” “Is there a way to get there without using a damn boat?” Lanara asked. “Not unless you can fly,” AnAnduriel interjected. “Next question?” “How far would we have to fly?” Lanara persisted. “Can we buy something that will do it?” “It depends on what you use, and who is flying,” Tiranel said. “And whether your transport has wings, will need to rest or can sleep while flying…” “It’s longer than you can flap your arms, let’s put it that way,” AnAnduriel said. “I’d rule that idea out if I were you.” “Damn,” Lanara said. “What kind of dangers should we expect?” Autumn asked. “Big, icy ones,” Lanara suggested. “That’s a fine answer,” Anduriel said. “I’d also worry about the living dead.” “I’m not so sure you’re going to be getting around to facing any of the dangers there, living or dead,” Tiranel interjected, “unless your boat is really, really nicely outfitted.” “Herion bought it for us,” Lanara said. “Yes, but there are limits to what even a kingdom’s treasury can reach,” Tiranel said. “It’s the arctic, after all, and I doubt any of Tlaxan’s shipbuilders have even an inkling of what is required. You are going to need assistance.” “So, you guys are coming?” Lanara asked. Tiranel shook his head. “I can’t. I study, I don’t work.” “Would it possible for you to inspect the ship we have,” Kyle asked, “and make suggestions for modifications that might improve our chances?” “I could,” Tiranel agreed, “I can also provide you with some trinkets that might be useful in getting past the natural harsh habitat so that you can perish at the hands of the living dead or whatever other horrible things my associate thinks are going to be there.” “So, have either of you ever actually been there?” Lanara asked. “Once,” Anduriel said. “Both of you?” Razael asked. “I study,” Tiranel repeated, “I don’t work.” “So, how’d you get the tan?” Lanara asked the gaunt scholar. “Studying outside.” “What… why would there be so many undead?” Kyle asked. “My understanding was that the southern pole would be deserted. Nothing there to make undead from or to sustain them.” “Well, it kind of makes sense,” Arrie said, “The cold won’t bother them.” “Yes, but why are they there in the first place?” “Imagine you found something,” Tiranel said slowly, “that you didn’t think anyone else in the entire world should have. Where would you put it, and what would you set to guard it?” “I’d put it in the sun, and let Grabâkh do it,” Razael said. “Right. Problem is that the gods aren’t usually willing to just… do that because you tell them to. You’re going to have to do it yourself, and so the best alternative on this planet are the poles.” “We’re looking for pre-Cataclysmic stuff here, right?” Osborn said. “Maybe before the Cataclysm, where this stuff is wasn’t the pole.” “Before we get too far off track,” Anduriel said, “I don’t know how much you’ve read about the polar region already, but let me share a few concepts with you, like… undead frost giants.” The richly dressed scholar looked around the table for their reactions. “Just an example.” “We can go around,” Lanara said. “I don’t know how much you’ve read about the polar region,” Anduriel repeated, a little condescendingly, “but it is the ‘around’.” “Are you saying the world is round?” Razael said. “No,” Anduriel said, barely suppressing a smirk, “there are some things you need to discover for yourself.” “I assume that would be implied in calling it a ‘pole’,” Tiranel said, “rather than the ‘hub’ or the ‘edge’.” “You’re assuming he would know the difference,” Lanara said. “I make no assumptions about your knowledge,” Tiranel stated. “That’s why I’m speaking to you like you were three years old.” The party bristled a bit at the implication. “So, we can expect lots of undead,” Kyle said, steering the conversation back on track, “and I assume lots of creatures that thrive in the cold, like polar worms.” “Yes,” Anduriel said. “Dragons?” Razael asked. “As a matter of fact,” Anduriel nodded, “that’s the reason you should be interested in what we’re saying.” “They should be interested?” Tiranel said to his companion. “I don’t know about you, but I’d find that somewhat dissuasive myself.” “That’s because you don’t work, you study,” Razael said. “All right,” Tiranel said to him, “if you want to go down and challenge a dragon, more power to you. As I said, I do have some trinkets that might help you in that respect, but…” “It’s not my choice,” Razael said, pointing to Maddie, “It’s hers.” “Wait, wait, wait,” Kyle interrupted. “So, there is a dragon down there?” “Yes,” Anduriel replied. “Interesting,” Kyle said. “What?” Autumn asked, “Would it be an undead dragon?” “No,” Anduriel said slowly, “though the lines blur a bit.” “That’s an amazing leap of logic,” Tiranel said, “I’m proud of you.” “Well, here’s the interesting thing about dragons,” Kyle said. “According to legend, the dragons were placed on the world for a reason.” “Indeed,” Anduriel agreed. “There’s speculation on what that reason is. Some say they guard locations of elemental power, or protect the balance of magic in the world. The concerning myth is the idea that the dragons are here so that if the world ever becomes out of balance again, as it did during the Cataclysm, they can help remake the world anew.” “In other words, eat everyone and start over,” Tiranel said. “Right. Given the possible nature of the information that may be down there,” Kyle continued, “I find it interesting that there’s a dragon down there as well, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I also think that means there’s going to be no chance of us avoiding a confrontation with this dragon.” “Did you actually see the dragon?” Autumn asked Anduriel. “No.” “Then how do you know it’s there?” Razael asked. “Trust me,” Anduriel said, “I know.” “Can they be charmed?” Lanara asked. “No, they can’t,” Tiranel said testily. “Have you ever tried?” “No,” he said again, “study, not work.” “Trust me,” Anduriel said, “on a practical level, I can personally assure you it is not possible to charm a dragon.” “But can you assure us that it’s there?” Razael said. “Yes.” “How?” “Trust me,” Anduriel said slowly, “I know.” “There’s not a trust here,” Razael said. “How do you know?” “I know more than you,” Anduriel said, “and I know it’s there.” “If you know so much, you can describe how you know.” “I could,” Anduriel said, “but there are certain things that you don’t need to know, and how I know there’s a dragon there is one of them. It’s there.” “He’s lying,” Razael said. “Look at it this way,” Tiranel interrupted, “if there’s no dragon there, you have nothing to worry about. But if it is there, you’re prepared. Either way, what’s the difference? The point is that you need to be prepared.” Razael stood up, and walked away from the table, muttering. “Let’s start over at the beginning,” Arrie said after an awkward pause. “What do we need to equip ourselves and our ship with to deal with the environment?” “I’ll defer to my esteemed colleague on this subject,” Anduriel said. “Your ship needs to be bound in metal, with a wooden hull underneath. It needs to have a special ram, extending in front of the ship at least nine feet, which is wedge-shaped and constructed of a very solid metal; preferably adamantium, though other steel alloys will suffice. You need to make sure that the ship can be rowed as well as sailed, because you cannot count on the wind being there, or blowing in the right direction. Cross-sailing is not always possible. The oars should be reinforced; most military-grade oars are strong enough for this. You need to be able to pull down the entire mast, so that it doesn’t just snap off when the storms start. You need to be able to set up some sort of cover over the deck, so that the ship is not weighed down with snow and ice. You will need to pack several barrels of coarse salt to melt the ice that does build up. You will need to keep the room in which you store your fresh water heated so that it doesn’t freeze. In short, you must prepare for conditions the like of which none of you have ever seen.” “That’s great,” Lanara snapped. “That ought to be easy enough. ‘We have no idea what we need, and we’ve never seen it before, so can you outfit the ship for that?’” “But, he just told us,” Arrie said. “Yes, but we have to describe this to other people,” Lanara pointed out. “I hope you’re taking notes, Kyle.” “Would you be able to describe these things to the shipbuilder?” Autumn asked. “Certainly,” Tiranel said, “though I don’t know if he’ll be especially receptive to my comments. I’ve noted that there is little respect among those who work for those who study.” “Having done a fair bit of both,” Kyle said, “I think I can translate for you.” “I actually have everything you will need written down here.” Tiranel withdrew a large roll of parchment from a shoulder bag, and handed it to Kyle, who unrolled it long enough to peruse the notes and schematics before putting them away. “There are other minor items I have that might make the trip survivable, if not pleasant,” Tiranel continued. “I have logs that will burst into flame on command, regardless of the surrounding conditions. I have rings that will afford some protection from the elements as well.” “What about people such as myself, who wear heavier armor in battle?” Autumn asked. “Be prepared to be very cold,” Tiranel said. “You’re an aasimar, and so have some natural resistance to extreme cold. It will not be enough. Wear thick, absorbent material underneath your armor. Or obtain magical items that protect against the cold. Better yet, do both. That goes for all of you.” “Stick to the subject of environment and travel for now,” Anduriel said. “I can field questions about personal items, weapons, and tactics later.” “What about navigation?” Kyle said. “Once we’re there, I’m assuming steering by landmark is out, or by stars.” “I still have that wand that tells us which way is north,” Lanara reminded him. “That’s a good resource,” Tiranel agreed. “Okay, what about travel hazards, other than the obvious things like blizzards?” Kyle asked. “You mean, like sinking into the snow?” Tiranel asked. “That far down, the snow pack is firm enough that it shouldn’t be a concern, but you’ll want to take snowshoes just in case. Watch for crevasses, which you should be able to go around or cross using ropes and ice picks. You’re leaving soon, I take it?” “We hope to get there by late summer,” Xu said. “Good, then you’ll avoid the worst of the weather. If you find yourself delayed, do not try to make the journey in the winter. Wait a year.” Tiranel dug into a pocket, closing his hand around something inside. “Here’s something that will aid you, but whoever takes it should treat it with care. It’s rather fragile.” He pulled out what looked like a small snow-globe and set it on the table. “If you shake it, it will create an area into which wind and snow can’t penetrate. It only lasts about an hour, and it takes twenty-four hours to recharge. But if you’re caught in a blizzard, it will protect you long enough that you can set up actual shelters.” “Osborn, can you carry it?” Autumn asked. “Sure,” he said, picking up the globe and putting it away. “That is most of the information I had to share,” Tiranel said. “My associate can answer more questions now.” “Does somebody want to go find Razael?” Maddie asked. “He should probably hear the stuff about weapons and tactics.” “I’ll go,” Kyle said. The wizard rose and walked toward the nearest balcony, assuming that the tracker would have gone outside. “How many of you are going on this expedition?” Tiranel asked, as Kyle left. “Well, all of us,” Autumn said, “all eight.” “Well, then,” Tiranel said, “I can provide you all with rings that will help – you’ll still be cold, but it will keep your body temperature from dropping. Those are all the trinkets I can provide.” Tiranel dug into a pocket and put eight rings on the table. “I’ll have the firewood I mentioned left at the palace for you.” “Your help is appreciated,” Autumn said, “Thank you.” Just then Kyle and Razael returned, looked somewhat disturbed. “There’s a magestorm coming,” Kyle said. “Razael thinks it’ll hit us in about two hours, maybe less.” “A magestorm?” Autumn asked. “It’s a brief surge of wild magic that manifests as a violent storm,” Kyle explained. “They happen all the time, but usually in unpopulated areas, or over the ocean. Magestorms over cities are rare.” “Do we need to go back to the palace?” Autumn asked. “I don’t think so,” Kyle said, “There was a messenger outside. They’re going to be raising the palace’s anti-magic shields in about thirty minutes. That should keep us safe here. If anyone has anything they need stored in any sort of extra-dimensional space, though, you’d better get it out now. All our magical items aren’t going to work when the shields go up.” “How long will the storm last?” Xu asked. “Well, it’s kind of hard to predict, just based on the nature of a magestorm,” Kyle explained. “Most last a couple of hours, but some only last minutes, while others can stretch out for days.” As the party took a moment to talk about what they wanted to do, Tiranel and Anduriel looked at each other, and then suddenly stood up. “Unfortunately,” Anduriel said quickly, “I think my colleague and I will have to adjourn for the day.” “You’ll have to excuse us. Goodbye.” Tiranel said, and walked away. “If you need anything,” Anduriel said, “I’ll be available whenever the magestorm passes. Good day.” Anduriel also beat a hasty exit. “Okay,” Kyle said slowly, after they left. “Well, that was abrupt,” Razael said. He glanced over and saw that Tiranel’s eight rings were still laying on the table. “Well, some people do get freaked out by magestorms,” Kyle said. “It seems our schedule for the rest of the day has been cleared,” Autumn said. “I, for one, would like to get out of this corset as soon as possible.” “Hey, Kyle, I saw that Lord Zanich and Lady Auror were here,” Razael said. “Maybe you could go spend some time with them.” Kyle shook his head. “I think I’ll go back to our room with Autumn for a while instead.” “Okay, we know where Kyle and Autumn are heading,” Arrie said. “I should probably go see my husband, too, now that I have some time.” “I’m going to go spend some time with Aralda,” Lanara said. “Maddie, want to come?” “I would,” Maddie said, “but I should go to the High Temple. Not everyone in the city will be protected by the shields.” “You know,” Xu said quietly, “it seems odd that those two scholars left so quickly. They did not seem the type to panic over a magestorm, especially knowing that the palace would be protected by anti-magic.” “Yeah,” Osborn said, “it’s almost like they were more worried after they heard about the shields. Maybe we should go see where they went.” “I’ll come with you, too,” Razael said. “All of the people I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on are going places safer than here, anyway.” Everyone separated, and Razael, Osborn and Xu went off in search of Tiranel and Anduriel. They asked a few people still at the library, and sure enough several people had noted their departure. “I think they went that way,” one scribe said, “toward the palace kitchens.” The trio of adventurers made their way to the large building that housed the kitchens. There were few people about, most having left after hearing about the impending magestorm. Even so, there were enough people around who had noticed a tall, gaunt elf accompanied by a richly-dressed elf that they were able to track the scholars down as far as the pantries in the basement. They walked through the labyrinth of vast chambers, were enormous quantities of food were stored. “I had no idea they had an entire room just for beans,” Razael commented. “I want to find the bacon room,” Osborn said. “That would be dangerous knowledge in your hands, Osborn,” Xu commented. “Ooh! That reminds me!” Osborn pulled out the pig statuette that Kyle had given him long ago, and rubbed it, summoning a pound of fresh bacon. “Better get it now before the shields go up,” he said. A few minutes of searching went by before they felt the strange pressure of the anti-magic shields going up. They took a few minutes to adjust their gear, which now sat heavier on their bodies, and continued looking. After another several minutes, Osborn noted a set of footprints in a fine layer of flour on the floor. “These shoes look too fancy to belong to a cook,” Osborn said. “Looks like they split up; one heads off into that room, the other into that room.” “I say the left door first,” Razael said. “I think those stuck-up know-it-alls can delay their snacking long enough to give us a few straight answers.” They opened up the door, throwing it wide in the hopes of startling whichever scholar had holed up in that room. The chamber beyond was large, but was now mostly filled – not with food, but with something alive. Xu, Osborn, and Razael stared up, white-faced, at the creature that stared at them. Glistening red scales covered a long, thin body, and a pair of leathery wings scraped the ceiling. Burning eyes regarded them with a mix of disdain and irritation, and it bared large, razor sharp teeth. Waves of heat rolled out of the room and washed over the three adventurers. Very slowly, Osborn reached into his pouch and withdrew the pound of bacon he’d created earlier. He extended it out toward the massive creature. “Bacon?” The dragon opened his mouth, and the world turned into flame. * * * Autumn and Kyle walked back to their suite, conversing intimately with each other. As they reached the palace, they felt a strange snap in the air as the anti-magic fields activated. The ambient light in the palace dimmed, as the magical lights winked out, having been hastily supplemented by more mundane illumination. “Wow,” said Kyle, as the shields went up, “that’s an odd sensation. I never realized how different it feels not to have any magic at all. It’s a little unnerving, really.” “Well, it’s not like you’ll need your magic to deal with anything in the palace,” Autumn observed. “Except maybe your mother.” “Kyle!” Autumn mock-punched him in the shoulder. “I know, I know.” Kyle sighed. “I should probably at least make an attempt to talk to her in a couple of days, shouldn’t I?” “Yes,” agreed Autumn, “but don’t expect too much.” “I won’t. But I’ll talk to her just the same. Maybe she doesn’t like it, but we’re getting married regardless of what she thinks. Maybe I’ll never be treated like a son, but at least she can stop treating me like a servant.” “You know I’ll be behind you, no matter what,” Autumn said. “I know.” They walked a little further, climbing stairs up to the wing where their rooms awaited them. “You know,” Autumn commented, “it would be nice if we could have both sides of the family at the wedding.” Kyle sighed. “I’m working on it, really. I’ve tried scrying for my father a couple of times, but I’m getting… odd results. I think maybe there’s some sort of interference from Targeth’s barriers. After we get back from the south pole, maybe we can arrange a trip back into Targeth and I can try again then. Even if that does the trick, it’s going to be a slow process finding everyone.” “I can wait,” Autumn said. “I’m not so sure I can. Besides, even if I find Pa and my brothers and sisters, there’s not much chance they’d be able to come to the wedding. I doubt any of them married nobles, so they can’t just pick up and be gone for weeks just for a wedding. Common folk gather for weddings that are the next village over, not the next country over.” “Well, they’re still getting invited, if you find them,” Autumn said. “I at least want to meet your family once.” “Like I said, I’m working on it. But can we leave off talking about weddings and family for a while?” “Not yet,” Autumn said, “we have some letters to write to announce the engagement, and you have better penmanship than I do. You can write by candlelight as well as you can with magical light.” “Fine,” Kyle sighed, “but do we have to start doing that as soon as we get back?” He put his arm around Autumn’s waist. “You did say you wanted out of that corset, right?” Autumn pulled close to Kyle. “Well…” They reached the door to their suite a minute later. They paused for a while, listening to the fury of the magestorm outside, which shook the palace even though the shields were up and they were deep in the interior of the building. Finally, they went into their chambers, which is when they were attacked. Two men clad head to toe in black jumped out of the shadows and grabbed Kyle and Autumn from behind, wrenching them apart and throwing them to the floor. Their assailants quickly and expertly immobilized them, and pressed cloths onto their faces. Foul vapors drifted into their lungs, and they both felt themselves getting light-headed. Kyle managed to pull the hand away from his face with brute strength, and began shouting for help even as he struggled to break free. But they had closed the door on the way in, so the sound didn’t carry very far out into the hall. Kyle was twisted so that he couldn’t even see where Autumn was, and thus couldn’t see that she was in a similar predicament. The man attacking Kyle seemed somewhat surprised that a wizard was able to put up such a fight, and reacted by punching him hard in the ribs. There was an audible snap, and the breath exploded out of his lungs. The attacker used the opening to press the cloth on Kyle’s face again. Autumn was having similar problems. Though she was able to pull her face free from the drugged cloth as well, she couldn’t breathe well in her corset, and it kept her from twisting around at the torso to grab her assailant back. With the cloth off her face, Autumn’s attacker also resorted to brute force, slamming a fist into Autumn’s face. Blood sprayed onto the carpet, and she felt herself swooning. She was dimly aware that the blows were very precisely aimed at pressure points, much as she had seen Xu do when in battle. Briefly Autumn wondered if these might be monks sent by Hungai to kidnap Xu, when she heard another hard blow next to her, another snap of bone, and Kyle’s shouts were suddenly silenced. Outside in the hallway, Arrie approached her sister’s suite. She’d gone to find Herion, but he was gone, working on securing the palace from the magestorm. So instead she’d gone to her own rooms and changed out of her formal clothes into her armor and weapons. She hoped Autumn might be up for a bit of exercise, to work out some of the frustration she must be feeling after her morning encounter with their parents. As she drew up to the door, she heard a commotion behind it; the sound of people struggling, and Autumn shouting in rage. Arrie kicked open the door to see her sister sprawled on the floor, held down by a large man wearing black clothing and a mask. Blood flowed from her nose, and she looked as though she were gasping for breath. The man punched her in the back of the head, and she went limp. A second masked assailant had picked up an unconscious Kyle, slinging him over one shoulder like a sack of flour. Arrie whipped out a set of bolas and hurled them at the man carrying Kyle, who casually batted them out of the air. But he was now faced with trying to get past Arrie, who blocked the only exit from the interior suites, her spiked chain already in hand. The man moved forward, and suddenly hurled Kyle’s body at Arrie. She managed to spin and avoid the wizard’s bulk, turning to face the black-clad attacker again and Kyle landed heavily in the hall outside. Arrie waited patiently for the would-be kidnappers to make the first move, at the same time shouting for guards through the now open door. The man who’d had Kyle tried to roll past Arrie, but she was ready, and lashed him with her chain. In response, he punched and kicked at her, landing a few telling blows. “Oh, you really want to fight, do you?” Arrie growled, as she whipped her chain around again. With blood dripping from several wounds, the man again tried to spring past Arrie, this time slipping through and fleeing down the hallway. The other kidnapper, who had made certain that Autumn would not be getting up, stood and circled near the center of the room, wary of the reach of Arrie’s weapon. “You may as well surrender now,” Arrie said, “the guards are no doubt already on their way.” She repeated the warning in a few languages, but got no response. The masked man suddenly leaped, trying to get past Arrie rather than face her. She tried to get her chain around his feet to pull him down, but he danced out of it, and began running very quickly down the hall. Arrie threw her second set of bolas at him, and managed to snare his knees. The man fell, but was wriggling out of the cords and standing even as Arrie ran up. She was able to get off one last parting blow before the kidnapper ran off again, too fast for her to follow. Moments later a squad of guards ran up, and Arrie ordered them to capture the two kidnappers, pointing out the blood trails. “Secure the palace,” she ordered, “Bring all my companions to my sister’s chambers immediately.” As the guards ran off, Arrie rushed back to Autumn and Kyle. She pulled Kyle back into the room, laying him down next to Autumn before rolling her sister over. Both were deeply unconscious, and a lingering foul odor surrounded them. Arrie inspected the wounds as best she could, cursing the fact that she had no skills as a healer. Autumn’s nose was still bleeding, and possibly broken, and she had several bruises and minor scrapes, but otherwise she seemed intact. Arrie cut her sister out of her corset with a knife, allowing her to breathe more deeply, then inspected Kyle. He looked far worse off; his face was covered in blood and bruises, and his jaw sat at a strange angle. She could feel a rib move inside his chest when she pressed gently on his torso. After a few minutes, Autumn began to stir, coughing weakly. “What happened?” she asked. “You were attacked, but they’re gone now.” Arrie gently stroked Autumn’s hair to reassure her. “The guards are looking for them now.” “Kyle?” Autumn said, a slight panic in her voice. “He’s here, but still out cold. Looks like they were a little rougher with him than you.” “Don’t think… they expected to be out-muscled by a wizard,” Autumn laughed weakly. “I think you’re right.” “Arrie,” Autumn said, “do you think it was Hungai again? Those two fought like Xu does.” “Hopefully we can capture one of them, and find out,” Arrie said. “But why attack the two of you if they were after Xu?” Kyle took another ten minutes to wake up. He opened his eyes, and saw Arrie and Autumn looking back at him. “Don’t try to talk,” Arrie said quickly. “Your jaw…” Nodding, Kyle reached up and felt along his jawline. After a moment of exploration, Kyle placed the heel of his left hand against his jaw, and with a hard shove over and down popped the jaw back in. “Kyle!” Autumn cried, “be careful!” “I know what I’m doing,” Kyle said slowly, after working his jaw back and forth a couple of times. “Us farm boys can’t always nip off to the cleric’s every time we get hurt, so you learn a thing or two. Dislocated joints are easy.” Feeling down along his ribcage, he winced as he felt the sting of his broken rib. “This will take a bit more effort.” “We’ll get the healers,” Arrie said, “once the storm passes you’ll be good as new.” “What was that stuff they were trying to force us to breathe?” Autumn asked. “Insanity mist, I think. It’s nasty stuff, and not cheap. Fortunately neither of us got a very big dose, or we’d be drooling idiots for a while.” “Who do you think did this?” Arrie asked. “No idea. Could be old enemies, could be people trying to kidnap and ransom some nobles.” “They certainly caught us at our weakest point,” Autumn said. “Do you think they planned their attack to coincide with the magestorm?” “Impossible,” Kyle said. “No one can predict a magestorm. They were just lucky on their timing.” “Okay, no more talking for a while,” Arrie said. “Everyone should be showing up here soon. I’m going to help you both up into bed.” It was some time before anyone else reached the room. Lanara was the first to arrive, looking peeved. “What’s this all about, Arrie? I was having a perfectly good time with Aralda, and suddenly I’m chased out of her rooms by guards and escorted here. What’s the…?” Lanara then saw Kyle and Autumn laying in their bed. “Oh.” Maddie came a short while later, and saw Lanara cleaning up Kyle and Autumn’s wounds while Arrie paced. Guards were coming in giving regular reports; the attackers had not yet been found, but the search was narrowing. “So, no one else got attacked by angry men in black pajamas?” Arrie asked. Lanara and Maddie shook their heads. “Where are the others?” Maddie asked. “They went off to find the scholars, last I knew,” Lanara said. “Haven’t seen them since.” Thunder from the magestorm rumbled through the walls, causing the room to shake, and the lamps flickered as though a breeze had blown through the room. Just then, Razael, Osborn and Xu burst into the room, panting from exertion. “What’s wrong?” Arrie asked. Their clothing and hair was slightly singed, and all three looked as though they’d run non-stop all the way across the palace complex. “Did you just fight with men in black pajamas?” Maddie asked. “No,” panted Razael, “there weren’t black pajamas, and they weren’t men. And we weren’t fighting.” “We… we just saw a dragon,” Osborn gasped. “A what?” Kyle said, almost forgetting not to sit up. “A dragon!” Razael confirmed. “Yeah, right.” Lanara said. “The kind that comes out of a bottle?” “No, it was the scholars. Anduriel and Tiranel. They’re dragons.” “Yeah, they’re in the pantry,” Osborn said. “Now I know you’re pulling my leg,” Lanara said. “Lanara,” Xu said, “have you ever know me to lie?” “No.” “There was a dragon.” “Yeah, a big red one!” Osborn said. “I thought there were two dragons,” Autumn said. “We didn’t see the other one,” Razael admitted. “We were too busy running.” “If you didn’t see the dragon, how do you know it was there?” Kyle said, not bothering to hide a slight grin as he mimicked Razael’s earlier conversation with Anduriel. “We tracked down Anduriel and Tiranel to the pantries,” Osborn said. “Their trail split up and stopped at two doors, and the red dragon was behind one of them.” The hin’s face suddenly broke into a grin. “It was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. I offered him some bacon!” “Well, I guess that explains why those two had to leave so suddenly,” Kyle said. “Shape changing is a magical ability.” “I don’t think I’ve ever run like that from anything,” Razael said. “That would have been what I did,” Maddie commented. “I don’t think so,” the tracker retorted. “The way you act, I think you would have run up and brandished a stick at it.” “Well, at least she wouldn’t have egged it on like you did,” Osborn said. “He probably didn’t hear me,” Razael said. “I’m pretty sure he did,” Osborn countered. “You ran off screaming ‘I know how you know there’s a dragon at the pole, ass!’” “All right,” Maddie said, “can we get a coherent explanation of everything that’s happened?” The group spent a few minutes getting their facts straight. Just after they finished, a squad of guards came into the room. Two of the guards were dragging one of the black-clad attackers behind them, the body leaving bloody streaks on the floor from several spear wounds. “Excellent!” Arrie said. “Good job!” “We thought you’d want to see the body,” the guard said. “The other one escaped.” “That’s one of the ones that attacked us,” Autumn confirmed. The guard pulled off the mask, revealing an unremarkable elf. “The only marking we found was this.” He pulled up one of the dead man’s sleeves, revealing a symbol branded into the forearm. It was a vaguely diamond shape, with lines radiating upward from the lateral corners. It was vaguely shaped like bird’s beet. Kyle looked at the symbol, turned white, and passed out. “Why did that just break Kyle?” Arrie asked. “Your Highness, shall we take the body away to be cremated?” the guard asked. “Why don’t we have him interrogated by a priest first?” Arrie suggested. “Leave the body here for now and send someone to pick it up later.” “Of course, Your Highness,” the guard saluted, and they exited the room. Once the guards were gone, Autumn shook Kyle awake. “What happened?” she asked as his eyes fluttered open. “Why did you faint?” “What… what does he have on him?” Kyle asked. “Let’s find out,” Razael said. He began going over the body, pulling off a belt stuffed with vials. He opened one, sniffed it, and winced. “Damn, that’s foul. Mind if I keep this?” “Does he have a knife of any kind?” “Nope, unless he’s smuggling one in,” Razael said. “I can search him more… thoroughly if you want.” “No, the kind of blade I’m looking for wouldn’t work for that,” Kyle said. “So, what’s the deal?” Razael asked. “I’ve… seen that symbol before,” Kyle admitted. “Where?” the tracker asked. “It was months ago, last fall when we were in Tlaxan last time,” he began. “Actually, it was during that brief stay in Merlion at you parent’s castle. Remember the day you went out to investigate those goblin attacks on caravans, and I wasn’t around?” “I remember,” Arrie said. “I don’t,” Maddie was sure to say, “I wasn’t there.” Kyle nodded, knowing that Kavan had been there, but that Maddie was only trying to firmly separate the two identities. “Well, it turns out that I have a cousin that lives in the village surrounding the castle, one of my uncle Seamus’ sons named Kevin. Found him quite by accident, when his wife Elsie mistook me for Kevin’s brother. See, Kevin had been expecting a visit from his brother – adopted brother, actually – Nicholas, who was a merchant. But Nicholas was overdue, and I volunteered to go up to the next town to see if he’d been through – the town, Balnad’s Ford was supposed to be his last stop on his trade route, and it’s only a couple days ride from Castle Verahannen. I went because I could get away more easily than Kevin or his wife, who both work at the castle, and because I could use magic and make the trip in a day. “Well, I made it to Balnad’s Ford fine, and found out that Nicholas had been there several days ago, and was seen heading toward the castle, so should have been there by then. But I also found out that there had been other men looking for Nicholas too… men who carried disemboweling knives. So, I backtracked on the road to about where I figured these men would have caught up to Nicholas, and looked around.” Kyle paused, swallowing to wet his throat. “Well, I found him, or what was left of him, in a ruined house just off the road. It wasn’t pretty. He’d been killed… ritually killed. Magical diagrams were scribed in blood all around him, I’m assuming in his blood. His eyes had been cut out, and so had his tongue, his kidneys, and his heart, and he’d been castrated. Every bone in all his fingers had been broken. Two iron nails were driven into his ears. Most of it was done while he was still alive. As far as I can tell, the purpose of the ritual was not only to make sure he was dead, but that his soul was destroyed as well. Not trapped, or sent to the Shadow Plane, but eradicated.” Autumn leaned over the other side of the bed and threw up. “I have no idea if the ritual really worked,” Kyle continued when his fiancée had recovered, “that’s just what it was intended to do. The only other thing I saw was that symbol painted on the wall in blood.” Kyle pointed at the diamond-mark on the dead elf’s arm. “It wasn’t part of the ritual, I know that. I never really said anything at the time about it. I figured it was a small cult of Fiel; the symbol on the wall was rather crude, and it sort of resembles a spider. And honestly, out in remote rural areas, little cults like that spring up all the time. A farmer has a couple of bad harvests, a shepherd loses his flock to disease, they get desperate and start blaming others for their misfortune. Most of those kind of cults don’t to anything worse that sit in someone’s barn wearing black robes and burning candles, maybe killing a chicken. The worst will kill one or two people, and then they’re rounded up by the sheriff and are hung. At the time we were in a hurry to get up to Noxolt because the previous Emperor was dying, and I figured it was worth bothering all of you with something that the local law could probably handle.” “Well, I don’t know if they ever were caught,” Lanara said, “and I don’t know what it has to do with anything, but that symbol is pretty old, and it has something to do with magic and preservation, though for the life of me I have no idea how the two ideas are connected.” “Well, you know more than I did,” Kyle said. “I looked for a reference to that symbol in the library here, but found nothing other than it probably wasn’t a symbol of Fiel. I let it go, honestly; I figured it was a random thing, they probably picked Nicholas out of the crowd. I didn’t think I’d ever deal with it again. But to see it now, here, after someone attacked my fiancée…” “And you, too,” Autumn reminded him. “It was a little unsettling,” Kyle admitted. “I guess with everything else today it was just a little too much. And now, once again, this comes up when we’re pressed for time again.” Thunder shook the palace again, startling everyone. However, they noticed that it seemed to be lessening in intensity. “Can someone get me a pen and parchment?” Kyle asked. “I want to copy that symbol down.” “We could just cut it off for you,” Maddie offered. “Paper’s fine, thanks,” Kyle said. After making a copy of the symbol, Kyle rolled up the parchment, and then slowly started to rise out of bed. “You shouldn’t be doing that,” Maddie said. “I’m fine, I’ll just walk slow,” he replied. “Kyle, the man’s not going anywhere,” Maddie said, pointing at the man who’d attacked them. “I’m not worried about him.” “Kyle, lay down and rest tonight,” Lanara said. “There’s not much you can do with this storm going.” “Where did you say the dragons were?” Kyle asked, seeming to ignore Lanara. “In the pantry,” Osborn said, “basement of the kitchen.” “Kyle,” Arrie said slowly, “if the dragons tried to immolate them…” She pointed at Xu, Osborn, and Razael. “Well, clearly with the shields up I’m not a threat,” Kyle said. “I don’t think the dragons thought these three were a threat either,” Maddie countered, “and look what happened.” “I don’t think he was really trying to immolate us,” Osborn said, “because he would have if he wanted to.” There was another blast of thunder outside, which abruptly cut out mid-tremor. The torches and lamps flickered, and then seemed to steady, and the light seemed somehow cleaner. Razael left the room, and returned a minute later. “Magestorm’s gone,” he said. “Not a cloud in the sky now.” “Which means that they’ll drop the shields soon,” Autumn said, with the message for Kyle clear; and the dragons might see you as a threat now. “Fine,” Kyle said, “I’ll stay.” He settled back down into the bed. “But promise me one thing. I assume we’re going to meet the scholars tomorrow?” “Assuming they don’t leave tonight,” Arrie said. ‘Well, if we do, can we not play that awkward game where everyone pretends they don’t know that Anduriel and Tiranel are dragons? I kind of wanted to go now to avoid the whole issue.” “I think we can agree to that, Kyle,” Arrie said. Fifteen minutes later the anti-magic shields were dropped. “Oh, good,” said Razael, “Now those two can get some help.” “Hey!” Lanara protested, “I’m the one that stopped their bleeding!” “Oh, yeah, that,” Razael said, shrugging. “I can’t offer healing to Autumn,” Maddie said, “because she’s not one of Erito’s flock. But I can do nice things for Kyle.” “Yes, you could,” quipped Lanara, “but wouldn’t that require Autumn’s permission or cooperation?” After a laugh, Maddie healed Kyle while Autumn accepted a potion from Osborn. After a while, Arrie summoned some guards, and had the body of the elven assailant dragged out of the room and placed under guard until an Eritan priest could speak with the body. They continued to discuss the night’s events, until they heard a loud knock at their door. “Now what?” Arrie asked, heading to the door. “Is everyone decent?” “As decent as we get,” said Lanara. Arrie opened the door and saw Tiranel and Anduriel standing in the hall, looking just as they did when the party had first met them. Razael, who could see who was at the door from his angle, quickly looked around, and seeing that Kyle and Autumn’s suite had no windows, he dove into a closet. The two ‘elves’ quickly pushed their way into the room. “Okay, everyone,” Anduriel said, “sit down. This isn’t a request.” Anduriel walked over to the closet, and pulled Razael out, setting him down on the end of a couch. “So, do you actually live at the south pole?” Kyle asked Anduriel. “No.” “But you know who does, right?” “Right. Okay, since it seems the mage is a little incapacitated…” “Can you do something about that?” Lanara interrupted. “No.” Anduriel pulled a large, leather-bound tome from his robes and handed it to Arrie. “Allow me to summarize the contents of that book. At the southern pole, you will find an insanely angry, insanely powerful dragon. This is of concern to me, because this dragon is not doing what he’s supposed to be doing.” “Does he have anything that belongs to you,” Lanara asked, “or would like to own?” “Irrelevant,” Anduriel spat. “Essentially, because this dragon isn’t doing what it’s supposed to be doing, it no longer enjoys it’s membership in ‘the club’, if you will.” Anduriel turned to look at Autumn. “In answer to your question about armor; I would either wear as little as possible and maximize your protection in other ways, or I would get as many thick, heavy furs as I could, and try to get them large enough to go on outside the armor.” “Or you could wear the rings I gave you,” Tiranel muttered quietly. “In regard to threats you’ll find,” Anduriel continued, as if he hadn’t heard his companion, “there are a lot of undead, as I said before. These undead are unhappy with their state of existence, and they’ll take it out on anything living they can find.” The dragon-elf gestured at the party. “Are you sure we have to go there this summer?” Lanara asked. Anduriel scowled, clearly irritated by the cansin’s constant interruptions. “Don’t talk,” he said to her, his words clearly laced with the power of a suggestion spell. Lanara was actually able to slip off the draconic enchantment, but decided not to talk anyway, just to avoid more confrontations. “As I was saying,” Anduriel continued, “Have you faced the undead before?” The party voiced their assertion that they had. “Then you know what’s effective against them,” Anduriel said. “Positive energy, disruption weapons, anti-undead magic. I can tell you that the dragon at the pole has delved so far into the realm of undeath, that although he’s not actually undead himself, it’s speculated that he’s close enough to it that some of these same weapons might affect him in the same way. I’d at least give it a try. I strongly recommend against using negative energy of any kind.” “What about sonic energy?” Lanara asked, breaking her silence. Anduriel looked irritated that the bard wasn’t obeying his suggestion. “Go wait in the closet,” he snapped, though this time there was no sorcery behind it. “It’s a legitimate question,” Lanara stated calmly. “You’ll have to forgive him,” Tiranel said, stepping up, “elemental energies are not his forte. Beyond the obvious reasons for avoiding cold energy, try not to rely on electrical attacks too heavily. There may be constructs down there reinforcing the undead that are immune to electrical damage. Sonic and acidic energies should be fine. And although I may have a bias, I would say that fire is best.” “Well, at least we know which one it was,” Razael whispered to Osborn. “Hope you enjoyed the bacon!” Osborn said to Tiranel. “Are there any questions?” Anduriel asked. “Well, since you’ve pretty much told us to shut up and listen to you…” Lanara grumbled. “I have an unrelated question,” Kyle said, “so I’ll wait for others to ask things related to the south pole first.” “That’s fine,” Anduriel said, “ask your question.” Kyle unrolled the parchment that he’d copied the symbol on. “Do either of you know what this is?” Both dragons peered at the parchment. “No idea,” Tiranel said. “A human glyph of some sort?” Anduriel offered. “I thought that since you’re scholars, you might have an idea,” Kyle said. “I don’t spend much time with humans,” Tiranel said. “I’m not real sure it is human in origin,” Kyle said, “but never mind. If you don’t know, you don’t know.” He rolled the parchment back up. Anduriel looked around at the party. “I apologize for the heavy-handedness. We try to move in much less overt circles normally.” “So, why aren’t you taking care of this upstart dragon yourself?” Razael asked. “Yes, would not dragons wish to deal with draconic affairs?” Xu added. “There are a few reasons,” Anduriel said. “It would be in my capacity to do this, certainly.” “It wouldn’t be for me,” Tiranel admitted. “The environment is contrary to my very nature. I’d be at too much of a disdvantage.” “For me,” Anduriel said, “I have other things to worry about, honestly. My role is not simply to ‘deal with draconic affairs’. I have other responsibilities, and my presence at the pole or my absence elsewhere could have grave effects in other areas.” “So, it’s like the same reason the Emperor of Tlaxan doesn’t personally deal with every trade dispute or border conflict,” Kyle said. “Exactly. The reason we’re trusting this to the eight of you is that you’re relatively high-profile, and you’re reasonably competent. I’d hoped we could have convinced you to deal with our friend down there without being so direct about our interest in the matter, but through no fault of your own, it’s happened.” “How is it ‘no fault of their own’?” Tiranel asked. “Well, they didn’t summon the magestorm, did they?” “No, but they did come snooping around the pantry looking for us.” “Well, never mind that. Any other questions?” “How long will you be in the city?” Autumn asked. “Not much longer, I’m afraid. But if any of you absolutely needs to speak with me, here.” Anduriel produced a platinum ring embossed with a golden dragon, and gave it to Autumn. “Concentrate on the ring, and I’ll do what I can to help.” “You already have what help I can give,” Tiranel said. “When you return, I’ll find you to get back what I’ve loaned you.” “Thank you,” Autumn said in Draconic. “We appreciate your help.” Both Tiranel and Anduriel nodded. “You’re welcome,” Anduriel said. “Good luck to you.” With that, they both turned and walked out of the room. The party milled about for a bit, still absorbing all the information they’d heard. Looming largest in their minds was that not only had they met two dragons, the most powerful and legendary creatures on the planet, but they were preparing to set off for the ends of the earth to challenge a third. Kyle broke the silence first. “Hey, Arrie? Can I have that book they gave you? With everything that’s happened today, I don’t think I’m going to sleep much anyway.” * * * Tiranel and Anduriel walked side by side, down the wide road leading away from the Imperial Palace. They conversed quietly in Draconic. “Ten thousand gold says they don’t make it past the first guardian,” Anduriel said. “I’m not a betting creature,” Tiranel replied. “Besides, I have at least that much invested in them just in the magic I’ve loaned them. If they die, you can fly down there and get it from them.” Tiranel snorted. “Besides, what happened to ‘reasonably competent’?” “They are,” Anduriel admitted, “but they’re still only humanoid.” “Be that as it may, they’re all we have right now. If this doesn’t work, it will make things complicated for all of us.” “I know that,” Anduriel snapped, then sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m just hungry. I could use a few sheep right about now.” The extravagantly garbed scholar glared at Tiranel. “You could have at least shared the hin’s bacon.” “It was obviously a burnt offering to me,” Tiranel said. “But you burned it!” “Details, details,” he waved the accusation away. “But it’s nice to see that some humanoids still have the sense to know how to show proper respect to a dragon.” Tiranel thought for a moment. “I should go to the temple of Erito, and donate some money and ask for a special blessing for the hin.” [/QUOTE]
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