Serafierre val Lischelle-Drakle was sick. No\u2014<\/p>\n
Dying. Her father sat by her bed. He had seen it before. He held her hand tightly. Too tightly; he realized he would have snapped a non-Vampire\u2019s bones. He released his grip, but sat there.<\/p>\n
Himilt Drakle had seen it before. In children. Adults. They passed like this, if disease or accident didn\u2019t take them. And it was hard to kill a Vampire.<\/p>\n
But this\u2014this was how the curse Balmer spoke of took them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt hurts. It hurts!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Serafierre was muttering, half-awake, half-unconscious. She writhed in the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat hurts, Fierre? What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt waited, but Fierre was unable to speak. Her face\u2014normally as pale as snow\u2014was flushed. Her body was warm. <\/em>For a Vampire\u2014that was a fever. More than that, she was in pain.<\/p>\n She had vomited twice. Now\u2014she grabbed at the sheets, shredding them as her fingers became claws. Her strength as she gripped Himilt\u2019s hand was enormous. But whatever she fought, she was helpless. Her father sat there, until he heard from afar the sound of footfalls.<\/p>\n The rest of his family were silent and light-footed. The labored breathing, the voice\u2014Himilt sniffed the air. He knew Ryoka Griffin had entered the old castle that was his family\u2019s home and farm before she burst into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cFierre?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin saw her friend lying in the bed, next to her father. Himilt was wearing dark, working clothes, full-body like the rest of his family to protect him from the sun.<\/p>\n Fierre was running a fever and a rash like Colfa\u2019s ran up and down her body. She\u2014cried out as Ryoka caught her breath. His neck was still puffy, the sign of thyroid cancer on Earth. Beyond that\u2014he sat still, his red eyes fixed on his daughter. He barely glanced up at Ryoka as she took in her friend.<\/p>\n This morning, before dawn, Fierre had been full of life as she left the Unmarked Carriage. Now, she was comatose. Not even conscious.<\/p>\n \u201cColfa found you.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt looked up and Ryoka felt a chill. The Vampire\u2019s eyes were very cold. He sat still, holding his daughter\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa val Lischelle-Drakle burst into the room. Ryoka had only gotten here first because Colfa and the other two Vampires, Bamer and Rivel, had been helping her buy potions and alchemical ingredients in Reizmelt.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat have you done to my daughter?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The first time Colfa had met Ryoka, she had put on airs, spoken vith the traditional accvent that was quite silly to Ryoka, and played at being Vampiric royalty.<\/p>\n Now\u2014she dropped the accent. She sounded like Lupp, or another [Farmer], which is what she was. A Vampire [Shepherdess]\u2014Colfa had been one of the Lischelle family, who were like royalty among herders and farmers\u2014who had given away her levels and humanity to become a Vampire.<\/p>\n Her pretense was gone, now. Colfa lifted Ryoka up and slammed<\/em> her into the stone walls of Fierre\u2019s room. Ryoka felt a burst of pain and her head went white as Colfa\u2019s claws dug into her skin, piercing flesh with ease.<\/p>\n The woman\u2019s eyes glowed<\/em> in the night and candlelight. Ryoka felt the Vampire pressing her into the wall. She could push<\/em> Ryoka until the Human was paste.<\/p>\n That was a Vampire. <\/em>Ryoka felt Colfa smack<\/em> her into the wall and then shake her impatiently, like a doll.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? Answer me! <\/em>She said you cured her! What did you do? What did you give her\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cColfa. She can\u2019t respond.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt rose. He grabbed his wife\u2019s arm, and she tried to shake him off before she let him pull her back. They moved so fast<\/em>. Ryoka dropped, stumbling, and caught herself.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you do<\/em> to her?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa inhaled. Ryoka gasped for air as Bamer and Rivel returned.<\/p>\n Four Vampires stood in Fierre\u2019s room, over their stricken kin. They looked at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cWe brought the medicine, Colfa. Herbs, iceweed\u2014potions. Where do you want them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPut them here. I need to mix them.\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa answered distantly. She was waiting. They all were. Ryoka coughed, gulped. And spoke as she looked at her friend.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought\u2014I thought I cured her. Made her better. Cured her of whatever was making her sick, I mean. I gave her a panacea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n Rivel snorted. Fierre\u2019s older brother glared suspiciously at Ryoka. Bamer just shook his head. He was old\u2014not related to Fierre. Someone who lived with Himilt, Colfa, Rivel, and Fierre and worked their farm.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no cure. You gave her poison.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! I\u2019m sure it was\u2014she was healthy the last few days! She took the medicine two\u2014three days ago and she was fine.<\/em> It made her stronger, faster. She said she felt better than she ever had in her life. She was more allergic to garlic though. And the sun nearly killed her\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Vampires in the room exchanged a quick glance. Himilt stirred.<\/p>\n \u201cShe mentioned that. She tossed you across the field, Rivel. She wasn\u2019t that strong before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cImpossible. She was just a bit stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n Fierre\u2019s brother scoffed, but he looked conflicted. Himilt shook his head. He looked at Bamer, then Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was telling us she fought Golems<\/em> in this\u2014island she went to. With her bare hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe did. She was so much better. And her cough disappeared. I thought\u2026what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa took a few deep breaths as she went to check on Fierre\u2019s temperature. She looked up at Ryoka, her fury abated\u2014at least for the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cFierre came just before dawn. She said you had given her some strange medicine and she\u2019d been\u2014cured<\/em>. Of her sickness. She ran about and she was<\/em> better! We were all astonished. She told us what had happened, some of it, said she\u2019d taken your blood by accident, ate and drank with us, and then\u2014felt poorly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa looked at her husband. Himilt scratched at his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cBarely midday. She thought it was exhaustion at first, or the sunlight\u2014it did burn her far worse than us when she was careless. She lay down\u2014when I went to check on her an hour later, she was warm<\/em>. She got worse and worse until Colfa went to find you.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman listened, trying to make sense of it all. Bamer scratched at his chin. His eyes flicked to Ryoka again.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t believe it. A cure for Vampires? That\u2019s the stuff of stories. I thought she\u2019d just had a strength potion or something that made her feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. It was real. I\u2019m sure of it. I\u2014the person who gave it to me wouldn\u2019t have lied. And he was one of the few people who\u2019d have a cure-all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho? What was it? Tell us\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Himilt put a hand out.<\/p>\n \u201cColfa. Whatever the case, Miss Griffin, Fierre is ill. Do you have more of whatever you gave her? Do you know what ails her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t. She drank it all. Can I\u2014can I touch her?\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt nodded. The others stood back. Ryoka bent over Fierre.<\/p>\n \u201cFierre? Are you awake? Can you hear me? What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n A groan was her only answer. Fierre\u2019s eyes were open, and sweat beaded her forehead. She looked\u2014Human. She even felt warm to the touch\u2014just a normal person\u2019s body head. But for a Vampire\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cDid she do anything strange? Did she eat or drink anything out of the ordinary?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka looked at Fierre\u2019s family. They all shook their heads.<\/p>\n \u201cShe did nothing out of the ordinary. We thought it had to be something that had happened on her trip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe\u2026but what?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka could imagine ten thousand scenarios where something in Valeterisa\u2019s trapped mansion caught up with Fierre. But\u2026why not Ryoka as well? It made no sense.<\/p>\n She was panicking, Ryoka knew. She slapped her cheeks.<\/p>\n The facts. Stick to the facts, you idiot.<\/em> And the facts were\u2014Fierre was sick. She had<\/em> been cured. And now she was sick.<\/p>\n Something had made her unwell. Find what that was. Ryoka stood up. She looked around, meeting their eyes. Colfa and Himilt\u2019s last.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t do this. At least, not on purpose. I was sure<\/em> what I gave Fierre would help. If I\u2019m wrong, I\u2019ll pay for it. But I don\u2019t think I am. I think something happened to Fierre, when she got here or just before. We need to find out what that is. Cure Fierre, if possible. Have you given her a potion?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the first thing we tried! I bought what I could in Reizmelt\u2014there are some [Healer]\u2019s remedies that help us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Okay. Then\u2014can you show me where Fierre was? What she ate and what she did, step by step?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Rivel glared at Ryoka. The young woman gave him an odd look.<\/p>\n \u201cI need to see exactly<\/em> what Fierre did. Each and every thing! Any one of those things could be the culprit here.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a logical, orderly way of looking at the problem. Rivel hesitated and Himilt nodded. His eyes focused on Ryoka, searching her like the first time they had met.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can do that. I\u2019ll show you around. Bamer\u2014help Colfa. Anything you know, any old stories. Rivel, you stay with Fierre.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still think it\u2019s this \u2018cure\u2019. How are you so certain?<\/em> Do you know what was in this potion?\u201d<\/p>\n It was fair to ask. Ryoka felt flushed, as she looked down at Fierre.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. But I am<\/em> certain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen who made it? What grade of potion was it? If you have no idea, how can you be so sure? Fierre is a\u2014a Vampire<\/em>. Not a Human.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that! But the person who gave it to me was certain it would cure anyone. <\/em>He gave me a panacea. A relic-class potion. He\u2014it was a Grand Mage of Wistram.\u201d<\/p>\n The others traded looks. Colfa inhaled and exhaled as her eyes flickered.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you kn\u2014would that even\u2014why d\u2014baaaah.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The \u2018baaah\u2019 made Ryoka jump. It hadn\u2019t actually come from Colfa. Rather\u2014just behind her and lower to the ground.<\/p>\n A sheep had wandered into Fierre\u2019s room. A familiar sheep with a luxurious coat.<\/p>\n \u201cFluffles? Get out! This isn\u2019t the time!\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared at the sheep as Colfa pointed. She forgot that Fierre\u2019s family really were<\/em> good, local farmers. And that their livestock had a habit of wandering indoors.<\/p>\n Fluffles the Sixth baahed<\/em> until Colfa pushed him out of the room with her foot. She turned back to Ryoka, but Fluffles had reminded everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cBe sure.<\/em> I need to mix up a tonic. It\u2014be sure!<\/em> Himilt, deal with the Human. <\/em>Bamer, come with me!\u201d<\/p>\n She swept out of the room. Ryoka heard another baaah<\/em> as the sheep was carried away. She turned to Himilt.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014let\u2019s go. I need to know what Fierre did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure her sickness came from here?\u201d<\/p>\n The father looked at Ryoka. She didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I need to make a list of everything Fierre did. She was almost never out of sight\u2014we even slept in the same carriage. The carriage, damn. And the island\u2026I\u2019ll make a list. I have paper\u2014no\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka cursed again. No paper or quills or ink in her bag of holding! She\u2019d tossed everything out to make room for the magical items she\u2019d taken from Valeterisa\u2019s mansion. The Vampire farmer shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have paper and ink. Come with me. Rivel\u2014shout if Fierre gets worse.\u201d<\/p>\n The two strode from the room. Ryoka was taking deep breaths. Focus. Write it all down. Be logical about this. It\u2019s not bad. She\u2019s just feverish. She\u2019s going to be okay. Focus\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n The two strode through the night. Himilt was quick and silent, Ryoka muttering. They saw light flickering through the old keep, distant voices from Colfa and Bamer, the sounds of the awake animals\u2014just Fluffles, really.<\/p>\n Not much sound. House Lischelle-Drakle was silent. Ryoka felt like the living, noisy intruder. She hurried after Himilt as he passed by an open part of the keep, where the hallway\u2019s wall had just\u2014collapsed. Grass and nature had intruded.<\/p>\n \u201cOw!\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt turned. Ryoka was hopping on one foot; she\u2019d stepped on a burr. He eyed her bare feet. Then his head swung around.<\/p>\n \u201cWait. Someone is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n He held up a hand. Ryoka froze. She didn\u2019t hear or see anything at first. But Himilt\u2019s senses were keen. And soon\u2014she heard galloping hooves.<\/p>\n Figures raced up the road, talking loudly in the distance. Ryoka saw\u2026four. Three people on horseback, one short, another with a glint of metal, and one on foot. Her heart sank.<\/p>\n The Silver Swords and Salamani. They dismounted as Himilt turned to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cYour friends?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe\u2014the Silver Swords. And Salamani, a Courier. They must have followed\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka saw Himilt\u2019s face change. His red eyes flickered and he looked around.\u00a0 He spoke one word.<\/p>\n \u201cByres.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He split from Ryoka as she ran outside, cursing. The complicated night got worse. Ryoka\u2019s friend, a Vampire, lay sick of something. And here came a son of Vampire hunters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Earlier on the same day Fierre fell sick, Lord Tyrion Veltras was demanding answers of his family\u2019s personal [Healer].<\/p>\n The woman was good. Level 36\u2014the best of the region and a friend of House Veltras. She was especially adept at treating injuries that had been allowed to fester, a necessity for anyone who treated [Warriors].<\/p>\n But she was good at disease, and Tyrion had summoned her without fear when Sammial had fallen ill. He had expected her to pronounce the boy well\u2014maybe with a resurgence of the shortness of breath he\u2019d had when he was young.<\/p>\n Instead\u2014Sammial had fallen into a coma where he struggled for each breath as his airways closed within a day. Something was terribly wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Veltras. I can\u2019t understand it. No disease outside of a magical one would work this fast. Did your son ingest anything? Touch some plant, for instance?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lord] turned to Ullim. The [Majordomo] shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Sammial stayed indoors all day, milord. Except for one point where he went to market\u2026but I\u2019d swear there was nothing out of the ordinary there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInquire if anyone was selling some rare item. We must be thorough, Lord Veltras. Your son is breathing, but if he has inhaled or touched something, I must know of it!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Healer] was as close to the scientific method as most people who didn\u2019t have Ryoka\u2019s knowledge. Lord Veltras ordered Ullim and the [Majordomo] sent [Messengers] racing from the keep.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is wrong with him, exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cClosed throat\u2014fever\u2014he\u2019s coughing, which makes it worse. It could be any number of things, Lord Veltras. You must stand back. If it\u2019s infectious\u2026I may need more of my supplies from my shop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will have whatever you need delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lord] strode from the room and paced impatiently outside the hallway. He was a man of action. He did not like things like disease, which you could not take a sword to. Tyrion turned on the sixth back-and-forth in front of Sammial\u2019s room.<\/p>\n \u201cJericha, my horse. I will go to the market and inquire myself.\u201d<\/p>\n He snapped as he saw his aide striding towards him. Jericha, normally quick to anticipate his needs, didn\u2019t nod or hurry off. She just stopped.<\/p>\n Her eyes were wide, and her face pale.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Veltras. You have a guest.\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion failed to take notice of her expression at first.<\/p>\n \u201cInform them I\u2019ll meet whoever it is later. My horse\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLord Veltras. You should meet with this person. She\u2014she claims to be an [Assassin] from the Assassin\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lord of House Veltras spun. He reached for his sword and his mind flashed to an obvious connection. He snarled\u2014until Jericha spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cMilord Tyrion. Forgive me. But\u2026ten minutes before she arrived\u2014Lord Hethon fell ill. He claimed it was a stomachache. I went to secure him after the woman arrived. He isn\u2019t responding.\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion\u2019s hand found his sword\u2019s hilt as a cold certainty gripped him. He looked at Jericha, and her face.<\/p>\n \u201cThe [Healer]. Where is the [Assassin]?\u201d<\/p>\n She told him. Then she yanked the door open to Sammial\u2019s room. Tyrion walked through the halls of his keep.<\/p>\n His sword was drawn. Ullim, running to find him, saw the Lord of House Veltras walking past servants, guards\u2014with one intent.<\/p>\n The [Assassin] was sitting in the first guest room, calm as you please. She looked up as Tyrion burst through the doors. He pointed his sword at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat have you done?\u201d<\/p>\n This hired killer did not come with any disguise or pretense. Ironically\u2014that meant she wore a mask. It was painted a dark green, with only a single rose in the center, and two slits for eyes. She sat in dark clothing, fiddling with a dagger.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Tyrion Veltras. The Circle of Thorns is displeased.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all the woman said. She did not rise, or flinch as Tyrion drew back his blade. The words came curtly from Tyrion\u2019s mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat poison did you use? Where is the cure? Answer me, or you die this second.\u201d<\/p>\n The masked face turned towards him. This [Assassin]\u2019s voice was cool.<\/p>\n \u201cI do not have the cure for the poison I gave your sons. Both of them, I might add. And if you kill me\u2014one of them dies.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lord]\u2019s arm tensed. It would be so easy to bring it down. So\u2014he forced the blade away, grabbed for a ring.<\/p>\n \u201cYou lie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do not. I poisoned your sons. They will die without the cure. I do not have the cure.<\/em> And the Circle will exact vengeance if my blood is spilled, or a single hair on my head is harmed.\u201d<\/p>\n Each sentence the woman pronounced made her outline glow true in Tyrion\u2019s vision. He hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know the poison.\u201d<\/p>\n Her mask tilted the other way.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are thinking of having me tortured, Lord Veltras, go ahead. Do you think my employers tell me the nature of the tools I use?\u201d<\/p>\n That was neither lie nor truth. She might<\/em> know. But\u2014Tyrion hesitated.<\/p>\n If it was someone other than Sammial or Hethon, he might have taken her bet. But his sons. <\/em>He had promised to keep them safe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat have you done? Does your Circle want to die that badly? If my sons die, I will raze your Guild\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSheathe your sword, Lord Veltras. And sit down.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman just stared at him. The [Lord]\u2019s knuckles whitened on his sword hilt. After a moment, he made up his mind. He slammed the sword into its sheathe.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me why you came.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSit down.\u201d<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t move. Tyrion\u2019s jaw tightened with a creak.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Veltras?\u201d<\/p>\n Ullim and Jericha had returned. Both were armed. Tyrion looked over his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cUllim. Secure Hethon and Sammial. Post every guard you have. Scour the keep for more intruders! Anyone you suspect\u2014check their identities!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe [Healer]\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ullim hurried away. Jericha didn\u2019t leave. She had a wand and sword in hand. She looked at the [Assassin].<\/p>\n \u201cYour servant may remain, Lord Veltras. Sit. Down.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Assassin] didn\u2019t care about Jericha. She just waited until the [Lord] sat. He stared at her, but even if looks could kill\u2014she had warned him.<\/p>\n The [Assassin] did not beat about the bush after Tyrion had sat. She just sat forwards and put her dagger away.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Tyrion Veltras. The Circle of Thorns has elected me as their messenger to bring you a second\u2026offer. Or rather, an exchange. Your son\u2019s lives and your family and your people\u2019s safety for your cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI gave them my answer. I do not deal with traitors of Izril and cowards.\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion\u2019s voice was taut. The [Assassin] looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd here is the Circle\u2019s response. Did you really<\/em> think you could interfere with their business with no consequences, Lord Veltras?\u201d<\/p>\n He said nothing. The [Assassin] sat back and folded her hands behind her head with a sigh. The effrontery enraged Jericha. She pointed her wand at the [Assassin].<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want? Speak your business!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither son will die of the poison I gave them today. Or even tomorrow. They may last a week, or a month at the most. But I have never known a full-grown man, Minotaur, or other species to live longer than that. And the cure is beyond your [Healer].\u201d<\/p>\n The [Assassin]\u2019s voice was quiet. Tyrion waited, tense. Now\u2014his nerves were humming.<\/p>\n \u201cI will find a cure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou will try. But you will not succeed. The Circle will not allow you to cure your sons, Lord Veltras. No one will save your sons but our agents. Happily\u2014the Circle is quite reasonable. Your sons need not die. Merely sign this contract I have been entrusted with and they will be healed, within the hour.\u201d<\/p>\n A scroll was produced. Tyrion didn\u2019t move; Jericha snatched it out of the air as the [Assassin] tossed it forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is\u2014a Blood Oath Contract? Ridiculous!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Jericha recoiled. Tyrion knew what she was speaking about\u2014vaguely. It was a grade of magical contract, enforced by blood magic. Extremely difficult to bypass, if at all.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does it say, Jericha?\u201d<\/p>\n He hadn\u2019t looked away from the woman. Tyrion was thinking. He heard Jericha read, mutter an oath.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Veltras\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJericha.\u201d<\/p>\n She gulped. Then she read, slowly.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026It\u2019s a simple contract, Lord Veltras. Without room to change the terms, which demand that you never raise your blade against or oppose the Circle of Thorns or any of their agents. That you fight and command the armies they give you. And you reveal no secret of theirs or their agents, again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThree promises. The Circle would have let you swear a lesser oath and rewarded you for it before, Lord Veltras. Now\u2014this is the terms of your lineage.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Assassin] waited, calmly. She had been chosen to enforce this threat, and she waited to see what the [Lord] did. Rage against her, threaten her pointlessly; if he acted like a fool she had been empowered to punish him.<\/p>\n But Tyrion Veltras did nothing. He just sat there. And when he looked at her, his face was expressionless.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that is your threat? The lives of my sons for my obedience, like some leashed dog?\u201d<\/p>\n She hesitated. She had been given to understand that Lord Tyrion\u2019s one weakness was his family. But there was nothing on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is the Circle\u2019s ultimatum, Lord Veltras. You may try to find an antidote. But the Circle will\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion stood up. He looked at the [Assassin], then towards Jericha.<\/p>\n \u201cSee this\u2026woman out of my keep, Jericha. Don\u2019t harm her unless she gives you a reason to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLord Veltras. The Circle will not be\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Tyrion strode out of the room. The [Assassin] hesitated as Jericha looked at her. The retainer\u2019s hand clenched the scroll tightly. The female [Assassin] pointed at it.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t destroy that if I were you. That is your [Lord]\u2019s only chance. Tell him that.\u201d<\/p>\n Jericha hesitated. She raised her wand as she put the scroll in her belt.<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard Lord Veltras. Begone.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Assassin] rose. A bit worried. She debated arguing\u2014but Jericha had her orders. And the [Assassin] had given the ultimatum. Briefly, she considered that the Circle might have made a mistake. If Tyrion Veltras was willing to let his sons die, they would have removed their only hold on him.<\/p>\n But if he did hold any affection for them\u2014he would sign the scroll. She was sure either way that Tyrion was calling for [Alchemists] or other experts even now. But this time\u2014the Circle had accounted for that. She left the keep as Hethon and Sammial lay sick. Unaware that in the Circle\u2019s game and designs\u2014there was one last card to play. And that Tyrion Veltras reached for it now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One card if you were someone who liked card games. An extra die if you played dice. If you played chess\u2026a queen in your back pocket or something?<\/p>\n Analogies were silly things. But it was fair to say it like that. Even the Circle of Thorns, even the plight facing Ryoka and afflicting Fierre\u2014there was an easy solution, a cheap, almost unfair one.<\/p>\n Lord Tyrion didn\u2019t know it\u2014but he reached out to the person who could provide it now. And Ryoka went to the source.<\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s family were famed for their use of poisons and the [Lady] was the most resourceful woman in all of Izril. Ryoka stood by Falene and begged the half-Elf.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease. Just send it. Say it\u2019s from Ryoka Griffin and that my friend is hurt. I know he can help. He\u2019ll listen to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrand Magus Eldavin. You know<\/em> Grand Magus Eldavin?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf [Battlemage] was frankly incredulous. She hadn\u2019t been at The Wandering Inn to see the \u2018Grand Magus\u2019 in person, but word had spread. Ryoka nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026I ran a delivery for him. He doesn\u2019t owe me a favor\u2014not exactly. But he\u2019ll listen. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt\u2019s head rose slightly. He was standing in his fields, apart from the Silver Swords who had come with Salamani to see what had drawn Ryoka away. Dawil glanced at Ylawes and Salamani blinked.<\/p>\n \u00a0The pieces came together. <\/em>For other people. They came to the wrong conclusion for the right reasons.<\/p>\n Fierre\u2019s cure. Ryoka\u2019s strange, Erin-like connections. The rumors about her delivering to the High Passes, the Wyvern bounty.<\/p>\n A Grand Magus. Oh, the misunderstandings. Ryoka was oblivious to it as everyone else put the pieces together and kept their silence, redoubling their interest in the moment.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well, I\u2019m sending the [Message] as follows. \u2018To Grand Magus Eldavin, sender: Ryoka Griffin. Urgent\u2026<\/em>\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So too from Tyrion Veltras as well, towards Magnolia Reinhart. It was the kind of thing the Circle of Thorns may have understood could<\/em> happen. They might have figured on Magnolia Reinhart\u2019s interference\u2014even expected it after the assassination attempt.<\/p>\n But a Dragon? Dragons were cheating. On the [Messages] came, two for sickness and answers. They moved through the world at the speed of magic, which could be instantaneous or slow.<\/p>\n Instantaneous in this case. They travelled\u2014and the spells disintegrated. Severed, before they even reached their target. After all\u2014you could trace where a [Message] spell was received. So they never arrived.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo more in the interception net. Someone\u2019s trying to trace you. Or me.\u201d<\/p>\n Teriarch raised his head and narrowed his eyes. Magnolia Reinhart stood in his cave.<\/p>\n \u201cLet them send [Messages] after I\u2019m gone, Teriarch. The world will know soon.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon lowered his head. He looked at the woman. Even now\u2014she had yet to recover from the shock of it.<\/p>\n Sacra was dead. Her carriage had been attacked on the road, blatantly, and the best [Assassins] of northern Izril had nearly taken her head. The Dragon hesitated. He coughed into one claw.<\/p>\n \u201cSo. Ahem, I assume you will be well-protected once you leave my cave? As I said, interference\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He trailed off. It was hard to make excuses after he had teleported her out of danger. But the [Lady] looked up at her friend.<\/p>\n \u201cI will be safe, Teriarch. Until I arrive in Drake lands\u2014I will be at sea. The Velistrane<\/em> awaits me in harbor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Well, that would do it so long as you keep your staff vigilant. Make sure of that, [Maid].\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon focused on Ressa. The [Maid]-[Assassin] just nodded. Her eyes flicked to the side.<\/p>\n \u201cThe carriage\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe primary version is destroyed. Or taken. Whoever took it removed the tracking spells. But your backup is fixed. I\u2026reinforced some of the magic. As for your servant\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Teriarch scratched at his neck. He looked past Ressa.<\/p>\n A [Butler] stood. Reynold looked down at his legs, his face blank. They were quite different. The Dragon spoke, almost apologetically.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t teleport your legs, Human.\u201d<\/p>\n He neglected to mention that he wasn\u2019t about to give the man a potion that could regenerate his legs. That was frankly worth as much as Magnolia\u2019s damn carriage, if not more.<\/p>\n \u201cLord Dragon, they are exquisite. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold bowed precisely. He did not smile; his face didn\u2019t move. He\u2019d been like that since waking up after being saved. He paused, then looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cSacra\u2019s remains\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI found nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will find them. This is not over, Reynold.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart stood there. She exhaled. Then she glanced up at Teriarch.<\/p>\n \u201cOld man. Dear friend. It\u2019s time for me to go. I fear I\u2019ve been put on the back foot for now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014you\u2019re sure you don\u2019t need some help? Not that I\u2019d give it, of course\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon saw her smile. The [Lady] shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a poor thing to rely on Dragons too much. Someone quite crotchety said that.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon exhaled hot air on Magnolia.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was quite a wise<\/em> statement. As you wish. You will appear right outside the city gates as if it were a [Lesser Teleport] spell. As I\u2019ve said\u2014be wary of the Walled Cities. They\u2019ve changed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Teriarch. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia Reinhart nodded. She smiled at Teriarch. He harrumphed <\/em>once more. But she was right.<\/p>\n There was more that was said. But in the end\u2014the Dragon cast a spell. The three vanished, along with the repaired secondary carriage.<\/p>\n Teriarch lay back down. He was tired. More mentally than physically\u2014but a good deal of the latter himself. He thought about his actions, self-reflecting. Critiquing. Another [Message] spell came and was severed at the root.<\/p>\n Many of them, in fact. Teriarch could see the senders. Not the contents of the [Message], but the mages themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cSome half-Elf\u2026hah. Someone from Invrisil\u2014that [Enchanter] fellow? Drake from Pallass\u2014has to be that young Grimalkin. Wistram, Wistram, Wistram\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He snorted as the senders found they were sending to nothing and their spells were collapsing. The Dragon sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been too active. Or rather, Grand Mage Eldavin has. Yes, too active by far. This is what interfering gets you. Busybodies like flies. Time enough for it to stop. I don\u2019t need this. Time\u2026for isolation.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnolia had made her decision. She was going to the Walled Cities. He had helped her. Now, interest in him was too great. The Dragon prepared to cast a spell. A truly powerful one. He found an [Archmage]\u2019s staff, snorted as he hunted around.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s that damn book? Let\u2019s see. Staff here, stave there\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Magical wands and other artifacts floated up like they were lesser components of a spell. The Dragon sighed.<\/p>\n Enough was enough. There were adventurers in the High Passes and while they wouldn\u2019t break through his cave\u2019s barrier that easily\u2014there was a chance. This spell\u2026had only ever been broken once.<\/p>\n \u201cBy that damn [Innkeeper]. But there\u2019s a reason for that. Other worlds. Hah! At least those Winter Sprites won\u2019t be getting in.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon muttered. Once this spell was cast\u2014nothing<\/em> would reach him. Not allies. Not enemies. Seclusion absolute.<\/p>\n It was necessary. He was growing attached. Too attached by far. The Brass Dragon hesitated as he cast the magic, setting up the spell. He could leave a little loophole, after all.<\/p>\n For\u2026a [Lady] or her servants. Or a young woman? The Dragon thought about this. He thought about himself. He thought about them.<\/p>\n He thought about how his kind died.<\/p>\n He left no loopholes for others. Only he could end the spell, or a power greater than the spell itself. The Dragon murmured old words of magic. Dozens of artifacts shone as he drew on their power, weaving isolation around him.<\/p>\n It was done.<\/em> The Dragon lay, panting, as he sealed himself away from the world. No more aid. No more miracles. It had to be done.<\/p>\n He would devote himself to only one thing. The Dragon lay there, sighing, as he flipped open a tiny laptop. He clicked a few buttons. Then saw the screen flicker off.<\/p>\n The laptop shut down. He had no need of it for a while, and keeping it recharged was annoying, even for a Dragon. The other electronics went to a spot in his neatly-organized cave, pride of place, but stored for now.<\/p>\n \u201cAll done.\u201d<\/p>\n Teriarch checked his cave one last time. He felt vaguely pleased, as someone who had finally sorted out an incredibly messy room felt upon seeing it brought to order. And of course\u2014he was loathe to go and upset it again.<\/p>\n \u201cNo more Izril for a while. No Magnolia\u2014no Griffin. They can take care of themselves. They must. This world neither needs me nor benefits from my interference. They can only rise by themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dragon told himself that. He thought of Ryoka\u2019s grand plans. The Summer Solstice. Drat. He\u2019d forgotten about that! He hesitated.<\/p>\n But it was too late. He\u2019d cast the spell and breaking it would be problematic, even for him. So the Dragon lay there.<\/p>\n His breathing slowed. He rested his head on his claws.<\/p>\n Yes. It was for the best, even if accidental.<\/em> He\u2019d have delayed casting the spell if he recalled.<\/em> But sometimes\u2026you had to\u2026let\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Teriarch\u2019s consciousness dwindled. The Dragon\u2019s body slumbered. He never heard Ryoka\u2019s pleas, and Magnolia was in no place to help Tyrion Veltras.<\/p>\n So it was. The Dragon closed his eyes and slept.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Grand Magus Eldavin opened his eyes slowly. He grimaced and felt at his back. It was an odd sensation to him. Lying on your backs. The things other species came up with.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see. Body check. Hm. Hmm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The old half-Elf got up and stretched. He reached one arm up, experimentally touched his toes and swayed back and forth.<\/p>\n It felt good. Sensation was there, even pain when he poked himself.<\/p>\n No aches and pains. Well, what idiot would make a body for himself possessed by some venereal disease or afflictions? Eldavin felt sharp.<\/p>\n Limited, but sharp. After all, a half-Elf\u2019s brain, however complex couldn\u2019t handle a Dragon\u2019s<\/em> intellect. Let alone the need to disguise his magic.<\/p>\n Eldavin recalled Teriarch. But\u2014in a while he\u2019d not need to fear referring to himself as a Dragon or Teriarch. That was the danger with really good simulacra spells. You could lose yourself. But\u2014the danger was far less with his body secure.<\/p>\n He did a few hops, nearly tripped over his robes, and cursed. The Grand Magus windmilled his arms, caught himself, and looked around swiftly to see if anyone had noticed. But no one had.<\/p>\n The half-Elf looked around as his eyes adjusted and his mind adjusted to the different way of seeing.<\/p>\n The secret laboratory of the Grand Magus was well-stocked. He\u2019d put a number of lesser artifacts inside, completed the guise with some half-finished spells and some of the 2nd<\/sup>-edition books. He walked about, practicing the motion until it was effortless.<\/p>\n \u201cMm. Body check complete. Clothing check? Undergarments\u2026yes. Do I wear\u2026? No, brassieres are for females. Usually.\u201d<\/p>\n He snorted. Eldavin scratched at his head, and then flicked his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter cast some spell. Can\u2019t have burglars breaking in. Now, if I wanted to go to a harbor\u2014er\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He was in the High Passes. So\u2026the half-Elf pulled at one lip. North or south? Well, he\u2019d have to make the journey on foot until he could hire transport. What a pain, what a pain.<\/p>\n The Grand Mage cast about with his senses. He felt no connection to his cave. The spell was working. He\u2019d left no loopholes except for himself.<\/em> And his entire self was right here.<\/p>\n He could have slept. A year ago, he might have. He\u2019d been preparing for it after Erin Solstice had accidentally broken the enchantment last time. But the world had changed in a year.<\/p>\n Eldavin began tossing some things into his bag of holding. Gold, some books for the journey\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWrymblood and fire! I should have packed the laptop!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He shouted as he threw a book down. And it was hidden behind more enchantments than he could break as a pitiful Grand Mage! The half-Elf kicked around his secret home and tripped over his robes again. He picked himself up, swearing.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014beard. This is fine. I\u2019ll manage. Let\u2019s see. I might as well send a [Message] telling them I\u2019m coming.\u201d<\/p>\n He stood up, grabbed the bag of holding and stormed from the cave. He was leaving. And as Teriarch had concluded\u2014the Dragon was done interfering with Izril.<\/p>\n But that did not mean he had removed himself completely. Grand Magus Eldavin was bound for one place he had not returned to in\u2026well, ages.<\/p>\n Wistram Academy. They were at the center of this phenomenon affecting the world and something had to be done. The Dragon\u2014no, half-Elf\u2014had decided to put his claw\u2014finger on the scales as it were.<\/p>\n \u201cTime to go on a journey. They had better still have that buffet.\u201d<\/p>\n The Grand Magus looked around the laboratory. He adjusted his robes and walked from his cave. Into the High Passes. He scared the living daylights out of a team of adventurers.<\/p>\n \u201cGood day to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Eldavin nodded to them. Todi\u2019s Elites stared at the famed Grand Mage as he walked past them, oblivious. The half-Elf walked on, already getting used to the primitive method of locomotion. He hummed under his breath. It would be a pleasant experience, eating food, speaking, limiting himself this way. Finding company\u2026well, that got old millennia ago. He wanted to see what Wistram was these days.<\/p>\n It was an adventure. The Grand Mage walked on. After a moment, he smiled as he shaded his eyes to look up at the sun. He reflexively cast a few privacy spells as he muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cReminds me of that movie-thing I saw.\u201d<\/p>\n What was that quote about wizards that Erin Solstice and Ryoka Griffin kept repeating? Something about arriving? Well, Teriarch had meant what he said to Magnolia. But there was another saying he had.<\/p>\n \u201cA Dragon can do what he damn well pleases.\u201d<\/p>\n He walked onwards, looking ahead. Until he tripped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was no aid from Dragons that night. Or in the desperate hours later. Ryoka knelt by her friend. Fierre was feverish. Muttering. She\u2019d rejected the water, gulping it down, spitting it up\u2014along with blood.<\/p>\n Something was wrong. But what? Teriarch wasn\u2019t there to provide an easy answer. Maybe he\u2019d heard Ryoka\u2014but made good on his threat at last. She had<\/em> been relying on him, going to him as the first resort.<\/p>\n But oh\u2014this once? Ryoka whispered as Fierre groaned with pain.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve let too many people down before, Fierre. I promise, I\u2019ll find out what\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n She rose. Himilt was waiting. Ylawes, Dawil, Falene, and Salamani had no idea what was wrong, but Ryoka had put them on the wrong track\u2014going into Reizmelt to search for clues about a \u2018magical disease\u2019 or some poison that Fierre might have run into.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s make that list, Himilt. I\u2019ll do the carriage\u2014you walk me through Fierre\u2019s day.\u201d<\/p>\n As the night deepened, Ryoka began to search for clues to unravel this mystery. She followed Himilt as he began walking his home with her.<\/p>\n Racing to find what was wrong with her friend with no idea of the time limit or the malady involved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin was at war with time. And time was not her ally. The sun rose too quickly as she worked, night turning into day.<\/p>\n The sun shone down brightly on a tree bordering a forest. A tree like any other.<\/p>\n Like no other. It was a Special Tree. Because it belonged to the one Antinium landowner the world had ever known. He clambered upwards, hopping from branch to branch and landing lightly.<\/p>\n He was a [Skirmisher], and he had a ring that allowed him to leap with ease. Now, he paused on a wide branch and found something.<\/p>\n A bird\u2019s nest. The bird had evacuated the instant it saw the giant insect heading its way, abandoning its young in a shocking display of pragmatism or cowardice. Now, the Antinium\u2019s antennae twitched as he checked the nest and found three eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cAha. The fruit of the land! A magnificent harvest!\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr happily collected the three eggs into his bag of holding and investigated the rest of the tree.<\/p>\n His tree. He even had a deed to it. It was signed by Yvlon Byres, granting him the rights in perpetuity to the tree.<\/p>\n It\u2026probably wasn\u2019t legally binding, but Pisces was stymied from pointing that out by Ceria\u2019s foot, which tended to hit his shins whenever he tried.<\/p>\n Now, the Antinium waved down at Pisces from the tree\u2019s branches. The [Necromancer] waved back as he chewed on some cracked walnuts.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces, I have obtained a magnificent bounty of goods from my landed estates!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWonders never cease, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] felt Ksmvr land with a thump<\/em> as the Antinium hopped down. Ksmvr saw Pisces\u2019 snack.<\/p>\n \u201cComrade\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He caught himself.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces<\/em>, would you care to enter into a trade agreement for your produce? I have three eggs. I will trade one for your walnuts.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces thought about this. He handed over half his walnuts and received an egg.<\/p>\n \u201cThis trade agreement is struck. I have now concluded diplomacy. I must make war to enlarge my estate.\u201d<\/p>\n At that, Ceria started laughing so hard she nearly fell out of the branches of the tree she\u2019d been lounging in. She caught herself and swung to the ground.<\/p>\n The half-Elf was very nimble in the trees, having grown up in a forest herself. She landed next to Pisces. The descendant of apes had stayed put, thank-you-very-much. He slapped her hand down as she reached for some walnuts.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! As your captain, I order you to give me your walnuts, Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Cryomancer] glared at Pisces. He edged away from her radiating cold.<\/p>\n \u201cI respectfully decline.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will give you my walnuts, Captain\u2014I mean, Friend Ceria. And I will give you one egg for some ice cubes. I wish to crunch them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOoh! An egg! Sure thing, Ksmvr. How\u2019s being a member of the landed gentry treating you?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Skirmisher] stood tall, regarding his tree.<\/p>\n \u201cThe burdens weigh heavily, Captain Ceria. I have been plagued by fears of beavers, termites, and other calamities striking my tree last night. Yet I find the rewards to be fruitful. Here is your egg. Thank you for the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n He happily crunched some of the ice cubes Ceria made out of water from her flask in his mandibles. Ceria took the egg, sniffed it, then cracked it and tilted her mouth. She ate the egg raw and saw Pisces grimace.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em> You\u2019re afraid of raw egg?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the last time we got sick? Yes. And that\u2019s a raw egg, <\/em>Ceria. Haven\u2019t you heard of frying your food?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf shrugged, licking her fingers. She chewed for a second before replying.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to live in a forest. I ate bugs and raw eggs when I needed food. Er\u2026Ksmvr, I don\u2019t mind, but you know these aren\u2019t cooking eggs? There\u2019s birds in them.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces turned pale. He shoved the egg back towards Ksmvr, who tilted his head sideways.<\/p>\n \u201cI rather thought the added meat was the increase in value, Ceria. Do you not want your egg, Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! <\/em>And here I thought half-Elves were civilized. May we go? I haven\u2019t had breakfast yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces grumbled. Ceria shrugged. They had trooped out here this morning at Ksmvr\u2019s insistence, to check on his personal tree. Now they walked back towards the Byres estates.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a tree! I must exploit it somehow. I wonder if the sap is edible? Perhaps I can entice more birds to settle there. In exchange for the eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Ksmvr, if you eat the eggs, the birds can\u2019t reproduce.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium went still. Then he grabbed the two remaining eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cI must return these to the nest! Excuse me! I should not eat my tenants!\u201d<\/p>\n He raced back towards the tree. Ceria looked guilty as Pisces snorted. They saw the Antinium bounding upwards.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s having so much fun with that tree. Don\u2019t you dare<\/em> tell him the contract\u2019s invalid. Yvlon signed it anyways and her parents don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to tell Ksmvr because a [Woodcutter] might fell it quite accidentally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014we can ask Yvlon to have it marked or something! Look how happy it makes him!\u201d<\/p>\n The two waved at Ksmvr, who was loudly remitting the unborn offspring back into the custody of the bird. He was\u2026like a kid.<\/p>\n Ksmvr could be quite serious and pragmatic, but when he acted like this, you remembered that he was two\u2014perhaps three\u2014Ksmvr forgot when he was born.<\/p>\n The three Horns of Hammerad strolled back to the small keep surrounded by the moat. House Byres, an old, reduced family who were known for silver and their code of honor. It was something, even if it was a small noble house. After all, all three had adventured with Yvlon for a while and she talked about her heritage seldom.<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u2026how hilarious do you think breakfast is going to be? Scale of one to ten?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNumbers fail to express the hilarity to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smiled. He strode along, relaxed. Ceria was just as calm as she swung her skeletal hand up to scratch at her head.<\/p>\n For all intents and purposes, the Horns of Hammerad were on break. There wasn\u2019t much to do in House Byres. Oh, they\u2019d convinced a few Corusdeer to stop attacking a field in one of the rare non-violent encounters the Horns had ever had. They\u2019d even performed a few other tasks with magic\u2014but it was free<\/em> work. They didn\u2019t ask for money from Yvlon\u2019s people.<\/p>\n \u201cThis really is a nice place. Not as developed as some woods, but it\u2019s pretty safe. Not rich, but not poor.<\/em> It\u2019s\u2026nice.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces nodded and Ksmvr happily looked around. House Byres was one of those places in the world where you didn\u2019t have to worry about stuff like Rock Crabs wandering about, or was economically poor or interestingly magical.<\/p>\n \u201cNo wonder Yvlon wanted to get away from here.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces commented. Ceria scowled.<\/p>\n \u201cBe nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHaven\u2019t I been the model of politeness, despite the clear aversion Lord Byres has for me?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Ice Mage] grunted. Pisces had<\/em> been rather restrained.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it up. I don\u2019t get why Yvlon wants to leave so b\u2014good morning, Lady Shallel!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf broke off and waved to the [Lady] who was waving towards them at the opened gates and drawbridge of the keep. Shallel Byres, unusual because her name did not<\/em> start with \u2018Y\u2019, nodded to the three adventurers as they walked across the drawbridge.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Miss Ceria. Mister Pisces, and Mister Ksmvr. Breakfast is ready and Yvlon was asking after you.\u201d<\/p>\n All three adventurers brightened. The Horns of Hammerad were united in that they liked food\u2014if anything, it was their fourth member waiting in the dining room, Yvlon, who was the odd one out in that regard.<\/p>\n Certainly, this morning she only poked at her breakfast. Among the items was a boiled egg that Ceria regarded guiltily. But the food was hot, filling, made by a decent [Cook] who found satisfaction in being the personal employee of a minor noble house.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton Byres sat at the table with his daughter, eating formally with silverware. His nod was a tad uncomfortable; not for Ceria, but rather for Pisces and Ksmvr. It was a tossup which he disliked more, the [Necromancer] or the Antinium. But Pisces had observed that Lord Yitton was unfailingly polite, if as distant as possible.<\/p>\n That was House Byres. Formality, honor, and silver. The [Necromancer] eyed the actual silver<\/em> silverware. He resisted the urge to pocket a knife or two. He was above that, but he was still sort of tempted.<\/p>\n \u201cI trust you\u2019ve all slept well? And you\u2014ah, Ksmvr\u2014you seem to enjoy your tree?\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel Byres was interesting to Pisces. She was clearly a [Lady]; posture, manners, and a few of her Skills had indicated that. It took a special sort of woman to smile at an Antinium as guilelessly as she did. Or maybe she was genuinely at ease around him, which made her even more unique.<\/p>\n Terandrian accent.<\/em> Pisces sipped from some milk as Ksmvr spoke about the bird\u2019s nest. When he got to Ceria eating one of his tenants, Yvlon nearly choked on her bite of bread. Yitton and Shallel looked at Ceria, and the half-Elf blushed.<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026sorry. I get peckish.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces nearly snorted milk out his nose at the unintentional pun. Ceria kicked him as hard as she could and his eyes watered up. Shallel had to have observed the slapstick, but she just smiled at Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m familiar with half-Elf customs, Miss Ceria. You must have been from a more rural village, is that right?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria blinked with surprise and then smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right! Well, sort of. I got kicked out so I lived more on the land. Do you know much about half-Elves, Lady Shallel?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMother\u2019s from Terandria, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon muttered. The first things she\u2019d said all day since greeting her team. She looked\u2026like she was sulking. Which delighted <\/em>Pisces, frankly. He sat back, enjoying some butter on his bread as he listened.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. I grew up in the big cities, but I knew a few half-Elves. As much as any Terandrian Human.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh right, you mentioned that. Then how did you get to Izril?\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel sighed as Yitton coughed. There was a mischievous look in her eye as she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I married into money of course! I was the daughter of a very<\/em> minor noble house. Terandria has a\u2026mm\u2026a group of young [Ladies] whose entire purpose is to earn a large dowry or marry upwards, or to the right sort of gentleman. I\u2019m sure you\u2019re familiar with us, Mister Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n She directed that to Pisces. The [Necromancer] blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cI am. Er\u2014it seems that your marriage wasn\u2019t entirely motivated by material wealth, though. Most [Ladies] wouldn\u2019t marry outside of Terandria for any amount of gold.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. It was more of mutual affection when I met Yitton. But let\u2019s not pretend I didn\u2019t meet him out of purely<\/em> romantic reasons. You had better watch out yourself, Pisces. And you, Miss Ceria. Mm\u2026Ksmvr might be immune, but you are all three Gold-ranks. Lovely young men or women will be tossing themselves at you. Ylawes has done well, but Yvlon would delight me if she brought back someone suitable.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon turned red, and Yitton coughed. He was a bit red across the ears himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re drifting off-topic, Shallel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs you like, Yitton.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman smiled. She was far more conversational than the two more formal Byres. Pisces was already delighted at Yvlon\u2019s discomfort so he added to it as best he could.<\/p>\n \u201cI must say, for my part Lady Byres, I\u2019ve been touched by your welcome. I truly feel as though Yvlon is family<\/em>, and I must respect your willingness to let me, a [Necromancer], under you roof\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria\u2019s kick this time was audible across the table. Pisces doubled over as Yitton stopped eating and Yvlon covered her face with her metallic hand.<\/p>\n Shallel didn\u2019t blink.<\/p>\n \u201cA teammate of Yvlon\u2019s is not some random stranger, Mister Pisces. I\u2019m told you saved Yvlon\u2019s life multiple times and she speaks highly of you. We couldn\u2019t simply turn away someone like that on the basis of his class, could we?\u201d<\/p>\n It was Pisces\u2019 turn to blush slightly as he rubbed at his leg. Yitton cleared his throat once more, avoiding looking directly at Pisces. He<\/em> clearly had a different opinion.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon\u2019s accomplishments are certainly profound. Slaying an Adult Creler at her age? I can\u2019t name more than a dozen Gold-rank teams who\u2019ve accomplished the same. And as a Silver-rank\u2026that\u2019s the stuff stories are written of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just a rank. We were already Gold-rank, father.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon blushed as Yitton looked at her. Shallel smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense. Ylawes himself hasn\u2019t ever gone up against an Adult Creler. He tells me all the time what an accomplishment it is. You even have a title from Rhir! Hell\u2019s Wardens.<\/em> You\u2019re far too modest, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHouse Byres will boast about it for generations, certainly. It\u2019s the kind of accomplishment I wish I\u2019d had as a young man. But it\u2019s one thing to dream, another to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton nodded. He was sparing with Ceria, Ksmvr, and Pisces\u2014speaking mostly to Ceria at the last few meals. But he wasn\u2019t as recalcitrant with his daughter.<\/p>\n The young [Silversteel Armsmistress] herself turned crimson at the praise offered from both parents in front of her team. She shifted in her chair.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a team-effort. Without the other teams\u2014we\u2019d have all died. I was just one adventurer.\u201c<\/p>\n \u201cBut you did carve into the Adult Creler\u2019s brain by yourself, Yvlon. I would place your combat contribution near the top, if not instrumental to our victory.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr added at the precisely wrong moment.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, we can\u2019t overstate your bravery, Yvlon. You even told us all to run.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces drawled. Yvlon gave him a glare that threatened a punching.<\/p>\n \u201cNot to mention you just lost your arm and you told Pisces to reattach it so you could keep fighting!\u201d<\/p>\n Even Ceria joined in the teasing. Although she went too far\u2014Yitton glanced at his daughter\u2019s arm and Shallel\u2019s smile wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were exceptionally brave, Yvlon. Is it wrong to praise courage where we see it? Family or not\u2014valor is valor.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton Byres nodded and Yvlon\u2019s tomato-qualities increased. It interested Pisces no end.<\/p>\n Obviously, he and Ceria and even Ksmvr had been aware of Yvlon\u2019s reluctance to go home. They\u2019d speculated, but none of them had known quite why<\/em> Yvlon wanted to avoid her family. And at least part of the answer was now clear: Yvlon\u2019s parents, far from being the distant nobility, were dotingly proud of their daughter\u2019s accomplishments.<\/p>\n More than even Pisces expected. As breakfast wrapped up and the plates were taken away by the few servants, Shallel turned to Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cYou and<\/em> your team will have time to talk about all your accomplishments and laud the other contributors to your victory, Yvlon. We\u2019ve asked Lenisa to come by to put your victory to verse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh no. Mother\u2014please. We don\u2019t need\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToo late! I know how you are with the storytelling, Yvlon, but it\u2019s not about you. The other villages and towns want to hear about your battle in details and I\u2019m sure your teammates would enjoy it! Please send in Lenisa.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces blinked as an older woman in her late fifties was shown into the room. Lenisa, as it turned out, was a rather flashy woman with a flair for big gestures. She had a hint of dramatis<\/em> that he respected. And she fit her class.<\/p>\n \u201cI, am a [Storyteller]<\/em> for House Byres. It is my role, honored adventurers, to put the deeds of Lord Ylawes and Lady Yvlon to verse! And such stories will go to every village and town under the aegis of House Byres\u2014even further! They\u2019ve reached even Invrisil. And I have no doubt that your victory as Silver-rank adventurers<\/em> over an Adult Creler will be my greatest work yet!\u201d<\/p>\n The woman had notes ready for the taking, and even an [Artist] to take portraits of all the Horns of Hammerad.<\/p>\n Pisces was delighted.<\/em> Yvlon looked like she wanted to sit in Ksmvr\u2019s tree and hide.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Free advertisements? Yvlon! You didn\u2019t say your parents had hired a [Storyteller] just for us!\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria whispered to her friend. Yvlon gave her a wretched look.<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t. Lenisa is a family friend. They\u2019ve hired her for every single victory I\u2019ve ever won, starting when I was Bronze-rank.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cW\u2014really? That sounds great!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n But before Yvlon could elaborate, Lenisa had taken over the dining room.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll need individual accounts, but please, tell me everything. As many details as you have in you! What the Bloodfields look like, events leading up to the battle\u2014I ah, understand we might need to take some narrative liberties here.\u201d<\/p>\n She glanced at Yitton, and then Pisces. The [Necromancer]\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what, pray?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the undead. I understand there was a bone\u2014giant? Some undead\u2026creation utilized in the battle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean, the Frostmarrow Behemoth that saved our lives? Yes, Ceria and Pisces conjured it.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon replied, glancing at Yitton. He affected not to notice. Lenisa scribbled a note on her parchment.<\/p>\n \u201cFrost and ice? Well, we can emphasize the ice a bit. How about \u2018a creation of frost and bone for dire purpose awoketh<\/em>\u2019\u2026I can workshop that later. Now, Miss Byres, you know how I like to do things! Horns of Hammerad, it is such an honor to make a tale of Lady Yvlon\u2019s comrades!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Storyteller] beamed at the three Gold-rank adventurers and Yvlon. Ceria blinked. There was something\u2014almost scary about how enthusiastically Lenisa said that. Not even a hint of the irony Pisces would have injected into every syllable.<\/p>\n When House Byres\u2019 subjects claimed to love their noble family, they really meant it. Pisces, Ceria, and Ksmvr saw the admiring glances the young [Artist] kept giving Yvlon\u2014as much awe as infatuation\u2014as they gave an accounting of the battle. The Horns became modest almost as a defense mechanism; Lenisa exaggerated everything she heard until modesty helped them reach an almost-accurate truth.<\/p>\n \u201cSo\u2026you do this for every<\/em> battle Yvlon wins?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll of the major ones, of course. Why, haven\u2019t you heard any of them? I sent Miss Yvlon the copies\u2014I have everything here if you\u2019d like to look! Here\u2014this is the first story I ever ran, in verse! The Mothbear\u2019s End and Yvlon Byres\u2019 First Quest!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She showed the Horns of Hammerad a small, bound, illustrated<\/em> tale recounting a Bronze-rank Yvlon Byres with the Silver Spears slaying a Mothbear plaguing a village in the Byres lands. The illustration had a flowing-haired Yvlon battling a tremendously big Mothbear.<\/p>\n Pisces made a sound. Yvlon closed her eyes as Ksmvr clicked<\/em> approvingly.<\/p>\n \u201cWith an enemy this large, Yvlon was no doubt deserving of at least this much praise! That is the largest Mothbear I have ever seen, nearly half again as large as the average member of its species. It must be fourteen feet tall. For a Bronze-rank adventurer, this is quite a feat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t that tall, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon replied in a low voice. Lenisa laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI exaggerated only a bit, Mister, uh, Mister Kiss-rem-vier. Is that how you pronounce your name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces and Ceria exchanged a look. They were enjoying this look into Yvlon\u2019s life. To them, it was hilarious seeing the stoic, often serious member of their group squirm. They saw Shallel smiling as she watched the proceedings.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you three have the portraits done, we\u2019ll add them to the gallery. It\u2019s a shame you can\u2019t stay longer or we\u2019d pay for a mage-picture.\u201d<\/p>\n All three adventurers looked up. Yvlon closed her eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mage-pictures were almost completely-perfect images a [Mage] could capture. They could even move if you paid for them. It was expensive, but even a minor [Lord] could afford them.<\/p>\n House Byres had an entire gallery devoted to their three children. They told a fascinating story to Pisces. For one thing\u2014he stopped finding everything so funny.<\/p>\n It might not be obvious to Shallel, or Yitton, the doting parents they were, or even Lenisa, but if you looked down the gallery, you saw something.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon, Ylawes\u2026and this must be Ysara, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces pointed at the third, unfamiliar girl captured across the stages of her life up to early adulthood. Yvlon moved in one of the mage-pictures, swinging a sword, captured in perpetuity by the [Mage] or [Illusionist] or whomever had drawn the picture out with magic.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. Ysara didn\u2019t take to the [Warrior] class although she was the most gifted of the three, frankly. A genius with a sword\u2014but she\u2019s a [Merchant].\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel looked just a hint uncomfortable as she passed by Ysara\u2019s portraits. Indeed\u2014they ended right as she seemed to be in her early twenties. But Ylawes and Yvlon had far more. It seemed that every year, their parents had paid for one picture, even if not a mage-picture.<\/p>\n It told a story. Ylawes was always the dutiful warrior, captured in some warrior\u2019s pose\u2014in later years, with a Griffin\u2019s head, or his teammates, only the last few years being Dawil and Falene. Yvlon\u2014<\/p>\n In her first pictures, she was an enthusiastic girl, swinging a sword with poor posture but energy. Pisces, who had been trained as a [Fencer], had seen Ysara\u2019s almost-perfect form. He had no doubt she had been one of those geniuses you hated to meet on the dueling grounds.<\/p>\n Yvlon though\u2014no. Until she was in her early teens, she was, like the others, practicing swordsmanship. Then\u2014for about four years\u2014she was holding books, smiling but not quite<\/em> capturing genuine happiness as the mage-artist captured her in more thoughtful poses.<\/p>\n \u201cShe got back into her sword training when she was around seventeen. See?\u201d<\/p>\n There the training resumed, but Yvlon\u2019s smile turned more into concentration. Nor\u2014did she turn up with her trophies, monsters slain, like Ysara and Ylawes. Except for one image.<\/p>\n She stood with her sword planted in the dirt next to a Mothbear\u2019s head. A much smaller<\/em> Mothbear than the illustration indicated. Yvlon didn\u2019t smile, so the artist had made her more somber, reflective.<\/p>\n Pisces was certain Yvlon at that time had not been willing to smile, no matter how much coaxing she\u2019d received. He looked at her now and saw a reflection from the pictures on Yvlon\u2019s face.<\/p>\n Shame. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re delighted for you to stay as long as you like, Yvlon. Indeed\u2014I hope you\u2019d remain to perform some of the traditional rites. Ylawes has been absent so I put them off, but you\u2019ve returned at a good time. Your companions are much welcomed as well. Miss Springwalker, we have you to thank for helping us build that dam so quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n A while later, after Lenisa had gone away to put the battle with the Adult Creler to verse, Lord Yitton spoke with the others in the parlor.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was nothing, Lord Byres.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled and waved a hand, abashed as he bowed slightly to her. A dam had nearly collapsed and Ceria had helped freeze the entire place up so it could be repaired.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is quite gracious of you nonetheless. As I said, your team is welcome to stay or work around House Byres as long as you like, Yvlon. I must ask that you refrain from even practicing with these\u2026undead, however.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton turned to Pisces, bringing up the incident from yesterday at last. Yvlon frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just one undead bear, father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lord] looked at Pisces. The [Necromancer]\u2019s smile was frosty.<\/p>\n \u201cQuite under my control, Lord Byres. There was nothing to worry about. I apologize for alarming one of your people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI quite understand, Mister Pisces. However. My subjects are terrified of the undead. I ask you as Lord of House Byres to not summon such monsters in my lands except at greatest need. I have heard Yvlon\u2019s reassurances that you can control them. Nevertheless, I object personally and morally to their existence, as well as a class that utilizes them.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lord] met Pisces\u2019 eyes. The [Necromancer] began to sniff, saw Yvlon and Ceria wincing out of the corner of his eyes, and surprised them all by bowing slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you will, Lord Byres. Refraining from using my magic is simple enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton nodded to him and that was the second thing he said to Pisces all day. After he had gone, the Horns went for a walk. Yvlon needed it and they wanted to privacy to speak.<\/p>\n House Byres\u2019 lands were nice. Picturesque, in that old knightly-way. You could just imagine some of the people working the fields looking up and seeing a [Knight] on his way to fight some evil monster.<\/p>\n \u201cYlawes must just fit in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria had been thinking the same thing. Yvlon just shrugged as she kicked around moodily. In the distance, children and people looked up, waving at Yvlon who had to wave back and staring at her arms. Everyone had been in uproar when they\u2019d seen her new arms\u2014but they\u2019d accepted it with startling ease. Perhaps because it was a sign Yvlon Byres had stayed true to her house.<\/p>\n \u201cSilver and steel, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf glanced at Yvlon. The woman nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHonest as steel, pure as silver. That\u2019s the Byres tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRude as a muddy toad slapping you in the face, you mean. You okay, Pisces? Lord Byres was pretty direct.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] shrugged moodily.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s far from the first person I\u2019ve met to hold such beliefs. And he was rather cordial about it; he could have been far ruder. I will live. You on the other hand, look quite unwell, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned to the [Armsmistress]. Yvlon rubbed at her arms, clenching and unclenching her metal hands and staring at them as she did quite often these days.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I\u2019m sorry if I\u2019ve been unsociable, everyone. But I really do want to leave as soon as we can without upsetting my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n The others exchanged a quick glance. Ksmvr\u2019s mandibles opened and closed.<\/p>\n \u201cBut why, Yvlon? Your parents seem very nice to me. I have no frame of reference for this statement, but I will make it anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u2014complicated, Ksmvr. Family often is. I like my parents, and Ylawes and Ysara, of course. It\u2019s just that I\u2019m not always at home around them. Do you understand what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. But this is normal. You are not at home in your home.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr skipped ahead, thinking. The others waited; educating Ksmvr about the world was a full-time job they were all used to. He came back and looked at Yvlon and Ceria and Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cMay I share my interesting observations, please?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo ahead, Ksmvr. This should be quite illuminating.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces smirked. Ksmvr nodded. He tilted his head one way and then another and then spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never had a family. I was created to lead Antinium and replace Prognugator Klbkch. I was made to die and be replaced. It seems to me that families among other species treasure new life with an excess of value on the young. This is not a bad thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The other\u2019s smiles faded. That was Ksmvr for you. One moment he was childish, the next moment he stabbed you in the gut and let you bleed. Pisces looked at Ceria and Yvlon, at a loss, and it was the half-Elf who reached out.<\/p>\n \u201cAlmost right. You have a family now, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes you do. And as far as I\u2019m concerned, you could be my little brother. House Byres is your house, Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon smiled and squeezed Ksmvr\u2019s shoulder gently. He looked at her, antennae moving with suppressed emotion. He opened and closed his mandibles.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026May I have two<\/em> trees?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone laughed. Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go pick one out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll help if you want, Ksmvr. I know good trees. We can find another bird\u2019s nest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria waved at Pisces and Yvlon, mouthing silently. She didn\u2019t say anything specific, but it was more of a \u2018I\u2019ll go with him to make sure no one else freaks out or he doesn\u2019t scare someone and have them attack him<\/em>\u2019, kind of thing. Pisces and Yvlon nodded as Ksmvr and Ceria ran off, babbling about bark or something inane.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] turned to Yvlon as they strolled along. She grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026If I complain, do you promise not to repeat what I said in front of my family?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon, Yvlon. I mock you, but I don\u2019t reveal secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces tsked<\/em>, hurt. Yvlon rolled her eyes, but she relaxed a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cThen\u2014what do you think of my family?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo quote Ksmvr, they are \u2018nice\u2019. Quite proud parents. Very proud. One might say excessively so.\u201d<\/p>\n The blonde-haired woman\u2019s face said it all. Yvlon rubbed at the place where her metal shoulder merged with her skin.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014If you tell them, or Ylawes, I\u2019ll break your fingers. But I hate it here. You saw that collection of my \u2018achievements\u2019? They\u2019ve always been like this. Me, Ysara, Ylawes\u2014they\u2019re so proud. Which is good. I was so happy\u2014until I realized I didn\u2019t deserve it. That Mothbear? Ysara killed an Ogre Chieftain and five Ogres in battle when she was my age. Ylawes fought a Griffin and beat it by himself to save a [Farmer].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAchievement isn\u2019t an objective thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon stopped walking and looked at Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re<\/em> telling me that, Pisces? You?\u201d<\/p>\n His lips twisted.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. Say rather you stood in the shadow of two quite talented older siblings. That isn\u2019t unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon ran a hand through her bright hair.<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I know\u2014but it\u2019s been like this all my life. I lived in Ysara\u2019s shadow, and then Ylawes\u2019. His Silver Swords\u2014I copied him, but I was never half as accomplished as he was. And my parents doted on both of us. I felt like I earned nothing properly\u2014especially because I was always Lady Yvlon around here.\u201d<\/p>\n She gestured at her chest, as if she wore the armor she was normally never without. At home she wore just an ordinary set of clothing and looked much smaller without.<\/p>\n \u201cI got my armor and weapons from my family\u2014even for my entire team! So I went south to Celum to actually achieve something. And you know what happened next.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces nodded. He had seen the covered image near the end of Yvlon\u2019s gallery that Shallel had carefully not brought up. The original Silver Spears. Yvlon had spent a while there when she\u2019d first returned home.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, as you said, family is complicated. I find it all amusing of course\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014but when we leave, we needn\u2019t speak of it again except to humiliate you at our convenience.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon glowered and raised a fist, but she smiled as Pisces edged away. She looked back at her home and nodded to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like a fool back home, that\u2019s all. What about you, Pisces? You\u2026do you miss your home?\u201d<\/p>\n It was a loaded question. Especially because Yvlon knew a bit. Pisces hesitated. A while back he\u2019d have side-stepped the question or lied. But he was working on keeping secrets. He rolled his shoulders and reached for the rapier he carried.<\/p>\n \u201cRather a different experience than yours, Yvlon. I was never good enough. Lazy, arrogant, a half-made [Fencer] who embarrassed his father at every turn\u2026I rather feel he disliked me.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon\u2019s face changed as Pisces stared ahead. She coughed, and replied slowly.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014I understand that my complaining wears thin, especially compared to other\u2019s experiences. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sniffed. He hated genuine emotion. He made his tone light and careless.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I will accept your apology of course, but I rather feel as though I had the better deal of it. My father made it easy to ignore his condemnation. Your parents set the bar of Yvlon Byres\u2019 accomplishments so high it was practically out of reach for the girl herself. That you touched it is worthy of praise.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon blinked and eyed Pisces. Her lips quirked.<\/p>\n \u201cWorthy of praise. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] turned his head away, feeling the slightest of blushes and fighting it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou should find Ceria or Ksmvr to utter such praise. Or that [Storyteller], of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally.\u201d<\/p>\n Funnily, they understood each other fairly well these days, Yvlon and Pisces. Each of the Horns of Hammerad had their own relationship to each other. Yvlon and Ksmvr\u2019s was as deep as Ceria\u2019s and Pisces\u2019 for instance, but the other connections had unexpected harmony at times. Yvlon looked ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me more about undead, Pisces. You keep complaining that undead could make House Byres better. How?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces nearly tripped over a stone. He looked at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want me to expound on the undead? Here?\u201d<\/p>\n She gave him a calm look.<\/p>\n \u201cMy father\u2019s anti-undead. I\u2019m not. My views on necromancy are different. Remember who fixed up my arms? You keep telling us about Khelt, which uses undead. What\u2014would you make them mine silver or something?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] scratched at his messy hair.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, silver is a rare problem. The metal would affect the spells, but I was uh, being more hyperbolic in my ire than anything. The truth is that I\u2019ve seen undead employed as laborers and it isn\u2019t a flawless solution. It would take some work to implement, actually. Previous iterations have failed.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Armsmistress] looked sidelong at her friend.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Do tell.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n There was no help for it. Pisces sighed. They knew his last name, anyways. Pisces Jealnet, son of nobody famous in particular. He coughed into his sleeve, going back, deciding what to tell and what was still too personal.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing special. You know some of it already. I belonged to a\u2026cabal in Terandria. While I was growing, before I left for Wistram. They were a group of [Necromancers]\u2014and a few other irregulars with similar interests. They taught me necromancy. I ran away from home to join them. I don\u2019t know\u2014I doubt if they are still extant. I have never inquired. Some members may remain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMhm. And?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces scratched at his head. She didn\u2019t even blink at him having been part of a [Necromancer] cult in Terandria. He almost missed the outrage and shock of the old days.<\/p>\n \u201cWe lived in hiding, learning, teaching each other, experimenting. And, well, among other things, we ran a\u2014a sort of commune, you might say. And we even had a farm.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon stopped again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou. Had a farm. Run by undead?\u201d<\/p>\n She was trying not to laugh. Pisces folded his arms sullenly.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it hard to imagine? Of course, we were emulating Khelt. And Az\u2019kerash, who had created similar places in Terandria before he was reviled. Ours was quite small; only a few hundred undead at most. Undead tilled the fields, performed menial chores, even mined and cut wood. It was an experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounds like it failed. What was the cause?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait, let me guess. Infighting? Undead going rampant? No\u2014creating stronger undead by all the death magic?\u201d<\/p>\n She had been listening to his lectures to Ksmvr! Pisces smiled. Then he was embarrassed again.<\/p>\n \u201cEr\u2026wild dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n The blonde-haired woman just stared. Pisces threw up his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019d attack the skeletons for bones! It got so that we had to ward the undead and patrol the commune. Zombies started rotting and attracted birds, insects, and so forth\u2014we even lost a Ghoul to the wildlife one time. And the undead would lose their binding spells, wander off, or do something inane like cut down every tree in a ten mile radius until we caught up to it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon started laughing. Ceria and Ksmvr, who came back from finding his second tree, saw the warrior woman doubled over in mirth as Pisces glowered at her. They started laughing too, not even knowing why at first.<\/p>\n Yvlon Byres wiped tears from her eyes when she was done. Pisces was glowering.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were all low-level. Our best member was just reaching Level 30 when I left, and he was better at combat, mass-raising undead rather than customization. I could design a far better one now. It might even be useful. But I will desist while I\u2019m on Lord Yitton\u2019s lands.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon fell silent. She nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] sniffed in reply and waved it away. He thought that was that. But the short conversation with Yvlon had clarified how she really felt. In a way\u2014it was a mistake to let her unbottle her feelings. Because \u2018you couldn\u2019t put the skeleton back in the flesh suit<\/em>\u2019, as one of his former [Necromancer] friends had used to say. It came to a tipping point when Lord Yitton wanted them to participate in the first Byres tradition.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a minor custom, but House Byres always breaks and shares the first loaf of bread from a harvest among themselves. Yvlon, you should take part. It would honor the village to have a Gold-rank adventurer participate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot to mention you haven\u2019t been back in nearly two years.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel added. Yvlon sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just eating bread, father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s traditional and it shows our appreciation.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton gave his daughter a stern look. Ceria broke in, smiling awkwardly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to come and wouldn\u2019t mind having something to eat, right you guys?\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr and Pisces nodded, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Yitton hesitated and glanced at the two. He coughed into a fist.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Perhaps it would be best if Yvlon were to come alone. It is a Byres tradition. More frankly\u2014the presence of a [Necromancer] and one of the\u2026Antinium would be disruptive.\u201d<\/p>\n Ah. He was doing it again. Pisces rolled his eyes, but without real rancor; eating bread was only something Ksmvr enjoyed.<\/p>\n \u201cFather. Pisces is part of my team.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon\u2019s brows twitched. It was a warning sign to anyone on her team. Shallel gave her husband a similar look.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure the Horns of Hammerad would be welcome, Yitton.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut this is a traditional meal. The people know about Mister Pisces\u2026they might feel as though the first baking were\u2014unclean. With all due respect, Shallel\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces saw Yvlon raise one of her metal arms. She brought her fist down on the dining room table. Hard.<\/p>\n The thump<\/em> made everything on the ancient wood surface jump. And\u2014cracked<\/em> the table itself.<\/p>\n Yvlon hadn\u2019t meant to do that, Pisces was sure. She and everyone else stared at the impact and crack that had broken the family\u2019s possible heirloom.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon!\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton went pale with fury. But Yvlon was already furious. Fury replaced her look of guilt.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough<\/em>, father! If you don\u2019t want Pisces or Ksmvr around, you needn\u2019t ask for me!\u201d<\/p>\n She pushed herself up. Yitton hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI am only explaining\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re insulting him to his face. That\u2019s not honesty. That\u2019s just rudeness! I know you don\u2019t like [Necromancers]. But you could at least try.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon, really. I\u2019m quite used to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n He put up his hands and backed away as Yvlon glared at him. She rounded on her father. Yitton looked startled at the confrontational note in his daughter\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon, you\u2019ve seen what [Necromancers] have done. Ylawes\u2019 team has fought any number of them. Shallel told you stories about Az\u2019kerash.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd? What does that have to do with my teammate? Not every [Necromancer] is evil, father! Pisces is a friend. He\u2019s saved my life. He is not always honorable. But he has never been evil.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lord of House Byres looked like he wanted to debate that point, but present company made him hesitate. He stiffly inclined his head to his daughter.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026You have every right to believe that, Yvlon. But the fact remains that any incidents that occur will be your responsibility. Are you prepared for that? I have never seen an undead creation that did not seem to want me dead.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Pisces. Yvlon ground her teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m responsible for any accidents that occur? Aren\u2019t we all?<\/em> If you want to talk about responsibility\u2014what about you marching on Liscor with an army ready to slaughter the Drakes and Gnolls there?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria, Pisces, and Ksmvr\u2019s head swung back towards Yitton. He hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon. I did what I felt was best for the realm. I did not know you were there. Lord Tyrion\u2019s motives were unknown to us all. On the face of it, we hunted a Goblin Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you did a fine job of slaughtering them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou speak as if that weren\u2019t the point. There was a Goblin Lord, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not all monsters!\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel made a sound. Yvlon glared around the table.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not.<\/em> I\u2019ve met some of them that spoke and thought and were\u2014more honorable than some [Lords] and [Ladies] I could name! They\u2019re a people. It took me meeting them in person to find that out. But why has no one else in the Byres family ever figured that out?\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton was just shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound like Emperor Godart, Yvlon. This\u2014this notion isn\u2019t unique. But I\u2019ve told him exactly what I will tell you: Goblins, individually\u2026may have the ability to reason. They may have honor. But no Goblin King has ever made anything than unrelenting war. Velan was known as Velan the Kind<\/em> before he broke every vow and forswore his honor to destroy nations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2014may be true.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon hesitated. Pisces wasn\u2019t in this debate, but he reflected that Yvlon was arguing uphill. [Necromancers] and Goblins weren\u2019t the best peoples to defend historically.<\/p>\n \u201cThe point is that you\u2019re insulting my team! Pisces and Ksmvr because of their species and class! Not who they are! Enough, father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m only pointing out dangerous elements in your life as I see it, Yvlon. No Byres in living memory has ever allied with a [Necromancer]. And the Antinium? Have you forgotten your history? Our House rode against the Antinium in both wars!\u201d<\/p>\n At last, Yitton\u2019s voice grew heated. Pisces slowly reached for his bag of snacks. Well now, Lord Byres was finally saying what he really felt.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the enemy\u2019s always<\/em> the enemy? No wonder we can\u2019t make peace with the Drakes! You\u2019re more stubborn than they are!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon! Mind your manners!\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel spoke up, shocked. Yvlon turned her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? Should I say how I feel politely?<\/em> How\u2019s this? I\u2019ve never been more appalled by the slippage of House Byres\u2019 morals when it comes to the hypocrisy I see in giving fellow Humans like Lord Tyrion the benefit of the doubt while castigating Pisces and Ksmvr!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, young lady. You\u2019re embarrassing yourself in front of our guests and your team.\u201d<\/p>\n Yitton\u2019s voice was cold as he looked at the Horns. Ksmvr waved at him. Yvlon flushed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve seen worse! I don\u2019t need to be perfect around them! And I\u2019m not Ylawes, father! I\u2019m starting to think Ysara was right! No wonder she left!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lord] stood abruptly. He strode from the room without another word.<\/p>\n \u201cYitton!\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel got to her feet. She gave Yvlon a look with so many layers Pisces had to catalogue them and then hurried after Yitton.<\/p>\n Yvlon stayed where she was. Pisces saw her pale face turn red in the silence that followed. He chewed on a walnut. As family arguments went\u2014that went right up with his altercations with his father. But he didn\u2019t say that.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014I think it\u2019s time to go. Sorry you all had to see that.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Armsmistress] muttered. She looked around at her team. She turned.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me grab my things. We\u2019ll just go and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be silly. You can\u2019t leave now!\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria barred her way. The [Cryomancer] looked just as embarrassed at having Yvlon air her grievances in her presence, but she was firm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t just run off. You will<\/em> regret it, Yvlon. Take it from me.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman looked down at the half-Elf. Ceria pointed towards where Yvlon\u2019s parents had gone.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll regret it if you don\u2019t talk to them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014er\u2014you\u2019re speaking from experience?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked around, ears still red. Pisces shrugged. He\u2019d been quite glad to walk away from his family, but Ceria had a different perspective. She nodded as she tried to turn Yvlon around.<\/p>\n \u201cI ran off after shouting at my parents. I regret that. My parents are still alive\u2026but I wonder if they remember I\u2019m gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRemember you\u2019re gone?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman was sufficiently distracted by that to abandon her flight. Ceria nodded. She and Ksmvr tugged Yvlon back to the dining table and got her to sit down. Ceria smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHalf-Elf village. Removed from time. They could be doing the same routine and still setting the table expecting me to come in. I\u2019m from the Village of the Spring. Hence the name. Springwalker? There\u2019s Springwaters, Everspring\u2014half-Elves have stupid naming conventions. I\u2026the last time I was there I stormed out and I was kicked out of the village a day later. I never got to say goodbye. You don\u2019t want that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I\u2019m sorry, Pisces, Ksmvr. I only meant to get my father to stop insulting you. The rest of that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t we go for a little walk again? You can speak with your parents in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces spoke up at last. Yvlon gave him a grateful look and nodded. Pisces put away his snack and motioned with his head. The other two Horns followed him out.<\/p>\n Yvlon sat there, embarrassed, restless, guilty\u2014looking at the cracked dining room table. It would need a [Repair] spell; hopefully the old wood could be fixed with magic. Sometimes, if the damage was too great or the material too advanced, the spell failed\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon? Oh, thank goodness. You\u2019re still here. I feared you\u2019d run off like you used to.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel returned a few minutes later. Yvlon jumped and then colored again. Her mother had returned. The [Lady] walked back towards the table and regarded the damage.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. I didn\u2019t realize I\u2019d hit it so hard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTables are tables, Yvlon. We\u2019ll have a [Mage] come and look at it. Or the [Carpenter]. Old Della is still working.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh. Maybe she can make a brace or something.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel nodded. She looked at Yvlon and then cleared her throat as she sat back down.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father\u2019s gone for a walk. I think when he returns you\u2019ll both be calm enough to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon started. She wondered if Yitton\u2019s walk would have him run into her team. Either way\u2026she nodded and sat there.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I\u2019m sorry for shouting all that. I should have said it to begin with. But there was the banquet and there was never a good moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Her mother smoothed her skirts.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was overdue. I wish it could have been more tactfully done, but I\u2019m sure Ylawes will want to have one of his \u2018one-on-one\u2019 chats with his father in no uncertain terms either. He was quite unhappy in the letter he sent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYlawes was?\u201d<\/p>\n The youngest Byres blinked. She had never heard Ylawes utter anything but praise for her father. Shallel nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHe prefers to express his discontent privately. He\u2019s very much like Yitton that way, Yvlon. Did you think they never argued?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never heard him do it once. Only Ysara\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon fell silent, fidgeting with her arms. She ran her fingers over the metal flesh. Shallel sighed. She looked at Yvlon\u2019s changed skin and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI was quite unhappy when I learned about it myself, Yvlon. I spoke to Yitton\u2014but he\u2019s as stubborn as any Byres. He\u2019s had a few changes of opinion, but a [Necromancer] and one of the Antinium was too much for him. Wait. I think he\u2019ll apologize to your team and we\u2019ll see what happens next.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded. Her mother had always been the mediator of the family, especially when Ysara was still around. Yvlon rubbed at her arms again, and Shallel noticed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot we haven\u2019t had time to talk about, Yvlon. Or should I say, that you\u2019ve been reluctant to bring up. Your arms for one.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman flinched.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re fine. I didn\u2019t want to worry you. That\u2019s why I pretended nothing had happened.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMhm. That\u2019s quite believable.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel saw her daughter flush again. Yvlon hesitated, bit her lip, and then pointed at her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t look\u2014unnatural to you? They don\u2019t bother<\/em> you? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Lady] looked at Yvlon\u2019s arms, inspecting the metallic, silvery gleam of them for a while. She met Yvlon\u2019s eyes and shook her head slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re my daughter, Yvlon. Of course I was shocked. But they\u2019re beautiful. Just like you. I was far more worried when I heard you\u2019d been injured\u2014possibly permanently. This is far better than what Ylawes described, I think. Do they disturb you?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon hung her head. Her grievances with her father, the mixed feelings over returning home\u2014and her arms. She spoke, looking around for her team. She hadn\u2019t said this to them. But her mother\u2014Yvlon looked up and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t feel Human, mother. I\u2014I was crippled. This is better. But I feel like I\u2019m part-Golem or something. I\u2019m afraid. I feel like I was given my strength! I didn\u2019t earn it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh Yvlon. Come here.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel rose and went over to her daughter. She embraced Yvlon, closing her eyes so Yvlon wouldn\u2019t see her unshed tears. It was Yvlon who needed reassurance.<\/p>\n Coming home was hard. Yvlon stared at the arms that appalled her so much, some nights she couldn\u2019t sleep. She hadn\u2019t told her team that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the Horns of Hammerad returned, Yvlon was better. She and Shallel had spoken, frankly at last, and Yvlon felt calmer for it.<\/p>\n Yitton still hadn\u2019t returned, but Yvlon was content to let him wait. She turned to her team.<\/p>\n \u201cI have an idea. Why don\u2019t we<\/em> do the traditional Byres activities? Father can join us for the bread and some of the other things\u2014but some of the rituals are things I\u2019d normally do alone. Or with my team.\u201d<\/p>\n Shallel nodded approvingly as Pisces, Ceria, and Ksmvr exchanged looks. The Antinium [Skirmisher] raised one tentative hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do these rituals consist of, Yvlon? Will our proficiency matter to the success?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all, Ksmvr. It\u2019s mostly just old traditions. And\u2014well, it\u2019s vaguely entertaining to do some of them. You get free food a lot of the time. How about it?\u201d<\/p>\n Her team conferred. It sounded like a fine activity to all of them, especially if it helped Yvlon reconcile. So they stood up and followed her as she led them deeper into the keep.<\/p>\n Pisces dawdled a bit to see if he could [Repair] the table, but he concluded the parts needed to be joined as seamlessly as possible and that he might lack the nuance of the spell. He found Yvlon standing at a large door made of, curiously, stone and silver inlays. The crest of her house was etched into the door and it looked like one of the most reinforced parts of the keep.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon pushed the door open for an answer. Pisces saw a room\u2014mostly empty\u2014where armor, weaponry, and more would have been hung. At the moment\u2014it had enough arms and armor for about two dozen fighters at most. Although\u2014he had to note\u2014the metal was the same silver-steel alloy that Yvlon and Ylawes used.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Byres armory. Not much to see, right? This is for the family only; the house guard have a different area. This is our ancestral vault, heritage of all Byres descendants, and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman waved a hand with the vagueness of someone who had seen it a hundred times. Pisces looked around the room.<\/p>\n \u201cWow. It\u2019s magnificent. And old! Are those historical battles or something?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria pointed to faded stonework on the walls. Pisces saw traces of paint, but only the etchings themselves had remained, showing battles with [Knights] and other monsters. Yvlon nodded, embarrassed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a Byres tradition, writing down our accomplishments. Those were our ancestors, the ones who built the keep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s<\/em> where your parents get it from! We should hang the Mothbear picture right here!\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria teased. Yvlon shoved her with one arm, smiling. She looked around the room. It really was empty compared to what it could hold.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can tell we\u2019ve declined. I used to think this place was so grand\u2014but, well, House Byres is a fraction of how large it was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you have more members of your House than just your brother and sister?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces pointed out. Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, sure. Extended family. They live all over the place. You met some of them in the banquet. But we used<\/em> to be a huge noble house. This was an armory for all our [Warriors]\u2014now it\u2019s only the main family that keeps the tradition of having at least one [Warrior] per generation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. And the armor?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon walked over to the sets of glittering armor. It too was a bit of an illusion. The metal was silver and steel, but it wasn\u2019t enchanted\u2014and perhaps only on the same level as your average steel worked by a [Blacksmith]. Locally forged, in short, not a Pelt-masterpiece or something from Pallass\u2019 forges.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of our artifacts were sold, or lost their magic over the years. But\u2014we still have this tradition. Silver and steel. Our alloy. Ylawes\u2019 breastplate is made of the stuff. My armor and weapons too. We\u2019re supposed to always keep enough sets of armor and weapons to fight with. In case they\u2019re needed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOoh. This is quite lovely, Yvlon. I admire the aesthetic beauty of your armor and weaponry. Perhaps not their efficacy in combat, but certainly their luster.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr tested one of the blades on his arm. Yvlon sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cSilver and steel isn\u2019t actually stronger than just steel, Ksmvr. These are specialty weapons and armor. Good for killing\u2014oh, lots of monsters that are mostly dead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces frowned. He normally loved to have the answer to that, but he only vaguely recalled the answer. Yvlon shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cEh. Some types of monsters are weak against silver. Shape changers, mostly. Ever heard of\u2026Vampires?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have. Er\u2014a bloodsucking monster in antiquity, weren\u2019t they? Mostly based on Izril.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. And House Byres used to slay them. Since they\u2019re dead\u2014we\u2019re no longer needed. Us and a few other houses keep up the traditions, though. I know all the other old slaying families\u2014childhood friends. There\u2019s the Artien House\u2014actually, if we ever pass by, you should meet Delanay. He used to come over to play all the time and his family takes the old traditions even more seriously than father\u2026anyways, here\u2019s the first tradition. The tithe.\u201d<\/p>\n She walked over to something at the far end of the room. It was a pedestal with a bowl under it before some great mural of battle. Pisces, squinting, saw figures on one side with hints of silver paint battling rather bestial figures on the others. He saw fangs, claws\u2014then heard the clink<\/em> of metal.<\/p>\n Yvlon had pulled out her money pouch. Now, she counted gold coins into the small bowl on the pedestal. She knelt there, then rose, looking embarrassed.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose father or mother will use it to have a replacement set made\u2014or for repairs. Traditionally\u2014those pledged to House Byres would come by and tithe some of their earnings. So there\u2019s no point to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShush. Be respectful.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr came before Yvlon and solemnly put some coins in the pedestal. He copied Yvlon, kneeling before the old mural.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Yvlon. You are quite ruining the solemnity of the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n It was worth a gold coin to see Yvlon\u2019s face. Even Ceria did the same. Yvlon smacked both their heads with her hand. Not Ksmvr. He was actually serious.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. If you want to donate to our house, be my guests. That\u2019s the first tradition over with. Second\u2014the cleansing rites.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that about?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria sneezed; the armory was a bit dusty. Yvlon smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll actually enjoy this. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n She led them to another spot in the keep. This time, towards a small bathing area. Pisces blinked. Ceria whistled.<\/p>\n \u201cSilver baths?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The basins of the outdoor tubs and small, natural hot spring were made of silver. They glowed<\/em> even in the daytime. Yvlon smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re supposed to bathe here for an hour. Right after we arrive, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s midday. You mean we take a bath in the sun?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria squinted up. Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYep. That\u2019s part of the ritual. Oh\u2014and you have to be naked.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces looked up. Ceria stared at him and then at Yvlon. The woman coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cIn separate areas, Pisces. You go over there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n Alas.<\/em><\/p>\n That was how they found themselves sitting in the bubbling water, relaxing in the sun. Ceria and Yvlon on one side, Pisces and Ksmvr on the other, blocked by a dividing wall.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have ancestral hot springs. In a silver basin.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria poked at the waters. There was nothing special about them, unlike some magical hot springs she\u2019d heard of, but it was a beautiful place. Yvlon relaxed, her arms shining in the sun along with the rest of the metal that made up this place.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to think everyone had baths like this. A lot of the people in House Byres have silver bathtubs, you know. Heirlooms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour land is so weird. And obsessed with silver.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about it.\u201d<\/p>\n On the other side of the baths, Pisces was relaxing. Only a bit disappointed by the fact that he was alone. He cracked one eye open as he sighed in the hot waters.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr? You really needn\u2019t get in\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium was rocking back and forth, naked\u2014but yet to put one foot in the hot springs.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not afraid of water. Or being cooked alive in my own juices because I cannot regulate my internal body temperature. I am not afraid of water. Or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe just put one foot in the hot springs?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces suggested. Ksmvr nearly collapsed in relief. He paddled the water with his feet as he sat at the edge of the hot springs and he and Pisces just sat there in silence. Until Ksmvr asked a question.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems Yvlon was quite reluctant to go home because of her family issues. Ceria has family issues. I am given to understand you have family issues.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an endemic problem among non-Antinium, Ksmvr. Especially adventurers. We\u2014and I am using the term generally here\u2014don\u2019t tend to get along with families of a more conservative lifestyle.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces sighed as he leaned back. He could get used to this. Ksmvr nodded a few times.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you wish to visit your family like Ceria, Pisces? I would like to return to the Free Hive someday, but I am excommunicated.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] opened his eyes and sat up in the water. He looked at Ksmvr and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve thought of it. Someday, perhaps. Returning home would be dangerous. But there is an allure to it. Still\u2014Terandria is quite a ways away.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you wish to. Then I shall come with you when that day arrives. Even if I must cross\u2026the ocean.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He shuddered. Pisces smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s far in the future, Ksmvr, even if I should decide to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll the more reason to plan ahead, Comrade Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell said, Friend Ksmvr!\u201d<\/p>\n On the other side, Ceria and Yvlon wondered what was making the other two laugh. Ceria turned to Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cThis really is fun. I\u2019m glad we came here, Yvlon. Despite family fighting and all.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded slowly. She was feeling better too. This was a good resting point. They hadn\u2019t had many of them; Erin\u2019s inn might count, but \u2018restful\u2019 and \u2018Erin Solstice\u2019 were a bit hard to reconcile as ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a few more days and we can leave without upsetting my parents. What comes after this? That dead village Pisces wants us to investigate?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria waved her skeletal hand in the air.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. We\u2019ll play it by ear. We\u2019re new Gold-ranks. We have to make a name for ourselves! Let\u2019s just relax. Then we\u2019ll aim for Named Rank.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon had to laugh. They\u2019d been Silver-ranks for years<\/em> and Gold-rank had been an all-consuming passion for them. Now? She relaxed.<\/p>\n \u201cOnwards and upwards, right, Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf winked at her friend. She frowned at the hot water; her aura was making it lukewarm. She concentrated\u2014and the bubbling resumed. Ceria submerged herself up to her neck.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re adventurers<\/em>. Let\u2019s go kill something. Right after we do a few more traditional rituals. Is a massage traditional?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all. Want me to try?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon, eyes still closed, flexed one of her metal hands. The hand turned\u2026spiky. Little metal barbs ready to cut apart anything Yvlon touched. Ceria eyed it.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Pass.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sun was shining. The sheep were making happy sounds in the pastures.<\/p>\n Fierre was dying.<\/p>\n Ryoka Griffin sat there, head in her hands, hair spilling down around her face. She looked down at the list of everything Fierre had done, from when she had left Reizmelt and gone with Ryoka to the Archmage\u2019s isle to now. Then she looked at her friend.<\/p>\n Fierre had stopped muttering and thrashing as the sun rose. The room was dark, devoid of sunlight obviously, with only a magical [Light] spell Ryoka had cast for illumination. Now, she just lay there.<\/p>\n But it wasn\u2019t sleep. Her breathing was growing weaker. Ryoka checked her pulse again.<\/p>\n \u201cToo warm.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all Colfa said. The Vampire mother sat there. She applied ice to Fierre\u2019s head, frozen with a spell. Trying to lower Fierre\u2019s temperature to what should be cold skin for a Vampire. She wiped sweat from Fierre\u2019s brow.<\/p>\n Ryoka\u2019s friend looked so\u2026Human as she lay there. Her eyes were closed, and her hands had been neatly folded. Ryoka wished Colfa hadn\u2019t done that. It seemed like defeat.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2014what have I missed?\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa glanced at Ryoka. The young woman ran down the list. Colfa reapplied the ice, tried to give Fierre some water.<\/p>\n The Vampire girl had taken some of the sheep\u2019s blood that Fierre\u2019s family lived on, some water\u2014but she was sick, throwing up\u2014and none of the tinctures Colfa had tried to give her daughter had any effect.<\/p>\n Whatever was attacking Fierre\u2014it was getting worse. Now, Ryoka heard Fierre breathing weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cSay it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka read dully.<\/p>\n \u201cReizmelt. Djinni\u2019s carriage. Ate magical food and drink with me. Panacea. Struck by sunlight; exposed to garlic.<\/em> Would any of that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt spoke up. The farmer sat there, in his dark clothing, head bowed. Not asleep, but unmoving. Thinking.<\/p>\n \u201cDid she eat the garlic?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. She had a reaction to it\u2014but it was thrown out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen it wouldn\u2019t affect her. Garlic only causes suffering. I\u2019ve never heard of a Vampire dying of it. Bamer\u2019s stories never mentioned it. Physical sickness, yes. Not this.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka made another note on the list.<\/p>\n \u201cSunlight?\u201d<\/p>\n She knew the answer even as Colfa looked at her. The woman had even tested it.<\/p>\n \u201cSunlight burns us. If Fierre was\u2026cured\u2026it would have set her ablaze within moments, as you said. But as soon as we return to shadows we begin to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n No point in asking again and again. Ryoka ran down the list.<\/p>\n \u201cShe passed over the ocean\u2026she was really seasick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing to do with her heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n Let\u2019s see.<\/em> Spells, fighting across the isle\u2026nothing out of the ordinary so far. Ryoka bit her lip. Her mind was\u2026fogged. She hadn\u2019t slept since yesterday, before dawn. But she had to focus. Figure it out. She found the next suspicious entry on her list.<\/p>\n \u201cMirrors in the Archmage\u2019s mansion? Fighting Golems? The\u2014the air that put me to sleep? [Insanity] spells?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing like that would do this. Perhaps whatever put you to sleep\u2014but I cannot believe it would have lingered in her body and only affected her now.\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa shook her head. Fierre made a sound and all three started. Ryoka saw Colfa touch her daughter\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s getting warmer. What. Else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cImprisonment. Collecting artifacts, leaving the mansion. Meeting the Archmage. Eating some food\u2014my rations and carrots and bad tea.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt opened his eyes as Ryoka paused.<\/p>\n \u201cFierre used to eat raw meat. Bloody. I know a Vampire who ate foul, rotten flesh and never suffered for it. Nothing like that could harm her.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka tapped at her lips.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter that we left\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She felt like she was missing something. But\u2014it had been an entire day\u2019s journey back to Reizmelt so whatever had happened still had taken a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen she returned here\u2014Fierre told you what had happened. Tell me if I\u2019m missing anything. She ate in the dining room. Anything unusual?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFluffle\u2019s blood. Two days old. We all had it, though.\u201d<\/p>\n The sheep? Ryoka blinked, but that was why the Lischelle-Drakle family raised their animals. The perfect cover, and apparently the animals didn\u2019t mind the bleeding much. Ryoka bit her lip.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe had some wine. Fierre was thirsty\u2014the magical food didn\u2019t fill her up, so she had wine and water. Then she took a bath to wash the grime of the road away. She went out with the animals\u2014fought Rivel\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid he injure her?\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cShe threw him across the field. That was when we started to believe. Bamer had us all listening to stories. Colfa was making food for lunch\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFood?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlood sausage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. And then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFierre went back to her room, feeling unwell. She lay down\u2014and that\u2019s when she began feeling sick. We thought it was exhaustion so we gave her a stamina potion. Then\u2014a tiny bit of healing potion. But it neither made her better or worse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf it was an infection\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t get infections!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Colfa hissed<\/em> at Ryoka, baring her teeth. Ryoka flinched. She looked at the woman\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cBut your rash\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not from an injury. It\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The woman trailed off. She looked at Himilt and he spoke. It was the same grim conclusion that Bamer had already come to, that Fierre\u2019s parents believed to be the root of the cause.<\/p>\n \u201cThe malady.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka lowered the notepad. She thought there was something\u2026something she had forgotten. But she needed to know.<\/p>\n \u201cLook. We tested the wine. Rivel\u2019s dead drunk. We tried the blood\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Bamer had done that. He was full, but completely fine. And everything else couldn\u2019t be tested, except through Ryoka and Salamani who had done exactly what Fierre had in the Unmarked Carriage. Ryoka clenched one hand.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about the\u2014the curse afflicting Vampires, please.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt and Colfa looked at each other slowly. Colfa rose.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to see to the\u2026guests. Himilt, tell Ryoka. If Fierre becomes worse\u2014tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n A look flashed between them, so fast Ryoka didn\u2019t understand. But she felt it.<\/p>\n Colfa left the room, to inquire after the only other non-Vampires here. The Silver Swords. They had come back empty-handed with Salamani, and were now dozing. Himilt walked over and sat at Fierre\u2019s bedside.<\/p>\n Ryoka approached Fierre from the other side. She reached out for her friend, felt at her head. Fierre was now warmer than the average Human should be. For a Vampire that was a fever of\u2026Ryoka felt her stomach twisting.<\/p>\n She wasn\u2019t going to die. You didn\u2019t die after being cured! Not on a day like this. Ryoka was going to find the solution. She was going to\u2026<\/p>\n Why hadn\u2019t she found it yet? Ryoka fumbled for a stamina potion, gulped it down. But it could only give her energy, not solve her lack of sleep, her panicking mind.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the malady, Himilt?\u201d<\/p>\n The father sat there, head bowed. His eyes flickered up to Ryoka and down to his daughter. When he replied, it was in a low voice.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are Vampire secrets, Ryoka Griffin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The eyes moved upwards. Ryoka felt a shock<\/em> run through her. Colfa had eyes that could mesmerize. Himilt\u2019s held her for a moment, with nothing but force of will.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Fierre, I will tell you all our secrets. But what happens next, Ryoka Griffin\u2014for good or ill\u2014will never leave this land. You have brought one of House Byres here. One of our greatest enemies. I am warning you only once. We may resort to\u2014desperation\u2014for Fierre. If he uncovers our secret, he and his entire team will never leave. You will need to keep him away.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka gulped. The idea of a farmer killing an entire Gold-rank team and perhaps Salamani as well was ludicrous. Himilt though\u2026four Vampires?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll do what it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n Himilt only nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beginning, then. Bamer could tell you more, but he likes to exaggerate. I know the story my mother and father told me. Once, we were Vampires. The same kind you seem to know about. Powerful, varied\u2014with the ability to change forms, cast magic, command lesser beings. It was said the greatest of us feared only dragonfire and could even stand and defy the sun.\u201d<\/p>\n The City Runner felt a tingle run across her skin, even now. It was like listening to Teriarch speak of his past. Himilt nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were legion. But like so many empires, we grew overconfident. Our enemies fought us\u2014and we waged a long war against them. We won and lost\u2014that\u2019s not the point. The true ending was when the sickness, the malady, the curse or whatever it was began.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached for his side, uncorked a flask of water and drank. Just water; not blood. Vampires were not undead<\/em>. Just biological beings with magic, on a different setting than Humans. They wouldn\u2019t be able to fall sick otherwise. Ryoka wondered\u2026was it an autoimmune disease, like the one she knew from Earth? She glanced at Himilt\u2019s neck. He nodded, touching it.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the symptoms. Colfa has a rash\u2014she became a Vampire late in life. She might outlive us all. Bamer, Rivel, Fierre\u2014they were all born with the signs. Back to the beginning. We lost many powers in the first generations when the sickness became noticeable. We fell ill\u2014and we do not succumb to poison or disease. But we fell ill. Our strength waned, as did the weaknesses of our bodies. Many fell ill at once and died raving of the pain of whatever ailed us. Those who survived\u2014were afflicted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd no cure? Not even one?\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not. Everything was attempted. And before you ask\u2014yes. Everything. We did not go into hiding right away. The first Vampires so cursed drank the blood of countless thousands but it availed them little. They turned to magic, alchemy\u2014nothing worked. In six generations\u2014we no longer derived the power<\/em> from the blood of Izril\u2019s mortals. Within eight generations, the affliction stabilized. We live short lives, but we can at least stand under the sun or touch silver.\u201d<\/p>\n Decipher what it meant. The root of what he was saying was that whatever it was was\u2026hereditary? A disease so powerful that it ate away at Vampires? Yes\u2026it did match a disease. But Ryoka wasn\u2019t certain.<\/p>\n Teriarch was the clue. He had hinted that his panacea would cure Fierre\u2014but not the root<\/em> of the problem. If she could be reinfected\u2014and why was she worse?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat about my panacea? I have to believe there was at least