AS NERIS SPOKE those jolting words, those portent auspices became the explosive catalyst of all the torments of Aarius Grail.

His ears began to ring and his body became rigid. He groaned low, almost a growl, turning stiffly he tried to flee from the gathering pressure all around him but was only able to take a few steps before his knees buckled and he fell forward clutching the massive arm rests of the great wooden throne.

A supernatural force full of sparking fire began to swirl at his unclad feet and he high stepped trying to evade the fearful spiraling light form, thinking Medgar had somehow regained his powers and come to claim his soul but the growing nimbus encircled him creating rings of static, sparkling energy, pulsating as it whirled around Aarius traveling up his torso and with a burst of glowing power encapsulated his entire body, flowing as if it were alive, winding around and around, faster and faster until Aarius was lifted from his feet to float inches from where he had once stood.

A strangled bellow escaped his lips and echoed throughout the guildhall of Riagon Nor causing everyone present to sink to their knees in reverent awe.

The fiery aura brightened and filled the cavernous chamber seeming to light the frail young man on fire and Neris gasped at the sight.

Aarius could not struggle against the force of the radiance though it burned into his bones and ravaged him all the way up to his head where it settled in his forehead along the crudely written tattoos causing them to glow like the remaining embers of a red hot fire.

He screamed in agony of the pain and sudden memories flooded his psyche, flashing like images in some horrific dream that came to haunt as one slept in the night.

An infant screaming. A decrepit old man. The terrible sound of a woman's heartbreaking wails. Cracks of thunder.
A child playing in the dirt. The woman's face smiling. His mother. Being carried in her arms as she ran for her life. No where to hide. Surrounded by strange warriors of evil and magic as they wrenched him from her arms. Her desperate cries as he was brutally shoved into a wooden cage on wheels and the deafening silence of her death as the sorcerers cut her throat to silence her screams.

Aarius wailed with long suppressed gutteral anger and sparks flew from his hands, shooting out like shards of raging fire and suddenly he was freed from his prison of light.

It left him, soaring into the vaulted ceiling of the chamber like a bright crown of pure light where it exploded, sending long jagged fingers of lightening each one finding a heraldic podium and infusing them with a surge of orenda glory and branding a distinct symbol upon each sword and in a furious rush of wind it was gone and Aarius lay on the floor of the platform drenched in sweat and passed out with exhaustion.

The men of Riagon Nor slowly stood up looking around as they gathered their wits. In wonder they made their way to their swords touching them reverently and looking at each other in undisguised amazement. With their swords they turned to look upon Aarius as Neris helped him to his feet.

With shouts of sheer valor they raised their swords to the mysterious stranger known as Aarius Grail, chanting as he stood by Neris shaking and buzzy headed.

"Aarius of the Grail! Aarius of the Grail!"

Neris leaned close to Aarius to whisper in his ear. "They shall sing songs about you in days to come, of this I am certain."

Aarius merely looked at Neris in stunned silence, but they were interrupted by Riagon who now stood with them holding up his hand to quiet his men.

"Magne has just informed me that Terthil crosses into Blade Shield at the now. I want you to take Aarius to the bath houses below, find two wenches to assist him and have the kitchen arrange him a meal. After this take him to my private quarters and wait for me there. And take the wall passage. Make haste now, as I must confront Terthil outside the moat."

At the mention of Terthil, the runic tattoos across Aarius' forehead glowed bright yellow much to Neris' open astonishment.

Riagon was taken aback by it as well but suddenly Aarius spoke giving neither of them a chance to peruse it.

"That man cannot be trusted. This was the reason Kitra helped me to escape. He wants to force me to enter Medgar's lair and kill him. I will not be part of his contrivance and neither will Kitra! She was coming here for me but never made it. Perhaps Terthil caught her? I will also go with Riagon and his men and ask Terthil myself!" Aarius stated.

Neris did not hide his great surprise at this Aarius' new found voice. Riagon smiled and his brows rose in admiration.

"Indeed Aarius you shall have your say. As for this Kitra, I can assure you she is safe. Hidden here, in the Blade Shield."

Aarius suddenly smiled. "She is here?" he asked, his eyes wide with incredulity.

"She is of a fact truly here," Riagon answered.

"Mores the better. I will have words with this Terthil now and on my terms," Aarius replied with finality. "I want him to know he cannot, and will not, use me to further his own quick mission to death."

Riagon looked at Neris who simply shrugged. "Let him have his own say," Neris agreed, "by all means. Baths and food can wait."

"Come Aarius. Let us go see this caitiff."

Riagon's men cheered and sheathed their swords as Riagon stepped from the platform with Aarius behind him. Riagon strode purposely to the door where Magne waited. "Go down, Magne, and fetch that chippie from the don-jon. Bring her to me on the field."

"Aye, Master."

Neris followed Riagon and Aarius, stopping briefly to procure a heavy cloak from a dark alcove which he draped over Aarius who, he noted was barely dressed and barefoot.

"Wear this. It will help protect you."

Aarius pulled the cloak around his shoulders and Neris fastened it at the neck like a doting father and they hurried to catch up to Riagon and his men.

Neris could barely suppress his growing imagination where this Aarius was concerned.

His thoughts raced as he made his way along behind the group. They entered the the great meeting hall where he had first seen the boy, down the expansive stairway and waited at the massive doors for the Honor Pledges to pull them open.

As Neris stood waiting his mind lingered on the ancient folklore of the Daturuu, namely Ymoso.

How many times had the Oracle told Neris a day would come when the Stone-Cipher would return. On that day he had said, the one chosen would receive a transfer of power, and the wisdom of Horeg written in the runes would be summoned through a catalytic event. But Ymoso had also revealed another thing. A new age would be ushered in. An age unlike the last several hundred years.

Had Neris just witnessed this very event? Every indication pointed to the obvious. How else could one explain the transformation of this threadbare young man to one willing to face off a murderous clout like Terthil.

If Aarius was to be believed, he had spent his entire life in the darkness of captivity, without mother or father and his prior demeanor certainly showed he had received no proper education. Unlike Fynna, who had a formal upbringing according to her Sage Master heritage this Aarius had nothing.

Neris realized he had spoiled the girl.

Then before Neris could ponder any other fancy notions the doors were opened and Riagon stepped out into the baily and headed for the gates of Blade Shield joined by the Oath Guard troops of Thig Delvern and Aug Mithler.

Neris' imaginings would have to wait.