Dedicated to RubyScars. ^^ She has her own story going on called Fangs and Forgiveness that you guys may like if you're into vampires with a fantasy twist. 

Drawing: Reth doing the thing with the clothes. A little extra for taking so long to update...assuming you're a reader that...appreciates Reth in THAT way. 

19.

Ayodite's Lure

He had allowed his ser to fall into danger. Reth's failure burned in the back of his throat, but he didn't allow it to hinder him. He stared at the man before him, at the man who created him.

His clothes were modest for being the king's wizard. The long, brown robe appeared like a blanket with crude cuts for his decorated arms to go through. Though he wasn't as aged as some humans Reth had seen, Vulharis appeared tired and drained like he could collapse at any moment.

But he was powerful.

Reth could feel the magick radiate from the man's bones. Usually magick was only felt when used, but Reth could sense it coming off from the wizard in waves. Vulharis' eyes especially were an indicator of his power. Each iris was divided in half horizontally by two different colors: the top was golden and the bottom a light blue.

"Reth. I had named you Reth," Vulharis said. His short beard was a shade darker than his blackened hair and didn't sport any of the white streaks found around his ears.

The Rhokin's eyes narrowed as he felt the surprise of Vulharis knowing his name. 

The wizard sighed, the heave shaking his body as he walked past Reth and Sianna and up to the boy on the bed. "I remember all I create," he said though he kept his strange eyes on the child. 

Sianna sidestepped past Reth. Even though she knew it would anger her, he caught her arm to stop her from walking to the wizard. She turned to him, anger in her eyes and pulled her arm out of his grip. 

"What's going on? Who is that kid?" Sianna asked as she came up to Vulharis.

He shook his head. "Perhaps it'd be best if your friends joined us. It would make everything easier."

The wizard's fingers twisted through his rings like pink worms wiggling through a pile of jewels. Each touched stone gave a soft glow as if they were small coals. The light left the jewels and floated in the air. Reth felt the pull of magick as he saw the lights grow and take on the general form of a four humans.

Some shrank while others continuing growing. Faces molded onto heads, fingers grew on hands, and other details chiseled onto the bodies of light. When the glow faded, Reth saw Aldermeck, Deneck, Iari, and Kota standing before him.

They appeared as if caught mid-conversation. Aldermeck held her usual scowl Reth noticed she used when displeased with something. Kota was standing before her pointing at Iari while Deneck stood by the boy, a hand on his shoulder like he was whispering something to him.

Their demeanors simultaneously tensed as their surprised faces took in the environment around them. Iari seemed the first to recover, but it was Kota who spoke first. It sounded like a hissed whistle. Though Reth didn't understand what she had said, he recognized it as the Nayichi language.

"Sianna?" Aldermeck said.

Everyone else turned around and followed her gaze to Sianna and Reth, noticing the wizard next to them.

"What is happening here? Who are you?" Aldermeck added, locking sights with Vulharis' strange eyes.

"Deneck," Vulharis said ignoring her questions, "I made you many years back. It is good to see you still alive." He gave a small smile. "So to speak."

The dark haired silver eye gave him an odd look. "Well I do not remember you, ser."

"Of course not. I would be alarmed if you did."

"What is tha'?" Iari's voice was quiet, but the horror in it silenced the room as he, Kota, Aldermeck, and Deneck stared at the boy suspended over the bed behind Reth and Sianna.

Vulharis placed a hand up in the air. "Now. There is no time for your questions, especially because none of you shall remember this." He gripped one of the several charms around his wrist, gray mist emitting from it. A black light accompanied the haze, swirling around it like oil on water. It separated into six tendrils that shot across the air.

"No!" Iari jumped in front of Vulharis and cupped the wizard's misting hand within both of his. Rays of yellow filtered out of Iari's fingers, snuffing out the dark coils that were heading towards everyone's heads.

Reth's eyes widened.

"What?" Sianna asked him, noticing his reaction.

"Iari is not using a channeler, ser. It's impossible for a user to not have one."

"I know users use channelers to route their magick into the world, but Iari did have one, didn't he? When he'd use his magick, he would only use one hand while the other gripped his channeler. I saw it."

Reth shook his head. "We never actually saw a channeler object. He would simply hide his hand to hide the fact he didn't have one because he apparently doesn't need one."

Sianna scowled. "That boy keeps giving me reasons to distrust him."

Vulharis and Iari stood like a pair of statues until the wizard pulled his hand away.

"Without a channeler I see. Quite impressible and quite unheard of," Vulharis said.

Iari looked at the ground as if the words shamed him.

"What exactly did you all come here looking for?"

"They came here looking for me," Aldermeck said. "They all did. This was my fault. I had wandered away from the festival."

"You lie," Vulharis said, a finger twisted around a glowing ring.

"The Eye of Artemis. We came looking for it," Kota said.

Reth noticed she had been inching closer to Vulharis since she arrived in the room and now she was standing closer to him than Iari.

"How would a tribeless Nayichi know of such an artifact?" Vulharis asked.

"Because I have need of it," she answered.

"It's a shame you came here. I don't have it."

A shine appeared in her eyes that didn't sit well with Reth. "You must have it. How else are you keeping this child alive?" she asked and pointed at the boy on the bed.

Vulharis glanced at Iari. "You are helping her, no?"

He nodded.

The wizard scrutinized him with his multicolored eyes and Reth thought he saw Vulharis seem younger for a moment. "How has your power gone undetected, I wonder," the wizard said.

Reth sensed Sianna's growing agitation as she fidgeted next to him. He could tell she did not know what was going on and it was frustrating her. He figured the only thing keeping her silent was the fact that a powerful wizard was in the room with her.

"He's telling the truth," Iari said, "about not having the eye."

Reth saw Sianna stir by his side, probably further agitated by the fact that Iari never mentioned he was able to detect liars among them.

"Ser," he whispered to her, "I don't think it's wise—"

"I know, but I don't like not knowing what's going on." Her own whisper was harsh.

"I know, ser."

"Do you know where we can find the eye?" Kota asked Vulharis.

He fidgeted with his rings, glancing at Iari. "Yes, but if I tell you, you must bring it here. To me."

She crossed her arms. "Why?"

Vulharis appeared to age a decade. "It's how I can finally put an end to the Magus threat."

Aldermeck stepped up to the wizard. Despite her long dress hiding her feet, there was dominance and anger in her strides. Sianna also approached him from the opposite side but wasn't as defined with her steps. Despite the situation, Reth felt a sense of amusement in seeing his ser struggling to walk in her skirts. It was a sight that disengaged her usual gritty demeanor.

"You knew how to stop the Magus this whole time?" Sianna said, appearing ready to punch him.

"Why?" Aldermeck's word was as hard as her stare.

Vulharis turned to the floating boy. "To understand that, I have to tell you about him."

Before anyone else could speak, Vulharis vanished from his spot, appearing next to the bed. His eyes softened when he looked at the sleeping child. "Over thirty years ago, a son was born to King Oric, Prince Folat Percevate. Minutes after the boy's birth, when the king and queen were alone with their son, a necromancer appeared.

"He grabbed the boy and cursed him. His skin turned pale as death and his veins appeared to pump ink instead of blood. On the prince's first name day, he would die unless the Dracarr Kingdom was given to the necromancer to rule. The necromancer said he would return the night before the prince's name day for the king's decision. Then, the necromancer disappeared and when he did, the prince fell into a sleep–like trance.

"The heir was in danger, but with him looking like a deathly fiend, the king knew he could not show him to the people. He also could not risk having the truth spreading to other kingdoms. He declared his son dead. Only the king, the queen, and a few trusted advisors knew about Prince Folat's true fate.

"Through the whispers of rogues and darkness was how I heard about the prince and his curse, but I did not believe it at first. Necromancy is powerful magick and hard to obtain, but eventually I sailed across the Nilt Sea to Dracarr."

"You're not from here?" Iari asked.

Vulharis face him. "No, I am from Jorster."

"Jorster? The kingdom we are uniting with under the princess's marriage?" Aldermeck scowled.

He smiled. "I was merely born there. My travels have given me many homes. My alliances are to serve and serve I have been doing here for the past three decades, keeping Prince Folat alive on this bed."

Sianna crossed her arms. "That boy there can't be the prince. He looks no more than ten years old."

"My magick was able to lift the prince's horrid physical appearance, but I was unable to break his curse. I am merely keeping it at bay. He is the only link I have to finding the necromancer. At finding a way to restore Prince Folat's life, so I have been slowing his aging in hopes of making progress of tracking down the necromancer through his own magickal curse.

"Not only for that, though. I wish to stop this fiend as well or at least seal his power. I know he is out there. He did not come back on the prince's first name day. I suspect because by then I was here, but I have seen enough to know that he must be stopped entirely. His power, the power to command death, is unheard of for a human to wield. It is the power of the gods, and for a human to possess it means it has been stolen."

"Stolen," Kota said. "Yes, it has."

Vulharis nodded. "After decades of researching, all I know about this necromancer is his name, Gedulus. You see, the Magus are the protectors of this magick. They keep it away from human hands, but somehow Gedulus was able to obtain it and when he did, he released them. The Magus now seek him in order to return the forbidden art back into its seal. They roam the land, drawn to anything magickal in hopes of it being the necromancer they seek."

"Anything magickal?" Deneck spoke since entering the room. He shared Aldermeck's grave expression. In fact, Reth noticed how everyone's face seemed carved from stone, his ser's especially. He could hear her heavy thoughts racing around the back of her narrowed eyes.

"It's a cycle I did not know I started when I created the Rhokin." Vulharis sighed. "Originally, Rhokin were to only be the living vessels for the prince. They were created with artificial life to give artificial life. Each string you see attached to him is the life of a Rhokin."

"A Rhokin?" Deneck asked.

Reth could see the surprise on his face. He felt the same way but unlike his silver eye friend, Reth kept his mask of neutrality.

Iari shook his head. "Why are there so many strings?"

Vulharis took a deep breath like all this talking was exhausting. "As I said, Rhokin have artificial life. Many are needed to simulate an original, if you wish to call it as so. With each passing year, I needed to create more Rhokin and add more strings.

"When I first made the Rhokin, there were only a few.  They were asleep, sealed below the castle, their sole purpose as vessels to the prince. That was when the Magus kept attacking, drawn by the Rhokin's magickal energy. Once I found out why, I told King Oric. He ordered the Rhokin to be spread far out into the kingdom to drawn the Magus away from the castle.

"But when the Magus met the Rhokin...the mistake was engaging them. I'm not sure what happened. I think the Rhokin were simply defending themselves, crude as I made their thought back then.

"But it was the people of the kingdom that made this. They saw them slay these 'Magus monsters' and when more of them came, the people demanded the Rhokin to defend them. More Rhokin meant more Magus attacks which called for more Rhokin and thus it started all over."

"Why not kill Prince Folat?" Aldermeck interjected. "If it gets out that King Oric still has a son, an heir, there may be a revolt from the Jorster Kingdom. Killing him also eliminates the Rhokin which will greatly decrease the Magus threat. Perhaps it would be better to let the boy go, even if..." She looked at Deneck who gave a soft smile to her.

A sudden vigor overtook Vulharis' features and he seemed to grow taller. "No! As I said before, Prince Folat is the only link to Gedulus we have. The only chance on stopping him. That is why I need The Eye of Artemis. With it, I can trace Gedulus through the prince and confront him."

"And you know where the eye is?" Kota asked.

"Yes."

Tails of fire erupted in the room and incinerated the surrounding parchments and wooden tables. Reth bound to his ser's side as quickly as the mysterious fire had appeared. He turned to see Iari arms stretched out in front of him, flames flaring from his open palms that were pressed upon an invisible surface that kept him at bay. Vulharis stood behind the unseen bubble, a summoned shield protecting him and Prince Folat from the fire.  

Iari's face was as furious as the flames he commanded. "You knew all this an' didn't search for it? Sen' somebody? Anybody! My brother die' because of you!"

"Enough!" Vulharis brought his arms down and a swift burst of wind pushed Iari on his back and extinguished his fires. The leftover chill from the gale hung as tiny snowflakes fell from the air only to evaporate before they hit the ground.

"Every day I have to mix and give the prince the potion that keeps his curse at bay or he'll die! And not just anyone can step into the lands where The Eye of Artemis resides. A user of great power is needed to reach it, Iari, and you are clearly powerful enough to do it. You can open the gateway that leads to Ayodite," Vulharis said.

"Ayodite?" Kota said, her orange eyes wide.

The wizard ignored her and reached into his robe where he produced a necklace with a charm wrapped in leather strings. "You will need this, and you will also need help."

"Then we will go," Aldermeck said. "If what you say is true. Deneck, Kota, and myself will accompany him to wherever this Ayodite land may be."

"Not without me. I can not stay here after what I heard," Sianna said.

Aldermeck's eyes narrowed. "No, you stay here. There is no reason for you to go."

"Tiel is reason enough for me. And Neil and Meeka and everyone else in Jabel that died!"

"You have obligations here now, Leitnant Sianna Rayoss."

She frowned. "You are not my Leitnant anymore. I do not have to take orders from you."

"Sianna is right," Vulharis said and chuckled. "Well, at least I know one of your names for sure. Kota is the Nayichi, I'm assuming? Do you know my name? Vulharis."

Aldermeck's dwindling patience was evident on her face. "Meryl Aldermeck. Iari Osardel. Kota," she said, pointing to each person. "Now tell me why you are agreeing with Sianna."

"Because Ayodite does not exist in the land of humans. It is where all things magickal comes from. It is where I come from, and it is dangerous," Kota said as she helped Iari get to his feet.

"Yes. You will need all the help you can get, and an extra Rhokin will offer the best help. You should not worry about your absence here, Sianna. I will take care of that as well," Vulharis said.

"Then it is settled. When are we leaving?" Sianna said.

"Tonight. It's best if you leave while the festivities are distracting the Keep. Within the hour, I will send someone to get you. They will take you outside the city walls where horses will be waiting for you. You will head east to Penshaw where you will need to find passage to Fenris Island."

"Dracarr's southern isle?"

"It is not the island you are going to. It is during the trip's route that you will pass by Ayodite's gateway. That is why I gave you that necklace, Iari. It will notify you when you are nearing it. Your magick is going to open the path to Ayodite for you all to cross into. You'll feel what you have to do."

Iari clutched the charm he was given in his palm before placing it over his neck.

Reth gazed around the room, half of it charred under melting ice. There was something strange and disconcerting about everything Reth had heard and how quickly Vulharis had spilled it in such great detail.

"What you have said, Ser Vulharis, is almost beyond comprehensible. You have disclosed kingdom secrets to us. Why tell us all this, ser?" Reth asked him.

"Peace, my dear creation. I have been at this for far too long. The sooner you retrieve the eye, the better it will be for us all. Now, go, and may the grace of your goddess Nata bless you." Vulharis fingers touched his rings and a flash of light blinded them.

Reth felt like he was being lifted into the air by millions of tiny hands. When they set him back down, his sight returned and he saw he was, along with his ser, in their room within the Citadel bunkers.

"Well that answers my question of how he would know where to send our escorts. I don't like how he seems to know so much about us but can't even learn our names," Sianna said as she walked up to her trunk by the foot of the bed. She opened it and took out her Armadura armor and a fresh pair of clothes. "Help me get out of this dress, Reth."

"Yes, ser," he said.

He undid her corset, releasing the folds of fabric he had tucked around her waist. He pulled on the strings until the dress slipped past her hips and her bare back was revealed to him. Tiny scars dotted her shoulder blades, probably wounds from training or fights, but Reth found them familiar.

An image came to his mind of sweeping long, wavy locks of hair from the nape of a woman's neck to reveal the same marks. Reth caught his hand inches away from touching Sianna's skin before he realized what he was doing. He noticed Sianna's hair was still in her usual braid.

"Change into your uniform too, but wear a cloak over it," Sianna said, oblivious, as she put on the usual padded shirt she wore under her armor.

"Ser, you're going to travel in your Armadura?"

"Easier than carrying it."

"Yes, ser."

Reth stripped and changed into his own blue uniform. As he packed extra clothes and food into a linen cloth sack, his thoughts wandered back to Vulharis' words: More Rhokin meant more Magus attacks which called for more Rhokin and thus it started all over. Rhokin attracted Magus. He attracted Magus. Magus and death.

Reth remembered when he arrived in Jabel and the fascination he felt at seeing so many people. Their red, cold shocked faces with colorful eyes were a drastic change from the emotionless expressions of the silver eyes he had been surrounded by.

The little boy. Reth recalled first seeing him when he was eating with his ser. He had been fascinated by the child's bright green eyes, but now those eyes were petrified in a frozen tomb.

"Ser, I am sorry. It was probably my arrival that brought on the Magus to Jabel," he said.

Sianna finished tying the string around her packed bag before she answered. "None of us knew. I want to say it's not your fault, I really do, but it is. Whether it was your intention or not, Reth, it was your fault."

His eyebrows furrowed together as he stared at his packed things. "I am sorry."

She sighed and sat on her bed. "No. You weren't the one that attacked Jabel nor were you the one that killed its people. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean...it's just this wizard, Vulharis, and what he said. And Kota and Iari and even the Leitnant. It's all in my head.

"You heard what was said and you saw what Iari did too. Fire. He summoned fire and apparently he doesn't need a channeler to use his magick. It is raw. What else can he do? And The Eye of Artemis?" She stood up, a hand on her buckled sword. "I don't know what the fuck is going on and I don't like it. And what about the orange Magus?"

Reth was about to say something but a knock on the door kept his words in his throat. Sianna opened the door and a familiar Rhokin stepped into the room. She was dressed in a strapless yellow gown that sported a small train behind her, but the right side of her skirt was torn up to her thigh and the golden fabric was spattered with the familiar splotches of blood. A black bladed scythe was cradled by an arm entirely coated in red.

"Oh don't worry about this," the Rhokin said when she caught Sianna staring. "It's Magus blood but it looks human, huh?"

"Aleyda," Reth said remembering her name.

He had met her before outside the gates of Rorasul. She was one of the three of the Imperator's Rhokin. Reth remembered glimpsing her at the festival when her dress was not shredded and bloody. She must've been sent to stop an attack that had been spotted. How odd that such a high ranking Rhokin would be sent instead of someone like himself.

Aleyda folded her scythe's blade and held it like a staff as she looked around the room. "It's only you two? I was hoping to see that cute blond. Well"—her eyes fell on Reth—"the other cute blond."

"May we take our leave now, Ser Aleyda?" Sianna said.

"What? Oh yeah. Come on." The Rhokin slipped back outside the room.

Reth and Sianna followed as they made their way to Lessithar Citadel's gate that led to the outside of the city. With half of the Guard still at Princess Clera's engagement feast, the night around them was silent. The only sound was Aleyda's dance–like footsteps that kept the beat to a miscellaneous song she was humming. Reth made a note to ask his ser if she recognized Aleyda's tune. He noticed Sianna knew a lot of songs.

When they arrived at the gates, they passed by the guards without any hassle. Aleyda's humming turning into a bout of lala with random spewings of oh and so as they walked further into the night. After a few minutes, Reth saw the familiar shapes of horses and people in the distance. Waiting for them under a tree was Ser Aldermeck, Deneck, Kota, Iari, and another figure.

Reth realized it was another one of the Imperator's Rhokin. Venita.

She had been the one that was dressed the strangest out of the three, draped in heavy clothing. Even now she wore the same cumbersome dress but instead of the usual Rhokin blue, it was deep emerald. She carried the same vacant yet almost beautiful expression from before, but Reth couldn't feel there was something off about her at the moment.

It took Reth a few more seconds until he realized what it was; Venita wasn't casting a shadow. She caught Reth's eyes with her own and gave him a small smile. He nodded at her, wondering how it was possible she was using her magick—one Reth could hardly sense—to fight off a Magus thread she had been assigned to while also standing before them.  

"Pherah is still fighting, I see," Venita said to Aleyda.

"It's the cute one!" Aleyda said and dashed to Iari's side. She stopped, confusion overtaking her features. "You look younger. And your scars. Where did they go?"

Even through the darkness Reth saw Iari's blush.

"It's my magick," Iari mumbled.

"Magick? I don't sense—"

"Aleyda." Venita's tone was sharp.

She looked at Venita and back at Iari. Aleyda smiled. "Doesn't matter. You look cute either way. Thank the Saints Pherah isn't here. She probably wouldn't have let me even look at you."

Venita sighed. "We need to go now. I trust you all know where you're headed, correct?"

 "At least that much is clear, yes," Aldermeck said.

The brunette Rhokin dug under one of the many folds of her skirt and took out a fat pouch she gave to Aldermeck. "Take these. It should help you buy your passage."

"Come, Reth," Sianna said as she walked to one of the horses and began tying her satchel to the back of the saddle.

A light haired stallion caught his attention, but he noticed it was actually a gelding. In fact, all the horses were geldings. A small frown sat on his lips. The horses he and his ser had been using in the city had not been ones. Reth placed a hand on the horse's mane and felt like he could sense the tranquil indifference it had been reduced to.

It's okay. I still have a name for you. Dash. You seem the fastest of them all.

Once Venita and Aleyda left, they set off to Penshaw with hopes of arriving there midday. The quietness of the travel was heavy. Reth could sense everyone's racing thoughts and questions they all seemed too tired to ask, but even with the silence the trip felt quick and the harbor town of Penshaw came into view a few hours after the sun had risen in front of them. Penshaw's docks were smaller and more modest than Caister's, but there were still plenty of ships to choose from. One of them was bound to head towards Fenris Island.

Despite Kota's insistence to find an inn and sleep, Aldermeck separated them into groups to fan out into the docks. They were to meet at The Mermaid's Pearl, a seaside tavern, before sunset. Reth had been paired with Deneck who was still dressed as a Brother from The Unseeing. Aldermeck was also donned in her sister clothes. She felt they were too close to the Citadel that someone might recognize them.

"Have you ever been on a boat, Reth?" Deneck asked as they walked past a group of sailors unloading crates and boxes onto the docks.

Another man stood by the seafarers, hollering in a language Reth did not understand. A coal black ship was docked behind them. Bold, gold letters that looked like crisses were painted on the side of it. Beneath them in the Dracarrdian tongue Bertha's Breath was written. 

"No," Reth answered. "Have you?"

Deneck's face wrinkled with such disgust even the blindfold over his eyes could not hide it. "Yes, and it was horrible. Seasickness it's called."

A small chuckle escaped Reth. "Is it that terrible? For a moment I thought you had spotted a Magus."

"I rather fight twenty Magus than go through that again, but there are none here for me to fight."

Reth's smile disappeared.

"You have thought about what Vulharis said too," Deneck said, his own expression grave.

"Yes."

"You blame yourself."

"Yes."

"You should not."

Reth frowned. "But my ser—"

"Did Ser Rayoss blame you?" Deneck seemed surprised.

He recalled her confusing words. "I am not sure. It seemed as if she did but also didn't."

Deneck smiled. "That sounds more like her."

His words intrigued Reth. "How long have you known my ser?"

"Since she first arrived to Jabel about five years ago."

"Then you have five years' worth of knowledge about my ser."

Deneck smiled. "Don't be so sad, Reth. You will have far more than me soon enough."

His last statement struck an odd cord within Reth and he stared at his silver eye friend. He couldn't see past the blindfold, but Reth felt like Deneck was staring back at him too. 

"Brother! I call Brother!"

Reth and Deneck turned to the man that was yelling broken Dracarrdian at them. He was the same one they had seen before barking orders to the sailors next to the black ship. There was a scroll in his dark hand as he waved it before them.

"Brother and"—the man paused as if to collect his thoughts—"Rhokin! You need move. Block work." He pointed at the sailors that were giving the two Rhokin death stares as they passed by them.

Deneck bowed his head at the man. "We apologize. We had merely wished to ask you if you planned to make way to Fenris Island soon."

The man scowled. "Fenris Island? No. Bertha go back to Kroural." 

"That is too bad, then. We shall leave you back to your work. May Nata bless her grace on you."

"Nata keep grace. I take Jaozen gaze."

Deneck smiled. "The gaze of Jaozen empower you then."

The sailor returned the smile, teeth black as his eyes.

That had been the most promising of Reth and Deneck's search. They went to a dozen docks with the same question. Most of the ships were sailing back to their home shores and those that were going to Fenris Island were stopping there after their delivered shipment further up the northern island of Dracarr. Some of the foreign sailors had even refused to speak to them, offended by Deneck's presence as an Unseeing Brother.

"The only two ships going to Fenris Island don't plan on heading there until at least two months from now," Deneck said.

He and Reth were in The Mermaid's Pearl, reporting their findings to Aldermeck and Sianna. The two of them had similar luck in trying to find a boat.

"Fenris Island imports and exports most of Dracarr's spices...among other things. How are ships not sailing to it?" Sianna said.

"Most of the ships that do personally belong to House Fens. Where do you think the island's name came from?" Aldermeck said.

"I know where their money did."

"We foun' one!"

Iari's shouting was heard before his running figure could be seen. He ducked under a serving girl's tray and uttered an apology as he continued to Reth and the others.

"Kota an' I foun' a boat leaving tomorrow mornin'. She's at the dock, convincin' one o' the mates to save a spot for us," Iari said, his face red from his sprint.

"How much?" Aldermeck said.

"Fifty royals."

"Venita gave us about eighty. We should still have enough for food."

Iari frowned. "No. He said fifty royals for each passenger."

"Each? Is the captain mad?"

"I think they lost some o' their shipment an' are tryin' to make up for it," Iari said like it was his fault. 

"Deneck, how much were these other ships you and Reth saw asking?"

"Twenty royals for each passenger, ser," he answered.

"Isn't there some way you can sneak us in, Iari? Your magick seems to known no bounds. Perhaps you can summon wind for us as well to have speedy sails," Sianna said. Reth saw the wariness in her eyes.

He bowed his head. "No. I...the fire back there...it was an accident. I mean...I didn't know I could do that."

A man came up behind Iari and placed his hand on his shoulder. He was wearing Guard Armadura with a defining silver and purple coat of arms over his heart. "It took me long enough to find you. I didn't understand why a Brother and a sister would be with a Guard and her Rhokin. And with a user," he said.

"Lycin," Sianna said through her teeth.

Reth couldn't believe the hatred in Sianna's gaze could intensify the way it did when they landed on Lycin. It was another reason for him to distrust and dislike this man.

Lycin grinned. "Planning to go somewhere, Sianna? That's what I heard from the docks."

She kept quiet and focused on her drink.

"Ser Gabard, if I may ask, what are you doing here?" Reth said, irritated at how Lycin's eyes looked at his ser.

He shrugged and Reth scowled. He should have answered; Reth was his superior after all.

Lycin took a seat at the table, across from the quiet Aldermeck and the grinning Deneck. "I have never seen a Brother smile as much as you," Lycin said.

"Would you help the servants of Nata and spare some coin for our passage?" Aldermeck asked.

"Your voice." He looked between Aldermeck and Deneck whose smile grew as Lycin's faded.

"Two hundred and fifty royals, Lycin, and you will make Sianna quite grateful."

Sianna shot up from her chair and gaped at Aldermeck. "What are you doing?"

Lycin's usual grin spread on his lips. "Giving me the opportunity to make you quite grateful, Sianna."