Jak couldn't sleep. Now that everything at Whitethorn had been settled, he was consumed by the girl who robbed him. He ingrained every memory of her into his head. Her face, her silhouette, her accent. Every item in his pack, even her brand of lies. She was practiced at using her small defenseless appearance, and Jak was willing to bet he wasn't the only one looking for her. The underbelly of Dhalvnais, capital of Unays was easy to maneuver and his chances of finding her were good. They say Unays runs on two things, gossip and coin. Jak had both, and was ready to use it to the best of his ability.

Eventually he gave up on rest, and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. It was the names of Hughes's household. The missing journal still ate at him, but he wondered if it ate at Anders more.

"Maybe I should let him see this." Jak mumbled. After all, he could be in Dhalvnais months chasing down his thief, if she was there at all. Anders might just want to pursue this first.

He shoved his boots on his feet and took his pack with him. He still had to wear his eye patch, but he was finally getting used to it. He hated how it made him look, but the sight of all the magic in town turned his belly. It was still early, but Anders was not likely to sleep in today of all days. Jak took an apple from a cart on the corner on his way down the main road. The town was still lively with visitors and every inn yard he passed was a bustle of activity with travelers packing to get an early start on the road.

Jak left town and walked lazily towards Whitethorn. He had been afforded a lot of perks in his association with Harlow, and today was probably the last day he could make use of his free access to the keep. The usual morning watch nodded him in.

"Here to see Magister ga Harleurngin?" The gangly young watchman asked.

"Here on business with Anders Black." Jak replied.

"You and everyone else in Selstad." The other guard grumbled.

"Is that right?" Jak grinned. He saw it in every country when the tests happen. Scholars, nobles, and the ruling classes clamored over the most powerful and knowledgeable mages. Anders would be no different, and if Jak had to guess, his most desperate recruiters would be the army. With the destructive capability of lightning, and the militant nature of Selstad, the one to recruit the country's youngest black mage would be sure to get a promotion.

Jak climbed the stairs grinning. He heard the commotion before he rounded the last corner.

"This is the last time I'm going to tell you people to leave me alone!" Anders's fury was evident on his face, and everyone in the hall around his door backed up a step when the mage's anger crackled down his body in sparks.

"Have you no sense of patriotism?" A gruff looking soldier demanded.

"The pay at my master's estates would be beyond anything you've seen before!" A young man promised.

"The royal university would offer you a grand workroom, your own staff!" A woman in robes insisted.

Anders spotted Jak and ducked into his room for a moment, slinging a bag over his shoulder. Jak laughed down the hall, holding his stomach while the recruiters glared at him.

"Let me through." Anders growled. He pushed through the people around his room and towards Jak. The mob followed him offering bribes and promising important work.

"You lot are courting the wrong mage." Jak called as Anders passed him into the stairwell. "This one's headed out of Selstad and likely not looking back."

"Did you need something?" Anders grumbled. Jak followed him, but so did the crowd.

"Aye, got something that might be of interest but we shouldn't talk about it here." Jak wiped the tears of laughter from under his eye patch.

"Let's go then. These loons can't follow me across the border so easily." Anders huffed and they took off quickly down the stairs. Some of the younger followers kept up until the front gate.

"Hello, I'm Anders Black and I wish to leave. This is my first trip out, how does this work?" Anders bluntly approached the watch by the gates.

"We need to inspect your bag." Said the younger one.

"That's fine, here it is." Anders handed it over. He had little in there, and the inspection didn't take long.

"Good? Alright then. Goodbye Whitethorn, I can't say I'll miss you but good luck all the same." Anders stomped through the courtyard. If Jak had to guess, his heart was pounding from the attention and the exhilaration of leaving. He laughed and followed Anders out.

"You must listen to reason, what do you plan to do roam the world a penniless vagabond?" Some of the recruiters caught up with them.

"Maybe, but that's my business." He growled.

"I can offer fame! More gold than you can spend!" A winded old woman was trying to keep up.

"No need for either." Anders answered.

"Together we could revolutionize how magic is stored! Think of the betterment of magic for all!" A man in robes called.

"Here's my contribution." Anders pulled the small book he had compiled of all his knowledge on magic storage and tossed it over his shoulder. The man fell trying to catch it.

"Ye don't need it anymore?" Jak asked quietly as they left the courtyard.

"No, I could make this device in my sleep by now. And I have no use for the knowledge of what gems don't work with my magic. Besides, I could feel that on sight if I need to." Anders answered.

"What of your country?" The soldier had caught up with him.

"ENOUGH!" Anders roared, eyes blazing. The mark on his neck glowed darkly and power crackled down his arms. "Take your offers to mages who want them and leave me be!"

"But Anders-" One started.

"NO!" He raged. "NO BUT ANDERS. I AM DONE WITH YOU!" He raised an arm and a huge burst of power shot towards the keep. Above the heavy iron gate Anders forced a stream of power to slowly blacken and carve the stone. The recruiters cowered on the stone below. When Anders had finished a stark black A was carved on the front of the keep for the world to see.

"This is my temper, this is my annoyance. I will not work with anyone, not one of you. Had my country treated me better than a prisoner I may have more love for it. As it stands you only want me when I'm useful to you. Go find another mage to grovel before, and forget I was ever here." He turned and left, not one recruiter followed.

"No worries of the repercussions of assaulting a keep of Selstad?" Jak grinned.

"None." Anders growled. "Where are you headed? I could use a guide out of this wretched place."

"I can take you to the boarder." Jak laughed. "You're useful enough for keeping bothersome people away at least."

"The first thing I want to do is get out of these clothes." Anders tugged at his grey tunic and breaches.

"Can't blame you there, what do you like to wear?" Jak asked.

"No idea." Anders said. "By the way, what did you want to tell me?"

"Oh, that. I have a list of Hughes's old household. Don't know if you wanted to chase down Ghilda's original book or not."

"Oh." Anders said quietly. "I might, actually. But I need out of the country first. I need to taste some fresh air. See that mages aren't prisoners everywhere. Harlow said as much. Actually, I didn't get to say goodbye to Harlow."

"You can write him." Jak offered. "You are free to hire a carrier; in fact we can do it when we stop tonight. We're going through a reasonable sized village."

"Yes, I'd like that." Anders said. The pair were quiet for a long time, Anders took in the air and the road. Even the trees were a wonder. Everything he took for granted before being locked in Whitethorn was now at his fingertips once more.

"So you are going to Unays?" Anders asked.

"Yes I am." Jak said firmly. "And I won't mix you up in my business. You have the chance at honest trade, and you are far too conspicuous to be of use to me."

"I didn't say I needed to take up thieving, I was just thinking on going to see Dhalvnais. We could travel together."

"First of all," Jak said aghast. "I am no thief. I acquire rare and valuable items for the betterment of my fellow man."

Anders snorted.

"And secondly, I am willing to take you as far as the city gates, but once in Dhalvnais I hope you find someone else to torment."

"Now how could I ever replace you?" Anders grinned. "Won't you miss me?"

"Since I've met you not even two moons ago," Jak muttered. "You have scarred my arm, dragged me into a mess with a necromancer, gotten me robbed on the way to Raastad, and I have to wear an eye patch!"

"I don't think most of those things were my fault." Anders said.

"They were, and you can settle your tab by letting me abuse your new status for better inn rooms and free food all the way there." Jak said indignantly.

"Are you serious?" Anders sighed.

"I swear on my coin purse." Jak said. "Do we have a deal?"

"Deal." Anders grinned and they shook on it. Down the road they went, the sun high, their packs light, and the road laid out ahead.