The river was starting to run dry again. When he had first returned home after his dramatic rendezvous with the Guardians, he had seen a dramatic improvement across the dry grasslands: the river was flowing and farms that were once dried out from the war in the east, were growing crops again. But in the last year, the great dry was returning. It was all the people talked about, as though the very foam that trickled at the corner of their mouths was layered with the subject.

His assistant brought him out some cane tea as he sat on a large wicker chair, which rocked dutifully behind his bedroom on the top floor, and even though guards were posted throughout the town, he felt it was his unofficial duty to scan the horizon and play the watchful guardian.

"Still no rain. Just a trickle in the river."

He nodded solemnly. "I know."

"How's the tea?"

"Sweet enough for me."

"Will there be anything else?"

"Check for any news from below. Any reports from out west especially."

"Do you know something?"

"It's just a theory."

"Well don't keep me in suspense. Spill the wine then."

"When was the last time it rained?"

"Over a week ago."

"And before that?"

"The month before. Why? What's your point?"

"Well that's the thing. It's been a little dry lately, but not dry enough to warrant that level of current."

They heard a horse whinny in the distance. And it suddenly started galloping randomly towards their town. They continued to observe at the creature's bizarre, haphazard path and could only wonder what the rider was thinking. They saw the figure fall off the back of the horse and without spilling his tea, Gaius scurried down the stairs, with his assistant following closely behind. Some of the guests in the bar noticed as well and joined them as they all sprinted over to the horse and rider. Gaius pointed over to the horse, "Someone, grab its reins, secure it for this young fellow."

They looked closely and saw a young boy lying, gasping on the grasslands. The broken ridges of his cracked lips and heavy breathing betrayed a great thirst.

"This young man looks thirsty; someone give him some water." His bartender grabbed a leather skin filled with water and raised it the young man's lips.

"Not too much at once. He'll vomit it if you do. Pour it slowly."

They all looked nervously.

"This lad is very dehydrated. One can only guess how long he's been riding. Does anyone recognise him?"

They all shook their heads in unison. A lady by the name of Sionja, one of Gaius' main guards was able to raise him up, and with the help of another guard, start to lift him over towards the hotel. All he could gasp out of his throat was "Ple- Pleaasse help."

"Drink up first young man, have some food and rest. Then tell us what happened," said Gaius.

They all gathered around the bar. Most of the townspeople had congregated in the wake of this news. Gaius could be grateful that things had been so normal for so long, that for this to seem like a wayward day, was a good sign. Though none felt this as the main bartender raised a large bottle of spirits high. "No better time for a drink now. Half price if we feel a might nervous."

Gaius smiled. The man never missed an opportunity for commerce. His strategy worked well as soon people were having a drink, with Gaius glancing up the stairs occasionally to wait for progress. He certainly had his suspicions.

He speculated for a few hours with his assistant Rudae, before the young man was helped down the stairs.

"Where is my horse? Is she safe?"

The rest of the crowd turned in their seats and started to walk towards the stair well before Sionya sprayed at them, "He's just a drey. A kid. Do not crowd him!"

She propped him up at the table across from Gaius and sat down next to him.

"Your horse is being cared for in the stables. She was a little worried, but she's got plenty of eat and will be well cared for."

"Thankyou. But I need to go soon and get more help."

Gaius ushered for him to stay and for a large cup of water to be brought over.

"Please, sit. Help is coming. Just stay and tell us what in erto is going on?"

He looked exasperated, "well, well..."

"It's alright son. What's your name?"

"Artiere."

"Well, Artiere. My name is Gauis and this here's Sionya, and my assistant next to me is Rudae. Pleased to meet you. Now, where are you from exactly?"

Artiere paused for a moment while Gaius continued. "I asked, but no one here recognised you. So I'm guessing you're from a long way."

Artiere nodded before he gulped down the water. The adults at the table waited patiently for him to answer. He finally said, "Hopetown."

Gaius looked down at his drink, peering through it as though it were a crystal ball. A moment had passed before Sionya interrupted his concentration. "You know something, don't you?"

Gaius nodded quietly, before looking Artiere in the eyes. "Let me guess, they're mining again?"

The boy started to tear up as he nodded back.

Sionya and Rudae offered a hug which the boy gladly accepted. In between sobs, she asked, "But what exactly does this mean?"

Gaius necked back the remainder of his cup. "It's real name... the local name is Morser Vale, but they changed the name to Hope Town when they discovered some precious gem stones. Farmers changed to miners when they learned how valuable they were. The people who discovered them fenced off their lands and became very wealthy but paid the poor souls who dug them up almost nothing. Then one day a mine collapsed and killed a bunch of people. When the Guardians found out, they shut it down for good. But it sounds like they're back in business."

The boy continued to cry, and he buried his face further into Sonja's embrace. Rudae asked, "But how could you know that?"

Gaius explained as he gestured for more water for the boy, "My suspicions were provoked by the water levels in the river. I know it gets dry around here, but we haven't had enough of a dry spell for so little water to come through. I suspected that the only thing that could stem the river so much would be mining activity in the area and the river is so long, even a place as far away as Hope Town uses it and draws from it."

"But the sorceress is gone, or so I heard."

"Yes, and while that might be true, there must have been a power vacuum. I've tried to unite most of the communities around here, but obviously dark forces are still out there: west and beyond."

He allowed the young Artiere to let his grief out; Gaius already suspected the worst, before he questioned him again and gleaned some necessary facts before calling the whole town to order. They congregated inside the town hall, another building that had suffered under the Sorceress' terror regime but in the middle of much-needed restorations. Gaius gave the builders the rest of the afternoon off so he could call the town to order.

"People please, we are not quite out of this war. While the siege of Darctaria was a blow to our enemy, and losing the powerful enemy that was the Sorceress was beneficial to us all, we cannot afford to let our guard down, for the enemy is reuniting in several places. Valezk is rumoured to return in the east, and I fear a more local enemy is gathering to our near west. They have ransacked Hope Town and enslaved their people, all for the purpose of mining the gemstones all day and night. The people are exhausted and dying like flies."

He gestured towards the young Artiere, wrapped up in a large blanket and almost falling off his chair in exhaustion. "This young boy has already lost his parents, who were killed in protest, and one of the mines has just collapsed, trapping the workers beneath. If someone does not intervene, and soon, this town will soon be wiped off the face of this world."

"What can we do?"

He pointed to them:

"It's simple, I need a large force to restore peace to the town." Many hands had shot up in unison. "I also need the fastest riders amongst you." More hands shot up. He directed them to the side of the hall.

"Gather anyone willing and able to join our cause, our neighbours to the north and west. I'll need some of you to remain behind and guard the town as well. No point defending the realm only to find our home in ruins."

He moved over to the group of riders. "I need you to journey to the north, south and east. Look for any Guardians that could help our cause. And beware Mes-Celesk or any towns using a large V as their banner. If you can't find anyone willing to help, head back home as soon as you can."

They whooped and cheered in unison. They each loved a good journey.

Gaius turned to the rest of the crowd, "Tonight we will have a feast, so gorge on whatever you fancy, for tomorrow we ride into the darkness."

Gaius called another clandestine council before preparing for their banquet. Despite his insistence, he knew many would simply push some food around their plates. There was nothing quite like the sense of impending doom to quell one's appetite. If they survived this next bout with death, he promised he would do more for his people.