Chapter 16 - Trap of Gold

788 I.C, February 12, Dracwyn: Council Halls, Evening

Cyrus paced back and forth while his feline tail swished in agitation. Every few moments he'd glance up at the looming court with its many seats that gaped empty.

"We've been waiting all day!" Cyrus hissed in anger.

Amari, the arctic fox, glanced up from her spot on the floor, "Patience, Cyrus."

Cyrus stopped, turn around, bared his teeth, and threw her an irritated glare, "Shut yo-"

"Cyrus!" Fletcher snapped in anger and Cyrus jumped in surprise.

The feline's brow twitched and he seemed ready to burst into another tirade. Fletcher's glare dug deep and Cyrus was reminded of their deal.

Cyrus forced his frustration to recede and made a deep sigh, "How much longer?"

Amari resumed her position of meditation and spoke with a calm yet cold voice, "We're in Dracwyn, and we've been granted an audience with the court itself. We should be grateful."

Cyrus whiskers perked in irritation, "Grateful... Modern society relies on my discoveries and Fletcher represents Lord Sigmund. They should be eager to hear what we say."

Fletcher motioned to the grand court they stood in, the pillars of gold and crystal, the raised witness stand made out of the finest marble, "You've never been to Dracwyn before, have you?"

Cyrus made a dismissive wave and sneered, "Dracwyn may be the Undergrounds seat of power and a major trading post, as a society though it's filled with cutthroats and depravity."

Fletcher nodded, "It may have its rough edges, but it's importance cannot be overlooked."

Cyrus grumbled, "They're still part of Agron, they're sworn to the crown."

Amari whispered, "Only in name, Dracwyn is only loyal to itself."

Fletcher looked at Amari, "Have you ever been here before, Amari?"

Amari nodded, "Many times, though I never thought I'd set foot in this place."

Fletcher walked over to Amari, crouched and gave took a moment to look her over. She was sitting in a cross-legged meditative pose. The workmanship of her armor was impressive in the way it bent to suit her form, laying by her side was a sheathed sword with a slight curve. Her white fur was short but thick and mixed with a dusting of gray and black.

Amari opened her eyes, they were slitted and burned with a fiery passion, "What?"

"Is that some kind of meditation you're engaged in?" Fletcher asked.

"No, it's just-" Amari stopped, glanced up at the court, and rose from the floor, "They're coming."

Fletcher looked up and within moments the marching sound of footsteps could be heard. Guards marched in from the sides and lined up by the pillars, while aristocrats began to stream into the upper court.

None of the guards wore the insignia of Agron, instead it was emblazoned with that of a dragon, the mark of Dracwyn. The guards were a wild mix of sapient species but their armors were of the same black type and the look in their eyes were fierce and cold.

The aristocrats were varied in species and style. Large flowing robes, bright colors, strict uniforms, skimpy clothing, highlighted by a variety of glinting gems and artifacts. They were smiling but it seemed forced the whispers among them were hushed and snappy.

Within a minute the aristocrats were gathered, the doors were closed, and the court grew silent.

A large tiger rose from among the aristocrats and descended to a podium that overlooked the rest of the court. Fletcher and his team were forced to look up while the tiger gazed down.

"Fletcher?" The tiger's voice was refined but could not escape the distorting rumble inherent with all furs.

Fletcher met the tiger's piercing gaze, "I am Fletcher, I represent and speak with Lord Sigmund's authority. Who are you?"

The tiger was silent for a moment and then motioned to himself, "My identity is irrelevant for this gathered session, I am the assigned speaker, and you shall answer our questions."

Dracwyn in a nutshell...

"This was supposed to be an audience, not an interrogation," Fletcher protested.

The tiger frowned, "Recent events have made us hesitant to appease the capitol. Until that is resolved you should consider this an inquiry, not an audience, nor an interrogation."

"To what are you referring?" Fletcher asked.

The tiger sneered in disgust, extended a glinting claw, and pointed at Fletcher, "There have been numerous attacks within our territory, trade-posts destroyed, farms and villages slaughtered... violated. Our calls for help have been ignored, and the army has withdrawn on the Lord Marshal's orders."

Fletcher bit his lip, "The capitol is in disarray, the King has fallen ill."

The tiger drew a deep breath, "We were in informed of that and we've been tolerant with the disruption it has caused. That changed this morning when we received orders to outlaw the Underground and to consider our autonomy null and void."

Shit...

Fletcher gulped, "On whose authority?"

The whispers stirred once more and the tiger bared his teeth, "King Conrad himself."

Fletcher clenched his hands, without the capitol they had no sway over Dracwyn.

Without warning Amari stepped up and raised her voice, "Council of Dracwyn, may I speak?"

The tiger glanced over with an irritated grimace, "And you are?"

Amari made a gentle bow and looked up to meet the tiger's stare, "I am Amari T'chell, a sword for hire in Lord Sigmund's employ. I have information and a theory you may find of interest."

The tiger threw Fletcher a moment's glance and then resumed his focus on Amari, "Interesting, go on."

Amari took a deep breath, "Agron is isolationist in nature but its gates and ports have always been open for trade, in fact, our trade empire has shielded us from many conflicts. The underground is an important part of that ecosystem. It not only seems strange, but outright disadvantageous to disrupt that system. Does it not?"

The tiger tipped his head a little, "Yes, it does. Your point?"

Amari continued, "Sigmund feared that the king's was being coerced by a hidden faction, King Conrad may be young but he is no fool nor are his advisers. It is likely that a coup has occurred and the king has no choice but to play their puppet."

Whispers filled the court and become a loud murmur, several of the aristocrats hurried to the large tiger, and whispered in his ears.

After a few moments the disturbance abated and the tiger spoke, "We considered this, and your perspective on the matter helps clarify it. Unfortunately that also means that your authority is null and void."

Amari was quick to up her ace, "False! We represent the will of the King, Sigmund, and of Agron! We also have important information that could help reverse what has happened."

The tiger mulled it over furrowed his brow, "Surely the capitol can resolve this on its own?"

Fletcher motioned to the court, "Perhaps, perhaps not! But can you survive until then?"

The tiger's whiskers perked and he glared daggers at Fletcher, "Dracwyn has survived several shifts in the monarchy, you are impudent."

Amari spoke, "Things are different this time!"

The tiger mused, "How so?"

Fletcher filled in, "As you said yourself. The military has withdrawn from Dracwyn, your trading empire is under attack, and your autonomy has been revoked. Unless stability is returned, your source of wealth and power will wither."

The tiger drew a deep breath, "Instability is to be expected and can often invigorate the market once order is returned, but I doubt you'd understand that."

Amari grew a sudden smirk and broke out in laughter, the tiger glanced over in surprise while the aristocrats seemed too stunned to react.

The tiger's hands extended claws that scraped against the marble, "What's so funny, fox?"

Amari made a feral grin and looked up at the tiger, "You mentioned something, your villages hadn't just destroyed, they had been... violated."

The tiger was about to speak when Amari cut in, "Let me guess? Disturbed aether? No life left behind? Your villagers eaten and raped? Strange tracks? No trace of the perpetrators? The scent of something foul?"

Some aristocrats looked to one another with disturbed glanced while the tiger stared daggers.

"Yes," The tiger whispered.

Amari snapped, "This is not a regular coup, it is the machinations of a being that does not care for goods or wealth. It only wants one thing, the beating essence of your lives, and it will not rest until you are nothing more than soulless husks in his army!"

The court was silent, the tiger stared as if frozen into place, the aristocrats squirmed in their seats, and the whispers were all the same. 'The Master, Everwinter, Wulfkins'

Amari raised her hand, aimed at one end of the court, and slowly moved it across the court while she met their gazes. Her hackles rose and her voice became one of thunder!

"I have seen what the Master can do! I have seen the handiwork of his servants, and I have seen their Sentinels drain all life until there is nothing left but a barren wasteland! We know of something that the Master fears! So you either help us! Or you die as a footnote in the history of this world!"

The whiskers of the tiger trembled in anger but the eyes remained focused, after a few moments he spoke a few simple words.

"How can Dracwyn be of service?"

788 I.C, February 13, Everwinter, Morning

A sudden jolt of pain made Javier touch his face. The scars pulsed with a burning intensity and the memories of how it came to be flooded his mind. Something irritated his eye and he blinked in surprise, it trickled down his nose, and fell to the floor with an audible drip.

It's bleeding again...

A murmur caught his attention and Javier looked up while wiping the blood from his nose.

Raymond was standing in the middle of the room and the doctor was investigating his back with the help of a small candle. Raymond stood frozen in place, tailless, wounded, tufts of fur missing all over.

Javier stepped closer and whispered, "Raymond?"

Raymond didn't react, his irises were tiny and he stared into nowhere.

"Ray!" Javier snapped.

Raymond shook in surprise and his eyes widened, a moment later he looked over and met Javier's gaze.

"Who did this to you?" Javier asked.

Raymond blinked but did not answer.

"Please, say something?" Javier pleaded.

Raymond was unmoving.

Javier sighed and looked toward the doctor, "How is he?"

The doctor rose, straightened his uniform, and seemed to mull it over, "Well..."

"His tail... Is it going to grow back?" Javier asked.

The doctor glanced over and shook his head, "You know the answer to that, Javier."

"What about the mages? Can't they-"

"This is beyond magic, I am sorry," The doctor said.

Javier nodded, "Can you check his mouth? He hasn't said a word ever since we found him."

The doctor walked to Raymond's front and raised the candle, Raymond squinted and his pupils pulled together, "His pupils react to light, that's good sign for his mind. His left ear is missing but he can still hear based on his reaction to your voice."

The doctor touched Raymond's muzzle and eased it open, "Don't bite me."

"He has lost a couple of teeth, some tissue damage, but his throat and vocal cords seem intact. There's nothing physical to explain why he doesn't speak," The doctor closed Raymond's muzzle and stepped back.

"I see," Javier answered.

The doctor looked over at Javier, "The Master may have issued an edict that your family is not to be killed, but it said nothing about harming any of you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Javier drew a deep breath and nodded, "Yes, thank you."

The doctor moved toward the exit and stopped one final time, "Javier?"

"Yes?" Javier asked.

"I consider my debt to you settled, please, do not contact me again."

Javier growled under his breath, "I won't."

788 I.C, February 13, Dracwyn: Underground, Evening

Fletcher looked up at the ceiling and saw Amari tending to a large crystal assembly, it hummed with energy, and there were arcane runes floating in the air.

"Amari?" Fletcher asked.

The vixen paused for a moment and glanced down, "What is it, Fletcher?"

"Am I interrupting?"

Amari seemed to ponder it for a moment and then made shy smile, "Yes, but that's all right."

Fletcher couldn't help but smile, "I would appreciate it if you told me what you're doing?"

Amari eyed Fletcher for a moment and then nodded, "While I respect your skills you don't have much aetheric aptitude, I'm not sure I can."

Fletcher made an open gesture, "Then explain in words that I can understand."

Amari looked to the crystal, made a sign with her hand, and whispered something, the aetheric runes shifted shape, and then faded in moments. She then descended the ladder, adjusted her armor, and faced Fletcher.

Fletcher pointed at the crystal, "That thing you just did, with the runes, what was that?"

Amari smiled, "There are many schools of magic, we like to see and work magic with our hands, this is our approach."

Fletcher looked to her in wonder, "So you, spoke with it?"

Amari shook her head, "No. In Agron magic is wielded through emotion, you will something and your subconscious mind alters the Aether. In Krobia we will it as well but help shape our subconscious by voice and gesture."

"So the runes are more like... Tools, or manifestations that you can influence?"

Amari nodded, "Exactly."

"I see," Fletcher said.

"We're looking for a wulfkin child that never matured, yes?" Amari asked.

Fletcher nodded, "Based on what the coyote's adoptive parents said at least."

Amari grew an annoyed grimace, "I've met a few of them. They are evil little monsters with a lot power coursing through them. Some of those that don't mature are spared to become powerful servants of the castle, the most powerful of them is referred to as the Sage."

"You certainly know a lot about them," Fletcher said.

Amari nodded but ignored the comment, "There is no such thing as an immunity to magic, I've seen wulfkins use transporters, and I've seen them struggle against powerful shields."

"Your point?" Fletcher asked.

"My point is that we do not know what we're dealing with. Is it a trap? Is this human wulfkin resistant to magic as well? Or is it an aberrant that has caught the Master's eye?"

"True, so you're trying to prepare for anything that might come our way?"

Amari nodded and motioned to the crystals, "This is the modified assembly of a transporter, think of it as a giant set of aetheric pincers capable of catapulting you through a rift."

Fletcher's eyes widened in surprise, "You want to transport him? Where?"

"No, not at all. The point is that it should be able to restrain anything, even a wulfkin. It is a containment chamber."

"And what if the Red Eye turns out to be an ordinary mage?" Fletcher asked.

Amari huffed and made a bemused smile, "The assembly is wired into Dracwyn's magical network and I'm going to be in control of it. I doubt even the Arch Wizard would be able to resist it."

"Thank you, Amari, that helps clarify things."

Amari smiled back, "You're wel-"

Cyrus voice cut in and interrupted her, "Playing with transporters is dangerous."

Amari looked at Cyrus with an odd expression, irritation mixed with insult, "You're not the only with this kind of experience."

Cyrus was leaning against a nearby wall and his arms crossed, he bit his lip and whispered, "Have you ever wondered where you are in that instant you are transported, when you are between places."

Amari crossed her arms, "A pocket universe, that's why we erect shields and make sure to have stable connections, so that we're not spread atom by atom across space."

Cyrus looked up, "What if the shields are there to protect you from something else as well?"

Amari tipped her head in wonder, "What do you mean?"

Cyrus pushed himself away from the wall and shook his head, "It's nothing, just, don't play around."

"Is this another one of your games? Do you think you're funny?" Amari frowned.

Cyrus grew a sly smirk, "Maybe, maybe not."

788 I.C, February 14, Gates of Dracwyn, Morning

"This is," Talwin whispered while his tail grew slack and his ears folded back.

"Big," I added.

Even from the viewpoint of a tall hill, Dracwyn looked like a jagged mountain spread out along the oceanside. The walls were black as night and perched upon the massive gates were two gargantuan dragons of rock staring down at the ground.

The walls obscured the inner city but large towers and fortresses reached up from within and dotted the skyline in regular intervals. By looking to the left and right one could see the curving wall, the horizon, and a hint of the blue ocean the city was situated by.

Talwin raised his hand and pointed at something while his eyes grew wide. I looked up and saw what looked like a large cylindrical balloon that floated above the city. Ropes were wrapped around it and there was a compartment with windows underneath it.

"Is that thing flying? With magic?" Talwin asked.

I gulped, "It shouldn't be possible, but..."

Talwin looked over at me with a questioning gaze, "I can lift stuff, so why didn't we just fly here like the birds?"

I shook my head, "It doesn't work like that. The further you get from solid ground the more energy is needed to keep you afloat, it multiplies rather than scales linearly."

Talwin looked to the flying object, "So, they either have loads of magic or..."

"They've discovered some other way to make things fly," I added.

Talwin kept looking while I turned my attention to the gates. They were almost barred shut and there was a long line of people and wagons that reached all the way to a farm some distance away. Angry murmurs could be heard from the crowd at the front and there were groups of armed guards keeping everything under control.

I nudged Talwin's shoulder and spoke, "Did your father say anything about how we were supposed to get inside?"

Talwin shook his head, "Not really, according to him the gates have always been wide open."

"Well, that's obviously not the case any longer. Did he mention any secret passages? Contacts within the Underground that could help us?"

Talwin shook his head once more, "Nothing that would help us outside the gates."

I pondered it for a moment and motioned for Talwin to follow, "Information is key to making good decisions, so let's find out what the big deal is."

Talwin nodded and followed, as we approached the people began to turn their heads and eyed us with suspicion.

"Hey! Line starts back there!" A human screamed while motioning to the distant farm.

I set my sights on the screaming man and approached with steady steps, the man's anger faltered in and instant and he looked back at the wagon beside him.

"What?" The man asked when we stopped outside reaching distance.

"We just have some questions and we don't intend to skip the line, is that all right?" I asked with a loud and clear voice.

Something rustled inside the wagon and without warning a protective cover was pulled back. From within two children poked their heads up in wonder. The man hurried up to the wagon, hushed the children, and eased the cover back in place.

I leaned over by Talwin and whispered, "Is he trying to smuggle them in or something?"

Talwin made a bemused grin and shook his head, "No, he's just being careful. Lots of horses, wagons, it's easy to get lost or hurt in crowds like this."

"Oh."

Talwin met my eyes, "Agron is a good country, it has its rough edges but in the end people only want to prosper."

The man faced us and cleared his throat, "Fine, but be quick about it."

I motioned to the gates further ahead, "What's going on? Why are the gates closed?"

The man frowned in disbelief, "You haven't heard? Where are you from?"

"South, we're pilgrims of a sort," I answered.

The man eyed me but relented after a few moments, "Several villages have been wiped out, farms are being decimated, the army is nowhere to be seen, and the Watchmen don't stand a chance. Everyone has been piling up trying to get into Dracwyn."

I glanced to the wagon, "You're fleeing?"

The man gulped and looked down for a moment, "I saw it... Heard it."

"How did you survive?" I asked.

The man fidgeted but then took a deep breath and stood tall, "We lived at an outlying farm, I guess they didn't know we were there. I just took the little ones, whatever we could pack, and took off."

"How long ago?" I asked.

"About a week, but I only arrived here a few days ago. Line has hardly since then, the only ones getting through are those with special cargo or food."

"That's tough... I'm sorry," I whispered.

To my surprise the man smiled and nodded, "We're alive, that's all that counts."

I moved a little closer and lowered my voice, "Do you mind if I ask what you saw?"

The man looked to the wagon and then focused on me, "Beasts, not furs. Big, brutish beasts, some of them glowed with a blue light. And there was a... big black rock hovering in the air, it screamed like a thousand tortured souls."

"I see, so what are your plans?" I asked.

The man looked toward the gates and bit his lip in worry, "I don't know."

Something changed by the gates and I noticed a trio of carts that had been diverted from the main line. The carts were sturdy and the contents were covered by a large brown cover, their wheels dug into the mud and the horses struggled.

Too heavy for food... Ore perhaps?

The carts were accompanied by a group of mercenaries, guards from the city, and several furs in finer clothing that looked like the owners. They were debating with one another and the guards were inspecting paperwork. Something about it seemed off and my eyes caught on a pile heaved on one of the carts, heavy clothing, suited for a winter landscape.

One of the furs turned around, it was a canine with brown and black. He looked bothered by something and his eyes wandered the crowd.

_Brown and black fur... Canine... Split cape... A mutt... That's... Leonard! _

My heart skipped a beat in surprise while the human leaned in and sneered, "Typical, the guards see something the city wants, and they get a free pass into the city."

The words became little more than a murmur while I froze in place and stared at the mutt that had visited Everwinter for so many years. His books still rested in my backpack and I could feel their weight.

What is Leonard doing here!? What if he sees me!? Wait... I no longer look human...

Talwin nudged me, "Is everything all right?"

I glanced over and made a faint smile, "Yeah, just thought I saw something."

Talwin looked up and whispered, "That one is looking at us."

I looked up once more and felt my tail grow slack with the realization that Leonard was staring at me.

He can't smell me from here... He can't possibly recognize me... Can he?

Leonard kept staring with a strange look of confusion.

How? A magic signature? It shouldn't be possible? What's going on here?

"Do you know him?" Talwin asked.

I used to trust him... Perhaps he can be trusted again... Let's turn this to our advantage...

I nudged Talwin, "No time to explain, follow me and play along. All right?"

Talwin frowned for a moment but relented with a nod, "Understood."

I focused on Leonard and started marching, Talwin followed while Leonard kept his eyes on me.

"Yes?" I asked when I stepped up and crossed my arms.

Leonard looked me over in expression confusion and whispered, "Do I... Do we know each other?"

I tilted my head, "Perhaps, Leonard."

Leonard's eyes grew wide and he sniffed the air, "Wh- Who are you?"

I leaned forward a little and looked deep into his eyes, "You seem rather eager to find out."

Leonard frowned and his tail lashed in a bout of anger, "That's not funny! Who are you!?"

The mutt's scent wafted to my nose, I recognized it, a sweet scent of familiarity and pleasant memories in a haze of darkness. It was good to see him again, alive, and well.

I looked toward the gates and pointed with a claw, "Get us into the city, and I'll tell you."

Leonard's face twisted in concern while he looked over at Talwin, "I've never met you before, I know that. But you're not like the others either."

Talwin clenched his fists and made a forced smile, "Get us into the city, and we'll tell you."

One of Leonard's companions walked up, "Leonard, we need to move. Now!"

Leonard's brow twitched while he glanced back and forth, after a few moments he focused on me and pleaded, "Tell me, who are you?"

I pointed at the gates while Leonard's companion hissed, "Leonard, now!"

Leonard touched his temple and growled under his breath, "I'm coming!" He then looked over at me and spoke, "Stay close to the caravan and don't say a damn word, deal?"

I nodded, "Deal."

Leonard turned around and marched up to the guards while Talwin gave me a hard poke in the side.

"What the hell are we doing?" Talwin hissed.

I made a sheepish grin, "Getting into the city."

Talwin gritted his teeth and glared at me, "You're insane."

I wonder...

Talwin and I stayed close to the carts while we passed into the inner city. A human aristocrat with lustrous robes, a disgruntled expression, and an entourage of guards were waiting.

"You were supposed to be here weeks ago!" The aristocrat snapped at Leonard.

Leonard lowered his head in shame, "There were problems at Goldport, Mr Cromwell. We were lucky to get out alive."

" What!?" The aristocrat stepped forward, knit his fist, and seemed ready to strike.

Leonard stepped back but kept his gaze averted, "It was taken over by wulfkins, we saw it burn."

Cromwell turned toward the carts and stared, "And the ore?"

"All there, sir. Not a piece missing," Leonard answered.

Cromwell pointed at the main street as if urging a slave, "Take it to the warehouse, we'll deal with this later."

The carts started moving while Cromwell and his guards marched off. Townspeople began to wander around and between carts while Leonard was busy with his assistants.

I saw my chance, gripped Talwin's arm, and whispered, "Time to leave."

Talwin nodded and in a moment's notice we darted to the side and joined the busy street.

"Hey!" Someone called out.

We ignored it, pushed through the crowd, and darted down an alley.

"WAIT!" The voice screamed.

Without warning Talwin fell behind, I glanced back, and saw a buff tiger that had gripped hold of Talwin.

"Leonard ordered you to stay!" The feline snapped at Talwin with a harsh glare and bared teeth.

I recognized the feline, it was the same one that had helped Leonard set up a tent at Everwinter. Talwin seemed frozen in place while I focused on our surroundings. It was a small alleyway cloaked in darkness, it smelled of mud and decaying garbage. On the were several discarded crates.

"Sorry about this," I said while I raised my hand.

Threads of aetheric energy reached out. One wrapped around the tiger's hand and forced him to let go of Talwin. Another grew to the size of a fist and gave the feline a hard shove in the chest. The tiger stumbled back, lost his balance, and fell to the muddy ground with a splat.

More threads reached for the crates, they tore the planks apart, lifted them, fused them together, and wedged it in the alleyway to create a makeshift blockade.

"Impressive," Talwin whispered while I snagged hold of him and pulled him along.

"We're not out of the woods yet, be ready to change your appearance!" I snapped while we rushed into the depths of Dracwyn.

788 I.C, February 14, Dracwyn: Inner City, Midday

Finally...

I stood by a large pillar and down below was a bustling marketplace. It provided a grand view and the scents were rich with that of a people, and all manner of goods and food. By the corner was a band of musicians, their melody broke the heavy murmur and provided and provided a sweet melody.

A shadow moved across the ground and upon looking up I saw one of the big flying things. Large fans propelled it through the air and it made me smile while I followed it with my gaze.

"Avery?" Talwin whispered.

"Yes?" I said while I kept looking.

"Who was that? The one you called Leonard?"

"A merchant, he visited Everwinter once every year. He brought me books and I gave him processed metals in return, they traded wine for ore mined in the mountain."

"I don't understand, how could he recognize you?" Talwin asked in wonder.

"He didn't, I think he sensed me somehow. Perhaps in the same way we used Rastlin's spell to find the trail I was leaving behind."

"So, what does this mean? Are we still leaving a trail?" Talwin asked.

I met Talwin's gaze, "I don't think so, but we're always going to have a presence in the aether, even if we do our best to hide it. His ability to sense it is quite uncanny though and I hope that it's rather unique."

"Do you trust him? Could he help us?" Talwin asked.

I shrugged, "I don't know, but I did catch a glimpse of the papers they had-"

Talwin made an eager nod, "Cromwell's Caravan, Bounty, andInsurance guild."

I nodded, "You saw it?"

A sly smile spread on the coyote's face, "Of course, what do you take me for?"

I chuckled, "Good, so where do we go from here? Now that we're inside the city?"

Talwin patted his backpack, "Father gave me a list of contacts within the underground, some of them may be outdated but they should be able to point us in the right direction."

I inched a little closer and lowered my voice, "About that, have you considered getting a new identity?"

Talwin blinked in confusion, "Why?"

I motioned to him and myself, "You've seen how people react, the way they judge you, the way they'll continue to judge you. Not only that, but if they're hunting me and learn of your identity somehow, then you can be sure they'll go after your parents."

Talwin averted his eyes, "That's... true."

"New names, new backgrounds, you can pick whatever appearance you like, imagine it?" I said.

Talwin glanced back with a hint of irritation, "I happen to like what I look like, what I really look like."

I smirked, "So do I, Talwin. But that will be our secret, we can be true to one another."

Talwin made a sheepish chuckle and shook his head, "And what do we do about the camouflage potion? Or the fact that we continuously reek of wine? Or our natural scents for that matter?"

I nudged shoulders wit him and leaned in, "We get our papers and find ourselves a place somewhere. I've learned enough from Rastlin's tome to perfect and improve the camouflage potion, and this time the alcoholic base won't consist of wine. Everything will be all right, I just need time and resources."

Talwin considered it for a moment and nodded, "Sounds like a plan."

"So, where to next?" I asked.

Talwin looked to the busy street, raised his hand, and pointed at a tavern in the distance, "I'm tired, hungry, and we'd better stay out of sight in case your friend comes looking for us."

788 I.C, February 14, Unknown, Evening

Robert the fox forced himself to go on. The wind pulled at him, the snow obscured his sight, the cold had made his hands and paws go numb. One moment he looked up and in the next he found himself staring at a sea of white.

What just happened...

He blinked but his mind felt slow and sluggish, he was tired, and wanted to sleep. His stomach felt like a bottomless pit and every muscle ached. It had been an entire week since fate had decided to spit him into this place of ice and snow. An entire week without anything to eat.

What's that noise?

The pining wind screamed in his ear, but there was something else as well. Whining tones, hollow clatters, there was something unsettling about it, and familiar somehow.

I'm dying... Freezing to death...

The thought scared him, it made him think of Conrad, Sigmund, his duty to Agron.

Is this my fate? Where I'm supposed to be?

Anger filled his heart, it was an insult! To die like this! Unacceptable!

Not yet...

Adrenaline surged and he used his numb limbs to lift himself off the ground. He looked up and for a moment the storm abated.

There was a garden of dead trees ahead, gray, gnarled, bark like stone, and hanging from every branch were humanoid bones in all shape and form. A jolt of fear ran down his spine when he realized what the noise had been. Bone clattering against bone, hundreds, thousands, in a grand symphony of death.

What is this place?

Robert blinked and saw something beyond the garden of death, a black fortress built into the mountain itself.

Is this... Everwinter?

He expected death to come any second, wulfkins would rush through their macabre garden, tear him to pieces, and feast on what remained. Yet nothing happened and nothing moved.

The fortress looked abandoned, snow and ice covered it like a glinting blanket, the walls were crumbling, and the towers looked like ruins.

If not Everwinter... Then...

Robert thought back, pondered his history lessons, and stumbled upon a name.

Aetherius the fortress from which the Necromancers had once originated.