Chapter 19 - Definition of Contrast

788 I.C, February 18, Aetherius, Morning

Energy surged around Raymond and exploded with a burst of light that sent him stumbling into someplace new. A set of massive hands gripped his shoulders and steadied him.

A dark voice rumbled in his face, "Lazy bastards didn't even bother to clean you up."

Raymond blinked in confusion, looked up, and found himself in the grip of his old teacher. Doros.

Doros grew a wide grin and chuckled, "It's been a while. Hasn't it, Raymond?"

Raymond did not answer. Instead he found himself looking up at the wulfkin in wonder. Doros had always been big among wulfkins, but now he seemed even bigger, gargantuan almost. His hands were blunt; the claws could have belonged to a bear; the muzzle was broad; and the neck was bullish. His massive frame bulged with muscle, and a tight black armor strained around his chest.

Doros lifted a massive paw, struck Raymond's head, and made him grunt in pain while his head rocked to the side, "Answer, filth."

Raymond's head pounded with pain but he ignored it and looked up in silence.

Doros hand squeezed Raymond's arm and the pressure started building. Raymond squirmed in response, and struggled until a pained whimper escaped.

"Want me to break your arm?" Doros asked.

Raymond's legs buckled, tears welled up in his eyes, but no words came while his bones creaked.

Without warning Doros eased up, "Oh, I get it."

Raymond panted from the pain and looked up in wonder.

"The Master showed you something, didn't he? Something so horrible that you can't bring yourself to speak any longer?" Doros mused.

Doros made a shit-eating grin, "The Master ordered that you be kept alive, and I'll obey that order. But I bet I can make you speak, without even breaking out my tools."

Raymond stared back in silence.

Doros patted Raymond's shoulder, "That's good. Your brother provided plenty of fun, and I'm sure you'll do the same."

Raymond was jerked along by his arm and got his first chance to look around. They were in some kind of giant underground cave made of dark rock. Ice grew wildly, and hints of snow drifted in the air. In the center of the cave was an island with a giant obelisk surrounded by crumbling buildings. Raymond looked in front and noticed what looked like a camp. Brown tents had been set up, crates littered the area, and there was a large bridge leading to the island with the obelisk.

The air was cold, the wind pulled at his fur, but there was something else as well. A deep roar like that of a rushing river. He looked to the side, past the edge of the rocky surface, and looked into the depths. Far below in the darkness, was a roaring torrent of water surrounded by icy cliffs.

"Hey! Pups! Gather up!" Doros yelled without warning.

Raymond looked in front and saw a large group of wulfkins gathering within the center of the camp.

Doros tightened his grip and spoke, "I've gathered many of your old classmates here, some of your pack even. They've grown under my guidance and have a willpower like steel. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you again."

The closer Raymond was pulled toward the camp, the stronger his heart beat, and the more his fear grew. There were around twenty wulfkins, yet they didn't look like what he expected. They were bigger, the black armor strained against their bodies, their fur was wilder than usual, and the scents were so strong that it burned in his nose. They stared at him with a feral hunger, scratched themselves like wild animals, and squirmed in some kind of discomfort while thick drool dripped from their muzzles.

Raymond's eyes darted between the wulfkins when a strange smell pierced the toxic odor of the wulfkins. Blood, loads of it. Raymond searched for the source it and found it near the edge of a cliff. There was a bunch of crates in the area and in the center of it was a large mess of blood, fur, and bones.

Doros murmured with a dark chuckle, "We get regular deliveries from around the continent. I like the ones from Agron, they're plump and juicy."

Raymond remained silent, looked past the slaughter, and noticed a row of stocks by the very edge of the cliff, most likely meant to hold the so-called food.

Doros pulled Raymond into the center of the camp, and showed him off, "What do you think!?"

Raymond's heart pounded, his ears clamped to his head, and if he still had his tail it would have hidden between his legs. In desperation he sought the eyes of others in hope of finding someone he could recognize and connect with.

But despite Doros assurance that there were members of his pack here, he couldn't recognize any of them. Instead he sniffed the air and oppressive stench in an attempt to identify them. The scent burned in mind, it screamed of hormones so powerful, that he felt a sudden surge of aggression and an involuntary stir in his nether regions.

Confusion filled his mind while the wulfkins panted, and growled at each other for some reason.

Doros jerked Raymond along and spoke, "You look lost, Raymond? Don't you recognize them?"

Raymond looked in front and felt his heart thump with the realization that they were heading toward the stocks.

"Let's get this off you," Doros said and reached down.

Raymond looked down in confusion and felt a sudden jerk when Doros tore the loincloth from his body. Several loud chuckles were heard and Raymond glanced back, the other wulfkins were sneering, and pointing at his back.

Doros huffed, "Don't worry, you'll come to realize that it's a benefit in disguise."

Raymond snapped back and stared at Doros in confusion.

Doros pulled him up to the stocks, turned around, and motioned toward the others, "Watch."

Raymond looked up at the gathered wulfkins and saw them staring with an odd if crazed intensity. His mind raced in confusion while the wulfkins kept bickering as if deciding who got the scraps of a meal.

A dark chuckle escaped Doros muzzle, "Now, who of you horny bastards wants to be first?"

Raymond's heart skipped a beat, he was certain he'd misheard, and his mind jumped through hoops trying to make sense of it. Two wulfkins stepped up, looked at each other, and bared their teeth at each other.

The biggest of the two, a golden furred male lashed out against the other with a snarl. The other one with gray fur backed of with a growl and snapped, "Fine!"

Doros leaned in by Raymond's ear, "Grey, and Duga, from your pack. Do you remember them?"

The wulfkins stepped up and Raymond was forced to look up at the looming beasts. They were at least a head taller despite their crooked backs. Their eyes stared with hunger, and there was an acrid smell that clung to them.

The names stirred plenty of memories: Grey had been a wimp that missed his parents, and Duga was a golden furred little bastard who preferred to use a silver tongue rather than a heavy fist.

But try as he might, he couldn't recognize them. Their scents were warped, their bodies monstrous, and their faces twisted into a feral grimace. The only hints of their old selves could be found in the color of their fur. He couldn't fathom it, months ago he had been their alpha, and now he looked up at them like a small whelp.

Doros pulled Raymond back, and then shoved him forward with enough force to make him stumble. Grey and Duga snapped hold of him in an instant while Raymond raised his arms to fight back. To his surprise he found his arms forced back, and locked behind his back, while Grey and Duga chuckled.

"Not so big and mighty any longer, Alpha?" Grey mused with a dark rumble in his chest.

Raymond growled in response, resisted, but found himself easily overpowered. Duga pulled Raymond toward the closest stock, while Grey unlocked and opened it up.

"Great view, isn't it?" Doros asked and motioned toward the view offered by the stock.

Raymond thrashed in resistance, and dug his paws into the ground. Yet nothing helped and the stock's maw kept coming closer. Duga gripped Raymond's neck, pushed, and forced Raymond to kneel in front of the stock. Moments later he found his head pressed against the stock, while his hands were wrestled into place.

CLAP!

A heavy clap was heard when the stock shut and locked in place with the ratchet of a lock. Raymond strained, pulled, and pushed with his legs, but the stock wouldn't relinquish its hold.

Doros walked up beside the stock, crouched, and looked Raymond in the eyes, "Not a word yet... The Master either did a real number on you, or you still haven't figured it out."

Raymond blinked and his mind screamed, 'FIGURED WHAT OUT!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?'

CLINK CLACK RUSTLE

The noise came from behind Raymond and Doros glanced back with a grin. It made Raymond's ears perk while he strained to see what was going on. To his horror the stock blocked all sight and the strange sounds continued.

A new scent entered the toxic odor of the camp, it was rank and pungent. It screamed with need and hormones that so strong that he could taste it in the back of his throat.

A new set of sounds came from the front and made Raymond look forward. To his surprise Grey was pulling at the restraints of his black armor. For some reason the tight clasps of the armor wouldn't give way, no matter how hard he pulled. Grey made a snapping growl after a few moments struggle and shifted focused on his pants instead.

Raymond's eyes widened when he felt two heavy paws grip hold of his back, followed by the sound of a ragged breath looming over him. The denial of what was going on cracked like a shattered window, and Raymond's mind was flooded with terror.

In panic he tried to move a tail that no longer existed, "STOP! NO!** PLEASE! **** STOP!**"

Doros expression lit up with success and he whispered a single word, "Enjoy."

788 I.C, February 18, Cromwell's Guild: The Tower, Midday

In my books I had stumbled upon references to a certain state of mind; a creative focus which pushed boundaries and fostered inspiration. I had felt a hint of it during my days of study in the workshops of Everwinter, but it had never lasted for long.

This time it was different.

I was alone in the tower and I was clad in little more than my own fur. The aether was my tool and reality bent to my will. Wisps of magic floated in the air like mischievous fae while threads drifted like seaweed.

Crates were being dismantled, the floor was being hardened, rods of metal bent and took on new shapes. Crystals, obsidian, and wire were woven in the air and the jumbled mess began to take shape. Twisted metal settled in the foundations and began to curve into the shape of a dome. My goal was to build a transporter but the sheer intensity of energy seeped into my surroundings.

Rastlin would have criticized my lack of control but I found this state of mind too seductive to stop.

The aether itself sensed my intent and its power rippled into the tower. It made the boards in the ceiling straighten, it healed the rot that infested it, and old spiderwebs dissolved into thin air.

The cage of the transporter locked in place, the focus crystal settled at the top, buffers and support crystals lined up along the supporting structure. It made me grin with delight while my hands directed the flow and I danced to the aether's hum.

The wisps burned with light, and the air rippled when the aether became visible to the naked eye. At the edges of the room it looked like layers of fog with shifting colors. The area closer to the transporter warped the fog into an intricate web of patterns that directed the energy.

I guided the tendrils and they wove runes on the transporter with a variety of instructions: Shunt energy here! Block this path! Raise the pitch! Filter this frequency! If this, do that!

It was exciting yet tiring and I kept working to see it finished. The design was inspired by Everwinter, improved by Rastlin's secrets, and adapted to my own purposes.

Energy rushed into the transporter and I watched the crystals lit up with energy. The aether within the cage was spun according to the directions and it reached levels far beyond what I could manage on my own. Within moments it tore reality open and allowed me a glimpse into the deeper layers of the aether.

It looked like a black hole, but to my senses it felt like staring into a new world. Within it, every strong point of aetheric energy glowed like stars on the night sky. Everwinter was a small dot in the distance, the castle of Dracwyn shone like a bright sun, and the capitols of the remaining nations were steadfast points like the directions of a compass.

Exhaustion grew but I was curious whether I could reach the transporter I had built near the farm belonging to Talwin's parents. I searched high and low around the area, but despite my best attempts I couldn't even catch a glimmer of its beacon.

Someone has either disabled it... Or the crystals aren't strong enough, even with the improvements...

My hands began to tremble and the exhaustion made my mind drift. I relented, let my control over the aether fade, and stumbled back. Without energy the spells collapsed and the once colorful wisps faded in seconds. The bright light that had filled the tower dimmed and left me in sudden darkness.

"Avery?" I heard Talwin call out.

I looked to the side and saw Talwin by the staircase, "... Yeah?"

Talwin stepped into the tower, "We heard and saw strange things. What are you doing up here?"

"Just working," I answered.

Talwin reached to the wall and flicked a small switch that turned on the magic lights. It made me flinch in surprise while I held up my hand to shield my eyes.

"Avery? Why are you naked, and what the hell have you done to the tower?" Talwin asked with a confused and rather surprised voice.

I covered my fuzzy crotch with one hand, "The clothes itch, at times, and you were all-"

My voice trailed off when I realized what Talwin had referred to. The tower -had- changed. Colorful patterns had been fused into the floors, walls, and even the roof. The planks even looked polished, as if the surface had melted, received a layer of paint, and a cover of protective lacquer. I turned around and saw that most of the crates were now gone while the tower itself looked a lot more sturdy.

It fused with the tower...

Talwin walked closer, and looked down at the floor, "It's beautiful, and the floor isn't creaking any longer. Did you do all this?"

I let go of my crotch and scratched my cheek, "Do you remember how I told you that there are many ways to influence the aether? Sometimes, you need little more than just strong emotions and a lot of energy."

Talwin looked over at me in wonder while his eyes wandered.

I raised my brow in amusement, "I could put some clothes on."

Talwin's tail swished, and he looked away with a shy smile, "I don't mind, you know that."

"Uh huh," I mused.

Talwin looked at the transporter and motioned toward it, "is that what you were working on?"

I stepped up to the transporter and pointed at the crystals at the top, "Yeah. It's functional now, but..."

"But?" Talwin asked.

"Do you know how a transporter works?" I asked.

Talwin shook his head and stepped up to me, "Not really."

I held my hands apart, "There's the physical universe which consists of dimensions such as time and space. Then there's the aether, a different kind of... something, or whatever you like to call it. The point is that the dimensions we take for granted don't apply over there."

"Okay?" Talwin asked.

I then brought my hands together and let two claws touch, "Two separate points in our reality can be brought together by creating a link through the aether. That's the very basic functionality of a transporter."

"So why couldn't we just transport here?" Talwin asked.

"That's because we can puncture the aether from here without a problem, but you can't pierce reality from the aether. That's why you need a transporter on both ends, at least, as far as I know."

Talwin pondered it for a moment, "But..."

"Yes?" I mused.

Talwin looked at me with a curious smile, "There are plenty of transporters around the world. I'm guessing that we can't use them, but why is that?"

I nodded, "True, there are two reasons for that. The first is that a transporter without power is just a hunk of metal and crystals."

"And the second?" Talwin asked.

I motioned to the transporter, "There are many transporters around the world that are constantly powered up. Like the ones in the castle of Dracwyn and all the capitols. But to prevent an invasion from others they developed security measures."

"Oh, how does that work?" Talwin asked.

"Great care is needed when transporting something. Otherwise you'll either end up being dispersed throughout the aether, or end up on the other side in a state that one doesn't even want to consider."

"What do you mean?" Talwin asked.

I squirmed for a moment and shook my head, "It doesn't matter. The point is that you can intentionally inject disturbances into your end of the rift. Without knowing the precise way to counteract the disturbances, you can't transport there."

"It's like a password?" Talwin asked.

I nodded, "Exactly, and that's why we can't transport anywhere, because I don't have the passwords."

"That transporter you built near my parent's farm, has that one been active all this time?"

I shook my head, "Not at all. It would have roused a lot of attention and I can only dream of a crystal with that kind of power."

Talwin cocked his head in wonder, "But if it's powered down, and you can only open a rift on one end. Then how are you planning to transport there? Do we have to walk all the way back?"

I made a wolfish grin and felt my tail sway, "There's a trick that I know. Something I figured out early on during my experiments in Everwinter."

"Oh?" Talwin asked.

"Imagine if you had a device that could act as a very weak beacon and listen to the aether for a message. Imagine that this device powers up when it hears a very specific message."

Talwin's ears perked, "Let me guess, you can't pierce reality from the aether, but you can knock on it, like sending a message."

I nodded, "Exactly. The transporter should still be functional, and it's waiting for my knock."

Talwin smiled back, "So, can we go there?"

I shook my head and felt my tail drop, "Unfortunately, no."

"Why not?" Talwin asked.

"The crystals that I brought were second grade stuff that no one at Everwinter would miss. This setup isn't sensitive enough to find the beacon, thus I don't know where to 'knock'."

Talwin's shoulders slumped, "Oh."

I stepped closer to him and touched his arm, "Relax, I think that we just need better crystals."

Talwin glanced down for a moment and hastily looked up once more, "Where do we get those?"

I made a solemn smile, "A wulfkin transporter should have everything I need, and more."

Talwin's ears flattened, "We finally got here, found safety, a place to call home, and you want to take on a whole wulfkin camp?"

I nudged him along and motioned to the rest of the tower, "Relax. I have a plan on how to do it."

"Oh?"

I pointed to a small alchemy lab in the corner, "I've made a mixture that can kill any scent. It'll keep me hidden from their noses and I'm refining Edenberries to make a lovely poison. I've also managed to create a spell that almost makes me invisible."

"Almost?" Talwin asked with a raised brow.

I made a sheepish smile and glanced back, "Almost is pretty impressive, isn't it?"

Talwin sighed, "I guess it is."

I then motioned to a bubbling substance near the alchemy table, "Do you know what that is?"

Talwin shook his head, "No, looks rather thick, like syrup."

"That's the basis for life crystals. Once we have that, and the raid on the wulfkin camp is over, then we can go visit your parents."

Talwin leaned onto me, and wrapped an arm around my waist, "Thank you. I should be more grateful, it's just that I'm scared of losing what we're finally starting to build here."

I nuzzled his cheek for a moment, "I know, Talwin. There are more reasons to visit the camp though."

"Oh?" Talwin whispered.

I eased back and looked him in the eyes, "The wulfkins are wreaking havoc all over the continent. Is it just because of me? Are they looking for something else? If they're planning to invade Dracwyn, if the king Agron has gone mad as they say, then we need to flee from here, before we get trapped."

"You want to talk with the wulfkins and ask what they're up to?" Talwin asked.

I shook my head, "I can't imagine they'd be very willing to talk. But wulfkins are quite strict with their logbooks, so I'll take those and anything else I can find."

Talwin drew a deep breath, "If it turns out that we need to flee, where do we go?"

I looked toward the window, and motioned to the distant ocean, "Who knows, maybe we could visit another continent?"

788 I.C, February 18, Cromwell's Guild: The Tower, Evening

"Avery?" A hushed voice said.

My mind stirred but I didn't want to abandon the gentle sleep that nurtured me.

A hand touched my shoulder, and gave me a gentle shake, "Avery?"

I blinked and saw auburn eyes staring into my own, "Talwin?"

Talwin made a warm smile and he gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, "Sorry to wake you."

I eased my head off the workbench and yawned, "Sorry about that, I was a bit drained from earlier."

Talwin's ears folded back for a moment, "Are you that tired? Do you want to head to bed?"

I looked back at Talwin and could sense that something was up. He was careful around me for some reason, and it made me wish that he was more direct, like he used to be.

Oh... That's right... He wanted to book me for the night...

I smiled back, "I've had a few hours of sleep, give me a chance to wake up, and I'm yours for the night."

Talwin ears perked in an instant and his muzzle dropped open, "... Good, then I have a request."

"Yes?" I asked.

Talwin stepped back and hid his hands behind his back, "Leave the tower for a while, go talk with Leonard or something. Just until I give the signal, all right?"

I tipped my head in wonder, "All right?"

Talwin made a curious nod, "Also, don't enter the kitchen. Not even a peek, all right?"

The kitchen? Are you cooking something? Have I ever tasted your cooking? Other than root soup...

I pushed myself up on two legs and nodded, "I'll stay out of the kitchen, I promise."

Talwin chuckled and motioned to the stairs, "It'll take a while, so..."

I started walking and raised my hands, "I'm moving, I'm moving, calm your horses."

As Talwin ordered I marched down the stairs, avoided the kitchen area, and followed Leonard's scent until I reached the luxurious lounge with the bar. I looked inside and saw Leonard sitting by the bar with a small glass in his hand.

"Evening?" I said when I walked up to the bar.

Leonard glanced over with a tired but gentle smile, "Evening, Avery. You've certainly been busy today."

"How so?" I asked and sat down on one of the chairs.

Leonard reached over the bar, fetched a small glass, and then motioned to a metal pitcher, "Warm Krobian wine?"

I smiled back, took the small glass, and held it out with an eager nod, "Gladly."

Leonard lifted the pitcher and poured the blood red liquid into my glass, "There were magical wisps all over the guild earlier today. The tower glowed and we could hear the whole structure creaking. What the hell did you do up there?"

That much? I'm not sure whether I should be worried or impressed...

"Remodeling," I mused and lifted the small glass to my nose.

Leonard chuckled for a moment and then looked me in the eyes, "Seriously though?"

I sniffed the glass and let the strong aroma of herbs and sweet alcohol mix in my mind, "You're a lot more serious than I remember, Leonard."

"I have to be. These are dangerous times and I'm not just responsible for myself any longer. Casey and Archer depend on me, and you're here along with Talwin. If people knew..."

"Then this place would be turned upside down with a moment's notice," I said.

Leonard nodded, "So what are your plans, and what were you doing?"

I sipped the liquid, felt it sting my tongue, swallowed, and let it tickle my throat, "I built a transporter, strengthened the structure, and set up a makeshift alchemy lab."

Leonard raised his brow, "You built a transporter? Just like that?"

I nodded, "Yeah, why?"

Leonard blinked, "That's one of the most well guarded secrets that the Academy has, and you just built one like that?"

"I need one, didn't figure it was that much of a deal," I said.

Leonard leaned closer, "What kind of range does it have? Could you reach Fangcaster from here?"

"That's the Krobian capitol, right?" I asked.

Leonard nodded, "Yeah."

I took another sip, "Sure, no problem. I just need someone to open a hole on the other side."

Leonard looked into his glass and seemed to ponder it, "That's good to know, it's very good to know."

"Why the sudden interest?" I asked.

Leonard looked back, "Many reasons, but I actually meant to talk to you about that contract."

"Oh? Did you find out anything new?" I asked.

"That I did, and it can be summarized like this: We're in deep shit."

"Go on?" I asked.

Leonard took a deep breath, "Dracwyn is being fenced in, as it is we're the only city in all of Agron that isn't under martial law. The underground are loosing agents daily, and the reports are... strange."

"Wulfkins?" I asked.

Leonard shook his head, "Not this time, and I know it's going to sound crazy. But there are rumors that the dead are starting to walk again. Something big is going on inside the capitol, and it's spreading."

Undead... I wonder if they're like the things I saw in the Master's tower...

"Those are grave news indeed," I said.

Leonard threw me a harsh glance, "This isn't the time for puns."

I chuckled in surprise, "Sorry, I didn't realize. Is the same thing happening in other nations?"

Leonard shook his head, "There are daily reports of raiding wulfkins but no undead at least. Karashak has started moving troops into Krobia, they're joining armies and are preparing to invade Everwinter to stop it."

"The Master has either gone insane, or there's something big that I'm missing here."

Leonard nodded, "I looked through reports of the recent attacks and looked for something remote with little activity. I found something, to the east of here, near the mountains. It's a rather rural area and the wulfkins are striking smaller farms."

"Near Ferrel Grove?" I asked.

Leonard's ears perked in surprise, "Yeah, how did you know?"

"Ferrel Grove is the only forest in the area with a transporter. I remember sending several patrols with cargo that way."

Leonard nodded, "The watchmen have a fortress near the coast and they've been asking for help, but no one cares since it's in the outskirts."

"A fortress?" I asked.

Leonard made a sly smile, "I know the captain in charge. We've had plenty of dealings and he keeps a blind eye to our shipments in exchange for something by the side."

"Something by the side?" I asked.

Leonard sipped his glass and mused, "Client confidentiality, can't tell you."

I smirked back, "For being such a 'nice' country, you sure have your share of corruption."

Leonard squirmed for a moment, "I can certainly understand the viewpoint. But there's an important distinction to make here."

"And that is?"

"Our nation has become overly bureaucratic, it's slow, and cumbersome. Harshly put, it's broken. But for whatever reason the people have maintained their kindhearted nature."

"Your point?"

Leonard looked at me, "We can't work with the crown, so we work around them. That's one of the reasons why the underground has such power, because it's supported by the grassroots. As such the underground reflects society."

"Uh huh?" I asked in confusion.

"Trading dark metals is a dirty business but we need it for a variety of reasons. Thus pragmatism takes over and the captain helps me with a good conscience. If I were to bring over a cage with slaves though, then the captain would fight me to the death."

I eyed Leonard for a moment, "Do you think the same way? What if your dark metals were mined by slaves that worked so hard that their backs grew crooked? What if those slaves could be given a better life in your servitude?"

Leonard poured himself some more wine, "True, I can't delude myself like the captain does. The things I do are evil, no matter how much I try to wrangle it."

"I'm glad that you have the sense to realize that," I answered.

Leonard stared at his drink and then glanced over at me with his ears folded back, "I thought you were going to judge me?"

I huffed to myself and drained the last of my glass, "As you said, pragmatism takes over. We're all forced to do evil at times, but that's no excuse for continuing to do it."

Leonard nodded, "Trade with Everwinter is at an end, and Cromwell is no longer in control of this guild. Perhaps it's time that we start doing something honest, and good."

I held out my glass and motioned to the pitcher, "Sounds like something to aim for."

Leonard poured me another glass, "Yes, but we're getting off topic once more. We've found a wulfkin camp for you. What do you intend to do with it?"

I shifted the glass in my hand and watched the liquid swirl, "Kill everyone, steal the logbooks, crystals, and anything else I might need. I'll probably cut some of them open to verify something as well."

Leonard coughed in surprise and turned his head in an instant, "What?"

I raised my brow, "Don't be so squeamish, Leonard. Pragmatism, remember?"

Leonard blinked, "But why?"

"The immunity to magic that wulfkins have, it's caused by something called the Master's blessing. I intend to find out what it is, and I think it plays a part in everything that's going on."

Leonard's ears folded back in disgust, "You think the Master put something inside them?"

I shrugged, "That's what I intend to find out. Does that answer your question?"

Leonard nodded, "It does. So let's move onto the thing that really troubles me."

"Yes?"

"Taking out one of the wulfkin camps will do a lot of good. It'll be the first victory for Dracwyn since all of this started, and it'll cause a lot of ripples. But, that's also dangerous, given who you are."

I nodded, "True, perhaps it would be wiser to ignore the money, and eliminate them in secret."

Leonard tipped his head with a sly smile, "There is a way that we could turn this to our advantage."

"Oh?"

"I suggest that the guild itself plays dumb. We don't know who this mysterious mercenary is, we just handled the contract. The captain of the Watchmen will come to the camp, verify that they're all dead, and you'll redirect them to our guild."

"How does that keep me hidden?" I asked.

"You'll use that nifty camouflage of yours, and Casey will trim your fur once you get back here."

My ears perked, "My fur?"

Leonard motioned to me, "If someone accused you of looking like a wulfkin, then I wouldn't blame them. Your fur is long and wild, the broad shoulders, the big neck... Are you still changing?"

I made a reluctant nod, "Yes, I am. I've tried to keep my appetite in check... but..."

"Then it's all the more important that we give you a proper grooming once you're done with the camp."

"True, but I still need honest work," I said.

Leonard dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "It won't be a problem to fabricate some honest work with the amount of cash a contract like this would pull in."

"That's good, but there's something else that you should know. Something that complicates matters."

"Yes?" Leonard asked.

"We were ambushed when we tried to get papers from the underground. They had set a trap for 'Red Eye and his companion'."

Leonard's eyes widened, "Damn, what happened?"

"There were three of them: Fletcher; someone who serves the spy-master, Amari; some kind of mercenary mage, and Cyrus; another mage that apparently knows transporter magic."

Leonard sighed, "I heard rumors about that but they wrapped it up tight. Those are some powerful people you were tangling with. But you got your papers, how?"

"I defeated them and made a deal, the problem is that they may still think that I'm Red Eye."

Leonard rubbed his temple, "Another complication. Do they know that you're here?"

"I'm not sure, they were the ones who made my papers so..."

Leonard nodded, "They'll find out sooner or later. What's your impression of them?"

"They didn't try to kill Talwin when they captured him, nor are they unreasonable even if Fletcher has a stick up his ass. If they could end up as our allies, then that would be great, if not I'll just have to kill them as well."

"And you'd have no problem with that?" Leonard asked.

I drew a deep breath, "I left Everwinter in pursuit of freedom, and at the time I would have said that I'd be willing to kill anyone that gets in my way. My extremism in that manner has been tempered, but the circumstances have changed as well."

"What do you mean?" Leonard asked.

I looked over at him, "The Master is desperate, and I'm not sure why yet. But if we could rid the world of a great evil, shouldn't that be considered as well? I can't give up because things are bigger than me now. There's Talwin, you, Agron, this entire continent... My reasons may have changed, but to answer the question: No, I wouldn't have a problem killing them if the situation required it."

Leonard nodded, "Good."

"Good?" I asked in surprise.

Leonard chuckled, "I may have given you the wrong impression at Everwinter. I'm not some bleeding heart pup, Avery. I'm glad to hear that you can do what it takes... and I'm also glad to hear that your motivations for it are good. It puts me at ease."

I bared my teeth in a wolfish grin, "Scared of the big bad wolf?"

Leonard's smiled back, "Scary on the outside, big softie on the inside, perfect combo."

788 I.C, February 18, Ferrel Grove, Evening

"Hey! Where's that bloody whelp?" Cujo screamed.

The wulfkins around the campfire started to look around. After a few moments the pure white and blue eyed wulfkin named Clyde emerged from within the watchtower.

Cujo caught sight of him and snapped, " Move it!"

Clyde picked up the pace, rushed past the campfire, and stood tall in front off Cujo, "Coast is-"

His words caught in his throat when Cujo lunged forward and gave him a harsh punt in the chest. It made Clyde stumble back while the wulfkins in the camp chuckled with amusement.

"Slow! Wimpy! Weak! **When I call, you sprint!** Not fucking saunter down the stairs!" Cujo screamed and fixated on Clyde with a harsh glare.

Clyde's ears folded back, and he averted his gaze with a nod, "Yes, Si-"

WHAP!

A heavy paw slammed into Clyde's head and made him stumble to the side.

"I'm not a damn 'sir'. I'm your Alpha, learn the fucking difference," Cujo snapped with a snarl in his throat, and loomed over the smaller wulfkin.

"Yes, Alpha," Clyde cowered and held his head while he looked up at Cujo.

Cujo stared for a few moments and then motioned for Clyde to follow, "Come on."

Clyde straightened himself and followed Cujo past the campfire and into the nearby forest.

Cujo then faced Clyde and crossed his arms, "I've put you on the roster for the next raid."

"Thank you, Alpha," Clyde answered with a nod.

The response made Cujo groan while he rolled his eyes, "Listen... whelp..."

"I'll do better this time, I promise," Clyde answered and clenched his hands.

Cujo sighed, "Amarok always had a soft spot for his family. I have a lot of respect for the Commander, but the way he has spoiled and shielded you was a great disservice. You're weak, and the rumors that surround you don't help."

Clyde stared back but kept his silence.

Cujo stepped closer and motioned to him, "I will make you a stronger, better wulfkin. One way or another, and the question is whether we'll do it the easy or the hard way."

"But..." Clyde murmured.

Cujo reached out, put his heavy hand on Clyde's shoulder, and squeezed, "You're barely growing, Clyde. You're on the next raid and this time I expect you to do your part. The old Seer worked hard to make sure you can control your instincts, but this is not the place for that. Revel in it, bathe in it, eat until you can eat no more, feel the beast inside you and succumb to it. Then when you go home, put it all behind you."

"... But they're not traders trying to trick us, they're women, child-" Clyde's voice turned into a whimper when Cujo squeezed his shoulder and growled.

"So fucking what? Seriously, what has Amarok done to you!? A rabbit can be cuddly and soft, but it doesn't change the fact that it's a fucking meal. There's no difference between a squealing rabbit and the rabble out there. It's just noise, annoying noise that is ended with a sharp bite. Understand?" Cujo asked.

"I understand, Alpha," Clyde answered.

Cujo eased his grip, relaxed, and then gave Clyde another sudden slap in the face. Clyde jumped in surprise and looked back in confusion.

Cujo raised a claw and pointed at him, "Do not fail this time. Or I'll lock you in a cell with one of the vermin and wait until your instincts do the work for you. Understand?"

"I get it," Clyde answered.

Cujo reached down by his belt, and removed a stone with an embedded crystal, "The Commander wants a word with you, just touch the crystal and it'll put you in contact with him."

Clyde looked down, took the rock when Cujo offered it, and looked up, "Okay."

Cujo stepped aside, and looked Clyde in the eyes, "Your father doesn't realize what his soft manners are doing to you. Don't let his words get to you."

"I won't," Clyde answered.

"Good boy," Cujo said with a nod, and walked away.

Clyde waited until Cujo was out of sight, held up the rock, and touched the crystal. It shimmered for a moment, and then darkened to become like a dark abyss.

Amarok's voice emanated from the stone, "Clyde?"

"Yes, Commander?" Clyde asked.

"Are you by yourself?" Amarok asked.

"Yes, Commander."

"Cut the bullshit, Clyde," Amarok snapped in irritation.

"... Yes, Father."

"How are things going?" Amarok asked.

Clyde leaned onto a nearby tree and closed his eyes, "Things are fine. But you shouldn't call, the others will nev-"

Amarok interrupted him, "I understand that I'm putting you in an uncomfortable spot, but I didn't go through the trouble of arranging this if it wasn't serious. So stuff your whining and listen."

Clyde opened his eyes, and felt his ears perk, "What's wrong?"

"Have you noticed anything strange with the others?" Amarok asked.

Clyde glanced back toward the distant camp, "I... Yes, Father."

"They're growing bigger, black armor, constant fights, strange scents?" Amarok asked with a hint of tension in his voice.

"Yes," Clyde whispered.

"Are you wearing one of the black armors?" Amarok asked.

Clyde looked down at the black armor and the buckles that held it strapped tight across his upper body, "Yes, why?"

"Get out of it, right now! Do you understand?" Clyde ordered.

"But..."

Amarok's voice grew into a snapping growl, "I'm ordering you! Get out of it! Don't let it touch you!"

Clyde frowned and glared at the rock, "I can't just get rid of my armor!"

Amarok's voice calmed but maintained a solid, and serious tone, "Clyde, listen to me. Listen to my voice, I am serious. More serious than I have ever been with you before. You need to get out of that armor, and you need to stay away from it. I'm ordering it as your Commander, and I'm begging as your father. Please, Clyde, take the armor off."

Clyde stared at the plate armor strapped to his chest, and he felt his father's words trickle into his mind, "What's going on, Father?"

"I'd tell you, but I can't. The Master is listening, and he'll allow me to talk with you, but only as long as I don't tell you the reason. Please? Just do as I say..."

Clyde reached down to the first clasp and pried at the restraint. To his surprise it resisted as if it was made with powerful magnets, "I'm... trying, but... It's almost as if it's stuck."

Amarok seethed with tension, "It's only meant to release when the process is complete. Pull harder, don't worry about breaking it, just get out of the damn thing."

Clyde stopped for a moment, "You're scaring me."

Amarok whispered, "You should be scared... For now, just focus on getting out of it, and hurry."

Clyde set the rock down on the ground, got on his knees, and gripped the clasp with both hands. His claws pressed against the locking mechanism, and he gritted his teeth from exertion. The metal groaned a little but wouldn't give way.

"I can't get it off!" Clyde snapped.

"Use your knife, force it apart," Amarok ordered.

Clyde fetched his knife, pried it into the clasp, and struggled. Little by little the metal began to give way and he tried to pull it apart once more. With a low growl of exertion the clasp made a sudden pop and split.

"Good, keep going... It's already too late for those that can remove it with ease," Amarok said.

Clyde grabbed another clasp, and repeated the process.

CLINK! CLACK! POP!

"What the hell is going on, dad?" Clyde asked when he slipped out of the armor and dropped it.

"I can't tell you, just make sure to stay away from it. All right?" Amarok asked.

"But I can't walk into camp without an armor. They'll ask and Cujo will be all over me," Clyde retorted.

"True, is the armor off?" Amarok asked.

"Yeah, it's on the ground," Clyde answered.

"Okay. Here's what you'll have to do, on the inside of the armor, do you see any padded areas?"

Clyde crouched and inspected the armor, "Yeah, near the upper chest, ribcage, and back."

"Cut the padded areas open, and throw away what you find inside. No one should notice what you've done," Amarok ordered.

Clyde fetched his knife, put it to a padded area, and cut through the fabric. Hidden underneath was a hardened plate of obsidian with runes that emitted a gentle glow. He took the plate in his hand and realized that it felt warm to the touch, more so than body heat could produce.

"This is magic, runes inscribed on obsidian," Clyde whispered while trying to make sense of the runes.

"Bury it in the snow, try not to touch it, and make sure to remove each one, understand?"

Clyde pushed the plate deep into the snow, and resumed cutting, "Dad..."

"Yes?" Amarok asked.

"I have a friend, he was ordered to join the raids before me. Ca-"

Amarok interrupted him, "I'm sorry. I can't, I really can't... The Master is here, listening."

Clyde squeezed the knife, gritted his teeth, and felt his heart pound, "But..."

"There's nothing I can do, and you can't tell others either. Now promise me that you'll stay away from it from now on?" Amarok pleaded.

"... I promise," Clyde answered.

788 I.C, February 18, Cromwell's Guild: The Tower, Night

I stepped into the tower and noticed that things had changed. The magical lights had been dimmed, living candles burned in the windows, and the smell of food permeated the room. A gentle tune hummed in the tower, and it reminded me of the magical jukebox we had seen during our travels.

The music drew my attention to the back of the tower. A sofa had been moved in front of a window that overlooked the sea and night sky. Next to the sofa was a small table filled with a variety of meat and sweet things.

Talwin stood beside the table and watched me with a curious glance while fiddling with his hands, "Hi."

I approached and looked around, "You did all this?"

Talwin made a discrete gulp and nodded, "Yeah... Well, I had some help. Casey in particular, he's a very nice guy, and he understands what we are."

"What we are?" I asked.

Talwin raised his hands, "Never mind... Have a seat?"

I stopped in front Talwin, and caught his eyes, "It's very nice, Talwin. Where's the music coming from?"

Talwin looked back and motioned toward a small box that stood on the window ledge, "They had one in storage. Around here it counts as a child's toy. It's a lot smaller than the one we saw, and it plays more songs as well."

I nodded and gently caught his arm in my own. He felt tense to the touch and gave me a sudden glance of surprise and fear. Even the smell wafting from his body was filled with fright.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

Talwin gulped once more and shook his head, "No. Let's eat before the ice cream melts."

My ears perked in surprise, "You made ice cream?"

Talwin chuckled and stepped over to the sofa with a growing smile, "Yeah. The principle was simple enough, the caramel took more effort... It burns rather easily."

I followed, eased myself into the sofa, and motioned to him, "Come on, Talwin."

Talwin's ears folded back while he walked over, turned around, and sat down beside me.

You're acting strange...

"What do we start with, the ice cream?" I asked.

Talwin shook his head, "It's in a bath of ice so it should hold for a while. We can start with the meat."

I watched in silence while Talwin reached out, grabbed a plate on a tray, and set it down on our legs.

"I figured it might be a tad hard to eat in the sofa, so I sliced it up, and..." Talwin murmured.

My focus rested on Talwin while he kept murmuring and staring at the tray, "Talwin?"

Talwin's ears perked and he looked up, "What?"

"... You've gone through all this effort, and you've made a wondrous meal. But you're acting as if you're breaking apart inside, what's wrong?"

Talwin blinked and remained silent for a few moments, "... I'm sorry, my mind is something of a mess right now."

"You've never been scared of saying what you think before. Please? Talk to me?" I asked.

Talwin's ears clamped to his head, "It's just... My thoughts are spinning all kinds of things. I know most of them are wrong and that I'm just..."

I put the tray back on the table and inched closer, "Just tell me what's going on?"

Talwin met my eyes, "What purpose do I serve here?"

I blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Talwin pointed a claw at himself, "I hardly know where to start, but I'll try. We started journeying together because you needed a guide and I needed to escape from my previous life. You've been the hunted but powerful wulfkin while I've been the coyote with connections to the underground."

I frowned, "Tal-"

Talwin raised his hand, "You asked me to speak, let me speak."

I nodded, "All right."

"I was fine with that for a while, I contributed what little I could. But then we came to Dracwyn and I got caught by Fletcher, and you had to save me, again. Then we ended up in the guild, and now I'm..."

Talwin paused for a moment and drew a deep breath, "You have a goal Avery, it drives you. You know what to do and if you're not in the marketplace or the tower, then you're working with Leonard. I know a few names in the underground but Leonard and the others actively work with them. I just sit here, doing errands once in a while."

Talwin knitted his fists, "I know that I'm important to you. But how long before that feeling starts to fade and I become a burden instead? What if you find someone else that's better suited, a proper mage or someone with capabilities far beyond my own? At times it makes me wonder if I should just disappear and let the rest of you solve everything. I can't tell if I'm being sensible or if it's just a bunch of rubbish."

"You're not a burden, Talwin," I said.

Talwin stared back, "You're going after a wulfkin camp, but you're not letting me come along, are you?"

I shook my head, "No."

"Why not?" Talwin asked.

"Talwin..." I whispered.

Talwin gritted his teeth, "You know it, I know it. I'm a burden, I'm weak. I don't have the strength to go up against a wulfkin, and I'll never be a mage powerful enough to do the things you do."

I motioned to myself, "I hardly have the strength to go up against a wulfkin, and I've been studying magic for the better part of my life. You're not-"

Talwin interrupted me and raised his voice with a snap, "Magic comes from heritage! I can't become your equal no matter how much I try!"

I couldn't help but growl a little, "That's the same fucking attitude they use in Everwinter."

Talwin snapped, "Because it reflects reality!"

I raised a claw and poked Talwin hard in the chest, "No, it doesn't, and you're the one who taught me that! Or have you forgotten what you told me back at the farm!?"

Talwin leaned back from the jab, "What?"

"Mages may be powerful but they cannot be on their guard all the time. Poisoned food, a hidden knife, a lover that strikes when you least expect it. No one wins, everyone suffers. Does that ring a bell!?"

Talwin lowered his head, "I did say that, and it's true in the sense I meant it. But that doesn't change that I can't accompany you, because I lack the power to do so."

"And that's the way things will be at times. I have power to do what others cannot, and I have to use it."

Talwin leaned back in the sofa, "Yes."

I leaned closer and focused on his eyes, "You've been thinking about this way too much without talking to anyone, and it has distorted what you see."

Talwin threw me an irritated frown, "Uh huh."

I reached out, caught his hand, and held it up, "Do you have any idea how far you've come in little time? It has been little more than a month and you've already learned more about the aether than others do in years. You're intelligent, quick on your feet, and crafty. Most of all is that you're hardy, adaptable, and willing to stand up for what you consider right and wrong."

"It doesn't change-"

I interrupted him and clasped his hand in my own, "You've taught me a lot in a short of time. You showed me ideas and concepts that I have never even considered before. If you're lacking a purpose, then find it. Ask the others to teach you, keep up your studies, and you can help me even if you're not fighting your way through a wulfkin camp."

"And what about you?" Talwin whispered.

"What about me?" I asked.

Talwin's shoulders dropped and his gaze dropped, "What if you die out there?"

"I'll do my best to keep that from happening," I answered.

Talwin's eyes strained with pain, "But what if you do... Where does that leave me?"

"That's a danger we've been facing since day one, Talwin," I said.

Talwin focused one me and his hand squeezed so hard that I felt his claws pinch, "That's different. We faced it together, and now you face this kind of danger alone, while I'm safe back here."

"... I know. But I need to do this, because something big is about to happen, and we need to know what."

"Sometimes I wish that we could just sail to another continent, and leave all of this behind."

"Do you really mean that?" I asked.

Talwin lowered his head, "Part of me does."

I leaned closer and let my head rest against his, "Part of me thinks the same way."

"You do?" Talwin whispered.

I eased back, let go, reached down to my belt, removed a sheathed dagger, and held it out to him, "This is for you."

Talwin looked at me in wonder, reached out, touched it, and jumped in surprise, "This feels like those magic marbles."

"Remove the dagger," I said.

Talwin took a firm grip on the leather hilt and pulled it out. The dark metal glimmered in the dim light and the socket shone with the presence of a blue marble.

I motioned to the marble, "The effect of the marble runs through the metal with ease, but it isn't as effective through leather. It's the perfect blade of an assassin, and it can pierce any kind of magic."

"You're giving this to me?" Talwin asked.

I nodded, "You can control the aether to some degree. That gives you more power than most people have in this world, and this dagger gives you more power than most mages."

"I wanted power so that I could be by your side, not for any other reason," Talwin answered.

I smiled, "That's good. Then use it to protect yourself, and me."

"As much as I can, you mean," Talwin whispered.

I tipped my head and sighed, "You're being silly, Talwin. You're the one that turned the tide in our latest battle. You're the one that shot that headhunter and saved me. It's your connections and your knack for words that have brought us this far."

Talwin made a humble nod, "My insecurities are messing with my mind, but..."

"Yes?" I asked.

"I know that you've already got a lot of things weighing you down, and I'm not sure this is the right time," Talwin whispered and sheathed the dagger once more.

"Out with it, stop squirming around the issue?" I pleaded.

"I think most of this can be traced back to the point that you still haven't given me an answer."

"An answer?" I asked.

"It happens every time I mention it. Like earlier, when I mentioned people like us."

I tipped my head in wonder, "Like us?"

Talwin threw me an irritated frown, "People that like the same gender, it's not normal."

I couldn't help but grin, "We've been over this. I'm from Everwinter where normal means that you spend your life like a cruel beast while deluding yourself that the things you do are good. Archer and Casey were slaves where it is normal to unquestionably serve your masters. You're a coyote with a whole different kind of norm."

"Your point?" Talwin asked.

"The concept of normal is a construct with the purpose of dividing people into us and them. If we do something as consenting adults and it doesn't harm anyone, then what could be wrong with it?"

Talwin cowered, "It's not a matter of right and wrong."

"True, it's a matter of what others think, and they can go shove their opinion where the sun doesn't shine," I answered.

Talwin nodded, "That's not an answer though."

"An answer to what?" I asked.

Talwin shrank and looked up at me like a hurt pup, "Not a day goes by when I don't think about it. It's worse during the nights when I'm curled up with you in bed with nothing but uncertainty in my mind. I want to be able to see you give Leonard a hug without seeing him as a rival. I want the comfort of being able to think of you as mind."

Talwin drew a deep but slow breath, "Do you love me?"

Why does the question scare me so much?

Talwin looked up with the expression of a glass statue that was about to break.

I looked back into his eyes and felt the heavy beat of my heart, "I... Talwin... I mean..."

"No?" Talwin whispered.

Anger flared inside me, "I asked you tell me the what you felt. It's only prudent that I return the favor. Your society is strange to me, there are many things that I see in the streets which strike as childish and idiotic even if they have a subtle charm. The only things that I can relate to with ease are the bad things. My inquisitive nature always bothered my family and they struggled to shape me into someone who could set aside my feelings and do what needed to be done."

Talwin stared at me in wonder but stayed silent.

I continued, "There are a lot of things that are changing about me, and I have become a better person. Your kind of love isn't the same one you'd find in Everwinter, and I'm still struggling to understand what it means. It's not easy to let go of my roots, the way I think and reason. But I'm going to try my best to balance what my mind tells me is right, and these new parts of me blossomed."

"And?" Talwin whispered.

I panted and drew deep breaths when I stared him down, "Damn it, Talwin... You have no idea how I felt when you walked away with that guard and was captured by Fletcher and the others. It overrode reason, my instincts flared, the aether surged within me with a fury I haven't felt in a long while. If they had touched a single strand on you, then I'd have torn the bastards to pieces. You matter, you are my second half. I have bonded with you, and my heart beats with instincts that are deeper and more primal than I had ever expected."

I gulped, "Yes, I love you, but I do it my own way. I'll treasure you, I'll protect you, I'll teach you and stay by your side until I can do so no more. Hell, I'll even prance around in the marketplace and buy flowers for you if that's what you want."

Talwin looked at me with a rather shell-shocked expression, moments later his ears rose and a serene smile grew on his muzzle. He then reached up with a hand and gently touched my chin.

"If what you've shown me so far is your kind of love, then it's more than welcome," Talwin whispered.

"Good, because I wasn't looking forward to prancing around like one of those-"

My words were cut short when Talwin touched my nose without warning, "Shh."

Talwin wrapped his arms around me chest, pulled himself closer, and hugged me with a strength that made me wonder if he thought I'd disappear like a gentle dream.

"I've been longing to say it for so long... I love you, Avery."

The fear inside me crumbled, the doubts evaporated, and I felt warmth, "I love you too, Talwin."