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Archives: A New Balance

Chapter 13: Kidnapped Leaf

    Jet sat back in the Salbad tavern. There was little to do without any wars to play in. There was no need for a strategist when there was no great enemy to fight, and trying to bring in the Alecrastian’s into Lodoss would be suicide. He smirked. For either... He eyed a barmaid hesitantly. He was still not used to dealing with commoners, and his use of vernacular dealing in common was strained to say the least. He cleared his throat and raised a finely groomed hand. “My dear maiden,” he spoke eloquently. “Perhaps I may, by chance, have some service over here.”

    She came over giggling. “Yessir,” she said with a soft drawl. “So whaddya be havin’?”

    Jet flinched at her disregard for proper speech. “It is ‘what will you be having, sir’, not ‘wahdda ya be havin’,” he stressed.

    She placed her hands on her hips. “Well ‘scuse me, mista all high’n mighteh.” She cleared her throat. “So then, what will you be having, sir?”

    Jet grit his teeth, but maintained his calm. “I will be having some wine, preferably of vintage stock. Just bring an uncorked bottle. I want nothing to do with with your dirty paraphernalia.”

    She rolled her eyes and went about getting his order. Jet collected himself silently, there was no use blowing up here in this place. He was by no means a fighter. A strategist, yes, but not a fighter. She returned shortly with the bottle and put it down in front of him. “Anythan‘ else, yer grace?”

    Jet dismissed her with a wave. There was no need to talk to dirt like that. She left in a huff and Jet uncorked and poured himself a glass of the wine into his own glass. “Simpler pleasures than dealing with whores,” he muttered.

    For months, Karla had been searching for information on a tactician who had worked with the Marmo. When she formulated her new plans, this man was one she wanted to find. At that time, he was little more than a shadow, but she eventually learned that he went by the name of Jet, what he looked like, where he was from, and where he was.

    She had sent her raven spies to scour Marmo until they came across a man who fit Jet’s description. She teleported to Salbad immediately and sought him out. Before hand, she had discovered something disturbing; three former heroes traveling with the mercenaries out of Blade. She would have to remove them, but when she last checked her orb, Garrack and Ryna had remained behind in Hilt. Leaf still had to be taken care of at least.

    Karla observed Jet from her usual place: the shadows. At first, she just watched his exchange with the barmaid, to get a sense of how he interacted with people. His nobility showed.

    Karla, or rather, Orath, rose and gracefully crossed the room. Her/his movements were vaguely feminine and appearance manicured. Orath was a rough, masculine man, but Karla had softened him. He looked as if he were a commoner turned noble.

    “Pardon me, sir. Would you be Jet?” Karla asked, stopping behind the seat across from Jet.

    He eyed the rough man. Is this someone I had in my employ? No, I never forget a face. That circlet looks awfully effeminate. “I am Jet,” he replied. He pointed to the seat that the man stood before. “Pardon me if I seem distrusting, but you seem to have me at a slight disadvantage. You have my name, but I fail to have yours.”

    Karla sat down in the seat across from Jet, maintaining her poise. “My name is Kaladron,” she/he replied, giving the alias she had used in the letters posted in mercenary guilds across Lodoss. “I understand you deal in war?”

    “When there is war to deal with,” he stated blandly. “Of course, I am a tactician. So, what do you need? There are no wars in Lodoss, sadly enough.” He took a sip of his wine and savored the smell under his nose.

    Karla smirked. “How would you like to start one?”

    Jet sipped his wine. “What is in it for you?” He knew what was in it for him. There was money to be made in war. He sighed and withdrew his question. “I could, if permitted, start a war. All I need is some fool who thinks he can be a leader, and I could slowly manipulate and poison from the shadows. But how are we going to start this ‘war’ of yours?”

    Karla avoided the answer to his question of what was in in for her. All she was interested in was restoring her balance. “You will not be disappointed then. I am gathering ‘fools’ as we speak. One will be chosen amongst the warriors who come with my invitation.”

    “Very well then,” he stated. “And then, what would you have me do in the mean time? I do not like to waste my time hanging about the lower class of infidels and hooligans.”

    “In the mean time, I recently found someone in one of the parties of adventurers that I don’t want to know about me. I need someone to capture her for me; but not kill her. I have my own uses for her,” Karla replied. Leaf was a liability, as she would recognize Karla’s circlet. However, Karla wanted a female body again, and it would silence Leaf just as well as death.

    “Very well then,” Jet responded after giving it a little time to think it over. “But I have a question, if you would indulge me in this one act: is this a job, or is this a request? I would be fine with either, but I need to know if I am funding this myself, or if this is a joint venture you are entrusting to me.”

    “It is a job,” Karla replied. “You will be well compensated, and I will pay for any expenses. Coin is no issue.”

    Jet nodded slowly. It was a job after all, He thought. He gently sipped at his wine, and closed his eyes to think it over. Coin does not buy loyalty, but it does loan it for a while. He smirked and returned to the conversation at hand. “Very well then. I accept. Tell me what needs to be done.”

    Karla was coolly expressionless as Jet accepted. The Grey Witch then began to explain her plan to her new tactician. Once finished, they could simply teleport back to the Silent Swamp.

* * *

    Zira rode out of the city with her head down, trusting Thunder to pick a safe path through the crowd. After the brawl last night, she didn’t want anyone to recognize her. As the mercenaries passed through the city gates, Zira breathed a sigh of relief.

    From out of the west came the roar of Nightfire, her human companion atop her in the morning sky. Together, they swooped down, waving to Zira and giving her a thumbs up that he was ready. With a final wave and a smile, the wyvern pulled back up towards the sky. Jeren slowed the pace of Nightfire by making wide circles in the air. While in flight, he kept his eyes keen over the landscape, hunting for anything out of the ordinary...

    Looking up at the sky, Edwin rode behind Zira, humming softly to himself, until Nightfire flew down over the group, snapping Edwin to attention. “Alright, that is an experience was enough to wake me!” Turning his head slightly to check on the other riders, he gave them a smile before looking forward wondering what was ahead of them.

    As it was, Dorian was quite surprised by the generosity of Ryna. The young adventurer has walked all over, and had never had a steed to call his own. Dorian cracked a small smile as he rode with his group. Eventually, he fell into place between Zira and Leaf. The young man said nothing, but he did keep his eyes on his surroundings, in case there was anything interesting worth looking at.

    chuckled at Edwin’s comment. Jeren was airborne, so they could continue. Zira realized just how hard it would be to keep up with a wyvern on horse back. Well, it was impossible to keep pace, at least over long distance.

    dark elf cast a glance over her shoulder to the others. “Let’s ride at a fast gait, but we’ll rotate between a trot and a walk for the horse’s sake. If your horse starts falling back, or foaming, we’ll all stop,” Zira ordered.

    The dark elf paused to remove her cloak, then tossed it to Edwin again, as she had done the day before. “Pack it in my saddle bags, please,” Zira said. Now unencumbered, Zira gave Thunder a cue and the large warmblood gelding started at a quick trot toward the road.

    As they rode out, Zira noticed something dark on the signpost out of the corner of her eye. She glanced toward it and saw a raven perched on the top of the gate. It was strangely unaffected by the desert heat and watched them far too closely for comfort. Zira felt a chill up her spine. They had seen a raven the day before, when the scorpions attacked. Ravens didn’t venture out of the forests this far. Were they being watched by someone using the bird?

    the cloak and placing it into Zira’s saddle bag quickly, Edwin noticed her already moving forward. Giving Night Raven a nudge, he looked back at Leaf, Ashe, and Dorian. “Well, back on the path. This should be an interesting trip.”

    Getting Night Raven into a quick trot, Edwin looked around, taking a deep breath. Everything seemed so peaceful to him at the moment. Looking back at Dorian for a moment, he spoke, “Sorry, with all that happened, I think I missed out finding out much about you. The name is Edwin.”

    Leaf let her horse set the pace and carry her with the group. She seemed very depressed, and with all her moods, she was at one extreme or another. Either she was happy and upbeat, or she crashed hard. Her horse trotted on it’s own and kept pace with Dorian’s, but Leaf was too focused on her inner turmoil to notice.

    “A pleasure to meet you, Edwin. I am known as Dorian. I do not really do much. I usually explore, or find myself in places that no one else would set foot in,” Dorian said with a smile. The adventurer looked over to the side, and noticed Leaf’s current mood. Dorian raised an eyebrow, before deciding to speak to the half-elf. “Is something wrong, Leaf? You do not look well at all. Would you like to talk about it?” The adventurer regarded the half-elf with a warm, genuine smile.

    Nodding his head, Edwin noticed that Leaf was not looking so well, but it was Dorian that spoke about it first. Looking back to Dorian with a smile, he replied. “Exploring is good unless you find yourself in trouble.” Tilting his head slightly, watching both Dorian and Leaf, Edwin smiled to Leaf. “We are all here for you if you need someone to talk to.”

    Leaf gave a heavy sigh, but she was glad someone noticed her depression so she could say something. “I’ve just been with Garrack and Ryna for so many years, I’m gonna miss them,” Leaf said. “It’s not that I can’t do the work alone, I mean, I was a merc for a couple years solo before the war, but I’m just used to them.”

    “Well, I would not expect you to feel any different. As you said, you have known them for years and have been close to them,” Edwin looked toward Leaf. “I would feel the same, I believe, if I was in your position. I just have not really had the chance to get close to that many and part company that often.”

    Dorian smiled at the half-elf before clearing his throat softly and speaking. “I would have to agree with Edwin. If I were in your boots, I would probably feel the same...” The adventurer looked thoughtful for a moment, before he turned back to his companions and continuing. “I hadn’t felt anything like you’re feeling though. Like Edwin, I’ve been traveling alone for quite sometime. In fact...” The young man cracked a grin at Leaf. “This is actually the first time in so long that I’ve ever traveled with a group of people. With what I do, it is rare that I’m ever with companions, or anyone else for that matter.”

    Leaf began to feel better once attention was turned to her. She still missed Ryna and Garrack of course, but Dorian and Edwin’s comforting was doing a world of good for the half-elf with moods as different as night and day. Leaf gave the two men a little smile. “Thanks guys. At least we all have each other, huh?”

    “Yes, we have each other, as well the others here. We should make the best of our traveling.” Edwin was glad that Leaf was cheering up. He nodded to Dorian, glad that he was helping as well.

    Leaf’s smile turned sly as she looked at Edwin. “So...what’s going on with Zira and you?” she asked.

    Dorian watched as Leaf and Edwin continued to talk to one another. Truth be told, he was honestly curious as to how a dark elf became a part of their group. Not that he didn’t mind, since he believed that the only way a person would be considered evil would be by their actions. The adventurer seemed to stare at Leaf for a moment, before he leaned over and reached into his pack, seemingly looking for something. As he did so, he made sure to keep an eye on the road ahead of them.

    Edwin’s gaze had turned to study Zira before them as the group rode down the path. His cheeks flushed slightly from Leaf’s sudden question about Zira and himself. Shrugging slightly, Edwin patted Night Raven’s mane gently. “You know, I should have guessed you were going to ask that after walking in on us last night. Nothing for you to worry about just yet,” Edwin winked with a hopeful smile. He had not really given it much thought, he found himself very attracted to the enchanting Zira, but being on a adventure was not the best time to let himself get distracted and do something foolish.

    Leaf grinned when Edwin blushed. She actually hoped to see the two become a couple, even if it was none of her business. She just liked to see people happy together.

* * *

    Back in Hilt, Kai prepared himself for the next part of his journey, away from Seihvregn territory. He kept the beating as valuable reminder not to take them on again until he was much stronger. Kai had every reason to lust for revenge, but in truth he felt very little need to claim it. It had been almost fifteen years since he saw his family and although he missed them dearly he felt he barely knew them. They were little more than ghosts in his memories.

    But what else was there? He couldn’t go back to Raiden and even if he could it would mean being a hired thug the rest of his life. Or perhaps hire into an army again... Kai shuddered at the mere thought, countless drills and an old hack barking orders only to spend long months patrolling the borders or doing absolutely nothing as a sentry. A decent living to retire into, but not for one who still wanted to live loudly.

    And then there was Bayle, a man who he thought he knew as a child, another son of the Nictanu who showed up in Raiden several months earlier. At least Kai thought he had known him, the skinny child grew up into a skinny young man who wouldn’t harm an insect without feeling remorse. But when he showed up in Raiden there was something different about him. His eyes became hallow as though they held no soul, and his voice echoed with cold resonance as he warned Kai to flee from him. And then Bayle attacked Kai with the fire and strength of Myrii himself, Kai could barely stand up to his friend’s might. As their battle raged on, as the clan brothers tore each other apart Kai felt something he knew he should not have. He felt the thrill of battle waking up after being long dormant, not simply difficulty winning, but a true challenge. After hours of fighting Kai’s body refused to continue, but Bayle kept going when he should have been cut down a dozen times over. To that day Kai had no idea how he survived the encounter, but after long months of recovery he felt reborn. Suddenly Raiden was no longer home, it had nothing for him.

    The young warrior bought a horse and another kukri to replace the one that was taken from him. Wasting little time he headed in the general direction of Valis. Somewhere there was the home of Bayle and his sister, and possibly some answers.

* * *

    Jet had been prepared for his trap since leaving Salbad. He first spotted the wyvern above them, and gave his crew the signal to get ready to play it up. He socked one of the grown men in the face, breaking the man’s nose. Obviously enraged at the act, the man struck out at Jet, knocking him clear and sending him sprawling onto the sand. “Help!!” he cried as loud as possible. The other men, seeing this as the point where they earned their pay began to advance on Jet. He threw sand at the ‘leader’ and ran in the direction of Leaf and company. “By Marfa, someone help me!” he screamed, clawing through the sand trying to avoid the ten seasoned men behind him.

    Zira saw the group ahead and her ears perked up as she heard someone screaming for help. “Let’s go, Thunder,” she said to her horse. The leggy gray gelding took off at a run at Zira’s word and the dark elf rode toward Jet to help. “C’mon!” she shouted to her companions.

    Ashe understood what Zira’s actions meant. There would be a fight up ahead. A nudge from his boot was enough to get Patience into as much of a gallop as the horse could possibly go.

    Leaf raised her head as she saw the commotion up ahead. It looked like someone was being attacked by bandits. Zira and Ashe took off to help the man, and Leaf followed. “C’mon guys, we gotta help that guy!” Leaf said to Edwin and Dorian before giving her horse a cue to gallop.

    Dorian offered a simple nod to the half-elf and urged his horse forward after Leaf, just so he could see what was going on, and how he could help. The young adventurer replaced whatever he pulled from his pack as he rode toward whatever was happening up ahead.

    Hearing Zira, Edwin spurred Night Raven to speed up as he pulled out his bow and got it ready. Nocking an arrow, he looked forward. He had never shot from a horse, but he was not really aiming at anything. If someone was in danger, most likely an arrow could be used to draw attention away that person would help.

    Jet scrambled forward, playing up the helpless bit more. His bandits were quick on his tail, but their orders stood, engage the others and let Jleslie and Kilij take out Leaf. Jet surged forward and tapped Leaf’s horse on the flanks. That gave Jleslie and Kilij the sign to attack that horse.

    Hidden underneath the sand, beneath an old cloak, laid the Rose of the Desert, waiting for her part of their clever coup. With her head raised slightly, she watched for the signal, then bolted. Coming up from behind and watching Leaf’s moves, she picked the perfect moment to strike. With all of the lift she could give, the Flame Tribe dancer tossed herself into the air, throwing her body into a spinning kick. The timing was perfect. Just as Leaf turned into that direction, a silken-dressed leg landed in her neck. Leaf was lifted straight off of her horse, tossed to the desert sands like a rag doll.

    The elf was stunned, which was the goal. As she landed, Jleslie rolled to her, swung one arm around her neck and the other over her mouth. Instantly, the blood to her head was leaving her quickly. As Leaf struggled to kick back, Jleslie used her own feet to lock with Leaf’s, making her defenses useless. With every kick and second, Leaf became weaker and weaker, until she was put out to unconsciousness.

    Meanwhile, the other bandits had turned around, pushing and directing the others away from the incident behind them. The goal was to keep them diverted from her. The woman lifted up Leaf up after she was out and tossed her onto her horse and lifted herself gracefully up. With a deadly scimitar in her hand, Jleslie yanked the horse around and kicked it hard, forcing the horse into a gallop in the opposite direction.

    Among the bandits, Jleslie looked back to catch a glimpse of her love, well at work. Kilij, she thought. I hope you are having fun. You always have all of the fun. Jleslie held Leaf’s unconscious body in front of her and bolted off into the desert, which she knew so well...

* * *

    Ashe had long since left his horse behind, choosing to stand his ground on his own two feet. He continued swinging heavy blows at the bandits, trying to get as many as he could with his blunt swords.

    Kilij’s concealment was almost perfect and nobody could have noticed him. Nobody except Jleslie who somehow always knew where he stood. When the signal was given, at the exact moment when Jleslie tossed into the air, the assassin emerged from the shadows. His movement was quick and precise. Clouds of dust were created to hide Jleslie’s action, while the ample and sudden movements diverted the members of the expedition.

    As if he wanted to stab Jet, he ran forward to the latter. Someone tried to intercept him, as Kilij expected. In a quick reflex, he jumped in opposite to Jleslie’s direction. After rolling on the sand in order make more dust and to catch attention, he stood, one of his black daggers in each hand.

    A sordid smile appeared on his lips. Let? have some fun now. With an unarticulated cry he hurried upon his nearest enemy...

    The new one seemed different. Ashe kept a visual count of how many bandits there were. All of a sudden there was another in the fray, bigger and darker than the rest.

    Ashe smashed the bandit he was currently tangling with in the face with the flat side of his weapon, breaking his nose and possibly more before stepping over the unconscious body towards the newcomer.

    Jet motioned to Kilij to reign it in. There was little time before they would be whisked away, and he didn’t want one of his finer soldiers left behind. “Jleslie...” He realized the woman he was about to speak to was already gone. He sighed deeply and made one more final motion for Kilij to wrap it up. “Blasted heat,” he muttered as he took off towards the designated meeting spot.

    Kilij’s fun was of short time. Jet’s motion gave him the signal of leaving. All right, let’s go now. One more mission achieved. With a swift motion he raised sand clouds once again, and went forward to the meeting spot.

    “Odd.” Ashe decided that now was not the time to ponder who the strange one was. Two bandits began flanking him. They posed a more immediate threat.

* * *

    As the victim of the attack ran behind their horses, Zira didn’t look back. She drew a dagger from the hidden sheath in her corset and chucked it into the throat of the nearest bandit. It was a fatal wound, and he started desperately trying to pull the blade out his neck, even though he was as good as dead.

    She hopped off Thunder’s back and drew her rapier. These bandits seemed more determined than usual. There were no orders to give them money, it was straight to fighting.

    Ridding up quick, Edwin watched as Zira moved to engage the bandits. He shot from his bow and the arrow flew through the air. Its aim, while a little eschew, hit deep into one of the bandit’s shoulder. That was all he was looking for. Edwin jumped from Night Raven, drawing his sword as he ran to join to the fray.

    Dorian rode into the battle, pulling his sword from his back as he did so. The adventurer rode into the fray, swinging at the nearest bandit. There was something in the back of his mind telling him that something was wrong, but he just couldn’t place it. “Zira, watch out!” Dorian yelled as he swung at a bandit that was fast approaching on the dark elf.

    Zira spun around with a downward slash, and her elven steel rapier slipped through the chest of the bandit with little effort. Why were they so determined when they were obviously out classed? Some of the men ahead of them were looking scared. As the wounded man fell back, Zira only had a glimpse of the road behind her. Where was the man they were attacking, and where was Leaf? They had to be somewhere out of her line of view. Her sensitive ears heard someone approaching from behind, and she turned again, swinging at another bandit. He blocked her blow, but she quickly had a dagger in hand that she flicked into his throat.

* * *

    Karla had been watching the conflict through the eyes of her raven that circled above the fight. Jet and the two assassins he had hired had Leaf and were running off the road to a safe point. From her castle on the Rain Lake, Karla cast a teleportation spell.

    Suddenly, Jet, Jleslie, Kilij, and Leaf disappeared from the desert.

* * *

    Karla stepped away from her scrying orb and looked to an empty space on the floor she had set as the location of the teleportation. Jet, Jleslie with Leaf over her shoulder, and Kilij appeared, caught in mid stride. Karla had not met the two assassins, Jet hired them on his own, but she recognized their skill and usefulness.

    Karla stood by patiently while they gathered their bearings, Orath’s hands clasped in front of his body. Soon, she would dispose of this man’s body and have a more useful one. She had never inhabited a half-elf’s body, she just hoped that the elven mind wasn’t stronger than a human’s.

    Jet led the way to Karla, quiet as he did so. “Here is the half-elf, as promised,” he replied dryly. “Jleslie, Kilij: this is our humble employer. It seems he wants a war to start. More work for you two, that is.”

    The desert dancer, hidden behind her veil, brought the unconscious elf-girl forward. “She put up no fight,” she stated, holding her out. “What can I do with her?” Jleslie almost held the elf as if she was disgusted with her. I thought they were supposed to be tough, she thought. It was disappointing.

    Jleslie stood silently. Our humble employer? Not to bad. At least he seems able to pay. He looked at Jleslie and the half-elf girl. Almost too easy. As always, Jleslie, you are the best. Then he stared his employer. “Do you want to start a war? I don’t mind, as long as there are targets to kill and you have jobs for us.”

    “Set her down in the chair,” Karla pointed to a chair next to the crackling hearth. Hopefully Leaf would stay unconscious for a while.

    “Well, that is good,” Karla replied to Kilij with a smirk. “I may have further missions for you. That group that you kidnapped the half-elf, I intend to test them. However, the half-elf knows too much about me, I had to have her removed.”

    Karla crossed the room and sat in the chair beside Leaf. She intended to ask for Jet’s help in placing her on Leaf, but only after the assassins were gone. “Perhaps, Jleslie, you could infiltrate their party, since they didn’t see you, while Kilij works in the shadows, leading them into danger on their way here.”

    For a very short moment, Kilij’s face was marked with surprise. He wants to test them? What does that mean? “I don’t care what’s your business with them. But if you want someone to infiltrate them, Jleslie is the best person you may choose. I’ll cover her from the shadows. That’s my job.” He looked at Jleslie with an emotionless expression. Then he turned back to Karla again. “Just one question: are they to die?”

    “I’ll wrap them around my finger...” she said with a smirk as she placed Leaf in the chair. The seductress glanced back to the elf girl. “If the rest of them are as easy as she was, it wouldn’t be hard.”

    “I only want to kill them if they prove too weak or interfere with my plans. Focus on testing them, but if they fail your tests, then their deaths served to weed them out,” Karla explained. Reaching into his/her cloak, Karla produced two small coin purses and offered each to the assassins. They contained three Raidens, more than enough to allow the average commoner to live in comfort the rest of their lives.

    Jleslie looked at the money with a certain amount of disgust when she took hers. This was not why she did this job, but it would keep her under a roof and in any man’s confidence. Money was always a tool, never a goal. “Sure. Did you have something in mind?”

    Karla produced a rolled up map from her/his robes and offered it to Kilij. She knew the group out of Blade would reach her far sooner than the ones from other cities. It would take little over a day for them to reach her from Hilt, and besides providing her with a new body, Leaf’s capture could serve as a chance to better test them. The map she offered contained a route that led into the Wildlands and that would unite this party with the ones leaving Raiden.

    “This map will lead them on a false trail after the half-elf’s ‘kidnapper’,” she explained to the assassins. “Jleslie, you will meet them and inform them that you saw the person who kidnapped Leaf and lead them on a false trail that Kilij will lay. They will be beset by many enemies as I test them, so be prepared to fight.”

    Kilij took the money without consideration for it. Whatever the amount, money was just a way to gain his employer’s respect. An employer who did not pay was making fun of him, and so deserved death.

    “I only want to fight,” he answered to Karla. “I just hope there will be more fun than the kidnapping. It was much too easy.”

    “As long as my blades get their exercise, the job doesn’t matter,” Jleslie said quietly. It was unfortunate that her lover couldn’t fight as much as she might end up doing.

    Karla nodded to Jleslie and Kilij. “I will teleport you back to a suitable point. Please, stand close together,” the sorcerer requested the assassins. While Jleslie and Kilij gathered closer together, Karla turned to Jet and spoke in a lower tone. “Jet, I have a favor for you here. I will explain after they leave.”

    Close together? Sure, Jleslie thought, leaning on Kilij. She practically hung on him. There was a certain amount of personal pleasure the assassiness seemed to get from simply draping herself around her blood-spilling lover. Only one thing could tear me away from you, she thought. Something with a sword at the ready...

    “Of course,” Jet stated bluntly. “You two have fun at the forefront, I will be drawing battle plans in the shadows.” He rubbed his sore cheek from when he was punched earlier. He turned to Karla. “What favor would you need me for, although I would be happy to oblige.”

    Extending her hand toward the two assassins, Karla murmured a spell in Kastuulian. The two were whisked away in a swirl of light.

    The room fell silent, save for the crackling of the fire, and Karla looked to Jet. “I need your help,” she/he replied, then crossed the room to gracefully sit beside Leaf. With a flick of her hand, the wood and metal of the frame of Leaf’s chair grew out to wrap around the half-elf’s wrists and legs.

    “First, let me explain my reasons for this war,” Karla started. She didn’t want to reveal the truth of her existence to him, but she didn’t know if she could safely transfer to Leaf’s body. Elven minds were considered superior to humans in some ways, and one of those ways could mean that Leaf was unable to be controlled by her. “I seek not glory, or fortune, but only balance between the forces of chaos and order. I will give you this war to orchestrate as you see fit.” Before continuing, Karla waited for his response on that. Could she trust him enough for this current task?

    “It would be my pleasure,” Jet stated bluntly. “The language you used before, I am unfamiliar with it. But regardless of such things, I will do my best to create chaos in this time of great order.”

    Karla smirked, “You would not know it.” Some wizards knew phrases of the language from recovered texts, but they were not fluent in Kastuulian. “My name is not Kaladron, it is Karla. This body is naught but a shell for me, I took it out of need, as it was the first available. Orath was a strong, healthy man, but in honesty, I would prefer to return to a female body. Leaf needs to be silenced, and becoming my body will serve that purpose as effectively as killing her. However, I have never been in the body of an elf or half-elf, and I’m not certain if her willpower will inhibit me. Please, take the circlet from my head and place it on hers.”

    “Very well then.” Jet stated, removing the circlet from Orath’s brow and placing it on Leaf’s. So, this is his secret. This will indeed make useful information for future dealings with this witch. “It is done.”

    Karla’s consciousness dove into Leaf’s mind. The half-elf offered little more resistance than a human. The consciousness that was Leaf was suppressed and disconnected, shut off from its senses. The half-elf was at rest when Karla slipped in, so she had to force the body back to waking.

    Leaf’s red-brown eyes opened slowly, and a face that was usually so quick to display emotion became calm and serene. Karla glanced at the bonds she’d placed on Leaf’s wrists and ankles and they slipped off, merging with the chair again. Gracefully, Karla rose from her seat, trying out the movements of her new body. The half-elf’s body was healthy and agile, one of the best female bodies she’d inhabited. The long ears felt odd on the sides of her head and she tried swiveling them about to test their range of hearing. The elven senses were sharper than those of humans. Karla reached up to feel the alien ears.

    Orath groaned and began to rouse. “Wha...what happened?” the treasure hunter murmured groggily. Karla snatched a rapier from a display above the fireplace, then drove it into Orath’s chest before he had a chance to react. He fought for a moment, but Karla held the blade firm until his struggling ceased and he went limp.

    “I cannot have loose ends laying about again,” Karla spoke, recalling Leylia. The priestess had a purpose though. Karla protected her from her fate as the doorway for Kardis’ resurrection until her daughter could fulfill that role. The body after Leylia, Woodchuck, was disposed of immediately when he grew too old for her.

    Withdrawing the rapier, she gave the blade a flick, then left it on the mantle to clean later. She turned to Jet and a smirk touched Leaf’s lips. “Thank you for your help,” Karla told Jet. “This body will work quite well. If you will please excuse me, I need some time alone to reorient myself.”

    Jet placed his hand on the small of Karla’s back. “I could help you orient yourself a little easier. I could help with your transition back to your female self...” Jet peered into the woman’s eyes. “There is little need for privacy to orient oneself in the flesh of another. Besides, I’m sure all that time in that barbarian’s body was more than enough time to nearly drive you to insanity. Such loathsome creatures the masculine side of human society is.”

    Karla shot a sharp glare at Jet on reflex. How dare you, mortal! she cursed inwardly, but given a moment’s though, she considered just how useful sex could be. It could gain his trust and unite them further, or at least give him incentive to follow her guidance. A smirk crept across Leaf’s lips. “Perhaps I could use some help,” Karla replied and stepped forward, pressing Leaf’s body against Jet.

* * *

    The next thing they knew, the two were off in the distance, facing the direction of the group they attacked so soon. Jleslie looked different. The only one who saw her was the dragon rider, and all he saw was an old cloak, something she left behind. With her deep, alluring colors that hung on her as her dancer’s outfit, the appearance was completely different. With her two scimitars strapped to her waist, she looked to Kilij. “Take off. I’ll be called Rose by them. Just keep an eye out. I’ll make sure we are in sight.” She took the map and pointed at the middle of nowhere. “I’m going to lead them here, saying its a bandit camp. Think of something until we hear from our employers.” The dancer started to run off, but she turned around and came back. “Oh... And Kilij...” she said as she approached him. Jleslie planted her face on his, delivering one of her famous, passionate, full-blown kisses. As she pulled away, she caught his lower lip between her teeth, pulling it out before letting it snap back into place. “I’ll be back soon...”

    With her lover’s farewell completed, the veiled desert dancer dashed through the sands, headed towards the fretting group...

* * *

    Rushing into the fight with the bandits, Edwin quickly faced one that was holding a long sword at the ready. Quickly, Edwin came forward, snapping his blade forward only to have it parried by the bandit. Not letting this get to him, Edwin paced around the bandit and parried a slash from the bandit. This was getting him nowhere. He watched and studied the bandit, baiting him to throw more attacks, backing away and side stepping each of the slashes until finally Edwin got what he was waiting for. The bandit had over extended and Edwin rushed forward, slashing up to force the bandit to block with his sword, but that was what Edwin wanted. He slammed his body into the bandit and slammed his knee into the man’s chest, driving the air out of his lungs and causing him to fall down. Not yet finished with him, Edwin slammed the hilt of his sword into the bandit’s neck, knocking him out as he hit the ground with a thud.

* * *

    Blood trickled down Ashe’s left cheek from where a blade managed to catch him. The bandit who made contact was now on the ground, there was one more left. This one was smarter than the other, he kept taking quick blows before Ashe could divert his heavier weapons. The enemy managed to make a shallow cut across his upper left arm. Ashe growled and the bandit chuckled. Unfortunately this made the criminal confident. With a howl, Ashe charged at the man, taking a wide swing. The bandit dodged and Ashe spun around quickly on his left foot, bringing his second sword in low.

    thick portion of his sword stuck the bandit’s knee like a hammer. His kneecap shattered on impact, bringing him down quickly. As he fell Ashe raised his first sword and brought it down on the man’s chest, breaking his ribs into his organs. “Done.”

* * *

    “Oh no you don’t!” Dorian yelled as he leapt from his horse. The adventurer held his sword at the ready, waiting for the bandit to make the first move. The bandit charged at Dorian, and the young man calmly stepped aside, and swung his sword. To his surprise, the bandit raised his sword arm, and blocked the strike, surprising the young man. Dorian’s eyes went wide as the bandit spun around, lashing out with his sword. The adventurer leapt back out of range, and charged at the bandit, making a motion to swing low. The bandit moved to defend his legs, but at the last moment, Dorian moved his sword up and swung at head level, decapitating the poor bandit. The head rolled off, and Dorian moved back, avoiding the spray of blood coming from the bandit’s neck. The adventurer wiped his blade off, and looked around, trying to make sure everyone was alright. It was then that he noted that something was amiss, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was.

    Moving to bind the hands and legs of the bandit he knocked out, Edwin looked over at the others. He did not really have to much of a chance to kill his, but seeing that the guy that had been attacked and not noticing Leaf around something did not feel right. “What happened, is everyone all right?”

    Zira looked down at Edwin binding the bandit. “Feh, don’t worry about them, we’ll be back on the road soon,” she replied. It wasn’t their job to arrest the man. “Where’s that man they were attacking?” Zira asked, looking around. Someone else was missing. The dark elf suddenly felt frantic when she couldn’t see Leaf. She searched about with her eyes, then saw Leaf’s horse wandering aimlessly off the road. “Where’s Leaf?” Zira asked anxiously. “LEAF!”

    Throughout the entire fight, Jeren could only circle low. The horses were fearful of Nightfire, so he couldn’t swing down without risking his own friends’ safety. On top of it, they were too close to the bandits, so long ranged attacks would be just as dangerous to them. All in all, there was little to do without landing at a distance and trying to make it to them. He did see, however, something interesting. Someone cloaked had jumped Leaf. Before anything could be done, both the cloaked figure, the man getting attacked, and the strange attacker disappeared into thin air. Whoever they were, they abducted Leaf.

    Jeren swung down and brought Nightfire to a landing a little ways away and sent her walking awkwardly towards them. “The bastards took her!” the Mossian Knight called out, hurrying his creature along.

* * *

    For nearly a mile’s ride Kai had been squinting a dancing black shape in the sky. In that time all manners of creature came into his mind as he tried to guess what it was. Eventually his curiosity gave way and the young warrior picked up speed to catch up to the elusive creature.

    What he found was not only a great black Wyvern hovering in the sky, but also a skirmish of sorts happening on the ground. Common bandits attacking a small group of travelers. Kai barely arrived in time to see the last bandit fall. With nothing for him to do Kai felt a trace of disappointments, and after the Seihvregn humiliated him he felt the need to do some damage.

    Kai was ready to move on but then decided he may as well see if he could help in any way and headed to the aftermath of the battle.

    “Leaf? LEAF!!!” Dorian yelled as he looked for the half elf. “No...” Was all he could manage in just barely a whisper. “Dammit, I promised Ryna and Garrack I’d look after her...” The adventurer knew now what he had to do. He made a promise, and he did not intend to back down from it. “... I have to find her... But... I do not even know where to begin...”

    “Oh Falis. Who took her? That man?” Zira asked Jeren. The question as to why she was taken seemed easily answered, she was a well-known heroine. The exact reasons couldn’t be known, but she was a more likely candidate for kidnapping than any of the others. The ‘bandits’ were only a distraction.

    Zira heard a horse riding up behind her and her rapier was drawn in a flash as she spun. She was on edge, and she couldn’t be sure if it was another enemy or just a traveler. Her red eyes narrowed on Kai as he rode up to them, but he seemed completely oblivious to their situation besides seeing what was left of the fight.

    “No... Not him...” he said as Nightfire came to a stumbling halt in the sand. “Someone came up behind her and dashed off with her. And then they just disappeared. I tried to...” Jeren caught his eye on Kai, clearly a fighter of some kind. Jeren pulled his bow out and knocked an arrow, but did not raise the bow to fire. In the hope of peace, he felt it wise to avoid taking aim at this point. But, from the view of Nightfire, he had a very clear shot. Intentionally, he kept the bow on the other side of him, away from the sight of Kai. It wasn’t hard to tell he was holding something with two hands, but it wasn’t really clear what it was that way.

    Nightfire’s head snaked around, keeping a keen eye on the other as well.

    Leaf was missing. All that Edwin could think about was that was just not good as he moved over the group. “LEAF!!” Then he heard Jeren talk about her being kidnapped. Sheathing his sword and looking around, he crossed his arms. “Jeren we will find her and get her back. We owe her that much.” This was just so much for him to take in, having already lost one of his comrades. He was not going to let them get away from this if he it had his way.

    “You know it,” Jeren responded instantly. “I wouldn’t dream of letting her go.”

    Dorian let out a small sigh, and stroked the back of his ponytail. The adventurer was angry, because Leaf was taken, and that he had failed on his promise to Ryna. “I’ll find her,” Dorian said, just loud enough for Zira or anyone close to him to hear. The young man reached into his pack, and pulled out a gold necklace with a small, light green stone. He had planned to give this, one of his findings from his recent exploration, to Leaf, but she had been kidnapped. “I will find her. And bring her back, even if I have to look everywhere for her...” With that, the young man clenched a tight fist around that necklace, trying to hold back tears for his lost friend.

    Dorian was very distraught, which was understandable. “I’m not about to leave her behind. To Falaris with the adventure, we have to find her!” Zira said, agreeing with Dorian. By traveling together, they had an unspoken agreement to watch out for each other. Leaf was taken and they had to find her because they would expect her to do the same for them.

    It was apparent that one of them had fallen, but as Kai listened on he realized that she was gone as in missing, not dead. How does anything disappear in these dunes? Nothing to hide behind, every thing’s out there, he asked himself. He then remembered the warriors using fox hole hidden by sheets of canvas and sand, visible only to the keenest of eyes. She was still there perhaps, bound and gagged right under their noses. But fox holes only work if you have time to cover your tracks.

    As the others decided on their next move, Kai began circling the area, poking his staff into the sand every few paces. No fresh tracks except for the way they came, and solid earth everywhere.

    “She hasn’t been dragged away,” Kai said as a general announcement. “She’s nowhere nearby. No tracks, no holes, no Leaf. Either she grew wings and flew.... or melted into the air. Can your friend do either of those?”

    The newcomer began to look as well, and Zira watched him. “According to Jeren,” the dark elf jerked her thumb over her shoulder at the dragon rider. “Someone snatched her off her horse and ran off into the desert and disappeared. I’ll see if the spirits know anything.”

    Zira stepped back, putting some distance between herself and the men. Raising her hands in front of her, she began to call to Sylph. “Sylph, spirit of the wind, lend me your knowledge. Tell me where our sister Leaf has gone.” The breeze swirled around Zira for a moment, then fell. Patiently, the dark elf waited for a response.

    Moments later, the breeze picked up again and Sylph whispered in her ear, “The one you seek is not found.” Little did Zira know, but Karla had warded her lair against spiritual peeking.

    The dark elf sighed in frustration and thanked the spirits. “They know nothing,” she informed her companions, sounding defeated.

    “And the company keeps coming,” Jeren said aloud, looking off into the direction. In the distance walked a lone figure in clothes that easily whipped to and fro. The person was still far off and hard to identify, but it was clear that the person was headed in their direction. “Still too far off to make a call to. I’d hate to be caught off-guard again.”

    Zira looked up to the person Jeren referred to. Her sharper vision could make out a feminine shape in purple and red. “Just another traveler, I suppose,” Zira commented, but she was distracted considering their options. What more could she do to find Leaf? All the bandits were killed, and now it was obvious they were a decoy. Whoever used them didn’t care much for the lives of others.

    The dark elf circled around the bodies of the dead, searching for someone who was maybe just barely alive to question. The man Edwin had knocked and bound was the first she found. Straddling the man, she pulled him up by the collar and gave him a slap. “Hey! Wake up!” she shouted at him. He didn’t rouse, his head just lolled to the side. They couldn’t wait for him to wake up.

    Zira placed two fingers on his forehead and began to summon again. “Spirits of darkness, come to my beckon. Drag this man from his slumber.”

    With a slight dark aura about his head, the bandit woke. He looked up at Zira, but his eyes couldn’t stay focused. His pupils were uneven, one was larger than the other, an obvious sign of a concussion. “Hey, care to tell me about what the bloody hell you’re doing out here?”

    “Wha...?” the bandit slurred, looking as if he was about to doze off again. Zira slapped him again.

    “Wake up and tell me what you were doing!”

    “We...were hired...supposed to fight...” his eyes unfocused again, but he forced himself to continue. “...mercenaries and elves...they wanted....half-elf...”

    “Who hired you?”

    “Skinny guy...spectacles...” his eyes rolled back in his head, he’d passed out again. Zira doubted she could get more out of him. She dropped him and stood straight.

    “Falaris damned...It was all a plot to get her,” Zira said for the group to hear.

    Edwin was now thankful he had spared that bandit, even if it was only to get a little information. Through he was surprised; this was the first time he had even seen any kind of magic at work and seeing it twice was enough to spark his curiosity. Questions would have to wait until finding Leaf, though. Hearing that more company was on the way, he thought it was getting out of control.

    “More problems. So if this was a plot to get Leaf it is clear that we have been watched. Setting up something like this takes time.” Edwin sighed, something was not feeling right. This was too easily done for someone to just want to kidnap Leaf to ask for money. He could not help but worry for her.

    Zira nodded. Was that the reason for the odd ravens? Or was it someone following them? “They must be after her because she’s famous,” Zira suggested, then her eyes fell on the warrior who had ridden up to them. So far, he didn’t seem to be bothered by her race.

    The dark elf walked up to Kai. “Thanks for your help, well, attempt at least,” she said.

    As Jeren kept a keen eye, that desert woman came into calling distance. She was still clearly walking towards them, more obviously armed than before. She was no Flaim dweller though. She wore a somewhat more traditional, albeit fancy attire of a Flame Tribe dancer. Calmly and smoothly, she strolled over shifting sands as if they were pavement.

    “The closer she gets, the odder she becomes,” Jeren muttered to no one in particular. “Lady Zira... I have my doubts that this one intends to pass on by...”

    Kai nodded at Zira and prepared to go along on his way. He then realized that they were going the same general direction as he was, bad idea for even a native to travel the desert alone. Plus they might offer some challenges for the young warrior. “Wait....” he said to Zira. “I smell blood on the path you walk, perhaps you wouldn’t mind an extra weapon to help spill it? My name is Nauroch of the Nictanu clan, but these days I simply go by Kai.”

    Zira was distracted for a moment by Jeren’s comments on the approaching woman. The dark elf looked over her shoulder to re-examine the woman. Her movements were graceful and alluring and her clothing flattering to her form. Zira felt the need to compete again, like she had with Ryna.

    The dark elf turned her attention back to Kai. “Well Kai, I suppose we could use another sword...or staff,” she said, noticing his weapons. “I’m Zira. I’ll let everyone introduce themselves when things are less stressful. Were you going anywhere in particular?”

    Finally, the silk-draped dancer with twin scimitars strapped to her perfectly-shaped hips came into the area around the group. Without the least appearance of impression from the appearance of a wyvern or any of the other members of the group, she wandered past Jeren and began to look Zira up and down. She glanced over at the others, then at the sand below them.

    “It looks like I’m too late,” she said in a deep, naturally alluring voice. “And your elf is already gone,” she stated as a fact instead of a question. The Flame Tribe dancer approached the bandit who had managed to survive. Her hand softly ran across his face, lifting it up to look directly into his eyes. He stared back at her as if he was hypnotized. Meanwhile, her hand slipped away from his face and swung around, slapping his face away. “Cowardly impudent fool,” she muttered, grasping his throat with her nails. They started to dig at his jugulars, but she didn’t put enough pressure on them to cause bleeding. It was just enough to scare him. “You should pray to whatever god you choose,” she whispered to him. “They have no use for you anymore.” His eyes reflected fear as she turned away to face the others.

    Jeren stared at her. It was hard to focus on being knightly when she arrived. He didn’t want to stop her at all. He just... watched...

    Zira turned away from Kai as the woman finally met them. Her every movement was alluring, and it had an effect on the men. Jeren was staring at her like he was starved and she was a morsel of food. To match, Zira thrust her hips to the side and crossed her arms under her breasts, pushing her already impressive bosom up.

    “Just what do you know about this then?” the dark elf questioned the dancer.

    “Much more than you, but there is a price.” Like all good things, she thought. The bewitching assassin smirked at Zira’s attempt to draw focus away from her. Behind the veil, no one could be quite sure what it was. “If you want your elf back, you have to let me come with you. I have some... business with these men’s employer.”

    Kai was about to answer that he was a wanderer when the newcomer appeared and sized up Zira. “What kind of....” Kai began in a soft voice but then shook his head and continued observing.

    Zira eyed the dancer suspiciously, pursing her full lips. “What sort of business?” the dark elf questioned. She didn’t trust the woman much, but most of it was due to the sudden tension between them.

    “It is... personal,” the foxy woman said, glancing back at the bandit. “My reasons don’t matter. Yours do. That elf girl needs saving and my business has yet to be completed with him. Without me, you won’t find her. I can guarantee it. I can also guarantee the words that will point you in all of the right directions. So, here and now... Do we have a deal?”

    “She. Stinks.” Ashe quietly mentioned to himself. He long since belted his swords and stood with his arms crossed. “There is. No reason to. Trust. But many reasons. Not to.”

    Edwin had time to study the first newcomer, Kai, and was nodding in greeting. He appeared to knowledgeable and able to help them find Leaf. Then that woman, apparently a dancer, came up the group. The good looks of the lady was not wasted on Edwin, but something about the way she first talked was more enough to place the young adventurer on guard. If that was not enough, just the simple fact of watching how she dealt with the bandit bothered him. He was not sure what gave this lady the right to treat a prisoner like that. Blinking slightly, looking over Zira, he wondered if she also felt something was up with this new woman by seeing her actions. Nodding with Ashe’s words, he added, “How do we know you are speaking the truth? For all we know you are to lead us farther from our friend...”

    “You don’t,” she replied quickly, “Just like I don’t know whether or not you would keep your end of the bargain. But the fact remains: I know how to find her.” It isn’t a hard choice, she thought to herself. They are wise to be suspicious, but ultimately stupid. Rose looked back to Zira. “What do you say? You and your friends bring me along and your elf girl is as good as standing next to you. You should think of it as a bargain. Normally, I would I would have you paying me obscene amounts of money. This is practically free.”

    The woman’s reasons were convincing, but Zira didn’t like her much. Mainly because the human was trying to steal attention from herself. “Well then. What sort of magic do they use?” Zira asked. Dark spirits were usually reliable for her in reconnaissance, unless the target was warded.

    “They don’t normally employ it, but if they did, it was sorcery. Only the most skilled will do. They specialize in being untraceable.” Rose looked off into the distance. “Very technical, or so I’ve heard. I’ve only met the a sorcerer they employed once. Strongest I’ve met yet.”

    Zira nodded, then looked at her four male compatriots. “Well, what do you guys say?” the dark elf asked Edwin, Ashe, Dorian and Jeren.

    Frowning, Edwin did not like this at all, but there was no choice at the moment. He turned his attention from the dancer to Zira. “Time is being wasted. We have to take her with us.” Edwin made his way over to Night Raven and gently patted her mane as he grabbed his bow. “Leaf’s safety is all that is important now.” Though silently, Edwin vowed to watch this lady that will be leading them to, in theory, where Leaf would be. It was just that all of her actions yelled out at him to be on guard.

    “Words mean. Nothing.” Ashe started back towards his mare. “Still no. Reason to trust.”

    Jeren shook his head to clear it. “Uhh... Whatever you think is best?”

    Zira frowned, pursing her full lips in frustration. “I suppose we have no better options. I’m no ranger, not that I could track someone who disappeared into thin air, and the spirits can’t find anything,” Zira said, giving a shrug. There were more rituals she could attempt, but she needed to meditate to do them.

    “I don’t think we have a better option. What’s your name?” Zira asked the dancer, moving her arms from her breasts to put one hand on her hip and the other rested casually on the hilt of her sheathed rapier.

    “Rose,” the veiled dancer replied, “And all that it entails. Now, if its decided, you are all going that way,” she said, casually pointing off into the desert. “Their mages are good, but not good enough to take them to a pinpointed location, so teleporting into a city is a dangerous thing if you don’t want to be seen. They have a camp out that way. Its the only place they have to go. If we make good time, we should be able to reach the ones your interest is on. The mages are arrogant, so they will stay and rest, thinking you know nothing. Lucky for you, it isn’t the case...”

    “Fine,” Zira replied, looking off in the distance where Rose pointed. Leaf’s horse was still wandering in the sands, as if it were trying to find the half-elf too. “You can ride Leaf’s horse, then,” she said to Rose, then turned to walk off the road and fetch the confused animal.

    Zira whistled and the brown mare’s head shot up. “Come here, girl!” Zira called. If Leaf named the horse, Zira didn’t know, all she knew was that it was a mare. The horse turned about and walked to Zira, then was led back to the group.

    The dark elf offered the reins to Rose, but as she did, the horse whickered and tossed her head. Zira could sense that the horse didn’t trust the dancer, though she had no idea about the reason. It made her suspicious though.

    “I never got along with beasts of burden,” she muttered, taking the reins. She swung the leather line around her hand in case the horse resisted again. Instead of climbing up to the horse she practically jumped on. With the grace of a bird in its natural habitat, she tossed herself into the saddle with a soft landing. Her small bag of equipment was tied onto the saddle and she waited for the others to be ready.

    Truth be told, Dorian was distraught. The young adventurer just stared at the necklace in his hand, that he was going to give Leaf. Dorian let out a sigh, and turned to face Zira. “We need to find her... Damn, I’ll find her, no matter what I would have to do, or how far I have to travel.” Something within the adventurer changed that day, when Leaf was kidnapped. He felt a need within him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it was a strong feeling, and he figured that Leaf was somehow the cause of it.

    Zira looked over at Dorian. He was very upset, all of them were, but him especially. It seemed like he had developed a crush on Leaf in the short time they’d known each other. “Well, let’s go then,” Zira told the young man, then walked back to her horse. She saw how gracefully Rose had mounted, almost as graceful as an elf.

    Zira went to her gray gelding and hopped up onto his back fluidly. She rode bareback, since she had given her saddle to Edwin. Sitting patiently on her warmblood’s back, she waited for the men to mount their own horses—and a wyvern—so they could leave.

    “Don’t. Worry.” Ashe gave Dorian a shove with his large hand as he passed him while pulling his mare behind him. “Worrying doesn’t. Help. Actions do.” Ashe swung himself on the old mare. “Let’s. Hunt.”

* * *

    The desert was Kilij’s homeland, and his favorite location. Concealment in the desert was much harder than in forests, towns or even grasslands. One needed to use every dune, every shadow, every bush to hide from sight. And that thrilled Kilij. The difficulty was no complication, it was fun for him.

    The assassin ran into the wild, creeping from shadow to shadow. He exactly knew what he had to do, and he would do it from the darkness. As invisible as the wind, as ready to deal death as the snake. It was no great job, but it could be fun. He just had to be inventive...

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