Trisha was startled when Jerica contacted her directly. She spent an instant examining the method Jerica had utilised and stored it away as useful.

« Aunty Trish, I need to warn you ’bout something that came up recently with Mary. I don’t know if she’s mentioned it to you yet. Um, it’s about the gods. »

« Hello Jerica, this is neat, I like this way of communicating with you. » Then the content of Jerica’s initial statement sank in and Trisha felt a chill. « The gods? What’s she done now? »

« Yes it works well doesn’t it. With just a little change we can talk to Alice as well. »

« Oh I see... But what did you want to say about the gods. »

« Well auntie, you know Mary’s moving into this other world, well what she discovered, well she told me that – that the Greater Gods are Self centred Idiots ’cause the New Gods are idiots and therefore by backing them the Greater Gods are showing that they lack intelligence and wisdom. »

Trisha felt breathless. « Mary said that? »

« Well she might have been speaking to herself, but I’m sure she was talking to me and yes she did. I just shut up and didn’t reply. I just hoped she’d forget about it and decided to tell you as soon as possible to warn you. »

Silence ensued.

« Um, aunty Trish, are you still there? Is this something covered in the Prophesy? »

« I don’t know Jerica. I know Ocidon is all happy that the Prophesy is being fulfilled in his, our favour but you know our Mary. She just goes charging off in all directions when something catches her attention. »

« Um, that’s not fair auntie, Mary has plans and she does tend to mostly follow them. »

Trisha sighed, « Yes I know. It’s just... »

« Auntie, Mary does know she gains something from a god she defeats, doesn’t she. I figure she got Shadow Mages from Blackbeard when she helped Ocidon destroy his temples and kick him off the oceans and the drow link in the latest skirmish. »

« I—I don’t know if she realizes that. Blackbeard didn’t seem to have access to the shadow mages after all. She knows about the drow but... We have to talk... to merge ideas with her soon... »

= = O = =

Madison grinned to herself as she fingered the marble Daniel had somehow managed to pass her without anyone noticing. ‘Damn that Daniel, but he’s still one of the sneakiest of the man-rats. Glad he’s one of Steve’s faction, I shudder to think what Victoria would be capable of with him in her train.’ Madison looked round, the drow were busy admiring their new treasure, ‘So now lets see what this is? Ah another talisman, I see Mother has managed to add the image of herself as a dolphin to it. Now what does this note say? That’s nice of Mother but I’ll hold onto the one she handed me with her own hands even if it isn’t as pretty.’

Madison, still smiling from reading the note she had just stored safely, moved to Laasa’s side.

“Here Laasa, this is for you. It’s one of Mother’s talismans, it allows the holder to communicate with Mother and it allows Mother to expand her or Lewis’ domains through it.”

* * *

After nightfall and after collecting their package for the dwarves the combined force was making it’s way north, slowly and carefully. Tyler was grumbling as he was packing the unconscious Xaar.

Ava smiled sweetly at Tyler, “well you wouldn’t have to carry him if you hadn’t knocked him out.”

“But my precious love, the ungrateful little tyke was irritatin’ me, he just wouldn’t stop whining. Nobody objected when I put him to sleep.”

“Quiet please, we are getting close now. And we all were glad you shut up the rock grub,” said Nightwind. “Now we wait.”

Tyler dropped his burden, none too gently, and joined everyone else in gazing into the dark. Not too much later Nightshade and his apprentice ghosted back. They smoothed a small section of dirt and scratched out a rough sketch map.

“I don’t think we can put the rock grub back where we found him. The dwarves are out in force, they seem determined to ambush us.” Stated Nightshade once he concluded his sketch map.

Madison grinned, “But Mother told the rock beetle’s goddess she’d have him placed near where you caught him. Not where you found him. Does that help.”

Laasa blinked and checked her memories. “So she did.”

Nightwind smiled slowly as he looked at the sketch map. “So if we remove him,” he touched a mark representing a dwarf guard near the western end of the sketch map.

“We can drop the rock grub almost exactly where we finished playing with him. Where we actually captured him,” confirmed Nightshade.

“Will you wait for us, um, but not here. Sorry but your sneaking is not really up to our standards.”

“No problem Nightwind, we’re all well aware of it. And Shadow, Mother’s shadow mage is even beter at sneaking than you lot.”

The drow all froze, staring at Tyler. “Little Fish has a shadow mage? Truly?” asked Laasa half disbelieving.

Tyler blinked surprised. Madison after a quick glance at Tyler took it on herself to answer. “Yes Mother, err, Little Fish has shadow mages. I think she has three. I think she only has one on this world though.”

Nightshade licked his lips, “Can, can Mother unlock the shadow mage track?”

Madison looked inwards as did Laasa as they sought enlightenment. “Yes!” they said in unison.

“She can,” whispered Laasa in awe. “That career track has been missing since the destruction of Nightshade Chaosheart by the New Gods.”

Laasa shared a look with Madison. “This is a secret to be known only to the followers of Little Fish.” Decided Laasa.

The drow all nodded, Tyler, Ava and Madison looked at each other, then they nodded. Laasa checked on Xaar. “Good, the rock grub sleeps still.”

* * *

Nightshade moved quietly smiling in the joy of surprising his enemies. The fingers of his left hand flickered as he ordered his apprentice to cover his left. Starblight eyes flicked from side to side as he cautiously followed Nightshade. His fingers flickered as he passed his master’s instructions back to their support.

Starblight watched as his master drew his second fighting knife, he was unable to prevent himself from feeling envy at the sight of those knives. Then there was the rock beetle. Starblight shook his head in bemusement, the idiot rock beetle was paying more attention to what was going on behind him than the surrounding countryside.

Then Nightshade signed with his knife and flowed forward. After one last glance at the ground between him and the dwarf Starblight followed swiftly. It was over in a flash, their victim hadn’t made much noise as he died. Nightshade looked back and gestured while Starblight kept watch.

They left Xaar still unconscious next to the dead sentry and withdrew quietly.

* * *

Later while watching close on four tons of sea mammals taking to the sea and turning to swim south Nightshade grinned, “Impressive, never thought the seas would be friendly. How did you like it Starblight? The kill?”

Starblight blinked, “It was – satisfying.” He scratched the back of his head. “It was different but satisfying.”

“Good! That proves you have it in you to follow our path,” decided Nightshade.

* * *

Later in the Sablemane Iceheart’s throne room Laasa entered and stood with bowed head before the throne.

The queen regarded the new priestess carefully. After a good ten minutes she spoke. “What do you have for me priestess?”

Laasa raised her head, “There is a secret you must know. But it is a secret for the inner circle of my lady’s followers.”

The queen regarded Laasa quietly for another few minutes before looking towards the elderly high priestess of the Spider Queen. The high priestess bowed her head slightly and withdrew from the throne room. The other courtiers took this as a signal and did likewise.

The queen’s eyes narrowed in speculation when four of her guards jerked in surprise and did likewise leaving only the two that sported the dolphin badge.

“So cousin, what is this momentous secret you have for me?”

“My lady holds the shadow mage career track. Three shadow mages already serve her.”

* * * INTERLUDES * * *

* * * PARTHIA – CREEVAR’S KILLERS * * *

When Harrassan entered the common room of the Maiden’s Blush Inn in Vaidon, he found Avor and Essa already consuming their breakfast at their usual table. He nodded to Ficitia, one of the innkeeper’s daughters and proceeded to join the twins as she gathered his breakfast.

“Why so solemn you two? Creevar was happy to see you, you don’t have to be worried.”

“We got ‘conditions met’ message...” “...when we woke, ’pears we’re fourteen today.”

Harrassan grinned broadly, “Congratulations. We’ll celebrate later. So what have you chosen?”

“We haven’t...” “...yet. We can choose...” “...between Scout, Facilitator, Merchant, Herder...” “...we like Facilitator, it looks good...” “...and is rare, but it lacks defence and...” “...sneaking abilities.”

“Well you two must have racked up a fair amount of experience during the more than half year you have been helping us. You might be able to take two classes or a primary and secondary class.”

Avor and Essa locked glances with each other and shifter their attention to their System interface.

The other members of Creevar’s killers arrived and settled down to breakfast. Harrassan’s murmured, “conditions met,” was met with grins and had them planning the coming of age celebration for their young friends.

“So,” asked Harrassan when he noticed that Avor and Essa were once again paying attention to their surroundings. “What have you decided.”

“Facilitator and Scout...” “...dual class level two.”

Creevar’s Killers banged on the table in approval and cheered loudly startling the other patrons present in the room. This fetched their waitress to discover what was going on. Explanations led to an impromptu party with several individuals sharing their own stories and reminiscing.

* * *

As they left the Maiden’s Blush Harrassan glanced around the nearly deserted road, this quarter of the capital of the Empire of Maartaan only came alive late in the afternoon and was only truly busy at night.

“So where can we get our hands on a priestess or paladin of Azurea without going to her temple. I got the distinct impression that Creevar wanted this kept quiet. Don’t you agree brother.”

“Yes, I believe you’re right brother,” replied Sreecator.

“Um, there are usually one or two of them at the baths in the morning,” offered Essa, for once without Avor’s help.

“Huh! Essa’s right,” confirmed Horaxanna. “Now I’d better get myself to the Dwarven Embassies to see what I can find out.”

Harrassan watched Horaxanna walk away, then he turned and led the remainder of his band towards the local baths.

“Essa, how come you answered without your brother’s help, is it because you’re an adult now and have a class?” asked Warminor.

The twins looked at him wide eyed, “No, it is because...” started Essa, “...I don’t go to the girl’s baths with Essa...” added Avor, “...just like I don’t go to the boys with Avor,” concluded Essa.

“Hah!” huffed Warminor.

“It just wouldn’t...” “...be right,” they concluded.

“Too right!” agreed Zashaan.

* * *

Harrassan smiled as he turned into the square where the bath house was located and he saw a priestess and two acolytes in their traditional blue robes enter the baths. “Good now we only have to wait for them to finish.”

“But that’ll take hours!” exclaimed Essa.

“Surely you exaggerate?” said Harrassan.

“No. Unfortunately she isn’t exaggerating. Have you ever waited for Horaxanna?” asked Zashaan.

* * * EARTH – MARY * * *

Mary grinned to herself and pocketed her phone, she had promised to wait for ten minutes.

‘Wonder what’s the hold up? Oh well let me look see how many future favours I’ve picked up.’

Mary concentrated on her dungeon interface feeling Jerica join her. Winter Wolf had taken the lot so four, firearms, anti-tank rocket, skillset and wolverines. Gator had taken the firearms, so one, as had Drop Bear. Silly of them the skillset was the most dangerous thing she had placed on offer and— Mary giggled. ‘Naughty, naughty, all that indignation and you went and nabbed the infantry skillset.’

« So Blackrock owes us a future favour Mary. »

« Yes, isn’t that amusing Jerica. I’ll get Mycroft dig up everythin’ there is ‘bout Fin, Mr. Finnegan Doolin of Bismark, North Dakota. »

« But you could use the— Oh right, why waste the future favour if we don’t have to. »

Mary watched Jo hurrying from the house, she was followed by Art and Tod who headed for their car.

Jo scrambled into the jeep and fastened her seat belt. “Hello Mary, how did you get back from Florida?”

Mary moved off swiftly after checking the road and followed the well worn route she followed most days.

“Maybe I’ve got a teleportin’ boat.” She gave Jo a look out of the corner of her eye, snorted with amusement at the look on her face and added, “probably not. Don’t think it’s possible to have somethin’ that can teleport itself.”