The warm air that blew through the city smelled of smoke and ash. Jessivel arrived to find the city smoldering in the aftermath of an attack. He and his captain quickly sought out his orders temple and confronted the priest on guard at the doors. The answers to the questions he asked made his concerns grow.

He stood there before the temple of Astikar in his plate armor wearing his white sash with the red star of Astikar with a small white eye in the center. Long brown hair framed his face and made his eyes all the more glaring. He set his jaw as if a statue and regarded the priest of the temple before him.

“The Doan were here?” he asked for the third time, still not believing the man.

The priest nodded. “Yes lord, they attacked with a sizable force of bandersooks.”

Jessivel glanced to his right and looked at the high walls beyond the rows of houses. “And why didn’t the city guard stop them at the walls?”

The priest stiffened, and Jessivel noticed the nervous twitch.

“The gates were compromised,” the priest said.

Jessivel frowned and leveled a glare at the man.

“Compromised how?”

The man let out a sigh. “Somebody killed the guard in secret and left the south gate wide open while sealing all the others.”

“What good would that do?” his captain Herris asked.

Jessivel nodded and looked around. Most of the city was intact, and the damage was limited to the west wall by the grand temple of Ulustrah. However, the bandersooks had run wild in the streets and left a trail of dead bodies. A fire had raged in the eastern part of the city confined to a street near the gates.

“I take it the fire was near the gate that opened?” jessivel asked.

“Yes, My Lord,” the priest said with a bow of his head.

“Any idea who opened the gates?” Jessivel asked.

“The only reports we have are unreliable,” the man said.

“Tell me anyway,” Jessivel ordered.

The man sighed. “The reports come from witnesses who were trapped at the gates. Frightened people who were out of their wits. They say three people ran across the walls and into the gatehouse. Then a man swung down on a rope and weaved a spell onto the crossbeam that barred the gates. A moment later, the beam lifted, and the people pushed the gate open and fled.”

Jessivel nodded at every word. “Is there anything else?”

“They say somebody was shooting arrows from the tower. Picking off bandersooks at three hundred yards.”

“Ayawa,” Herris said. “The man on the rope was probably Tavis.”

“There's one other thing,” the priest said.

“What?” Jessivel asked.

“The people say that fire shot across the sky in a wave right into the bandersooks. It set them ablaze and cut them off from the people. Its what started the fires in the eastward.”

“Well we know they were here,” Jessivel said.

“But why were the Doan here?” Herris asked. “And why did they try to trap the people inside the city?”

“This was meant to sow chaos,” Jessivel said as he continued to look around.

“The people are frightened the war has spilled out of the old empire,” the priest they had been questioning said.

Jessivel turned to regard him and shook his head. “The last report said the Doan were held firm at the border keeps. From what I understand of it, they weren't even pushing forward.”

“Even if they were,” Herris added. “It would take them months to get this far east.”

Jessivel nodded again. “You know, Gersius and his men were ambushed by bandersooks.”

Herris regarded him with a raised brow.

Jessivel began to pace in the street his eyes searching the ground for answers.

“Gersius was a good two hundred miles further east when his men were slaughtered. I went and saw the scene myself after I delivered the message. He put up a good fight. There were over a hundred of the beasts rotting on the hillside.”

“But bandersooks are beasts of the west,” the priest said.

Jessivel turned to glare at him.

“And you just had them rampage through your city!” he shouted. “Do you honestly think they managed to cross the whole of the empire unnoticed only to attack here?”

The man stiffened again and swallowed as he tried to hold Jessivels gaze.

Jessivel nodded. “You say the fighting was heaviest in the west of the city?”

“Aye lord seeker,” the man said. “The Doan infantry assaulted the walls of the temple of Ulustrah.”

Jessivel exchanged a glance with Herris, and the man shrugged.

“So an enemy who is at war with the empire, and the order of Astikar, travels in secret to attack a minor kingdom in the Commonlands to get at Ulustrah’s grand temple?” Jessivel asked.

The priest looked between the two men and had no answer. “I am not sure what you're getting at?”

“I am asking why our temple isn't burned to the ground?” Jessivel demanded as he pointed at it. “They consider us their greatest enemy. Yet they practically ignore you to raid the temple of Ulustrah?”

“Perhaps they have some grievance with the order of Ulustrah?” the priest offered.

“I would have expected them to shower Ulustrah with praise considering she is fighting against us,” Herris said.

Jessivel smiled a tight cruel smile as he glared at the uncomfortable priest.

“Tell me, why haven’t you arrested the women of that temple yet? Isn’t that the order of the Father Abbot?”

The priest twitched, and he tried to hold himself bravely as he replied.

“They moved in substantial reinforcements before the orders arrived. They have an entire company of their soldiers inside that wall in addition to the temples already formidable guard.”

“So they outnumber you,” Jessivel said.

“Many times over,” the man replied.

“And the temple still stands?” Jessivel asked.

“From what we have learned, only one Doan even got over the wall,” the priest said. “The temple was at full alert with every available member in arms.”

“I would wager Tavis and Ayawa had a hand in that,” Herris said dryly.

“Which means they knew the attack was coming,” Jessivel said. “And they knew it was coming here.”

Herris looked lost for a moment as if chewing on a thought.

“Even if they did,” he began. “Why would they care? Neither of them has any affiliation to Ulustrah.”

“Are these two you seek?” the priest asked.

“Be quiet,” Jessivel ordered as he considered Herris's words. They were true enough, why would Tavis and Ayawa care? What were they doing? More so, his men had questioned witnesses from the street. They said they saw two people who fit the description, but there was a short-haired woman with them. The same woman that had been seen before.

Was this woman associated with Gersius? Was Herris right that Gersius might have a secret daughter, or perhaps a wife? Could they be trying to sneak a target of value out of harm's way? If so they were likely taking her to Gersius, but then why risk coming here?

Jessivel grew angry that all he had were questions. Gersius had vanished, and the only clue to his whereabouts was wandering around the Commonlands getting embroiled in conflicts everywhere they went. Even more, Zhadain herself was hunting them now. That they were so important to her only made him want to find them sooner. He had no idea where to look though. He needed a clue as to where they might be going.

“My lord?” Herris asked when Jessivel had been lost in thought to long.

Jessivel sighed. “We need more information.”

“The men are still questioning people,” Herris began.

Jessivel looked to the west to the white temple rising over the rooftops.

“We will learn nothing from the people on the street. Our answers lie there,” he said, pointing at the distant building.

“You don't mean to go to the temple of Ulustrah?” Herris said in shock.

“They may be able to tell us something about our missing friends,” Jessivel replied.

“They will sooner stick a sword in your neck than answer your questions,” Herris replied.

“Then I will ask them nicely,” Jessivel replied with a smile.

“My Lord, the priestesses of the temple are particularly hostile to us,” the man they were questioning added. “They may see your approach as an attack.”

Jessivel sighed and turned to address the man. “Unless you can tell me why the people I am hunting came here I have no choice but to ask the priestesses of Ulustrah.”

The man only shook his head, and Jessivel waved him off. “You are dismissed.”

Jessivel turned back to the west and looked at the distant temple. With a firm jaw, he set off walking down the streets to find his way with Herris at his side.

They walked down long streets fresh with the signs of battle. There were overturned carts, and broken windows as well as the occasional body of a bandersook. The city watch was out with wagons to load the dead and take them away. Several of the watchmen eyes the two as they passed by.

“You sure you want to do this?” Herris asked as they rounded a corner.

“Do you have a better idea?” Jessivel asked.

“We could fight a dragon one-handed,” Herris said. “Better odds of surviving that one.”

Jessivel smiled at the uncharacteristic display of humor. “Gersius survived an encounter with a dragon. We will survive this.”

Herris muttered as they turned down another street to see the white outer walls of the temple. In places, they were cracked, and in others, they were stained red with blood. A metal gate was bent and twisted to the side, but an inner door of wood though battered still stood firm. A dozen or more women in the armor of Ulustrah stood on the walls, and a dozen more in robes or dress were outside them washing the walls or carting away rubble.

“Last chance to turn back,” Herris said, but Jessivel ignored him.

“Excuse me, ladies,” he called out loudly. “I wonder if I could speak to your commander.”

All eyes looked at him and narrowed with a deadly glare.

“Astikar!” a woman with a spear yelled out and pointed his way.

Jessivel put up his hand before him in supplication as the women on the wall moved closer to where he stood, and several of them came out the gate with swords drawn and shields raised.

“You move, and you die!” a tall woman with shoulder-length brown hair said.

“I mean you no harm. I only wish to speak to whoever is in charge here,” Jessivel repeated.

The tall woman approached with her spear pointed at him, and Herris twitched nervously from behind him.

“At ease, Captain, we're not here to fight,” Jessivel assured him.

“Your aura says that is true,” the woman who approached him said. “Why are you here?”

“I am seeking information about two people who can answer a question,” Jessivel said. “I am hoping your commander can help me find them. May I speak with, her?” Jessivel wasn't sure if he should say him or her. He knew there were some men in the order of Ulustrah but he'd only ever seen one.

The woman with the spear didn't respond to his words only glared into his eyes, studying him. After a moment she looked over her shoulder and nodded to a woman on the wall who ran off.

“You wait here, Governess Alayse will come out to you. If this is a trick, you will die first.”

“I assure you this is no trick,” Jessivel replied. “I hope my aura showed that to be true as well.”

The woman nodded but never removed her eyes from him and never lowered her guard. A minute later, the gate opened, and Alayse strode out in full armor with her hand on her sword.

“Come to see the aftermath of your failed attack?” Alayse asked as she approached.

Jessivel studied the woman's defiant face. She had a strange sort of strength that blended with feminine beauty. Her golden hair made her alluring, but it framed a face whose eyes spoke of death.

“We had nothing to do with this attack,” he said.

“You lie!” Alayse shouted. “Why would the Doan attack us?”

“I have no idea,” Jessivel said. “But I would like to find out.”

“Ha!” Alayse laughed. “Your order has declared ours to be illegal in all the lands. Your priests raid our temples and arrest our priestesses. You even round up the woman who have stepped down and gone silent. You expect me to believe the Doan just happened to attack the most important temple to our order on a whim?”

Jessivel considered the question but could not answer it. He decided to use the aura sight to his advantage and spoke plainly.

“I have no idea why the Doan attacked here. I am as alarmed and clueless as you are, but I know two people who I believe can lead me to an answer. I suspect they came here to your temple just before the attack. Help me find them, and I promise you I will share any answer I gain with you.”

Alayse's eyes narrowed, and she glanced at the woman with the spear beside her.

“He speaks the truth,” the woman said.

“I can see his aura!” Alayse shouted. “That doesn’t mean he isn’t manipulating us to get what he wants.”

“What I want is an answer to a question that needs to be answered. They are the only ones who can answer it, or lead me to the one who can. I ask only that you tell me what you know about them,” Jessivel said with a slight bow.

Alayse took her hand from her sword and stood defiant before him.

“Three people came here and warned us of the impending attack. A southern warrior maiden, and cellic in a hat, and a woman of our order.”

“That explains why they came here,” Herris said. “She’s one of them.”

Jessivel silently agreed, but it still didn’t explain who she was. She could still be a daughter or a wife or even a sister he didn’t know about.

“How did they know the attack was coming?” Jessivel asked.

Alayse squared her jaw and glared down her nose at him. “They told us they saw it massing in the woods outside. They assumed the target would be our temple. They warned us just in time to get our guard into full readiness and on the walls.”

“Nothing more?” Jessivel asked. He watched the two women exchange glances and saw the golden-haired woman give the tall one a slight head shake. Clearly, there was more, but she didn't feel like sharing.

“They insisted they had to meet somebody and they refused to leave the woman of our order behind.”

Jessivel frowned at this. What was the role this woman played? That they refused to leave her meant she was important. He wondered if they knew any more.

“Do you know anything about this woman?”

“Nothing I care to share with you!” Alayse barked. “Why don’t you arrest her like you do all our women! Then you can ask her all the questions you want.”

Jessivel felt the bile in those words and put his hands back up submissively.

“I didn’t come here to shout words with you. I am looking for the truth. As I said, I believe that they can answer it or lead me to it. I can only assure you my intentions are honest.”

Alayse frowned and folded her arms. “They fled on horses east into the city center last I saw them. I heard one of them say they needed to find a gate to the north.”

“I understand there was trouble with the gates,” Jessivel stated.

Alayse never blinked as she considered his comment.

“You know nothing of what happened with the gates?”

“I have a report from one of the priests at our temple in the city. I know the gate guards were killed, and all the gates shut but the one that let the Doan in.”

“They were killed by assassins,” Alayse said. “The same group that raided our temple in Eastgate on behalf of your order.”

“Assassins raided your temple in Eastgate?” Jessivel asked. He had to glance over his shoulder at Herris who could only shrug.

“You know nothing about that either?” Alayse asked.

“This is the first I have heard of it,” Jessivel admitted. “How do you know they were assassins sent by our order?”

“Because I beat the information out of one of them myself!” Alayse growled.

“This must be the trouble in Eastgate the messenger spoke of,” Herris said.

Jessivel nodded as he considered the man who had delivered the letter ordering him to hunt Gersius.

“These assassins said they were sent by our order?” Jessivel asked.

Alayse smiled a wicked smile and tossed her hair. “They did after I convinced them to tell me.”

“And the guards at the gate were killed by the same assassins?” Jessivel asked. “Did you beat that information out of one of them too?”

Alayse lost her smiled and went back to scowling. “No, one of the guardsmen survived the attack. He was poisoned and dying, but his comrades brought him to us. He arrived just as we killed the last bandersook. He described them as looking the same as the ones that raided our temple.”

“Could I speak to this guardsman?”

“You may not!” Alayse stated flatly. “He is resting inside. I have given you all the information I care to share with you. Get away from my temple before I have you arrested.”

Jessivel nodded. “I thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”

Alayse looked him up and down as he took a step back.

“What is your name?” she asked.

“Jessivel,” he said. “Lord Seeker Jessivel.”

“He is the head of their bounty hunters!” the spear woman said. “Surely he has led the hunt for our sisters.”

“We should arrest him now!” a woman called.

“We should kill him!” another responded.

Jessivel heard the comments and realized that this was about to go wrong. He stepped forward again and looked Alayse in her eyes.

“I have never arrested a single woman of your order. Nor do I intend to. I am operating on my own accord and not under any obligation of the order or the Father Abbot. I need to find answers, and I need to find Gersius. These people who came here can lead me to him. The assassins are hunting him for reasons of their own. If you delay me here, they will most certainly find him first.”

“So,” Alayse said with a raised head. “Your hunting for Gersius.”

“I seek the truth,” Jessivel replied. “Only Gersius can give it to me.”

The long silence that followed was uncomfortable. It was broken when Alayse huffed and turned her back on him as she walked away.

“Get away from my gates before I have to do something we will both regret,” she yelled.

Jessivel turned and rushed away with Herris at his side.

“I hope that was worth it,” Herris said.

“They went north, that was well worth it,” Jessivel said.

“That one has fire in her eyes,” Herris said as he glanced over his shoulder. “A face like a saint and a scowl like an ogre.”

“She is wearing the burden of command in troubling times,” Jessivel said. “We need to find Tavis and Ayawa and this mystery woman.”

“So this mystery woman is a priestess of Ulustrah,” Herris said as they rounded a corner. “Maybe Gersius had himself a wife of Ulustrah.”

“Or a daughter,” Jessivel said. “Still she is unimportant now.”

“Why do you say that?” Herris said.

“They have her and are moving north and east,” Jessivel said. “What ever role she plays her importance was in using her to bait them out. If they already have her, then she is simply one more fox to hunt.”

“But if she is related to Gersius we could use her to draw him out,” Herris suggested.

“Maybe,” Jessivel asked. “Or Ayawa could simply tell us where he is.”

Herris laughed. “You know she will take that information to the grave.”

“Then we will have to find some way to convince her,” Jessivel said with a smile. “One way or another, they will tell us where Gersius is, and he will answer the question.”

“What about this assassin business? Do you think she was telling the truth?”

Jessivel had to ponder that one. He knew Zahdain was hunting Ayawa and Tavis for the bounties on their head. He was sure she also wanted them to lead her to Gersius. The bounty on his head was surely a king's ransom, and if he had a dragon no doubt the beast was part of it.

“She had no reason to lie to us,” Jessivel said.

“She held something back. I saw the glances between her and the gate captain,” Herris suggested.

Jessivel nodded. “Something they felt they needed to keep. The assassins are the bigger question.”

“I know the assassins are hunting for the bounty, but if they helped the Doan attack this city?” Herris let the question hang.

Jessivel scowled as he considered the options. If the assassins were working with the Doan, then the order and the old empire was compromised. It wouldn't surprise him to find out they were playing both sides in the conflict, but none of it explained how the Doan got here. If he ran into Zahdain again, she was going to answer some questions of his.

“How did the Doan get hundreds of miles through our lines to here?” Jessivel asked. “How did they get even farther to find Gersius in a camp deep in the Greenwall?”

Herris could only shrug. “I have no idea, but we have to assume the two groups are working together now.”

“And doing so to attack Ulustrah and not us,” Jessivel added.

“Maybe they are trying to grow the tension between us,” Herris suggested.

“I have already considered that,” Jessivel sighed. “I have no answers.”

“More bloody questions,” Herris grumbled. “We are supposed to seek the truth, but all we find are more questions to answer.”

They spent the next hour, rounding up the men and set off through the east gate. Jessivel led his cavalry north hoping time and luck were on his side and that he would find Tavis and Ayawa before Zahdain. He didn’t want to think what might happen if she found them first.