Boreana was nothing more than a faint glow on the horizon when Anton finally called for a halt. Their horses were very tired and they were not far behind. Thankfully they didn't carry any additional weight, like an extra few people or a heavy stack of books.

"We should be safe here." Anton led his horse from the road to a small clearing. "As safe as we can honestly be."

"Might be safer here than in a city," Cetina added. "No crowd for someone to slink away."

"So they'll just attack us in the dark." Anton dismounted, groaning as the sudden impact caused his dragonoid claws to stab his softer underside. "Same outcome, really."

Verona and Cetina silently agreed. Mezot and Axia were already safe in Atros, with all the books and materials they could scrounge up in the very short time gifted to them. There was no grand goodbye or wistful promise to return. Both stepped through the portal, Axia was admittedly quite excited by the prospect while Mezot was still a little shaken, and left their life in the Academy behind. However they could not leave their portal functioning in Mezot's dormitory, someone would investigate their disappearance and the shimmering white disk would attract considerable attention. They planned to reach a remote small city or town where they could establish a new portal, a place where no wandering mage would stumble upon it.

"Are you cooking tonight?" Verona asked as she readied their tents. "I'd love some good food-"

"You..." Anton laughed and shook his head. "You ate so much in the Palace. How are you possibly hungry?"

Verona winked. "I'm eating for two. Remember?"

"A baby can't eat as much as an adult. Especially with how much you eat."

Verona scoffed, folding her arms as she pouted. The bulges on their stomachs were slowly becoming noticeable, especially Verona. She was probably carrying twins, possibly even more.

"Portal's ready," Cetina announced.

The surrounding trees and shrubbery were bathed in a white light. Something scurried away, frightened by the sudden light but not their voices. Memories of the wolf attack in the Accursed Forest came floating back.

Kal, Calo and Sheso stepped through. They all wore garments that would disguise who they truly were, the twins had far less of an issue than Kal.

"Just us," Anton said. "The road's been pretty empty since we left the capital."

"Few people travel at night." Kal removed her mask and unruffled her hair. "That made it the perfect time for someone like me to travel."

Anton took her by the arms and kissed her. Verona and Cetina made only a cursory glance but the Dark Elf twins were transfixed by the sight, doubly so by Kal's expression, her face red and lips trembling. She remembered they were not alone and gently pushed him back.

"It's barely been a day." Anton gently scratched her ear. "Besides, I think you're causing them some distress. It’s like they've never seen someone kiss like that before."

"Not like that..." Calo said softly.

“Not often you meet a greedy man like Anton.” Kal winked at the twins. “I don’t think he’ll be satisfied until he controls the world.”

“You’ve been listening to Verona too much.” Anton gave her another quick kiss before she walked away. Kal smiled and helped Verona with setting up the tents.

“What do you want us to do?” Calo asked. “Kal just said for us to come.”

“Are you just setting up a camp for the night?” Sheso scouted their small clearing. “Doesn’t seem like we’re actually needed.”

“I’m going to be in Atros for a while,” Anton said. “I wanted some help, for getting the camp set up and in case someone tries something. Have you two been practising with your swords?”

The twins beamed with pride. They rested their hands on their single swords resting on their hips.

“We have.” Calo tapped the handle of her sword. “I think we’re pretty good now. Well, when we work to together.”

“So long as we’re up against one person,” Sheso added.

“A shield?” Anton glanced at Cetina. “A sword’s not going to be good enough to block an arrow.”

“I think we should get a buckler or something like that.” Cetina smiled. “Something light, so it doesn’t impede their movement. But you shouldn’t be worrying too much about that right now.” She nodded to the portal. “Leave this to us. Go and find out what’s happening to Mezot and Axia.”

Anton gave a quick wave and stepped through the portal. He barely noticed his headache as he left the building. Rasha waited for Anton just outside the building, leaning against the wall with her halberd resting in the crook of her shoulder.

"How were they?" Anton asked.

"Fine." Rasha nodded as she pushed herself off. "A little shaky but okay. The younger one, Axia, didn't look that great, now that I think about it."

"She was tortured for information." Rasha bit her lip. "But physically she's fine. We'll see how she's doing in a few days. She's a bit young to take up the bottle, but...Well, I hope she can make it through this without looking for a permanent escape."

Rasha glumly agreed. "A lot of Beastkin tried to do that, especially when I was young. The Master's soon figured a way around that."

"Which way?" Anton asked. Rasha began walking towards the centre of Atros. "I interrupted you. You were saying?"

"The Master's found a way to stop us from ending our own lives." Rasha continued as they walked through the sparsely populated streets. "They couldn't stop someone from doing it but they would punish everyone else in their cell. Everyone kept a keen watch on each other. Not because they cared, but simply because they didn't want to be hurt."

Anton sighed lightly. "Just another means of control. During your auction the Seocurian lady was almost laughing at how easy it was to control the Beastkin."

Rasha nodded. "Looking back on it, we were more afraid of each other than our owners."

"What about murders? Sounds like those still happened. Especially those that would snitch to the Seocurians."

"Depends." Rasha shrugged. "If they were old or sick they wouldn't care. If it wasn't everyone would be beaten. Or sent out to work with no clothes, or in the rain. Or both."

"You weren't exactly wearing much when we first found you." Anton smiled as Rasha almost stopped on the road. "In the ship. Not when you were being paraded about."

"Yeah..." Rasha started walking again. "But when you have almost nothing you'll fight the bastard trying to take it away."

"Speaking of lack of clothes-"

"Excuse me?" Rasha laughed, almost colliding with an equally distracted dog Beastkin idly walking along the road.

"How is everything...Up there?" Anton waved vaguely over his chest. "No further problems?"

"No!" Rasha's ears became tinged with red. "Not since then, no. Everything's..." Rasha sighed. "Well, I am still a Minotaur, so I have some issues, especially since they're so heavy. But no swelling or anything painful."

"Excellent. Don't hesitate to tell me if there turns out to be a splinter of it left."

Rasha smiled. "Thanks...And thanks for not telling anyone." Rasha cast her head down. "I probably wouldn't have told you if you hadn't forced it out of me."

Anton patted the back of her arm. "Just don't do it again. Okay?"

Rasha agreed as they walked in silence.

As the neared the Central Plaza, now awash with food and merriment, Rasha became more nervous.

"Spit it out." Anton chuckled. "If you want more of those potatoes that I made you can just ask."

"I..." Rasha held an armoured finger to her lip. "I actually would like some. They were delicious. But that's not what I remembered."

"Something to do with food though?"

Anton received many waves from the Beastkin having dinner. Some were clearly recently freed and were more reserved. It was a bit of a shock to them to be thrust into such a strange world, where humans and Beastkin more than got along, but they wouldn't reach out if they weren't.

“Well, not really.” Rasha threw Anton a sly look, sly for a three and a half meter tall slab of muscle. “Cetina’s been telling me about the foods that you eat when you’re exploring. Really good stuff too. Kinda’ makes me wish I wasn’t a Beast-kin and could go with you.”

“One day it’ll be possible. But for now, you’re just going to have to be content with journeying with us through these lands.”

Rasha raised her hand. “I don’t have a problem with it, just kind of wasteful to have a bodyguard that can’t come with you most of the time.” Rasha coughed loudly. “I was trying to say that Marion told me something she overheard the Dark Elves saying.”

“Is it similar to what it was last time?”

Though Leran hadn’t outright said it, Anton was suspicious he might try to gain more power and authority within Atros. He had sent Calo and Sheso to act as informants, probably. He didn’t know for certain, and it would be easier for him to act amongst the Dark Elves, even though their clan was far from popular.

“No. They were talking about money.” Rasha frowned as she rotated her shoulders. “Something about the work they’re doing isn’t getting them paid. Or something. I don’t know.” Rasha smiled. “I’ve never been paid in my life. Not even a single copper coin. What I’m wearing right now is the most I’ve ever had.”

“And with more Dark Elves coming in by the day...” Anton forced a hand through his hair. “It wouldn’t last forever.”

“What wouldn’t?” Rasha held her halberd tight. “Are you saying they’re going to try something now there are more of them than there are humans?”

“Soon there’ll be more Beast-kin and Dwarves than both of us.” Anton smiled, but it slowly faded. “No. It’s how Atros is being run. Up until very recently we’ve just been surviving, every resource has been pooled together to keep us from dying but now that’s over,” Anton tapped Rasha’s side. “We didn’t have even a basic set of plate armour at the beginning but now we don’t have such issues. Far from it, now we’ve got an abundance of resources.”

“I still don’t understand.” Rasha was becoming a little distressed. “They’ve got food, shelter and something to do. Isn’t that enough?”

“I suppose you could put it like that. But they come from places where you do get paid for your work, and they can spend that money on trinkets and simple things to make their lives easier.”

“Still don’t understand...” Rasha winced. “Maybe this is something someone like me can’t understand.”

“Absolutely not. I’m just doing a poor job of explaining it.” Anton returned the last wave as they left the Central Plaza. “But if we do start an economy, like the Dark Elves and Dwarves have, we will become much stronger. The most powerful and prosperous cities in the world lie on trade routes.”

Rasha continued to frown.

“You’re just going to have to trust me.”

“Always,” Rasha spoke very softly.

“It’s important to get ahead of the issue, not let it fester and grow into resentment.” Anton saw a large house surrounded by Atros Guards, ones wielding the best weapons and armour they could supply. “So that’s another thing I have to deal with now...Thanks for telling me. Oh, and don’t think I don’t want to know just because you think it’s troublesome. I don’t want advisors to protect my feelings over telling me what I need to hear.”

“I’m an advisor?” Rasha scoffed. “Imagine what the Beast-kin in Danafra would say if they heard that.”

“They’d probably be in awe of you.” Anton chuckled as the guards noticed their approach. “How many Minotaur Oni’s have a duty like yours?”

“Just me.” Rasha almost flushed. “Just me.”

Of the ten guards, Anton was delighted to see two were Beastkin. They were male Felines, quick and agile and mostly humanoid compared to some of the more exotic varieties, but it was a good start.

"Lord Anton." A human guard bowed deeply. "The two guests are being well taken care of."

"They're settling in?"

The guard glanced to the Feline Beastkin. "As good as one could expect. The younger of the two, Axima, I believe?"

"Axia."

"Axia. She has asked a few questions about Atros. Where things are and who to speak to about problems. I didn't know what to say, so I answered as best I could."

"She wasn't acting down or depressed?" Anton approached the door. "They've been through quite a bit today. Especially Axia."

"Not that we could tell. The older..."

"Mezot."

"She seemed very quiet. Really quiet. But, otherwise, everything seemed normal."

"Thank you. I'd like for you to stay here for the night. If they need something then I want you to get it." Anton hesitated to knock. "Unless Mezot asks for something really weird. Like the heart of a goblin or something. She's already had a Wyrm Heart, however that helped her."

"Is this normal for Principle Mages?" Rasha smiled nervously as she held her halberd tight.

"I honestly have no idea." Anton knocked on the door. "Mezot? Axia? It's Anton. Can you open the door please?"

Light footsteps grew closer to the door. Given how slim Mezot was it could have been either. The small lock clicked and the door opened. Axia stood on the other side. She was tired, in both body and spirit, and looked like she would prefer nothing more than to crawl into a soft bed and sleep for the next month. Her face brightened as she recognised Anton.

"Hello." Her normal demeanour returned but an undercurrent of exhaustion remained. "Come in. We were just having something to eat, then we were going to bed. After today we're both really tired."

Axia left the door open, Anton followed but Rasha hesitated. She hunched slightly and passed through the frame. As she stood up her horn hit the roof. She lightly cursed as she continued to hunch over.

"Do you always have to do that?” Axia asked as Rasha closed the door. “Crouch. Seems like it would be a pain.”

“Not all the time.” Rasha smiled. “My house is tall enough that I don’t have to worry. It’s only when I go to other places that it’s a problem. One of the reasons I like being outside.” Rasha tapped her horn. “Don’t have to worry about this.”

Axia nodded thoughtfully but Anton could see that her lingering gaze was just an excuse to stare at Rasha’s chest. He wondered what either would do if they saw that her armour did a decent job of truly hiding her figure.

“Where’s your mother?” Anton asked. He rested a hand on Axia’s shoulder. “And what about you?”

“I’m right here?” Axia forced a laugh, the smile quickly faded. “But...Yeah. Not so great.” Axia shuddered, her fingers gripped into her arms tightly. “The longer I think about it the worse it gets...But I think I can make it. Just need to push through it, right? That’s what my teachers said about everything…bad.”

Maybe I should have Cetina talk with her. I know it’s not really comparable but I’ve got no idea what it’s like.

“I’m going to be honest with you, Axia. I don’t know what you’re going through.” Anton silently chanted a healing prayer. Axia’s breathing steadied and her fingers loosened as the magic coursed through her body. “But we’re here for you, no matter what time or the reason.”

“Okay…” Axia smiled. “I feel a little bit better already.” Axia pointed to the end of the hall. “Mother’s in there. She’s…” Axia rolled her eyes. “After everything that’s happened to her, to us, she’s back into her books. Honestly, she hasn’t changed.”

Axia led them down the narrow hallway. “At least it’s a bit neater this time. Maybe she’s worried about showing a bad side for someone.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know who that is? Would you?”

Axia winked. “I wouldn’t have a clue. Maybe she could tell you.”

Even Rasha rolled her eyes but remained silent. The room at the end of the hall was by far the largest in the house and already filled to bursting with books and scrolls. They were the books they had borrowed from The Royal Academy, but Anton had no intention of returning anytime soon. He hadn’t told them they would be wanted for theft but Atros needed the books more. Better that they see some use rather than turning dusty and rotten in some ancient and decrepit library.

They don’t have much chance to return now. Perhaps if they said that we kidnapped them ‘after’ dealing with the original kidnappers? Still flimsy.

Mezot sat in the furthest corner of the cluttered room, her face buried in an ancient tome while her staff rested perilously on a loose pile of blank paper. She no longer wore her tight yellow dress, a shame if Anton was honest, and now wore her normal mage attire. Not everything had returned to normal; she had yet to straighten her hair, it remained swept back, nor had she removed the golden jewellery piece hanging from her ear.

Is that going to become a permanent thing? I kind of like it.

“Mother?” Axia spoke in a very gentle, almost teasing voice. “We have visitors.”

“Hmm?” Mezot tilted her head but refused to look away from the book. “Axia? What was that?”

At least it’s better than the first time.

Axia sighed. “Anton’s here. And the big blue woman.”

Mezot jumped at Anton’s name. She snapped towards them and breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment her eyes narrowed on Rasha but she quickly averted them back to Anton.

“How are you?” Anton stepped into the room, mindful not to touch the tall piles of paper. “Looks like you’re already settling in. At least it’s bigger than your old room.”

“It is.” Mezot retrieved her staff. “Though I don’t have access to as many books as I’m used to I have more than enough.” Mezot pointed to a pile of blue books. “I even found a few books on water magic I didn’t know existed.” Mezot looked at Anton with a curious gaze. “Do you think they tried to keep them hidden from me?”

“I...I honestly don’t know.” Anton stepped forward to allow Rasha to step in. Mezot’s eyebrow twitched as Rasha stood up. “But are you two comfortable? I shouldn’t ask if you’re alright, after today.”

Mezot ran a hand over her ear, running along the golden jewellery. “I...After everything’s that happened today...It all seems like it’s not real.”

“It won’t.” Anton folded his arms. “Not until you wake up. It was the same for me.”

Axia tilted her head, Mezot stared blankly into his eyes.

“I think you’ve guessed by now that I’m not an ordinary person.” Anton cracked a smile. “Right?”

Axia laughed, quickly fading into a derisive chuckle. “Not many people would spend a lifetime’s worth of money on some random Mage.”

“Well...I don’t think Rasha knows this either, but since you’ve trusted me to come to Atros, again, I think you deserve to know it. I’m sure the three of you can keep a secret.”

Axia and Rasha nodded seriously, Rasha’s horn tapped on the roof with every nod but she made no sign she even noticed. Mezot remained blank-faced until Axia nudged her side, then she too was very enthusiastically nodding.

“I don’t come from here.” Anton raised his hand. “I don’t mean I’m not from Graterious. Or Qaiviel, or even Atros. I don’t come from this world.”

“I…” Rasha leant against the wall. “I don’t find that odd.”

“How?” Axia scratched her ear. “Mom. Is that possible?”

“I…” Mezot looked at the floor in deep thought. “It might be. That book on the Burning Light…”

“Is that something to do with The Shadow Isles?” Rasha asked. “Or maybe the Dwarves? They work with fire a lot.”

Mezot slowly shook her head. “No.”

Rasha had yet to be told about how the Beast-kin came into being. While it was a fascinating read, and somewhat disturbing, it had no real bearing on what was important right now. Not to mention Rasha would certainly press them for the whole story.

“I’ll explain it to you one day,” Anton said. “But I come from a world completely different to this. A place where there’s no such thing as magic or Beast-kin.”

“That explains your fascination with us.” Rasha smiled. “At least that’s what Irso calls it.”

“It…” Anton shrugged, holding back a smile. “It kind of is. When I first saw Kal I was more bemused and curious than anything, I almost thought she was dressing up. Don’t tell her I said that.”

Axia chuckled. “So you’re telling us this…?”

“Because you put your trust in me, so I should return it. Only a few people know the truth about where I came from, and not everyone on the Atros council knows either. The people that were in Atros at the beginning think I just sort of fell from the sky. Thinking about it, it did take a long time to fix that hole in that barn.”

“We can keep a secret,” Axia said. She frowned as something began to dawn over Mezot.

“Did you say your world had no magic?” Mezot glanced at her staff. “None at all?”

“None. I don’t think it ever existed, just people’s wishful thinking and attributing coincidence to an unrelated incantation. One of the reasons that I was surprised when I found out I actually could use magic.”

“But...What would I be?” Mezot’s breathing quickened for a moment. “I only know magic.”

“I’m certain you would have been a teacher.” Anton held her shoulder. “A great teacher.”

And Earth has better treatments for your ‘condition’ than what I can do. Anything’s better than what you’ve received here, a weird combination of the cold shoulder and ‘she’ll get over it’.

Anton clapped his hands. “But it’s a very long and involved story, especially when I need to stop every few seconds to explain something that seems incredibly simple to me...But is just gibberish to all of you.”

“Another world.” Mezot looked at her daughter. “Can you believe it?”

Axia exaggerated a disbelieving face, the moment she looked away Axia rolled her eyes.

So long as it stops them thinking too hard about what happened to them, I’ll do whatever needs to be done. I don’t mind telling stories about Earth. There’s still a lot that I need to tell Verona and Kal, and every time I tell someone that travels with us I basically need to start over. Maybe one day I’ll finish.

“Remember that there are guards outside.” Anton pointed to the door. “Please don’t bar it, but don’t hesitate to ask them for something. Food, water, something to help you sleep. Whatever you need.”

“I think it’s just best that we go to bed.” Axia’s eyes began to drop. “It’s been…It’s been...A day.”

“I can only imagine,” Rasha said softly.

“Can’t be as bad as what you’ve been through. Right? It wasn’t even a whole day for me, yet you’ve spent your whole life as a slave.”

Rasha looked at Anton for help. It was a good opportunity to make her feel a little better about what happened but only Rasha could answer it. He hoped she would speak truthfully. So long as the truth did not make things worse.

“It was bad.” Rasha glumly nodded. “And it does haunt me a little. But I know it can’t hurt me anymore. I'm focusing on what comes next. Each day is always exciting and something I look forward to. I couldn’t do that if I let what happened to me consume me."

Axia slowly nodded. "I think I'll head to bed now. They seem a bit harder than the ones in the Academy."

"With a few layers of fur and cloth it becomes pretty good."

"My bed has a bow in it." Rasha smiled and rubbed her rump. "They weren't expecting someone as heavy as me."

Axia laughed, Mezot glanced once to her rear then her chest. Rasha did not speak true, they had reinforced her bedding before she slept her first night, but the levity had worked.

"You're all safe here,” Rasha said. “If a Beastkin can walk the streets in safety then you'll definitely be safe under Anton's protection."

"Thank you." Mezot bowed her head.

"I'll see you two in the morning." Anton turned to leave. "Atros starts pretty early, with the new dawn. So you'll probably hear a lot of activity if you're still sleeping."

"I’ll be fine," Axia smirked at her mother. "Unlike someone I know."

That's a blatant lie too and you know it. You barely recognized us when we arrived early. Like you were still half asleep.

"We'll bring you something good for breakfast. But I need to head back to Graterious. I haven't heard anything but they could still be in trouble."

"T-Thank you. For rescuing us." Mezot smiled. "Both of us."

Axia stood up and held her mother's hand tight.

"We'll see you two in the morning." Anton waved as he began walking back to the door. "They're just outside if you need anything."

They returned the wave as they exited the building. The guards outside mulled around, clearly unused to guarding a building rather than standing on a wall, but snapped to alert when they heard the door open.

"They should be fine," Anton said. Rasha ensured the door was shut properly. "Again, if they need anything I want you to get it for them."

"Do you want me to stay here?" Rasha held her halberd tight. "You'll be leaving for a place I cannot follow..."

"Um...If you want to. But it's not like you can just enter whenever you feel like it. I doubt they'll be sleeping that much, especially Axia, so I want them to get every ounce they can get." Anton tapped her exposed hoof with his boot. "Those do make a bit of noise. Can you actually feel anything through them? Or are they a bit like a glove for your hand?"

"I..." Rasha smiled awkwardly. She was not expecting such an odd, and yet personal question. "I guess you could say that. It's not like toes...Not that I know what they feel like...What? Oh." Rasha pursed her lips. "I think I'll come back here a few times during the night. Just to check, not that they'll need my help."

"Don't forget to have some sleep yourself. You never know what tomorrow might bring."

Rasha laughed. "You don't. You might think that you're about to be sold to some twisted deviant only to find yourself travelling with one of the few humans that wanted to help her." Rasha's smile softened. "You never really do know."

---[]---

Anton returned through the portal. Verona and Kal waited for him on the other side, both with expectant faces. Cetina sat near the small fire, idly chatting with Calo and Sheso.

“How’d it go?” Verona jumped to her feet. She raised her hand as she held her head. “I really shouldn’t be doing that so much now, should I?”

Verona rubbed her stomach as Kal stood by her.

“It’s not like pregnancy means that you get locked away.” Anton gave them both a quick kiss. “Like anything you do will hurt the baby. It’s pretty well protected in there.”

“Are you calling us fat?” Verona laughed. “I’ll have you know our stomachs are flat and strong-”

Kal covered Verona’s mouth. “How is she?”

Verona pouted and bounced her head back and forth, Kal did not relinquish her hold.

“Both of them. Axia’s got it worse than Mezot.” Kal finally lowered her hand. “It’ll take time for her to get...Well, move past it.”

“I’m not sure.” Anton approached the fire. Cetina had a large piece of roasting meat hovering over the small fire, several rabbit skins lay discarded nearby. “But I’ve left about ten guards with them, and Rasha, just so they know nothing’s going to happen to them.”

“It’d be a determined assassin to travel to Atros.” Verona laughed as she took her seat. “Can I have one of those?”

“When they’re ready.” Cetina swatted away Verona’s hand. “You don’t want to get sick from eating uncooked meat.”

“I’ll be fine.” Verona shrugged. “Anton and Kal can heal me.”

“They followed me,” Kal said softly. “If the reward is big enough they’ll cross the entire world.”

“But they knew roughly where you were.” Anton sat between them. “I don’t think they can follow Mezot and Axia’s scent across the continent.”

The moment his rear touched the ground they leant against him. Cetina smiled, while the twins tried to not pay too much attention but their eyes wandered. They knew what would likely be happening if they weren’t there.

“Unless someone can follow some kind of magic scent.” Anton frowned at the shimmering portal. “I’d better get rid of that.”

“I’ll do it.” Cetina stood up, not before pointing a finger at Verona. “Don’t touch it before I get back.”

Verona leant forward, a playful smile on her face, but Anton pulled her back. Verona pouted as she nestled her head into Anton’s shoulder.

“Is Mezot going to travel with you from now on?” Calo asked. “If Verona and Kal can’t-”

“-And having a Principle Mage would be extremely useful to have by your side.” Sheso continued. Verona jabbed his side but allowed her to continue. “People will take you more seriously if they see that staff and charm.”

“She can use more than just Ice magic. Really haven’t seen much of her Water magic.” Kal mused. “I imagine it wouldn’t be effective in the desert.”

“That means she might not be coming to Frindal with us then.” Anton slowly nodded. “And Wilford’s not that far away too. Although, I’m sure they would be very impressed to see one. Especially away from the coast.”

Cetina returned with the portal stones stuffed securely in a bag. “I’ve seen water magic before. Some water mage must have run into trouble because they were helping a travelling circus.”

“I do remember you saying that.”

“Mostly...I guess you could say it’s kind of similar to Verona’s magic.” Cetina took her seat again, carefully watching Verona as she spun the meat. “Just not as gruesome.”

“I didn’t choose to have this magic!” Verona dramatically dropped her hands. “It sort of just happened. I suppose that’s another advantage to Principle Magic. They get a little more choice in what they can use.”

“Not really,” Anton said. “Mezot can really only use her Ice and Water magic to any degree. That’s why she was even put through the Academy in the first place.”

“I wonder what she looked like as a kid.” Verona held a curious finger to her lips. “Like Axia but with no emotion. A blank face...Kind of cute, in a way. Right?”

“I’m sure she would have preferred to be normal.” Anton squeezed her shoulder. “A life where she-”

A scream pierced the night sky. Everyone leapt to their feet, crouching low with their weapons drawn. Cetina, after a moment’s hesitation, knocked the food over and smothered the fire. They were completely encased in darkness. The stars above barely provided any light but Anton knew that Kal could see almost perfectly, the twins had better vision than them but it would still be difficult.

“That was a person,” Verona whispered. “Wasn’t it. Should we have stopped for the night? This close to the capital?”

“We’re far from the road,” Kal said. “And I didn’t hear or smell anything. More of those assassins may be on the prowl. Maybe they found someone that matches one of you and they attacked.”

“Definitely not me.” Verona mused. “Some poor person just got gutted because they have short blonde hair.”

“Come here, everyone.” Anton pulled everyone close, so he could touch them all with his hands. Calo and Sheso were quite confused, they squirmed uncomfortably and their skin burned with excitement and nervousness. However, it was not to be anything like they were imagining.

Anton chanted a prayer to allow them to be able to see clearly in the night. The twins gasped as Anton relinquished his hold.

“I can only see out of one eye again.” Cetina clicked her tongue. “I might not be so good at fighting as normal.”

“I doubt they’ll have any mages with them.” Anton heard the scream again. “Shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“It’s some distance away.” Kal began wrapping cloth around her head and adjusting her mask. “We won’t make it if we just run.”

Though the forest was relatively thick their horses could move faster than they could run. They saddled up as fast as they could, literally throwing things onto the horse after ramming them into their packs, and rode as their horses would allow through the darkness. Anton had yet to give them the ability to see during the night so they just had to trust them that they weren’t being led into a tree or a small ravine.

Slowly a glint of light began to cut through the darkness, punctuated by more and more screams. They burst through the last thicket and onto the road. A large caravan lay parked just off the road, assailed by dozens of lightly armoured men and women, all dressed the same as the thugs that had assaulted Axia.

“Who-”

Anton didn’t reply to one of the thug’s obvious question and began to unleash his magic.

---[]---

The last of the assassins fell, those caravaners still living breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Are they all dead?” An old man asked. His clothes were drenched in his own blood, his face covered in fresh cuts and some of his fingers were missing. Despite his age he still had a fire of defiance in his eyes, doubly so with the small hatched held tight in his hands.

“They are.” Cetina ripped her blade from the assassin’s neck. “Well. All but one.”

Cetina nodded to Calo and Sheso. The twins held an assassin on the ground. Their short swords were rammed through a leg and his shoulder, they pointed a small dagger at his neck as the man writhed in pain.

“Don’t move.” Sheso’s voice was little more than a growl.

“The more you struggle the deeper the blades cut.” Calo wiggled the blade, eliciting a blood-curdling scream from the assassin.

Anton did not know if the blades were enchanted but the man certainly looked like it. It certainly didn’t help that he was resoundly beaten by, what appeared at least to him, to be two young and slim women. Their looks of utter disdain for the man certainly wasn’t helping either.

“You two did really well.” Anton gave their heads a vigorous rub. Their helmets, although tightly fastened onto their heads, still were left tilted. They pouted cutely as the adjusted their helmets back, the assassin’s screams ruined what was otherwise a cute moment.

“I’ll start healing everyone that’s still alive,” Kal said. “At least stop them from dying.”

There were not many assailants still breathing, let alone that could be saved. The man the twins held was the only man to have survived, it appeared the Caravaners had a very dim view of attackers, even after Anton asked them to be spared for the moment. Before Kal could reach them their throats were cut or their chests skewered with a blade. Kal returned to his side, defeated, and pointed to the only other living assailant. Three children, belonging to the caravan, drove a bloodied mace into his chest and groin repeatedly, laughing and cheering with every strike. Anton did not have the mental energy to try and save him, doubly so when the adults were loudly encouraging it and directing them to areas that would inflict the most pain.

"Why did you attack the caravan?" Anton summoned a Fire Bomb and held it close to the man's head. "Answer, or we'll drag everything out."

The assailant spat at Anton. "We were ordered to hunt down someone that would be fleeing the capital." A grin formed. "People that look like you, that silver-haired bitch and the one with one eye."

"And we weren't here," Anton said. "To start with."

Blood began to leak around and stain his teeth. "One of them looked like you. He was leaving the capital, figured the rest of you were in the caravan so we..." He began coughing violently.

"Forced the issue." Anton pushed the Fire Bomb closer. "And who ordered such a thing?"

"Doesn't matter." The assailant sneered. "We'd be dead anyway."

"I..." Anton shook his head. He could have easily used a prayer to compel him to speak the truth and yet he had chosen the traditional method.

Anton knelt by his bloodied foot and chanted the truth prayer. "I don't doubt why you are chasing us...Who ordered you to attack us?"

"Tullas." The assailant’s eye's shot open. He thrashed about, searching for a weapon that would end Anton's lifer or probably his own, but the twins stomped on his wounds, stopping him instantly.

"Did Tullas himself order this?"

"No."

"...Right. One question, one answer. Who gave you the order?"

"His agent in Boreana." The assailant coughed up yet more blood. "A man known as Seven."

"The number seven?"

"Yes."

"Where can we find him?"

"Southern side of Boreana, an inn called the Dog's Head. He sits near the fireplace."

"I'm sure Cassius will appreciate that information." Anton looked back to the city, now nothing more than a faint glow in the sky above. "But I'm not returning anytime soon. I think we have everything we need. Oh, do you know why Tullas wants us dead?"

"You interfered with his plans: the two bandits in Porswea which led Cassius to a number of important hideouts, the pirates which led to more losses, you've thrown your lot in with Cassius and yet nothing can be found out about you." The assailant smiled. "That’s more than enough to get on his bad side."

"You didn't have to torture a little girl to discover where I live. But all you've done is ensure that I fight against Tullas with everything I have, and I can make anyone speak the truth if I want to." Anton raised the assailant’s leg. "No matter what state they are in. Unless...Were you sent by a member of the royal household or a noble of the triumvirate or the lords themselves?"

"No."

"Well, that's a relief." Anton relinquished his hold.

"Why did you ask that?" Calo asked softly.

"I thought for a moment that I was being attacked by my potential allies, to trick me into helping them. Thankfully that isn't the case, or he simply doesn't know if it is."

"Now what?"

"I think you know what's coming for you now."

Anton threw the small Fire Bomb at his head. His screams only lasted a few seconds before his face melted and his brain cooked. Calo and Sheso recoiled in disgust, holding their noses shut and ripped their swords from his corpse.

"You didn't want him alive?" Calo asked.

"I probably could have."

Anton looked to the last assailants, now a whimpering mess underneath the children's blows. They were trying to crush his skull but their weight was insufficient, they had to run up to gain sufficient strength.

"Gods, I hope my children don't turn out like that."

"I'm sure they'll be great kids." Sheso smiled. A loud pop from the roasting assailant dented her smile.

"I could have..." Anton folded his arms. "But I am a little cross at the moment. More than a little. These are the same people that tried to hurt Axia, probably kill her, because of me. I don't like the idea of this thing." Anton kicked the limp corpse. "Being in Atros with them. I know he's not going to be doing much but I still don't like it."

The twins glumly nodded as they wiped away the blood from their blades. Verona, Kal and Cetina returned with a couple from the caravan. They were not guards but had done their fair share of fighting.

"Thank you." The woman took deep breaths in an attempt to steady her nerves. "We wouldn't have made if you hadn't shown up. I didn't realise there was a group of Principle Mages leaving Boreana."

"We're just glad to help."

The couple’s gazes were fixed upon the burnt assailant. While the fire had extinguished itself it left behind a charred skull.

"Do you know what set them off?" Anton waved to the bodies littering the ground. "Seems a bit much for a disagreement."

"They seemed fine, at first." The man began. "Weren't expecting so many at night on this road, but they were kind and polite enough. Then they saw Ayden and they just went wild.” She winced at a burnt cart, judging by the lack of flames it was one of the first to be attacked. “Next thing we know they’re trying to kidnap him. Then…” She limply shrugged. “Then you know what happened next.”

“Why him?” Calo asked.

The couple frowned lightly, they could see the twins had very dark skin under the dim light but hopefully thought they were Seocurians rather than Dark Elves.

“I don’t know.” The man sighed. “Ayden seemed like a decent person. Maybe he fell into the wrong crowd and owed money?”

“Oh stop that.” She slapped his shoulder. “You’ve known him for a long time. He’d never get involved in something like that.” Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she studied Anton more closely. “Is...Is that why you are here? To try and catch him?”

“Me?”

“You...Aren’t you his brother or something? You look very similar.”

And there’s the reason, not that we didn’t see it coming.

“No.” Anton shook his head. “This is the furthest north I’ve ever been. And I don’t have any siblings.”

Anton half expected there to be a distorted memory but there was nothing. Clearly he was an only child, or at least that’s what his memories told him.

“I’m sorry-”

“It’s alright.” Anton raised his hand. “It’s been a difficult night. Do you have any more wounded? If you do we might be able to heal them.”

“You…” The man frowned. “You’re not going to demand money from us, are you?”

“No.” Anton smiled. “It’s good practice for us too. And I don’t like seeing people suffering in pain.”

The couple glanced again to the burnt assailant but said nothing. It didn’t matter to them if Anton’s words were lies, only that they had helped and were willing to help again.

“I’ll gather everyone your masked friend didn’t get to.” The woman began to back away. “Anything you can do to help them is greatly appreciated.”

The couple speedily ran off and began organizing the survivors.

“Do they know?” Verona asked.

“No. But they thought someone in their caravan was me. That’s what started this whole mess.”

“Poor people,” Cetina said softly. “So what now?”

Anton clapped his hands together. “Heal them. When that’s done we’ll ride hard, alternating riders while some rest in Atros. We can’t just leave one of the portal sets here. We’ll head to the Seocurian border. Since we don’t look like Seocurians, and we’d stand out there, they might think we’ll go somewhere else. Since they think we’re allied with Cassius then we’ll head south, maybe west, but probably not north.”

“But they are here.” Kal pointed to the bodies. “And this will be the only group that doesn’t come back.”

“It’ll take a day or two before they realise.” Anton shrugged. “And it sounds like it was a stab in the dark, a desperate attempt to find us when we slipped away. Next chance we get we’ll give Cassius the information we found.” Anton folded his arms. “Might just make his day.”

Verona patted the twin’s shoulders. “Well done, you two. Very well done.”

“Thanks.” Sheso laughed. “It’s our first real fight. I think we did okay. A lot to learn.”

“You aren’t dead,” Cetina smirked. “And that’s what matters most.”

“The sooner we’re done with this the better.” Anton tapped Kal’s shoulder and motioned her to follow. “We shouldn’t risk even more of these assailants chasing after us. What...What a day, huh?”