“So Basros,” I spoke to the priest as I helped set up camp. “We’ve been on the road for two days now. How much longer until we reach the Holy Kingdom?” I placed the bundle of sticks I carried into what was going to be our campfire for the night. The whole first day we began our journey we barely stopped to rest. When I had asked why, Cyn said that she wanted to stay ahead of the news that I had a golden aura. If we stayed ahead of the news, we’d encounter less trouble. Hopefully.

“Hmmm…” Basros rubbed his chin in thought. “Should be another ten days if the weather holds up. We’ll cross into the Varistil Principality in about two days and then we’ll follow the mountains north.” He cleared his throat, “Perhaps when we encounter a town we may stop for a night. Sleeping under the stars is far too rustic for my taste.”

“Nay. We stop to buy supplies and we keep movin’” Cyn stated firmly. “Less that know ‘bout m’lord the better.” The other guards grumbled at her words, but would offer no argument.

“Alas, poor Basros’ backside!” The Enchantress mocked lightly as she read a book, seated on the back of the wagon.

“Bah,it wouldn’t kill you to sleep on the ground for once Jercy.”

“I’d rather not.”

“Then at least let young Daen sleep in the wagon.” Basros argued on my behalf. He was a good man in my book.

“I think not. That boy’s got wandering eyes.” I guess she was still mad.

The first night I had slept in the wagon. Or at least I would have, until Jercy changed into her sleeping attire. Perhaps she thought that I’d be like most children and keep my eyes averted. But I am not most children. She had yelled something about wiping that grin off my face and proceeded to kick me out of the wagon. It was a rough night on my back as I had not set up an area for me to sleep on beforehand. Some offered up their bedrolls for me, but I declined. It wouldn’t have been my first night sleeping on the ground.

“I’m just appreciative of the works of the gods, m’lady. Nothing more.” The guards chuckled at my words.

“Hrmph.” Jercy turned her head at my words, her cheeks slightly rosy.

“Behave m’lord. Else I’ll tell yer future wife ye been unfaithful.” Cyn spoke kindly, yet threateningly.

“I’m sorry Jercy, please forgive me.” The two women nodded at my words. “I’m just a boy overcome by curiosity is all.” They began to growl as the men all chuckled. The sound of a flame igniting was my only warning and I quickly jumped to the side. A ball of fire splashed onto the bundle of sticks I had just laid out for a fire. If I had stood still, it would have barely missed me. The flames crackled like they were laughing at me.

“The hells have no fury as a woman does m’lord!” One of the guards exclaimed as they all had a hearty laugh at my expense. I grumbled as I brushed the dirt from my clothes. Cyn watched me with a curious look.

“Good reaction m’lord. How’d ye know to dodge so quickly?” I wanted to say it was thanks to a healthy dose of paranoia, but I dont think they’d understand as I didn’t know the word for paranoia in this world.

“Instinct. Felt something was wrong so I acted on that feeling.”

“With instinct like that, ye’d make a good soldier m’lord.” The other guards nodded.

“Maybe one day I’ll challenge you to a sword fight Cyn.” I grinned and she returned it.

“I’ll look forward to it m’lord.”

I had never held a sword before, but I knew I’d need to one day. If the Black Enchanters killed the previous child with a golden aura, they’d come for me for sure. It was only a matter of when and where. My knife alone wouldn’t be enough to protect myself. But for now it was all that I had.

We quickly set up our bedrolls around the fire and the guards had been given their order for night watch. Cyn would always take the first and last watch every night. I didn’t know how she kept her energy after being awake for so long and sleeping for so little. If I wanted to be strong enough to resist the Black Enchanters I’d need to be strong, even stronger than her. Once we reached the Holy Kingdom I’d begin training my body as best I could.

I sighed as I stared up into the night sky, gazing at stars that I was only starting to recognize. “All I wanted was to be a regular enchanter. Or at least a businessman.”

“You’ll find that life has strange paths for each and every one of us, Daen.” Basros spoke from beside me.

“Why are you up at this hour Basros?” I questioned the priest, normally he’d be snoring like a bear by now.

“I rolled onto a rock in my sleep and its too deep to dig out at this time sadly.”

“Want to switch places? Its fine over here.”

“Ah, you are too kind Daen. I’ll take you up on that offer.” The sounds of us moving our bedrolls quickly faded into the night. “Ahhh, this is much better. Thank you Daen.”

“Its no problem Basros.” In my new spot I kept watching the night sky for a few moments. “Hey Basros?”

“Yes, young Daen?”

“Do you believe in the Gods?”

Basros was silent for a few moments. At first I thought I had offended him, but that worry was quickly put to rest.

“No Daen. I do not believe the Gods exist. Perhaps they existed as man at one point, but not now.”

“Strange view for a priest to take, if you don’t mind me saying.” I spoke, surprised. He chuckled,

“Indeed it is. I…I was never a man of faith. Still not one.” His voice sounded sorrowful in a way.

“Then why? Why be a Priest of the Five?”

“Because I believe in what the church stands for, my boy. Because it helps those who have little or nothing. Because it teaches us to believe in ourselves. In Lenzero, we learn to find our courage to face any challenge that comes our way, no matter how hopeless. In Zaras we aim to be of sharp mind to help our fellow man. In Bentillio we bring honor to others and in turn bring honor to ourselves. In Holve, we are taught to stand strong. Even when the weight of the world seems against us. And in Opell, we yearn to attain the wisdom to lead all men to a better future.” Neither of us spoke. A moment later, his voice was raw.

“But mostly…I believe in the church because it would never turn a blind eye to those of us who had lost everything.” I turned my head to look at the man, but he had rolled onto his side away from me.

“Thank you Basros.” I spoke truthfully. “I’ll keep your words with me always.”

“Think nothing of it young Daen. Now let us get some sleep. We’ve a long few days ahead of us.”

“That we do.”

It wasn’t long until I heard Basros’ snoring, but I couldn’t sleep. My mind was occupied with thoughts of the Gods. Were they real? If they were, then why had I been reborn and not ascended to some sort of afterlife? Perhaps rebirth was what the afterlife is. My views matched Basros’ views of his religion. But a part of me hoped that the gods in this world were real and that they were watching out for us. But until one descended from the sky before me, I’d stand on my own two feet.

********

A man robed in black raced through stone halls, his steps echoing through the silence. Skeletons wielding weapons degraded with rust guarded the doors that the man rushed past. He had no time to waste, worrying news had just arrived by messenger raven. Reading the message that the raven carried had chilled his blood and set his heart racing.

“M’lord!” The man exclaimed as he burst through a pair of doors leading into the castle’s main chamber. “M’lord, news from the west!”

“What news, Krass?” A voice asked in a commanding tone. Krass swallowed hard as he attempted to catch his breath. He watched his lord stand from his throne that had been crafted from obsidian. ‘The Final Throne’ many members of the Black Enchanters called it. His lord was a well-built man who had practiced with both sword and spell. His lord’s face was kind, but his eyes demanded respect. The man himself was bald, but Krass thought that it made his lord look far more intimidating.

“M’lord Cassiendus, news has arrived about a boy with a golden aura! During the boy’s Judgment Day the orb was seen glowing golden!”

“Hmmm…a golden aura…” Cassiendus looked over his throne room. That still took some getting used to, his throne room. He had been a high ranked member in the Black Enchanters, but when it came time to elect a new leader it came as a shock that all voted for him. But ever since he had been given leadership, he had led his people with a purpose. No longer would they be hunted like dogs. He had vowed to give his people a land to call their own.

And so he did.

Now the ruling family of the Kingdom of Blaece had fallen by his hand. Killed in a battle that had occurred not two months prior. Many Black Enchanters had celebrated by killing a few townsfolk and raising them as the dead, but any who had done so he himself executed. The people they now ruled over were under their protection, the same as any other kingdom. Black magic may now be allowed in these lands, but murder is still murder and punished as thus. He needed to show the people that Black Magic was not to be feared and that he would do his best to serve them to his utmost.

Cassiendus walked over to a table to the side of the room that held a map of the continent on it. He had motioned Krass to join him as he poured over the map.

“And where exactly was this boy sighted?”

“Haddan’s Willows, M’lord.”

“Hmmm…” Cassiendus traced his finger over the map, calculating the distance they could have traveled in the time it took for the message to reach them. “By now they should be heading north alongside the mountains. Do we know the boy’s name?”

“Daen Faltelo, M’lord.”

“Faltelo…the count of Haddan’s Willows if I’m not mistaken?”

“I believe so M’lord.” Cassiendus nodded,

“I’ve met Wekken Faltelo once before, a good man.” He then stared at the map in thought for a few more moments. “Send out ravens to all groups. The boy is not to be harmed by any of us.”

“M-m’lord is that wise? The boy could bring all we have achieved to ruin!”

“And send a message to that boy. Tell him that the Black Enchanters seek only to live without being hunted like dogs. And that he has nothing to fear from us.”

“A-at once M’lord.” Krass bowed and quickly ran off once more to send out ravens that would deliver the message.

Cassiendus stared at the door long after Krass had left him alone in his throne room. He hoped that Krass would follow his orders, but the man was new to his retinue. Members of the Black Enchanters kept coming to their newly conquered lands. Members that he knew nothing about, such as Krass. He didn’t get this far by letting others take action for him. With ink, quill, and paper, Cassiendus wrote a message of his own. He opened the room’s window and attached the message to a raven that stood on the sill. “May you bring great change to all of us, Daen Faltelo.” He muttered as the raven flew off.

**********

It had been a long journey, but in two days we’d be in the capital of the Holy Kingdom. Lenzeros, named after the God of Courage that was fabled to have founded the kingdom ages ago. The sun was beginning to set in the sky as the wagon was brought to a halt off to the side of the road we had been traveling. The area surrounding the road was heavily wooded and it was there that we’d be camping for the night. Over the past few days I had picked Basros’ mind for knowledge. Proper behavior in the country, how to address the priests, even how to lead prayer in a public setting.

Lord knows those religious types would make the golden boy do some public prayer.

Once more, I helped clear the campground of stones and sticks to use for a campfire. I was becoming a regular Bear Grylls in terms of outdoorsy-ness. A few nights ago a guard had bagged us, what looked like a deer, to eat with his bow which made everyone happy. We were all sick of eating dried jerky and hard bread. It was my first time eating deer meat and I have to say, I’d been missing out. Our group was in high spirits as we settled down for the night. Soon we’d be sleeping in comfortable beds in a big city. I soon found myself drifting off to sleep.

I was dreaming. I knew I was dreaming because my mind felt heavy as I found myself surrounded by a heavy fog. Something about that fog made me freak the fuck out. I’d never been one to be afraid of the darkness or the fog. But my gut was telling me to book it from that shit. But it was all around me, nowhere for me to run. My only option was to wake myself up. With as much strength as I could muster I began slapping myself as hard as possible.

“Wake up, damnit! Fuck this dream! Wake up!” Like a serpent, the fog struck towards my neck.

I awoke gasping for breath and holding my neck. With deep breaths, I calmed myself but I still had a very bad feeling. My mind was unusually sluggish, which didn’t sit well with me. I had never felt something like this before, it felt oppressive. Basros groaned in his sleep and was breathing heavily as if he was in some terrible nightmare. As I glanced around the camp, I saw that everyone was the same way.

“Hey Basros, wake up!” I shook him until he opened his eyes.

“Bless you boy. I was having the most horrid dream.” Groans and cries rang out through the night.

“You’re not the only one.” I stated with worry. Something was very wrong tonight. Basros nodded,

“Black magic.” He said simply. I had to agree, its the only thing I could think of. Without a second thought, we rushed over to those trapped in their dreams and shook them awake. I myself ran over to where Cyn had stood watch and shook her awake as she quivered in a dream.

“Daen?” She asked groggily. I nodded,

“Time to wake up Cyn. Something ain’t right tonight. We thin- Duck!” I tackled her to the ground. An orb of black energy collided into the tree she was leaning against. Instantly, the tree turned dry and sick looking. Like all life had been sucked from it.

“To arms!” Cyn yelled in the night. Right next to my ear. Ouch. She then unceremoniously rolled me off of her and charged towards a figure in black robes that had launched his spell at us.

More bolts of dark energy were thrown from additional casters that entered the fray. I watched one of those orbs collide into a guardsman. His skin melted off his body as he screamed out. Within moments he was nothing more than a pile of bones. Bones that quickly began to knit themselves together as a skeleton. Once a man, now nothing more than a puppet controlled by evil, he attacked those he once called comrades. I grasped my knife as I scanned the battlefield.

Six casters in dark robes threw their energies towards the remaining guardsmen who could do nothing but dodge. One guard quickly switched to his bow and fired an arrow at his target, sticking right into the caster’s eye. But he in turn was hit by an orb of dark magic and shortly after turned into a skeleton. Crawling low to the ground, I sneaked around as best I could. My eyes darting around, hoping to see an opening.

If these people were after my life, I’d make them pay for it in turn.

But things didn’t look good for my escorts. Now they not only had to contend with three casters, but two skeletons as well. Cyn dodged an orb by rolling to the ground before springing back to her feet. Before her target could cast another bolt of energy she swung her blade at him. With a curse, the man jumped back and drew a blade of his own. Sparks from their blades colliding filled the night.

Making as little noise as possible, I cautiously approached behind a robed man that was giggling gleefully as he launched bolt after bolt of energy at those that had been entrusted to protect me. My hands shook from fear, but I knew that to save the others I had to act. I planted myself against the ground before I launched myself towards my target’s legs. With all the force behind me and my knife pointed out, I cut the back of the man’s knee as I tackled it.

“Guahhh?!” The man shouted in surprise as he fell backwards onto the ground. Before he could recover, I jumped to my feet and dove atop the man. I gripped my knife hard enough to turn my knuckles white and plunged it into the man’s throat. Blood squirted from the wound as the man gasped for breath and swung with his fist, knocking me upside the head. I clenched my teeth in pain as I fell off the man who had struck me. My vision began to blur as I heard the man die beside me. His frantic attempts at breath began to slow before stopping completely.

I did it…I killed someone. My stomach felt sick. I rolled over to my side and heaved out that night’s dinner. “I actually killed someone…” my voice rasped as I wiped the vomit from my mouth. I could feel the ground shake and the earth erupt as Jercy entered the fight. Basros had finally managed to awaken her.

“Daen!” I heard Cyn calling out my name.

“Here!” I coughed as I stumbled to my feet.

“M’lord we must flee!” Cyn. She eyed the corpse next to me. She didn’t say anything about it thankfully.

“We can’t leave Cyn. We have to save the others.” I shook my head in an attempt to clear my head. I certainly had a minor concussion as my vision was slow to clear. “Fuck.”

“What?” She was confused at my curse. I wasn’t surprised, I hadn’t spoken English in a long time. I really needed to learn this language’s curses. Life is boring when people don’t understand your foul words.

“Its nothing. We need to help them Cyn, if we just run they’ll just keep coming after us.” She looked conflicted.

“There’s ten now m’lord. Jercy is barely holding most of them at bay. The others cant get close enough to strike. We have to escape.”

“I…” I couldn’t say anything. She was right, there were too many now. I caught sight of Basros pull a mace from his robes and smash the skull of a skeleton. He roared into the sky.

“By the Five, I will end your perversions of magic!” With an agility I had not seen from him before, he leapt to destroy the other skeleton. He spun and launched his mace head-first towards a nearby Black Enchanter, who was too focused on Jercy’s attacks and missed the heap of metal that collided into his skull.

“M’lord, we must go!” she urged me.

I felt broken. I wanted to save as many as I could. But I was only a child. I lacked the strength to stand against them all. I had gotten lucky with the one I had managed to dispatch. “Alright.” My voice barely a whisper. Cries of pain echoed in the night sky as we raced through the darkness to escape.

********

A spear of stone shot from the earth and caught one of the Black Enchanters in the leg. The man cried out in pain as a second spear pierced his heart. Sartello watched as the man died. Good, he didn’t like that bastard anyway.

“Grrrr. Die you bastards!” The man’s friend yelled out as he launched more dark orbs towards the Enchantress that made their job so difficult. If it weren’t for her, they’d have been finished by now. Sartello scanned the battlefield with quick eyes,

“The boy! Wheres the boy?!” he screamed at his companions.

“He ran with the female guard sir!”

Sartello snickered, “Good. All according to plan then.” Now if they could just kill this Enchantress, things would be much better. They were ordered to send the boy a message. And did they send one! The boy would now know that the Black Enchanters were to be feared. All was going exactly to plan. A spear of stone tore through the earth, barely missing him. “Accursed bitch.” He snarled and sent an orb of his own flying her way. He cheered inside as she was momentarily the distracted. It was going to hit! “Die!” he screamed at her.

In a rush of cloth, a bulbous priest dove into the path of his orb.

“No!” Sartello hissed as his attack connected with the wrong target.

“Basros!” The enchantress yelled as the last of her comrades fell to black magic. With wild eyes, she drew out all of her energy. She then drew more power. More energy. The ground began to shake as she gave herself to her powers.

“Stupid bitch, you’ll kill us all!” Sartello yelled at the woman.

“Thats the plan.” Her voice came to his ears in a serene tone. Then the ground began to rip open.

Far away from the battle, a young man of about twenty years gazed to the distant south as a giant crack in the earth split open. His horse whinnied in worry, but he patted it with his hand. He sighed,

“Well this complicates matters a bit.”

************

My legs felt like liquid magma as we raced to the north. Neither of us spoke as we ran for our lives. Cyn’s kept her right hand on the hilt of her sword at all times as her eyes constantly scanned our surroundings. The ground began to shake uncontrollably under our feet. I stumbled and fell to the ground as the earth lurched and shifted.

“Whats happening?!” Cyn shouted as she held a tree to stay upright.

“Earthquake!” I shouted in response by my words were drowned out by the sound of the ground splitting open. Trees collapsed as the ground beneath our feet rose and fell. I did my best to keep my balance, but my best wasn’t good enough. As I lay on the ground with my stomach lurching, a cacophony of trees crashing and the ground tearing thrashed in my ears. But above all that, I heard Cyn scream. Just as quickly as it had come, the quake subsided. I quickly got to my feet and looked around.

“Cyn, where are you?!”

“M’lord…” Her voice came weak to my right. I found her next to a fallen tree roughly two feet in circumference. With her right arm pinned under it. “It…it hurts m’lord.” She spoke in great pain. I winced, if that were me I’d be screaming bloody murder. I placed my hands on the tree and tried to move it. No such luck.

“Cyn…”

“Ye can’t move it, aye.” She tried pulling her arm and grimaced in pain. “No good.”

“Hmm.” I looked around for something to… “Ah, mind if I potentially ruin your sword?”

“Isn’t doin’ me much good now m’lord.”

“My thanks.” I picked up her sword and inspected it. The blade was a fair bit longer than my forearm. My main concern was with the thickness. It didn’t seem like it’d be a good lever, but at this point it was my quickest option. If this didn’t work I could attempt digging her arm out, but that could take a long time. And time wasn’t my greatest ally at the moment. I pressed the sword diagonally underneath the tree, close to Cyn’s trapped hand.

“Alright Cyn, when I push down on the sword, try to pull your arm straight out.”

“Aye.”

With all the strength I could muster, I pressed down on the hilt of the sword. Nothing. The tree was too heavy. But I kept trying. And I vowed I would keep trying until exhaustion would take me. With a deep breath and clenched eyes, I pressed down once more. My teeth grinding from the strain, I pressed harder than I had ever before. I couldn’t help the others, but I’d be damned if I couldn’t help Cyn! I could feel the weight of the tree increase from the pull of gravity. It was working! I just had to use a bit more strength.

“Argh!” I yelled as the blade snapped and the tree settled back to the original position on Cyn’s arm. I hadn’t moved it much, but it still caused her great pain. I got to learn a few swears at that moment, which was a positive at least.

“I’m sorry Cyn. Best I can think of is digging your arm out now. But…” She shook her head,

“Too much time and we dunno if there are other Black Enchanters out there. I understand m’lord.” She grimaced. “Cut it off.”

“Whoa, wait! We don’t have to do that yet. We can…”

“Nay m’lord. This is the best way. Give me sword back aye? I’ll do it.” I handed it to her and looked away.

“I’m sorry.”

“Nothin’ you could do m’lord.”

“Ah! Hold a second you two!” A voice called from the road. “Perhaps I may be of assistance?” A man in black robes paced towards us in a hurry. Without thinking I drew my dagger and faced him. “Settle down lad, I’m here to help!” He spoke with upraised hands.

“Who are you?” I spoke as threateningly as I could manage. He was a tall young man with striking features. Most notably, the broken nose he had. It looked as if nobody had set it right to heal. His dark brown hair was dirty and unkempt like he had been on the road for a few days.

“My name is Sitarre, part time tailor and full time member of the Black Enchanters.” He bowed. “At your service.”

“We don’t want yer help, ye foul bastard!” Cyn shouted from her position.

“Ah, then I’ll just be on my way then. You people have a good day.” He turned to leave. I…we needed his help.

“Wait.” I spoke. “Please.”

The man, Sitarre, smirked. “At least the boy understands his situation. You my dear, could use some manners.” His hand shot forth and he sent out an orb of black energy. With far greater speed than the other casters, it collided directly into the tree. Cyn and I watched him with wide eyes and then glanced at the tree which was now dry and brittle. Like it had aged a thousand years in an instant.

“Shall we help the lady, my boy?” He offered as he knelt by the tree. Together, we lifted the tree from Cyn’s arm. Cautiously, she stood on her own two feet and cradled her broken arm with the other.

“My thanks, Sitarre was it? But I still don’t trust you.”

“It would be foolish to trust someone on your first meeting m’lady. I understand.” He then looked at me with a serious face. “Daen.”

“How do you-”

“We know much, but for now I’ll say to you this. You have nothing to fear from the Black Enchanters.”

“Bit late that.” Cyn laughed without mirth, “They just attacked us.”

“M’lady, while I see that you have been in some sort of combat I can assure you, none of our people did this to you.”

“Then who?” I questioned, but the man shrugged.

“I’m unsure, but I aim to find out. Tell me everything you can remember from the incident. Every last detail, no matter how small.”

“Can it wait for a few moments? Cyn’s arm is…” They both shook their heads.

“An injury like that, all doctors would cut it off.”

“Aye. I wished it weren’t so…but aye.” Cyn sadly murmured.

“Well ain’t that just a steaming pile of horse shit.” I spoke angrily, “Give me a moment. I’ll show you what a real doctor could do.” Granted, I wasn’t a real doctor, but if I could save Cyn’s arm I damn well would.

Both clearly looked confused. I ordered her to hold her arm straight and she did so with a look of pain. I looked around for two straight sticks to use as a splint. When I had found two that fit my criteria, I sliced up my shirt to use as wrapping. I looked like ass, but it was better than her walking around with an unrestrained broken arm. I set her arm and tied two strips of cloth around her arm. I then tied another two strips of cloth together to wrap around her neck and arm to hold it in place as we traveled. My hands had felt warm as I worked. My heart had been pounding this whole time. But I kept on, there was no other choice. When I finished, I admired my work. It was the worst splint I had ever seen but it was the best I could do in the situation. Both Cyn and Sitarre had said nothing and watched until I finished.

“If you needed cloth young Daen, I had plenty in my wagon back on the road.” Sitarre scratched his cheek sheepishly.

“Gee thanks for offering Sitarre. That would have been nice to know before I carved up my shirt.” He shrugged and smiled. Bastard.

“Perhaps next time you could ask if I can assist you?”

“Lesson learned.” I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Gods was it hot out.

“Mind explaining what this is all for m’lord?” She wondered as she looked over my handiwork.

“Its called a splint. The sticks and first cloth strips are to help your arm be kept straight so the bone heals properly. The one around your neck is to keep you from moving it in ways that could agitate the wound. Mostly for your comfort so you can just let your arm hang. But if the bone doesn’t heal right we’ll have to break your arm to try again.” She looked at my work with bewilderment.

“And how does m’lord have such knowledge?” Ah, fuck.

“Its…a long story.” I scratched my head, trying to think a way out of this one.

“We’ve a long walk ahead of us.”

“Ah, if I may interject.” Sitarre began, “If need be, I can provide transportation. You both are heading to the Holy Kingdom’s Capital correct?”

“Aye.” Cyn stated flatly. She clearly didn’t regard the man in a positive light.

“Well then, feel free to jump on back and rest. I’m sure my horse wont mind the additional weight. Old gal could use the exercise these days.”

Cyn opened her mouth to refuse but I interrupted her.

“We accept. Thank you Sitarre.” I wasn’t feeling so good myself. Rest was welcome. Very welcome.

“Think nothing of it young lad. Merely a start to a beneficial relationship!” Together, the three of us walked to his wagon. We then helped Cyn into a laying position in the back of the wagon with some cloth laid out for her comfort. I myself sat on a roll of brown cloth as Sitarre jumped upon his horse and kicked her into motion.

“My boy,” Sitarre spoke as we began our journey once more. “Mind if I also ask where you learned such medical knowledge.” He kept his eyes forward but Cyn affixed her stare to me. She too wished to know.

“Books.” I said plainly and wiped my head on my sleeve.

“Ah.” Sitarre responded, “Its so nice to meet a well-read individual such as yourself in this of all places. Tell me, have you read Iristein’s Travel Guide? I myself find it to be my most treasured book when traveling as…” His voice began to sound strange. Like it was far away. My blurred vision returned like when I had been hit by the Enchanter I had killed. The last thing I remember was the sky and the sense of falling.