My eyes were so dry and grainy it hurt to open them, my eyelids stuck and slowly peeled back as I forced them open. I was afraid to keep them closed, to remember. I rubbed them and blinked to moisten them, wanting to look around, to orient myself in the present, away from the horrific dream.

I could still smell the sweet wet scent of the grass, feel the sticky warmth of my father’s blood, a sharp contrast to his slick cold skin. It felt as if he had been in my arms only moments ago.

I looked down at my hands. The dawn trickled a bit of light through the window in my room. It was enough for me to see that my father's blood did not still cover my hands. I sighed in relief and realized I had a splitting headache.

I had caused their death. The Elven woman, Iolarathe, and I were lovers. Repeating her name in my head caused it to spin along with the pain.

I struggled out of the covers that entwined me and made my way to the bathroom. I turned the metal wheel as Paug had instructed. The steam from the stream of water pouring out distracted me. When it had almost filled the tub, I slipped out of my pants and slid into the burning hot bath. I took a deep breath and submerged myself completely.

Underwater I heard nothing but my heart beating. It grew louder the longer I stayed under and I wondered if the force of my heart caused ripples on the surface of the tub. It would cause the water to move like waves in the ocean, it would match the water in the blood that coursed through my body, giving my muscles strength. I felt the power of the Water flow around me and blissfully fill my body like a wine skin. I thirsted for it everywhere, my skin and eyes parched with their own need.

My brother and father were dead and it had happened so long ago that there was nothing I could do about it. I wasn’t even sure I was the same person as in my memories. What did it really matter? Should I go through the agony of losing them twice just because I forgot my past while I slept?

I came up to the surface and laughed. The emotions coursing through my memory had little impact on my life now. The memory of Thayer must have been from after the deaths of my father and brother. So even though I experienced great sadness with the loss of my family, I also found joy with my friendships. I'm sure that I had taken my revenge serving in the O'Baarni's army and crushing the Elvens into extinction.

I had a new life now. The memories were there to guide me but not to rule me. My headache seemed to vanish and I smiled at the sudden release of pain.

I grabbed the soap and rubbed it over my body, cleaning away the sweat the nightmare produced. Then I rinsed off and looked into the mirror that hung over the ornate sink. My beard was dark and thick, but in my memories I only recalled being clean-shaven, even my hair had been cut very short. It was one thing I wanted to keep, so I grabbed the razor blade and went to work.

After I shaved my beard I debated doing the same to my head, but the thick dark strands did remind me of my brother and father. Would they have approved of what I had done in my life? Had I asked that of myself already? I didn't remember.

A soft patter of feet stopped in front of my door; I guessed it was a girl's from the quick, light heartbeat before a knock sounded.

I opened the door to see a young woman around Jessmei's age standing with a basket. I recognized the color of the tunic on top but it was neatly folded. The girl's mouth hung open as she looked at me. Her eyes glanced down my naked body in astonishment.

"Uhhh . . . laundry . . . clothes." Her heart beat in double time.

"Thank you," I said as I grabbed the basket from her. "Anything else?" I asked after a few seconds of holding my clothes.

"Uh. No. Thank you." Her face blushed red, but she turned to run down the hallway before I could ask her why. I could only shrug before I hooked my left foot around the back of the door, slamming it closed behind me.

I hadn't realized that they took my clothes to clean, but it was probably a good thing. I was about to choose between wearing clothes that I had worn for one week and smelled like I had rolled in horse shit or ones that I had worn for two weeks and smelled like cow shit.

I figured I would probably be meeting new people today, so I picked my nicest pair of pants and the loose gray tunic. Both had been obtained at the camp in the jungle. Our encounter with the Vanlourn soldiers felt like it had happened a lifetime ago, while the memory of my father and brother’s murders was so fresh in my mind they could have died yesterday. Time became a very relative and pliable thing when one had been sleeping for centuries.

Paug's door opened across the hall and he knocked on my door.

"You shaved!" he said when I opened it.

"Yes. I got tired of the hair. I used the bathtub as well. The water worked just like you showed me." His face lit up. My friend was easy to please, but his big smile reminded me that I still had to tell him and Nadea that I wasn't the O'Baarni.

"Are you hungry?"

"Always."

"Let's go break our fast with Iarin." I nodded and we walked down the hall to the quiet woodsman's room.

"Ahh. Perfect timing!" he said as he opened the door, unleashing the tantalizing scent of the food that had already been placed on the table in his room. It was loaded with an enormous pot of eggs, steaming loaves of yeasty fresh-baked bread, dishes of golden butter and crumbly, blue-veined cheese, ripe green and orange fruits, two pitchers of water, and a large flagon of cider. I was always hungry, but the sight and scent of the food set my mouth watering and I breathed in deeply through my nose to savor the aroma.

"I was about to come get you both. I rang the bell to ask a servant where we might go to get some foodstuffs and she said, 'I'll just bring you up whatever you would like.’ I recalled how our skinny friend here likes to eat his bodyweight in meat for every meal, so I ordered enough for six people. It just got here."

We set in on the food like three starving men. It was the best meal I remembered eating, even if I could only recall the past month and a few days of my previous life. It took half an hour for us to devour the feast. We didn't speak much, unless it was to praise the deliciousness of the spread, ask for water or apple wine to be passed, or compliment the burp of satisfaction we each released in turn toward the end.

"Ahhhh. I could get used to this,” Iarin said as he leaned back and took a swig of wine. "I hope Nadea will keep me around for a few more weeks so I can put some weight on."

"She hired you for this job?" I asked, hoping that I understood the language enough to infer what he meant. I never asked why the tracker accompanied Nadea and Paug. I guessed he was part of their country and served Nadea.

"Yep. I'm kind of known for traveling around the world and getting in and out of tight spots. I can also keep my mouth shut if the gold is right. It is right with this deal." He smiled at me. I liked Iarin. He didn't talk much, but when he did the words that came out of his mouth always seemed to be useful. There was something familiar about him that put me at ease and made me feel more welcomed and comfortable in this world.

"Have you heard from Nadea?" Paug asked as he looked at Iarin. He shrugged and then looked at me. I shrugged as well. "I wonder what the plan is for the day?"

"I don't mind sitting around and doing absolutely nothing, except eating and drinking of course!" Iarin said as his chair tipped dangerously back on two legs. "We need a break." I nodded in agreement, even though my body begged to go do something active.

"I'm going to go see if I can find her or my grandfather," Paug said as he stood up. He looked over at me. "Are you going to be here, or in your room?"

"I wanted to walk around and explore the castle," I said, but his face quickly crumpled into a frown.

"I don't think that is a good idea. You might get lost, or it might take us a long time to find you if we need you. Can you stay in one place?" I sighed.

"I'll go back to my room then." I tried to hide my disappointment.

"Great. I'll come get you when I find Nadea." The three of us parted and I headed back across the wide stone hallway to my room.

I paced for a few minutes and then took inventory of my bag. Then I checked my swords to make sure they were satisfactory, I sighed when I realized I had sharpened them a few days ago and their condition remained unchanged.

An hour passed and I got thirsty so I pulled on the cord to summon a servant. Within a few moments there was a knock on my door.

"How can I help you?" This girl was older than the one that brought my laundry. Pretty, with dark brown hair cut close to her neck, and a scattering of freckles across her features. She looked me up and down before her cheeks turned red. The blush made her almost beautiful. Not as good-looking as Nadea or Jessmei, but I hadn't spent time around any other women in the last month.

"Can I have some water and maybe beer or some wine?"

"Would you like any food?" She looked down at the crotch of my pants again and she reddened more.

"Fruit would be fine. Some cheese and bread too?"

"Yes of course. It will be my pleasure. I'll be back." She turned and left.

Within fifteen minutes she knocked on the door again.

"It is a nice day. Would you like to eat on the balcony?" She said as she pulled in a large tray through the door. She was thin but had defined muscles on her arms.

"I had forgotten about the balcony. That sounds good."

"The warriors train in the yard that your room overlooks. There are soldiers here from four different kingdoms! They are doing some sparring matches down there. I am surprised you haven't been watching," she said as she tried to open the door. I quickly took the tray from her so she wouldn't drop it.

"I didn't know that." I wondered if they were here in preparation for the anticipated onslaught of Ancients, or if this was a normal part of Nia’s training practice. I was curious to observe Nia’s army, I knew from my memories that I was strong and well-trained, but I still wasn’t sure if I was exceptional, or if the few assassins and soldiers I had defeated on our journey were particularly weak and unskilled. My assumption was that all the modern humans were slow in comparison to the warriors of my time.

"Yes, there they are," she said, as she pointed down into the courtyard, where about sixty men in various uniforms and armor stood around in a circle. Two men danced inside, trying to hit each other with wooden swords. "Sit down please," she instructed before she arranged the plate of food for me on the table.

"If you need anything else, just ring the bell. I am here until about two hours after sunset. So if you need anything at all please ring," she repeated with a smile. I was still trying to piece together what words meant when emphasized in this language. Maybe the pretty girl inferred that she wanted to provide me with sex?

"I'll keep you in mind," I said as I picked up the glass of water and sipped it. She smiled and looked down before she went back inside. I watched her hips sway as she retreated. If I wasn't occupied later tonight I would find out if my assumption about her was correct.

I cut a piece of cheese and some fruit while I looked down to the soldiers. They were cheering and yelling at the two men circling each other. One wore the colors of Nia, the other wore blue. I figured it was probably a man from Brilla.

After a few minutes the Brilla soldier went down from a nasty thwack to the head. Luckily, the swords were padded and I doubted any serious damage was done. The man from Nia helped the man from Brilla up and they hugged for a second. My head spun like I was falling.

His hand grabbed my neck and tore me off of the bed. It was a bunk bed and I was on top. The air left my body as my head broke my fall. He leaned his full weight on my throat and spots began to form in my vision.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," he whispered into my ear as he ground his forearm into my larynx. His face still dripped blood from when I had smashed it with the mace. I had expected this to happen, so I was prepared. I still couldn't walk so it would have been impossible to get out of this situation.

He hadn’t seen the dagger up my sleeve, but he felt it slice open a massive gash in his stomach. His intestines spilled out over me in a hot mess of steam, and he gasped in pain. The pressure on my neck released as he moved his hands to his stomach in an attempt to push the organs back into his body.

That was a big mistake.

My right hand reached up and grabbed the side of his neck a split second before I pulled myself up and rammed the dagger harder into his stomach. I felt it grind off his spine and rip through his back. He gasped again in agony and I pulled the dagger out and slammed it in again. My hand and arm were covered with his blood. It gushed out of his body like a red waterfall.

"Wait. Stop!" he cried as he fell on top of me. I pushed the dagger to the edge of his throat.

"What?" I whispered in his ear. I was ready for the kill. This man had been harassing me since I got here. Payback would be a ride into oblivion on the point of my blade.

"You win! You beat me. Fuck, man. I don't want to die now. Not like this. I'm sorry for bullying you," he slobbered over my face. His warm blood pooled over my stomach like he was pissing on me. I remembered my father lying dead on the ground as the blood flowed out of his body and onto the grass. I had no more tears for that.

"Fine. I'll let you live." I heaved him off me and he sobbed. He pulled and pushed his organs back into his stomach as he collapsed next to me on the floor. After a few minutes of frantic movement, he was still.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to healing like this. I should have died a hundred times already. But I keep coming back. This must be hell," he said through gasps of pain.

"It is hell. The Elvens are our keepers here."

"What's your name kid?"

"Kaiyer."

"I'm Thayer. Sorry again, Son of Lightning. You know, we are both sons of, eh? Your father dead too?”

“Yes.”

“What did he do?”

“He was a blacksmith. Yours?”

“Carpenter. Fitting huh?” I nodded at the play on words. Thay meant ‘wood’ in our old language.

We didn't say anything for a while. In the distance we could hear the sound of our training partners sparring.

"Have you thought about running away?" he said.

"Where? How?"

"I don’t know, Brother. I dream about it sometimes. I can run faster than them. I am stronger than them."

"They will catch you. You'll die," I said as I closed my eyes.

"That wouldn’t be so bad. I just don't want to die here, with you looking at me with those eyes. Your eyes are scary, Brother. They are crazy."

"We are all crazy," I said.

I shook my head and sat up in my chair. I still clutched a half-eaten apple and I ate the rest of it and looked down at the soldiers. Another pair was fighting in the circle below. I sighed when I thought of Thayer. It was good to have more memories of the man.

I didn't think I was that hungry, but I devoured all the food again. Now I really couldn't sit still. I wanted to jump down to the field where the soldiers were practicing and fight them. I started to feel the energy through the Earth and the stone of the castle. The water in my blood swirled with the heat of my heart. I sat back and enjoyed the warmth spreading through my body.

I was so enthralled with myself that I hadn't heard the knock on the door the first time. Now it was being pounded on. I moved across my suite and opened it.

"Are you okay?" Nadea asked, concern on her face.

"I was out on the balcony and I didn't hear you at the door." She wore a white dress with purple flowers embroidered down the left side. Her hair was loose and fell straight down her back, glossy as silk. She wore thin sandals on her feet instead of her usual leather boots. It was strange seeing the powerful woman in such girlish clothes, she looked gorgeous either way, but from what little I knew of her I guessed this ensemble had not been her choice.

"I like your clothes," I said to her with a wry smile.

"Thank you. I have to dress like this in the castle or my father will have kittens." She smiled at me. Her mouth parted slightly to show her teeth. I wanted to run my fingertips across her dark red lips and then drink from them.

"Kittens?" I asked as I raised my eyebrow.

"Yes. Never mind. Can you come with me? We would like to meet with you."

I nodded. "Do I need anything?"

"No, just walk with me," she said as she pulled me into the hallway. I closed the door behind me.

Her arm slipped around my elbow and bicep on my left side as she led me through the labyrinthine halls. I smelled flowers on her hair, and her body heat brought out the scent of the lavender oil she wore. I looked over at the smooth, tan skin of her neck and shoulders. Her scent made my mouth begin to water.

"Are you okay?" she asked. I realized that I had forgotten to learn the word for sex from Paug. Then I remembered that she seemed to realize that I said 'hungry' to mean that word.

"I am hungry for you," I said as we approached a set of stairs. She looked back at me in astonishment.

"I can get you some food once we get to the meeting,” she said, face now composed, but her heart began beating faster.

"No. Hungry for you, not for food. I forgot to ask for the word from Paug. You know what I mean. When people want to make offspring they do this thing. What is it called?"

"Mating?" her lightly bronzed skin was a few shades darker now.

"Yes. I think that is the word. I want to mate with you. Now, actually. I really want to mate with you. Am I saying that right?" She stopped walking and faced me and her eyes were wide in surprise. “Maybe I said it wrong? You look upset. Did I say it wrong? Your heart is beating very fast."

"I keep telling myself that you don't know what you are saying, but then I realize that you know exactly what you are saying, and you say it anyway." She pulled my arm to keep walking. Then she looked down at our interlocked arms and withdrew from me.

"I'm sorry. I don't understand. Don't you want to mate with me?"

She stopped and turned around to face me again. She looked angry this time. A servant opened the door next to us and Nadea waited until he had moved down the hallway before speaking.

"You don't just say that type of thing to someone. It is too forward. Do you understand?" Her eyes flashed dangerously.

"No, I don't understand. I want to mate with you. You want to mate with me. What is the problem? I can make you feel really good. I want to make you feel really good. I'll touch and taste you everywhere." I looked at her again. Her body was definitely reacting to what I said.

"Kaiyer stop! Why are you saying this? We have to go to this meeting with my father! The king might be there too. Please concentrate on the matter at hand. We have more important things to be doing." She paused as another servant walked by, and then she continued in a whisper, "We have more important things to do than . . . what you are talking about." She crossed her arms and stuck out one of her hips. I could see the sleek shape of her thighs and stomach through the material of the dress.

"Okay. After the meeting then. We'll go back to my room," I said and continued to walk.

"No! Do you have only one subject on your mind?" she hissed at me.

"Yes. I've been sleeping for a long time. I want to mate very badly." I frowned. "How much farther?"

"We are almost there. I guess I haven’t thought about how long you have been sleeping." She stopped suddenly and grabbed my arm.

"Wait. Is it me? Or do you just want to mate? Can we call it lovemaking? It seems less like animals are doing it if I use that word."

“Okay. I want to make love to you," I said as my hand caressed hers. She didn't move it away from me and I smiled. I wouldn't need the servant girl tonight.

"No. Do you want to make love to anyone? Or make love to me?" She raised an eyebrow and bit her lower lip as she waited for my response.

"I would prefer you. I asked Jessmei in the inn before the assassins attacked and she said that there wasn't a bed in the room so we couldn't do it. We don't need a bed to make love though." Her mouth dropped again and her eyes grew huge. For a second I couldn't tell if I had said something wrong.

Then I realized I had. Damn it.

Her lips turned into a sharp frown and she pulled on my arm again, letting it go once I had begun to follow her.

"This room." She didn't look at me as she opened the door. Her heart still beat quickly and I heard her breath coming out in an excited fashion.

It was a large room with a massive table in the middle. On the table draped an expansive, colorful map with various border lines and carved pieces of wood that I guessed represented troop placement.

They are going to cut us off here at the ocean and the wetlands. They are trying to force us into the open field. We'll be outnumbered three to one there. What do we do, Kaiyer?

I recognized the voice in my head, but it wasn't Thayer's or the old man with the cane's voice.

Four people looked up when we entered the room: Paug, his eyes bright and his smile huge; an older man with a bald head, a long white beard, and stained clothes; a middle-aged man dressed in an intricately embroidered, deep purple suit with gold trim, his brown hair thick and long; and a blonde middle-aged man that appeared to be dressed in a military uniform. He wore various insignias and medals pinned on his suit. He stood at attention and looked at me with suspicion.

"This is my father, the duke. This is Kaiyer," Nadea introduced us. I reached across the table and shook the brown-haired man's hand. His grip was firm and he smiled at me. He had light blue eyes that reminded me of Jessmei's. The duke was handsome, but I guessed that Nadea got most of her looks from her mother, since they didn't share any features besides hair color.

"It is nice to meet you. My daughter has told me of your travels." I nodded and then looked to the military man.

"This is one of the king's generals, Maerc." I shook the man's hand, but he said nothing in acknowledgment.

"This is my grandfather!" Paug’s eager, open face beamed as I turned to face the old man. I smiled and shook his hand.

"Very, very pleased to meet you, Kaiyer. I'm Janci. We have so much to discuss with you!" the older man said. His face was lined with the kind of wrinkles you get from smiling, his hands rough and worn, even compared to the stoic general. I liked him immediately.

"We all have questions that we wish to ask you. Would you be so kind as to sit down and let us speak to you?" the duke asked. I nodded and sat down on the other side of the table from them.

Nadea glared at me from her seat and folded her arms over her breasts. I looked back between the other men and waited for them to interrogate me.

"Gentlemen, do you mind if I go first?" Janci said. The other two men nodded. "Thank you."

"Kaiyer, can you tell me about your name. What does it mean?" he said as he unrolled a piece of parchment and took a pen in his hand.

"It means: 'Son of Kai.' Kai was my father and a blacksmith. My brother's name was Leotol. He also worked as a blacksmith with my father."

"Thank you! Paug was right; your grasp of our language is uncanny. It is splendid! What does Kai mean?"

I thought back through my memory.

"It means 'Lightning' in our old language. Can I have some water or wine? I feel like I may become thirsty." The duke nodded and rang a nearby bell.

"What do you mean by 'old language'? Isn't the language you were speaking with Paug when you were awoken by him the old language?" He was scribbling on his paper with great urgency.

"No. The Humans had a language before the Elvens enslaved us. We would name our children the old words, even though we didn't speak the language anymore." He nodded.

"What does your brother's name mean?"

"It meant 'Dancing Butterfly.' My father said that my mother expected a girl child, and she already desired the name." I had to have Paug translate part of the sentence.

Servants entered the room, carrying pitchers of water and bottles of wine. I poured myself some wine, mixed it with water, and drank it. Janci waited until the servants left before he spoke again.

"Do you remember much of your mother?"

"No. Father never talked about her. He told us that the Elvens killed her. It was common for that to happen." He grimaced in sympathy.

"Can you tell us of the Ancients? Their strengths, weaknesses? Are they the same as these Elvens you mention?” The duke asked. Janci looked a little upset at the interruption but I understood the duke to have significant power, and I doubted he placed the same importance on my family history as Janci seemed to. To him I was part of an urgently needed military strategy, to Janci I was a living artifact that could teach him of the civilization he and his family had spent their lives studying. Everything about me and my past fascinated him, while the duke, and I guessed Maerc, wanted to find out what I could do to help them as quickly as possible.

"I believe those whom you call Ancients are my Elvens. They are a race similar to humans. But they live much longer. They are very strong. Some are two to four times stronger than a human. They are also fast and possess amazing fighting abilities. I think some of them can use magic; they can control the Wind, Fire, and Earth. They can heal themselves quickly and almost never tire." I tried to think of more but my memories were far from complete.

"What about their weaknesses?" the general said from behind the duke.

"I don't remember any. I hated them in my memories. But I don't remember killing any of them. I don't remember killing anyone. I remember being a stable boy. I remember my father and brother being killed by the Elven; I remember being trained in their army, sent to die as they fought against each other for petty reasons. I remember training with a group of humans, and I also remember standing on a battlefield with a red banner and a black skull."

I drained my glass and poured more wine and water into it. My mouth was dry.

"Do you remember any battles with the Elven? Anything about fighting them?" the duke asked again.

"No."

"Do you remember being called ‘the O'Baarni?’" Paug's grandfather cut in. I let out a long sigh and leaned back into my chair. I frowned and took a deep breath. They wouldn’t like this.

"In one of my memories, I trained with another human. We were being taught by an older man. I think we were part of some military, but I don't remember. The old man asked the other man and me to go hunt and bring back food for the O'Baarni."

There was silence for a few minutes.

"What does that mean?" the general said.

"I know you have been looking for this person called the O'Baarni. You think I am him, but I know for sure that I am not. I believe I was a soldier in his army, but how could I be this O'Baarni and be asked to get food for him?" I could almost feel their disappointment seep into the air. They had pinned all their hope for the salvation of their country on me, invested much into my retrieval, and I was not the man they expected, not whom they needed.

Paug swallowed painfully and seemed destroyed by my news. I looked over to Nadea, she stared down at the table, avoiding my eye contact. Her mouth formed a straight line.

"You're sure that there is no possible way you are him?" Paug's grandfather asked. I nodded.

"I want to help you. Perhaps there are ways I can. Maybe I will have memories of things that the O'Baarni did to defeat the Elvens. Maybe I know something that you can use. My memory is slowly coming back. I will do what I can to help you all."

"I don't understand," Nadea said. Her face was angry as she looked at me. "If you aren't the O'Baarni then why were you placed into deep sleep and entombed? It doesn't make any sense that you would be there." The duke nodded and spoke.

"Do you remember why you were imprisoned and made to sleep?"

"No. I don't. There was a letter carved into the stone of the slab I rested on. When I read it I didn't remember any of the names, but now I remember that one of them was my training partner." Paug's face lit up when I finished.

"That's right. Sorry Grandfather, I forgot to show you this!" Paug ran over to his pack and took out the thick book he had used to translate; he pulled out a piece of thin parchment with the rubbings. Janci examined it and translated it aloud slowly.

After the older man had finished, the group turned to look at me.

"I remember Thayer, but that is it. In my memories we were friends so I don't understand why he would want to punish me. For some reason, they wanted me to be removed from their lives, but not killed. I wish I remembered more. I am sorry again."

Nadea opened her mouth to speak when the door behind me creaked. Before it fully opened the room had sprung to its feet. I rose from my chair to look at the newcomer.

He was an impressive man, a little taller than me, with broad shoulders. His hair was the same color as Jessmei's and his eyes were also the same frozen blue. He wore a long purple robe that stopped just short of the ground. Golden rings decorated his fingers and he had a circle of gold and gems on top of his head. I assumed him to be their leader.

Standing behind the king were two guards. They wore simple chain shirts, but I could see the curve of their muscles beneath them.

"Your Highness, I didn't think you would make it," General Maerc said as he walked over and bowed. The rest of the room followed suit. I mirrored their movements, remembering a time when disrespect meant death.

"Be seated friends. I wanted to meet this man myself and ask him some questions." He looked over to me. "Your name is Kaiyer, correct?"

"Yes it is, King." I hoped I addressed him properly. He smiled.

"Glad to meet you. Let me take a seat over here." He moved over to a chair next to Nadea and sat down. His guards moved behind him and eyed me more cautiously than Maerc had. The king poured himself some water and took a sip.

"I wanted to thank you for saving my beloved Jessmei and my niece here from possible death and certain kidnapping. You did my kingdom, my brother, and me a huge service. I didn't get to where I am today by not rewarding those that have faithfully served me, so I would like to reward you."

I nodded. I hadn't saved them because I had hoped for a reward. I had acted on instinct. But it made sense for the ruler to set such precedents.

"I believe that my brother and General Maerc will be trying to figure out how to use your talents in the upcoming battles, but I want to take care of you tomorrow night. We are having a banquet to celebrate the arrival of the envoys from our friendly neighbors. During that ceremony I would like to knight you. It is a simple process that will give you certain legal claims in the military. You'll get a weekly stipend, and should you choose to participate in our future battles, and I hope that you do, you’ll have a small brigade of soldiers to command. I can also give you some land, but we'll wait for that reward until next spring. I hope I still have a kingdom by then. What do you say?"

I hadn't understood everything that he said. I guessed he told me he intended to reward me tomorrow night at a party by giving me some money and men to command.

"It sounds great King. Thank you." I smiled. Paug looked over at me and beamed.

"Now let me ask you a few more questions. I talked to Greykin about the journey, and there are some things that I can't understand. I wanted to get your perspective. Is that okay?" I nodded. The king was very charismatic. His eyes were kind and he had a direct, yet unthreatening gaze that made it seem as if he was intensely interested in what I was saying. I found myself liking him more and more each time he spoke.

"When you were at the inn with Jessmei and the four assassins attacked,” he paused,” I'm not sure I understand what transpired. How did you defeat them?" I saw the guards and General Maerc lean forward.

"Jessmei came out of her room to get some water. We talked at the table for a bit." I noticed Nadea frown at me, and I had already learned enough of their culture to know I should not tell Jessmei’s father the exact nature of our discussion. "Then I got up to go to bed. I saw a shadow at the window and they kicked in the door. One of them shot a crossbow bolt at me, but he missed. Then I kicked him back into his friend. Two more came from the kitchen and I threw the table at them. Greykin, Nadea, and Iarin came out to help me finish them off."

The king sat back in his chair and nodded.

"I think you are being a little too modest, Kaiyer." He reached into his robe and pulled out a piece of paper. He unfolded the paper and showed me a symbol written on the inside. It was a circle with three vertical lines in parallel. "Do you know what this is?" I looked carefully at it.

"No, King. I have never seen it before. At least from what I can remember."

"No, I didn't think so." The king turned the paper around and showed it to Nadea, her father, Maerc, Paug, and Janci. They opened their eyes and gasped. The king looked back to me. "This is the symbol of the Assassin's Guild. Greykin inspected them before the bodies were destroyed. They work across our world and do a variety of 'special' tasks. This particular mark is one of their highest rankings. The men who have it tattooed on their bodies are some of the best killers in the world. These men don't miss with a crossbow bolt. They are not thwarted in a kitchen by a table, and they never fail." I smiled and laughed.

"What's so funny?" the king asked. I couldn't tell if I had annoyed him, so I stopped laughing.

"I didn't think they were impressive," I said with a smirk. The king smiled back.

"Tell me about the table you threw. Was it heavy?"

"I don't remember, King. I didn't have a weapon on me, and Jessmei stood between us. I asked her to duck down, I grabbed the table, and I threw it." He nodded.

"Greykin told me that the tables in that inn were bolted to the floor. Most tables in inns are, so that they can't be thrown in fights. He said he inspected the table you threw. It had been ripped out of the floor. It would have taken ten or more men to pull it out without tools. Do you understand what I am saying?" I nodded. Now that my memory was coming back I knew that I was stronger than normal humans. Much more. Even stronger than Elvens.

"I am strong." I nodded and smiled, then grabbed my glass and drank some more. The king laughed.

"I like this lad. He needs more food in him though. Looks like I could slide him under the door to this room." I smiled wider. It had only been a few hours but I was hungry again.

"Thank you King. I like you too. I also like food." He laughed heartily.

"I don't have anything else to ask you. I'm sure you'll be able to help us. I have other things to attend to. I'm going to send my private tailor to your room tonight to make you some new clothes. Those things you are wearing look like something that was in style ten years ago in Vanlourn."

"I took them from a camp of Vanlourn soldiers. I didn’t have any clothes, and they didn't need them anymore." The king laughed again. It came straight from his belly.

"I like you Kaiyer! Thank you again. See you tomorrow night. Don't worry about the ceremony. I'll have someone walk you through it." Everyone stood up as the king and his two guards left.

"Maybe you aren't the O'Baarni, but you obviously have skills and abilities that can help us," Nadea's father said. "Perhaps as your memory comes back you will be able to help us more. Greykin told us that he has explained the situation to you. Do you understand why we wanted to find the O'Baarni so badly?"

I nodded.

"We are going to spend the next few weeks with the envoys from the other countries creating a plan of attack. Maybe you can remember some things during that time that we can use. We don't understand the Ancients’ power, and we really are at a stalemate trying to figure out what we can do."

I finished the pitcher of water and looked around.

"I am tired," I said after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes. We can talk again tomorrow. Nadea will show you back to your room."

"I can do it, sir," Paug said eagerly. "I mean, my room is across from his and I know my way around. I'll take Kaiyer back while you talk."

"I would prefer that," Nadea said as she shot me another icy glare. She was very attractive when angry, and I couldn't help but smile at her. The duke nodded. Paug said a brief goodbye to his grandfather, Nadea, the duke, and Maerc, and then he led me from the meeting room back to mine. He said he had to go back and speak with his grandfather, but he would come back later tonight to eat dinner with me.

I went back to watching the soldiers sparring on the field. It kept me occupied for a few more hours, but didn't bring back any more memories.