= ( ALCADAR ) =

Gussy sighed as he looked at the village green now littered with discarded litter. ‘Why oh why is there always one shoe left behind?’ he wondered to himself. Gussy shook himself and proceeded to search the deserted village for anything that might help him discover his charges. He did not forget to loot the place figuring they owed it to him.

His search didn’t turn up anything of interest, he returned to the green and set up a quick and dirty ritual, only the fact that he genuinely loved the twins like a father allowed him to hope that the ritual would work. Strong emotions and familial bonds would help make up for much.

Gussy found himself in the middle of a sulphurous cloud of yellowish smoke. He coughed and cursed even as his watering eyes were drawn to the thick foreboding forest to the south. He knew the twins were somewhere in that enchanted forest. And they were not together. Dee he knew was still safe, more or less though she had continued changing. Sar however, he was real worried about Sar. The third thing he now knew was that the villagers would not be back.

So with another sigh Gussy re-entered the village and used a simple cantrip to englamour two nanny goats. He was going to need their milk. Then he located a large basket that he rather absent-mindedly modified as he entered one of the dilapidated huts. He looked down at the sleeping baby boy and sighed once more. “Come along youngster, your mama isn’t coming back so I guess it’s up to me to look after you.

“Note to self: do not scare off villagers without giving them time to gather their treasures.”

A little later any watchers would have been surprised at the sight of a big demon clad in a kilt repurposed from a large tablecloth striding towards the haunted forest followed by two goats and a floating basket.

* * *

Gussy examined the outlying trees of the forest and poked gingerly at the enchantments. He could clearly feel that the primary enchanter was alive and well. He would have a hard time not alerting her... Yes her to his presence.

Gussy fed the baby and crafted a small rattle. He played with the boy until the baby dropped back to sleep. He used his magic to clean up some odiferous by-products, and buried them in a way so that the tree he had been leaning against would gain something from their visit. Then he led his bizarre little party into the woods.

The sun was setting when he found an ill-omened clearing. In the centre stood a dilapidated cottage covered with disintegrating enchantments. The real woodwork and thatch of the walls and roof was breaking through the trite illusions of gingerbread and cookies. Gussy examined the cottage and concluded the Hag that had owned this cottage was recently deceased. So cautiously he entered the place and explored.

Gussy snorted in disgust and displeasure at the sight of the overlarge oven. He drew in his breath and laid out another quick ritual. Once again he succeeded but ended up coughing in a cloud of evil smelling smoke. He grabbed up the basket and fled the cottage.

By the time the baby was sleeping and clean the smoke had dispersed along with the remaining enchantments. Also the imprisoned spirits had been freed, and he was tired.

Gussy got to his feet and led his party back into the cottage, he closed and barred the door and found a patch of floor to settle down. Gussy slept.

= = O = =

Alike lifted her head from Hernson’s shoulder and linked her consciousness to her forest, she blinked and a lazy smile came to her lips. She looked up at her lover and said, “You know love, your little sister is a venomous little thing. She managed to kill Xexe.”

Hernson ruffled his lover’s hair, he lowered his head and whispered in her ear, “Is the girl still my sister?”

“But of course she is.” Alike slapped his chest playfully, “Your body is unchanged, I only aged it. And the boy’s soul wasn’t extinguished or cast out. It was merged with yours to strengthen you. And then you absorbed his memories. You still have them as any adult has the memories of his infancy.”

Hernson chuckled, “I see, so a little part of me is still Sar. If so I’m glad Dee is alive. How is she doing?”

“Well. She is scared and angry. And deadly. She killed Xexe and the system is going to have to allow her to level and gain skills considering the absurd level difference.”

* * *

Three days later Alike felt another disturbance in her forest. Once again she searched out the source and she giggled. “Oh yes. I accept.”

Hernson looked up from the longbow he was crafting. “What dear?” he asked somewhat absently.

“I just accepted your little sister as one of my forest’s denizens. A Gorgon for a Hag. Not sure what I’m going to do with the wolf statues though.”

“Why accept her then? I thought you were going to nudge her out.”

“I still might. But she just threw a fire bolt. It’s a way of making her aware of the forest. Fire mages are a pain, even self taught complete beginners.”

“Hum, Dee was always fascinated by Gussy’s magic books. She might have some advantages when it comes to mastering magic.”

Alike looked briefly horrified, then she dived back into her interfaces and muttered, “Yes I’m sure. Yes!”

= = O = =

Dee screeched in joy and started jumping up and down like a demented spring. Her tail was wagging furiously as she stared at the scorch marks on the bark of the big beach tree.

Then a strange feeling swept over her and she stumbled and stopped jumping up and down. He snakes uncurled themselves and emerged from her tangled hair hissing in relief. Dee reached up and petted them, “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you don’t like being jerked about like that.”

A couple of her snakes nibbled on her ears with their fangs folded and hissed reassuringly.

Dee frowned and looked round at the forest as if seeing it for the first time. “Ok. I’ll keep fire magic for campfires and cooking. How about Ice? No? – Oh well I’ll figure something out.” She looked at the stream and licked her lips at the thought of cooked trout.

= ( STRATSIOSINA ) =

Brazos grinned in relief. The last fortnight had been interesting. They’d had a few skirmishes with the orcs and made friends with several dryads. All the males were exhausted and Natercia had a huge grin on her face. The dryads all seemed to want one thing and they had wanted to hold onto their boy toys.

Natercia had solved that and made several converts. It was odd to know that they were leaving numerous broody dryads behind them. Dryads that couldn’t wait to get rid of any and all males, once they realized they were pregnant.

And then Natercia had found out all four of their mares were with foal thanks to that bloody randy unicorn. Probably helped by an overflow of Bastet’s blessings. Natercia swore blind horses shouldn’t be affected, but he would bet that that vainglorious unicorn was.

He was damn glad they were finally in sight of the massive castle Rock Crag. They made their way to the gates and hailed the castle. A surprisingly visible postern gate opened and they were waved through. The courtyard was designed as a deathtrap. Not a surprise, they had seen films and pictures the Russians had taken when they had passed through.

Brazos was surprised at how easy things were once they showed their guild IDs. They paid their toll and were guided through the world gate to Alcadar in a trice. No sooner were they on Alcadar than their pendants came alive and pointed north-northeast.

On being asked, their temporary guide told them that the only things in that direction were the lands of the snake worshiping savages and the haunted forest. Brazos tipped the man and thanked him before leading his party towards the forest.

A few days later Brazos and his party were staring at a huge wild tangled forest to their north. The savages weren’t, they were peaceful but rather primitive. They had been more than willing to trade for food. The only thing he had against them was their peculiar fascination with rattlers.

They camped for the night and prepared to enter the forest on the following day.