“What do you think of the wagon? Can we take it?” Cid asked Nita, as she inspected a wheel. Nita had finally gotten her bleeding under control, and, like usual, was back to work with her usual enthusiasm.

“Yeah, it seems fine. Kit found some large humanoid bones in the cook fires; looks like three or four people. Plus, a horse’s skull. So, I think it may have been everyone associated with the wagon.” Nita said looking up at him.

“We should camp here. We need to finish cleaning up. If we don’t see anyone tonight, or on the road, in the next few days, that claim the wagon, we can probably claim it and the contents as spoils.” Cid said shifting through some of the items strewn on the ground. “Bloody goblins always make a mess.” He groused, as he started shoving items into a sack.

“Kit is collecting ears, with the ones that were killed before we got here, we will have over 40 sets. What do you want me to do now?” Lilly said approaching.

“Hobble the horses. Then you and Rebeca can help us pick up this mess and loot the dead.” Cid ordered getting up, hefting his sack and dropping it into the back of the wagon.

“I’m going to start a fire so we can burn the corpses. Just drag them over and I’ll strip and burn them.” Nita offered.

“Sounds like a plan.” Cid replied dusting off his hands then whistling for Kit’s attention. “Hey when you’re done collecting ears, I want you to do a quick scout.” He said when he had it.

“So, I checked, and the double full moon is tonight. We’ll need to get Lilly sorted out. Since she’s yours, you might as well try your theory.” Cid said.

“Great! I’ll sit her down after we finish cleaning this up.” Nita said, holding a stick out to Cid. “Start this please.”

Raising an eyebrow, Cid flicked a finger at it, and it started on fire. “You know, you could use your tinderbox.” He said.

“Yeah, but you’re so much easier!” She replied with a wink.

“Look what I found!” Rebeca approached with a large purse in her hand. “There has to be a few hundred crowns in here.” She enthused. “I’ve never seen so much at once before!”

“Probably the Tinkers.” Cid tempered with a frown. “Probably his life savings. Anyone find any indication of who they might have been?” he asked the others.

“The wagon is pretty standard, and It looks like the gobs burnt most of the papers and whatnot. At least we haven’t found any yet.” Nita pointed out.

“We will just have to ask in the next town, they should know.” Cid said turning to continue the cleanup.

A few hours later they had the bodies burnt and the wagon cleaned up. They even found extra tac and harness so they could pull the wagon properly without jury-rigging something that might hurt the horses.

Nita sat Lilly down to chat, while the others prepared a meal.

“So, you said Necromancy and Swamp magic, earlier right?” Nita asked Lilly.

“Yeah.” Lilly replied nodding.

“Ok, I kept a goblin corpse for you. For swamp all you need is some grass and a cup of water.” Nita said. “Have you thought of any other magic that might have been in your family?” She asked.

“No, sorry.” Lilly replied.

“Okay, in that case we should prep you for a few others as well. What was common in your tribe for mages. Sometimes you don’t know if someone is distantly related, and you said your mom was taken as a war-prize, so you’d only know what she did about her family.” Nita said.

“Well there were only three mages, other than my father in the tribe. A Light, a mind and a mist.” Lilly said frowning in thought.

Nita got up and paced back and forth. Coming to a decision, she started rummaging around in her bags. Coming out with a crystal covered in swirling pictures, she handed it to Lilly.

“Here, an empty mind crystal I found it in the tinkers’ things. For it to work you must make a memory flow into it. Well that’s how I was told it works. For mist, just throw your swamp water into the air and try that. As for light, just try to bend the light from the moons. Apparently, light is the easiest to acquire if you have the talent so I wouldn’t hold my breath, you would have got it last time if you had the talent. Flesh is easy to try, just imagine changing something physical about yourself.” Nita continued.

“Here.” Cid said handing her one of his alcohol flasks. “Just open the top and imagine lighting it on fire. Earth is easy to attempt too, just hold some soil and try to manipulate it.”

“That’s 8. If none of them work, we can have you try the rest in your last awakening.” Nita said.

“Ok!” Lilly said starting to get excited.

“Here, you need to eat something. Magic requires energy, and you only get that from food.” Kit said handing Lilly some stew.

“She’s right.” Cid said.

Several hours later Lilly was sitting with her paraphernalia arrayed before her. The full moons approached each-other in the night sky. As the colored light from the moons combined, the tension in the camp rose as everyone watched Lilly intently.

Nita thought back to the night of her awakening; four weeks after her arriving on Astra. Cid was there; already teasing her and being a general pain in the ass. She had thought there was no way she could have magic: being from earth where it didn't exist. But she had dreamt of the possibility. The Galloway’s had insisted that it was fated she be a fire mage because she had appeared in their courtyard. So, they had prepared her with an assortment of accelerants. Only to have her idly dream of not being flat chested, and as a result slightly increase the size of her breasts. She chuckled to herself, thinking of the possibility of Lilly also being a flesh mage. Even if it was of the dead variety. The waiting was the worst part. The excitement of possibilities. It was sad that the kid was forced into slavery, because of something that probably wasn't totally her idea. One of the other's probably had the idea to rob us. Lilly seemed to normal and nice for all that. The law was clear however, bandits were to be enslaved or hung from the neck till dead; age didn't come into it. Worse they had targeted a Noble and mages. Nita had long ago given up on the possibility of freeing anyone. Slaves could be stolen easy enough, but the only real way to free them was to kill their owners, then the king and all his family and retainers. Anyone with the royal dragon brand anyway. Or, marry them with a full brand of course, though the 3-fold return never left.

Realizing her mind had wandered, Nita once again focused on Lilly as the light seemed to reach a crescendo. Sure enough, a few minutes later the sky began shining with a brilliant golden light; as the colors finally coalesced.

“Now, you may start.” Cid told Lilly with a smile.

Bastard is probably thinking about how, if she woke to something, he'd get a larger take of the rest of the profits from the trip so far. Nita thought. Not that she wouldn't be happy herself; most mage slaves went for a minimum of 200 crowns.

Lilly first grabbed some grass, roots and all, from in front of her and poured a little water on them and concentrated. Nothing happened, and after a few minutes she gave up and opened the alcohol flask and tried to similar results. Next, she threw the water into the air. Once again, she was unsuccessful. Next, she tried soil.

“looks like she is avoiding the corpse.” Rebeca said to Kit in a quiet murmur.

“Can you blame her?” Cid replied before Kit could.

“Yeah, magic is magic, I wish I knew you could try them all when I was a kid.” Kit groused. “Maybe I could’ve had a posh life under some lord. Growing up in the kennels sucked enough as it was. Not mentioning afterword. If I had magic, I would never have been sold as a camp whore.” She pointed out.

“Look!” Rebeca gasped pointing. Sure enough, the goblin's corpse was twitching. Lilly had her hand on its forehead.

“That's it, keep pouring your energy into it.” Cid said in a calming and gentle voice, gesturing the others to be quiet.

“That's a good girl. The more you can push the better, so just keep it up. Slowly and steadily, move it through the body. Picture it flowing to every corner. When he is as full as you can make him, imagine him sitting up.” Cid continued gently.

It was very similar to how Cid’s father talked Nita into her power, when he’d realized she was making her chest bigger. He later explained that the more you could manipulated your powers while the moons were up, the more control you would have over it. It was why some tribal and small town awakened were weak in their powers or lacked any finesse. Though others were just naturally weak like Cid; though he had amazing control thanks to his father.

“Good!” Cid said letting some excitement enter his voice as the dead goblin lurched into a sitting position. “Now, if I remember correctly you need to fold the energy into the brain in layers, until it feels tighter. Then have him stand.” Cid said moderating his voice again.

“Just push through. I know you’re getting hungry and tired; you can eat after.” Nita encouraged seeing Lilly sway a little.

“Ok.” Lilly panted sticking her tongue out of the corner of her mouth.

“You're doing good. Once he feels full take a strand of power back out of him and tie it to your core, just picture the knot forming. That's the spot your essence is flowing through.” Cid said.

“Okay, I'm done that, now what?” Lilly asked.

“Good! Now if what I read is right you should be able to move him around or give him simple commands. It shouldn't take much energy to maintain him now, but you should work on controlling him as much as possible for the next couple hours. It will give you a better foundation for your power. You can feel him correct?” Cid asked.

Lilly nodded. Then the zombie got to its feet and walked around, did some squats, swung its arms and other random movements.

“Fucking brilliant! I knew I was right.” Nita said sticking her tongue out at Cid.

“Once doesn't prove you’re right.” Cid said simply, giving her a tolerant look. “We need to get her some food.”