The guards headed to a two-story building on the south side of town. A wooden sign swung from a post; it was painted blue with a deep red heart in the center. Ian found it refreshing that businesses on Paragore had a kind of universal signage and one that video games had made him familiar with to boot.

“This clinic has been around for as long as anyone can remember,” Rath said giving them an unrequested history lesson. “The orignul Heatrin was fifteen miles from ‘ere and this was all part of the Sarafoon Jungle. But, as people do, they moved closer ta tha edge, cut down m’re trees for the fertile lands and ‘ere we are. This place was a reclusive witch’s cottage. Pandora runs it now and she's a fine healer. And a good person. And she’ll get yer friend patched up in no time,” He finished with a glowing recommendation as they headed into the shop.

Vale held the door while the men trooped in with Ban. Mal slunk along beside the pair being as inconspicuous as possible. Though he was never quite out of striking distance.

“Greetings and welcome,” said the red-haired woman behind the counter. She was reading what could’ve passed for a magazine lazily flipping through the pages with all the interest of a check-out clerk in a grocery. “Jaymes, I already told you I am not going-” She began, but as she looked up, she stopped short when she saw the litter and its occupant. “Quickly take him to the back!”

The guards jumped to obey moving around the counter to carry Ban into a room down a short hallway. Ian gave the healer an appraising once over assessing her as years of interrogations and ‘people reading’ had taught him to. No wonder Rath had that stupid grin on his face and was being so loud in his endorsement, Ian thought.

Pandora wore a green dress that was simple and functional but even it couldn’t hide the curves beneath. Over the dress she wore a white smock that tied in the back; it had huge pockets on either side. She came up to Ian’s chest in height which put her somewhere in the five-foot-five range. Her flaming red hair was hair piled up into a severe bun atop her head. Not a single strand broke free as she selected a necklace from a drawer and quickly put it on. Blue eyes the color of an angry storm scanned over Ban. A deep frown of concern settled on her lips.

“Put him on the table; then leave me to do my work," The healer said and she didn’t bother with introductions. Ignoring Ian and party she moved into a supply closet and began pulling vials and herbs from the shelves. “Harrowbone essence, manticore spine, dettle dust…” She poked her head out glanced at Ian briefly and then directed her attention to Vale, “And no animals inside, please.”

Rath and Jaymes came out after depositing Ban on the examination table. Jaymes finally spoke for the first time, “Don’t worry about yer friend; he’s in the best ‘ands.”

Ian and Roland gripped the guards’ forearms in a shake of thanks. Shortly after the men left, they collapsed their aching bodies into the waiting room chairs. Vale and Mal walked outside to stand watch. After several minutes ticked by Ian forced himself to his feet. He nudged Roland but the mage was out cold. With a sigh Ian walked back to the exam room. Someone should be in there with Ban.

Inside the room Ban lay on the table breathing shallowly. The healing potions had done what they could, but even so, the bandages were soaked with blood. Pandora was working gently, but efficiently, to remove them. She dabbed on a sickly-sweet smelling paste to each gash she exposed. Ban’s face contorted into one of pain as he drew in a quick breath. Pandora muttered something soothingly and Ban relaxed back against the table.

“What happened to him, exactly?” She asked without looking up.

“Westa’nurr attack,” Ian murmured.

“You don’t have to tell me but don’t insult my intelligence,” Pandora said with a roll of her eyes. She ignored Ian and set to work removing the last of the spent bandages. When she was done, she looked up surprised to find Ian still standing there. A look of compassion softened her features, “The best thing you can do to help him is to make sure you don’t collapse from exhaustion yourself. I can only treat one person at a time.”

Roland cracked an eye when the exam room door was shut in Ian’s face. “Healing is a very private thing. Many mage healers have devised their own unique methods or work with secrets that have been entrusted to them. They don’t often like to share.”

Ian shuffled over and collapsed into the chair beside Roland once again. He settled in for the wait fully intending to stay awake should trouble arise. His body, on the other hand, had different plans and on his fourth weary head droop, Ian fell into a much-needed sleep.

…...

The sounds of chirping night insects pulled Ian from his sleep. He couldn’t even remember dozing off but through the shops’ window, he could see night had fully set in. He got to his feet surprised to find his muscles felt stiff but not sore. He wondered if the healer had seen to him while he slept.

Before he could ask Pandora emerged from the healing room. Her hands were bloody, and the front of her white smock had red stains on it. As she approached Ian roused Roland with a quick kick to his chair, causing the mage to let out a sharp snort. He looked up blearily at Pandora.

“Your friend is going to be alright,” Pandora began without preamble, “though it is a credit to his race that he survived long enough to make it here in the first place. You can go and talk to him but he needs to rest until the bones are finished knitting. So, nothing too exciting. We can discuss payment in the morning. I need to rest myself.”

“Thank you,” Ian said in his gruff waking tone.

Roland got to his feet and nudged Ian towards the exam room. He moved to the counter and sparked up a conversation with Pandora. From the snippets Ian heard it was related to magic and he followed none of it. He went down the short hall, opened the door, and stopped in his tracks.

Instead of his friend Ian found a mummy. It was almost comical the number of bandages that covered the minotaur. His left arm was tied to a wooden board with a faint green glow surrounding it. One of his eyes was covered with a patch and both his legs were covered in a goo that also glowed faint green. The rest of his bandages radiated a faint golden light. Only his mouth, nose, and good eye remained completely uncovered.

“You look terrible.” Ian said, taking a few steps closer. Ban cracked a smile. “The doctor, I mean, the healer says you’ll be on your feet in no time. Once your bones are done knitting themselves back together,” he gave Ban’s arm a gentle pat, “I appreciate what you did. But, please never pull something that stupid again. You damn near died, and I’m not worth that.”

Ban’s smile faded and he pointed a thick finger at a nearby chair with his good arm, “Since I can’t do anything else but talk, you sit and listen.”

Ian dragged a chair from the corner of the room and sat.

“I feel you don’t quite comprehend what is happening.” Ban said after a brief contemplation. He held up his un-splinted arm a few inches off the table when Ian opened his mouth to retort, “Let me have my say. The Harlequin Court is after you. We don’t know why. We don’t even know what their goal is. For all we know this could simply be an elaborate game for them to pass the time. They are, however, without a doubt the most dangerous entity on this planet, Ian. And that includes dragons, eternal knights, lich kings, and Zerudin knows what else. I know that isn’t a great frame of reference to you but I need you to understand the danger you are in. These people can and will do whatever they must to accomplish their goals.”

“I guess I have been trying to deny the severity of the situation,” Ian said leaning back and letting the words finally sink in. “I knew that the Harlequin Court was feared but it’s all so… impossible, foreign, ridiculous even. The mad villain sets out to enslave the world and the group of intrepid heroes must stop him. And now here I am, somehow a part of a very real supervillain plot. What I do understand is the evil and corruption the Court represents.”

“The Court represents a similar threat to that of the Nyeberian Empire. But they are cleverer than the Empire of old,” Ban pressed on, “They operate in shadows hiding their power and influence behind proxies like Justiciar Law. And with our limited resources the Order of Brass has been able to do little more than monitor them,” Ban said while letting out a sigh and turning his head away as though ashamed. “Our Order used to number in the tens of thousands. We kept the peace and were beholden to no kingdom. We served as both shield and sword against the evils of the world. And for a few thousand years that worked.”

“So what happened?” Ian prodded.

“The Harlequin Court happened. It was sometime long after the Cataclysmic War had faded from recent memory that they rose up. Out of the shadows they began manipulating the masses into a false sense of security. Made them forget about the importance of my Order and the dangers of leaving no one to check the powers of kings and nations. No one to question the laws of the land or to quell corruption. And while unjust laws and corruption spread the Court began to hunt the Order. A few accidental deaths here, a squad missing there. It was enough for them to slowly chip away at our already dwindling numbers. And it allowed them to claim almost absolute power for they had installed puppets all over Paragore. By the time we learned of their existence, and their mission, it was far too late to stop them,” Ban said, turning his eye back to Ian. “There are only five agents like me out in the world. Five. The rest of the Order guard the Transmission Springs and the Emperor’s Tomb; equally vital tasks. Do not mistake my willingness to shield you from the Court as suicidal behavior. These people must be stopped, Ian. And I can help in that effort by preventing them from obtaining you.”

Ian nodded lamely. He didn’t want to place this burden on his new friends. He was used to being the one doing the protecting and serving not the other way around. He shifted his thoughts quickly away from the ‘pity party’ that was forming and back on task. The way Ban had elucidated on the Court’s behavior made them akin to a terrorist organization. And a successful one at that. The Court had managed to severely cripple law enforcement, government, and even the law itself on a global scale. He couldn’t imagine what that would do to his own country, let alone the Earth. And here was Ban trying to hold them back.

“Well as pleasant as all that sounds,” Roland’s voice came from the hallway, “it’s late and we need to get to the inn before they lock us out.” He stepped into the room and shook his head at Ban’s state. “I told you I should’ve come with you,” He said ignoring Ban’s scowl and turned to Ian, “I spoke with Pandora and she said that the innkeeper is rather strict about closing his doors overnight,” he wagged a finger as Ban tried to get up, “Not you, you are not to be moved until your bones set. You are staying here. Healer’s orders. We’ll be back in the morning with breakfast.” Roland left turned and left and Ian followed.

Ian stopped at the door and turned back, “Thank you Ban.”

Vale was waiting, with Mal, by the door for Ian.

“He’ll be alright,” she reassured when she saw the grim look on Ian’s face. She led him back to the inn which was thankfully a short walk. As they approached the quaint building, she filled them in on what they’d missed during their nap earlier.

“I have secured us all rooms for the night so we needn’t stop at the desk. In addition, I had them send up some dinner plates while the kitchen was still open. It will be cold now but better than going to bed hungry. I would have taken something for Ban but he shouldn’t eat this soon after such intensive healing,” She said and handed Roland and Ian their keys then walked up the stairs towards her room at the far end of the hall. Mal seemed to debate staying with Ian but ultimately trotted after Vale. Ian matched his key to the symbol on his door and gave Roland a wave before ducking into the room. Roland emitted an acknowledging grunt and disappeared into his room.