The fulgcere looked in awe at what lay in front of him. A magnificent and grand black crescent commanded the entire tent it sat in. An aura of power radiated from it, giving the impression that if one took a step to close their weak mortal lives wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure. Its shape was like that of smoke, making it seem ethereal. A purple wave ran over periodically, drawing one into its depths.

The fulgcere gawked at the god, Tenebrage.

He didn’t notice the women attendees come around and place rugs and pillows for the visitors.

“Sit, fulgcere.” Mortis commanded

The fulgcere couldn’t hear the disciple’s words as his senses were still consumed by Tenebrage.

“SIT.” The fulgcere was sent to the ground by a purple wave from Mortis.

The fulgcere blinked a few times and regained his senses. Mortis stood before him with a glare, and flanking the two were servants. The whole space seemed to be devoted to housing Tenebrage, so it was very spartan with few other things in it.

The fulgcere gulped, “I apologize Lord Mortis, but Tenebrage is simply magnificent.”

“What was Taldry’s message?” Mortis said curtly.

The fulgcere readjusted his shawl, “Well firstly introductions, my name is…”

“I don’t care who you are, I won’t remember anyway.”

The fulgcere’s eyes desperately darted around, trying to come up with anything that would calm Mortis down. He couldn’t afford to go back to Lady Cere and Lord Taldry with a refusal.

“I apologize, Lord Mortis, but why didn’t that boy from earlier join us. I thought he was your bodyguard. Surely, he should also be here.” The boy certainly seemed easier to deal with, and Mortis was completely different with him around.

Mortis gave a smirk and knelt down in front of the fulgcere, “He’s not here because I value his life.”

The fulgcere’s mouth went dry, “Wha..what?”

Mortis stepped back towards his rug and sat on his knees, “It wouldn’t be wise to waste your time fulgcere. With each moment here your life is shortened bit by bit,” Mortis’s eyes sharpened, “Tenebrage is death, and the soul as a certain longing for it, so I suggest you cut straight to the point, and give me Taldry’s message.

The fulgcere nervously looked around the room and noticed a key detail he had previously missed. All the servants were old. So old that one would mistake them for dead if they stood still.

As he started to panic his mind went blank and he started to gasp for air. He desperately wanted to deliver his message, but the purple crescent eyes of Lord Mortis seemed to bear down on his very soul. Just when that pressure became unbearable and it seemed like he would be crushed under it, someone else entered the tent.

“Why didn’t you tell me we had a guest, Mortis? What an important one too. I hope you’ve been treating him well. But isn’t this a peculiar meeting place? Especially for a mere messenger.

The fulgcere whipped his head eagerly to the entrance of the tent. A woman with a matching purple cloak to Mortis’ and a red glave with black veins approached them.

“I didn’t want to play any of their games, so I brought him to a place where he didn’t have time to.”

The servants quickly brought another carpet and pillow for their Lady. Morta nodded to one, “Thank you Nesra,” and promptly but gracefully sat down.

“Still Mortis I should have been alerted right as he arrived.”

It may have been the fulgcere’s imagination, but it seemed as if Morta made sure everyone present could see the weapon she held.

Mortis crossed his arms, “I didn’t have time. He interrupted one of me and that boy’s sparring sessions.”

“Hmm, how has Umbren been? Has he assimilated to his position as a Hound yet?”

Mortis grave nod, “He still has a long way to go. I don’t think he’ll even be able to survive a meeting with the others.”

“If I will, it’s a pleasure to be in your presence…” The fulgcere tried to interject but was interrupted by Morta

“And who might you be?”

The fulgcere gave a start but quickly recovered, “I’m terribly sorry for not introducing myself first Lady Morta, my name is Caekeve Lestos, and if I may say…”

Morta gave a pleasant smile, “It’s a pleasure to meet you also, but as you’re aware you don’t have much time left if you stay in this tent, so I suggest you quickly deliver Taldry’s request.”

The Fulgcere straightened his back and took a deep breath. “My Lord Taldry, Disciple of Fulgcere, wishes to impart this message to the disciples of Tenebrage, Morta and Mortis,” He tried to control his voice as he didn’t even know what the message meant.

“You know I’ve always liked the sky. It seems so desirable compared to war torn land. Geb has already agreed.”

Caekeve waited for a response from the disciples. He expected looks of confusion and anger from the two because of how casual and vague the message was, but what he received were two thoughtful countenances.

Mortis spoke first, “It's too much of a coincidence.”

“That may be, but if Geb is going then we have no choice. The Geodine are the only ally we have.”

“You’re right. Especially with the recent trade deal, we can’t afford to show a lack of goodwill in any way, but I’m still bothered by it. It's like Taldry expected that we knew what he was speaking of.”

Morta nodded, “If that’s true, the amount of information he has is alarming. Especially that which is impossible to obtain, but we can’t be certain.”

“More of a reason to go then. Someone has to keep Taldry in check. I’m tired of feeling his gaze upon me.”

Morta promptly stood and went for the exit of the camps, “Besides it will be nice to see Cere again after all this time, I’ll go and tell the girls to get ready.”

“Didn’t most of them just get back?” Mortis said dryly.

Morta simply turned to him with an amused smile and left.

Mortis turned his attention to Tenebrage, “If you don’t leave soon, you’ll die.”

Caekeve had thought that the disciples had completely forgotten about him after he gave the message. He went to thank Mortis, but received a side glare and proceeded to quickly stumble out of the tent.

Mortis gave a deep sigh and turned back to Tenebrage, “How could he know? Is there a way it could have been avoided? If there is, please give me a sign, my lord.”

***

Umbren watched as a beggar graciously accepted bread from the kid

“Hasn’t anyone told you that it’s best to avoid them?” He said.

The kid shrugged and turned to Umbren, “Many times actually, but why would I? If it will make them happy, why wouldn’t I?”

The kid started to lead Umbren through the streets as he carried piles of paper, “What if you don’t have anything left for yourself.”

“No matter what, I'll still have more than them.”

Umbren glanced back at the beggar. He was probably some veteran that wasn’t able to die in battle. Tenebrage aren’t allowed rest in life even when they can’t work, “I guess that’s one way to look at it.”

Umbren continued to readjust the papers in his hands, “Besides what even is all of this?”

The kid wiggled his finger at Umbren, “That’s a secret. You’re going to have to wait till we get to the house.”

Umbren began to become irritated by the kids' actions, “Why were you even out here by yourself. Don’t you know that it’s dangerous for kids like you to wander the streets alone, especially when you have something valuable.” Umbren actually wasn’t sure if he was carrying anything valuable, but judging by the speed at which the kid ran to get a paper caught by the wind, they were valuable to him.

“I know. That’s why I got a Hound to escort me. I think that’s worth more than a whole group of Bluecloaks. Don’t you think?”

“Maybe…”

As Umbren followed the boy the streets widened and became considerably less crowded and filled with smoke that smelled like lavender. Finally, the two arrived in front of one of the nicer buildings. That wasn’t saying much, but no part of it seemed to be tattered or in shambles. The top of the building was clothed in a dark green fabric that shone in the sunlight whereas the bottom was a dull and dirty gray.

Umbren followed the kid up spiraling stairs that encircled the building, and with each passing moment he thought that the kid was going to stop, but he just kept moving up. The kid continued so high up the building that Umbren thought he had genuinely gotten lost, but finally the kid came to a stop at the entrance to one of the floors. The very top one.

Umbren stood in front of the dark green entrance and stared in disbelief

the kid gazed back in confusion, “You coming, or are you going to leave right before you finish your job.”

Umbren bit his lip in chagrin and continued into the home.

It wasn’t as extravagant as Umbren had expected. There was a room to his right with a small fire pit and to his left a kitchen. Past both were two bed rooms, one bigger than the others. Each room was separated by a curtain that matched the rest of the home.

“Yes, who is it?” A woman appeared in front of the larger bedroom entrance. She appeared well put together, but that was juxtaposed by the deep bags under her eyes. Most notably was the fact that she wore a dress. No tenebrage wore a dress unless they worked an office job, and that was incredibly rare. No wonder they had the top of the building.

Her eyes filled with relief when she saw the kid, “Oh, Burn it’s just you, and it looks like you brought a…”

As her eyes rested on Umbren she stumbled back, almost tripping over herself, “A Hound! Burn…Don’t tell me you bothered this nice young gentleman.”

Burn laughed his mother’s attitude off, “C’mon don’t be like that mom. He offered to help me.”

Umbren bit his lip. He hadn’t yet fully grown into being a Hound, but he never thought that he would get used to the way people treated him because of what he was.

Umbren went to the kitchen and laid the pile of papers onto the table, “Don’t worry about it mam. I wasn’t doing anything important. I was happy to help.”

Burn’s mother eyed him suspiciously, “Even if that’s so…let me treat you to lunch.”

Umbren gave a brief bow, “That won’t be necessary. I wouldn’t want to…”

Burn’s mother rushed to the kitchen, “Don’t be like that! I have to pay you back in some way, so let me do this one thing.”

As she went to work, Umbren knew there would be no denying her, and it would be best for him to stay.

Burn shrugged to himself and went to the table to study the papers that Umbren had brought over. Umbren followed him to see exactly what they were and what he saw confused him.

“What are those?” Umbren asked.

Burn gave a wide smile and displayed a picture with what looked like a statue on it, “These my dear Hound are blueprints.”

Umbren received the blueprint and studied it carefully, “Of what exactly?”

Burn seemed to move his hands in big motions when he spoke to make up for his small size, “Of all sorts of things of course. Someone has to! Did you know that we’ve been using this tent-like architecture since this city was founded? That’s unacceptable! How could someone allow for there to be no evolution in the craft over time? It’s criminal.”

Umbren placed the paper back in the pile, “You sound like a fulgcere. Tenebrage are usually only concerned with what’s on the other end of their blade.”

Burn furrowed his brow in annoyance, “But I’m a tenebrage aren’t I. Thinking like that is exactly why I have to hide while drawing these. Even my dad would rip them up when he got a hold of them.”

“You can’t complain if you knew the consequences from the start.”

“Well, I get to complain when he shoves a sword in my hand afterwards.”

Umbren raised his brow in interest, “Is he good?”

No ordinary tenebrage father would go out of his way to ensure his child's talent with a sword, especially sparr with their child themselves. A kukri maybe, but a sword was too niche. Having another partner to spar with would benefit Umbren greatly.

Burn slapped his hand on the table, “Good! My father was the best. He could even give Lord Mortis a challenge.”

Umbren caught on to Burn’s past tense while speaking. Umbren glanced at his mother behind him, looking with pride but longing as Burn spoke. Her tired eyes also fit into the story. However, such things were natural in Skotous. Tenebrage were sworn to battle, and most fell to it. Luckily for Umbren, his father simply lost his legs, but he always thought that his dad wished he died on the battlefield.

He clenched his jaw. It shouldn’t be so. That morbid reality shouldn’t exist. He often wondered if others shared the same feelings. Though no one else had spent time with luxcian’s so…

Burn went on, “Now that I think about it, your hilt looks very similar to his. All silver and everything.”

Umbren was snatched out of thought as his body went rigid and still. If he hadn’t been sitting down he would have collapsed, “What did you say?” he let out.

Burn went on as if not noticing anything, “Oh, it’s just that your sword reminds me of his. It had a silver hilt, and its blade was actually the same color as that ebony sheath you have there. I feel bad that we couldn’t get it back. I mean he was really proud of it.,” the light of pride beamed from the boy's eyes, “He even received it from Lord Mortis himself.

Umbren’s vision started to become fuzzy as images of a duel and a flash of light went through his head. His heart started to beat rapidly and his breathing became faster. His face had looked so familiar

Burn closed his eyes in thought, “It even had a name…what was it…Cr..Cro…Cron”

Umbren abruptly stood up and promptly made his way to the exit. As he left, he could hear the mother’s words, “Yorburn what did you say to him?”

Umbren almost fell down the steps in his rush to get away from the boy. When he reached the street, he began to mindlessly run away from the building. He couldn’t be near them. He ran until his legs collapsed under him and as he sat in the middle of the street, clutching Cronai. The more he thought about the events of that day the more a ringing grew in his ears. When the ringing got too loud to bear, he jerked his hood over his head.

Just when he felt like his heart was going to burst. He was brought face first into the dirt road by a force that collided with his back, and he shortly felt the point of a blade on the surface of his neck.

“You shouldn’t leave yourself so vulnerable, imagine if someone took advantage of it before I did? What have you even been doing this past year, Umbren.”

Umbren’s senses suddenly came back to him as the girl on his back spoke. It would be too embarrassing if she saw him like that.

“I’m an idiot,” he mumbled.

“What was that?”

“Nice to see you to Kagi. Can you please get off of me?”

“Why so casual?” She said surprised.

“Kagi, I’m a Hound now. So, we're the same in terms of rank.” Umbren said nonchalantly as the point of the blade applied more pressure to his neck.

“What about seniority?!” She yelped.

“Kagi, you're causing a scene. What will Morta say when she hears that a Hand attacked a Hound in the middle of the street.”

Kagi gulped and swiftly jumped away from Umbren.

He gave out a sigh, slowly standing up and brushing the dirt off himself, “I heard that most of the Hands arrive in ambis earlier. Is Thestra here, too…”

Umbren looked up and almost gave a start. Kagi had grown taller the past year and was now almost eye to eye with himself, which wasn’t saying much. Her hair was also much longer now, but still in twin tails.

Kagi nodded,”Yep, but…she’s hiding somewhere right now.”

“Is she alright?”

“Vale can explain it much better than I can when we get there.”

Umbren crossed his arms, “Get where exactly?”

Kagi sheathed her sai that had previously rested on Umbren’s neck, “Oh, I was told to bring you to the Hands’ house.