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Toric climbed out of the way too comfortable bed and stretched. Smothering a yawn he walked to his bathroom and cleaned up before once again donning his armor. He was getting good at it, and it did not take him long before he walked out into the middle of a very loud argument. For a split second he appreciated the enchantments worked into the stone of his room, because he had not heard a word of the yelling inside. Then he shouted over the arguing people.

“QUIET!”

Silence descended like an axe, and Toric looked around at all the strangers in his sitting room before focusing on Xander.

“What is going on here Xander?”

Xander looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but where he was, but he saluted and spoke as professionally as he could.

“My apologies Toric, there was a slight disagreement over what the new squad and magi were supposed to be doing. I felt that it would be best if they just waited on you and let the Fists continue to guard you until you made a decision, but the Axes squad leader outranks me and wanted to post his men to guard your room until you were ready. My men forgot their decorum and this ruckus resulted.”

Toric just shook his head and smiled.

“Well at least you used my name Xander. Ok, this is what is going to happen. Until the Fists and Axes return to their original duties, the units are going to be one unit, along with the magi. You men and women are my guard, and I expect you to behave as such. Xander is my main adjunct and that is no reflection on anyone, I simply met him first and like him. Xander, the Axes leader will command my guard and you will be equal to rank with him, while serving as my aide. The combined unit will be called the Dragons, and I know that one is not in use as it is reserved for the Princeps personal guard. Now get yourselves sorted out while I eat and speak with the magi.”

The newly named Dragons evaporated from Toric’s view in an amazingly short amount of time. Toric sat down at the table and quickly began stuffing food into his mouth as two women approached. They were both in fighting leathers and Toric was able to appreciate their bodies as they walked up. He gestured for them to sit down and they did so, remaining quiet and looking a bit disgusted from the amount of food he was eating. He paused to ask a question.

“The Arch-Mage seemed to think you two would be a perfect fit for my guard, care to tell me why? And please, introduce yourselves.”

The first one to speak was dark haired, lithe, and carried herself with the kind of assurance that only comes with being very accomplished in martial arts.

“My name is Bethany, and as to why the Arch-Mage chose us, I have no idea.”

The other one spoke quietly, her hair was the color of fire and her voice like silk covering steel.

“I am Akira and the only reason I can think of for us being chosen is that out of all the magi serving in the Legion, we are the most accomplished at martial pursuits. It has become a bit of a joke among our colleagues; because we spend time they believe would be better spent studying, working out and perfecting battle techniques.”

Toric mused for a moment and then rubbed his chin, finding no stubble, as always. Finally he nodded and smiled at the duo.

“This will be a challenge, but I am sure the two of you are up for it. Your job is simple, but difficult to accomplish. I have almost no training in the magical arts, and the way I use power is far from the norm. I need the two of you to advise me on magic and to help me accomplish my goals with the same. If I didn’t think of a way to apply magic to a problem and you think it will make a difference, speak up. I have a great deal of information stuck in my head, but not a great deal of practical experience. Here is the plan for today, I need to gather Drax from his parents’ estate outside of Imperial City, and I assume we can find the location and teleport. I know you have the knowledge, skill, and power as Adepts, but I am unsure about the exact location. How can we achieve this?”

Akira responded to that question with a shy smile that startled Toric, though he didn’t let it show on his face.

“I know where Drax’s estate is. I can get us all there, and Bethany will be available at full power if we have to make a quick exit.”

Toric smiled and nodded.

“Good, let me finish eating and corral my new Dragons and then we can go.”

Xander coughed softly from behind Toric.

“The Dragons are ready and waiting Toric, they are all gearing up down the hall. I told Marcus, that’s your new Guard Commander that you would be ready to go as soon as you finished eating.”

Toric laughed heartily.

“You are already proving that your selection as my aide was a good decision. Keep it up Xander.”

Xander rolled his eyes and Toric ignored it, enjoying the rapport developing between them. Toric quickly finished up his breakfast and then stood, drawing his gloves on, and then his helmet. He felt it seal and stopped the dread enchantment on his body from triggering at the last moment.

Bethany peered at the armor curiously and walked up to him, waving her hand in front of his face.

“How the hell do you see out of that?”

Toric chuckled and shrugged.

“It is one of the benefits of being a Veil-Walker.” He turned and glanced at Xander. “Go get the boys and let’s get this show on the road. It is time to scare the crap out of some elves.”

Xander stepped out of the room and hollered down the hall; shortly there was a crowd again in the sitting room. Twenty men, Toric, and the two women Magi were a tight fit for even that impressive room. Toric nodded to Akira and she quickly drew the needed power. Toric watched fascinated as the magic swirled about them, molding to her direction and then there was a flash of light and they all stood in a spacious courtyard.

A High Elf was standing on the porch of a large mansion and his eyes widened in shock as twenty-three armed people suddenly appeared in the teleport yard. It was not uncommon to get visitors in this manner, but it was very uncommon for them to be geared like they were going to war, and even more uncommon for one of them to be seven feet tall and wearing custom armor that looked like that. He froze and then reached out to ring a bell on the porch.

Toric told everyone to just wait, and shortly the group was surrounded by ten armed elves. They wore purple and green livery and appeared to be Household Guards. Akira stepped out of the group and lifted her hands so that she would be noticed. One of the guardsmen gestured and the elves lowered their weapons as Drax crashed around the corner of the house.

Toric took his helmet off and hung it from his belt, smiling as he watched Drax’s expression go from shock at the alarm, to welcoming at the sight of Akira, to shock again at the sight of him.

“What the hell happened to you Toric? It has only been a couple of days and you grew like a foot and look like you weigh more than my horse.”

Toric laughed loudly and walked forward to grab Drax up in a hug.

“It is good to see you Drax, I have a few things to tell you, but those can wait. I can tell you that the next time I go to the Island you are coming with me. I think I can make an exception to the Law for you, and if need be they can test you. I see the Blood shining within you, and there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Drax stuttered and finally settled on just trying to get out of the hug. Then he completely ignored Toric and walked over to greet Akira. Toric watched in amusement as the two went through a formal greeting; while it was obvious they just wanted to drag each other into the bushes. A sound from his right pulled Toric’s attention to four new elves that appeared from around the corner. One was nearly identical to Drax, but the other three were women. Two were obviously Drax’s mother and sister, but the third did not seem to be family at all, standing a bit to the side and looking at Drax and Akira with a frown.

Toric coughed and looked pointedly from Drax to the newcomers.

Drax flushed and rushed over, leading Toric up to the older High Elf that had to be his father.

“Father, this is Toric Fatesblood, the one I was telling you about. Toric, this is my father, Lord Trex Tellis of the House Loquain. And here is my mother the Lady Amelia Tellis, and my sister the Lady Amelex Tellis. Lastly this is the Lady Conithia Havor of the House Trolbane, a friend of my sister.”

The Lady Conithia Havor did not look at all pleased about the way she was introduced, but managed to curtsy to Toric. Toric ignored what was most likely jealousy over Akira and held his hand out to Drax’s father.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. Your son has been a good friend to me.”

Toric rather immediately noticed something wrong when Lord Tellis did not take his hand, staring at it instead in disdain. Toric lowered his hand and narrowed his eyes.

“Is there a problem?”

Drax tried to interject but Toric raised his hand to stop him. He was not angry, just curious.

Lord Tellis sneered and spoke in a supercilious tone.

“I am supposed to believe that this hulking beast in ghastly armor is the Fatesblood Heir?”

Toric turned the full weight of his fiery eyes upon Lord Tellis and spoke in a very strange tone, his voice wavering between that of a battle lord and that of a spirit from a crypt. It was terrible and horrifying, but it was the voice of a Veil-Walker and as such could not lie.

“I am Toric Fatesblood, Princeps of the Legion, Sword of Daath, Son of Krystuia the Dragon Bound by Bone and Commander Devyn Fatesblood of the Daath Legion, Veil-Walker, Beast-Master, and a Lord of Fire. Should my word not suffice I invite you to at least believe your own son.”

Toric’s voice then faded to a more normal tone and he took a deep breath.

“Please pardon the dramatics, there has been great difficulty in convincing people of my place as of late, and I have become tired of it. It took a recent personal appearance by Daath for the Legion to be completely convinced and I exerted a tremendous amount of power last night. I may still be a bit tired from that ordeal.”

The Lord of Loquain was pale and sweating. He was not a young elf and had heard the voice of a Veil-Walker before. The other titles had to be true, and if true then he had offended a being that walked a path far above his. He reached out and took Toric’s hand, shaking it firmly.

“I have had the honor to meet a Veil-Walker in the past, and recognize a mistake when I make one. You have my apologies, why don’t we retreat to the veranda and sit for a discussion and snacks. Let me show you my hospitality to repay my earlier idiocy.”