"I don't really know, " Said Deera, "It makes sense, what she says he wants. And you'll be safe...I just feel uneasy, sister."

Terira stopped putting up her clothes to look at Deera, who met her eyes sadly. They had come back from buying finer clothes- well-spun and woven wool shirts and dresses, soft skirts, and scarfs and jackets for the upcoming cooler weather. They had all been afraid that it would cost too much, yet every time they mentioned it Gendrel would wave away the concerns, claiming that their store of coin could easily take the dent of buying well-made clothing.

Deera hadn't addressed her as sister in some time... Terira could tell that she was truly concerned. She brushed the dagger Sendar had given her while returning to the Cloven-Foot inn. He had returned from taking a brief detour, and handed it to her hilt first, saying a Princess should know how to think for herself as well as fend for herself. Gendrel had seemed surprised, but maybe she was mistaken. Regardless, he hadn't seemed to object and instead gave her a chain when they arrived back to their stay. Either around your neck or around your waist Princess. For now, it was her waist that she choose. "You know that I will be safe, sister." Deera smiled at her, and Terira reached across the bed to grab her hand. "What is there to feel uneasy for?"

"We are traveling with men we don't know, and they wish you to go off with them- alone- for the sake of.. what?" Sariya stood to Terira's left, putting up her own clothing. Feyion and Sanisa sat on the bed together across the room, playing a small, portable game they bought that had something to do with circles and triangles on a board. They were kept distracted as the conversation continued. "I know they have been nice so far, but... this seems just.. so much."

Terira knew, at that moment, what was afflicting both of them. It had been something that she supposed had never really been approached or resolved. "Mother, if they wanted to hurt or do anything to or with a single one of us, it would have been while we were stranded out on the road. Now we are in a place where someone you don't know is within at least twenty feet of you every second of the day. They couldn't do anything now." Sariya looked at her, clearly still ill at ease. Terira smirked, thinking of one person she knew would not be alone. "Besides, I can't say that you and Gendrel have remained strangers."

Deera giggled and converted her mouth when Sariya looked at her. Though she changed her expression to a stern one, she couldn't change the coloring of her face. When Terira laughed, unable to hold it in longer, she gave up on it. "You do always talk to him mother, " Deera had a smile that crept from ear to ear. "What is going on with the two of you? He is a rather handsome man." She giggled again when Sariya cut her eyes at her, and Terira nudged her.

"He is a handsome man. And nice, respectful... but not my man." She looked at her daughter's faces and sighed in exasperation. "Yes, yes, I know. It doesn't matter how much we talk- he would never love me. He probably has thirty women lining up to bed a man like him where he's from. A Royal Guard with coin! I'm just a failed seamstress."

Deera rolled her eyes. "I never knew our mother was such an actor. Perhaps you should've participated in the Captain plays." She moved on before Sariya could say anything in response. "But in honesty, you know no man talks to a woman as much as he does you without interest. You spent half the time at the tailors' shop- Stars guide her- simply talking together. I'm sure she would think you a wedded couple if not for him wearing both a sword and mail."

"Yes my daughter," Said Sariya with both sage and sarcasm, "you must be right. You are, after all, the most proficient of all my children with their romantic interest."

"Uh! Mother!" Deera looked scandalized when Terira laughed, but Terira couldn't hold it in. Deera looked as though she couldn't decide whether to think of words to say back to her mother or find words to say to her sister.

Terira cut it short. "Truly though, mother. Deera is right, he would not spend half as much time talking to you as if he does if he didn't have an interest in you. "

Sariya didn't seem convinced but appeared mollified. "I suppose so."

Deera gasped in outrage, and when Sariya looked at her, her face was like a face out of water. Her mouth working but without words, she stared only at her mother. Sariya looked up at her then snorted with amusement. "Oh, hush. The last boy I saw you mooning at, you never talked to him once and seemed sad that he never noticed you. Makes me happy we stayed in the house so often."

Terira smirked, watching the interplay of her mother and sister with amusement. And when the words died down and the tone leveled again, she felt sadness well up inside of her. "I..." Terira couldn't look up to meet their eyes and instead fiddled with the dresses on her bed and her new brooch. "I want you both to know that... not matter what happens with this... you will never not be my sister. And you will always be my mother." She looked up at them, tears in her eyes but gaze steady. "No matter what, you will always be my family. And have always been. Even if I find fifty people in wherever my mother was born - if she is really my mother- they will never replace you."

Sariya had tears making rivers from her face to her chest, Deera looking as if she was fighting back her own. "You were one of my first, " Said Sariya softly, "And were my first girl. I... I've always thought of you as my daughter- you've meant everything to me." She stepped to her, placing one hand on her shoulder and the other on her jaw, eyes searching. "If you find family there - wherever there is ... I guess I didn't realize how afraid I was of you leaving us when you found your family. If the day came when you didn't want us anymore... that you didn't love us anymore..." The words were meant for her, but there was something in her eyes that said it was living the experience already- her two boys, leaving.

Terira wasn't shocked to feel tears on her lips, but when she did she could feel herself start to break down. "I-mother I..."

"It's...it's the same for me..." Deera was there, next to her, holding her. "My best friend and my sister. When we traveled I could feel the... difference between us." She looked at her with eyes that mirrored hers, more watery than an ocean. "I was afraid that maybe you had a sis-" She choked, and everyone was crying, holding onto each other, Terira no less emotional than any of the other girls. She could feel herself crying on Sariya's shoulder, hugging both of them, snot streaming embarrassingly down her face. And there were little hands grabbing her legs suddenly, and she looked to see her younger brother and sister crying, confused but just as empathetic.

Terira remembered her sixth birthday- just her, her older brother, and Deera, with Sariya just saving enough to afford her family sweet cakes. The carved horse she had given her, the patch she had sewn. It had always been them, only with each other to have. She stood there for a moment, simply holding her family even after she was done with tears, just to hold them. To love them. And when Sariya pulled her back to wipe her tears away and apologize, she pulled her mother back to her with another hug. "You will always be my family. Always."

---

Center City was just as beautiful the second time through, if in a cold, mundane way. Though they had not gone far when buying clothes that morning, she still had enjoyed looking at the smooth designs and opulence along here. The Center City was at least a little more than half the size of Captian, and made less than a fourth of the Karan Capital as well- or so Gendrel told her. Every house here was spaced, every shop given its own berth. While the outer city was clustered, here things were placed in a uniform fashion. The main street curved back on itself now, bending to the left instead of right, and in the distance above the tops of shops and houses, she could see the Karan Castle. People still were about here, but whereas the Outer City was crammed like a bed of ants, here was more like fish in a pond. The clothes were better, vibrant, and an occasional wearer of lace would walk down the street with attendants of a spouse in tow. Children were better behaved, and hawkers and beggars gone. At one point, the road split around a large park, sitting simply in the middle with a larger tree in its Center, blood-red leaves leaving odd shadows in the pale sunlight. Marrow trees, they called it. Doors had better designs, and plants grew in gardens and on roofs, with cleaner paths. At one point, she discovered why.

They had just road past the Marrow Tree park, Terira leaning her head out the window of her carriage to watch the sights when suddenly a woman screamed loudly. The driver stopped the carriage, and Gendrel glanced at her as he opened the door, one hand on his sword-hilt. "Stay inside." He stepped down and walked away. Terira met eyes with Sendar who sat across from her, and he looked back blankly. She opened the door.

"Princess, wait-" She climbed out just as his fingers brushed her arm, and was walking before she heard him walk out after her. "Princess..." She ignored him and followed Gendrel, the other people on the street not moving or walking away from the direction of masculine screaming as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Guards were just as present here as they had been in the outer city- two almost every five streets- and a pair were running from where they had been near the park.

She stopped from just barely being even with Gendrel, who looked at her dismissively before looking back again with reproach. Terira looked up at him and smiled sweetly, and he turned from her back to what he was looking at before.

A man was on his knees in dark grey, hair cut evenly around his head at eyebrow length but the top and back in disarray. A large sweeping broom lay to his right, the handle broken nearly in half. A woman- presumably the one who screamed- was running away quickly to a man while she held her arm, the man in grey seething on the ground, his high collar pulled back to show a dull grey chain fitted tightly around his neck. He was tugging at it fiercely, teeth bared, neck strained while breathing loudly through his teeth, looking at the sky aggressively as if none one was around him but his nemesis was floating above him. And then the guard came, and his eyes shifted to them, his gaze becoming more vehement if possible, his legs scrambling aggressively against the road and under him while he strengthened his grip on the chain, as if unsure whether to run away or continue to pull at the chain. The guards reached him and his legs simply went slack, but he remained tense.

"Damn you and your Star-Forsaken chain!", He seethed as the guards each grabbed one shoulder. When they started trying to drag him away, suddenly he was struggling again, screaming at the top of his lungs: "Get me out! I'm done, I'm done, I'm done! OUT! GET ME OUT!" His words turned to snarls, and he began cursing each guard just as loudly. The guards stopped trying to drag him away. "YOU AND YOUR SKY FORSAKEN PEOPLE! I'M DONE, I'M DONE!" He pulled at the chan harder, eyes wild. "LET GO, YXICX DAMNED GOAT WEL-"

The guard hit him with a fist to the chest, and the man in grey made a thin, rasping sound with his voice, doubling over but still holding onto the chain until the same guard hit I'm on the side of the face. It was loud, and the man crumpled, limp on the ground, and didn't move.

Both guards looked up at the watchers in unison.

Suddenly people had somewhere to be, the street returning to normal as quickly as they had gathered, and Gendrel decided they were no different. "We're leaving, Princess." Terira turned more slowly than he back to the carriage but turned nonetheless. Sendar followed behind, not a word spoken until they climbed back in and the carriage started moving again.

"Do you know anything about... that?"

Gendrel met her eyes grimly and spoke softly. "I can't say what I know is for certain, but I do know some." His gaze became intense. "The slave Casters of Kara aren't just a few people like most suppose- it's an entire bloodline under Karan control. When the old Queen hunted down the murders of her husband, she took the entire bloodline hostage- the men, their wives, and children, cousins and brothers. It has been hundreds of years since- there is no doubt that the bloodline is larger than it was when they first were subjugated. I've heard that they breed them like cattle and pamper them as children. That man that you saw, he might have been a man of the bloodline that was simply inept. Even with the inbreeding, after a few hundred years I am sure there are some... defects." His face twisted in disgust as the words came out of his mouth, but he continued on. " The red skirmishes were the farthest removed of the bloodline, those that got away during the Queen's purging. Or so we've heard." His look when from firm discomfort to uneasy, as if thinking of something unnatural, wrong. "I've heard other things as well- that when they escaped they preformed blood rituals, that Kara employed those same tactics to... No matter Princess. It is not yet wise to think on things we don't yet know or understand."

Terira nodded slowly, trying to keep her face neutral, but within she was contemplating unsavory thoughts of her own. Every Karan had heard the whispers, the rumors, of the Karan Royalty tying their slaves to the crown with not only magic but the dark kinds as well. Only rumors though, surely...except now a man high in his kingdom and a foreigner to Kara was saying the same thing, if in more vague terms. Terira knew that no matter if it was true or not, there was nothing to be done for it, but she couldn't help but think that maybe there was more to this than even the rumors told. For one, she had yet to see a Grim in all of Kara, and yet that was the second most primary force of the Nation. Why would they have Grims if they had an entire bloodline of strong Casters? Why are they so intent on breeding them, and why weren't they simply eradicated instead? The contradiction of wanting all magic and anything to to with it destroyed but keep an entire bloodline of people- and possibly tying it to your own, if the most outrageous of rumors are to be considered- was inane.

Sendar met eyes with Gendrel, saying words as if reciting an old phrase. " 'Never let the Karan fabrics take away from the Karan mind.' Kara has always held an iron grip, Princess."

"Yes, I know," Said Terira slowly. "I was born in it." Sendar kept his face stoic, and Gendrel glanced between them before returning his focus to Terira.

"Always an iron place, but we have things of our own country to discuss." Teria fought to keep her face the same, but she knew she failed. Our own country. A place I've never been, never seen, almost never heard of. But my family... "We came to create an agreement of a kind with Kara. We truly just need their support to us specifically- trade, mutual alliance in case of battle, and assurance that there will be no moves made against us. We have long had a fairly good standing with the country, but we now seek to make our pact of peace more of an alliance. Garnering support will give the house Iringel the strength it needs to once again bind the Geao nation. It's our sole purpose of being here."

Terira felt her lips quirk in a mixture of disappointment and confusion. For half a second, she felt truly bad- the explanation had given her more question than any he had sought to answer if he answered any at all. For now, we should get the obvious question answered, and move from there. "Yesterday, I asked you why you were coming alone- just guards without someone whose only job isn't to bash people. " Gendrel raised his eyebrows at that, and Terira realized, with a smidge of embarrassment, what she had said. "Sorry, but I don't think a guard's job is to make ... trade agreements? Regardless, you said you were the only ones left. What did you mean? You're an entire nation, are you not?" Have they somehow managed to lie this entire time, just to kidnap me? Don't be foolish girl- they have worn that crest long before they met you, and for what reason would they keep up all this to kidnap an orphan.

Gendrel's face took on the same pained look as it had the night before- sadness and irritation as if disappointed in something that should've happened. "When your mother and father were assassinated, the Geaon nation was thrown into upheaval. People were distraught, to be sure, but beyond this, the only heir they had was murdered. Or we thought you were. Regardless, however, you came to be here, at home the houses were vying for the authority of the throne. Typically, the people of Geao would resort to the next nearest bloodline- Tenedls younger sister, Agalra. But not only was she reluctant to take the throne, she previously been involved in some trouble with the higher houses, and people were bringing up filthy rumors that she was a bastard of the line. At first, all the houses were united to find the murders of your family, but when they failed, the houses sought more to take the power of the throne for themselves. Agalra saw this problem and proclaimed herself Regent, with effort, to keep stability. The House Iringel still stands for now, but the other houses are divided against us, abandoning their oaths to the family, country, and throne." The last words he spat out, anger bleeding through his usual calm at their treachery before he regained a hold on himself. "The Geaon tradition is usually to observe the rise of the next heir to power, but the people would never come to see an ascension that they wouldn't support. Now that Iria and Tenedl are dead." His face portrayed the same amount of sorrow it had when he had first learned who Terira was, and for herself, Terira was shocked. It was the first time she had ever heard her parent's names. Iria and Tendl. My parents, real parents. And they're dead.

"If they won't support you now... then why do you think I'll change that?"

"You are the irrefutable hier to the Geaon throne. When we can return home and prove that to the people of Geao, they will have to follow you. They will have no other choice." The conviction in his voice was strong, but despite it, Terira couldn't bring herself to believe it in its entirety. He must've seen it, because he said, "While the houses of Geao may seek power, the people want the Iringel family back. Your family back, Princess."

Terira rubbed her fingers on the scars on the inside of her palm and touched the pendant that hung around her neck through her dress. The only things that marked her as part of the family, made her Royal lineage. I hope I can live up to what they have for me. She put the thought out of her mind, and asked, "What do I do here then?"

"You listen and watch for things you may not see. You seem sharp-witted, and I believe that maybe you can catch something we could not. You won't know a lot of what may happen here, but there will be no reason to be uncomfortable. To them, you are simply a Geaon lady, come to make sure the interaction goes smoothly and to report what happened in the process. It would be better if you could write things down so that you would seem less out of line, but I am not sure that you are literate. I mean no offense, Princess Terira."

She only looked at him. "I can read, but I cannot write."

Gendrel nodded. "Something that we will have to change with you and your family. It is not so hard a thing to learn, I assure you. Remember this, however, Princess; you cannot talk. You look Geaon, but you will not have the same sound as we do. You will sound Karan, clearer than crystal. You mustn't say anything, otherwise, this would arise questions that are better left unthought of and unasked. Hear?"

Terira said she understood, which she did, and with that, the Carriage slowed to a stop. "Hm, " Gendrel grunted, "We come to the Karan Castle."

Here already? It seemed like no time at tall when we were talking. She followed Gendrel out, Sendar behind her, and barely stepped down to the ground before she stood, oggling the sight before her. The castle was, by far, the largest thing she had seen to date. The castle was built on a patch of green, the walls at least fifty feet with crenels. To the right was a tower, three times as tall as the walls and maybe half as thick as the Karan Manors. Its top was a black purple, and Terira recognized it as the only part of the castle she had been able to see until now. It was placed just within the walls, and she could see three more like it- two behind the castle and one to her far left. She judged just walking the length of the wall was at least three hundred paces, if not more. And the castle itself was beautiful- rectangular and tall, half again as large as the Karan Manors in height, with the top being tiled the same black-purple as the towers, a long rectangular prism on the top of the castle, more Crenelations surrounding it with guards walking its perimeter. The Karan flag flew from every point she could see, the two-tailed serpent a menacing Guardian to its capital.

Eventually, Gendrel broke her from her moment of awe. "Princess. Princess, we must go."

She started and looked about. Sendar was studiously avoiding eye contact, as were the two guards who had driven them here. The livered woman who was waiting by the gates- not fifty paces away- was looking at Terira strangely with an eyebrow cocked. I just made a fool of myself in less than my first minute in a palace. Truly, I must be cut out for royalty. Fool! She couldn't keep from blushing a little, but she did manage to act as though the situation didn't happen as the servant led them through the castle gates. That was embarrassing.

The pathways lined by small maroon and purple shrubs and winded to the Castle- which was much more grand and elegant inside the gates, with arches on its front above its front gate and built into the walls- while also split to either side in the middle. The servant led them down the right path, to the largest tower that Terira had noticed earlier, but like everything else, was bigger inside the gates. She took them down the path to the doors- painted with the Karan symbol- and pushed them open. Terira was the first to step into the hall that could've fit three of her houses, the hall rounded with stairs to either side, curving against the wall to the second floor. Plainly carved wooden benches sat mid-way between them and the desk, where two people sat with a pile of papers, scones on the walls giving off the only light available in the large room. The servant stood to the side and waved her hand in the general direction of the benches, and they took it as an opportunity to sit down. After a few quiet words spoken to the people at the desk, she left.

They were the only ones in the room.

Terira noticed a large door of dark oak behind the desk, unseen previously in the low light of the room. No one said anything during the wait, and eventually, Sendar took out his blade and produced a whetstone from somewhere, and began to sharpen his blade. The sound of him honing his sword was methodically peaceful, and Terira found it relaxing. The people at the desk said nothing, ignoring Sendar's sharpening. At some point, Terira realized that her backside was beginning to hurt, but Gendrel sat unfazed and Sendar continued his sharpening, so she wasn't about to admit to it either.

Eventually, a person sitting at the desk walked through the doors behind her and came back out not long after. "You may go in." Her quiet voice rang out in the silent hall, and the other two got up and held the doors open. Terira followed Gendrel across the hall, the servants closing the door after they had gone through.

The room was round and red, red walls and red curtains, with wooden desks made of the same tree as the door, and five people on elevated platforms six feet above them. The dusk red floor was polished clean, and stair led to the men, who sat on high-backed chairs in long black robes, clean-shaven heads but beards ranging in length and from gray to white in color.

The center one spoke. "Two Geaon Guards and a Geaon lady come before the Karan council." His beard was white and tied at the bottom, his voice flat and empty, sounding perpetually annoyed. "I speak as the second grandfather of the king, here to oversee this... foreign affair. And why would you speak, Geaon guard?"

Gendrel made his voice firm, respectful just beneath commanding. "I am Gendrel Savil, First Commander of the Geaon Guard. We come to you for the support of the Royal House Iringel, which you have had peaceful relations with for centuries."

"And still do, First Commander." The grandfather seemed to remain uninterested. "What do you ask for that is so different from what you now have?"

"We ask for exclusive support with the Royal House Iringel and only our house in relations with Geao. By this, we mean exclusive trade, exclusive benefits or connections, and the assurance that if fighting were to occur, support for our house would be immediately declared and acted upon. This would be a mutual agreement, of course, one that would continue as long as we remain in good standing with one another."

"Still trying to assert power over your broken kingdom, I see." Gendrel's hand clenched.

The one on the far left spoke. "Why would we cut off trade with the other houses? They change prices like breezes on the ocean, yet we still receive consistent trade with them. You expect us to give this up for what exactly, First Commander? Support for your house exclusively does not benefit the people of Kara."

"Because your Casters still need Crystal, despite your dislike for magic and any association."

The council fell silent. The middle man, the grandfather, was seeming to think over the words that he had just said. Terira, for her part, was confused. Crystal? And what do the slave Casters have to do with trade? We must have Crystal to barter with, but why would Kara not have enough? Another member of the council seemed to be asking much of the same question. "What need would we have of your Crystal, Gendrel?" The Grandfather turned to the second to last man on the left, as if about to scold him, but regained composure quickly. Sendar scoffed almost too quietly for Terira to hear.

"I walked to the docks yesterday." These words alone seemed to carry weight Terira did not understand, but his next words shifted the tone more than those had. "I saw a few ships entire the Cove, rather large. You seem to be quite busy beyond the Karan sea."

The Grandfather took his time responding to this carefully. "If we were, your support would not be necessary. We know how to use discretion, and are well set in the moves we have made. Your argument is far from compelling. "

Gendrel nodded agreeably, his face serious. "Not every nation holds the laws you do on magical uses, and some support is far to reach but worth the time. Your plans may be solid as stone now, but the mind is like a seed in the crack of a boulder. Perhaps you will worry yourself by missing ours."

Terira was confused for a moment, but when the faces of the men turned slightly more hostile, something clicked. Katan. They must be talking about Katan- on the other side of the world but with no restrictions on magic. No one in Kara has spoken well about them. But why would they want to go across the world for support, and why would it matter? ...Something to do with ships and Crystals, which could only mean a fight of some kind if Casters are involved. And something they aren't supposed to know about. A seed in the rock? Yes, surely something that must not be known. A crack in their plan.

The grandfather apparently decided that some pretenses could be dispensed with. "Perhaps some preparations were moved too slowly. You wouldn't want to lose discretion on the cost of your kingdom, would you?"

"Perhaps not," said Gendrel, keeping his seriously agreeable tone, "But regardless, by the time you took retribution for discretion lost, you would be in a spot by far too tough to recover from- at least, recover from quickly. And have been at a deficit for you lost the Crystals we could have afforded you. We, on the other hand, would be whole in power with support from those who would now be against you." Sendar scoffed again at that. "The option is less beneficial and more costly for both of us, but in the end, we find some routes must be taken. And one that, I would guess, you will take anyway."

The men sat quietly for so long Terira wouldn't have been shocked if they had fallen asleep. Suddenly, the middle man spoke. "We find the need of your Crystal...irrefutable. Should this be supplied to us- along with other things agreed upon, of course- we find no reason not to agree with your terms. Or support will be given to your house exclusively in return for what we have agreed upon."

Gendrel bowed his head with a respectful, "It would be, very much, an honor."

The grandfather nodded in return. "Then allow her to show you out, and write the contract that we agreed upon." He stood quickly, and the rest of the men followed him out of hidden doors.

Terira spun around, a little too fast. There was the girl from earlier, waiting politely with the door open. How long had she been there?

---

"There were ships pulling into the Karan Cove last night." They were back in the carriage, Gendrel explaining to the both of them what happened back in the council tower. "They were pulling in from the south. The only country south of Kara that would need a boat to get to is Cyraa- the Cyclops nation." Terira laughed, but when she caught the seriousness of his face she slowly went quiet. Skies, Cyclops?!? Surely they're just children's tales and stories...right? But he seemed serious enough... and there was something Calkolh wasn't telling us. Maybe there are children's tales, waiting to be real. Next, he'll tell me dragons fly the skies and men ride griffins. She shook her head but did not interrupt him again. "Unless they sailed through the Chimera Gap and went to Katan. What exactly they did or took there, I don't know. Nor am I sure that I ever will- but I did know that they didn't want people to find out. I stayed at the docks most of the night, and guards kept more men from coming to see. They sealed off the Cove but I was still able to see the ships pull in; they were huge, naval ships to be sure. When I let them know I knew and they became defensive, I knew immediately it was a card worth having."

"So that's what that talk about rocks and seeds were? I thought I was close but wasn't sure... at least I know now."

"Yes. And I'm taking you to the dock to see it before we go. I think that it will be nice for you to see it, and we have little else to do in the city besides rest before we leave. Did you catch anything while you were listening Terira?"

Terira looked at him queerly, then felt ashamed for doing so; that was the first time he had addressed her as anything but Princess. I'm letting it get to my head- I have to stop that. I'm not a Princess, not really. " I was thinking of one thing. They talked as if the threat of war with the Katan was real, and took the offer of your Crystals as if this was the only thing they cared about. Whatever they did to Katan, it wasn't petty, was it?"

Gendrel smiled. "No, I can't imagine it was. The way I see it, they will be at war with Katan sooner or later. I can only hope that it is after we have reunited our country once again." The wagon pulled to a stop. "We're here Princess."

Terira stepped out with him and gasped. The Karan Castle was built, unexpectedly, on a plateau with the Great river as wide as a lake to their left. And, to the west- directly in front of them- was the Karan Cove, and beyond, the Onkiran Ocean.

A wall surrounded the edge of the cove, blocking the docks from the land, but large gates and arches provided access. The docks were unbelievably long, at least a mile, and ran the length of the entire Cove. Ships were still pulling in and sailing away, and into one part of the Cove was a little inlet that led into a cave; she assumed that this was where the Karan ships and Navy stayed. Looking down, she could see woodworks, pulleys, and systems climbing up the side of the plateau, explaining how people got up and down to the Cove. And the ocean- she had never seen something so beautiful that stretched to the horizon and beyond, and a clearer blue than the sky. It was stunning and breathtaking. Despite the bad experiences in Kara, she thought she wouldn't be mad if she could see this sight forever. She was sad when they had to go.

---

The Vovess sat quietly with three of its pack, unknowing stalked by two humans.

"Breathe." Phara put her hand on her travels back and felt the tension slowly leave his body. "Focus. Remember, take their lives quickly, or cripple them to do it later. Don't let the power take you- take in the soul, redirect the energy."

He needed and took another deep breath, rolling his back and flexing his arms. Breathe. Kill. Breathe. Kill. Focus. In one hand, he held his half spear. The other, his knife in a reverse grip. Breathe. He felt the emptiness rise, his body condensed, feeling condensed. He pushed the power into his legs, felt his muscles grow... heavy.

Kuxalo burst from the bushes as a demon possessed.

The first half stood when he heard him, tense like a cat about to spring. Kuxalo was ready. It launched itself at him, claw extended to rake through his neck. Kuxalo slid on the ground, swinging his spear up and across his body. It cut through the coat of the animal's chest, blood spilling down the tip of the spear, two feet from its throat. Bad timing. He rolled out of the slide onto his heels, two flanking to his side and one running up with a snarl. He could feel the other behind him tensing to get up and attack again. Kuxalo gave a snarl of his own and launched off his heels with as much power as he could muster, knocking the rushing Vovess onto his back. Another snarl, the animal immediately reacting with bringing its four front claws to try and rake his back. Sticking his spear in the meat of both the ones on his right, he raised his other arm to ward off the ones on the left. They rolled and tumbled, and suddenly stopped, the animal snarling and arching his back, now trying to get away. Kuxalo pushed his spear deeper into the ribcage of the animal, and slit its throat with his knife. He turned his head as warm blood spurted across his face and neck.

Dead. The next one was charging as soon as its brother died, and Kuxalo ran to meet it. It launched at him as did the others, this time front two paws both swinging. Stabbing his spear in one and knife in the other, he took the scratches to the shoulder and jumped from the one he had heard charging. It was foolish, tripping on his brother's wounded form as it attempted to run after him, and Kuxalo slammed his clasped hands into its skull. It was dazed, but not dead. Kuxalo ran from the next Vovess, which launched itself at him, then turned around and ran back. He kicked the already dazed Vovess then rolled over its body to dodge the second strike of its counterpart. Focus. New angle. Running to the beast he already killed, he launched himself at it. He could feel the only adept Vovess running after him, but the moment was overshadowed by the feeling of the essence, drifting through his body, entering his eyes, condensing his being, the emptiness growing building pressure and filling him, ta- Focus. Breathe.

The Vovess swiped at him, one coming from his left and two from his right. He grabbed the left and moved with the momentum, slinging himself into its body before the other swipes could reach him. It fell on its back. Kill.

The emptiness filled him, stronger, as he pulled his hands into a fist and started to punch. Thud, thud, thud. The punches hit its throat, and the animal wheezed for air. Thud, kikrurluck. The bone broke, blood splat. Glukchk. The emptiness grew. Glukchk. Consumed. Glukchk. Throat was gone, the Vovess dead. He stood and felt the emptiness condense more- he didn't know it was possible- and felt like he almost didn't exist, as if the emptiness was pushing him, needing him into the air around him, into the world around him. The other Vovess was standing up. Breathe. It was hard now- he needed to feel the essence, his muscles stretch, his power condense. Breathe. Deep breath. It was almost to its feet.

It fell again as his running kick knocked into its jaw, the one with its weapon in its paws falling on its side again after trying to stand, whimpering pathetically, weakly. It was already dead. He yanked both his knife and spear from its body, stabbing the spear in its throat and the knife he threw in the other's eyes. He finished it with the spear, feeling the blood drip down his neck and onto his shirt. For a moment, he felt the scratches on his back, sides, legs, shoulders. When-

The emptiness condensed again. He fought to keep his own identity, fought to breathe, fought to exist. On his hands and knees, collapsed to his side. Brea- The emptiness was all there was- there simply was now.

He barely felt Phara's hand touch his shoulder and didn't even know she said anything, just trying to breathe, trying to keep it bursting his flesh and yet compacting everything within all at once. The feeling of power building in his body and crippling him at the same time made the emptiness more prominent. He kept trying to balance, trying to breathe. Trying, trying...

Phara gently tapped his shoulder, pulling out bandages and gauze with her other hand. "Well done."