Jollis faced his mornings with renewed vigor and resolve. He felt as if it were the first day of his mission again, when he had been filled with hope, promise, and awe at the road before him. Even that morning, when gray and obscuring clouds clung to the land, he felt joyous.

He emerged from his house, raising his eyes to the opaque sky. He smiled as drops of fine mist tickled his face. The temple atop the hill was barely visible through the fog, and the distant peak of the holy mountain might very well not have existed.

"Wanderer!"

Jollis turned. His first Cohort ran towards him, sandals splashing against the wet ground. "Yes?"

"You wished to know of developments back in Oceanus, Master," said the Cohort in an anxious voice.

Jollis was not the least worried despite the Cohort's tone. "Of course. What news have you?"

"The Noble Lords now make extensive preparations for defense, Wanderer. They have been aided by the Mages. There has been an apparent change of the old guard at the Guild Hall."

"Ah, yes, I had suspected that a power struggle would commence. This is not a shock."

"But, Master, the new Guildmaster is dedicating the Hall to the study of our Portals."

Jollis nodded. "This, too, was expected. It should not be of concern. They have only the most rudimentary knowledge."

"Then you do not fear that they may soon understand how so many similar memories can resonate and ..."

"That is most advanced knowledge, my friend. Not easily intuited from what little they know."

The Cohort looked uneasy. "Wanderer, did not the Oceanus Mages once research mind magicks?"

"They did. But they lacked the ability to see the formulaic structure behind it, and thus it failed as a discipline and was forgotten."

"Yet the new Guildmaster is an Empiricist."

Jollis looked thoughtful. "Ah, I have not heard this."

"Would not the Mages that studied the mind magicks have left behind notes, Wanderer?"

"It was my understanding that they had been destroyed in a sort of purge some time ago. Yet it would foolish of me to make such a sweeping assumption. Hmm." A few days ago, Jollis would have lamented at his continued bad luck, or even blamed himself for not seeing it. Instead, he saw it only as a new challenge. "For once, my friend, time is on our side. If we can finish preparations soon, we will be ready to strike at the most opportune moment. Then it will matter not, as they will not have time to change their defensive strategy."

"Are we close, my Wanderer?" asked the Cohort anxiously.

"Master Kyllos assures me of such. Is such an opportunity close at hand?"

"Lord Duric makes a good advance into Imperial lands. Yet the Emperor is responding with the navy. And ... there is something else ..."

The Cohort explained about the additional fleet headed towards Roquan's Manor. Now Jollis grew contemplative and somber. Some worry etched itself around his lips and in his eyes. He finally nodded once. "Very well. Keep me apprised of the situation."

"What will we do if the fleet reaches the Manor before ...?"

Jollis held up a hand. "Calm yourself. It is evident in your voice that you are panicking. I shall mention this to Master Kyllos and seek his counsel."

The Cohort bowed his head. "Forgive me, Wanderer. I offer you an explanation but not an excuse. Our Cohorts in Oceanus are in utmost despair. Knowing not of the new plan, they see only the old one failing before their eyes. It is most difficult to speak to them without telling them the one thing that would set their minds at ease."

Jollis placed a hand on the Cohort's shoulder. "I understand. It is difficult. I do not care for withholding information from them, either." He considered. "You may tell them that there is indeed a new plan, but do not divulge the details. Simply inform them that they must continue as my eyes and ears if they wish the new plan to come to fruition."

The Cohort managed a small smile. "Thank you, Wanderer. I do not think they will mind not knowing the details so long as they have hope."

"And as for the danger at the Manor, it is perhaps a good sign that the Lord Admiral appears to be headed towards the Manor as well."

"How so?"

"The Lord Admiral is closer, and will arrive well ahead of the fleet. He is of the older generation. He is less likely to allow an assault against a Manor due to his dedication to upholding the Charter. He may delay military action long enough for us to respond."

"I had not thought of that. Thank you for your wise insight, Wanderer."

Jollis smiled. "Have you anything else?"

"Nothing, my Wanderer." The Cohort bowed. Jollis returned it, and the two parted company.

The skies deepened towards night over the shattered camp of Duric's army. Soldiers glanced nervously to the sky as they carried wounded to the makeshift hospital set up by the Healers. Patrols would tense and point frantically at anything that they believed had moved in the sky.

"Three nights now, Tarras," said a haggard Lord Duric, his voice shielded from his men by several regiment commanders as they stood nearby as somber sentinels. "Three nights with uncanny accuracy."

The Farview image of Tarras sighed deeply and rubbed his neck. "How bad this time?"

"We were holding our own against it last night, but this time no fewer than three found their mark and injured a good number of men. Nearly a whole regiment."

"Does this jeopardize your advance?"

Duric frowned. "Did you hear what I told you, Lord Tarras?"

"Yes, every word. Now, will it hold you up?"

"Gods dammit, men have died! And all you want to know is ..."

"Yes, men have died," Tarras declared. "Just as men died when you first began your advance. As men will die as you continue. As men will die when you storm the Palace. In war, men die."

Duric sighed, exasperated. "But not like this, Tarras. Not without a fight. They died against an enemy they can't even see, let alone fight. Someone that sits offshore picking us off as if we were fatted ducks!"

"Lord Duric, you command these men. You must not waver. Your resolve and courage is what will keep them going."

"I do not want to command them into senseless death."

"Nor do I. But if you let this temper your resolve, you will surely commit them all to their deaths for lack of will. And that truly will be senseless."

"To answer your question, we will continue onward," Duric said tersely. "Some of the injured can be made ready for battle by tomorrow. The ones that cannot will be brought to safety in a village we passed in order to recover."

"You will be turning northwest?"

"After tomorrow, yes. I don't have much choice. It means fighting on my north and west at the same time. This will wear us down. And we will have to suffer one more night of this bombardment."

Tarras frowned. "The question is, how did they pinpoint your position so accurately? One moment, please, Duric."

Tarras turned and headed away, though his Farviewing pearl tracked him. He stopped at a shelf and extracted a scroll, unfolded it, and examined it. "Lord Duric, are you bypassing the coastal towns?"

"Of course I am. I don't have the men to garrison them properly, and I don't really need them. Why?"

Tarras rolled up the scroll. "I should have thought of this before. The coastal towns are more likely to be loyal towards Z'haas, as they would bear the brunt of any Imperial retaliation. Even the two ports in my own province still service Imperial warships."

Duric sighed and nodded as he understood. "And we've been dealing with merchants from those towns. They've likely been informing the mayors, and they inform the captain of that fleet out there."

"Precisely."

"Is there anything we can do about it, Tarras?"

"There is a town near your route tomorrow, Port Planata. You could divert part of a regiment to occupy the town briefly and prevent them from revealing your exact position."

Duric frowned. "I cannot spare any soldiers tomorrow, not with as many men down as I do."

Tarras looked thoughtful. He opened the map scroll again and stared at it. One corner of his mouth rose.

Duric raised an eyebrow. "I know that look, Tarras. I really hope it means what I think it does."

"It may indeed. I have an idea that may solve two problems at once ..."

Amanda remained totally submissive and perfectly compliant to his every desire. She did not bat an eye when he lightly spanked her until her pussy ached and her body shivered with growing lust. She had not a single defiant thought or reaction when he bound her hand and foot and teased her sex, forbidding her to cum, until she was whimpering and squirming with need. Now she steadfastly held her pussy in check, even as badly strained as it was, as he thrust hard and fast into her.

She tossed her head back as his movements grew more frenetic. The fact that he had done so many things to her was proof of his incredible stress. The more heavily he relied on bondage and discipline, and the harder he imposed himself in the sex act itself, the more stressed he was.

By the time Roquan showed signs of peaking, Amanda was shaking with the effort to hold herself back. At the first sign of his orgasm, she let herself go. She cried out and clutched him, shoving her hips against him and keeping him buried inside her. Her fingers curled into his arms, nails biting into hard muscle.

She was still shivering even as her orgasm faded. Roquan embraced her gently as he rolled onto his back. Amanda let out a ragged sigh and closed her eyes, accepting the comfort of Roquan's arms. She lay her head against his chest, her breathing slowing as she came down from her intense, orgasmic high.

Amanda spread a hand over his chest and then down one arm. She allowed herself a small smile. Much of the tension was gone.

"I know that your mind is on other ventures in recent times, Amanda," Roquan said softly. "But you are still a very fine slave to me."

"Thank you, Master," said Amanda, smiling. She cared enough about Roquan to want to please him. It was beyond mere duty now.

"If there is anything at all about which you wish to speak, you are free to do so."

"I didn't want to bother you with anything, Master, not after getting you so relaxed now."

His chest shuddered as he chuckled. It was the first time she had heard that for awhile. "My stress is often at my own doing. Your presence will help keep me soothed."

"There is not much to tell you, Master. Nothing is new with Sirinna, or my job at the Healer office."

Amanda was not about to tell him the tribulations of her alleged love life. She had finally admitted to herself that she had some feelings for Lanno. It was foolish, no more than a typical teenage girl crush, a painful reminder of how much growing up remained.

"Then lie quietly with me, and call out anything if you happen to think about it."

Amanda let her mind wander.

It was not long before Freya leapt back into her thoughts. She recalled the peculiar thing she had seen from her room a few nights before. She thought about the little magical torches that shared the same shade of blue. She thought of other feats of magic she had seen with that similar color. She remembered that faint flash she had seen when she had entered Freya's quarters.

Amanda's eyes opened. "Master, what was the name of that Mage again that you said had helped the Emperor?"

"His name was Q'yros. I have been informed that he has passed on recently."

"Oh." Amanda was a bit perplexed by the sadness in Roquan's voice, knowing what she did about Roquan's rocky relationship with him.

"I am curious as to why his name came to you."

Amanda lifted her head. "Freya's surname is D'yros, isn't it? That makes them from the same clan?"

"Yes, indeed, they are. I believe they were of the same bloodline as well. Though it is likely more appropriate to drop the prefix and refer to her as Freya Yros, as she is no longer officially an Overlord."

Amanda nodded slowly. "Master, does magical ability run along bloodlines?"

"It can, yes. I was under the impression that Q'yros was not very enamored of Freya's choice of career. Perhaps he believed she had potential for Magery."

"But can someone have magical ability even if they never formally studied it?"

"I am unsure. I do know that magical talent is innate and has to be developed properly." Roquan paused. "Why do you ask this, Amanda?"

"I'm not sure if this means anything, Master, but ..." Amanda proceeded to explain what she had seen in Freya's quarters and the night she had taken her walk.

Roquan nudged Amanda. She sat up, and her Overlord swiftly followed. "Are you quite sure of this?"

"Yes, Master, I just don't know if it means anything."

Roquan frowned. "It means she could be planning an escape."

Amanda shivered. "Could she actually undo that lock, Master? I thought it was spelled to respond only to your touch."

"A good Mage could undo such a lock easily, but I do not know how much power that requires." Roquan slipped out of bed and began to dress. "You were very wise, Amanda, to alert me. I do not wish to think of what havoc she might cause at the Manor were she to get loose."

"Do you wish me to do anything, Master?" Amanda asked.

"It is best that you head straight for your quarters," said Roquan. "I will alert the guards and have one posted outside her quarters at all times. If she attempts escape, I will have her stopped."

A touch. Concentration. A flicker of blue light. Then nothing.

Held breath was slowly exhaled. A pause to clear the mind and keep the frustration at bay. Now, again ...

A touch. Concentration. A flicker of blue light. Then nothing.

A deep breath was drawn in and let go. Slip deeper into meditation. Let the noises of the insects and the rustle of the wind fall away. Now ...

A touch. Concentration. A brighter flicker of light. A very faint metallic scraping noise, then nothing.

Calm. Serenity. Breathe normally. Focus. Empty the mind. Now ...

A touch. Concentration. A flash of blue.

Click.

Freya let out a gusty sigh and opened her eyes. Before her, the lock holding the chain to her wrist had popped open. She winced as she sat up, stiff muscles sending pain shooting down her limbs. She unhooked the lock from the chain and threw it across the room, then tossed the chain away.

She stood up and ran her fingers through her hair, taking a deep breath to attempt to instill some renewed vigor into her tired body. If she was going to get away from this accursed place, she needed her wits about her. She also needed a hostage to prevent Roquan from coming after her until she was safely away from the island.

Freya slipped on her dress and headed to her door. She peeked outside, then slowly emerged and walked cautiously to the main path. She looked in either direction, then took off at a brisk jog, soon turning down the path that led to the Healer's office.

"Douse the lamp!" came the urgently whispered order from the regiment commander. "Get down!"

The darkness of the forest closed in about the contingent as the oil lamp was extinguished. Leaves and underbrush rustled as the ten soldiers drew themselves to the ground and became still.

Around them, evergreens rose like monoliths. Their branches swayed in the wind and uttered a continuous low cacophony. Just ahead through the trees, the forest thinned and the land slid downward towards the shore. Flickering lights dotted the landscape between them and the water's edge.

"Look, Commander," whispered a soldier, pointing off to the right.

The Commander turned his head. Just barely visible were the faint lamp lights from the cabins of the lead dreadnought of Boddas' fleet. "There's where the bastards are," he muttered.

"Yeah, waitin' to hammer us again tomorrow."

"Not if we can help it, soldier. All right, men, we take the rest of the way under cover of darkness. Keep the formation tight. You stop when I stop, you go when I go. Any questions?" Silence. "Good. Wait until I give the signal."

The Commander paused. The wind had died during their conversation. Within a few moments, another breeze blew in, carrying the smell of briny moisture. The trees rose in song again in response.

"Move out!"

As one, the ten men of his contingent stood and scurried out of the forest and down the hillside.

Amanda crossed the Manor with some urgency. She let out a resigned sigh as she approached her quarters. She doubted very much that she was going to have an easy time getting to sleep. Now she had to be worried about Freya all over again.

She padded carefully into Sirinna's bed chamber. Sirinna was already asleep. Her restless nights made her more tired, and she was retiring earlier in the evening. Amanda looked on with chagrin as Sirinna twitched and writhed, uttering low, pitiful whimpers.

She's already having a bad dream, Amanda lamented.

Amanda contemplated waking Sirinna up and consoling her, but it might take candlemarks to get her back to proper slumber, and Amanda was too exhausted herself. She trudged across Sirinna's chamber, brushed aside the curtain, and simply fell into bed, too tired to want to bother with washing up first. She would do it in the morning.

Freya crept into the Healer office and cursed softly as she stumbled in the dark. She knocked several things to the floor as she felt her way around the room. A flask shattered and splashed potion on her foot.

Her hands finally closed in on a lamp, and her hands fumbled with it before she could get it to light. She started frantically rummaging through cabinets. Finally, she grabbed a pouch of sleeping powder, doused the lamp, and ran from the Healer office as fast as she could.

Freya knew exactly where she was going. Roquan's Draughted slaves were properly obedient, and had told her everything she needed to know. They thought nothing of telling her exactly how to find her way about the Manor to any location whatsoever. And they would never reveal they had spoken to her, as proper slaves simply do not do that.

Roquan stopped at the end of the short path leading to the door to Freya's quarters and turned to the guard. "You will stand guard here. If Freya emerges from her quarters, that will mean she has managed to undo her restraint. You will stop her and subdue her with these."

Roquan held up a set of slave cuffs and handed them to the guard. The guard nodded. "Yes, my Lord, as you wish. I assume you want a day shift guard as well?"

"Yes. I will inform the Guard Master before I retire. You are not to leave your post until you are relieved."

"Yes, my Lord." He craned his neck and looked past Roquan. "Should I check on her now to make sure she is still there?"

"A good idea, but I will check. Wait here."

The Overlord turned and proceeded down the path.

Amanda had barely drifted off when something jolted her back to full wakefulness. She lifted her head and listened. Soft but frantic movements issued from Sirinna's bed chamber. Amanda sighed and threw off the furs. It was another nightmare, and she wanted to be on hand to soothe Sirinna when she awoke.

She rushed towards the curtain and was less than a breath away from sweeping it aside when something she saw through the translucent material made her pause. She crept forward and peeked cautiously through the small space between curtain and door frame. Her eyes widened and she clamped her hand over her mouth.

Sirinna lay unnaturally still on her bed, grayish-green powder dusting her face. Panic gripped Amanda until she saw the rise and fall of her lover's bosom. Her gaze darted back towards Freya, who was squatting beside the bed. Freya stood and dropped a set of slave cuffs on the bed. She held another set in her hands. She grabbed Sirinna's feet and yanked them towards her, causing Sirinna to grunt softly despite her deeper slumber. Amanda clenched her fists in anger even as her heart pounded in fear.

The former Overlord closed the cuffs around Sirinna's ankles and locked them together. She reached for the other cuffs.

Amanda wanted to help Sirinna, but she knew she could not do this alone. She had to get Roquan. She turned and ran from the doorway barely a moment before Freya turned towards her.

The guard snapped to alert when he saw Roquan barrel out of Freya's quarters.

"Freya has escaped," said Roquan. "You are to alert all the guards, all shifts. Scour the entire Manor and the jungle around it. She is to be found and subdued. Use whatever force is necessary."

"Yes, my Lord!"

The guard turned to head away. Roquan grabbed his arm.

"I wish your crossbow," said the Overlord in a voice like steel.

Amanda had intended to dash through the sanitary, into the adjoining slave chamber, and then out through Sirinna's bed chamber as Freya advanced into Amanda's chamber. In her panic, she tripped over the chamberpot and sent it clanging loudly into the wall, alerting Freya that she was already awake. As soon as she emerged from the other slave quarters, Freya intercepted her.

Amanda let out a short scream. On the bed, Sirinna writhed in her sleep and moaned, her eyes dancing under her closed lids.

Freya grasped Amanda's arm, causing her to lose her balance and stumble. When Freya tried to yank Amanda to her feet, she kicked blindly. The former Overlord grunted as a foot landed on her knee. Amanda nearly got free until Freya twisted her arm, causing her to cry out and stagger from the pain.

Freya tried to grab Amanda with both hands and pull the girl towards her. Amanda raised her hand and raked her nails across Freya's face, leaving four angry red lines oozing blood. The shock of the attack sent Freya reeling enough for Amanda to wrench herself free.

But Amanda had to get past Sirinna's bed. It was only at the last moment she realized she should have vaulted over the bed instead of wasting precious moments going around it. Freya tackled her and sent her to the floor, knocking the wind out of her.

Freya grabbed Amanda's wrist and wrenched it behind her back and then upwards. Amanda screamed as something seemed to tear in her shoulder and sent a burning bolt of pain radiating down her arm and back.

"Another sound from you, Amanda, and I'll break your arm," Freya growled through clenched teeth.

Amanda bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and whimpered.

Panting from the exertion, Freya held Amanda down with one hand and scrabbled for the cuffs she had dropped with the other. She snatched them from the floor and fit them around Amanda's wrists. Amanda burst into tears at the searing flare of pain from her injured arm.

Freya hauled Amanda to her feet. "Get up, you little bitch."

Amanda could barely see anything, so blurred were her eyes from tears. She tried to look to Sirinna. She thought she saw her lover moving on the bed, and there was another faint moan. After she was standing again, Freya yanked on her injured arm. It moved unnaturally, and the pain was so intense it made Amanda's head fuzzy.

"Now you listen to me, you little idiot," Freya sneered. "You're going with me, and this time there will be no little speech by your precious Roquan to save you."

Amanda squeezed her eyes tightly closed, but tears continued to stream.

"Aw, did I hurt you? Don't worry. Once I get to someplace where I can get the ingredients, I'll whip up something for you that will make you forget all about it. In fact, you'll forget just about everything."

Amanda felt as if a knife had been plunged into her heart. All the pain in the world was worth keeping her mind and her memories intact.

Freya's lips curled into an evil smile. "Oh, so did I finally find something for you to fear? Am I no longer nothing to be afraid of? Stupid little cunt. Now, get moving."

Freya shoved her hard towards the door. Amanda yelped and fell to one knee, nearly graying out from the agony in her shoulder. She managed to struggle to her feet before the former Overlord could try to pull her up again.

Sirinna moaned softly. Amanda gasped and whipped her head around. "S-Sirinna! Are you all right?"

"Get moving!" Freya shouted. She lifted her foot and shoved Amanda hard in the backside.

Amanda stumbled and slammed into the door, her head growing fuzzy again. Freya reached forward and opened the door for her.

There was a sudden thud behind them. Amanda tried to turn her head to look, but Freya had already shoved her forward and flipped the door shut behind her. Barely a few footsteps beyond the door, Freya suddenly grabbed her good arm and forced her to stop. Amanda's eyes rose, and her breath caught in her throat.

"Let go of her," said Roquan as he sighted down the crossbow. "Now."

Freya stood stricken for a moment before she dropped behind Amanda, clutching at the girl's arms to keep her steady. Amanda let out another whine of pain. "And risk hitting your little flower of undraughted goodness, Roquan? I don't think so."

"If you move with her from that spot, you will die," said Roquan with icy certainty. "If you attempt to harm her again, you will die."

Amanda shivered at the deadly purpose in Roquan's voice. The hands that held the crossbow were rock-steady. At this distance, he could get off a clean shot no matter how little of Freya was showing. Doubt and fear crept into her eyes. "You can't keep me here, Roquan! You can't! You have to let me go sometime!"

"If you attempt to leave the Manor, Freya, you will die."

"THEN I DIE!" Freya screamed. "And just maybe I will take little miss draughtless cunt here with me!"

The door behind Freya burst open. The edge slammed into Freya's back, a hobbled and groggy Sirinna tumbling to the ground in its wake. It threw Freya off-balance, loosening her hold on Amanda. Amanda wrenched away from her, though the pain made her stumble and fall to the ground.

Freya recovered swiftly, only to have Roquan's fist smash into her jaw. She staggered and sprawled to the ground.

Roquan saw Amanda fall and her face twist in agony. Roquan's eyes blazed, his teeth grinding as anger built to fury, then to towering rage. He stepped up to Freya and leveled the crossbow at her prone form. His finger tightened on the trigger.

Just one excuse. That was all Roquan wanted. A hostile move towards Amanda or towards himself. Any excuse at all. His finger twitched again.

Freya groaned once and passed out.

Roquan let out a long sigh and slowly lowered his weapon. As he did, several guards raced up to him.

"My Lord! We heard shouts and screams!" one of the guards cried.

"It is under control," Roquan said in curt tones. His eyes shimmered. "Summon Vanlo and Lanno at once. We have injuries."

Raucous laughter drifted on the cold night air.

"Down!"

The men fell and flattened themselves against the ground.

They were at the edge of a road that ran along the western edge of the town. Just ahead and down a small incline, two figures staggered about, laughing and passing a gourd between them. As Duric's men watched the two silhouetted against the lights of the town, it was clear they were wearing light armor.

"Imperials?" a soldier whispered to the Commander.

"Most likely, yes," said the Commander. "Probably from the legion we've been facing for the past few days."

"Pretty confident they'll hold us off, huh, if they can let their men go on drunken liberty."

The Commander watched silently, hoping they would move off. Instead, it appeared that they simply grew ever more drunk, which made them move slower and more erratically.

"I need two bowmen," the Commander said, narrowing his eyes.

"Here, my Lord."

"I'll do it, my Lord."

"Ready crossbows," the Commander declared.

There was a pause as both men cocked their weapons, loaded them, and aimed after a brief whispered conversation of who would take which target.

"Fire when ready."

One let off his crossbow immediately, his quarry happening to stand still just as the order was given. The bolt whipped away. The target abruptly paused, swayed, and fell.

The second soldier seemed not to notice at first, and then when he did, he laughed and gave the prone body a light kick, as if thinking it were a joke. Slowly it dawned on him that it wasn't, and when he paused to bend over and look more closely, the second bolt was away. He fell in short order, and all was still again.

"Well done," the Commander said. "All right, we need to head along this road, and then around the north side of town. The mayor's office is closest to that point. Let's move!"

Lanno delicately lifted Amanda's arm until it was nearly horizontal. "How is that?"

"It's better," said Amanda. "It doesn't hurt as much now."

Lanno lowered the arm. "Freya didn't manage to dislocate your arm completely, but she did give ligaments and tendons a bad stretch. Fortunately, none of them tore, and there's no damage to the rotator cuff. Can you try lifting it yourself?"

Amanda nodded and tried. She winced as she felt a flare of pain, and the arm trembled about halfway up. She let it drop heavily to her side. "It feels weak."

Lanno nodded. "I'll be giving you a restorative soon that will help heal things up faster, though the arm will be stiff for a few days." He let out a sigh and lay his hand against her cheek. In a softer and more urgent voice he said, "Amanda, are you sure you're okay?"

Amanda sighed and managed a small smile. "Yes, I'm all right, really."

"I'm sorry I got so angry with you the other day ..."

Amanda shook her head. "No, it's not your fault, it was my own hangup. Please, don't worry about it, okay?"

Lanno smiled weakly and lowered his hand. "Vanlo may want to keep you overnight."

"What about Sirinna? Is she doing okay?"

"Sirinna is doing quite fine," said Vanlo as he turned from the other treatment table. "She is suffering no ill effects from the sleeping powder. Only a very mild dose was used. The fact that she was alread in a highly agitated state from her nightmare countered most of the effect."

Behind him, Sirinna pushed herself off the table and onto her feet. She came around and gave Amanda a hug, which was generously accepted and returned, albeit with one arm.

"Gods, Amanda, I'm so glad you're okay," Sirinna said, her voice quavering.

"Thanks to you!" Amanda said, beaming. "That was incredible what you did, Sirinna! That was very clever of you!"

For the first time that Amanda could remember, Sirinna actually blushed as she smiled. "I just didn't want you to be hurt, Amanda, and I knew that Freya would hurt you even worse if she took you away."

Vanlo stepped over to Amanda's table and peered through the penetrating lens scope that Lanno had left activated. "Excellent treatment of Amanda's arm and shoulder, Lanno. I could not have done better myself."

Lanno grinned. "Thank you, Vanlo, that means a lot coming from you."

"I will only correct one thing. I do not believe we need to keep Amanda here. She can go back to her quarters if she agrees to rest that arm for at least another day. So that means no work at the Healer office tomorrow and no Training."

Amanda nodded. "Is there anything else I need to do, Master Vanlo?"

"Just remember to return to the office sometime in the afternoon for an examination. I wish Lanno to use the scope to view your tendons again and make sure they will heal properly."

Amanda glanced around the treatment room. "Does anyone know what happened to Freya?"

"She is in her quarters," came Roquan's voice from the doorway.

Amanda was a bit startled to hear the Overlord. She had not seen him since she had been taken to the Healer. His voice was still sharp, and his arms were folded defensively across his chest, but most of the frighteningly raw rage was no longer apparent.

"I will insist that I see her before I retire, your Lordship," Vanlo said firmly. "Her status is no excuse to deny Healing services."

Roquan appeared to pause, as if he believed he could indeed deny the Healer. Instead, he nodded once.

"No disrespect intended, my Lord," said Lanno. "But will you make sure she doesn't get away again?"

"She will not. Two guards will be posted at all times. Her quarters have also been stripped of all her possessions, including her clothing. If she insists on abusing what little dignity I afforded her, it will no longer be offered."

Vanlo glanced at Amanda and Sirinna and let out a sigh. "As sad as it is for me to admit it, your Lordship, it is perhaps for the best."

Roquan turned to Amanda. "I offer you my apology, Amanda."

Amanda was too surprised to speak. Sirinna looked quite nonplussed as well.

"I should have realized that Freya would attempt escape. I should have placed a guard from the start. This would not have happened had I done so."

"Please, don't blame yourself, Master," said Amanda. "I don't want to hear any blame anymore. I just want to put this past us. It's done and over with."

"I think it would be best to send Sirinna and Amanda back to their quarters," said Vanlo. "I will send Lanno over with the restorative potion shortly."

Roquan nodded. "Very well. Amanda, Sirinna, you are free to go."

Amanda carefully pushed herself from the table with her good arm. Sirinna took her hand and smiled. As they headed out, Amanda glanced up at Roquan. She felt like she wanted to say something to him, but the words would not come.

He was willing to kill someone for me, she thought. It struck her as both amazing and frightening. Was she truly worth another's life?

When they were outside, Sirinna turned to Amanda. "You really thought I was clever?"

"Yes, of course!" Amanda said. "That required intelligence, Sirinna. Please, don't ever doubt how smart you are ever again."

Sirinna slowly smiled. She hugged Amanda as tightly as Amanda's injured shoulder would allow. "I won't anymore, love," she whispered.

Mayor Renlos F'loron awoke with a start, snorting loudly halfway through a snore. He groaned and rolled his portly frame onto his back, rubbing his eyes. He was about to drift off again when a loud crash and a startled scream jolted him.

"What in blazing hellfire?" he murmured, his voice strained from the effort to push his heavy body into a seated position. Men shouted, both in commanding and frightened voices. Then came a thunderous plodding of heavy footfalls up the stairs.

The mayor let out an annoyed grunt and got out of bed. He hastily grabbed his robe and struggled to put it on before he reached the door and burst out of his suite. "What in the name of the gods is all that ..."

He stopped suddenly, eyes wide in shock and fear as several swords rose before him. He swallowed hard as his eyes flitted from one soldier to the other, and then finally over the railing. Below, other soldiers were calming the chaos, rounding up officials and staff and placing them under guard. One soldier handed a number of blue pearls to another, having been confiscated from the prisoners.

"Mayor F'loron, I presume?"

The mayor's eyes whipped around as the Commander approached him. "Yes, that is me. What the devil is going on around here?"

"Now, is that any way to treat a diplomatic contingent from Lord Duric?"

The mayor's eyes became saucers. "L-Lord Duric? But ... but how ... I thought ..."

"Yes, yes, I know. It's terrible that you were not able to welcome him with open arms like I am sure you still wish you could," said the Commander smoothly, earning smirks from some of his soldiers. "But you are in luck. You get to do him a very big favor."

The mayor swallowed hard. "I-I have supplies. He is welcome to them! Merchants ... merchants are due to arrive any day now. If ..."

The Commander shook his head. He jerked his head towards one of his soldiers, who stepped forward. "Search his room and make sure there are no pearls in there."

The soldier saluted and pushed past the mayor.

"Now, my good mayor," said the Commander. "I believe that you are in contact with a particular fleet of the Imperial navy?"

The mayor paled.

"I'll take that as a 'yes.'"

"Please realize, I-I had no choice!" the mayor blubbered. "Captain Boddas could lay waste to my city. I'm just giving him information. I'm just being a good citizen of the Empire!"

"Yes, I see. Well, now you can be a good citizen for Lord Duric and do what we say."

"But ...!"

"As I see it, Mayor F'loron, you may face either possible death were the good Captain Boddas truly insane enough to fire on a port city and earn the wrath of sea and land merchants, or certain death from us if you do not comply. Which will it be?"

F'loron's lip trembled. "I-I ... wh-what do you want of me?"

The Commander smiled. "Well, you see, it's really quite simple ..."

Morning dawned, cloudy and misty, with a sharp chill to the air that made men's breath fog before their faces. It did little to hide the haggard looks of trepidation at what the day would bring. Another successful march against the enemy, only to be shattered by an early evening rain of death from the skies? It made it harder to show enthusiasm for the task ahead.

Yet Lord Duric rallied his men. No fear showed on his face. He exuded a confidence that had not diminished. As bright as it was, it made the men almost forget the dreary morning weather.

More importantly, it gave the men a sense of perseverance. Perhaps Lord Duric knew something they did not. Men had ridden off sometimes during the night from the eastern flank for an unknown purpose, but it was rumored to be a turning point in the battle. They pinned their hopes on that despite the scant knowledge of what was to come.

The men pushed onward. They engaged the enemy and fought them hard. Soon it would appear that the Imperial legion would be backed up onto a hill and then over it. A fine strategic position to be in for the morning! Holding the high ground would allow them to see the exact shape and extent of the enemy lines with the arriving legion from the west.

But it would come at a price. Once on the high ground, the Imperial forces would enjoy a temporary advantage. Yet when the time came, when the clouds cleared and the sun passed midday, then came the shocking order to hold back, to slow their assault.

The men were confused. A good run now while the men still had energy and endurance would dislodge the enemy from the hill before sunset. Was Duric truly so afraid of the fire from the sky that he would leave the enemy the hill and risk the bloody morning carnage that would follow when they then fought a legion fresh from a night's sleep and resupply, simply to have more men to offer in sacrifice to the carnage of the Mage-fire? Or was Duric's army so weakened that such a push would mean its end as a cohesive fighting force?

Even stranger! Now orders came through to push the east flank forward and further herd the Imperial troops onto the hill. It seemed like madness. That would cause even more casualties for no obvious gain. Yet the regiment commanders calmly and coolly followed these orders, and showed no qualms whatsoever.

All the men could do was follow orders and continue to place their wavering trust in a leader that had so far served them well.

Captain Boddas considered carefully. "You are sure of this, Mayor F'loron?" he asked of the Farview image.

"Yes, my Lord," said the mayor, looking a bit flustered. "Duric will be on the hilltop by dusk. He obviously wants the high position for his morning advance."

Boddas chuckled. "And have you become a Lord General yourself, F'loron?"

F'loron swallowed. "No, my Lord. I-It just makes sense to me, that's all."

"I had spoken with the mayor of Port Rellas earlier. He did not believe Duric would advance that far."

"Um ... w-with all due respect, he cannot see that far north. I doubt his estimates are up to par. I am closest, you need to believe me!"

Boddas smirked. "If you are vying for some favor from me or the Emperor, F'loron, you can stop. This is the minimal duty to your Emperor that you or any other mayor can do. The mayors of the towns that let themselves fall so easily into assisting Duric's cause are nothing less than traitors."

F'loron's eyes widened and shimmered with fear, but he said nothing in reply.

"You gave me what I needed. Good day." Boddas waved a hand and terminated the Farview. F'loron vanished from sight.

The First Mate stepped up to him. "Orders, Capt'n?"

"It appears Duric is an ambitious one, even with the casualties I have inflicted upon him. He insists on pushing his men to their limits." Boddas grinned. "It will be to his sorrow, I am afraid. Signal the other ships that we will be sailing further north to position ourself properly. I will review the charts and provide exact settings for the guns shortly."

"Aye, Capt'n!"

F'loron let out a sigh and collapsed into a chair. Two soldiers lowered their crossbows.

"Very good, Mayor, very good," said the Commander. "Lord Duric will be quite pleased."

"It is not him I am worried about, you fool, it is the Emperor!" F'loron cried. "When he hears what I have done ..."

"Then I suppose you better do everything in your power to help bring about victory for Lord Duric."

F'loron nodded quickly. "Yes, anything, just protect me from the Emperor's reach!"

The Commander smiled. "I'll see what Lord Duric can do."

As the sun disappeared beneath the western horizon, the men of Duric's army appeared to wind down for the coming evening. Defensive lines were dug into place, patrols were formed, the wounded were tended to by the Healers. Men's faces were filled with anxiety. The glanced up at the skies at every opportunity, waiting for it to happen. This time, however, some of their fear gave way to anticipation. Many had yet to relinquish their weapons, or kept them very close at hand.

Finally, as the first tendrils of night crept in and chased the dusk from the skies, it started. Arcs of bright red light dropped mercilessly from the skies. Yet as the eyes of the men followed the first of them, excitement rose from among the ranks. They ended their paths far outside the camp, off to the northeast and northwest.

But then came another volley as the men aboard the ships found their mark, and the Mage-fire landed on target upon the hill. An explosion of fire, light, and death brewed up from the center of the impact. Whatever screams of men may have floated to them on the evening breeze was drowned out by the roaring cheer that rose from Duric's soldiers.

Mage-fire cut swathes through the ranks of the Imperial soldiers, as packed as they were upon the hill. Finally, the troops began to scatter, streaming down to the east, west, and north in a vain attempt to escape the assault.

When the barrage of Mage-fire waned, there was a pause and one last look heavenward. There was a shout and a gathering of arms. Soldiers on horseback stormed forward, carrying bright, almost blinding lanterns to beat back the encroaching night. With another cry of triumph, Duric's men surged forward, following the beacon placed before them, and smashed through the center of the Imperial legion despite the waning daylight.

By the time full dark had descended, an Imperial legion had been broken and routed, and an army's faith in its leader restored.

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