Chapter One: The Viper's Sting

A year and a half or so had passed since they lost Hunter. Max had led the rest from area to area, briefly venturing into Aundair and Zilargo, but avoiding Thrane. He didn't know if the pain would ever fade enough for him to return there. During these travels they were joined by new friends; Mouse, a quiet bard, and Arcanus, a wizard both out of Aundair, as well as Maul, a war hammer user, and Whirlwind, a 'Forged proficient in using a Valenar double scimitar and a spinning fighting style, out of Zilargo. With each new addition, Max became more sure they were doing the right thing. Hunter would not be forgotten.

During that time, Max saw a decrease in racial – and national – tensions across the continent. Most Warforged they encountered had settled into routine lives as manual laborers or guards, were indentured, or had begun wandering like they themselves were. Word had reached them, mostly through these wanderers, of the 'Lord of Blades' and his rally for all 'Forged to gather in the Mournlands. On rumored descriptor alone, the Reforged could figure out who it was: Savage. Knowing somehow, deep down, that there would be a face-off between them someday, he kept one eye on the Mournlands, even as he guided the rest clear of that blasted place.

The month was Eyre, ironically connected with House Cannith and the mark of Making. The group of twelve was on the open plains of Breland, chatting as they walked about where to stay and current events. Just the other night they'd caught sight of three people on horseback – a woman in a red dress, a man with black hair in silvery armor, and another man wearing purple courtier-like clothing and holding a wide-brimmed hat to his head- perusing a fast-moving carriage, engaging in a brief conflict with the female driver before she vanished away and seemingly escaped. After all the scene had died down, they had investigated the coach and, much to their surprise, had found an empty, open coffin inside! It had been a bit of a thrill, and now naturally speculations were flying as to who the driver was, who were the pursuers, what (or whom) the coffin had been used for, and of course why the scene had taken place. Generally accepted were that the pursuers were the force of justice in the event, and the coffin had to indicate a vampire. Other than that, nothing was 'certain' and theories ranged from the complex to the downright absurd and hilarious.

At last, they settled on what looked like a peaceful place, simply a wide-open stretch of land. Around a campfire they shared a few stories, then Max volunteered to take the night's watch. As his friends settled down, Max dug out his tools and some uncarved stones and began to work. He'd carved animals before, and copied a few statues he'd seen during his travels, but never an actual person, someone he knew. He'd had Hunter on his mind recently, though, and felt he had to let it out. He could even hear himself on down the road: "This is Hunter. He was the first Reforged, and he taught us how to live."

The hours passed with only the chirping of the crickets and the night birds, and the peaceful crackle of the fire. Max's carving was taking shape nicely, between periodic glances to look around to make sure all was well. The sky was beginning to lighten slightly when Max abruptly sensed another presence. Trying to act casual, he put his carving and tools away and stood, stretching as if stiff. As such he was able to twist slightly to look behind, just enough to see the flash of steel coming.

He dodged to the side with a yelp of surprise, one which roused his companions, and drew his thinblades to block a second attack. His opponent was a steel-colored Warforged, in black leather armor. By the style of his design, Max could tell he was Karnathi commission originally, and wielded a dagger. And he was fast, coming in for a third and fourth strike in the time it took the others to get to their feet and draw their weapons. But Max managed to dodge both, and return the gesture in kind even as he called to the others, "Back! He's mine!" The Karnathi 'Forged skillfully evaded both attacks, but that was what Max had wanted. Predictably, an opening presented itself, and the copper Reforged kicked, sending his foe tumbling. Like lightning, the Karnathi was back on his feet again, but Max pressed his attack, not letting his foe regain his balance and with a quick pattern of attacks knocked the dagger from his hand. Another kick sent him sprawling, and the tip of Max's sword to his neck kept him in the grass.

"Who are you," Max demanded, "and why did you attack me? I have no quarrel with you."

"I am Viper," the Karnathi said, "and I was ordered to kill you." Max felt he already knew, but asked anyways.

"Ordered by who?"

"The Lord of Blades."

"Humph. Thought so." As Max eased back a bit, Viper pushed himself up onto his elbows, looking a little confused.

"Well? Aren't you going to kill me?"

"No." The murmurs that came from the rest confirmed Max had surprised them as well as Viper.

"Why not?" Viper asked.

"Just because the Lord of Blades told you to is no reason for me to kill you. He's the real villain, not you. Now, take your weapon and go, though if you continue in your attempt to kill or harm any of us, I will finish what we started." Max sheathed his sword and stepped back, and Viper sat up fully.

"Heh, go back and be killed as a failure," he replied scornfully "That's what happens to those who don't complete their missions."

"Your mission was to kill me?"

"To kill the leader of the Traitors," Viper clarified. "The Lord of Blades said it would either be a silver Warforged with a bow, or a copper one with two swords, since he thought the silver was destroyed. It was to be my initiation."

"Hunter is dead," Max confirmed, ignoring the sting of having to say those words. "Is his group so attractive to you, that you'd kill to get in?"

"Well, where else am I supposed to go?" With that, Max abruptly saw Viper in a new light, not as am enemy, but as another lost Warforged not unlike himself a little over two years ago.

"Wherever you want to go," he answered. "Your life is yours to direct now." He offered Viper a hand up, and it was accepted. "Following your Lord of Blades is only one of many, many options."

"Not for those of my sort of training. Generally speaking, assassins aren't welcome in regular military, and going freelance is a good way to wind up behind bars, if not worse."

"Wait a minute," Whirlwind spoke up. "I remember your name, I think. Weren't you part of a Karnathi unit called the Serpents?"

"That I was. We were an elite bunch, all of us made for and trained to be assassins. But after the Day of Mourning, there were only two of us left, me and Tai-Pan. He managed to get into a special branch of the Karnathi military, because his stealthing was better than mine. But I was turned away. That was when I heard of the Lord of Blades."

"And you went," Max surmised. "Was it honestly what you wanted?" Viper sighed.

"Well... no. Seems only the strong got anywhere, and when he found out about my history, he demanded I 'prove my loyalty' with an initiation. Not one of the others had to prove themselves. Just me. I think he wanted an excuse to kill me, because I wasn't a strong type, but I followed orders too well."

"'Only the strong.' Sounds like Savage's style. So, Viper, it seems you have a choice ahead of you: Go back to the Mournlands, or find a different path."

"What different path? The only place I ever fit in was in the Serpents, and they're dead. And I won't indenture myself. And it's not like I'd be welcome in any other nation, either. I'm too plainly Karnathi."

"Does national origin have anything to do with it?" Max asked. "I'm Brelish commission, as are Shock, Bow, Sentinel, and Shadow."

"Whirlwind and I are Zilargo," Maul put in.

"Cutter, Sentinel, and I are Thrane commission," Reaver added.

"And Mouse and I are Aundairians," Arcanus said.

"But beyond that," Max finished, "we're all 'Forged, first and foremost. The war is over, and we're all having to adjust to find our way. And as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter that you're a Karnathi assassin. Your future is what you make of it." Viper looked Max over.

"You are a strange 'Forged." Max burst out laughing.

"Given that at one time I thought the same of Hunter, I'll take that as a compliment. Now," He looked around at the sky, then at his friends,"it seems to be morning, and we're all up. So lets get going." Arcanum doused the fire, as they gathered their things. That was when Max realized Viper was standing there, watching them. He turned to the assassin. "Something on your mind, Viper?"

"No." Max shrugged, and once ready they began to head out. But Max was pleased to notice one of the corner of his eye a thirteenth now in their little family.