Will certainly needed the sleep, but she didn't sleep well. Though the locals determined dawn at an hour that made relative sense, by virtue of the village being in a mountain valley, the sun didn't rise until substantially. The though the sky had turned to day several hours ago, it was roughly two hours before noon that the sun finally crested the mountains and peeked into the windows from behind the shades. This was when Will finally gave up on her attempts at sleep.

"How long have you been awake?" asked Taranee.

"Depends. Half an hour, maybe. Maybe a few times before that."

"Haven't felt tired?"

"No, I'm exhausted. I just...I wouldn't call them nightmares, but they're just as unpleasant. Stressful, upsetting dreams." Right on cue, her mouth widened into a huge yawn. "Matt and Vargas were in a lot of them."

"That must feel like a double hit."

"I don't know what I feel like. I don't even know who I am anymore. It feels like there was a third Will all this time, and she's finally woken up." And she yawned again.

"Mostly woken up, you mean."

"Heh heh. I feel old." She stood up and said, "We need more rest, but I don't think we have time for it. We have to get back to Heatherfield." She limped over and took her cloak from the table by the cot.

"Can you rift us there?"

"No. That isn't something we can just do, anymore."

"But we have the Star of Cassidy."

"Yeah, and I know I was talking about...SHE was talking about..." Will stopped herself, and realized neither of those were completely correct. "We discussed that just because we were retired doesn't mean we can't call upon our Guardian powers at need. 'At need' is the important point, there. The Star of Cassidy is an echo of the Heart and draws on the same power, but it is NOT the Heart and has limits the Heart doesn't. I can rift but only in areas where it's optimal and the Star can tap into that energy, and that is not here."

Taranee frowned. "You'd think a river valley in the mountains would be an ideal focal point for the elements."

"It is, but apparently, at least here, it's not enough."

Will took the Alchemist's cloak. It felt like hers. The sleek, black fabric with the rich, red lining felt so familiar. Yet, at the same time, it felt like she was intruding on something. It has felt so natural and normal to grab it and pick it up. After a moment, she put it on. She felt suddenly self-conscious as she realized Taranee and Jessa were watching her. Jessa came up to her mother from her own side of the room.

"How are you feeling?"

In truth, Will felt like a stranger to everyone. She felt like a stranger in her own skin. Nothing felt right anymore. Nothing felt normal. The only thing that did feel normal was her daughter being here, next to her. "This isn't easy for you to cope with, is it?"

Jessa's eyes were wide. "I don't know who you are."

That almost made Will cry. She gently took her daughter's hand and said, "I don't know, either. Could you help me figure out?"

At that, Taranee came over to them and said, "If you ever need to figure out who you are, talk to the people who love you. Like us."

Taranee dragged Will into a hug, and this actually did make her cry. Caroline and Mikaela, whom no one even realized were awake, came up to them. Taranee pulled Caroline into the hug as Mikaela found a way under Will's arm.

Caroline very meekly and quietly said, "Thank you, Mrs. Olsen."

Will paused. It was her name. It sounded like her name. It felt like her name, but the thought that, no, her name was "Vandom" gnawed at her mind. "What for?"

Caroline was around Jessa's age, so it was odd for her to act so meek and bashful. At least Will had never known her to. She wondered what Jessa had talked to her about while everyone else slept, or tried to?

Caroline buried her head into Taranee's side and said, "That thing came to get us, and I couldn't get away." Her voice was bit muffled from Taranee's shirt, but she spoke clearly enough. "You came. You made sure we were all okay."

"Oh, Caroline!" Will found that her voice was weak. When she had been Caroline's age, she was being given the Heart of Kandrakar. Caroline, Jessa, Mikaela, and any of the other children; they had never been meant to face these kinds of monsters. How they were affected by this had been at the front of her thoughts quite a bit, but she couldn't really relate to it until now. She was never this scared facing Phobos, Cedric, or anything they threw at them; because Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin were the heroes. They were afraid, but they were the badasses with power. That power naturally took the edge off of the fear. They could do something about Cedric and Phobos. They didn't have to rely on a guardian to protect them; they were the Guardians. That wasn't the case here; Jessa, Caroline, and Mikaela, and probably all of the others, were absolutely traumatized by everything that had happened. Now, Will faced a situation where she was least in the position to be the strongest one, absolutely did not want to be the strongest one, but she had to be. It wasn't the first time.

"Look, girls...we're all fine. You've seen what I can do. They have to go through me, first."

Jessa looked up at her mother, uncertain. "But mom...there's only...you've..."

"Nobody's gone. I was divided. I'm not, anymore. Don't you think that'll just make me stronger? I think it will."

And she heard a voice in her mind that might have been Taranee's, or it might have been her own uncertainties. "You have be certain who you are, first."

"I know what I'm doing. I've kept you safe this far. You can count on me!" When everyone broke from the embrace, she said, "Now, we've got a city and our friends and families to rescue, and we have to get moving."

Will limped over to the door, momentarily wondering why her knee was hurting, and then remembering. She remembered she could just "call" her walking stick to her with the magic she had infused its varnish with, but as she turned, she saw that Taranee was already there, holding it out for her.

"Forgetting something?"

Will took the walking stick. "Thank you...I've been getting confused pretty easily."

"You sure we shouldn't just hang back for awhile, and give you a chance to get your head straight?"

"Might help, but in the end, we learn by doing." She turned and pulled on the door handle, and then pushed. "Brilliant. Door's locked."

Taranee's brow furled at that. "What? Why is it locked?" She came past Will and tried it herself. "Are you sure? It's not a modern door handle, you know. It's hasp is a latch and..." She tried it a few times. "It's locked."

Jessa asked, "Why are they locking us in?"

"Let's ask!" Will knocked on the door. Several seconds went by with no answer, and she knocked again, this time a bit harder. "Anybody out there?"

After a moment, a somewhat deep voice said from the other side of the door, "I am here. What do you want?"

"Well, for one thing, it would be nice to know why the door's locked."

"Elke thinks there is magic in there. We have no desire for witches running amok in our town."

Will found that amusing, but she put on her most indignant voice. "Witches? I am formerly the Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar! You are speaking with a Guardian of the Infinite Realms!" Still, she could not keep the smile off of her face. She assumed Elke was the healing woman.

There was some indistinct whispering on the other side of the door. Then, "If this is true, you have my apologies. I need..." A pause. "Give me..." Another pause. "Give me one quarter of an hour! I will return momentarily!" There was more whispering and then fast walking away from the door.

Another voice, also male, but not nearly as deep, said, "Gareth has gone to get one of the elders. Please be patient."

"Quarter of an hour?" Mikaela whined.

Jessa nudged her. "It's fifteen minutes. It's half a cartoon!"

"Oh." Mikaela seemed placated, but then immediately became distressed again. "That's a long time, too!"

Fortunately, it did not take that long. It was roughly ten minutes before someone on the other side fumbled with the latch. Will made sure she was a bit of distance, facing the door, and leaning with both hands on her walking stick in front of her. The door opened and a large, muscular man entered the room, followed by an older, much less stocky man. Following him was Elke. These were all three apparently of the same race, all with the same color skin. The elder and the guard-or she was assuming the smaller, older man was the elder-all had the same skin color, small tusks, and while Elke was completely bald, the older man had white hair, well cared for, draping over his shoulders and the large man, possibly Gareth, had short, neatly cropped black hair. Elke brought in food and drink for everyone. Gareth took a position by the door. The older man took a stool from the corner and sat on it, gesturing for Will to find a seat. She sat on her cot. It was a little low to the ground, but not too bad.

"I am Arnat, and you claim to be a Guardian. I am sure you know that Kandrakar currently does not have appointed Guardians."

"I am aware, sir."

"You know, I was the captain of the temple guard for Ashala the Wise when the Guardians were last active. Let's see, how long was that?"

"If you measure time the same way we do on Earth, about fifteen years."

He thought for a moment. "That sounds about right."

"I'm Will, by the way."

"And you claim to be the Keeper of the Heart."

"Former Keeper."

He nodded. "Well, this isn't a definitive test because not all Guardians have historically been aware of this, but when a Keeper has been bestowed the Heart of Kandrakar, a part of it remains in their soul. When a Keeper finally must return the Heart to the Infinite City, an echo of the Heart remains a part of her. Of course, if you are only just learning this, you may not know how to call it."

Even as he spoke, Will gathered the Star of Cassidy into her hand, and for the first time in a long time, she didn't just call its image. She fully materialized the pendant in her hands. It dropped and dangled on its chain from her hand.

Arnat sighed and said, "It has been many years since I've seen the Heart of Kandrakar. I never knew you, but I knew the Guardians that preceded you."

Will smiled, "Cassidy, Halinor, Yan Lin, Kadma, Ner-"

"Indeed! Please, do not say the hag's name. Cassidy was a friend."

"We faced...the hag when I first became a Guardian."

"I know people of Earth aren't as long lived as mine, but I only ever knew your predecessors. There was never a need for you to come to this world when Phobos threatened the Infinite Realms." He looked to Taranee. "Are you the only Guardian or...?"

"She's Taranee."

"The Fire Guardian."

"You know who we are!"

"The ascended of our world were council members of the Infinite City until the fiasco with the Oracle and Endarno. After that, we saw how spineless the council was. All that time, they had been following the benevolent wisdom of the Oracle and were just as willing to blindly the obey the clearly corrupt and and power mad Endarno just because he had a title."

"You do know that wasn't really Endarno? Phobos had been impersonating him. The real Endarno is quite a bit stricter than the Oracle, but in my experience, he's just as wise."

"That explains much, and absolves Endarno, but it does not absolve the council's behavior. They should have remembered that their purpose was to make fair and just decisions; not obey the Oracle as though they were lackeys. And I know that many in the council didn't just blindly obey, but they did not make up the majority, did they?"

The more he spoke, the deeper a sinking pit in Will's stomach went. "Do you mean to tell me that this world has seceded from the Council of Kandrakar?" Would it even be possible to return to Earth?

Arnat must have seen the concern in her face. "Indeed, but that does not mean we are completely cut off. If there is a direct link to your world on ours, I do not know of it, but there is a path to Basiliade."

Will breathed a sigh of relief. "Endarno's home planet."

"Indeed. Usually, after a pilgrimage, if Ashala the Wise sees fit to send a pilgrim to Basiliade, she must open the gate, but as a former Guardian, you should easily be able to do it yourself."

"Who is Ashala the Wise?"

"Our goddess."

"I apologize."

"For what? You didn't know. Honored Guardian, you should never apologize for a reasonable question."

Will smiled. "I'm sorry, but I had a teacher that used to say that exact thing. Word for word."

"A very wise individual. What is his name?"

"Neera Vargas."

Arnat's eyes widened. "I see you are not done with your surprises! You were a disciple of the Alchemist of Mirridion?"

Will eyes lit up. "You knew him?"

"Before Endarno-or the snake, Phobos disguised as Endarno-put the Oracle on trial, and indeed, before Prince Phobos usurped his mother, the royal family of Mirridion traveled to my home city many times. Neera was the Queen's personal vizier. I was charged with guarding him. He had a tendency to befriend anyone that he was around for more than a moment. The man could talk a fellow's ear off, if you let him. How is he?"

While Arnat talked about his experience with Vargas, Will could feel her smile broadening, but when he asked how Vargas was, it melted away suddenly, she couldn't stop the flow of tears. "He died a few days ago. He had spent several months trying to recover from a stroke."

"Oh, no. I'm so sorry to hear that. How long did you study with him?"

"16 years."

Arnat raise an eyebrow. "While you were still a Guardian?"

Will smiled, "That is a long...complicated story. Let's just say, I was split on the matter."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with our hunters finding two of you and last night, there suddenly being only one, would it?"

Will, uncertain how to proceed, cast her eyes to the floor.

"Was it an astral drop?"

"No, it was similar magic, but it wasn't an astral drop. I used to think it was a mistake, but now I'm glad I did it. On the one hand, I continued to being a Guardian, retired to a normal life and had a family. On the other hand, I gave up being a Guardian and made her the Keeper, and went with Vargas to learn."

"Curious. You have a problem, young lady."

"Oh?"

"There are churches here that venerate Ashala the Wise, certainly, but the temples, all of them, require a pilgrimage, and it is there, and only there, you can find the path to Basiliade. The nearest is on the highest peak of this mountain range. I see the scars on you. I know your leg is lame. You are young enough that you are not old, but you are not in the spring of your life. The trek is grueling and I am not certain you can make it."

Will's eyes narrowed, and then one eyebrow went up. "I got some tricks up my sleeve, sir."

Arnat laughed. "I'm sure you do, but there are children with them, one of them quite young."

"We have to get them home."

"Indeed, and we will do all that we can to see to that, but can you?"

This was odd. "Sir, if you can help me keep these children safe on the trek, then I gladly accept and am grateful, but what is this? Why are you pressing me? I have a fight on Earth that isn't yours. I only ask for the road home."

"Only they who seek Ashala's favor may seek the Path of Light. It is a simple thing to ask, but things will be expected of you. It is not something a cripple will find easy."

"I beg your pardon! Excuse me!?" said Taranee. Arnat ignored her.

A cripple! Now, that was just downright mean. "What do you want from me, old man?" For the first time since her stomach wound, Will was clear on who she was. Whether that would last remained to be seen, but right now, she was a complete person for the first time in a long time. She was a mom struggling with a Christmas shopping list who had the full arsenal of a trained sorceress and alchemist that she could use to vent her frustration.

Arnat turned to the warrior guarding the door. "Gareth. You will test her."

Gareth was a very strong looking fellow. On Earth, he could have easily competed in a Mr. Universe competition. He had biceps that would make Arnold, or possibly even André jealous. Yet, he suddenly looked quite uncomfortable. "Me, Elder? Even at her peak, the fight would be unfair!"

"Magic versus muscle should balance it out," he stood up and walked to the door, turning to face Gareth, "and it will be a simple contest;" he turned to Will, "if one should fall to the ground three times, the other shall be declared the victor. Whenever you're ready, Honored Guardian."

Will didn't miss a beat. Standing and facing him, she said, "Now."

"Now?"

"We're hunted by the Profane Ones. We have no time to waste."

Arnat seemed taken aback, and his expression suggested that he'd just had a chill. "And how do you intend to resolve that?"

"Nobody wins a fight by running."

"You've got the spirit. I'll grant you that. Now we must see if you have the mettle. This is not optional. It is required of anyone who travels to the Temple and seeks the Path of Light." He paused a moment. "Even if you fail, I'll do all I can to help you."

"Thank you. And I don't appreciate being called a 'cripple'."

"Elke, make sure they are well fed and bring them to the event circle. Especially the children. Their ordeal will have left them quite upset." And with that, he walked out, and a very flustered Gareth followed.

Elke, appearing quite awkward, looked around at the two women and three girls and said, "Well, I know what can cheer us all up! You finish eating! I have a very nice dessert drink I can make for you. I'll be right back!" With that, she ran out the room, leaving the door open.

Taranee said, "You have to knock that mountain down three times?"

"Well...technically he just has to fall three times."