A Story of Eighteen Years

by Centurious the Azure

A rewrite of A Story of Eighteen Years. "This is a love story. The story of a girl with a broken soul, and the boy who tried to pick up those shattered pieces and put them back together…only to fail in every single way."

6. Sybille's House of Macabre Wonders

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A Story of Eighteen Years

By Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415

Chapter 5: Sybille's House of Macabre Wonders

It had been a few days since the incident at the cave. There hadn't been any sign of Potema. The royal guard and the guild were on full alert, keeping an eye out for any possible appearances. Despite not having stopped the ritual, we were still paid for our services. Three hundred crowns in my pocket put me that much closer to freeing Rose, but it was still a long way off from the eighteen hundred it would cost. I had set myself on doing whatever it took to get her free…not that I had told Erik or Kyana that yet.

I was on duty at the Datura as normal. Hammer and Anvil were in their usual booth, Hammer knocking back his fifth drink of the day, and it wasn't even nine-fifteen. Anvil was making more of his 'art', at least he was happy with what he did. What really surprised me was the fact that Rodger wasn't present. Now it could have been any number of things, and I was preoccupied with my own angst. I looked around at the place, the overly lacy curtains, the heavy perfume in the air. It all just struck me then how much this job sucked. However, I had to stick with it…for her sake.

"They found another one." A deep voice caught my attention. I looked to the bar where a man was sitting with one of the girls. At first glance, he didn't seem too remarkable, lean but muscular build. Messy brown hair framing a weathered, scarred face, wearing a sour frown. A fur-lined cloak rested over a tan tunic and dark brown pants. "Another body turned up in the canal. That's the fourth one this week."

"Oh wow, that is really not good." The prostitute said, her hands tugging at the short skirt of the dress she wore. "If this happens anymore. I won't be able to do my rounds."

"Oh, that's not the worst part." The man in the cloak said. "There were puncture marks on the necks of every victim. Their blood sucked dry. You know what that means?"

"Vampires." The girl shrunk back, if she wasn't frightened before, she was now. I could hardly blame her. "There are vampires skulking about in Vizima? Wasn't it bad enough we just got over that whole mess with the Salamandra and the Order of the Flaming Rose, now we have to deal with vampires too?"

"Yeah, the blood suckers were common during the time of the Wolf Queen, but you don't have to worry about a thing." The man drawled, brushing aside her hair. "I'll walk you home tonight, even stay with you if you really want me to. Although that means you'll be rather busy and can't see any other customers, but I'll be sure to pay very well for the extra time."

The girl giggled. "Oh, you're so silly Trevor. But I'm glad you're so concerned for me. Just know you'll owe me for this." The two of them left arm in arm.

Putting what I heard aside for the moment. I made my way upstairs, keeping my ears open for any rough activity. It doesn't take much to get people going around here. A few pints and if the girl isn't putting out, the fists start flying, hardly anything new to me.

"Ugh, why do you always pull out early?" I heard one of the girls whine through a cracked door.

"Because I'm the pull-out king, Kupo!" A shrill male voice declared very loudly.

I had to stop and process that for a minute. "Wow, even the Moogles are surly in this place," I said to no one in particular.

It was then I heard voices arguing. "So what excuse are you going to give me this time you drunken oaf?" I stopped out the door to listen. "Let me guess, you're lonely? The booze isn't enough?" It took me a moment to realize it was Indigo, Rose's Dark Elf-friend. "Or is it because you can't stop thinking about your dead little brother again? Like I haven't heard that one a million times before!"

I wasn't surprised to hear Rodger pleading to her. It was also no surprise that he was drunk, it wasn't even nine-thirty yet. "Oh come on, baby! Just one more time. I guarantee the money will get to you. There's a big payday coming my way. Ten silver coins, for all you've done for me."

All he got back was a derisive snort. "Like what you said last week, or the week before that? Or every week for the past three months. Rodger? All you've done is take advantage of me and I'm fucking sick of it! I'm sick of your ugly face and your grandiose lies! It's no wonder that you were kicked out of the pirate's guild. They were tired of dealing with your stupid bullshit too."

"I suggest you watch your words, little lady." Rodger's voice became menacing, the drunken slur fading quick. "I was one of the best captains the guild ever had. If any of my crew, man or woman, I might add, spoke to me in such a manner. I had no problems reminding them of their place!"

Indigo just scoffed. "You don't even captain a toy boat in the bathtub anymore! I mean seriously when was the last time you even washed yourself off? I've seen apes cleaner than you." She let out a mocking little titter. "That's right. Que l'en pavienn, ell'ea? That's all you are, a chattering ape on that old crone's leash." Her laughing grew stronger. "You do some tricks, and look intimidating on command. No one takes you seriously anymore."

It was funny, until I heard a crashing sound and Indigo scream. "You want something to laugh about you little elven bitch? I'll have you laughing so hard you'll die!" That was when I decide to step in. I kicked down the door to see Rodger advancing on Indigo, cowering with her hands held up to try and protect herself. Shards of glass scattered on the floor, clearly from the empty liquor bottle Rodger had thrown at her.

His sole arm was cocked back, and he was aiming right for her jaw. To say this would be bad is putting it mildly. I know better than anyone how hard Rodger could hit. I remember getting clocked and being out for nearly two days, and I had been in a relatively good physical condition when that happened. Something told me Indigo wasn't much of a warrior, and Rodger could have easily killed her with a few good blows.

I legged it and grabbed his arm, throwing Rodger off-balance. Indigo squeaked, running to get behind me. "What in the hell is your problem man? We're supposed to protect the girls from this kind of treatment, not cause it!" I got a real good look at my mentor, his eyes were more bloodshot than normal. My nose wrinkled instinctively at the stench. Rodger didn't need cologne; the alcohol was more than sufficient.

"Get out of my way, you little shit!" Rodger slurred, struggling to keep his balance. All the while grabbing for a sword that wasn't there. "I'm going to gut her like the little elven porker she is! I want to hear her squeal!"

"Don't you even think of touching her, you filthy pig!" I looked over to see Rose, holding onto Indigo protectively. "If you so much as blink, you can kiss your remaining arm goodbye!" The venom in her voice could have killed twenty men with no trouble. There was silence for a few moments as Rodger and Rose just glared at each other. What happened next remains with me even now. Rodger actually took a step back, there was something about her he had realized. His drunken stupor vanished in a second.

"Uh, you'll have to pardon me for a minute kid. I'm…I'm going out for a bit." He walked by the three of us and for a second I thought I heard him utter, "Forgive me, baby girl," to Rose before he trudged down the hall, looking far older than he was.

I then turned to both of the girls. "Are both of you okay?" I asked concernedly. Only for Indigo to shrink back in terror.

"You even blink at us wrong, I'll take your arm off as well!" Rose hissed, gesturing as if she had some invisible blade. It would have amused me if not for the circumstances. I was elsewhere, though… At that moment I was back in that ruined village with Kyana. The girl calling me a monster. Her father berating us. Something had to give, and it did.

"What the fuck is your problem?" I exploded, causing them both to recoil back. "I just saved your worthless friend's life, and this is the thanks I get? Why do I even stand up for you?" I think it made both of those dumb whores use their brains for a minute. "I may be a killer, but I'm not a monster. I have a heart and I'm sick and tired of it being stomped on by you and the whole damn world! But I do this anyway to ensure you're safe, Rose!" I pushed past her, not even bothering to look Rose in the eye. "I'm getting out of here; the perfume is making me gag!"

"You were always such an idiot." I heard her mutter, all thanks to my enhanced hearing. But I didn't break my stride. I didn't care if she was admitting the truth she remembered me or not. From a poetic standpoint, I think it would have ruined the moment. From a practical standpoint. I was just pissed off and needed to settle down. I forgot all about my patrol and took a seat on the porch. The girls who usually hang out there gave me a curious look. I gave them a cold glare and just tried to forget. It was a relatively nice day, crystal blue sky with only a few clouds. I hated it so much.

I probably would have stayed there if I didn't hear a commotion coming from down the street in the town square. I saw a couple of people running down the street. "Hey what's going on?" I asked one of the peasants.

"There's someone on top of the basilica!" The peasant said. "Everyone's wondering if she's going to jump." He leered before running down to join the crowd. I had nothing better to do, so I decided to investigate. In the process, I summoned my swords and the rest of my gear to me. A little party trick I learned from Devola.

The Vizima Basilica was an old structure, been around for ages thanks to its incredibly tough construction and mason work. There had to be at least two dozen people gathered in front of the place. I looked up to see a small figure standing atop the church's highest point. I could hear the people shouting to jump, or not jump, depending on how drunk they were at the time. I pushed my way through the crowd to find Strenger with a few of his men, looking upwards. "Seriously, how did that girl even get that far up there? The only way to be is for her to have climbed, but that's ridiculous."

"Not so much as you'd think," I said to the portly captain, who looked on the sober side today, which was always a plus if you ask me. I couldn't help but smirk a little bit, knowing full well who it was up on the roof. "So we got someone up there?"

"Yeah, your little girlfriend decided it was a good idea to scale up the building, and she's causing a scene," Strenger growled. "You got any of that fancy magic to get her down?"

I did all I could to suppress the smugness growing inside me. "I've got just the thing, but you'll need to distract her first. Which means…" I looked up for emphasis. "Someone's going to need to climb up there and keep her occupied while I prepare the spell. So I guess you better get climbing, Captain."

Strenger was not amused at this. "Certainly, you must be joking! There's no way I'm climbing up there. I'm a Captain in the Royal Guard, let someone else do it. Besides, I'm afraid of heights." He muttered that last part.

"But Captain, I think the Witcher may be onto something here." One of the Temerian soldiers pointed out. "Let's face it, none of us are very good climbers, and we can't just leave the girl up there. It would reflect pretty badly on us."

"He's right!" An overweight peasant woman pointed out. "With King Foltest out on the front lines, the Royal Guard are charged with keeping the city safe. You have a duty to the crown." Several others in the crown affirmed this sentiment. "I doubt even someone as slovenly as you would go against the will of the king himself."

"Indeed, King Foltest would be quite disappointed if one of his men didn't act to save a life." The crowd parted, admitting Laura. Many offered slight bows to the daughter of the Radiant Blademaster. I was about to say something, but she just held up her hand, a sign for me to be silent as she addressed the captain. "However, if they acted valiantly in helping to save a young girl's life. I'm sure they would be rewarded quite well. For example, gaining that barony they've wanted for so long?"

Strenger's eyes narrowed, causing his weathered features to warp into a nasty glower. "How do you know about that?"

"My father told me about it." Laura folded her arms, giving him a stern expression of her own. "I can understand your reluctance, Captain Strenger. But I give you my word that if you conduct yourself well, then I will put in a good word with my father and he'll see to it a noble title could very well be in your future. So, let me ask, what will you do?"

Strenger looked up to the roof, to Laura, then to me, and then to the crowd, now all cheering him on to be the hero of the moment. He sighed, handing over his helmet, sword, and shield to one of his men, and tentatively began scaling the wall. I stifled my laughter, sidling up to Laura. "You do realize there's no way he's going to make it to the top right? I doubt he'd even make it to the first landing."

"Give him some credit," Laura remarked, smiling mischievously. "In the meantime, you should get your spell ready." I didn't miss the extra emphasis she put on the word spell. So I cracked my knuckles and got to work.

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I ask all of you to stand back?!" I addressed the crowd. "I'm going to pull off a true spectacle of the mystic arts and I need all the room I can get. It wasn't long before I had a space of about ten feet. "This is going to be a true work of black magic. Everyone hang on, here we go!" The entire world stood ready with bated breath…as I cupped my hands around my mouth. "HEY KYANA, YOU'VE HAD YOUR FUN! GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"

"OKAY THEN!" She cried out, and to everyone's horror, except my own and maybe Laura's, Kyana jumped! More than a few women screamed, a couple even fainting as the green and black blur hurtled toward the ground. "EZZZZZZZRRRAAAAAAAAAA! CATTTTCH MEEEE!" I took a running start, leaping as high into the air as I could, matching my velocity with hers. I hooked my arm under her legs as she put her arms around my neck.

We crashed to the ground together, tumbling a few feet before coming to a stop. Kyana giggled from her place on top of me. "Nice catch, Ezra. You were right on the mark!" I winced a little as we stood up. Somehow, the quick, gratefully tender squeeze she gave me lightened the pain. Laura just came up, clapping as poor Strenger, who barely made it three feet, crashed behind us on the ground.

"A truly fantastic display, Ezra. Kyana told me you did this all the time back at your village in the woods. I was skeptical at first, but it's clear just how much trust exists between the two of you to be able to make it work out."

"We do work pretty well together," I said, glancing at Strenger, who was sitting up, looking very annoyed. "Nice job, Captain. You were a worthy distraction!"

"Fuck…off!" He panted. "So…does…this mean I…don't get the barony?" He looked to Laura, praying that she wouldn't go back on her word. Luckily for him, Laura was the generous type.

"Oh, don't worry, Captain. I'll be sure to let my father know you were the one who saved the day, provided everyone else here keeps their mouths shut." She looked to everyone assembled who all promptly nodded. No one wanted to provoke the girl with the giant sword.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" The three of us saw Leona cut through the crowd, lowering a pure white hood of a cloak quite possibly made by the best tailors in Kovir from the finest silk the south beyond the Yaruga had to offer. She put her hands on her hips, giving us an annoyed frown. "If you're done with your mischief-making, then would you kindly follow me? I need to talk to the three of you about something." Kyana pouted for some reason. I didn't know why, but I still found it cute. It was then Leona departed with a dramatic swish of her cloak. The three of us trailed after her, and my mood was lightened for a bit.

Ezra silently mused for a few minutes, while everyone waited for him to continue speaking. "That conversation between Rodger and Indigo was really what started the whole ball of craziness going. When she mentioned he had been kicked out of the guild, I was stunned." It was a bitter memory for the young Witcher, as he picked up his mug to down some water. "But in hindsight, it all made so much sense."

"Naaman always said things become clearer with hindsight. It's a lesson I've come to appreciate, because looking back, I should have realized Rodger was up to no good and lying through his yellowed, broken teeth from the very start. Every time I asked if he had found anything about mom, he would always make some excuse. 'I still need to hear from my contacts', 'I'm following a lead.', or 'I'm really close to something'. It was always something along those lines, and then he'd change the subject."

"He was a no-good lying bastard." Felecia hissed, fingers tapping on her forearm for a bracer that was not there. She remembered the pirate all too well, wishing her father had stabbed the man to death long ago the moment he showed up at her house. "Dad never liked him, even when they served together."

Rita snorted, making a dismissive gesture. Magic unconsciously cracking on fingertips. "No good lying bastards are universal, no matter what world they come from."

"Truer words were never spoken." Fianna emphatically agreed.

"He was a no-good lying bastard all right. But he was a no-good lying bastard with a silver tongue. Rodger knew just what to say to keep me close to him. The whole sob story about his brother was playing on my sympathies and I ate it up. But hearing those words, it did make me start wondering if there wasn't some truth to it. I decided to keep it in the back of my mind for now, but I was going to start taking Rodger's words with a grain of salt from there on out."

"Sounds like you should have done the same with your thorny love as well," Raven added, before looking to Kyana. He gave an impressed whistle. "But damn girl you like to live on the edge. That was some leap of faith you took."

Kyana giggled, bashfully putting one hand on an opposing arm. "It was all part of the plan. Leona had a sensitive issue she needed to speak to us about and it was urgent. We had to get Ezra out of the Datura somehow. I knew he wouldn't ignore me up on the roof, and I also knew he'd catch me when I jumped off. So, I wasn't worried at all."

"Why do I get the feeling that was a regular occurrence with you?" Yuri asked. The way Kyana's face was screwing up to keep her laughter from spilling out was all the evidence he needed. He rolled his eyes, ignoring Estelle, who was also covering her mouth to keep from giggling. "You have a real interesting crew, Ezra."

"Don't I know it. But still, as funny as it all was. There was a pressing matter Leona had to speak to us about."

"This is the place," Leona said. Of all the places I was expecting to go, the Sodden Moogle was not one of them. It was a typical seedy dive, not the place I'd expect a high-class girl like Leona to frequent. I looked at her questioningly. "I know you're skeptical, but trust me when I say there is a reason for us to be here." She led us inside. I wasn't sure if this place or the Datura was worse. At least the perfume covered up the stale booze, vomit, and piss.

The bartender perked up at the sight of us. He offered a respectful half-bow to Leona. "Ah, welcome Lady Leona. I trust you need the room?"

She flashed a dazzling smile at him, bowing back to him in turn. "But of course, have our guests arrived?"

"We're still waiting for Master Erik and that new arrival you mentioned, but I will send them both up as soon as she gets here."

"Kupo!" My eyes fell on the Moogle sitting at the bar. A giant tankard half-full of whiskey in front of him. His wings and the little pom-pom on his head drooping slightly. This was the reason why the bar had the place, to begin with. I snorted, ignoring how my eyes bugged out.

"What is that?" Kyana asked, visibly perturbed at drunken pink puffball. I tried to stifle my laughter more. "What's so funny, Ezra?"

"Kyana, don't disturb him, he's royalty!" I felt my face strain, trying to hold the grin in.

"What?" She said blankly.

"Because he's the Pull-Out King!" I couldn't hold it in anymore and fell to my knees as I laughed at my own joke. A couple of the other bar patrons thought it was hilarious too and joined in. Kyana sighed, shaking her head. Leona rolled her eyes, grabbing me by the arm.

"Come on, we've had our laugh. There are important matters to discuss." She pulled me, giving me a beckoning expression. Somehow, there was a glimmer of fondness in those blue eyes. We went up the stairs and turned down the hall, to what seemed to be a fairly innocuous door. Only for Leona to hold up her hand, beginning to whisper a fast-paced incantation under her breath before touching her finger to the door, causing it to light up for a minute, revealing one of the most elaborate rune arrays I had ever seen.

"Nice piece of magic there," I remarked, tilting my head as I eyed the magic array curiously.

"Thanks, I designed it, with a little input from Master Keira." She smiled at that. "This room was set up with the most powerful magical protections we could think of because we wanted a place to discuss sensitive matters without fear of being spied on." The room was fully loaded. Plush armchairs, leather sofas, mahogany wood paneling offset with bookshelves weighed down with magic tomes I frankly would have killed for, and that's the truth.

"Please take a seat and have some refreshments," Leona said, passing around a tea pot to Laura, Kyana, and I. "We're still waiting for Erik and one other person, but I can start filling you in." She paused for a moment. "After the incident at the cave, we were all looking for any signs of Potema. The three of us spent a few sleepless nights trying to determine where she could have gone after that."

"Do you have an idea of where?" Kyana asked.

"Master Keira thinks she may have gone to the old royal villa on the outskirts of town. When Temeria was first set up and Vizima had just been built, the royal family lived there. It wasn't until about twenty years after that the city walls and the palace itself went up. But according to the royal archives, Potema was known to have a special chamber in the villa where she conducted several dark rituals and practiced necromancy. It makes sense she'd return there to restore her strength before trying anything."

"Did you send someone to check it out?" I asked, leaning forward inquiringly.

"Lady Triss sent a contingent of soldiers, but there wasn't any indication the Wolf Queen was present. However, that could be anything." Leona said, pouring herself a cup of tea. Savoring the taste of peppermint tea we'd also served ourselves with. I was more of a coffee guy, but I couldn't help liking the taste of fresh tea every once in a while. Especially warm tea, the barkeep must have prepped the beverage before we arrived. What service. "While I did want to tell you about Potema. That's not the main thing I wanted to speak to you guys about." She leaned in, subtly mirroring my body language. She was a pro at getting my attention with those bright eyes. I hardly noticed the generous cleavage amplified by her stunningly crafted courtly dress. "I think we may have a spy in our ranks, someone from the Cult of the Pale Spider."

This set all of us on edge. Even my teeth clenched nervously from the surprise alone. "Do you have any suspects?" Kyana said, lowering her voice in a conspiratory tone.

"Just one, Master Sybille." Leona took a sip from her teacup once more. "There was always something about her that kept me on edge. I felt it the first day we met, there was something off about her. You guys saw for yourselves what she's like when you took the quest that led to you the workshop in the sewers. She hardly ever takes part in the day-to-day issues of the kingdom, leaves it all to Lady Triss and Master Keira. But then she acts so superior to them, just because she's the senior court mage and been here so long."

"Just how long has she been here?" Laura had asked the vital question, always one to get to the heart of the matter. One of the many things I continue to admire her for to this day.

"Since the inception of the kingdom itself." I think Keira would have been proud of her apprentice at that moment. Leona was fast mastering the most important skill in any sorceress's repertoire, smugness! "I spoke to both of them at length, and they agree further investigation is in order. We need to find what if any connection she has to the cult, and that means we're going to have to get inside Master Sybille's personal workshop and that prospect scares me."

"I've heard whisperings from the guards that she's pretty much made the whole of the castle dungeons into her atelier. Being sent down there is a fate worse than death." Laura said.

"Very correct, she's extremely picky about anyone who goes down there that isn't a prisoner." Leona shrunk her in on herself, pulling the delicate, lacy shawl over her shoulders. Her fine cloak having long since hung up on her chair. "I've been wakened more than once by the sound of anguished screams coming from the dungeons. I really do not want to go down there, but if it's the only place we can find the answer then I'm pretty much out of luck."

"Given this is the senior court mage's turf, I imagine she's put some serious protections down there to ward off intruders," I said. "We might need some specialist help on this one."

"Taken care of!" Kyana chirped. "I put in a call to someone who's very well versed in dealing with traps and protections If she can't get us in there, no one can!" A knocking came at the door. "And wouldn't you know? She's here!" I was about to ask who it was, when the door swung open, admitting a slender feminine figure cloaked in blue.

She was dressed all in blue and black, her features obscured by the short cloak she wore. I had to admit she had a pretty nice pair of legs, if what the shorty-shorts and stockings were showing off. The hood came down, and I came out of my seat, dumbstruck. "F-Felecia?" It had been so long since our last meeting in Bright River, she had grown into a lovely young woman. Her greenish-blue eyes shimmered, and she threw me a smile I knew all too well.

"Hey, Ezra! Been a long time hasn't it?" For Felecia, it wasn't a big deal at all, a reunion between old friends. I could only take in her face, and how beautiful she had become. Kyana sprung up to give her cousin a big hug.

"Thanks for coming all this way, Fi. I know you were busy in the Adrestrian Empire, and it was a long trek from the other side of the continent, but I couldn't think of anyone else to help us with this job."

Felecia shrugged casually, patting her cousin on the shoulder. "It's no big deal, cuz. I haven't seen you in forever. It was getting boring out east anyway. Plus, I've missed Erik. My brother is going to be here right?"

Leona seemed unsure as she sized up Felecia, leaning into me. She whispered as if hide her offensive ideas. "Are you sure it's a good idea to trust her? I mean she's an elf."

"Half-elf to be more specific." I sharply responded with a stern look, not bothering to return it as quietly. She recoiled at my visible displeasure. "And you have nothing to worry about on that front. I've known Erik, Kyana, and Felecia since we were kids. Even back then, Felecia said she wanted to be a treasure hunter, and was really good at setting up and dismantling traps during any of the games we'd play."

"If she can't get us around the traps that crone has set up, no one can." Kyana came to her cousin's defense. It was then Felecia gave a happy smile, glad we were sticking up for her. "Besides, you know her brother. Erik's proven he's trustworthy." It was then the door opened, and the older child of the Crimson Fox entered the room.

"Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late but I played hell getting away from…Rodger." Erik and Felecia locked eyes and the entire room went dead silent from the sudden tension. Our plot to stop the Spiders long forgotten, given way to the new wave of family drama. "Felecia, what are you doing here? Last I heard you were out east in Adrestria!" He looked more surprised at her arrival than I did, and even fearful.

She frowned, putting her hands on her hips as she strode up to her brother. Despite Erik being taller, Felecia suddenly seemed the bigger person in all her authority as the younger sister at fifteen years of age. Metaphorically speaking, of course. "Kyana wrote me, said you guys needed help with a job. So here I am." Her eyes narrowed slightly, and Erik shrank back. She took a step forward, and he a step back. "And I was quite eager to see you, Erik, considering you haven't contacted any of us in over a year! Do you know how worried Mom and Dad have been? How worried I've been? What was so important that you decided you needed to hang around with a loser like Rodger and not even think of writing us?"

I couldn't help but wince at the dressing down Felecia gave her brother. Leona cleared her throat, "If everyone's here, we can continue with our little discussion?" The glare Erik got from his sister implied they weren't done talking, but they sat down to listen to what she had to say.

"As I was saying, we need to break into Sybille's atelier and find any information that connects her to the Cult of the Pale Spider. In addition, we need to find a way to deal with Potema. I know Master Keira and Lady Triss are already researching that, but we need to pursue our own avenues. If possible, I'd like to visit the old villa myself. I want to look at Potema's workshop, see if I can find something the soldiers missed."

"Something that would require a mage's trained eye?" Laura asked.

"Exactly, it goes without saying that when we do investigate the place, we'll need to be on guard. There's no telling what we'll find down there. If Potema is present, she may have conjured up some protection for herself as well." Our goal was now set, a trip to the old Villa was in our immediate future.

Erik then looked to me, gifting me a gravely concerned look. "Ezra, I'd keep away from the Datura for a while. I heard Rodger carrying on to Hammer and Anvil. He said you were at the heart of it. Some altercation between you guys over Indigo?" The incident from earlier came to mind, much to my displeasure.

"Oh yeah, that happened. I guess he was trying to get a free ride from her, but she wouldn't put out. He took offense to that. Threw a liquor bottle at her and was going to beat her to death, so I intervened." I rolled my eyes, letting the event play back in my mind. I hoped it gave the dummies something to chew on. "Not that she was tearfully grateful or anything." And then I remember what they were arguing about, a scowl pressing my lips. "There was something that I heard, apparently Rodger was booted out of the Privateer Guild." Erik clenched up. "I wasn't sure if she was just saying it to annoy him or if it was true."

"Oh, it's true," Kyana said, crossing her arms self-satisfied. She extended it to me by flashing me a wordless "told you so" look with those scornful bright green eyes. Now it was her turn to look smug. I didn't take her as a sorceress in training. She had miles before she was anywhere close to Leona, the once and future queen of the art.

"It always seemed weird that Rodger was just making excuse after excuse when it came to finding your mother. So Laura and I tag-teamed the problem. Ezra, Rodger was booted from the Privateer Guild almost a year ago, due to some mess on Thanned Island, but that's all we learned. Do you know anything about this Erik?" He further tensed with that question, and the piercing eyes that followed it.

"Erik, did you know Rodger was expelled from the guild?" Felecia asked crossly, the irritation in her voice growing.

"If he had been, Rodger never said a word to me, then again I never asked." Erik managed through gritted teeth. Now I know my main problem back then was being too trusting of people, but in that moment even I could tell Erik was talking bullshit.

"And what happened on Thanned Island?" Laura's delicate eyebrows knitted together.

Laura's question clearly struck a nerve with Felecia's brother. He abruptly stood up. "I've heard enough. We have an operation to get ready for. I'm going to collect some supplies for our trip." Erik stomped out of the room, closing the door, and the subject for the moment, with a loud slam. We all looked at the door for a few minutes, the awkward silence hanging in the air.

Felecia looked at the door, before turning to her cousin. "Okay, clue me in, just what exactly have you guys been up to?" She asked, a demanding edge to her voice. I couldn't look her in the eye, shame filling me at that moment. Luckily, I didn't have to answer her, Kyana did it for me.

"Your brother has been working at a brothel with Rodger and his crew for over a year now. Ezra has been as well, hoping a washed-up old pirate would help us find his mother." Kyana's smugness was endless. She had known from the beginning that Rodger was up to no good, and had no intention of helping us.

"Working for such a boorish man is beneath the likes of you two," Leona added, not hiding her disgust. "I've known Erik through his affiliation with the guild. He could have easily made silver rank by now. And you." She drew out that last part. "You could be a knight in King Foltest's court with what you're capable of, not surrounding yourself with hookers and blow."

"I'm amazed such a skilled warrior flew under everyone's radar for so long. Certainly, someone like you would be well known in your home region of the empire." Laura said.

Now it was Kyana's turn to look nervous. "That's a complicated matter. We lived in a very isolated part of the country. A small village called Bright River, it was located deep in the woods. That is until we were attacked by the Redanians and the Order a few weeks ago."

"Oh no." Worry creased Felecia's brow at the mention of the attack. While she had never been a fan of Ioran's bigotry against humans. She has always been close to Devola and Popola. Concern flashed in her eyes. "I hope Uncle Ioran and the twins are okay. I know they're capable of defending themselves, but that's disturbing to know." A part of me silently wondered about Michael at that moment and remembering Soloman's Legacy, all things that had fallen by the wayside after working at the Datura.

"Perhaps Radovid really has lost his mind," Leona spoke up, fidgeting with the silver moon pendant hanging around her neck. "There had been reports of border disputes between Redania and Temeria recently. He's abusing the authority the High King gave him for the offensive into the south to attack his allies. Lady Triss said he couldn't be trusted. The man is a shameless opportunist, hopped on the throne the minute his father died three years ago."

"My father didn't think very highly of him either," Laura said, starring hard into the floor with an intense expression. "He's considered as bad the Emperor of Nilfgaard, if not worse."

"Ezra, you came into civilization at a very bad time. It's a real shame because mages are in such bad standing these days. Mage pogroms and witch hunts started in the region of Ballar a few months ago, the Church of the Eternal Fire has managed to turn much of the population against us. Radovid gives his full approval to their actions." Leona shook her head, looking off to the side. A thoughtful, if pained expression, crossed her features. "The High King does nothing to hold him in check, even though the Axiom Church regards him as the King of Magic."

Leona stopped for a minute. "Oh I'm sorry, once I get started talking about a subject it's hard to switch off the rambling. This isn't about politics, this is about you. Ezra you have such incredible magic potential it's scary." She got up, taking hold of my hand, noting slight burn scars. "Characteristic of a fire mage. It's considered to be the most powerful, and uncontrollable of the elements. Because it's driven…"

"Driven by the spirits of passion." I finished for her, frowning. "The desire to hunt, the desire to conquer, and devour all that's in its path, right?" The philosophy of the pyromancer. I could recite it by heart, thanks to Devola and Popola saying it during every magic lesson. I guess in a way it was something of a personal creed of mine.

Leona nodded strongly, returning my frown. She scrutinized me as if I were a complex equation. I suppose I was always a difficult one, much to the chagrin of myself and everyone. "I wonder what passions drive you, they must be something quite intriguing. It's motivated you to master some strange pyromancies not seen on the books. I told Lady Triss about the spell you used against the Flesh Atronach in the swamp, the one that conjured lava out of nowhere? She almost didn't believe me, considering she's one of the foremost masters of pyromancy in the world. Or that strange fortification spell you used that dispelled the curse the necromancers put on us and boosted our capabilities."

I was at a loss for words. I had learned the chaos pyromancy spells from Devola and Popola. The buff spell was a gift from Michael himself. I hadn't considered the consequences of using such magic in front of her. Leona may have looked like a pampered princess, but she was a trained sorceress with a very discerning eye and an even sharper mind. I wasn't ready to share the whole truth with them yet. And my mind failed me in coming up with some kind of cover story. Luckily, I was saved by Laura.

I could have hugged her right then. All platonically, of course. "That can be saved for another time, Leona. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, Ezra. But I think the point we're all trying to make here is that you have so much potential. It's wasted by being nothing more than a glorified bouncer for a bunch of sultry whores, strumpets, and bimbos that don't appreciate what you do to protect them. You can do so much more."

"It's what I've been trying to tell you from the very beginning." Kyana implored.

"Kyana's right, this is a waste of your talent, Ezra." Felecia joined in, united with Kyana much more like a sister than a mere cousin. "There's no reason for you to go back to that awful place at all. Rodger isn't worth wasting another breath on." Her eyes flashed, becoming like cold azurite crystal. Got to say, I always found that look sexy as opposed to intimating. Keep blushing, Felecia. You know it true. "Daddy always called him a worthless brute, and you're better off without him."

"I couldn't have put it better myself, cuz. Rodger may have always been good to you, Ezra. But he wasn't that way to me. Nothing a sexist pig. If you really want someone to help you find your mother, then lean on us. We'll always steer you right." Kyana said, once again her smile being a soothing balm for the crapfest that was my life. I looked at each of them in turn, seeing they all really did care.

Felecia was the last my gaze found. She started blushing, gently reaching out her hand for mine. Her eyes shining with her love for me. The tingles started up, and I knew she was getting it back tenfold if the way was her cheeks were getting ever darker. I'm certain she wanted nothing more than to cuddle up against my shoulder in that moment. I wouldn't have minded, to be honest.

Kyana giggled, touching Felecia's arm. "I bet you missed that sensation, Fi. It's been what, eight years since you last held hands with him?"

Felecia squeaked, flushing beet red, and sadly, letting go of my hand. Leona huffed, pouting as she looked away. Something told me she was just a little bit jealous. Laura was clueless to the whole thing, simply tilting her head. It was a wizard thing; she wouldn't get it.

"I'm glad you've opened your eyes to the truth, at last, Ezra. But we have more pressing matters to deal with." She came up, clapping her hand on his shoulder. "May I see your silver sword?" I pulled it out with a slight twirl. She smirked as I handed it to her to let hold it. To say it had seen better days was saying that Rose was Queen of Redania. It was chipped, and broken. Laura shook her head, examining its poor state. "Oh yes, this won't do at all. If we're going to make this a proper investigation, you'll need a good silver sword."

"I'm flattered you're willing to go that far, Laura." I took my old weapon back, letting it slip back into its custom sheath with an audible click. I had always wanted to fix it, but Bright River never had a blacksmith on call. Sadly. "But where are you going to find that? Silver swords are very expensive, and I recall the very best are even custom-made for their users. We don't have time to find a blacksmith to forge me one."

Laura smiled widely, quite excited to reveal her find to all. "I met this vendor when my father and I first arrived in Vizima. She's a bit on the eccentric side, but she told me her store has anything and everything someone could ask for. If anyone has a halfway decent silver sword for you. It should be her."

"Then why don't you take Ezra to get his weapon?" We could see the wheels in Leona's head-turning. "I'll stay here and coordinate with Lady Triss and Master Keira. Try and come up with some way to distract Lady Sybille in order for you guys to get in and out without her noticing you."

"I'll stay here with Leona." She raised a gloved hand. Kyana clearly wanted to check out the vendor too but didn't want to leave the mage alone. "Felecia, why don't you go with Ezra and check out this vendor? We'll probably need to stock up on potions and other things." Preparation is key, but none of us could been ready for what was down there. The three of us departed the castle, and without us knowing, going to our first meeting with someone who would have such an impact on our lives.

"Let me guess, the vendor you met was this Accord chick you've mentioned before?" Yuri asked, tapping his fingers on the table.

"One and the same," Ezra said, folding his arms. "None of us realized it at the time, but things in Vizima were about to reach a fever pitch. It would mark the beginning of our real journey, and my insane relationship with Rose."

"You haven't even gotten to the real juicy stuff then?" Raven asked, surprised. He played with his mug, running a circle around the lip of it with his finger. He might have gotten up to fill his mug at the guild's ale tap. He was much too engrossed to ponder it.

"Not exactly the term we would have used." Kyana rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair with her hands behind her head. "It's a shame we couldn't have kept Laura around. She was everything Rose was not, and the two of us fast became friends during those early days."

"I wish I had been there during that time," Furiae spoke up, raising her head.

"As nice as it would have been to have you there. I doubt you would have liked it very much." Ezra looked across the table to their resident cleric, shaking his head. "Rose antagonized everyone, and I was a marked man. The Order was after all of us at that point."

"Not to mention it was a century too early for you." Fianna giggled, take a swig of her drink. Taking a moment to appreciate the acrid, sour flavor of lemon before swallowing. It seemed like a random pick at the time by Yuri, and Raven when it came to spirits. She was beginning to like their choice after all.

"Century?" Rita and Estelle both said at once, meeting eyes simultaneously. Disbelief colored everyone's faces, not sure if the bard was joking. Yuri and the rest of the Terca Lumireis contingent of Brave Vesperia just sported confused looks at their comrades from another world. But through it all Furiae was unperturbed. She was genuinely envious of how Ezra's journey began and wanted to be on the bottom floor.

"Still, it would have such a nice change from how a good portion of my life went as the Goddess of the Seal. Kept in a dark tower, all alone with no one, but those creepy priests. And that senile old hierarch especially! With his incoherent sermons! I was so sick, and tired of being forced to listen day in and out!" Furiae's voice cracked as she heatedly exclaimed. She clenched her fists in frustration on the table. Phoebe and Raphtalia were quick to comfort her. Taking her hand into theirs with a gentle touch. "I would have given anything to be surrounded by friends. People who cared about me."

"Even if there was a lot of strife and hardship. It would have been my greatest treasure because the loneliness was so crippling." Furiae bowed her head, weeping quietly, the memories of those dark times still present in her mind. It all seemed like a nightmare she'd only awakened from. "I just wanted someone to embrace me, to love me. For so long no one came." Ezra got up from his seat and walked over to her, putting his arm around her from behind, gently patting her head with the other.

He said nothing, what happened at that time was only for the two of them. The two embraced as he rested his chin on the top of her head. Furiae stood up in his arms as she came to face him, embracing him tightly in return. She giggled at the oh-so-familiar tingling sensation, and his deep, musky odor. It reminded her of freshly forged iron. This was all comforting to her because it reminded her nothing had changed besides their location in the world.

But then she smiled gently and looked at Ezra, those brilliant blue eyes sparkling with affection. "It all changed when you came into my life, saved my life and my very soul. I lost many things, but I gained so much more thanks to you, Ezra." Furiae wiped her eyes clear, her smile becoming like the sun as she flashed those pearly whites. "Thank you."

"Aw, that's so sweet!" Judith cooed, smirking thinly at the sweet sight. It was time to turn things on their head. "I bet I know what happened after you rescued her Ezra. So tell me, if you need five minutes alone together, the cargo hold is available. If you need to go longer, no one's going to stop you, especially with how long you've gone at it with Estelle. It sounds like you have quite a bit of stamina. I'm sure every woman from your little harem in this room can attest to that."

Cue every girl blushing in embarrassment, except Fianna, she grinned widely. "Oh, well played, Judy dear. I would be lying if I said Ezra wasn't a beast in the sack! I remember one time Felecia, Kyana, Raphtalia, Phoebe, and I all got him just after the war ended. Oh, what a night!"

"Don't tell them that!" Phoebe said, slamming her hands on the table, before glaring at Judith before letting it cast onto Fianna as if it was a curse. It simply bounced off them both with a simple carefree shrug on both their parts. Which further made Phoebe red around the ears with both embarrassment, and anger. "And seriously, don't say that in front of the kids!" Despite the blue-haired mage's efforts, it was a case of too little, too late.

"Oh, I can't get the image out of my head now!" Rita gagged, mentally noting to keep a trash can nearby from here on out.

"Wow, that dark spot on the ceiling is getting bigger all the time. I hope it's not mold." Karol said, eyes upward. Of course, it went over Mikhail's head completely.

"What are you guys talking about? What game are you playing in the cargo hold? Huh, huh?" He looked to Ezra and Furiae, his eyes rose-colored eyes shimmering with curious wonder. Ezra let go of Furiae, quite unshaken by the childish inquiry. In fact, he seemed interested in where this might go. Furiae blushed something intense in reaction, her eyes going wide with surprise.

The former goddess shimmied away while she could, playing nervously with the bronze charm on her wrist. Her long dark brown hair swinging left, and right in waves as she escaped back to her seat. While she had questionable fetishes in the past, she wasn't quite ready for this kind of entrapment play. Nor would she ever be.

"Can I play with you guys too? I remember Dito saying something about the 'get it on game' whenever he talked to Zero. I always wanted to play, but no one let me." He pouted, studying his shoes and the floor. "I'm always left out of these things."

Ezra just shook his head in bemusement, ruffling the boy's white hair. Mikhail's head shot up. Clearly, he was prepared to listen on in rapt attention. "Well, I suppose you can't be clueless about these kinds of things forever, kid. You see there's a time in a man's life when he starts looking for someone to share his days with, usually a woman. Sometimes with Raccoon girls. A lot of the time with princesses. And then…"

"Oh look, Mikhail!" Phoebe suddenly cut in a hurry, holding a giant pot. "It's your favorite, mystery fish soup! It's as burnt and mysterious as you like it. I'm not sure where these fish came from, it may not even be this plane of mortal existence! It could be monsters or plain old fish! Who knows? That's the essence of Mystery Fish Soup! Eat up!" There was an eerie purple aura coming off it, and a weird black film covered it, not to mention the odor, it was overpowering. Phoebe deposited the pot on the table with a sound metal clunk. The sound only quickened young Mikhail's rabid anticipation, drool hanging off the corner of his lips.

"Yay!" Mikhail readily dug in with a large wooden spoon. "This is great, just like how she used to make it for me!" Phoebe shot another angry glare at Ezra. While Felecia's shoulders sagged in relief. A single tilt of the head to Phoebe had been all required to stop Ezra's explanation of the birds and the bees. He broke the thin layer and the odor got worse.

"Ugh, why do we have to suffer because of the brat's eating habits?" Rita said, holding her nose shut with her fingers.

"He looks so happy when he's eating that slop. I don't see the appeal, but I'm glad he's so into it." Karol was covering his face with his napkin.

Ezra was completely unperturbed. "It works in case subjects like this ever get brought up. If you dangle fish in front of him, he forgets everything else. It doesn't matter if it's raw or burnt to atomic element number six. Mikhail loves his fish!"

"You can down it just as much as the kid can," Raven said, noting the irony. It was quite true as Ezra had several plates of soundly finished food before him. "Must be in the genes."

"There is a certain resemblance between them. If you count out the white hair and pink eyes that is." Yuri looked from Ezra to Mikhail, still happily eating his fish. The other members of Brave Vesperia started scrutinizing the child more.

Rita started in, nodding in consideration. "Yeah, the kid does look like him." She then looked back to Ezra, eying him with great suspicion. "Are you sure Rose wasn't a dragon in disguise? The massive superiority complex and shitty attitude are totally on the mark."

This caused Ezra and the girls from Midgard to all bust out laughing. "Nope, 'fraid not!" Kyana stifled her giggles. "The only alternate form Rose had was 'Super Massive Bitch', and even then, we're not sure she ever really changed out of it. We'll never be sure."

Phoebe sighed, watching as Mikhail stuffed his face. "So much for the etiquette lessons. I guess I'll have to redouble my efforts." Not flinching at the fish eyeball that bounced across the wooden floor with a squelch.

"Just keep a trying, girl. Mikhail is a sweet kid; he'll get it eventually." Fianna said, picking it up, idly tossing it in Mikhail's direction. To almost everyone's disbelief. He picked it out of the air with a single lunge of his head. Yuri could swear his teeth turned pointy for a second. "Three points, the crowd goes wild!" The bard cheered, pumping her fist.

"The only one celebrating is you!" Rita growled, thrusting an accusatory finger at her.

Repede whined in disappointment beneath the table, his ears flattening. No matter how smart the pooch food is always a great motivator.

Yuri bent down, scratching his long-time companion behind his ears. He gave the dog a hearty pat, whispering. "Always next time, boy."

Repede let out a pleased noise. Every dog had its day eventually.

Raphtalia giggled openly. "It's a good thing Ashe isn't here. She would have a conniption fit at Mikhail's lack of basic table manners. It was like that back home."

"I wonder how negotiations with the guilds and the empire are going. Diplomacy is a new avenue for her. I mean with Flynn, the Marquis, and Larsa present, it shouldn't be that much of an issue for her. They're more at home in that regard. Still, it was nice of her to step up and try to help moderate the thing."

Fianna began with none too hidden warmth. "Ah Ashe, our little desert rose, she had it kind of rough at first, but at least she came around to not wanting to level half the continent. So it all worked out in the end."

"Why do I get the feeling we'll be hearing that story before too long?" Yuri cleared his throat. "You should continue about what happened in Vizima, Ezra." He was all too eager to change the subject from Ezra's bedtime hijinks and Mikhail's fish fetish. "What did you find in Sybille's workshop?"

"Gehenna itself." The young man replied, the haunted look in his eyes saying it all. "First order of business, I had to purchase my new sword."

The central marketplace of Vizima was a sprawling bazaar, almost a city within a city, tents, stalls, and booths as far as the eye can see. But there was one particular stall we were looking for. I could hear the sound of metal being hammered. "There it is." Laura indicated to a tent, and a wooden shed in the middle of the bazaar.

I was impressed all at once, a large array of weapons and armor were displayed. Nothing overly fancy, but definitely solid craftsmanship and quality metal were on display. The forge was being worked by a dark-skinned man; a wall of muscle that made Erik look small. Every time his hammer struck the steel, I felt a slight twinge. "Ah welcome!" He spoke in a deep baritone, coming out from behind the forge. "Looking for a weapon or some armor? If so you've come to the right place."

"Depends on what you have," I said, giving his wares a critical eye. Until I caught sight of the blacksmith's left leg. It was metal, bronze if I had to guess from the dull, brownish sheen. "Quite the impressive prothesis, I only read about them in books. I imagine it must have been rather painful when they inserted the parasite, so it connects the nerves to the metal."

The smith laughed. "Yeah, hurt like Gehenna, but thanks to it and the spells added on to the leg itself I can move this thing just like any of my flesh and blood limbs. I guess the pain was worth it." Felecia took notice and she let out a shrill, but happy squeal.

"Oh! that looks like it came from Archadia, right? Their technology is some of the most advanced in all of Midgard! Draklor Industries if I had to guess correctly." She squealed again. "Oh, I always wanted to visit there!"

"Archadia…that's where Rodger's from," I remembered the stories my teacher and now former friend told me about the place, located in the heart of the Italia Peninsula. "He'd go on about the bright lights of Archadia's upper levels. A place so beyond the rest of the continent it's not even funny." It was beginning to sink in for me just how long I had let Rodger lead me around by the nose. The bitterness was boiling up, only for Felecia to take me by the arm, resting her head on my shoulder. Any thoughts of how I was going to slice up Rodger vanished.

"We can go to Archadia, right?" She cooed, batting her long, delicate eyelashes for emphasis. The excitement was palpable in her eyes.

I couldn't resist that pleading gaze. "If we ever get down south, then we'll spend a few days there. But it's a long way off from Italia. The region's long been a hotbed for border conflicts between Archades and Midgard since they split off forty years ago. They're one of our biggest rivals aside from Nilfgaard." In retrospect, leaving for Archades might not have been such a bad thing. The heat would have lessened, but what did I know?

Laura then looked at the blacksmith. "Wait a minute, I know you! I can't believe I didn't notice it when I was here the other day. Chance is that you? It's been so long!"

The big man just laughed. "Indeed it is, Lady Arseid. You were just a little girl when I saw you last, glad to see you've matured into such a lovely, strong young woman, just like your mother. It's been what three years?"

"Try more like five." Laura then realized we were in the dark and turned her head to us. "Ezra, Felecia. This is Chance. He used to serve under my father until he was injured during the last war with Nilfgaard." Felecia and I instantly were drawn to his leg. Laura was clearly happy to reunite with an old friend.

"Yeah, I thought I was done for after that one battle." He put a hand on his bronze leg, patting it with love. "I owe it to Viscount Arseid to pull me out of that shit hole. I had taken up blacksmithing while I was in the service, figured it would be helpful to my comrades, not to mention I'd have a guaranteed job when I got out for good."

"I was working as the castle blacksmith for a time until Miss Accord showed up and offered me three times as much. I'd have been a fool not to accept it. She travels a lot so I run the store for her and get a roof over my head. Life is surprisingly good."

"And I couldn't have made a better investment." The melodic voice clashed so heavily with the heavy grinding, and thus we laid eyes on Accord for the very first time. At first glance, she seemed cute enough. Long dark brown hair was done up in twin tails, gray eyes framed by silver-rimmed glasses. A cream-colored blouse with billowing sleeves, and a dark plaid skirt. Cream-colored tights with dark thigh-high boots.

But then you noticed how she walked; it was…strange to say the least. Her thighs curved inward, scraping against each other, the source of the grinding. She swept down in a slight bow. "Greetings to you, I am Accord. Welcome to my shop. I trust you're finding everything all right?" Accord tilted her head. "Or perhaps you're looking for something distinctive?"

"As a matter of fact, you're right." I went for my old silver sword, pulling it out. "My party is undertaking a vital mission within the next day or so, and I need a better weapon. You wouldn't by chance happen to have an extra silver sword or two just laying about, would you?"

Accord took the old weapon, inspecting it a bit before giving a half-smile. "I say this to all my first-time customers, odds are I'll have what you need. It just so happens I do. Just give me a few minutes. With that, she walked in her odd manner to the back of the forge shed. It wasn't long before she pranced out, a wrapped parcel in hand, laying it on the display table. "Here you go, I think this might meet your standards," she said, a little glimmer of pride in her dark eyes.

I unwrapped the rough burlap. Felecia and Laura both gasped, and I could only whistle at the weapon in front of me. It was a magnificent sword to be sure, albeit with a very unconventional design. Unlike the traditional silver blade of a Witcher with a slanted hilt. This sword had a curved hand guard reminiscent of a crescent moon, with several jagged points. The blade itself curved on both sides, but regardless it was a huge step up from my old blade.

"This is the Imperial Fang, retrieved from a battlefield long forgotten. Do you think it will be sufficient?" Accord asked.

"More than enough," I said, taking up the blade. I gave it a few practice swings. It felt a bit awkward, but I could adjust with time. "I'll take it! What do you want for it?"

"I'll be willing to part with it for four hundred and fifty crowns," Accord said. The price was a bit high for my tastes, and it did mean a minor setback in earning the money for Rose's freedom, but I figured I could recoup my losses once the whole mess with Sybille was resolved. I threw the money on the table, and the Imperial Fang was mine.

"Thank you Accord. We'll put it to good use." Laura said.

"Oh, I'm not done yet. There's the matter of your friend's old weapon. I think I can do something with it. Back in a few minutes." Once again, she slipped behind the curtain. I could hear banging and whirring, even some flashes of light illuminating the curtain. She came back out, holding another bundle of cloth. "I think you're going to enjoy what I have for you."

She produced a sheathed dagger. "First, here's that old silver sword of yours, reborn in a new form. I think you'll find that useful in places where Imperial Fang would be less practical." I unsheathed it, looking at what she had done with it. She had removed the first two-thirds of the blade, the edge of the dagger had a double tip, one point farther out than the other. The blade glimmered in the light as I held it up. I named it Talion that day, based upon an ancient phrase I had heard once: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Indeed, every eye, and tooth would be plucked until my grand desire, my endless lust for revenge was satisfied.

Accord then took the bundle of clothing, unfurling it to reveal it was a coat. "Consider this a little something extra. I think it would look good on you." She wasn't wrong. I picked it up to inspect it. It was a long coat, running down to my thighs, and a hood for rain and cold weather. The fabric was tough and durable in dark green, with a gray stream running the left arm. It would be useful when hiding in the forests.

I threw the coat on. It was a perfect fit. "Well girls, what do you think?" I asked of Laura and Felecia. They both gave nods of approval, Felecia grinning widely. I looked at Accord, a gratified grin on my lips. "All right, you've got yourself a repeat customer. I'm definitely coming back here."

This seemed to satisfy her. "I'm incredibly pleased to hear that. Who knows? We may run into each other out on the road. I'll be sure to have some interesting merchandise should we meet again." With some snazzy new threads and a pair of shiny new weapons in my possession. I felt ready to take on anything. It was time to descend into the dungeons and unearth the truth about Sybille Stentor.

(One Hour Later)

We now stood assembled before the door leading down the dungeon. Just standing there we could feel the menace oozing out of it, even those who weren't magically inclined, like Laura, given how her hand subconsciously went to her sword. Erik still hadn't arrived yet. I was starting to get a little irritated when he finally walked in, his steel greatsword hanging off his back. He shared a gaze with his sister. Clearly, that whole discussion was tabled for the moment, but he would spill it down the line.

"Okay children, what lies behind this door, not even I can tell you." Triss folded her arms, even she was wary, despite her usual veneer of confidence. "But if Sybille has been in league with the Pale Spider. She must answer for it." I watched her shake her head. "Rest assured should this whole thing go south, Keira and I will be on standby with the Royal Guard, not to mention Viscount Arseid." I couldn't help but smirk, let's see how well she did against the might of the Radiant Blademaster.

"Leona, darling, please be careful down there." I couldn't help but find it sweet the way Keira doted on Leona. In many ways, she was more than just her apprentice, but like a younger sister or even a daughter. She shot a pointed glare at me. "As for you, young man. I trust you will bring my protege back in one piece?"

I decided to score some brownie points with her, offering my most formal bow, much to their surprise. A little something Devola and Popola had taught me. "But of course, Lady Metz. Rest assured, Leona could not be in safer hands, not that she's weak by any stretch, considering how she torched that Flesh Atronach and its summoners back in the swamp." Leona just smirked, tugging on her bracer, quietly proud of that moment. "I'll watch her back if she watches mine."

This seemed to placate Keira, who gave Leona a final head pat. She then turned all business, looking to Triss who wore an equally somber expression. She almost looked like a general, and I remembered why she was renowned as the Fourteenth of the Hill. Taking a single breath. Triss's hand fell on the massive iron door ring. "Here goes everything." She said, and ever so slowly as if it would keep anyone from hearing the giant hunk of Temerian white oak and forged cold iron scrape across the cobblestone floor. Triss's gaze fell on each of us in turn. "With this I'll just say, good luck, now go."

Erik and Felecia took point, Kyana, and Leona right behind the siblings, with Laura and I bringing up the rear. The tension in the air grew thicker with every step down that cursed staircase, seeming to curve downward to infinity. "Onward to Gehenna we go." Humor had always been my coping mechanism for stressful situations, but not everyone felt the same way.

"Do you have to be so grim?" Leona whispered. "I'm nervous enough as is!" A dark cloak made of rough fabric, covering her white armor in order for her to better blend in with the shadows. Although from what little was exposed, it seemed to emit a faint, light green glow, clearly signs of it being enchanted. I made a mental note to ask about it later.

It seemed to take an eternity before we reached the bottom of the stairs. And the torches immediately set my nerves on edge. Black flames, idly flickering about and yet throwing out as much light as normal torchlight would. It was so unnatural, and given what I had seen since my childhood, this was saying something. It also gave me a clue of just what we would find down here. We took a couple of seconds to let our eyes adjust to the dim light, and we soon found it, the door that led to the dungeons. I took note of some writing above it. "All Who Enter This Place, Embrace Your Despair."

"How inspirational, Sybille is very clear about what you can expect upon entering her domain." Leona quipped. The mage was clearly unimpressed, even a little disgusted. "She never liked me at all, and I suppose the feeling was mutual. Still, she was my senior in magic, and I had to give her the respect deserved of her position." Her hand went to her estoc. "But if she's planning on something that will bring harm to the people of this nation, I have a responsibility to stop it."

I'm not going to lie, seeing Leona like that, all brave and taking charge, was kind of hot. "You can give your inspiring speeches later. I need to concentrate and make sure there's no traps." Felecia said, examining the door. After a few minutes, she stepped back. "This doesn't seem right." She frowned slightly. "I don't see anything on this door at all, magic or otherwise, aside from a simple lock." We all exchanged very worried glances with each other.

"No traps at all on the door. Only the most slow-witted of people would assume nothing was wrong." Leona remarked. Even though I was still a relative neophyte to the whole adventuring gig. Devola and Popola had made it a point that if something seemed easy, it would mean they were just holding out something worse down the line.

Erik grunted. His leather-gloved hand clenching tight. He was agitated if the way the flesh around his eyes tightened up. It always did that when he was upset. "Everyone stay double alert. Clearly, Madame Stentor expected someone to come down here eventually, hoped to lure them into a false sense of security." He looked to his sister. "Fi, we're counting on your expertise to get us through here. Open up that door and let's get to work." She just nodded and pulled out a set of lock picks.

Felecia bent over and with that brought the best moment of my entire day. I only had eyes for the half-elven girl's magnificent butt, covered by those tight, black hot pants, as she worked on jimmying open the lock. Her backside shook up and down, not to mention side to side with every motion of her lock picks. I guess I can get a bone thrown my way every once in a while.

This in turn earned me double elbows to the ribs from Kyana and Leona. "You can drool over my cousin later when we're not about to go into one of the most dangerous places in all of Midgard!" Kyana hissed, and Leona just gave me a disproving shake of her head. I could care less; the image was permanently burned into my mind and I would never forget it! Felecia's hard work prevailed, and our ears were rewarded with the sound of a prominent click. She turned around and smiled at me, her eyes glowing in the dimness of the corridor.

"It's not just your cousin he has eyes for." Laura chose to interject at that moment. "I've noticed how he looks at your legs, Kyana. He certainly seems to enjoy the view. I know he's done the same with me." I went pale. "After all, I know you're not looking at my sword." I was afraid because despite the smile the Radiant Blademaster's daughter wore, the aura she gave off would have put the nastiest demons to shame.

Leona took a deep breath, walking up to the imposing-looking door, adorned with an ugly skull on the front. "Here goes everything." She said, delicate fingers brushing up against the wood, before jerking away slightly. It was clear she didn't want to do it. Wanting to get away from the awkward moment as quickly as possible I walked up, gently pushing her aside.

"Allow me," I said. It took a few moments, traps or not, the door was heavy! Damn Redanian ebony, But I managed to get it open. As I walked through, I felt Felecia slap me right on the ass. She grinned slyly, and let out a playful little titter. Her eyes gleaming mischievously. I also saw Leona and Kyana pouting at her. Women!

The first thing I noticed was how stale the air felt. It was dry, and musty. Sybille wasn't too concerned about keeping her dungeons clean. "If we didn't need to worry about alerting anyone to our presence, I wouldn't need this cloak," Leona said. "My armor's enchanted to allow for illumination in places like this."

That explained the glow. It was just dark enough that it was hard to see the full outline of objects, and would have been useful at that moment. I froze when my foot caught on a stone that protruded out from the floor. I noticed it gave a little when I touched it. "Hey, Felecia?" Everyone stopped in their tracks. "I think I found something! There's this rock my foot touched. Can you look at it?"

"Don't move, Ezra." Felecia breathed, quickly sliding over to me. She got on her knees to inspect it. She looked up at me. "You got lucky. This is a pressure stone for some kind of trap. Leona, can you give us some light? Not too much is needed." She obliged by pulling up her cloak so her arms were exposed. The faint green light sliding across the walls. "Everyone, start looking! if I know where it is, I can disarm it."

I slowly moved my foot away from the stone as we began looking for what it triggered. Everyone stuck close together, lest we hit another pressure stone or tripwire. "What exactly are we looking for, Felecia?" Laura asked, trying to be aware of any other traps.

"It could be anything, I've seen battering rams that can cave a man's chest cavity, spiked balls on chains that crush skulls to a pulp, claws made of iron that rip out your side, and of course the classic giant metal wall with spikes that turn you into a pincushion. Just to name a few of them." Felecia's eyes flashing from one corner of the hall to another, to her she was describing these death traps like it was just another day at the office for her, which really it was!

"What about a massive grid of razor wire mounted on the ceiling that would turn you into neat little meat cubes if it hit you?" Kyana's words made us all look up, and sure enough there it was, a trellis of thin wire in a sturdy metal frame. It was only due to the faint glow from Leona's armor that we caught sight of it.

Erik whistled in appreciation, already getting a mental picture of how Kyana described the trap about them. "I've been in my fair share of dungeons, and seen the spiked metal wall trick done plenty of times before myself. But that." He indicated to the thin wire grid. "That's different. What do you think, Fi? What's your expert opinion?"

Felecia gave it a begrudging nod, glad that I hadn't tripped it. I know I was happy about it. "It's certainly a novel take on an old idea. The metal is so light, it means it would fly down far quicker than the normal metal wall trap. By the time anyone registers they've hit the trigger, it would be far too late. They'd be sliced to pieces."

"Something tells me this is the least of Sybille's ingenuity." Leona's disgust was growing by the second. "Just what has she been doing down here? How long has she gone unchecked?" She shook her head. Felecia just rolled her eyes at the blonde-haired mage's little declaration. "I'm going to find answers and hold her accountable for any and all crimes she's committed since she first came here!" Again, I just found it so sexy watching Leona take charge. She was focused, albeit a little TOO focused.

Felecia practically flew, blowing past, Erik, myself, and Kyana in short order, grabbing onto Leona's arm. "I'm glad you're so determined, but you really need to watch where you're going!" She pointed down at the ground. Leona gasped and jerked her foot back. It was then I saw it a runic circle neatly etched into the stonework, the lines so small it was nearly invisible, it was only due to the light of Leona's armor that Felecia had caught it in time. "Another inch and you would have trigged that rune trap, could have taken off your whole leg if you weren't lucky."

"I can't believe I missed that. Master Keira always taught me to look for all kinds of traps. She would have never let me hear the end of it if I had been hurt." Leona sagged in relief, letting out a small fearful noise as she pulled herself back. "Thank you, Felecia." My favorite elf girl just nodded, and inwardly I smiled. This simple act effectively annihilating Leona's skepticism about Felecia's species. Although this also showed us just how big of a climb we had. The entire corridor was littered with traps, magic and otherwise. "We need to be really mindful of those rune traps. They're so hard to spot."

"Felecia, do you have a way of disabling the trap?" I asked. She produced a crystal from her bag. She gave it a light tap with her finger, chanting in the elvish tongue. She put it down on the trap, and then to our amazement it let out a glow, and we saw nine more glyphs located on the wall and floor light up.

Four of them, the one with the crystal included, began giving off a slight fiery gleam, three more began sparking with electricity, and the last two emanated an icy blue glow.

I could feel the wave of cold stinging at my feet. And the heat warming my feet at once. It was a strange contrast to feel both simultaneously. I could only imagine the terrible things that might have happened to Leona's wonderful twinkle toes if Felecia hadn't stepped in.

"As long as the crystal is active. Any magic traps in the area will be exposed and dormant. But the moment it's gone… They'll activate all at once it's Boomtown, Temeria!" Felecia gave a nervous laugh, pausing for a moment for emphasis. She raised her hands above her animatedly. I couldn't help finding it quite a charmingly cute expression despite there being a dire gleam in her eyes. Then again, I was a complete fool for her like always. She frowned deeply, "We really don't want to be around for when that happens!"

Pay attention to that, it will be important later. We came down the corridor and sure enough, we found that classic trap Erik mentioned earlier, the spiked iron wall trap, and the pressure switch that would send it lashing out, smacking whatever poor soul was unfortunate enough to be in its path. Ol' Sybille even had set up bear traps.

We reached a massive stone archway, and we could hear anguished cries and pleas to be left free wafting through. The also familiar stench of death permeated the place, but even that seemed off, it had an eerie, otherworldly air about it. No doubt a product of whatever experiments the twisted mage had been up to in cheating death. We could see faint light from torches. From here on out it was speaking only when needed. I peeked around the corner to see what was there and I about lost my lunch.

Sybille's lab was populated by these…creatures. I was reminded of the Flesh Atronach, how it was sewn together from corpses. This was the exact same thing, but even more sinister. One of these creations stumbled on six malformed human legs, carrying things with three arms. Another of the chimeras had two human heads…with exposed jawbones, and spikes sticking out of its back. I could only think of how many bodies the witch had defiled to make these abominations. I could feel the flames dancing on my fingertips, screaming at me to right this wrong.

"Let me out right now, I didn't do anything! I don't deserve this treatment!" The decidedly human-sounding voice put any thoughts of torching the place to a temporary halt. Fortune favors the bold, so the party entered into the dungeon. We were ready for a fight, but nothing happened. The chimeras just completely ignored us. Yet none of us wanted to remain and see what happened if they were antagonized.

As we passed the lab area, we found the main dungeon. The place was guarded by reanimated skeletons armed with rusty iron swords. In truth, not too big of a deal. A single swing of our blade or even a low-level spell would be enough to subdue them, but we remembered what was just a room over. We all decided to move with caution.

The cells were loaded with people, dressed in nothing but filthy rags, crying out to be set free. "Please you have to help me!" One man cried out. "All I did was steal a loaf of bread, my family was starving, what more was I supposed to do?" He begged. It made me wonder how many people who had committed minor crimes or were accused of crimes they hadn't committed at all, had been tossed down here.

But then we met…him. It will always stick with me. "Let me out of here right now!" The man ranted, rattling the bars of his cell door. "So what if I didn't want to pay my bitch wife, it doesn't mean I murdered her! The dumb bitch wanted to become a catgirl! A fucking cat girl! This is how she blows my alimony payments? No one in the family could stand her. Just ask Pondy! The cow was dumb enough to be drunk and danced too close to the roof's edge. She fell off, it was an accident!" It was then he caught sight of us, face lighting up with hope. "You! You believe me, right?"

We intentionally ignored him. But he wasn't going to go quietly. "Don't you dare walk away from me! You vile idiots! You savage, vile idiots!" He got louder and louder, his voice cracking as it rose several octaves. It was becoming evident that our stealth-based approach wasn't going to last much longer. "I will have my revenge upon all of you! You will suffer the wrath of the thousands of vengeful angels at my iron-bound command!"

Felecia rolled her eyes, deadpanning. "He talks like Zeus."

Kyana giggled impishly. "And he smells like poops."

Ah, rhymes… Regardless of the quality, we all thought it was pretty funny, but it just made him more irritated, rattling the bars further. The volume of the clattering increasing along with his incontinent fury. "How dare you insult me in such a manner? Me the Golden God of Temeria! The sun obeys at my command. I control the rising, and falling of the five stars of the spectral realms! I am the suzerain of the stars! A five-star man, I say! I order you to let me out of here! Or else I shall unleash by bound fury upon you with the force of a thousand waves!" Okay, he had just gone completely off the deep end.

Erik wasn't amused in the slightest, his lips curving into a scowl. I saw it in the way his eye was twitching. We were supposed to be on a secret mission, and here we were fooling around with someone who probably needed to be kept in a cell. "Don't worry, I'll let you out." Despite the friendly tone in his voice, I knew something was amiss as he approached the door. The prisoner puffed himself, trying his darnedest to look and sound important. I gave it a minus five out of ten, personally.

"Well finally! Someone here recognizes the importance of my gilded radiance! You are someone who recognizes my glory, despite being a half-blood. You will shine as well, not as much as me, but better than the dung most people are composted of. Get it?" He started laughing raucously at his own joke. Erik joining in. He lashed out through the bars to grab the loudmouth by the face, smashing him into the iron bars, knocking him out entirely. A loud crash sounded on impact, and the man thudded to the floor like the bag of pig shit he was.

"Forget Golden God, you're just Iron Shit!" He snarled, kicking at the bars. It caused a metallic clang that echoed throughout the prison. Whether those toes of his hurt, he never confessed to it. Truly a mystery for the ages.

We then heard the sound of rattling bones and raspy growling coming in response. Erik sighed, drawing his blade. "So much for subtlety!" He just looked tired at that moment. "Let's get this over with guys. As always, we can't do anything simply. If it's not Hammer and Anvil making a racket, it's some idiot with delusions of godhood! I really should have died on Thanned!" An unearthly roar echoed off the flagstones, and it was clear it wasn't just the skeletons were about to face.

There were about ten skeletons, and about a half a dozen of the chimeras, including the types we had seen earlier, and a new one which was just a giant mouth with razor-sharp teeth, moving on stumpy little legs. "Hey, Leona," I said, drawing my silver blade with an unnecessary flourish. I sank into a fighting stance. I hoped I looked cool merely due to girls being present. "Think you can fire up that spell you used in the swamp?"

"Oh, sure if you give me the time. Of course, I'd also level the palace and the entire Royal Quarter in the process!" Not only was she smart and could lead. Leona had a killer wit! The creatures snarled at us. Now that I considered it, Leona wasn't wrong. Noxiously explosive compounds, and flammable materials were common to the ateliers of wizards. The whole palace might indeed go up between all three labs with the proper misplaced spell!

"We won't need it." Felecia reminded us with a lively tone. "Remember the traps?" She winked at me; I felt my heart skip a beat. Be still my young heart. I looked to Erik, who understood at once. Something dangerous flashed behind his eyes. I loved it when that came in any situation. It meant we were in for a show.

"Fall back the way we came!" He ordered, his free hand cutting through the air. "Try not to exert too much energy. We'll let the traps do the brunt of the dirty work for us. Ezra, Leona, carve us a path!" Heh, did he really need to prompt me? I live for this shit. A grin tugged at my lips as I registered the warmth at my fingertips. The flames I had been holding back since we first got here, coalesced into my palm as I swiped horizontally, a flat sheet of flames blew through the first line, shattering the skeletons and immolating the chimeras.

The entire party bolted out of the dungeon with the legions of the undead following behind us. We ran through the lab area and back down the corridor toward the stairs. A few more skeletons joined in the chase, firing arrows at us. The chimeras shuffled along as best they could on their misshapen legs. They began spitting out sickly green blobs of fluid. It splashed against the wall, melting it away. "Oh great, they shoot acid! It's always acid!" I groaned, annoyed beyond words. I glanced meaningfully to the sorceress. "Leona, can you do something about that?"

"Consider it done!" Leona gracefully waved her estoc about as she chanted, a golden circle appearing under her as she drew golden circles on the air that became miniature intricately decorated circles of pure magic. The bright glow caused me to blink leaving the reddish after image of light burnt behind my eyeballs.

"Globes of sacred energy surround our enemies and illuminate the darkness with your holy light." She pointed her weapon, the light on the tip of her sword intensifying. "Golden Sphere!" Three shining globes of gilded light appeared around the monsters, circling before crashing into the right side of the enemy's ranks in a blinding explosion of luminance.

The Golden Sphere spell wasn't nearly as spectacular as the Cross Crusade, but the pure light was enough to reduce the skeletons to ash, and severely hurt the four of the smaller chimeras. I decided to build on what Leona started, my silver sword drawn to the back and right, a sky-blue gleam coloring my blade before I lunged forward, swinging right to left, bouncing back, holding it at my left side for a minute, before swinging left to right this time. I repeated this two more times, drawing a square of light in the air. Nothing seemed to happen, but then lines formed on the monsters I had targeted, and fell to the ground in a pile of blood and savaged body parts.

Erik grunted in approval. "That's good, you two. It will do for right now." More creatures were coming, so we resumed our dash through the tunnels. We soon reached the point where the first spiked metal wall was located. Thanks to our earlier reconnaissance, we knew to avoid the pressure switch. But the chimera with the spiked teeth, not so much. The grinding sound of the stone going down was magical. The iron grate swung faster than a cobra, shattering bone and ripping flesh. Even if the spikes hadn't killed it, the sheer force of being splattered against the wall would have.

We next came upon the bear traps. A trio of skeletons and the chimera with six malformed legs would have the honor of falling victim to them. The former, being just bones reanimated by magic they fell apart as soon the metal jaws snapped shut on the skeletons' bony feet. The chimera wasn't so fortunate, roaring in pain. I couldn't help but feel a little bad about it. The best we could do was offer a mercy kill. Kyana did this one, looking at the monster with a slight bit of pity. Her axe beginning to glow bright green. A single swing and the beast fell dead.

A bone-chilling roar assailed our ears as the biggest, nastiest of Sybille's creatures came charging down the corridor. The best way I could describe it was a quadrupedal creature with large meaty legs. It had to be at least the size of a horse, but it had no eyes and razor-sharp teeth. It was accompanied by a monster that truthfully resembled a giant skinned chicken with metal spikes on its wings. "What's next?" Laura asked as we continued to hoof it.

"The metal wire trap. I have an idea for this one!" Felecia said. We took cover behind the large supporting pillars of the corridor. She pulled a rope out of her satchel, tossing it over to Laura. "Pull it out and hold it tight!" She said, waiting for the scratching sound of the beast's claws scraping against the stone floor, and the bird monster's squawking, charging down the corridor. "Ezra, think you can go out there and hold its attention?"

"Why me?" I asked, not considering shutting up was the best idea. Always got to be a smart ass.

"Just do it!" She screeched. I went out there, standing just behind the pressure plate. The giant zombie chicken…that just sounds so wrong saying it, kept running straight at me. So, I decided to at least have a little fun with it, and I flipped the bird…the bird! It clearly didn't get what I was saying, the thing has even less brainpower as a zombie.

I took off sprinting. The bird followed me, and ended up tangled up across Felecia's impromptu trip line, which in turn let it hit the pressure stone dead on. There was only the sound of whistling metal, and a final pained squawk. It took a minute, but then a thin grid of red began forming all across the monster. Before we knew it, the thing collapsed into a pile of neat little square chunks. The ceiling-mounted metal wire trap idly swung back and forth, blood still coating it.

I would have thrown out a witty retort but given the giant dog monster thing was still chasing us, along with the remaining chimeras and skeletons, there wasn't time. "We're running out of traps," Kyana said, looking over her shoulder at the giant, stitched-together flesh monster chasing us. "Ew, that thing has WAY too many teeth!"

"We're almost to the rune traps," Felecia said, summoning up all of her remaining strength, dashing on ahead of us. The flickering light of the runes, not to mention the entrancing sparkle of the negation crystal beckoning us. The entire party charged through to the safety of the other side of the corridor, while Felecia knelt down by the crystal. Her gaze not breaking from the incoming undead horde.

"Any time now, Fi!" Erik called out to his sister. But the half-elf girl just held up her hand. Felecia wanted to be absolutely certain as many bad guys as possible would be caught in the resultant magical conflagration. We could all feel the tension and time seemed to slow down. The fleshy chimeras and skeletons bearing down on her. As soon as the big chimera beast was in, she snatched up the crystal and bolted for the entryway. Not able to contain myself any longer. I ran out myself, scooping up Felecia in my arms. I channeled some mana to my legs for extra speed, and diving into the relative safety of the corridor, shielding her with my body.

Just as Felecia said, the crystal's removal triggered every one of the rune traps. Flames, Ice, and Lightning erupted out all at once, the light would have blinded us permanently. I could feel equally feel the intense heat and blistering cold, not to mention my hair stood up on end from the lightning being thrown around.

I could also hear the cries of pained agony that Sybille's creatures as they were frozen, barbecued, and electrocuted simultaneously. The stench of charbroiled flesh wasn't exactly appetizing, to say the least. And I've eaten plenty of nasty, gamey monster flesh before. I finally opened my eyes and found Felecia's face not more than a few inches from my own, she was blushing heavily. "I think it worked." She said after finding her voice.

I could have kissed Felecia out of sheer thrill. It could have been easy to steal a peck with the minimal distance between our faces.

The impulse was cast aside when I saw the pleading look Felecia gave me with all her redness. She wordlessly begged, "Ezra! Let me down please!" That was right, she was still in my arms. I almost panicked, my heart going a mile a minute. The shit I do in the heat of the moment.

I let Felecia down gradually. She stood up on her own two booted feet and dusted herself off with a flap of her short cloak. Putting a hand on her other arm, she awarded me an appreciative smile. Her hollow point smile struck my armored heart dead center. I could have died happy from witnessing the pure warmth of it.

Yours truly recalled where we were after a moment of punch-drunk vertigo. Right, immediate danger around every corner! I scolded myself. I could be a love-struck fool later.

Mustering up the courage, I peeked my head around the corner as everyone cautiously slinked out of their hiding place on the other side of the passageway. The entire hallway was a charred, soot-covered mess. It appeared that nothing remained of our pursers. The combination of flames and lightning more than enough to reduce anything present to ash on the wind. "Yeah, I think it did." I stepped out into the corridor, eyes on watch for any more pursuers. "So you think that's all Sybille had to offer?" I asked Leona as the others joined me.

The mage put her hands on her hips. "If I had to guess, this was just the low-level rabble." She looked to me; her expression more determined than ever. "We can't waste any more time. Sybille needs to be brought in right now!" The trip back through was significantly easier with the removal of the hired help. We went ever faster through the dungeons, not about to make the same mistake twice. Rounding a corner, we finally made it to the innermost sanctum of Sybille Stentor. There were corpses all over the place. It was a testament to everyone's will, and stomachs that none of us wanted to find a corner to puke in.

With tentative steps, I approached the nearest body. I knelt down to examine it. A woman in her early twenties, fairly attractive at that. Her face was twisted into a permanent look of terror. I studied her neck, and there they were, two small holes evenly spaced. "It was just like what that guy at the Datura said earlier, we've got vampires down here," I whispered.

It was then something clicked in my head. Laura stood over me, an always-reliable sentinel as the others continued forward. She made a pained expression. "Such unnecessary death…" Laura winced empathetically, watching me turn the cadaver's head with my gloved hands. "What are you looking for?"

"The source of all our troubles, and the solution to it all the same," I said, stoic. There was one tried and true method to reveal the true form of a monster: an object made of silver.

I looked over a couple of the other bodies and found what I was looking for, a small pendant with a stylized cross and a flame on a pale silver chain. I yanked it off and stuffed the item into my pocket.

A grisly smile appeared on my lips, "Let's go…"

"Yes, let us continue forward." Laura grimly nodded, a hand on her sword tightening around the hilt. I witnessed her knuckles go stark white against the blue, and golden details of her weapon. She barely contained her rage against the evil deeds committed deep within the halls of this darkest of dungeons.

I got what I was looking for. We continued on before we found Sybille's central atelier.

A circular room lined with torches and bookcases, so many bookcases, reaching up to the highest vaults of the ceiling! There were literally thousands of hardbound, tomes, scrolls, and manuscripts resting on the shelves. I can only imagine how long she had taken to collect this kind of knowledge. I could feel the arcane power wafting off all of them. But this wasn't a trip to the library. We were only there for one reason alone. The mage in question was looking through a large chest built into the lowermost part of the bookcase. "Where is it?" She cursed, clicking her tongue. "I can't believe I miscalled the blasted thing!"

"Seriously Sybie, we're on the verge of our greatest triumph and you can't find the keystone artifact we need?" It was the guy from the swamp cave. He was sitting at one of the desks, his feet up on the counter, shuffling a deck of playing cards in his hand. "You'd think someone as old as you would have been better organized." An idle flick of his wrist sent the Ace of Spades into a nearby helmet. "We can't exactly do the evil ritual without its most important part after all."

"Don't act so smug, Ronan. If it bothers you that much, why don't you help me find it?" Sybille growled as she tossed another trinket across the room. "Damn it all, where is the blasted thing?"

"You told me not to touch a single thing, I'm just doing what you told me to do boss." The Two of Diamonds arced through the air, landing right in the middle, nothing but steel. It was then the masked Witcher wannabe caught sight of us. "Whoa!" He sprung out of his chair, the cards scattering all over the floor. The chair was pushed back with an audible screech. I couldn't help wincing due to my super sensitive ears. "Hey Sybie, we've got visitors."

Sybille looked up, sniffing in exasperation. "Oh, you so made it this far." She almost seemed bored as she continued rifling through the chest. "I figured the skeletons wouldn't do much, but the chimeras should have at least killed one of you." She sighed in disappointment, drawling. "It's so hard to find good help these days." She perked up a little, letting out a haughty laugh. "Ah, finally found it." She pulled out a circular medallion made of pewter and adorned with a bevy of jewels. "Finally, the source of our lady Potema's strength is in hand. The Wolf Queen will arise and Temeria will have a proper ruler again!"

"So that proves it. You are a part of the Cult of the Pale Spider aren't you?" Leona stepped forward, mustering every bit of authority she could. Pointing her blade at the offending witch, the sharp tip of it threateningly cracked with magic. "Sybille Stentor, you are under arrest for crimes against the Kingdom of Temeria."

The elder mage just put her hands on her hips, giving a contemptible sneer. Sybille wasn't daunted in the slightest. "So you finally figured it out, little princess? Indeed, took you long enough to finally put it all together. But if you think Lady Potema was my teacher in the mystic arts, you are quite right... She taught me everything she knows. It's all because of this." She held up the medallion, an arrogant grin showing her pointed teeth. They shone like finely polished knives, promising the implication of our demise.

My… What teeth you have, grandmother, I thought ominously.

She continued her evil speech, raising her hands to the sky as if she'd already won. There was no containing her utter exhilaration. "Because of her incredible skill in necromancy, she managed to summon forth a mighty demon and bent it to her will. When she died, I was entrusted with it. Once she gets her power back, and a proper vessel for said power. Potema will rise once again!"

"Never going to happen!" Erik proclaimed, his sword out and ready.

The elder mage frowned, once more unaffected by our declarations. To her credit, she did not laugh evilly as I expected. What a shame. "Oh, you seek to stop me, my overly eager adventurer? You wish to take this from me, dear half-fae?" She drawled, mockingly swinging the medallion in her hand. "I can assure you that I will not make it easy for you."

She snapped her fingers. The dark-clad warrior drew his giant boomerang-shaped blade out of thin air with a flash of purple magic. Melting from the shadows were two men dressed in a similar fashion. They had pale skin and burning orange eyes eerily glowed behind their black masks, and hoods. A feeling of satisfaction traveled through me at the sight. I should have been scared, but I found it quite thrilling in all its dreadfulness.

She declared, "And neither will they!"

I smirked nastily, and decided it was time to act. I pulled out the pendant I took from the dead body. "If that's the case sweetheart... Think fast!" I chucked it at Sybille, who idly held up her hand to catch it. The minute her fingers closed around it, an inhuman screech erupted from her lips, steam wafting off her hand. She thrashed around madly. The pendant fell to the stone floor with an audible TINK noise. It was merely a prelude to the true madness behind the veil.

I heard Felecia and Leona audibly gasp as her robes began to rip as her body swelled up. Laura's golden-brown eyes widened in horror. Leona's jaw visibly dropped. Her whole being trembled in abject terror. Even Erik seemed not to believe it as he took a step back, his sword was still raised. Much to his credit.

Still, I could see his face go white. Courageous as always, but like anyone else he couldn't control the blood leaving his half Elvish visage. Of course, I was quite taken with all the mother of all ugly herself. A dreadful smile stretched across my face with sadistic pleasure. It was the thing I trained for all my life manifesting in front of me.

Her fingers elongated, sprouting blackened claws. Finally, the clothing tore apart, revealing a withered, gnarled bare naked figure. Nasty, unkempt black hair fell to her shoulders. Pale, veiny, squalid skin shone with greasy viscous luster for all to see. Vicious, jagged yellowed teeth bared at us in a ghastly snarl. Burning bloodshot orange eyes bore into me with tangible fury.

My grasp intensified on Imperial Fang as I sank into a deeper combat stance. My sword burned furious crimson matching my own hot-blooded mood. My blood scorched with the desire for a fight. I was ready to unleash a sword skill at any given moment. I bared my teeth at her in challenge like an animal. We were both inhuman, I didn't see why I shouldn't respond in kind.

Come on, bitch. I beckoned in my mind, aggression burning up my insides. I had a lifetime's worth of anger to burn. It might as well be on a monster nobody gave a fly bat fuck about. I'm ready to tear your black heart from your goddamn chest, you whorish bloodsucking harpy. After I'm done with you, your head will be my trophy. Yeah, then Rodger and everyone else will get what it means to fuck with me.

My mind whirred a thousand miles a second, considering what she might do in response. Would she charge at me with those claws, use magic as a feint then move in the more vulnerable of us, or run like a bitch while she used her lackeys as meat shields? Any of those options were perfectly valid, really.

"You think this will stop me? Think again!" She hissed in a raspy voice. "Lady Potema will soon return to reclaim her throne and all of you will be mere fodder!"

A pair of leathery wings erupted from her back and she took off into the blackness above us. An ear-piercing scream split the air along with the flapping of grisly wings. I wouldn't have been surprised if the rest of the castle's residents trembled at the dreadful, horrendous wailing of this banshee in the flesh echoing throughout the halls. Yeah, she did run after all much to my dissatisfaction. Oh, well there were always her underlings for me to rip into.

"Wow, wow, wow! You really pissed the old bag off now!" The guy named Ronan exclaimed loudly, almost sounding impressed through the dripping sarcasm. "If I were smart, I'd stay out of her way. Those nails of her aren't just for show." He kicked the nearest bookshelf, it slid open revealing a secret exit. "And definitely don't ask her to give you tongue! Later!" He took off up the steps. The shelf slid back into its original position.

The shadows from before slid back into their place. I detected a trace of magic on the air. Gone thanks to the aid of teleportation magic. Not a magic uncommon to old vampires. Now, if we had been smart as Ronan prescribed, we all would have just dogpiled him right there and demand he give us answers. But most of us were still in shock at the reveal of Sybille's true nature.

I lowered my weapon and sheathed it with an audible hiss. I was made quite irate by their departure. Yeah, run… I thought, anticipation running through me like an all-consuming white-hot flame. This didn't discourage me at all. If anything, it helped feed the furnace burning hot in my chest. Run all you like, you fucking weaklings. Won't stop me in the end from hunting you like the dogs you all are.

All of us stood there for several moments. We had all come unglued in our own special ways. I was delighted in all my fury. Everyone else, on the other hand, likely still had their toes curled in fear. Not that I blamed them. I was always the weird one, I suppose. Erik sank to his knees, not wanting to believe how close to death we have come. Kyana and Felecia held on to each other. I remember they often did that when we were younger. Laura was trying to keep calm, but I'm sure she was praying her father would have come to save us.

Leona was the one most stricken by the revelation. "She was a vampire." I could see her staggering on her feet, beginning to hyperventilate. "She was a vampire the whole time." Erik, being a gentleman, grabbed the chair Ronan had been lounging in earlier and brought it over so she could sit down. In a show of support both Kyana and Laura came up, each putting a hand on one of her shoulders.

She sat there, bringing her knees up into the fetal position. She wrapped her arms around them, rocking back and forth. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes, now I felt bad for taking this whole experience positively. It put it in perspective, dousing the flames in my chest for now. Not everyone was me. I promised her internally I'd buy her a hot chocolate later.

"And a nasty one at that." Erik gently patted her on the head, before looking at me pointedly. "What do you say, Ezra? An Alp, or maybe a Bruxa?"

"Oh, definitely a Bruxa," I said conversationally, bending over to pick up the charm. I spun the chain on my finger idly as I stood upcoming to face Erik. "Those are nasty enough as is. Let's be lucky she wasn't a Higher Vampire. Otherwise, we'd all be the main course of her personal blood buffet right now."

"I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused here. There are different types of vampires?" Laura asked, blinking.

"There are many different types of vampire, Lady Arseid." I began properly, trying my best to sound like I was a certified intellectual. I put on my metaphorical hat of the learned scholar right then. I had read the Witcher Bestiary back to front. I was more than qualified to explain there were various grades of vampiric creatures. Time to flex my mighty brain muscles for the ladies. "Usually spilt between higher and lower grades. Lower grades, like the Ekimma or Fleder, are more animalistic, but extremely brutal when consuming their kills. And the higher grades are even more dangerous. Bruxa, what Sybille appears to be, are particularly nasty creatures, resistant to sunlight, and can take on an almost human form."

"And don't get us started on Higher Vampires," Erik added, cutting me off before I could continue at length. Guess he did read the bestiary when he borrowed it from me years ago. Never got that one back. I could only imagine Rodger using it as a coaster, much to my dismay. "They're some of the most dangerous creatures of all. They can appear fully human, and are as intelligent as any man, elf, or dwarf, if not even more so. It comes with being almost fully immortal. They've had a long time to live and gather experience. That being said, not all of them are truly evil. Some of them are even known to be helpful to mortals. Still, it's only the truly stupid that picks a fight with a Higher Vampire."

Thanks for the lecture, great sage Erik, is your next lecture going to be at Oxenfurt? I thought bitterly like the immature snot I was. My thunder was indeed stolen.

"How did you figure out Sybille was a vampire at all?" Leona asked suddenly, stand up slowly from her chair. It took her a moment to completely gain her bearings. Now she was beginning to breathe normally. No longer on the edge of tears. I give her credit for swinging back so fast.

"Aside from the massive pile of corpses, we passed earlier?" I replied dryly. I wasn't trying to sound snarky, but I was naturally a jerk sometimes. Resting Bitch Syndrome was a condition Rose, and I shared. It was a real, crippling disability, I promise.

I went on to explain in response to everyone's inquiring expressions. "I overheard a couple of people talking at the brothel. Several bodies surfaced in the canal over the past few days, twin fang marks on their necks, and drained of all their blood. They also mentioned how vampiric activity was closely tied to Potema. Sybille is always talking about how she was here at the kingdom's inception, and seemed to hold the Wolf Queen in high regard. So I took a chance."

I held up the charm, flicking it over to the daughter of the Radiant Blademaster. I smirked at how she caught it out of the air, all the sword training had sharpened her reflexes well. Laura looked at it questioningly before passing it to Leona. The mage inspected it herself before I continued. "It's made of silver. Except for Higher Vampires, it's the one weakness all creatures of the species share. Burns them like crazy. It would be like one of us holding a burning piece of coal in our hands."

"Hey, I found fang girl's journal." Felecia held up a leather-bound tome, her blue-green eyes flicking to us. Stepping away from the table she'd been examining the entire time as we talked among ourselves. Atta girl, always ahead of the curve. "I read some of it, she's been planning this for a while."

Having finally regained her composure fully, Leona took a striding step forward. She had her hands on her hips were determined fists. Fire blazed in her sky-blue eyes, she was large and in charge once again. Her appeal was increasing to me by the moment. I love that kind of can-do spirit in a woman. "Okay, we have our proof she's part of the Pale Spider, being a vampire is just an added bonus. Let's get out of here and notify Lady Triss and Master Keira. After that, we rally the guards and make for the old Royal Villa. We have to stop them and now!"

Ezra sighed; this portion of the story clearly having weighed heavily on him for years. "We promptly left the dungeons after that. Now that Sybille's true nature had been exposed. It was just a matter of time before the ritual started. Neither of the lady mages was happy to know about it. They had a full battalion of soldiers ready in a matter of minutes. Not to mention Viscount Arseid was notified. The fate of all Temeria was in our hands."

"No pressure then." Raven quipped, leaning forward with his chin in his hand. His finger scratched at the ratty stubble there. "Chucking that silver pendant at her was a slick little move. I bet she wasn't expecting that."

"Yeah, I don't think she liked it very much," Ezra responded with a self-satisfied smile. Mikhail looked at him, his eyes shining. The boy was easily impressed. Didn't matter what Ezra did. The young man was his hero. "Now for the next part of this story, I'm going to have to do a little speculation. Even though Potema's followers had resurrected her she was still just a disembodied spirit. She needed a body to inhabit. Now given she'd been dead for a couple of centuries, it's pretty obvious her own body was little more than a mummified corpse. Besides Potema being extremely powerful, she was also quite vain. She didn't want to be a decrepit lich for the rest of sandblasted eternity. She wanted a living body to inhabit, preferably someone beautiful and young. Which is where Rose came in."

"They kidnapped her for the ritual?" Estelle's horror rose, not believing her poor virgin ears.

"No!" Mikhail gaped, bringing his hands up to his face. "I know you rescued Zero! Right, right?!"

"Yeah, and this was a catalyst for what lead to our departure from Vizima." Ezra's grin widened from ear to ear. He was greatly tempted to leave them in suspense, but he was not so cruel. "None of us were there when the cult grabbed her but knowing Rose and the others involved, the type of people they were. I like to believe it went something along these lines."

No one offered any witty retorts or banter. Most scarily of all, Rita listened in earnest silence. Ezra's smile faded and continued with the utmost serious countenance. Once more they returned in their imaginations to the land scorched by curses of the past: Midgard.

It probably couldn't have been more than a couple minutes since we exposed Sybille as a Bruxa. I imagine she would want to move forward with the ritual right quick after that. Which meant grabbing Rose so they could prepare her as the sacrifice. Now the Datura had a small fenced-off courtyard it's where the girls and their customers could go to…relax in nature as it were. It also contained the garden where the brothel got its fruits and vegetables from. Every week one of the girls would tend to it.

For Rose, it was the one place where she could find peace from her very crummy lot in life. Even if she did hide it behind a tongue a sailor would be proud of. She enjoyed working in the garden. I remember she had this watering can she bought with the very small allowance the girls were given. White, and she painted black flowers on it. It wouldn't be a stretch to say it was one of, if not the only real personal possession she had. I can picture it quite easily, her tending to the flowers before getting a visitor.

"Hey, girl." Indigo greeted, coming out of the Datura through the Kovirian style glass doors. "I figured I'd find you out here." She idly twirled a lock of her violet hair. The elf girl shivered a little, given the lacy black negligee Indigo was sporting didn't provide much warmth. "Now that I thought about it… Your boy, Ezra was quite impressive earlier in how he dealt with Rodger. I guess the one-armed wonder isn't all he's cracked up to me. I doubt anyone will take him as seriously now. Maybe I'll show him a good time when he gets back."

Rose just snorted as she poured some water over the flower. "I don't see why you're wasting your time with a loser like him." She put the watering can aside, using the small trowel to push dirt onto the plants. "He's probably just a dumb virgin who doesn't even know how to unhook a bra. He would probably poke his eye out and start crying like a bitch."

"If he has that kind of problem, then we just need to teach him," Indigo stated the simple solution. She made a casual, almost dismissive gesture. I got the impression the two of them bantered like this all the time. Probably also proved that Indigo was slightly smarter than Rose, if only by a couple brain cells.

"I told you already, I don't have time for losers like him!" Rose growled as she used the trowel to slice up the roots of some annoying weeds. She took out her great frustration on those poor plants with peerless viciousness. "He probably has a small dick anyway. The stupid virgin."

Indigo just frowned slightly, continuing to twirl her hair. "I find that hard to believe. He seems pretty cute from where I'm standing. Not to mention I recall you eyeing him the other day when he was talking with that bard girl, Fianna. Yeah, he is really attractive. Almost as much you Rosie dear." She said teasingly, letting out a playful laugh. "Are you afraid he'll get all the attention and leave you alone?"

Rose threw her a menacing glare, not amused in the slightest. Indigo should have known after years of being colleagues Rose was not to shyly pale from a simple thing. What she didn't know was that I was a touchy subject for her. Love, and hate were two sides of the same coin. As unlikely as it seemed, the coin landed on its edge when it came to me.

"Oh, what the fuck do you know, dummy?" She snapped. Her words were as sharp as the crack of a slave master's knout. But Indigo was unfazed. "I told you already I don't give a flying rat shit about him! Fuck, he can take it up the ass from Dandelion for all I care!"

"Oh please! He has way better standards than that! You really want to put Ezra in the same league as that stupid fop, Dandelion!" Indigo was revulsed by the notion, glaring in return at her companion none too harshly. "The last thing I want to do is share a bed with him, great bard or not. I already had to endure his ranting once this week when the Madame made me have dinner with him. I was about to puke."

"Is that a fact? Because I recall that night as well and you were quite eager for his company, given the way you were jerking him off back here." Indigo froze, eyes wide like a deer caught in spell light. It was Rose's turn to be scum. Her voice was laced with cold, clear venom. "And since you mentioned the Madame she slipped on the cum puddle you two left behind." She groaned in frustration. "If only she had landed on her pencil-thin neck instead of her fat old ass!"

"I think Rodger would love that neck with his choking fetish." Her hand instinctively came up to her neck. "He already did it to me once a couple weeks ago. I pale to think what would have happened if Ezra hadn't come and saved me."

"So glad you have personal experience," Rose grunted out, her face contorting in disgust. Indigo just gave a short humph, sticking her nose in the air, going back inside with a huff. And with that, she was out there in the courtyard alone.

She breathed. Rose suddenly felt the sting of loneliness yet again. It was a cold, unrelenting feeling she believed she had gotten used to. It wouldn't be something anyone could truly cast aside. "There I go again, pushing everyone away with hurtful words. It seems like that's all I do anymore. The buttslut was actually trying to be nice to me, and I just keep throwing out the mean-spirited jokes. Not that it wasn't a good put down, but I don't know when to stop. Especially with…him."

A frustrated shriek cut through the night air as the watering can went flying thanks to a well-timed Rose kick before smashing into the fence. "Why? Why the fuck do I think of him?" Tears were starting to fall now. "He left all alone in that shithole, Rulid. And then he just waltzes back into my life, thinking he's some kind of hero. Fuck him!" She screamed to the sky. "Fuck him for making me think I can be happy!" My heart aches to think she might have said that. Even now I would love to take it back…but I can't.

Having worked it out of her system, Rose looked for her watering can, now with a massive dent in the side. I think it must have broken her heart to see it like that. She had saved every last copper to buy it, and now it was a mess. Forgive me for being biased. I want to think Rose cried a little when that happened. "Damn it, why am I such a pathetic mess?"

"I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that question, girlie." Rose's tears stopped in a minute. She looked around the courtyard for the source of the voice. Here comes Ronan in his hooded leather armor. I think a person's first impression of him would be some kind of an executioner or a bondage slave, knowing Rose she assumed the latter. "I'll give you this much, there is one thing we have in common. We're really good at destroying things we love." Rose's response was to scream and chuck the dented watering can at this intruder. He just idly leaned to one side, letting it sail harmlessly over the fence.

"Just for the record, you missed." Rose stood defiantly, giving him the best glower she could muster. That registered a small, amused chuckle out of Ronan. "You're feisty and full of hatred. You only know how to expresses yourself by destroying things. Respect. My kind of woman if I had to be honest. I have to say I feel the whole loner bitch thing. If you're interested, I can take you away from all this. I know some people who would readily accept you."

The man in black took a step forward, offering out his hand to her. Rose only slapped away the suspect black-gloved hand.

"Fuck you, you limp-dicked gimp!" Rose snarled, narrowing her reddish eyes dangerously. "I'm perfectly content in my own little slice of misery. I don't need others butting in. You even take a single step near me and I'll scream my damn lungs out. Rodger and his goons may be a collective pile of crap, but they'll kick your ass all the same." This just earned her hollow laughter from Ronan. "What's so fucking goddamn funny?"

"Ah, ah, ah! No cursing young lady!" He mockingly waved his finger about as if scolding a small child. She could only imagine his smug, perverse grin behind the mask. "Your top-notch security team who's currently all blackout drunk? You're betting on the wrong horse, honey. No one is coming to rescue you."

"Although there was that one guy," He mused informally, bringing up his hand to his chin. He packed back, and forth a few steps as he spoke. "He probably would have been the one to save you, but unfortunately, he's preoccupied at the moment. Good taste in armor but horrible taste in poetry, Dandelion is overrated in my book."

The moment of levity vanished, and his voice became icier as he came to face her once more. Those purple eyes reminding Rose of her friend. Only these violet-colored sapphires contained no warmth. Vast darkness engulfed her as she stared into them.

A chill ran down her spine. There was no way this guy could be bribed, reasoned with, or avoided. All control was surely his, and he unquestionably knew it. Ronan loved it. He got off on it with gusto. Also, possibly with a crusty sock in private Rose believed.

That is why he deigned to speak with her at all instead of just doing whatever he intended with her. It was a game to him. And she was a toy for his amusement. Such was ultimate her lot in life.

"Now the way I see it," He plainly informed Rose. "You can come with me willingly or we can do this the hard way. It's your choice."

Anger rose above her despair. Despite her absolute disadvantage, she wouldn't give this fruitcake the pleasure of seeing her cower for even a second.

Rose flipped him off, I'm certain of it. Ronan let out a resigned sigh. "Fine, I tried to be nice to you. But if you want to be a bitch." He vanished before Rose's eyes, faster than she could blink before a sharp sense of pain bloomed in the lower part of her neck. Her strings cut; the girl went limp into Ronan's arms.

"I'll treat you like a bitch." He slung Rose over his shoulder with ease. She was heavier than Ronan realized, not that he would say it to her face, given she out cold. "You know if you had just complied, you would have been welcomed as a queen because that's what you're going to become in a short time."

Ronan shrugged, sarcastically muttering. "Oh well, not everyone can accept greatness so readily."

He pulled out his grappling hook out, leveling it on the nearest rooftop. There was a metallic clang, and Ronan took off into the sky. He landed on the tiled roof with a graceful acrobatic flip. It was effortless even with the weight of another person literally on his shoulders.

He regarded the city in the moment, watching all the people of Vizima milling about. One of Ronan's hobbies was people watching from the rooftops. Truthfully, he was fascinated by humanity in general. So innocuous at the best of times, so ignorant. Capable of the basest of kindness, and the greatest cruelty. Sometimes in concert, he thought in bemusement.

"You'll all come to regret your king's choice soon enough, people of Temeria," he said in a dark murmur. Raising his hand to the castle grand in the distance, his hand closing until it was metaphorically crushed between his leather-clad fingers. "Things will change. And you will know the of the hell of reckoning."

Ronan closed his eyes. He imagined all the fire and screaming of the people. The cracking of the flames he saw within his mind was like a song in his heart. It warmed his black heart, truly. Yes, this was how things should be. Chaos incarnate in motion was all he wished to see.

His eyes snapped open, revealing chilly jewels of dark purple. A cruel smile tugged at his lips. This would become the reckoning that would change the shape of things to come.