"Mmm...," I wake slowly, feeling very weak. It isn't uncommon, so I just let myself continue to wake up as I always do when the weakness overtakes me. But, I hear voices. Normally I hide myself when the old ailment overtakes me.

"If Gaya was alone she'd have easily survived a situation like that because she's one of the Grey Bird tribe's greatest warriors."

Gaya? My eyes finally open. The world is a little hazy still, but then so is my mind. I'm trying to understand. Why would Gaya's name have been said in my hearing?

"But Noriko is just a girl. I'm worried about what happened to her in all the confusion."

What? Memory floods through me and I'm pushing up as fast as I can. "What are you discussing?" I ask, but I'm brought up short as chains clank and my hands don't part far at all. My wrists are bound with steel cuffs, chained together.

I look around. "What's this?" My ankles are also bound in the same way, and I'm in a stone room with a dirt floor, alone. I turn and look the other way and there are bars as the fourth wall. Across a hallway is another room like mine. Sitting in it are an old distinguished gentleman and three young men. They must be the ones who were talking. "Where am I?" I ask.

"We're in the prison cells of Nada's castle," they tell me.

I scowl and push up to sit up, my head reeling still just a little. I think I don't like the man who poisoned me. I very much don't like Nada, who will lock someone up for not wanting to hurt someone else, and having better things to do with their time. I put my hand to my head, not liking that the other hand must come with to dangle in the air.

Either they're afraid of me, or wish to humiliate me and teach me a "lesson". I suppose if they believe I have supernatural powers like that man, they may believe I might be dangerous to them. They aren't wrong, so I let it sit a cold ember for now. I have things I need to know first, and more recovery time before I can act anyway.

"You were talking about Gaya and Noriko just now. Can you tell me what happened? I know them. I was just there."

They take turns telling me their story. The gentleman introduces them. "I'm Grand Duke Jeida de Gilenee. These are my sons, Rontarna and Koriki. I'm the Duke of the Left Wing, but because I believe that peace is more important than war, and helping our people our duty rather than greed, others in the government have framed me for being the one to instigate the rebels.

"I and my family fled our home two nights ago. Banadam is a member of the Grey Bird tribe. He took us to the town to see if Gaya would let us spend the night there. He hoped she would be another sword to defend us, and we might not be found."

"We were going to leave the next morning, but somehow we were discovered and the troops attacked the shop in the middle of the night," Rontarna says, a scowl on his face.

"We've been brought here in secret, kept political prisoners in Nada's castle until dad's rival, Grand Duke Kemil, can arrive to do whatever he wants to get rid of the thorn in his side," Koriki is very angry. His father tries to calm him.

"I'm sure Gaya wasn't captured," Banadam says. "I didn't see Noriko during the fighting, so Gaya probably had her hide away somewhere. Likely she'll keep watching over her." He looks like he's trying to talk himself into believing it.

"When was that?" I ask.

"Last night. You were brought here this afternoon. It's sometime into the night now," Duke Jeida answers.

I try to work through the timing. If they were captured the first night after I left Noriko there (so fast!) but I heard her later that morning, then she was unharmed during the battle and it was a different fear. Or was she taken and being tortured later that morning?

I'm suddenly a mess inside at that thought. They don't seem to think that was a possibility, though, so I try to calm back down. Still, it's a worry and I can't know as long as I'm chained in here.

I try to pull the chain apart, but I still don't have access to my powers. My body will have to recover first from the poison. It's irritating. Some guards have come to check on us and I ignore them, resting while I can and have to.

As I rest, to my mind comes the image of Noriko as she looked at me with those eyes that were angry and sad, beginning to tear with lonely despair as she answered my questions. I'm sorry, Noriko. If I've allowed you to be captured by them, harmed by them... If I had known that this would have happened because I left you, I would never have left you to begin with.

To think that I might have moved us even closer to our undesired destiny in trying to protect us from it cuts me. I put my head on my arm, propped up by my knee, and grieve.

There is no way for me to know if a choice I make takes me a step towards Destruction or away from it. No one can see it. I can only do what I think is best and I'm failing at every turn. My mind gives up and I can only wish to see Noriko again, to know that she's safe and I haven't done more harm than I thought I would in leaving her behind.

Dawn comes into my cell through a barred window high above where I sit. I would leave out of it if I had my power back. I wish the drug would wear off faster. I'm probably more recovered than they would expect, since I do recover faster than normal men, but it's still taking too long for me.

Then I have a new thought. I wonder...if I can call Noriko? I heard her voice. Could I also talk to her? I think of her again, picturing her, and put my whole desire to know how she is into the asking. I'm sure she was doing the same when she called me, that she was very frightened and wanting me to be with her very badly. I try to see her next to me and call for her. "Noriko."

Nothing happens. I try again, saying her name a little louder. "Noriko." I want to know so badly that she's still alive, still herself. If she is taken, I want to know where so I can find her.

I suddenly hear, "Izark, I'm here." To my wondering eyes comes a vision. Noriko is kneeling up on a cloth. Near her are Gaya, a man, and a little girl. It looks like they're eating a meal.

"Noriko! I can see you!" I say in surprise.

"Yes, I can see you also. Are you okay?" she asks.

"I'm fine. Are you okay?" I ask.

"Hey! What are you spacing out for!" There's a slam on the bars of my cell that interrupts my connection to Noriko and I'm suddenly only seeing the cell ...and the last person I want to be seeing - Lord Nada. He has guards with him and they're all looking at me. Two hold the spears of the prison guards. Three are fighters, both of the ones sent after me yesterday and one other. "Lord Nada is here to visit you. Treat him with respect!"

I glare at them. Nada chuckles, holding his folded fan to his chin as if he needs it to protect him, to keep his head attached to his body. "What's wrong? You don't look well, poor fellow. Now you know what happens when you disobey me, eh?"

Pompously he says, "I am Nada. I will be the next king. But you don't seem to know that, dolt. Now you understand how great my power is and how stupid you are, right?" He laughs an oily, horrible laugh.

You ...insect. I turn away from him, not caring what he has to say. I'm angry they interrupted before I could learn from Noriko what happened, but she seemed fine. If she's with Gaya now, and they can eat peacefully, then perhaps it was something someone else was able to take care of - maybe that man. I would be grateful if he was one who was willing to help a girl who was being attacked.

I'm surprised I could see her, and she could see me. I only heard her before. "- ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME, YOU IDIOT!"

I turn back to the screaming insect. It doesn't matter what he'd been saying. He still wants me to fight because once he's decided it will happen, it has to happen. "I lost my strength, thanks to the drug that guy behind you gave me. I'm in no condition to fight." Not that I'd be willing regardless.

"He'll be fine by tomorrow, Sir," the man answers calmly.

The other man who confronted me first leans over Nada's shoulder to speak to him. "Lord Nada?"

"Barago?" Nada asks.

"He doesn't seem to realize the seriousness of his situation. Look at how arrogant he is... He doesn't even know he's being rude to you."

He has egged Nada. "Hmm. You're right."

"Shouldn't we teach him a lesson?" The man wants to beat on me while I'm still weak for putting him on the floor at the tavern.

Nada motions to the guards, willing to see more pain dealt out given any excuse. One unlocks my cell and Barago enters it. Stupid. "Apologize to Lord Nada," Barago demands. I give them silence. "Kneel before him!" Barago yells at me. I don't move.

He grabs my hair and slams my head into the ground and is kneeling on my back. "It upsets me to see a lowly swordsman being so rude to a nobleman!" Yeah, right. You just want a reason to beat on people, too. "You're garbage! You hear me?! Nothing but garbage!" His hand begins to squeeze my head painfully.

"Hey, you're heavy," I say calmly, then I move, pushing up with my hands to kick up with my feet, throwing Barago off of me. "Get off my back!" I kick him in the face, making him fall back.

"Y-you swine!" He's up and coming for me again. "You think just because you got lucky yesterday..."

I don't let him finish as I dodge his reaching hand and slam his forehead with the top of my head. He cries out and stumbles back.

While he's staggering, I surge forward and snatch his sword from its sheath, swing it around and point it at Barago's throat. He's pressed up against the far wall, fearing for his life. That reaction tells me that Nada regularly has losers pay with their lives. Likely this one's killed many of his own share.

Because I haven't followed through, Barago clenches his teeth to his fear. "You sneak. You lied about not being able to fight."

"I didn't lie," I disagree. "It took a lot of effort to do that." Similar to the fight in Calco, actually. I'm almost out of breath and if he were to rush me we'd be in a reverse situation.

"What are you doing!? Kill him. I give you my permission to do so." Nada urges me.

"That nobleman wants me to kill you. Do you want to die?" I think Barago is rethinking his life. He shakes his head, not wanting that at all.

"Okay then, I won't kill you," I lower the sword point from his neck, but keep hold of the sword. "I thought of using you as a hostage to get myself out of here but it looks like that won't work."

Nada's disappointed. Good. "That's okay," he says, "you defeated Barago well. It was good fighting. I'll reward you with a bag of gold. Let me say this again. I plan to host a royal tournament at my castle in two days. All my warriors will take part. I want you in it, too. You'll be free of the drug's effects by then, right?

"If you win, I'll reward you with twenty bags of gold and the highest position in the palace guard. Don't you want the prize? It would be a shame not to use your skills."

Even in not giving him what he wanted, I gave him what he wanted to begin with - a fight against Barago. I sigh at myself. "I don't want the palace guard position. If you promise to set me free, however, I'll fight in your tournament. I don't think it's a bad deal for you." I think we're both lying to each other, but I want at least an admission he might let me go, and I think he wants to see even more what I can do now when I'm not weakened.

"Very well," he agrees, preparing to leave. "I haven't asked for your name yet."

"Izark."

"Chief Chamberlain! Move this man to a cell in the main building, but keep him chained," Nada orders the man behind him.

"Yes, Sir!"

Duke Jeida and his sons and guard are watching from the other cell, standing out of concern. Nada turns and sees them. "Well. Here you are, Jeida. ...'Former' Duke of the Left Wing. You used to criticize me. What a whiner!" He gets a sudden expression of delight on his face. "I have a great idea. I'll invite you to the tournament. You're such a coward that you hate the sight of blood, right?"

The duke tries to address Nada, but Nada turns around suddenly and begins to walk out of the prison. "I'm going to town. You take care of the rest of the preparations for the tournament, okay?" The chamberlain bows. "Orne! Kaidar! Come with me." The two fighters follow Nada out.

"Hmph. Lord Nada isn't speaking to you anymore, Barago," the chamberlain touts over the man still in the cell with me.

Barago grits his teeth, but this must also be common for Nada, to act like a man has already died even if he wasn't killed. I turn to the guards outside the cell and drop his sword through the bars. "I'd rather he not take his revenge with that," I say. The guard smirks and picks it up and they chivy him out of my cell and relock it.

"Are you going to be okay?" Rontarna asks after the guards are gone, the Chamberlain gone with them to set up things for moving me.

"I'll be fine," I answer. I give a small smirk. "It'll be easier to escape from there than from here." They give me knowing looks and whisper wishes of good fortune. If they're going to be there to watch it, I wonder if there's a way to earn their freedom as well. I'll have to keep my ears open for possibilities. It would be a shame for Zago to lose a man as good as Duke Jeida.

-o-o-o-

Lord Nada's castle is opulent, no expenses spared, even for his warriors. Barago is still around, but in the background unless he's being teased by the other warriors. My room is sparse. A cabinet and a bed, with a simple candle on the cabinet. It's sufficient for me, who won't be here long.

They post two guards at my door, but they return my bag to me. It's been looted, but my clothes are still in it. I'm glad I didn't have very much earnings saved up yet.

I do hope to find my sword and knife again, though. ...Or any sword and knife. I suppose I could just take any one I find here in the castle when I go, since he's willing to pay me twenty bags of gold to beat all of his warriors. I'm sure he doesn't expect me to be able to do it. If I bother to, I'll be sure he pays properly.

I try many times over that day and into the next to get in contact with Noriko again, but nothing I do works. Perhaps I'm no longer worried enough. There isn't the same sort of emotion or need to talk to her now. I would like to know where she is, though, so I know where to go when I get out of here.

The chamberlain fetches me at the end of the day and has the guards escort us to the baths. That's just as opulent as the rest of the castle. I'm feeling very pampered, actually, except I still have the restraining chains on my hands and feet. I bide my time. I can break out of them any time now. I'm considering leaving tonight, actually. No need to be here to feed Nada's sick soul.

On the return to my room I'm teased - from a distance - by the warriors hanging around the courtyard of the sleeping quarters. "Hey, hey! Doesn't he look like a princess accompanied by her guards?"

"Hee-hee! He's even chained and held at sword point." It's spears, but whatever.

"Poor guy. He doesn't know what's gonna happen to him at the tournament tomorrow."

"Look! That's ...Barago."

"He's carrying a bottle of liquor, that jerk. Drunk again!"

Barago is suddenly running at me with a battle-cry. He slams me against the wall of the hallway. The guards are yelling at him, but because he can put them on the floor, they only verbally protest. "Because of you, I... I... crap!" He's shoving something between my belt and my clothes, surprising me. "Aw, hell. I've worked so hard to get where I am!" He's loudly complaining, but only acting drunk so he can get close to me like this.

The guards request help from the other warriors. They swarm Barago and pull him off of me, throwing him to the ground and kicking him. They turn their teasing attention to him for their entertainment and the guards hurry me into my room. Barago takes it, I notice as the door closes, as if he is too far gone drunk and depressed to fight back.

When I'm sure the guards are going to ignore me, I fish behind my belt and pull out the paper.

I wanted to be a big shot. I could'a been a contender! I've worked so hard all my life! But look at me. I have become a man who takes advantage of other people's weaknesses just to score points. What a loser I am! I've become a hideous person. To make things worse I was happy to serve an insect like Nada.

When I realized the mistakes I've made in my life, I needed to atone for my errors. That's what I want to do now. Let me make it clear that I still hate you. It's up to you whether you believe me or not, but I tell you this: You'll be forced to fight seventeen men at once including me at the tournament tomorrow.

I crumple the note in my hand. I see. So that's why I didn't sense that he wanted to kill me. I set the note on fire while holding it in my hand and scatter the fine ashes on the floor as if they're just more dust for the maid to clean up after I'm gone.

"Izark." It can't be, can it? I've been trying so hard.

"Noriko!?" I don't answer aloud this time. I don't want the guards to hear my voice. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Izark." I'm relieved she heard me. She says a lot of words in a hurry, but I understand. We only saw each other for a short time last time. I'm not interrupted this time, though. "We are at an inn outside the stadium, Gaya, Geena, and I. Geena's father, Agol, is in the castle with you. He is there to free Grand Duke Jeida, his two sons, and guard Banadam...and you. Please use him. He has agreed to it. He will be the newest of Nada's guard. He won today's tournament."

"Agol?" I confirm the name I need to remember.

"Yes."

If Barago really wants to atone, I wonder if he would help us, too. He would know where the man who can control wind rooms. If I could use his poison, we could escape easily. It's very helpful now that Nada has "invited" the duke to watch the tournament. "There's also another fighter here who wants to help. I think I know how we can get free. Meet us outside the city." We'll have to all leave in a hurry. The plans build up in my mind.

"Gaya wants us to go to the next country over, Guzena, to hide with her sister. Geena is a seer, even though she is a child. She says we should go through the white mist woods."

I blink in surprise. I wouldn't mind talking to another seer to understand how things are now that Noriko's here. Having a place to go far from here is good, too. I'm now trying to not hope too much. From the heartache to easy relief is rather a wide stretch to walk in one leap. "That's north. We'll meet you there, on that side of the town," I instruct her.

"Okay."

I'm grateful that she's been kept safe and there are those who are protecting her. I'm finally able to relax. I'll be able to face tomorrow without worries.