A:N So this chapter is a bit more OC driven, but it's very important, because this chapter sets the foundation for what is about to come!

Also just wanted to point out that the anniversary for the Vermillion Harvest series, I didn't realize my one year tenure mark had snuck up on me but here we are! Thanks to all those who have supported me and took the time out of their busy lives to read and review this story! You guys keep me going!


Chapter 16

Secret Combinations

We now go to a different time and a different place. To the time in which Holo and Ranger shook hands in partnership in the backwoods of Valenfurt and made plans to rescue Lawrence. For while they conceded to the binding terms of partnership their enemies were appropriating their agenda as well. For Jurgen and Cyrus Aswadi had parted ways hence from the mansion of De Buhr which we alas discovered is in Yoites.

A day's ride east by carriage from the mansion a small tribal settlement could be found among the frosted pines rooted deep within the frozen sod that was blanketed by a heavy veil of white snow. The huts and yurts that composed it were made of fine and durable animal skins, ones such used by the simple nomad but much more sturdier and permanently fixed to the environment.

The people who occupied it were unlike any inhabitant that had ever been encountered in the cities and towns Holo and Lawrence had ever visited. Their complexions were not as that of the driven snow. Their skin was more deeply colored than that of the people of the south and their hair was jet black and long, be it man, woman or child. They kept themselves garbed in the furs and skins of beasts while the hairs of their heads were ornamented with the feathers of great birds such as the eagle, hawk or raven.

A young man of this mysterious tribe walked about the perimeter of his home armed with a makeshift spear compiled of wood and stone, who looked out to the horizon and saw moving among the panorama of the forrest fence a sleigh pulled by a team of horses gaining speed. The young brave readied his spear and called out in a foreign tongue for assistance.

He was then grouped with two others of the same age bearing arms of their own. Bow and arrow, tomahawk and spear were now set on this traveling sleigh that was now coming to a stop not ten feet from where they were standing. The driver dismounted and opened up the side door to the sleigh allowing a man who wore a thick brown overcoat and scarf to descend it's small steps and face the trio of bewildered warriors.

It was none other than the treacherous Jurgen De Buhr whose conscience had long since been casted away from him and who still had the foreboding combination of elegance and terror entwined in his mannerisms. With a hand sternly placed behind his back he walked up to the band of guardians who made advancements with their weapons and warned in their own language to not take another step closer.

Jurgen who took this as nothing short of a feeble slander replied to them in the dialect in which they used, "I demand an audience with your high chieftain."

One scoffed to another, "Who is this pale face and what business and right does he have with the great Sawatii tribe?"

De Buhr, who was under the confines of time, said, "I am he who has been a high disciple of Yanu since before the times of your birth. Those who are allies of the mighty bear spirit would do well not to hinder me."

One retaliated in anger, "He offends the great Irawa Weir Muheddhund by saying her name. Such desecration of the mighty moon hunting bear is worthy of death!"

Jurgen rolled his eyes at the audacity of youth with more annoyance than fear of threat and said sharply, "And those who waist my time will find a fate that exceeds above and beyond the sorrows of death, now step aside!"

The driver then came along side his master with a sword drawn and whispered to De Buhr, "Shall I dispose of these savages sir?"

It was then that another individual came on scene and immediately rebuked the three braves and sent them on their way, then approached De Buhr and expressed frigid apologies.

He was a rather menacing looking fellow with a mohawk hair style, bear tooth earring that dangled from the left ear lobe and war paint on his face; one black strip horizontal across the eyes and three red stripes coming down like claw marks on both sides of his cheeks.

Jurgen saluted him with a dignified bow of the head and said in a tone of one who would address a long lost acquaintance, "Ah Korihan, thank you for your intervention, I seek an audience with Yanaguski."

Korihan squinted and replied rather coldly, "What business have you with our chieftain?"

Jurgen was beginning to come to his wits end with questions he did not feel obligated to answer and quickly rejoined, "Never you mind! You will take me to him and no questions asked."

Korihan stepped closer and gritted his teeth, "You should be wary Nukpana, any pale face who invades our borders shall find their blood spilt to fertilize our lands."

Jurgen quickly snapped, "You of all should know why I am exempt from your swift and terrible justice, now show me the way or you will find how I enact mine."

Korihan scowled a moment before beckoning with his body language and saying begrudgingly, "This way."

Straightening the hems of his costume, De Buhr huffed and allowed himself to be escorted through the village. There was much confusion and hateful glances of both fear and resentment from the inhabitants that witnessed Jurgen's passage. He however found these glances to be a nuisance to his character, for he found himself to be the more superior specimen of man, as it always is with the corrupt and narrow minded. Though lord De Buhr was all of these things and more, we was never to be taken as a fool.

He passed through a tarp made of deer hide which lead into a grand teepee that was large enough to be considered a great hall of sorts. A lit fire served as the center piece and at the end of it was the chief who sat upon a mat of bear skins with a staff upright in his hand with a decorated human skull that was mounted to the top and leather straps and beads tied off to it.

Korihan bowed before his leader while Jurgen simply looked about with impatience and paid no such respect. Casting away the ritual ceremony of presenting an audience aside, he stepped forward and said, "Yanaguski, were is Inola? I must speak with you both."

The chief slanted his head and replied, "Nukpana? You forget your place in my village. You may be great among the pale face, but here you are a guest."

Jurgen then replied, "I have come here for your support for a great prey I have been hunting."

"You have no prey we are interested in hunting."

An eyebrow lifted, revealing the piercing gaze of his icy, blue eyes, "The last link of Helushka's bloodline has been found."

The chieftain suddenly arose and responded with seriousness, "You are certain of this?"

"Aye."

Yanaguski turned towards Korihan and spoke in their native tongue for a moment. Korihan bowed and departed leaving the two esteemed leaders a moment to themselves.

"How do you know for sure?" asked the chief.

"Her name is Holo, her fur is a brown and white and she has the ability to make wheat grow fast and tall."

Yanaguski nodded in contemplation, just then the flap of the entrance parted and in walked a woman who quickly ran to his side. She looked upon Jurgen for a moment then began to converse with the chief in their dialect. Jurgen could decipher their words; they were speaking of what had just been communicated with the final question of what was drawing the wolf deity to their parts of the world.

"She is not alone either." said Jurgen which caught the attention of the couple.

"Who does she travel with?" asked Inola.

Jurgen then spoke to them both in the language of their people and informed them on everything that his knowledge could empower them with. Inola began to grow resentful with each new piece of information while Yanaguski listened in silence and was becoming more compelled with each passing moment.

"Matchitehew!" cursed Inola.

"Why do you come to us with this?" said Yanaguski.

Jurgen then said, "Because it is too great a hunt for myself. I come to seek a union with the Sawatii, and call upon the Chinua who watch over them to aid us in this quest."

"I cannot call away our guardians from my people!" protested Yanaguski with typical defense for those he was called to provide sanctuary for.

"If you do not, then the Kahotoe will find her first, and you know what risk that could bring to your people."

The chieftain gridded his teeth and let out an obscenity in his native tongue then addressed De Buhr, "But if I send my braves into their territory then it will be war and ruin between us!"

"And if you do nothing.' reminded Jurgen, 'then you let your greatest enemy have all the power over you."

He then turned to the woman who was holding herself to the chieftain and vexing silently to herself, "Inola, think back to that day and how your heart was crippled. Are you going to allow the death of your loved ones to be in vain?"

The woman only lowered her head and trembled while the blonde turned to the chief and said, "What would the great Yanu think when she returns, that you, her most devout followers did nothing to prevent her enemies from growing stronger?"

Yanaguski said nothing as Jurgen began to pace pack and forth in a gentleman like fashion, for even elegance can prove to be a tool for a tyrant.

"You see, unlike you, I have exhausted and dedicated my life in service to Irawa Weir Muheddhund, though my means may be questionable they have been effective. You see while you have been tucked up in the safest place you can imagine, I have been expanding an empire and attempting to continue the work of Yanu. Many a deity have been found and killed due to my efforts. The Sawatii have been on the Kenrou doorstep for decades if not centuries, you have always had the means to go out and fight for what you believe in, and have you? No, you have stayed here under the self fulfilling delusion that you are powerful and wise when our god would see you as nothing more than lazy and cowardice when finding out you have never attempted once to reach your arm beyond your own borders. And never forget the reason you have been relatively left alone up until now, simply ask some of the members of the Myuri mercenary group when they ventured just a little too far off. It would be a shame if now of all crucial times, my time and resources suddenly stopped acting in the best interests of your people."

The chief averted his eyes as if overcome by fear and guilt while Jurgen strode up to him and said in a hostile whisper, "Considering my sacrifices compared to yours, I believe I am in the right when I call on you to provide for me the best you can offer…..and I do feel that I am entitled to it."

After a long and uncomfortable silence, Yanaguski turned to Inola and said, "Summon the Chinua and tell Korihan to ready the scouts."

A sickening smile creased upon the lips of De Buhr who slyly responded, "There, I am glad you were able to see things from my perspective."

Inola quitted the teepee leaving Yanaguski to converse more with Jurgen alone.

"How shall we find the prey?"

"More details shall came to pass in it's due time, for we must wait for Holo and the ungodly one to draw a bit closer to our reach. But fear not my friend, have I not always been there for you in other times of peril? I will not utterly let you stand against this threat alone for I, like always, will be lending you additional support."


Within the poorly lit dungeons of De Buhr's mansion whose hallways have carried the reverberations of agonizing human screams countless times and walls that were painted with the blood of the unfortunate victims who were on the ill side of Jurgen's wrath, there was yet more pernicious activity happening to two individuals who were nearly forgotten in this story. One was being held up off the ground by his shoulder while having to hear the snapping belts of a whip lash the back of the other accompanied by his cries of pain to add to his own discomfort.

It was the ill fated Lawrence and Matthias who were undergoing reconditioning for being at ends with their host. The beatings against Matthias persisted until his lips fell silent. The whip master coiled up his whip and pulled back the man's head to see that the pain and duration of torture caused him to faint.

"He has passed out." said the guard who then turned to Lawrence and addressed, "I grow tired of this."

Lawrence suddenly found the stress on his shoulders alleviated which flooded his entire body with unbearable soreness as he was let down. He let out a cry of turmoil as his freedom of movement did not go without punishment. Stiffly sitting himself up and locking his arms in front of him, he watched his cell mate get unchained from the wall.

They dropped the comatose Matthias with a lifeless thump with as much regard one would have for an inanimate object. One of the jail keeps who had been present looked upon Lawrence's tormented state and merely reminded, "You know what you must do if you wish for this to end."

Lawrence looked up while being overcome in agony, "If you wish for my lips to loosen then why was it not me chained to the wall?"

With a dismal complexion he was responded with, "That is an excellent question isn't it?"

The torturers then left the dungeon leaving the two alone and miserable. Lawrence took a moment to relish in the hour of peace as he gazed upon Matthias who lay as a limp rag upon the ground, his ribs weakly moving up and down. With painful grunts he began to shift over to him, the transit was nigh unbearable for he could not have the full motion of his arms due to the soreness that plagued him.

Eventually he made himself over to the incapacitated sufferer and lifted him up and cradled his head. Lawrence began to lightly tap his face and call out the name of the man to whom he was tending to but Matthias was not responding to any stimulus, he lay motionless in the arms of Lawrence, as if faintly clinging to life.

Though relieved he was that the torture had at last stopped, his mind began to worry insufferably for what the following day would bring. He sorrowed not only at his own discomfort but what had befallen his comrade. His back was gnarled with red stripes that secreted blood while the wound above his right leg was becoming more inflamed. More lamentable was when Lawrence pondered the last things the torturers had told him.

He then realized why Matthias was enduring the worst of it. Jurgen had discovered a more coax-able weakness in the man. His good nature. Indeed a man could talk if he were beaten into submission, but to truly break a man is to attack his heart. And the knowledge that another was suffering on his account drew Lawrence to tears.

"I'm sorry…." is all he could muster to say in his despair.

An idea came upon him to alleviate the guilt, and that was to reduce the severity of Matthias's injuries. He looked around and found nothing to wash away the whip marks. He felt the body of Matthias beginning to quiver, the lack of temperature apparently was having an effect on him despite being incoherent.

In response, Lawrence withdrew his shirt and wrapped up the topless torso in it. Looking upon the injured leg, he tore the sleeve off and tied a quick tourniquet around it then shared their body heat by holding him close.

After a moment's passing in silence, the door unhinged and in walked an individual who carried with him a small bowl. Lawrence looked upon him inquisitively but was far beyond any condition to move briskly. Thoughts of overpowering the individual crossed his mind but he was still well enough in reason to conclude that would be futile. The man most likely had a standby should an outbreak be attempted while also Lawrence had no means to navigate his way out of the mansion for he knew not it's layout.

The bowl was placed before the tortured souls, which held a small portion of unsightly water that had not even enough moisture to slake a lone man's thirst. When Lawrence saw the face of the man who brought this unsanitary sustenance to them he spoke with fatigued astonishment.

"Wait a minute…I know you…."

Startled, the individual fixated himself upon the former merchant with a perplexed gaze. He was a young man of about ten and six years of age.

"I was on the raft with you." said the young man who quickly turned to leave.

Lawrence however stopped him with the force of his own words, "No, I knew you before that. Three days ago you were in an alley in Nyohhira; me, my wife and the man who nearly killed you."

The young man shuddered at the memory of nearly loosing his life that day if not for the mercy of the man who held the blade to his throat. He brushed off his sleeves and turned around to leave, but as he got to the door he heard Lawrence speak.

"You know I was about your age when I became a merchant…."

The young man turned his head towards him and debated whether or not he should stay or listen.

"Before that I was an apprentice in Ruvenhaigen with the Rowen trading guild. I remember I would get into all sorts of mischief with my friends. Hitting the taverns or sneaking out to the brothels with the money the guild was making. But I could never imagine myself taking part in something like this at your age."

The young man looked down with his eyes and failed to meet Lawrence's as he said, "I'm just doing what I feel to be right."
Lawrence slanted is head, "What's your name?"

The lad raised his eyes to his and said cautiously, "Emilio."

"Tell me Emilio, where is your family?"

Being slightly reluctant he answered, "My mother died giving birth to me, my father blamed me for it which sparked the resentment of my siblings. But that is fine because I am accepted here."

Lawrence nodded then added, "So by fate you had a rough go at being apart of a family, do you feel it is right to have that made up for by destroying some else's?"

Emilio became defensive, "It's not like that, I just do what Lord De Buhr wants of me, we all do."

"How did you even come by him?"

The boy bit his lower lip and averted his gaze before answering, "I ran away from home and he found me, he took me in."

Lawrence did not need the ears of his wife to know that was not entirely the truth as he focused his soft gaze upon him and asked, "And what are you to him?"

"An apprentice…"

Lawrence smirked somewhat, "I know the difference between an apprentice and an indentured servant."

Emilio refuted that pronunciation with a disinclined respire and said sharply, "Jurgen rewards hard work and those who prove themselves to him."

Lawrence still had the upper hand in his own logic and reasoning which was far superior to the lad's maturity, " Even if what he asks could get you killed? Why follow so blindly?"

The boy clenched his hands into fists and growled with faltering adherence to what he perceived to be right and wrong, "Because I am loyal!"

Lawrence leaned forward and said softly, "If you are loyal to Jurgen then why did you whisper his name to Holo that night…?"
"A slip of the tongue." came the agitated reply.

"You looked right at my wife and said his name knowing only she could hear you. You knew what she was, if you were so loyal to Jurgen then why reveal his identity to his enemy?"

More and more did the flustering discomposure ensue within Emilio's bosom as he had no answer to counter Lawrence's predictions. The inn keeper leaned back and with closed eyes said, "Has Jurgen even told you why he wants my wife dead?"

"She is a blight upon the world, and an offense to the most high." came Emilio's reply which spared no zealously.

"I'm not a fool boy, I know that you have no loyalties to the church. Once they find out what you've been up to, they will withdraw and denounce your whole cult to keep the tides of scorn off of themselves."

"When we are done with the weaker deities the church shall be next, for the way must be cleared."

For the first time in this discourse the boy said something that Lawrence could not disregard as juvenile enthusiasm. It was an indoctrination of sorts that seemed to influence his tongue.

"For whom?"

With dignified pride the lad responded, "She was the greatest god to ever walk the earth and the people in their arrogance have forgotten her. But soon the day will come when all will know Irawa Weir Muheddhund again!"

Lawrence suddenly snapped upright then immediately regretted it as his sore joints reminded him of his poor condition, "I do know that name, it was once told to me by the chronicler of Kumersun. The moon hunting bear, is that whose bidding you act upon?"

Emilio scowled, "Yes and when she returns and sees the deities she had fought in the past still dwelling upon the face of the land she will be most displeased and will crush the earth! But if all her enemies are absent when she comes forth then we shall be saved, for her wrath will be turned away!"

Lawrence was at a complete loss for words, for he had many questions, "The Bear, you've seen her?"

The lad was about to speak before the door opened and a face of displeasure came through the clearance, "You were to only give them the water and leave!"

Emilio coward slightly before giving restitution, "Yes, Cecil."

The boy then turned around and departed from whence he came. As the door shut, Lawrence shuffled quickly to the door and put his ear to it to overhear any information that could be deemed useful. He heard many muffled voiced, one was such, "Lord De Buhr shall return from the Ketchiwa mountains by tomorrow. We need the information from the man to stop the Kenrou girl from making it here by then. This is not done by fraternizing with him!"

Lawrence then heard a faint cough from behind him. He turned to see that Matthias was beginning to recuperate and move around under his own free will. Rushing back to him he helped him up.

As Lawrence got to him, Matthias spoke in a silent whisper that exposed the entirety of his weakness, "I did not…realize…you were….good with….children."

"You heard all that?"

"Here…and there.' then with a devilish grin said, 'So…Ruven..haigen…brothels…eh?"

The inn keeper turned a generous shade of red, "There was an age limit, that never kept us from trying. Me and my friends thought if we paid them enough money they would let us in. It didn't work though, even the working girls had some moral line drawn on how old they preferred their clients."

Matthias began to cough deeply in which Lawrence took up the bowl of water and urged Matthias to drink it. The first attempt he sputtered it out but was so compelled by his own need for hydration that he forced what he could to be consumed.

Breathing heavily Matthias asked, "Did….you…tell them…anything?"

"No."

He smiled and said with a peaceful aura, "….Good…"

"However I did get that boy to tell me a whole lot. I don't know how much you heard."

"Something….about a….bear…..god….."

"The Moon Hunting Bear,' started Lawrence, 'She was an old legend who was said to be so powerful that no deity could withstand her. As the tale goes she traveled the world looking for anyone who could challenge her. She is responsible for the destruction of Holo's home and most likely the death of many of her friends."

"Where….is she….now….?"

"No one knows, or at least until now. From what I've gathered from Emilio is that apparently the bear has a band of human followers who have taken it upon themselves to complete her work."

"Kill….the other….deities….?"

"As far as I'm able to understand. Jurgen's real motive behind this campaign is to wipe out what remains of the pagan gods under the belief that the bear will return and will destroy the earth out of rage if her old enemies are still upon it. But if they are no longer living, then the earth will be spared. It won't be long until Jurgen turns his vengeance on the church."

"The things….men…do…..for their gods….." said Matthias with remorse for the blind evils of the world.

"They believe they are simply avoiding the end of the world, little do they know that the way they are going about it is a self fulfilling prophecy."

"Do you…think the….bear will return?"

"I don't think that matters now because the people who do, are inflicting terror and corruption upon the innocent due to this belief. We need to find a way out of here."

"We don't…..even know…..where we….are." protested Matthias.

"We have a hint. I overheard Cecil talking to Emilio, something about Jurgen coming from the Ketchiwa mountains."

Matthias opened an eye as if to ponder then said, "I've seen….a map….I believe….those are in….the Dolan Plains…."

Lawrence's complexion suddenly became unnerved, "The Dolan plains? If Jurgen traveled only a day out, then that means we could be in….in Yoites?"

Matthias crooked his head weakly, "Does anyone….live up…..there….anymore?"

Lawrence looked down and evened his composure, "There is the Myuri mercenary guild. Headed by one Luward Myuri whose supposedly of the posterity of one of Holo's oldest and dearest friends of the same name. They have settled in Yoites or at least have a presence there but I'm not sure how far deep they have gone. You must understand that Yoites has been virtually uncharted since…." he suddenly stopped as if taken by alarm.

"Since…?" urged Matthias.

"Since the moon hunting bear destroyed it…."

"What….concerns you?"

"If Yoites was originally the home for wolves like Holo and Myuri then why is it inhabited by disciples of their biggest adversary? And why is it that no one else knows about their presence up here?"

"Who is…to say? How…long ago….was this…?"

"I'm not sure when the bear came and destroyed Yoites, all I know is that Holo had been away for almost 600 years or so."

"A lot…can happen….during that….time." concluded Matthias.

Lawrence began to take more into account the physical agony inflicted upon Matthias and asked of him, "Your leg, it's going to become infected. Is there anything I can do?"

Matthias looked around then weakly pointed at a mount upon the stone wall, "There is a…lit torch….bring it here."

The inn keeper shuddered for he assumed the remedy Matthias had in mind. He retrieved the torch and returned to his afflicted friend who attempted to take it but ere his body could not master the effort.

"What do you need me to do?" asked he.

Matthias faintly tapped the make shift bandage around his wound and said, "Sear…it…"

Lawrence felt the sensations in his arms decline and go numb. He turned to him and protested, "I cannot just apply the open flame to you!"

"The shackles….on the ….wall. Bring…me….to them."

Lawrence then drug his friend over to the chains that held the man to the wall and there Lawrence was instructed to apply the flame to one of the ankle clamps. Though they were attached to the wall they were long enough to reach the afflicted area. Once the irons were red hot he would need to apply it to the wound.

Dreadfully Lawrence had done so and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes…I…was cut..with metal…and…the wound…has been….untreated for….two days. If not….treated now….I may…..get….lockjaw or….gangrene."

"You may already be infected."

"The only….treatment….then…..is to….amputate. I …..will take….my chances… and try….to kill it now."

Over the course of the next few minutes were spent in dreadful silence. Lawrence feared to look upon the iron as if so long as his eyes were averted, it would not become red. Eventually the heat burned throughout the metal and the time had come.

Lawrence undid the the bandage cloth which caused Matthias to whimper when the pressure was relieved. He then tore his pant leg down to get a better view of the wound. It was a stagnant purple with dark veins connected to it.

Lawrence then wrapped his hand up in the pant leg he had torn so he could take hold of the red hot iron without burning himself. Matthias then tapped his pelvic region and said, "Put your….knee….here. Do…what you…can… to keep me…still."

Lawrence then mounted the bottom half of the injured body, pressed the hems of the open wound together, gritted his teeth and pressed. Matthias's body, though deemed too weak and unfit for quick movements, snapped up and tensed as a dreadful scream pursued. The flesh smoldered and the leg convulsed wildly.

Matthias began to flail and out of reaction and began to smite Lawrence in the back. He took the beating the best he could and used his emotional instability to press harder. The struggle has great as Lawrence did at best to keep his patient still. Matthias complied to the best his ability would allow, but extreme agony can break even the most peaceful of composures.

Finally after this painful episode that words fail to describe the extent of it's misery, Lawrence let off. The wound had cauterized and was smoking, blistering and leaving behind a sickly stench. He quickly doused the bandage rag in the water and applied it to Matthias leg to quell the burn.

Matthias sat upright and moaned terribly while Lawrence did what he could to alleviate his friend.

"That wasn't…so bad." he grunted.

Lawrence looked up at him, "You took it better than most mighty men would. I remember your Alpha did the same thing in my inn but more astonishingly he cauterized himself and did not make so much as a peep."

"He is…more…than…mighty. He…will find us….I know it."

Lawrence suddenly became concerned and asked of Matthias, "Tell me, you knew Alpha longer than I, and now he's with my wife, or last I checked. Do you think him and Holo will get along? Is she in good hands?"

The deeper route of this concern was that Lawrence did not take too kindly to the idea that his beloved was in the presence of another whom he hardly knew. He also knew that Holo had a troubled time with those whose personalties would be incompatible for her liking and did not want to think that she was struggling in any way.

"He is disciplined…but I cannot say….if…they are working together."

"What makes you say that?"

"Alpha is very…particular with those…he travels with. In most…cases…he prefers…to work..alone."

"You think he left Holo and went on his own?"

"No…he most likely…could have…left her…at an outpost. He is not..that foolish…"

Lawrence's heart fell when concluding the possibility that his wife may not come for him. He refuted the notion and asked, "But Holo has many skills such as her hearing, smelling and discernment. Skills that someone like Alpha could find useful right? And let's not forget that Holo is nearly unstoppable in her wolf form."

Matthias then responded with more strength, "Perhaps,…in many ways…he is …unpredictable that way. They could be…coming for us… together…."

Lawrence noticed his eyes indicating doubt to that belief and asked, "You don't seem convinced."

He looked back at the man and said with uneasiness, "Laterniuex knows more…about him…than what he…told you that night."

"What do you mean?"

"If Holo….ever found…out…"

"What are you talking about?"

Matthias met Lawrence with his eyes and began to divulge a very deep and dark secret concerning the warrior whom Holo had an ephemeral allegiance to. A secret which when Lawrence was given it, turned pale.