This update took a while for me to get up, I'm having a little trouble getting started, but stick with me on this, because this is the beginning of an epic. Once the characters become known things should get better. As always, I appreciate all reviews. Thank you an enjoy.


Spring 987 A.M.

It wasn't young Duncan's first trip into South Figaro, but it would be the first one in which he didn't stay at his usual inn. Instead, he followed the Teshars through the city and sat with them for an hour at the father's, Varron's shop while he handled the stocking of the goods from the trip for later distribution, and wrote letters to the families of the slain guards.

When he had finished, the four of them walked through the city to their home on the eastern edge of the city. When they reached the Teshar home, they prepared a simple dinner and then sat down to eat.

As they ate, Duncan shared a great deal of information with them. While Varron knew most of the stories about the Ironhand martial arts, a lot of what he knew was merely rumor. Duncan explained to them that his family's martial arts tradition went all the way back to the War of the Magi, to an order of warriors that fought against the Espers until they left the world. Since that day, the art had mostly been lost except for the Ironhand family, who had passed it down for the last thousand years.

Duncan explained to him that the world-famous Blitz techniques were not a form of magic, but rather the Blitz Master drew upon the life energies within himself and that could be drawn from the world around him.

"Duncan, please stay here and enjoy our hospitality," Varron invited him as they cleaned up the meal, "I know that you didn't want any kind of reward, but at least some good companionship can be a start."

Duncan gave the three of them a wide smile, full of warmth, one that had never been given to anyone but his own parents. "I told you that I don't need a reward. Your gratitude is more than enough for me. But I have been wandering for several weeks, so your hospitality is very appreciated."

Banon came over and put a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I want you to know that I'll be eternally grateful to you, Duncan. You saved my little sister. I will always consider you a friend."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Banon," replied the young martial artist, sparing a glance around the other man to see Myra, who was smiling shyly.

"Oh, by the way Duncan, whatever has happened to your father?" asked Varron, "There were many rumors a year or two ago that the famous Blitz Master had died."

Duncan shook his head. His father had asked him not to tell anyone, but he trusted the Teshars not to betray him. "For some reason my father wanted to disappear entirely from the face of the world. He never told me why he did, but it was something he felt he had to do. So he retired to Nikeah with my mother. She was from there and always wanted to return. So my father took them back there when he vanished. Now they live on the money from my mother's family and the little my father has from his original adventuring days."

Varron nodded, amazed that even these days someone as famous as the Blitz Master could vanish so easily. He smiled as Myra went over to Duncan.

"Come on," she said, pulling gently on the boy's arm, "let me show you to your room."


In spite of Duncan's regular comments of being ready to leave, the martial arts master remained in South Figaro with Banon and Myra for the next two weeks. Over that time, he spent many long hours with both of them, exploring the city, meeting their friends, and describing a few of his adventures with his father, as well as some of the Ironhand training techniques.

Duncan began to develop a genuine friendship with both of the other youths, a relationship that he had never had before in his life. He had been his father's only student, and training in the wilderness did not help develop one's social skills. But the other two accepted his occasional poor comments and the silence that Duncan used when he had no words.

One evening, the three friends went to one of South Figaro's many clubs, where they had spent the night dancing and enjoying each other's company. It was past midnight when the three of them finally began to make their way back to the Teshar home.

Myra was hanging onto Duncan's arm. "Thank you for a wonderful evening," she said coyly.

Duncan nodded briefly. "It was my pleasure, Myra. I'm glad that you had a good time tonight."

Walking a few steps behind them, Banon shook his head. If they got any more disgusting on him…

"Hold it right there!"

Out of the shadows stepped nearly a dozen men, all of them were armed. Banon whipped out his small knife and Duncan pushed Myra behind him.

"Who are you?" demanded Banon.

The thugs didn't answer him. One of them pointed to Duncan. "That's him. He's the son."

He made a motion with his hand and the attackers rushed forward.

Duncan met the first two with a roundhouse kick that knocked both men unconscious before they hit the ground.

Banon made a quick spin around his attacker, plunging his knife into the man's hip, then grabbed the thug's sword.

Three more men came at Duncan. It was their last mistake. Duncan focused on one of his blitzes, exploding into movement and pummeling the first to his lower ribs on the left side. The attack splintered the ribcage and shredded his insides. The other two were met with a double kick, stunning them, and then Duncan grabbed one, leaping high into the air and brought the man down headfirst into the cobblestone road.

Banon was holding his own against two other attackers. He made a feint to the left, drawing both of the men that way, then quickly reversed his momentum, slashing in a wide arc that caught one of them across the chest.

Duncan threw a light snap kick at another who attacked him, sending him spinning away.

Five other thugs died as they attacked the two young men, unable to overcome their superior skills.

"Hold it!"

Both Duncan and Banon spun around, seeing the one man that Duncan had kicked aside. The thug had one hand around Myra's throat, the other had his knife pressed into her back.

"Now, we're gonna make a little deal, aren't we pipsqueak," said the man looking directly into Duncan's eyes, "you're gonna come with me nice and easy, or this little sweetheart is going to have the worst day of her short life."

Banon roared and lunged forward drawing his sword back. The thug pulled back the knife, and in that moment Duncan leapt high into the air.

But neither man got there in time. The man stabbed Myra from behind, and she cried out briefly in pain before falling to the ground.

Banon landed his blow to the man's side, spearing through the ribs at the same time that Duncan launched a kick that crushed his throat. As soon as the man fell to the ground, both men were at Myra's side.

"Duncan, you have a fenix down?" cried Banon.

The martial artist shook his head sadly, looking at Myra, whose eyes were taking in both her brother and him. Banon let out a cry of rage and anguish.

Duncan shook his head sadly, he wanted to be with his two friends. Then he saw something. Banon's hands were beginning to glow with a strange light, and green sparks jumped across his palms.

"Banon…" whispered Duncan.

Banon turned his tear-filled eyes on his younger friend, who was staring pointedly at his hands. Banon looked down, and his eyes widened.

As both men watched, the green sparks seemed to jump from Banon's hands onto Myra, landing at random. But they quickly began to concentrate at her wound, and sparks flew faster and faster until a nearly-continuous green light flowed from Banon's hands to the wound.

Several moments later, the light faded. Duncan and Banon both looked on astonished, and Myra blinked several times in confusion.

"Umm, guys, what just happened?" she asked in wonder.

Duncan shook his head, unable to answer. Banon could only think back to the words of that old Zozan healing woman from the caravan.

You have hands that are made to heal…

Myra cried out in joy and wrapped her brother in a hug. Duncan breathed a sigh of relief, then stepped away, giving the siblings a moment together. He went over to the leader of the attackers and began to search his pockets for anything.

A few minutes later, Banon and Myra came over to him, the latter was still a little shaky and was leaning on her brother for support.

"What did you find?" asked Banon.

Duncan shook his head. "Not much. They all have this same insignia, two intertwined rings. Other than that, nothing. Just some Doman coins in their pockets."

"You can't think they're Domans, do you?" protested Myra, "They're some of the most honorable men and women in the world."

"They could be," said Banon, "just as not everyone from Zozo is necessarily a liar, not everyone from Doma may be a pillar of virtue."

Duncan stood up and turned his back to the other two. This was a difficult decision, but it was one he had to make.

"I have to go to Doma," he said, "I have to get out of here. More of these attackers will come for me, I know they will. I've already placed both of you in far too much danger. I can't let any harm come to you because of me."

"You're not going anywhere, buddy," Banon retorted, "not without me."

Duncan turned to face him fully. "This isn't your fight, Banon. They came for me, not for you."

"They went after Myra," said the older man simply, "that means they made it my fight. And besides, if you go out alone, who the heck is going to watch your back. I'm going with you, whether you want me to or not."

The martial arts master blew out his breath and nodded. It might be good to have some comradeship on his journeys. The three of them hurried back to the Teshar home. Duncan was ready to leave in minutes, having never unloaded his traveling pack. Banon took a few moments to pack. Myra stopped them both before they left, giving her brother a tight hug as she cried. Then she came to Duncan, holding something in her hands.

"Duncan, I want you to have this," she said as she handed it to him. It was a beautiful sea-green stone set in a pendant with a silver chain. The stone was inscribed with a single ancient rune. "This was my mother's. The symbol is one of love. She told me that this would always help her find her way when she was lost. I hope it can do the same for you."

"This is the best gift anyone has given me, Myra," replied Duncan in as soft and kind a voice as he had, "I will treasure this more than anything else in the world. Some day I'll come back and see how you're doing. And don't worry, I'll keep your brother out of trouble."

The two of them shared a smile and a tender embrace, then Duncan pulled away and walked off alongside Banon. Myra stayed in the doorway, watching until the two of them disappeared into the darkness. She had no idea that it would be years before she would see them again.