(A/N:) Hi!

Nothing to say, really, so I don't know why I did this author note. I get that way sometimes. I just do things, either without knowing what I'm doing, or without any reason.

Like yestereday when I just jumped in my car and drove around town twice. I don't know why I did it. It was a waste of gas, and I really didn't even do anything.

See? I get that way sometimes. Did I already say that? See! I get that way sometimes too. Gah! Back to the story then.

(End of A/N)

9. The Dead Walk Again

Thom sat up, rubbing his head slowly, using his Gift to search for any injuries in himself. That was about when he felt it.

He wasn't in the realms of the Dead anymore, he could tell. The air was too crisp, the scents too vivid. The Realms of the Dead was a hollow place. The Black God provided them with sunlight, and a landscape, but he had neglected to give them scents and good air.

"Where the hell am I?" Thom demanded to no one in paticular. Looking around he saw a familiar sight: the Great Road of Tortall.

After several double-takes of the road, Thom said outloud, "I'm in Tortall? How can I be in Tortall?"

"Well, I see you're awake as well," Duke Roger said drowsily. A cut in the side of his head was bleeding freely. "Where's the other one?"

Alex wasn't anywhere to be seen. One of two things could have happened. One: Alex might still be in the Realms of the Dead. Two: he could be already on his mission.

"That goddamned double crosser!" Roger screamed, coming out of his trance. "He was ahead of me when I went through the portal, right beside you! He's already gone!"

Thom thought fast. He didn't know what Alex planned to do in this realm, but he knew that Roger wanted to kill Jonathan.

"Roger, to but it bluntly," he said. "I'm more worried about what you're going to do in this realm than what Alex is going to do."

Roger glared at him, his fists clenched at his sides. But both of them were exhausted from their cross between the realms. They weren't going to start something that would kill both of them.

"We'll have to find him," Roger said tensly.

"Wrong, Roger. You'll have to find him," Thom said, getting to his feet. "I am going to find someone else."

"Majesty!" the gate guardsman called. "A rider approaches the gate!"

Jonathan frowned. He already had enough problems to worry about, as Daine viewed it. He was fighting a war; these nobles didn't have to come every week.

"Who is it?" Jonathan demanded. "A noble?"

"Can't reconize him."

Jonathan stalked to the door, fitting the Dominion Jewl beneath his shirt. Daine gazed on in silence, distracting herself from her sentry duty as she watched what was happening at the gate.

The gatemen opened the door, admitting the man who rode a chessnut mare, and had no companions. Daine viewed this as odd; in these times not many rode alone.

Jonathan gapped at the man, his knees quivvering almost uncontrollably.

"Thom?" he finally choked out. "Thom of Trebond?"

The man on the mare looked down at Jonathan as if seeing him for the first time.

"Jon?"

He swung himself down from the saddle, bowing to Jonathan.

"Highness," he whispered.

"It's not 'Highness' anymore. It's 'Majesty,' but you need not call me that for now, Thom," Jon paused. "You can tell me how you happen to be alive when your own sister witnessed your death over twenty years ago, however."

"Duke Roger," Thom whispered. "Duke Roger and Alex of Terrigan. They've been plotting against you even while in the Realms of the Dead."

"Duke Roger?" Jonathan gasped. "But... he... he's dead! Alanna killed him. Twice!"

"Ozorne."

"Ozorne is alive too!" Jonathan bellowed, angry. "Tell me, do the Gods have any control over anyone anymore?" he shook his fist at the sky to emphasize his point.

"Roger, he brought Ozorne back ---"

"Not here!" the King hissed. "We'll do this in Numair's study!"

They left, Jonathan leading the way. Daine whispered an apology to her sentry partner, and hurried off. She didn't need to, of course, she was senty-master. She could leave when she pleased, but she felt better having told her partner she was leaving.

Daine reached Numair's study about twelve seconds before Jonathan and Thom did, whispered a hurried explaination to Numair, and sat in a chair below a slit in the wall.

Jonathan entered, Thom at his heel.

"Numair, we have things we must discuss," Jonathan said, the color returning to his face, which had drained of color he'd been so angry before.

"Is this?..."

"Yes."

Thom sat, his average frame sagging into a cousoned chair beside Daine's

"Veralidaine Sarrasri," he murmered. It was not a question.

"How do you know my name?" Daine asked quietly.

"I saw you from... from the Realms of the Dead."

Daine gasped, a reply Thom apparently had been expecting.

"I'm Alanna's brother..." her murmered again, ignoring her gasp. "I was sucked back through Duke Roger's portal..."

Suddenly silver fire bloomed in the center of the room, and a large, hairy creature stood there; the badger.

--- Kit, he said right away. --- Treatury is afoot. Three humans, two mages, one normal, escaped from the Realms of the Dead. The Black God says that it is none of my concern but... I have a responsability. I asked him and --- he broke off for a second, glaring at Thom. --- And here is one of them. I will just send him back where he belongs. Back to the Realms of the Dead ---

"No, badger," Numair said firmly, Jonathan having explained the situation to him.

Thom ventured forward, placing a hand on the badgers shoulder.

"You have a passenger," he murmered in the same voice he'd been using since stepping into Numair's study. "Reveal yourself!"

A small squeel of pain revealed a Darking, Gold-streak.

--- Oh, how will I ever repay you? --- the badger asked sarcasticly. --- For harming my friend, that is. ---

"Many pardons," Thom murmered, leaning back into his chair, and closing his eyes.

"Tell him, Thom!" Jonathan commanded.

Slowly, the man called Thom opened his eyes. "Ozorne."

Daine froze in the act of reaching toward Gold-streak. They were speaking of Ozorne! So he was alive!

"Ozorne," Thom murmered again. "Duke Roger sent him back, made him alive. Now Ozorne is the top general of the Tusaine Army. He attacked the Riders." He took a long breath. He looked sick. "Now Roger is out of the Realms of the Dead, along with Alex ofTerrigan."

"Two of Alanna's worst enemies," Jonathan whispered, his eyes widening. "How'd they get loose?"

"Ancient magic," Thom said, now struggling to speak. "Do you have healing elixor?" he asked Numair.

With a confused look, Numair went to one of the many shelves lining the wall, opened a drawer, and pulled out one of the bottles laying there, a green colored one.

Thom accepted the liquid with his thanks, then gulped it down quickly. He seemed rujuvinated afterward, his voice returning.

"Is it perminant?"

"Yes."

"Many thanks," Thom said, his voice strong and steady now. He set down the glass bottle, returning to the story. "Roger made a 'deal' with the Black God. In exchange for him, along with Alex, to return to the mortal realms, he would give him the lives of Veralidaine Sarrasri, Alanna of Trebond, and Numair Salmal'in." His eyes flickered at Numair. "The Black God never intended to let him go. But Roger was smarter than him, and left a week before he had initially planned. The portal sealed behind us." He glanced at the ground. "Alanna?..."

"She's alive and well," Jon replied, with a small smile. "She's out on patrol. I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees you again."

Thom didn't look up, so it was impossible to see the look on his face.

"Some place I can sleep?" he asked groggily.

--- Then you shall need a bed --- the badger replied. Silver fire swarmed in the corner of the study, and Thom stumbled over to it, climbing into it, not even bothering to take off his boots.

"Tell me when Alanna's back..." he murmered, already half asleep.