Chapter 8: Pursuit

The Fivefold and Hydros awashed on a rocky coastline several miles from the remnants of Imil. Exhausted from their hardships, both physically and emotionally, they lay in deep silence for a good while.

At length, Orior spoke. "We survived…"

A mournful Hydros regarded him scornfully. "Not all of us. Many have died."

Maris shook her head. "Nay… but they must be dead, so we will not try to save them. Though he is… changed… my father lives, and we must assume the same of Desaeis. However, the past is gone and the present is now. Now, Imil needs a leader." She turned and locked eyes with Hydros. "Chancellor, though by rights I am now Queen, I cannot abide my throne until this quest is complete. Therefore, I must ask you to take up stewardship in our colony, Lumeria." When Hydros began to sputter in protest, she held up her hand. "Also, if you do not hear from me for five years, you may assume me dead and take the Kingship for yourself." Hydros again opened his mouth to protest, but Maris intervened. "No, Hydros. As your sovereign, I command you to do this. There shall be no argument." Hydros shut his mouth, and bowed. Maris resumed, "You may be able to salvage a schooner from Imil. Let that be your first test towards kingship." When Hydros looked to say something again, Maris cut him off. "No buts, Hydros. Do it now."

Wordlessly, Hydros bowed and turned his back on them, walking slowly towards the wreckage of Imil.

Meanwhile, Maris turned back to the Fivefold. "We, on the other hand, shall try to draw off Regnoare as we continue our quest. For now, we must pass through the Ikatic again. And Bilibin, too." She looked teasingly at Cinaed, who had a wistful, dreamy look on his face. "Come. The Ikatic-Imil cave is not far. And this time," She looked meaningfully at them, "we bring branches to use as torches. Like this," she reached over to an overhanging maple tree, full in leaf with the vigour of summer. She snapped off a slim branch and stripped it off its leaves in one fluid sweep, an act that made Orior wince. The others followed her example and soon everyone was armed with some sort of makeshift torch.

"Ah, here we are." Maris announced. "Cinaed, if you please." She pointed her tree limb towards him. Cinaed, grinned and casted Blaze, igniting the branch. He did the same for the others as well, and lastly, his own.

Maris ducked her head into the darkness of the cave, and swept her flaming branch forward. "Clear," she announced, "but it looks… different…" She sounded puzzled.

"How so?" Shamira asked, curious.

"See for yourself." Maris said, with a twinkle in her eye, and dove into the cave. The Fivefold hurried to follow.

As they stood in the circle of light their torches formed, Orior surveyed the ground. "I see what you mean…" Orior said, and kicked at the sandy floor. "The water's gone…"

"Is this a result of our draining Mercury?" Shamira wanted to know.

Aleos sighed. "Most likely. However, we must take it in stride."

Disregarding the implications of this change (a lessening of water), the Fivefold were overall cheerful. Instead of trekking through a muddy, water-filled dark, as they expected, the Ikatic cave had transformed into a serene place of soft sands and slow-moving streams. The Fivefold enjoyed themselves, for once, skipping and laughing gaily. Only Maris remained subdued, a fact that did not escape the sharp-eyed Shamira. She fell back until she was keeping pace with the Imilian.

"Maris? What's wrong?" Shamira sounded worried, a fact that surprised Maris: the Anemosian warrior rarely showed emotion.

"It's just…" Maris swept her arm ahead of them. "All this cheerfulness seems… gaudy… in light of the destruction of Imil, and the turmoil that my city is now facing."

Shamira chided her. "But Maris, were you not the one that instructed us that 'the past is gone and the present is now'? Follow your own advice, Imilian. Cheer up, a bright light can chase away a thousand sorrows."

Maris brightened. "Thanks, Shamira. The wisdom of the Anemosians has not decreased in this time of darkness." With that, she bowed and turned and lengthened her stride to keep pace with the rest of the Fivefold. Shamira smiled inwardly and followed.

Guided by the firelight, the Fivefold travelled quite peacefully through Ikatic Cave. By the sparse light that reached them through gaps in the roof, night began to fall. The Fivefold lay their branches in a pile for a bonfire and relaxed to sleep.

Later, after they had awoken, the sandy floor was a much-desired change from the mud of their former travel, and soon they had come to the exit, their former entrance. But there was a problem.

"Those damn holly trees!" Orior exclaimed, and kicked at the fallen plants that barred the exit.

Smiling slightly, Cinaed stepped forward and raised his hand. "No problem." He said, and casted Fireball. Many balls of fire, each about the size of a head, emerged from Cinaed's outstretched palm and dug into the old wood of the holly. Finding it likeable, the balls grew in size and soon the whole barricade was aflame, the Fivefold stepping back away from the searing heat. In moments, the trees were only so much ash.

"Well done," Shamira commented, and kicked at the ash as she walked out. The others followed.

"Fresh air," Maris said. She took a deep breath, and then coughed as she inhaled some ash. She looked around sheepishly.

"Aha!" Cinaed was triumphant. "To Bilibin!"

Aleos laughed, and shook his head. "I think not. If you were to get to Bilibin, wild horses couldn't drag you out." He sighed. "I suppose we must pay South Vale a visit and see how it is faring."

"I suppose so…" Cinaed said reluctantly, his eyes downcast.

Aleos led the Fivefold down the beaten dirt road that led to Vale, a pleasant wind blowing from the south, carrying with it the warm weather of Gondowan. The sky was a clear blue, striped with fluffy cumulus clouds, and the air was perfect: not to humid, none too dry. The Fivefold stretched and enjoyed the summer weather, while they could.

Soon, the beaten dirt road of carts gave way to the cobbled street that led into Vale. Adepts had laboured long to cover all roads in and out of Vale with that stone, quarried from the Ikatic. However… as they drew near to South Vale, the air grew stagnant, and they were afraid for what they must see.

The first affront was the formerly yellowed flora, now blackened and speckled with white spots of disease. Nothing alive moved.

Soon, they came to the shopkeeper they had purchased their goods from, laying facedown on his table, unmoving. Aleos reached over and rolled him over, and stared in disbelief. Maris screamed.

The poor man's eyes were wide open, glassy in death and blood-filled with ruptured veins. His skin was a sickly grey, and his mouth contorted in an insane death grimace that suggested he died in great pain. His hair was falling out in clumps and his fingernails were an unhealthy pale green.

As the Fivefold shied back from this monstrosity, they looked across the courtyard and perceived the bodies of many lying strewn throughout. A dead silence they heavy in the air of a city devoid of life. Aleos slowly shook his head. "Come. Let us leave this… graveyard." They turned and walked out of South Vale.

The road leading south out of Vale was a well-travelled one, leading deep into the heart of the continent. It crossed a small inland sea, the Karagol, and wound all the way to Lilyvera, and Mantium. This was the road that the Fivefold now travelled, and stood at the northern side of the great bridge that marked the entry into Vale. It was a great stone bridge, railed on both sides by heavy marble ornamentations. It was straight, and wide, its road leading into a dense forest on the opposing side. The Fivefold looked uneasily down the wide avenue, and arrayed themselves five abreast.

Shamira spoke. "I don't like it."

Cinaed, ever the war commander, agreed. "Neither do I. To have such an ideal ambush spot, and then leave it unattended. I sure as Abyss don't like it."

The forest on the other side rustled, and the wind in the boughs sighed. A lone leaf blew outward, and a pair of red eyes gleamed from the darkness, and then quickly disappeared.

"No. Definitely not." Orior said, an edge in his voice. "Let's leave. Now. Quickly."

The Fivefold turned and walked east, eliciting to take the much longer route in order to avoid that deceptively calm bridge.

It is well that they did.

Obscured by a supernatural darkness, Regnoare swore. He turned, and, forming his sword, decapitated the foolish soldier who had opened his eyes, revealing himself. He swore again. He then drew out Sol Aurarius, its form now that of unbreakable black diamond laced with veins of ruby, instead of its original gold. "The stone shapes itself according to its master," he mused, and contemplated it in silence.

Many hours passed this way, and the Mantrak were growing restless. One of the mages, a wizened old being with a bowed statue, got up and approached Regnoare. "Milord… what do we do now?"

Regnoare laughed. "What do we do, what do we do!" Still laughing, he sliced the impertinent mage in half that dared to question him, and turned to face his army. "We go after them, of course." Cheers greeted this as the Mantrak leapt to their feet, eager to kill. Regnoare raised his broadsword and cried, "Army, forward!" He led them across the bridge, rank upon endless rank of Mantrak, demon, mage, foul beast and all manner of malevolent creation behind him.

The Fivefold stood on a high hill, looking down upon the bustling town of Bilibin. Aleos spoke. "Well, Fivefold, try not to be too long." And he began to walk down the hill.

Orior stopped him. "I don't think we should dally at all…" He said, looking behind them.

Shamira turned and shook her head. "No way…"

From their high vantage point, the Fivefold could discern a huge crowd of dust rising from behind a far-off hill, the dust swirling under the beat of many feet. The top ranks of this host breached the summit of the hill, and the Fivefold espied Regnoare leading the army personally. His red eyes flashed as he looked ahead, and seemed to lock eyes with them. The demon turned back and shouted something, and increased his speed. As the army came over the hill, row upon row of foul demon was revealed.

"We should warn the town…" Aleos began.

Orior denied that with a swift chop of his hand. "No use. We are the ones Regnoare wants, and if we tarry here we will only draw his wrath. And there is nothing Bilibin can do to stop him, anyway.

Cinaed was impatient. "Then let's move!" He said, and ran down the hill onto the road that leads to Bilibin. With a cry of exasperation, Maris dove after him, and the rest of the Fivefold soon followed.

"Ware, citizens of Bilibin! The King of Demons is soon upon you!" Cinaed cried as he raced through the town, but all that he received in response were looks of scorn. The rest of the Fivefold were on his heels. "Ware!" As he raced by a vendor, he grabbed a bundle of flasks ("Hey!" The vendor yelled) and tossed one back to each of the Fivefold. He opened his and sniffed expectantly, and grimaced. "White wine…" He thought distastefully, but drank nonetheless. He licked his lips as his long, powerful legs carried him and the rest of the Fivefold through Bilibin with great speed.

"Slow down, Cinaed!" Orior gasped. "We cannot consistently keep up this pace. And even if we do, we will be in no condition to fight if Regnoare does catch us." They were nearly at Kolima, village of trees.

Cinaed grimaced. "I suppose you're right." He said, and slowed his pace to a jog. The others fell gratefully into step beside him, but Shamira looked disappointed.

"As you wish…" She said.

As they walked, the small bushes that sprouted alongside their path grew into tall trees, the like of which they had not seen before. The trees were sheathed in a strong earthen bark, resistant to both fire and blades. The leaves of these trees were of many colours: red, yellow, violet, blue, green, gold, silver… a rainbow dazzled the Fivefold and the path they walked was thrown into a prism of light. Aleos' eyes reflected the surroundings, and varying colours strayed through his eyes, one slowly after the other. "Kolima… city of trees." His eyes grew predominately a sad violet. "I dearly hope Regnoare does not assault this fair town. We should warn the citizens… but we don't have the time…"

"Wait." Shamira said. "There may be a way." She concentrated and bowed her head, her wispy violet hair falling around her eyes as she tapped power of Jupiter. She sought the leader of Kolima in the myriad mass of minds, and spoke to him. "This is Princess Shamira of Anemos. You may have heard of the assault on Vale, leader. The same one who did that is now coming to Kolima, and I advise that you prepare your defences. We cannot tarry here. Farewell, and good luck." As a way of authenticating her message, she sent the image of a great violet eagle, spreading its wings in flight.

She relaxed, awaiting a response. At last, a voice answered her, as ancient and as wise as the trees: "We appreciate the warning, Milady, and we shall be prepared. May your roots dig deep and your branches reach high."

Shamira snapped back to reality and opened her eyes. "They are warned, and will be prepared," she told the Fivefold. She smiled. "I'd like to see what they can do, but we have to leave." She cast a foreboding eye over her shoulder. "Soon." The Fivefold straightened, and along the road, to the meditative place of Fuchin Temple.

After many bends and much winding of the road, beside seaside cliffs and across a large bridge, the Fivefold came to Fuchin Temple.

Fuchin Temple was a lovely place. Built into the slopes of a mountain range, it was an idyllic place. A steep staircase cut into the mountainside beside a towering waterfall, and a hollow cave at the top of the stair provided a place for meditation. However, the Fivefold could no more stay here than at Kolima, and shortly left. Shamira sent a warning to the high monk, and left without waiting for a response, for she felt the urgency of time more than ever.

Regnoare swept his army through Bilibin, enjoying the horrified screams of the townspeople as the Mantrak did what they do best: pillage, burn, and kill. However, now was not the time for fun, and he raised his hand and shouted, "Mantrak! We have no time for this! March on!" Almost sullenly, the Mantrak turned and followed Regnoare, who decided he could give the Mantrak some satisfaction. Overlooking the town, Regnoare raised his hand and cast Inferno. A vast cloud of fireballs emerged from his hand and spread over the wooden city, which began to burn. The Mantrak cheered, and Regnoare led the satisfied warriors from the town, to the East.

Regnoare and his army soon came to the tall trees that guarded the path to Kolima. The Mantrak were bristling at the sign of such flourishing life, and so Regnoare led them in haste. Suddenly, the trees ahead of him glowed a multitude of colours, and their branched limbs grew and thickened, intertwining to form an impenetrable wall of many colours.

The Mantrak smote it with both Psynergy and weapon, but the wall of plant bore no hurt. Long thorny vines twined down from above and impaled a pair of fighting Mantrak, the spikes growing within, slaying them. Regnoare cursed, and smote the wall in anger, which quivered, but did not give. "The entire town must be behind this…" He thought. "And to get through I would have to destroy every tree in the forest! That will cost too much time!" He gritted his fang/teeth, and turned to face his army. "These Kolimans have halted our march! Though we can destroy it, it will take time we cannot afford! We shall therefore go under!" With that, Regnoare tapped Venus and formed an enormous drill of Psynergy, and guiding it into the ground, caused clods of dirt to fly up and shower the surrounds. Grimacing, Regnoare weaved a Jupiter barrier to block the dirt, and dug deep.

The Psynergetic drill dug a rough tunnel out, the roar of its power echoing down the tunnel behind him. The following Mantrak's eyes gleamed, the eerie light illuminating the walls of the tunnel. When Regnoare stopped chewing through the roots of the far-above trees, he deemed it low enough and levelled the drill off. He walked calmly, his hands outstretched as his drill chewed through dirt, rock, and worse with equal ease. After he decided it far enough, he raised the drill and began to dug almost straight up, summoning his wings to assist him, and held his hands above his head for the drill to power through. Below him, the Mantrak murmured and casted Hover Psynergies to follow.

At last, Regnoare breached the surface with a final shower of earth, and dissipated the Venus Psynergy. He dusted himself off, and regarded the land before him. A peaceful building was built into a mountainside, and a graceful waterfall dove beside it. As he regarded this, he looked down the road and espied a cluster of dots slipping into the shadow of Morgall Wood. And began to laugh.

As the Fivefold walked south along the road, the growth grew more wild and tangled. Great thistles blocked and clotted the path, and vines treacherously tripped them into these bushes. Night fell suddenly, the stygian darkness enveloping the land and casting dark shadows over the land. Cinaed, as always, grabbed a branch and alight it. The firelight illuminated a wild wall of greenery, stretched directly across their path.

"Can't we just burn all this?" Cinaed asked, annoyed and tired. Without waiting for an answer, he raised his palm and cast Heat Wave. A wide firebeam burnt the road in front of them and travelled on until it came to the eves of Morgall where it dissolved. Cinaed looked pleased, and briskly walked up the newly cleared road littered with burnt and blackened husks. Aleos shook his head, cast a wary eye over his shoulder, and the rest of the Fivefold walked on.

Morgall Wood soon dawned in front of them, and under the dark night nothing could be seen under the branches. Suddenly, Orior yawned.

"We haven't slept or rested in long, Fivefold. Can't we rest? We can set a watch."

Aleos stretched. "I think that would be wise. I'll have first watch." The Fivefold settled. Cinaed impaled his branch into the ground, forming a rough torch. Thus warmed, the Fivefold curled up and went to sleep except Aleos, whose dark grey eyes watched the far-off horizons.

-

After an hour or two, Aleos heard sounds of movement behind him. Soon, he felt, rather than saw, Shamira standing beside him "Aleos, take a rest. I'll guard," she said softly. Aleos nodded, bowed, and turned to the fire.

Shamira nodded, and turned and silently watched.

-

"Fivefold." It was Shamira whispering. She stooped over their resting forms and gently shook them awake. It was early morning, and the Eastern sky was just beginning to brighten with Sol's light. "You might want to see this." She jerked her head behind her, towards Kolima, where a yellow light rapidly spun, conical in shape. The great yellow light disappeared as they watched, and they barely discerned a dark figure standing with burning red eyes set in his skull. Shortly thereafter, many pairs of glowing eyes appeared from behind him, rising until they appeared to float about six feet above the ground. As their eyes adjusted, the Fivefold saw rank upon rank of Mantrak behind the dark figure, who obviously was the Necromancer, Regnoare.

Aleos turned to them, and spread his arms, grinning. "Into Morgall, Fivefold?"

"Into Morgall, Aleos." Orior said, and, returning the grin, ducked under the boughs into Morgall Forest.

Morgall Forest was a dark place, filled with the remains of long-gone trees. The stumps of their bodies, long hollowed, form the abodes of beasts who have since dug a wide network of complex tunnels throughout the whole wood.

One such stump greeted the Fivefold as the first thing they saw, a lone standing thing in a small field. Paths led to the West, the East, and the South. Each path looked to be the same as the other, and Cinaed shrugged. "West?"

Shamira shook her head. "As good as any…"

The path they chose wound back and forth around small groves of trees, but ever staying its eventual course. A while later, another clearing like before emerged, with exits to each of the cardinal points, including the Eastern one they had emerged from.

"Hang on…" Orior said, annoyed. He walked over to the Northern entrance and passed through alone, and the Fivefold faintly heard a muffled curse. Orior emerged, and grimaced. "By some devilry, we are back at the initial field. I suppose Morgall is not nicknamed 'The Dark Forest' for naught." Orior shook his head.

"So," Maris began. "North is our entrance. We first walked west, and emerged to the east. That means, that we can only go south."

Aleos nodded. "Indeed, let us go." The Fivefold stretched and proceeded to the south, where a long trail awaited them.

It wound in every way, and soon the Fivefold had lost their bearings but yet forged on. They eventually emerged in a relatively tranquil place, where a deep blue stream ran through the field, and rough logs formed bridges to connect the banks. There were many tree stumps, and the place was much preferred to bedevilled forest.

Orior walked over to one of the stumps and leaned in, peering curiously into the darkness. "Hello!" He shouted, and the sound formed an echo, so that Orior heard his own voice aloud back to him. Orior was about to turn away, but he heard a rustling inside. Curious, Orior leaned back over expectantly. A pair of yellow eyes opened in the darkness, and then something small, furry, and extremely vicious leaped out onto Orior's face. He exclaimed in surprise, and plucked the scratching beast off his face before it could do damage, and looked at it. It was a Squirrelfang.

As the Fivefold doubled over with laughter, Orior scowled and flung the squirming beast at Cinaed. Still laughing, Cinaed batted it away. The squirrel chirped and fled. Orior had to endure light teasing from the others for a while thereafter.

"Okay, okay, drop it," Orior said, scowling. They had come to the end of the field and were facing another fork, one path north and the other east. "Let's go east, the cardinal of the rising sun." They went that way, and were rewarded with other four-way intersection.

"You know what? Screw this," Orior said. "Shamira, you're a Jupiter Adept. Use Foresight; I know you can," he added, when Shamira opened her mouth to protest. She scowled.

"Fine. But remember, I don't do this often. In fact, I'm not supposed to at all. You owe me for this, Orior." She concentrated, and, casted Foresight. A violet psynergetic aura surrounded her and faded. Her mind passed into the future, and saw which path was the correct one: she saw the Fivefold pass into the southern entrance. She opened her eyes. "South. But, remember, I can't yet see far into the future and it may not always be accurate.

Orior shrugged, but smiled. "It's as good as any. Thanks, Shamira." The Fivefold passed south as Shamira foresaw, and came to another stream. And yet the path wound on. East, south, path after monotonous path, and the Fivefold grew weary. Sol rose into the sky, the light and heat beating down upon them, so that the dense forest grew stuffy. Maris cast a light cooling Psynergy to weave around them.

When yet another stream rose, Cinaed collapsed and leaned on a stump. "I'm tired, exasperated, and annoyed. Let's take a break." The Fivefold agreed, and Maris lowered her feet into the stream.

Orior leaned back and sighed. "There has got to be a better way to do this…" He closed his eyes.

Aleos cocked his head at a slant and appeared to consider something. "I wonder…" he said softly.

Orior opened one eye. "An idea, Aleos?"

"Perhaps… it's a Psynergy that I was taught by the Elders of Vale, but never used. I suppose I could try it now…" He concentrated, and collapsed, unconscious. As the Fivefold rushed to his side, his spirit fled his body.

"Everything is so peaceful…" Aleos marvelled. He flew a decent height above Morgall Forest, and below he descried the others of the Fivefold gathered about his earthly body. Aleos looked up, and beheld the length of Morgall, dotted with open fields and winding paths; a true maze. Aleos flew without wings over Morgall, committed the winding ways to memory. He espied the end, and turned to look far away. Regnoare's army was fast approaching, already crossing Kolima Bridge. Aleos, after one final survey, returned to the Fivefold. Casting a curious eye over his still body, Aleos descended and entered his body, whereupon his eyes flew open, startling the Fivefold.

"Aleos!" Maris cried, sounding worried. "What happened?"

Aleos groaned. "I used Wandering Eye, or vulgivagus oculus in the ancient tongue. I leave my physically body and rove, as a seeing eye." He leaned back. "It is very draining, and I don't think I shall try again for a while. Being separated from your body is tiring in every way." He grinned. "But on the positive side, I now know the exact route out. So let's move, Regnoare fast approaches!" He leapt up, and led the Fivefold swiftly through the rest of Morgall.

Finally, the light of day filtered through the exit, and the Fivefold turned back to face Morgall. One last hollowed stump, the greatest yet, watched over their escape like a sentinel, and only Shamira could hear the faint sounds of crunching from within, so she ushered the Fivefold on. They emerged, and were blinded by the brilliant light of day from knowing only the darkness of Morgall for hours.

Xian… Oriental town of silk and flowers. Jupiter Adepts predominate this town, masters of music, martial arts, and trading. Xian, like Fuchin, is built into the mountainside, offering ample protection and shelter from harm. A swift stream runs strong down from the mountain heights and flows through Xian, and the sound of its trickling falls is music to the ears of the Xianese. White lilies grew and thrive in the pure water, and the ornate homes of the town are graceful and strong, built to endure the elements.

Because of their mountainside isolation, the tongue of Xian has been sundered from the rest of Weyard, and they speak in short, halting sentences. The Fivefold arrived during the weekly market, and the bustle and activity momentarily baffled the Fivefold. Suddenly, the townsfolk fell silent as a loud explosion drifted to them from the direction from whence they came. The Fivefold turned to face Morgall, where a great red beam lanced through the forest, burning the greenery into desolation. The market plunged into deeper chaos. All of the townsfolk ran into their homes and shut and barred the doors, save for a few brave souls who remained outside.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Said a slimy, oily voice at their side. The Fivefold turned and recoiled in disgust, fighting the urge to gag. A malformed humanoid stood there, its head lopsided and one eye floating in a great empty orbit. His nose was crooked, and when he smiled blackened husks of teeth showed through. He had dark skin the colour and smell of the swamp. "Regnoare sends his greetings…" the zombie-like creature smiled toothily.

Cinaed turned and scowled at the creature. "You sicken me…"

The creature's smile grew wider. "I thank you. As I said, Regnoare sends his greetings…" he snapped his fingers, and several large hounds leapt from nearby shrubbery. They had fiery eyes, and acrid saliva dripped from their muzzles. They growled warningly. "Enjoy," he said, and the hounds sprung.

The Fivefold raised their blades and smote the beasts on the side of the head, causing them to fall back, senseless for the time being.
Cinaed grinned. "I have a idea.." Reaching over to a market table, he grabbed a pair of woollen socks, and, balling one up and placing it inside the other, now had a crude flail. He casted Blaze, alighting the end of the woollen flail, and began spinning it by the end, so that it appeared a wheel of fire. He sprung beside the zombie, who shrieked in fear. Cinaed whirled the sock-flail in the air and brought the flaming wool down onto the fiend's head. Unfortunately for the zombie, his flaccid flesh caved under the fierce blow, and, his insides proved to be flammable. His form was engulfed in flames, and he was incinerated, falling into a stinking lump of ash. Cinaed dropped the smoking remnants of the clothing onto the corpse.

Orior leaned over to Shamira. "Ouch. Killed by a sock…" Shamira grinned sadistically and glanced over at the wolves, who were just beginning to arose. Orior and Shamira drew their blades and sunk them into the skulls of two hounds, and waited for the rest of the pack to awake. The hellhounds rose unsteadily, snarling, and the Fivefold arrayed themselves, each calling a wolf to them. Five Adepts, five wolves.

With a howl, the wolves leapt as one at the Fivefold, who drew their weapons and struck. The wolves fell back, wounded and whimpering. However, the hounds soon regained their evil will and howled. They began to glow faintly, and their fur bristled on end. Three glowed yellow, two red.

With a snarl, they launched their attacks, and the Fivefold found themselves the target of multiple Psynergies. Orior barely dodged a Cycle Beam, managing to deadlock it with Ragnarok. The enormous sword drove the flaring beam into the ground.

Maris faced a Serpent Fume, and, knowing her peril and weakness, wasted it with Deluge. The flaming serpent twisted and writhed as the pounding water dissolved it.

A Briar crumpled before Cinaed's Heat Wave, dissolving into ash… Shamira leapt into the air to dodge a Mother Gaia. She was forced to leap from rock to rock as they were blasted into the sky, and soon was flying high above the battling foes. She landed nimbly, and straightened. Aleos destroyed a Stone Spire with Force, the powerful energy beam shattering the spire into so many pebbles.

And so, the Fivefold stood unharmed, and drew their weapons. They nodded to each other as they chose their targets, but the wolves sprung first, jaws open. Shamira thrusted her rapier into the mouth of her wolf and through the roof, entering the brain and killing it instantly. As the blood poured onto her arm, Shamira felt a sharp pain and looked at her hand. The beast, in its death throes, had chomped and was trying to gnaw her hand off through the steel of her armour. Shamira clenched her teeth against the pain and, using the hand inside the creature's mouth, cast Shine Plasma. The hound's eyes widened in horror, and it exploded with a shower of blood and a small spark of light.

Aleos wielded his holy blade, and the sacred steel slashed through the accursed flesh with ease. The beast collapsed, sliced in two pieces vertically. Aleos' Masamune, however, was perfectly clean, no trace of blood on it. He looked at it curiously.

Orior struck the head of the wolf with the flat of his blade, stunning it. As Orior raised his blade to finish it, the wolf's eyes flew open and it lashed it Orior, who managed to bring his sword down and parry it. However, it still raked across his legs, and Orior angrily decapitated it.

Maris swung upwards with Leviathan, and embedded the sickle blade in the beast's throat. It gurgled, and slumped, dead. With a sickening slurp, Maris withdrew her blade, grimaced in distaste, and wiped the blade on the hound's fur.

Cinaed brought his great two-handed axe down on his wolf's head, and in one mighty blow, the beast was cleaved in half. Cinaed smiled, pleased, and drew a cloth from his pack and began wiping the blade off the blade.

All this happened in a space of a few seconds.

The Fivefold looked up at each other, and began to laugh. The merchants and townsfolk began to drift out, and stared at them.

Aleos sheathed Masamune. "Not too bad for our first real battle with Regnoare," Aleos said, and smiled.

"We could have done better…" Cinaed said, looking from Orior to Shamira. Shamira raised her arm to silence Cinaed, but winced and withdrew it, cradling her wounded arm.

"Shamira, Orior! You are injured!" Maris cried, and rushed over to heal them. Placing her white hands on Shamira's wrist, and cast Ply Well. A small faerie appeared, and glittering sparkles drifted out and encased her wrist, healing it and stopping the blood. Maris walked over and did the same with Orior. She then stood in front of them, and shook her head. "Next time, be faster. You warriors should know better." Orior and Shamira groaned, and sheathed their weapons.

The Fivefold turned to go, but a powerful voice stopped them. "Halt, warriors!" They Fivefold turned.

A powerful man was striding toward them, seven feet tall, taller even than Cinaed. He wore heavy armour, ornamented with many spikes, and a buckle around his waist carved as a fierce beast. A great halberd hung in his hand, a golden serpent winding around the shaft, and a ball of feather-like absorbents before the blade. A great spike topped it, and two crescent-shaped blades flanked it. This man had a hard, chiselled face, and seemed to be a true warrior. However, the most distinctive thing about him was the headdress he wore: from a base, a hairbun, really, rose a long chain of peacock feathers, each interlaced with the next and first rising up and descending gracefully to rise just above the ground.

He stopped a respectful distance from them and nodded. "I watched your battle, Adepts, and I am impressed. Not at what you have done, but I see the potential you have to do so much more." He sighed, and lowered his gaze. "I am tired. I have fought many a war, and I grow weary of fighting. Perhaps you can carry on my torch." He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. Far off, the Fivefold heard the whinny of horses, and soon their hoofbeats also.

Five blurs clabbered across the cobblestones, rushing as the wind. They stopped beside the warrior, and snorted. The Fivefold looked curiously at these five steeds.

One was a horse of deepest black, a gold plate was worn around his head for protection. A simple harness hung at his side, emblazoned with a crescent moon, and fifteen hands was his height. The tall warrior gave his name as Shadowless, for he outran his own shadow.

Another seemed to be of yellow lightning, yellow in every shade. His tail was of yellow, and a silver plate formed armour for his head. He stood at sixteen hands. The warriors shrugged. "Jue Ying, Flying Lightning, Storm… he has many titles."

One was a pure white, except for a distinguishing blue mark on his forehead, and his harness was strung with blue peacock feathers across his flanks. The horse was about thirteen hands high. The warrior's face darkened. "Dilu, Hex Mark. He is said to be a cursed horse and will bring only misfortune and death to his rider."

The strongest of them all was of reddish hue, and stood at an impressive eighteen hands high. Gold armour ornamented him… winged hooves of gold, a saddle plated with gold, and a gold helm that was almost hawk-like. The warrior looked fondly at this stallion, and stroked his mane. "My own steed, Red Hare, able to ride a thousand miles in one day."

The last was the most mysterious. His colour was of silver, and he seemed mystical and unfocused, as if he wasn't really there. His eyes shone with an inner fire, and his tail was of the mist. His hooves were sheathed in silver, as was his body. "This is Silverfire. I know not from where he came, only that he is perhaps the equal of Red Hare in speed and seventeen hands high."

The tall man spread his arms. "These are steeds of legend, out of the mists of time. I now bequeath them to you, Adepts of the Five. Take with especial care Red Hare, for he is wild and will bear few masters." He lifted his hand. "Go now: choose."

Immediately, Silverfire nickered and clopped over to Aleos and stood by his side. Aleos looked surprised, but nonetheless turned astride and mounted, riding bareback, for there was no saddle.

Shamira locked eyes with Jue Ying, and smiled. "Ah, Storm. A true steed of a Jupiter Adept." Shamira and Storm walked towards each other.

Maris walked gently beside the Dilu, and laid a hand on the mark, and spoke softly. "Though you may be cursed, a child of Sol and Mercury does not fear it. Hex Mark, come unto me." Hex Mark nickered softly.

Orior stared into the eyes of Shadowless. "Shadowless… a false name, for I perceive there is much darkness in you. Come to me, then, Shadow. And bear me into darkness."

At last, only Red Hare stood peaceful beside his master, the tall warrior, who raised his head and looked at Cinaed, his feather headdress swaying slightly in the wind. He spoke quietly in undertone, "I once loved war above all else. I lived for battle, and slew many a man, and betrayed some. But a second chance gave me a new outlook, and I hoped to live in peace here, in Xian. But that is not to be." He sighed, and looked towards Morgall, from which many a dark thing proceeded from. "But I shall resist them. Alone, if need be." He turned back to Cinaed, who regarded him with respect. "I see now in you many of the things I had myself when I was young. Red Hare is yours, as well as the blessing of Lu Bu, counted mighty among men." He turned to Red Hare and seemed to converse in silence. Red Hare whinnied softly, nuzzled the warrior's hand, and trotted to Cinaed. The horse cast an appraising eye over Cinaed, and seemed to wink. He trotted to Cinaed's side and knelt so that the Proxian could mount. He did so, and looked back on Lu Bu, who raised his hand in farewell. "Goodbye, dragoon." He smiled at Cinaed's look of surprise, and clucked his tongue. Red Hare sped away, and the other horses followed, faster than the wind.

The Fivefold bowed low over the necks of their steeds, the wind rushing over them. For the first time in a long time, the Fivefold rested an easy sleep, as the world rolled beneath them and the power of their mounts bore them through forest, plain, and road with equal, unrivalled speed.

Regnoare led his army briskly from the time he saw his quarry slipping into Morgall. "I can't catch them with my army behind… they're too slow." He thought, and waved over seven hellhounds, a hideous mutation of the everyday canine, and a zombie mage. He spoke to them evenly. "You are to bypass Morgall Forest as fast as your pitiful canine speed can carry you, and wait at Xian. You are to delay our prey by whatever means necessary… The main army and I shall rejoin you there. But I would not be you if I find that you are alive and our quarry has escaped…" They bowed, the wolves kneeling from their forelegs. The zombie leapt astride the largest wolf and they sped off.

Regnoare looked after them thoughtfully, then whistled piercingly. A black crow glided down and alight on Regnoare's shoulder. "Follow them. I want to know what they do." The crow cawed, and flew after the dwindling beasts.

-

The shadow army had entered Morgall Forest, and enjoyed themselves for a while by chopping trees and slaying wild animals. But soon, Regnoare realized that they had been returned to the same place they had come from by some devilry older than he. One of the Mantrak approached. "Master?"

Regnoare smiled a twisted smile, and outstretched a clenched fist. "Never you fear. We'll just… well, observe." Regnoare unclenched his hand and reached out. Casting Searing Beam, an immense beam of fire lanced forth and scorched all the greenery in front to burnt ash, evaporating streams and revealing the way to the road. "Problem solved." Regnoare announced, and his army walked forth in great haste, looking forward to release their frustration by looting Xian. Regnoare pumped his fist in the air and his army began to proceed.

-

The crow returned later, and informed Regnoare that the wolves and the mage had been destroyed, then hopped uneasily away lest he fall victim to Regnoare's anger, who managed to restrain himself.

-

With cries of hateful delight, the Mantrak set on the screaming townsfolk of Xian, burning, looting, and killing. Regnoare advanced behind a few ranks of Mantrak, smiling quietly. Suddenly, the front ranks of Mantrak were thrown back under a ferocious blow, most of them cleaved in half. A tall warrior stood in the army's path, a long halberd at the ready. His eyes glinted as he readied his weapon for another blow. "You cannot pass, by the might of Fengxian," the warrior said.

Regnoare grimaced, and ordered an onslaught of demons to assail the lone man, who raised his halberd to strike. He slashed twice, once to the left and then back, then began twirling his halberd down over his head in a complete circle, nine times, demolishing most of the demon soldiers. He then swung his halberd, and, as he cast Psynergy, it set aflame and incinerated the most threatening Mantrak. The man smashed the hilt into the ground, knocking down all the Mantrak that still stood a small distance away. "I will teach you to fear the Lunar Spear!" He cried, and swept his halberd in front of him, causing the Mantrak to scramble back.

Regnoare admired the ease with which this warrior wielded such a heavy weapon, and raised his claw. "Halt, Mantrak. We shall let this warrior live, for he is plainly one of great worth and prowess. Beside that we have need of haste and no time for petty conflict." He inclined his head towards Lu Bu. "May we meet again, warrior." Regnoare cast Opacus, wreathing his army in a black fog. So concealed they marched from Xian with great speed.

Regnoare heard the warrior's parting call. "Rest assured, demon: we will." The necromancer smiled.

Their steeds led the Fivefold with great speed down Silk Road, bypassing the high mountain town of Altin and only stopping briefly in Lama Temple to refresh themselves in the cool springwater. Heeding the resident's warnings about the nearby desert ("'Tis an evil place," one gnarled old man said), the Fivefold bought one more flask apiece and filled them with the cool freshwater of the spring. They then rode off into the descending sun.

"AHG!" Lamakan Desert proved to be more brutal then their wildest imaginings. The bone-dry corpses of many beasts were seen strewn in a vague haze of heart. The air itself seemed to drain a liquid from the body, and the Fivefold were soon struggling. Even their great mounts were flagging under the unrelenting fire. Maris did her best to weave a cooling Psynergy, but the endless heat demolished it. Soon, they staggered to a circle of stones and collapsed.

"Water... need water…" Orior croaked. The others agreed, though Cinaed only suffered mild discomfort as a result of the Proxian scales and blood.

Shamira looked around her. "Wait… this is a Reveal insignia! There's hope yet!" She concentrated and casted Reveal. A hazy bubble expanded and enveloped them, revealing the unseen as it went. And so the Fivefold found themselves drenched in the newly revealed oasis. The horses whinnied happily and lowered their heads to drink. Maris looked around, surveying the water.

"You know, I believe there's enough Mercury here for my to sustain my cooling spell at a high level… so after a short rest, with Shamira's help I'll be able to help us." Shamira nodded her agreement, and, after some much-needed waterplay, the Fivefold were ready to move.

"Ready?" Maris called back over her shoulder at Shamira, who nodded silently. "Then let's go!" She dug her eyes into Hex Mark's sides, and he sprang off, Shamira on Storm just behind. Maris began to concentrate, cooling the air with the power of ice. Shamira cast Reveal whenever they passed a circle of rocks, renewing Maris' energy. Their steeds travelled with good speed on the hard-packed darker sand, but were forced to reduce speed on the treacherous shifting sand of lighter colour.

Eventually, with Shamira and Maris' assistance, the mountain range that marked the end of Lamakan was revealed in the distance, and suffice to say the Fivefold were glad to see it. They passed through the cave that passed through and emerged, travelling at full speed, on the hard earth of an Angaran road.

Their steeds seemed to be pleased to stretch their legs and travel with speed, blazing a trail of almost-fire across the road. The wind in the faces, the Fivefold were exhilarated. Soon, they were laughing for joy at having outpaced Regnoare, and soon passed to the far south of Vale. However, to their dismay, a horn sounded to the north, accompanied by a black stench on the wind.

"What?" Maris said, confused. "I thought Regnoare was behind us."

Suddenly, Shamira leapt from the saddle and used her Jupiter Psynergy to jump exceedingly high to survey the surrounding lands. She then floated down, gentle as a feather, and landed gracefully in the saddle and shook her head. "Regnoare's a sly devil. The force he's pursuing us with is merely a scouting troop in comparison to what he left here. The force now coming down from Vale is about fifty times the size…"

Aleos shuddered, then straightened. "Then we'll just have to travel faster! Let's fly like the wind!" He snapped the reins and sped off.

Cinaed looked uncertain, but the Mars fire built slowly in him. "I'll delay them!" He cried, and wheeled Red Hare around and rushed to the north to face the approaching army.

"Take care!" Maris cried after him.

Cinaed's spirit burned in a blazing fire as he and Red Hare rushed to certain doom. He felt keenly the powerful muscles of his steed beneath him as he galloped, faster than the wind. Cinaed leaned down over his horse's neck, his heartbeat changing to match Red Hare's stride. "We are as one," he thought.

In the distance, he discerned the black mass that was Regnoare's army, and as he grew closer, he could espy mutant monstrosities, demons and abominations, drakes and Mantrak by the hundreds. Soon, the army spotted them and gave a great cry, shaking their weapons in the air.

"Bring it." Cinaed rose out of the saddle in a half-standing position, and spread his arms, himself and Red Hare merely a red blur. He called upon the blazing inferno of Mars, and welcomed its fiery might. He flung his arms forward and casted his Psynergy.

"Inferno!" Cinaed's hands were enveloped in fire, and from that fire emerged hundreds of blazing fireballs, each about the size of a man's body. They dug into the front ranks of the army, each finding a target and reducing it to ash in seconds before going on. Each fireball drove a deep furrow into the order of the army, and the Mantrak scrambled to reassemble it. Next, Cinaed called upon the Mars' art of war, and casted Fire Blade, or Vesica Ignis in the ancient tongue.

A great sword of blazing fire formed in the air, and Cinaed grasped the flaming handle of a sword only able to be wielded by Proxians. "Now, Red Hare!" He cried, "bring me as close as you can!"

Red Hare turned his head to the side to gaze at his rider. "Of course, Cinaed."

Cinaed nearly fell from the saddle. "You can talk!"

The stallion seemed to smile. "This world has had many benefits to me, but nonetheless I do not speak often. But, now, we have a task to accomplish. Allow me to assist you." Red Hare, glowed, and a red aura enveloped him. His hooves began to strike fire on the ground, and his mane and tail burst into flame.

Cinaed saw what he was doing. "Kirin, mythical beast of fire! I call upon you to assist me in my hour of need!" A faint howl rose, and Red Hare's eyes glinted with fire as his whole body became ringed with flame. Cinaed felt the power of Mars course through his body, and a helm of molten rock formed over his head armed with horns, but it did not hurt him. The speed of their passage burst the shrubbery beside them into flames, so that fire and destruction passed behind them. A cloak of fire spread from his shoulders as the might of Kirin filled him.

"Now! Let us smite these swine of darkness!" Cinaed, who was no longer merely Cinaed, cried, and Red Hare trumpeted a challenge. The army cried in fear and fear, and suddenly the Mars embody was upon them. He drove his flaming sword into their ranks, incinerating and scattering the peons. Red Hare reared and stomped the ground, sending a shockwave of fire around them, knocking the soldiers to the ground where they burned in a vicious flame. Cinaed plunged his sword into the ground, melting the ground into lava and causing a massive explosion of fire. The dome of it slowly expanded, a great churning ball of fire that did not harm its caster, eventually fading in a slow diffusion of fire. A circle of the army a hundred yards wide was now decimated into ash, and the others stood cowering before the fearsome figure of fire. The figure turned his head back the way he had come, and vanished in a sheet of fire.

Cinaed rejoined them later, looking tired and exhausted, Red Hare likewise. "There… that… oughtta… hold them… off…" he collapsed, exhausted, into the saddle. Red Hare, despite his tiredness, kept up with the other mounts.

Aleos looked concerned as they galloped up a tall hill, but his eyes cleared when they breached the top. A glitter of blue sparkled, nestled between mountain ranges. "The Karagol! Make for the Karagol!" They thundered down the hill, racing neck to neck. The Karagol grew and glinted, and the fishing huts on the shore came into view. The Fivefold were travelling twice the speed of the fastest horse, a daring blur that skipped over every obstacle.

Soon, they arrived in the port, and nodded at each other. "We should seek passage across the Karagol, via boat."

Maris surveyed the port. "I deem myself a good judge of sea vessels, and I'd say…" she looked slowly along the port, and pointed to a figure, standing and polishing a wooden oar. Maris clicked her heels into Hex Mark's sides, but he refused to move. Maris looked concerned, and swung from the saddle to look into Hex Mark's eyes. The other Fivefold followed suit.

Hex Mark's eyes looked sad. "Maris, and Fivefold all." He began. They were shocked to hear him talk, but Cinaed nodded sadly. He locked eyes with Red Hare. "It is time for us to part ways. We have brought you from the clutches of evil, and now you will be seen safely beyond their reach, across the sea. We now take our leave of you… may we meet again…" Hex Mark and the others backed away a respectable distance, and knelt to their forelegs as a gesture of respect. Then they turned, and, as a gust of wind rose, they faded, and vanished. The Fivefold stared, mouths agape.

Aleos was the first to recover. "Well… from the mists of time indeed. We are to be thankful for the assistance." The Fivefold murmured agreement.

Maris turned back to the port, her long blue hair drifting in her eyes as she watched the figure. "Now… to bluer waters…"

They Fivefold approached the figure, and espied it to be a young woman, with dark brown, almost black hair tied in a ponytail and flowing down her back. She wore a sea captain's hat at a slant on her head, tilted slightly back. She wore also a captain's jacket, that is, navy blue with pearl buttons open in the front and under this a close-knit shirt of white cotton. Tucked into a pair of sturdy leather boots, she wore a pair of blue leggings, made of a sturdy fabric called denim. Her eyes were a clear grey, and a large steel scimitar hung at her belt. She was polishing the oaken oar with fish oil.

When she saw them approach, she straightened and said in a surprisingly light soprano voice: "Hello, travellers. What can I do for you?" She tossed the rag on the ground, and looked at them expectantly.

Aleos stood forward. "We seek passage across the Karagol. We assume you have a ship?"

"Yep." She said, and cocked her head behind her to where a battle-type schooner lay anchored, a large fortress built on the stern. "You can pay?" Her eyes seemed to be laughing.

"Gold, of course." Aleos jingled the coins in his cloak and returned the smile.

Her smile broadened. "Well, then, I'm sure we can accommodate you. If you'll just wait until I finish this oar, we'll be on our way." She looked with disdain on the rag, and instead raised her hands and blasted the oar with water. Satisfied when the water ran off easily, she smiled and picked up the oar, and turned and walked over to a smaller vessel where a burly sailor sat inside with the other oar. She gestured for them to enter, and climbed in beside the sailor. The Fivefold all fit aboard, but it was close-quarters. The woman nodded to the sailor, and they began to drive the boat out to sea. "Name's Lynn, by the way."

Maris looked distracted. "Lynn… now where do I remember that from?" She murmured.

Under the skilful hand of the sailors, the boat made it to the ship with good speed, and the Fivefold board.

"Men! Look alive! I want to be at sea in ten minutes!" The Fivefold watched with admiration as the men exploded into action, climbing the rigging and unfurling the white sail in seconds. Another readied the tiller, and two more cooperated to hoist the cast iron anchor. Another rushed out with a map detailing he current sea, which way the wind was blowing, and the currents, and gave it to Lynn. She studied it, and then rolled it up and then placed it in her coat.

She turned to them and smiled. "Your quarters are in the base of the castle. Enter that door," she pointed to a blue door with gold trim, "follow the hall, take the second staircase on the left, and pull the second torch on the wall. That'll reveal the guest quarters." She winked. "Well, I have a ship to attend to, so I bid you adieu." She turned, and spotted a bald sailor cracking open a bottle of bubbly. "Aye! You, Bubba! Get back to work!" She thrown him a dark look, and he leapt up, saluted, and crawled up into the crow's nest. She turned back and smiled prettily. "Well, good night." She bowed and turned away.

The Fivefold found the bowels of the ship to be comfortable. The door opened on a lush red carpet, and torches lit the cedar plank walls to a pleasant degree. The staircase was plain, a simple winding matter with a mahogany banister, opening to a new deck, this time with blue carpet. The Fivefold walked down the hall, and saw an unlit torch. Shamira looked at them sideways. "Shall we?" Without waiting for an answer, she reached out and pulled the torch stick down. The wall groaned and swung around, and nimble Shamira just missed being crushed. The Fivefold gasped when they saw their room.

It was a beautiful suite, with turquoise rugs and beautiful four-poster beds, seven of them. A opaque curtain of silk could be drawn between them to allow the occupants some degree of privacy. A huge, floor-to-ceiling window looked out upon the blue sea, revealing dolphins surfing in the wake of the ship, as they always have and always will. The room was lit merrily with several torches, and an adjacent room was used as a lavatory.

Maris smiled, and nodded approvingly. She walked over to the window, and, by means of a lever opened it, allowing in the fresh sea breeze and the crying of the gulls. She turned, and with a sigh, collapsed on the soft silken bed. She turned over and looked at them happily. "Ah, to be on the sea and in a silken bed!" She kicked her feet as if she were a girl again.

Shamira laughed and collapsed behind her. "Indeed, dear Imilian. Indeed." She threw her arm around her friend companionably.

Cinaed walked over to a large cabinet and pushed open the door, revealing ice-layered shelves of liquor. "We're stocked. Party time!"

The Fivefold cheered, and walked over. Orior handed out crystal glasses, and the Fivefold poured glasses of wine and champagne. Even Cinaed overcame his distaste of classier drinks and had a bottle. After the first sip, Maris declared it a fine vintage. She peered curiously at the label, and her eyes widened. "A 1420! Small wonder!"

At that moment, Lynn entered, and nodded to Maris. "Picked that up from a Ankohlian merchant ship a few years back." She realized what she said, and touched her fingers together gently while looking down. "I mean… I bought it from a merchant ship. Anyway," she continued hastily, "allow me to have a glass with you." She sat beside Maris, and Aloes poured her a glass of wine.

Soon, the Fivefold became engaged in lively conversation with the sea captain. The Fivefold disclosed nothing of their purpose, and talk turned to childhood.

Lynn was chatting animatedly, and sipping her wine. "I was born in Tolbi a while ago, and from the day I was born I had a love for the sea. At the tender age of seven, I was taking small canoes out on the Karagol by myself, daring the deep waters to smite me, and bringing home deepwater fish for my family. My father is a naval officer, serving in the Imilian fleet. Our family came from there, Imil, but moved to a warmer climate after the Great Winter of 1864. We still maintain our ties with the Imil part of our family, but we haven't sailed out there as of late."

Maris nodded. "I was born and raised in Imil, and trained from an early age in both war arts and Psynergy. Before my mother... Passed away… I learned a great deal of things from her, like how to be a lady, to value life, and a bit of Psynergy…" She raised her hand, and casted Shine. A white psynergetic aura surrounded her and faded. A brilliant light blossomed in her outstretched palm, cresting in brightness then dimming to a comfortable level. It split and drifted to the torch sticks, and the flames brightened. The room shone with a pure light. She looked back. "Deadly to those of evil hearts. The power of Sol is a rarity in this world." She closed her hand, dispelling the Psynergy.

Cinaed nodded. "I was born in Prox, the son of a Dragoon. And, bearing the dragon blood that flows in all Proxians, I followed in my father's footsteps as a dragon knight. I was away travelling when I met you all," his gaze swept them, "and joined you."

Orior drained his glass, and began. "Born and raised in Lilyvera, only son of the royalty. Served for a time as lieutenant in the Lilyveran army, working to beat back the monsters that continually emerge from the southwest. Trained in the art of the sword, with kin in Ankohl (Lynn shifted uneasily), Garoh, and many other places."

Shamira smiled, and began. "Magnus Olympius, warrior princess and daughter of the late Anemosian King. Led many a campaign, and master of illusion. Currently, my mother the Queen rules Anemos, ever training my younger brother in the matter of kingship."

Aleos remained quiet, eliciting to keep his past shrouded.

They sat in silence deep in their own thought. A strong wind arose and struck the side of the boat, rocking the immense vessel. Lynn's eyes widened, and she looked out the window at the brewing storm, which had not been there a moment before. "I have neglected my crew! Farewell, Fivefold, and try to get some sleep during the coming storm!" She drained her glass and bid them farewell, closing the door behind her.

The storm gathered, a billowing shroud of darkness. Night came early, and the storm grew in strength, blowing out the torches. When the first beginnings of rain started, Orior walked to the window and closed it, shutting out the storm, but not completely. The rain beat down with great strength, hammering the window. The Fivefold looked at each other uneasily in the dark as chinks of hail began to hit the glass.

"Hail in summer…" Maris said wonderingly.

Shamira shook her head. "It's not natural."

A flash of lightning illuminated the room, outlining their profiles in brilliant light.

"Let's try to sleep, Fivefold." Orior said, and fell on his bed. He sighed, and turned over.

"Good idea." Cinaed slid into the next bed over.

"Night, Fivefold." Aleos said, and swept his hand in farewell. Maris and Shamira sighed, and lay in their beds in darkness.

Outside, the storm raged on. Occasionally, they could hear the sound of heavy booted feet running across the floor above, struggling to manage the ship.

Soon, lured by the continuous sound of heavy rain and the wild blowing of the wind, the Fivefold drifted off to sleep.

-

Shamira was awakened, by the sound of the shuffling of many booted feet outside the room. She narrowed her eyes, and struggled to fully waken. The door creaked open, and dim firelight flickered into the room.

"Keep quiet… we can't wake them."

"Until it's time to slit their throats!"

Shamira reached for her rapier and grasped the handle.

"Now…. where are their bags?"

Sounds of rustling, and coins chinking together. "Ah, here we are."

"Now, for them." Shamira caught the glint of cold steel in the firelight, long daggers advancing slowly on her. When the intruders were only two paces away, several things happened at once.

A shape erupted form one of the beds to her left, and shouted, "Ignite!" The torches blazed to life, shocking the frozen intruders.

Literally frozen. They were frozen to the ground, struggling with the ice binding their feet to the floor. Maris had her hands outstretched, looking satisfied.

Shamira, Orior, and Aleos, calmly walked from bed, drawing their blades as they walked, and stood out of reach of the struggling intruders. They were several of the sailors, and they flailed at the Fivefold with their daggers. Maris aimed behind them and froze the other sailors, who were going through their bags. Meanwhile, the other Fivefold easily evaded the frantic slashes and knocked them unconscious with the flat of their blades, so as to keep them alive. They found a coil of rope under one of the bed, and trussed them all up in a great bundle: ten men, all told.

"I think we should address the captain regarding this…" Cinaed said, with a smile. He walked to the open door and thundered, "LYNN! COME DOWN HERE!"

Faintly, they heard a response, "Half a minute!" Rustling filtered down from the floors above, and a door slammed. Boots paced across the floor, down stairs, across more floorboards, and down a last staircase. Lynn appeared at the door, looking tired and dishevelled. Her hair was mussed, and she rubbed her eyes in an act of weariness. "Yes, Cinaed?"

He stepped aside and indicated the bundle of sailors on the floor. "Mind explaining this?"

Her jaw dropped and eyes widened. "You beat the- I mean, I never!" She shuffled uncomfortably. "Pirates on my own ship, in my own crew! I never suspected a thing! They were after your gold?" She asked, and Cinaed nodded. "Thought so! Well, I apologize for the intrusion. I'll have them walk the plank."

The pirates looked terrified, and one of them yelled at her, "But cap'n, you ordered us to-" Lynn scrambled and casted Frost, sealing the pirate's mouth shut.

"Uh, he means that I ordered him to avoid piracy." She said, and smiled sweetly. "Now," she whistled, and four strong sailors ran into the room from one of the rooms in the hall. "Throw these swine overboard."

One of the sailors looked uncertain. "Uh… Miss Lynn…?"

Her eyes flashed. "DO IT! Or I'll have your heads to mount over my fireplace!" The men grabbed their comrades and marched them out the door, scurrying quickly.

With a faint smile, Lynn turned back to them. "We're landed at my home, a small island in the Karagol perfect for docking, to ride out the storm. Now that it's over we will resume shortly." The Fivefold looked at out window, and indeed they were floating serenely in a cove, the pristine water lapping the white sand shoes of a cross-shaped island. Lynn looked back at them and sighed. "Well, Fivefold. I apologize again for the intrusion. Please forgive me." With a small curtsy, she backed out and slowly closed the door behind her.

Orior looked at Cinaed. "Do you buy it?"

"Not a bit."

"Ah well."

With that, the Fivefold lay down to sleep and did not wake until they had docked at Tolbi. Lynn went with them to the deck to see them off. She wore a light blue half-cloak over her left shoulder. "Well Fivefold, I'm sorry your trip couldn't be more pleasant. May you travel long and in sweet air." She bowed.

Aleos bowed in return. "I'm sure we will meet again, Lynn. May your scimitar never dull and good fortune on the sea."

The Fivefold turned and walked on the road, a cobbled street of white rock. After a while, they turned, and all that could be seen of Lynn was Sol glinting off her steel blade.

The Fivefold walked for miles after in silence. Finally, Cinaed broke it. "Well, that was quite an adventure."

Aleos laughed. "Yes, it was, wasn't it?"

As they travelled south, the air grew warmer, and more humid. The Fivefold removed the cloaks they wore, and stored them, rolled up, in they packs. Out of the hazy heat rose a town, with walls of baked clay supported by wooden boards.

Orior looked at them. "We will need to buy heavier cloaks then the ones we have. I know it sounds crazy," he said when he saw cries of protest begin to form. "In Suhalla, the winds lash with unnatural strength, driving mercilessly the grains of sand into one's face. You will need these veils."

Shamira spoke up. "Bah, we need not fear the wind. It is my element." The others agreed.

Orior shook his head. "Fine by me, but don't say I didn't warn you…"

The far off mountains closed in as they walked on, drawing close together. Soon, the sand of Suhalla spilled out onto the earth, beckoning them on with a great tongue of sand. Orior called back over his shoulder from where he was leading. "If there's one advantage to Suhalla, it's not as blistering as Lamakan." A great gust came down form the mountains, carrying with it grains of sand. The Fivefold raised their arms for protection. "I warned you…" Orior said, but they walked on nonetheless.

They passed through the arms of the mountains, and the wind roared with greater ferocity. The are swirled with thousands of particles of sand, intruding into eyes, eyes, and mouth, getting in clothes and tangling hair.

"Mmph!" Maris said, her voice muffled under the sleeve of her robe.

Suddenly, the walls of the mountains drew in close, forming a narrow pass. As the Fivefold edged cautiously closer, a tornado sprung up in front of them, barring their path. Inside, they could faintly see a lizard-like figure, hunched over.

Orior warned them. "A Tornado Lizard… be careful. They are vicious, and will suffer none to pass."

Shamira laughed. "Nonsense, Orior. You just never had a Jupiter Adept with you before." She walked to the tornado, and gently reached her hand inside. The tornado lizard snarled, but held back. Shamira prevented the winds from blowing her off course with a little wind of her own, and stroked the lizard's crest. It rumbled in its throat, and the tornado stopped. The Tornado Lizard arched its back, shook it's head, and looked at Shamira.

"Adept, you who have mastered the wind. What is your wish?" The Tornado Lizard thought to Shamira, communicating mentally.

"Simply a favour, dear Lizard. Could you transport us all to near Lilyvera? We have urgent business there, and your help would be appreciated." Shamira asked, well aware of the danger she was in if she could not maintain the creature's favour.

The lizard looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. He raised his arm, and the grains of sand around their feet began to spin and fly a few feet off the ground. Shamira stepped back cautiously.

"As you wish. Drew near to me: I won't bite."

Shamira turned back to the Fivefold. "He says he will transport us to Lilyvera, saving us that journey. Gather around, his tornado isn't that large."

The Fivefold circled the lizard, and he roared. The wind sprung up around them, and they were lifted off the ground by the tornado, being spun by its force. Shamira steadied herself, and locked eyes with the lizard. "I leave the wind with you, then."

Shamira nodded her thanks. She spread her arms, and then drew them in and raised her hands to eye level. The tornado rose, and to the Fivefold's delight, they were soon borne through the air, if slowly, upon a whirling wind to Lilyvera. Below them, another tornado sprung up around the Lizard.

Shamira weaved the tornado through the Suhalla Range, the mountain's height posing to problem to the powerful tornado, created by the lizard and maintained by Shamira's power. Soon, the mountains feel away to a lush forest crossed with blue rivers, and far-off in the distance arose the immense sight f Lilyvera.

Orior spoke. "Lilyvera, City of the Tree."