Jimmy hobbled out onto the deck of the Golden Eagle. It was nice to stretch, especially after being bed ridden for the last few days. Despite being beaten, bit, clawed, literally torn apart, and almost buried alive….he was feeling pretty good, especially when he saw the unmistakable tall silhouette of Sammy on the ship's rail.

"You should be sleeping," chided Sammy as she smiled widely. "Back to bed with you."

Jimmy ignored the command as he stiffly walked next to her and gave her the best hug he could manage with only one arm. It felt awkward at first, but she returned his embrace and supported the strength that he lost. "I didn't think you would be back so soon. I figured the city needs you right now. Also, I didn't smell you else I would be hiding in my bunk." He said as he tapped his nose.

"Well I do like to bathe, but to answer your original question the Asura invasion was bad, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been."

Jimmy nodded. The city guard with their half dozen vessels, as well as a dozen long boats from the Order of the Narwhal, and even some armed merchants intervened. Sammy was pretty happy when she said a Captain Wissam survived that part of the battle but they would have all been swept away if it weren't for the major naval powers. Jimmy wasn't sure how or why Admiral Edmund's flotilla and Prince Vleda's fleet had Coffin island cordoned off before the invasion, and he was still confused by why Prince Lalit brought twenty war Kaylons from Nashput to reinforce them. Despite Lalit being old friends, Jimmy still hadn't seen him yet to get a proper explanation. The best answer he got from Sammy was that her friend had somehow imprisoned Lalit's girlfriend/Sammy's bodyguard and he literally raised a fleet and followed her to the end of the world to retrieve her. Who incidentally was in Jimmy's pocket, which was confusing enough but Jimmy just pretended to understand. Regardless, Jimmy was thankful they were where they were needed.

Their dragon golems and bombards shelled the island, which would explain the thunder they kept hearing underground. The demons that could fly or swim had to be handled the out fashioned way with arrow and blade, and that proved to be a bit bloody on both sides. Even with all that fire power the ruins that were the island's namesake still protected the more powerful Asura from external attack.

Luckily for everyone, a great golden dragon entered the fray. Jimmy wondered if this was the same creature that upended Edmund's iron golems, but it didn't matter now. It was a fierce battle, one that the dragon eventually lost, but it did buy everyone time. In the end, the Asura invasion was stemmed, though a sizeable number did escape. Teleporting and their sheer numbers could not easily be stopped.

The ones that escaped scattered throughout the countryside and most likely inside Grom City itself. It was hard to imagine, but Jimmy knew all sorts of dark mages, evil cultists, and even misguided groups like the Horned Society would offer them refuge.

"How's Rina? " asked Sammy with worry in her voice. Jimmy's bunk mate was in perfect health, but she was still in shock. Jimmy didn't blame her considering what she's been through.

Jimmy shrugged. "The poor girl. She blames Martinez's and someone name Aurumgar's deaths on herself. Said it was her duty, her responsibility, to stem the invasion, and she had no right to endanger others. I think she lost it actually. Too much pressure, too much demons and Asura have a tendency to snap one's mind. She's just a poor militia girl that got caught up in Martinez's drunken stories."

Sammy raised her eyebrow. Jimmy wasn't sure what else to say. " Otherwise she's okay. Considering she was running around those tunnels, there wasn't a mark on her. Which is surprising since the Baroness said she was crushed by a cave in. "

"Speaking of which," noted Sammy. "Stille says she'll see you soon, but I think she means she hopes that you will see her sooner. She's coordinating the efforts to rout out the Asura that escaped, but things will be easier with a proper demon hunter. She hasn't taken Martinez's disappearance or most likely death very well I'm afraid. All she can do is keep herself busy."

Jimmy nodded. Stille and himself have not been on the best of terms since Martinez, Jose, and herself went their separate ways. He dreaded their meeting when Hoaglie told him to consult with her, but it seemed now she was open to reconciliation. Which was good since Jimmy missed her. Despite the fact she looked like his younger sister, she was the closest thing he had to a mother and he was concerned for her.

"Any word on Nymk or Chloe?" asked Jimmy.

"I'm really not familiar with either one even though I fought against your druid on the beach. I did overhear the Order of the Narwhal reporting to Admiral Edmund that Ambassador Nymakku requests a meeting to coordinate efforts, but I'm not sure if that's the archer you are referring to. As for your companion Chloe, I've heard nothing yet, but there has been talk of a druid taking up residence on Coffin island but that seems pretty farfetched. I mean, isn't that the last place you want to set up your druid grove?"

"Possibly, unless you had no choice," smiled Jimmy recalling his fall back plan before he descended into Coffin Island's depths.

"Anyways. Stille has the clean up under control. I'll continue to assist her until Lalit resupplies his fleet. He's in no hurry though. He's just happy we were able to rescue Nahlie from umm…your pocket. He's also glad Nahlie's charade is over, and he's been enjoying her company ever since. In the open even. People were beginning to start rumours of some sort of incestuous relationship between us. I suppose that means I have to resume my duties as the Mahadevi in the open now as well. No more hiding in plain sight. I still have a few more years before my marriage to…"

Jimmy grabbed Sammy again with his remaining arm and pulled her close. Before she could protest he silenced her with a long kiss which she quickly reciprocated.

"I..I'm promised to the Bey of Ghata. Uncle Milan arranged this to unite our houses for the good of both of our countries. Our wealth and prestige, their armies and fleets. I know it's hard to understand, for myself as well, but I cannot break this pledge. I did not think much of Javindar at first, but he's proven to be a noble and just warrior. You met him briefly, he was with us in the portal chamber. I cannot break my promise to him."

"I love you."

Sammy's eyes grew wet. "I love you too. I always have. You know that, but I'm not the caravan guard's daughter anymore. I'm the Princess of Nashput, the Mahadevi of Vinraj. I have obligations, responsibilities. The weight of two countries rest on my shoulders. If I spurn Javi…a war might …"

Jimmy silenced her with a finger to his lips. "He might be dead. I've talked to the crew. This is his ship, and he's not returned."

Sammy sighed. "I haven't seen him, but I've talked to his servant Nahbob. He assures me he's fine. He's on the island. Yes…Coffin island. He's still there, probably seeking out more Asura to slay."

Jimmy narrowed his eyes. "I'll go talk to him then. "

Sammy shook her head. "You're not going to do anything stupid are you? I don't know, like duel him for my honour or some other barbaric thing like that?"

"With just one arm? I have to be pretty crazy to attempt that," smirked Jimmy at that suggestion as he prepared to duel Prince Javindar Bey of Ghata.

Javindar fell out of the tree and looked around in amazement. The island was barren and full of Asura when he first encountered it, but now it was like a small forest, a grove in the middle of the ocean dotted by large standing stones. A small spider monkey chased what appeared to be a golden mongoose around a tree in the distance as gulls squawked away in the distance.

Though Javindar was well accustomed to and quite enjoyed the well maintained gardens of the palaces of Vinraj, this wild sanctuary gave him a sense of peace and contentment. It was similar to that lush frog island he encountered earlier, but with less mosquitos and armed Khanian warriors trying to hack him up.

After his last stand with Red Flight against Taraksun, Javindar was sure he was going to be crushed, but Chloeverine saved him. He wasn't sure how, but one moment he was in the literal heart of evil, the next he was inside a tree.

It wasn't a big tree, in fact it was a very cramped tree. He felt Chloe's presence briefly but she was soon gone. Javindar wasn't sure if he was a prisoner or what not, but for a few hours, or perhaps a few days he was powerless to move. Which should have drove him made, but it was oddly relaxing and gave him some time to think.

He had to decide if he was a Holy Warrior of Puranas first or the Bey of Ghata. The two roles seemed to go hand in hand, but after battling Taraksun, Javindar knew there was a difference. If he was a true Bey of Ghata he should have retreated and regrouped, but he acted like a proper Holy Warrior and confronted evil no matter how badly he was outmatched.

"Sir, let me attire you properly," said Nahbob as he quickly scurried from behind a tree.

"Nahbob? You're alive? I ..I thought you were crushed," said Javindar in shock. To accentuate his point, he grabbed his servant and hugged him.

Noble and servant embraced briefly but soon distanced themselves as it felt uncomfortable for both groups.

"You are correct, I was crushed. Apparently I was buried under a mountain of stone and rubble as well, but our friends Nymk and more specifically Chloe dug me out in her northern honey badger form. Lady Nymk has left with her Narwhal Knight allies but wishes you the best," explained Nahbob. "As for Chloe, she used a mid level reincarnation spell on me, and as you can see I've returned relatively unscathed…well except my ears."

"Your ears?"

Nahbob shrugged and brushed back his hair revealing moderately pointed ears. "I'm a half elf sir. A local race that for most part resembles humans except for their ears, longer life spans, and their penchant to over eat. I thank mistress Chloe for her efforts, but I hope my wives can look past this."

Javindar grinned. "They might not appreciate your new form, but I've given your service some serious thought. I think you are due for an increase in compensation. I'm sure your wives would appreciate that."

"No sir. Serving you is its own reward. I would never…"

Javindar silenced him with a wave of his open hand. "Do not question me."

"Yes sir, " bowed Nahbob with a great smile on his face.

"Now, enough about you. Please explain why I just exited that tree?"

"I can do that Javi," said Chloe as she skipped into the clearing. The young girl had changed form slightly once again. She wore a short green summer dress, sported long silver hair, pointed elfin features much more prominent than Nahbob's, and was taller now, almost as tall as Javindar. Only her green eyes remained the same, though Javindar suspected she could change those if she wanted as well.

Javindar smiled at the enticing druid girl and bowed deeply towards her. "I thank you for saving my life. I assume that was you."

"You betcha big guy, and as for why you were stuck well….that's not wholly my fault, its Jimmy's, but I don't blame him. Without his little 'miscue' both of us would be dead."

"Jimmy is your master, correct?"

"More of a partner, but let's go with master so I can shift the blame," laughed Chloe in a mischievous manner that Javindar thought entertaining. "Anyways, I'm not sure if you fully understand what a Dryad is, but that's what I am. Well, half a dryad, but I take up almost all physical and magical powers from my mom, but they tell me I inherited my father's err…opportunistic tendencies. One thing about Dryads is that they are tied to their trees. We always have to be near it or we wither and croak. My father had a portion of my tree preserved and kept in a box, cuz I guessed when I was young his enemies burn it down to get to me to get to him. It sounds pretty vindictive, but hey that's what I would do if I wanted to punish some dorf crime lord and his bratty but stunning tree daughter. He hoped one day I would plant it somewhere safe, but until that time it gave me opportunity to move about like no other dryad could. Well, before we assaulted this island, I guess Jimmy thought we were goners so he planted my tree behind one of the big standing stones. A sort of refuge for myself. You see, even if I was defeated and my body torn apart by demons, this is just a shell. My tree is my real body. So at the end there, I sort of grabbed you and recalled back to the tree. I wasn't sure if that would work, but I had a feeling it would. It seemed with the tree planted my mind somehow expanded and well, look at this grove, I've grown in strength. It's hard to explain, but it's like being locked in a big house all your life, but one day the front door is open and suddenly the world is a completely different place."

Javindar considered her statement. He tilted his head towards her in agreement. "I fully understand. I too had a similar catharsis."

"He gave me a raise," beamed Nahbob.

"Anyways, long story short. You were in my tree, and even though it was growing fast it was still too small to release you, unless of course you wanted to be a gnome or something. So I just let it grow a bit more before I popped you out. It was a miracle really, considering the Asuras running around and the Grom navy shelling the place, but I guess these megaliths have some type of protective spell around them. "

"So what now?" asked Javindar. "If the tree is your life, are you stuck here, or can you break off a branch and carry it around again."

Chloe shrugged." Maybe, but I doubt it. I think I might settle here for a while until I think up a solution. Help my father with his err…import export business in the mean time. I was told it was possible to isolate a portion of my tree before because I was young and my tree was small, but it's pretty big now. I don't think I would work, or if I wanted to try it. It's like asking someone to cut off there arm or…..oh hey…Hi Jimmy."

Javindar turned and saw the one armed Grommish hero marching into the grove with Whelp closely behind. His eyes and Holy Sampada's met instantly. She was radiant and he felt joy when seeing her. They shared a happy rapport, but it ended quickly as she turned away.

Chloe skipped out to greet Jimmy and the pair hugged. "I knew you would find me. Sniff me out so to speak. I don't know if you overheard me, but I was kind of stuck here, and I didn't want to spread the word in case…you know…my father's enemies came looking for me."

"Understood," smiled Jimmy. "I'm just glad you are alright. I didn't realize planting your tree here would bind you here, and for that I'm sorry."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Pffft…don't be. If you didn't do that , both Javi here and I would be under a mountain of stone like Nahbob there. And no one would be around to dig any of us out. So if it's a choice of being squished or taking root on this shitty island, I'd go for option B."

"I'm glad you are taking it so well, but my business is with the Bey there."

Javindar interest was piqued when he heard himself mentioned and confronted the man. He gave him a swift fist to chest salute before he considered the man.

This Jimmy was haggard, thin, and missing an arm. While he was the same Hero he met in the tunnels, gone were the heroic qualities that blazed around him when he fought Taraksun. Still there was a determined look in his eyes that would give anyone pause.

"Hail. We have not been properly introduced when we first met. I am Prince Javindar, Bey of Ghata, Holy Warrior of Puranas," he said before Nahbob could make that statement.

"Jimmy of Veb. We need to talk."

"On what subject, noble Sir?"

"I should have done this years ago, but common sense ruled it out. Well, I'm older and apparently wiser now. I know when something good comes into your life, you have to take hold of it and never let go. People might laugh at you, or revel in your failures, but if you don't take your opportunities no matter how slim, you just survive life, you don't live it," said Jimmy glancing back at Whelp. Javindar could see the desire in him, it was much like his own.

"Is this about, holy Sampada?"

Jimmy nodded.

"You know she is promised to me. Not only are our houses dependent on our marriage, but our countries as well."

Jimmy bowed and drew his rapier. "I let her go once, I will not make the same mistake again. I rather die."

Nahbob rushed to the Bey with his weapons and armour but Javindar shook his head. The one armed man might have proven a challenge at his full strength, but beaten as he was he was no threat.

"There is no need for that. I relinquish my rights of marriage to Holy Sampada."

"Eh..what?" asked Jimmy in confusion.

"I cannot honour my vow of marriage, since it would interfere with my duties as a Holy Warrior of Puranas."

"Eh ? " said Nahbob in confusion.

"This island is apparently on top of something called a tear of Rovagug. We both know a dark rift exists below it, and though it is dormant, I feel it is my duty to ward against it. Similar in a way to what the holy temple in Nashput does against the rift in the jungle near it. I will establish an order here to protect against this threat, which sadly is unfair to Sampada here. I will not make her wait on me for my task to be complete."

"Eh?" said Chloe as she scratched her head. "I mean…yippie…I get a hot prince…err I mean yay I have tenants now! Cha ching."

"Aye I will pay a fair remuneration for use of a portion of your land."

"Doesn't the Grom Crown own this place?" asked Jimmy. "Nevermind, I'm sure you'd grab it eventually by squatter rights. I'm sure no one else wants to live here."

Whelp walked up to Javindar and looked him in the eyes again. "What about our familes? Our countries?"

"They will still be allies, but bound by treaty instead of marriage. I know that is not our custom, but if I can eat and enjoy a spicy fish, then our countries can be bound by words not blood. My time in the west has reinforced my belief in tradition, but also allowed me to think ahead. Milan can send his representatives to Nahbob here to iron the duties of our new alliance. He will be my Vizier. I've recently raised his salary, so I expect more responsibility from him in return. "

Nahbob was stunned. It wasn't until Chloe elbowed him in the gut that he bowed before Javindar. "Thank you my lord. I shall not disappoint you."

"What if Milan and your father refuse?" asked Whelp.

Javindar smiled. "Both your uncle and my father are old men. Soon, the pair of us will be the heads of our family. I am sure when news of our victory comes to light back in Vinraj we will already be accepted as such. We can work something out between us, even if they do not support it. Am I not correct?"

"Yes..I belive you are correct," said Whelp. "I'm also sorry. Sorry for lying to you, but it seemed the best course of action at the time. There had been many attempts at my life, you seemed to favour Nahlie, and…"

"No need to apologize. I understand. If anyone should be faulted, it is I for not seeing the true Princess before me. I failed the first test of a Prince."

"Thank you…" she whispered.

Javindar wanted to take it all back. He wanted to throttle her one armed champion and take her for himself, but he saw the way she looked at him. Saw the way she ran to him in Taraksun's chamber. She was not his to own.

Whelp's eyes welled up, and she hugged Javindar deeply until a golden ball of fur jumped on her back, breaking the embrace that the Bey had yearned for and still did.

"Chit! You're alive!" said Whelp in surprise.

"Ahh, that's your little tube snake," said Chloe. "We picked him up in the sewers by Stonefishes. I thought he was a little exotic for this area. He was talking nonsense about sailing the oceans and stuff, but I simply thought he was some pirate's pet."

"One more thing, was there any sign of Martinez or that Marilith?" asked Jimmy.

"Her name is Keke," corrected Whelp.

Chloe shrugged. "No, but there's a lot of rocks down there, and you saw that place. It constantly shifts. I was just lucky to get Bobby's body back."

"Well, I guess that ties things up neatly," said Nahbob.

Javindar considered his statement and shook his head. "No…this is too convenient. Too much random events clashing to produce this end result."

"It could simply be the forces of fate. This was all prophesied you know. I had a rather unpleasant encounter with an aboleth on my way here," shuddered Whelp. "Everything he said had more or less come to pass."

"Or it could be chaos," said Jimmy.

"Chaos?" asked Javindar.

"Martinez was not a religious man, but when he was really drunk…not just normal drunk, he would spout off about the god of Chaos, Kard. How he loved to take mortal form, or in some cases inhabit a mortal's body and manipulate things for no apparent reason other than to amuse himself," shrugged Jimmy.

"You believed we were pawns in some great game?" mused Javindar.

Jimmy considered the question before slumping his remaining shoulder and sighing. "No…yes…I'm not sure. It's easy to believe our fates are predestined and things work out because that's the way they are supposed to work out, but there's something I find attractive in knowing that things work out because someone strived hard to do it. Be it you, Chloe, Stille, Ulfgar, Sammy, Nahob, Nymk, Vleda, Rina, the great gold dragon, Admiral Edmund, Martinez, myself, or even some mysterious shape shifting god."

"You forgot Keke," corrected Whelp again. "She had a noble spirit despite of what she was."

"Aye, even Keke," relented Jimmy. "Everyone made sacrifices to get where we are now, some more than others. I just feel it's disrespectful to think that their efforts pale to some great master plan called fate."

"Well, regardless what drove us here. We are here now. Let's enjoy our victory while it lasts, live in this moment," said Javindar.

Jimmy took his words to heart as he hugged Whelp as the pair kissed passionately. Nahbob silently excused himself as Javindar turned and walk away into the newly grown forest. He wanted to hide his defeat in peace but found himself face to face with Chloe in a small clearing.

"You know Prince 'hard to get'. All that talk about establishing an holy order on this island might have fooled everyone else but you don't fool me," she said as she licked her lips. "You just wanted a piece of this hot druid body all to yourself."

Before Javindar could protest Chloe jumped on him and smothered him with kisses. Javindar could have easily blocked and threw her aside, but he liked her taste and decided to follow his own advice and lived in this moment. She was definitely passionate and attractive in her own exotic way, and at the very worst she could assume another more pleasing form. More importantly she had proved herself heroic, against the Rakshasas and their lord and especially against Taraksun, and despite her tough money hungry demeanour, she had a tender heart and a penchant for self-sacrifice. He wasn't sure if they would make a proper couple, but at the moment, he was willing to try.

After their long and passionate kiss, Javindar faced a beaming Chloe. "What now?"

"You know….I think we should plant some mango trees."

Keke was at peace. Or as much peace as her turbulent nature would allow her. She recovered her scimitar, no matter how fleeting. Raziel was defeated, Eliaos was avenged. She even saw Whelp in the corner of her eye limp off to safety with a wounded warrior, and that pleased Keke. She didn't know who he was, but some corner of her heart hoped that it was Whelp's long lost lover.

It couldn't possibly be him however. The chances were too slim. As a creature of chaos, she knew the odds, and it wasn't good.

"Unless of course the deck was stacked," said a drunken voice.

Keke hadn't realized her eyes were closed, but in an instant she opened them. She saw Martin was there in all his drunken sloven glory, or at least she thought she did. With a tip of his fingers to his temple he was gone and she found herself in a great field surrounded by thousands of small glowing entities of all sorts. Most glowed dimly but some like herself glowed brightly. All the entities appeared to sort themselves out and marched towards different fates. Some went to a holy mountain, others a great forest. Some wailed as they were drawn to a dark pit, others screeched as they threw themselves down an endless abyss.

"Petitioners," she said as she realized what had happened. She was slain and her soul was to be sorted again. Petitioners were normally mindless and represented only minor vestiges of their lives, but powerful souls like herself could not only recall their lives and deaths but also reshape themselves to more or less their former selves. It was a draining process, and it was said each time a greater outsider died it grew weaker, but the alternative of becoming a mindless lemure or larvae was considerably worse.

With that said, she focused her thoughts and imagined herself as she wanted. For a brief moment, she thought she could reform herself into a humanlike being, like the form she assumed when those dragon shackles trapped her. Instead her form looked pretty much like what she recalled. Long snake body, six arms, fanged teeth. Nothing had changed.

She thought she would be upset, but she wasn't. This is what she was and she accepted it. She knew that when she returned to Abaddon Taraksun would waiting for her, but she didn't care. He could send legions after her, but she doubt that would be the case. The invasion had cost him a lot of resources and clout, and he would most likely be in hiding from his rivals for at least a millennia or two. Long enough for her to regain her own strength, gather her own army, carve out her own domain…

"Keke? Is that really you?"

Keke stopped. Amongst the multitudes of petitioners here, it was rare to find someone you knew, rarer that they retained enough of their intelligence to remember you. Of all the beings she knew that died recently, Keke thought she might encountered Selexia, Pasurendra, Vikokima or maybe even Taraksun, the latter of course would have been extremely awkward.

However, it wasn't any of them. The voice was pure and strong. Not flighty and angelic, but it spoke with power, strength, and tenderness though it was small.

"Eliaos?"

"It..it really is you! I saw a strange shadow here, and I was curious, but I didn't think it would be you. I've waited…well…an eternity!"

Keke turned and saw an angel overhead. He looked like Eliaos but not quite, he was much smaller and his light was not as bright as it should be.

"How…how are you here?" asked Keke as she wrapped her coils around him and smothered him.

"Ack…too tight…gasp…"

Keke relented her grip but gave him a deep but affectionate bite instead.

"Oww! " yelped Eliaos as he rubbed his bloody wound. "Same old Keke. As for why I'm in this form, well ..it's a long story. Several Millenia old infact. Or at least I think its several millennia old, time is hard to measure in this place."

"Let me guess," interrupted Keke. "You've sustained yourself here by draining your own spirit. Morbidly waiting for me to die so we can be together again?"

Eliaos looked down. "Aye. I know , I know. I could not leave this place without you. I could not return to heaven or where ever I would end up without you at my side. The chances were astronomically small, given the size of this demi realm. Also, given that I had no way of knowing when you would die, or if you would even recognize me, it was a fool's errand but I waited nonetheless. I also imparted a part of my soul into my scimitar which also cost me. I hope it would guide you, or at least alert me but that plan didn't quite work out either. I'm not sure, but it kept getting separated from you. Despite all this….well here you are! We truly did beat the odds. I ..I hope you still remember me, still have the same feelings for…"

Keke answered his questions by rubbing her head against his child like body, raking him with her fine scales.

"Oww! " protested Eliaos. "Careful! I'm only a shell of myself, a lot of my spirt has been drained and…."

Keke did not hesitate. She wasn't sure how she knew but she locked lips with him and released her spirit into him. Eliaos struggled at first but lapped up her essence like a man dying of thirst. When she finally released him, Eliaos stood before him as she remembered, though the pair of them looked a little thinner for wear.

"How…I didn't think that was possible!" said Eliaos. "I've never heard of that technique before, nor did I think opposing souls could balance each other out like that."

Keke shrugged, her eyes twinkling with a universe of possibilities that awaited them. "I think a drunk taught me that trick."

A pained cry filled the cabin.

"Please...please...no more," gasped the golden haired youth as he was chained to the cabin wall.

Prince Vleda ignored his pleas as he admired his painting. His small fleet was sailing back to the Khannate and the Prince wished to assess his treasures. In his painting , his rival Javindar looked so defeated and down trodden. It would look good in his dining hall, for all his warriors to laugh at.

This expedition had costed him dearly. Not only in warriors and gold, but he had lost the Black Scroll and his most trusted advisor Aurum as well.

Still it wasn't a total loss, he won fame, especially in the eyes of Lalit's men as they saw him battling the Asura on the front line before their pathetic fleet showed up. He also made contacts with the Grommish Admiral Edmund. A foreigner, but one with powerful weapons at his disposal.

Most importantly was he had captured an Asurendra. Somehow it had gotten itself trapped in dragon shackles as it took the form of a golden youth. He would have missed it entirely but his shamans sensed something was wrong with their prisoner and used further divinations to reveal its true nature. He was a handsome lad with golden hair and armour, and Vleda's mind was filled with possibilities on how to use him.

At best he could break him in and use as a warrior on the front lines. Below that, he could imagine the pleasures he could extract from debasing such a handsome immortal youth.

Vleda grinned as he nocked his great recurve bow and loosed another arrow, striking the youth squarely in the shoulder, evoking another pained cry.

Lastly , if all else failed he could simply use him as target practice.

-fin