Once again, I must thank Darth Azreal. He read through my entire story as a rough draft and helped me to make it what it is for you. Thanks so much!

Chapter 6

The Seer

Page slipped back into consciousness slowly. The first thing she saw was a blue and red mix above her, then slowly she recognized the pattern as the roof of a carriage. She turned to see Ben Finn in a chair nearby, his head down, obviously asleep. She was in a luxurious bed, which seemed strange for the small room. She also saw a grandfather clock ticking away in the corner, which told her this was a very wealthy Dweller. She could only name two people who could own this house. And Reaver would never let Page sleep in his bed without him, (and she wouldn't either considering what bodily fluids might be festering there). She was in the Queen's personal caravan in the Dweller camp.

"Ben…" Page started. Ben snorted and awoke with a start. He jumped from the chair once he noticed Page was awake.

"Page! Oh thank goodness!"

"Ben, what happened?"

"You had a run in with a white balvarine. Reaver, of all people, saved you. He carried you here all by himself."

"I don't believe you."

"He and Garth are still here, if you'd like to ask him yourself. I'm just glad you're safe."

"Thanks..." Page shifted her weight and eventually got up from the bed. Ben ran to her side and grabbed her arm.

"Hold on, I'm not sure you should be standing up yet!"

"I don't have time to wait. Help me up!" Ben bent over and helped Page up, holding her as she instructed. Page stood weakly on her legs, but started to regain feeling quickly and was limping by the time she left the cabin. They traveled up the road, greeted by numerous Dwellers as they finally reached the chieftain's tent. Sabine's majestic dwelling was surrounded by support caravans, which was within a walled section of the camp. Right in front of the wooden door stood Reaver and Garth, who were waiting patiently. Garth was now wearing a Dweller coat and boots. Reaver had on the Dweller clothes he'd stolen earlier, and had his cane and hat with him.

"Oh, Garth if you'd only been here." Reaver was recounting. Page stopped Ben to hear from a distance.

"Why? You've drained Bowerlake, created another Wraithmarsh inappropriately named 'Mourningwood,' filled that with sewage and, to top things off, Albion's been invaded multiple times while I've been gone. I would have wanted to be here because…" Garth said, letting the statement hang.

"If you'd been here along with me, surely the Queen would have won her wars in half the time. And besides, you might have convinced her not to ban alcohol. I do miss my wine and sex parties."

"Why? She repealed the ban a week after the battle with the darkness…what did you call that thing…the Crawler?"

"Yes well, I had to drink in secrecy, in my own home for almost four months before I could wander drunkenly on the streets again!"

"I would say you're hopeless, but in some ways you've proved to be vastly smarter than I'd assumed. Your sword cane also serves as a Guild Seal?"

"Yes, it does. It gives me access to Hero things without lugging around the heavy and painfully garish seal other Heroes used. It's also given me a slight increase in my strength. But I still much prefer my pistol to that decrepit old blade. What about you? Controlling a blizzard is a powerful bit of magic!"

"I spent a great deal of time in Samarkand honing my magical abilities. One of my greatest projects was trying to control the weather of our capital city. I could never really achieve more than basic cloud control before the darkness attacked, but I learned a few things. I assume you're still wielding the Dragonstomper?"

"Oh, good heavens no! Those slow antiques belong in a museum. As much as I loved them, my new favorite firearm is the Reaver Industries Perforator, a gun which gains strength from both killing innocents and having an orgy." Garth shook his head and turned around to Page and Ben, who had been standing behind them, listening to their conversation. Reaver spun around as well, and smiled slyly as he saw the two.

"Now you should know it's rude to eavesdrop. Not that I wouldn't do it in a heartbeat but still, I expected better of you dear Page," Reaver said deviously.

"Reaver…I have to…"

"He saved you Page. I vouch for him. Now, seeing as you're feeling better, let's go see this Sabine person," Garth said, holding out his arm. Page took it and leaned on him heavily. Page felt slight warmth as she touched Garth's shoulder. She put her hand on his arm, and felt the Will lines which decorated his skin. Not only were they beautiful, they actually created heat. Ben took Page's other side, and they started through the opening gate. With Reaver leading, the group walked into the center of the government center, which wasn't all that impressive, save the huge man wearing fur clothing too small for him and with a truly large mustache standing in front of Sabine's tent.

"Huh?" the man grunted, looking down on the Reaver.

"Step aside brute! I must speak with Sabine."

"Go away Reaver! I'm not giving you the time of day! Until Page and Ben Finn come, I don't care!" A small voice with a Dweller accent barked from behind the man.

"Sabine, I'm here!" Page yelled weakly.

"I'm here too…" Ben chimed in as well.

"Boulder! What are you doing? Move!" Boulder stepped aside to reveal an old man no more than four feet high, including his hat. He held a tall staff with a few feathers on it.

"Page and Ben Finn, tis good to see you again! How is the old Queen doing? Did she send you here to treat with me? Perhaps my proposal to bail out the Albion economy again has finally been answered?"

"We are here because we're keeping an eye on Reaver and his friend. They want something which you have…" Page said. Garth left her completely in Ben's hands, and went to Sabine, standing high over him.

"Sabine, I am Garth. I was once known as the Hero of Will. The Dwellers were once the people of Brightwood forest, before you moved north into the mountains. You look familiar."

"Garth…you were…you were the mage who tended to my people…to me, so long ago."

"Yes, and now you have an object of the old king, Sparrow. His music box is of great importance to me."

"Ah, you mean the old piece of junk the Queen found me?" Sabine went back to his tent and started digging through things behind his throne. Finally, he pulled out an octagonal music box which he held before Garth. It had the mark of the heroes, the Guild Seal, on it, as well as a key in it.

"This box, I assume?"

"Yes. May I have that?"

"Of course. But first, you'll have to prove you are in fact, the mage! To start, you'll need to bring me your treasure to replace this one, then…" Garth snatched the music book and hit Sabine with a force push, sending him crashing into his throne.

"I believe I've made it clear the power I wield," Garth said, walking away from Sabine and his bodyguard.

"Fair enough…" Sabine said, rubbing his head. Reaver burst out laughing, barely following the Samarkander as they left the main hall. Ben and Page dragged behind him.

"That old coot didn't know what hit him!" Reaver managed between his laughter. Garth gave him a disinterested look, then started to crank the music box.

"Quickly Ben. Reaver is on a schedule. Two days have already passed since we left Brightwall," Ben started dragging Page, faster, to which she started to feel nauseous. Hurrying was the last thing she wanted to do.

"Yes, come quickly…before he knocks me aside like he did that aged dwarf," Reaver said, catching his breath. Garth cranked the box one final time as Page and Ben entered its range. Garth released the key and the box started to play a song. Suddenly, the group was transported to the middle of a blue octagonal room with a dank air to it. In the center of the room was a map, and slips of paper with poorly signed promises scratched on them hung on the walls. As they appeared with a blast, they heard someone yell from another room.

"Ah, welcome back your majesty, it has been quite some time since you visited. Shall I put the tea on?" Jasper, as Page remembered him, said. He appeared out of one of the rooms. He was wearing a full black suit commonly used by butlers. He had the white hair and pale skin of an old man and appeared as though he was used to carrying things around. He almost jumped to the ceiling at the sight of the group.

"What…what in blue blazes are you doing here?" He challenged shakily.

"What is this place?" Garth demanded. Jasper stammered then ran into a room with the symbol of a weapon over it, likely an armory.

"I believe this is the Hero's Sanctuary. It's where the Queen keeps her weapons and clothing," Reaver answered for him. Garth looked at him strangely.

"Why not a closet?"

"Because only she and Jasper can access this place. At least, that was the idea," Reaver offered with a shrug. Jasper ran back out of the armory holding a rifle. He pointed it at the group, his hands as steady as a veteran soldier.

"How did you get into the Sanctuary?"

"Jasper…please. You know I'm a Hero. Here let me show you," Reaver said, walking toward Jasper. Page was sure he was going to show Jasper his sword which was apparently a small guild seal. As he held up his cane, he suddenly twirled the walking stick and slapped the rifle aside. He made another smooth twist and hit Jasper across the head, sending the servant to the ground.

"Now…maybe we can find something useful around here," Reaver said, starting to look around.

"Are you sure that was entirely necessary?" Garth asked walking over to Jasper's limp form. Page assumed he was still alive.

"Absolutely," Reaver said, stepping onto the glowing Guild Seal on one side of the room. He was transported immediately, leaving Garth, Page, and Ben with a wounded Jasper. Ben looked at the man, then at his uniform, seeing how close he was getting to being court marshaled.

"I was never here!" Ben yelled as he ran into the seal and was transported. Garth shook his head and grabbed Page, allowing her to lean on him.

"Why do you help me mage?"

"I feel a need to respect all other Samarkanders, despite where you grew up, we share a heritage. I help you because I want to Page." Garth helped Page to stand on the seal and she was transported to a gray path leading to Bowerstone Castle.

"Where am I?"

"Page…you should not be here either." An old woman dressed in long red and white robes lifted a hand at Page and suddenly she was frozen solid. She could still see, however, and noticed Reaver tied to a nearby large metal fence and a stone version of Ben next to her.

"Maybe we should have left Garth and Reaver alone…" Page thought.

As Garth was about to step into the seal, Jasper started to awake. Garth turned and dragged him toward him with a force push. He picked the man up and stared into his eyes.

"You remember nothing," Garth flicked Jasper's head and he was suspended in air, trapped in a slow time spell. By the time the butler would hit the ground, he would forget where he was. "I have gained quite a number of spells since I've been in Albion." Garth thought. He believed that he could have easily killed Reaver before he'd returned, but now it wouldn't even be a contest. As he stepped onto the seal, however, felt himself suddenly transported to the famous seer. With a sigh, he folded his arms, preparing for an explanation, "I guess I don't have to kill Reaver after all."

"Garth…why have you returned?" Theresa asked. She wore her long red and white cloak, and had her hands clasped together at her waist. She gave Garth the same blank, dead eyed stare which had made him so nervous in the past.

"Because I have finally defeated the darkness in Samarkand, and returned to make Reaver pay for what he did."

"But you must tell her that it wasn't me!" Reaver yelled. Garth noticed he was tied to a large, iron –wrought fence. They were on some sort of path, with other similar fences, chests, and at its end was Bowerstone castle, towering high in the distance.

"Reaver…I think it's time you were silent," Theresa turned to the man and held her hand to his face.

"Theresa, is this the spire?"

"Yes, but it is not for any of you. How you came to be here is not my concern, but you obviously have something you wish of me. Reaver brought you here to prove that he did not purposefully destroy Samarkand. And so I shall."

"Oh, excellent! That is fantastic, thank you ever so much," Reaver started. Theresa turned to face him.

"I warned you but you would not listen. I will make you silent, regardless of your actions." Theresa touched her hand on Reaver's lips and slowly a yellow smoke came out of Reaver's mouth. It choked the man as it left his throat, filling her hand with Reaver's voice. She took it to a nearby chest and dropped into it, which closed in response. Reaver opened his mouth to speak again but a weak sound, something between a squawk and a cough, came out. He looked worriedly at the two.

"Garth, do you want to know the truth?"

"Yes, Theresa. Tell me whether he destroyed Samarkand or not."

"…he didn't…" Garth and Theresa held still for a moment. Garth shuffled around as Reaver squawked triumphantly.

"That's it? No long winded explanation, no…" An explosion appeared around Theresa and the smoke from it showed a swirling torrent of images. Garth looked deeply into them as she explained them.

"This is your home…Samarkand. It's great strength. It's power of knowledge. It was almost overrun by the darkness and destroyed, and will never be right again….This is Aurora, the greatest and most powerful Samarkander colony, and one of the last nations to make contact with Albion…it was destroyed even more completely by the darkness, only to recover because of the efforts of the people of Albion...and this is Albion, completely assaulted by the darkness, and one of the few who succeeded. They defeated the Auroran darkness, known as the Crawler. Garth, only with your true dedication and power, something I didn't even know you were capable off, you were able to destroy the darkness of Samarkand, known as the Life-Eater. Neither of these creatures were the work of Reaver. He did not release either on their respective countries, and is an enemy of the Crawler. However, there are more bringers of darkness in the world, ones who delight in the suffering of others, and who are quick to bargain with the vain, and gullible. Aren't there Reaver?" The basic images of people and nations suddenly shifted to a moving image of Reaver who was slumped against a wall, covered in blood, pistol in hand, and smiling weakly as a monster similar to the Life-eater stared at him. It growled as it fled from the Hero.

"This is the Dueler. It has engaged Hammer before, and as you have seen, Reaver. One day, you may have to face it. But for now, rest easily knowing that Reaver did not destroy your home." The smoke around the woman cleared. Theresa stood still, hands clasped together at her waist and breathing deeply.

"Well, Reaver, you don't deserve to die at my hand then," Garth offered. Reaver nodded intensely. Garth opened the chest and grabbed Reaver's voice from it. He felt a great deal of power holding Reaver's preferred form of communication in his hand, and for a moment, considered dispersing it with his magic. Already his mind had prepared a spell that would do just that. He stopped himself and shoved it back in the immortal's mouth. The man coughed and sputtered in response.

"Dear Avo Garth, you didn't have to be so harsh…huh! Hurrah, I've regain my voice and proven my innocence! Hmm…that something I'd never thought I'd utter…" Garth froze the chains holding Reaver against the fence and then broke the metal, allowing Reaver to fall to the ground.

"Thank you my dear friend." Garth turned around to Page, and summoning a great deal of power, broke the ice around her and let her fall to the ground. She stood up slowly, trying to regain feeling in her hands again.

"Thanks Garth…"

"No problem. Now, Theresa, I don't know how to reverse a petrification spell,"

"It seems you have more to learn then." Theresa held out her hand and, in a flash of green light, released Ben, allowing him to fall mercilessly onto the ground. The man was passed out cold.

"Ben!" Page went to the man and held him. Garth held his hand out, and slowly, Ben returned to life, jumping forward wildly.

"What the? Where am I?"

"You are about to leave, son of Hammer," Theresa said. Ben Finn looked at her, then shook his head and stared her down.

"What? Hammer? No, Jenna and Jacob are my parents. I'm obviously no Hero."

"That is the home you were given to when Hammer decided that the dangers of a hero parent were too much for a child to bare."

"But…" Page started. Theresa turned to her.

"And has Garth told his relative anything?"

"That was not for you to decide!"

"You niece must be given proper respect Garth," Theresa said, pointing to Page.

"As you wish seer, yes. This is the daughter of my oldest brother, and I had to bring her here as a child when the darkness struck. I erased her memories and gave her the memories of a common child of Bowerstone. I had no choice."

"I'm your…"

"…I also assumed the Shadow Court was the cause, so I gave her memories to develop a hatred of Reaver. I suppose, knowing this, that she can release the hatred now." Page shook her head at Garth.

"Well, this is sudden...and it's wonderful to know that I have an uncle who is a spell caster, and that I have Hero blood…but Garth my memories are my own, whether I lived them or not. Besides, I can name enough things in the last year to make me hate Reaver, much less ten." Page said with a sigh. Garth's normally emotionless face slipped into a smile. He turned to Reaver.

"Now, you've seen this Dueler?"

"Possibly."

"Then I will stay with you. Together, we may be able to prepare against this next creature of darkness," Garth said, folding his arms again.

"Excellent indeed! And since we are completely even, I can walk freely with no threat of being killed by you anymore."

"Is that so…" Ben said, removing a book from his backpack and pointing it at Garth, "Because I know of an explosion in a bar in Samarkand which is probably of interest to you…" Garth grabbed the book and read the title as Reaver on Reaver.

"The explosion…in the bar…that was you?" Garth turned around to a Reaver, who was backing away.

"Now Garth let me explain…"

"Reaver...I'm going to kill you!" Garth yelled as the group was transported in a great bright light by Theresa.