Chapter 35 – The Unicorn's Test

Flik couldn't see much of Tengaar because of the crowd around her. Riou, Gengen, and Hix stood in front of him, and Cham, the kobold chief, blocked the way to the bed. Nanami was sitting up on her bed looking concerned. Viktor stomped in from the other room and asked, "What's up?"

Finally Cham seemed to find his voice. "Yes…well, um…we've studied some books and…drat it!" Flik sighed; he could tell the kobold elder was clearly distressed.

Somebody in the room cleared a their throat with a hearty, "Ah-HEM!" For some reason, the sound seemed feminine. Was it Nanami?

Cham was speaking again. "It's the Curse of the Unicorn, that's it! That's what we agreed on."

Hix pushed forward, clearing a view of the bed for Flik. Tengaar's head was visible, reclining on her pillow. Her eyes were closed, but her breathing seemed normal, and her skin didn't appear pale. "What is the Curse of the Unicorn?" Hix asked.

Cham had trouble finding his voice. "It's, uh, it's very, very bad. Very terrible. It's because she, uh, spoke about the Test of the Unicorn too lightly. The Unicorn has come and…uh…stolen her spirit away. She will not rise from this bed." Cham was obviously struggling with this. Flik wondered if the curse was so awful that it frightened the normally courageous chief.

"But there's a cure, right?" Hix asked desperately.

"A cure, a cure," Cham mused. "We did talk about that, what was it?" He paced in the limited space available, looking concernedly at Tengaar. "That's right!" he exclaimed. "What you need to do is bring the Blue Stone of Purity, Green Bell of Knowledge, and Red Flower of Sacrifice to the Unicorn's Meadow in the deepest part of the forest. Only then can she be saved."

"Chief, I don't think I've heard of any of those items," Gengen commented.

"That's because they are only mentioned in the oldest, most sacred of our tribe's texts," Cham replied. "Even I did not know about these things until this morning."

"Never mind," Hix interrupted. "Where can we find the three things we need?"

Cham hesitated again. "We will, uh, need to go to three locations in the Forest of the Unicorn. Each item can only be obtained after overcoming a perilous trial."

Hix drove a fist into his palm. "I'll do it," he said seriously. "I'll do anything to save Tengaar."

Cham nodded. "Then I shall have the gate into the forest opened and see that you have guides to the three locations."

Hix looked back at his companions. "Will you help me get to each site? I'll do the trials by myself." Riou nodded agreement. Viktor chimed in, "Of course!" Flik looked at Tengaar. She didn't appear that sick, but he wasn't willing to take any chances. He added his agreement. Nanami, on the other hand, said she'd stay behind to keep an eye on Tengaar's condition.

In half an hour, the group of four men, Gengen, and their kobold guides were ready at the little gate that marked the boundary between village and forest. Cham opened his mouth to say a few words, but was cut off by a resounding sneeze from the direction of his house.

"Was that Nanami?" Viktor asked. The sneeze had been distinctly feminine, despite its volume.

"I don't think so," Riou answered.

"We're wasting time," Hix protested. "Tengaar could expire at any moment, so I don't want to wait around. Lead us in."

The leader of the kobold guides turned out to be Ren, the tall, gray kobold who's patrol had intercepted Flik the first time he'd been in Kobold Village. Ren finished scratching one of his long, droopy ears and declared, "Let's get on with it. I have been told that the Blue Stone of Purity is on the island in the middle of Ice Springs Lake."

Flik was struck by how much information the kobolds had gleaned in such a short time. He turned to ask Cham about this. "Your sacred texts are surprisingly clear about this, aren't they?"

Cham scratched behind one ear in a self-conscious manner. "We kobolds are really a simple sort of people. We're just no good at subterfuge, that's all."

That was the end of the conversation, for Hix strode off into the forest without waiting for the guides. Flik and the others had to jog to catch up to him. Most of their kobold escort quickly fanned out into the trees, leaving only Ren with them.

The forest was quiet and shadowy. Sunlight, in those few places where it did break the canopy, fell in brilliant streams of light that after awhile were painful to look at. Somewhere in the distance Flik thought he heard birds singing, but he never saw any evidence of them.

The trees were huge and old, standing bunched together like great wooden pillars supporting a green ceiling. None of them had any low-hanging branches. Despite all this, the Forest of the Unicorn did not seem very threatening to Flik. Instead it felt ancient, kind of like a dusty room in an old house.

Another thought came to Flik's head. This forest was very much like an ancient graveyard, where time has worn all the names and dates off the stone. He could feel that this place was special, he just didn't know why. He was certain this forest was older than any of the current nations he knew about, even Holy Harmonia. Perhaps it was older than legendary Aronia.

Regardless of the forest's age, Ren led them down a fairly well defined path, ducking around tree trunks that were wider than all of them put together. Flik guessed that they were moving in a northwesterly direction, but he was far from sure of it. After a few hours of hiking, the forest abruptly cleared out, opening out onto the shore of a small lake. A bare island stood in the waters, about a half-mile distant from where they were standing. The far shore rose up in a series of tree-lined bluffs and ridges, the foothills of the Tinto Mountains.

Ren nodded to Hix. "This is where the Blue Stone of Purity is, on that island in the middle of the lake. Let us rest a moment, and then we can retrieve it."

Hix was already pulling off his gear. "Tengaar cannot wait!" He took off his vest, shirt, and pants, handing these items to Flik. "Keep these safe for me." Turning, he sprinted towards the water.

In a very human gesture, Ren slapped his forehead in frustration. "Wait, you fool! That lake is fed by bone chilling springs."

Hix shouted once as he hit the water, continued forward, and dove under the surface, coming up in a powerful free-stroke.

Ren growled angrily. "I told the chief that this was a bad idea, but would he listen to me? No."

Flik rubbed at his forehead. "You told the chief what?"

Ren jumped, startled. "Ignore that. We've got to focus on rescuing him. He'll never make it, the cold in the water will overcome him before he's half-way there."

"How do we save him?" Riou asked.

Ren immediately ran towards the nearest clump of trees and began tapping on each one in succession. "We've prepared for emergencies," he declared. "Occasionally one of the young pups makes his way down here to try and impress his friends." He knocked on another tree, this one produced a hollow sound. After some fumbling, he managed to open a door carved into the trunk and produced two items: a towel and a fire rune piece. "You must get to him, get him dried off, and warm him with the rune piece, or else he'll be in serious trouble."

Viktor jerked a thumb towards the lake. "How are we supposed to do that? Hix's already a quarter of the way to the island."

Ren pointed to a spot on the beach. "There's a rowboat there. I was going to suggest that he row to the island, but he began before I was finished explaining."

"Let's go, Viktor," Flik said, grabbing the towel and rune piece from Ren. The rune piece looked like nothing more than a sliver of crystal with flames flickering on the inside, but it was warm to the touch. "We can make it if we work together." He started running for the craft.

"Right behind you," Viktor affirmed. Together they jumped into the boat, their momentum driving it a little ways out into the water. Once the boat settled, the two men began looking for the oars. After a thorough examination, they saw that the oars had been knocked free and left on the beach by their mad rush to get going. Viktor jumped out, cringed in the cold water that came up to his thighs, and splashed back to pick up their propulsion. He waded back, tossed the oars to Flik, then nearly capsized the whole operation climbing into the boat.

They paddled furiously. Flik could see Hix well ahead of him. The rowboat began to turn away from the youth, and Flik, though he'd been trained in small craft piloting back in Warrior's Village, was too distraught to reason out the problem. The boat continued to angle away from Hix, the angle opening out with each stroke the two men put in.

From the shore, Ren shouted, "Alternate sides!" Flik, reflexively, drove his paddle into the water on the opposite side of the boat. But so did Viktor. The boat canted sharply, the back end cutting through water they'd already churned up. Awkwardly, in jerks and turns, they pulled the boat closer and closer to Hix. Flik kept his eyes on the boy, watching his strokes through the water. Was Hix tiring? It wasn't easy to tell.

Flik redoubled his efforts, focusing all his attention on getting to Hix. Hix's pace suddenly broke down, his head disappearing under the water, and breaking the surface again. He struggled on. Flik gritted his teeth determinedly, they were close now. All Hix had to do was hang on for a couple more seconds.

Then Flik's oar scraped against the pebbly bottom of the lake. He looked up and flinched as they propelled the rowboat full speed into the shore of the island, kicking up a spray of little rocks and water, and grinding to a loud halt. Hix, having swum the whole distance, staggered up the shore, noticed a rock that was as blue as his lips, and grabbed it triumphantly.

He swayed on his feet when Flik pressed the fire shard into his other hand and Viktor draped the towel around him. "Mister Flik, Mister Viktor, what're you two doing here?" He looked at the blue stone in his hands. "I did it, see? I got the stone."

Viktor whacked him on the back, toppling him into Flik. "Congratulations, Hix. You did a great job. I don't think I could've swum to the island like that."

"It's nothing," Hix chattered, a little color coming back to him. "It's all for Tengaar."

"Let's get back to the others," Flik suggested. The three of them returned to the rowboat and, with Viktor and Flik rowing on alternate sides, crossed back to the other shore in very little time.

Hix wasn't fully recovered when the boat scraped up, more gently than before, against the land. He had to be helped up to his feet, but he waved off any further assistance. Gengen was ecstatic over Hix's perseverance, but Riou's expression was concerned, and Ren's was downright frantic.

"No, no!" the kobold guide said. "We should not go any farther. I told the chief that this was all-"

Hix was weaving about, trying to pull on his shirt, but still declared forcefully, "I'm going on. If you won't help me, then I'll find the next item by myself." He got his head through the neck of his shirt, reached unsteadily for his pants, and lost his footing, falling to the ground.

Flik knew there would be no stopping Hix, so he helped him back to his feet. Once Hix was finished dressing, the group turned back into the forest. Flik kept his eye on the youth, but Hix seemed to recover his strength quickly. It was a good thing the day was warm, even in the shade of the trees.

Their bearing was to the northeast, Flik guessed. They walked amongst the giant trees again, Ren easily picking his way along a vague path. Slightly past noon, the kobold stopped in front of an enormous trunk. "This is the place we call 'Watch Tree.' From the very top, you may look out over the entire forest and even out to the plains beyond. The Green Bell of Knowledge has been placed in the upper branches."

Flik wondered over the words "has been placed." It sounded as though these items had been put there this very morning. Perhaps Ren had meant to say something else, but was not very familiar with human languages?

"All I have to do is climb this tree?" Hix asked.

"Yes," Ren answered. "But first, if you will come around to the other side-"

His comment was far too late, for Hix had already started up the tree. The youth groaned for every handhold, but steadily worked his way higher, finally reaching the first of the great branches.

Ren watched him, mouth agape. "Are all humans so blindly reckless?" he asked Gengen.

"It's their impulsiveness that makes them endearing," Gengen replied. "I don't think a day's gone by where I've been bored."

They walked around to the other side of the trunk, where a ladder had been built into the bark. "There's a platform, nearly at the top, where we can greet him when he comes back," Ren announced. "Who wishes to climb up?"

Riou went up first, then Gengen. Viktor simply said, "I think I'll stay down here. I like to keep my feet firmly rooted on something solid. Besides, somebody's got to keep an eye out for monsters." Flik didn't push him, but started up the ladder. Ren came last.

Despite the ease of their climb, they did not overtake Hix. Eventually Flik had to concentrate on his own ascent, the great height focusing his thoughts entirely on getting to the top safely. He did not look back, but he knew the ground was a long way down.

All of a sudden, they were above most of the other trees, and Flik could feel the wind rushing in through the branches and leaves. It threatened to tear him off the ladder.

"Just a little further!" Riou called excitedly.

Flik didn't look up, not wanting to relax his guard. Moments later, his hand came up against the wooden floor of the landing. He pulled himself in and stood, looking around at his surroundings. The view drew his eyes first. The green tops of the Forest of the Unicorn were visible all around him, but he could also see the mountains to the west, plains and marshes to the east, and the Lana River to the north.

Ren tapped at Flik's feet. "Can you move aside, please? I'd like to get up."

Startled, Flik looked down, saw the kobold waiting on the ladder, and stepped aside. The four of them were now on the platform and it was somewhat crowded. Luckily there was a railing, but to Flik's consternation, it had been designed for kobolds. He edged away, worried that with a wrong move he might end up pitched over and falling to his doom.

There was the slight tinkling of bells, and Hix reappeared, climbing down onto the platform. He didn't even seem to realize it was there, not until he banged a foot loudly on the wood. He looked around and noticed everyone waiting for him. "Hello. Look, I have the Green Bell!" He thrust out a string of little green bells.

"Hix, your fingers!" Flik exclaimed. As might be expected, the youth's fingertips and palms were bloodied. At that point, he began to comprehend the depth of Hix's love for Tengaar. Ever since Flik had fallen in love with Odessa, and especially after her death, he'd been certain that their love had been special, more pure and more real than all of the more mundane loves around him. Even Viktor's love of Anabelle had been suspect in Flik's mind, though he never would've told Viktor that. Now he understood that he'd been wrong. Hix was obviously willing to suffer any injury to save Tengaar, even to the point of death. There couldn't be any stronger love than that.

"Here, let me see your hands," Riou said. He placed Hix's hands between his own and called on the power of the Bright Shield, and light from the rune shined, causing Flik to look away. When the brightness was gone, he looked back and saw that Hix's hands had been repaired.

Hix flexed his fingers experimentally, breaking out in a surprised smile. "Thank you, Lord Riou. The pain was starting to get to me a little."

There was a burst of wind, ripping leaves that were brown and wrinkled off branches all around the platform. A large branch gave way, banging down to the forest floor. "What is going on here?" Ren asked. "Those leaves were green a minute ago."

"It's the rune," Riou explained sadly. "It destroys things in order to bring healing."

Ren backed away from Riou's hand as if the teenager held a viper in it. "Perhaps we'd better return to the ground. There's still one more trial to go, and the afternoon is moving on."

After one glance at the westerly sun shining through dead leaves, Flik began the journey back down. When his feet again touched the earth, he found Viktor staring at the branch that had fallen. "The darn thing came out of nowhere," he groused. "Nearly caught me napping, except for all the noise it made. Now why'd a branch that big die?" The width of the thing was greater than Viktor's torso, and it stretched out over some thirty feet, but every leaf on it was brown.

Flik explained the events in the tree as the group moved off to the southeast. He didn't talk about his revelation on love. This leg of the quest didn't appear to take much time at all. It felt like only a little more than an hour had passed when Ren pulled up at the edge of a thick bramble. Clearly visible through the tangle of thorny vines was a red flower.

However, before Hix could charge off into the mess, Ren grabbed him by the arm and proceeded to lead him around to the other side of the bushes. He paused at the beginning of a well-tended path through the vines, a path that clearly led right to the flower. "This is the third trial," he declared. "All you have to do is walk in there and pick the flower, got it? You don't need to do anything more, just walk in and then walk out. Understand?"

"I understand," Hix replied.

Ren let go of his arm. Hix immediately jogged back around to the other side, shouted, "For Tengaar!" and plunged straight into the thorns.

Ren turned to Gengen. "Surely all humans aren't as reckless as that?"

Gengen shook his head. "No, this one is unusual even by human standards."

Listening to Hix grunt and thrash his way through the vines, Flik had to agree. Regardless, a few minutes later, Hix appeared on the path that Ren had suggested, the red flower in his hand. His face and lower arms were covered in long red welts and cuts, but his clothes had come through the ordeal reasonably intact.

When Riou offered healing this time, Hix refused, saying, "We need to get to Tengaar as quickly as possible. Let's go!"

Ren glanced one more time at the thorn bushes and then spoke to Hix. "We shall now head for the Unicorn's Meadow. Beware, for if you are not the 'Noble Warrior,' your life shall surely be forfeit to the Unicorn. You should think about that."

Gengen looked sharply at Ren. "The Unicorn won't reject him. Look at all he's done today."

Hix frowned, as if aware of what he was planning to do for the first time. "I hope the Unicorn accepts me. Take me there, please."

Ren looked pleased. "I will. It'll be good to get this over with."

They trudged on, heading more or less due south, as the light from the sun began to give way to dusky gloom. Flik's stomach growled and he realized that he hadn't eaten since last night's banquet. A firefly twinkled nearby, and he saw more swirling around the lower branches of the great trees. Full night had descended.

When Flik looked back down, he saw a line of lights in the distance. Ren angled the group towards those lights. Ten minutes later, Hix was the first to step into the knee-high grass of the Unicorn's Meadow. Two rows of tall, slender lamp stands had been set with paper lanterns, leading towards the single tree in the middle of the field. A lone figure stood waiting for them in front of the tree.

Hix broke into a sprint. "Tengaar! You're alive, how?" He didn't wait for her answer, but gathered her up into a fierce hug. Flik thought the teenager was crying, though he wasn't too sure given the shadows.

A resonating cheer of, "Hooray for the Warrior Hix!" rolled out of the forest all around Flik, causing him to check over his shoulder. Out of the woods marched a band of kobolds, led by Cham. Nanami, looking fresh and smelling bathed, bounded out to stand by her brother. Viktor, puzzled, glanced in Flik's direction. For his part, he was busy putting together all the loose phrases he'd heard from Ren and Cham today.

Hix also seemed to be working things out in his head. "Tengaar? Was the…how did you-"

She put a finger to his lips, smiling gleefully. "Look at you, Hix! You ran all through that forest, without a thought to your safety, just for my sake. You're such a great warrior already, you just needed some more confidence."

So it had all been set up, Flik decided. Somehow, Tengaar and Cham must've worked this out. Images of her whispering conspiratorially to the kobold chief during the celebration flashed through his mind.

Hix figured this out too. "I'm not a great warrior," he said dejectedly. "Was everything I did…meaningless?"

Riou walked towards Tengaar and Hix. "That was a pretty mean trick to play," he chided.

Tengaar's smile faded. "Hix, I was doing this for your best interests," she pleaded.

Gengen looked sharply at Cham. "What is going on here? Explain what happened."

Cham walked out between the lanterns and laughed softly, trying to calm Gengen down. "The founder of Warrior's Village, the Holy Warrior Klift the Crusader, was a great friend of kobolds. However, in this particular village, he is more than that. He is something of a legend here, for he helped us in a time of distress long ago. When I learned that those two youngsters were from there, I knew I had to help the young lady."

Hix finally pulled out of his embrace, turning fully towards Cham. "But what about the Blue Stone of Purity, the Green Bell of Knowledge, and the Red Flower of Sacrifice? Don't they mean anything?"

"Yes!" Gengen barked. "The Unicorn will appear if you bring those three things to the Unicorn's Meadow."

Cham laughed again. "Those items were bought in the village. I had my men place them early this morning, before you were awake." Gengen looked appalled. "I am sorry to have deceived you that way. Nobody's even talked about the Test of the Unicorn since I was a pup."

"But, the Unicorn," Gengen sputtered. "It is real. I know it."

Cham placed a comforting hand on Gengen's shoulder. "Your faith is always amazing, warrior Gengen, but now it is time to listen to reason. No one from my village has ever seen the Unicorn. I've looked in the records; no one for many generations has even claimed to see the Unicorn. It's simply an old, old fairy tale."

"You should not dismiss me so lightly, oh Chief of the Kobolds," a deep, rumbling voice commanded.

Cham opened his mouth to exclaim something, but a sharp, cold wind drove through the meadow, blowing his words away. It ripped the lanterns off their stands, flinging them wildly towards the far edge of the field. There, clearly visible in the night, was a white unicorn. He was larger than the largest horse, taller at the shoulder than Viktor's head, but sleek like a Kanakan Stallion. The horn that protruded from his forehead was nearly two feet long. The paper lanterns circled around the unicorn like a ring of fire, then flew out into the night and disappeared over the trees.

Hix shouted excitedly, oblivious to the sudden look of terror of Tengaar's face. Cham's legs gave out, and the elder fell to his knees and hands. This was too much for the remaining kobolds from Kobold Village, who turned and scattered for the safety of the nearby trees. The unicorn slowly walked in the direction of the tree in the center of his meadow, casually looking at the people who remained.

Gengen moved to protect the chief, drawing his sword as the unicorn drew near. "Don't hurt him!" he begged. Viktor and Flik unsheathed their swords and Riou protectively moved Nanami around behind him.

The unicorn craned his neck around to bring his head, and horn, close to Gengen, sniffing at the kobold in the manner of a horse. The laughter that followed was deep, but oddly soothing. "Fear not, stalwart Gengen, for I have no quarrel with the Chief of Kobold Village. It is simply that I haven't seen one in so many years. I'd forgotten what they looked like." He snorted. "My business this night is not with your chief, but with the one who called me."

The unicorn swung his head back in the other direction, slowly walking towards Tengaar and Hix. Flik looked at Viktor and they nodded, following the unicorn carefully. Flik could sense that the unicorn would make a formidable adversary, perhaps even against all of them together.

Stopping before the two from Warrior's Village, the unicorn sniffed at each of them, first Hix and then Tengaar. She grabbed Hix's hand, refusing to look the unicorn in the eye. Hix remained still, awestruck by the presence of the unicorn.

"Are you the 'Pure-Hearted Maiden'?" the unicorn demanded.

Tengaar shrieked as the unicorn brought his head lower to bump her forehead with his nose. She grabbed Hix by his shoulders, shifting behind him. "Why should that matter?" she asked weakly.

"As is stated in the ancient covenant: 'Only the Maiden may ride the Unicorn. She guides him for the Warrior in the cause of righteousness. And when the conflict is over, the Maiden is bound to the Unicorn for the rest of her days.'"

"What?" shouted Hix, at the same moment as Tengaar cried, "Why?"

"I am the Father of all unicorns. They are all of my siring. Do not fear, 'Maiden,' when the time comes, you will understand me better, and my magic shall give you a form more suited for the purpose."

"You can't!" Hix's sword screamed out of its sheath. "Tengaar is-"

Viktor and Flik were already sprinting, but they were too far back.

"Will you defy me?" the unicorn boomed, rearing onto his hind legs. With a blinding flash and an overpowering roar, a bolt of lightning streaked out of the cloudless sky, striking him squarely on his horn. In the brightness, Flik felt the lightning rune spasm in his hand, forcing him to drop his sword.

When he could see again, he found that a circle of snapping blue flames blocked their way to the tree Tengaar and Hix were under. The unicorn had settled down on all four hoofs again. Viktor glanced back at Flik, the question of whether they ought to risk the flames clear in his eyes. Flik took another look at the fire and shook his head. He thought back to Hix's actions during the day. This battle was Hix's alone. All Flik and Viktor could do was have faith that Hix was strong enough.

Beyond the flames, Hix had kept his feet, bravely holding his sword out in front with both his hands. "Can you stop me?" the unicorn asked, advancing on the pair.

Tengaar fell backwards, her mouth open, but no sound coming out. Her back bumped up against the trunk of the tree and she sank to the ground. Hix reflexively took a step backwards, even as the unicorn's horn began to descend towards his head.

"Hix!" Tengaar shrieked, finding her voice at last.

"I can't defeat you," Hix spoke calmly. "I won't ever be a true warrior." Blue firelight rippled off the horn. Hix firmed his hands on his sword. "But…but, I promised to protect Tengaar." The blade moved, rising towards the unicorn. "I swore it!" Hix cried, steel blade and white horn flashing by each other. "I swore it on this sword!"

Another wave of bright light filled the meadow, forcing Flik to turn his head. When that abated, Tengaar and Hix were alone under the tree, both the blue flames and the unicorn having vanished. Flik ran over to them. Hix was inspecting a single point of blood that had welled on his forehead. Viktor, Riou, and Nanami came up beside Hix. Behind them, Gengen was helping Cham up.

Tengaar got shakily to her feet, carefully approaching Hix with wide eyes. "Is that it?"

"Noble Warrior!" the unicorn's voice acknowledged. "Pure-Hearted Maiden!" Tengaar flinched visibly. "You have overcome the Test of the Unicorn. I bid you good fortune in your life together."

There was a momentary pause, as the presence of the unicorn seemed to shift. "You, who bear part of the Rune of the Beginning, know that I am not disinterested in your plight. Your actions shall write a part of the history of this land, and I have been asked to aid you in this struggle. When the time is right, I will lend you my assistance. Go; return to your duties, for your enemies have not remained still. Be vigilant for the sake of those who love you." Then the presence was gone, leaving the meadow quiet.

"Hix!" Tengaar cried, and said nothing more as she kissed him passionately.

Cham sniffed the air uncertainly as he leaned on Gengen. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. I did not think the Unicorn was actually real."

It was Nanami who finally grasped the totality of the situation. "Does that mean that Hix is a real warrior now?"

Tengaar broke the kiss and gazed into Hix's face. "That's right! The Unicorn named you as a True Warrior."

Hix, the blood on his forehead smudged a bit, sighed happily. "That means it's over, right? We can finally go back to Warrior's Village."

Flik felt a momentary pang of something. Envy? Jealousy? He shook his head, telling himself that he'd given up those traditions long ago. It meant nothing that Hix had fulfilled his manhood journey before he had. Nothing at all.

Meanwhile, Tengaar was frowning. "What are you saying, Hix? We have to help Sir Riou out, along with Viktor and Flik. They've helped us so much and we have to repay the debt."

"Oh," Hix muttered.

Tengaar was already walking towards Riou. "We'd like to help you, Lord Riou, if you'll let us."

"Of course." Riou smiled.

Clapping her hands merrily, Tengaar looked back at Hix. "You, too. We both need to swear it. She grabbed his hand and pulled him over in front of Riou. "Lord Riou, I, Tengaar, and the Warrior Hix" -she seemed to relish saying that- "swear to aid the New State Army in the name of Warrior's Village."

Hix shrugged. "I'm honored to help out, Lord Riou."

And then Tengaar yawned. "Well, this has been quite the adventure, hasn't it? Let's go back to the village and get some sleep."