Authors notes: Wow. Almost three years since I updated. Time flies, it seems. As always, no promises as to when Ill next update, but for now heres a mite more story to whet all our appetites. Thanks as always for reading. See earlier chapters for various disclaimers, warnings, etc.

PART THIRTEEN

"Ow!"

"Do you want these wounds to become inflamed? To get sick and die?" Will asked sternly of the fidgeting Tomas.

"Of course not, but that hurts," the wounded hero protested.

"That's because it's working," the apprentice healer informed his reluctant patient, ignoring the stifled snickers from the other side of their campfire.

"Hmph," Tomas snorted, not appeased, but making an effort to hold still while Will treated the wounds he'd received in his battle for the fifth Portent Orb. And the herbal paste Will was currently applying to the cuts on his arm was a sight less unpleasant than the stitches that had been required to close his leg wounds.

Despite the injuries Tomas had suffered in his battle with the white tiger, they had opted to simply bandage his wounds tightly and put as much distance as possible between them and the wizard's sanctuary. Only Will's insistence that Tomas's wounds needed treatment convinced them to stop, choosing a camp site near a small river, under the shelter provided by several tall trees.

The events of the evening and morning just past had left them feeling both encouraged - only one more orb to find! - and worried; Tomas had come far too close to dying in his battle. They were definitely too wound up to sleep, and too tired to continue traveling. So they sat around their fire, watching Will tend to Tomas, and discussing their next destination.

"It's your home province, right?" Zack asked Jason, gnawing lazily on a leftover bone from dinner. "Get a chance to see the folks and all, huh?"

"More like give me a chance to confer with my father, he may know where the last orb is. I don't remember ever hearing legends of it. How about you, Will?" Jason queried of his childhood companion.

"You'd want to ask Merdrick," the blond replied, binding Tomas's wounds snugly. "He guards the mystical secrets of your kingdom with the utmost determination."

"Do I sense frustration, my friend," Jason countered, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He remembered all too well Will's insatiable curiosity.

"He did prove to be difficult to obtain information from," was the evasive reply.

The prince chuckled outright at that, while the others grinned, easily able to guess how things had gone. The old wizard, who'd served Olscott's father in his youth, had considered it fine sport to thwart the youngest prince's whipping boy in his attempts to learn of the magical arts. Though he appeared to have nothing against the lad personally, he'd not seen the advantage of letting a youth with such a limited future fill his head with knowledge he'd never have a use for. And darned if the youngster hadn't proven quite the challenge over the years. The quiet competition had resulted in a grudging mutual respect leavened with a healthy dose of affection.

Merdrick was a master wizard, his abilities unparalleled. He'd studied arts since he was first able to toddle after his grandfather, the previous royal wizard. Those who longed to apprentice under Merdrick traveled from every corner of the world, but he'd only taken on seven during his lifetime. Seven extraordinary disciples who were among the most powerful practitioners in all the lands. But not a one of them could even come close the Merdrick's skill.

"That old fellow rather makes me uneasy," Jason admitted with a sheepish grin. "I always get the feeling that he knows way more than I'll ever be able to learn. Hopefully he'll be able - and willing - to help me."

"So, it's decided, we head to West Ruby?" Tomas asked, shifting to a more comfortable seat now that Will had finished; that it happened to be by Kymberly's side was purely coincidental.

"Seems like the most likely plan," Jason agreed, skillfully hiding the pain in his spirit as Kymberly looked up at Tomas with her heart in her eyes.

"If you're well enough to travel, that is," she demurred, her small hand resting on his knee.

"I'm well enough to travel tonight," Tomas assured her, eyeing the ever tightening collar with a meaningful frown.

"I can't help but feel guilty - you took such a risk, you came so close..." her voice trailed off to a stifled sob.

Across the fire, sitting far enough back to be mostly outside the warm circle of light, Jason's heart broke just a little bit more. His chances to win Kymberly's heart had been slim at best before this eventful day, but now...

His reverie was broken by the warm weight of a friendly hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Will who was perched on a boulder beside him. In the pale green depths of his oldest friend's gaze he saw knowledge, understanding and warm sympathy. The prince quirked a rueful half smile at his companion, then turned his attention back to the conversation still swirling about the blaze. But he was gratefully aware of the friendly warmth of the hand that remained.

~*~

King Olscott was a traditionalist, and his Province reflected that. The world seemed to move at a slower pace under his benevolent rule, many of the old ways and the old ideals from generations before were still observed. The people of the province resisted change, younger folks by-and-large drifted to other provinces, seeking the excitement of variation and newness. Older folks from other provinces drifted to the Olscott's lands seeking the solace of tradition, the reminder of departed youth.

His palace reflected this perfectly: large but not ostentatious, ornate but not gaudy, luxurious but not decadent. A uniformed pair of guards flanked the entrance, moving in perfect synchronization to block the way as the weary sextet of travelers approached.

Jason quirked a rueful half-grin at his companions and stepped to the forefront, baring his shoulder and smirking at the guard on the left. "Has it really been that long, Darious?" he wondered.

"Your Highness, forgive me," the guard replied, drawing back and coloring in embarrassment. "We had not heard you were expected."

"Consider it a surprise," the young prince said, his tone mildly amused. "I trust my father is here?"

"Indeed. He will be most pleased to see you, I'm sure," Darious reported, indicating the group should proceed. He gave Will a sharp gaze but made no comment; he'd learned long ago the perils of a loose tongue where the prince's friend was concerned.

Jason beckoned his companions forward, moving with an unconscious increase in confidence and a speed that belied his nonchalant attitude toward seeing his family again. The occasional servant they passed gave a classic double take as the young prince hurried by; their puzzlement changing to pleased recognition that clearly demonstrated the popularity of King Olscott's third son.

Jason unerringly led his friends to the King's study, where King Olscott sat at his huge desk reading some royal dispatch with a frown of concentration. He looked up impatiently, until his preoccupied mind recognized Jason. The frown instantly transformed into a smile of pure pleasure and he stood, striding with unseemly haste to gather his offspring into a warm embrace.

"Jason! By the Gods I'm glad to see you! Your mother will be beside herself with relief," he declared, holding his son at arms length and looking him over with a fondly critical gaze. "You've lost weight." His gaze rose to take in the others, standing just inside the door and trying unsuccessfully to be invisible. "I see you've brought guests," he noted dryly, reaching for a small bell he rang with a practiced efficiency.

The middle-aged woman in a blue servant's uniform appeared before the last echo had faded. "Yes, sire?"

"Please inform Cook we have six more for dinner, and let your Queen know her son is home. Arrange appropriate lodging for our guests, organize whatever amenities they need, and see them to their rooms," he instructed in an offhand way, his gaze barely wavering from his son's visage. He always feared when he saw Jason that it would be for the last time, so he'd developed the habit of staring at his son as if the young man would vanish without a trace before his very eyes.

The servant nodded wordlessly, beckoning the others to follow, leaving the king and his son to their reunion. She led them to a well lighted wing of the castle, stopping only long enough to murmur instructions to a quartet of younger maids who scurried off to carry out her bidding. She ushered Kymberly, Trini, Zack and Tomas to separate chambers before turning to Will with a carefully neutral look. "Your old chambers are ready," she informed him, not unkindly. Will gave her a nod and turned to leave without comment.

The others entered their rooms, sighing in appreciation of the comfortable beds and the evidence that a warm bath was soon forthcoming. Small platters of fresh fruits and cheese soon arrived, a welcome snack to tide them over until the evening meal.

Back in the King's study Jason's mother and older brothers had arrived; an impromptu and joyous reunion of an always close and loving family. Queen Marjory drank in the sight of her healthy, hearty son as if it were the finest wine, nearly lightheaded with relief - she always secretly feared the worst when Jason was out on his adventures. Every time he bid them goodbye she felt as if it were the last time.

"So, what's with the guests?" Jarrod queried, settling down on a comfortable chair. The middle son led a life of amiable pleasure, unencumbered by any official duties - he left that to the crown prince, Jacob.

Jason recounted Princess Kymberly's plight, causing his mother to gasp in horror at what the young woman faced. Realizing they had put a princess in accommodations meant for lower caste guests, she hurried out to make amends to the young royal, leaving the men in the family to bond over the tale of adventure and intrigue.

~*~

Over Kymberly's protests Queen Marjory moved her to a three-room suite, suitable for a guest of her status. The young princess had insisted that she had not felt slighted in the least, and after assuring her that her apology was accepted - if unwarranted - the two royals fell into conversation as if they'd been long time friends.

"I simply cannot believe that Jason has dragged you along, though all the Provinces, sleeping in the dirt and going days without proper facilities," the Queen groused, sipping a cup of tea and nibbling on a butter cookie.

"He didn't drag me along," the young princess insisted, blowing on her own steaming brew, "I insisted that he include me!"

"But, my dear, think of propriety! You are traveling with unmarried young men, some of whom are so far below your station you should not even be acknowledging they exist," the elder royal insisted, eyeing her young guest sternly. "It's one thing for Jason to associate with Will - they do have a long history of association - but for you? Completely unacceptable!"

Kymberly choked back an angry retort, reminding herself of the Queen and her husbands' reputation as traditionalists, and found a pleasant voice for her reply. "That may be true, but Will - like the others - is risking his life to save mine. That hardly fits with the popular convention that Outcastes are without soul, spirit or honor. It is only a quirk of fate that he is what he is."

Queen Marjory's opinion of her petite companion soared at the younger woman's words and the strength she heard in that melodious voice. With a small, cryptic, smile the matriarch raised her glass in salute. "Some day young lady, you will be a queen to be reckoned with," she stated, startling a bashful smile from Kym.

"You wouldn't have thought so a couple of weeks ago," she demurred, her gaze falling on the distant mountains visible from the room's window. "I just hope I survive to see that future."

~*~

"So, you hear the last Portent Orb is here at home, eh?" Prince Jarron smirked, always on the prod when it came to his younger brother. "How ironic is that?"

"I don't recall ever hearing about it," Jason rejoined, refusing to give his brother the satisfaction of being annoyed. "Father?"

King Olscott leaned back in his chair, a pensive expression on his regal face. "Yes, Jason, the Portent Orb you seek is here. I know only that it is hidden within the Vermiglio Mines, and that no one who has sought the Orb has emerged successful. Or alive."

The significance of his words was not lost on his youngest son. "Still, Father, I must try. Kymberly's life is in the balance. Besides, it's not like the first five were all that easy to obtain," he noted wryly.

The ruler of West Ruby Province had to chuckle at Jason's comment, even as an icy band of fear crept around his heart. Perhaps it was best that he wasn't around while Jason was on a quest - this was hardly soothing to a parent's soul!

"Then I would recommend you seek the counsel of Merdrick" he advised, unknowingly echoing Will's earlier advice. "His knowledge of the Portent Orb's location is far superior to mine, I'm certain," his father suggested. "You should take Will with you," he added, a sly twinkle in his dark eyes.

That comment even managed to elicit a chuckle from the overly serious Crown Prince, Jacob. "Indeed," he grinned. "I think the old wizard has missed your friend. There's no one left around here to challenge him."

"Well, we can't have a bored wizard, for certain," Jason agreed, standing up. "Since we are under a severe time constraint, I shall consult Merdrick now. I'll see you all at dinner," he said, taking his leave and heading down to the servant's quarters to collect Will.

Jason found his long-time friend resting on the narrow bed in the familiar, windowless room. Any small touches of comfort or personality had, of course, been long removed, but the lack didn't seem to bother Will all that much.

"Hey, Buddy, you want to come along to see Merdrick?" Jason queried, smiling at Will's obviously feigned display of disinterest.

"If I can be of assistance, of course," he murmured, rising to join the prince with studied casualness.

Jason clapped Will companionably on the back as the two young men headed toward the northern section of the castle. The prince mused how on his travels he'd met many wizards, and most had lived in the darker recesses of the castles. Their quarters were often shadowy, cluttered, full of a hodge-podge collection of vials, containers and talismans. The practitioners themselves dressed in flowing robes with cryptic symbols, and almost always they wore some sort of pendant that looked magical, at least. But, thanks to years of association with Merdrick, those trappings never impressed him in the slightest.

Merdrick had no need for the mystical accouterments his lesser skilled brethren used; he was well aware his extraordinary skill and reputation needed no embellishments. His quarters took up the top three floors of the northern tower, an area filled with airy light and allowing for a magnificent view from all sides. The top floor was his personal chamber, and no one had been in there in decades. The middle floor was his workshop, where all the windows were partially glassed with random bits of colored glass, so that at any time of the day the room was awash in colored light. His shelves were filled with a tidy, well-organized collection of paraphernalia and literature; his workbenches clean and uncluttered. The bottom floor was the living area, including a small kitchen off to one side. Simple, sturdy, comfortable furniture filled the space, and yet more books lined the many shelves.

Jason and Will knocked respectfully on the door to the lower floor, waiting patiently for the master wizard to respond. When the door opened, Merdrick looked them over quickly, then impatiently motioned them in, indicating they should follow as he hurried back up the stairs. Jason grinned at Will and hurried after the old man.

If one were to meet Merdrick on the street they would not immediately conclude he was a wizard. The only concession the master made to popular convention was his beard: it reached nearly to his knees, as pure white as the snow that capped the northern mountains in the winter. He wore no hat at all; his long white hair was pulled back into a single thin tail. No flowing robe was in sight, instead he was attired in black breeches, topped by an untucked white smock with a number of various sized pockets, most of which were already filled. Soft-soled shoes covered his feet, allowing him to move soundlessly across the hard wood floors of the castle.

The wizard hurried to the second floor and immediately went to the middle workbench upon which sat a vial of purplish liquid, steaming languidly. The old man dropped in a pinch of a colorless powder, resulting in a muted flash after which the liquid turned pale green. Merdrick grunted and poured a draught of the liquid into a smaller container, which he capped tightly. Only then did he turn to his guest.

"Well, well...the prodigal son returns," he rasped, looking both young men over critically. "Along with his trusty sidekick." Merdrick's face was lined and soft, making him look like a sweet natured grandfather. But the personality he turned to the world at large was acerbic and wry; he wasted no time on meaningless flattery or social niceties. Jason had long since figured out that the wizard used his biting personality to keep the world at arm's length, and to weed out those whose association was unworthy of him, and accordingly ignored the older man's comments.

"I need to locate the Portent Orb, Father said he believed it was hidden in the Vermiglio Mines," the prince informed the wizard, wasting no time in details he knew the old man would not appreciate.

"And what would the likes of you need the Orb for? That is a power not to be trifled with. Though the Orb alone is not particularly powerful in and of itself," Merdrick replied sharply.

"We need to get the Key of Integrity to release the Collar of Garrotidus," Jason replied succinctly.

"I see. And who, exactly, is the unfortunate person who is wearing the Collar?"

"Princess Kimberly, only daughter of King Caplyn."

"I've heard of her," the wizened wizard mused. "A single Orb will do you no good."

"We've already found the other five," Jason replied, staring sternly at the royal wizard. "This one would be the final piece."

"I see. And you believe the life of a single, somewhat frivolous, female is worth the release of that sort of power?" The wizard stroked his beard contemplatively.

"I believe any innocent life is worthy," Jason stated stoutly, leaving no room for doubt.

"Humph. You've grown as soft and liberal as any nobleman, I see," the old man observed, unperturbed by the young royal's glower.

Jason's patience snapped. It had been a long journey, fraught with many dangers and emotions, and to have this old geezer dismiss it so cavalierly...it was unthinkable!

"Listen you old bag of bones! I will find the damned Orb with or without your help! I will not stand idly by while a beautiful, loving, WORTHY life is lost...." he trailed off, seeing the smirk on the wizened face of the royal wizard.

"There it is! I wanted to see the passion, the determination...this is not a trifling affair, young Prince," the wizard noted, settling down on a nearby stool. "Too many lost their lives over the years on a whim. I won't see Olscott lose you that way as well." Only the royal wizard would dare refer to the king in such a familiar manner.

Jason released his breath in a gusty sigh. "You are the most infuriating..." he controlled himself with an effort. "Can you help me or not?" he asked at last.

"I can help, though I'm still not convinced I should," the wizard replied, looking closely at the prince. For just a moment the faade of sternness wavered and a glimpse of what almost appeared to be sorrow could be seen in the nearly colorless eyes of the master magician.

"Kymberly does not deserve this fate," Jason reminded him reasonably, having missed the change in the older man. But standing just behind the prince, Will saw the momentary flux and felt a corresponding grip of icy fear around his heart. What was the old seer seeing?

"The Orb you seek was hidden in the deepest bowels of the old Vermiglio Mines, placed there years ago by my own father, and the protections set up to guard it are...unique." There was an unconscious straightening of the elder's spine with pride of his father's skills. "Father wasn't just impressed with cunning, but put a premium on physical prowess. Those who tried over the years have failed because of a lack of one or the other. Take your pal, here," the elder continued, gesturing at Will almost dismissively. "Sure, he can unquestionably think his way around the problem, but no way could he physically beat it. He'd be killed sure enough."

Jason grinned less than pleasantly. "So Will and I together can make it work."

"Near the end there is only room for one, or so I've been told."

"We. Will. Find. A. Way." Jason ground out, at the end of his tolerance. "With or without any help."

"Heh. Hot headed and impetuous, a ripe combination for disaster," Merdrick purred, enjoying baiting the prince.

"Determined and adaptable, more like," Jason countered, still sounding a bit out of sorts. When it came to Kymberly's life, he had little patience for anything that stood in his way.

"The eyes of the wolf will show you the way, follow the frog's chill path. Take the bird's eye view to the inner room, where a ferocious guardian is your final test." Merdrick recited the instructions with his eyes closed, the singsong cadence of his voice in sync with his serene look.

"Sounds easy enough," the prince muttered, knowing full well it would not be simple in the least. "What do you think, Will?"

"I think with the proper provisions and preparation we can get the last Orb," the fledgling magician commented, earning a derisive snort from the master.

"I would consider it a success if you don't end up dead."

"Thank you, Merdrick, for your information," Jason replied with a slight bow.

The wizened man sighed suddenly, looking his age for a moment. "Good luck and God speed, young man."

~*~

"Okay, we need to be sure everyone is ready to go first thing in the morning," Jason declared as he and Will headed back to the main area of the castle. "We don't have any time to spare!"

Jason might have been oblivious to the thinly veiled warnings of the old wizard, but Will was not. He shot a worried look at the young man whose compassion had shaped the Outcaste's world, then nodded his agreement.

"Indeed," he agreed without embellishment.

"We should take some supplies: ropes, picks, that sort of thing," the prince continued, his mind totally focused on the task at hand. "In this case it might be best to leave Kymberly and Zack at the castle, I can't see how they would be of that much assistance," he noted.

"We have faced everything to this point together, and successfully," Will countered, keeping his tone carefully neutral. "It might be ill-advised to change it now."

"I just don't see how Kymberly can be of much help in a mine," the dark haired young man replied, pausing thoughtfully. "I'm not really comfortable with how much danger and roughness we've exposed her to already."

"If you want danger, try explaining that mindset to her," Will commented dryly.

Jason chuckled in appreciation, though privately he had to completely agree with his friend: Kymberly was a force to be reckoned with. "I know, I know. But still..." he trailed off.

"Still, she is a princess, and no amount of her trying to prove otherwise will alter that fact," Will concluded for him.

"Exactly!"

~*~

To say Kymberly was not in agreement with Jason's proposed plans was to put it mildly. His mind flashed back to the cyclones that had devastated three of the provinces four seasons past as he watched her reaction to his suggestion. With a temper like that it was fortunate she didn't practice the magic arts!

"You are NOT going to go into the Vermiglio Mines and risk life and limb while I sit here in what amounts to a gilded cage and worry myself sick over your fates!" the petite royal declared, her entire body vibrating with restrained fury. "I have not come this far, gone through this much, to suddenly be relegated to spectator status at the end. We agreed at the very beginning to do this as a team, and a team we will remain. And being a team means we are all involved. Do not attempt to dissuade me, Jason. I wont have it!" At no time in their travels together had she seemed more a royal than in this moment, and as he watched her turn to leave his love and admiration increased yet again. What an incredible woman she would become! Still, she was so young, so tiny, and she was a princess, and there was propriety to consider.

"But Kymberly," he began, only to step back when she whirled toward him with fire in her eyes.

"If you try to stop me I will simply follow you after the fact, which would likely be far more dangerous. One way or another I am going. Deal with it!" she snapped, turning once again and storming out, leaving Jason standing in a daze, feeling for all the world like hed just been attached by a particularly ferocious kitten.

"Damn," he muttered, shaking his head in confusion and heading toward the royal dining room for dinner.

Tomorrow was bound to be interesting.

To be continued