I feel AMAZING, I finished chapter 45 and was it everything I wanted it to be? HELL YES

I feel so good I'm giving ya'll two chapters today and two chapters tomorrow, don't worry about this catching up to my current writing cause i'm on Chapter 46!

HERE WE GO!

Chapter Nineteen

Dune Guard Headquarters

The next day, the palace guard was hard at work, moving the fallen and repairing the courtroom and the holding rooms used for Soren and Mia's group.

Under the direction of Hashten'Kor and several other high ranking soldiers they were making good progress, Soren and Mia offered to help but the prideful and ashamed Roc Lord told them not to.

Waiting in a more comfortable area, they were brought food and offered a place to rest for a few days as an apology and thanks. Soren glanced over to Kay'Shera who sat apart from the group "Hey."

She looked up at him "If you want to, you are free to join us…you earned it with the way you performed, and the fact that you believed in us when no one else did."

The woman smiled and walked over, Mia called her over and then turned to Soren "Should we ask about…"

Following her drift, Soren nodded as Kay'Shera sat next to Mia "I'm glad everything worked out in the end...though we lost many, including Lo'Tem and the Archbishop…"

Mia sighed "It must be terrible for everyone here…we'd like to know if we can do anything to help with getting the King and Queen back from the Dune Guard."

Kay'Shera's eyes widened "I…I don't know…Hashten'Kor has been appointed acting regent…he feels indebted to all of you but he is still as prideful as always…I don't know if he'll be fine with all of you going to do a job he most likely feels should fall to him…"

Hearing a grunt the three turned to To'Eltz who sat next to Orgoth "He is known throughout Sarhara for being extremely hardheaded and protective of his duties…but maybe he'll listen to us this time."

Nodding Orgoth added in "He is a smart man…he fought alongside us against Lo'Tem's forces."

"So you are all willing to go to the Dune Guard Headquarters?" the group turned to Soren and nodded.

"While it is mostly an 'internal issue' Meloi will be there, might be a good chance to get more information on our adversaries." Leena commented.

"Though we should be worried about Murawk being there as well…" Hearing Lyle, the entire group sighed, seeing Murawk was still alive wasn't good for them, when they fought him in the Grove Mine, he was clearly on top of them the whole time, they believed the man was far too stubborn to die, especially after surviving Soren and Mia's dragon attack.

As they continued eating Soren began to speak more with Kay'Shera, asking about her history, she revealed that she was born in Shuize and lived with her brother, father and mother, an event caused them to, as she put it, reject her and she lived on her own, using the time to venture through the deserts of Sarhara where she found and tamed the very Roc she rides to this day.

"He is very honorable and a great friend, not to mention an astute judge of character." The group turned, noticing Kay'Shera pointing out the window where her roc was perched, looking at the group with his head at an angle.

"Does he have a name?" Mia asked, the other woman nodded "Michalis."

The roc screeched upon hearing his name and the group laughed.

"Greetings." Turning, they all noticed Hashten'Kor walk into the room "I am glad to see you are all better…and would once again-"

Soren stood and cut off the Roc Lord "We understand your situation, no more apologies are necessary. Besides, there is something we'd like to ask you."

Hashten'Kor sighed "This is about the retrieval of our King and Queen, isn't it?"

Mia stood as well "If we are to believe Meloi, they will be transported from the Dune Guard Headquarters tonight to somewhere in Numengate where they will be executed."

"At midnight tomorrow…as he stated…"

Soren thought of all the times that the hour of midnight had been the moments where things have occurred. Such as the man who attacked them at the Malsean Clock Tower and the Korgan attack on the Euto Research Center, as well as the first battle against Murawk in the Emerald Hold.

"I realize you are all great warriors, but as the Roc Lord and acting Sarharan regent I-"

Kay'Shera stood and marched over to Hashten'Kor "Who are you going to take with you? Most of the best of the Roc knights and Water Sages were killed in Lo'Tem's attack. You could take a large battalion like they did when the Dune Guard was first wiped out but we will suffer even more unnecessary casualties, this group isn't even a dozen and I firmly believe they can do this."

Hashten'Kor's eyes met Kay'Shera then he glanced over to the group, all standing and he went over their determined faces, even the old merchants were willing to go for support.

The Roc Lord sighed again, the whole incident having shifted his demeanor; the man was questioning everything and looked extremely tired.

"In this current shape, I'd just slow you down…and even if I could, the last thing we need is the acting regent being struck down…very well, Soren, Mia."

The two nodded with the tactician replying to the Roc Lord "We'll bring your King and Queen back."

Outside the palace the group walked through Shuize, Fistivus and Lune followed with the older man getting Soren's attention "Are we going to come along with you all? As much as I want to, this is an enemy stronghold…"

Mia turned to them "We would have a hard time watching you if things got serious…and we can't hope that you can just hide so…you'll probably have to hang back."

Sighing, Fistivus turned to Lune who shrugged "Nothing can be done about the facts…but Mia; I feel you should take this with you."

The woman took Ein'Tosen from her bag and handed it to Mia "This is a much more serious situation than anything we've come across before, if this blade is half as useful as what you've told us from your Zatuo stories, you'll need it."

Unsure Mia glanced over to Soren "It'd make me feel better as well…being completely honest."

Mikel smacked the tactician on the back "You've been worried this whole time eh? You really don't show it!"

Wayu smiled "It's to be expected."

Wyre nodded with a grin "Soren, you know her better than anyone, but I completely understand your concerns."

With a small gesture Mia nodded and took Ein'Tosen from Lune before thanking the merchant. As the group continued, Kay'Shera landed in front of them.

"Woah! What gives?" Mikel asked as the woman dismounted "I'd like to come with you all as well…if that isn't a problem."

Soren turned to the group, no one was against it so he nodded to her, smiling the woman gestured to the air "A few more roc knights will meet us at the sand trap around the Dune Guard headquarters, they'll fly us in over it and from then on, it's up to us."

Bidding farewell to the merchants Soren, Mia, Wyre, Lyle, Wayu, Mikel, Leena, Orgoth, To'Eltz and Kay'Shera headed into the desert towards the Dune Guard Headquarters, with the sun overhead, every moment counted.

Standing atop a tall rock pillar in the Crown Desert, Murawk watched Soren and Mia's group leave Shuize with a smile. He had to admit, he was a little disappointed that none of them noticed his new body armor, his hair was even more unkempt now. After being bested in the Grove Mine his fury was unimaginable, he hated them almost as much as Joltam.

Murawk turned away from the group to another rock pillar where the Ethereal Man stood. "Are you going to fight alongside Meloi?"

"I have a personal mission I need to complete first."

Laughing the Ethereal Man floated closer to Murawk "We revived you, you work for us. It wasn't a suggestion; we require the King and Queen's heads."

"And I require Joltam's. Until his head is on the floor I will bide my time in facing Soren and Mia and their merry little band."

Murawk turned away from the figure who continued laughing "Joltam is old now…he has lived for over one hundred years, is fighting him in this state really worth it?"

The Korgan Leader turned to his apparent ally, both of his eyes were blood red now, grinning he spoke "I never said it would be a fair fight."

As Mikel fell off his roc, Leena walked over and helped the man up while chuckling. Wayu waved to the roc knights as they departed while Lyle stared at the walls of moving sand all around them.

Turning to face the ruins of the Dune Guard Headquarters the team filed behind Soren and Mia before entering the dank and sandy structure.

Devoid of any upper levels the single floor was wide, empty and covered in rubble, remains of what were staircases and tables were strewn about in addition to large chunks of roof and skeletons of watch towers.

Spreading out, the team began searching for any hidden entry or crevasse, clearly the top level was not in use. Since the majority of the Dune Guard was made of Earth Mages it was extremely likely that the Dune Guard reconstructed their base within the sands of the Crown Desert.

As Wyre examined a ruined bookshelf he turned to Orgoth who was glancing around at the entire level "Looking for anything specific?"

The knight shook his head "It surprises me that the Dune Guard evaded the Sarharans for so long…the headquarters isn't exactly that far from the capital, even if it is protected by the quicksand walls."

Hearing this, To'Eltz walked over "True, but the group would cover the fortress in sand, burying it almost completely if the military ever got close."

Scratching his head, Wyre examined the sand walls through a hole in the fortress "Then how did you find and kill them?"

Hearing a yell the three turned to Kay'Shera "The Dune Guard believed to have the strength to overthrow the King at the time so they came at us. The attack was devastating but they didn't have the manpower. Our Water Sages ultimately overpowered the backbone of their group, the Earth Sages. It went to hell from there, Hashten'Kor's great grandfather killed Meloi while the rest of the Dune Guard was hunted and wiped out by the Sarharan Palace Guard."

As they continued talking Leena whistled to herself, the story was interesting and it explained to her a bit more of Hashten'Kor's attitude, but she still wanted to get the situation over and done with and leave Sarhara.

Mikel walked over to her "You've been to this nation before."

"Yeah, I'm used to the sand and miserable heat…doesn't mean I like it here."

"I could never live here, that's for sure…any reason you don't like this place?" Turning to the warrior, the woman smiled "I traveled with a big brute who misread my camaraderie."

There was shock in Mikel's eyes, he place a hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off "Did anything-"

"I sliced his throat." The pair stood staring at each other for a while longer before they turned to Wayu, calling out to everyone that she found a group of weak but recently used floor tiles.

With a powerful gust, Soren tore through them revealing a descending staircase, "There are ten of us, we'll go in two by two separated by a few paces…keep your eyes on your partners and each other as best as you can, we don't know what we're dealing with."

After a short talk, Kay'Shera turned and told her roc to remain topside, sneaking through the Dune Guard base would be extremely difficult with the large bird.

Afterwards, Soren and Mia went in first, followed by Wyre and To'Eltz, Lyle and Wayu, Kay'Shera and Orgoth then finishing with Mikel and Leena.

Entering a small room at the base of the stairs, two doors led out of the area, Wyre and To'Eltz walked to the southern door and peered through the window, the Sarharan turned to face the rest of the group "Soren, it's just a long hall to another door down there…don't know what it could be."

The Archsage nodded as he looked through the western door "This one leads to a large set of double doors…must be a wide area that the forces gather…we'll go your way, lead on Wyre, To'Eltz.

In their groups of five they stepped into the long hall and began to walk slowly, Wyre made a silent note and the group realized there was a fork halfway down, the thunder sage got close to the corner and looked around the edge.

A pair of double doors, one was open allowing him to see into a room full of Dune Guard practicing with their weapons, he turned to the rest of the group and whispered "Training hall, over twenty have to be in there right now."

Mia turned to the six behind her "Lyle, Wayu continue down the hall and see what's over there."

The pair nodded and quickly passed by the rest of the group as Soren clenched his teeth "If there is no staircase over there…we're going to have to go through the men in the midst of training…"

"We dealt with much more when we fought the Korgans in the Western Archive, not to mention those guys were extremely resilient, if we're lucky these are just normal non-dead men." Soren wanted to believe in Mikel's statement, but the Korgans of the Western Archive could've overwhelmed their group if the battle continued. Mia may have Ein'Tosen now but if they hope to get through this they'll have to throw everything at the Dune Guard.

Wayu and Lyle entered the room and glanced around, there were countless weapons in shelves and a few strewn about. "Armory." Lyle confirmed as the pair continued to search.

Nothing stood out until they heard something hit the floor, turning quickly they saw a man exit a closet with a pair of training weapons. Ducking behind the racks of weapons, two more exited the storage closet "Some of these guys need to learn not to break the equipment." One of the men said as the others agreed.

Lyle turned to Wayu as she tapped on his shoulder "They'll see the rest of the group!"

Without a response Lyle jumped from behind cover and stabbed one man in the back before twisting the sword around and placing a hand over the man's mouth. Struggling and gagging the other two turned, as one began to yell Wayu's spear impaled him and he fell to the ground.

"Attack!" The last man yelled and ran out the doors, intercepted and killed by To'Eltz.

The trickster turned quickly as Soren mouthed that nothing changed in the training hall.

Regrouping, Wayu and Lyle explained the armory, as the group began discussing what to do; Soren raised his hand silencing them.

"Lyle, Wayu, go back into the armory and bring out a few carts of weapons, Kay'Shera, Orgoth, Mikel, Leena go around to the other side there may be a second entry into the training hall."

As Lyle and Wayu took off, Soren continued "We are going to kick over the carts and get their attention. The second you see them turn to investigate the racket, charge in, once their confused and fighting with you four, we'll join in and overpower them."

The four took off quickly as Soren and Wyre pulled out their tomes, followed by Mia and To'Eltz bringing their blades to bear.

Lyle and Wayu emerged slowly from the armory bringing a few carts with them to the intersection in the hall.

As Soren counted to himself he raised his hand, Wayu and Lyle pushed the weapon carts closer to the training hall doors, slowly and hiding behind them.

Wyre turned, eyes widening as the doors at the end of the hall opened, a pair of Dune Guard stumbled through the doors, severely scratched up, most likely from Michalis. Turning they came coming to an abrupt halt upon seeing Soren's group.

Bringing his hand down, Lyle and Wayu knocked over the carts as Wyre discharged Arcthunder, a stream of lighting sailed down the hall and fried one man to death as the other ran away.

Soren turned as Wyre mouthed "Shit!"

Within a few seconds the four members of the troop stormed in and began attacking the training soldiers. Most were caught with training weapons in hand; Leena noticed a few throwing their weapons and scurrying for the walls where real ones were kept. She chased them and impaled them in the back as Mikel hurled his axe to catch one man as he turned to face them.

Orgoth's spear fired out, seeing it one of the Dune Guard dove aside; as he stood Kay'Shera fell on top of him, her lance sinking into his chest. Recalling the end of his spear, Orgoth held it up to block an axe from a Dune Guardsmen standing next to a wall of throwing axes, hurling them at the four.

The sole Dune Guard that escaped Wyre's attack entered from behind the four and yelled "Intruders!" He then realized quickly that the battle had already begun. With a powerful gust the doors on the other side were blown wide open and a man was picked up and slammed into a wall brutally as Soren, Mia, To'Eltz, Wyre, Lyle and Wayu stormed in and began cutting through the rest of the trainees.

The sole survivor turned and ran back through the double doors as Soren's group finished with the trainees and moved quickly to the staircase to the second basement level.

Down in the third level Meloi walked past several guardsmen into the prison, he walked in and bowed while with a mocking tone he addressed his prisoners "My liege and lady…"

The King stood slowly, "Meloi…"

"King Gra'Tisk and Queen Yi'Pyre…I am flattered that you know of me. We will be moving the two of you one level down where you will be taken to the sight of your execution."

The King shook his head "You'll never get away with this, my loyal knights-"

Holding a hand up the Earth Archsage laughed "They've been deceived, shortly after we abducted you, we implanted a man who took the identity of Lo'Tem and killed your Archbishop, they were far too busy having your court room become the center of a huge joke that now many of your so called 'loyal knights' lie dead. They don't have the manpower to take you back by force."

Several more Dune Guard moved in and grabbed the King and Queen, upon struggling the King was punched in the gut and knocked across the back of the head, the Queen cried out to stop but they ignored her and dragged the two away with Meloi looking on with a smile.

At the bottom of the second set of stairs was a very wide hall with large doors on each end and one more at the end of the hall. Soren, Mia, Wyre and To'Eltz moved to one side while the remaining members to the other, each examined the doors and peered into rooms filled with beds, two large quarters for Dune Guards at rest.

Quickly the group moved on to the last doors and noticed it led to a mess hall where a fair amount of soldiers were eating.

"What's our play?" Lyle asked the Archsage.

Before Soren could say anything there was a crash and several men in the mess hall stood, with his advanced senses he caught a man crying out to them.

"Intruders! They killed everyone in the training hall and my partner! They'll be here soon! The hall outside! Go!"

Picking up weapons the Dune Guard ran for the exit, Soren cursed and in the thirty seconds before they burst through he turned to the group, his head working faster than his mouth.

"The Dune Guard in the rest quarters will hear the combat and we'll be caught with enemies from three sides, we can't split evenly and remain effective against three groups of unknown enemy sizes, shit, if only we had an Earth Sage under our command."

"We go in now!" he yelled, with another gust, the two doors blew open, slamming into the men that were very close, knocking them away and out cold.

Running past Soren the group took to battle as the tactician turned and slammed the doors shut. Taking out a blizzard tome he began freezing the door and covering it in a heavy snow to make it nearly impossible to open.

Mia fought near Lyle and Wayu, her blade easily piercing through the armors of the Dune Guard while Lyle evaded and stabbed the men in their undefended sides and forced them to their knees by stabbing them in the legs then spinning and cutting them across the neck.

Keeping close to Lyle's back, Wayu knocked blades and axes away, spinning to strike at enemies, cutting across their lower body or clipping their arms. The last thing she wanted was to get her blade stuck in one of the Dune Guard's bodies while others moved in on her undefended sides.

With a powerful swing Mikel's axe knocked a man across the head, as he reeled back, stunned, Leena charged in, her blade piercing the man's gut. As another Dune Guard moved in from behind Leena and arrow buried into his left knee, bringing him to the floor easily allowing Mikel to walk over and bring his axe crashing down on his back.

As Leena kicked the man off her blade, To'Eltz flipped through the air several times, landing in front of a man who swung out with his axe, striking air. Surprised the man looked down as To'Eltz shot into the air, blade cutting the man across his body vertically. Stumbling and falling dead as To'Eltz landed and avoided another attack. Before he could move in to kill, a large ball of lightning formed in the air and came down on several Dune Guard, screaming as their skin was charred the men fell dead, the ball floated, dormant before sparking up and swinging across the room at Wyre's command.

Ducking below the ball of lightning Orgoth cursed "Watch where you swing that thing Wyre!"

Standing, Orgoth turned to face a man that charged him, screaming. Before the knight could take action, Kay'Shera's lance pierced the man from behind, falling to the floor, the roc knight tore the lance out and then stabbed him again, killing him.

"No one wants to let me have a kill eh?" Orgoth joked as he turned to kill another member of the Dune Guard.

Mess hall cleared the group sheathed their weapons and headed down the staircase as Soren and Mia could hear the pounding at the frozen door.

As Meloi entered the fourth basement level, he stared across the large room with the single, circular station in the center; he turned to the black clad soldier "Midnight 11…go and entertain our guests."

The black clad soldier bowed and moved up to the third level as Meloi smiled at the King and Queen, he called several Earth Sages to him and proceeded.

Mia and Soren rounded the corner, hands held open in front of them they set flame to several earth sages. The prison warden tore out of his room and began shooting pieces of the floor at them. Mikel and Orgoth stepped in front, breaking through the shards. To'Eltz and Leena shot through the clearing and impaled the warden as more Earth Sages came in from around the corner down the hall.

As they fought through the sages, Wyre tore into the massive cell at the end and cursed upon discovering that it was empty "The King and Queen have been moved recently!"

As Soren cut through a sage he yelled out to Wyre "Take To'Eltz and go ahead, we'll be there as soon as!"

The trickster moved towards the Thunder sage as he rounded the corner. There was a black flash and Wyre was thrown back against a wall. Blood shooting out of his mouth as the impact reverberated from his spine throughout his entire body.

To'Eltz held his blade up as a man in black armor rounded the corner.

As Leena, Mikel, Mia and Lyle cut through the last few Earth Sages, Soren called out to the man "Who are you?"

Black electricity sparked from one of his hands as his armored head turned, now facing Soren he spoke in an echo filled voice "I've no need for a name…my designation…is Midnight 11."

With a rapid movement of his arm a black bolt struck Soren in the chest, throwing the man off his feet, through the air before crashing into a wall. Mia turned shocked and then faced the new adversary "We have a problem!"

The rest of the group realigned, aiming at the single man who held his arms away from his body, clenching his fists he brought them to his sides and charged at the group. Leena moved in first with a horizontal strike, her blade was caught and a palm struck her abdomen. A black flash shot her away as the man spun, using Leena's blade to strike Mikel's axe and knock it out of his hands. As the warrior reeled back, Midnight 11 jumped over Lyle's dual blade attack. Black flashes from his feet knocked Lyle aside, spinning in the air and landing, he shot his arm out, fist impacting with Mikel's chest plate, cracks rippled from the impact and the warrior slid into a cell before falling over.

As Wayu and Kay'Shera's lances moved towards Midnight 11 he leapt away, the lances hitting the floor. As he prepared to strike at them, To'Eltz grabbed the man's head with one hand and placed the other across the black armored foes' chest. Grappling in the air, the Sarharan flipped the man over and brought him to the ground head first. Leaping away as the soldier fell onto his side and stood, cracking his neck he muttered "You are all highly skilled."

Kay'Shera glanced over to Wayu and Orgoth "He took half of us out without even breaking a sweat…what do we do?"

Orgoth shook his head "Not sure…there are more of us…so let's overwhelm him!"

The three charged, followed by Mia "Be careful everyone!"

Midnight 11 knocked Wayu's lance away and leapt into the air above Kay'Shera and Orgoth, Mia followed him and swung Ein'Tosen which he caught with his hand. Midnight 11 realized it was a mistake as the blade cut across his palm and severed four of his fingers. Landing he was slashed from behind by To'Eltz before Kay'Shera stabbed him in the abdomen.

Holding his hand out he fired black lightning into Kay'Shera's face, blinding her, spinning and leaping he kicked her across the head and into a wall before removing her lance and tossing it aside. Evading Wayu and Orgoth as the pair took turns striking at him, To'Eltz moved in again, this time Midnight 11 turned quick enough to grab the tricksters sword, placing his ruined hand on the stunned man's chest he blasted him away before turning and leaping over the lances.

Looking up at the ceiling he saw Mia above him as his feet shot out black lightning into Orgoth and Wayu, paralyzing the two.

Mia's blade cut deep into Midnight 11's chest, as he fell she stood over him, her feet on his arms and raised her blade before sinking it into the man's head.

The entire body jerked violently upon the blade piercing him, frantically firing out more black waves, destroying the prison cells and walls. Soren moved and grabbed Mia, pulling her away and crashing to the floor as Midnight 11 stood and tore the blade out of his head.

Dropping it, the soldier moved jerkily towards the couple on the floor. "What is it?" Soren stated aloud, surprised in every way at the thing that approached him.

A massive electrical surge caught Midnight 11 in the back, as it was encased in the bright lightning it screamed as its armor cracked and small shots of electricity tore through him. As the onslaught ended the soldier fell to the floor, revealing Wyre behind him. With a grin on his face thunder sage fell over, exhausted.

Mia stood and looked over to the injured group "Go…the King and Queen…" Soren stated as he stood slowly and took a Recover Staff out of his cloak.

"But-"

Cutting her off with a kiss he nodded and she took off.

Down in the fourth level, the King and Queen stood inside a round cell as Earth Sages carved a path into the ground from the cell to the wall. Upon reaching it, two Earth Sages pulled and tore a hole in the wall that led into a black path. Meloi raised the ground he stood on and turned to the sages before nodding.

"Stop!" The Archsage turned again as Mia ran in and cut through the sages at the entrance.

"Kill her!" With a spin, Ein'Tosen caught fire, releasing a massive purple wave and burning most of the sages in the room. Several died instantly while others ran around screaming as the purple flames ate them.

Meloi cursed and turned to the hole in the wall, holding his hands out in front of them; Mia charged over and leapt as Meloi moved his arms back.

Grabbing onto the cage, the entire chunk of earth below Meloi and the cage shot down the carved path and into the wall where it continued along at a very fast pace.

"This is how you are taking them to Numengate, an underground path hidden four levels below your abandoned and destroyed headquarters!?"

The cart left the crowded enclosure and began going down a path over a wide chasm.

"Worth all the effort into planning it, I only require the King and Queen, you die here!"

Mia tore the cell door off and it fell into the chasm below "Gra'Tisk, Yi'Pyre! I'm here to rescue you!"

Expanding the cart Meloi walked over and grabbed Mia by the back of her jacket tearing her from the cage. He punched her in the stomach before slamming her into the ground and placing his foot on her chest. Holding his hand out a stone detached from the chasm wall and attached to his fist.

Mia held her hand out and fire a purple bolt, Meloi moved back as the attack flew up and exploded in the high ceiling. With a yell he brought his fist down, Mia quickly stopped the stone fist but he continued to push "We will soon re-enter a tight crevasse, the impact on the wall will kill both of us painfully and brutally, just let me end you here!"

Opening her eyes, the pupils changed as her hands melted into the rock. Meloi pulled away as Mia kicked up, flames exploding all around and singing the Archsage. Whipping her blade out she slash towards him, covering him in the flames, as he stumbled back she charged and stabbed him, twisting the blade he looked at her raging eyes. "I can see why you are wanted dead!"

Tearing the blade out she kicked him off of the platform and he fell into the chasm as they re-entered a tight corridor.

Mia tore off another piece of the cage and Gra'Tisk pushed his wife forward "Take her first, please."

"I'm here to rescue both of you! Now keep quiet while I-"

A flash of lightning and the Ethereal Man appeared in front and grabbed Mia's neck. Hands shooting up to grab his arm he began tightening his grip.

"I had this opportunity once…I won't let it get away…"

"You've…all…had…many chances at…killing us…" Mia gasped out.

"Indeed, so I'll make the most of this!"

Raising his other arm, Mia reached down and rammed her blade into his neck. The Ethereal Man stumbled back before Mia kicked him off her blade and grabbed the Queen "I'm sorry!"

Ein'Tosen in one hand, Yi'Pyre in the other she jumped off the cart and landed on the rough floor. With her enhanced vision she saw the Ethereal Man stand up straight as if the gaping neck wound was nothing. If he had a face, he'd be smiling right now, even without the Queen it wasn't a complete failure for him or a complete win for the troop.

"My husband!" Mia turned to the distraught Queen and sighed "I'm sorry…"

Arriving with overwhelming numbers Hashten'Kor's forces arrested the remaining Dune Guard, Soren's group stood waiting until Mia finally emerged, very beaten but alive and with the Sarharan Queen Yi'Pyre.

"Hashten'Kor!" The queen noticed her lead knight he walked over and bowed before her "I'm deeply sorry milady, I failed you and King Gra'Tisk."

Soren ran over and embraced Mia before kissing her "Are you alright?"

She nodded and saw his eyes lock on her neck, he place a hand there and then looked back in her eyes "Are you sure?"

"Honestly…I just want to get back to our room right now…" she embraced him and kissed him again as the rest of the group walked over.

"Where-"

Leena cut off Mikel with an elbow to the side.

Kay'Shera scratched the back of her head and turned away from the rest of the group as Hashten'Kor and Yi'Pyre walked over.

"I must thank you all for the grave task you took on despite everything…Hashten'Kor only told me a bit but it confirmed the bluffs we thought Meloi was giving us."

Orgoth turned to her and bowed "We are so sorry we couldn't rescue the King as well."

Yi'Pyre sighed "It was a miracle you made it through as many Dune Guard as you did and rescued me…I trust…"

The Queen hesitated; Soren and Mia turned to her "We will pursue the King."

"But this isn't your cause!"

"It is related to our cause…whoever these men really are; I'm not talking about the Korgans or the Dune Guard but the true foe behind both of those groups. They are who we are after and they are the ones that have your husband."

Yi'Pyre nodded at Soren "I must repay you all somehow."

Before Soren could say anything the Queen continued "Hashten'Kor told me you all went to the Western Archive in search of information about individuals who use True Elder Magic. The Archive was mostly lost in a conflict with the Korgans, Roltz and this Qi'No correct?"

The group nodded and the Queen smiled "There were some things in there that are so vital…there is a secret collection of the originals in the palace…I'll give you exactly what you desire."

Soren and Mia were shocked and the group behind them began celebrating, at last achieving what they've been trying to since they met with the Apothecary.

Soren looked up at the moon and as relieved as he was to being one step closer to unmask the evil, the King of Sarhara was on a very short leash with very little time left for him.

"We have to get rest, we leave for Numengate tomorrow…I know we've been through hell…"

Leena laughed "It's not like anything has changed since this whole thing began. The recovery time is shorter, yeah, but we can do it."

Soren turned to To'Eltz, "Will you continue to aid us? Mia told me that Meloi fell into a deep chasm below Sarhara."

The trickster turned back to the staircase that led into the Dune Guard Headquarters "He is still alive…I'm sure of it…I'm staying with you all."

Kay'Shera took a step forward "I'd like to…permanently join your group."

Mia smiled "We'd love to have you."

The other woman turned away and blushed "I'm glad to be of service."

Lyle turned to Mikel "What about the passage in that book you took out of the archive?"

Mikel nodded "Right, uh Queen Yi'Pyre, majesty, milady…"

Nodding she gestured for him to continue.

"In addition to the True Elder Magic thing…you think you could give us anything about this…Helswath and Gashuuka of the old warring age?"

The Queen seemed surprised and nodded "Very dark history from those parts…but yes, I'll see to it…if worse comes to worse and this nation loses its king…"

She closed her eyes and breathed silently before continuing "I must do anything in my power to bring all associated with this to their end."

As the group prepared to return to the palace a roc knight cried out, they all turned as the Dune Guard prisoners screamed and burst into flames, falling as blackened husks that crumbled to ash.

The Ethereal Man's identity will be revealed...in the next chapter...