Why did I miss Saturday? Been filming since the week of the 22nd and this week we only had Saturday off so I did a lot of everything else and didn't get a chance to use the computer at all.

With a brief self given respite I bring you a new chapter of Ymarkteg, several days late but here it is!

Chapter Twenty Six

Regalshin Stronghold

As silent snow filled the night sky and fell to the ground, it landed amongst the blood stained, burning ruins of a street in Pyrnaz. Standing aside, Soren watched as countless soldiers from the Regalshin Stronghold moved bodies and began the clean-up process on the battle site that would surely take several weeks to complete.

The rest of the troop sat around, mostly exhausted and relieved, Soren narrowed his eyes as he spotted Joltam's sword stuck in the ground. The former Marshall was critically injured by Murawk during the last attack and was taken by the medical team to be cared for.

Mia sat with Rhogam next to Lyle; the larger man had a hand on Lyle's back and was telling him of the stupidity of his last attack. "I'm pretty sure you and Wyre were told not to move from that spot! And you brought Wayu as well?"

Lyle shrugged "Desperate times…we did what we could and ultimately we won…and no one died."

Mia smiled "Unbelievable…there were moments were I was worried one of us would die…especially after seeing you impaled, Lyle…I'm glad we're all as stubborn as the next."

Lyle smiled at her and nodded as Soren turned to Tyazaer and Kay'Shera speaking with To'Eltz as he tended to their mounts. Near them, Mikel was laughing and clutching his injuries as Leena fixed him up, constantly telling him to hold still and be quiet. The brash warrior ignored her as he continued speaking with Orgoth, Wayu and Wyre. Despite the intense battle and his injuries, he wore a smile and joked, keeping everyone light and helping them recover in his own way. Soren could tell from Leena's smiles that she understood as well.

"Ah! Rhogam!" hearing his name, the Reaver turned to Soren "What's up boss?"

"I really owe you one for that arrow you put in Murawk's eye towards the end…thank you."

Rhogam smiled and put a hand on his back as Lyle and Mia thanked him, shaking his head he looked at Soren again "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, that wasn't me."

The group got quiet, even the others seemed to turn to the sudden silence. Soren glanced over to Mikel, the warrior stood and shrugged "It wasn't me…you are talking about the arrow Murawk took to the eye, right?"

Soren nodded and Mikel reaffirmed his statement, he didn't shoot the arrow either.

"Then who…" the group turned as a woman approached them, Rhogam and Mikel recognized her "Hey! You were there when the attack started!"

She smiled as Soren and Mia took a few steps forward. "Is that…"

"I heard one of you…was flirting with my wife to be…"

The pair turned slightly as a familiar red haired man dropped down from a roof, dusting himself before standing straight and giving his cocky grin to Soren and Mia.

"Tactician…hyperactive miss…good to see you two again…"

"Shinon! Uhnie!" Mia called out; the woman walked over to them and embraced each one at a time as Shinon sauntered over just giving them slight signs of acknowledgement.

Soren got close and held out his hand "Thanks for that save…it means a lot to me."

Shinon raised an eyebrow and looked down at Soren's hand before turning to see Uhnie's expression; with a sigh he shook Soren's hand "No worries…"

The rest of Soren and Mia's Troop got close with Wyre moving to the front Shinon seemed a little shocked at this "I thought one of you looked familiar…but I never imagined…"

"Good to see the both of you." Wyre stated as Mikel scratched his chin "This is that cocky archer you told us about…and the assassin from Thyremog?"

Mia nodded "Yes…everyone let me formally introduce you to Shinon and Uhnie, who by the way are engaged."

Shinon greeted each and every one of them, recalling their faces from the parts of the battle he saw, taking into account the weapons they used; no doubt Uhnie was doing the same. He liked to know as much about the people that he met, even learning how to read their personalities from his years with Uhnie.

Soren noticed that Shinon had Gore Eye slung across his back and though back to the moment the arrow struck Murawk and the Berserker's reaction to it.

Shinon looked about and was about to say something, shaking his head he looked over to Uhnie and passed her some sign. She turned to the group "We'd really like to catch up, if you wouldn't mind we can take you all to our home."

Soren looked back to the military group and recalled what happened a few minutes after the battle.

A wyvern landed in the field followed by several more from the direction of Regalshin Stronghold. An armed man with light purple hair hopped off his wyvern, after it roared the beast took off as the man walked up to the group.

"Commander Yushez here…anyone care to explain what happened here?" The Regalshin royal officer asked the injured troop.

Rhogam moved in front of Soren with a smile "Long story commander…"

"Rhogam? How did you get mixed up in this?"

Rhogam: Long story…in short we just saved this city from being ripped apart…if we weren't here, the perpetrators of this attack would've killed many more people.

Yushez: Who were these perpetrators?

Rhogam: I'm afraid you wouldn't believe me…we're in no shape for this kind of talk though.

Yushez: Very well…I expect a full briefing tomorrow!

Rhogam: You know me.

As Yushez walked around Soren glanced at Rhogam who grinned until Tyazaer hit him in the back of the head. "Yushez is second in command to the current General Orkra who is a Froghul, one of the few to land any type of important position in royal hierarchy. Due to their close relationship he can…abuse it…to an extent with Yushez." She explained, Soren nodded and looked at Rhogam who smiled again.

"Not just good looks and power, but also connections!" The Reaver stated with a chuckle.

"Sure, let's go." Together, the group fell into step close behind Shinon and Uhnie, the latter striking up conversations with different members of the group. Shinon listened intently and Soren noticed this.

"Checking to see if everyone is one the up and up without actually checking?"

Shinon grinned "You know it…damn it; this isn't like me, talking to you so…openly."

Soren shrugged "We've both come a long way from Tellius; I certainly hope you didn't think we'd stay the same."

Shinon laughed "I suppose not…though it seems we still attract the worst of the worst…I'm really eager to hear what this is all about."

At an unknown location, Norad Jyuugo stood, watching a figure form in front of him as his two COs he sent to track Soren and Mia returned.

"You two…"

"Sir, it seems the group engaged Murawk of the Korgan Clan and his remaining survivors at the Regalshin capital city and killed them all…"

Jyuugo turned to them "Murawk is dead?"

The other commander nodded "Yes sir…"

Jyuugo smiled as he turned away from them "Very well…you two will now earn designations…much like Qi'No and Lo'Tem who sacrificed their true identities…"

"We don't even remember our real names…sir…"

"Of course…it is nearly the same situation with the Midnight soldiers. Midnight 11 and 10 might be gone but Midnights 9, 8, 7 and 6 still continue to fight for us…"

Norad Jyuugo signaled Midnight 9 and Midnight 8 over and had them take over his job as he came down to the two soldiers, a smile appeared on his face "I have two perfect names for you…I just know you will love them and receive the power they bear."

The pair looked up at him as he spoke their names.

"So that makes our next goal the frost of the Negative Wastes and the Umbarra Heights past that…"

Shinon and Uhnie sat, stunned at Soren's story, Uhnie whispered to Shinon quickly and he nodded.

"We've been together for so long…hell, we toppled a goddess. But I've never heard of the attacks in Anondye, Sarhara or Numengate. Nobody here in Pyrnaz and probably all of Regalshin is familiar with it…well aside from the Froghuls Leah hangs out with."

"Which means Joltam was serious when he said that he heard nothing of Murawk's return…but why?" Tyazaer asked, To'Eltz cleared his throat "The very reason the Altar was brought about…the Regalshin Royalty is preserving the peace…"

Shinon spat "No way…"

Leena turned to the marksman "No way, what?"

"The whole 'preserve the peace' thing is a conspiracy theory that there are high ranking individuals in all the nations working together to keep the general populace from realizing there is still crime and death in their utopian age of peace. I don't believe it because it would be impossible to pull off, especially if you are familiar with the kings and rulers of the nations and their history."

Orgoth smiled "I know a lot of that…until Kanahana spoke to us about Gra'Tisk's past…how he killed someone and it was covered up as he was the future Sarhara King."

Uhnie shook her head "Kanahana…I'm guessing The Midnight knows his relation to you, why else would they bother sending men to Hitenticul to resurrect the vampire?"

Soren placed a hand on his forehead "I don't know how they figured that out…I don't just spew about Kanahana to anyone…"

Shinon shrugged "Maybe it slipped in one random conversation, we have been in Ymarkteg for years, and you never know what kind of people you really talked to, even in Corelis."

Tyazaer let out a long sigh and rubbed her eyes "It's been one of those days…and we have to go to the stronghold to speak to the General of the Regalshin Forces tomorrow…I think it's time we turned in…"

Rhogam nodded as Mikel stood and stretched "We should get going…and find Lune and Fistivus…hope their alright."

Soren stood and shook Shinon's hand as Uhnie gave Mia and Wyre a hug "Thank you, all of you for helping Soren and Mia…it is something seeing you again Wyre."

The sage smiled and bowed as the troop left the house.

Lyle walked alongside the group; Soren and Mia have a habit of bumping into old friends at the best times. "Excuse me."

The swordmaster turned to face Tyazaer "Oh…the paladin…what do you want?"

"I'm amazed at your determination and Soren and Mia seem to really depend on you…despite my initial-"

"You don't have to apologize or restate what you said…believe it or not, I get it. I'm not…what I seem…I don't know how to put it."

Tyazaer smiled "You have different faces…not a bad thing, pretty sure it throws everyone for a loop though, and I am sorry about the questions and the nosiness."

Lyle shrugged "It's cool I guess…aside from my personality you were right to chew me out for one thing…"

Tyazaer turned to see Soren and Mia then back to Lyle and held her hand out "Forgive and forget…we are together for the long run."

As Lyle shook it, he smiled "To the Umbarra Heights and back?"

The paladin shook her head "Not just that…possibly the whole way if that doesn't end this quest."

The troop found an inn and all but collapsed onto their beds and passed out instantly, finally allowing the fatigue from the battle against Murawk wear them down. With the berserker gone, the group still had to deal with Meloi and the Dune Guard whenever they decided to strike again, The Altar and The Midnight.

While things were looking up, there was still much work to be done including the traversal of the Negative Wastes, the daunting task they finally neared.

The next day found Soren, Mia, Rhogam and Tyazaer at the Regalshin Palace with Commander Yushez, awaiting the arrival of the Froghul leader of the entire Regalshin Force.

"I do apologize for the delay strangers." Said a woman as she entered the room, she had blue skin just like the other Froghuls; they also noticed a band across her head that covered her right eye. Soren and Mia did seem surprised. Rhogam glanced over to them "Did I forget a detail?"

She had an easy smile on her face as she walked over and sat down, gesturing for the rest to sit with her.

"I feel there is a lot to be explained from yesterday evening. What we barely know has worried our royal leaders, understandably so I'd assume."

Soren shook his head "I don't understand how none of you were aware of the Korgan and Dune Guard resurgence with all the damage they've done in Anondye, Sarhara and Numengate."

Yushez began to speak but Orkra held up her hand "It is a grievous oversight and I have no answer for you…Rhogam, is this all true?"

The Reaver nodded and gestured towards Soren and Mia "These two have been completely honest with Tyazaer and I, we believe their story and have seen enough to support it, not just Murawk's attack yesterday."

"You say the Dune Guard as well…anything else we should be aware of?" The commanding Froghul asked Soren and Mia, the two shared a quick glance.

"That is not a good idea." Tyazaer commented after To'Eltz finished giving his plea to Soren and Mia.

"Trust me…no one can know of this, I didn't even tell you all until recently!"

Mia sighed "We are basically lying to the Regalshin hierarchy by keeping The Altar under wraps."

"Exactly!" Tyazaer called out "So don't do it!"

Soren looked at To'Eltz "Explaining and getting them to believe that the Korgan Clan and The Dune Guard have been brought back from the dead is difficult but there is proof from the attack and bodies…explaining that a league of assassins works in this day and age fighting underground wars all over the continent…we'd lose any credibility with these people."

Rhogam shrugged "I would never have believed it if they didn't attack us back on the Hijtam Shield."

Mia put a hand on Tyazaer's shoulder "We can't talk to them about The Altar…maybe we'll come across someone else who listens, but for now."

Tyazaer sighed and rubbed the sides of her head with her hands "Fine…I still don't like it but I do see some sense in it…damn it."

"No."

Orkra smiled "Alright then! We'll listen to what you have to say about these attacks on the other nations and go about our correspondence with them to figure out what is going on. Then you can be on your way…I assume you are going to the Negative Wastes eh?"

Tyazaer nodded "It's been too long and we've wanted to return to it."

Before Orkra could continue Yushez took a few steps forward "Just let them go? But-"

"We won't earn anything but distrust from other nations and people if we hold the very heroes who saved Pyrnaz…the correspondence will be a long and arduous process and no one should have to sit through that."

"We thank you for that." Mia stated to which Orkra just smiled "Whenever you are ready."

Outside the rest of the group was checking in with Fistivus and Lune, making sure everything was set one last time.

"When the others get here, we leave for the Negative Wastes! Personally, I can't wait!"

Leena rolled her eyes as Mikel laughed "This isn't going to be like anything else we've been through, according to Rhogam and Tyazaer it is unbelievably cold in the Negative Wastes at night. That is how it earned its name! As such we need to leave early so we'll probably have another night here and as soon as we wake up, off we go."

Mikel turned to her "One more night…I guess I can wait…do you…"

Leena stopped tightening a box and turned slowly "Do I?"

"Do you…want…?"

"Hey! Mikel! I could use a hand over here if you don't mind!" Wyre called, the warrior turned and nodded before smiling at Leena and walking away.

Leena turned back and gasped, taking a quick step away from Kay'Shera "Damn it! Don't do that! How long were you standing there?"

The roc knight smiled "Not long…you and Mikel need to stop letting your attitudes get in the way!"

"Can we please not talk about the brute right now; there are more important things at hand."

Kay'Shera laughed as she jumped off the merchant cart and stood next to the mercenary "It is because we have such a grave situation before us that we should enjoy these lulls in between."

Leena looked over to Kay'Shera before returning to work "I suppose…"

As Wayu finished laying down food for the horse she turned to see Fistivus, Orgoth, To'Eltz and Lyle talking and laughing near the male merchant's cart.

Wayu smiled as the men continued speaking, Lune joined her "Don't you wish we had more moments like this…we all know something huge is on the horizon but we can still enjoy ourselves."

Wayu nodded "We get respites here and there but it's always after a task is complete and as we prepare for the next one…nothing is anywhere closer to being settled than it was when we first started."

"You were with the troop from the beginning, right? Alongside Mikel and Lyle..."

Wayu nodded "Wyre as well…the way things are now I'm glad we've recruited so many people, we really need all the help we can get."

The troop all turned upon hearing Rhogam call out, the last four returned and they huddled together on the other side of the merchant carts.

"Seems our guesses were correct…the Regalshin Royalty knew nothing of Murawk or Meloi's actions or even the Midnight's unveiling in Myillheim a few weeks back. They are going to establish connections to see what they can do; in the meantime we have one more day of rest before we're off to the Negative Wastes. I can't thank all of you enough for continuing to stick around."

After Soren's address, the group told him how they didn't mind being together and despite everything enjoyed the experience before breaking up and heading into Pyrnaz.

Mia looked over to the Regalshin Stronghold, the large prisonlike structure was said to have been nearly destroyed during the warring ages, and she couldn't believe it.

Soren walked up to her "I'm off to the Stronghold's Library to learn more about this Helswath…want to come along? The faster I finish the faster we can find a place to have a quiet meal."

Mia smiled "I'd love that…besides…what worries me the most is how Murawk's corpse and Helswath were nowhere to be found…"

Soren looked across the snow and recalled Murawk's final moments after Mia slashed off his arm. He was still alive after that, the boiling blood on the snow that exploded and covered the area in a violent blast that took Murawk with it, left many possibilities.

The Archsage was certain that the berserker was not alive, but he didn't care, Helswath was gone and he needed to learn more about it and another thing that surprised him about the battle.

"Gore Eye…"

Alone in the cold, a man stood and looked out to the frost stretching as far as he could see. He heard the definite cry of one of his charges who he believed was long lost.

"It can't be…" Leaving his mountain hideaway he peered into the white as snow began to fall all around him.

"Something is coming…"

As Rhogam and Mikel ate with little care to how inappropriate it looked, Leena rolled her eyes and looked over to Tyazaer who smiled "You get used to it."

"You've been with Rhogam for a long time…there are some things about Mikel I'd rather not get used to…"

Tyazaer shook her head "Rhogam and I are just comrades, friends or as he calls us, The Questers. We do what we do because we love it…I know that is hard to believe…"

Leena shrugged and continued eating "Whatever you say, I don't judge and it's not my place to say anything…quite the life you have though."

"I've heard of the Euto Research Center and meeting someone like Orgoth makes me want to go there even more…people say knowledge is power but I truly believe it."

Leena nodded "It's helped me kill quite a few people, knowing what they do and when…I believe it too."

Tyazaer laughed nervously "Not quite what I meant…but I'll take it."

As Soren and Mia walked into the archive, she looked around, not nearly as vast as Sarhara's Western Archive but it was much more nicely kept.

"Anything we need to know about Helswath or Gashuuka should be with all the old history texts…might be a little hard to find."

"But nowhere near as difficult as the stuff we were looking for in Sarhara right?"

Before Soren could answer someone called out to them "You looking for this?"

The pair turned to see Joltam smiling and holding up a book.

Bidding Fistivus and Lune a good night, To'Eltz and Orgoth stood outside the inn looking up to the sky.

Orgoth glanced over to the trickster quickly "No need to say anything, Orgoth…you delve into character faster and deeper than anyone I've ever met. Whether or not you want to trust me I'm sure you know I have no intention of crossing you."

"Good guess…but that isn't what I wanted to say…"

To'Eltz grinned as Orgoth continued "What I did have in mind seems pointless after that though…I suppose it's just good we're all on the same side…"

"After encountering Helswath I wanted to learn as much as I could in regards to it…I may not be able to go along with you young people seeing as how that fight wore me down for the next five years…"

"It's alright, but are you sure you shouldn't be resting?" Mia asked to which the formal Marshall laughed "I'll have plenty of rest when I'm dead, until then I want to help you all as much as I can."

Soren and Mia sat at a table filled with books with Soren asking what the Marshall has learned so far. Sighing, Joltam spoke "Gashuuka of Anondye earned the titled Blood Cyclone at the height of his fame during the Dark Days of War, mostly due to Helswath and its hidden powers, all of which had to do with blood."

Soren and Mia each recalled how much more powerful and brutish Murawk grew as he drew more blood from them or as he was struck himself, Helswath didn't discriminate in where it got its power from and easily passed it into Murawk, no doubt aiding him in his ignorance of pain.

"However, Helswath wasn't the only demon weapon of its time…"

"Demon…weapon…?" Soren stated, not so much as a question but as a realization as he began drawing parallels.

"Yes, dark weapons of even darker origins that found their way into the hands of the masters of the Dark Days of War…"

As Kay'Shera and Michalis looped in the skies above, Wyre and Wayu watched and called out to the roc knight.

Lyle sat aside watching but not at all focusing on it. Much of the battle with Murawk still played itself over in his head, Lyle wanted to be able to protect what was most important to him and nearly died doing so in that battle.

His hand went to his chest and he recalled the black he saw when he was stabbed, he wanted nothing more than to power through the pain and cut down Murawk, but he was nowhere near that level.

"Lyle, you alright?" Wyre asked, standing near the younger man. Lyle shook his head and smiled "No, yeah…I'm fine…just thinking…"

Wyre chuckled "Don't think too hard, we have a lot ahead of us for the next few days, we'll need you in tip top shape."

Lyle nodded as Wyre walked away and turned to the sky again.

"Gashuuka and Meltraitis despised each other, the latter was known through Old Regalshin as the Piercing Star, a true master of the lance…they say his weapon always returned to him as far as he threw and as deep as it cut into anything…"

Soren looked over at Mia and then the two looked at Joltam "What was the lance's name?"

Joltam looked down at the book then back up "Gungnir."

Soren sat back down, frustrated as Joltam raised an eyebrow.

"We've encountered weapons like these before…twisted objects that had minds of their own and could corrupt and control their users."

Joltam put the book down, attention on the pair before him "Where?"

Mia cut in "During our travels, we passed through the land of Zatuo and got involved in a huge rebellion down there. There were three men known as the Demon Triad, Unotch, Yakaan and Heydhar, each wielding cursed weapons called Gore Eye, Singularity and Ijhalma. The arrow bolt that struck Murawk in the eye towards the end was from Gore Eye."

"You have such a dark weapon among you!?"

Soren shook his head "Shinon, a comrade of ours killed Unotch back in Zatuo and took Gore Eye, he's kept it ever since. I can't decide if it's a miracle or if he has some unshakeable will, but the bow has not affected Shinon in the least."

Joltam thought back to the moment when Murawk was about to bring his axe down on Mia.

"I've never seen a reaction like that from Murawk...he took a spear to the throat when he was originally killed but nothing like the howling madness from taking that arrow to the eye…do you think?"

Soren nodded "I don't know if their composition is the same or their origins but the Black Weapons of Zatuo and the Demon Weapons of Ymarkteg seemed linked and able to best or cancel out each other…"

The three sat in silence as countless scenarios flew through Soren's head.

You won't figure it out at this table…you know that right?

Ignoring the Mad King's voice Soren sighed as he, Mia and Joltam continued reading through the book.

I really, really, REALLY had a hard time resisting this...

Alone in the cold, a man stood and looked out to the frost stretching as far as he could see. He heard the definite cry of one of his charges who he believed was long lost.

"It can't be…" Leaving his mountain hideaway he peered into the white as snow began to fall all around him.

"Winter is coming…"

I couldn't! I JUST COULDN'T!

In return for the wait a lot of pictures are hitting my deviantArt

The Goreion and Herion from the Ymtar Range chapter are going up

The Tag Team image of Orgoth, To'Eltz and Kay'Shera is going up

OC Sheet 11 with Yushez, Uhnie, Orkra, a young Eminse, a young Orgoth and two new characters named Kolkem and Ushnae

As well as

An image of Ashnard and Shinon

Next chapter is only a few days away, it will be up on Saturday!