AN: I had a questions about Rowdy, and as this is based solely off the novels he doesn't play a role in the story. Mr. Kanzaka was rather adamant in an interview that the events of "The Motion Picture" did not align with how he saw Gourry's family history. So no Rowdy :-)

It was still dark when Gourry woke up. He wasn't sure, but it seemed there was still plenty of time to sleep before morning. He snuggled a bit closer to his mother but couldn't settle down. The air felt wrong, that was the only way he could explain it, even if he realized it made no sense. For a moment he wondered if his mother was going to have her baby soon, but she remained still and quiet. But then from his mother's other side he heard his father stir and get up.

Quietly Petry tiptoed to the entrance and left the hut, leaving Gourry confused. Was he going to the pit to use the bathroom? As he listened to Petry's footsteps he realized he was going in the wrong direction. Gourry looked to his other side where his siblings slept quietly in a line. None of them so much as stirred. Gourry debated what to do. Petry would be furious if he found Gourry following him, but Gourry could not shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

He realized that lying awake with the anxiety was going to be more than he could handle. Surely if he was quiet enough his father would never know he was following him. And he was fast enough that he could slip back into their house with Petry being none the wiser.

Slowly Gourry got up and walked to the door. Nes had taught him a little bit about masking his presence, and he put all of his training to use as he left the house and went out into the street. Up ahead he saw Petry slip into the hut his grandmother and Aunt Ynezza shared. Gourry's confusion grew. Why would he be visiting them this late?

As silently as possible Gourry trailed behind him. While days in the desert were scalding, nights were frigid. He tried not to shiver too much least his teeth start chattering and he wished he'd grabbed his sandals. Finally he reached the entrance, and he lay himself flat against the wall and craned his neck in.

The hut was laid out similarly to the one he shared with his parents. Along the north facing wall his grandmother, aunt, uncle and their children slept on mats that they would fold up and put away during the day. It was lit solely by a small fire that was kept burning for cooking purposes, and as the flames danced around the hut he could see his father bent over his grandmother, his hand over her mouth as he drew something over her neck.

Driven by a compulsion to figure out what was happening that vanquished any fear he ought to have felt, he crept into the hut. Petry grabbed the sword kept by Lucia's side and suddenly checked behind his back. His eyes filled with rage to find someone in the entrance. "What are you doing here?" he hissed.

Before Gourry could respond his father had grabbed him roughly by the arms, letting go only to bring a blow across his face. Gourry was stunned as one of his cousins, Jula, started to stir. Gourry remained paralyzed with fear. What had happened? Why was his father here? What had he been doing to his grandmother and why was he taking her sword?

Suddenly Jula started to scream as she stared at her hands and saw blood. "Shut up!" Petry ordered as he released his grip on Gourry and advanced on Jula. But Jula had turned to Ynezza and was trying to shake her awake. Why wasn't she waking up?

Nestled between Ynezza and Olly was the youngest, Nona. Eventually her sister's screams woke her up and she started wailing, too. On Olly's other side was their only son, Ketcher, and he blinked awake, pulling his own hand up and his eyes widening to find it was blood stained.

Gourry watched horrified. Why were Jula, Ketcher and Nona covered in blood? And why, with all the screaming, were none of the adults waking up?

"What is going on here?" a new voice said, and Gourry turned to find Aunt Larsa standing in the doorway, her husband, Loty, behind her, her hand on her own sword.

"Someone broke in and tried to steal the sword." Petry said as he moved to Gourry and put a threatening hand on his shoulder. "I walked in on him doing murder, but he got away."

Murder?

Gourry felt as though his knees had turned into jelly. Stupidly he wondered who was dead as Larsa looked at her brother in disbelief. "You mean to tell me you had nothing to do with this?" she asked.

Petry's eyes flashed dangerously, "Are you accusing me of such an act of cowardice?"

Other people were starting to filter from the other houses to see what was going on. Petry grabbed Nona, who was howling. "Get up!" he barked at Jula and Ketcher, "They're dead. You can stay with us."

"I'm not letting them live with you, their parents' killer!" Larsa snapped.

"And you're going to feed kids that aren't yours out of the kindness of your own heart?" Petry shot back as he grabbed Jula, who pulled away.

He swore as Gunther and Pollock forced their way in through the crowd. "What happened?" Pollock asked.

"I caught a man red handed slitting the throats of these three!" he said, indicating Lucia, Ynezza and Olly. "He tried to take the Sword of Light, but I stopped him before he got away with it."

Gourry slowly sank to the floor. His grandmother was dead. So was Aunt Ynezza and Uncle Olly. The blow was so hard he felt as though he couldn't get any air into his lungs. Pollock sneered and then he went outside to address the crowd, "There's a murderer on the loose! Come on, we'll track him down!" he said.

Petry shoved Nona at Larsa, "You can have that one."

He grabbed Jula and forced her to her feet. She screamed even louder in protest as she tried to make it back to her mother. "Get ahold of yourself!" Petry barked as he smacked her across the face.

Her screaming stopped as she was momentarily stunned only to resume. Petry started to pick her up and slung her over his shoulder and grabbed Gourry, who followed him mechanically. "You leave her with me!" Larsa demanded. "And the Sword of Light as well!"

"Can't. The sword belongs to Jula now. And as Ynezza's older sibling, I have to take responsibility for her."

"The hell you're going to give it to her when she grows up!" Larsa said. "Besides, murderers have no rights to children."

Gunther drew his sword and lunged at his aunt, who cradled Nona closer to her as she ducked. "How dare you slander him!"

Loty grabbed him from behind and pinned his arms to his side, "How dare you!"

"Leave him alone!" Petry bellowed as he took a few steps and grabbed Loty's hair.

The sequence of event became a blur of thrown punches, kneed stomachs, insteps, and flying blood. Everyone was yelling and hurling insults. Gourry moved to his cousins and they ducked into the far corner of the hut, hoping to stay out of the brawl that was consuming the tiny hut.

But then Petry stepped back, grabbed the Sword of Light and called, "Light come forth!"

With a whir, the sword roared to life. Instantly the fighting stopped as Larsa's eyes widened. "You wouldn't!" she said.

"Leave my son alone!" he spat.

Loty let go of Gunther and stepped back. He and Larsa moved so they were back against the wall, their eyes focused on the sword. Gunther went and stood beside his father, who glared at Loty and Larsa. "I will be taking my nieces and nephews as well as my sons home now. Unless you have any further complaints, Larsa?"

Larsa stared at the sword resentfully and shook her head. "Take them." She said bitterly. "You took the lives of their parents, might as well take them."

Petry's eyes hardened as he moved across the room and brought the sword close to her face, "One more word of that and I'll cut your tongue out!" The color drained from Larsa's face as Petry continued, "If I hear a word that you are spreading such falsehoods I will cut your tongue out! You and I both know a stranger stole in here tonight and killed them! Understand?"

"Understood." Larsa whispered.

"Good. Gunther, grab Nona. Gourry, Jula and Ketcher, with me."

Gourry was not sure how he managed to get to his feet. He was so numb with shock he could barely feel them, but fear propelled him forward. Petry put a hand on his shoulder as they set out for their hut and Gourry felt his heart rate accelerate as he saw that the rage still burned in his eyes. Would Petry go so far as to kill his own son to protect his secret? Because despite what Petry had said to Aunt Larsa, Gourry had seen it. Gourry had seen Petry slit his grandmother's throat! And Gourry was the only witness who was awake.

Gourry's heart pounded as he wondered if he would live to see the sunrise as they drew closer to their hut. His mother and older sister, Fyla, were waiting outside of the door for them to return. "There you are!" Eica shouted as she ran and held Gourry. "I heard there was a murderer on the loose! And when I woke up you were nowhere to be found! I was so scared!"

Gourry clung to her as she stroked his hair. But all too soon his father wrested him from her. "Petry!" she yelped as he grabbed Gourry and pulled him into the hut.

"He was out of bed when he oughtn't have." He said mercilessly as everyone followed them inside. "What the hell were you doing out of bed?"

"I…" Gourry stuttered, his voice dry, "I was wondering where you were."

Gourry noticed Petry's arm flex, and he threw his hands over his head defensively as Petry landed a hard blow. Gourry's arms protected his head, but at the expensive of breaking his left one. "You could have ruined everything!" Petry yelled.

"Petry." Eica said as she put a hand on his shoulder, "What did he do? What happened? You're covered in blood and why are Ynezza's children here?"

"Shut up!" Petry roared at Eica, "Someone went and murdered my mother and Ynezza and her husband if you really need to know!"

"What?" Eica gasped.

Petry grabbed Gourry harshly, "I caught some stranger in their house. I would have caught him if Gourry hadn't interrupted. And now half the town thinks I done it!"

Eica paled noticeably, "Petry," she whispered as Fyla wrapped an arm around her and stared at her father in disbelief while Ynezza's children huddled in a corner with Gourry's younger siblings, shock and fear keeping them still and silent.

"It was all ruined because of you!" Petry roared as he turned back to Gourry, who felt himself being thrown face down over the table and he knew it would only be a matter of seconds before he felt the rod. Then there was nothing but the stinging pain as the Petry brought it down upon his back, his buttocks, his legs, anywhere he could. Petry struck him so hard Gourry felt as though his bones would shatter and break and he could feel his skin rend and tear. Gourry was not sure how long that beating last, but it seemed to go on for ages until finally, for the first time ever, Eica started pleading for Petry to stop.

Finally she threw herself against Petry's arm and maneuvered herself between Petry and Gourry. "Any more of that and you'll kill him!" she cried.

Truly, Gourry wasn't sure if it was because he was hurting so much on the inside or if it was because this beating had been more severe than others, but he did feel weaker. He focused on his newly orphaned cousins, who had never endured a beating, who were currently watching him petrified. He felt as though his grip on consciousness would slip at any moment.

Petry straightened and backed away from Gourry and moved towards his cousins, who cowered back in fear. Gourry wanted to do something to defend them, but he hurt everywhere! Moving was impossible. His mother hovered over him with a tenderness that was startling after the brutality he had experienced.

Petry grabbed the rod threateningly. "You see what I just did to my own son?"

All three nodded, wide eyed with fear. "A strange man came in to your house and killed your parents and your grandmother." Petry said slowly and evenly, "And I fought him off before he could finish you. And if any of you says anything different, I will give all three of you a beating in front of each other that will make the one I gave Gourry here look like a slap on the wrist!"

Gourry tried to take a deep breath, but breathing was painful. "Petry." Eica whispered, "I need you to run and get Anga. You really overdid it. And my pains are coming."

His father continued to glare loathsomely at his cousins. "Do you understand me?"

Thoroughly terrorized each of them nodded. He moved the rod towards them, causing them to flinch away in fear before he sat it down. "Fyla, get your aunt." He ordered.

Eica grabbed Petry's arm, "I asked you to do it! Fyla, take your siblings and cousins elsewhere for the night. Petry, you get my sister, and then you get the hell out!"

Petry stared at Eica as Fyla started to gather the younger children and quickly usher them out. When his mother had had a baby before Gourry and his siblings would usually stay with their grandmother while Petry stayed with Eica, Anga and a few other helpers. But now Gourry was too weak to be moved and Eica had never sent him away before.

"It was a stranger to this town." He said quietly.

The color drained from Eica's face as she started tearing rags to tend to Gourry's wounds with. Tears started to fall from her eyes. "I married a coward who kills people in their sleep."

"That's a lie Eica!" he hissed.

"A coward who kills his blood kin!" Eica spat, "Dammit, Petry, I knew you were mad but…"

Petry balled up his fist, and for a brief moment Gourry thought he was going to hit her. But suddenly her face bunched up in pain and she snarled, "Get my sister now!"

Petry looked defiant, but finally went to fetch Anga. For the next few hours Gourry drifted in and out of consciousness. He was barely aware of Aunt Anga arriving and sending Petry away. There was an argument, but when Gourry came to again Eica was screaming and Anga and a few other woman from the village were talking encouragingly to her and Petry was not in the hut. Gourry watched terrified and wondered if he would also watch his mother die. He would drift off and wake up every time his mother screamed. Sometimes he would find that Aunt Anga was tending his wounds, at other times she would tend to his mother. But throughout the ordeal he was terrified about what would happen to her. Was it normal for her to be in so much pain when she had a baby? Surely it couldn't be. It had to be killing her. He was going to lose his mother and grandmother all in one night!

As the light from the dawning sun entered the hut Gourry was woken by the cry of a newborn. He opened his eyes and saw Anga attempt to put the infant on Eica's chest. Gourry's relief to see his mother alive and moving and that the baby was fine was short lived. Before the infant reached her chest Eica brought her hand up in refusal. "Toss it to the dunes." She said.

Petry, who must have been lurking outside the door, came in. "Well?" he asked.

Anga glared at him, "A reject."

"To the dunes!" Eica yelled as she stared at Petry defiantly. "I will not accept another child from that man!"

Petry looked stricken. For a moment Gourry feared he would erupt into another rage. But when he spoke his voice was flat, "You'll reject my child, after I have lost my kin?"

"After you murdered them!" Eica yelled.

"No, Eica…"

"To the dunes!" Eica ordered one more time, and then she turned away from Petry. Gourry did not think she had looked at the baby once.

Anga cut the cord and, without bothering to wrap it in any sort of blanket, she grabbed the baby and moved to the door. Petry blocked her exit. Anga glared at him coldly, "It's her right to reject it."

"You're already nursing an infant." Petry stated, "You can nurse mine."

Anga's eyes widened as the baby wailed, "I'm not nursing a child whose mother refused it."

"You will this one." Petry said. "Eica's confused, she'll come around."

"I've got ten of my own to care for!" Anga said, "And I've got this town to care for, I can't burden myself with a reject!"

"You will." Petry said as he put a hand on the hilt of his sword, "Or there will be consequences. You enjoy not having to walk hours for your water, don't you?"

"The aqueduct belongs to us all!" Anga argued.

"It belongs to me!" Petry said, "And you can use it only so long as you nurse my child."

Gourry watched nervously as Anga stared at Petry with resentment burning in her eyes. "I had my doubts, but now I have none." Anga whispered, "You're a murderer of your own flesh in blood, and worse in their sleep. Now, get the hell out of my way while I take this to the dunes!"

Gourry woke up in a panic as his head throbbed painfully as though he had been clubbed. He tried to get to his feet but could not. His hands were tied in front of him, and more bindings held his arms to his sides. He was tied down. "Lina!" he cried.

His panic continued to climb, and he forced himself to take a deep breath and to get a bearing on his surroundings. As he inhaled he noticed a scent that belonged to someone he'd not seen in years. Terror pounded through his veins. "She's with Mills." The voice was his. It belonged to one of the last people Gourry wanted to run into. He felt the warmth leave his body. "Mills is telling her all of the dirt about you. Looks like your ship has sailed."

"Gunther." Gourry said as stiffly as he could while he wondered where his sword was. And if Gunther suspected anything about its nature. He forced himself to calm down and focus on his surroundings. He could detect no sign of Lina, but it seemed as though another sorcerer was there. Likely the one who had helped Gunther with the spell. Plus a handful of minions. To his surprise a lot of them seemed to be chimeras. Had Gunther truly sunken so low?

"Time to come home, Gourry." Gunther said.

"Can't." Gourry said.

"Will. You're tied up and don't have much say in the matter." Gunther smirked, "Besides, by now that sorceress won't want anything to do with you!"

Gourry flexed his hands, but the knots held. His panic started to climb and he forced himself to take a deep breath. He reminded himself that while he was in a rather bad spot, he had been in far worse. He inhaled, noticing a new presence. A friendlier presence. Two people he'd not seen in a very, very long time. Help was close by!

"What do you plan to do with Lina?" he asked loudly, hoping they would hear him.

Gunther smiled, "Forget her. She'll probably run home to her folks, cry her eyes out for a few weeks, and take back to the road with a colder heart and a hatred of men and curse the sound of your name. You should be worrying about yourself. You have a lot to face up to back home But first," Gunther motioned to his minions, "Place his hands on the stone."

Gourry's eyes widened as from behind him three people grabbed him. He forced his arms to his sides tightly but his hands were bound in a manner that it was easy to bring them up onto a stone. He struggled, but between being tied up and overpowered there was little he could do. Gunther grinned cruelly, "Even the best swordsman can't do much without his hands."

Gourry let the fight go out of him, hoping to catch them off guard as Gunther brought an ax up. As he brought it down Gourry threw all of his weight to the left, hoping to roll away. But the man beside him pushed back harshly, doing all he could to hold him in place. There was a sharp pain of being cut, and Gourry cried out as he looked down. The ax had missed his left hand but gotten his right. It was not a clean cut, though. While he could see bone the hand was not completely severed. Gourry felt weak with shock.

Gunther lifted the ax up again and brought it down, and this time the bone cracked as Gourry yelled. But it was not completely severed. Even through the oozing blood Gourry could see a bit of bone still held his wrist and hand together. Gunther lifted up his ax once more, and suddenly his form was lit in the night as an explosion ripped through the camp. Gunther turned around, and the men holding Gourry down ran out towards the fight as more explosions went off. Gourry tried to get up to run, but even with the men gone the bindings around him made it difficult to move. A new presence came up behind him, "Relax, it's me."

He felt the ropes loosen as they were cut and relief washed through him. Slowly the young woman helped him to his feet and steadied him. She grabbed some bandaging and started to wrap his hand with it, "That will have to do for now." She said.

"Where's Nes?" Gourry asked.

"Here." His mentor said as he lifted Gourry's arm around his shoulder, "I've got your sword. We must run while they are distracted!"

Gourry nodded, and the three of them set off. At first he was able to make good speed, but soon he started to feel the effects of shock and blood loss. But somehow he kept going. He was fairly sure they weren't being pursued, but he did not feel as though he could trust his senses like he usually did. His wrist was throbbing too much, and all he wanted was to know where Lina was, a good healing spell, and some rest.

The trees thinned out abruptly and they found themselves in a town. "We're going to have to risk going to the inn." Nes said. "I need to tend to his wounds."

"It's over there." The woman said.

But Gourry finally honed in on the scent of the person he was desperate to find. He pushed Nes away and started walking unsteadily in her direction. "Gourry?" Nes said.

"Lina!" Gourry called.

Up ahead Lina turned around, her eyes widening, "Where the hell have you been?" she asked as she made her way over to him while Nes and the young woman caught up to him.

"Got held up." He said as he reached Lina and put his hands on her shoulders, more to keep himself standing than anything else. With a shock he realized he couldn't feel anything with his right one. Other than a few scrapes and bruises she looked unharmed. But her eyes widened when she saw the blood soaked banged on his right hand and took in his appearance.

"Gourry, what happened? Did they do this to you?" Lina asked, looking at his saviors suspiciously.

"They're friends." He said, as the feeling of light headedness took over and his legs felt weak beneath him.

All three of them caught him, "We've got to shelter and get a healing spell done." Nes said.

Lina looked at him warily, and it was obvious she didn't trust him, "I found one over here, come on."

They walked in an awkward silence for a moment as Gourry started to drift in and out of consciousness before Nes said, "I am Nes. I've been a friend to Gourry's family for a long time now."

"Lina." She replied hostilely, "And one of his dearly beloved brothers just tried to have me killed by a gang of trolls."

"So you've met Mills." Nes said, noting the way that Lina was looking at the other woman. "You must be the famous Lina Inverse."

She nodded as the inn came in to view, and then she considered the other woman, "Who are you?"

"Adena." She said firmly, "Gourry's never mentioned me?"

"Gourry never talks about his past." Lina said.

"Humph." Adena said, "I thought that at some point he would have mentioned his favorite sister. Once he's better I'll have to give him an earful for that!"

"Are you happy now?" Anga asked bitterly as Gourry lay on his mat, every inch of his body shouting in pain. "Petry is finally going to be building you that two room house."

"Shut your mouth." Eica said as she grinded the wheat. "I am not happy, nor shall I ever be again. To have married such a coward!"

The baby started crying, but Eica ignored her. Anga sighed in exasperation, "Eica, please, accept your daughter."

"It is my right to reject it." Eica maintained. "The moment my confinement ends I am throwing it to the dunes."

"Make sure you let Petry know it was you and not me." Anga said, shaking her head, "Already he's gathered a posse of men to support him. He even got Priest Trebo on his side by offering to build a proper place of worship. The rest of the town is dead frightened of him. And Pollock has been letting this go to his head, if I told you the rumors I've heard it would break your heart…"

Anga broke off as she heard footsteps approach and, scared it was Petry, she grabbed the baby and put her to breast, stopping her cries instantaneously. Gourry knew there was no reason to be scared. It was Nes. Nes who was supposed to take him to Gungnir Hall and away from this. However, given the state he was in Gourry doubted he'd be able to travel anywhere. Even rolling over was unthinkable.

"May I come in?" Nes said quietly as he entered the doorframe.

Gourry lifted his head off the mat as much as his aching body would permit, and then rested it back down as his Aunt Anga looked up from nursing two infants, one of them her own child. "Come in," Anga said, the resentment lacing her voice, "And if you're coming to take that one away, you're going to have to wait, he's not fit for traveling."

"Is there a fever running around?" Nes asked as he knelt beside Gourry, and then his eyes widened as he noticed the welts on his back.

"Nope." Anga said.

Nes turned to examine Eica, who looked unusually unkempt as she prepared lunch. "Eica? Are you okay?" he asked.

Eica shook her head and said nothing. "She's been like that since Lucia, Ynezza and Olly died." Anga explained.

Nes looked as though he had been punched in the stomach. Gourry found it very difficult to breath. "Lucia's dead?" Nes repeated, the pain in Nes' voice mirroring the one in Gourry's heart.

"And buried. Eica's been useless ever since. She won't even nurse her own newborn. And I've got a house full of my own kids to care for and don't have time to care for hers, but Petry says if I don't then he'll cut off our supply of water, so here I am wasting time…"

"Just leave it in the dunes." Eica said chillingly. "Better that than to be brought up with such a man for a father."

Nes put a gentle hand on the back of Gourry's head as Eica and Anga argued over what to do with the baby. His hand trembled slightly as he struggled with his emotions while Gourry lay still. Down the road he could hear his father's footsteps. Gourry started to tremble and he struggled to steady his breathing to keep himself calm. It was hard when, in the aftermath of the worst beating he had ever suffered, his ribs were so bruised that breathing was excruciatingly painful.

Nes put his hands over him and started saying something, chanting more like. Gourry felt something warm encompass him as the pain started to ebb away. Eica and Anga stopped their arguing and looked at Nes in shock, "I didn't know you could do sorcery!" Eica exclaimed.

"A little." Nes said as Petry entered the house.

"Nes." Petry said, his voice somber as he placed a hand on his shoulder in greeting before moving to Eica and attempting to kiss her cheek. She pulled away. "Oh come now, Eica!"

She looked at the bowl she was grinding the wheat in, her eyes set, "I don't want your hands anywhere near me!"

"I had nothing to do with it!" Petry exclaimed, "Ask Gourry here! Or Jula and Ketcher…"

"He's not been able to say one word since you beat him senseless!" Eica yelled.

"He got in the way! I would have caught that son of a bitch if Gourry hadn't gotten in the way!"

"You expect me to believe…" Eica started.

Gourry felt the pain fade away as his strength returned, but his fear rose along with it as he wondered if Petry would snap again. Nes stared evenly at Petry, "I see you wear the Sword of Light now."

"I'm keeping it safe until Jula comes of age." Petry said, "Some man just stole into Mother's house and killed her in her sleep for it! I was too late to save her or Ynezza and Olly, but I managed to save the children and the sword before he got them. Anyway, it's not safe to leave in the hands of a little girl."

"I see." Nes said quietly. "There Gourry, try getting up now."

Slowly Gourry stood up, his legs shaky and unsteady as he kept his eyes on Petry. "How are you feeling?" Nes asked.

"Better." Gourry said quietly, not daring to take his eyes off his father.

"Can you show me where they are buried?" he asked.

Gourry nodded. He'd not been able to attend the funeral, but he knew where the graveyard was. And he wanted to say goodbye. And to apologize. "Will you be taking him to Gungnir Hall then?" Petry asked.

"In the morning, yes." Nes said.

Petry eyed Gourry warily and Gourry felt his heart rate increase. What if Petry refused to let him go? Eventually Petry nodded.

Gourry kept waiting for Nes to question him as they walked to the graveyard. He feared the questions. What would he say? His father had threatened to beat him and all of his cousins again if he told the truth, and he believed that he would do so. But he couldn't let his father get away with this. But then what power did he, or anyone for that matter, have to stop him? He wielded the Sword of Light now. But Nes asked no questions. He remained silent, his face impassive.

As they approached the graveyard they realized they weren't the only ones visiting. Ynezza and Olly's three children, Jula, Ketcher and Nona, were lying by the graves. Gourry felt his guilt surge as he wondered how he could face them after his father had orphaned them. He wondered if they would tell him to go away, he wouldn't blame them.

"Nes!" Ketcher shouted as he ran up and threw his arms around him.

"You're okay!" Jula exclaimed as she hugged Gourry. Gourry felt worse even as he held her back. "I thought he wasn't going to stop until he killed you, too! I hate him so much!"

Gourry did not have to ask her who she was referring to. Nes said in his soft voice, "Can you show me where they are buried."

Jula nodded as she scooped Nona up and took him to three plots each headed by a barren rock. "Mom is here, Dad is there. And Grandma is there." She said somberly as she wiped the tears from her cheek.

Gourry kept waiting for Nes to ask for their version of events, but he never did. He knelt by Lucia's grave and clasped his hands to the headstone. Gourry suddenly thought about the healing spell Nes had performed on him and how it had healed his wounds and felt a well of hope open within him. "Nes, can you use that spell on them that you used on me?"

Nes' voice was strained when he answered. "Once someone has died, no spell can bring them back."

Gourry felt something break within him, and the tears he'd been suppressing since that night started to flow. "I'm sorry." He said to Jula, Ketcher and Nona.

Nes pulled him into his lap while Jula put a hand on his back. "It wasn't you, it was that horrible man!" she said.

But he's my father! His blood runs through my veins! Gourry thought in despair as he continued to sob. He missed his grandmother and aunt and uncle deeply. And the fact that his father had held the blade that killed them made it worse. How could he have done something so evil?

And had Petry passed that evilness on to him? Did he have a monster lurking within, lying dormant and waiting to be provoked? Was he really evil? Would he hurt and kill those he loved?

Gourry trembled in grief and fear as he lay with Nes and his cousins, baking under the hot desert sun. It was late in the day when they got up and made to return to Gourry's house. Gourry's nerves grew the closer they got to the house as he feared that he or someone else would set off Petry's rage. The anxiety increased as he heard yelling from within the house.

"Wait outside." Nes instructed them, and the four of them drew to the wall. Jula was daring enough to look in through the window.

"As her sister, I should be the one to take the children!" Aunt Larsa yelled. "Besides, I have less than you."

"Agreed." Eica said, "We have enough mouths to feed without them."

"As the oldest I have a responsibility to care for Ynezza's children." Petry protested, his voice shaking with rage over his wife's betrayal.

"You forfeited that right when you…" Larsa started.

"Don't you dare accuse me again of a murder I didn't do!"

"Good evening." Nes said quietly.

All three turned to stare at him. Larsa smiled, "Well, Nes, what do you think. Who should rear Ynezza's children?"

"I have a proposition." He said quietly, "Please understand. Lucia was a daughter to me, and now that she's dead it feels as though there is a hole in my heart that will never be filled. Eica, I know you are overwhelmed with your responsibilities. Pollock will be leaving home to marry in the fall, and I will be taking Gourry with me to Gungnir Hall tomorrow of course. That should ease the burden somewhat."

"Yeah, I get two out, and gain three!" Eica said. "There's still an extra mouth to feed and care for."

Nes nodded, "I was wondering if you would allow me to raise your newborn daughter."

"Not a chance!" Petry yelled.

Eica shrugged, "Feed it to the dunes for all I care. Or take it far away from me. I never want to set eyes on it again."

Petry winced, "Eica, she's our daughter!"

"Better dead than to have to grow up and claim the likes of you as a father!" she spat. "I'd smother them all if I could! Better that than to let the bad blood spread."

Gourry went cold as his mother's harsh words confirmed his deepest fears. Petry looked as though he was going to strike her. But Nes put a hand on his shoulder. "It is this place that corrupts people, Eica." Nes said gently, "Not the blood. Petry, I can provide a life for her that you cannot. Eica is worn out, and Anga can't keep nursing her and caring for her own children."

"How are you going to suckle her then?" Petry asked.

"I won't. However, I know a recipe that creates a potion that human infants thrive off of."

"You travel all of the time, though." Petry continued.

"Lately some of my pupils have asked to take my place in training the youngest of the Gungnir Knights. It would be nice to stay in one place for a time until she is old enough. A place where there is plenty of water and food. Please let me have her, it will help me with my grief over losing Lucia."

Petry thought for a moment, and perhaps realizing that if the baby stayed with him Eica was liable to kill her the first moment she could, he nodded.

"Thank you." Nes said. "What are you calling her?"

"Adena." He said, his voice gruff.

Larsa folded her arms across her chest, "Well that's settled, what about Ynezza's children?"

"I would like to take them as well. That way neither of your families would be burdened." Nes said.

Jula grabbed Ketcher's hands in excitement. But Petry said, "Take them away from their town? Their family? Everything they know? No way in hell!"

"I agree!" Larsa said, "They musn't leave Biar! Their roots are here! But they also don't have to live with their parents…"

Nes held out a hand, "This is just until they come of age. Then they will return to Biar and to their roots. And Jula can claim the Sword of Light at that time."

Petry and Larsa eyed him. "So you mean," Petry said, "That you will take Jula, Ketcher and Nona, but you will leave the Sword of Light here until Jula comes of age?"

"That is correct." Nes said.

"You mean leave the Sword of Light with me?" Larsa said, "Mother certainly did not want the weapon in the hands of some man."

"I will leave the two of you to fight it out over who gets the Sword of Light." Nes said evenly, "I just want the children."

"Done." Petry said.

"Not so fast!" Larsa protested. "Jula may not want to leave the Sword of Light!"

"Jula!" Petry bellowed.

Jula stiffened, and on trembling legs she walked into the house. Petry glared at her. "Did you hear all this?"

She nodded.

"Well, what say you? Are you happy leaving with Nes and leaving the Sword of Light with me?"

She nodded vigorously as she grabbed Nes' arm, "Please, just let me go with him, I don't care about the sword."

"There, it's settled." Petry said.

"She's terrorized!" Larsa protested. "Are you really going to let him scare you out of claiming what's yours?"

"I just want to get away from here." Jula said, her voice shaking.

"It's been decided then." Nes said standing up. "I shall take them with me tonight. Petry, I trust that Adena is with Anga?"

"Yes." He said.

"I shall pick her up then. We will leave at dawn tomorrow."

Gourry felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Tomorrow he would be leaving Biar and getting away from his father. And he wouldn't have to worry about what would happen to his cousins and sister. If they were with Nes he was certain they would be well cared for and out of his father's, and in Adena's case his mother's, reach.

Nes exited with Jula, "Follow me." He said.

They did. Jula asked, "Where will we be living?"

"Some place kinder." He said.

It was strange to part with his family that morning. Despite her bitterness to her husband and her spoken desire to smother all of her children, Eica could not stop crying as she held him tightly before letting one of his brothers or sisters have a chance to say farewell before grabbing him again. Pollock and Gunther clapped him on the shoulder and told him to make the family proud, while Mills said he wanted to come too. His sisters wished him well. And when his father hugged him Gourry stiffened in fear. Petry noticed and broke off the hug abruptly.

Eica would not look at Adena, but Petry held her possessively until Nes asked for her, and let her go reluctantly.

Gourry's brothers and sisters did not make eye contact with their cousins. While Pollock and Gunther ignored them completely, the rest made awkward farewells, though no hugs of farewell were shared. Eventually they finished their goodbyes and Gourry was off and leaving Biar for the first time in his life.

Gourry had been fast asleep when Adena started to cry. It had been a long day of traveling. His legs ached from walking through the dunes, but he wouldn't trade it for anything. He sat up and saw Nes shifting through his herbs to mix the potion he was using to feed Adena with. He got up and sat beside Nes. "Can I help?"

Gourry liked babies. His mother had not thought it right that a boy would take such interest in them. But they were cute, playful and loving. Besides, Gourry looked forward to getting married and having children one day, so he would need to know how to take care of them. And he resolved to never beat them like his father did. He was going to the good father all of the time. He hoped. "Sure." Nes said, "Hold her while I prepare this."

Gourry picked her up and cradled her in his arms, bouncing her slightly as he told her that food would be there soon. Eventually Nes finished the mixture and handed Gourry a dropper, and showed him how to use it to give her the potion. Eventually they had her calm and sleepy, and as she drifted off to sleep Gourry looked at her face. She was tainted with the same blood he had, but she didn't look evil. Was Nes right about it being something else? Gourry desperately wished it to be the case. Because then he could be the good father all of the time and not have to worry about the bad one ever coming out.

"How come you never eat?" Gourry asked.

"As I drink from the fountain of youth, it supplies all I need to eat and drink." Nes explained.

The fountain of youth. Nes always used it to explain why he never aged. "Will you take me to the fountain of youth one day?"

Nes smiled, "One day."

They were quiet for a bit, and Gourry feared that Nes would ask him the question he had been dreading since Nes had appeared. What would he say when Nes asked him if Petry had done it? Nes had stressed to him the importance of doing what was right even when it was hard. But Gourry was scared of what would happen if Petry learned that he told Nes. When Nes finally spoke he did not ask about Petry's guilt, though.

"Sometimes we do the right thing, and the universe treats us unkindly in return." Nes said. "Sometimes, through no fault of our own, the universe throws pain and harm at us. And sometimes even though we have acted wrongly, we are rewarded. And sometimes it's hard to figure out what the right thing to do is."

Gourry stroked Adena's cheek as she slept as he mulled over what Nes had said. Nes continued, "All of Lucia's children feel like my children. As do all of her grandchildren. I was scared of what would happen if I left your cousins with your father, and after losing Lucia and Ynezza I could not bear to lose another. Getting them safe was my priority, even if it meant leaving the Sword of Light with your father, and even though he got it through such repulsive means."

Gourry exhaled. Nes knew Petry had done it. He didn't have to explain! "However, in my desperation to take them with me, I fear what suffering I may have left the townspeople of Biar to bear. Now that Petry has the Sword of Light, I fear what he will do with it."

Gourry nodded. Already Gourry had heard rumors of Petry using threats and blackmail to bend the townspeople to his will. Anyone who disagreed with him or tried to stand up to him was threatened to have their access to the aqueduct taken away, and if they continued to complain Petry would grab his sword threateningly.

"Yma, the woman Pollock is marrying, she doesn't want to do it. Well, not after what my father did." he choked on his words, "After it happened she changed her mind about marrying him. But Pollock said if she didn't her family wouldn't be able to use the aqueduct. At first she said she'd just walk to it like she used to, but then she changed her mind. But I don't think she really wants to do it."

Nes closed his eyes. "Sometimes there's no good, perfect choice, Gourry." He said, "Sometimes we have to pick between two bad ones. I chose the lives of five people over the freedom of a town. I just hope the consequences of this aren't too dire."