"It's alright, Lady Enna," said Archie soothingly, placing a gentle hand on Enna's shoulder. "You needn't explain everything now."

Enna had been overflowing with information, explaining the details of the past few days so quickly that she hadn't taken a breath in several seconds. Calming herself, she sighed and nodded.

"Dear," said her mother quietly. Enna turned to her. "Would you come with me? I don't… want to be alone."

"Of course," replied Enna, taking her mother's arm and heading up the stairs.

"I'll be sure to send up some cocoa!" called Archie after them.

Enna smiled as Melody headed over to Aribis, William, Sooka, Finwe, and Kayl and offered them lodgings within the manor. Finwe left to greet Lady Ilya, and Kayl headed off to work, complaining all the way.

Reaching Althea's room, Melody came in behind them and helped Althea into bed. Within seconds of her head reaching the pillow, the scarred woman was asleep. Enna's heart broke to see it.

"M'dear," said Melody, placing a gentle hand on Enna's shoulder. "Do you need anything? Archie said he's sending up cocoa… Do you need anything else?"

"I'm alright," assured Enna.

"Very well. I'll be at my post, then. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

"Thank you, Melody."

"It's the morning, so we have the whole day of work to do," chuckled Melody, clearly making small attempts at humor to raise Enna's spirits. It wasn't working. A moment later, she asked, "Is… Is Master Rolen really gone…?"

Enna nodded.

"It's a terrible shame," said Melody sadly. "Should I tell the staff?" Fear suddenly wrote across her face. "Do we… do we still work here?"

"Of course," assured Enna. "I'm not sure what will happen in the next few days, but you are all still employed as far as I say. Take a day to rest if needed. I know a lot has gone on. But rest assured, your jobs will all be here when you return. I'll make sure that you are well taken care of."

"Thank you for that. We all owe enough to you and Lady Althea that I'm sure we'll all stay around today to make sure that you are all well cared for."

"Thank you. You're all so kind."

Melody curtsied and hurried out of the room, making sure the door was closed behind her.

For a moment, Enna paused. The room was quiet. The noises of the manor were muted behind the thick walls. All was calm. Nothing was happening. Everyone was safe. When was the last time she had been somewhere like this? It had to have been a lifetime ago.

She lifted the strap of her bag over her head and set the satchel on a chair before the fireplace before pulling out her mother's wooden comb. The carvings were so fine and intricate, just like all things crafted by her father. She smiled weakly to see the token of affection. Enna walked to the bed and sat beside her mother before carefully placing the comb on the bedside table.

Placing a hand on her mother's shoulder, she watched Althea as she rested. Her breaths were slow and even, and Enna marveled at the level of exhaustion to elicit such deep sleep from her mother. How many days had she been down there? How many days had she been tortured? The scars across her face brought Enna such sudden grief that tears erupted from her, cascading down her face and dripping onto the duvet beneath her, and her breathing grew irregular as sobs began to overtake her. Six days of anxiety and misery had finally reached the surface, and it was all she could do to keep from waking her mother with her wails.

What kind of daughter was she that she couldn't recognize an imposter of her mother? Althea had been gone the whole time they'd been in Agneward, and Enna hadn't even been able to tell the difference.

Unable to hold herself up anymore, she crumpled onto the bed, crying into the pillow, unable to watch Althea's sleeping, scarred expression. In the end, this could all be traced back to her own actions. Her own anger toward Rolen had sparked him into chasing down the Ghost, and in so doing, he had released the rakshasa from the dungeon beneath Agneward. Althea's imprisonment was her fault, those scars an ever-present reminder of her own failings.

In time, the tears abated, giving way to an overwhelming sense of numbness. Sniffing, eyes now swollen, pillowcase nearly drenched, Enna watched her mother breathe. For a moment, she had a reprieve from the torrent of emotions.

And with that tenuous peace, she drifted into a trance.

Bash's trance lifted in early afternoon, and he jerked to full consciousness before catching himself. Looking around frantically and seeing no one, he reminded himself that he was safe. The room around him was much like Enna's but decorated less like a forest. The four-poster bed had no curtains drawn; he had been too tired to bother with it this morning. Standing slowly, he stretched his legs and arms, groaning to feel the muscles pulled to their limits.

For a moment, he stood awkwardly, realizing that he didn't know what to do. Every other day back in Agneward, there had been something pressing that had needed their attention as soon as everyone was able. Now, they were free to vaunt around until Colosso tomorrow evening.

Or rather, the funerals the next morning.

Bash sighed, suddenly irritated again. He walked over to a lounging chair where he had lazily tossed his bag and began to sift through its contents. Retrieving the tiny statuette of Erathis, he watched it for a moment as if expecting that it would move and begin speaking to him. Nothing came, of course, and he walked over to the balcony, similar to the one in Enna's room, and pushed the doors wide open.

Fresh air swept into the room and tousled his hair. Breathing deeply, he took several steps out and watched the city as it breathed with him.

For the movements of the people were like its breaths. Quick and hurried during the day, especially during the frenzy of Colosso, and quiet, muted, and pulsing at night. Now, with each sudden gasp, a voice or a laugh resounded, lifting the words of Agneward high into the air as an offering to the Lawbearer. From his vantage point, he could see her high above him, towering over the Bastion's Crest like a pillar of law and order.

After carefully placing the small statue onto the railing and making sure it wouldn't fall, Bash settled on the floor of the balcony, cautiously watching the statue as he assumed a posture of meditation. Or at least, he thought he did. He had never done this before and was going off what he'd seen others do from time to time. Crossing his legs, he straightened his back and placed his hands on his knees before trying to breathe deeply and slowly.

What do people do to talk to the gods? he wondered. Erathis hadn't spoken directly to him before, but did that ever happen? She had chosen him to be her instrument of judgment; surely, she would instruct him in his next path. Should he reclaim the title of the Ghost and resume his previous profession? Or perhaps she would at least be kind enough to offer thanks for his services.

Scolding himself, he tried to clear his thoughts. If Erathis were to speak, he wanted to be sure that he could hear.

He struggled to keep his focus over the next twenty minutes. The sounds of the city threatened to take over his ears at every turn, but each time, he would shake his head, peer at the statuette for a few moments, and resume his quiet contemplation.

At thirty minutes, he grew irritated. Why hadn't she said anything yet?

After forty-five minutes of sitting and waiting, Bash finally stood, snatching the statuette and throwing it back into his bag with a huff. Maybe he was right before. Maybe the gods weren't real.

Just then, he felt a strange heat at his right hip, and he withdrew Daemonsbane, eyeing the blade carefully. The oddly shimmering blade was indeed hotter than normal, and Bash could barely bring a finger to it. Then as he watched, the shimmer flickered and disappeared. The blade was now the same dagger he had always carried.

As anger rose within him, he stared at the dagger for several seconds before tossing it aside onto a desk, allowing it to cut a small notch into finished wood, before taking several breaths to calm himself.

Not only was Erathis silent after the fulfillment of her request, she had also taken back her gift.

Falling onto the bed, he drew the curtains and covered his face with his arm.

Who was he now? What was his purpose?

Enna's wavering trance finally came to an end, and as she became fully conscious once more, she saw that her mother had turned to face away from her. Rolling onto her back, Enna sighed and ran her hands over her face. At least her body was rested now.

Rising slowly, she glanced around the room and shook her head before leaving as quietly as possible. She felt a twinge of guilt to see a tray at the door with two mugs of cocoa, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She placed the tray carefully on her mother's dresser before heading out the door, down the hall, and to the grounds.

She felt lonely. After everything that had happened, here she was by herself. Where were the others?

She glanced back to the manor, but she knew that it wasn't her place to try to round them up. Besides, most of them were probably still asleep anyway.

A few minutes later, she found her way to the stables, where Prince, Racer, and Whinny had just arrived back from their daily outing. With much joy, she offered to help brush them out and clean their hooves, and the stable hands were glad to have Enna's assistance. For a full hour, she breathed deeply of the fresh, outdoor air as she ran the brush over Racer's shiny coat, sure to cover every inch as best as she could. Then when the work was done, she expressed her thanks to the stable hands and meandered into the garden.

Though there were no tall trees, Enna still appreciated this tiny aspect of nature in such a large, industrialized city like Agneward. Tiny pockets such as this were how she had survived all those years working with Bash, stifled between the buildings. Now, she ran her hands along flowers and bushes, speaking to them and wishing them well, before she came to rest in a secluded area near a fountain. Settling into a grassy patch, she reached into her bag and withdrew the scrying mirror that Bash had bought for her.

Sighing, she glanced back at the manor again. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if he could see her right now. Then she brushed the thought away, set the mirror before her, and took a deep breath. Waving her hands about, she began muttering an incantation, imagining Sopheta in her mind. Several long minutes later, the mirror ceased its reflections, showing nothing but an empty space before turning dark. The black surface lingered for just a moment, and the mirror returned to its normal reflections.

She sighed again. Not on our plane, then, she thought.

Picking up the mirror, she gazed at her reflection as she sat there on the grass. The fountain bubbled just a few feet from her, and somewhere she could hear a bird warbling nearby. Then she placed the mirror back into her bag, stood, and made her way back to her own room.

William was just on the last page of a riveting book when Sooka appeared before him. Quickly, he shut the book and placed it face down on a table next to him, ensuring that the spine was not in Sooka's line of sight. How had he gotten so distracted? He was supposed to have been finding out more information about those infernal runes.

Glancing nervously at the book, he said, "Hello, Sooka."

Several scrolls that he recognized from the Ghost's stash were shoved haphazardly into her bag, and he narrowed his eyes slightly. Then she held out her spellbook, which had written within it, Want to go find out what these scrolls say?

"Of course!" he stood, and she nodded and grinned before turning toward the door and marching away. William quickly grabbed the book and tucked it behind the pillow that had been supporting his lower back before following her out.

After leaving the manor, Sooka led him expertly through the city, ducking through alleyways and making such good time that Bash would have been jealous. In only thirty minutes, they had traversed two massive districts in Agneward and arrived in the Carnations, where Sooka finally came to rest before a massive cylindrical building that towered five stories high with small single-floor offshoots in various directions behind it. The colored stonework reminded William of the sky at high noon. A sign next to the door read, "Library of Illumination."

Without hesitation, Sooka marched up to the doors and opened them. Right before passing through the doorway, William saw the symbol of Ioun and the words, "Let all knowledge be known." They stepped into the towering building, and William beheld the massive main room, open all the way to the top of the fifth floor, where a skylight allowed a shaft of sun to illuminate Ioun's altar in the center of the main floor. Books adorned the full extent of the circular wall, and a system of staircases led up to higher levels to allow access to all the tomes. Several people in blue cloaks darted about the library, offering help to the various patrons dotted about.

"Impressive," remarked William before glancing down at Sooka beside him. She grinned widely, practically bouncing on her toes in excitement, and William smiled to see her this way. "Do you like books, Sooka?"

She nodded. "Books."

Then she extracted the multiple scrolls and handed them to him. "Talk," she commanded in a voice that he didn't recognize before scurrying off toward a desk on the right-hand side behind which stood a short, old human woman with glasses. William faintly remembered the others telling him of this woman, the Guildmaster of Knowledge, Ewyn Windrest. She had been at the Exhibition Dinner where William had met Kjelle, but he hadn't been able to speak with her. He had been otherwise occupied.

"Good day, dearie," she said to Sooka as she approached, recognition in her features. "Hello!"

"Hello!" repeated Sooka.

"We met, yes? One of the Natural Misfits?"

"We met. Natural Misfits." "Sooka."

"I've always loved the sound of your voice," said Ewyn cheerily, and Sooka beamed. "What can I help you with?" She glanced back and forth between them.

"We would like to know if anyone here can help us with deciphering infernal language," stated William.

"Ah, looking for an infernalist!" chuckled Ewyn.

"Yes, we have many questions, about these in particular, and some other things." He presented the scrolls.

Ewyn furrowed her brow as she glanced at the scrawling on one of the scrolls before calling for someone named Stefan. A middle-aged, balding man with a long, flowing beard answered her summons and approached.

"Stefan," began Ewyn. "This gentleman and Sooka were looking into infernal. Can you help them?"

"Interesting…" he muttered as he glanced at the scroll. "Would you like someone to decipher it for you? Or we have a codex if you would like to do it yourself."

"We'll start on our own," said William.

The man nodded and led them off into the library, passing many desks parked in tiny alcoves to give readers and scholars some sense of privacy as they studied. Eventually, he sat them at a table, muttered something, and ran off down a hallway. A few minutes later, he arrived with a small book and handed it to William.

"This is the best that we have here, and it will take quite a bit of time," said the man.

William turned open the leather-bound book and saw the hardly legible translation of several infernal runes. The pages crinkled uncomfortably, as if they were dried velvet.

"How long can we keep this book?" asked the monk.

"It can't leave the library," replied the man.

"And when does the library close?"

"It doesn't."

"Sooka, how long are you wanting to stay and work on this?"

As long as it takes, she wrote, a grin across her face.

Darkness fell over Agneward, and just as Bash was beginning to devise a plan to raid the kitchens, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it to Melody, who informed him that his presence was requested in the lounge. Upon arrival there, he saw Enna and Aribis walking in to meet Finwe and Ilya. Ilya sat sipping coffee, and Finwe hovered behind her.

Seeing Enna, Ilya perked up and asked about Althea.

"She's sleeping," replied Enna.

The three found seats around the room, and Bash sank into a couch and leaned his head back, eager for the end of this conversation.

"Where are William and Sooka?" asked Ilya.

"I haven't the slightest idea," said Aribis. "Maybe they're out for cake."

"Well… I have some interesting news… Should I wait until they get back?"

"We can pass it on just as well," replied Enna.

Ilya shrugged. "Very well. I—"

"Wait, this interesting news…" interrupted Aribis. "Do we have to kill anyone?"

A bemused look came over Ilya. "Only the monster tomorrow that you face in Colosso."

"So, it's good news?"

"Actually, yes, especially for you all."

"Look at that, lads and lassies! Good news, finally!"

Bash shook his head at being called a lad by someone more than four centuries his junior.

"The guildmasters spent all day in deliberation," explained Ilya. "And because of my reputation and your association with me, I have been nominated to become the new Guildmaster of Commerce."

Congratulations rang out from Aribis and Enna.

"Thank you! I'll be honest… I've been wanting this to happen since… since my husband passed away. But this comes with a couple changes. First and foremost, I will be required to take up residence here in Marigold Manor. That means that my personal home, the Zen Manse, is now going to be unoccupied. I was wondering if, as long as you are still in my employ, the Natural Misfits would like to have it."

This snagged Bash's attention, and he glanced at Enna, who seemed just as surprised.

A home in the Circle? considered Bash. What an improvement from soggy marshes.

Although he half expected Enna and Aribis to claim the manse immediately, he knew that they would not speak without first discussing it with William and Sooka.

"There is no need to decide now," inserted Ilya, clearly sharing this sentiment. "But I thought I would at least offer."

"It's a very generous offer," observed Aribis. "Now when you say 'your employ,' what exactly is that referring to?"

"Right now, things will need to be settled, and there will be some adjustment time for me as I step into this new role. For a while, I'll be focusing my efforts on that. You all still have the last part of Colosso tomorrow. And by the way, something happened to the Night's End; the Mountain Men will be taking their place in the competition."

Bash looked down, remembering Adria's broken body and Cordon's collapsed skull.

"The Night's End…" began Enna. Then sighing, she said, "It was Heath and Kragg."

"Those two shady people who hung out around Rolen?"

Enna nodded.

"What happened?"

"They're… dead. Rolen's doppelganger got to the Night's End before we could."

"What were they doing? I thought Rolen sponsored them. Why would he have them killed?"

"They were trying to sneak into Rolen's vault, and they got caught."

"Hm." Ilya seemed pensive. "I knew that they were disqualified because they hadn't answered their summons. In any case, it might increase your chances of winning, as you'll be facing off against the runners up."

That did little to cheer Bash's heart.

"Wait, what about my mom?" asked Enna suddenly. "Would she be allowed to stay here?"

"Althie is always welcome to stay here," replied Ilya. "But she may also feel comfortable to stay at the Zen Manse, too."

Enna nodded.

"We have a lot to do around here in the meantime. Unfortunately, there are many burials that need to take place. The first of these will be tomorrow morning at Raven Hall, the funeral for the knights who died last night. I will certainly be there, and I would ask that you all be in attendance as well."

"We were planning to come," assured Enna.

Multiple pleasantries were exchanged, mostly on Enna's part, and Ilya and Finwe finally left.

Silence fell over them again, and Bash began considering a route back to his room as Enna spoke up.

"Where are William and Sooka?" she asked.

"Beats me," shrugged Aribis.

"Maybe we could communicate with Sooka with the sending stones…" she muttered before scampering off for a moment and returning with the six sending stones that had been on the Ghost's body. Then laying them out on the table, she studied them for several moments.

"Which one, you think?" she asked without looking up.

"Look," said Aribis, scooting forward and pointing to one of the stones. "They each have their own symbol. Surely that means something."

"But they're all different. And there are six of them… That doesn't add up." She began counting off on her fingers. "There was Ourt, Sirks, Aunn… and another brother. Maybe the one posing as Rustler? And… my mom…" Her brow furrowed for a moment, and then she shook her head as if dispelling a thought. "Still, that leaves one sending stone unaccounted for."

Suddenly, Bash sat up straight. "Urgok'nir," he said. The poor half-orc had been abandoned for two days.

Realization came over Enna, and she gasped. "We should go get him. Maybe horseback? Or fly?"

"I vote for flying," replied Bash in a small voice. Somehow, leaving the manor still didn't seem safe, even having seen their enemy dead before his eyes.

Enna turned to Aribis to ask his opinion, to which he answered, "Oh, you'll never catch me on one of those stinking beasts."

Bash had to chuckle at Aribis's determination, and he wondered why Enna had even bothered to ask.

Before Enna had even transformed, Bash whispered the magic word to the tiny owl figurine retrieved from the graveyard, and it transformed into a giant owl. Enna avoided eye contact as she ducked her head and turned into a raven. The trio took off, leaping into the sky, and a moment later were stopped by one of the Skywatch. Bash saluted lazily, and the man recognized him and ushered them on their way.

Soaring across Agneward almost brought tears to Bash's eyes, and not just because of the wind strain. Darkness had fallen, and werelights had sprung to life all around them. He had spent countless hours running up and down these streets, but to see them from this vantage point was something he had never known to hope for. While the night before, their flight over the city had been rushed and frantic, this was a journey that he could take time to enjoy. No longer were they speeding for their lives and the lives of every citizen of Agneward; now, they were free to take in the view.

Bash spent the flight ruminating over their goals. They sped toward the Dandelions now, but his mind and eyes drifted over to the Tulips and Rustler's paper mill. The doppelganger was still out there… somewhere. What if it had heard of the Ghost's demise? Would it have run? Bash shook his head. He had to find out. Maybe if he could at least catch that doppelganger, he could feel a little better about himself.

Aribis, Enna, and Bash sailed along until they reached the Sour Apple. Making a circle around it, they were able to see that city workers had just begun to set up to enact repairs on the conflagrated building, and now satisfied with his understanding of their location, Bash led them up the street to the safe house where they had laid Urgok'nir two nights ago.

They landed in the street, and Bash hopped off Hoo as Enna's raven form descended and perched on Aribis's shoulder.

"Now wait a minute!" protested Aribis.

Chuckling, Bash shook his head and left them there as he marched into the hidden cellar.

However, to Bash's great frustration, the room was empty. Glancing around, Bash scanned for signs of a struggle but found none. Several linen strips lay on the meager cot and across the floor, and the water they had left him was gone. Swearing, Bash left. Though he was relieved to see that the half-orc had not been taken against his will, Bash was frustrated that he had left him there long enough that Urgok'nir would have felt a need to leave.

"He's not there," grunted Bash on exit. "Looks like he got up and left."

"Maybe he's back at the tavern, watching them work," suggested Aribis.

Bash had to admit to himself that it made sense. Perhaps Urgok'nir himself had commissioned the city to repair the building. He was the owner, after all.

Enna squawked before leaping into the air, her dark body vanishing into the night sky.

Without warning, Aribis sidled up next to Bash and the two watched above for a moment.

"Y'all having a fight or something?" he asked, turning his eyes to delve deeply into Bash's soul.

Closing his eyes, Bash took a deep breath. "No," he said.

Aribis narrowed his eyes, and Bash got the impression that he didn't believe him.

"While she's not here, do you want to tell me what's going on?"

"Not really," replied Bash.

"Any particular reason?"

"I just don't want to talk to you."

"Fair enough."

Aribis retrieved his tiny cask of ale that had given William such excellent conversational abilities a few nights ago and poured a swig into a mug, which he handed to Bash before moving several feet away. Bash stared at the liquid and sloshed it around for just a moment before giving it a sniff. Unlike many of Aribis's ales, this one smelled delicious, and Bash downed it all in one go. A warm, fuzzy feeling came over him, and he got the idea that he'd be able to talk his way out of anything right about now.

If only it could fix everything else about him, too.

A minute or so later, Enna descended, perching on Aribis's other shoulder, and shook her head.

Nowhere to be found, our half-orc, thought Bash. Maybe we can still manage my second goal. At least I'm not alone this time, right?

"What if we go get Rustler's sending stone?" he proposed, pleased when the idea wasn't met with total derision.

Enna nodded, and Aribis said, "I'd be more than happy to take care of that."

A half hour later, they arrived at Rustler's Rustling Papers, long closed at this late hour. Hoo circled above them, and Enna perched on the awning above the door, keeping watch. Bash and Aribis approached the door, and Bash twisted the knob. It was locked.

Flicking out a lockpick, Bash knelt and began his work, but he had barely inserted the pick before a voice rang out behind him.

"Oy! What do you think you're doing there?"

Bash spun around and saw two Archward soldiers who had just come within sight of them, both looking their direction, one pointing. They approached.

Aribis muttered under his breath, and Bash tried not to shout as his tiny form shifted and grew and then appeared just like Rustler. Bash glanced between this façade and the soldiers, but they seemed not to notice the change.

"Step away from the door!" called the one on the right. "What you on about?"

Aribis coughed violently twice, and then tried to speak, but his voice was ragged and low, as if his voice had disappeared over the past eight seconds.

"This is my business," he said in his gruff and raspy voice.

"Your business?" asked the soldier skeptically. "You're breaking into your own business? Where's the key?"

"I… forgot it?" said Bash before inwardly cringing at himself.

Bash and Aribis sat together in a holding cell within the Tulips having been stripped of their equipment. One cot lay in their cell, and a fat half-orc sat across a set of iron bars playing a sad harmonica. Midnight approached.

Head leaned back and eyes closed, Bash worked his jaw as Aribis sighed.

One thing, he thought to himself. One thing that I wanted to do. This is supposed to be what I'm good at. Why didn't I think to scan for guards first? I used to be the unseen Ghost, and now what am I?

The clicking of a beak against metal bars sounded from high above him, and Bash knew that Enna was trying to communicate with them through a street-level window.

"I don't want to hear it," he remarked sourly.

"Well, it's not like this is the first time we've been here!" said Aribis cheerily. "And certainly, it won't be the last."

Bash sighed.

"It could have been worse," offered Aribis again.

"What are you in for?" Bash asked the half-orc, begging for some redirection.

"Carving," came the guttural reply.

"Carving what?" breathed Aribis.

"You make that harmonica?" pressed Bash.

There was a pause, and the half-orc eyed him. "Yeah… I carved it. Like I carved that guy's face right off!" The half-orc was now animated. "Like I'll do to you! Stay away from me! Don't look at me!"

Slightly taken aback, Bash exchanged bewildered glances with Aribis, and Enna clicked again above them.

"Sorry," muttered the half-orc. "I got an issue."

Aribis stared at the half-orc, who became belligerent and began to shout and bang on the metal bars.

"Don't look at me!" he roared.

"Oy, shut it!" yelled a guard from down the hall, and Aribis began whistling nonchalantly and gazing at the ceiling before turning to glance at the half-orc again.

A moment later, the harmonica went flying through the bars toward Aribis's head, but the bird man was too quick, and he snatched it out of the air, eliciting a string of quiet sobs from the half-orc.

"Thanks," said Bash happily before holding his hand out to Aribis, who handed over the tiny instrument.

Tentatively, Bash blew into it, and it produced a surprisingly pleasant sound. With nothing else to do, he began to play a sad tune – or at least, he tried. He had only gotten a few notes in when he heard a swoosh outside the window and the fervent whispering of Enna. She had turned into herself again and was casting a spell.

Why was she bothering? There was no way the Archward would hold the saviors of Agneward for more than one night. But, Bash supposed, it was just like Enna to try to spring them out. She had done this type of thing many times before. A faint wave of energy, nearly imperceptible, washed over the room, and Bash realized that her magic was no longer visible to him. He shook his head sadly.

"Don't fight this spell," whispered a furious and slightly frantic Enna.

Bash sighed. Should I intervene?

Another pulse of magic rang out, this time assaulting his body directly. Feeling the odd shift, he quickly tossed the harmonica back into the half-orc's cell and resigned himself to his fate. He had felt this feeling before, but it was just as unpleasant this time. He watched the room around him grow large, his feet turned to talons, and his hands to wings. He felt his consciousness slip away…

Room. Dark. Quiet.

Voice.

Voice.

Light. Need. Need light.

Push. Fly. Sky. Need sky.

Avoid. Free.

Free.

Oh, the street. Enna is here. Oof!

Bash collapsed on the street as himself while Enna remained knelt at the window. Bash joined her and peered in, where he could see Aribis, now the size of a crow, squawking and hopping about on the cell floor.

Sighing in frustration, Enna closed her eyes, and a moment later, she, too, was a crow. She squawked back to Aribis, but he didn't seem to respond well. Movement echoed around the holding cell, and a guard approached the now empty cell with naught inside but a bouncing crow. Aribis turned and faced the newcomer, cocking his tiny crow head, before leaping into the air and shooting toward the guard with his claws before him. The guard ducked out of the way, and Aribis zoomed past, cawing as he went, and Bash lost sight of him. Bird-induced chaos met Bash's ears, and he put his face in his hands.

Enna pushed through the bars and fluttered around, hovering within the cell and calling to Aribis.

"I'll get him!" called a guard, and Bash saw the crow approaching the cell and screaming angrily at Enna. The twang of a crossbow sounded, followed by the screams of another of the guards.

"OW! Gus, what did you do?!"

"I was trying to hit the crow! Don't yell at me!"

Aribis paused in front of Enna, and she flew out the window and into the sky. Thankfully, Aribis followed her, and Bash stood to watch the two disappear into the night sky, moving off in the direction of the Circle.

"Bloody chicken," muttered Bash.

He sighed and ran his mind through the staffing rotations of this particular holding cell. He had maybe two minutes before more guards came around the corner; he had better get moving.

Bash trotted down the street before glancing up and seeing the faint outline of Hoo perched on a nearby rooftop. A moment later, Hoo descended, Bash leapt atop him, and they pushed off into the air.