Themoonranhighoverthedesert.Thecelestialbodieswerecontentintheircycle.

Perhaps
thosebelowdidnotseeeyetoeyewiththem.

Iwashalfwayintoarungoingbackfromthethroneroomandtowardsthearena
complex.Jujididntrunaheadofmeandshedarednotbeslowerthanme.Wemadegoodtime
backtothemilitia.Wehadabignewsandheavyhearts.QueenMeroshahadgrantedus
accesstotheCryptofRoyalEchos.IfelttheworldencroachonmeasRowansappearedpast
thewavingheatofthedesert.Igotuswhatwewantedinexchangeforaproposedanswerto
thecorruption.Iputallofourlivesatriskassumingthatwewouldfindapieceofancientmagic
tuckedawaysomewherewithinatheoreticaldungeon.Ineededtoexplainmyselftomyfriends,
totheRowansandtoThillbystrustedtamers.IfIwerewrong,itwouldbecatastrophicforallof
us.

Thearenacomplexwasmadepainstakinglywithlimestone.Thechalkywhitecolosseum
roseupoverthecircularbarracksattachedtothesideofit.Thebuildingsroundedtogetherand
easilyhousedourentiremilitia.Dragonsflewoverhead,roaringandspittingfirewhileuntil
comingtorestinsidethecolosseum.ThecolosseumwasnotYserniaspremierfightinglocation,
thiswasasparefightingcenterthattheygraciouslygaveus.Dailybattleshappenedinthe
kingdomsnewfightingpitthatwaspaintedgoldaroundtheoutsideitwasmuchclosertothe
throneroom.

Icalledtheleadersofthemilitiatogetheraroundatable.Isparednotimeandmincedno
wordswithCorgea,myfriendsorthetwotamersthatattended.Tomybenefit,Italkedof
Meroshasrelentlessdemeanor,butourcollectivespiritcollapsedwhentheyunderstoodthe
opportunityinfrontofus:findanartifactinthecryptoffaceourdemisetomorrow.Witha
pulsatingpsychefollowingoureveryword,wehadorganizedaforceofRowansandmy
companionstogodownintothecrypt.Wedecidedthatnotamersshouldbedownwheretheir
dragonsarenotimmediatelyuseful.Despitemyruniccompetencemakingupformymissing
arm,IwasconsideredtoofrailandIwasleftonthesurface.

IwaschargedwithwaitingonthesurfacewhilethepeopleIhadgonethroughhelland
highwaterwithsearcheddesperatelyforananswertosaveourlives.MyheadhungasItriedto
copewithwhatfailurewouldlooklike,whatsuccesswouldlooklikeandtheideathatsuccess
couldevenbeanoption.Ihadtobelievemyselfforhavingalreadybeenrightwhiletryingto
bringskepticismtothetablesimultaneously.MyracingmindknewnorestasIhadwoundup
sittingbackatthemilitiameetingtableclutchingmyheadinmyhands.

SirAcot!Adragontamercalledouttome.

Oh,yes.Whatsup,SirTamer?Irepliedbacktohim.

Iknowyourpositionattheheadofthismilitiaisdifficult,butweallcouldreallyuseyourhelp
rightnow.Hespoke.


Tostaveofffoolishness,Iretorted.tellmewhatyouneedhelpwithfirst.

AfewofthedragonsstillbearwoundsfromtheYatikiattack.Wearefed,butextratreatment
wouldhelphealthedragons.Thetamerbegantoexplaintome.

Isaidnothingtointerrupthim,thoughhepausedformyopportunitytodoso.

So,weknowthatyouaretheonewhonegotiateswiththeroyalcourt,couldyoutryandgetus
somesimplebalmandointment?Herequested.

AsmuchasIdreadedtalkingtoBaal,especiallywithaforceonthewaytotrytogeta
pieceofevidenceagainsthim,onpaper,wewerehishonoredguests.

Isthatall?Imsuretheywouldbehappytopartwithasliverofalchemyforthesakeofsuch
rarebeasts.Ireplied,knowingointmentswerenotaprimaryconcernoftheMajesticThrone.

Thatssucharelief!Thankyousomuch.Hepracticallygaspedforair.

AsIsattherecontemplating,Inoticedthatthedragontamerdidnotmovewhilestaring
atme.Afteramomentofcollectingmyself,Ispokeout.

Iassumethereismoretothestory.

So,ImrelievedthatwetamersaregettingalongwellwiththeRowans...Hetrailedoffin
thought.andwell,longstoryshort,couldyoutryandaskiftheyhaveherbtosparesomewhere
withintheRoyalCourt?heskiddedacrosshisthought.

Ilookeduptohimashewasstanding.Ilaughed.Istoodup,walkedoverandputmy
handonhisshoulder.

WeareinthekingdomofYsernia,aplaceofalchemicalwonder,Illseewhatsimplepleasures
theywouldpartwithforoursake,shouldtheygiveustheointment.Ismiled.

Thedragontamerputafistintohispalmandbowedtome.Hehurriedoutoftheroom
andleftmewiththetask.Thoughitgarneredmyanxiety,itwasnotaparticularlydangerous
task.Istoodinthedeafeningquiet,contemplatingmyharmonywithawrenchingsituationand
finallyexitedthecomplex.

ThelightshoneinmyeyesasIwalkedoutofthebarracks.Thesunwasnearlyinthe
centerofthesky.Ilookedsouthtoseethegravemountains,soImaneuveredmywaytowards
thepaththatledtowardtheRoyalCourt.Inthestarkmiddleofitwasthethroneroom,butIwas
familiarizedwiththeguardswhowouldallowmeentranceintothebuildingwhereBaalresided.

Itfeltlikealongwalktomynervouslegs.Thearenacomplexwasnearlyoutofsight
whenIsawtwosilhouettesinthedistance.Iwasonedge,soIhadtocontendwiththeideathat
thetwopeoplecouldbegoingorcomingfromnearlyanywhereinthisunfamiliarcountry.Tomy
dismay,theyweretothenorthwest,sotheyweredirectlyinthewayoftheRoyalCourt,my
destination.AsIgotcloser,Iheardimpassionedspeech.

No,youhaveNOTHING?!Thevoiceshoutedinascreech.Youhavenothing?!

AsIwalkedcloser,Icouldseelargesweepingmovementsofhandsandpacingwith
feet.

Idontknowwhoyouknoworwhoyouthinkyouknow,butIlltellyouaboutwhoyouknow!He
shoutedandpointed.Themovementsandthevoicesoundedfamiliartome,thehunchfilledme
withfear.

ItookafewstepscloseruntilIcouldfinallyseehisface.Iknewforcertainwhoitwas.

Youknowbloodypsychopaths!Iknowitwasyoutoo,Iknowitwasyou,Baal!Heshouted
withallthedisgusthecouldmuster.

Youledthemtome,theydestroyedthecircusandleftmefordead.Everypieceofthecircus
wasleftinbloodyruin!Youledthemtomeyoudisgustingsandfucker!Hypseauscreamed
himselftoexhaustion.

Icouldseethatasquiteatragedy,Hypseau.Baalrepliedsoftly.Hestoodtwostepsbehind
hisstaffthathehadplacedintothesand.

I
taught
you,magician!Itaughtyouofbalanceandgrace.BALANCEANDGRACE!He
groanedinexacerbation.Diditmeannothingtoyou,betrayer?!Didyouforgetit?Becauseof
you,themoonitselfliesbored,yearningforentertainment.Hypseauhadtakenasinglestep
pastthestaff.

Ohwow,youaresuchaspectacle,Ringleader.Baalsaidtohim.

Baalsuddenlyscreamed.Itwasntparticularlyloud,but,atthesametime,Iwasnt
particularlyfaraway.

Acot!Please!Ifearformysafety!Baalcriedout,lookingtome.

Thoughtheforcetellingmetoignorehimgrippedmystomach,themagicianwasthe
manIwaslookingtofindanyway.Inthismoment,hisproblemwasmyproblem.ThoughIwas
abouttoflextheneedforbeingalliesonpaper,Baalseemedtohavebeatenmetothepunch.I
ranovertointervene.Itookmyrunefrommysideandputitinmyhand.


Youredone,Hypseau!Icalledout.

Helookeduptoseeme.Hiseyeslightupinrecognition.

Whatasurprise!Whatasmallworld,Acot.Herepliedbacktome,settlinghisrageintoafierce
intent.

Ipouredmanaintotherunewhichquicklysetoffthelightningintomyotherarm.My
aberrationarmhadbegunsparkinglessandarcinglightningintoitselfinstead.Itshowedme
thatIwasbecomingmoreusedtoruniccombat.

Itsasmallpleasure,HypseauIsaidslowly,keepingmychinup.

LookslikeIforgottosendyouoffwithyourball,youclown.Herepliedwithadevioussmile,he
movedhisheadsidetoside.

Hiseyesflashedwithlightbluemana.Themomentithappened,Iflinched.Iclosedmy
eyestoavoidhismentalmana,but,justasquickly,IrealizedIhadjustleftmyselfphysically
vulnerable.IopenedmyeyesquicklytoseeHypseaurunningatme.

TheRingleaderhadburnsonhisface.Especiallyunderhislefteyeandonhisforehead.
Hisredjackethadbecomeavestastheothersleevehadburnedoffaswell.Hesportedapair
ofpolkadotclownpantsandstillhadhiswhitebandanaaroundhisneck.Henolongerworean
unbuttonedshirtunderhisburnedredjacket,therebyrevealingmuchofhisupperbody.

Hypseauwaschargingatmewithhiscaneencasedinblueflames.Feelingbold,Iused
mygoodhandtoparrywithearthenmana.Itookastepbackandmetthecanewiththebackof
mywrist.Thesoundwasmetallicasweclangedtogether.Hejumpedback.Hisvisagewaswild.
Hisjackethadbeenroughlyburnedintoavest,hisfacewasdeformedandhestillkepta
maniacalexpression,histeethshowedmethathewasreadytopounceatmewithferal
aggression.Itriedtofigureoutanoffensivemaneuvertogettohim,decidingbetweenmanaor
aknife.HypseaubegantostandupstraightasIbegantothink,shiftinghisheadintempowith
mymind.Hewasalreadyinmymindhissignaturemanausageshowedmethismuchduring
thecircus.

Somuchinsightaboutbattle,Acot
IbegantohearinmymindIknewIwouldnotsaymy
ownnameasIthought.

IchargedatHypseauwithmylightinghandstretchedbehindme.Ishotitforwardand
manictendrilsoflightningbegantostreamoutoftheprimitivehandatthebottomofmyelectric
arm.OneofthetendrilsmadeanarcthathitHypseausshoulderashejumpedoutoftheway.
Thewayhemovedshowedmeanunimpressivebattlesense,butplentyofagility.Unphasedby

theshock,heworkedaroundmyelectricarmandtriedtogetupclosetomytorso.Ihadto
quicklydroptherunetothegroundtodissipatethemanacoursingthroughmybodysothatI
couldtrytotwistandswingmyfistathim.Withanunevenuppercut,Imanagedtoclipbone
withintheRingleaderschin.Asherecoiledback,Itooktheinitiativetotakeoutmyknifeand
getasecondstrikein.

Hypseaulookedupatmewithglowingmanaflashingfranticallyfromhisface.Ibeganto
feeltranslucent.IstoppedinmytracksandIwasunabletoliftmyarmtostrike.Hypseau
strokedhischinwiththebackofhishand.

YouarethemosttroublesomeclownIveeverhad.Hypseausmirked.

Yourubmethewrongway.IjokedwithhimeventhoughIwasreadytoendhislife.

Hypseaubegantowalkaroundme,ashedid,hismotionblurredintothesand.Every
fewsteps,heleftanimageofhimselfbehind.Theywerestoppedinplace,buteachillusion
movedexactlyasHypseaudidashewalkedaroundme.Withaflashofmana,Iwascompletely
blindedandIhadtoclosemyeyes.Uponopeningthem,eachillusionwasstandingstillatan
unnervinglyclosedistance.Iusedmyknifeontheillusiondirectlyinfrontofmeanditpassed
throughtheillusionsweremadefromthereflectionoflightonmana,intangible.Theillusions
begantograbtheircanesandcreateblueflamesattheendsofthem.Inapanic,Ineededto
deflecttherealone.Onahunch,Iusedmanatoforcemyhandintothesandbelowmeand
throwalargequantitybackwardsbehindme.Icoveredalargesurfaceareaand,luckily,I
seemedtodistracttherealHypseau.Alltheillusionsflinchedand,giventhechance,Iranout,
straightthroughtheillusioninfrontofmeandoutofthecircle.Iranbackovertomyruneand
collecteditfromofftheground.

Lookingback,therewasanentirehordeofringleaderslaughingrecklessly.Theyran
towardsmewithburningcanes.IthoughtofthisasthebestchancetouseanewmoveIhad
beenworkingonsinceIhadgottentothedesert.Asmyexperiencesfightinginthepasthad
taughtme,itsuncouthtotrynewtechniquesinheatedbattle,butthehordeoflightglinting
manawastoocontextuallybrillianttopassuptheopportunity.Iusedlightningmanatocreate
tendrilsfrombothofmyhands.Astheyallswunginaslowstatic,Islammedthemtothe
ground.Ipressedmyruneholdinghandintothesandandallthetendrilsfollowed.Therewasa
shockwaveofforkinglightningprotrudingoutinfrontofme.ThechargingHypseausallbeganto
disappearastheymetwiththeelectricity.Therealonewasleftparalyzed.Heclenchedhisjaw
andhishandswereinanextremegriparoundhiscane.Hewasbeingelectrocuted.Hisprop
turnedweaponturnedintoanobstaclethathecouldntletgoof.

Iputmyruneintothepocketonmysideandtookoutmyknife.Iranovertohimashe
triedtorelaxhismuscles.IgrabbedhimbytheneckasItackledhimtotheground.Weboth
gruntedandshifted.IwasonhisbackandIgrippedhislegswithmyfeet.Hetriedtogetatmy

armwithhishandsandteeth,butwhenIstabbedhisshoulder,heletoutashriekandflailedhis
armswildly.

Youtookmyarm,youreatwistedclown!Ishoutedintheheatofthemoment.

Hypseaudidnotrespond,hejustscreamedwithafearforhislife.IinvertedthewayI
washoldingmyknife,Ihadpointeditathisneck.HebeganscreamingevenlouderuntilIfinally
managedtojabitintohim.Ifeltblooddripdownontomyhand.Thatwasmyquetogetoffof
hisbackandmounthim.Hiseyesbecameglassy.Icuthisthroat.Isawbloodcomeoutofhis
mouth.Hisbodyrelaxed.Icutthebackofhisrightlegandthetendoninhisupperleftarmso
that,ifIwasntalreadysurethathewasdead,hewouldntbeabletogetbackupagain.Ashis
eyesrolledbackintohishead,IrealizedthatIhadtakenvengeanceupontheRingleader.He
wasgone,Ihadkilledhim.Thebloodonmyhandsfeltcalm.Thesunshonedownonme.Nota
pieceofthecorpsewasmoving.Iobservedit.Hehadburnmarksfromwheremycompanions
hadlefthimfordeadinsidetheburningbigtop.Mybodystillresonatedwiththemanafromthe
runeandmyknifewasstillquitesharp.Icleaneditoffwithanunbloodypartofhisruinedjacket
andgotuptomyfeet.

Baalcamewalkinguptome.Hehadbeeninourperipheryfortheentirefight.He
lookeddownatthecorpse.

AcotHesighed.

Yes,Baal?Iquipped.Iwasstillonedgefromfighting.

TheMagiciansmiledandkickedthecorpse.HekickedHypseausribsoverandoverand
finallyusedhissandaledfoottoflipthecorpseovertorevealapoolofbloodasanotherone
formedonthebellyoftheoverturnedbody.

Hewastheonewhotaughtmeofbalanceandgrace.Baaluttered.Hehadchangedhisgrin
tothequiveringofsadness.

HewasattackingmyallyoftheRoyalCourt.Iputintowords.IsawBaalraiseaneyebrowand
quicklystifledit.

IcansleepsoundlyknowingthatIwasprotectedbymytrustedally.Baalsaidunderasmile
thatusedhiseyes.Hekepthishandsuponhisstaff.

Thesunbeatdownonthetensionthatwesawineachother'seyes.Iwascoveredin
blood,butheenjoyedwatchingourspectacletoomuchformycomfort.Ihadagroupofmy
alliestryingtogetprooffortheRoyalCourtthathewasattherootofmyproblemsand
Valenciastoo.He,himself,threatenedthedestructionofmyselfandmyalliesshouldhecatch
windofusgoingagainsthiswishesagain.


Ihavemuchtodoasfatewouldhaveit,Acot.Thankyou.Hesaidtocutthesilence.Hebegan
towalktowardstheRoyalCourt.

Wait,Baal!IshoutedmoreloudlythanIhadbargainedfor.

Helookedback.

Ourdragonsneedointmentfortheirleatheryskin.Couldyouaccommodateus?Iaskedhim,it
wasmypurposeforcomingoutintothedesertfromthecomfortofthearenacomplex.

Baalsmiledhisfake,eyelesssmile.

Ofcourse,SirDragonslayer,Iwillhavearoyalblendtoyoubeforethesunmeetsthemiddleof
thesky.Hereplied.

AndBaal,Icontinued.BoththeRowansandthetamerspartakeinherb.Ichuckled,
coveredinbloodandsweat.

Baalkeptthesmile.

Doyoupartake,Acot?Heaskedme.

Yeah.Isaid.

ThenIwillgetyouthetopshelfflowerstosmoke.Hesaidaffirmingly.

IstoodtherenexttothecorpseIhadcreateduntilBaalblurredintotheheatofthe
desert.