Chapter 7: Hello from the other side

IMPORTANT: Please read this whole chapter before you get upset; not everything is what it first appears.

* * *

"Guys, can we talk about this?" Ethan asked the advancing men. They were armed mostly with swords and they were only a couple yards away.

"Stop." Came a commanding voice from atop one of the nearby buildings. The men stopped a few yards away from Ethan and the girls. The voice's owner was an elf with half an arm missing. His skin was very dark grey, though he looked like he was healthy and fit. He was wearing what looked like an admirals' coat from Earth's Age of Sail, complete with a tricorn hat

"I would have words with you dragon." The dark elf said. "My name is Falkaan."

"And mine is Ethan. What can I do for you?" He tried to keep his voice light, but nearly two dozen swords pointing his way made that difficult.

"Why is the bounty on your life so high?" Falkaan asked.

"The short version?" Ethan said. "I used to be human and somehow got pulled into this dragon body from another world. One of Lord Delmar's goons showed up, and declared me an abomination that needed to be exterminated, and I've been running from him ever since."

"They burned my home and business just because I wouldn't hand Ethan over." Alana added. "Then they chased us halfway across my forest trying to kill us."

"Do you have any proof?" Falkaan asked.

"I do." Rachel said. "Lord Delmar is my father and I can confirm everything they're saying."

At this pronouncement, many of the men started whispering among themselves, but Ethan was more interested in Falkaan because he seemed to lead them.

"Anyone can say they are Lord Delmar's daughter." Falkaan said. "It doesn't make it true."

"Then what kind of proof do you want?"

"Apparently the type you don't have." Falkaan said. "You broke the law and killed Lord Delmar's men when they tried to capture you."

"We broke no laws." Alana said. "They attacked us without provocation; we merely defended ourselves."

"Possibly." Falkaan said. "I'm taking you in. We can let the courts settle this."

"You know my father won't give us a fair trial." Rachel said.

"But you will have a trial, and he is the legitimate authority in this matter; therefore, I will take you to him." Falkaan said, then gestured to Beth and Rachel. "You two are free to go. You have broken no laws and my quarrel isn't with you."

Ethan turned to them. "Go back to the Argo and let them know what's happened."

Rachel opened her mouth to object, but Ethan cut her off. "He that fights and runs away, may live to fight another day; but he that is in battle slain, shall never rise to fight again."

Rachel nodded and -- with Beth leading the way -- they started walking toward the men with swords. They didn't part to let them pass.

"Hey boss." One of the men said. "That redhead there is Lord Delmar's daughter. I bet he'd pay good gold to get her back."

Rachel snorted. "Not again."

Falkaan shook his head. "We are not here for her. Let her leave."

The men didn't move.

"Let them go." Falkaan commanded but the men didn't move. Beth was mere feet from the armed men, but they only had eyes for Rachel. The dark elf clearly wasn't in control of them any longer.

Falkaan himself looked... concerned.

"I think Lord Delmar should pay for his daughter." One of the men said. "One way or another."

"There's nothing new under the sun." Ethan shook his head. It was Wulvren's plan to ransom Rachel back to Lord Delmar all over again. Somehow, he didn't think it would go over very well.

One of the armed men reached out to grab Rachel, who jumped back. Missing his intended target, the man grabbed Beth and held her with a sword at her throat.

"Give us the redhead, or the little blond tart gets it." he said.

Ethan could feel the dragon in him welling up with rage at the threat to his mate-- err, wife. He did everything he could to keep the dragon under control because losing control could mean losing her life.

"Let her go." Falkaan commanded, but the men ignored him.

"Now, you're all coming with us for a nice trip to see Lord Delmar." Said the man who was holding Beth at sword point.

Ethan was barely holding on to his sanity. He could feel the dragon clawing to get out; to take over and rip these insignificant meat sacks apart. Ethan shook his head and tried to get a handle on his emotions.

"We should take their airship too." One of the other men said. "Pile on the profit from this job and we'll live like kings." There was a general murmur of agreement among the men.

"It's a dragon's airship." 0ne of the men said. "I bet it's loaded with gold."

He snapped.

* * *

Alana felt it before she saw it.

She could feel the shift in Ethan's emotions the moment the man said "gold". His emotions and body language completely changed. The disguise gem clicked off to reveal Ethan in all his draconic glory. The steel gray scales, the long razor-sharp teeth, and the claws that looked like they could rip through steel.

This wasn't Ethan.

This was the dragon.

The dragon stayed on its hind legs, spread its wings to make himself look larger and more intimidating, then opened its mouth and roared. The dreadful sound froze the men like they had been turned to stone. A few dropped their weapons and wet spots appeared on the groins of several.

When the dragon was finished roaring, he dropped down to all fours and slowly began stalking toward the man who held Beth. The rest seemed like they were teetering on the precipice of fight or flight.

The dragon opened its mouth and spoke two words. "Run ssscum." The words came out in a sibilant cadence, like a snake had spoken them. Alana could hear Ethan's voice, but it didn't sound like him at all. It was a threatening growl that promised extreme pain for those who disobeyed.

That tipped the scales between fight and flight. One of the men turned and ran at top speed. Like a herd of wild animals, the rest followed suit... Almost.

The one man still held a sword to Beth's throat. He was clearly petrified out of his mind and just too frozen to move. There was a large wet spot on the front of his pants and he was shaking like a leaf.

The dragon took a step closer to the man. "Leave."

'No, no stop." He whimpered.

The dragon took another step closer.

"Stop, stop or I'll kill her." The man said, though he was still shaking like a leaf. A small cut appeared on Beth's neck as the sword wavered in his trembling hand.

A low growl escaped the dragon's throat as he took another step. Apparently, that's all it took. The man completely lost his nerve. Alana had seen men do stupid things when scared, but this man was beyond terror. He made a sharp jerking motion with his sword and the blade was instantly covered in red.

"Beth!" Alana gasped as blood began to gush from Beth's neck.

The man pushed Beth at the dragon and turned to flee. He never got the chance. The dragon took a single flying leap over the blonde and pinned him to the ground before he'd taken three steps. The dragon began ripping and tearing the man with its teeth and claws, its tail waving around wildly as he attacked.

Beth clutched her neck and the color completely drained from her face. She fell to the ground and Alana ran over hoping she wasn't too late with a healing spell. She narrowly avoided being hit by the dragon's tail as she ducked under it to check her neck. The carotid arteries on both sides of her neck had been severed and she had lost a LOT of blood.

Alana dodged the dragon's thrashing tail a second time, then summoned all her mana to heal Beth. She was just about to throw her mana at the wound when:

WHAM!

The dragon's thrashing tail smacked her hard on the side of the head.

The wood elf was knocked to the ground in a daze. It took her several precious seconds to regain her balance, and several more for the world to stop spinning. She half stumbled, half crawled toward Beth hoping against hope she would get there in time.

She didn't.

Beth was completely still and the pool of blood around her was large.

Too large.

Beth's eyes were open, unblinking... Vacant.

But that's not what let Alana know that Beth was gone. She could feel negatively charged magic slowly leaking from Beth's body. That only happened when a living being died.

Alana fell backwards and slipped on the ever-expanding pool of blood. Beth's blood.

"Ethan." Alana said weakly.

The dragon whipped around and snapped at her. Then it saw Beth's body. She could slowly feel human emotions returning to Ethan, which was good because she didn't know how to feel. Her mind and emotions seemed to have gone blank. She stared at the sight before her in complete disbelief.

How could Beth be gone?

The dragon -- Ethan -- stared at Beth's body without moving. She felt his anguish flood over their bond.

*NO!* A voice shouted in her head.

The scream of pain and rage washed over her mind like waves breaking over a sand castle. Alana screamed in pain as the voice echoed around her skull. She clapped her hands over her ears, but it didn't help.

*STOP!* Alana screamed out to the voice, both with her mouth and her mind.

Ethan recoiled as if someone had punched him in the face. He clutched his head the same way Alana was, like someone had turned the inside of his skull into a drum. They both fell to the ground and it took a few seconds for Alana's splitting headache to subside enough for rational thought.

She looked around to get her bearings.

The alley was deserted except for Ethan, Rachel, herself, and Beth's body. Rachel stood frozen like a statue exactly where she had been when Beth...

She shook her head, but that just caused the splitting headache to return. She waited a moment and struggled to stand, both her hands and knees slipping several times in the wet cobblestone pavement. She got unsteadily on her feet, her head still pounding from the echoing voice and being hit by the dragon's tail.

The world had just stopped spinning when at least a dozen men -- Arcanum guards by the uniforms -- ran into the alley from both ends. They all had swords drawn and the moment they saw the dragon, they closed ranks to form a line to prevent anyone escaping.

"Drop your weapons and put your hands in the air." The one who was clearly in charge ordered

Alana and Ethan raised their hands, but Rachel didn't. She was obviously still too stunned and just kept staring at Beth's body. The guards ran up to them, swords raised and wary.

"You're under arrest for murder." The officer in charge said. "Don't attempt to resist or we'll kill you where you stand.

"We didn't kill her." Alana said. "There was--"

The officer in charge slapped Alana across the face. "Shut up unless you want worse."

"But Ethan didn't--" she started to say, but didn't get to finish. Something heavy and hard hit her on the back of the head before she could. The last thing she saw before blacking out was the pavement rushing toward her face.

* * *

Beth felt strange.

No, strike that; she felt normal and the whole world felt strange.

She was drifting upward in a sea of purple. Below her, she could see the alley and everything in it encased in a strange purple hue. Everything was slowly falling away as a gentle force pulled her ever upwards toward a brilliant light in the far distance. It was massive and brighter than the sun, yet there was no harshness to it. It was comforting, like the soft glow of a flickering candle in the darkness.

She thought she was dead; it seemed like she was dead.

It was surreal, but she didn't feel dead.

She could still see her lifeless body lying in the alley, her blood pooling around her and trickling in a dozen tiny streams. She wasn't breathing though. Ethan and Alana had certainly seemed distraught like she was dead.

She probably was dead, but she didn't feel like it.

A million questions zoomed around her head. Foremost among them was not the question of her mortality, but rather of her present location. Well, not her location, but rather why the whole world was purple. It sounded like the story Ethan had told about astral projection. However, he'd been able to walk around while she could only drift upwards.

She'd always heard that when you die, the great God Illuminar pulls the righteous into his loving light. She hoped that's where she was headed. If so, she had a lot of questions for Him.

As she ran through the list of questions she wanted to ask God, she felt something touch her ankle. She looked down to see a dark, shadowy tendril that resembled a vine twisting around her ankle.

The tendril was the only thing she could see that wasn't purple. It was as black as pitch or midnight on a moonless sky. Its color seemed to come from the fact that it had no color. It seemed to suck the light from everywhere around it. Even so, it didn't get brighter at all. It was like a hole; a bottomless pit.

Something about it looked...

There was no other word for it; evil.

In a flash, it wrapped around her ankle, which instantly felt like it had been put through the ice of a lake in mid-winter. She bent down to try and free herself, but -- even though the tendril undulated like seaweed in the tide -- it seemed more like iron to her fingers. It was absolutely immovable and her fingers became numb from the cold at the lightest contact.

"Help!" she screamed. "Somebody help me!"

No one answered.

Once the tendril seemed satisfied it had a good grip, it began to pull. It felt like her entire soul was being ripped apart, yet there was no pain. The gentle tugging force that pulled her toward the light was inexorable, but the tendril was persistent. Her upward ascent gradually slowed, stopped completely, and then began to reverse direction.

She scratched, clawed, and kicked against the shadowy tendril, but all to no avail. Her hands felt like they were on fire from the cold and rubbed completely raw when she finally gave up the effort. But to her surprise, her hands looked undamaged.

As she sank lower, she noticed another light in the far distance. It was like the light she'd been drifting towards, but a fraction as bright. It looked like it surrounded a woman who was watching her intently from a long way off.

"Help!" Beth shouted at her. "Please help me!"

The bright woman didn't move.

It felt like an eternity later that the tendril finally stopped pulling. Beth had been pulled through the roof of a building near the alley. She was in a room that -- like everything else -- had that strange purple hue. The tendril came up from the floor and looked attached to some mystical symbols drawn on the floor.

The room itself looked like some sort of magical laboratory, though a hastily constructed one. Open wooden crates were piled in one corner of the room. Some were still filled with packing straw and various magical items; some of which she recognized, most of which she didn't.

There were several gruff, burly-looking men moving various heavy implements and furniture around the room. They looked like the sort of cheap labor her father often hired for construction projects.

A very different sort of man stood in the center of the room with his back toward her, though she wasn't sure 'man' was the right word. Like the tendril, he was black as night. However, the 'color' seemed to be more from the absence of light than from any actual color. He -- or it -- was wearing a long flowing cloak that billowed like grass in the breeze or seaweed in the current. He was clearly human-shaped but there were several bulges and irregularities under the cloak that she couldn't account for.

"Help me!" she screamed at the laborers, but they didn't seem to hear her.

She screamed several more times, but no matter how loud she shouted they didn't respond. They took directions from the strange shadowy figure but seemed completely oblivious to his shadowy nature and treated him like any other man.

When all the men had finished unloading and placing the items, the shadowy figure paid them and they left.

"Elizabeth Borden." It said in a slow, breathy voice. For the first time, she noticed there was something wrong with its voice. It was like a small legion of people were speaking in perfect unison, yet also like only one person. The effect chilled her to the bone.

"What, what do... how...?" Beth's courage failed her and she fell silent.

"Always the questions, ever since you were little." It took a long, slow rattling breath, like it was trying to suck more than air from the room.

"How, how..."

"Very soon you will comply." The shadowy figure turned and she could see beneath the hood. There was nothing there. More accurately, the hood's opening looked like the mouth of some great bottomless pit. She had never been so scared in her entire life. It was like that thing -- for it was no man -- sucked the life out of the air.

The door opened and two of the laborers came in carrying a large box. They set it down carefully, then left. Another man entered moments later, though he definitely wasn't a laborer.

He wore a long robe and a pointed hat with an embroidered star that identified him as a member of the wizards' council. He looked quite young, though something about him seemed very unhealthy. The wizard casually flicked his hand toward the crate and the lid magically popped off to reveal--

Her jaw dropped.

She stared open-mouthed at the sight, transfixed by the surreal spectacle. Laying in the wooden box was a body.

Her body.

"How long?" the shadowy figure asked after turning away from her to the wizard.

"The wound is grievous but reparable." The blue wizard replied. "As instructed, I cast the stasis spell from afar mere moments after she died. But as for healing her wounds... it would be simplicity itself without the stasis field or if your powers could help. Without them, it will take some time."

"Begin." The shadow figure ordered.

"As you wish my lord."

The shadowy figure swept out of the room, leaving Beth alone with the wizard. After he left, life and light seemed to return to the area and Beth breathed a sigh of relief. Well, she tried. The air didn't respond, yet strangely she didn't feel like she was suffocating.

The wizard knelt by the wooden box, spread his hands over her body, and got a look of deep concentration. As the second ticked by, Beth watched in fascination. She'd seen mages work magic but never a real wizard, and -- the strangeness notwithstanding -- she wasn't planning to miss it. Not that she could leave if she wanted to; the tendril kept her hovering in the middle of the room suspended between its iron grip and the gentle pull of the light.

The wizard turned his attention to her body's neck. Beth instantly recognized what he was doing as a healing spell, but it didn't seem to be working. An hour later, she realized it was working; it just was taking forever. The cut across her throat was very large and at this rate, the wizard was going to be busy for a long time. Days at the minimum, possibly weeks.

That left Beth with a burning question: Why bother healing a dead body?

Also, why her dead body?

* * *

Alana slowly drifted back to consciousness despite her best efforts. Her head felt like it had been used as a drum, her face felt like it had been used as a grinding stone, and the rest of her body ached. The ground beneath her was cold and felt like stone; the air around her was no warmer. She considered opening her eyes to check, but that meant admitting light.

Her headache protested that idea quite strongly.

After a few minutes, the brain fog cleared and the pain subsided. She opened an eye to discover she was alone in a dank, dimly lit, and utterly bare stone room. There was a large wooded door with bars set into it and a wooden pail she assumed was her toilet because of the smell, and nothing else. There was no bed, no blankets, and no food or water.

As she lay there on the stone floor, her thoughts drifted to Ethan. She met him about six weeks ago and her entire life had been flipped upside down since then. Her farm had been destroyed, she had bonded, fallen in love, had her heart broken, watched the man she loved marry another woman, watched that woman die, seen Ethan rip men apart with his bare hands, and been in mortal danger more times than she could count.

Even with all of that, she wouldn't have missed meeting him for the world. She smiled slightly and found it didn't hurt.

Life certainly was strange.

Finally awake enough to think clearly, she began to call upon her mana to heal her wounds. She was pleased to discover they weren't bad, just painful. A few minutes later they were all healed and she sat up.

"Ethan." She called, but no one answered.

"Rachel?" She tried again, but still no response. She was about to call for Beth when she realized Beth wouldn't answer. She felt tears well up in her eyes and she didn't stop them from falling. Even though Beth had separated her from Ethan, the wood elf genuinely like the girl had only wished them happiness. She never wanted... this.

She sat for a long time trying to process her death. It just didn't seem real; it didn't seem possible. She replayed what happened endlessly in her mind. She'd done everything she could, everything she knew how to do. She found herself wishing she'd been faster with her healing spell.

As she thought about what happened in the alley, one unusual thing stood out to her; that echoing voice in her head. She had definitely heard it inside her head, not with her ears. With the anguish it projected, there was only one person it could be. He also happened to be the only person who might be able to project a thought into her head.

*Ethan?* Alana thought while directing her thoughts toward their bond. *Ethan, can you hear me?*

There was no response.

*Ethan?* She tried again, but she didn't hear a response. She let her shoulders slump and leaned her head against the wall. It would be a long wait without someone to talk to.

*Alana?* A voice rang out in her head.

*Ethan!* she thought back. *You can hear me?*

*Yeah. This... this is our bond isn't it?*

*I think so.*

*Are you okay?* he asked.

*I'm a little banged up, but I healed myself. How are you?*

*Trussed up like Christmas turkey and I have a muzzle clamped around my mouth. Other than that, just peachy.*

She was going to ask what a Christmas turkey was but thought better of it. *How's Rachel?*

*I think she's okay* Ethan replied. *She was in shock and they treated her a lot more gently than you or me.*

*About Beth,* Alana thought, but couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence. Ethan didn't respond, and silence hung in the air -- or rather her head -- for almost a minute.

*I'm going to miss her.* He finally said. *She was... I can't believe that she's gone.*

*I know what you mean.*

*No, I mean I really can't believe it.* He said after a few seconds. *It doesn't feel real. I know the first stage of grief is denial, but...* He trailed off, and she could almost imagine the way that he'd shake his head slightly after saying that.

*She was a good person and didn't deserve that.* Alana finished when he didn't.

*Yeah.*

*What happens now?* She asked a few minutes later.

*I need to get serious about life here.* He replied and she detected a note of bitterness. *I've been way too careless and Beth is dead because of it. I didn't kill her, but it's my fault she's dead.*

*It's not your fault. What could you have done differently to prevent it?*

*I don't know. I just know it's about time I took things seriously here.*

Alana didn't know what to say, so she fell silent. Considering their luck lately, she agreed more seriousness about the threats wouldn't be a bad thing. However, there was something about the way he said it that bothered her. There was an edge to Ethan's thoughts -- a darkness -- that didn't sound quite like him.

*Are you okay?* she asked.

*Beth just died.* Ethan replied with a sharper edge in his thoughts. *I'm sure as hell not okay.*

*That's not what I meant. I just mean you just feel... off.*

Ethan didn't respond, but Alana could feel his annoyance at the question. Something was going on with him. She didn't know what, but she didn't like it. It made sense that he would be feeling down after Beth's death, but this was something more; something different.

She tried to figure out what Ethan was thinking, but she couldn't keep her mind on it. She couldn't exactly read his mind either. It seemed she could send him messages, but she couldn't actually tell what he was thinking. That left her wondering what was going on with him.

* * *

Beth watched the wizard work in fascination for a little while before it became rather boring and tedious. She'd seen countless healing spells performed in the clinic with Madam Hygea and now they bored her. Even the novelty of watching him heal a body protected by a stasis spell only lasted a few minutes. He worked at healing the wound on her neck, but his progress was incredibly slow.

Outside, the sun seemed to have set, changing the hues of this strange astral plane from light purple to dark purple.

She was bored.

Dear Illuminar in heaven she was bored.

"Hello Beth." A feminine voice said from behind her, making her jump out of her skin.

She turned as fast as possible while still being anchored to the inky black tendril. Behind her was a woman who was the only thing that wasn't purple.

She was clad entirely in robes of the purest white. Her clothes and skin seemed to shine like the sun but with the warmth of a flickering candle. She looked to be about Beth's age, but that simply wasn't possible. She had the beautiful face of a young woman untouched by age, but the eyes and presence of someone ancient and full of wisdom.

Her heart-shaped face was the picture of perfect femininity and was beautifully framed by her long hair. The hair itself was probably blond or white, but that might've just been the light. She had a soft smile on her face that instantly made Beth feel very comfortable and safe.

"Hello?" Beth replied with trepidation.

"Don't be afraid." The bright woman said. "My name is Gabriella and I was sent here to help you."

"Who sent you?"

Gabriella smiled. "Always with the questions young one; He loves that about you."

"Who?"

The luminous woman laughed. It was a cheerful, infectious laugh that made all the worry and fear completely disappear from Beth's troubled soul. She was sure that the bright woman was laughing at her, but she didn't feel the slightest bit ashamed or embarrassed. On the contrary, she managed a chuckle herself.

"I will release you Beth." She gestured at the black tendril that was still wrapped around her ankle, "but what happens after that is your choice."

"Why?" She managed to grab onto the most interesting of the dozens of questions racing around in her head.

"Because the one who sent me has no need of slaves and prefers willing helpers."

"You haven't said who sent you."

Gabriella smiled again; it was a very comforting smile. "Nor will I, but I think you can figure it out. However, time is short and I need you to make a decision."

"What decision?"

"When I cut the tendril, you can resume floating toward the wonderful light, or remain in this world to help Ethan."

"I want to help Ethan." She replied almost without thinking.

"Are you sure young one? If you choose that path, there will be much heartbreak and sorrow on your journey, though there will be great joy and happiness when you finally reach its end."

Beth bit her lip. That didn't sound like a bad deal at all, but she was still wary. "What's the catch?"

"The 'catch', is that while you will see Ethan soon, he will not see or hear you for some time. Further, you must share him young one."

"Share him?"

"You've read the Book of Light. What has Illuminar -- blessed be He -- decreed about men and wives?"

"But that's not fair!" Beth felt the skin on her face grow hot. "Why can men have multiple wives but women not have multiple husbands?!"

"Would you wish for another husband?"

Beth averted her eyes and shuddered in disgust. "Well no, but it's still not fair!"

"Would you wish Ethan to have other wives?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why did you imagine him taking both you and Alana to bed together less than a fortnight ago?"

Beth opened her mouth to respond, but couldn't think of anything to say. Her anger disappeared, replaced with a sense of mild arousal as she remembered exactly how she'd felt while imagining Ethan thrusting into the wood elf. Just thinking about it was distracting.

"A man must protect and care for the women he marries and the children they bear." Gabriella said. "His reward for marrying a second woman is he may bed a second woman. A man's other wives receive this reward too, as Illuminar -- blessed be He -- nowhere forbids a man's wives from bedding each other."

"Yes, but--"

The luminous woman ignored her protest. "He may bed an additional woman; you may bed an additional woman. You both get the same benefit, yet you have no increase in responsibility while his have doubled; far more than doubled once children enter the picture. So really, is it less fair to the man or woman?"

For the second time, Beth opened her mouth to respond but couldn't think of anything to say. When she put it like that...

"But, but what about my time with him? I want him to focus on me and our relationship. If he marries another woman, then he'll have to focus on her too."

"Ah, but where does the Book of Light say your focus -- or your husband's focus -- should be?"

Beth looked away sheepishly and mumbled. "On Illuminar Himself."

"So, should you desire Ethan to completely focus on you?"

Beth crossed her arms, clenched her teeth, and mumbled a few choice words under her breath, but shook her head anyway.

"So then, wouldn't Ethan taking another wife serve as a constant reminder that he shouldn't focus exclusively on you, any more than you should exclusively focus on him?

Beth decided the silent treatment was the right way to go. That would show this beautiful, smart, and absolutely infuriating woman. Yes, the silent treatment would be perfect. Consequently, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air for several minutes.

Or at least it made Beth uncomfortable.

Gabriella didn't look the least bit uneasy. She just stood there, a gentle and kind smile seemingly permanently etched into her face. What a bitch. How could she be so happy when she was losing her claim on her husband? Didn't she know what that was like?

It occurred to her that maybe Gabriella hadn't ever gotten married. What man could possibly want to marry this gorgeous, flawless beauty who didn't mind her husband sleeping with other women? The very idea was... well, probably really likely. What man wouldn't want that? Beth glared at her in frustration; she just smiled back kindly.

"What now?" Beth finally said when the silence became too oppressive to stand any longer.

"You must choose. Either resume your drift into the wonderful light or remain here and help Ethan, realizing that if you stay you will be one of several wives."

"I'm going to hate that." Her face fell.

Gabriella's smile turned into almost a smirk. "You might be surprised."

"Does he need my help? I mean, will he be okay if I don't help him?"

"If you choose not to help him, my Lord will provide help from another source. You are free to join the wonderful light if you wish."

For the briefest moment, Beth almost considered leaving Ethan behind. Almost. Heaven was supposed to be the most wonderful place in all of creation. The stories she'd heard made it sound better than sex. Well, maybe not sex with Ethan, but better than normal sex. Well, she assumed better than normal sex, but not having had sex with anyone other than Ethan she wouldn't know.

But she couldn't leave him.

She had sworn to follow Ethan wherever he went and she couldn't break her vow. Further, she had no desire to break it; she truly loved him and wanted to help him. Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Anthiel about love. If she had to share Ethan, she was going to make damn sure she was his favorite wife.

"I'd like to help Ethan." She said finally.

"Good." The luminous woman beamed. "He knew you would choose to help, but I'm glad it took so little convincing."

"Just promise me it'll be a while before he marries again; please?"

Gabriella looked amused. "Truly, truly I tell you; before midnight eight days from now, Ethan will wed Alana and take her to bed."

Beth swore.

"Does this change your answer?"

"No." She replied glumly.

A sly smile appeared on the luminous woman's face, like she knew something Beth didn't. "Don't worry young one. I know you can't imagine sharing Ethan now. However, the time will come when you can't imagine keeping him to yourself."

Gabriella reached to her side and drew a sword out of a scabbard that either Beth hadn't noticed before, or it had simply materialized out of thin air. The sword was just as bright and shining as the woman wielding it. It seemed to glow with an inner light and Beth didn't think anyone or anything in the universe could extinguish it.

Gabriella grabbed one of Beth's hands, concentrated for a moment, and then she felt the constant upward pulling sensation completely disappear. It was as if she was no longer being pulled toward the light.

Gabriella raised the sword over her head and cut the tendril in two with one swift stroke, while at the same time giving Beth's hand an almighty pull to stop her from falling on top of the tendril's base.

No sooner had the deed been done than a horrible eerie wail came from the severed stump of the tendril. Beth hit the floor awkwardly and clamped her hands over her ears, but that did nothing to silence that horrible wail. The sound seemed to pierce her very soul and filled her with a despairing dread.

The tendril writhed like it was having a fit of convulsions. The severed tip seemed to melt and slowly burn away, like water boiling out of pan. The sound slowly subsided as the tip of the tendril finished boiling away.

"What was that?" Beth asked once the sound had faded.

"That's what happens when one of Saidow's minions meddles in affairs he should've left alone. Come, there is much work to be done."

* * *

Rachel paced back and forth in her cell trying desperately to figure out how to get out of their current predicament. There was no evidence to prove they were innocent. Alana had been covered in Beth's blood and Ethan... well the prejudice against dragons was widespread. She had no reason to think it would be different in Arcanum.

Rachel took just a moment to savor her exquisite freedom to think whatever she wanted. At random times she had thought things like "my dad is an asshole" or "Lord Delmar is evil" just because she could. There was still no compulsion from the will-breaker ring.

However, that wouldn't help here.

She could tell it was almost sunrise from the light that streamed in through her window. Sure the window was eight feet in the air and had inch-thick steel bars, but it was fresh air. Since it was almost dawn, she assumed their trial would begin soon. They always dealt with high-profile murders quickly to keep the public calm.

The question was how to mount a defense.

Nearly an hour of brainstorming later, a guard opened the door to Rachel's cell. Ten minutes later, Rachel found herself in the courtroom.

It was a dark circular room about fifty feet in diameter. The only light was from torch sconces placed around the room. In the center of the room was a pit about four feet deep for the accused. Around the pit were dozens of desks and benches occupied by grumpy-looking old men in formal robes.

Rachel and Alana were chained hand and foot, but that was nothing compared to Ethan. He was strapped to a hand cart by thick leather straps. The straps made it impossible for him to move and a steel muzzle had been attached to his snout. He didn't look happy.

"Hi." Alana said to Rachel. There was a strange contrast of both sadness and cheerfulness about the wood elf.

"No talking." One of the guards said, and he hefted a wicked-looking truncheon in his hand to emphasize the point.

Alana nodded, then glanced at Ethan. A moment later, he made a sound that resembled a half-hearted laugh, but with the muzzle it was hard to tell.

"What?" Rachel mouthed to Alana.

"Later" she mouthed back, then nodded her head towards the guard with the club.

"Order in the court." An important-looking guard called and the rumbling of dozens of conversations quieted down.

"All rise in honor of Supreme Magistrate Haglath." He said.

Everyone in the court stood up. A door opened behind the highest desk in the room and a man walked in.

Supreme Magistrate Haglath looked like he had been born with a frown on his face. The age lines etched into his skin told of a thousand displeased expressions that had been carved into his face through countless repetitions. His hair was gray and his eyes were cold, ruthless, and calculating. His robes were perfectly clean, not even a hint of lint or dust. Rachel had seen judges like this before in her father's court.

They were in trouble.

"You have been convicted of murdering a fine young woman of this city." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "What have you to say in your defense?"

It was now or never.

"I say how dare you." Rachel said in her loudest and clearest voice. Immediately hushed whispers broke out among the men in the benches.

"Keep a civil tongue or I'll have the guards cut it out." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. Something told Rachel he wasn't bluffing.

She continued unfazed. "I am Rachel Delmar, daughter of Lord Delmar; the great lord of the middle plains, sovereign of the eastern mountains and master of Lake Tivere; long may he reign."

"Long may he reign." The old men in benches chorused together.

"What gives you the right to treat the daughter of a Lord so?" Rachel continued. "Is Arcanum trying to provoke Lord Delmar to war? If so, you are doing an excellent job."

Again, there were hushed whisperings throughout the courtroom.

"A crime is a crime, even if perpetrated by a Lord's daughter." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "Further, Lord Delmar has officially disinherited you. You are no longer his daughter, nor does the protection of the Lord's Council apply to you. You stand before us as a common criminal, and common criminals would do well to watch their tongue. I will not warn you again."

Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out. That had been her only plan to get out of this predicament alive.

"If it would please your honor, I would beg your permission to speak." Alana said. Rachel raised an eyebrow. That was a very well-put-together request for a hermit who lived in the woods.

"You may." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said.

"I would have the court know that the woman who was murdered is-- I mean was, our friend." Alana said. "We were set upon by thieves who sought to claim this dragon's gold for their own. It was the blade of a thief, not our blades, nor the claws of this dragon who killed her."

"What proof do you have of this?" Supreme Magistrate Haglath asked.

"None, but the heartfelt plea of a woman who just lost a friend." Alana said. "I'm sure the guards testified that my dress was covered in her blood. I know a little magic and was trying to heal her."

Supreme Magistrate Haglath looked down his nose at them and Rachel could almost see the wheels turning in his head. If he let them go, then he would have to conduct a city-wide manhunt for the real killers. If he executed them, he would be praised for bringing swift justice. Rachel didn't need to be a prophet to know which one he would choose.

"You have presented no evidence, therefore this court's decision stands." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "You are hereby sentenced to death by beheading. Sentence to be carried out at sundown."

Supreme Magistrate Haglath raised his gavel and swung it down at the bench.

But it never hit.

It stopped mere inches from the desk like it had hit something solid.

"One moment please." A voice called from among the old men on the benches. The voice sounded ancient, like the one speaking was barely healthy enough to get the words out.

"Elder Goman." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said, and his face showed his displeasure. "You have something to add?"

"Yes." Elder Goman said. "Let me just get to my feet. Please help me my dear."

An incredibly beautiful woman -- who couldn't have been older than twenty -- rushed next to a frail-looking old man. His hair was thin and grew in patchy white wisps. His beard was long and looked to have bits of food in it left over from breakfast -- or possibly longer ago. His face looked like it had seen a thousand years pass. His eyelid drooped and his hand shook on the well-worn cane he was holding.

It took almost ten seconds for the woman to help him to stand up. When he did stand, he leaned on his cane and the desk for support. He looked like he was on death's door and would keel over dead at any moment.

"Members of the court." Elder Goman said, and his voice made him sound even older. "I have stood up here today to talk to you about... About..."

Elder Goman raised his hand as if to emphasize a point, but then dropped it.

"What was I saying?" He 'whispered' to the woman who was helping him. However, he clearly didn't know how loud he was because the whole chamber probably heard him. The woman whispered back, then Elder Goman seemed to remember.

"Oh yes." He said. "This dragon and these two exceptionally lovely ladies are... are..." He looked unfocused for a moment, then continued. "Oh right, they are accused of murder. But murder is a serious crime. A serious crime murder... yes. Serious."

Elder Goman swayed on his feet for a moment and his eyelids drooped along with his head. The woman gave him a gentle nudge on the side and he perked back up.

"Right, and the people want justice." Elder Goman said. "But justice isn't justice unless it is... Is Just. Right... Justice must be just. Therefore, I propose we make it just. "

"They killed a woman so we return the favor." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said through gritted teeth. "That sounds like justice to me."

"Yup, correct it is." Elder Goman replied halfway through a yawn. "But, they want to prove their innocence, so let's give them a chance shall we? Yes, chances are good."

"Trial by combat." Rachel said under her breath. Her father had banned the practice in his domain decades ago which is why she hadn't thought of it. But here in Arcanum it was still legal...

"I'm afraid the council has already made its decision Elder Goman, but thank you for your input as always." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said, though he was so insincere a five-year-old wouldn't have believed him. The Magistrate raised his gavel again to pronounce the sentence, and Rachel figured it was now or never.

"I demand trial by combat." Rachel said loudly just as the Supreme Magistrate was about to swing the gavel down.

The look on his face was pure murder.

* * *

Beth followed Gabriella through the streets of Arcanum, marveling at how strange it was that everyone and everything that touched her simply passed right through. Occasionally, someone would look like they'd felt something, but invariably they would shrug and return to what they were doing.

"Where are we?" Beth finally asked looking around at the purple world around them. The bright, white-robed woman she followed was the only thing that wasn't some shade of purple.

"Arcanum of course."

"I know that, but this is... is this the astral plane?"

Gabriella stopped and turned to face her. "That's a complicated question to answer."

"We appear to have plenty of time."

"Appearances can be deceiving." The luminous woman replied. Then she cocked her head to one side as if listening to something before speaking again. "Would you say that water is wet?"

"Of course."

"But that doesn't tell the whole story does it? For water can also be solid if it freezes and vapor if it boils. Likewise, calling this place the astral plane is not wrong, but also doesn't tell the whole story."

"Then what is the whole story?"

Gabriella resumed walking. "What do you think this place is?"

Beth looked around as she fell in step behind her, trying to remember everything she'd read on astral projection. Unfortunately, that wasn't much because it was such a rare skill. Everyone seemed to agree the astral plane was a place where the mind could go, but few knew anything beyond that.

"Isn't this where the mind can travel free from the body?"

"Can you use magic here?"

Beth frowned, and tried to move her mana around. It worked, though it felt strange, like it was both easier and harder at once.

"I guess I couldn't use magic if only my mind were here." She reasoned. "But if I don't have a body, then the only thing left is... spirit?"

Gabriella beamed and clapped her hands together a few times in mild applause. "Well done young one. This 'astral plane' as you call it is merely a place where mortals may dip their toes into the shallowest level of the spirit realm."

"So, am I dead then?"

"That very much depends on how you define death doesn't it?"

"So, I'm not dead?"

"What is death?" The luminous woman asked.

"It's when your spirit leaves your body, right?"

"Did Ethan die when he walked the astral plane many nights ago?"

Beth frowned. "I don't think so, but his spirit definitely left his body."

"Then perhaps you need to rethink your definition of death. Come, through here." Gabriella led Beth through the reinforced door to the lower levels of a small keep. It was well guarded by dozens of Arcanum guards and defended by both archers and many ballistae.

Walking through the door was interesting. Beth briefly wondered if she could stop mid-way through the door and examine the wood from the inside. However, Gabriella seemed to be in a hurry, so instead she made a mental note to try that later.

The luminous woman led her through a winding, twisting series of passages adorned with prison cell doors. They walked for some time before she led Beth through one door that was a little larger than the others. On the other side was Ethan, strapped to a small hand cart and muzzled. But that's not what caught her eye.

There was something around Ethan's head.

It was dark and shadowy and its color -- or lack thereof -- was like the tendril that recently held her. It looked like the blackest night and was utterly devoid of light.

It was some kind of cloud, or perhaps a dark halo, that sat just above his head. Little wisps of the halo had reached down and latched onto Ethan's head, like some dark plant or creeping vine digging roots into solid rock. Despite this, it appeared they had difficulty gaining full purchase against the dragon's head, like he was fighting them. Every so often, a pulse of darkness traveled down the wispy vines, strengthening and thickening them.

There was something truly evil about it; just looking at it made her shiver in disgust and revulsion.

"What is that?"

"The results of Lord Delmar's 'gift' to the happy couple." Gabriella said with a cold fury that was startling. The light around her shone just a little brighter and in a more menacing way. Beth would've been absolutely terrified if that wrath was directed at her. Then Gabriella turned toward Beth and the menacing aura faded instantly, replaced with the same comforting warmth and light as before.

"Was the gold cube enchanted?" Beth asked. "I thought you couldn't enchant metals."

"And what makes you think the cube was solid gold?"

It occurred to Beth that pouring some gold around a bit of wood, bone, or dragon steel wouldn't be hard.

Gabriella indicated the dark halo. "This is what my Lord wishes you to take care of."

"Me? What can I do?"

"You can remove Saidow's influence from your husband."

Beth felt her jaw drop. What could Saidow -- the chief of the fallen angels -- want with Ethan?

"That is not for you to know... yet." Gabriella replied to her unasked question. "My lord merely wishes you to remove the enchantment."

"How?"

The luminous woman smiled gently and put a comforting hand on Beth's shoulder. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because my Lord wishes you to figure this out for yourself." Gabriella then sat down on the floor and closed her eyes as if meditating.

"I... I don't... How?" Beth fumbled for the right words to say. How in Illuminar's name was she supposed to remove that shadowy halo from Ethan? She didn't have the first clue about fighting enchantments or spells. She had a lot of book learning, but they didn't describe how to do anything. She certainly didn't have experience fighting Saidow's minions.

"Can you help at least?" Beth finally asked.

"No, I'm afraid my Lord has entrusted this task to you, and you alone."

"Can you offer advice?"

"I'm sorry, my responses are limited. You must ask the right questions."

Beth frowned. "What's the right question?"

"That my dear, is the right question."

* * *

Ethan struggled to his feet for the first time in almost two days. He heard the door behind him slam shut because the guard who released the straps hadn't stuck around to see what happened next.

Ethan stretched all of his limbs to their utmost to work the kinks out after his long confinement. As he stretched, he noticed something very peculiar. His groin felt a little different. A quick peek showed he was back down to three testicles. The fourth one seemed to have disappeared since Beth died.

He felt his heart sink at that, but for some reason...

He shook his head.

It just didn't feel like she was gone. Maybe she was, but...

*Are you ready for this?* Alana's voice rang out in his head. It was dripping with worry.

*As ready as I'll ever be.* Ethan replied then put the missing testicle out of his mind. He had more pressing concerns right now, like preventing his imminent and gruesome death.

The room he occupied was only about ten feet square. Behind him was a locked and barred door; in front of him was a large portcullis. Beyond the portcullis, he could hear thousands of people all talking at once.

Looking through the gaps in the portcullis, he could see an enormous arena. It had to be at least three hundred feet in diameter. The look reminded him greatly of the Roman Coliseum, even down to the arches spread around the outside. There were tens of thousands of people in the stands. Ethan wasn't sure how many, but he guessed at least fifty thousand. Not all of them were human either. Ethan saw elves, orcs, and even a few creatures that looked suspiciously like trolls.

*Please be careful,* Alana said in his head again.

*I will be.*

The sound of gears rotating and ropes straining heralded the portcullis cranking into the ceiling. Once it had fully raised, Ethan stepped through the archway into the light.

"And fresh from a brutal murder in our streets, comes a terrifying dragon!" The arena announcer said, and his magically magnified voice boomed over the vast sea of people. "Will our champion's blade prove this dragon murdered an innocent girl? Or, will the great God Illuminar favor the dragon and give him victory to prove his innocence?"

Directly across the arena, another portcullis cranked upwards and a man walked out. He was clad in chainmail from head to toe and wore a steel helmet. He carried a longsword in one hand and a very large kite shield in the other.

"And now, give it up for your champion!" The announcer boomed and the crowd erupted into wild applause.

*The rules are simple!" The announcer bellowed. "Anything goes. May the best fighter win!"

The champion raised his sword to the crowd and they cheered even louder. Ethan couldn't help but notice the champion had both weapons and armor but he had neither.

*Are they going to give me a weapon?* Ethan asked Alana.

*Probably not.* Alana replied. *But fortunately, a smart wood elf thought this might happen and gave you two weapons for just such an occasion.*

Ethan called his spear and hammer to his hands, but he could tell they were quite far away. This would take some time.

*Suggestions?* Ethan asked.

*Don't die.* Alana replied.

*I don't plan on it.* Ethan said. He could feel the confidence she was trying to project, but their bond was filled with worry.

The champion finished playing to the crowd, raised his shield, and started toward Ethan. From Ethan's perspective, the champion might as well have been an armored tank. The shield covered everything but the champion's feet -- which had armored boots -- and his head, which was protected by a steel helmet.

*Maybe I could just fly away?* Ethan suggested.

*I wouldn't try.* Alana replied. *They have archers all around the arena. I bet you can fly low. But they would probably object if you try to leave.*

*I don't fancy being a pincushion today.*

The champion was getting closer. He had closed half the distance to Ethan and he still didn't have a plan. His weapons were still a long way from arriving and a heavily armed juggernaut was approaching fast.

Ethan looked around the arena looking for anything that he could use as a weapon. There wasn't much. The champion had closed to twenty yards before Ethan spied a something that might work. It was a pole about six feet long that looked like it had come from a spear. It didn't have a head -- and worse it was behind the champion -- but it was better than nothing.

He didn't think he could get around the champion but -- with the help of his wings -- he might just get over him. Ethan dropped to all fours and cautiously advanced toward the champion.

"Fine day for a walk isn't it?" Ethan said. The moment Ethan's mouth opened, the champion flinched and tucked tight behind his shield.

He didn't respond.

"It seems a shame to ruin such a fine day with a fight doesn't it?" Ethan said again.

He didn't really think there was much hope of a peaceful solution, but he didn't see the harm in trying. The champion still didn't respond and continued advancing. He was only a few yards away now, close enough to be dangerous with just a few steps.

Then the champion attacked.

He charged forward leading with his shield. Ethan only had time to take a single step backwards when the champion's sword flashed out from behind the shield. Ethan dodged the blow by jumping rearward, then he pushed off with all four legs to make a flying leap into the air. The leap carried him almost ten feet into the air, and a single flap of his great wings carried him a dozen yards behind the champion. Ethan landed, grabbed the broken spear shaft from the ground, and turned to face his attacker.

The crowd went wild.

"Amazing!" The announcer's voice boomed. "Our cunning dragon evades our valiant champion and his just deserts to acquire a weapon. But will a simple stick be a match for an elven steel blade?"

"Biased much?" Ethan rolled his eyes.

The champion whipped around, hid behind his shield again, and began jogging toward Ethan.

*Be careful,* Alana said telepathically. *The elves figured out how to mix some organic components into steel so it could be enchanted. It's likely only enchanted to be self-repairing, but he might have a trick up his sleeve.*

*Thanks for the warning,* Ethan said. *Like this could get any more one-sided.*

*You'll be fine, just hang on until your weapons arrive.* Alana said telepathically. *That'll go a long way toward evening the odds.*

*I'm trying.*

His weapons were still at least two minutes out.

As soon as the champion was within range, Ethan aimed a thrust with his spear shaft. The champion deflected it with his shield and aimed a thrust at Ethan's heart. Ethan narrowly avoided the thrust, but the champion pressed the blade against his scales as he drew the sword back. The blade cut through Ethan's scales and left a shallow cut on his side.

"First blood to our noble champion!" The announcer boomed and the crowd exploded in thunderous applause.

Ethan took a few steps back as the champion prepared to engage again. Ethan started to make quick, fast thrusts directly to the shield to throw the champion off. After the first couple hit the shield, the champion aimed a strong cut, but not at Ethan. The champion's sword bit into Ethan's spear shaft and hewed a good-sized chunk of wood out of the front.

*Careful, he's trying to destroy your weapon,* Alana said.

*I can see that.* Ethan took another step back and pulled his spear out of danger.

His weapons were only a minute away.

The champion attacked again, and this time it was obvious he was going for Ethan's spear shaft. Ethan pulled the spear shaft out of harm's way, but he soon realized he'd made a terrible mistake. By moving the spear, the champion's line of attack was now open.

The champion charged forward and aimed a strong cut at Ethan's neck. Ethan jumped backwards to avoid it and was mostly successful. He could feel the blade nick one of the scales on his neck. A mere inch deeper and the fight would've been over.

The champion pressed his advantage and aimed another cut at Ethan. This time, Ethan brought the spear shaft up to block the sword. The sword took another large chunk out of Ethan's spear shaft. The spear shaft couldn't take another hit.

His weapons were still thirty seconds away.

Ethan leapt backwards again to get out of range, but the champion was relentless. He closed the distance again and began slicing with his sword. Ethan blocked an attack, but half of his spear shaft went flying as the blade finally cut all the way through. With only three feet of stick to defend himself, Ethan did the only thing he could think of.

He jumped over the champion again. However, the champion was clearly anticipating it. When Ethan's wings hit the down stroke, a jet of pain shot through Ethan's right wing.

He howled in agony.

He managed to land on his feet, but his wing felt like it was on fire. A quick glance showed that the champion had cut through the membrane and essentially rendered his right wing useless. Ethan tucked it into his back and tried to ignore the searing pain.

The weapons were only ten seconds away.

The champion was almost on top of Ethan. Ethan changed tactics and tried to use the three-foot stick like a sword. It worked for a few seconds, but only because he retreated constantly. Ethan took a flying leap backwards to avoid the champion, but it wasn't enough. The champion was on him like white on rice. He didn't have room to maneuver and the champion's blade finally sliced through the last bit of the spear shaft.

His weapons were still several precious seconds away.

Ethan had no weapons, no defenses, and no place to run. He could only think of one thing that could buy him a few seconds. One thing that could possibly save him. A Roar. Ethan opened his mouth wide to release one, but it wasn't necessary. The moment Ethan opened his mouth, the champion stopped mid-attack and ducked back behind his shield.

*He's afraid you'll breathe fire,* Alana said telepathically, but Ethan barely heard her.

Those precious moments were all he needed. His hammer and spear soared through the air and finally landed in his hands. Ethan took a deep breath and a low growl escaped his throat.

It was time to turn the tables.

Ethan threw his hammer directly at the champion's shield. It obviously bounced off, but the champion was entirely hidden behind his shield and couldn't see what hit the shield. However, he obviously assumed that Ethan had hit his shield with fist or foot because he came out swinging with his sword. Instead, the champion discovered a razor-sharp spear point headed directly for his heart.

The champion didn't have time to move or dodge, so the spear point hit him directly over the heart. Ethan felt a rush of triumph... but it was short-lived. The Champion's chain mail stopped the thrust completely. Instead of skewering him alive, the Champion was merely knocked backwards by the force, though he rolled through his fall and came up with his sword and shield ready.

Ethan pressed the attack.

With his longer reach and incredibly fast spear tip, Ethan was able to keep the champion on the defensive. Every time the champion started an attack, Ethan would launch a fast and powerful lunge. Ethan even managed to hit the chain mail several times, but the tip just wouldn't penetrate it.

*Turn it around.* Alana said telepathically after Ethan failed the third time to penetrate the champion's chain mail.

*What?* Ethan asked.

*Your spear, turn it around.* Alana repeated. *I specifically picked the spike at the back to penetrate chainmail and had one of Lord Borden's armorers attach it. Use it.*

Ethan stopped attacking for a moment to flip his spear around. As it turns out, the champion was just waiting for such an opening. The champion charged in and began to rain sword blows on Ethan almost faster than he could keep up. Ethan blocked them with his spear and discovered that the shaft was almost impervious to cuts. The champion's blade barely nicked the wood.

Thank God for Alana's enchanting skills.

Ethan stayed on the defense and retreated away from the champion. The champion was so close that the length of Ethan's spear was actually a disadvantage because it was so long.

Ethan retreated far enough that they crossed over his hammer, which lay on the ground after hitting the champion's shield. Ethan waited until the hammer was several yards behind the champion and then called it to his hand. The hammer leapt off the ground and sped toward his hand, hitting the back of the champion's knee in the process. The champion stumbled forward, eventually dropping to one knee to catch himself. Ethan used the opportunity to leap backwards to create some distance.

Ethan felt something inside of him shift at the sight of the champion on his knees.

He was a dragon.

Dragons didn't fear any living creature.

He looked at the champion not as a threat but as prey; his prey. He was a pitiful creature to be stalked, hunted, maybe even toyed with; and then killed like the cattle he was. The dragon part of him wanted out. It wanted to play with this insect who had dared to cut his wing.

A curious kind of calm came over him.

He had spent nearly four weeks with little do but train; two weeks with Heinrich and two on the Argo with Serif. Despite his relative inexperience, he could hold his own against this champion. He could beat him.

Ethan felt a low growl escape his throat; a growl he didn't cause.

*Ethan, what's wrong?* Alana's voice came over their bond.

*Nothing.*

Nothing was actually wrong; he just had this primal urge to hunt. Like a starving man with a banquet suddenly before him, the urge called to him.

It called...

It would not be denied.

Worse, he didn't want to deny it.

* * *

Alana felt the change before she saw it. Ethan's emotions shifted slightly as The Dragon's influence exerted itself. It was a subtle thing, but there. His body language changed. He seemed calmer, more confident, and definitely more dangerous.

"He's gone full dragon hasn't he?" Rachel said from beside her.

"Not quite, but he's getting there." Alana nodded. They were both in chains near the edge of the arena. Soldiers guarded them on either side, but she wasn't paying attention to them.

"What happens if the dragon kills the champion?" she asked Rachel.

"Nothing will be able to save us from the Magistrate's wrath." Rachel replied. "The champion is his son."

"So even if we win, we lose." Alana grimaced.

Rachel nodded.

* * *

Beth had watched the entire fight with bated breath from the violet shades of the astral plane. Gabriella was right beside her, having not left her side since rescuing her from the tendril.

"What's happening?" Beth asked as the dark pulses from Ethan's shadowy halo began to surge in intensity.

"Do I really need to explain?" Gabriella replied.

Beth wasn't sure she needed to. The shadowy vines that stretched from the halo to his head grew noticeably thicker and burrowed themselves deeper into her husband's skull. They started to stretch beyond his skull too. Having gained purchase on his head, thin roots began creeping down onto his neck.

"Please, tell me how to help him." She begged her compatriot.

Gabriella looked genuinely sad as she replied. "I would like to, but I cannot."

"Why!"

"Most importantly, because my Lord said so. But also, if I intervene then Ethan will never meet a few allies he will need, including a delightful Fey. Without these allies, he won't survive the darkness that is to come."

"But--"

"Peace young one." The luminous woman said kindly and gently, but her voice carried such authority that Beth didn't even consider speaking. "It will all be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."

* * *

The Dragon stood up to its full height and glared down its snout at the pathetic insect before him. He had plenty of mana, so he focused some of it on healing his wing. It didn't take long because the membrane was so thin that there wasn't much to heal. With that done, he took a moment to examine his prey.

He marveled at the difference between seeing while he had let the dragon out and while he kept his instincts bottled up. Every part of the world teemed with life. His eyesight hadn't changed at all, but he could see so much more. The world looked exactly the same, yet completely different.

The champion that had once looked like an armored juggernaut now looked more like a child swinging a toy. Ethan saw everything as before, but now he also saw all of the weak spots he could exploit. This so-called "champion" was no match for him at all.

Ethan crouched low and exhaled. It came out as a low hiss.

"Shall we play?" Ethan said to the champion. For the first time, a flicker of fear entered his opponent's eyes. The dragon smiled. Prey should be afraid, they should be cowering before him. The champion's fear stoked a primeval fire inside of him.

This is how the world should be.

He growled, then attacked.

Before, Ethan felt like he was struggling to hold his own. This time, the situation was reversed and it was like toying with a child. It felt like the champion was moving in slow motion. He tried his very best, but the dragon was simply too good.

For several minutes, he played with his prey. He taunted him, cornered him, used his spear to trip him, knocked his sword out of his hand, let him retrieve it, and then did it again. Ethan played with the champion as a cat plays with a mouse.

And He liked it.

He liked the power, the control...

...and the hunt.

He LOVED the hunt.

The crowd in the stand had gone completely silent. The battle was over and they knew it. The dragon loved the audience's stunned silence. They needed to see this puny human was no match for him. He needed to remind them that dragons are apex predators without peer or equal in the world.

Finally, the dragon grew tired of the game.

He used his hammer to hook the champion's shield and pull it out of the way. The champion counter-attacked, but Ethan deflected his sword with his spear, then lunged his right wing out and used his wing's claw to hook the champion's chainmail sleeve. A quick jerk later, the champion was sprawled face down on the ground. Ethan pinned the champion to the ground with his legs and twirled his spear in his hands.

He had won. He knew it, the champion knew it, and judging by the collective intake of breath from the crowd, they knew it too. He only needed to complete his victory, to plunge the spear through this champion's chest and show the world he was superior.

But he hesitated.

Every instinct in him screamed that he should finish this hunt. The clever hunter's reward was prey. Ethan growled at the champion, who stopped struggling the moment he felt Ethan's spear touch his back.

*Ethan, you've won.* Alana's voice rang in his head. *Let him go.*

He didn't want to let him go. The champion had dared to injure him and all of his dragon instincts screamed that he couldn't let that pass. Slowly -- without consciously meaning to -- Ethan raised the spear above his head. It was just one pathetic human. What did he matter?

Ethan stopped with the spear's chainmail-piercing spike primed for a thrust into the champion's heart.

He wanted to.

He wanted to so badly.

*Ethan, no!* Alana said telepathically.

Ethan shook his head trying desperately to clear it. He couldn't remember why killing humans was wrong. They were mere cattle; utterly insignificant to a creature like himself. Every part of his body screamed at him to plunge the spear directly through the champion's heart. He had never wanted to do anything so badly.

He wanted to punish this pitiful insect for daring to harm him. The urge to finish off this pathetic vermin was overpowering. Ethan -- or maybe the dragon -- raised the spear even higher, then brought it down with all his might.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Note: This chapter began on day 40 of Ethan's life in the Ten Kingdoms and ended on day 42.

*

STORY TAGS: dragon, fantasy, elf, teen, romantic, virgin, harem, brunette, blonde, redhead