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Ch 3. Freesword

The next morning, I woke up alone. Much to my disappointment. I knew that Tio had chores and tasks around the inn that she needed to do. But I think I realized that I missed waking up next to someone, and it had only taken feeling that intimate contact to break that longing loose inside of me. My dreams came back to me in flashes, and I found it disturbing enough that I swept aside the covers and stood by the window as the predawn light gathered in the east. I think I stood there for several minutes, trying to work out what had prompted me to dream of something like that.

I recognized those halls, or at least I had been in similar places before I finally left the catacombs. Everything seemed like it was a memory, but it was all from the wrong angle. None of the undead, the skeletons or dried husks, and none of the goblin kind that I had encountered had ever been much taller than my waist. The perspective I had seen in the dream had been lower.

I shook off those thoughts as the sun crested the horizon, and I used a cloth and cold water from the basin to clean myself up. I got dressed, and looked around the room, wincing in guilt at the sweat and cum soaked bedding. Sighing, I pulled the blankets and sheet from the bed, leaving only the mattress and pillows behind, then I left the room and headed down the back stairs to the laundry room intent on soaking them before anyone else would have to deal with the aftermath of me and Tio having been together.

After dumping the bedding into the scrubbing trough and submerging them in water with a stone, I took the cowards way, and slipped out the back door into the rear lot of the inn. I was pretty certain that I could stand the reproachful eyes of the horses and stableman with a more casual attitude. I briefly thought about going back for breakfast, but I decided that I would grab something from some early morning food vendor in the market place instead.

I didn't meet anyone in the stable yard, and slipped past the gate without incident. I found the market a bit livelier than the day before, and as luck would have it, I found a man selling meat and potato pies. I gave him his coppers, then snatched up two of them and ate them as I walked through the market and toward the guild house. The doors of the guildhouse weren't open yet, so I took a seat on the steps and passed the time by watching people going about their business.

I did notice a few things that had me curious, so I resolved to ask the leaders of the guild about them. Primarily I noticed that different people dressed in various ways. It wasn't just the obvious wealth gap either. It was also the variation in clothing worn by indentured and slaves. Where an indentured seemed obvious to me because they wore clothing near enough to what the average freeman wore, but there was a noticeable difference in slave clothing as well. From simple sackcloth, to plain tunic and trousers with a beggars belt, or woven cloth belt.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening behind me, and I turned to see Arani stepping out with a steaming mug of tea in her hands.

"Good morning Freesword." She said, with a smile sent my way.

"Good morning, Arani. Is everyone up and about?" I responded.

"Yes." she nodded, sipping from her mug, and then she waved for me to follow her. "Harum finished your amulet last night. You should take it now. The clerics at the town hall can sometimes become overwhelmed, and registering can take a few days." she said over her shoulder as I scrambled to follow her to the counter.

"Oh, yes, well I wouldn't want to be tossed out for vagrancy a day before being permitted to stay."

Arani laughed and set a copper amulet on the counter.

"Just apply a drop of blood to the back." she said, tapping the rectangular plaque. "You will need to do the same each time you advance."

I nodded, and drew my dagger, then nicked the back of my left forearm and smeared the resulting drop on the back of the metal plate. I had read the promotion scheme on the sheet that Arani had handed me. It described the promotions going from 'half-copper' to 'full-copper' then bronze, then iron, then steel, then silver, gold, platinum and ending in adamantium, all with half rank before full rank, and tests and an established group required before attaining the silver and higher rankings.

The earlier ranks were easiest to deal with. They simply required the basic skills and ability tests, and a set number of contract completions in order to be considered for the promotion. However, one of the requirements for Iron rank, had me concerned.

"Uhm, Arani? Since you are my.. advisor I would guess?.." I started as I slipped the now bonded amulet around my neck.

"Actually, that is a perfect term for it. Go ahead." She said as she seated herself.

"I know that it's a bit soon to be thinking about this, but I have a question about the requirement for Iron rank."

Arani tilted her head, and sipped her tea again, then gave me a nod to continue.

"Iron rank requires that I be a member of a group. I am guessing that is because of the difficulty of the jobs that Irons are qualified to take, is that true?"

Arani nodded. "Exactly so. Iron rank Freeswords are those who can be relied on to take care of bandit gangs, larger-than-human monsters, and caravan guard contracts. The rank also requires some level of tactical understanding, how to fight in a group, and what the important roles are in group combat."

I nodded, still concerned. "So.. how does a single Freesword find a group?"

Arani smiled, shaking her head. "Nazaqi, you are just starting out, so worrying about Iron rank now is a bit unhelpful." she admonished, then because I seemed unsatisfied by that, she relented. "But, I guess knowing isn't going to hinder you any.

Most solo fighters or mages will rank up to full-bronze in the town that they registered in. Some are lucky in that there will be others in the town that they work well with. Others are unlucky, or from very out of the way towns and will have to travel to find other Freeswords." She sipped at her mug again as I leaned against the counter, listening and absorbing the information.

"In other cases, or cases where the Freesword has the luck of finding a sponsor, the Freesword can purchase the debt of an indent who is also a fighter and is willing to put those skills to use to earn the cost of their release."

"What about slaves?" I asked, even though the thought of forcing men and women to fight under threat of the lash turned my stomach a little.

"Most slaves who can fight are likely to slit your throat and run off to join a bandit gang, Nazaqi." rumbled Bentis as he rounded the corner.

"Good morning, Bentis." I greeted him. Bentis nodded and kissed his wife's brow, hugging her gently and causing her to smile.

I contemplated his answer. "Is that because most of the slaves who know how to fight are human criminals?"

"Ha! The boy is quick." Bentis chuckled. "That is exactly why most low ranking, or even high ranking Freeswords do not buy slaves for combat."

"Nazaqi, you should go to the registrar." Arani reminded me. I nodded and waved to them both before my questions could eat up my day and end up delaying my permit to stay in the town. Stepping outside, I looked around and in both directions, and just as I was turning around to ask where the registrar was, Arani called out directions to the city hall.

I waved back to her, and trotted up the street, aiming to climb the hill toward the three story building just outside of the keep at the top of the hill. This was not where the lord's manor was. That was on the south side of the river, surrounded by higher walls, and fortified a bit better than the rest of the town. It was also on the same street as the bridge, and lined up perfectly with the keep's main gate. The keep itself had a wall around it with crenelations, and archer slits as well as a gatehouse with murder holes and a thick wooden portcullis. It was certainly nothing I wanted to go up against, even if I had an army at my back.

The Lords manor on the other hand only had a short wall, just enough to fend off a small attack, but nothing that would withstand a siege. It also had its own gate that faced onto the south river road, but not many merchants traveled that way, and only the local farmers and woodsmen used it.

I guess being an early riser was not the habit of most Freeswords, and certainly not the habit of township clerics, because I had to wait outside while the bureaucrats untangled their heads from their bedsheets and followed their bodies into work for the day.

I committed myself not to speak about the difference, as I could guess it wouldn't have been well received. In any case, I was the first in line, but was made to wait while three other men in more expensive local clothing had their hour of the cleric's time. It pays to be a merchant, no matter what world one is in.

When a cleric decided that I had waited long enough, he asked me about my business, and I presented him with my active Freeswords medallion and said that I needed to be issued some means of citizenship identification.

My medallion brought a sour look to his face for a moment, then he sighed and brought out a sheet of parchment, some wax and two seals, then he asked me my name, age, race, place of birth...

The short of it? Over an hour of questions, answers, clarifications and two gold for bothering him, and he gave me a folded sheet of parchment with the lords seal on it in two colors. All of which meant that I could travel anywhere within Vahl and its two island territories, and all I had to do was make sure that I paid my taxes, and did not break the law to any serious degree.

By the time the irritated cleric was done with me and had eagerly sent me on my way, I was getting hungry. I am sure the cleric had passed that point a while back, but he was being paid to do a job.

I headed back to the guildhouse to report my updated status as a freeman, citizen and freshly minted Freesword, which brought a smile from both Arani and Bentis, and an impatiently tapping foot from Harum. Evidently, he had won the game of Ro-Sham-Bo, and I got to endure him for my first lessons. The time ended up not being all that bad, all things considered. We started with another round of testing... just to make sure he hadn't been seeing things from lack of tea, or something, and then we discussed the role of Mana in magic, and I was in for a bit of a shocker.

".. so, Mana is.. Well. Mana is everything." Harum said when I had asked him about what mana actually was. "Mana is life."

I smirked at him a bit. "A bit vague and overdramatic for an answer, don't you think?"

"Overdramatic!" Harum blustered. "I am quite serious here. Pay attention. There are three types of mana, Inert, Active and Ambient. You are composed of both inert and active mana. Active mana is what you use to fashion and empower your magic, your spells. You can only use so much active mana because you are drawing it from within. Ambient is mana that you can draw from the world around you. I don't care how powerful a spell you can craft, you will never be able to use up all of the ambient mana around you.. Well, if you have enough stamina for it.. Meh, No. You just can't." Harum ranted.

"Now, Active mana on the other hand, if you use too many spells in a short span of time, you know what happens?" He leaned in, waggling his finger at me.

And, in point of fact, I did know what happened. "Dizziness, disorientation, mana sickness, unconsciousness.." I listed off.

"Or Death!" Harum finished. "And if you fall unconscious at the wrong time it is pretty much no different, because a monster can snap you up and kill you."

I leaned back, raising my hands in surrender. "Alright, you have a point. Over use of Active mana leaves you vulnerable." I said placatingly. "Now, what is inert mana?"

Harum grumbled. "A point the boy says.. As though this were a game. Beh!" He straightened his robes and used a hand to press back his wild hair, only to have it spring right back up in disarray again and addressed my question.

"Inert mana can take several forms," He began. "Hmm.. perhaps that is not the right way to discuss it. Let me say this first. Ambient mana flows through all things, flesh, stone, wood, steel, and of course the four elements. Fire, Water, Earth and Air." He looked at me and I nodded that I was following along.

"In monsters, it can accumulate, and in those monsters who have lived long enough to grasp certain fundamentals, or who are born with those fundamentals inherent in them, Inert mana facilitates their first developments of magic. It is the first spark that helps them discover their Active mana." He watched me open my mouth, but help up his hand. "Please.. Do not ask me how. It's not as if I was ever presented a chance to discuss it with any of the ones I have had to confront in my lifetime of being a Freesword."

I laughed and gestured for him to continue.

He grunted, though there was a slight smile on his lips for a moment, then he spoke again.

"Obviously not all creatures have active mana, though ambient mana flows through them just as it does us, and while resting, our mana replenishes. Under some circumstances, we can aid that process, or speed the process, but that is a lesson for another time." he said as he stood up and moved to one of his book shelves, having to walk around a tall spire of papers, scrolls and clothing.

"Many students and practitioners argue about what causes inert mana to act in some beasts differently than others." He took down one thick tome and brought it back, flipping through pages and then setting the book in front of me and turning it so that I could see the pages. It showed a very well drawn image of a goblin on one page, and a deer on the other.

"There may be disagreement on the cause, or the process, but what is known is that some monsters gather mana inside themselves, and the result is inert mana collecting in one place." He pointed at the diagram of the goblin, and one spot in particular, just behind the sternum was an odd shape.

"That.. is a mana crystal. In most creatures like goblins or orcs, or other low intellect monsters, the magic gathers, and collects without any means of becoming active mana.. Which is what is commonly called a mana pool when speaking of those who can alter the fabric of our world by using mana from within," He said, tapping on his chest. "or by using ambient mana." he amended.

"So, if the gathered mana is not used, or channeled, or expressed.." I said as I thought it through aloud.

"Yes.. it forms a crystal. And those crystals are very valuable." He said.

"Valuable for what?" I asked.

In answer, Harum turned and pointed at the lamp on the wall, one of many in the guild house. I had never stopped to investigate them, or question what powered them, so I looked at Harum and raised an eyebrow.

"Out here, on the edges of the kingdom, mana lamps are not typical. But in the cities, they are much more prevalent. But that is only one of the uses for those crystals." Then he sighed and sat down in his chair again.

"Although, just taking a mana crystal from a goblin will not fetch you more than a silver, even at the best of times. The mana simply isn't terribly pure, or condensed enough in goblin kin unless you happen to stumble upon a shaman or some other magic using beast, or ones who can use mana to enhance themselves." He lifted a finger and pointed it at me. "That, my boy, is where you will be finding the most coin."

I leaned back, thinking of all of the goblins, orcs and other horrors I had left unsearched in the catacombs and rubbed a hand over my eyes.

"Well, there's nothing I can do about those. At least I know now."

Then I had a concerning thought.

"Wait.. Does that mean I have one in me?" I asked, alarmed.

"Bah.. ha ha ha HA HA HAHahahahah.." he laughed until he coughed.. And then laughed again, leaving me confused and still a bit worried.

"Ah.. no, no. boy. Humans, Elves and fae kin, Dwarves and Halvalins and beast kin do not have crystals. Nor do most natural beasts like wolves, or deer, bear or even rats." He shook his head.

"Why?" I asked.

"Eh.." he sighed. "No one really knows, boy. No one really knows. It is said that the gods made all of the monsters, then the beasts, and when they had explored and expressed all of the lowest forms of creation, they left out crystals for creating the higher forms of life, as the crystals were no longer required to hold the elements together.

I shook my head. "That.. doesn't make any sense." I said.

"HA! I thought very much the same." Harum said. "Which is why I never joined the clergy... well, that and I kept pestering the priests for answers and they had none to give." He made an indecisive noise.. "Well. None that gave me any satisfaction anyway."

"So, Humans, elves, dwarves, halvalins and beast kin are all higher forms of life." I said, thoughtfully. "Then why are the demihumans treated as criminals in Vahl?"

"Ahh.." Harum said, his eyes lowering to the table. "That is just the order of things, boy. The priests of the elemental gods ordained that demihumans were made lesser, and thus subservient.."

I snorted. "That sounds more like human supremacist swill to me." I said.

"Human su.." Harum straightened, his eyes wide, then he sighed and leaned forward. "Listen to me, boy. I consider myself a man of learning, and a man of reason. And I have been around long enough and traveled far enough in my years that I can assure you that none of the races are any more or less than any other... But you best be careful who you say such things around. You hear?" he spoke fast and low, as though someone might overhear and I got a chill as I remembered similar times and conversations from another life.

"And who is it that might take offense to those words?" I asked, already having a hunch.

"The humanist church of the gods may not be in every house or inn, or even brothel in Vahl, but just one ear hearing it in the wrong place, and even while you are under the Freesword pledge, you will find no end of trouble coming after you." He said in the same tone and volume.

I held his eyes for a long time.. Then nodded.

"Foretold is forewarned." I said.

"Good.. Now, can we get back to the subject of magic?" he asked at a more normal volume.

I nodded. "So, how is Active and inert mana, both of which are comprised of the same.." I gestured vaguely, "stuff, so different in their effect on creatures?"

"Heh.. Not just creatures. Plants as well. And fish, and.. Many other things."

"Yes, I know that. But when you say 'Mana is life' I think you aren't saying just that. So what are you saying?"

Harum looked at me for a moment and then growled. "Mana is more than just what someone can use to make things happen, boy. It is in everything. It is the potential for longevity, it is.."

"Wait.. what was that?" I asked, stunned.

"It is in everything, of course." Harum repeated.

"No.. what you said about potential." I clarified.

"Oh.. Yes. One's capacity to gather and hold mana has much to do with one's potential life span. Why else are the Sylvanic people so long lived?"

"The who?" I asked.

"The.." Harum started and then his lips twisted like two wrestling worms. "The elves, you nitwit. There are several kinds of elves and they are all Sylvanic, Dokkvaric, Faerintic or Svarthilic. Now stop distracting me from the important part."

But even though I heard him droning on about the importance of managing one's mana properly, I found myself thinking about what I knew about my own pool of mana.

"Harum." I interrupted at some point in his diatribe.

"Eh.. What?"

"How large.. Is it? My mana capacity" I asked.

"Well.. ihh, honestly, when I had you hold the measuring crystal.. ehh." He hedged and shook his head.

"What." I urged him.

"I got the feeling you were just, hmm tickling it a bit with your mana, like you weren't really trying, and yet it was still far beyond anything I have seen."

"So.. potentially.. I could live a very long time." I concluded softly.

"Potentially. Yes." Harum agreed. "So long as you don't go wandering off on some harebrained adventure and act like a club-thumping mountain ape, and get yourself killed in a messy way.. You could live.." Harum shrugged helplessly. "A very.. very long time." he finished lamely.

He and I sat there in silence for a minute, each thinking on what had been said.

"Harum.. How old are you?"

Harum scowled at me until he read my expression and grumbled. "I will be one hundred and thirty winters old next Highfrost." he finally admitted.

I looked the man over and I swear that he looked to be only in his late sixties. "Mana.. the more you have of it, the younger you appear, I am guessing." to which Harum simply nodded.

"Is there any way to.. I don't know.. Regress your aging at some point?" I asked.

"Ha!. HA.. HA HA HA ha ha.. No, no boy. That has been tried by any number of mages throughout time. The best result they managed was to deplete their mana well for a time and lose a dozen years of research and headaches." He shook his head. "No. Once time passes, only the gods can turn it back, and no amount of praying and sacrifices has ever convinced any one of them to do so."

I laughed as well, though maybe for other reasons.

"I guess this is enough for today, boy. But next time, I want you here and actually paying attention. We need to talk about runes and alchemy!" he said in a no nonsense manner. That got my attention and he saw it.

"Oh? You want to know about alchemy do you?"

"I think I might, if it is what I think it is." I replied honestly.

"Good. Then I guess I will see you here in a tenday." He stated, crossing his arms and smiling smugly. I could see I wouldn't be getting anything more out of him for that day, so I stood and gave him a bow.

"Thank you for your lesson, Advisor Harum."

"Huh.. Advisor Harum, is it." the title seemed to tickle his fancy and he chuckled as I walked out of his cluttered study.

I made my way into the lobby and saw Arani talking to an older gentleman in merchant's clothing, and waved to her.

"Nazaqi?" she called out over the merchant's head.

"Yes?"

"Don't forget, tomorrow you have lessons with me. Be early, please."

"I will, Arani. Have a good day." I replied and turned right, heading for the inn.

My mind was swimming with the information that Harum had given me, and I was momentarily concerned about forgetting any of the points that he had made regarding, not just mana, but the views on demihumans and the longevity of anyone or anything that could harness magic. I stopped, and moved to one side as a wagon passed by and I looked to my right, realizing that I had stepped into the covered stall of a merchant selling all sorts of stationary and inks. I didn't even have to think about it, I just turned toward the counter and smiled as I approached.

"Good day to you, merchant." I greeted him.

"Ah, good day to you as well, sir. What may I help you with?" He responded, inviting me in.

"I was wondering if you might have a good sturdy set for someone wishing to keep track of information. Ink, quill.. Perhaps a leather bound book without any writing in it?"

The merchant looked me over slowly, seeming skeptical. "Well, I do have something of the sort, but such things are hardly inexpensive."

He cautioned.

"Of course. So long as it is made well and everything is of good quality, I can hardly fault you for charging its worth." I answered.

He showed me four such sets, most of them in flat wooden boxes, and two of them over-decorated for my tastes. Particularly considering the less than well crafted books inside of them. I asked if it would be possible to shift around bits, and buy something more to my taste. He smiled and shrugged, and helped me exchange the best of the books into a well crafted box, with several quills, two ink sticks, and a mixing bowl as well as a small jar of wood alcohol for cleaning.

Then the haggling began, and I think I was only cheated a little. Well, I probably got cheated more than a little, but he did put some good effort into his haggling, so I was willing to pay for the entertainment value if not the product.

From there, I made good speed to the inn, and took up a table to begin writing down as much of what Harum had said as possible. A mug of tea, a table top which was quickly littered with my writing equipment and I was then lost for a good amount of time until a bowl of stew and a large hunk of bread was set down in the one open spot left on the table.

One sniff of the stew and my stomach announced that it would no longer be silent for the sake of my scribblings. I turned and looked up to find Loira staring down at me.

"I need to talk to you."

"shit. Those words are never the intro to good things."

I was mostly wrong. Mostly.

"So, what would you like to speak about?" I asked as I started putting things away and stuffing them into my magic bag, which was something that Loira did not miss, but put out of her mind to focus on me.

"My sister says she won't be able to be here tonight, as the senior corporal is still attending to his wife and child." She said, which had me confused for so long that I forgot I had a spoon full of the stew in my mouth as I stared at Loira.

"My sister.. Dana. She said she can't be here tonight for your.." she waved her hand vaguely. "Whatever it is that you are doing."

Then the proverbial lightbulb finally flickered on, and I quickly chewed the stew, which.. In a moment I would realize it was pretty good, and swallowed so I could speak.

"Corporal Dana is your sister." I stated the obvious.

"Yes. No one else believes it either, though we look enough alike." Loira said, seeming a little perturbed.

I laughed and shook my head. "I'm sorry, I didn't fit the pieces together in my mind. But, thank you for the message." I gestured to the bag at my side. "As you can see, I am prepared for when she can make time to help me."

Loira nodded, staring at the bag. "Yes.. Just what is it that you want to meet her for anyway." she asked, and there was an undertone that I was familiar with.

"what are your intentions with my sister?" Said no one to me ever..

"I asked her to help me understand the laws from the perspective of a guard. I said that I would buy her dinner as compensation for her time." I answered honestly. Loira looked at me with narrowed eyes, then down to my bag and sighed out almost laughing.

"You're serious." she said simply.

"I am." I confirmed.

"I am sorry for acting like an inquisitor.. It's just that nearly every man in this town has tried to sweet talk her into their bed, and more than enough of those just passing through." she confessed, which confirmed my suspicion of a protective older sister.

"Though, I have to say that if you were just trying to get yourself into her bed, You had picked something a bit original."

I waved my hands between us and shook my head. "No.. no, I think I am quite capable of laying on the charm without resorting to underhanded tricks like that. No, I truly do need to know how guards view the law, because they are the first ones I would have to deal with if I find myself in trouble." I held up a finger. "As well.. I am not from Vahl, and I had best understand the laws as soon as possible. I don't need to be in trouble. I've quite enough to deal with without it."

Loira nodded, and then crossed her arms under her breasts. When she spoke again, she was looking at me through narrowed eyes again.

Loira sighed. "About Tio,"

I watched Loira waiting to see what she felt about a customer spending the night with one of her slaves, and it was a long moment.

"Don't interfere with her work." she finally said, then she turned and walked away leaving me wondering exactly how she felt about the women she legally owned as property.

My stew was only a little cold at that point, but I dug in with the appetite of a man who hadn't eaten since the night before. Honestly, I was surprised that my appetite on average was less than I had eaten in my previous life, and I briefly wondered about that.. And then the thought vanished when I scooped up the next bite of stew and chewed a bit of bread with it.

When I had cleaned the bowl with the last bit of bread, I leaned back and considered pulling out my writing materials again, but I felt the fatigue of an uneasy nights sleep, and a full day of working my mind. Which is just about when the scent of soap and honeysuckle slipped past me accompanying the arm of a small woman.

I turned and smiled at Tio, speaking softly. "Hello lovely."

She blushed a bit and smiled back as she took the bowl and the empty mug.

"Hello master Nazaqi, is your stomach sated?"

"It is. Are you the one I should be thanking for these nightly feasts?" I asked, flirting only a little.

She laughed, and it was delightful, just as it had been the night before.

"No. Shaira does all of the cooking, though Milaya and I help whenever she needs it." she admitted.

There was a long moment of silence between us, disturbed only a little by the conversation being held by two merchants at the far table.

"So, Loira knows about you and I last night." I said to break the silence.

Tio nodded. "Yes, she does."

"I am having a hard time understanding what she thinks of it. Honestly, I am having difficulty understanding the culture around slaves and indents." I admitted.

Tio laughed softly. "Loira is.. not like other masters and mistresses. Yes, she owns us, but under the prickly attitude she has, she actually cares about us. She wants to protect us, and keep us from becoming like..."

I nodded, having passed the inn with a brothel earlier, and noting the dead and despondent look in the women's eyes.

"I understand. I would like to think I would be like Loira as well, if I were in her position."

Tio smiled warmly at me while caressing my shoulder. "I think you would too."

"Are.. you going to sneak up again tonight?" I asked, mostly just out of curiosity, but also because her touch, and the scent of her hair was bringing back memories of the night before.

"I'm still a bit sore." She said softly while blushing and looking away. I noted that she still had a secretive smile, so I leaned down to speak softly into her ear.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" I asked.

The moan she let out was answer enough for me.

After Tio went back to the kitchen with my dishes, I decided it would be best if I tried to get an early night of sleep in order to compensate for my previously lost sleep, both from enjoying my time with Tio, and from the disturbed sleep from the dream. I found it curious that the dream had been so clear and sharp, and seemed so real. After stripping down, I settled into bed and quickly lost myself to exhaustion.

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Once again my mind was assailed with images of the catacombs. Goblins and orcs rushing out of the dark, from hidden gaps in the walls, and from crude huts made of bones and branches and covered with hides. Skeletons clacked and clattered in pursuit and shambling zombies shuffled behind me in the dark, or passed me when I hid in places they could not climb through. But it wasn't me. I was seeing the world through a haze that grew more and more red around the edges until I managed to push open a stone door that led out onto a narrow cliff path. My skin chilled in the night air and the sight of millions of sparks high above stunned and amazed me.

But far beyond the amazement I felt toward the stars, was the beauty of two brilliant orbs hanging in the velvet black above me, one smaller than the other and with a winding mark across its face like a long faded scar.

Still, the haze around the edges of my vision pulsed and I wrapped my arms around my middle, fighting off the need and the hunger.

"please.. Please let me find him! I don't want to be like them!"

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I groaned as I lurched up, grabbing at my stomach and rubbing at my eyes in the dark, only for that clawing emptiness to fade as I became more aware of being in my bed at the inn. Though, while the emptiness seemed to vanish, the fullness of my bladder quickly replaced it, so I flipped the covers aside and pulled on a pair of knee length underpants and tied them at the waist as I shuffled across the room, and down the hall to the privy.

Images of the fighting and running through the catacombs still flashed through my mind while I relieved myself and cleaned up. Then as I glanced out through the open window high in the wall, I caught sight of the moons, one large one, pale gray and pockmarked by asteroids, the other smaller and likely farther away, but there was a long slanted patch of gray that looked almost like a long healed scar that ran from high on the left, to low on the right in a jagged line.

I hadn't paid much attention to the moons up until this point. Most of my concern had been what was on the ground and in the trees around me. I wondered if my dream self was just picking up on where the moons were in the sky or some other subconscious phenomena.

I shuffled my way back to my room and collapsed on the bed, pulling the covers over me and letting sleep reclaim me for the balance of the night.

When I woke the next morning, I was hungry and it took several splashes of cold water from the wash basin to get my head clear enough to review the dream. I remember having lucid dreams before, in my previous life, but nothing..I mean nothing like these dreams. Everything seemed so real, so sharp and clear in a way that I could have really been there.

Sure, I had been in those mountains, but enough was different that I felt strongly that these were not just images pushed together from my days of climbing down from the blocked entrance to the catacombs.

I started pulling things out of my magic bag, and laying them out. I had collected a lot of clothing from the many caches I had uncovered in the catacombs, and now was as good a time to go through everything as any. I wasn't expected at the guild house for a few hours.

I liked the feel and the flow of the hakama, and I had collected several pair, but the ones I was wearing needed a wash and some time to rest, so I changed into a pair of simple short legged underpants, they were really too long in the leg to call them boxers, and a layered set of hakama in black and gray. I also wore a pair of charcoal gray socks and some nice calf high boots with leather wraps and a nice hard heel.

I found another under robe, made of some fabric that could be silk, but In this world, I have no idea what their equivalent would have been. It was a pale cream color, and I felt good as I slipped it over my shoulders, tied it under my ribs with the short ties, and tucked it into my hakama.

I looked outside through the window and though it was clear, it looked like it might be a chilly day, so I kept digging until I found an overcoat of some dark gray soft leather. I mean really soft. It felt good, so I slipped it on and was surprised at the fit. It was close fitting around the chest and waist, but not so tight that it prevented movement. The sleeves were only elbow length, and wide. The leather at the shoulders, the cowl and the sleeves felt like it was double the thickness of the chest, but the softness, the suppleness of the leather made it easy to move around in. The whole thing ended at my knees, making it a long coat, instead of a trench coat. I wrapped a sash belt three times around my waist and slipped my Naginata through it, and smiled. I thought I looked good, I certainly felt good.

I brushed out my hair and used a long strip of leather to wrap my hair into a tightly wrapped ponytail, gave the sides and back of my head a little rub, a bit disgruntled at the fact that I could shave them and not the top, and then let it go and left my room. I had a long day of note taking and digesting information ahead of me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Nazaqi?" Arani's voice jolted me back into an upright sitting position.

"Sorry, Arani." I looked down at the notes on contracts and guild conduct that I had taken already and I had to rub at my eyes. "I haven't been sleeping well." I sighed.

"Should we stop for the day?" Arani asked with a bit of compassion.

"No. Please. I need to learn these things." I wiped at my face and cleaned the nib of my quill, then dipped it and readied myself to take notes.

"So, " I said, prompting her. "We've gone through guild responsibilities, dues and reporting."

"Good, yes. Now we need to talk about conflicts and mediation.

When there are conflicts between guild members, it is the responsibility of the guild masters or guild branch leaders to mediate between the parties involved and find an acceptable resolution. Anything short of crimes punishable by law, must be mediated within the guild."

I finished making notes and nodded. "And anything that is punishable by Vahlish law?" I asked.

Arani frowned. "It must be reported to the magistrate, and all witnesses and evidence must be turned over for investigation by the magistrates court."

I sensed something there, a feeling that I had touched on several times already, but once again I left it alone and concentrated on what I was doing. "So, theft, injury, murder, rape, arson or other crimes punishable by the magistrates are to be judged by the magistrate and cannot be mediated by the guild leaders." I finished jotting down notes and underlining important parts.

"Correct." Arani confirmed.

"So, at what point is a Freesword Guild member demoted, or dismissed?" I asked.

Arani took a deep breath and spoke as if chanting a memorized passage; "In the cases where a freesword is found guilty of cowardice, negligence, or fraud, two guild masters can demote a Freesword guild member. In cases where the same actions are repeated, three guildmasters must be present and be familiarized with the history of the guild member. They must hear any available testimony and unanimously concur in order to banish the member from the guild, or where any guild member has been found guilty of a crime in a magistrates court, he or she will automatically lose their membership, privileges, protections and any accounts will be seized." She recited. "Accounts are seized primarily to pay any victims, and after to pay any outstanding debts. Anything that may be left over are considered to be the property of the guild unless the guild member has any dependents."

I nodded. All of that seemed fair enough to me. It isn't like someone convicted of murder would need any money while spending life in a quarry shipping out stone blocks for the king's highway. I was preparing to ask about something else, but the heavy footfalls of Bentis walking down the hallway disrupted my thoughts, and I turned toward the door just as it opened.

"Ara?" Bentis said with some irritation in his voice.

"Yes, Ben?"

"Master trader Luchant refuses to back down on the price he demands we pay for the grain and salts from the eastern shipments." Bentis reported. "He says.."

"That his costs and risks are too much to sell to the Freesword guild at less than he would get from a miller. Yes.. yes. He is conveniently forgetting that the Freeswords guild has a contract with him for these shipments and he cannot renegotiate those contracts without a writ from Pol'Avika branch Trade guild AND the Pol'Avika Freeswords guild." Arani said from her seat, but then stood up while shaking her head. "And he won't listen to you either, my great ogre of a husband. He has a golden shield over both ears in the shape of coins."

Bentis frowned for a moment and then chuckled. "Fair enough. You are my cunning wife, and I am but your strong arm." he said to her with a tender look in his eye.

She met that look with as much tenderness and kissed the huge man by pulling him down by his tunic, then sighed and left the room to go do battle with a greedy dragon in the shape of a merchant.

"Well." I said to myself as I cleaned my nib again. "I guess it is lunch time."

With my writing materials stashed away in my bag again, I followed the scent of lunch being cooked by Kartha in the kitchen. She was singing to herself as she washed potatoes in a bucket of water and tucked a stray lock of hair back under her coif as I watched. I knocked politely on the counter to get her attention.

"Good day Kartha." I said warmly. She jumped and turned to look at me as though I was going to attack her, then stood there with her eyes wide and her breasts heaving.

"Kartha?.. Are you alright?" I asked her, alarmed at her behavior.

She settled after a moment, then responded shakily. "Fine.. just fine. You startled me is all.

I frowned a little but nodded. It was obvious to me that she was on edge, and suffering under stress. But even Harum at his worst was highly unlikely to have brought this kind of reaction from her.

"Are you hoping for a bit to eat, master Nazaqi?" She asked in a more normal tone.

"Only if it isn't disrupting you too much. You already have work to do, I am sure." I said, even though my stomach was nearly slamming at the gates in rebellion for missing breakfast... again.

Kartha smiled and nodded. "I will bring you some food. We have a spiced roast if you would like."

My stomach took that opportunity to howl, loudly, and we both looked down at it.

"I was trying not to impose on the woman you traitor." I said to my stomach, which simply gurgled plaintively again causing Kartha to laugh.

"I will bring it right out, master Nazaqi. Just have a seat."

I found my way to a table, and pulled a chair around to face the window on the far wall. After a few minutes Kartha walked out of the kitchen and around the counter to stand beside me, setting the plate on the table.

"Your stomach certainly is expressive." Kartha said with a smile.

I put on my best high-society airs and responded. "Pay no heed to that cretin dwelling in my belly, miss. You will simply encourage him. Next he will have you believe I haven't fed him since last the moons kissed the earth."

"But, master Nazaqi... the moons kissed the earth this morning." She said, slightly confused but amused all the same.

"My gods!" I remarked. "So long ago?" Kartha laughed at my antics and I turned my attention to my plate, digging in and making fast work of what she had brought. Several large slices of spiced roast, a small baked potato with cream butter and chives, and a few slices of green spring apples. The tart kind, but not so unripe as to be bitter. All of that washed down by fresh clear water that must have come from their well.

I was just relaxing, and letting it all settle in when my mood was soured by the arrival of Ransin and his two henchmen, Heckyl and Jeckyl. Ransin laughed like an out of tune jackass, and the two following him laughed like they were getting paid coppers for their effort. Lucky for me they were too busy to bother with me for the moment. Unfortunately, that left Kartha, and the counter was not barrier enough for Ransin who left his companions leaning against it while he went into the kitchen. I heard a pan drop on the floor and turned to look at Kartha who had been pinned against the basin counter by Ransin who had his hands groping the young woman's breast while tugging up the side of her skirts to get at her thigh.. Or more.

I stood up and moved closer to the bar where Koel and Barin were watching and laughing to themselves, and I got a look at the terrified expression on Kartha's face. I didn't really think things through before I called out.

"Hey Ransin."

"Fuckoff." the rapist called back.

"Hey! Ransin!" I called out, louder this time.

"What, half-copper!" Ransin growled, turning to look at me.

I gave a jerk of my head. "C'mere."

Ransin shoved away from Kartha, who turned her terrified eyes on me, silently begging me to run. I didn't. I just waited for Ransin to round the side of the bar and looked steadily in the eyes, making him look up into mine.

"What the fuck do you want, half-copper?" He growled, trying his best to intimidate me.

I tilted my head back toward Kartha, who stood trembling and supporting herself with both hands on the basin edge.

"Guild charter and the law both state that you aren't supposed to harass or molest indentured servants." I said calmly.

"Who says I'm harassing anyone?" Ransin said belligerently. He turned to Koel and Barin, who shook their heads, then he turned to glare at Kartha who shrank back even more.

"The look on her face says enough, Ransin. It's disgust and fear, if you can't read peoples faces."

Ransin turned back to me, scowling with his upper lip twitching in irritation, then something changed in his eyes and he started to smile.

"Hey Koel.." he said, while keeping his eyes on mine. I just kept looking right back into his eyes, my pale gray meeting his shit browns.

"Yeah?" asked Koel.

"When was the last time we got any sparring in?"

"Sparring?" echoed Koel dumbly.

"Yeahh," said Barin, seemingly catching on to what Ransin was talking about. "Old bald Beni has been harping on us to spar at least twice a week, but we've been so busy at the Postern to keep up on that, ain't we Koel." he said, mentioning one of the inn and brothel establishments in town.

Koel, evidently had caught up now and nodded. "Yeah, that's right."

"Yeah," Ransin said. "It is." He reached up and gripped my shoulder, and turned me toward the lobby, and the stairs that led down into the basement practice room. "We should all go and get some sparring in, huh half-copper."

Ransin only heard the sigh.. He did not see the smile on my face as I led the way down stairs. I did note the hurried steps behind us, and the thump of a door closing in a hurry.

I slipped out of my overcoat, and folded it, then laid my weapon on it, then I turned and faced the three men, stepping right into the middle of them.

"Before we get to this..sparring that we need to thoroughly practice, here's a bit of a lesson you need to learn, half-copper." Ransin said as he cracked his knuckles.

"If I am enjoying myself, You don't fucking say a word to me."

I just stood loose, prepared and watchful of everything and nothing simultaneously and repeated, "Guild charter, and the law of Vahl, Ransin."

Ransin lost any semblance of a smile and growled. "Pound this half-copper shit!"

Those words were enough to trigger my use of body magic, and I let the mana flow through me, boosting my strength and reaction time to the point that everything else seemed to move as though through thick mud.

Barin was the first to act, he came in low aiming for my body, trying to tackle me from my left. I kipped back, and gripped his collar with my right hand and helped him on his way, assisting him in the direction he was going while I kept my eyes on Ransin. Koel came in next, throwing a wide haymaker that would have thundered into my head, if I had not caught it, and threw him over my hip in a judo throw that landed him on his back.

Ransin took that opportunity to come in swinging, a right hand punch that was aimed for my kidney, but I was already spinning, anticipating his move and gripping his wrist to lock his arm while my right leg came up and planted my shin across his gut, to knock the wind out of him and send him stumbling back onto his ass.

Barin was back on his feet now and came in a bit slower this time, throwing punches that I blocked or swept past my head, then returned a couple of jabs to the nose until I noticed Koel and Ransin both back on their feet again. The next right hand jab Barin threw, I caught in my hand and twisted, then brought my right foot up and around his arm into his shoulder, dislocating it with a satisfying pop, and he fell to the ground clutching at his shoulder with a scream.

Koel bellowed like a bull, and charged in, arms spread and obviously going for a bear hug or a tackle. I bent my knees, lowering my center of gravity and leaned toward him as my left foot crossed my right, then I fell into the movement and bent my upper body back in the direction I had just come from while extending my right leg at his head height planting my heel into his teeth and causing him to backflip past me as I recovered and faced Ransin. Koel landed on his face, and didn't move after that. Barin was still screaming about his shoulder being broken, and Ransin was too blinded by his fury to clue into how stupid it was to keep on in this direction. So he came in, a little more slowly this time, and having to step around his downed buddies, but he could only see me, standing there watching him.

He swung with his left, then right then left again before backing off and resetting. Then he did it again, repeating the pattern and resetting.

Then, stupidly, he came in again, left, then right, and that's where I ended the pattern, gripping his wrist and twisting, but instead of kicking him like I had last time, I just held his wrist in my left hand, his arm straightened and stepped forward to place the tips of my right hand on his sternum.

"A little lesson for you, Rancid, you greasy little shit." I said just before I twisted, first on the balls of my feet, then my hips, followed by my torso and shoulders. I transmitted all of that momentum and force into the knuckles of my right hand which had only four inches of distance before they impacted and cracked his sternum, throwing him five feet in the air before he landed and rolled to a stop.

I calmed my breathing as I walked closer to Ransin, letting all of the adrenaline flow out of my system with each step so I wouldn't shake and my voice was controlled. Ransin was struggling to breathe by the time I bent down and gripped him by his greasy brown hair and lifted his head, just in time for him to cough up some blood and wheeze in agony.

"The lesson for you is that when I tell you to stop harassing women.. I fucking mean it." Ransin's eyes were saucer wide as he stared at me.

"So, I want you to hear me right now. Do. Not. Ever. Touch. Kartha. Again. Or I am going to drag you down here and we are going to 'practice' from sunrise til sunrise, or until I get tired of kicking the shit out of you."

Then I smiled.. And let his greasy hair slip out of my fingers. His head dropped and thumped against the thick leather mats, though..from experience they aren't all that thick. Then I straightened and turned to retrieve my coat and weapon from the floor by the wall, and moved toward the stairs where Bentis and Arani were watching with Kartha hiding behind them.

I looked at Bentis, and then Arani, their eyes looking at the wreckage I had left behind me, and then looking at me.

"I think he will be leaving Kartha alone now. Though.. He may want to find someone who is willing to tend to his injuries.. Soon." I said calmly. Bentis nodded and started walking toward Barin who's screaming had faded to a steady whimper. Arani moved over to check on Koel, then sighed and rolled the man over onto his back and left him to recover on his own.

Kartha,.. Kartha looked at me with a mixed expression, it was half fear and half worshipful gratitude. I simply nodded and walked up the stairs.I wanted some fresh air, and a bit of time to relax. Bentis and Arani caught up with me on the stairs of the guild house that led to the street.

"Nazaqi, wait a moment." Bentis called out. I stopped and turned around as I was tucking my weapon into the sash belt of my overcoat. I waited for them to catch up to me and watched them expectantly. Bentis spoke first.

"That.. was quite the display of technique, Nazaqi. I can't say I have ever seen that fighting style before."

I nodded. "It is a mixture of Gong Fu, and Aikibudo." I shrugged. Bentis blinked in confusion, then shook his head.

"Sure, boy. Sure.. But I have to know. What started that little dust up in the first place?" He asked as he leaned back against the pillar supporting the overhang that kept the rain off of the steps.

I looked at Bentis, and then at Arani. "So, Kartha hasn't been keeping you informed about Ransin's groping and intimidation of her." I said, sounding less than surprised.

Both Arani and Bentis scowled, and I followed my instinct, and let slip a bit of mind magic on the two of them. Visions of arguments and Corporal Dana pleading her case, vehemently demanding something be done about Ransin's ... sexual assault on her, and Bentis' failure to pursue justice on her behalf.

"Damn. SO that's the source of the guilt I have been seeing on their faces every time Ransin comes up." I thought to myself, while struggling to keep my face free of my emotions.

"I was finishing my lunch when Ransin and the others came into the dining hall. Ransin went behind the bar and pinned Kartha to the counter and was groping her. She looked terrified, so I put a stop to it." I continued, my eyes moving from Bentis to Arani and back, watching their reactions. Bentis looked more and more guilty, while Arani was barely containing her rage by the non-stop clenching of her fists.

"Evidently that pissed Ransin off, so he and his bone-headed friends 'invited me' to a bit of sparring." I smiled and brushed some imaginary dirt off of my left sleeve. "Which I was very happy to participate in. For obvious reasons."

"Ehhh.." Bentis sighed out. "All well and good, boy. All well and good, and Thank you on Kartha's behalf. But this could be calling down a boulder of trouble for you."

"How so?" I asked. "Aren't all disputes among guild members mediated by the leadership?"

"Ben." Arani said simply, and he turned to look at her. "Go finish with Master Trader Luchant. I will talk with Nazaqi." She lifted her chin and looked into her husband's eyes. There was a silent conversation there that I didn't catch and he simply gave a nod and walked back into the guild house.

"Why don't we take a walk, Nazaqi." She said as she turned me by my shoulder and slipped her arm into mine.

As Arani and I entered the market square, neither of us had said anything. I was giving her time to gather her thoughts, because I thought she was about to say something important. Then the scent of broiling meat and sauce passed by and I heard her stomach grumble.

"You didn't get lunch yet." I said matter of factly and steered her toward the booth with a grill behind it and an eastern man tending the skewers.

"I will take three of those, please." I announced loud enough for him to hear me.

"Aye, that'll be three serfs." He said, using the eastern slang for full copper coins. I dug them out and let them fall into a brass bowl on the counter so he could hear them land, and he nodded, slathering a bit more sauce on three skewers of meat, and then used the long ends to hand them to me. I, in turn, handed two of them to Arani who looked at me, then the meat and bit off a bite and chewed. We both groaned in pleasure at the spiced sauce and quickly devoured the snack.

I returned to the booth and called the man to the counter, he scowled and moved the other skewers away from the flames to keep them from burning.

"No refunds!" He said firmly.

"Ha. wouldn't want any refund for that delicious treat." I responded.

"Oh?" he asked, looking pleasantly surprised. "What have ye then?"

"I was wondering if you might be interested in selling me a bag of those spices." I said, as I pulled a couple of silver from my bag and showed them to him. His eyes lit up briefly and then they narrowed again in suspicion. But I shook my head.

"No, good sir, I am not interested in being any kind of competition to you, not at all. I just like the flavor so much that I would like to enjoy it when I am cooking for myself on the road."

The man tilted his head, looking from me to the coins in my hand and back and nodded. "Fine, is. Come back in half a glass, ye, and I'll have a quarter head sack for." He said, which I translated to mean he would have a sack weighing a little under a pound. I nodded and dropped the coins into his bowl, which he emptied quickly and turned back to his meats, calling toward the back of the booth in the eastern language.

I returned to Arani and took her arm in mine and we continued our walk.

"I think you know that Bentis and I have had problems with Ransin before." She started. I nodded, as my eyes glanced at the wares being sold in the booths we passed.

"I gathered as much by the looks on your faces. Want to tell me about it?" I asked as I pulled her into a soap sellers booth, and smelled the variety of soaps on offer.

"I.. can't really go into details. There are certain rules about conflicts between guild members. They are meant to protect both parties from being denied contracts."

"Confidentiality clause." I said as I purchased three blocks of soap about the size of my large fist for a half-bronze each, and slipped them into my bag.

"Yes.. that's a good term for it. Confidentiality clause." Arani confirmed.

"So, what can you tell me that doesn't breach that clause?" I asked as we continued to tour the market, slowing by one stall or another.

"The.. case against Ransin couldn't be.. pursued fully." she said, picking her words with care.

I listened as I stopped into an ironmongers booth, picking through flat pans and camp pots, with a mind toward camp cooking.

"Why?" I asked simply.

Arani sighed, taking one pot from my hands and putting it aside to pull another one from the ground that was the same size, but had three pegs extending from the bottom. I nodded and set it next to the skillet that I was putting aside on reserve, then continued looking through the items being sold. I was hoping to find a dutch oven, or something similar.

"We couldn't take the case to the magistrate, because it would have been in his favor, even though all of the evidence was against him." Arani admitted. I looked at her for a moment, seeing that same guilt on her face that Bentis had shown.

"So.. he's got connections." I said in a flat tone. Then turned my attention back to digging through the offerings and then pulled up what I had been hoping to find. My conversation with Arani was interrupted while I had the merchant find the plate that went inside of the eight inch deep pot, and then while I paid for all three items, once again slipping them into my bag, with not the slightest bit of bulge resulting.

"Where.. How much do you have in that bag?" she finally asked.

"In this?" I asked, patting my magic bag. "Honestly, I have no idea. A couple of rooms worth of treasures, armor, coins, gems,.." I let the list fade as her eyes widened in shock.

"A couple... rooms?" she asked.

"I forgot how many, actually. A lot?" I shrugged. "Remember, I was in those catacombs for.. A long time."

Arani shook her head, looked at the bag one more time and then sighed. "Why are you a Freesword if you have all of that treasure?" She asked.

"What else am I going to do? How else will I learn about this land and it's people if I don't travel?" I explained. "Besides, If a freesword has a bit of coin because he works, hunts monsters and guards a caravan now and then, no one asks where the coin came from. But a stranger who simply throws coins around? That brings attention that I don't want."

Arani took that in looking at me in a way that said she was revising her appraisal of me and nodded.

"So, back to Ransin." I prompted. "He has connections."

Arani shook her head as we continued on our meandering path through the market. "No. He has relations." She said, I looked at her and she clarified. "The Magistrate is his uncle, and Lord Delosin is a cousin by marriage."

I snorted. "Once again, those who are responsible for upholding and exemplifying the law have little more than contempt for the law."

Arani sighed, but didn't refute it.

"And Bentis thinks that Ransin may think about calling on his uncle to have me strung up for putting an end to his fun with Kartha." I said, looking at Arani, and then guiding us both toward a weavers booth to look closely at some thick material in rolls.

"Strung up?" Arani asked, confused.

"It is a term used for when you kill someone by hanging them by the neck." I explained.

I interrupted our conversation again, to talk with the woman selling the blankets, and she showed me several thick bedrolls. I purchased two which had what the weaver called rain protection on them, and I smelled oils in the fabric and nodded. From talking to Bentis about his travels with Arani and Harum, I guessed that keeping dry would be preferable to sleeping cold and wet.

When we left the booth, Arani looked at me, seeming to be asking herself a question. So, I said what I thought would be the answer.

"No, I am not preparing to run off and avoid Ransin's little retribution. I learned long ago that if you run from trouble, it just follows you and waits until you are exhausted to kill you." I turned and looked into her eyes to let her know I was serious. "I don't run from trouble. I burn it to the ground."

Arani blinked and pulled her head back in surprise. Then she laughed. "Goddess Leichna, have mercy. No wonder you and Bentis get along." she chuckled, and I joined her. She pulled me over into a booth where a western man was selling clothing, and began pawing through some dresses and skirts, and sighing over a couple of fine silk blouses and shawls.

I figured this would be a good place to be rid of a few things that would never fit me. I had held them up and guessed they would be used to dress someone a foot or so taller and broader than myself. So I pulled them out and showed them to the merchant who inspected them carefully.

He tried to act less than impressed, but I caught him fingering the weave and watched his lip twitch into a brief smile.

I tugged Arani over while she was holding a few things and asked her to be my haggler for the four items I was getting rid of. They went back and forth about weave and quality, stitching and threads and were coming close to a final price when I asked the merchant to use the blouses and shawl that Arani had been pining over to lessen the man's burden of lost coin, which he happily took me up on. Arani objected, but I shook my head and nodded toward the merchant who then dropped the amount by the price of the items, and they came to a deal.

I got the coin, The merchant got the shirts and trousers, and Arani got her blouses and shawl.

"You didn't have to get these, you know." Arani said reluctantly.

"I know. But what was I going to do with clothing that I would be swimming in? I figured I may as well give you a good reason to have been here warning me about the dangers of Ransin's relatives." She just nodded, and hugged the blouses to her while watching me.

"So. You aren't going to run off and avoid his retaliation, are you." She asked me.

"No. If you show a coward your back, you invite him to attack you again and again. If you show him your teeth, they find someone else to torture." I replied. "Besides.. He could surprise us all and become a fine upstanding man and representative of the Freeswords guild."

Arani choked and then laughed, burying her face in the blouses she held in her arms.

"And stone will grow wings." she countered.

"And stone will grow wings." I repeated, agreeing with her.

I noticed a spice merchant as we began looping back and excitedly pulled Arani inside as I began smelling the heavy mix of scents. I haggled with the merchant and ended up buying fist sized satchels of just about everything he had, which left him with a pleased smile, and Arani looking a bit confused.

"Why are you buying spices?" she asked.

"I like cooking." I said simply. "Cooking on the road can be dull. Plain, dry food is fine for when you don't have a choice, or when you don't have time. But it seems to drain you of vitality. Or, at least I find it to be so." I shrugged. "If I have a meal that I am looking forward to, I find I can pass the distance much faster, and any cold or damp seems less of a burden."

Arani nodded as she found she agreed with the sentiment.

"Many times Bentis and I found the days and nights of travel were worth it when we stopped at an inn and had a good meal." she reminisced.

We closed our loop of the market by revisiting the easterner selling skewers, and he presented me with a large satchel of mixed spices.

"Enjoy it, ye. Be grindin it good eh. Then mixin it wit water an bit o sour wine, aey."

"To give it bite?" I asked, trying to get an idea of how he made the sauce.

"Aey!" He agreed. "Don' let it heat overlong, er it turn bitter."

"Thank you. I will look forward to this." I said, giving him a wave and walking beside Arani toward the guild house.

"So. Do you think Bentis is alright with the master trader?" I asked.

A look of panic pulled her eyes wide open and she turned to me.

"Oh gods!.. I need to go, or that man will end up losing his trousers!"

I laughed and she waved over her shoulder as she ran down the street, leaving me with a few hours of sunlight and nothing much to do.

Then the gods of this world must have heard me thinking.

"Hey, Freesword!" came a woman's voice from behind me.

"I turned around to find Corporal Dana walking up with two other guards, all in leather armor and tabards of the town watch.

"Ah, Corporal." I said, acting relaxed, though I was a bit nervous. I didn't think that Ransin could have acted this quickly, but one should never underestimate the pettiness of bullies. "How is your day?" I asked casually.

"Fine, fine." she replied. Combing back her short brown hair, but the curls seemed to want to do anything but behave, and a few strands slipped attractively over her left eye.

"I just wish some merchants kept a shorter leash on the mercenaries they hire." she complained.

"Oh? Someone misbehaving this early in the day?" I asked with a little laugh. She was less amused and her companions as well.

"It seems to be that way. Every time a caravan stops in a town, the first place the guards go is somewhere with cheap swill and cheap sluts." she grumbled, her companions nodding, though they both kept a watchful eye on the people going about their business in the market.

"Ah, well what can you expect from mercenaries?" I asked with a shrug. "Their only allegiance is to the almighty coin."

"Same with Freeswords." one of her companions grumbled, eliciting a thump from Dana.

"That is likely true," I admitted. "I can only speak for myself, though, when I say that I try to behave with due respect and dignity."

Dana eyed me and nodded. "So you do, Freesword. So you do." She tilted her head for a moment, glancing around in a similar manner as her companions, ever watchful of her surroundings.

"I wanted to thank you for what you did for Corporal Themier." Dana said, as she eyed me.

"Wait," said the one who had condemned me in the same breath as the unruly mercenaries they had dealt with earlier. "This is the one you were talking about?" he asked, his eyes on Dana as she nodded.

"Aye. And asked nothing for it, either." Dana confirmed.

I just shrugged. "It isn't as though the herbalist demanded coin from me, and I got a bit of exercise and some knowledge of Hawksbarrow."

Dana snorted and shook her head. "You are going to starve as a Freesword if you keep going like that."

I shrugged again. "Learning has a price. Best to pay it early, I think."

All three of them laughed, seemingly in agreement.

"Oy, that sounds like something Sergeant Ogre would say, huh?" said the other companion.

Dana turned a glare on the man. "It's Sergeant Okaar, and just let her hear you call her that even once and you will be running around the outer wall in full plate." Dana warned him.

The man pinned under Dana's glare paled and nodded, wisely deciding to look elsewhere and be silent.

"Eh.." Dana muttered, turning back to me. "I'll be having my dinner at the Crow and Shield tonight, If you are there."

I nodded, smiling. "My offer stands. I will buy your meal if you will tell me the laws as you understand them."

Dana laughed. "You know I get my meals for free there, right?"

I blinked, then sighed. "Right, Sisters.. fine. Then we can work something else out if you are interested. If not, then I will make due with what Arani can teach me."

The mention of Arani decreased Dana's smile only a little, but she nodded. "Yes. She would know the laws of the land well enough. Listen well to her and to Bentis. They've been Freeswords for many years and have dealt with the law often enough."

I raised my eyebrows and asked facetiously. "What of Harum, shouldn't he know about the laws as well?"

Dana snorted again. "He knows alchemy and magic, and the laws of.." she waved her hand distractedly. "Some magical nonsense or other. But kingdom law? No. He's as like to get himself brought before a magistrate for burning down his own hut as anything."

I grinned. "Fair." I was about to continue the banter, but a disturbance erupted behind me, and I had to jump out of their way as the three guards dashed off in pursuit of some pickpocket or thief.

I would have to catch up with Dana later. In the meantime, I wandered through the market one more time, seeing if anything else interested me. I found a familiar face among the booths, and smiled as I approached the herbalist who sat on a cushion behind a rough blanket with ceramic jars and small pots, glazed in bright colors.

"A fine day to you, herbalist. I had not marked you for a potter as well." I announced myself as I stepped closer.

She looked up and smiled warmly. "That would be because I am not a potter, good Freesword. These are unguents and balms, crafted with oils and herbs that promote healing."

I crouched down and took one, pulling the ceramic and cork lid and giving it a sniff. It smelled of mint and something like eucalyptus. "Is this for muscle strain?" I asked, and her eyes lit up.

"Indeed. Do you know much of herbs?"

I shook my head. "No, but things like this are often used in Elay for soothing aching muscles and helping them to relax." I picked up another and the scent was more floral and earthy. "What is this one?"

"A cream to soothe the skin and reduce the harshness of the sun. Many a fair skinned merchant's wife will buy that if she has to spend any time in the sun." she explained.

I nodded and continued to sniff at others. I ended up buying a small pot of thick oil used for peoples hair. It turns out that using the rough soaps the locals made would turn my hair into a frazzled crispy mess, and I wasn't too keen on the idea of looking like Hagrid from one popular movie in my previous life.

I also got the jar of lotion for the muscles, thinking that if I was going to have many more sparring matches like the one I had with Bentis, then I might end up using it to keep from being sore. I also got the skin cream.. Just because.

I returned to the Crow and Shield, and relaxed for an hour or two before the scent of dinner brought me back down stairs. The sun was setting and the townspeople were hurrying back to their homes and dinners in the street. I sipped a mug of tea, and waited for Tio to bring out a plate for me. Just as it was set before me, Dana walked in looking like she had experienced a rather unpleasant day.

"Tio," I said, catching the small woman's attention before she got far. "Another plate for Dana, please." Tio glanced toward the door and waved Dana over.

"Have a seat, mistress Dana. I will be right back with a plate for you." Tio called to her as she rushed back to the kitchen.

Dana settled into a chair opposite myself, and leaned her elbows on the table, sighing heavily.

"Did you end up catching the thief?" I asked to pass the time, while cutting a piece of the meat on my plate.

"Yes. The boy will spend the night in the stocks, and have a few lashes to remember it by. But if he doesn't leave town, he's very likely to join the road gang." she shook her head in obvious disappointment.

"Or some other road gang which is less productive." I commented. She nodded, rolling her shoulders a bit and wincing. She was still wearing her leather armor and tabard, her truncheon belted at her side and a bit of dust sticking to places, and dark marks of sweat in others. I watched her calmly as I ate, and soon another plate and a mug of ale was placed in front of Dana.

We ate in companionable silence for a while, and I could tell that she was in no shape for any kind of detailed talk about law and punishment. I felt a little sorry for her condition, though I knew this was her choice of work.

Loira came around and gave her sister a gentle hug, and they talked about little things while I listened. Dana complained about the soreness of her feet and shoulders, and how the armor never failed to leave chafe marks on her in spite of wearing a gambeson.

I quirked a smile and raised my hand to catch Loira's attention.

"Maybe taking a hot bath would ease some of that." I opined. Both of them nodded.

"Tell you what," I said while reaching into my bag and setting a jar on the table.

"Have one of the girls with strong hands apply this after, and I will go get the bath ready for you. After that.. " I smiled. "I am getting some sleep. Good night to you both."

It must have taken a bit of convincing that the idea was a good one, because it was only as I was leaving the bath and laundry room full of steam that I saw Dana and Halit coming down the hall.

Dana made eye contact with me and gave me an embarrassed smile and a murmured thanks as she passed. I just smiled back and trudged up the stairs heading for my bed and hopefully, a good night's rest.

It did not happen.

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The moons rose over the mountain peaks to the east, shedding their pale light between the tree branches as they swayed and rustled in the night breeze. My vision was even more red around the edges, and the occasional pains in my body were becoming sharper and harder to ignore. Is this what it was like for the others? Did this pain become agony, driving them insane to the point that they would tear apart helpless slaves and consume them just to make the pain a little less? A little more bearable?

I moved in silence with only the rare rattle of pebbles falling behind me as I took the final steps to reach the top of the hill, and looked around me and down at the cut in the forest below. It had been harder to see from within the foothills and while under the forest canopy as I followed the game trail. But now, the divide was starkly clear even under the night sky.

Just as clear was the flickering light of a fire set among the trees closer to me than the cut, and with it, the feel of life. I felt the pulse of need within me, aching, grasping, demanding and I lurched unsteadily toward it.

"Even just a little. I must." I told myself, against the weakening resistance that I had put up. That wall of resolve that I had built was slowly eroding, and tears slipped down my dirty cheeks with the knowledge that soon, I too would become a maddened creature, killing and feeding.

The lone figure silhouetted by the light of the fire drew me in closer.. Closer, until I was only paces away. I was too weak to fight it, so I reached into myself, drawing from that dwindling source within and cast it outward, enveloping the life between myself and the fire.. Lulling it to rest, whispering it to sleep, and watching as it slumped to the side oblivious to the danger that was me.

In moments I stood over the life, wearing little more than skins, and the ragged remains of a raw skin cloak. I crouched down and carefully removed the coverings this life had. A man, graying in the beard and unkempt. He was an outcast, even among outcasts. He had come out here to live or die alone, and so he would.

"No. No! I won't kill, I will only sip, just a little" The self that I had been cried out, revolted at the prospect of slipping so easily toward the feeding madness. My cheeks were wet with tears, and I looked up at the moons overhead, pleading with them.

"Please, I don't want to be that way, please! Master.. I have to find him."

I stared up at the pale orbs that silently traversed the unyielding black in eternal silence, the smaller orb almost hiding behind its larger sister as though to not witness what happened below as I reluctantly coaxed my sustenance from the outcast.. But it was bitter, weak, thin. It did not fulfill the need, it left me craving and snarling in a fury, screaming and smashing my fists against its skull until there was no life left in it.

I howled out my pain and anguish to the sky along with my fear of losing myself to the starvation and insanity.

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I lurched awake, gasping and gripping my torso as the ache throbbed through me leaving me whimpering even as the faint echo faded to stillness.

Another dream, I realized, as I pushed myself out of bed and shuffled to the wash basin and splashed cold water on my face to cleanse the sweat from my face brought on by the nightmare. These dreams were becoming a trial and a drain on my energy. I would... My thoughts stilled as I looked out through the window at the moons, the smaller one hiding behind the larger and a chill ran down my spine.

I understood then, that I wasn't dreaming. Somehow, I knew, beyond a doubt, that something had followed me out of the catacombs. I had to go back.

If anything from that cursed place had followed me, had somehow found its way out, then people, travelers of all kinds could be in danger. If I did nothing, people would die.

Shivering at the thought, I gave myself a quick wash, then got dressed quickly but efficiently. Armored in my hakama and two layers of thick silken robes and covered in my heavy dark grey over-robe, I crept down the hall towards the stairs. I slowed though, because I could not simply leave in the middle of the night. It would cause suspicions. I doubted that Loira would send a hunting party after me, but if I did return here, I did not want her to be wondering if I was slipping out to kill people, or up to some other nefarious dealings.

I moved down the stairs quietly, so as not to wake any of the other guests, and set my weapon on a table in the dining hall, then sat and waited. I had to travel fast. I had to be prepared for camping and eating on the road. I also had to let Bentis and Arani know where I was going, just in case I did not come back, and whatever it was that was out there was stronger than me. They should be alerted at the least. I couldn't raise the alarm just yet because I had no idea what was out there, what was hunting its 'master'. It could be a vampire, though I had not encountered anything like that in the catacombs.. The place had been filled with undead, sure. And if any of the books and movies I had enjoyed in my previous life were even close to truth, then vampires may very well be in those depths.

Honestly, I had no idea how I would stack up against a vampire. But I didn't feel like I could simply put it off on other people. Particularly if Ransin was any indicator of their fighting ability. I just didn't know.

I was broken from my thoughts by the flare of light from the kitchen, and I stood up and approached the doorway leading there and knocked gently, startling Shaira as she was working to get the oven fire started.

"I apologize, Shaira. I didn't mean to startle you." I said calmly.

"It.. it's alright. I didn't think anyone else would be up this early." she replied. I nodded.

"Is Loira awake yet?" I asked.

"She is." yawned a voice behind me, and I turned to find Loira rubbing at her eyes and peering at me wearily.

"Ah, Good morning, Loira." I greeted her with a faint smile.

She simply grunted, yeah, not a morning person. I sympathized.

"I need to leave for a while." I said. "I was hoping that you would keep the room for me until I get back."

Loira stood staring at me, and it took a moment for her brain to catch up, then she looked at me suspiciously. "On the run from something, Freesword?" she asked.

I laughed and shook my head. "No. I need to go hunting east of here."

Loira grunted and gave a nod. "Well. It being spring, I can't guarantee you'll have a room here when you get back. Caravans come and go through Hawksbarrow, you understand."

I nodded, but then I slipped my hand into my bag and pulled out five gold coins, taking her hand and setting the coins into her palm.

"Two ten-days. If I am not back by then.." I shrugged. "Then I probably won't be back. But if you can hold it that long, I would appreciate it."

Loira blinked at the coins in her palm, then wrapped her fingers around them and nodded. "It's yours until then."

"Thank you." I said gratefully, then turned to Shaira who had the fire going in the stove. "If there is anything you could pack, something like a cold breakfast for the road, I'll be needing it."

Shaira nodded, and hurried about the kitchen, wrapping cheese, bread, meat and a couple apples into a cloth and handed them to me.

"Thank you, both. I hope.." I fell silent and shrugged.

"Safe journey, Freesword." Loira said.

I nodded, then slung my bag of holding onto my back and grabbed my naginata and dagger as I passed the table, then slipped out through the front door and walked down the street toward the guild hall as the first rooster crowed. I briefly wondered if the guild ever accepted contracts to hunt down and murder roosters.

The doors of the guild house opened, and once again I was sitting on the stone steps waiting to hear the sound. I stood up, and turned to see Arani, blinking in the sunlight and smiled.

"Good morning Arani." I said, greeting her.

"Good morning, Nazaqi. Always so early for training. I wish others were as dedicated." she mused.

I shook my head. "Not today, I'm afraid." I said as I followed her inside. "Is Bentis.." I let the question drop as the large, bald man ambled out of the dining hall and into the lobby.

"Morning, Nazaqi. Ready for our sparring? If you were looking for a contract, I'm afraid there aren't any yet." Bentis rumbled.

I shook my head and sighed. "I have to leave town for a bit."

The remark brought both of them up short and they blinked at me, then glanced at each other.

"Did something happen?" Arani asked, glancing toward the stairs that led upward to the guild barracks.

I shook my head. "Nothing to do with that." I said as my expression turned grim. "I need to return to the catacombs."

Bentis furrowed his brow in concern. "Why? You aren't seeking more treasure, are you?"

"No." I said.. Then paused, unsure how to explain what I was experiencing. "I.. have a suspicion. I want to make sure that nothing from that place can get out and be a danger to travelers."

Bentis seemed to be struggling with the idea of me going.

"Are you sure, boy. That east road can swallow up travelers. Especially ones who travel alone."

I sighed, and met his eyes. "I don't think I can wait, Bentis. I know the three of you can't leave the guildhall, and there aren't any other Freeswords in Hawksbarrow that I trust. I have to do this."

"The way you described it, where you came from, it didn't sound like it was very close to the southern road." Arani said, with concern in her voice.

"I know.. But I feel like I need to be sure. Better safe than sorry." I replied. "Anyway, I need to find a horse and travel fast."

Arani nodded. "You are going to be in for some unpleasant travel." she said. "There's a storm coming in." she clarified, which caused me to raise my eyebrows.

"Oh, you're a weather witch?" I asked.

She and Bentis both laughed. "No. No, it's just that Harum has been cranky and snappish for the last two days. He always gets like that before a storm blows in. Lately he's been a little extra snappish." Arani explained.

I nodded. I could sympathize because I remembered how my joints ached when a high pressure front would roll over the coast. Mornings were pure misery until it passed.

"I have a horse out in the paddock." Bentis volunteered. "She's a veteran, well behaved for the most part, and won't be shy in a fight."

"Good, I was worried that I would have to wait for one of the stables to open up and then lose the day haggling for a horse that would end up throwing me a day along the road." I admitted.

Bentis laughed and led me out behind the guild house. He asked for a few gold coins for the horse and I happily paid.

"Wait!" called Arani as I was mounting up and getting ready to ride.

She handed a rolled bundle of oiled canvas and staves to Bentis and he strapped it to the back of the saddle.

"Our old travel tent," he said. "You wake up in a downpour, and you will wish you had brought one."

I thanked them both, and with a glance toward the still clear sky, I patted the mare on her neck and rode toward the eastern gate.

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