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"Fellow warriors, aid me!" Lord Kresovus woke immediately. Before he had a chance to register Captain K'rank's call to arms, he leapt from his stone bed and ripped his axe from the wall. The Mattekar Balor - Kresovus' companion these last several years - awoke with a start, scanning their small quarters with great intensity. Kresovus hurried out of his door and looked down upon the chaos of Linvak Tukal. For a moment,
Kresovus could not make sense of the scene before him. His own people, dozens of them, slaughtered one another in the streets. Fully armored soldiers fought near-naked warriors, as though half of his people had descended on the other half in their sleep. Skulls were split and limbs were severed. The streets were stained with purple blood. Kresovus studied the action closely. He realized that the reason for the lack of armor on many of the Lugians wasn't that they were surprised in their sleep. When each Lugian met his end, he was
promptly resurrected at the lifestone in the corner of the city. Bereft of armor or weapon, that Lugian then leaped back into the fray and resumed his combat. Was this some form of jest? Were his normally disciplined warriors engaging in mock battles in the streets? Just what was happening here? One of the Lugians, a rather large one who still wore his armor, looked up at Kresovus. He hefted a massive boulder and threw it. Lord Kresovus dropped his axe and caught the rock, its velocity slamming
him against the stone wall behind him. Without pausing to catch his breath, he stepped forward and flung the boulder back down at the offending Lugian. The warrior tried to duck out of the way, but Kresovus had anticipated that dodge, and led his target appropriately. The boulder crushed the Lugian's head. His body dropped to the ground. Kresovus looked to the lifestone, waiting for the artifact to resurrect the fallen warrior. He waited several seconds, but nothing happened. The Lugian was not
resurrected. Kresovus studied the battle again. This time he noticed that each time a naked Lugian fell, he was resurrected at the lifestone. But when an armored Lugian fell, he stayed down. This was no mock battle. This was an assault. Before he had time to process this fact, he heard footsteps pounding their way up the ramps that led to his quarters. Kresovus picked up his axe and readied himself for the attack. He looked to Balor. The Mattekar
crouched low to the ground, ready to pounce at any who might attack his lord and master. Kresovus tightened his grip on his axe, listening to the dozens of warriors who were now making their way upwards. Would they be friend or foe? And how would he know the difference? He looked back down at the turmoil below. K'rank - if he could believe that truly was K'rank - swung his axe wildly about, slaughtering a ring of attackers that had descended upon him. Kresovus noted with some satisfaction that
K'rank still wore a full suit of armor. No trips to the lifestone for that warrior. The pounding footsteps were close now. The attackers were on the ramp below. Kresovus exhaled a long breath and prepared to kill. The intruders rounded a bend and showed themselves. They appeared identical to his own Lugians in dress, form, and armament. But there was something about their eyes... Kresovus's stomach lurched as he recognized the eyes of Shadow. He
forced down the fear in his gut and launched forward. Before the infiltrators had time to react, Kresovus cleaved three of them in two, spilling their guts to the floor. A fourth tried to take him as he prepared another strike, but Balor intervened. The Mattekar leapt over his master and crashed into the attacker, sending him flying to the stone floor below. Dozens more of the impostors raced upwards, brandishing their gleaming axes before them. Kresovus and Balor fought back their attacks, cleaving gray flesh and knocking warriors
downward towards their doom. As hard and fast as the intruders pressed, they could not withstand the stalwart defense of the lord of Linvak Tukal. When the last of the intruders was dead or gone, Kresovus allowed himself a moment to rest. He bore not one wound, just the aching muscles of battle. He was pleased to see that Balor had fared the same. He caught movement on the edge of his vision. Kresovus whipped his head around. The hammer crashed into his face and he fell to the floor. He
lay on his back, tears in his eyes. He tried to peer up at his attacker, but his vision wavered too greatly. He heard Balor attack. Kresovus hoped that the Mattekar would be able to distract the attacker long enough for Kresovus to regain his footing. But such luck was not to be had. He heard Balor yelp in pain, then grow quiet. Kresovus' heart grew cold. He blinked, his head throbbing in pain. He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked up through blurred vision. A gray hulking mass stepped into view. Kresovus'
breath caught in his throat. He looked up at the Lugian. He looked up at himself. ***** Spring had come earlier than usual. The snows which had so recently appeared were gone just as quickly, though they left behind their frigid chill. Elysa held her fur-lined robe tightly around her slight frame, bracing herself against the cold air which howled through the open window. Logs crackled and split in the fire behind her, but their heat
was not enough to fill this large room. She thought such large quarters a trifle ridiculous for a mere two people, especially when she thought of the thousands who were forced to cram their entire lives into small apartments and cottages in the world outside. But after the attack that nearly took her life the year before, Antius had asked her to move into the uppermost room of the castle's tallest tower, and refused to relent on his recommendation no matter how often she protested. The thought
of her lover brought a smile to her lips. Throughout all the trials of the previous year, he had been the most steadfast and supportive of all her advisors. He had his doubts about Nuhmudira - as did they all - but in the end he agreed with Elysa's decision and did as he we asked. "My love, please. You will catch cold over there," he said from behind her. Elysa turned and looked at him. He stood at the other end of their quarters, resplendent in his gleaming Celdon armor. He held his helm in his hands. He was ready for his
journey, and only waited for her command. Elysa stepped forward. Even just a few paces from the window, the heat of the fire grew immensely. She felt her face flush. "Where will you start?" she asked him. "Yaraq," he answered. "I could use the warmth." She smiled, eager to travel to warmer climes herself. "How do you expect the people to help? If we can't get a word from him, I doubt they can." He
nodded in agreement. "No, I don't think Carlo will speak to them either. I plan to employ them in another manner." Antius nodded to the sheaf of papers on Elysa's desk. "That excerpt from his journal... there must be more than that. Doubtless, there are pages scattered all over Osteth. Either on the ground or in the clutches of the creatures who live there. If I can convince the people to work together, perhaps they will uncover something that will provide us with more information than what we have." "A
scavenger hunt," she grimaced. "At this point, my Lady, I don't know what else to do," he replied. "We cannot travel to the northern islands, and Carlo won't speak any more than that gibberish he keeps muttering about 'eating' and 'escaping.' I fear that this plan, flawed though it may be, is our best chance." She stepped forward and placed her hands on his chest. "I don't disagree with you, Antius. This is the best course of action. I just wish we had more
options." She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. "My Lady," he chuckled. "I'm just going to Yaraq." "Yes, I know. But still, I fear. These Lugians that assaulted our vaults, this Viamontian in Rithwic... it seems that no matter how much we fight, some new evil is always just around the corner to threaten our peace." Elysa relaxed her embrace and looked up at him. "If there are more Viamontians here - if they are in hiding - you must find
them. I will not be taken by surprise." Antius nodded. "I will find them. The people will help me find them." Elysa smiled, though she had to force herself to do so. "Good. But don't promise them much. After that mess with the Burun, we have few pyreals left in our coffers." Antius laughed, and Elysa's heart lightened. "I love to hear you laugh, Antius. It has been too long since you had cause to." "Yes.
These last few months... they have been hard." Elysa stared up at Antius, letting her eyes take in the beauty of his face. Recent events had not allowed her much time to simply stare at him and admire his grace. She took these moments whenever she could, and when they were over, she felt renewed - ready once again to take on the trials of the world. Suddenly, a terrible thought gripped her heart and pushed aside all feelings of peace and renewal. Though death on Dereth was not to be feared
as it was on Ispar, Asheron had not completely defeated it. Her own brush with oblivion had proven that well enough. She knew that each time she sent Antius on one of these missions, he might not return. Such was the risk that all her soldiers took. But for some reason, that fear that she might lose him was much stronger now than usual. He was so precious to her, so much more important than her crown or castle. More important even than the people who swore their loyalty to her. If she were to lose him... Antius seemed to sense
her thoughts. He caressed her cheek with a gauntleted hand, then bent down to kiss her. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into that kiss, that kiss which always heralded days apart and nights of uncertainty. She drank in the taste of him and wrapped her fingers through his thick, brown hair. She kissed him as though she might never get the chance to do so again, and let him do the same. When they parted, she stepped away from him and tightened her robe around herself once more. She had had her kiss. The time for passion was at an
end. She was no longer lover to the man, but Queen to the warrior. "Go," she commanded. "Go, and find out what evil threatens my realm." "Yes," he bowed. "I will return soon, my Queen." "See that you do," she replied.
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