Thraxor instructed Sybilla to sit with the Emporium’s ledger behind the front counter-top, take the customers’ gold, record the sale in the ledger, give the customer’s their bill of sale, and the customers can give whatever name they wish in the ledger. Thraxor would take over showing customers how to use magical artifacts crafted by Radikor. Sybilla found three books, the first was the ledger, the second was the parchments of the bill of sale, provided to prove the authenticity of any artifacts crafted by Radikor, and the third book was the Magical Price Index, which allowed Sybilla to decipher each merchandises’ market value in several types of currencies. Under the three books was a magically locked chest which opened when Sybilla touched it, and inside the chest Sybilla found a balance scale and bags of gold, silver, copper, and gem stones.

  The first customer approached with a magic wand, they wished to purchase. Sybilla looked up the item in the price index, told the customer it cost ten gold duckettes, they provided ten gold coins, Sybilla measured them, with two weights claiming to be five duckettes each, and the scale was balanced. Sybilla looked up the bill of sale, and recorded the artifact’s name on the bill, it’s value and the date from the Radikor’s Calendar. The other side of the Bill of sale outlined the methods to verify Radikor’s Authenticity.

  “How much for an Angel Feather Quill?”, the customer asked.

  “Oh, sorry this was a gift. It’s not for sale.”, Sybilla revealed.

  A beautiful woman with dark hair, wearing the Uniform of a Sundersakr soldier, approached the counter. Her steps were gracefully smooth, here eyes were focused, and around her belt she wore satchels large enough to carry potions. Sybilla sensed a powerful magic aura from this woman.

  “Where can I find women’s armor and magical accessories?”, the woman asked.

  “Sorry. Radikor does not craft women’s armor, but what accessories are you looking for?”, Sybilla suggested.

  “Magical focus bracelets, like yours. Maybe amulets or rings.”, the woman suggested.

  Sybilla looked in the price index and saw that Radikor had items in inventory, assured the customer, and then Sybilla turned to the ledger which explained the magical accessories were in aisle five, and directed the customer to look there. A different customer approached Sybilla and yelled that they were trapped and not allowed to leave. Thraxor asked to see the customer’s bill of sale, and they revealed they did not have one, Thraxor suspected that this person hid some merchandise and were trying to escape the Emporium without paying.

  “Can you please empty you coat pockets?”, Thraxor instructed.

  “You don’t have the authority to make me give up my coat!”, the customer yelled.

  “I have a letter of trade from the Alliance, to do business…”, Thraxor started explaining.

  But the customer flipped their coat over, dropped hidden merchandise on the floor at Thraxor’s feet, and then ran out of the Emporium. Sybilla suspected that the floor was warded to make anyone with unpaid merchandise not listed on a bill of sale, would be directed back into the Emporium. The next three customers were normal.

  The Sunderskar soldier looking for magic accessories returned to the counter with ten mana potions and a magic bracelet identical to one of Sybilla’s bracelets. Sybilla counted the customer’s gold, prepared her bill of sale, and Sybilla read the label on the mana potion, which said to sip slowly to recover a day’s rest or to quickly drink in one breath to instantly increase spell potency by ten fold. Sybilla realized why Radikor had given this specific type of Mana Potion, the name, “Dark Magic.”

  “I’ve never actually tried a mana potion.”, Sybilla revealed.

  “Are you a sorcerer?”, the woman asked.

  “I am. Do other spell casters need mana potions?”, Sybilla wondered.

  “You must be an apprentice, if you didn’t know that Sorcerers can regain their full mana in a short rest, faster than Mages, Wizards, and Witches who need a full day to keep up with Sorcerers.”, the woman sneered.

  “I’m sorry, I’m still learning, I’m just an apprentice.”, Sybilla explained.

  But the woman’s hand lashed forward crushing the bill of sale and ripped the parchment out of Sybilla’s hands. Before Sybilla even realized what happened, the woman was already walking out of the Emporium. The next three customers were normal.

  An older woman walked up to the counter asking about youth potions, but when Sybilla looked in the ledger, she saw that none remained in inventory.

  “I’m so sorry, we’re all out. We have more health potions, if you’d like to try one of those.”, Sybilla revealed.

  The woman broke down crying on the floor of the Emporium, and Sybilla called out to Thraxor. When Thraxor approached, he explained, that she would have to wait a few weeks before Radikor would be replenishing his supplies and for the Radikor Trading Company to be returning to make more deliveries.

  “If you are willing to front the gold, Radikor offers a discount, and we’ll hold your reservation from the next immediate supply, so you won’t have to worry, the supply running out before you reach us on our next visit…Sybilla please prepare this woman’s reservation. You’ll find reservations in the back of the bills of sale.”, Thraxor offered.

  “I can’t wait weeks. I’m supposed to be young and beautiful.”, the woman cried.

  “Sybilla, add some shape-shifting potions to her order too.”, Thraxor whispered.

  Sybilla looked in the behind the bills of sale, and saw that Radikor offered discounts of ten, fifteen, and twenty-five percent depending upon how much the customer was willing to pay upfront and how long they were willing to wait. Since the woman believed her need to be urgent, she accepted the ten percent discount, and she dried her tears with the bills of sale as she crawled out of the Emporium

  Radikor finally returned to the Emporium and he walked up to Sybilla and demanded to see the store ledger. Sybilla presented the ledger, and Radikor proceeded to remove five seeing stones of common quality and five seeing stones of premium quality from the Emporium’s inventory. Radikor finally presented Sybilla’s crafted seeing stone back to her.

  “I fixed this. Now apprentice, listen to your next test. After we close shop for the day, I want you to start researching these two questions. First, why did you fail? And Second, how did I fix it? Do you understand?”, Radikor instructed.

  Sybilla was just happy that she got to keep her apprenticeship, and she agreed to keep following Radikor as his apprentice.

  “Thraxor, close the Emporium after the seventh watch.”, Radikor instructed.

  “Radikor, look around you. We can’t complete these sales in less than two watches. Just give us till the ninth watch like the other vendors.”, Thraxor pleaded.

  “Whose name is on Emporium? Whose name is on the Trading Company? I’m warding the door to not let in any more customers, and everyone in here now can get a fifty percent discount on our next visit to the Kalavahn outpost if they make their purchase now. Sybilla, scribe the bills of sale with coupons of discounts! Savings galore!”, Radikor declared

  The shadows vanished as Radikor cast a spell of immense power. The torches flickered and roared to life with brightness. The walls of the Emporium shook, the floor rumbled, dust fell from the roof, and Radikor summoned more and more raw magic power.

  “Radikor, this is insane! You’re dominating the magic market.”, Thraxor warned.

  “Fifty Percent!”, Radikor proclaimed as he finished casting the wards.

  All went silent as the customers watched Radikor change reality with both his awesome magic powers and questionable business decisions. Radikor collected ten seeing stones from the Emporium into his arms and returned to his lab. Thraxor informed the remaining customers that the Emporium would be closing early, to make their purchases, and for Sybilla to mark all bills of sale with Radikor’s offer for a fifty percent discount on their next visit.

  The bell rang six times signifying the start of the sixth watch, as Sybilla finished scribing the final bill of sale for the final customer of the Emporium and Thraxor took the Emporium’s ledger to count the Emporium’s inventory.

  “Is working in the Emporium always this…insane?”, Sybilla wondered.

  “The world is forever changed after a powerful magic spell, from the master of chaos, and Radikor yelled at me. This is about normal working for Radikor.”, Thraxor admitted.

  Thraxor continued counting the merchandise on the shelves in the Emporium, as Sybilla counted gold, silver, and copper, and scribed the Emporium’s revenue. Thraxor was counting inventory in the far corner of the Emporium, when a tall spell caster approached the counter, and intending for Sybilla to see him. He was a tall man, with gray hair and beard, wearing dark robes, and terrifying armor over his robes. He wore the helmet of a warlord, with a face mask that lifted up. Sybilla looked at the tall man wearing armor, but carried no weapons, and figured if she could sense his magic so easily, he was confident he needed no weapons. The man planned to buy a single mana potion of “Dark Magic”.

  “I didn’t realize you’re just looking to buy something, to be eligible for your fifty percent discount. Did you find everything you were looking for?”, Sybilla asked.

  “Actually I was looking for my father.”, the man replied.

  “We have a selection of finding spells, that might help.”, Sybilla suggested.

  “Not needed, thank you. I know I’m in the right place and time.”, the man said.

  “So just one mana potion, and that’s all? Most customers buy at least two, usually more if they are a spell caster.”, Sybilla asked.

  Sybilla began scribing the bill of sale for a single mana potion of “Dark Magic.”

  “I don’t actually need mana potions. I just haven’t had one of these since I was a child. That’s all for now. May I see the ledger?”, the customer asked.

  “I’m sorry but the ledger is being used for inventory right now, and I’m not sure it would make Radikor happy to know I let a customer look at his books. What name should I put on the ledger, to complete your purchase today?”, Sybilla asked.

  “Rodahk. My name is Rodahk.”, Rodahk revealed.

  The man paid in pure gold, picked up the mana potion, took the bill of sale, and he turned towards the door.

  “Thank you. You’ve been quite helpful, Sybilla.”, the man thanked Sybilla.

  “Well Radikor did announce my name to every customer. Is that where you heard my name?”, Sybilla wondered.

  “Who are you talking to?”, Thraxor asked as he approached.

  But when Sybilla looked back at Rodahk, he had vanished.

  “We had one last customer in the Emporium.”, Sybilla explained to Thraxor.

  “What did he buy?”, Thraxor asked, ready to mark the ledger.

  “Dark Magic potion.”, Sybilla answered.

  Thraxor directed Sybilla to follow him to the shelf where they displayed mana potions.

  “You’re right. I just counted these and now one of them is missing. What was the customer’s name?”, Thraxor asked.

  “He said his name was Rodahk.”, Sybilla answered.

  “That’s not funny, Sybilla. What did he look like?”, Thraxor demanded.

  “He was a tall man, with gray hair and beard, wearing dark robes, terrifying armor over his robes, and a helmet like a warlord, with a face mask that lifted up.”, Sybilla declared.

  “That was him. He was here.”, Thraxor realized.

  Sybilla could see in Thraxor’s face, that Thraxor felt fear. Then the bell rang three times.

  “I didn’t realize the seventh watch started.”, Sybilla imagined.

  The bell rang three more times.

  “That’s not the seventh watch. The seventh watch will only ring once.”, Thraxor said.

  The bell rang three more times, again, and Sybilla remembered the last time she heard the bell rung like that it was at the city of Dor-Gata, when the demon horde attacked. Thraxor picked up a magic wand, and presented the wand to Sybilla as he took three healing potions off of the Emporium’s and marked them as being need by the Radikor Trading Company.

  “Here, take this because you wanted a walking stick.”, Thraxor offered.

  Sybilla picked up the wand, and realized it was heavier than she expected.

  “But this is a wand, not a walking stick.”, Sybilla objected.

  “Look again.”, Thraxor laughed.

  Sybilla looked in her hand and saw that was wand had turned into a walking stick.

  “Magic! How do I turn it back into a wand?”, Sybilla wondered.

  “Look again.”, Thraxor repeated.

  Sybilla saw her walking stick had turned back into a wand.

  “Take whatever you need, but we must move quickly, so travel lightly.”, Thraxor warned.

  “Move? Why? Can’t we just stay here where we’re safe? The Emporium is warded, so nothing can enter.”, Sybilla suggested.

  “That’s true, but the Emporium isn’t flame resistant, and they can burn it down around you. If nobody is in here, the demons will not try looking for people to kill in here. And how far can you sense magic in here?”, Thraxor demanded.

  Sybilla focused on her magic sense, and even closed her eyes to ignore her physical senses, but she could only sense magic a short distance because the Emporium was filled with so much magic, Sybilla imagined the magic was too much like loud noise or bright light.

  “So if we can’t stay here, can we go to safety?”, Sybilla asked.

  “Safety? Sure, you’re just here to learn magic. You need to reach the door to the House of Healing before they lock it. I’m going to fight some Demons.”, Thraxor warned.

  “Fine I’ll take a healing potion and mana potion.”, Sybilla decided.

  “Mana potion? If you think you need it, you can take it…”, Thraxor wondered.

  When Sybilla and Thraxor exited from the Emporium, Thraxor turned to try to enter through the ward and he judged the wards cast by Radikor would prevent anyone from trying to hide inside the Emporium. Sybilla followed Thraxor back to command Tower, and Radikor, Rigo, and Vaylandra were waiting.

  “Leedah! Leedah!”, Vaylandra cried out.

  “Leedah is missing, in the Outpost…during a Demon attack?”, Thraxor wondered.

  “She should have returned when the alarm was sounded, the Angels sent me to look for her.”, Vaylandra explained, and then cried out for Leedah again.

  A woman with dark hair and sharp features approached. She carried a bow on her back, a quiver with only five arrows inside, two sheathed daggers, and a satchel hanging from her belt, and she wore armored sleeves made of chains and a tunic made of metal scales. Around her head she wore a battle-crown that allowed her to aim and shoot arrows.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “The Holy Squire and the Priestess were evading the Sunderskar Soldiers. I saw then just before the last watch bell rang.”, the woman revealed.

  “Who are you? And what do you want?”, Radikor demanded.

  “I am Zynia, and an archer. I am waiting for the Demon attack to end. The Command Tower should be the safest place, espcially now that the Sunderskar Soldiers have all gone to battle against the demons.”, Zynia explained.

  “You’re also a Sunderskar Soldier, and you’re the fugitive the Sunderskar Soldiers are looking for? I read the Sunderskar Captain’s alliance report.”, Thraxor revealed.

  “They are looking for a mage, and as you can see, I am an archer.”, Zynia argued.

  “So why tell us where to find our friends?”, Radikor wondered.

  “The guard captain’s offer is simple to join his archers in exchange for surviving the demon attack. But I would prefer to avoid the Sunderskar Soldiers who are already involved in the defense of the outpost. The alternative is looking for any other group who can offer passage out of the outpost, and will allow me to avoid Sunderskar soldiers. As you can see I am still waiting for a group that can help me. I’m just lucky, because if I were a man, the Guard Captain could conscript me into his ranks.”, Zynia revealed.

  Sybilla imagined that Zynia was a Sunderskar soldier who refused to be part of their military, but as long as Zynia was not the Sunderskar fugitive, Zynia would not be a problem.

  “Thraxor, talk to the Guard Captain we need to find Rodring, and he will be headed towards the battle if he isn’t here. We need to find Leedah, because I don’t think Rodring would bring Leedah into a fight, he doesn’t need a healer, he is one. We’ll need to split up maybe into two groups to search the outpost. See what they can do to help?”, Radikor instructed.

  Thraxor entered the Command Tower, to see if the guards would allow Radiator’s plans.

  “Sybilla, now its time for you to learn two new spells.”, Radikor revealed.

  Radikor spun his arms in a circle drawing arcs of magic. One of Radikor’s arms turned upwards, and the other arms turned downwards, and then connected his movements in the center of his spell, as Radikor finished the Sigil of Lightning. Radikor drew his Cutlass through the sigil enchanting his blade with the power of electricity. Radikor returned the cutlass to his sheath and then prepared his next spell. Radikor focused his hands into the center of the spells drawing spikes of magic as he cast a spell that Sybilla felt the air turn cold. Snow flakes began to fall from the sigil as Radikor continued to cast the spell. Radikor completed the Sigil of Ice.

  “Can I use that one?”, Rigo asked.

  “Are you planning on fighting?”. Radikor asked.

  “I never choose to fight, I have conjured minions. But a free enchantment from a master Sorcerer should not be wasted.”, Rigo argued.

  “Draw you blade.”, Radikor agreed.

  Rigo drew his curved sickle and held it up where Radikor could see it. Radikor waved his hand, and the Sigil of Ice shot into the sickle’s blade. Rigo examined the blade as it cooled the air around it causing snowflakes to appear and fall as the Sigil had before.

  “Sybilla do you have a tool or weapon with no elemental effects?”, Radikor asked.

  “Will this work?”, Sybilla, asked as she presented the wand.

  “Is that one of mine? Well it’s made of wood, so electricity might be a bad idea, it might catch fire, but cold will be fine. Now cast the Sigil of Ice.”, Radikor instructed.

  Sybilla did as Radikor instructed, placed the wand back into her satchel, and started casting drawing magic into spikes of Ice. Sybilla’s hands moved and the air turned cold. Each mianifestation of magic turned the air colder and colder and Sybilla continued to cast the Sigil of Ice, and when she completed the spell, flakes of snow appeared. Sybilla reached for her wand and slowly passed it through the Sigil of Ice and the enchantment pass onto the wand.

  “When Thraxor returns, you will then cast the Sigil of Lightning.”, Radikor planed.

  “You cast spells like you have limitless mana. You must be Sorcerers.”, Zynia realized.

  Thraxor emerged from the command tower, and the Guard Captain followed Thraxor.

  “I promise you Captain, our team can safely search the Outpost.”, Thraxor promised.

  “I heard you mister Thraxor, I want to know if Radikor agrees and I want to see why you keep thinking magic solves every question, I asked.”, the Guard Captain explained.

  “But I already provided my letter to trade to Thraxor.”, Radikor explained

  “And, this is not a matter of trade.”, the guard captain argued.

  “As you wish captain, what are your questions?”, Radikor offered.

  “When I ask for a heavy weapon, I see your warrior brought one, but when I ask for a shield, he shows me a magic illusion, when I ask for an archer, he says you don’t need one because magic has more range and power.”, the guard captain demanded.

  “I didn’t say that, I said magic doesn’t run out of arrows.”, Thraxor objected.

  “I’ll take over…So you just want to know if my team can safely travel through the outpost. Well what questions would you like to ask?”, Radikor declared.

  “Your team needs a heavy weapon to remove barricades.”, the captain explained.

  Thraxor held up his battle axe.

  “When a team mate is injured, who is your healer?”, the captain asked.

  Rigo raised his hand, to identify himself as healer.

  “A Death Mage? Fine, I’ll allow it. Why didn’t you bring an archer from your trading company?”, the captain wondered.

  “I have plenty of skilled archers. My drivers are retired alliance veterans, but I can’t press them into danger, when I need them for driving. But Thraxor is correct, the rest of us can cast force impact spells, so we would never need arrows in battle or for any reason. I sell arrows, but I do not need to shoot arrows.”, Radikor reasoned.

  “We will come back to the archer question, but why is it that when I ask to see a shield, Thraxor does that?”, the captain asked, as Thraxor conjured a shield.

  Sybilla looked at the conjured shield with her magic sense and realized it didn’t exist, it had no substance, and while Sybilla believed it could be used to block attacks, she knew that If Thraxor lost focus, cast too many spells, or was separated from the conjured shield, that it would vanish, as the walking stick he conjured had also vanished.

  “There’s a team-mate in the Outpost we need, to find, him, and he carries a Spell-Breaker Shield. That’s right a Holy Shield of Faith that can nullify all kinds of hostile magic and any form of physical attack. Rodring is also our dedicated healer. Rigo is actually my cook.”, Radikor admitted.

  “So why does a Holy Angel travel with a band of merchants? Are you also a healer, or some other kinds of awesome angelic power.”, the captain asked Vaylandra.

  “I’m not an angel, I’m just borrowing the wings, and I’m just looking for my friend the Priestess. The House of Healing expected her to return.”, Vaylandra explained.

  “So who needs healing?”, Rodring announced as he approached the tower.

  Rodring walked up to the Guard Tower, but he approached from the direction of the Trading Company.

  “Rodring, thank the High Kingdom you found us.”, Vaylandra cheered.

  “I never thought I’d be so happy to Rodring.”. Rigo admitted.

  “I’v been looking for Leedah since the alarm. I’m sorry I believe she is still missing. She must be so scared, thinking we forgot her?”, Vaylandra wondered.

  “Did you go South, then West? Or did you go directly to here? I just sent her through the door to the House of Healing.”, Rodring wondered.

  “You sent her through portal to the House of Healing? If Leedah is safe, I must tell the Angels to lock the Door.”, Vaylandra decided and flew as fast as an arrow into the sky.

  “Wait, I need to get into the House of Healing.”, Sybilla pleaded, but Vaylandra was already too far away to hear.

  “You need the House of Healing? Are you injured?”, Rodring asked.

  “No, I just wasn’t expecting to fight another Demon Horde.”, Sybilla admitted.

  “So if you found your lost friends? Do you still need to search the outpost? It seems like all your problems are solved?”, the captain reasoned.

  “I was planning on fighting the demon horde. Rodring?”, Thraxor asked Rodring.

  “That sounds like a perfect plan. I’m in.”, Rodring declared.

  “I have one last problem I think we can solve. I left all my merchandise in the merchant’s quarter. I need Rigo to get it, and use his horse to bring it back to the caravan. The rest of us will need fight the demons, and protect the Emporium.”, Radikor explained.

  “You have a horse, that I can’t see?”, the captain asked Rigo.

  Rigo summoned the skeletal mule, and commanded it to say hello to the captain.

  “I really didn’t need to see that while my outpost is under Demonic attack. So what about your lack of an archer?”, the captain demanded.

  “I might be able to help with that, for a price?”, Zynia offered.

  “But you’re a Sunderskar Soldier, and you only have five arrows!”, Rodring objected.

  “Rodring, if we don’t have an archer on the team, we can’t fight demons, even if we can also blast them with magic, not even a thousand arrows can inflict more damage than we can. This is an alliance matter. We only have letters of trade, we have no authority over the Alliance during battle.”, Radikor explained.

  “My five arrows will be plenty, if your magic can keep up.”, Zynia laughed.

  “Name your price.”, Radikor instructed.

  “I seek passage to a walled city. Bring me to any wall city and ask no questions. Actually you can ask questions, but I might not answer. Provide food and shelter, and I’ll be your archer. You won’t regret it.”, Zynia offered.

  “Give me a moment to discuss with my team.” Radikor instructed.

  Sybilla, Radikor, Thraxor, Rodring, and Rigo turned away from the Captain and Zynia.

  “I think this is a bad idea, she’s hiding something.”, Rodring observed.

  “Everyone is hiding something.”, Rigo argued.

  “She’s hiding from Sunderskar. But she seems to be succeeding.”, Thraxor realized.

  “As much as I don’t like fighting demons, I don’t think we should say no to someone willing to fight the demon horde, and she’s only asking for food and shelter.”, Sybilla imagined.

  Radikor listened to to each of his followers and then turned to Zynia.

  “Zynia, welcome to the Radikor Trading Company. I’m Radikor, the Squire is Rodring, the Warrior is Thraxor, the Cook is Rigo, and my Apprentice is Sybilla.”, Radikor announced.

  “So can we go through the outpost now?”, Thraxor asked the captain.

  “Not yet, Sybilla needs to cast a lightning spell on your axe.”, Radikor explained.

  “No she doesn’t, I can enchant my own weapons.”, Thraxor objected.

  “Well if someone if offering a free weapons enchantment, I’ll take it.”, Zynia offered.

  “Draw your blades and present them to Sybilla, ensure that the metal blades touch eachother.”, Radikor instructed Zynia.

  Zynia drew her two daggers, which serrated blades that curved back and forth into a flame like or perhaps a serpent like blade. Sybilla imagined that slashing strikes from complex blades could inflict multiple lacerations.

  “Sunderskar Steel? And you just carry those? It’s a miracle you haven’t been caught by the Sunderskar soldiers, yet.”, Rodring observed.

  Sybilla cast Sigil of Lightning, on Zynia’s serpent daggers, and they were allowed to depart. As they traveled the sounds of battle between the Demon Horde and the Sunderskar soldiers grew louder, and Sybilla feared that the battle was also getting closer. The warlocks had knocked down wooden walls and started lighting them on fire, trying to make escape more difficult, if the pathways of the city were blocked, but most people were able to flee to stone shelters without fear of burning, and there were no children in the Scar.

  “Three Warlocks.”, Rodring whispered.

  Rodring pointed at a distance, and drew his Holy sword. Rigo drew his Sickle, Radikor drew his cutlass and dagger, Thraxor held his axe, and Sybilla prepared a spell of force impact. But Zynia shot an arrow at the closest Warlock, striking the Warlock in the head. The other two Warlocks didn’t even notice that another nearby Warlock had been shot. Through Sybilla’s magic sense, she sensed that someone was using conjuring magic, but she couldn’t be certain who cast a spell. Zynia fired two more arrows striking down two more Warlocks, who were completely unaware they were even under attack at all.

  “That was kind of boring.”, Rigo realized, as they didn’t need to do anything.

  “Three arrows shot after five is only two remaining arrows. But I count five arrows. Zynia, how do you still have five arrows?”, Rodring demanded.

  “Under my agreement, I don’t have to answer that.”, Zynia said as she smiled.

  They approached the Marchant’s quarter of the outpost and Rodring spotted six warlocks looking for people to kill. Rodring and Thraxor wanted to attack all six, but Radikor wanted just wanted to sneak around the Warlocks. Zynia offered to distract the Warlocks.

  “Distracting six warlocks means they will see us.” Rodring argued.

  Zynia gestured for everyone to remain quiet as she reached into her quiver but did not grab an arrow, until Sybilla sensed the use of conjuring magic nearby. When Zynia’s hand emerged from the quiver, she was holding a different kind of arrow. Zynia shot the arrow into the opposite corner of the Merchants square, and five of the six warlocks left the Merchant’s quarter to investigate the sound. Zynia gestured for Radikor, Thraxor, and Rodring to decide how to eliminate the the final warlock near the Emporium, but to be quick and quiet.

  Rodring moved in a flash, striking the Warlock across the throat, and Rodring swung the Holy Sword in the reverse direction decapitating the Warlock. Thraxor jumped high into the air, crashing down on the five other warlocks. Thraxor crushed the head of one warlock as he landed, swung his axe, cleaved through another warlock. Radikor stepped through shadows, and almost vanished, as he appeared behind another Warlock, swung his cutlass across the Warlocks throat. The two remaining warlocks looked up, still unaware they were under attack. Zynia reached into her satchel and when her hand emerged she revealed an explosive device.

  “If you wanted to kill every Warlock? You should Have just said so.”, Zynia argued.

  Zynia threw the explosive behind Thraxor, and then it exploded. The blast didn’t harm Thraxor nor Radikor but it caused the Warlocks blinded, dizziness, and confusion. Thraxor struck down one more warlock with a swing of his axe, and Radikor struck down the final warlock with a swing of his cutlass. Rigo and Sybilla jumped into the seat of the emporium’s wagon, and Rigo’s skeletal mule appeared, ready to pull the wagon. Rodring reached into his armor above his neck, lifted up an amulet, help high above, and a beam of light from the sky shined down on Rodring. When the light faded, Rodring was sitting on a war horse. Thraxor and Radikor conjured horses, and Zynia climbed onto the roof of the Emporium.

  “Rigo now”, Radikor commanded, and they were now racing through he outpost, back to the Trading Company.

  “Why are we running?”, Sybilla wondered.

  Flying warlocks with demon wings threw fireballs from the sky. The fireballs exploded as Rigo steered the mule, trying to dodge the demons attacks.

  “Forget I asked anything.” Sybilla realized.

  Rodring led the way back, with his shield out front. Radikor and Thraxor rode behind the wagon. Each time Zynia reached for her next arrow, Sybilla sensed the use of conjuring magic, and Zynia always managed to always have five arrows each time Sybilla saw Zynia. Sybilla wasn’t certain if Zynia or Rigo was using conjuring magic, While Thraxor and Radikor conjured horses.

  “You merchants have an odd way of staying quiet.”, Zynia observed.

  “We’re not the ones throwing fireballs.”, Rigo argued.

  “Sybilla, I can’t protect the wagon by myself, use your staff.”, Zynia pleaded.

  Sybilla looked at her staff and realized she could channel spells like her bracelets. Sybilla waved the front end of the staff in the same way she used her hands to cast force impact, and she realized the opposite end of the staff moved in the path of the other hand, and she was casting spells with one hand with the staff from Thraxor. Sybilla looked up at the closest flying warlocks, who was about to launch a fireball, and she unleashed the force impact spell which manifested as a flying ice spike, and struck warlock in the wing, causing it to crash and fall. Sybilla realized the staff made her spells accurate enough to hit a flying target while riding a moving wagon. Sybilla cast force impact again against the next closest Warlock, and the ice spike hit the Warlock without much effort. The staff had given Sybilla magic so reliable she felt like this is why so many other spell casters use staffs. Sybilla wondered why Radikor had not provided a staff before, or why Radikor does not carry a staff, as a Master Sorcerer.

  They raced Into the Trading Company’s caravan as Radikor’s wagon drivers fired a volley of arrows, clearing the sky of the attacking warlocks. Vaylandra was waiting with the wagons and she flew out to Rodring as soon as she saw him.

  “My Prince, Leedah is missing.”, Vaylandra pleaded.

  Rodring looked in the direction of the sounds of battle, and Sybilla sensed radiance from Rodring, what ever Rodring was doing it felt like a finding spell, but it was not Sorcery.

  “Leedah is in battle.”, Rodring realized.

  Thraxor dropped to the ground as his conjured horse vanished, he reached for his seeing stone, and pointed the stone in the direction of Battle.

  “I see Leedah, she’s with the Sunderskar Soldiers.”, Thraxor reported.

  “Sunderskar! If they do anything to even put her in harm…”, Rodring feared.

  “They will not harm the Preistess.”, Zynia assured.

  “What do they want with her? What do you know about Leedah?”, Rodring demanded.

  “Well Squire, that information will cost you. I will expect a favor in the future at a time an place of my choosing. Sunderskar is definitely interested in the next Holy Knight, and they know the Preistess is your sister, but if you think Sunderskar would jeopardize a chance to win you as their ally, by using her as leverage against you. I would think you underestimate Sunderskar. They would see her as a treasure and protect her with their lives.”, Zynia revealed.

  “Radikor, the Arcanic Turbine has activated.”, the wagon drivers reported.

  “Rodahk is here. I am needed in the lab. Thraxor, Rodring, go get Leedah.”, Radikor instructed as he departed in the direction of the lab on his conjured horse.

  Thraxor looked at his letter of passage from the guard captain, and turned to Zynia.

  “We need an archer….name your price?”, Thraxor admitted.

  “I want to see the house of healing when this is all done, and I can’t go near Sunderskar Soldiers, unless Sybilla joins us as well, I always want to have as many other spell caster around me.”, Zynia decided.

  “The House of Healing accepts, please just bring Leedah home.”, Vaylandra accepted.

  “Sybilla, we need you. But it will be dangerous, so you can say no.”, Thraxor explained.

  “Before I say yes, can I become roommates with Leedah, and keep this staff? Because I really, really like finally casting spells that can hit a target.”, Sybilla pleaded.

  “I can only promise you get to keep the staff. I can’t speak for the House of Healing. That’s up to the angels.”, Thraxor admitted.

  “Rodring, I’m going to need that favor now, if I can get a chance to also move into the House of Healing.”, Zynia revealed.

  “The House of Healing has enough room for both of you, nobody needs to be roommates. Prince Rodring is not some merchant in the House of Healing. If you want need the House of Healing, you will talk to me.”, Vaylandra spoke in High Angelic.

  “Princess Vaylandra, please return to the House of Healing and prepare the quarters for your new guests. We don’t need Angelic wrath during a demon attack.”, Thraxor suggested.

  “I don’t have a problem with Angelic wrath, but we will need to prepare the House of Healing. That’s how we help Leedah.”, Rodring agreed.

  Vaylandra accepted Rodring’s decision and flew into the sky faster than an arrow.

  “Are you going to rescue Leedah too?”, Sybilla asked Rigo.

  “I should stay, incase the Trade Company needs a healer. While Rodring goes to rescue Leedah. I should also start cooking dinner for everyone.”, Rigo explained.

  “I can’t send Rigo into battle, only Radikor can tell him to do anything dangerous, it’s part of their contract.”, Thraxor revealed.

  The rescue mission set out back into the Kalavahn Outpost, searching for Rodring’s missing sister, with their only clues that she was with the Sunderskar Soldiers, fighting warlocks. Sybilla quickly noticed that they did not take horses.

  “So won’t we get their faster if we took horses?”, Sybilla wondered.

  “Horses will be loud in the passages of the outpost.”, Zynia warned.

  “Yes loud and we cannot remain hidden from magic sense.”, Thraxor included.

  “This is a rescue mission. Leedah does not need more danger. What should we do if the Sunderskar soldiers refuse to give her back?”, Rodring wondered.

  “Sunderskar has a powerful army, but they didn’t get that way by holding women against their will. They are unlikely to make her into a hostage, as long as Leedah has not joined them, she will be allowed to leave. But we always have the options of waiting and watching for the right time to take Leedah away from them.”, Zynia suggested.

  “Are you actually thinking I might kidnap my own sister?”, Rodring argued.

  “Depending on why Leedah left in the middle of a fight, she might not give you a choice. She might have taken their words seriously.”, Zynia warned.

  “Leedah would never abandon the House of Healing, she loves being part of the Trinomion church. She only leaves to heal people.”, Thraxor argued.

  “So how did Leedah get out?”, Sybilla wondered.

  “Leedah is not a prisoner in the House of Healing. She can unlock the gate like I can. Vaylandra is one of the gatekeepers.”, Rodring explained.

  The Rescue Team continued walking through the outpost as they heard the sounds of battle grow louder and louder. They approached one of the outpost gates, and saw the guards were killed and the civilians were being tortured by warlocks, urging the prisoners to cry out to demons for the demonic pact. The warlocks cast curse after curse against the prisoners and the warlocks laughed when a prisoner exploded. Each time a prisoner cried out to a demon, they instantly turned into a warlock, and joined in the destruction of the outpost.

  Rodring sensed the demons and gestured for Zynia to shoot her bow, when the warlocks realized they were under attack, then Thraxor and Rodring would rush forward, and Sybilla was supposed to stay close to Zynia and attack the warlocks with magic, but Zynia would attack first. Zynia shot two arrows from her bow and then Sybilla followed with ice-spikes from her staff, and Sybilla started to ignore her magic sense telling her that someone near her was conjuring magic. Thraxor and Rodring pushed forward with blades, and Zynia instructed Sybilla to follow her forward, when Warlocks were killed and the prisoners were free.