Book 3 Chapter 7

Tirr frowned down at the child, his fist unclenching and moving to grab him by the front of his shirt. “Who are you? And what do you mean I cheated?”

“I mean you cheated! There’s no way you could have caught me otherwise!” The child replied angrily. “None of the other kids can catch me! I don’t know how, but I know you cheated!”

Tirr smirked looking down at the younger child. “I don’t need to cheat, I‘m a god! There is no one I can’t catch.

“Yeah right!” The little boy yelled back. You’re just a cheater!”

Before Tirr could reply, he found his hand empty as the boy disappeared. He reappeared some distance away, tongue out as he taunted, “If you’re so great then catch me again stup…”

Before he could finish Tirr dashed forward, reaching out again, as the tunnel shook from the force he had used. But the child disappeared once more, leaving Tirr’s hands to swing at empty air…

“Haha, too slow! Catch me if you can!”

“Wai…” Tirr started, annoyed, but the boy was gone. “Stop this, I don't have time for stupid games. I need to find the people I was with.”

“Do you admit that you can’t catch me then?” The child’s voice came with a giggle, Tirr looked around but he was already gone

“If you admit it, I guess I could take pity on you and lead the wa… Ow!”

Tirr turned at the pained yell, this time spying the child held by the back of his shirt by a smiling Torvus.

“Sorry about that boss,” Torvus said, still holding the child. Knew something was up but wanted to get Maria out first. You went further than I thought so it took me a while to track you through the tunnels.

He looked down at the child, still holding his head while looking up with a pained expression, and laughed “You better be prepared for worse once Sera learns you were playing in the tunnels again,”

The boy blanched, “You don’t have to tell her… I didn’t go far,”

“You went far enough Ian, We had only just lost some guildies when you found us, What would you do then huh? You can’t hide and seek them to death…

“I can fight! Just as well as you and Sera!”

“Yeah, yeah… For now, you better get those fists ready for the smacking sera’s gonna give you. Come on boss, Marias already there, waiting on us…”

Tirr nodded, smirking at the captured child, “How does he do that?” He asked Torvus.

“Ian, got the same shard as me, but he can use it differently, I’ve tried to get him to explain it before… But he doesn’t really get it either. Everyone else just looks like they're moving instantly, Ian actually can.”

“Isn’t getting the Shard…”

“Yeah… I've told you, The Council doesn’t care as long as it helps them. A lot of my brothers and sisters are like that.”

Tirr nodded, carrying Garm as he followed Torvus through the Tunnels. Soon the path became easier to keep track of, as the random forks and turns stopped and opened instead to another large cavern. There in the cavern was a large mansion, looking utterly out of place against the background of the drab cavern wall. Torches and lamps hung everywhere, lighting up the area in pseudo daylight. As they approached the mansion, Tirr saw what must have passed for the garden strangely well-decorated yard with a strange mixture of plants and decorations that seemed to fit within the cavern.

Within the garden Tirr saw Maria, she stood at the center of a group of children, with the youngest seemingly no more than 4 and the oldest a young teenage girl that looked to be around 14. Maria stood in the middle of the children answering their curious questions as they surrounded her.

“Are you really as strong as Torvus said?” One child asked her.

“I don’t know if I’m that strong, but I want to be stronger...”

“Then can you…”

“Okay, okay. That’s enough.” Torvus interrupted as they entered, “She’s not here to entertain you and there will be plenty of time to play later...” The children obediently scattered running off through the yard, leaving Maria and the teen girl to welcome them. The Teenager looked down at the child still held by Torvus, a cold look in her eye.

“You snuck out again Ian?” She asked, Tirr noted her voice was strangely flat, lacking the anger he had expected to be directed at the rule breaker. “Should I just go ahead and carry you back to the Guild right now since you’re so desperate to get caught?”

“I just wanted to go see Torvus, Sera! Old man Raife said he was coming today.”

“Oh yeah?” Torvus cut in, “Then why’d you ignore me and start messing with my boss?”

Ian looked down, grumbling to himself. A hand shot out grabbing the child’s ear and twisting it cruelly, “Ow! Okay! Stop Sera! I’m sorry… I wanted to test out the person Torvus said he was interested in last time. It was just a game…”

“Well, I hope you had fun because you’re not getting dessert for a week.”

The Boy tries to protest but a stern glare forced him to mumble his acknowledgment. Torvus let him go and the boy ran off to go talk with the other children.

Torvus shook his head at the boy before turning to The young teen, “This is Sera, She’s the next oldest so she helps take care of the other children.”

“It’s good to meet you,” The girl said, her face still expressionless. “Thank you for taking care of our brother.”

“I always take care of my followers,” Tirr answered proudly.

She nodded before turning to Torvus, Old man Raife said for you to come see him as soon as you arrived.

“Ugh,” Torvus groaned, “Couldn’t he at least let me rest a bit before forcing mee to see his ugly mug…” Seeing the deadpan eyes she gave him he sighed, “I’m kidding Sera, We’re going, “

Torvus waved Tirr and Maria after him leaving Sera to watch the children as they walked…

“Isn’t it dangerous to leave them alone?” Maria asked worriedly.

“There are others around, they just keep hidden as to not spook the kids.”

“What’s this acquaintance of yours like?” Tirr asked, so far the former assassin didn’t seem to speak kindly of the man they had come to see.

They had arrived just outside of an office door. Torvus stopped, turning to Tirr. “Well… he’s the man that bought me and had me put through hell…”