Steven rushed back from the wharf to the castle and he didn't bother changing his clothes before he went downstairs into the dungeon. When he ran over to the large door to enter the area with the cells, he didn't see the guard that was supposed to be stationed there.

“No.” Steven said and tried to open the door. It was locked, and he hadn't seen anyone else around. He took out his sword from his bag of holding and used his considerable strength to slice through the door lock and handle. It popped out and fell to the floor and he yanked the door open and ran inside to see Siada's cell door was closed. He relaxed and walked over to it and discovered that it was locked, too. He didn't want to damage that lock as well, so he peered into the little window in the door.

“Siada? I need the keys, so I have to go find a guard and...” He stopped talking when he saw the guard unconscious in the cell. “NO!”

Steven cut the lock without a second thought and went into the cell to check on the guard. When he tried to find a pulse, his hand came away from the man's neck with two drops of blood on it. He turned the man's head and saw two large puncture wounds and sadness filled him. He stood and walked out of the cell and looked into the cell across from hers to ask the green robed man when she had escaped, only to find that his cell was empty, too.

Steven sighed and walked out of the dungeon and didn't even notice when he kicked the keys that were on the floor by the door. He needed to find another guard or someone in authority to let them know the prisoners had escaped.

*

“To the left.” The green robed man that clung to Siada's back whispered as they moved through the hidden catacombs under the castle. “We can escape through the waterway.”

Siada detested the man; but, she needed his help to get away. She knew they were going to kill her for what she did, so as soon as Steven had stopped his all day and all night vigil on her, she took the opportunity to escape. She regretted having to stop the guard from hollering for help; but, she was going to die no matter what she did. She justified it to herself that one man's life wasn't as important to her as her own, just as she had when she betrayed Allirynn.

I'm so sorry, Steven. Siada thought as she slipped into the water. It was colder than she thought it would be and her body lost a lot of heat. She shivered as she expended her energy to swim as fast as she could without making a lot of noise. Since she was half snake, that was pretty fast, since she used her considerably stronger lower half to propel herself through the water with barely any splashing.

*

“You! Search the grounds!” The captain of the guard yelled and sent a squad to do that and looked at the next group of guards. “You! Start on the outside of the grounds and work outwards!”

The guards took off running and he looked at the next group.

“Get to the cliffs and check for anything in the water.” The captain said and they ran off to do that.

“You know this is pointless.” A woman's voice said from behind him and he turned to look at her.

“It gives them something to do.” The captain said to the queen's monster expert.

She barked a laugh. “A lamia that can go places a human can't and a man that knows the castle inside and out? You'll be lucky to find any trace of them even being inside the castle.”

The captain sighed, because he had to agree with her. That was why he hadn't ordered that the castle itself be searched. He knew that they wouldn't find them there. Considering the potential head start the two fugitives had, he was sure they might have left the capital city already, or were about to. He had already increased the patrols inside and outside the city, and he didn't expect it to make a difference.

*

“I'm sorry, your majesty.” Steven said, his voice sad. “This was my fault.”

The queen looked at him sternly for only a moment, then she sighed, which showed her own disappointment. “You accepted responsibility for her and she escaped.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Steven said. “I abandoned my duty for a few hours for personal reasons and I'm ready to take the punishment for it.”

“I'm glad to hear that.” The queen said. “You let your personal feelings for the prisoner affect your judgment, despite being warned several times. If she was a murderer that you were ordered to guard, you would have at least secured her again to stop her from leaving when you weren't watching her personally, or would have had someone else watching her.” She said and she saw the other emissaries react to her words. “Instead, you ordered yourself to guard the murderer, then left her completely unsupervised and she killed one of my guards.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Steven said.

“My advisers suggested that I go easy on you, because you are an Emissary of Light.” The queen said.

Steven stiffened, because the tone of her voice told him she wasn't going to.

“However, I do not share that opinion.” The queen said and confirmed it. “You've already voluntarily spent time in jail and it didn't bother you at all, so that kind of punishment will be ineffectual.” She said and once again, noticed the reactions of the other emissaries. “Therefore, I have ordered that all materials, favors, and monies that have been granted to you since your arrival here, will be forfeited.”

Steven stood there and wasn't sure what she meant.

“I see the lack of understanding. You no longer have free access to the castle, the training grounds, or the services we offer.” The queen said. “Also, your armor, weapons, money, bag of holding, clothing, and services rendered will be returned immediately.”

“Y-you can't...” Jessica started to say and Kara put a hand on her arm to stop her protest.

“Furthermore, since services themselves can't be returned and the armor was damaged and needed to be repaired, you will be charged an equivalent amount and must pay it back.”

Steven sighed and took out the sack of gold and silver he had received for the bounties. “How much...”

“The money you hold has already been included in the cost and much more will be needed.” The queen said, and Jessica gasped. “You are starting to understand.” She said and looked at Jessica. “Arming and preparing adventurers is not a cheap endeavour.”

“B-b-but...” Jessica stuttered.

“I know you believe because we gave the items to you to use that you own them.” The queen said. “That is not the case.”

Jessica tried to hold in her sigh at that realization.

“Most magic users need to work for years, sometimes decades, to earn the privilege to carry a staff of power or a focusing rod, either given or bought.” The queen said. “How many did you take with you?”

Jessica's face flushed red, because she had two staffs and two focusing rods in her bag of holding, only one of which she actually used. The others she had taken just in case, not because she needed them.

“Since I had requested that you be summoned here, equipping you to handle the various things you would be facing was an acceptable cost.” The queen said. “As you saw from the artisans, they enjoy their work. Having adventurers use their items for the good of the people is one of their fondest wishes... besides making more things.”

Kara, Steven, and Jessica stood there in silence and the queen looked at Steven.

“Inconveniencing you in this manner is not enough for the life that was taken; but, I am not as heartless as your friends now believe.” The queen said and saw Kara's and Jessica's surprise. “You may keep the basic clothing once everything else is returned and no further reparations need to be made.”

Steven walked over to her desk and put the sack of money on it. “I made a donation to...”

“I am aware.” The queen said. “I will not ask you, or them, to give it back.”

Steven took a breath and let it out, because he figured the money was already spent after that wedding. “Thank you, your majesty.”

“I was tempted to hold it against you for letting your guard down around the lamia; but, look what she did with the friends she had been with for over a year.” The queen said. “I had to take that into account when deciding what to do with you, and decided to be lenient.”

Striping me of everything was lenient? Steven asked himself, surprised.

The queen looked at Kara and Jessica and back at Steven. “Have you understood the point of the lessons my old teacher gave you?”

“She told us the first day that it was discipline.” Kara said.

“Do you understand why?” The queen asked.

“You think we don't know what we are doing, so you wanted us to realize that you had power over us and could tell us what to do.” Kara said. “We know that already.”

“Then you missed the point entirely.” The queen said and looked at Jessica. “She said you were attentive and did well, as did Josh. Did you learn anything?”

“The rules and customs here are sometimes the same and sometimes a lot different than where I'm from.” Jessica said.

“What does that tell you?”

Jessica had to think about it. “Well, the similar ones are more common sense that anything else. The others are...” She stopped talking and her face flushed a little red.

“...nonsense.” Kara finished for her. “Like I told the teacher, I don't need to understand the backgrounds of the people to save them.”

“Once again, that wasn't the point.” The queen said. “Jessica, think about it. What would be the point in teaching you about other peoples lives and how they live them?”

Jessica actually thought about it and after a few moments, spoke. “To highlight the differences.”

“That does matter since there are some. If there wasn't, what would you learn?”

“That...” Jessica went over everything she learned and spoke hesitantly. “...there might be differences, and... we should be mindful of them if there are. We need to... respect them, even if we don't follow their beliefs.” She said more confidently.

“Very good.” The queen said with a slight smile. “I knew at least one of you would understand.”

“I don't get it.” Steven said, slightly confused.

“In simple terms, then.” The queen glanced at him and managed not to frown. “Stop. Ignoring. People.”

Both Steven and Kara were surprised at her strict tone and Jessica's face turned beet red.

“I won't get into the numerous accounts of your conduct and your complete dismissal of others, as if they were beneath you, since all that will do is make you hate me more.” The queen said. “All I will do is implore you to be more cautious in the future. The next person you treat inappropriately may be a duke that could be insulted and call for your heads, or a knight that will impinge on his honor and he might challenge you to a duel to the death you can't refuse, or a devout follower of a faith that uses ritual sacrifice or blood magic.”

All three of their faces lost color at her words.

“There are many things in this world... besides monsters... that can get you killed.” The queen asked. “I sincerely hope that you keep that in mind as you continue to do the work you were summoned for.”

Jessica raised a hand, and the queen smiled slightly for a brief moment and nodded. “How can Steven do that without armor or weapons?”

“Armor is relatively expensive for most people.” The queen said. “Most people haven't killed so many monsters that I've bought the hides for.”

“Y-you bought?” Steven asked, surprised.

“Did you think the captain of the guard would buy them, out of the goodness of his heart?” The queen asked and let out an uncharacteristic chuckle. “We harvest them for raw materials and allow the artisans to create what they can with them. Armor, weapons, enchantments, potions, and anything else we can use them for.” She said. “The only thing we haven't done that for is the garglemacer Hunter managed to kill, because my monster expert wants it for a display piece.”

“A gargle-what?” Steven asked, and she repeated the name. “I've never heard of it.”

“Milly.” The queen said and Milly opened the door and came into the room.

“Yes, mother?”

“What was that funny name Hunter called the garglemacer?”

“He said it was a dragon.” Milly said, and Steven and Jessica caught their breath.

“H-how big...” Jessica tried to ask.

“His bag of holding had to expand to about twenty feet across to take it out with the wings folded against its body.” The queen said and Jessica swayed as if she was going to faint. Steven quickly went to her and caught her before she fell.

“Is it really that big?” Kara asked, slightly confused. She had no idea what a 'dragon' was.

“You are fortunate that it is on the way to an exit of the castle.” The queen said and stood. “My daughter and I will show you the way.”

Kara, Steven and Jessica followed the queen and her daughter through the castle to the small courtyard where the monster expert was working on the garglemacer. Jessica let out a short scream before she fainted and Steven picked her up in a princess carry. He was just as shocked as Jessica was at seeing the enormous creature up close, and he estimated that if it opened its mouth, he would easily fit inside. Standing up.

“It's impressive.” Kara said and walked over to it.

“You don't know the half of it.” The monster expert said. “The first known specimen for...”

“Are there any more of them?” Kara interrupted, and the woman squinted her eyes at her.

“As far as we know, there are no more in the local area.” The queen said. “We haven't received any reports about more in the rest of the kingdom, either.”

Kara used Detect Presence, and she could see the residue of Hunter's attack still on the underside of the carcass. “Can I flip it up?” She asked, because she could tell that it wasn't just the technique she discovered he had used before to kill three people. It had mana in it as well.

“No.” The monster expert said. “Most of the chest is missing. Until I get a suitable patch to cover the damage, moving it might cause a lot more damage.”

Kara tried her best to examine it by just using Presence; but, since she couldn't see it with her own eyes, she couldn't tell how Hunter had created such a powerful blast. It not only kill the creature, it still had his Presence residue on it after it being dead for so long.

Jessica woke up and Steven stood her on her feet and held her steady as she stared at the dragon and her body trembled. She wasn't sure why she was so scared of the thing, since it was dead; but, she wasn't going to question her instincts.

“What else has Hunter killed?” Kara asked to try and gauge how strong Hunter was.

“Does that matter?” The queen asked.

“It does to me.” Kara said, and Jessica turned her head to look at the queen, who described all of the things Hunter had killed since he had arrived there, and how many.

“I knew we needed him.” Jessica whispered and glanced at the dragon. “To do all of that as well as this. There's no way we could have fought this thing and he did it by himself.”

“He wasn't by himself.” Milly said, and the three people there looked at her. “You didn't notice that he had a beautiful elf with him?”

“A what?!?” Jessica exclaimed. “She was an elf?”

“I hope with this surprisingly simple to discover information, that you will start taking what you learned here to heart.” The queen said to them and looked at Steven. “The items, clothing, and healing is still available for the rest of the emissaries except for you, Steven. I will reinstate your position if you somehow return the lamia to our custody.”

“That's not going to happen.” Steven said, and you could hear the sadness in his voice. “She's long gone by now, especially with an actual death on her hands.”

“Then I'm sorry that this will be the last time I will see you.” The queen said, and she let him see in her eyes that it was true. “Please leave the rest of your things at the gate.”

Steven nodded to her, and he watched as she led Milly back into the castle.

“I guess this means we're moving to our rooms at the church a few days early.” Jessica said with a poor attempt at a joking tone.

“I guess so.” Steven said and started to lead Jessica away, then he stopped and looked at the monster expert. “Thanks for letting us look at it.”

The woman nodded and Jessica gave her a little wave, then Steven, Jessica, and Kara went to the gate to drop off Steven's things. He kept his normal clothing that Jessica put into her bag of holding for him, and they left to head to the Church of Light. They saw several armorers and blacksmiths on the way and they stopped and went inside to price them. The items seemed like high quality, even the ones that weren't enchanted, and Jessica spent a good amount on equipping Steven again.

After that, they went to the church to wait for Josh to return and for the goddess to give them orders.

*

Over the next few days, Maylia and I boosted all the horses to increase their speed and enhance them. Since they had a much better starting point in health than the first two horses we had, their improvements happened a lot faster, and we were all travelling at a ridiculous speed. We had to camp out a few times while searching for the next thing on the lists that were suggested we deal with, and we easily caught a group of bandits that had been assaulting and robbing people on different roads as they moved around.

I could feel how evil they were, like the ones that had tried to capture Allirynn, so instead of trying to capture or interrogate them like the captain of the guard had suggested on his list, we killed them all and took their items and heads. It was a little short-sighted to just get rid of them; but, none of us wanted to take the chance that they would escape or try to coerce one of our party.

I was a little worried that Afyne would object to my decision, then she hugged me and thanked me for saving others from having to go through what Allirynn and Imiryl had. That reassured us all that we had made the right choice, mainly because we didn't want her around people like that if they were still alive. We used the crack locate spell and didn't find any nearby, or in the next area, or the next, then we reached the point where we had to turn around and go back so we could make the meeting with the emissaries.

Our group turned around and worked our way back, taking a different route, thanks to the map scroll and Diofra's and Evus' knowledge of the countryside. We found two more cracks, well away from townspeople, and had almost no trouble with the creatures we had found there. They were dispatched with haste and the place cleaned up, and Maylia led us along fresh tracks to hunt any stragglers down. Once we had the place completely cleared out, we continued on back to the capital.