As the group got closer to the city, Jolen was able to tear his eyes away from the city itself and finally noticed that the river he saw flowing south of the city actually went all the way underneath the city from the mountain range far to the north of the city.

In front of the gate to the city was a bridge with a bridge connected by chains going from the gate of the city to the bridge over the river. Jolen tapped Lelwyn’s shoulder. “Why do the chains for the drawbridge look taught even though it’s resting on the bridge?” he asked.

Lewlyn turned to Jolen. “You can see that from this great distance?” Lelwyn pinched the bridge of his nose. “Right, elvish vision,” he answered his own question. “To answer your query, that bridge at the front of the city does not operate by getting raised in case of attack. Instead, it gets lowered into the river below. That way, if somebody where to break the chains as part of a sneak attack, the bridge would fall into the river and deny the invaders access to the gate into the city.”

Jolen whistled in appreciation. “That’s an impressive defense mechanism,” he admitted. “But what happens if either of the chains break for other reasons? Wouldn’t you all be trapped inside the city without any access to food or the possibility of reinforcements?” he asked.

Rikel, overhearing the conversation, leaned over. “The chains are maintained regularly to prevent just that,” she told him. “Even if that did happen, we have enough farms inside the city to, theoretically, feed everybody. Though, to be fair, the defenses of the city have never actually been put to test in battle yet.”

Bewr turned to face the others. “Rikel’s right,” she agreed. “In the eleven centuries since Elrlith was founded, not once has any foe tried to attack the city itself.”

Jolen whistled slowly. “That’s quite the impressive claim,” he complimented. “Not that I doubt it,” he quickly added, fearing he caused offense.

Bewr laughed. “I did,” she admitted. “When were were first told about that in our history of Elrlith lectures, I scoured all of the history tomes in the library to confirm it for myself.”

Jolen turned to Lelwyn. “Was she always so,” Jolen paused briefly while thinking of an adjective that wouldn’t be insulting, “studious?” he eventually decided on.

Bewr pretended to be angry by placing her hands on her hips. “I should be insulted by that!” she pretended to pout. “But I’d rather by called ‘studious’ than ‘stupid’ any day!” she added with a laugh.

The group laughed at Bewr’s comment and continued on their way. Jolen bowed to Bewr in apology. “I meant no offense,” he assured her. “My sister was similar in her youth; I could easily imagine you and her having serious discussions on many matters I’d probably know nothing about,” he added.

The group made their way to the gate, reaching it shortly before nightfall. From there, Jolen could get finally get a better sense of the size of the city itself.

The gate alone was thick enough for three grown men to stand shoulder to shoulder next to it and it was taller than a twenty story building. Behind the gate was a gatehouse with several small grate doors leading into it from inside the city, to provide additional defense.

The walls, which reached two stories taller than the gate, had archery towers every forty feet and guards patrolling between the towers.

Through the gatehouse, were farms and animal pens lined along the side of the rain-soaked stone road. The road went along the inside wall of the circular city to a shorter gate on the other side of the city. Jolen could not see beyond that gate from the entrance of the city.

Jolen stopped walking forward, forcing the other road-weary travelers to go around him. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure if I could handle being inside such a city,” he admitted. “I’m too used to the forest. And Elrlith is considerably more removed from nature than either Nighforest or Grainmarket,” he added.

Bewr smiled sadly and placed a hand on Jolen’s shoulder. “We quite understand; I was more than a little intimidated the first time I saw the walls while I was going to the Mage’s Academy for the first time,” she admitted.

Instead of answering, Jolen pulled Bewr into a light embrace. “I cannot thank you and your friends enough for all you did. Not just for my home but for myself and my family,” he told the group.

Kirel joined in the hug. “I just wish your sister could have been here with us, too,” she lamented.

Lelwyn, instead of hugging, simply placed his hands on Bewr’s and Kirel’s shoulders. “Then we must simply keep her alive through our memories of her,” he advised the others. “What say you, Rikel?”

Rikel laughed. “While I’m not the hugging kind, I do wish you well in your travels, Jolen,” she told him.

Lelwyn playfully poked Rikel. “Come now!” he chided them. “There’s no reason this has to be the final time we lay eyes upon one another. Let us agree to all meet again,” he suggested. “How does the first day of Planting Season the year after next sound?”

Jolen nodded. “Agreed. Though, I’d rather not go inside Elrlith for that reunion,” he admitted. “And I think it’d be unfair to make you all travel the full distance back to Midway,” he added. “How about back in the village of Grainmarket?” he suggested as a compromise with himself.

Bewr smiled. “Sounds good to me!” she agreed readily with a shout.

Rikel nodded. “I’ll be there,” she added, not wanting to lose touch with her new friends.

Kirel shrugged with a smile. “Well, if I have nothing better to do at the time,” he joked in mock reluctance while Bewr playfully shoved him.

Lelwyn laughed. “Then we are in agreement!” he shouted in excitement.

With their pact made, Jolen started heading back to the forest while the others went through the front gates into the city of Elrlith, each looking forward to catching up with the others when the time came.

As the remaining quartet reached the next gatehouse, Rikel stopped and faced the mages. “This is where we must part ways for now,” she announced. “I need to head back to my home in the soldier’s district. If you ever need somebody to go with you on a journey like this again, you’ll be sure to let me know, right?” she asked with a smile.

Bewr walked up to Snowhoof and petted his head. “Of course! I couldn’t imagine doing something like this without you,” she told the knight “You just take care of yourself so that you’re able to come with us if we ever need you to come on another quest like this again!”

Rikel smiled. “You be sure to do the same, my magical friends,” she countered with a nod. Rikel saw the look of wistfulness on Bewr’s face and laughed before stepping down from her horse. Once the knight was on the ground, Bewr pulled her into a tight hug.

Rikel returned the hug and got back up on Snowhoof. Lelwyn raised his arm in a salute. “Until we meet again, valiant knight,” he told her. Rikel returned the salute and whistled to her horse to get moving. The three mages all waved to Rikel as she headed home before they walked back to the magic district.

When they reached their home district, Kirel put his arm around Lelwyn’s shoulder. “So, do you think this little adventure of ours will impress the Order of the Golden Shield enough for you to finally be fully admitted like they should have done years ago?” he asked.

Lelwyn shook his head. “It is hard for me to guess,” he admitted with a shrug. “I also do not share your overinflated estimation of my worthiness. It matters not, though. I have elected against joining the Order in any event,” he announced.

Bewr stopped and turned to Lelwyn. “What?” she demanded in astonishment. “Your excessive humility aside, joining the Order of the Golden Shield has been your dream since you first learned that it existed! What changed?”

Before Lelwyn could answer, Kirel poked his chest. “I’m with Bewr on this one,” he announced. “What could possibly have changed your mind so drastically?”

Lelwyn shrugged. “I simply realized that I could do just as much good in the world outside the Order as in.” He then blushed. “Also, I didn’t relish the idea of being away from Kirel for the time necessary to from being an initiate to a full member.”

Kirel sighed and drew Lelwyn into a hug. “We’ve already been over that,” he countered. “I’m not going to be the one to stand in the way of your dream. You helped me achieve my dream of getting a research position at the Academy. Me helping you is only fair. Besides, I already promised to wait for you until your probationary period ended,” he pointed out with a sad smile.

Lelwyn returned the hug. “I remember,” he assured. “I simply don’t believe that you deserve to wait like that.”

Bewr came over to the two of them and hugged them both. “I just have one question for the two of you,” she announced. “Which one of you will be first to ask me to be your maid of honor when the two of you finally realize that you’re meant for each other?” she joked.

Kirel coughed. “I’m not sure if we’re quite ready for that level of...” he started.

Lelwyn interrupted Kirel with a fierce kiss. Lelwyn ended the kiss and stepped back. “Kirel, would you honor...”

“The answer is yes,” Kirel interrupted with a smile on his face and tears of joy flowing from his eyes. “Just, please don’t make an even bigger scene than we already have. Either of you,” he begged to both Lelwyn and Bewr.

Bewr got a mischievous smile on her face and turned to the crowd who were trying to get inside from the continuing downpour. “Everyone!” she yelled with magic-enhanced volume, causing many to stop and look at her. “May I please have your attention? I have an announcement to make! Healer Lelwyn and elementalist Kirel are now, finally, engaged to be married!” she informed the crowd with a laughing smile.

Kirel blushed in embarrassment while Lelwyn laughed at Bewr’s antics. Meanwhile, some of the crowd continued on their way with no reaction at all, most applauded politely, but the few who knew the two cheered loudly in celebration.

Kirel ground his teeth while the crowd dispersed and continued on their way. “I will repay you for this, you know,” he threatened while pointing a finger at her. “I’m not sure how yet, but it will happen!” he promised.

Bewr made a face at Kirel. “The two of you have been together off and on since we were at the Academy. Your friends are just happy to finally see this happen after such a long time,” she explained. “Besides, you’ve gotten way more than your fair share of pranks in on me,” she added while making a face.

Before Kirel could further retaliate, Lelwyn pulled him close. “While I also do not appreciate Bewr’s sudden, and admittedly, rather unnecessarily public announcement, I find no fault in the sentiment of sharing our joy,” he added.

Kirel leaned over and whispered into Lelwyn’s ear, causing the healer to laugh loudly. “Better you than me to risk her ire in such a manner,” Lelwyn admonished.

Bewr looked at them sternly. “What did he just whisper?” she demanded from Lelwyn.

Kirel winked at her. “Oh, I just made a simple suggestion about the color of the bride’s maid dress we’ll have you wear at the ceremony,” he laughed. “Ugly outfits for the wedding party are traditional, after all!” he added with a mocking smile.

Bewr pointed her finger at him. “You wouldn’t dare put me in one of those monstrosities!” she warned him.

Kirel smiled back. “Oh, I don’t know,” he teased. “I think chartreuse would make quite a lovely color on you! What do you say, Lelwyn?” he asked his new fiance with a mischievous grin.

Lelwyn held up his hands in supplication while Bewr fumed in disgust at the idea of wearing such an ugly color. “I shall not be drawn into this,” he announced, trying to not to have to take sides. “It is getting rather late and we had best head to bed in any event,” he added.

Bewr smiled. “I’ll see the two of you tomorrow, then,” she told them and headed to her apartment while the other two mages went to theirs.

After the newly engaged couple returned to their shared apartment, Kirel pinned the taller Lelwyn to the door inside their home. “You do realize I was content to wait for you, right?” he demanded.

Lelwyn wrapped his arms around Kirel. “Aye,” the healer assured. “That does not negate what I said to you earlier. You did not deserve to have to wait like that. “Besides,, if I had waited, somebody else may have realized how amazing you are and claimed your heart,” he continued with a light kiss.

Kirel returned the kiss. “That’s never going to happen,” he promised. “I’m yours forever now; deal with it! For now, I’m just glad that this entire ordeal is finally behind us,” he sighed with smile while returning Lelwyn’s embrace.

Late in the afternoon on a battlefield in a desolate wasteland, a single warrior was easily mowing down opponents. Wielding a large two-handed hammer and wearing heavy armor, the figure moved around the melee as though it was nothing more than a dance, both dodging blows and returning them with equal abandon.

The warrior continued the deadly exchange until long after the last rays of the days sun shone down, only stopping when approached by a messenger who was holding a letter and shaking in fear.

The messenger bowed nervously to the warrior. “Sir, I apologize for the interruption. This message was just sent via speaking stone and I was told that it was to be delivered to you immediately.”

Instead of acknowledging the messenger verbally, the warrior held out his hand silently to demand the letter. The messenger placed the letter in the warrior’s hand before running off in terror.

As the messenger fled, the warrior tore open the letter and read it, getting angrier and angrier with each word. “Tyren, I shall avenge your death; I swear it, brother mine!”

The warrior crumpled the letter in his armored fist and returned to the battle, fighting even deadlier and mercilessly than before.