Merryn stretched, stood and rubbed an eye. Was it morning or evening? The hard ground wasn't the best of beds. These woods were far bigger than they seemed, but this was the best way to get to the next town without having to go over the Archer Mountains. She focused and removed the spell of hidden; it faded away a moment later. She took out a sun shard from her pouch, holding it in her palm. The shard turned an orange-yellow. It's morning.

Hope the adepts hadn't moved to the summer city yet it was further away than the winter home from here. How many days was it five now? No, turning back to the city would take too long what with the god taking more energy every day. Best not worry about that right now all that mattered was to keep pressing forward. There had to be a town or city with a ship somewhere. Her thoughts turned back to the human man, he seemed somewhat prideful but kind, never a bad trait. So, he couldn't be one of Maxwell's funkys.

A bush off to the left shook, and something glinted in it. She Jumped. Maxwell! Wait a moment. Bushes don't glint. It moved again. Daggers in hand, she padded toward it. The tangled thing thrashed about, flashes of red and black. Her dagger jiggled as she poked it.

The creature straightened before it jumped out all fur and paws. It reminded her a bit of a fox, a fat one. It brushed off a leaf and scampered off.

She leaned forward. It's just silly would never be able to live this down, why acting this way is a disgrace. Have fought and sealed away more fighting spirts then to be rattled by an animal. She huffed. Oh, how grandma would laugh at this. Her stomach gurgled. Was it supper time? She looked at the sky, no it's not.

Crack.

Light footsteps almost too soft to hear, her ears twitched.

Maxwell, came prowling out of the woods on the other side of the field, a long sword on his hip tied in a losse makeshift looped sheath from a thick rope. A dragon claw staff hoved by his side. FUN DESCRIPTION HERE TK Sliding his hood black his ringlets tumbled out to a halo around his grim face. He caught up again, he allways was percistant even back then. She pulled on an earlobe. Don't get distracted.

He was not alone. The men that followed were all that what was left of the king's guards from the lost city of Lionsgate. They fanned out from the woods and stood, silent.

She dug a heel into the ground. Dealing with him again so soon was a test of patience.

The corner of his mouth twitched. He slipped a thumb easy like under his belt.

Running now would mean a sure death.

A large Nekhawk followed Maxwell landed on a held out arm. Where a bird's head should have been a gray squid face of tentacles withered about; in the middle of this mass was a long silver beak. Its lower half was that of a black hawk. On the side of the squid's face were its eyes; they were large as a hen's egg and dark. The Nekhawk leaned forward with its tentacles squiggling. These were supposed to have been obliterated after the war as an act of trust. How did he get his hands on one?

It opened its beak.

A slow fizzy gurgling turned into a screech.

Pressure built up in her ears when she clamped her jaw to avoid crying out. She covered them and shaking so hard she stumbled. "No-oo!"

Maxwell crossed the distance and stopped a few feet away. "Do you like my pet? It's one of the few that survived The War of the Fifty." His bass voice snapped through the clearing.

The creature continued its assault. She backed away. It was hard to think let alone move. Trying to sit up didn't work in fact, nothing worked. Arrg! She fell to her knees shaking her head. Stop! Stop!

The Nekhawk hopped onto his shoulder and preened its greasy feathers. He stroked the creature's feathers. He glanced sideways at her for a second.

The sharp buzzing in her ears made it hard to concentrate and started a dull headache.

With stiff movements, she stood. The screech was still there, but it didn't hurt as bad as before.She tried to talk and mostly grunted.

"Not in the mood for chit-cht? That works." He crossed the distance and drew out a short sword, but stopped short of taking her head off holding the blade under her chin. The Nekhawk wriggled closer its tentacles moving up the blade and touched her face.

Her brow twitched as she fought an urge to slap them away.

The hawk's screech lowered.

He glared at her for far, far too long. "My rage has been caged somewhat. For I know things you do not.." His hand quivered shaking the blade then steadied again.

Knowing him it was best not to test things. She held a breath.

"Awfully quiet." Maxwell's nose wrinkled. He clamped her arms down as a guard walked over took the daggers off her hip.

"Toss them behind that stump near the path," Maxwell said. He hadn't moved in the slightest still holding the blasted sword.

Still pressed against her neck it stung, but not enough pressure to cut. Yet. She pulled in small puffs through her nose. Perhaps taking the wound and then calling a spirt to heal? It's pretty risky if the spirit didn't come fast enough...

Her heart pounded far too hard practally leaping into her mouth. "Let me go. Whatever it is you think I'm doing, you have no idea. I have to—"

His grip tightened and he shook her. "Giving orders? You annoy me greatly." Maxwell snarled.

The sword cut a shallow wound that stung worse then before. She hissed. Warm blood trickled down her throat and pooled into her collarbone. Heat seared her cheeks. Unbelievable, was the training back home pointless? "How are you able to even-"

"It easy enough." He paused. "If not you die."

"I know who you really are." His hot breath blasted over her face. He picked at her shoulder armor. "This is what they made you wear?" He laughed. "Quite restricting compared to robes. Amazingly, you can move in this stiff junk."

The Nekhawk stopped its damn screech and took off into the sky circling above.

"I'm not like them, we have moved past, such ways." She squirmed under his grip.

"Delusional," Maxwell said.

"You're crazy. let me go!" She cleaved the air with a hand. Not caring if the the sword cut again. It's better to take the risk after all. If only the blasted man's attention would lapse.

He lowered the sword. "I see, we are at an impasse. I so want to kill you." His hands twitched as he brought her closer to his body. "We worked for years together, how could you do this to me? To my king?" Tears welled up in his eyes.

Her throat burned. Please don't make me think about that. "I have to complete my mission. Let me finish this." She pulled in a breath through her nose as he body shook. Don't lose it now. Hold it back. Hold back the tide.

He sucked in a quick rapid breath, but didn't let go. "Infernal creature!" He shook her until she thought her brains would bounce out of her skull.

She sputtered. "Let. Go." Forcing back a wave of vomit wasn't easy. She squeezed the burning stuff away.

He cursed with the ruggedness of a sailor while pulling his arm back into such a large fist.

The other guards drew closer to Maxwell, the carpet of leaves crunching underfoot. "Orders sir?"

Maxwell shook his head. "Head out. Now."

The guard nodded and motioned to the rest to follow soon they disappeared back into the woods.

Maxwell leaned in close his rank breath warmed her nose.

"You have a week. I only do this in honor of our time togeather as comrades." His voice now flat and low, he lowered his arm, and with his other brough her close breathed in and closed his eyes. "You still smell of pine and roses." They snapped open again. He shoved her away then quieted the Neckhawk with a hand command before silently slipping back into the forest vanishing.

Her whole body trembled and she collapsed onto the grass, and held her head in hands.This day stretched out as if it was a week. A week have only a week. Have to find a city or town a ship adn go back home. Knew I should have take the portal scroll with.

After a time her body stilled she stood then searched around finding the lost dagger. She dusted off her armor and retied tied her pouch. She hugged herself, then pulled out the map. Over yonder a long shadow from the distant westward Archer Mountains stretched forward like a grim boney hand as it swallowed the small grove of trees in the lower valley. The steep slopes tapered together in the middle where a long river extended past the horizon. She went over to the ridge nearby and followed it North around a lake. Then headed down another road as it curved in a valley with snowy peaks of mountains surrounding it partway.

The City of Belllain was just a pinpoint of flickering lights. A cool breeze flowed over her neck and with it a sweet smell of the valley's wildflowers that came off as a touch too strong.

The ground rumbled. A herd of wild Graluv's ambled by their calves ran back and forth between the long triad of furry-shaped legs. One of the young turned its head close enough that her face reflected in its eyes as it passed by.

She continued down into the valley as soon as the wildlife passed over the road. A wind picked up as night fell, dismal dark clouds rolled overhead. A rain fell sparse at first before increasing into a downpour. Irritating hair stuck to her back and the sides of her face. The road before was long and winding.

Tomorrow would be counted as six days. Six days to find a ship. Six days to fix this.

####

Merryn staggered down the old uneven wooden road the sharp cold drilled into her. Several hours had passed; the shadows stretched from under the few trees on the road. An unseen wolfren cried its distinctive song ending in a howl ushering in the night. The stars were few and dim, the moon a faded glow. Clouds passed over, blocking the light. This cold was unusual for this time of year. All the warmth of the past few days gone. A warm bed looked better and better. Fall would be coming soon, and the waters freezing any ships to bays and docks.

Soon the shadow of the city showed in the distance less obscure then before. A sign on the right said: City of Belllain. Tired of walking, hereafter will rent a horse.

Coming into the city the first building was a freshly painted little white church, with large stained glass windows of scenes, exactly what they were was hard to see yet. The church was shaded by two trees on both sides like two thin guardians standing vigil.

The door opened a crack. A short being that looked like one of the great white cats of the north peered from behind the doorway.

"What is it?" His ears lay flat against his head.

"I seek shelter, kind sir." She took a step and almost lost her footing.

His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, stopping at the end; he pushed them back up. "Does this look like an inn?" He peered over the frames of glasses with an intense look.

Merryn shivered and hugged herself. "Please?" She wiped away a strand of hair plastered on an eye. Her knees threatened to buckle and she locked them to prevent falling. "Just for tonight." Another few minutes and the dirt streets will be a bed. She swallowed back an embarrassing whine.

His whiskers quivered, and he studied his paws. "I suppose." He pulled on the door's ring pull and stepped out of the way.

Bless this man Goddess, for he is kind. She stepped inside, a drop of sweat dripped off her face splashing to the floor.

"Thank you." He's a bit grumpy, but anyone would be with an unexpected guest, will have to repay him with more than just silver some time, perhaps a new whitewash on the walls.

She rubbed her wrist while looking around. The church had a short hallway. The wall stretched on with several colorful nature scenes dotted at its length. Its hallway widened into the main room of the church, filled with long benches. A wall on the left side had a tall stained glass window of the god Olenus. The mural showed the god's sacrifice that he'd made for all Gaxmina. They showed his tears flooding half the world from the loss of his human wife, Ruika, who the dark gods had imprisoned. As to how and why nobody knows, as the scrolls left were tattered with pieces missing.

"Follow me into the back room; there is an old bed you can lay on." Han paused before closing the door. "I have no interest in women but my own kind, so fear not." He held out a paw with a furry brow raised.

Good to know would hate to have to stuff him into a chest. "Of course." Fumbling about in the pouch she pulled out ten silver and handed them to him.

"Next time find an inn or it's five gold." He grumbled and closed the door.

She stood stretching by the doorway. It'd be too soon to lay down just yet but a headache started to build up, she laid on the bed. Just a short nap.

Several hours later she woke and rubbed her eyes. Ouch! Sleeping in full armor with weapons on kinda hurt. She stretched and yawned trying to ease the stiffness away. She explored the room, but couldn't find a washbasin or pitcher. Aee, my soul for a soapstone and water!

A light sweet scent came through the door. She went over and cracked the door looking through a sliver of an opening. A clanking of dishes and scraping sounds along with the sizzling of frying meat. Her mouth watered. Hope a bowl of it doesn't cost too much.

She straightened and dusted off her armor. Really need to buy some oil to rub into it, the waist area was uneven. She froze.

Unnamed's thin dark shadow sparkled with stars, as he extended from the necklace pendant expanding to the door, it took on the shape of a human. A fine elegant cut of a face, a round-nose, and rumpled streight brown long hair cascaded down to his sholders. He learned forward with an intense gaze flashing a cock-sure grin. "I never imagined an Elvin would be so helpfull."

She startled. "What?" She held her breath and resisted cluching her heart. Showing weekness wouldn't be wise not with him. There was no deying he'd gotten stronger. Her damn heart slamed in her chest, and she shuttered. She clasped her hands togeather. Don't panic. Relax. Honestly, this had to be a dream. Or a nightmare.

A strange look flowed over his face, before he burst out laughing.

Heat rushed over her face and down her neck. "You mock me." Yes, a nightmare.

His brow twitched, and a grin returned more awry then the last. "I would never, not to my little champion." He made a circular motion with his hands a appeared a plain small key. "I'm starting to be myself again." He cocked his head. "Well?"

She blinked. This had to be a trick. She shook her head. "No way."

He frowned. Wordlessly he came over. His fingers gingerly pried opened her hands then he dropped the key in the palm of her hand. "Do not rest, do not stop. Find my body." His fourm shimmered becing faint and of shaodow again sluggishly it went into the necklace.

Won't happen. I'll seal or destroy you first before letting you free.

He snorted. Don't bother giving threats, as fate has plans even I can't see. Now then. The key has no keyhole, yet can be turned if the right way is found. He became silent again.

His presance in the pendent was stronger now, but didn't hurt as much as before, it was still draining though like small hole in a barrel her energy dripped away. Even with the nights rest she took her time getting up.

Outside of the room, she made her way into a little kitchen area not much bigger than a couple of arm's lengths wide and high.

The cat man brought over a wooden bowl filled with some portage and fig chunks and a carved spoon. "Here eat." He stared a little and also sniffed.

"I can heal you for a gold." He put it down and went over to the door and fiddled with the door pull, pulled out a rag, and started polishing it without looking at her.

"A gold? I don't have that much." No. She wasn't sure what was going on. "I'll pass on that." She stretched again.

He shrugged, and went back to work, when he reached the door, he pulled it open. His tail shifted between his legs with his head lowered watching an ant crawl across the floor.

She opened her pouch, rummaged through it, went over, and handed him a few silver. She coughed lightly.

"Thank you." He whispered, took the coin then closed the door after she left.

That didn't sit right. Well, best not to press things. Outside a lovely flower, shop building is right behind the church. Some roses, day-golds, blue-bees, and kiss-me-nots were in nice bouquets. The shop owner wearing a long grey tunic pined on the shoulder with a golden ornamental clasp. She swept faster as Merryn neared.

"Good day, do you know where the inn is?" Merryn said.

The woman stood still. "Follow the south street down and take a left. The Star-Crossed End."

"Thanks."—Before she could leave, the woman touched her arm.—"You should leave here." Her voice unsteady and thick. She looked around before heading back into the building closing the door behind her.