Tunio and Irrawella sat at a table in the tavern of the Whole Hog. Tunio was still dressed in his new suit and Irrawella in her blue sleeveless dress. Aquillia walked in dressed in her green skirt and sat beside them at the table.

“How did the meeting go with Paulus?” Irrawella asked.

“That was not my brother. He wasn’t even a real elf. He was using the fact that people thought him an elf to sell pastries.” Aquillia leant forward and rested her head on her hands.

“I am sorry about that,” Tunio consoled, patting her bare shoulder.

“He did tell me that the bakery was first set up by my brother and his wife about fifty years ago.”

“That’s good, right?” Irrawella asked.

“At least I know he was here, and I know that I should keep looking.”

“Where will you look next?” Tunio asked.

Aquillia shrugged. “Paulus suggested that I head to Calcadon. He said my brother wanted to visit the first human city.”

A barmaid brought dinner round for Tunio and Irrawella, setting the plates down on the table.

“Can I get one too, please?” Aquillia asked.

“Sure,” the barmaid said and walked off.

“I didn’t see you here last night for dinner, what did you get up to?”

Tunio dug into his food. “We went for a climb to the top of Mount Wealth.”

“I would love to have made that climb.”

“Normally it takes half a day,” Irrawella said, placing more meat and tubers into her mouth.

“So why did it take you guys so long?”

“We got caught at the top when it got dark and it became dangerous to descend from the top without light.”

Tunio cut his food and placed another mouthful into his mouth. The barmaid dropped off a plate and Tunio passed over a silver leaf. She scooped it up and placed down seventeen bronze rods in change.

“Thank you,” Aquillia muttered around a mouth full of food.

“We got woken up early this morning when the mountain rumbled and started to smoke,” Tunio said.

“I haven’t seen a smoking mountain for a long while, I hope it only just belches of smoke and the island doesn’t have to be evacuated.”

“That would be inconvenient,” Tunio said. “What are you going to do for money?”

“That’s right, the Fleur de Lis left this morning.”

“Excuse me?” A short balding man stood at Tunio’s elbow. He was holding a leather bag and was dressed in a worn-out old suit. “I am looking for a Tunio Rosethorn.”

“I am Tunio Rosethorn.”

“Very good, I am the attorney for Maniple; she is the mistress to the slave Irrawella Lawn.” He sat on the last remaining chair and placed his bag on his lap.

“I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow,” Tunio said.

“My employer wants to conclude the first part of our business immediately; she hates to be in someone’s debt.”

“A good philosophy to have,” Aquillia muttered from across the table.

The attorney smiled, pulled a sheet of paper from the bag, and lay it on the table. He then placed a piece of graphite next to the paper.

“Please sign here, attesting that you have accepted the goods, that will also act as a deed of possession.”

Tunio dutifully signed his name at the bottom of the page.

The attorney placed another piece of paper on the table. “This one goes to the records office.”

Tunio signed also. “What do I need to do to free her?”

The attorney smiled and produced another two pieces of paper and placed them in front of Tunio. “I expected as much. Sign these and then have Irrawella do the same.”

Tunio signed the second set of paper and then pushed the paper and the graphite over the table to Irrawella, his face bright red under his deep brown skin.

“You really want to set me free?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I will tell you once you sign.”

Irrawella picked up the piece of graphite and signed the papers.

The attorney collected the papers, leaving one copy of the bill of sale and the declaration of liberation. He put them into this leather bag and stood.

“Is that it?” Tunio asked.

“She is a free woman.” The attorney nodded and walked off.

Irrawella stood and raced around the table to Tunio. She collapsed into his lap, raining kisses on his face, as tears flowed down her cheeks.

Tunio wrapped his arms around her. “I love you,” he whispered into her ear.

“I love you too,” she replied. “Take me upstairs.”

Tunio lifted her as he stood and carried her out of the tavern; they ascended the stairs to his room and he gently placed her on his bed. He stood back and took off his jacket and shirt. Irrawella lifted her dress over her head and tossed it aside. Then, she helped him remove his sword belt and trousers and called him to bed.

***

Tunio lay next to Irrawella who lay asleep on the bed next to him.

A man’s heart is fickle,

true must a man’s heart be

to wield the spirit.

Honour and glory,

reveal the soul

remain true to your word

and see glory.

The voice echoed in his head. Tunio sat up in the bed and turned, placing his feet on the ground, and picked up the sword and belt from the floor.

A king stays with a lie

Two voices echoed and overlapped. The first deep bass, the second a higher baritone.

Lies destroy the heart and mind.

Truth frees the soul,

Honesty shall humble you.

Gains shall follow.

Return to truth

Separate truth from lie

The sword divides

Truth sets the captives free.

I have set a captive free, Tunio thought, resting it in the fore of his mind.

“That you did,” the baritone voice replied. “There are more captives than just slaves. You need to find all my brethren. We are all captives, scattered across the world.”

“I gave my word that I would stop looking for more items of power,” Tunio said.

“A promise made in haste, but still a promise,” the base voice interjected. “We at least are together again. We can wait for our brethren.”

“I can’t wait,” pleaded the baritone.

“His father found me, and his son found you,” consoled the base voice. “Maybe his son will return us to another.”

“Can’t you feel them calling you?”

“I can,” said the base. “He can’t, yet. The blood is still too weak. Even if he reunited us all he would not be able to stand the final challenge. Let him be, we will wait. The woman is with child, there is always more time.”