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Cathka's wings ached from flight—shoulder blades burning from beating her way here. Ahead of the king's soldiers, lest they make a mess of things by trying to invade the tower.

She saw the monolith rising in the middle of a wheat-field long before she reached it. The tower was perhaps two hundred feet tall, balanced on a point no bigger round than an oak tree. It expanded in odd shapes and angles like a chunk of bismuth. Colors flexed through its steps and twists and crystalline protrusions as the tower rose skyward in all directions. A sordid, reverse pyramid with spears of crystalline metal tipped out, jagged walls that collapsed several feet inward before steps expanded outward again. It was as if its creator wanted to torture it into being.

Basphemen's Tower. A legendary structure that could move at the whim of its lich ruler.

Why it came this far north was beyond Cathka. But, if the oracle who counselled her was correct, Cathka's one chance to get her brother back waited in that tower.

She landed gently on her hooves at the edge of the field. The anthro hippogryph's bushy, fox-like tail whipped behind her. Wind ran through the ember and violet tipped feathers that cascaded down her back like hair. Only wind-stirred wheat moved around the monolith. Cathka touched the necklace around her throat, a string of small jade beads that hummed with power.

It was her conduit. The mage channeled a protection spell from it before taking a step into the field.

Immediately, a beam of white light exploded from the castle. Cathka cast up her shield and caught the ray. A blue field that crackled and exploded when the beam hit, throwing her head over hooves. She landed hard on her back, the blue dress she wore torn and singed.

“Lady Emberplume!"

Cathka groaned and sat up, dazed but not harmed. Her spell worked, at least. An anthro rabbit ran to her side, wearing the forest green cloak that marked him as a scout. He made to help her up but Cathka shoved the rabbit back.

“I'm fine," she said, orange beak clamped in a grimace as she got up. She said, “Are you one of Thomsen's men?"

“Yes, my lady, one of two scouts keeping watch on this monstrosity since it was spotted. I saw it blast you. It shoots down everything that comes near. Birds, critters… never seen anything survive, though."

Cathka flexed her coral-colored wings. She gave them a hard flap, beating the dirt off her dress. “Fortunately I am a bit more robust than a squirrel or crow."

“That you are, milady," the rabbit said with a grin.

“Show me to your post, I will keep the watch with you till General Thomsen arrives."

“You think that thing is going to give us trouble, ma'am?"

Cathka felt nervous turning her back on the tower, but did not show it as she followed the rabbit back to the cover of the trees. The hippogryph told him, “Only if you count famine and plague, death and destruction as 'trouble.'"

***

Two shadows leered over Mathus. He took a step back and bumped into a tree. He held up his hands and said, “Hey, what's going on with you two?"

Karniel and Korlyon flashed their fangs before they grabbed him. Mathus struggled and kicked, but was far too weak to resist either male. Soon they had his tunic, pants, and boots thrown off. Karniel pinned Mathus back to chest and, one large hand clasped on each thigh, spread Mathus eagle. “I thought we were supposed to—" Mathus gasped when Korlyon, crouching in front of Mathus, enveloped the apothecary's cock in his maw. His pale shaft quickly began to twitch and fill with life while the wolf lapped along his length.

Karniel whispered in his ear, “What's wrong, Mathus? You didn't seem to have any trouble stopping for this kind of thing the day before."

Korlyon released him and said, “Or the day before that and the day before that."

“Korlyon and I have an agreement," Karniel said while the wolf undid his trousers. “You keep trying to milk us dry, so today we're going to milk you." Mathus felt the familiar weight of Karniel's flaccid cock push against his back. Korlyon moved back to continue his blowjob, but Karniel said, “Wait, aren't you going to prepare me first?" Grumbling beneath Mathus, Korlyon leaned in to service the bat. Karniel sighed. “That's more like it."

“I'm, hah, just happy to see the two of you working together."

“Mmm," Karniel rolled his hips and Mathus heard Korlyon gag. “We do not agree on much, but we can get along if it is to torment you."

Korlyon popped off Karniel's cock and spat in the road. He snarled, “We should switch places. Don't you need the meal?"

“Oh I hardly need it," Karniel said. “Go ahead and guide me in, won't you?"

Scowling, Korlyon leaned in first. He loathed to admit it, but he had come to find the taste and scent of Karniel's cock enticing. Having it throb in his mouth only made his sheath plump up. The scent of Mathus' earthy rim added to the wolf's arousal. Korlyon dragged his tongue across the tender bud, making Mathus shudder a little. Korlyon kissed it and wedged his tongue inside the apothecary. He moaned, which made Korlyon's tail wag.

“Would you quit romancing his entrance already?"

Karniel's impatience made Korlyon snarl. He sat back and reached under Mathus. The apothecary felt that fat, spit-slick head rub his entrance. Mathus grunted when the tip ploughed inside. It was a little rough, but weeks on the road with these two had made Mathus more than accommodating. He bit back his discomfort as Karniel forced more inside him. Precum pulsed through the shaft into Mathus. Thank goodness Karniel never failed to be productive. Mathus reached up and wrapped his arms around the bat's neck, watching Korlyon close his maw around the apothecary's dick. Mathus pushed back against Karniel's pecs, soft fur to skin. He moaned as the bat's maroon cockhead rubbed against his prostate.

Before journeying with them, Korlyon had become a stranger to touch, but the teenager proved quite capable of throwing off all his repression with Mathus and Karniel. He sucked Mathus' dick with a practiced familiarity. His head bobbed up and down, the tip teasing into the wolf's throat, but most remained in his long muzzle, with broad tongue wrapped around it. His drool dripped along Mathus' balls. And the apothecary already felt himself growing tense as Karniel kept easing and rubbing his spot. The bat did not seem concerned with properly fucking his lover, but instead wanted to just focus on building the tension in Mathus' body.

It worked. Mathus squirmed in the bat's grip, trying to encourage Karniel deeper, but the bat held him firm. Gentle, slow rocking. The slow massaging of pleasure from his passage. His rim once burning now sensitive to the stroking, his soft walls squeezed on that shaft while Karniel prodded his nut. The bat worked like a thief picking a lock, all steady precision while pleasure and pressure built up in the root of Mathus' dick.

Mathus huffed and begged, “Karniel—fuck, just fuck me already. Please… I need your cock." He looked up and saw his lover grinning mercilessly down at him.

“Shut up, darling." Karniel kissed him, fangs shoving roughly into Mathus' face. Lips prized his open and the bat's large tongue filled his mouth. Mathus couldn't help but submit reflexively to the kiss. The soft heat and taste of Karniel always put the apothecary at ease. The smell of musk and sage, the taste of that tongue ravishing his… Mathus gave in. He came.

His cock flexed in Korlyon's mouth before seed spilled inside the wolf's muzzle. The teenager growled, close to purring, and continued to suck hard. Mathus quickly became overstimulated, struggling in Karniel's grip again. Wet suckling practically stung his cockhead, all while his cum spilled into Korlyon's mouth. The wolf barely stopped to swallow. The apothecary's seed was a satisfying flavor that he had acquired a taste for. The wolf wedged his tongue between foreskin and urethra, undulating it to make Mathus groan. The oral muscles stroked and ravished his tip, the canine's tongue swirling around it and drawing out the apothecary's pleasurable torment.

Korlyon's own cock bobbed between his legs. He squeezed the red spade and a string of precum fired from the tip. He buried his dark, wet nose in Mathus' pubes, enjoying the other male's musk while sucking on the tender shaft. Even with a slight reprieve, Mathus tried to roll his hips away but all he got for his trouble was a teeth grazing.

He eventually remained completely still. He had a deepening blush and tears rolled down his cheeks. All while Karniel's tongue still invaded his mouth. The bat began to work his hips a little faster, but his thrusts remained shallow. He continued to stir up Mathus' pucker, producing precum at a rate that it began to get pushed in and out around his entrance. His butt became smeared in sticky strands of arousal. Mathus' body had become receptive again, his dick still a little overstimulated, but Karniel's girth stroking in and out gave the apothecary something to focus on. That lovely, fat cock massaged his nut until his legs began to feel numb. The heat in his body became a heavenly buzz.

Mathus basically became limp again in both males' attentions. His passage offered no resistance to Karniel. His cock sank in and out of the soft, wet tunnel. The human had become a proper and true slut. As good as any the bat might have trained before he had been cursed. Mathus wanted his every touch. At some point, Karniel planned to settle somewhere just so he could take his time figuring out how depraved his human lover really was. Mathus moaned into his lips. His asshole clenched and Karniel knew the human came again. The bat thrust his hips a little harder, mushroom tip ploughing deep enough now to leave a bulge in the human's pale abdomen.

Mathus squirmed and whined but Karniel held him tight. The human broke the kiss to whimper, “Pl-please… ugh, Korlyon… fuck it hurts…"

“I don't think the pup can hear you," Karniel growled. He held his helpless lover tight and kept pumping his hips.

“Korlyon—ah!" Mathus groaned, whole body a trembling mess.

The wolf kept sucking on his shaft. His long, canine tongue pushed out and lapped at Mathus' balls while they flexed and jumped. Ropes of cum filled Korlyon's lips. He could smell the sharp musk of the apothecary's seed. Pearly white strands drooled from the wolf's muzzle as he kept working the shaft inside his mouth. Korlyon kept a paw rubbing up and down his engorged tool. His red spade-tip fired another rope of precum every few seconds. His bulb had swollen and throbbed with the need to be sunk inside something.

Mathus' overstimulated cock finally had its wave of sensitivity pass. Though, the constant stimulation from both men left the apothecary already at the edge. He felt Karniel's hips quiver when the bat ploughed inside him. He tried his best to squeeze down tight and milk that heavenly shaft. He knew when Karniel close. He needed the bat to cum so badly, wanted to feel his hole dripping from the creampie.

Hunger rose up and surprised Karniel. Mathus' pale flesh flushed red down his neck. Glistened with sweat. He saw it and did not even hesitate. Since realizing the curse broken, bite marks dotted the pale flesh.

Mathus felt the familiar, sweet sting of Karniel's impeccably sharp teeth. He gasped and an intoxicating rush of pleasure struck him the same time it did the bat. Karniel hilted Mathus, body quivering as he sucked and blood spilled across his palette. His cock jerked and seed spilled inside that tight, hot little body. His lover spasmed while Karniel held him tighter. Mathus came for a third time in Korlyon's muzzle. The wolf recognized Karniel cumming and released the human. His muzzle ducked under Mathus to lick up the bat's heavy balls. They clenched and flexed as the salty flesh coated Korlyon's palette in a dryer musk. The tongue worked up to the bat's scrotum to the base of his cock and Mathus' abused rim. He licked the sensitive pucker as the overfilled apothecary began leaking heavy dollops of Karniel's cum. Soon as Korlyon tasted the bat's seed, his paw began to tug on his knot. It only took a few laps and tugs to make the wolf shudder and begin cumming across the dirt.

Mathus craned his neck to kiss Karniel's cheek. The bat's ears flicked, nose twitched as he fed a moment longer on Mathus' blood before releasing the bite. Karniel kissed him and Mathus' mouth filled with the taste of his own blood. He liked it, though—something strangely erotic in sharing this with Karniel. His dick dribbled while he felt Korlyon's tongue drag up his sensitive taint. He felt full of Karniel's load. Though, by now a great deal of it already spilled out around Karniel's shaft, into Korlyon's mouth and across the bat's balls.

When Karniel eventually sat down with Mathus still hilted on him, the apothecary was too dazed to do more than moan when Korlyon pushed their lips together, forcing a mouthful of cum lewdly into his mouth. Karniel meanwhile licked away the remains of any blood along Mathus' neck. The blood still tasted sweet. A reminder how special Mathus was to Karniel.

***

It had been a month since they left the Order of the Faceless safe house. The trio stayed there a week before heading further south. Armed with the safe house's stores, they traveled with none of the scarcity they had before. Mathus rode horseback, having to learn via Korlyon how to ride a horse. Karniel opted to walk, professing that his considerable size made it difficult to find a horse that could manage him. Plus, Karniel was already stronger and faster than any mount.

After their morning fun, they washed up at a nearby creek before breaking camp. Currently they took one of the main highways toward the Sebodal Strait. On a globe, the strait sat just a finger's width from the equator. It was where the tail of the northern content reached for the southern, like two lovers reaching down and up for one another. Mathus always found the shape of the world rather poetic, but Karniel and Korlyon remained more or less nonplussed. They had just entered the Kingdom of Sebodal, and had a week's leisurely travel before they reached the strait proper. Once crossed, they planned to head to Sepulcher of Twilight, the northernmost city of the Emerald Cities. Karniel believed he had contacts there they could call on.

Around noon, they stopped to give the horses a break and eat lunch. On both sides of the highway were wide stretches of farmland with slaves working the fields. They took shade under a tree and Korlyon and Mathus fished out their rations to eat. Dried meats, some fruit, and nuts—things that did not break apart in the saddle.

Karniel studied a map while leaning against the tree. He had not been to Sebodal in centuries—not properly anyways. When he passed through on his way north after his curse, he had chartered a ship with the last of his fortune to take him to a port at the city's edge. If you counted it as part of the northern hemisphere, it was the north's only real metropolis.

Korlyon said to him, “I told you already how long it would be till we reached the city."

“If there is one thing all my years have taught me, pup," Karniel said while he continued to scan the map, “It is that being immortal really makes the question of when one arrives trivial."

“Then what are you looking for?" the wolf shot back. “We are on the fastest route."

“I am curious what has changed. You know, you hear the news—a sacking this, a new dynasty that—why I remember when it was called the Ledolin Strait—but it is another thing to see how the physical space of a city changes. I am seeing where the outer walls have moved, where things have expanded—contracted."

“Sounds like you're just testing your memory," Mathus observed.

“Yes, well, one must do something to keep the intellect sharp when the road is nothing but wheat and tomatoes and cabbage far as the eye can see."

Korlyon rolled his eyes. The wolf usually just dismissed Karniel at this point, but Mathus asked, “How do you think we will be received when we reach the city?"

“Not like the last town I hope," Karniel said.

Korlyon snickered. “You shouldn't have kicked that hen into the horizon, then."

Mathus grinned. “Karniel hates fowl."

The bat huffed, “Listen, just because I lost my temper at that obstinate merchant is no reason—"

“Do you have any clue who I am!" Korlyon interrupted, jumping up and taking on a pantomime of Karniel's expressive posture, “I have lived two thousand years! I should know what a rotten rutabaga is!"

The bat looked horrified. “Is that how you think I act?"

Mathus giggled. “I think Korlyon has the makings of an actor, dear."

The wolf's tail wagged at the compliment. Karniel turned his back on the both of them and grumbled, “Frankly, I don't know why I put up with you two."

Both of them laughed and Mathus got up to hug the big bat from behind. He nuzzled into the vest Karniel wore, the fabric already saturated in that familiar sage smell.

One of the bat's ears twitched and swiveled north. Karniel said, “Mathus, tie the horses to the tree then get behind it. There are some riders galloping towards us."

Mathus frowned and looked down the highway. He barely saw the distant sign of dust kicked up by a group of riders. “Are you sure, Karniel?" Mathus asked as he went to where they tacked the horses on the roadside.

“Could be nothing, but I can hear their armor and weapons bouncing."

Korlyon went to his saddle and quickly unstrapped his armor and swords. As he worked to put things on with practiced speed, Karniel considered running out to meet the riders. Could be less risky for Mathus, and Korlyon would make sure his beloved didn't chase after like a fool. Karniel scanned the farmhands in the field. Nothing looked amiss. Leaving Mathus alone still made him nervous—and they had no clues as to what broke his curse aside from his bond to the apothecary. Karniel might be unable to do anything all over again without Mathus in close proximity. They just did not know. There were so many things they did not, which is why they were returning to the south.

But what made Karniel the most uneasy was that for the last month they had not encountered a single hunter or band trying to kill him. It felt too long. They had been careful, not committing anymore acts of violence on the road in order to keep up the illusion that his curse might still be active. Rumors and disinformation played in their favor till they might reach a place where Karniel could get answers and build solid defenses against any enemies of his.

A paw touched his elbow. Korlyon stood beside him in armor with swords sheathed at the hip. The wolf asked, “How do you want to handle this?"

“Hope they pass. If it comes to a fight, we stick to our usual plan for hunters. You stay beside Mathus and protect him, and I slaughter the fools."

They both faced the growing dust cloud now. “Really think it could be trouble?"

“Perhaps I am just paranoid."

“I trust your gut—I've been getting antsy as well."

“Stay by Mathus' side."

In the distance, they saw the silhouettes of a group of riders. Korlyon drew his swords and went to join Mathus. Karniel missed having his own armor. Getting into a fight with the clothes Governor Gilian had tailored for him was honestly wasteful. The thought of meeting his enemies naked occurred and he glanced back at Mathus, who watched the road. He wondered if his beloved would appreciate the sight.

The riders came close enough that Karniel could count twelve among their number. All wore mail or leather armor, carried various weapons, and no banner or heraldry to denote a territory or noble house they served. They seemed ragtag, at least.

It became clear as they approached they came for Karniel, for they slowed and came to a halt before him as he stood on the side of the road. The bat held up his arms while the riders fanned out in an arc along the road. Some took crossbows and loaded them before aiming at him.

“Greetings, I am Karniel the Great. Typically I try to know who it is I am speaking to before they point their toys at me, but you gentlemen seem in a hurry."

A grey hare with an ugly scar over his brow said, “Heard from the folks in the town back you was on this road."

“And I are!" Karniel said, mocking the bumpkin's grammar. “May I have the name of those in a hurry to see me?"

“I'm Jackal, and these are my boys. We got paid to deliver a message."

Karniel cocked his head. “Well, Jackal, count me surprised to see so many couriers to deliver a message to me. Humbling, really."

Jackal hocked a loogie at Karniel's feet. “We ain't couriers."

“Nor am I a comedian, it seems."

“What?"

Karniel waved for the hare to continue. “The message?"

“Right. Basphemen, you know him?" Karniel's eyes widened in surprise a moment. “He some mage? He sent me a letter, real magical shit, leapt right out my hearth and when I opened it he spoke through it."

“Sounds his style," Karniel said. The bat did not mention to the lout that Basphemen was one of the last remaining liches in the world. A lich Karniel had a very contentious history with.

“Yeah, he tells me to go find you. Said you'd be hearabouts heading south. Said he knows something about your curse, and that his tower would be in the kingdom till he saw you."

“Generous, I am sure his motives are completely innocent."

“He also promised us a lot of coin if we cut you up and brought you back in little pieces—said you couldn't fight back."

Karniel shook his head. “Really, are you telling me, Jackal, that you, Jackal, won't put our friendship above some paltry coin?"

The hare scowled, only just seeming to realize Karniel mocked him.

“Kill him."

Five crossbows fired at once. The bolts too slow. Karniel lunged out the way and towards Jackal. The hare tried to grab his sword, but the bat used his superior height and reach to backhand the fool, caving in his face. He drew the hare's sword and cleaved the blade into a lightly armored raccoon trying to swing his axe. Even with not the sharpest blade, Karniel cut clean through the fool before turning to the rest and bellowing, “Do I need to kill all of you or do you understand how outmatched you are?"

All around him men tried to calm their horses. Karniel snarled and raised his fist at the closest rider and the group broke, running in every direction away from the bat. Karniel smacked the rears of the horses with his two victims still strapped to the saddle. They galloped off and Karniel tossed the sword into a ditch on the roadside. He kicked the top half of the raccoon into it, too.

Then he looked down at his waistcoat and found it covered in blood.

He groaned. “Gods dammit all to hell!"

***

“When it came to tales moms used to scare their pups, they always used two," Korlyon said. He nodded to Karniel, “First was the Scourge, of course, said he was drawn to evil and pups who misbehaved would call him into their beds at night."

“Really, I doubt any god has the stamina to make nightly visits to every misbehaving child," Karniel joked, “Considering all of them are little devils." They sat around a fire, roasting a pheasant Korlyon shot earlier. They had stopped for the night and finally discussed what happened on the road earlier.

Mathus nudged the bat's leg with his foot, “Come now, not all children are bad."

“Please, you mortals barely behave when you are fifty."

The apothecary rolled his eyes. “You were saying, Korlyon?"

“The second story was Basphemen the Lich would come for you to devour your soul."

“He has quite the reputation in the southern hemisphere," Karniel said. “Not a Scourge mind you, but peasants and kings alike fear him with a persistent amount of superstition."

“I've read about liches, but never knew any of their names," Mathus said.

“Basphemen and I have had many encounters, but he is not a friend by any means." Karniel stared at the fire, brooding a moment before admitting, “If there is someone who might know something about my curse, Basphemen could actually know."

“Then are we going to pursue him?" Mathus asked.

Karniel shook his head. “There is a reason I did not seek him out when I was first cursed. Everything Basphemen offers comes with a cost, and he is not particularly interested in material riches."

“Ignoring a lich's summons sounds just as dangerous," Korlyon said, nibbling on his bottom lip. “Can't you have any friends, Karniel?"

“I do, I just have long since learned that friendships with other powers in the world is always more risk than it is worth," Karniel said. “For instance, I still keep correspondence with Gerordan's descendants—or did at least. A great grandson of his does not live far from here, actually. Owns a country estate, brews mead. Nice fellow, tries to write on the side but it is like he is just tracing over his ancestor's shadow."

Korylon's brow furrowed. “Who is Gerordan?"

“He's the greatest poet that ever lived!" Mathus piped up. He sat up on his knees and grabbed Karniel's arm. “Can we go to see him, Karniel? Can we?"

The bat chuckled. “If we do not mind delaying for a day. I must admit I never met the man, but we were warmly regarded pen pals."

Mathus gave Korlyon a pleading look.

The wolf sighed. “Fine, long as the mead is good. We are totally distracted now, though."

“There really is no more to say about Basphemen," Karniel said. “We keep a wide berth from his tower. Certainly he is a threat, but if we responded to his summons it would be like walking into a pit of vipers. I escaped it twice, I do not want to try my luck for a third time."

Korlyon growled, clearly still not satisfied. “We should start posting a watch again. We have been lax as of late."

Karniel nodded. “I can take the first, then you the second, pup."

“What about me?" Mathus asked.

Both Karniel and Korlyon gave him a look.

“What? All I need to do is scan the night and make sure nothing sneaks up on us."

“Darling, I love you, but with these ears and this nose?" the bat tapped Mathus' nose to punctuate the question. “Any half decent rogue would get close enough to put an arrow through your throat without you noticing a thing."

“Karniel is right, Mathus. You are not exactly made for this sort of thing. And senses aside, you are not used to this, you're likely to doze off. Keeping yourself at attention for half the night is hard."

Karniel spared Mathus a smile and said, “This is what we brought the pup along for. Don't worry."

Korlyon smirked. “I thought you brought me along because you both like taking my knot."

Karniel glared at the wolf. “I have only let you do that four times you little upstart."

“Five, and you begged for it every time."

“Bah!" Karniel took the pheasant off its spit and tossed it at the wolf, who fumbled to catch it. “Cut this up and eat, both of you. Then sleep so I can take watch."

But Mathus could not sleep.

He lay on his bedroll beside Korlyon, who slept tonight in his armor. Mathus listened to the wolf's slow breathing. All the weeks on the road went by so quickly that Mathus could not believe they already almost reached the southern continent. It was a much more populated and diverse place, with nations and people and ruins far older than Karniel. It was the seed of civilization, and there were so many places Mathus wanted to see with his companions. But if they were always going to be hunted—if the weight of an axe always hung over their head—would they even be able to enjoy their journey together?

Mathus sighed and sat up. The farmland had broken in favor of woodland that stretched on for several miles, according to their map. They camped a ways off the road to avoid any unwanted attention. The canopy blocked out most of the moonlight, so Karniel was just a shadow sitting at the edge of the camp.

Quietly, Mathus crawled towards the bat and saw his head hung low like he might be asleep.

Before Mathus might rouse him, Karniel's ear twitched and the bat said, “You really should be trying to sleep, darling."

“I can't right now," Mathus whispered, to be mindful of Korlyon, though, he knew the wolf could sleep like a slab of lead.

Karniel held up his arm and Mathus sat against his side. The bat hugged him close before asking, “What troubles you?"

“I just… I wish there was a way to get the word out—about how you changed. You're not trying to hurt anyone anymore."

“Mmm, sadly, even if we could I doubt that would stop others from seeking me out."

“I know, and I know this is what I signed up for. I don't regret our journey for a moment, I just wish our journey could be more about us and less about all the terror in this world."

The bat remained silent for a time. Mathus listened to his love's slow heartbeat through his chest while cicadas cried through the night. Eventually: “I am sorry things cannot be different, either."

Mathus said, “It is alright. It would be nice if I felt less useless, though. Today I felt like a child being told to go hide—and I know it is the right thing to do. I know I am not much of a fighter, but…" The apothecary sighed. “Perhaps I would feel differently if I managed to protect you for once."

“Not being allowed to stand watch got to you, didn't it?"

Mathus grimaced. “I suppose it did."

“Darling, tell me, focus on the woods around us and tell me what you hear."

Mathus leaned away from Karniel and strained his senses to see if he picked anything up other than the cicadas. “Just the bugs," he said eventually.

“I see, and your night vision?"

“No better than yours, I imagine."

“And we know the only thing you smell right now is me."

“Hehe, I can't help it if you smell so good."

Karniel chuckled as well. He squeezed Mathus with the arm draped around him and said, “My sense of smell is only slightly better, but my sense of hearing? Twenty paces ahead of us some kind of rodent is digging through the dirt. Forty paces to our left there is a family of deer passing by. I can fight in the dark, Mathus. I can know where someone is by the sound of their breathing, hear their weapons as they swing it through the air. You have none of that. I am asking you to not take watch because there are things you cannot do yet. Perhaps there will come a time when you can, but until then, let Korlyon and I protect you. It is what we want to do."

“I get it," Mathus said, exasperated. “But what if we get separated?"

“It won't ever happen," Karniel said matter-of-factly.

“But if it does…"

“Then I will scour the ends of every plane of existence to find you," Karniel said.

“I meant what will I do?"

“Hmm, I suppose it would be wise to teach you to defend yourself. I can work with Korlyon on that."

Mathus nuzzled into Karniel's side. “Thank you. I am not as delicate as you think, you know."

The bat grunted. “Compared to me, everything in this world is delicate."

“And yet your pride seems to be hurt so easily."

“Oh hush."

Silence and cicada song filtered back in between them.

“There is one other thing," Mathus eventually said, “If we do end up separated, Karniel, I want you to do whatever you need to survive."

“Even if I have to suck someone's body dry of blood?"

“Well I would rather you suck something else dry if you can. But yes, blood, too. Don't feel like you need to uphold any loyalties to me. Don't let your principles keep you from doing what you must to come back to me."

“Hmm, I appreciate you telling me this."

More silence filled out the long, lulling breaths of the night. Behind them both, Korlyon began to gently snore.

Mathus yawned. “I think that's enough grim talk about the future for now, though." He burrowed into the bat and asked, “Is it okay if I fall asleep right here?"

“Heh, I would not have it any other way."

Mathus let himself doze off. Listening to the bat's slow, soft breaths lulled him into a haze of warm relaxation. So much so the apothecary did not even notice when the cicada song came to a sudden stop. Karniel tensed up, then cursed. “Korlyon get up!" he barked before shoving Mathus away. The apothecary rolled painfully along his shoulder before he heard trees split, smashed down by something massive that barreled through their camp. The horses screamed. Mathus heard a horse break its leg before and the cries that came from their beasts made a broken leg sound pleasant. Icy fear paralyzed the apothecary as he tried to make sense of the writhing black mass at the edge of their camp.

It was eating their horses.

Korlyon unsheathed his swords but Karniel held out his hand. “Wait."

“What the fuck is that, Karniel?"

“Quell. Basphemen's familiar."

“It smells like a mass grave," the wolf growled. “Aren't familiars supposed to be birds or something?"

The putrid smell of death made Mathus bite down bile. He watched the shape congeal around the now dead horses. It was… wriggling… all over.

Karniel said to Korlyon, “Protect Mathus. I am going to talk with the lich."

Korlyon backed off, swords still drawn. Karniel circled around so he did not stand in front of Mathus. In case the beast charged again, the apothecary realized. Mathus remained rooted to the ground, unable to move. His limbs felt cold and numb.

Karniel said once Quell finished devouring their horses, “If you are suitably sated, what is it you want, Basphemen?"

A glowing eye opened along the familiar's back. Red like coals in pitch-black night. One, then dozens. A cascade of eyes, enough that Mathus could make out the monster now. It walked on four legs, a squirming mass of inky darkness and sundry body parts. Animals, humans, anthros… Mathus thought he even recognized the mauled head of their horse. The monster faced Karniel and rose up on its hind legs, now dwarfing the bat. Quell had no recognizable head, instead its torso split in a thin line, curled upwards with rows and rows of teeth.

“Karniel," the beast spoke. It sounded like a chorus of voices all in agony. “Did you get my message?"

Karniel did not lose his airs despite the terrifying sight. Mathus saw Korlyon's swords quivering as even the wolf became unnerved.

“I did, but I do so prefer these visits with you, Basphemen. I see Quell has not wanted for food. It must have grown another foot since I last saw it."

The monster chuckled and the sound combined with smell made Mathus gag. “I take very good care of my pets. Speaking of pets, your curse is broken yet you travel with mortals." Eyes squirmed through flesh to turn to Korlyon and Mathus. Karniel's hands clenched into fists. “An Order of the Faceless hunter and a powerful mage."

Mathus remembered what Korlyon told him before. The apothecary was supposed to be a powerful mage? How?

“They are my servants," Karniel said, an edge to his voice. “Why have you decided to visit?"

“To find out for myself how you are doing after all these years. How attached are you to these servants? Quell still hungers."

“They mean nothing to me. Though, if you let Quell eat them I would be quite put out."

“I make no promises."

“And I make no promises I won't kill your familiar if you try."

“A fierce defense for those who mean nothing to you."

“It is more a matter of pride and principle, dear Basphemen."

Quell's eyes finally turned back to Karniel. He asked, “Will you be coming to my tower?"

“What do I need to know about the curse? It is broken, that is all that matters to me."

“Ahhhh… you wound me, Karniel. It does not even sound like you are interested in visiting an old friend."

“Another time, old friend," Karniel said with a dismissive wave. “We are in a hurry and I really cannot delay our journey for pleasantries."

“Eager to get your 'servants' somewhere?"

“Please, I do not—"

“Our journey, Karniel? Tell me," those eyes shifted back to Mathus, “where did you find this little mage? I am not sure anyone has known a human with so much raw power coming off him." The beast took a step towards Korlyon and Mathus.

Korlyon held up his blades. “Stay back, beast," the wolf snapped.

“Hah…" the stench of the familiar's breath washed across the camp to the them both. “How cute. A warrior of Mortel protecting him. I see, it is all beginning to make some sense."

Mathus saw Karniel growing tense, like the bat was breaths away from pouncing.

Quell asked, “But Karniel, how did you even know?" The thing laughed—a horrible, agonizing sound. “Oh but I must test him—"

Karniel lunged at the beast with a haymaker that would knock a horse off its hooves. Chunks of Quell's torso above its mouth came flying off. The beast squealed and one of its limbs slammed down onto Karniel's shoulder. The bat was knocked to a knee before he shouted, “Run!"

Korlyon took a step back, saying, “Let's go, Mathus."

But the apothecary remained on the ground, staring as the beast brought its jaws down on Karniel's head. The bat caught its jaws, growling as his palms were shredded by rows of sharp teeth. Mathus jumped up and started running towards Quell automatically.

“Karniel!"

“Dammit Mathus!" Korlyon cursed as those eyes twisted to them both. One of the creature's limbs burst out, expanding like a lashing whip. Korlyon stepped in front of Mathus and sliced off the tentacle before it slammed down on them both.

Karniel cursed and kicked out at one of Quell's knees. He snapped it in two and the beast fell. The bat twisted around and yelled, “Mathus go!"

Before he could think to protest, Korlyon sheathed a sword and grabbed Mathus by the arm. The wolf dragged him along, growling, “Let the Powers fight it out."

“But Karniel—"

“No Mathus!" the wolf snarled, still tugging the apothecary along. “Karniel is an arrogant bastard, but he is not a liar. If he believes he can handle it, he can handle it."

Mathus squeezed his eyes shut and turned his back on his beloved to run.

They made twenty paces into the woods before Korlyon was yanked off his feet. Mathus turned in the dark and saw the wolf being dragged back to the camp by a leg. The wolf reached for his sword, but the tentacle whipped up and slammed Korlyon down on the ground. He coughed, body in spasm. Mathus went after him and came back into the clearing to see Karniel fighting a larger Quell while a smaller, human-sized beast had split off from the rest of its body.

It yanked a dazed wolf to its feet and glared down at him.

“You're not who I want."

Korlyon, who had been waiting, ripped his other sword from his sheath and swung it into the smaller Quell's legs. It fell to the ground as Korlyon rolled backwards onto his feet. He charged as the beast tried to get up and cleaved it in half. Mathus watched, uncertain what to do. Karniel was busy blocking heavy swings from the bigger beast and retaliating with quick punches and kicks. The bat moved with the footwork of a martial artist, and seemed to be taking his time with Quell. With each blow more chunks of squirming flesh and bone peeled off the familiar.

But the halves Korlyon cut apart were stirring.

Karniel caught a limb swung at his side and spun, throwing Quell into the woods behind him. More trees snapped and cracked as the beast landed hard on the ground. Korlyon tried to cut into the halves, but it seemed to have little effect until Karniel came over and stomped down on both. The bat was becoming covered in ichor and gore. His clothes were ruined and knuckles were coated with the stuff.

Karniel told them both, “The only way to kill Quell is to beat it to death piece by piece. It has no heart, no brain, there is nothing you can slice up. I'm the only one who can fight it, so what are you two still doing here?"

Korlyon snarled, “It's not my fault—"

It sounded like a chord strung too tightly snapping, only the whoosh cutting through the air could have been from chains thick enough to raise and lower a drawbridge. Karniel could only protect one of them. Quell had extended his body into one long, lashing whip—an easy enough attack for Karniel to dodge, but he had to step in the way of the blow for Mathus. It struck Karniel and Korlyon at the same time with enough force to bisect a man. Karniel had crouched and caught the blow with his shoulder, Korlyon, with his enchanted armor, was struck in the thigh and sent tumbling onto his face. From the wolf, Karniel heard the snap of bone clear as the snap of the trees earlier.

The bat groaned, getting up and charging to where Quell stood, body winding up to whip across the campsite again. The whip had bit to the bone on that first lash. His left arm hung limp while he kicked Quell back into the woods. Karniel heard Mathus shout, “Korlyon!" Quell had splattered across the forest floor. Karniel saw masses squirming together, surging towards the camp. He stomped on one, but there were a dozen all about the size of dogs converging on Mathus.

The apothecary looked up, saw the surging, red eyed lumps of flesh.

Something welled up in Mathus. Heat boiling through his chest and extending sharply, suddenly across the rest of his body. His limbs tingled like they were asleep but something was there. Something powerful. A glaring circle of silver light surrounded human and wolf. The closest of the lumps slammed against some invisible barrier when it struck the light. Its body seized up, then slumped into sizzling chunks of flesh. The rest of Quell's pieces came to a stop. Mathus watched them congeal back into the beast from before.

The fighting had taken its toll. It was roughly the size of Karniel now. Karniel who came from behind with a roundhouse kick into the beast's side. It swung end over end across the clearing from the force of the blow.

Mathus noticed the wound on Karniel's shoulder had sealed itself, his hands, too, had healed over. Of course the bat had never been in any serious danger.

Karniel snapped at the beast as it struggled to get up, “We are done here, Basphemen. Lest you want me to kill your familiar, you will leave immediately."

Quell managed to stand. Its middle opened and it spoke, “Indeed we are. Though, with such power, I wonder why you did not use the mage sooner?"

Behind him, Mathus was busy stripping Korlyon's armor. The wolf was groaning as Mathus muttered, “Stay with me, Korlyon. Focus on my voice."

Quell had shattered Korlyon's femur earlier. Grimly, the bat did not expect the wolf to even see the sunrise. If only they had just ran when Karniel first told them…

Karniel did not give Quell an answer. So the beast said, “Oh, no words for me, dear Karniel? Maybe all this is mere coincidence. Could it be you have no clue?"

“No clue about what?"

“What the human is," Basphemen said. “I tasted it through Quell just now—an old, familiar flavor. The irony is almost succulent as that little mage's heart would be. If you want answers, bring the human with you to my tower. Or just flail around in the dark. Though, that has never been your style, now has it, dear Scourge?"

A circle of darkness, void that swallowed light, opened behind Quell and the familiar stepped through it. The portal winked out of existence. Gone, Karniel finally turned back to Mathus.

He gawked, unsure what to do. Mathus' skin had a tender aura to it, he had laid his hands across Korlyon's bloody, mangled leg. Shattered bone had shredded muscle, skin, and artery. In normal leather armor, Korlyon's legs might have been severed entirely.

Before Karniel's eyes, Mathus was healing the wound magically. The apothecary seemed caught up in some kind of trance. Karniel almost broke it on impulse. Mages could draw on their own life force to perform spells, but they never got back what they used. Soul did not renew like blood did. But if he stopped Mathus when Korlyon could be saved, he knew his beloved would never forgive him. Karniel sat on his knees, took a deep breath, and waited.

Mathus had entered some kind of communion with Korlyon's body. While his body still buzzed with power, a single touch was enough for him to feel what was wrong with the wolf. At first, a shock of grief almost snapped the healer from his trance—he knew such wounds were normally fatal. But Mathus had sensed he could fix it. And so the apothecary began drawing the threads of each bone back together. He realigned them, closed severed muscles and arteries. He was able to begin to bind the bone back together—not just set it, but make the break nonexistent. But an ocean welled up inside Mathus as he worked. Something grew wider and wider inside him. A gulf he worried his mind would fall into, and whatever instinct that brought him to this power, sudden alarm snapped him away from it.

Korlyon and Mathus both gasped as they came to. The wolf's turned to anguish groan while Mathus swayed. Karniel caught the apothecary and asked, “Mathus, Mathus? Can you hear me, darling?"

He nodded weakly. “What happened?"

“You were using magic to heal, Korlyon," Karniel explained.

The wolf said through grit teeth, “I know I ought to be grateful, but I don't feel healed."

Mathus frowned and helped Korlyon sit up. He said to them both, “I'm sorry I couldn't do more. I was going to but something… opened up inside me. It felt huge and like I might be swallowed. I panicked."

“It's okay, Mathus," Karniel said. He squeezed his beloved's shoulder, “You certainly saved Korlyon's life, whatever you did. And until we know what is going on, it is best you don't tap whatever power you found tonight."

Mathus said, “I would prefer not to. How does your leg feel, Korlyon?"

“Like someone's spent the last hour beating my thigh with a hammer."

“You will need a splint, and at least a week of bedrest before you try to walk again. Karniel, what did Quell want? How did Basphemen find us?"

The bat sighed. “Scrying my location is an easy task for a mage of Basphemen's power. There is only one of me on the surface of this world. He only needs to picture me in his mind to work a spell to find me."

“So we can expect more visits like this?" Korlyon growled.

“No, we are going to face him, and I am going to kill him."

“We?" Mathus asked.

Karniel nodded. “Basphemen knows something about you, Mathus. And at this point he seems as interested in you as me—it is likely the lich will not let me enter his tower without you in tow. We will get what information we need, then find his phylactery in the tower and destroy it."

Korlyon grimaced. “And where do I play in all this?"

Karniel said, “I was considering that while Mathus healed you. If we wait for you to be fit, Basphemen might attack again. So I am going to call on my friend. It will be a nice vacation for you. Rest and relaxation in the country, all the mead you could hope for."

“I don't like—"

Mathus squeezed the wolf's paw. “It will be fine, dear."

Korlyon looked at him and whined. The two embraced and held each other tight a moment.

Eventually Karniel interrupted with, “We will get Korlyon in a splint and I will carry you both to the manor. We need to move quickly, so we're going to leave our things here—except for your books, Mathus, and Korlyon's armor and swords. If there is anything else we need, I can come back for it later."

***

With Korlyon's leg splinted and strapped to Karniel's back and Mathus in his arms, the bat set pace for the Honeyed-Tongue Estate. The meadery belonged to a one Melbin Gerdain. The descendent of the great poet Gerordan reached out to Karniel nearly forty years ago with a small volume of poems. Karniel had been amused by the then teenager's attempts at the craft and entertained the correspondence for decades. He knew from the map he studied this morning where the estate lay. And by the time dawn light filtered into the horizon, they had arrived at the estate. A small, stone wall the height of a man wrapped around the entire piece of land, which was big enough to keep a farm of honeybee hives, the meadery, and Melbin's manor. With the kingdom capital only a few day's ride away, the Gerdain family had made quite a tidy fortune peddling their wares.

At the gate to the estate, a guard had been posted. When he saw the massive bat rushing towards him at a gallop, the man fumbled to point his halberd at Karniel. The bat came to a stop and set down Mathus before he said, “Tell Melbin Gerdain that Karniel the Great is here to see him."

The guard gawked, halberd still thrust at the bat.

Karniel reached over and snapped the head of the weapon off its haft and tossed it over his shoulder. “I am in a hurry and do not want to be kept waiting."

The guard nodded. “Right away, my lord." He fumbled through the gate and ran off towards the Gerdain manor. Karniel crouched down and Mathus helped Korlyon off the bat's back.

The wolf groaned. “Thank you. Couldn't have been more gentle, Karniel?"

“Unfortunately, we are in a hurry."

“It's fine," the wolf said. He leaned against Mathus for support and kept his weight off his splinted leg. “What happens if this Melbin isn't happy to see you?"

“He will help us," Karniel said. “He owes me that much after years of slogging through his verse."

“What about once we get into the estate?"

“We rest, leave Korlyon in Melbin's care, and go after Basphemen. I'm sure Melbin's heard word of where in the area the tower cropped up," Karniel told him.

It took fifteen minutes before the guard returned with a dark-skinned human with a greying beard and baldspot on his head. When the gate opened he simply gaped at Karniel. The bat offered a smile and said, “I know it has been a few years since you last heard from me, old friend, but my companions and I were attacked. One of us is wounded and we need a place to stay. Can you help?"

The man looked at Korlyon slumped over Mathus shoulder, back at Karniel's whose clothing still remained stained and covered in ichor and gore. He said, “Anything to help Karniel the Great, come along, all of you. It looks like you spent the night in hell."

***

Melbin put them up in a guest room in his manor. They all got washed and Karniel left his clothes with one of Melbin's servants to attempt to wash it. Then they finally got the chance to sleep. By the afternoon, Melbin returned with a servant and a late lunch service. Mathus ate with Korlyon, sitting at the wolf's bedside, while Karniel stood out on the guest room balcony in a tightly fitting robe and discussed with Melbin their journey.

Korlyon remained unusually silent throughout the meal, and after they ate, Mathus returned the tray to the cart that had been wheeled into the room.

Before he turned back around the wolf admitted, “I'm afraid of losing you."

Mathus faced the wolf with a frown. “I'm not going anywhere, Korlyon."

The wolf lay in bed, sheets pulled over his naked lower half. Propped up on cushions left his furry chest exposed. Ribs raised and lowered in a deep breath. The teenager said, “But you are. You are going to fight a lich and I won't be there to protect you."

Mathus sat down on the bedside and took the wolf's paw. “Karniel will be beside me. You have nothing to worry about."

“But you heard Karniel. He didn't even want to see the lich's tower last night… and that creature, that familiar, it can't be the only thing waiting for you in there."

Mathus did not really know what to offer Korlyon. There was no denying the danger they faced.

“That's not all," Korlyon rasped, “Basphemen can move his tower. What if you go in there and he moves to the other side of the globe? I feel like I could spend the rest of my life looking for you and not find you."

Mathus tried to chuckle but it was forced. “You would not need to find me—just find Karniel. We both know the bat can't go anywhere without everyone taking notice."

“Mathus…" the wolf whined, finally looking at him. “No one has mattered to me like you matter to me in years. I…" Mathus saw Korlyon working up his nerve. The wolf's ears splayed back a moment, he stuttered to speak, swallowed a lump in his throat and, “I—"

Mathus cut the wolf off with a kiss. Korlyon's whiskers quivered. The apothecary stroked along his muzzle and held the kiss for several beats of the heart.

When Mathus pulled away he said quietly, “Not now. If we are separated, Korlyon, I will go searching for you, too. And when we see each other next you can tell me what you were going to say."

Korlyon, trembling, pulled Mathus into an embrace. The wolf nuzzled into his neck and whispered, “Thank you… thank you…"

“Easy," Mathus soothed, “You're not alone anymore Korlyon. So long as Karniel and I are on this world, we will always welcome you to stand beside us."

“Heh, you really think that bat wants me around?"

“He likes you, he just doesn't know how to show it."

The balcony door opened and they untangled themselves as Karniel stepped through the doorway. Melbin followed behind him and quickly said, “I will go fetch your clothes and give you a chance to say your goodbyes."

The door to the guest bedroom closed before Karniel said, “At a hard run, we should be able to reach the tower in half a day. Korlyon, Melbin is going to arrange for a doctor in this region to see to your care. No matter what happens, don't push yourself till the doctor tells you your leg is healed."

Korlyon said, “I get it, I can be patient. I followed you for two years, didn't I?"

“Which reminds me," the bat said. He turned his back on them both, reached up into his mouth, and yanked out a tooth with a grunt.

“Karniel!"

“It's fine, darling, it will grow back," Karniel said. “Get me the napkin from that tray over there, will you? Would be rude to bleed on our host's rugs." When he had staunched the bleeding, he deposited the tooth on the nightstand beside the bed. “If Basphemen moves his tower, use that to track me. Even a beginner mage can scry my location with that."

By the time he finished speaking the wound already healed and he pulled the bloody napkin from his mouth.

Korlyon set his jaw and said, “Alright. Thank you for this."

“And don't let someone else get their hands on it," Karniel said.

“I won't."

“Any final goodbyes, Mathus? The longer we stay the longer we endanger the people here," Karniel said.

Mathus hugged Korlyon once again, kissed the wolf's cheek, and whispered, “No matter what, we will see each other again."

“Thank you both, for everything."

Karniel rolled his eyes. “Please, we will be back before you are walking again, pup. Or do you really doubt my abilities so much?"

Korlyon said to Mathus, “Keep him out of trouble."

Karniel scoffed. “If anything I am the one keeping all of you out of—"

Mathus laughed. “Let's go, Karniel."

They headed downstairs, said their goodbyes to Melbin, and Karniel got dressed again. The worst of the stains did not come out of the bat's clothes, but at the very least he no longer stank like a morgue. As they walked to the gates of the estate, the sun was setting, and they would reach the tower at night.

Karniel said once they had the privacy of the estate's wide, empty grounds, “I could hear your and Korlyon's conversation."

Mathus smiled and took Karniel's hand. “I knew you could."

“I did not mean to eavesdrop, really, but these ears make it hard not to."

“It's fine, dear."

“Mmm," Karniel grunted before asking, “Did you mean what you said to Korlyon. Do you love him?"

“I am not sure," Mathus said, “Are you jealous?"

“Who do you take me for?" But Mathus saw, for once, the bat hesitate for a moment. Karniel looked ahead and said, “It would be easier, though, wouldn't it? Being with him instead of me."

“Karniel…" Mathus squeezed the bat's bigger hand. “I told you before, you are what I want. I'm not sure there is anything that could change how I feel. I admit I have a great deal of affection for him, but my connection to Korlyon feels different than yours and mine. I want to give him all the affection he deserves—I adore him, but again—"

“No, I understand," Karniel said. “Mathus, I have had liaisons with lovers that lasted centuries that never approached how I feel about you. I know exactly what it is you describe." The bat sighed. “And, though I am loathe to admit it, I am very fond of our pup, too."

“That is why you gave him the tooth."

“A gesture of goodwill, so he knew we both wanted him to find us should we become lost."

“Will we become lost?" Mathus asked.

Karniel remained quiet until they reached the estate's gate. A guard, different from the one this morning, opened it. They acknowledged him with a nod, and, once they reached the road again, Karniel said, “I've killed a lich before. It is not easy, but it can be done. And no matter what happens Mathus, you will be safe by my side."

Karniel scooped his beloved into his arms, and they began running southeast into the darkening sky.

***

A tent flap ripped open. Lantern light flooded her eyes, and one of the many lapines of Sebodal Army shouted, “Lady Emberplume!"

The hippogryph squawked, jumping out of her bed, still in a nightgown. She asked, “What is it? Has Basphemen launched an attack?" Though soon as she asked she did not hear anything amiss in the camp—did not sense anything…

Wait.

When did another mage arrive in the camp?

She touched her jade necklace and it glowed a minute before her nightgown combusted. A moment later she wore a completely different outfit: a corset, riding leathers, and jacket tailored to her wings.

The soldier gawked at her changed outfit and Cathka had to snap, “Well, why did you wake me?"

“Err, General Thomsen requests you at the command tent, ma'am. Karniel the Scourge appeared at our camp's perimeter and has requested a parley. He says he is here to kill the lich."

Now Cathka gawked. She touched her necklace again and her clothes combusted into a new outfit. Her court dress, which left her shoulders bare, hugged her breast and wrapped under her wings. A hole for her tail let it sway behind the fabric. The violet and blue dress hugged her form to her thigh, where a slit along it bared a leg and allowed her to move more freely.

“Alright, take me to him," Cathka said.

Cathka was led through the camp. She had been here for a week now, trying to figure out a way into the lich's tower. But Basphemen repelled her and refused any offers she made to the tower. Now, with Karniel's appearance it became clear who the lich came here for. Lanterns and guards had been set out in and around the command tent, which had a large table in its center with a map of the area and stools tucked against the canvas walls. General Thomsen was a rabbit with an entirely black coat. He had taken the time to don his armor, which made Cathka feel justified in nitpicking her appearance.

When she entered the tent, she saw what must have been the mage she sensed before. An unassuming human wearing a tunic, breeches, and boots. She had no clue where he kept his conduit, but she knew it must be big. Then there was Karniel, looking just as strong and full of life as the last time she saw the Scourge. That had been a century ago, right after Cathka and her fraternal twin became mages. The bat's eyes lingered on her for a moment, widening in recognition, but he did not betray anything else.

General Thomsen spoke up, “Apologies for the late hour, Lady Emberplume. I thought it best you confer with us before we decide whether to let Karniel advance on the tower."

“I am only seeking your permission as a courtesy, general," Karniel said. “Mathus and I have a meeting with the lich that cannot be delayed."

“You are Mathus?" Cathka asked the human.

“Of Morgen's Rest, yes." When Cathka did not express any recognition, he added, “It is a village in the far north."

“I see. Were you trained in magic in the north? I did not realize there were any schools or teachers north of Sebodal."

“Mathus' origins are of little import here," Karniel interrupted. “I just wish to know some details about the tower: how long it has been here, if anything has been seen leaving or entering, and if Basphemen has attempted to contact anyone here." He listed these things off while fixing Cathka with a hard glare. It was clear he trusted her authority over the general's.

She couldn't help but preen a little at that. Still, General Thomsen assumed his opinion mattered, and said, “Nothing has left or entered since we set up a perimeter a week ago. The lich, despite Lady Emberplume's best efforts, refuses to speak to us."

“You've tried to speak with him?" Karniel asked her.

“Yes," Cathka said, “Twice a day now since I arrived. The tower arrived here eight days ago. General Thomsen only arrived the day after the tower."

Karniel nodded. “I appreciate the distinction."

“Why does that matter?" the general asked.

Karniel said, “The tower draws on the energy of the living around it."

“Then that explains why the field around it started withering up."

“It will happen to your men next, General," the bat warned. “Another week and you'll find your soldiers wasting away."

The rabbit gaped and asked Cathka, “Did you know about this?"

“I have known," she said curtly before telling Karniel, “I have spent the last week drawing the glyphs around the tower for a containment spell. I thought, if I cannot draw Basphemen out I would starve him into speaking to me."

“You never thought to tell me of the danger?" the general snapped. “You forget your station, Lady Emberplume."

“Oh how tiresome," Cathka touched her necklace, drawing some energy before weaving a glyph in the air. The rabbit had reached for his sword by the time she snapped her fingers. He froze to the spot, along with the guards surrounding the tent.

Karniel leaned over and poked the general's nose. “Sharp work," he said. “Your skills have certainly improved."

“We should be able to speak freely, Karniel."

“Err," Mathus cleared his throat, “You two know each other?"

“I am from Gavalon, lived there when Karniel saw fit to conquer it."

Mathus grimaced. “I am so sorry—he's not that person anymore."

She quirked an eyebrow. “Not what person anymore?"

“Oh he means evil, don't you, darling?"

“If you must be blunt about your title."

Cathka shrugged. “It was nearly a century ago. My brother and I had only just been appointed as mages to the king, and Karniel did not see fit to kill us."

The bat shrugged. “I did not see a point in ending the lives of two promising mages. Speaking of, whatever happened to your brother?"

Cathka nodded her beak in the direction of the tower. “It's a long story. Suffice it to say, an Oracle told me to serve at the court of Sebodal, the lich's tower would appear, and I might find my brother inside. Given meeting the both of you, I imagine we were meant to work together on this."

“It would be useful to have a mage with us," Karniel thought aloud.

“What about him?" Cathka pointed at Mathus.

“Oh, um, I'm sort of a mystery, I guess," the human said.

She frowned. “Mystery?"

Karniel said, “When we met, Mathus was just a normal human. It is only within the last day we have discovered any magical ability in him."

“Then what are you doing traveling with him?" Cathka asked.

“It is a long story," Karniel dismissed.

“We're lovers," Mathus added.

Cathka looked at Karniel and he just nodded. She said, “That might be the hardest thing to believe. This human? You're certain?"

“We get it, you don't have a high opinion of me," Mathus said.

“Yes," Karniel said.

“Is it also true you're still cursed?"

“This 'human' broke it," Mathus said.

“Though we are not exactly sure how. There are many things we don't know that Basphemen can elucidate for us," Karniel said. “After he does, I plan to kill him."

“I can help with that," Cathka said. “It will likely make it easier to find my brother that way."

“Excellent," Karniel said, “We can go in the morning."

“Late morning if you don't mind? A lady like me needs her beauty rest," Cathka said. She then signed something with two fingers and said loudly, “Cow lemons."

The General and his guards came to, staggered. Thomsen said, “Wh-what happened?"

“We just came to an agreement," Karniel announced. “You were going to put Mathus and I up in your best tent and in the morning we would take ten of your best men and Cathka with us to the tower. We will enter it, slay the lich, and banish this evil from the land."

Cathka waved another glyph in the air and muttered while staring at the rabbit, “What Karniel says is true, you struck an agreement, honor your word."

The general blinked several times before he said, “Well, I am a man of my word. Very well, I will let you take my tent, my lords, come with me."

Cathka spared Karniel a wink when he walked past out the tent.

***

“Is there anyone you don't know?" Mathus asked as they settled in for the night. The General had given them two extra bedrolls to lay out across the dirt to cover Karniel's great size. Mathus was spooned by the bat now, as they both tried for sleep.

“The longer you live and the more you travel the more people you know and who know you," Karniel said. “At least in my case."

“You do tend to leave quite an impression."

“My natural charms, you see."

“Do you think we can trust this Cathka?"

“Oh of course not. Never trust a mage. Whether living or a lich, if there is one thing I have learned, never trust a mage."

“Then why are we letting her come along?"

“Oh it does not mean she can't be useful. I trust what she says about her brother is true. But, if it was between us or finding said brother, I know she would push us off a cliff."

“Very reassuring, dear."

“You know me," Karniel said. “I am not one for lying."

“Alright, so we go in and then what can we expect?"

“Oh, I have not been in the tower in three centuries, it is likely Basphemen has done some remodeling since."

“So we are going into a powerful lich's lair with the help of a mage we can't trust with no plan ahead of time?" Mathus groaned. He turned around and looked up at Karniel's face and asked, “And you think we can kill him?"

Karniel flashed a fanged grin. “I already told you, darling, I'm not one for lying."