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For you V. I hope this answers some of your questions

Castle of Light

“You want a Primary sunstone for yourself?" Korres asked. “Your father is a brightblinder in green order, his sunstone would fling you to Aenir in a heartbeat." Korres' shadowspirit, a feline shoulder high with the table at which they sat felt his master's surprise and looked up at him. Known as a Burned Fisk in Aenir it was a ferocious ashen colored cat with burning eyes. Even as a shadow here in the castle it was still disconcerting to be under its smoldering gaze.

Mtehm shrugged, he couldn't tell his friend the truth, that he planned to cross to Aenir before the Day of Ascension. He needed to be able to study the spirit world. Before making his choice on which would become his spiritshadow. He clenched his hands tight underneath the table. Gaining a powerful Shadow partner would see him rise far above the highest level his father held. Pushing him into the blue or even indigo order.

Mtehm shook his head, clearing it of his wayward thoughts. None of it could matter until he had succeeded at this little gamble. First he needed a sunstone for his own.

Korres was a kind man. Kind enough that he gave up on his question before Mtehm had to scrabble together enough of an answer. “You aren't supposed to have a sunstone more powerful than what you have now before your Ascension but alright. I can't loan you a primary sunstone but I'll give you this stone." he raised his hand and touched a fair sized stone hanging about his neck. Mtehm couldn't help the smile growing on his face, the stone shone bright, it would be enough to get him across to Aenir.

Korres let go and held up a finger, “But first you must best me in a game of Beastmaker."

“Beastmaker?" That caught Mtehm off guard. He'd expected questions from his friend, not a challenge to a wager. Beastmaker was a popular game in the castle but it was near impossible to find one of the game boards and that meant that it was a game difficult to ever get good at. “Yes, do you know how to play?" Mtehm nodded, “I've played a few times before, and watched others play."

“Good," Korres laughed, “then we're both absolute beginners."

Reaching into his robe Korres pulled out a thick block. He unfolded it, snapping it out and out until it became a large Beastmaker arena that covered the whole table between them. Mtehm gaped at it, he'd never seen such a thing. “A portable version of the game." Korres said, “I made it myself." He laid the board down, his fingers tracing over the markings inscribed there.

“But no one can make Beastmaker boards anymore," Mtehm protested, “that art is gone, lost forever." Korres reached into his robe and plucked a deck of pasteboard cards. Each one was set with a tiny chip of sunstone. He set these down to one side of the board and fanned them out between them, face down.

“Well yes, the art is no longer known." Korres admitted. “It is an exaggeration to say I made it but I did collect enough parts of sets that were no longer working. By combining them I made a couple of new boards. Ready to test it out?"

“Right now?" Mtehm asked even as Korres was reaching for the sunstone around his neck.

“Sure why not, you want this sunstone don't you?" Korres raised his voice and shouted over Mtehm, gesturing at the board, “Rithor, come over here, I need you to deal." Mtehm twisted around in his seat to see a man at another table look up, he was at highest a mid tier green going by the color of his robe. A broad man roughly the same age as Korres with thick black hair that curled down his dark face and into a beard.

“Sure," the Chosen replied his eyes lighting as he spotted the board on the table. He jumped from his chair and made his way over. Behind him his canine shadowpartner raised its dark head. The shadowed animal's jaws stretched as it yawned without sound. It flowed across the carpet, following his bonded partner.

Korres handed the man the deck of cards and turned his attention back to Mtehm. “Will you need any instruction on how to play?"

Mtehm shook his head and looked down at the board. Korres had said that they were on the same level. Beginners. Anything Mtehm dredged up from his memories of the few games he had seen played should give him a significant advantage. While Beastmaker was a game of luck the skill of the player did make victory more likely.

To begin each player received seven cards at random from the deck, one at a time. The cards all had depictions of unique Aenirian flora or fauna on them. The players would take turns playing each card they were dealt into one of the seven slots on their side of board. Each slot represented a different characteristic. When a card went in a slot the final creature would end up with a characteristic of the creature played in the slot. For example, a Vengenarl was a vicious Aenirian creature. It could go in Temper and give the resulting beast the vicious nature of a Vengenarl.

Each card had two variations, other beasts the card could morph into by shining a ray of a certain color light on it. Yet a wrong color light would lock the card to its current form.

Other characteristics on offer included Speed, giving the creature's speed and agility. Strength would give the creature it's physical power. It's Heart would determine the tenacity with which it fought. Skin would bestow it its natural armor. From Head came the creature's intelligence and cunning. Last there was the Special slot. A wildcard bestowing a unique characteristic, like the ability to spit venom or to take flight.

Rithor slid Mtehm's first card, face down, in front of him and Korres picked up his card signaling that he would play first. After a moment's hesitation Korres slid his card into Strength. It showed a Ratten, a small but strong little rodent relative to its size. Not the best for Strength but a good play, its deviations were common and the choice gave nothing away.

Mtehm picked up his own card. A Fiare depicted on it glittered up at him, twined around a ruined stone building. It was a kind of flower that had the remarkable, if useless, characteristic that it burst into flame at sunset. He was about to play it into Special to give his creature some firepower when he changed his mind and put it into Heart. A blue beam and it would change it into a Niphrain Ape. That would make his creature unrelenting in pursuit of its desires, even if the rest of the time it might be very placid. Mtehm looked up at Korres and managed to catch the disappearing edge of the man's smile. At least Korres couldn't hold a straight face, Mtehm could tell he had already figured out the move.

Korres played the Skin of a Borvel next, an amphibian creature that oozed potent poison. Right then Mtehm knew he couldn't win the game in close combat. If his creature so much as touched Korres' it would sicken and die within minutes.

Mtehm's next card was the Dofyn, a rarer aquatic creature with a keen intellect. He stuck it in Head. Korres played the Rencor Tree card next. Into Speed. Odd given that the tree couldn't move. He must mean to change it into something else later, but Mtehm didn't know what the card's variations were.

“Temper of a Galwyrm."

It was a lucky card for Mtehm to draw. A sand worm that was blind deaf and dumb, but violence was in its nature. Fiercely loyal it attacked any invader that threatened its hive. He saw Korres grimace as the man recognized the card, with curled lip he reached for his next card and declared “Heart of the Niphrim Ape."

It was the same play that Mtehm intended to make. Certain now Korres was aware of the move he took the moment to put a blue beam into his Fiare. Changing it to the same card Korres had played. As expected Korres did not look surprised by the change.

“Speed of the Anthor Flea." Mtehm laid down the card. Later he would to change it into the blue feathered Koros Bird a creature capable of flight faster than the eye could track. He'd seen the move made before but it was quite a rare card, with luck Korres wouldn't know the variation.

“Head of the Grand Vec." Korres countered. A Vec was a sandstorm creature with infinite patience and deadly aim. Mtehm frowned, It struck him as strange that Korres had played it in the head slot. The Special inferred the ability to disintegrate into sand, giving it the ability to escape crushing jaws or other bonds. A far more sensible play. Korres must mean to change it, but it was another rare card and Mtehm didn't know the other forms.

Mtehm played the skin of the Gigas next. A rodent with fur that when salivated on created a hard and cold proof shell. Korres filled his Temper slot next with the Klatha Workbeast. It wasn't an especially rare card and a favorite play of Beastmakers that Mtehm had seen a few times before. Mtehm knew Korres would soon change into the vicious Vengenarl.

Another card slid across in front of Mtehm, he picked it up. It was the Kurshken. A lizard creature, its one good attribute was that it was smart but Mtehm's Head slot was already filled. Without other slots open both of its alternative forms were as useless. It would also be of no benefit in his Strength slot, but the remaining option was Special. He had no idea what ability that might award but out of other options he put it in.

As he did so there was a soft murmur around the table. Mtehm looked up to find that a small crowd had gathered around. That wasn't too surprising, a game of Beastmaker was a rare enough occurrence in the Green Common. Mtehm couldn't decide if the murmur from the crowd had seen his play met with dismay, enthusiasm, or bewilderment.

Across from him Korres sighed as he studied his next card. “Special of a Wampert." He flicked the card down into the slot with annoyance. A Wampert was a kind of dirt dwelling larvae, its only distinguishing feature a ring of blunt teeth.

Mtehm couldn't help but show his own teeth in a grin. The final useless card for Korres swung the odds hard in his favor. He picked up his own last card. A Panther Beetle wasn't strong. With one slot open he put it into his Strength zone. Then he remembered. With a violet ray he could change it into the Brakka Pseudo-dragon. An insanely strong dragon family monster comprising of Light-Enchanted bone and capable of crushing rock.

The final cards were locked in. Both players raised their stones, letting light play out across their boards.

Mtehm changed his Flea into the Koros Bird and the Panther beetle into the Pseudo-dragon. He scanned his own side for other changes that would benefit him and finding none he looked over at Korres' board.

Korres had changed his Workbeast, the Vengenarl now attempted to claw its way out of the card. Without changing his face Mtehm congratulated himself on foreseeing the move.

One other card Korres had changed, it was the Wampert, transformed into a Bratha Tree and now Mtehm's heart sank.

So that was why Korres had put the Grand Vec as the head. The Bratha Tree's Special would mean his creature would be able to shoot acid. Combined with the Grand Vec it would ensure his beast always hit its mark. Add to that the potent venom of the Borvel's skin and it was an almost unbeatable combination.

Now Mtehm could see why Korres had chosen the Rancor Tree for speed and hadn't changed it. His beast didn't need to move to be deadly. Korres had designed it to be a defensive creature. Mtehm sighed knowing that Korres had outwitted him. Skill had failed him after all. Now it was down his luck whether he would end up claiming his prize. Looking at the cards in front of him he wasn't holding his breath.

At that moment a wall of light sprang up around the board and a colored mist descended at both ends of the board. Mist coalesced, swirling and dissipating as it formed two creatures.

Korres' creature was of little surprise to Mtehm. Thick tree-trunk legs covered in craggy bark morphed at the thighs into the furred body of a rodent. Sporting hollow needles of white fur it dripped the deadly poisons of the Borvel. Never still a shifting mass of sand coiled over the upper torso making it look as if the creature wore a cloak and hood of sand. the only static thing within the maelstrom being a pair of dark, marble-glass eyes at the center of its head. Thick green foliage sprouted from its wrists. The creature didn't have hands. Instead hundreds of leaves folded back along the arms. Each cupping a drop of potent acid that would be flung through the air at any twitch.

There were murmurs of appreciation from the bystanders at the sight of Korres' beast. It was strong and deadly and its form flowed. There was one thing that Korres' beast didn't have going for it, and that was its size. It stood under a hand tall, small compared to other beasts Mtehm had seen in Beastmaker games.

Mtehm's own beast was taking a lot longer to form. Clouded mist became solid light spreading, forming and Mtehm's creature rose on two powerful hind legs. A reptilian looking Beast that leaned so far forward that it might topple any second. All fours might have been its natural stance, but a long tail perfectly counterbalanced the Beast's weight. Thick, short, rust-colored fur blanketed its back. The front carried scales in sparkling silver. It's head was reptile's wedge. Unlike the ones found in the castle bowels it blinked its eyes that were set above a mouth studded with sharp looking teeth.

Three things happened at once. There was a snick, snick and over his beast's head a shield of dark bone that snapped up from the base of its neck. On its paws, front and back, the same dark bone slid over its hands and feet to form wicked looking claws. Colored mist was still swirling around. It twisted in the air and formed into an enormous bow of dark bone. The bone bow fell toward the Beast, who snatched it out of the air, lightning fast. The beast plucked the dark bowstring and an arrow of white light appeared, already nocked.

The board was not done yet, the rest of the mist hanging above the lizard spiraled down and coated the beast's back, then ran out along its sides. After it dimmed away the beast raised six glorious rainbow-colored wings. Two pairs curved up toward its head and the third curved back down toward the base of its tail. Mtehm gaped at the lizardlike beast, he hadn't imagined that he'd created anything like this. His beast was beautiful.

He became aware of the whispers of awe that were rippling through the crowd around the table at the sight of his creation. It sparked hope in Mtehm's chest that his Beast would stand some chance against Korres' after all. “But how?" Korres spluttered, also watching. “You've used the Special on a Kurshken."

“That actually does explain the bow." It was the dealer, Rithor, who spoke, “I've seen them in Aenir with 'em, a native weapon of some sort."

“But that doesn't explain the wings, or the bone claws," Korres protested, “it's like there has been three Specials." He gave a helpless glance towards Mtehm, “I'm sorry, I must have changed the board while making it. This doesn't follow the rules of Beastmaker." For a heartbeat as Korres fingered his sunstone Mtehm feared he would dispel the game when dealer Rithor gave a short bark of laughter and shoved at Korres' shoulder. “Aw, come on Korres. The beasts formed fine didn't they? Let them fight it out."

Those words merited a short burst of assent from those who had clustered about the table. they had waited long during the first stage of the game. Now their blood was up and they wanted a fight.

Korres let his hand fall away from his sunstone, the purple light forming in its depths dispelling as he did. “The wings may have come from the Koros Bird," someone in the audience mused. “The kid did play it on Speed, the game might see the wings as what gives the creature its speed so it gave the beast them too."

Someone else waded in, attaching their own opinion as the bystanders were nodding agreement with the first speaker. “The Brakka too, on Strength, it's strong. but everyone knows how strong its bones are too. Too hard to crush with a blow." the speaker pointed a thick finger past Mtehm to the shield on the Beast's head, “Deadly sharp too." he pointed to the claws on its forepaws.

Korres glared at both men as a rumble of conjecture went through the crowd and snorted throwing up his hands in defeat. “Alright, alright we'll let 'em fight."

In the arena the Beasts had locked eyes. Any moment now the board would flash red and the battle would begin. A second ticked past, two, and another. Korres shook his head, “I don't understand, it's like the board doesn't have the energy to start the battle. Strange, it worked fine this morning. Let me see, if I can start it." He lifted his hand to the sunstone that hung about his neck, he slipped it off and touched it to the board. Sunstones embedded within the arena glowed and sparked in response. “I'm going to see if I can tune the power flow up a little." His sunstone flickered through the spectrum, then flicked a series of different colors at random. Korres thumbed the stone, “That's the problem, give me a second."

Whip quick Korres' feline shadowspirit leaped up from where it was lying beside him. Its action came too late as the board blasted a swath of Red sparks of Destruction in his direction.

With a yelp Korres tightened his grip and threw up a small Indigo Shield of Protection. The sparks hit the shield and for a moment it held them back as they danced on its surface. Then it broke. Korres yelled in pain as sparks splashed across his hands. Weakened after penetrating the Shielding magic they burned hair and skin before fading.

Bearing the pain with a snarl Korres called a Red Ray of Healing from his sunstone and sighed in relief as the light pooled over his hands, cooling the burned skin. The crowd had rushed forward to help him, many drawing their own crystals. Korres displaying his unmarked hands, pushed back. “Fine, I'm fine. But hey, what's happening?"

The one pair of eyes that had still been on the board during Korres' scare had been Mtehm's. The board still hadn't turned red, the battle not yet begun but the Beasts were moving toward each other. Korres' Beast heaving its vast tree legs while Mtehm's own lizard stalked forward.

On meeting Mtehm's beast in the center of the arena Korres' beast held out its bushy hands. The bone shield on Mtehm's beast snicked back into its neck. Curious it stretched its head forward and sniffed at the other Beast. Mtehm's beast circled Korres' twice, sniffing everywhere it could get its head. The sand of Korres' beast shifted about, always leaving its black marble-glass eyes with a direct line of sight on the lizard while its body stayed stock still.

Completing the second circuit Mtehm's beast stopped behind Korres'. It sniffed once more then, with a sudden rush and a delicate flutter of rainbow wings, it mounted the other Beast.

At Korres' question the crowd turned its attention back to the board. Leaves on Korres' beast added to the bulk of Mtehm's own beast obscured their intimacy, but did nothing to hide the movements of the beasts actions. Some in the crowd laughed, or exclaimed with horror, others grinned or blushed or turned away.

“Now that's a light puppet show!" someone exclaimed, a swift elbow in the gut from one of their neighbors cut them off before they said more. Others laughed at the comment while still others added their own.

Korres was blushing, embarrassment turning his cheeks a healthy pink. “I must have made a mistake, the board isn't working at all!" He sputtered. His spiritshadow ducked under his chair hiding in embarrassment like Korres himself wanted to. “You don't say!" someone hooted with glee. Korres ignored it and raised his hand to his sunstone once more. Mtehm could already see a Green Ray of Disillusionment gathering there.

“Stop!" someone shouted over the crowd's uproar , their voice sounding far louder than was normal. Their spiritshadow curled around their neck was amplifying the speaker's voice. “Are you mad? The board's unstable, you try do anything to it and you could end up killing everyone in this room!" This warning did stop Korres. he went pale and pulled his hand away from his sunstone, the light dying again as his concentration broke.

It also made the crowd go quiet and take several hasty steps back. Almost as one calling on their own spiritshadows to guard them.

The lizard on the board had had enough. It stepped away from the other beast and looked around, taking in its surroundings for the first time and fixing eyes on the board's edge. Then with long strides dashed for the light barrier at the edge of the board, straight toward Mtehm.

Mtehm's shadowguard leaped from its coil around his shoulders and began to flow down his arms. “Shadowguard, shadowguard, return to where you were!" Mtehm snapped at it. The shadowguard paused, uncertain. He flicked his elbow and it reversed its flow upon his arm, settling back on his shoulders.

The shadowguard regained its position as the beast crashed into the light barrier. Mtehm had expected he light enchantment would stop it cold. The world of Beastmaker was confined to the bounds of the board, but no one had told this dragon. Instead the beast shattered a hole in the barrier. Breaking it apart like crystal. Shards of brilliant light shot off at random into the crowd hissing with violent energy.

More yells of pain were not forthcoming from the dangerous light show. The spiritshadows had managed to create a wall between the spectators and the table which stopped a rouge Ray striking anyone. As the shadows bore the storm they curled thrashed in silence beneath the onslaught of light. This wall of shadows also stopped anyone seeing what happened next.

As his beast pushed its way through the hole it had punched in the barrier its light dimmed. At first Mtehm thought the thing was disappearing as it left the enchantment of the arena. A false idea, the beast was becoming more solid, its head and one forepaw was out now and made of flesh, solid, real flesh.

Mtehm's shadowguard hissed a warning as Mtehm reached forward, but he ignored it. Wrapping his hands around the Beast's body he pulled, hard. The lizard was out and had all four legs wrapped tight about his arm. Its wings were the only part that had remained made of light, wrapped tight around its body allowing it to squeeze through.

The hole in the arena was closing, Mtehm had a moment to reach in with his other hand and snag out the black bow as the arena wall closed.

Rising from his seat he darted toward the wall of shadows. They parted to let him through but he had to shove his way through the other Chosen that clustered behind them as they strained over the shoulders of their peers for a peek at the table. Then he was through them and headed for the door of the commons. There were other people fleeing the room too, scared that the board would explode after all. Mtehm slipped in with them.

No one noticed the lizard that clung to his arm or the miniature bow in his other hand. His shadowguard had spread itself over his shoulders like a dark cloak to conceal them.

Out in the corridor Mtehm ducked down a side passage away from the group. It would mean a longer way back to his family's quarters but he wanted to stay out of the way of any other Chosen. Finding a dark corner he hunkered down to check on his Beast. The lizard slipped off his arm and into his lap as soon as Mtehm sat down. It seemed exhausted, limp, unable to hang on any longer. It whimpered and tried to wriggle in under his robes. That wasn't happening, as it was far too large to fit between the buttonholes, managing only to get its head inside. He pulled the cloth away then stroked its silver-scaled head, “Shh, its okay." He whispered. The lizard twisted its neck to look up at him.

It was a little more than one and a half stretches long. Thick tail made up a little over a third of that length and coiled neatly within his lap. Mtehm smiled at the creature, “Oh, I have your bow." Holding it by the string he showed it to the lizard. “Awk!" it cried out and snatched it from his fingers. Mtehm felt his shadowguard stiffen on his shoulders, it didn't think giving the creature back its weapon was a good idea but the lizard only scanned it for damage before it hugged the bow against itself.

Mtehm stiffened as a guard raced past then end of the passage, Spiritshadow flowing behind. He was headed toward the green commons. Mtehm shook his head, if someone had alerted the guards he sure didn't want to be anywhere around. “Come on, let's go. I think I need to get you somewhere safe." He scooped up the lizard in both arms. Burdened so he'd be unable to give light to any Chosen he came across. If they were of higher rank than him then they might give him a deluminent for that. The band of crystal marked disobedience or disfavor. Removing it from the wrist required someone of greater rank than the one that gave it to him. There was no other option as the lizard was far too tired to grip his arm anymore.

Luck was with him, the people he came across in the corridors were Underfolk. Castle servants who required no such decorum but he could hear the shouts of Chosen coming from every direction. He made it to the stairs and took them two at a time, heading down. His family's rooms were two floors below the commons on the top Green floor. Green seven. Home was green five. He took less frequented staircases down. Away from the gathering areas.

There was far less commotion on green five. Mtehm managed to get to the familiar green door emblazoned with a green cave thistle, his family's sign, with no trouble. Being careful not to drop the Beast he cradled Mtehm fumbled his small sunstone from his robe. His shadowguard helped turn out his pockets, but avoided the lizard in his arms. Holding the stone Mtehm concentrated, letting a spark of green light escape into a sunstone above the door.

It glowed in response with a quick series of colors. They told told him his father was still working, as he always was, and his brother was at the Lectorium. Chances were he was practicing for an Achievement with his friends. Mtehm had known where they would be but it was nice to have conformation that he wouldn't run into them inside. He pulled open the door and headed straight for his room.

Mtehm?" Mtehm whipped around at his name.

Standing in the kitchen entrance was Orion. Orion was his father's Underfolk servant. He'd once been a Chosen, a friend of his father's in the Red order he had dimmed into the ranks of the Underfolk.

Mtehm looked down in dismay at the beast in his arms then back up at Orion. “Don't tell anyone." he ordered the man and then hurried up to his room. “We're safe." He told the Beast as he lowered it onto his bed. His shadowguard leaped onto his drawers changing shape and approximating a Farnek Owl it perched on the edge.

On the bed Mtehm reached out and petted the lizard's head, running his finger over the silver scales and it immediately closed its eyes in pleasure at his touch. “I've never heard of a Beast getting free from an arena." Mtehm said. “Awk!" the lizard replied causing Mtehm to draw back in astonishment. “Are you intelligent?" he asked, “Can you speak?" to which the lizard replied in a low and serious voice, “Awk!"

Mtehm laughed, “I guess you can't talk, but you get the idea of what I'm saying. Come here." He pointed to a spot on the bed and the lizard crossed over to him, nuzzling his hand when it got there.

“Good boy, can you draw your bow?" the lizard looked back at him in confusion, “Like this?" Mtehm reached for the bow but the lizard jumped away, hissing and clutching the bow to its scaled chest. Mtehm's shadowguard looked up from its post of the dresser but made no move.

“Okay," Mtehm said as he pulled back his hand, “I won't try and take your bow, but can you draw it for me anyway?" he mimed drawing an invisible bow.

The lizard cocked his head and stared at him for several moments as it thought and then it lifted the bow and drew back the string. As the string pulled back an arrow of light appeared and grew brighter the further the bow was drawn. At full draw the shaft seemed to coruscate with light along its whole length.

“Amazing," Mtehm could feel the energy prickle against his skin. “Ok you can let it go."

That was the wrong thing to say. The lizard released the string and the bow snapped forward, catapulting the arrow of light through the air. It flashed past Mtehm toward the wall where it struck a small sunstone that had been set there to give light. The sunstone flashed through the full spectrum and then, overloaded, it exploded with a tremendous bang.

Tiny splinters of destroyed sunstone and the rock wall it had been set in ricocheted around the room. None hit Mtehm, who had thrown himself flat across the bed at the explosion, or the Beast who ducked down behind him. “Let's not do that again." Mtehm said looking at the small crater in the wall once the rock had stopped flying. The Beast seemed to agree and laid the bow aside, sitting back on its haunches. Still the lizard did look pleased with itself.

“Mtehm, You okay?" it was Orion speaking from outside his room. “Fine. A small accident." Mtehm yelled back and a moment later and Orion's footsteps headed away from his room.

All right, how about flying?" Mtehm suggested.

The lizard was happy to launch itself into the air. Snapping up its wings of light it did a circuit of the room before landing back on the bed next to Mtehm. Mtehm laughed and put out a hand to touch the wings. They looked, and felt, feathered, despite being made of light. He stroked the wings and they became more insubstantial, the pattern of feather blurring. Fading until his fingers could pass right through the Beast's wings. “Wondrous." Mtehm said as the lizard tucked them back to its sides.

It knew what he wanted to see next. The bone claws and head shield slid out with their distinctive sound before he could even ask.

Mtehm grinned and reached down to touch them. The Beast danced away from his fingers, the shield and claws already retracting. The Beast waved its head from side to side, Mtehm stared for a moment, and then he smiled, “No? Not good to touch?" he guessed. The Beast bobbed its head up and down. A definite no then. The Beast came over to Mtehm and snuffled into his hand, Mtehm stroked its neck. “You need a name." He decided aloud, the beast gripped his wrist in its paws and replied, “Awk!" he cried and Mtehm laughed, “No, that's no good." He opened his hand and tickled the lizard's scaled belly, the lizard half collapsed into Mtehm's hand with pleasure.

“How about Castle? I like that, naming you after the castle itself. It's a good omen." He grinned and looked down at Castle, who was currently far too busy with Mtehm's hand to reply. The lizard's back was hunching and little whispers of breath issued from his mouth. It ticked the hairs on his arm as Castle ground his crotch into Mtehm's fingers. Mtehm snatched his hand away with a shout of protest, leaving Castle to collapse forward onto the bed. “You can't mate with my hand!" Mtehm exclaimed. Castle looked at him and then ran forward, trying again to get at Mtehm's hand. He pulled it away again.

This time the bone claws snicked out as the lizard stalked toward his hand.

Mtehm froze, remembering the lizard's head shaking no. So adamant that the smallest touch of the bone would hurt him. Castle growled low in his throat, hackles up. Mtehm began to feel a bit nervous and his mind flashed back to the Beastmaker game. Heart of a Niphrain Ape. The Niphrain Ape that would not give up on an idea that got into its head. The same Heart that Korres' beast had had. Had Korres' beast known? Was that why it had allowed Castle itself to mount it back in the arena. What would have happened if Korres' beast had decided not to submit? Would they would have fought after all, and who knew what would have happened then?

One thing was for sure; while Castle's Heart was in control there would be no way of getting through to him.

“All right, you win." Balling his hand into a fist he slid it over the blanket toward Castle. Seeing that he wouldn't have to fight for it Castle's claws retracted. Not a moment too soon for a second later Castle gripped hold of Mtehm's arm, this time high above the wrist, straddling his hand with his back legs wide. He laid his head on Mtehm's arm and Mtehm stroked his head while the lizard humped himself off over Mtehm's fingers.

“I'm sorry I gave you such a difficult Heart, I didn't know you'd come alive."

Finally the lizard shuddered and collapsed over Mtehm's hand. He withdrew it while lowering Castle onto the bed. There was a small smear of what looked like grease on his knuckle. Mtehm grimaced and wiped it off while Castle recovered. The lizard picked himself up and looked up at Mtehm, shame and embarrassment burned in his eyes. The look squeezed at Mtehm's heart. “It's okay." Mtehm said stroking the lizard's neck, “It's my fault, not yours. You can't help being the way you are."

“Awk." Castle replied in relief seeing that a punishment would not be forthcoming. He retrieved his bow and curled up on the bedspread.

A knock at the door jolted Mtehm to his feet, he managed to place himself between Castle and the door. Which slammed open. It was Ria, Mtehm's younger brother. “Orion say's dinner's ready, and you've got to come down before it gets cold." “Thanks." Mtehm replied, hoping Castle's long tail wasn't sticking out behind his back. Ria saw nothing for, message delivered he vanished with as much speed as he'd arrived back down the stairs.

Looking behind him and making sure Castle was fast asleep Mtehm slipped out the door. He made his way downstairs to dinner. During dinner, while his brother spoke of his day in the Lectorium, Mtehm nabbed a good-sized chunk of meat from his plate and put it in his pocket. Orion saw him and raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything and continued eating and listening to Ria.

It would have looked strange to other Chosen. An Underfolk eating at the same table as those with sunstones in their possession but Orion was family. Had been with them since Mtehm's mother had died giving birth to Ria, a rare occurrence in the castle. Mtehm had been three years old then.

Hanth, their father hadn't known how to cope and had submerged himself in work. He'd never been there as Mtehm had grown up. Didn't ever come home or sleep in the family quarters, but Mtehm always knew where he was thanks to the sunstone above the door. People said he'd gone a bit mad for a while after Mora's death and that he avoided his children because they reminded him of her. Mtehm knew this to be true from pictures he knew he looked like his mother, and so did Ria. As a result all his life he'd said about ten words to his father.

Orion was perfect. he'd taken them across to Aenir each Ascension Day using the sunstone Hanth had left behind. Mtehm's mother's.

He'd taught them manners and the castle's ways growing up. It was Orion who'd been there when Mtehm and then Ria had received their first minor sunstones. He who'd taught them to control them and had taken them to the Lectorium's lessons. He was the father Hanth never was, and so it was Orion who ate at the table in their father's place.

Orion was not completely an Underfolk. Having dimmed to his position he had a Chosen's schooling and a spiritshadow to set him apart. Orion's shadow was a Torqos, an Aenir kind of antelope with great curving horns that brushed its hindquarters. Currently it lay behind his chair, an amorphous patch of darkness in its sleeping form.

Right after dinner Mtehm raced back upstairs. Awake now Castle greeted him with an “Awk!" as he made his way to the bed and plucked out the pilfered meat. He knew he'd guessed right, as soon as Castle saw it, the lizard's eyes widened in expectation. Mtehm threw it onto the bed and Castle pounced on it. Slicing off huge chunks with razor teeth that Mtehm judged impossible to swallow. He was about to stop Castle in case the lizard choked but Castle hoicked it down and licked his lips with enjoyment before going back for an even larger piece. Mtehm shrugged and gave him a pat on the head.

“Mtehm? You said you were going to help me with my Achievement training." It was Ria's voice from outside his room. This time he'd remembered to lock the door.

Mtehm frowned. He had promised to do that. “Which one?" He shouted back Ria was doing three Achievements, Combat, Poetry and Music, ambitious to take on. Mtehm was a fair word and songsmith and had co wrote the pieces that Ria would be doing but his brother had already mastered them through long hours of practice. That left combat.

Mtehm groaned. Ria had entered Combat because he'd found a book in the Records hall that had some archaic restraining light magic in it. He had been practicing the loops of light described within for several days, convinced that it would be his ticket to victory. Practicing the combat Achievement with Ria would mean him spending half the evening bound hand and foot in light magic on the lounge floor. Sure enough, “Combat!" Ria replied and Mtehm sighed, his shadowguard was already lifting its wings for a short glide to his shoulder. It wouldn't miss the chance to be with him practicing light magic. “All right, I'll be right down." He called back to his brother as it settled to his shoulder.

It wasn't until late that Mtehm managed to return to his room, tired from the effort of trying to break Ria's bonds. He pulled on his sleeping robe, rubbing at his sore wrists and ankles.

Castle was asleep but cracked open an eye as Mtehm got into bed. Mtehm picked up the lizard's bow from his pillow. It had been de-strung, and he set it on the bedside table. Making sure Castle could see it the whole time and reassuring him that the weapon was within easy reach. Mtehm took off his sunstone and used it to dim the other stones in the room before setting it next to the bow. Sinking his head into the pillow he dozed off.

It was not a restful night for Mtehm, he awakened three times. The first was a pressure on his arm, he rolled over to find that in the dim light Castle had again taken possession of it. He'd straddled Mtehm's arm and was rubbing himself off against his wrist. Mtehm was so tired that he was asleep before Castle had finished.

The second time he awoke due to an “Awk! Awk! Awk!" screech from from Castle. Befuddled from sleep it took a few moments for Mtehm to figure out that he wanted food. The lizard's lifting his paws to his mouth and pretending to gulp meat should have been all the clue he needed.

Mtehm made his way downstairs to find a plate with cold meat on it waiting for him. Orion had anticipated Castle's hunger. He took it upstairs and fed Castle, put the plate on the floor and got back into bed.

The third time he was being strangled! he woke, reaching up to tear whatever it was away from his neck when Mtehm felt a tail brush his hand. Castle! Draped across Mtehm's neck and standing on his toes to thrust his groin into Mtehm's chin. Mtehm plucked him off and substituted a hand.

Castle found this far more agreeable. He straddled Mtehm's wrist without protest and began to rub himself against Mtehm's knuckles instead of killing him. Mtehm watched Castle as the lizard humped at him then he reached out and raised Castle's tail. He couldn't see anything. For a moment Mtehm concentrated on his sunstone on his bedside table. It glowed and the room brightened with it. Mtehm almost laughed as he peered beneath Castle's tail. there was a thumb-wide horizontal slit at the base, but only the tip of the lizard's penis showed from it. “Guess you're a juvenile after all." Mtehm said lowering Castle's tail.

Somehow knowing that Castle hadn't defiled Korres' Beast made him feel better. Mtehm put a hand around Castle's middle and rolled him over onto his back. Castle hissed a warning. The hissing stopped when Mtehm pushed a hand between the lizards' hind legs and stroked his most tender parts. “Last time." Mtehm murmured as Castle's body shuddered beneath his fingertips. “I swear if you wake me again you're sleeping on the floor." His threat never eventuated for as Castle climaxed the sunstones brightened again marking the start of the new day in the castle.

For a moment Mtehm considered putting his pillow over his head and trying to once more doze off but he knew it would be futile. A few minutes later accompanying a soft knock at his door was Orion's over loud voice, “Lectorium lectures begin in twenty minutes, get up!" Orion's footsteps padded down the corridor until he repeated the same message again outside Ria's room. By the time his brother's muffled response came Mtehm had rolled himself out of his bed and into his clothes. Looking back at his bed he shot a look of jealousy at Castle now curled up and fast asleep. Before collecting his shadowguard off the chest of drawers and stepping into the hallway beyond.

Spending longer in the bathroom than normal trying to make himself presentable left him having wolf down his breakfast. Still he wasn't fast enough to escape Orion at the table.

“Sleep well?" the old Underfolk asked, his tone dead neutral. Mtehm glanced across at his brother to see if he was listening. A book lay open and held his brother's attention riveted on the words within. “Not well," Mtehm replied, “something stopped me getting to sleep."

“Oh?" Orion said. His shadowspirit raised its head, feeling the interest of its master, “but will you be all right today?" He wasn't inquiring after Mtehm's health. “Well I'll be resting as much as I can, and I'll come back here to eat something during the Lectorium's break periods. Then after school I suppose I'll be seeing someone who can help me out with my – project."

“Will you take it with you?" Orion asked and Mtehm nodded.

“Good, good." Orion said raising his voice and jerking Ria's attention away from his study. “Wha?" Mtehm's brother asked. Mtehm let out a soft breath of relief, the expression on his face said that he hadn't heard a thing. “School time." Orion told him “Go, I'll clear up."

Up in the colorless part of the castle was the Lectorium. Spanning several floors the main body comprised of lecture halls, workshops and classrooms. Beyond that it variegated out into all manner of different training grounds. Along with many other things to be taught there was Light. The Lectorium was where all Chosen learned the magic of light.

“Each link must be pure in its color." Mtehm's teacher spoke to the class. “If it is then it will hold any amount of weight. Now once you have fashioned your last link give it to the person next to you and hang their chain on the hook in front of you. Oh Matthew, that's a lovely chain!"

The fair haired boy next to Mtehm paused in the act of hanging up a fine filigree of glowing green links. “Thank you Miss." He replied before she carried on.

“OK, so once you have your chain I want the person sitting next to you to break it, but you must do it such as this, Mtehm?"

“Yes Miss?" Mtehm replied looking up from his sunstone, his chain vanished as his concentration broke. His instructor frowned, “What did you do that for? You could have woven it into itself so that it didn't unravel. Then you could have come back to it later."

Matthew let out a snort of laughter, “It was a Red chain! And not even close to pure, you could hardly call it a waste. Or rather it was a waste, waste of sunstone magic!" Mtehm considered the light dimming in his sunstone and found he didn't care. This chain exercise was reminding him of his struggle with Ria the previous night and hence his own weariness.

“Matthew, respect others efforts even if they aren't on par your own." the teacher admonished, “Anyway Mtehm come over here, I want you to make the heaviest weight you can to try and break Matthew's chain." Mtehm stood and dragged his chair over one bench before sitting again. Lifting his sunstone he concentrated hard. A string of red light arose and looped itself through the last link.

His classmate sneered, “He'll never do it Miss, he's not even forming the attachment, it's gonna break under it's own weight!" The band flickered out. “By the Veil." Mtehm swore, “I'm trying to concentrate so shut up!"

The teacher's look darkened, “Mtehm that's awful language, see me after for a deluminant." Mtehm gritted his teeth but let escape a small violet ray of acquiescence from his sunstone.

“I'll break your chain." he hissed under his breath.

The band of red light flashed back into existence, before extending out from the bottom until a good sized sphere hung from it. With a breath Mtehm forced the light to stabilize then began to weave in a layer of orange. The chain swung in little circles with the added weight on it, but showed no sign of failing. Judging that he'd weaved the orange as into as fine a mesh as he could Mtehm stared deep into his stone and called forth yellow light. It wrapped the sphere, dragging the chain dead vertical with immense weight.

Somewhere from outside himself Mtehm was aware that his body was shaking with the strain of maintaining the three close knit layers. Orange, Red and Yellow laced through his brain the same as it did on the chain. With sheer force of will he managed to get the layer to stabilize.

“Mtehm? You can stop, the chain isn't going to break." Mtehm was too deep to hear the teacher's voice.

With some timorous hand waving She crowded Matthew away from the desk as a green layer began to form. The tether holding the weight was now so large that it squeezed from the sides of the last link. The chain groaned with the weight it was holding. The links stretching, deforming. Sweat rolled into Mtehm's eyes but nothing would distract him. Stone bit into the flesh of his hand so tight did he grip it. Green was almost stable if he could hold himself together a little longer-.

With an enormous tearing the side of one link ripped apart. A weak point in the weaving. The chain's surface suffused with hellish reds and yellows before the the whole length vanished all at once. With nothing to suspend it the weight slammed down into the colorless crystal desk. Under the impact the structure ceased to exist, becoming a nova of razor sharp fragments. One sliced deep into Mtehm's arm and as it flared in agony his concentration snapped. The weight disappeared, a hair's breadth before it struck the floor.

Exhausted and no longer supported by the desk Mtehm slumped forward off his chair. Sprawling senseless into the pile of fine crystal dust that was all that remained.

“It's a damn lucky thing that you were sitting at the front of the room!" Mtehm poked at the beige colored light bandage that wrapped his forearm. “If you hadn't been then shreds would be all that's left of any students in front of you. We're lucky that instead of most of it went into the speaker's pit. You know they'll be pulling shards out of the wall for days."

Mtehm shrugged, “She told me to do it. Our instructor said to break it and I did." The Indigo robed woman sporting a silver badge that acclaimed her proficiency with the healing arts let out a sigh. “I know, she received nine deluminents. Almost a record without an actual trial and more than enough to put her down a whole level. In part that's why I've decided that I won't be deluminating you today. You'll still get the one your instructor gave you. Go home and rest, you look as if you should have woken up in the catacombs, not the infirmary. Hold out your arm."

Mtehm grinned as she snapped the transparent band over his wrist, “So that's it, I'm not going to get punished?"

“Well in normal circumstances I'd remove you from the next round of achievements. but I'm told you haven't entered any. You should have to undertake remedial classes until you can wield light magic with appropriate skill and respect. Except from what I understand what you did today was akin to something achievable by a first rate graduate student. So no, no punishment. Be warned though, if I find you have been doing something as foolish this again I won't hesitate to dim you."

Mtehm nodded his understanding.

The healer stood, checking a small sunstone that she withdrew from her pocket. “I have to go, there are other patients I have to attend to." she paused a moment. “If you find you need some help again with something like this ask around the Indigo four level for me. My name's Mariana. My workspaces are there and someone will know where I am." Mtehm lifted his sunstone and shone a orange ray of thanks. Mariana returned a blue ray of farewell, then turned and ducked out of the room

Mtehm waited while her footsteps faded away down the corridor. Sure she had gone he followed in her wake out into the hall. Summoning what shreds of stamina he could he legged it back down to the colorless corridors.

Castle was waiting for him as he entered the room, admonishing his lateness with a sharp squawk. Mtehm flinched and covered his ears while the sound reverberated off the sunstone studded walls. “Alright, alright. I'm sorry I'm late." He told the lizard. They were in a small classroom. Usually used for the practice of higher levels of surveying magic the room held two long tables of colorless crystal. Various magic enhancing and specialized apparatus were pushed up against the far wall. Their bulk softened by a large dust sheet that draped across the pile.

It was doing a good job judging by the thick layer of dust on it.

Abandoned since the teaching of construction magic had moved to higher levels years ago. Now forgotten for being too far out of the way. At least the room was forgotten until Mtehm had discovered it by accident almost a year ago.

All Chosen could find their way by holding their sunstone to the wall. If you pressed into it a ray of light it would race away along the walls at a rate one could follow arriving at location based on the specific hue used. His own Lectorium theater was a blushing red. the Hall of Music a middling orange, and this deserted place an unpleasant shade of purple. Once there had been a sense of how this map of light came together but the uses of the rooms in the colorless quarter had changed so many times now that no single rule of color or shade seemed to hold true anymore. So it had become a game. First staring at the Lectorium young Chosen would call a ray of random color. Watching it leap from one's sunstone and then go racing through the halls after it to find where it led.

One such experiment had taken him here.

Deserted as the place he had found was it seemed the perfect place to stow Castle while he attended his lessons. Mtehm glanced at the pile of apparatus. Lizard prints in the dust showed that Castle had explored the room. Especially around the pile before curling up on one of the tables. At least Castle hadn't broken anything. If someone came looking for something stashed here and found it damaged it could lead to questions. Castle was a secret, one that he wished to keep as much as possible and for now he had no better alternatives.

Castle pulled himself to his feet and come to perch on the edge of the table when Mtehm entered, he crossed over to the table and held out his hand. “Awk." Castle lowered his head into Mtehm's palm so that he could get a scratch underneath the jaw. There was a cool kiss on the back of Mtehm's neck as his shadowguard lifted itself higher on his shoulders. Once they'd greeted each other Mtehm held his arms open to the lizard, “Come on then, lets go." With a flutter of rainbows Castle launched himself at Mtehm. Who caught him against his chest one hand under his rump, his other arm across Castle's back. “Careful Castle. I don't want to drop you." The dragon was getting heavier, a result of regular feedings over the last couple of days.

Mtehm readjusted his grip to stop the Beast's bow from pressing between them. Castle now wore it unstrung, hung across his back over the shoulder. Drawstring across his chest keeping it from slipping. Soft fur on his back pressed against Mtehm's forearm. Scales on his front whispered silken against the fabric of his cloak. Mtehm looked down at Castle who voice his affirmation of his comfort up at Mtehm. “Okay. Let's go." He turned and left the room, making sure to shut the door behind him. Obscuring the fact they'd been there from casual passing strangers. As he did his shadowguard left its perch on his shoulders and turned into a small scampering animal to run along behind him.

The evenings after Lectorium lectures were his own. Often he spent then in one of the lower green common rooms but Mtehm had another destination in mind today.

He tucked Castle underneath his robe. He made his way out of the colorless part of the castle and back into familiar green corridors. Passing down the levels until the colors of the walls began to dim toward the yellow.

Through less used corridors he went until he came to a door, a bulrush emblem marking its upper left corner. He shone light on the sunstone that was embedded alongside. It glowed green for a moment and then a faint chime came from within.

A minute later the door dragged open. Korres stood in the threshold. His shadowspirt lay behind him, low beside a large glass table that was the centerpiece of the sitting room. Korres looked down at Mtehm and sighed, “Thought that you'd be back." He ushered Mtehm inside with a wild wave of his hand. Mtehm stepped past Korres and around the shadowspirit. Sliding onto one of the soft couches in the room he gathered up his robes around him. Korres sank into a soft chair on the opposite side of the table.

“Ok, so what have you done with it?" Korres asked without preamble.

“He's right here." Mtehm said pulling his robe open. As the folds fell away and Mtehm pulled out his arm Castle came with it. Korres let out a sharp cry as Mtehm unveiled the lizard. Leaping out of his chair scrabbling back from Mtehm as if he had produced a poisonous cave adder from under his cloak. Responding his shadow spirit shot from where it had been sitting. Darkness leaping up between them, front claws extended and ringing as they scratched the top of the glass table.

Castle gave a startled yelp at the aggressive display of the shadowspirit and scratched his way up Mtehm's shirt. Forcing as much of himself as he could back underneath the robe, before twisting and hissing at the shadowspirit.

Mtehm's own shadowguard rose above his shoulders. Changing into a barbed Witmack toad and bristling about Mtehm's collar like a tight torc of spiny armor.

There was a moment of silence and then Korres spoke, his voice high and tight with with fear as though it was himself strangled by a shadow. “By the Veil!" He swore, “What are you doing with that thing." Mtehm shocked by his friend's reaction took some time to reply, busy as he was trying to keep a grip on Castle. He threw up a hand in a gesture for calm and Castle thwarted by him by struggling against his chest.

Scrabbling about Mtehm found the concentration to call a calming ray of light from his sunstone so that his shadowguard would loose the grip it had on his throat. Korres was staring at him over his shadowy Fisk's head his eyes wild with fear. “A moment please!" Mtehm begged once he could catch breath again. He held out his open palm towards the Fisk while coaxing Castle back into his lap. Korres watched the lizard and sensing that he wasn't in immediate danger the Fisk shrank back a fraction but both massive paws stayed on the table between them.

“Are you sure that's safe?" Korres asked, his voice much lower now.

Castle was now curled in Mtehm's lap, front paws on his tail, his head against Mtehm's body. Mtehm stroked his neck and then looked up at Korres, “Of course, why the surprise? You were there when he got out of the board."

Korres gave the curled lizard a distrustful look and the retook his chair. While his hands on the armrests remained clenched, calm prevailed. In a heartbeat his shadowspirit flowed away to take up position behind it.

“Yes well, I thought." Korres started and then took a breath. “Things got pretty crazy in there. All the light magic was breaking apart, the sunstones in the board and cards exploding one after another. You disappeared on me!" He shot Mtehm a glare over tight lips. "I wasn't sure what happened but there was only one beast left on the board. At first I thought the other had dispelled. Then the board cracked. I was stupid to even try messing with it. There was so much power in there. The other Chosen were fleeing it too. This vortex of light that came out and tore the board apart."

Korres threw his hands wide and lifted his shoulders with a shrug. "Then this Indigo robe lady. One of the guards. She comes in and floods the whole place with all kinds of neutralizing magic. I wasn't seeing much of this of course. My shadowspirit had cloaked me. She got torn up but kept me safe." Korres reached down over the side of his chair. He petted her head and gave a ray of thanks from a sunstone set into a ring he wore to his shadowspirit. “But that doesn't answer your question. By the time the magic all died out a couple of other guards had arrived. The board was missing now. I thought it had consumed itself, so there wasn't much to do except put the room back to rights. Well that was soon done but while doing so I found the playing board again. It had cracked in half and had fetched up behind a toppled table against one wall. I picked it up and beneath it."

“Was the beast you had made!" Mtehm exclaimed.

Korres nodded his affirmation. “Right, and he wasn't light anymore. That's when I figured out that yours must have gotten out too. I looked for and couldn't find it. Now it makes sense why you ran off! You took you beast with you."

Mtehm frowned. “But since your own beast is alive. I don't understand why the surprise to see Castle?"

Korres rose from his chair, continuing speaking as he did. “Ah, You see my beast got hurt. Not surprising considering the maelstrom of magic that it had been at the crux of. I picked it up, like an overlarge doll in my hands and, well look." Korres opened his right hand and held the palm out for Mtehm's inspection. A line of wet looking, angry red flesh stood out in a stripe across it.

Mtehm gaped at it, “Shouldn't you heal that?" he asked.

“Borvel poison is rather stubborn against healing lights." Korres replied with a curl of his lip.

“Borvel poison? I don't understand." Mtehm began, but like a ray of light he did. “Skin of the Borvel! That was what you played, that's what your beast had."

Korres clenched his hand. “Right. Well the guards were still there and there was no way I could let them see the beast of course. My shadowspirit help me carry and conceal it as we left. Staggered out I'm afraid. Outside I could tell the poison was affecting me. Touch the skin of the Borvel and do nothing about it and you'll be dead within minutes you know. So I had to stop for some time as soon as I could and halt the poison flowing through my veins. Then I came down here. I treated myself and the beast as best I could with healing magic and it began to recover. I'd forgotten something of course." Korres turned and made his way over to a set of shelves against one wall where he picked up a box of darkened crystal.“The other cards I played. Do you remember what they were?"

Mtehm cocked his head forward trying to get a better look at the box, “Erm, the tree. The Bratha tree for Special, you changed it from a Wampert. the Grand Vec was it's Head, and you played the same Heart that I did, The Niphrain Ape." Mtehm trailed off.

“I also played the Speed of the Rencor Tree." Korres added after a moment.

“Oh right." Mtehm replied and grinned at the memory, “You fooled me with that one. That was a great play."

Korres smiled at the praise, “Thanks. You'll remember I also had the strength of the Ratten and the Temper of a Vengenarl, I changed it from the Klatha Workbeast." Korres shook his head and sighed as he took his seat. “If I'd known at the time it would come alive I would never had changed that card. As the beast recovered from its injuries it began to get aggressive. I restrained it and it's Heart kicked in. It tried to kill me. With the heart of the Niphrain ape it wouldn't stop either, I got hit with the acid this time. Across my chest, it started eating its way in. Killing me fast. I knew I couldn't get hit again, decided there was only one way to stop it. I killed it." He leaned forwards and placed the box on the table, pushing it towards Mtehm. Mtehm leaned forward over Castle's head and opened the top of the box. Nestled inside on a fold of fabric was Korres' beast, a great hole burnt through its chest.

Korres shook his head. “The thing was a monster. Crazy. I managed to neutralize the acid moments before blacking out. Woke up today and put the body in that box before I went looking for you. I thought that if you had your beast it would try to kill you too."

He looked down at Castle in Mtehm's lap, “I heard you'd been in class and that there was an accident. No one seemed to know where you were. Well you can imagine what I thought had happened. Tried one last time at your place. Your Underfolk manservant there said he'd had word you were okay but nothing more, so not knowing I came back here. Then you arrived at my door. Given how my own beast turned out you can understand why I reacted when you produced yours from under your cloak. I take it then that he isn't as bad as mine was?" Korres asked.

Mtehm dropped the lid closed on the box, pushed it to one end of the table and gathered Castle into his arms. “Nothing like what you described." Mtehm replied as he transferred Castle to the tabletop.

The little lizard rose and looked back at Mtehm confused why he had moved from his warm seat on Mtehm's lap. “Korres, this is Castle." Korres raised an eyebrow, “That's his name?" Korres ventured. Mtehm shrugged, “It's what I decided to call him, he seems to like it."

“Awk!" Castle concurred and Korres gave a surprised laugh.

“Does he understand us then?"

Mtehm sat back on the couch pulling his robes straight and closing them. “I have no idea, He knows when I talk to him to and he knows his name. Asks for food. For me to carry him. I did use a Dofyn for his intelligence so he's at least as intelligent as one of them." Mtehm said, he hoped it was true, many said Dofyn were intelligent because of how they interacted within their Anerian colonies. Castle responded to him, but that was hardly the same thing as real intelligence.

Korres sat forward in his chair to closer study Castle, “He's handsome, for a dragon. Kind of makes me wish that I'd been far more careful in constructing my own beast. Both in its look and in its personality." He halted a moment before continuing in the same musing tone. “Even more I wish that I hadn't created that shadow damned board in the first place." Korres rubbed at the injury on his palm. “Can I touch him then?"

Mtehm nodded, “Sure, but go slow. He may not have the Vengenarl's nature that your beast did, but he has the same Heart, don't give him a reason to dislike you."

Korres bit his lower lip between his teeth as for a moment he considered how to do as Mtehm suggested and then extended his a hand, palm down and fingers dangling towards Castle. He stopped short and the lizard cocked his head at the proffered hand, the pressed his muzzle to Korres' fingers. Korres turned his hand to caress Castle's shoulder and the lizard closed its eyes and leaned into it. Korres looked up at Mtehm and broad smile spread over his face, “He is incredible." he said and scratched under Castle's chin before pulling his hand away. “He's like something from Aenir. Not this plane of existence, but then I suppose that he is. Several parts of it in truth."

“That's something that I wanted to ask you about,“ Mtehm said. “the-"

At that moment there came a loud knock at the door, all five in the room, shadows included twisted their heads towards the sound. The crystal set on the inside above the door flashed a series of colors before finally settling on a violet that paled to near white.

Mtehm caught a look of confusion on Korres' face as the man rose from his seat. “Now who do you suppose that is?" he wondered aloud even as Mtehm asked him back, “What's someone of the violet order doing down here?" they didn't get a chance to discuss it as a man's deep voice chimed its way out of the crystal. “Open the door for the officers of light!"

Korres shot a panicked look in Mtehm's direction, “Quick cover him." he ordered Mtehm, indicating Castle with a snap of his wrist. Mtehm did so immediately, grabbing the little dragon off the table and stuffing him without decorum beneath his cloak. Castle gave a surprised and indignant squawk at the rough handling but his protests were drowned in a repetition of the request to open.

Korres swept up from his armchair and towards the door and his shadowspirit sensing the sudden action followed. He dragged the door open with a single movement. Over his shoulder on the outside Mtehm could see stood two people, a man and a woman, her in a violet robe and him in resplendent indigo.

The man stood solid as a post, his arm dropping to his side and aborting another round of door pounding. His shadowspirit was a hound like creature known as a Yolven that stood as high as the hip and glowered malevolently.

“You are Korres, owner of this place?" It was the woman who asked, taking over now that the entry was clear, her voice like a flash in crystal. It almost wasn't a question but Korres replied anyway. “I am." The man stepped back allowing her to move past him and into the room.

Korres pulled back before the intrusion giving ground before the higher order. The Yolven shadowspirit fell in behind tugging on the man's cloak so that not even its hem brushed the woman's as he followed in behind her.

“I am Elane." she spoke announcing it to the room in general, her eyes looking at some point over the top of Mtehm's head. “An officer of light," she pulled back a sleeve and ran a finger over a sunstone set into a ring. It gave a starburst shimmer that confirmed what she'd stated, which looked even more impressive to Mtehm considering that it highlighted the black shadowspirit that coiled tight about her lower arm. The spirit was a Caldene, a unique serpent-type Anerian creature. Mtehm knew he'd seen it once in a class text on Aenir so he knew it's name, but knew not what the text had been about and knew nothing more of the spirit.

The woman flicked her cuff down once more. “Morgay is my assistant." she continued with a vague gesture to her Chosen companion. She glanced around the room, pursed her lips and seemed to notice Mtehm at last.

Mtehm clutched through the fabric of his robe praying that Castle would not twitch beneath and give him away. He dared not even raise a hand to his sunstone to give light. His shadowspirit sensing his unease spread itself as best as it could over his chest to block the officer's view. His eyes only met hers for a moment before she looked away and back to Korres.

“We have some information that has led us to believe that you were part of a disturbance in the green room commons yesterday evening." Korres' eyes widened in surprise at her statement, surprise that Mtehm himself felt. The events in the commons the night before last had been dramatic, but in a castle of light and magic they were hardly enough to warrant a visit by top ranking officers. Floor wardens, generally handled disturbances, including any kind of follow up investigation. Unless someone had seen something and let slip that something unusual had happened. Beneath his hand Castle gave a little quiver and Mtehm felt the short claws of the lizard's paws dig into the flesh of his leg. In the chaos that had followed it seemed unlikely, but the proof was standing in Korres' lounge.

“I was there." Korres admitted. Mtehm tensed. He could try and make a slow break for it. Try slip out unnoticed. Except the man's shadow hound was blocking the door and getting caught doing so would only raise the officer's suspicions. Neither of them seemed to be directing much of their attention his way for the moment so he chose to stay where he was.

Affirming the admission with a tiny dip of the chin the Violet lady continued. “Part of the report, and what a subsequent investigation of the area concluded, was that a Chosen used a particular pattern of light magic. One not seen for some time due to the fact that it is currently outlawed."

“Outlawed magic?" Korres asked, jerked by his surprise into responding, “I have never heard of such a thing. The Chosen's birthright is light, in all it's forms."

“And you won't ever hear of it again." Elane replied, “Outlawed magics are outlawed because they are dangerous. You won't find anyone in the Castle professing a knowledge of them. They aren't taught in our Lectorium. Despite this we know a Chosen did use this magic last night."

Korres shook his head and then spoke, “There were a lot of people in the room. I assume that any one of them could have used it."

Mtehm swallowed a breath an imaginary weight dragged inside his belly. He knew exactly what the unusual magic the officer was talking about. Likely the very real, scaly weight squatting outside his belly had something to do with it.

Mtehm glanced at Korres, the man wore a perfect expression of innocence. Bewilderment and a tightening of his upper lip gave a twist of hostility. The man hadn't so much as glanced at the dark box on the table or in Mtehm's direction. It was by his lack of reaction that Mtehm knew he had guessed as much too. A tense moment passed, Mtehm felt the officers were about to decry that they knew all and seize them both. Castle too. Silence stretched between them. Mtehm kept his eyes on the floor where the Fisk was huddling under the table making itself as small as it could.

“That's true." Elane confessed at last. Mtehm couldn't help a small breath of relief escape from between his lips as the violet woman admitted the full extant of the knowledge garnered from their investigation.

They knew something had happened, but not what, or who had used the forbidden magic. Despite whatever investigating they'd done. That made Korres, and by extension Mtehm, suspects rather that perpetrators.

Now losing interest Elane shook her robe down over her arm, concealing her shadowspirit as the man in blue, Morgay took over. “I hope you understand that it is important that we follow all lines in our investigation. We would like you to come along with us up to the violet level, provide us a statement of what you remember of that time. It might help us find whomever used this dangerous magic, and we may use it in a prosecution."

“Of course." Korres agreed. It seemed that the tension in the room was now dissipating, like a splash of sparks winking out. Morgay's shadowspirit seemed to be losing interest too, it yawned and settled back on its haunches. “Mtehm?" Korres said, “You heard? I'm going to be going with these people for a little while. You had better head off, I'm sorry we never got around to discussing anything interesting today."

“That's okay." Mtehm replied and thinking he added, “I'm sure that you can show me how compress orange and red bands together better some other time."

It was nonsense that Mtehm had come up with on the spot. Generic light theory that had jumped into his head from some half remembered class in school the previous week. Without being privy to the context, or rather lack of it, it served to disinterest the officers while at the same time providing a pseudo explanation for Mtehm's presence. There was nothing more normal than a friend helping with schoolwork.

Korres gave him a tiny grin and a wink as the two officers turned and shuffled out into the hall. Korres followed them out, Burned Fisk spiritshadow trailing after.

Being careful not to tip Castle from cloak onto the floor, betraying the rather extraordinary luck that had followed him all day, Mtehm stood and made for the door.

As he passed the low table he spied the black wooden box that held Korres' unfortunate beast. On a whim Mtehm snagged it up. His shadowguard assisted him as he added it into the crowded space beneath his robe. Korres' wouldn't mind that he'd taken it and it wouldn't do to have it lying around with no one to watch it. Left there an Underfolk or anyone else might stumble across it.

Out in the hall Mtehm exchanged his goodbyes with Korres then headed as fast as he could in the opposite direction. Soonest parted was by far the best as Mtehm felt.

It wasn't until Mtehm had passed several other intersecting corridors that he placed his sunstone to the wall and called forth the shade of green that would send him home. It was only then that he remembered that he hadn't fulfilled the other reason that he had had for seeking out Korres. He still didn't have his sunstone.

---

Mtehm stared despondent at the ring of colorless crystal that circled his arm. It had been three days since he'd managed to get it in class and he hadn't found anyone high level that could take it off for him. “It's so unfair." Mtehm cursed to himself, “If it had been the teacher who put it on I could have gotten rid of it by now."

“That deluminant got you down?" Orion asked, somehow his family's servant had managed to overhear him.

“I dunno what you're so concerned about." Ria, Mtehm's brother spoke up, he dropped his forearm to the counter top with a clatter and shook his own arm at Mtehm. Three deluminants jangled there. He'd come home with them the day before. Caught trespassing into the Achievement combat arena along with a group of his friends he'd earned them for trying to some early practice for their upcoming achievements.

“Well it's fine for you." Mtehm replied, “You can ask your friends and they'll have some relative in the blue order who'll take them off for you all. Violet's two levels above that. Do you think that anyone up there is going to even give me the time of the day let alone stoop to reillumining a Green?" Mtehm had tried. Guards had turned him away long before he got anywhere near the central heart of the violet part of the tower.

Before Ria could reply Orion added another suggestion. “Why don't you compete in the Achievements yourself then? Do well enough and please someone high enough and you'll be sure to have that removed. You'll get the extra glory and rewards that come with that too."

Mtehm sighed. It wasn't the deluminent that was getting him down anyway. It would require another six of them to dim him by a rank. The problem was that the time to the Day of Ascension was still creeping closer. It occurred right after the end of the Achievement trials, which meant that even had he wanted to compete he couldn't have. By that time they finished he planned to be in Aenir.

Except no sunstone had come his way yet.

After Korres got led away Mtehm hadn't managed to find him again. His door went unanswered and the Chosen Mtehm had spoken to said they hadn't seen him in his usual hangouts. The black wooden box remained sat on a shelf in the wardrobe in Mtehm's room buried beneath his shirts and robes. It seemed that the sunstone Korres owed him was out of reach.

“No," Mtehm replied realizing that the Underfolk servant was looking at him for an answer.

He rose from his chair to cut off the inevitable 'why?' that would bounce back to him from such a curt response. Mtehm didn't feel like hashing together an excuse. The truth was that the last few days had tired him. Sunstone worries and Castle had been keeping him awake too long at night. “I've got lessons to go to." He added and headed upstairs.

Castle was waiting for him on the bed. Mtehm's shadowguard roused itself from its usual place on the shelf where it had been dozing in the shape of a Dormouse and flowed across the wall to Mtehm's shoulders, perching as a small bird. Mtehm scooped up Castle and deposited him within his cloak. Castle reminding him with a “Awk" to bring his bow. The dragon didn't like to leave it anywhere, but after Mtehm had sewn a place for it inside his robe he had consented to Mtehm carrying it for him while they were together.

It was midday and most people were already at their work so the corridors up to the colorless part of the castle held few Chosen. He deposited Castle in the usual disused classroom and then headed for his lessons. The few remaining hours of classes after the midday break passed in a blur. The new instructor was catching up to where the previous instructor had left off before she had managed to get herself dimmed.

Mtehm listened with only half an ear as he turned over his most current problems in his head. How to get himself across to Aenir, which as far as he knew was impossible without the use of a strong sunstone, and his newest problem. What to do with Castle when he did. The lizard was Anerian. After a fashion. Being born on this side of the planar existence made him unique. He was solid flesh and blood while all other Aneirians were only shadows beneath the Veil. It was possible that upon transferring Castle would become a spiritshadow in Aenir. Or he would remain as he was. Or the little dragon would find the barrier between the worlds locked and Mtehm would pulled across without him. If that happened then Mtehm could of course turn back and return to the castle.

Castle, the dragon, was at his essence, light magic. Even if he was no longer made of light and so the other possibility Mtehm had to consider was that the transition from one world to the other would see the force that had animated him in the first place drain away. Mtehm would not risk it. Shielding magics and fail safes would be needed to cover the dragon before he tried to cross. Mentally he resolved himself to putting aside some time to look into it, the sooner the better. The best place to look for such magics were within the grimoires stored in the grand library.

Mtehm allowed a sigh to escape across his hands folded on the desk in front of him. He lifted one and pulled his robe aside to pull out his own small sunstone. A narrowing band of orange that marked the minutes until class ended did not seem to have dwindled from the last time he'd checked it. He placed it back and put his head on the desk.

Class did end and Mtehm was soon free. Once over he headed back down through the castle's colorless levels giving occasional light to other Chosen he passed. As he got closer to the corridor with the disused storeroom those encounters happened less and less until finally he found himself completely alone.

A few more steps and he was at the door to his hideout.

The door was open. Not a huge amount, a crack, but it wasn't the way that he'd left it that morning. The sunstone he wore became a cold press against his skin. Castle was far too intelligent to leave the abandoned room, which meant that someone had been there. Looking for one of the magical apparatus inside? It was possible, and it was possible that they had seen Castle. In that case then the lizard would have fled and there would currently be a frantic search for him. Rouge non shadow Aenirian monsters lurking in abandoned parts of the castle would create that kind of stir.

With no Chosen were running about the corridors in a panic Castle had likely hidden himself from the intruder and was somewhere inside.

Mtehm reached out to push the door open, his fingers touched opaque crystal, and there came a laugh from within. It was a girl's laugh. Mtehm snatched open the door and pushed his way inside. Castle was on his hind legs, dancing after a piece of something that a girl, sitting cross legged in the dust on the floor, dangled out of his reach. The girl wore a light violet robe, the cuffs and bodice of which frilled out in lines that edged towards black at the hems. A black belt cinched at her waist.

Castle's wings gave a flutter and he sprang up to seize whatever it was that the girl held. He fell back, swallowing it as he did and landed on all fours. Spotting Mtehm the little dragon gave his usual squawk of greeting and bounded past the girl to him. Mtehm would have stooped to pick him up but he was rather shocked so Castle instead climbed him like one of the climbing frames in the Achievement of Acrobatics.

The girl twisted around as the lizard went past her and ended up facing Mtehm, the laughing smile on her face disappearing.

She was young. Younger than Mtehm, he doubted that anyone would allow her to take part in in some of the more physical and challenging Achievements. Those restricted to older school pupils, like his brother's Achievement of Combat.

Castle settled himself on a shoulder, his shadowguard retreating from the invasion of its territory to the other.

Mtehm stared at the girl and she gaped at him, then she sprang up and darted for the door. Mtehm was quicker, but only by a little. He slammed it shut behind him and then placed his heel in front of it. The girl reeled back from him, catching herself before she could upset a large device with several blue crystal flutes that sat on a tray poking out from under the dust cloth. She planted herself and then said in a tight voice, “Get out of my way."

Mtehm considered it for a moment, the girl's robe showed that she outranked him by a vast margin. Depending on who she was there could be serious trouble if he did not immediately do as she'd asked. Were Castle not involved he'd have jumped to and apologized immediately. With many blue rays of apology and acquiescence, but the weight of Castle on his shoulder forced his hand.

“No way." he replied.

Castle nudged Mtehm's neck with his head and let out a trill of repeated “Awk's!"

“What are you doing here?" Mtehm asked over the dragon's vocalizations. The girl stared at him for and then shifted her gaze to the dragon for a moment before returning to him. “He's yours?" she asked.

Mtehm nodded, then immediately wished he hadn't. Even if it was ridiculous to deny it the way the lizard had come to him it was something she knew for sure now. Mtehm swallowed hard, he'd noticed where the girl's shadowguard had been. Inhabiting her own shadow behind her. Now it detached itself and flowed around her feet in the shape of a Rhinnoghan Asp, a snake famed for its venom's potency in Aenir. Not dangerous as a shadow but its chosen shape a reflection of the girl's anger.

Mtehm's own shadowguard flew down from its perch to the floor, where it didn't take on any specific creature. Settling instead as a dark defensive wall as high as Mtehm's ankle. Their shadowguards postured Mtehm and the girl faced each other. Mtehm with his teeth clenched calculating rapidly. She hadn't reached for the sunstone that glittered in a bracelet on her wrist yet. He wondered if he could reach his and bind her with the magic his brother had been practicing to give himself the opportunity to get away. She might not know who he was but it wouldn't stop her from telling everyone about Castle once the magic wore off.

Before he had time to think his way out Castle lent down and with a brush of scales against his cheek nipped Mtehm hard on the side of his neck.

“Ow!" Mtehm yelped. He jumped, his hand coming up to his neck as Castle lifted from his shoulder and with a flash of his wings fluttered to alight on the device the girl had bumped. Turning to face them he extended his neck and screeched, “AWK AWK AWK." as loud as he could. Mtehm and the girl both immediately clapped their hands over their ears with exclamations of pain. “Castle stop!" Mtehm cried and the dragon did. Biting himself of mid cry and settling back with a huff. The girl removed her hands from the sides of her head, her shadowguard had taken the shape of some kind of eel and slid behind her.

“Ow, he's loud." the girl said, “Why'd he do that?"

“Because you and I were about to fry each other?"

“I was no'!" the girl started her face heating in anger. Castle gave a warning hiss from low in his throat and she subsided muttering, “Well I didn't touch my sunstone." Mtehm sighed and stepped away from the door. Crossing over to the apparatus and picking up the dragon. Castle reached up to nuzzle under his chin and lick the hot welt rising on Mtehm's neck. The girl didn't move, watching as Mtehm stroked Castle's head. “I'm Mtehm." Mtehm said, he turned the dragon to face her, “and this is Castle."

“Lanelle." She replied. “Is he from Aenir?"

Castle, tired of Mtehm holding him demanded down with a squawk. Mtehm released him to the floor. Again he hissed and both of the Chosen's shadowguards retreated away from him back into their charge's shadows. “In a manner of speaking." Mtehm told her.

She screwed up her face into a disbelieving frown at that. “But you're too young to have gone to Aenir, you still have your shadowguard. Besides he's not a shadow. How can he be here with the Veil in place?" Mtehm considered how much he could tell her. Enough that she wouldn't turn him in? If she liked Castle, would she do it? Maybe not. “You're right. I'm going to Aenir for my Ascension after the current round of Achievements have finished. Castle was... light magic gone wrong."

“Aenir..." Lanelle breathed. For all children of the castle Aenir remained a mythical place, sure they crossed over each Day of Ascension. Remaining within the Chosen's camp for the duration of their stay they got to see little of it. Some children did travel to other Anerian settlements, along well traveled roads, if their parents had business in Aenir. Only when they they came of age were they allowed out of the camp to explore the wilds of Aenir for themselves. Only then did they get their chance to bind their shadow familiar. Companion and confidant for the rest of their lives.

“Oh you're so lucky, I wish I was older." Lanelle continued, she looked down at her shadowguard which had assumed the shape of a Ratten and curled up next to her shoe. “I'd get something majestic, like a Fisk. Not like this little scrap."

“I know someone who has a Fisk." Mtehm replied thinking of Korres, his friend and erstwhile Beastmaker partner. “He told me how he got his. Said it was the fight of his life to get the beast within the binding circle while he recited the Word." He grinned remembering the Fisk's defense of Korres when he'd shown up with Castle. "Can't tell you it isn't majestic."

Lanelle frowned, “Daddy doesn't want me to have a Fisk. He says I should have a Rittak or a Berfora."

Mtehm knew both those Anerian animals. Small canines, popular among ladies coming from elevated families. Once more Mtehm was reminded of the difference between them. It was more than the color of her robe. As a violet she lived in a completely different world than him. If any of the girls of his own color bound such shadowspirits they would have to endure taunts of being lazy and without ambition. Daintiness wasn't much valued among Greens, such girls only made a good match for someone of equal of greater luster. Trying to rise above with their looks rather than their skill. Not that Mtehm considered Lanelle dainty, she'd after all seconds before been playing on the floor in the dust with a dragon.

Streaks of dust still held on making gray patches in the folds of her sleeves and hem. He smiled to himself, no, a Rittak wouldn't suit her at all.

Castle bored with investigating under a dust cloth retrieved his bow then went over to the door and sat before it. He gave a whine before looking back at Mtehm. Class was over and he wanted out. Mtehm picked him up and tucked him into his robe. Castle squirmed about, sliding his bow into the special holster Mtehm had sewn into his robe. “I should go," he told Lanelle “don't tell anyone about Castle okay?"

Lanelle bit her lip but then relented, “Okay fine. Only 'cause he's cute. You'll be bringing him back here right?"

Actually now Lanelle had discovered his secret place Mtehm had been going to find another place to keep Castle during the day. No other places came to mind, other than down with the Underfolk in the undercastle. That would only be half as good as here. People would begin asking questions if Chosen got seen down there in the castle bowels with any kind of regularity. Backed into a corner Mtehm nodded.

“When you do come back have to tell me exactly how you got him." Lanelle added, Mtehm petted the dragon's head as he stuck it out from his robes to see why they weren't leaving yet..

“Fine, but you have to tell me why you're down here at all."

Lanelle grinned, “That's easy, I was looking for a hiding place from my tutor. She collects me after school every day for extra classes." she stuck out her tongue and made a face, “Not learning light magic either, or anything else like we learn in school. No it's classes in etiquette."

She said the word with such disgust that Mtehm couldn't help but laugh. “Well stay as long as you need, but not so long that you get searched out." They said goodbye, Castle giving Lanelle an “Awk." and her giving him a pat on his head then Mtehm dropped his robe over the dragon and headed out the door.

With nothing more to do he headed home, worked on his schoolwork and helped out his brother with his Achievement training. Castle had his way with Mtehm after dinner while Mtehm lay in bed staring up at the small strata of sunstones that dotted his ceiling. Reminiscent of the stars in Aenir and of the stars said to be in their own sky above the Veil. Stars hanging in the sky like sunstones above the Veil. The thought ran around and around in his head until he felt himself tense with excitement.

Castle let out a yelp and flopped spent and listless across Mtehm's arm. Mtehm rolled the dragon over and scratched his belly.

Above the Veil.

He knew where he was going to find his sunstone.

---

Mtehm skipped his classes the next morning. Risking earning himself him a talking to when he showed up after midday break, if not another deluminent. He told himself it'd be worth it as he hurried up to the castle's library carrying Castle. One hand inside his robe beneath the dragon's rump and the other holding his sunstone to give light to the Chosen he passed.

The library, like the school and Achievement grounds, was in the colorless part of the castle. Spread out over many floors the library was vast. Fat with the entire collective knowledge of the castle. Everything the Chosen knew and learned put to paper since the earliest days of the castle's construction.

Utilizing his sunstone Mtehm found the records that he wanted. Leafing through confirmed what he already knew. Sunstones began by being charged in the strong light of the sun above the Veil, absorbing its light and turning it into magic that the Chosen could wield. There was much on the time, longevity and capacity of sunstones. Methods of appropriate tending and proper care of sunstones. Screeds of values and historical data. More general information including the laws of sunstone use he knew well, and more on breaking them.

Theft of a sunstone from someone would see reparation paid to the wronged person and immediate delumining of the offender. Stealing a stone from someone was out of the question, a simple bit of light magic by any investigator would take them right to the thief. Yet there was still a chance, the sunstones above the Veil belonged to all the Chosen of the castle. Until bound to a specific Chosen it was impossible to track a sunstone using light magic.

There were only a few cracked old historical references to sunstone theft from above the Veil. Looking for those records took Mtehm up several floors of the library and to a small dusty side room to uncover them. After making sure the door was well shut he let Castle out to explore while he read.

In all but the most recent case, some four hundred years ago, the penalty for theft of unbound sunstones was death. The last Chosen who had tried escaped that fate but was dimmed all the way down into the ranks of the underfolk. A curiosity struck him about the records, without exception all those accused had been high in the Violet order. Had their prior positions kept them from a fate worse than death? Mtehm grimaced. Well death was no more than he was risking already by planning to cross to Aenir early. Banishment was the worst penalty he'd found for that and beneath the Veil being banished equated to a death sentence.

Setting the tome aside he began to search for specifics of how to get above the Veil. The search took him and Castle up several more floors until he was trawling between close packed shelves of archives. It took him a long time but he finally uncovered a schematic of one of the castle's towers. Immediately upon unrolling it his hopes fell. The route to the top of the castle would take him through the most guarded parts of it, including near the training grounds of the Emperor's own guardsmen.

Anyone spotting him hanging around there would slap a deluminent or two on his arm and turn him right around.

Worse there was only one exit in the tower that looked like came out above the veil. That exit was buried at the highest point of the central Violet tower, a place he could never hope to get to. Mtehm chewed his lip thinking of the other towers, at the top of his own green tower were labs for the highest order of theoretical light work. No chance of him making it through there. Mtehm sighed and started to close the scroll. It didn't roll all the way back into its cylinder and he poked a finger in to clear the block.

At the bottom there was another piece of paper. Managing to snag the corner with his nails Mtehm dragged it out. It was a drawing. An artist's impression of the tower as it must look from the outside. No name gave a clue to who had drawn it. Whoever the artist had been it looked like they must have visited every balcony, parapet, and walkway, looking around and drawing piece by piece. It was by no means perfect, disproportionate in some places as the artist had to guess at dimensions. What was immediately obvious was that the central towers of the spectra stood tall above the Veil.

It gave Mtehm an idea.

He couldn't go through the inside of the castle but he could climb the outside. Light from his sunstone copied out the drawing onto fresh parchment which he traced, he'd take it with him in the hope that studying it would reveal a climbable path.

Copying took longer than expected and Mtehm had to check his crystal to make sure he would make it before class restarted after the midday break. When the drawing was finished Mtehm gathered up Castle from where the dragon was playing with other parchment tubes Mtehm had taken down from the shelves and made his way from the library. Even after depositing Castle into the disused classroom Mtehm made it to class before mid break finished. Luckily for him his absence that morning went unnoticed. The instructor who had replaced his old one was yet to learn everyone's names and faces and he was able to slip in with the rest of his classmates with no one the wiser. Soon he was wishing he hadn't bothered as the tutor informed them on the basic properties of combining different colored light. Concepts that he, and his classmates who carried bored expressions and carried on their own muted conversations, were well versed on.

After class ended he retrieved Castle. Lanelle wasn't there when he arrived at the disused classroom and he figured that this time she had not managed to escape her after school tutor. He knew the next day he wouldn't see her either. The beginning of the Achievement trials saw lessons suspended until after the Chosen traveled to Aenir. Except for his own. Being in the graduating class they would use the time to cover one more time the essentials about their Ascension and their hunt for a Shadowpartner.

His brother was among those in the first scheduled preliminary rounds. Achievement trials carried on over three weeks of preliminaries. Culminating in a final week of the best performances being given before the Emperor. Before crowning of the best of those in each category.

His brother had his Achievement first poetry first so instead of new bruises that evening Mtehm helped put the final touches on the light show to go with the reading. Orion drilled his Ria on clear oration and cadence until they all retired to bed. The next morning Mtehm could tell Ria was nervous about the performance despite the practice. Gulping down his breakfast and extracting assurances from Mtehm and Orion that they would both be watching was all he did before dashing out the door. Gone to meet with friends for a final practice.

While Orion cleared away breakfast Mtehm went to his room and fed Castle with scraps from last night's dinner. He then tucked the little dragon within his cloak and headed out.

Staying in his room to study the map from the library might have been a better option. Conscious as he was that after the last Achievements finished the Chosen would cross to Aenir. A sunstone would have to be his and himself crossed over into Aenir long before then. If the pulled off the plan he would be missing the final performances from this round of Achievements. Being the case and having no lectures to attend Mtehm decided that he would go see the opening ceremony in its place. Last years winner would be performing the piece that had won them the Emperors' favor to open this round.

Achievement trials were held throughout the castle but most of the official proceedings, including the opening ceremony, happened in the colorless part of the castle. Tradition dictated it, showing that in Achievements all participants were judged equal.

Mtehm pressed his sunstone to a wall and called forth a ray of light to lead him. Before long he found himself entering a large amphitheater. Half a circle of terraced clear crystal benches surrounded a main sunken pit. The benches were about half filled with Chosen all in robes the color of their respective status. They chatted, or played with minor light magic, or sat and waited for the opening performance to begin. A higher dais looked on, three seats of elaborate crystal upon it. For any Achievement taking place here it was where the judges would sit, but now at the beginning of the trials they were empty.

Mtehm found himself a good seat, there weren't many Chosen present for the opening. Most were working today and Achievement rounds happened often enough that it wasn't an large occasion to turn out for. The Chosen that were here were likely competing in the new tournament or were friends of the winner from the previous round.

A few more Chosen filtered in and then the sunstones that lit the amphitheater dimmed. With it the buzz of conversation fell and Castle poked his head out from Mtehm's robe. Mtehm let him, there wasn't anyone close by and no one might notice in the half light.

A door opened on the left side of the pit and a short but rather skinny Chosen in a violet robe walked in. Following him was a taller woman in blue, a rather large sunstone glowing to match from a necklace around her throat giving her skin an ethereal cast. Their Shadowspirits followed after. Hers a Morcasca, a small drake and his the much larger shadow of the Brakka psuedo-dragon towered over them both. Mtehm smiled to see it and gave Castle a quick pat. The violet man stopped in the center of the pit and addressed his audience with flashes of welcome and greeting from a sunstone he wore at his wrist. “I am Ratheik, the newest master of ceremonies to our Emperor." he boomed out using light amplify his voice. Everyone in the crowd winced, the amphitheater wasn't large and his voice echoed off the walls.

The newest master of ceremonies made a face and lowered his sunstone before continuing in a more modulated tone.

“To you Chosen gathered here witness opening of this newest round of Achievements." At this he let a white ray splash out of the sunstone he held. It struck the floor at his feet where it split into each of the seven colors each racing away in a different direction out across the amphitheater. Up the walls the light went to converge once more above him creating seven pillars of shining light. Each representing a color of the Chosen. Several rays of color came back from the audience and a smattering of applause rose. When it died away Ratheik continued, “I give you now the winner of the previous round, Moraine Corbanthe, Half-Blue."

The blue woman who had followed him in gave a yellow ray of recognition from her sunstone before he continued. “She will recreate her winning performance in the Achievement of Architecture for you now." Again a smattering of applause and light as the master of ceremonies stepped back and let the blue woman take his place.

She gave a little bow to her audience and then lifted the stone from her neck.

Gripping it in both hands she held it out ahead of her, her own shadowspirit and the Chosen watching her drew closer as they felt the light magic begin.

Blue pooled from within her hands washing down over the floor and the crystal of the floor responded. It grew up in a series of thin spires taking on the blue hue and then pooled out as if colored liquid had spilled. A crystal pedestal formed topped with a wide flat surface. This platform was only a surface for her to work from.

She began modulating the color that flowed and soon held a shining rainbow of light. The crystal sang pure sweet notes in response so that it seemed she conducted a symphony. Crystal began to grow upon her table too. It rose in a dome and where shafts of light from her stone struck the crystal and caused it to take on shape and form, twisting, curling and binding in a myriad of color.

Mtehm recognized the form she was making almost at once. It was a scale replica of the Star Dome, an Aenirian building built by some long ago Chosen. It lay far outside of the Chosen encampment. In the wilds of Aenir and so while Mtehm had never set eyes on it he recognized it from pictures and passages in textbook where it featured as an example of things the Chosen had created in Aenir.

A curved dome it was a simple building but it was the Chosen's skill in its recreation that had won Moraine her Achievement.

Mtehm himself could have recreated the building from a picture but it would not the same as Moraine Corbanthe, Half-Blue's creation. Any sane Chosen would have made small parts. Repeating and building to make larger and larger pieces to form the whole. Instead Moraine was calling every shard of her creation's existence together at once. It meant she was holding not only the entire structure within her mind and giving equal focus to every part, but also every single way that the light colors she was using could interact. Mtehm had found it near impossible to weave three different colored bands in class, and he had been stabilizing the light between each one.

Here Moraine did it all at once.

Except for the singing of the crystal the room was a dead hush, the Chosen audience were staring wide eyed, jaws hanging open. Lost within the sheer focus the Half-Bright was demonstrating.

The effort was phenomenal. She was shaking hard from the strain the white combination of reflected light casting deep pits on her sunken cheeks, but her hands upon her stone clasped it rock steady. A multi colored mist rose around the table and Mtehm felt himself tense, the motes of crystal were refracting in the same way as when the Beastmaker board had formed Castle.

The crystal star dome didn't quite come together in the same way Castle had, but rather all at once. With a shriek of music that was painful for the briefest moment before passing beyond the range of hearing.

Moraine's sunstone flashed black, spent, and she slumped forwards senseless across her creation.

Mtehm's ears were ringing as the pressure on them vanished, but he still heard the shout of one of the Chosen in the audience. A large man in a blue robe leaped up and with the aid of his shadowspirit, a huge Ice Owl, flew down into the pit. Moraine Corbanthe was already pulling herself to stand as he reached her, her little shadow drake skittering around her. She held up her hand assuring the crowd, “I'm fine, I'm okay." Even as the man embraced her.

From the audience breathed a sigh of relief and then the Chosen erupted with cheers and much flashing of sunstones that bathed the couple in rainbow light. Mtehm fumbled out his own sunstone and added his own light. The blue's skill with light magic had astounded him. Everyone knew that the most powerful and difficult light magic came from using the colors together. To use them all and at the same time with with a single sunstone? Many might have called it impossible.

The master of ceremonies stepped forward, speaking over the rush of conversation that had broken out in the audience. This time he was well justified in amplifying his voice as he shouted out, “What talent! What control! What an example of the power of light! We can only hope that our contestants this round give us as much of themselves as our previous champion. Moraine Corbanthe!" his statement served to reinflame the roar of approval from the crowd.

During this Moraine came forward and gave a bow before the session broke up.

The audience began to leave or gathered into small knots of discussion. The master of ceremonies had a quick quiet word with the winner and the man who had come to her and then the three left by the side door.

Mtehm sat back on his bench. Castle squawked up at him a question on his mind too. He sensed that the light magic was over and wanted to go. “I had better go talk to her." Mtehm told the little dragon. The mist that had been part of the performance was too like that of the Beastmaker game. No other light magic he'd seen had produced that effect. “I have an idea that if I knew how she worked that magic then I can understand you a bit better. Come up with the best way to ward you when we cross to Aenir." After seeing the performance Mtehm knew he wouldn't be finding the answer in a book.

Still he hesitated.

It would mean reveling Castle to another Chosen, and there was no way of knowing how she would respond to a Green asking her questions. Casual disinterest and indifference like his father would when addressed by a lower rank? Mtehm had to try, he couldn't lose Castle because of some overlooked piece of information. Gathering Castle beneath his robe Mtehm rose and headed down into the pit then out through the side door.

He moved at a half run through the colorless corridors pausing once as he came across a junction. He took the left reasoning that it led towards the blue tower. Proved right a minute later when he came across the man with the owl and Moraine Corbanthe ahead of him. The master of ceremonies was no longer with them, he had taken his leave of the two at the junction Mtehm had passed. “That was reckless." The man was saying, “You should not have done it."

Moraine shook her head at him, Mtehm slowed not wishing to interrupt. “It's part of the duty of the winner of the Achievements to open the next ones. You know that. I was fine doing it last time and I was fine again this time."

“You aren't in the same health now that you were in when you won. Last time you didn't collapse." the man protested. His shadowspirit on his shoulder flapped its wings with his agitation. “You had to rely on the power of your sunstone to perform the demonstration and you emptied it to do so. You should have done it how Ratheik suggested. No one would have known and you wouldn't have consumed so much of yourself."

“I would have known," Moraine replied, “and anyone who knew my work."

“Anyone who knows your work knows you. They would have forgiven you."

“Look, I'm fine. Ratheik promised to replace my sunstone. We've come so far since we were Orange. This Achievement has been wonderful for us. I wouldn't risk it, not for anything." Moraine argued.

“I'd rather have you and be an Orange than be the Emperor himself without you." he slipped an arm around her and paused a moment to kiss her. They parted and kept walking in companionable silence.

Mtehm took his chance and stalked up behind them. “Excuse me." he said. The couple turned around.

Taking one look at Mtehm Moraine Corbanthe turned to her man “Go. We've both our work to attend to." The man looked a little annoyed, but with a tug of his robe he said, “Well if you're sure you're okay." Her quick look told him she was and they both told each other goodbye and he left, his shadowspirit gliding alongside. Leaving Mtehm alone with the Blue mage.

“Come along." Moraine told him, “Ask me your question as we walk. Be quick or you and I will both be late."

Mtehm had been about to launch into an explanation, but Moraine seemed unsurprised at a Green approaching her despite ranking above him. “Uh, late?" he asked instead, falling into step behind her. He had nothing to be late for. She didn't answer him, seeming not to have heard him as they traveled the colorless corridor. Moraine turned a sharp corner and Mtehm almost collided with her as he rounded it. She'd stopped outside of a doorway, a Lectorium lecture hall. She put her hand into her pocket and pulled out her necklace with its darkened sunstone then laughed aloud. “Oh dear. I only brought this sunstone with me today and I've emptied it. Lend me yours?"

“Uh, sure." Mtehm replied he pulled out his own sunstone and gave it to her. She held it to the door and immediately it flashed red.

“What?" she peered at the sunstone and then at Mtehm and his shadowguard, “You're not one of my students." she stated. “In fact you haven't even passed your Day of Ascension."

“Well, no." Mtehm replied, “I only-"

Moraine held up a hand. “I'm sorry, please if you have some reason for seeking me out can you save it until after this class?" She looked down at his sunstone and it flashed several different colors and then she held it to the door once more. This time it went green and she pushed the door open. “Thank you for letting me use that. Would you mind if I held onto it for now? It would save me borrowing one. You can collect it after and tell me why you've found me. I'll promise I'll help as best I can but this is a study place and I do need you not to disturb my students."

Mtehm considered fast, he'd spent his whole morning following her and he now knew that Moraine was a teacher. Rank didn't matter as much as a willingness to learn in the Lectorium. Especially in these advanced studies. He could wait a little longer for his answers.

He nodded and followed her in.

Unlike his own classroom there were no desks in this theater. Rows of tiered benches like the amphitheater dominated. Difference was the benches here sat before a continuous raised bench for writing. The benches were half filled with students, with more trickling in from a set of wide doors at the top. The new arrivals all looked down into the pit as they entered, relief showing on their faces as they realized that their class had not started yet. These Chosen were older than him, some by several years. Each was Ascended and had their own bound shadowspirit with them. Mtehm couldn't recognize many as they came in. They squashed themselves up if their shadowy bulk was too large to fit in. Lying at their owner's feet or resting on the bench next to them.

Moraine and her shadowspirit crossed to the podium. Mtehm looked around and then took a seat at the front. He stayed away from the other Chosen, despite many of them being of Yellow, Orange or Red order. He felt like an imposter.

Lucky for him he had chosen isolation for on sitting down Castle poked his head out of Mtehm's robe and seeing that he was in another theater huffed in Mtehm's face. Uh oh. A bored dragon. “Sorry." Mtehm whispered to him, “We need her, so hang on a little longer." Castle huffed again but withdrew into Mtehm's robe, settling into his lap to sleep. Mtehm looked around to check that no one had noticed, the room was much better lit than the amphitheater but no one had looked his way. The students were all busy preparing their sunstones for note taking. Setting them on the raised bench in front of them and pressing into the crystal bench lines of color.

At least that was the same as his usual classes, later the Chosen could review their notes via any colorless crystal panel. Writing out by hand what they wished to keep for review long term.

The lecture topic was no surprise given what he'd witness Moraine do that morning. Aenirian architecture, it had to be her specialty. Deep familiarity served well to recreate the Star Dome in the way she had. While she spoke she often used Mtehm's sunstone to call up images in the writing bench. It had little to do with light magic and Mtehm understood even less of what passed as Moraine referenced texts, people, and ideas he'd never heard of. There was some history of the races of Aenir that caught Mtehm's attention, but it was in reference to structures they'd created. Old ruins and new towns. Curiosities like a house that burned down every day. It was all minute in detail and difficult to follow. Mtehm put head on the cool stone of the writing bench. He wasn't in this class and found he couldn't much care about the way the curve of a Pion had deepened over the last century.

At last the class ended but he had to wait while students came forward and questioned their lecturer on concepts that had raised questions for them during the class. Mtehm was content to wait until the class emptied.

Once he doors swung shut after the last Chosen Mtehm gathered up a dozing Castle underneath his robe and headed down into the pit. Moraine held out his sunstone as he came up to the dais. “Thank you again." She told him as he took it, “I hope you found something in that interesting."

Mtehm made a non committal noise as he tucked the sunstone back into his robe and Moraine laughed. “Well architecture is not everyone's interest. But if you're not interested in my work I can't imagine I can be much help to you." Her shadow drake stood and came to wind itself around her feet. It wanted to leave too.

“It's something about your performance this morning." Mtehm told her, aware that he had only moments to capture her attention.

“Ah, you were watching were you? Wondering how I managed it?" Moraine said, and then answered herself “It's concentration, that's all. Practice and concentration."

Mtehm gritted his teeth in frustration, he already knew that. Magic took concentration. Achievements took concentration. Moraine's attitude towards him had changed now she knew he was a schoolkid and she was lecturing him on basics. “That's not it!" he cried out. Moraine halted, startled as Mtehm's shadowguard became a crest of small black spikes across his shoulders. He spoke fast, “When you were doing your Achievement you created a kind of mist. A kind I've only seen once before. When I did this!"

With that Mtehm pulled open his robe and held out Castle between them. The little dragon let out a squawk of protest, curled his tail around Mtehm's arm and fanned his wings in Mtehm's face. Moraine and Mtehm's shadow partners both shrank back and Moraine put up a hand between the dragon and herself as if to fend him off.

Castle remained unimpressed. He huffed and settled back on Mtehm's arm.

“What do you mean you did this?" Moraine asked her voice shaking as she lowered her arm. “Created him. From light." Mtehm stated, “And when I did there was the same mist I saw in your Achievement."

“Mist?" Moraine said with a frown, “Of course there would be mist. It's an optical illusion that comes as a result of using all seven colors of magic at the same time."

Mtehm blinked he had not expected such a straightforward answer.“I've never heard of that."

“You wouldn't have. There are few tasks that would need simultaneous use of all seven colors." She gave Castle a hard stare “Though the creation of life from light would be one." Moraine tapped the cuff of her robe, “Light magic is, by its nature nature, ordered. It has a hierarchy and follows laws. As Chosen we too follow those laws in our methodologies when performing light magic. The more structure and thought we apply to a task the easier it becomes. Each color is distinct and to blend them goes against the natural laws. That is why such magic is more difficult, with using all seven the most difficult. Only the sun is a source of all light, and thus all magic. To blend light is to approximate the Sun. It creates the most powerful magic and it becomes capable of things that should be impossible with conventional light magic."

“So you think that Castle is unnatural?" Mtehm asked pulling the dragon closer to his chest. He was starting to regret his hasty decision in showing him off. The woman who had taken Korres away had said that the Chosen had banned the use of the magic that had created Castle. He could lose Castle if she reported him. If she thought the dragon an abomination she would.

Moraine shook her head. “No, not at all. A common mistake. We understand ourselves and so believe we are ordered. Like light. That's not the case. Life is disorder, as is death but at the other end of the spectrum. Light exists as order between the two. Or that's my understanding. Not my area of expertise at all, you should talk to some of the theoretical light sorcerers up in the violet levels." A grimace crossed her face as she glanced at Castle, “I wouldn't. They do have a nasty habit of experimenting with oddities like your pet."

“All I want to know," Mtehm said, “is could crossing over to Aenir hurt him?"

Moraine smiled, “Ah. I see your concern. The crossing to Aenir is one of those tasks that require all seven colors, albeit it is among the easiest spells to perform. It creates the mist too you know, but we don't get to see it since by that time we're already traveling. Your dragon is solid now but remains as light at his core. Crossing without appropriate warding would undoubtedly kill him as the magic that animates him will resonate with the magic used to cross over. You'll need something to interrupt that."

“You said warding. What wards?" Mtehm asked.

Moraine thought for a bit. “There is a ward, a cocoon of light we often use for protecting Aenirian artifacts when we bring them back across. It should suffice. Let me see your sunstone." Mtehm pulled it from his pocket and held it out, supporting Castle against his chest with is other hand. Moraine put a finger on it and waves of color flowed over it. “There." she said taking her hand away, Mtehm's stone darkened. “Those are the instructions for creating the ward. It uses all seven colors but not together so it won't hurt him, to create the shell. You will need to feed it with energy during the cross which requires tight focus. I recommend you practice it, but you have almost four weeks before we cross, you'll be fine."

Mtehm bit his lip. He'd be gone to Aenir in three days if his plan to climb the castle was successful. He thanked her with a ray of blue light and turned to go.

“One more thing." Moraine said, “I heard a story once, long ago. In it one of the Emperors of the castle attempted to create a life. He had no child, thus his obsession."

“What happened." Mtehm said, halting at the door.

“He died." Moraine said shortly, “Story goes he couldn't control the light and it destroyed him. Thing is he had unlimited access to sunstones in his attempt. Makes me wonder how you, not even with a powerful sunstone or past your day of Ascension managed the feat."

Mtehm wondered for a moment if he should tell her, but Moraine had helped him. He owed her that. “An accident. He formed from a broken Beastmaker board."

A surprised expression crossed Moraine's face at his admission, “Beastmaker? Yes. Such an artifact might be able to hold the light together long enough for such a thing to happen. I don't suppose you have the board? No, such magic must have destroyed it." Korres had told him that the board had torn itself apart after he'd left with Castle so he didn't contradict her. “Well never mind. You're very lucky. It could have been you instead. In any case you've given me something to think about. There are some people who'll be interested, but I promise I won't make mention of you or Castle to them."

Mtehm nodded his thanks and left.

He'd spent so much time with Moraine that he had little time to get back to his family home and feed Castle before it was time to do as he'd promised that morning go and see his brother perform his Achievement. After his meal Castle remained sleepy, Mtehm felt a little glad the dragon had been so active the previous night. With Orion having already left for the theater Mtehm had no problem with leaving Castle tucked up on his bed while he went out.

In the theater for the Achievement of Poetry a contestant had finished their recitation and was receiving the judge's criticism when Mtehm arrived.

Mtehm glanced around and spotted Orion in the audience. He made his way through the scatter of Chosen on chairs that someone had placed around the room and came close to tripping over Orion's shadowspirit as he found a seat next to his family's retainer. The Torqos lifted its head to huff at him in reproach before settling back down. “How's the competition?" he whispered to Orion as he sat down.

“None from that fellow." Orion replied in an undertone as the man onstage received a yellow Ray of Ambivalence. He gave a little bow and a ray of acceptance before ducking offstage. “But there was a young woman a few turns ago who got a full Beam of Spectacular Favor. It was an excellent performance."

Mtehm pursed his lips, his brother would be hard pressed to gain the same.

Next a Chosen in a yellow robe made his way onstage. He gave his name and the name of his piece and then began to recite. As he spoke he called forth light magic into the arena.

All Achievements also included light magic in in form or another. In the more physical ones like Combat or Body it got used in physical ways to defeat one's opponent or complete an obstacle. Poetry called for light to mirror and to convey the emotion of a piece. As many marks got given for how successful this was as for the actual oration and content of the piece itself.

Onstage the Chosen performed a humorous ballad about a young Empress who received a dead sunstone in Aenir. Convinced that she had lost the ability to use magic she instead took up a life in Aenir instead of returning to the Castle. Along with the rest of the Chosen Mtehm and Orion laughed along at the high points. Especially when the Empress failed with her depleted sunstone to bind her chosen shadowspirit and instead fell in love with him.

When the ballad ended there was a fair amount of applause and light from the audience. “He was pretty good." Mtehm said as he clapped along and the man onstage took a bow.

“I don't know." Orion replied, “Many of those lines I've heard before. He's not going to score as high as you think." Orion's judgment proved right as a moment later when the man collected two Rays of Fair Success and one of Profound Success from the three judges. Orion nodded, “Penalties for the poem, and his light timing was a little off. Good speaking ability didn't quite make up for it." The Chosen bowed again and headed offstage.

“When does Ria perform?" Mtehm asked, he could have checked his sunstone for the schedule but since Orion didn't have a stone Mtehm knew the old man would have memorized it.

“There are six more before him, including this girl." Orion replied as a young Chosen in a Indigo robe came onstage, her feline shadowspirit padding after her. She gave her poem, received middling reviews and ducked offstage as fast as she'd come. “Far too bashful that one." Orion said, “I'd wager its her first time."

The next two gave rather long winded poems that failed to gain any real recognition. The one after that got dismissed by the judges before they could finish.

“If this is all Ria is up against he has a pretty good shot at making the finals." Mtehm commented.

Orion shrugged, “You missed several good performances earlier. Seems we're in a bit of a lull now." The next contestant seemed determined to prove Orion wrong. Performing a sweeping epic, a lament to the forced creation of the Veil and the loss of the sun, sky and stars from their own world. The end of the recitation, which completed with silver stars falling across the walls, had Mtehm reaching into his robe to pull out his own sunstone to add his light to that offered by the audience. “She'll be in the finals." Orion said as he applauded too.

All three judges gave her Beams of Great Attainment and looking pleased she bowed and surrendered the stage to the next contestant. Intimidated by the preceding performance he stuttered through his own recital. Waiting only moments for the judges three Rays of Failed Ambition before scuttling offstage.

“Ria's turn now." Orion said and his brother stepped out onto the stage. He looked around and spotting Mtehm and Orion flashed them a wide grin. Mtehm could tell him brother was nervous, his fingers caged stiff around his sunstone.

Making his way to the center of the stage Ria took a breath and faced the judges. He gave his name and the the title of the poem Mtehm had helped him compose. One of the judges gestured for him to proceed.

Ria lifted the sunstone and allowed the stage he was on to darken before launching into the first stanza. Mtehm had heard the poem many times in practice but smiled as Ria spoke. It was an ode to the Anerian seas composed from anecdotes of a Chosen who had sailed upon them in a ship of light. They'd rewritten them together them to form the poem. He looked across at Orion and saw that the Underfolk was mouthing the words as Ria spoke them aloud.

On stage soft blue waves rolled out from his brother's feet that faded to became gray and storm tossed as Ria built towards the climax, then gentled once more into silence. His poem done Ria lowered his sunstone and the room brightened once more.

“Well that went okay." Orion said as the judges consulted. Mtehm agreed, his brother hadn't faltered once. The other Chosen in the audience weren't applauding but the poem seemed to have affected them. Several heads nodding with approval and the stage was being splashed with the occasional ray of attainment. The judges lifted their sunstones and gave their ratings. A violet ray of Unexpected Success, two green Beams of Solid Favor. “He should be happy with that." Orion said with a smile, applauding as Ria gave forth green to show his acceptance and bowed to the judges before leaving the stage.

“Come on." Orion said, standing and nudging Mtehm's arm to do the same, “We'd better go congratulate him."

They headed out of the amphitheater before the next contestant could come on. Down the corridor and through a door, letting themselves in backstage. Mtehm gave light to a Yellow who held the door for him and Orion bowed from his waist to the man before following Mtehm. Within the crowded backstage area Ria stood talking with two of his friends. Upon spotting his brother and Orion he disengaged himself and came to meet them.

“Well you remembered all your lines." Mtehm said unable to keep his lips from twisting in a wry grin. Glad that his brother's performance had gone down well and that their practice had paid off but he wasn't going to let Ria know it. “And all your light magic." Orion added, with a frown at Mtehm.

Ria didn't notice, he was bouncing with the success of his recital. “Think I'll make it to the finals? Everyone says I should."

“Well we'll see." Orion replied, “You should be proud of your Achievement either way."

Ria bobbed his head, “I am. I'll do even better in Combat. I have a good shot to win!"

Mtehm laughed, “By the bruises you've given me you ought to." He told his brother who immediately asked. “Then you'll help me practice again tonight?"

Mtehm winced, dropping his shoulders but nodded all the same.

“One thing at a time." Orion told them, “Tonight, first we celebrate your performance today. I'll make something special."

Ria cheered and gave the old man a hug then checked his sunstone. “I'd better get downstairs. One of my friends is going to start his Achievement of Body shortly and we're going to watch him." Mtehm and Orion repeated their congratulations and left Ria to head back to his friends.

“I'd best head to the market to see what I can find for our treat tonight." Orion said once they'd left the noisy backstage he patted his pockets and then gave a fool's grinned. “Except it seems I left my purse at home. Come with me to get it?" Mtehm had decided to head home anyway. He'd left Castle alone long enough.

As they headed for their quarters Mtehm asked, “Did you ever take part in an Achievement?"

Orion quirked an eyebrow at him, “I did indeed, before I dimmed. If that wasn't obvious. Your father and I did them together many times. We started when he was a little older than you, and I a little older that that." Orion never talked about why he had dimmed and didn't often talk about when he was a Chosen. He had the skills of one and enjoyed helping Ria train. After making it pretty clear Ria would have to use Mtehm as his Combat opponent. “Did you ever get to the finals?" Mtehm asked.

To his surprise Orion gave a shout of laughter. “The finals? I beat out your father in the finals to win the Achievement of Body that year."

“You won?" Mtehm said and Orion nodded.

“Yep. It was the final part of the obstacle course. Your father and I were in it head to head. All the other contestants had fallen behind as we came up to last challenge. We were sure it would come down to whomever could cross it first."

“What was the obstacle?" Mtehm prompted.

“Uh? Oh, it was a water wall. High pressure jets along the top, and high in the air so that if one fell they'd have to go far back and wouldn't have time to catch up." Mtehm tried to picture it, his old retainer and his father fighting with magic and strength against pummeling water. He couldn't. His father was a shell of a man. Thinned with grief. Committed to only his work. It didn't seem possible that the man had ever done an Achievement. Orion? That was possible. Once.

“How did you win?"

Orion's shadowspirit ducked under his hand and he gave it an absent pat. Orion was silent a moment as he seemed to gather the memories of that day. “We both launched ourselves at the wall. Your father was fitter, but I had more experience. He created a shell to divert the water, which had been my first thought too. As water pummeled my back I decided that I would instead hang on for dear life. I light magicked myself up a pair of gauntlets. I had lost sight of your father in the torrent and found that I could only move by inches against the water. With my gauntlets my grip was sure, but I was certain Hanth was sprinting ahead of me. Under the pressure I dared not change my approach, one mistake or distraction in weaving a new spell and I would lose my grip. So I climbed as fast as I dared. Finally I hauled myself above the water and over the wall. Certain your father had defeated me. I wiped the water from my eyes and shook the ringing from my ears, only to find I was the sole occupant of the finishers platform. Only then did I realize that the crowd was cheering for me, that I had won."

“What happened to Dad?" Mtehm asked breathless, even his shadowguard on his shoulder had lifted its head, as interested in the story as he was.

Orion shrugged, “The shell he created was too big and under so much pressure from the water that he didn't have the strength to maintain it and climb too. His grip and fell. Landed hard from what I learned afterward. Ended up in the infirmary with a broken collarbone, his light shell did not save him from that but it did save him from the bruising the water had me sporting for the next month. Black and blue and purple I was. Like some kind of dark rainbow."

“And so you won the Achievement." Mtehm said.

“And so I did, but I didn't win the competition overall. Someone from the Achievement of Healing got that honor. I didn't even get the best prize that day either. Your father got that."

“What was the prize?" Mtehm prompted him when the Underfolk lapsed into silence.

“Your mother!" Orion exclaimed, “She was a nurse that day attending the Achievement contestants. She healed your father after they fished him out. That's how they met, she tended him as he recovered in the infirmary. Ah look we're here."

Mtehm looked up to find that they stood outside the familiar green door of their quarters. He dug out his sunstone and flashed light to unlock it to save Orion digging out his key. “One more thing." Mtehm said, “Would you show me the light magic you used to win? The light gauntlets that you made?"

“If you like." Orion replied leading the way inside. While Orion recovered his purse Mtehm raced upstairs to his bedroom. Castle leaped up as the door opened, he'd been sprawled on the bed with paws tucked between his legs as he stroked himself. Unabashed he gave Mtehm a welcoming squawk and spread his wings to flutter over to him. “Hey Castle." Mtehm caught the dragon against his chest, Castle's claws scrabbling on his arm. He slipped and his belly slid down Mtehm's arm before Mtehm could steady him, spreading the dragon's fluids down his sleeve. Great. Now his sleeve was wet. “Missed you too boy." Mtehm said kissing the dragon on his scaly brow as he wiped his sleeve on his robe.

He headed back downstairs, stopping in at the bathroom to clean off both his robe and Castle with a wet cloth. Castle squirmed at the touch and Mtehm put the towel away before the dragon got excited enough that he would have to do the job again.

Orion entered the hall at the same time as Mtehm, with purse in hand. He looked at the dragon in Mtehm's arms. Orion had only seen the dragon once, for a few seconds the day Mtehm had brought him home.

“I named him Castle." Mtehm said. “Awk!" cried Castle at his name.

“Indeed." Orion replied, he made no move towards them and his Torqos shrank away. He might be Mtehm's family retainer, but he was still an Underfolk. Even if he wasn't warm to the idea of Mtehm keeping a dragon there was no way he could tell him he wasn't allowed. He had left out food for Castle that first night, might he like Castle after all? Perhaps once he got to know the dragon.

“Will you show me that light magic before you go?" Mtehm asked. Orion agreed and with Castle seated on the table and the two them facing each other on chairs Mtehm gave his retainer his sunstone.

“Hold out your hands." he ordered and Mtehm did. Calling light from the sunstone Orion spun threads of silver and blue around Mtehm's fingers, forming joints. He then added plates of light over the top, encasing Mtehm's hands and wrists and then finally wove in red light. The red light caused spines to grow from the plates. Short spines that faced backward and would dig in, helping him grip better. The gauntlets done the light died in the sunstone.

Mtehm flexed his fingers.

“They feel okay?" Orion asked.

“Great!" Mtehm said,

“Think you could do it?"

Mtehm nodded. The spell was simple enough, a small layering of a couple of colors of light. “Good," Orion said and handed him back his sunstone, “Give it some practice. It might help you win your own Achievement of Body some day." Orion rose and picked up his purse from the table. “I'll see you later."

Mtehm thanked him and he headed out. Mtehm spread his silvery blue hands towards Castle. “What do you think? Will this help me climb the castle tomorrow?" Castle sniffed at his fingers, “Awk?"

“Well we'll find out." Mtehm prepared himself and Castle a late lunch and then spent the next hour perfecting the gauntlets. Afterward up in his room he pulled out the drawing of the castle and spent the rest of the afternoon plotting a route into the Veil.

Ria arrived home and Mtehm threw a sheet over Castle when his brother pushed his way in. “Results are up. Didn't quite make the Poetry finals." he announced a little disheartened.

“It was a good try. You will in Combat." Mtehm replied encouragingly. Then because Castle was fighting his way free Mtehm pushed past his brother, closing the door as he offered to spar down in the hall.

“Yeah!" Ria said brightening and followed.

Mtehm spent the time until Orion came home and prepared dinner fighting off Ria's binding magic, his wrists and ankles swollen and sore by the time he got to eat.

---

Mtehm stood in darkness on a balcony.

Early in the morning he and Castle had sneaked away from home before his brother or Orion rose from their beds. The route he'd plotted the previous day would take him several hours to climb above the Veil. He hoped he would be back in time to sneak into school at midday again, but if he missed it all together that would be okay too. He'd be gone to Aenir by the time he was set a make up class.

To get to the balcony Mtehm had broken in through a small cafe in the lowest level of the green quarter.

Before the Veil people would sit out in the sun to eat on its wide balcony. The sun was long gone, but despite the hundreds of years that had passed the place had somehow remained a cafe. People still sat out on the balcony when the weather allowed, though now the only view was a few lit turrets of the castle and the impenetrable darkness that surrounded it.

“All right. Here goes." Mtehm jumped up and grabbed hold of a ridge where small, faint sunstones glowed in the dark. He hauled himself up and scrambled onto a wide ledge above the cafe. “That wasn't too hard, you all right Castle?" the little dragon, held in a sling that he had across his back stood up, putting his paws on Mtehm's shoulder. “Awk!" he said in Mtehm's ear.

Now that he was sure that no passing Chosen would see the glow of light from inside Mtehm paused and took out his sunstone. He magicked his gauntlets into existence with a few passes pf the stone over each hand and tested them out against the wall. They gripped the crystal much better that his own nails could.

“Then on we go."

The first few meters were easy enough, one ledge above the next, but soon enough the castle began to twist. Rooms that had been added from the inside deformed the structure. Bulging it out, making it irregular. Gripping hard with the gauntlets and fumbling for footholds he edged around, inching his way up crevices formed by the stonework.

Cold sliced out under the Veil's blackness and as Mtehm climbed the wind rose. Tiny sunstones dotted the castle wall, giving forth small lights in the void but he also found by touch many that had failed and grown dark. Where this had happened the patch of wall was icy and he made sure to take extra care crossing it. Mtehm grew weary as he climbed and the Veil didn't grow nearer, in defiance of the aches that were growing in his shoulders. Even so he persevered. Sometimes using a bit of light magic to help him see but for the most part he made his way by the light of his gloves.

The gloves of light on his hands were most helpful and Mtehm had many opportunities to thank Orion for showing him how to make them when his feet slipped on the stone.

Breaks came at random, whenever he came to places wide enough that he could sit without fear of getting torn from the tower by the wind. Minutes spent huddling deep in his cloak and using a little magic to warm himself once more before continuing. Before long Mtehm felt the tower narrowing and when he looked above he could just see where the march of sunstones up the tower halted. A dead line against impenetrable darkness.

The Veil hung far above him, but it was in sight. Mtehm pressed on hard for the next stretch finding fewer and fewer places to stop as he climbed. He guessed that on the inside of the castle he'd be up somewhere around green six and near the common room where he and Korres had played their game of Beastmaker. It might even be on the other side of the wall that he clung to, but to Mtehm hanging in the void the warm, cozy common felt as distant as Aenir.

The path had changed a little from the drawing he'd studied. The builders had allowed ample space for expansion within the castle but every now and again some new feature surprised him. He came to a parapet, a little outcropping of stone twice as tall as himself exactly the sort of thing he had sought to avoid. Realizing it was a dead end he tried to climb back, but his foot met only empty air. The curve of the outcrop had put his last narrow foothold out of reach. Mtehm dug his fingers in and clung to the stone. “Now what?" he asked the darkness around him through chattering teeth.

There was only one thing for it. He could see a few sunstones several arm lengths to his left, where he should have been climbing. With a grunt of effort Mtehm lifted himself away from the stone and began to edge towards them. The few natural handholds on the far side of the parapet were hard to spot, there wasn't enough light coming from the tower to see by.

Unable to see a way across he was considering trying to get out his own sunstone when his shadowguard slipped from his shoulder and shifted into the shape of a long and limber Troncal. Sticky pads that were part of the animal's natural ability giving it a strong grip on the frost slick stone of the wall.

Mtehm was grateful its help. He could hardly see his shadowguard's form against the black Veil far above. Only when it moved in front of the small sunstones that marked the path upward did its form become clearer. Trusting his shadowguard Mtehm reached out swung across the gap. He let loose a shout as he plummeted and swung and slammed chest first into the wall. Knocking the wind out of himself but managing to hook his gloves into the crevice around one of the sunstones. He stayed there for several moments gripping the wall with one hand and his shadowguard with the other until he was able to draw a full breath into his lungs. Hitting the tower had hurt but at least it hadn't shaken his other companion loose, he could feel the weight of the dragon tied tight to his back.

“Castle? Hey Castle are you okay?" There came no response.

Concerned Mtehm tried to twist and look over his shoulder but his grip on the stone was too precarious. When had been the last time he'd heard the dragon? Castle had been squawking encouragement to him as he'd climbed, but had fallen silent. When had that happened? Mtehm had been too focused on scaling the tower to notice. He thought he'd heard the dragon the last time he'd stopped for a break, but when had that been? Twenty minutes ago? Thirty? With his sunstone tucked inside his robe Mtehm had no idea.

The dragon hadn't even cried out when he'd been forced made the jump across moments ago.

“Shadowguard!" Mtehm cried out, “There might be something wrong with Castle. Help me climb. Fast!" Above him Mtehm made out his shadowguard as it nodded its slender head in the light of other sunstones, there were more glowing on this side of the jump. It scrambled up over them and still in its Troncal form reached down a paw. Mtehm gabbed on.

Without light to give the shadow strength the grip was weak and Mtehm cursed himself for his foolishness. He should have worn his sunstone around his neck where he could access its light. Luckily even without light his shadowguard remained strong enough to help Mtehm up to the next handhold. He waited while it once more scrambled up and they repeated the process again.

Ridges of stone that climbed the side of the tower both hindered and helped him. It was difficult to drag his body over them, each was like climbing a small wall in their own right. His arms burned, his feet kicked at the dark for any scrap of purchase. Despite the cold and the wind he kicked off his shoes, letting them fall away into the void so that he could dig his toes into the stone. Climbing in just his socks he mourned leaving his hard wearing boots at home.

He ascended, little by little as fast as he could. Calling back to Castle as often as he could, but there was no response. Mtehm reached up once more and was at last dragged by his shadowguard onto a larger ledge. It was only about the size of his bed, tilted askew and open on three sides to the darkness but Mtehm threw himself down on it. He tore open his robe and plucked out his sunstone. With a thought he both called forth bright light from it and dispelled his gauntlets.

“Hold this." he ordered his shadowguard and shoved the stone towards it. It caught it before it rolled off the ledge and Mtehm, blinking hard in the sharp light after being so long in dark, dug his fingers into the knot at his chest. Fingers protested, stiff and bloodless with the cold but he forced them to work. The knot parted and Castle fell from Mtehm's back striking the stone with a soft thump. Mtehm spun around and grabbed hold of the dragon, tugging the sling away.

Castle's body was cold, much colder than Mtehm's ice bitten hands. “No! Castle!" Mtehm cried out, he cradled the dragon against him and it was like pressing a block of ice to his chest. Castle's eyes were open and glazed over and he lay limp in Mtehm's arms. While he didn't respond as Mtehm hugged him Mtehm could feel that Castle's heart still fluttered. Scales swelled as the dragon breathed. “Heat! He needs warmth." Mtehm snatched his sunstone from his shadowspirit and called forth warm red light. It bathed them both, warming their flesh, but the dark and the wind sucked the heat away as fast as he built it.

Mtehm redoubled his efforts and tried shielding them with his robe but it was no use. Castle remained chilled to the bone. “No! Come on!" Desperation building Mtehm hugged Castle and rubbed him, pressing his hands into the short fur that grew on his back. Trying to work some semblance of warmth back into the dragon's body.

It didn't help. Mtehm lowered the dragon to his lap, his breathing had become irregular, heartbeat beat slowing to a stutter. “I'm sorry!" Mtehm cried, it was his fault, his mission to claim his sunstone would sap the life from Castle and there was nothing he could do.

Weakness ate at his own limbs, huddled in the dark on a tiny ledge far away from warmth and home Mtehm began to sob. Tears splashed down on his hand, they rolled off into Castle's fur and Mtehm brushed them away as they became frost. He stroked the fur, fur he had given to Castle in his game of Beastmaker. He remembered the card. Skin of the Gigas. Soft, short fur that grew hard when salivated on. Hard and cold proof.

Mtehm choked on his tears. Taking a breath he summoned a gob of spit onto his tongue and bent over Castle. He bent his head and licked the dragon from his tail spreading spit through the fur as far as it would go. Then he sucked at his cheeks and did it again, and again. Fur clumped together and Mtehm smoothed it down with his fingers. The wind stole the moisture but Castle's fur grew sticky and it grew hard. Mtehm continued to lick, he sucked on his cheeks so hard that his saliva ran with threads of red blood. Then he dug out his canteen from his pack, took a long drink and did it again, and again until at last Castle's entire back glistened with spit.

With no more moisture in his mouth Mtehm picked him up and held him inside his robe once more, also shoving in his sunstone, feeding power to it and letting it blaze with red light.

Kneeling barefoot on the ledge, curled forward over his dragon Mtehm prayed his light was strong enough. Castle's heart quickened, his breathing grew more regular. A few minutes and his body no longer felt quite so cold. Then the dragon began to shiver, to shake. Mtehm held him tight pressing his skin so close that his sunstone burned his flesh. He no longer prayed, but whispered to his dragon. His shadowguard came and crouch in front of his knees, a dark pool of shadow.

Pulling his arms and head inside his robe Mtehm tossed it over his head and looked down. Castle's green eyes were black in the red light of his sunstone but they were no longer glazed and dead. The dragon struggled, pushing with weak paws against Mtehm's arms he rolled onto his back to look up at Mtehm.

“Awk." he grunted.

“Thank the Light." Mtehm said as he rubbed the dragon's scaled belly, once more warming to the touch. At last Castle's shivering subsided but he seemed exhausted. Mtehm gave him a drink from the canteen. Mtehm rubbed Castle's head and then gave him his sunstone. “Hold this for me okay?" he told the dragon. It cost him as he allowed it to draw off his strength. A hearty warm red glow pulsed out to keep the dark and cold at bay.

Retrieving the sling this time Mtehm tied Castle to his chest. “Tell me if you don't feel well, and lick your fur if you're cold. I don't ever want you to go quiet on me again okay? Promise me."

“Awk." Castle replied his voice a thready whisper and snuggling against Mtehm.

Mtehm shucked his robe back on straight, tying the front over Castle so that only his head showed. With Castle holding his sunstone he spun his gloves back onto his hands. Ready to continue he rose and his shadowguard once more slid into the Troncal's long form, leaping up to the next ledge.

Light had strengthened it too and Mtehm was able to pull himself up without much strain despite the bulky dragon riding on his chest. They ascended faster now with Mtehm's shadowguard helping him climb, and before much longer he arrived at the edge of the Veil.

Being as dark as the rest of the world outside the tower he couldn't see the Veil, but two things told him that it hung just above him. All light stopped there. There was light. From his own sunstone and the few small ones spread up the tower but instead of illuminating a surface the light poured into the black and vanished.

Peering right at the edge he could not even see the stone of the tower extending into it. It too stopped. Nothing existed beyond this point. The Veil felt heavy, strange in a way that made Mtehm shudder. Reaching up one of his hands he plunged it in and the Veil consumed it. The light from the gauntlet he wore, the gauntlet itself and his hand up to the wrist vanished into the Veil as if they had never existed.

Mtehm gave a cry and yanked his hand back, half expecting it to be gone but his hand slipped from the dark as whole as it had ever been.

“Well its strange, but it won't hurt us. You two had better hold tight." Castle's claws dug into his chest and his shadowguard hunkered down on his shoulders. Mtehm reached up again and by touch found a handhold within the Veil. He paused to take a breath and then plunged up into it.

Darkness. He was in darkness so absolute that it felt as it were alive. He opened his mouth to breathe and his lungs worked at the black but he could draw no air from it. The darkness crushed down on him. It was cold too, colder even than the wind and dark in the world below. Fear for Castle sparked in his chest. He couldn't even feel the dragon, all his senses were dead. No sight. No sound. A buzzing sensation sensation, neither smell nor taste dominated. He had to get out of the Veil as fast as possible before his grip faded too.

Unable to see his hands he scrambled up by touch. Pulling himself higher and higher until at last he broke free.

Bright sunlight lanced his face. Mtehm howled in pain and threw up his arm to cover his eyes, he fell back but the barbs of his gauntleted hand hooked on the tower caught and held him fast. Mtehm screwed his eyes tight shut and when it was no longer quite so painful he opened them to the barest slit.

Through streaming tears he dragged the rest of himself from the Veil and perched above it on a ledge. The Veil spread out before his feet a dark mat so solid that he couldn't quite convince himself that it wasn't the ground. He pulled open his robe to look at Castle. The dragon had hidden his head beneath the cloth and he too was blinking in the harsh light. Scales felt chilled to Mtehm's touch, but not frozen. It seemed his spit covered fur had done its job. Mtehm thanked the light that he had halted before entering the Veil. If it hadn't been so cold below he'd have plunged through the Veil and Castle would have died without the extra protection his slicked fur afforded him.

“Awk." Castle said as the sun washed over them. It was warm and Mtehm felt his blood stir. Castle must have felt it too for he crawled out of the sling and up onto Mtehm's shoulder. Multicolored wings flashed in the light as the dragon stretched out to catch the sun's rays, far more solid than Mtehm had ever seen them.

His shadowguard was affected by the sun too. Its form, amorphous and ephemeral most of the time below in the castle was almost Veil dark as it too drank in the sun. The light from Mtehm's sunstone gripped in Castle's paw was completely lost in the light. An insignificant drop of water in an Aenirian ocean. “We made it." Mtehm said as he looked around at the world above.

Far out over the sea of black Veil another tower thrust up, the red one. Poking up from the Veil, a variegated spearhead. Mtehm thought there might be another to his left but it was too hazy with distance to make out. He'd never realized before how enormous the castle was. Like a tiny bug he was, clinging to one of its peaks.

The sun streamed down from overhead. If this were Aenir that would make it midday. Far longer than he'd expected to be climbing, well he wouldn't be making it back to school.

He looked up at his own tower and gasped with amazement. Bronze struts poked in every direction from the tower and between them hung woven nets filled with with the glitter of sunstones. Each net laid out in a spiral ascending the tower so they were all in direct sun. The nearest was only a few stretches above his head, Mtehm got to his feet, gripped a strut and pulled himself towards it. He edged out onto the bronze strut and peered down into the net. There were stones, thirty or forty of them, but they were all dark with only a lick of light at their centers.

Mtehm frowned a moment before he realized what they were. Sunseeds. Crystals, traded in Aenir that when exposed to enough light would grow into sunstones. Some were small fragments, some were large stones. Some held flaws or were cracked and some were whole and perfect. These were the nursery nets. When these seeds became sunstones someone would grade them and put them in other nets to sit out and absorb as much sunlight as they could. Perfect stones would sit the longest. Smaller fragments would explode if they were there for long and so they would be in the lower nets and harvested more often. If Mtehm wanted a powerful sunstone full of sunlight he would have to climb.

Picking his route he pulled himself up using the struts, following the nets around. It wasn't difficult, his shadowguard had grown much stronger under the sun, it could lift him almost single handed from one perch to the next in its Troncal form.

Leaving the nursery nets behind he passed nets with fragments like those in his bedroom ceiling, and he passed larger ones too. Nets with sunstones that looked like his own. He climbed and climbed until at last he came to a range of three nets spread fan like near the top of the tower. Each of these contained less than twenty sunstones, but each was a sunstone of Primary order, perfect in its own right. These would soon belong to shadowmasters, the highest rank within each of the seven orders.

Mtehm crouched down. Stretched out a hand, and took one.

A cushion of a gem it was a little heavier that his own sunstone. It might have been only a little bigger sized but to Mtehm's touch it thrummed with power magnitudes greater than his own. Like a bonfire next to a candle flame. He held up a hand and Castle passed him his sunstone. Mtehm smiled at it, it had served him so well ever since he had chosen it on his first day entering the Lectorium. Touching the two stones together his own stone pulsed with a flash which then jumped from it into his new stone. The new stone shone with a rainbow of light and his old one settled into a uniform white glow the same as the other sunstones around him. He placed it into the net. “Grow strong." he told it. He would let the sun recharge all that he had taken from it. These other stones were ready for harvest, his wouldn't explode before it got collected but it would leave some Chosen scratching their head in confusion come harvest time.

Mtehm looked at the other sunstones. They represented more wealth than he had ever seen in his life, but his goal was to get to Aenir, and he could do that now. The new sunstone was more than powerful enough to take him across. “Lets go." he told his companions and turned away.

Going back the way he'd come up he stopped when a shadow fell over him. The ledge he stood on was over shadowed by another, one with an odd kinked architecture. They were stairs! Mtehm laughed aloud he was looking at the underside of a set of wide stone steps. Of course there were stairs, the Chosen who tended the nets wouldn't climb all over the tower like he had. The stairs must lead back to the entrance to the tower. He would have to climb back through the Veil instead of through the doorway into the tower but he could follow the path back down.

“Come on." he said gesturing to his shadowguard, “Give me a hand." A moment later he swung himself onto the path. There was a large doorway in front of him.

Mtehm paused in confusion. The plan he had followed had shown the exit to the tower was below him now, only a little above the Veil. He was at the top of the tower there should be nothing up here according to his sketch.

It wasn't the way back inside, so what was it? His shadowguard, feeling his curiosity, flowed down his arm to the ground. It became a feline and its back fur bristled. Faint green light from inside washed its front paws. Mtehm drew back, were there Chosen in there? The light stayed uniform. Light, but no one was using it. It came from some static source . A thrill of fear that raced through him at the thought of discovery on the tower by other Chosen. No doubt they'd report him. That dispelled his curiosity. Now he had his sunstone nothing else mattered, he wouldn't risk getting caught for the sake of knowing what was inside the odd structure.

Mtehm thought about climbing down into the nets again, but apart from the light from the doorway there was no other signs of life. He turned from it, taking the stairway down. Coiling around the tower they went, sometimes switching back on themselves.

Far faster to go down before long Mtehm found himself stepping into a small courtyard. At the other end was a small door shut tight. The way back inside he tower. He'd found it!

A statue of black stone stood in the center of the courtyard. A winged man sitting cross legged, a sword at his hip, a helm with a symbol on it. A small circle surrounded by eight rays, the Chosen symbol for light.

Mtehm looked away. The courtyard was otherwise empty, all the way to the edge where Veil stretched away on either side. He'd have to climb around the tower a bit to be back where he emerged from the Veil. “Ready to go back through?" he asked Castle.

The dragon whined and ruffled his wings taking a glance up at the sun. Mtehm stroked his neck. “I know It's good to see the sun but home is down there. Food too. Besides, soon we'll be in Aenir where the sun shines all the time."

“Awk." Castle replied. Mtehm laid out the sling on the ground, letting the dragon off his shoulder. “First I want you to lick your fur." Under the heat of the sun the sleek fur had dried out and begun to crack, Mtehm ruffled it and a cloud of dust sprang up. He sniffed, Castle would need a bath when he got home. “Go on. I'm not doing it." his cheeks were raw on the inside from last time. Castle huffed but sat down on the stone and craned his neck around. He licked down his shoulders then spat into his own paws and rubbed it into his flanks. He twisted but couldn't quite reach the center of his back. Mtehm spat into his own hands and crouched to sleek down the fur.

As he did there was a scratching from behind him.

Mtehm jumped and spun to find his shadowguard, in small cat form, clawing at the ground. It had its jaws wide like it was hissing at the statue. Mtehm blinked, at both statues. One was in the center of the plaza where he had seen it, but it was white now instead of black. The second was a black statue, the white statue's twin stood on its feet.

Winged shadow the spectral black form stepped towards him, the sword that had been at its hip now raised across its chest. Mtehm gasped as he figured out what had happened, the shadow had been sitting on the statue covering it. Now it was heading towards him!

Mtehm looked around for the Chosen who was this shadowspirit's master. They'd found him! The shadowspirit of the winged man advanced on Mtehm. Castle squawked and jumped up, Mtehm's shadowguard swelled into a much larger feline, a Mheros that stood as tall as Mtehm's knee. Mtehm's gaze swept the courtyard, but he only saw his dragon, his shadowguard and the winged shadow. No Chosen appeared.

Then the shadowspirit spoke, his voice like the clashing of stones in an avalanche. “Seek not the treasures of the sun. I am the Keeper, and none may pass here, save those who know the Words."

Mtehm gulped. He had taken a treasure of the sun, his new sunstone weighed heavy within his robe. Neither did he have any words to give that he thought would appease the shadowspirit. Strangely no Chosen had appeared yet, and the shadowspirit had spoken to him. Shadowspirits rarely spoke to anyone save their masters, and only strong spirits at that. Wild spirits that had command of language were rare in Aenir.

The shadowspirit was upon him now. Towering above him brandishing the long blade. Mtehm could only think of of one explanation, this Shadowspirit Keeper was not bound to a Chosen. Which meant that it was like the wild spirits of Aenir. Unbound by Chosen laws. It could hurt him.

Mtehm threw himself to one side as the shadowspirit's heavy blade crashed down. Yelling out he rolled on the hard stone, bruising his shoulder but managed to spring to his feet and stagger back as the black swordsman swiped at him again with his blade. The wind of the blade passing a few inches from his chest ruffled the ties on his robe. Mtehm was off balance as the man reversed his swing and thrust toward Mtehm's chest. A bolt of ebony that would skewer for sure.

The blade came up short as with a wild cry Castle sprang at the shadowspirit. Bone claws snapped forward over his own and he raked them down the shadowspirit's leg. The shadowspirit howled with pain, drops of shadow flowing like blood from the wound. Castle was tiny compared to the winged man and the scratches, while painful, did not cripple the Keeper.

Glad his life had been saved Mtehm's heart leaped into his throat as the shadow hopped about on its good leg and tried to stomp Castle like a cave rat. Castle evaded him with flicking wings to sail past the man, but the shadowspirit pursued him. Castle turned to attack again and Mtehm cried out. “No!" as the swordsman planted himself and took careful aim with the sword. Mtehm tried fumbled out his sunstone, funneling his fear at watching Castle about to be killed he called a Red Beam of Destruction.

Color swirled up through his new stone, too slow and far too late. Mtehm hadn't had time to get used to the new power the stone held and he needed time to gather the energy.

His shadowguard wasn't slow or late. It sprang onto the Keeper's back, climbing him like a tree.

Distracted by the Shadowguard the Keeper missed his stroke and Castle darted in with his claws to rake him across the belly. Enraged and in pain the shadowman reached behind himself and grabbed Mtehm's shadowguard by the scruff. Castle attacked again but it was like an osprey attacking a whale, the swordsman hunched his shoulders and ignored him as he shook Mtehm's shadowguard in his fist.

Shifting to an asp his shadowguard curled to strike but the swordsman flung it hard against the ground. Had it not been a shadow the blow would have killed it. Instead it became amorphous, bouncing and rollin as it hit. Fetching up against the white statue it lay there stunned as winged black shadow lifted his sword to run it through.

With a shout Mtehm released his beam, in the few moments his companions had bought him he'd managed to tune the stone. Its full power was now at his disposal, and what immense power it was. The beam he released streaked across the courtyard crackling with energy and obliterated the swordsman's head.

Mtehm let out a whoop of victory as the shadowspirit toppled and rushed forward to check his shadowspirit. Castle landed on the dark form of the fallen swordsman and drove his claws deep into the swordsman's back. He wrenched them back out and and gave a roar of triumph too. Mtehm's shadowguard picked itself up and shook itself, before turning into its usual Farnek owl shape and fluttering in short staggers to Mtehm's shoulder. “Thank you." He told it and gave it a strong burst of light to steady the creature.

Mtehm pushed his heel against the dark form of the Keeper as Castle continued to trumpet his triumph from atop the body, which felt rather corporeal against his unshod foot but didn't move. “Dead. We're safe." he declared, “Lets get out of here before anyone comes investigating."

Castle came to him scampering over the flagstone stained black with shadow. Mtehm went to scoop him up, it wasn't his shadow or Castle's. Dark blood that Castle had cut from the body of the Keeper pooled into cracks between the stones. Gathering together and heading for swordsman's dark hulk. The blood rose over the torso and engulfed it. Shadow blood started reforming the Keeper's head as he watched.

Mtehm grabbed up Castle. Between the dragon's Heart and its Temper Castle would want to fight again once the swordsman began rise and Mtehm didn't think they could beat him a second time. “Run!" he said but halted himself. Summoning the binding magic that he had been practicing with Ria for his Combat Achievement he threw green chains across the swordsman's back. “Now run!"

He fled across the courtyard and leaped out over the Veil to grab a spar one handed. He swung, released, and landed two footed on another. He recovered his balance and glanced back. The swordsman was alive and struggling against his bindings. Shadowed in blood he lifted his head and his and Mtehm's gazes met.

The swordsman howled to see Mtehm escaping.

At the sound Castle's head snapped up. He erupted from Mtehm's arms and sprang off his shoulder. Mtehm twisted around with a cry of despair and snagged the dragon's tail. Somehow Castle had managed to lift his bow from the hiding place inside Mtehm's robe and had strung it. Despite Mtehm's grip on his tail throwing off his aim he dragged back on the string and sighted the bound spirit. A light arrow grew, nocked to the string and in a heartbeat Castle released it.

Mtehm never got to see if it struck true for as the arrow flashed towards him the swordsman gave up fighting his restraints and instead grabbed up his sword. With one smooth throw he sent it hurtling towards Mtehm

Balanced was on a spar, gripping a writhing dragon's tail. There was nowhere to dodge. Instead Mtehm did the only thing he could, he raised his sunstone and threw up the most powerful bit of shielding magic magic he knew. A convex violet circle shimmered into existence, brilliant under the sun, and a moment later the blade of shadow pierced it. The shield stopped the blade dead, but the force of the swordsman's throw continued. It washed over Mtehm, dispersed, but pummeling with a hundred heavy punches to every part of his body. He lost his grip on Castle's tail as the force blasted him from his perch on the spar and then everything went black.

He should be sore, bruised and winded, but the only discomfort he had was finding himself unable to draw a breath. Mtehm knew he was falling through the Veil, robbed of most of his senses. At least the sword hadn't skewered him through. Pain flared hot in his chest a moment later. Not dead but a cracked rib to show for working some decent light magic and stopping the blade, his new sunstone was powerful indeed.

It was a pity he wouldn't have the chance to test it out since he was going to die when he hit the ground.

Dropping out of the Veil he sucked in stuttering lungful of air past the grating of his chest. Unable to see anything while in the void Mtehm now couldn't see anything under it. After being so long in the sun he had no hope of seeing the tiny sunstones of the Castle glittering in the dark.

He felt his shadowguard grip his robe and he let out a gasp of pain as his headlong fall slowed, jarring the bone in his chest. Dark wings spread out either side, gliding him this way and that but it was no use. Back under the Veil the strength of his Shadowguard waned and wind buffeted them in ferocious ice laden gusts. Mtehm plummeted fast, he would be screaming in terror if it didn't hurt so much to breathe.

Something dropped out of the Veil above them. Small, it glowed in seven colors and streaked towards the ground like a meteor. It was Castle. The dragon hadn't stayed to take another shot at the Keeper and instead he'd dived into the Veil to come after Mtehm. Somehow his Temper had overcome his Heart.

Mtehm lifted his hand and his sunstone burst forth with a pulse of bright white light. It did nothing for himself, but Castle spotted it and changed his course to came barreling towards Mtehm as he fell. Closer and closer and Mtehm shouted his name into the darkness. “Awk!" replied Castle. He carried his bow in hand but slung it over his shoulder to free his paws as he flared his wings right above Mtehm's head.

Mtehm howled as the dragon gripped hold of his shoulders. Claws sinking deep into Mtehm's flesh. Mtehm's shadowguard pressed itself against Castle, lending its strength. For the first time they had touched, working together to turn Mtehm's fall into a swooping glide. Together they turned and twisted through the buffeting air, Castle's breath coming in short gasps as he struggled against the wind. Three pairs of shining wings and one pair of black shadow straining hard against icy air that pulled them down into darkness. Mtehm could see nothing but he trusted the instincts of his friends. They would find castle somewhere in the dark.

Sooner than he was prepared for the solid side of the castle looming out of the darkness.

Mtehm yelled and the wind stole the words as the three crashed down towards an overhang. Mtehm braced himself, they were coming in across the tower. Their glide would carry them over the ledge and beyond. Castle's claws tugged in Merlin's back as the dragon tried to correct but the wind fought back. Desperate Mtehm reached out and slammed both of his gloved hands flat against the wall.

Crystal shrieked as the barbs gripped and sparks erupted from the stone. Above him Castle shrieked too. Shards sprayed into Mtehm's face but at last his gloves bit.

Pain rocketed through Mtehm's chest as his arms wrenched around in their sockets. Their flight stalled. He swung by his wrists first one way and then back again as the gloves suffused with hellish reds. Their magic spent. “Hang on!" Mtehm cried out. The gloves vanished and Mtehm grabbed hold of Castle, dragging him down to hold against his chest as his swing threw him to the balcony below.

He landed on his back like a wet sack of grain. Head snapping back and would have bounced hard off the stone but for his shadowguard cushioning the blow with its own body.

Castle bounced off his chest.

Winded once more Mtehm stared upward. In a haze of agony came a familiar sight. There was a line of sunstones above him, the same line that marked the first ridge that he'd pulled himself up onto that morning. Somehow in the dark they had found the very same balcony Mtehm where had began his climb.

Coughing out a laugh and groaned, “Are you both okay?"

His chest hurt the most, that was a much sharper pain. Or his shoulder, almost as bad.

Steeling himself he hauled himself up a little using the balcony railing. Castle lay on his back beside Mtehm but he rolled over with a pained groan and flexed his limbs. His wings along one side were a little crumpled but he seemed unhurt otherwise. Slung over his back to come after Mtehm his bow had survived the fall intact despite getting crushed under the dragon's weight.

Mtehm's shadowguard scampered out from behind him in the shape of a little rodent, and with its nose pushed along Mtehm's sunstone. He didn't even remember doing so, but he must have dropped it to grab a hold of the tower. His shadowguard had saved it from tumbling into darkness. He picked them up, the jewel and his shadowguard. “Thank you." he put his shadowguard on his shoulder and gave it a little more light from his stone to strengthen it before tucking the stone deep into his robe.

With a gasp of pain he stood up and then gathered up Castle. “Thank you for coming back for me." he told the dragon. Somehow Castle's Temper had won out over his need to kill. Mtehm hugged him close. Castle's body had yet to cool from the effort of the fight and their flight. His fur had again protected him from the stark cold of the Veil, but only covered Castle's back and the dark and wind were beginning to leech warmth away. “Come on." Mtehm said throwing his robe around him. “Lets go home."

He didn't go home. Mtehm felt drained, his climb the whole morning but his descent had been so rapid that in fact it was an hour before the class he should have been in today let out. Something that he got a reminder of when he pulled open the door of the balcony to find himself in the middle of a busy cafe. Chosen sat enjoying an afternoon tea, packed together and exclaiming over each other. Their noise at least had obscured his landing. “Excuse me." He pushed between them, wriggling past the low crystal tables, hoping that no one would notice him. Given his no doubt disheveled appearance and missing shoes it would have sparked their interest if he'd needed to give light from his powerful new sunstone, but he made it out without anyone addressing him.

Unlike the cafe he couldn't hope to go unnoticed barging into his class while it was in session. With nowhere else to go he headed for the colorless levels. By using back stairs and by walking where usually only Underfolk walked he avoided other Chosen. On a deserted floor he ducked into a public bathroom.

Inside Mtehm winced on beholding himself in the mirrored crystal above the basins. His face was pocked with little injuries from the stone he'd managed to shave from the side of the tower during his landing. “If only that was the worst of it." he told his reflection. These little scrapes would heal on their own, the rest of his wounds bore greater inspection.

“Ah, light that hurts."

Opening his robe he let Castle leap onto the bench and then started to take it off. Pain flaring in his back made him stop. He had deep puncture wounds where Castle's claws had dug into his back. The cold of the void outside had frozen his leaking blood and with it his robe to his back.

Mtehm turned around and dropped the collar, gasping an feeling his stomach turn at the sight of the eight neat holes in his robe that showed in the mirror. Damage done where Castle had grabbed hold mid fall.

The dragon cast off his bow and stretched up and sniffed at them, “Awk?"

“I'm okay." Mtehm replied, the wounds were bone deep to his shoulder, but at least there was nothing vital to puncture there. Frozen blood tracked black slashes down his green robe to the small of his back, “Turn on the hot tap." Castle nosed it on and Mtehm, with some difficulty used the water to unfasten the fabric from his skin. Blood began to flow again as he shucked his robe, his shadowguard, still a rodent, avoided it by jumping to land next to Castle.

The shirt beneath the cloak was far worse, the back soaked completely red and thawing out from the heat of his skin. Dragging it over his head Mtehm tossed it into a basin. Blood welled out of the punctures to drip down his bare skin.

“I don't know any healing magic for this." Mtehm said. Healing arts had always managed to slip by him in class. A shame since his new sunstone would have the power to be of great help even using the simplest spells.

Casting about he grabbed both the towels that hung either end of the basins. “Press these over them and don't let up until the bleeding stops." Mtehm wadded up the linen and gave it to Castle before he sank to his knees. Castle pressed the fabric against Mtehm, whimpering with concern. Mtehm gasped at his touch but twisted his head around and shot the dragon a smile. “Great, but harder please." The dragon had to put all his weight on Mtehm to maintain the pressure.

While Castle staunched the blood from his back Mtehm looked down at his chest. A wide stripe of purple bruising was forming. The cracked rib lay beneath. Mtehm grimaced, he knew no healing magic for that either. Fumbling his sunstone from his fallen robe he pressed it to his skin and called forth light and heat. With no magic to heal him all he could do for himself was soothe the pain.

Finding a healer was out of the question that would raise questions he couldn't answer. Hurts to his body would have to heal on their own.

Castle leaned over his shoulder and squawked in his ear.

“Think I've stopped bleeding out?" he reached over his shoulder and pulled one towel away a little. It was well soaked where Castle had been holding it but at least it wasn't all red. He had stopped bleeding.

Puncture marks were now deep black pits surrounded by raised angry flesh. They felt taut, and cracked as he rolled his shoulders. At least his magic meant that he could not feel them beyond a dull ache. “Not bad, and far better than being splattered at the base of the castle." He looked at his bloody shirt in the sink and then bent down with a sigh and retrieved his robe, swinging it over his bare shoulders. Shivering as the wet blood touched his back. Castle's bow he returned back in it's holster within the folds, it bumped against his hip.

On the bench Castle sniffed at his paws, bloody from holding the towels. Mtehm tossed the linen into the sink with his shirt and then moved to another, “Come here and let me get that off you." he said turning on the tap and allowing the sink to fill with hot water. He washed Castle's paws turning them over and rubbing every last speck from the dragon's scales. Taking the plug out of the basin when the water turned pink.

Castle sighed as warm steam rose up and enveloped them. When the water ran clear Mtehm nudged Castle into the basin, the dragon got in his claws scratching and sliding on the crystal and sat facing Mtehm. Forepaws on the edge of the bench, his tail curled around his feet in the rounded bottom of the sink. Leaning over him Mtehm splashed water from the faucet into his fur. Working his fingers through it he loosed it, stroking it out once more into soft strands. Castle sighed, murmured and lent against him, closing his eyes. Mtehm smiled, the dragon was tired out and falling asleep in the hot water. Mtehm had to stifle a yawn himself. He turned off the tap .Water rolled off his silver dragon's scales, dripping off his belly and running down his legs before draining away.

Mtehm didn't want to carry a wet dragon under his robe, but he had bloodied both towels. He shrugged and picked up his sunstone, calling forth warm red light to dry Castle off. “Awk." Enjoying the warmth and blinking away sleep Castle climbed into his robe, his scales smooth against Mtehm's bare skin.

Mtehm picked up his shadowguard and tucked it into his pocket after giving it one more burst of light to strengthen it.

Worn out too it didn't react to the light staying little more than a blob. Before he left Mtehm used a little more light magic to fade the cuts on his face. He couldn't erase them but once he finished no casual passerby would remark them. “If only I could do something about my shoes." he lamented. It was a long walk back to his home on green five.

Looking behind himself as he left Mtehm winced, blood and water spattered everywhere. On the basins, the mirror, and the floor. His shirt and the linens were drowned pink in the sink. Some poor Underfolk would be furious when they came by to clean the place.

Mtehm made a detour through the colorless levels to the abandoned classroom. It was closer than home and these halls held far less Chosen than the main stairways. Closing the door he slipped inside and brightened the dark room a little.

Putting his back against some covered apparatus he sank down to sit on the floor, crossed his legs and moved Castle from underneath his robe to his lap. The dragon was almost asleep, eyes closed to emerald slits. Mtehm stroked his curled back, “We'll wait here until school is out. Then we can go home. It'll be safer if we go back later." he reasoned. Beneath his touch the dragon's breathing lengthened until he slipped into sleep.

Mtehm lent back against the strange machine and pulled his new sunstone out. A perfect gem it crackled against his senses with a mere thought, he had done it. He had won his sunstone. Aenir waited for him, a spell away. Mtehm closed his eyes, bathed in the glow of his sunstone he could almost believe he was there already.

---

“Mtehm? Mtehm! Hey Mtehm!" someone was shaking him and calling his name. Mtehm cracked open his eyes. For a moment confusion reigned before realization washed over him. Curling up on the floor he had fallen asleep! Starting upright to find Lanelle crouched in front of him. It was the violet girl who had woken him. “Lanelle? What are you doing here?" Mtehm groped for his sunstone. A Chosen Lanelle would know on sight that he shouldn't have it, but he found the hard lump of the gem tucked away within his sleeve.

Castle sprawled on the floor next to him, the dragon's head pillowed on Mtehm's thigh.

Looking for you silly." Lanelle replied, “I managed to get away from my tutor. She had me in lessons all day even though there's no school this week. But what by the Light happened to you? There's blood all over your robe and you have cuts and bruises all over your face. Did you get in a fight with somebody?"

Mtehm trying to collect his scattered thoughts nodded the movement paining his cramped neck.

There had been a fight.

Body stiff from sitting on the cold floor he groaned as he pulled himself upright. “Well that's another story you owe me." Lanelle declared. On Mtehm's lap Castle twisted over onto his back an opened his eyes. Spotting Lanelle he let out a happy chirrup and rolled off Mtehm. He romped over to her and she scooped him up. “Hiya Castle. Miss me? You look so cute while you're asleep." she rubbed his head and he purred with a deep dragon rumble as she held him.

“You were watching us sleep?" Mtehm asked. Lanelle shrugged, “You were sound asleep when I came in. I wasn't going to disturb you but then I saw all your injuries. Wanted to make sure that you were okay."

“I'm fine." Mtehm replied.

Lanelle stroked Castle, “But he's not. Look, his wings are all crumpled. He wasn't part of your fight was he?"

“No that uh, happened in a fall." Mtehm improvised.

“Aww, poor dear." Lanelle said she pulled out her sunstone and called forth violet light. She stroked Castle's wings one at a time and beneath her touch they straightened into their usual shape. “There all better." Castle fluttered his repaired wings and gave her a soft cry of appreciation.

“You know healing magic?" Mtehm stated

Lanelle let Castle down and scratched him behind his ears. “Little bits. I'm not trying to be a healer. You must know more than I do, what with you having your Day of Ascension soon."

Mtehm shook his head, “Afraid not, I learned the stuff they taught us in school but I could never seem to get any healing magic to work well for me. Funny. My mother was a healer, but she passed none of her talent to me."

Castle flopped onto his back, whimpering and begging Lanelle to scratch his belly. Almost he asked Lanelle to look at his own wounds, but she was a violet, and he'd have to remove his robe too and he wasn't wearing a shirt. Bashful, he remained silent.

“Every time I see you Mtehm you've lived some adventure." Lanelle said obliging the dragon. “Not me, nothing happens to me. I get schooled, tutored. I sleep and I eat. It's so monotonous. I kept Castle a secret. Even from Eva and Nora and the twins. They're children of my mother's friends. We all get forced together when they get together. All they talk about is their hair, or new sunstone jewelery they've got, or other people as boring as they are. Yesterday over tea and with them going on about what they'd done in light painting I so wanted to blurt that I'd met a real dragon. I didn't. Though I almost burst. So you have to tell me, like you promised last time, all about him." She picked Castle up and gave him a hug before looking at Mtehm expecting the story he owed her.

“Well it started with a game of Beastmaker."

Lanelle clapped her hands, “Oh I like that game! Sometimes daddy and a friend of his play it in the study. I'm not supposed to watch, he says it's violent, but I curl up with a book before they come in and watch and then no one tells me to leave."

Being in the Violet order it wasn't a surprise that her father had access to a Beatmaker board. “Good, then I don't have to explain it. This game was a little different from the ones you've seen played."

He launched into his explanation. Korres' pieced together board. Their plays. He skipped over the fight and the reason why he had played in the first place. He pulled out Castle's bow and showed it to her and the dragon showed her how it worked.

Without releasing the arrow that appeared.

She gasped as he described the Castle's escape and the board exploding. He even added in how he'd found out later that Korres' Beast had tried to kill him. Lanelle's hand stalled on Castle's back at that, he blinked up at her had let out a mew. She smiled and resumed. “Hard to believe that one could be so vicious and the other as sweet as him."

“Don't do anything he doesn't like." Mtehm said with a grin, “That first night I had Castle he was a little scary at times while we were getting to know each other."

“He liked me well enough when I first saw him." Lanelle said, “He was sitting on the floor looking at me when I came in. Now I understand that he'd heard me thought that I was you. A dragon in a dusty old room? Big surprise. Grabbed for my sunstone but only my lunch was in my pocket, a sandwich. I threw it at him." Mtehm let out a short bark of laughter at that. Wiry Lanelle fending off his dragon with a sandwich. "Missed of course and found I couldn't run. Thought he'd chase me if I did. Instead he went for the food, didn't want the bread but the meat inside. As I watched him eat I began to think how great it would be if he were mine I and got less scared. We played and I was about to take him with me when you came in."

“I'm glad. He might have hurt you if he thought you were a threat."

“Naw. He wouldn't have." Lanelle argued, “I could tell."

Mtehm thought that that may be wishful thinking. Castle might have torn her apart with his claws had she startled him. It didn't bear thinking about. “You tell a good story." Lanelle said, yawned and pulled out her sunstone, “If a little long winded. You'll have to tell me how you got so beaten up next time, it's starting to get late." She passed Castle back to him and stood. Her shadowguard which had been inhabiting her shadow got left behind for a moment before it realized they were moving and and shuffled back within.

Mtehm fingered his sunstone within his robe, he wouldn't be telling her about that. He'd broken the laws of the Chosen to get it. If he needed to he'd could to invent a story to tell the next time he saw her but if he was lucky he could avoid her tomorrow. Then he'd be gone to Aenir and wouldn't have to worry about it.

“Sure." he replied as she rose and dusted herself off. “Next time."

---

Knowing he would be unable to skip a second day of class without someone asking questions he headed for the Lectorium in the morning. Despite having to leave Castle alone.

The new teacher delivered him the talking to he'd expected for missing a day which he took with head bowed. She went on about how it was ever more critical that he attend class with his Day of Ascension coming. Mtehm couldn't help but grit his teeth, his light magic was far stronger than any of his classmates with his new sunstone. Even stronger than his teacher's, the dowdy Orange. Forcing the smirk from his face before looking up to receive his deluminent. It jangled against the other one on his arm. At least this one would be easy to get rid of.

Mtehm drew on his sunstone during class but never produced it, instead he fed the barest thread of its power through a fragment he'd taken from home. Keeping the stone hidden away.

When class finished he left immediately and collected Castle from his hiding place. If Lanelle was coming she'd meet with disappointment on finding an empty room. It felt a bit of a betrayal, he did want to see her again but for some reason he couldn't face her now. Too many secrets swirled about him. The sunstone. Aenir. Attempting to bind a shadowspirit before he came of age, if only by a few weeks. Lanelle was fast becoming someone he could talk to and such ideas were dangerous to burden her with.

After a detour to the lower yellow levels where he found a bored guard willing to remove the deluminent he went home and up to his room. Put Castle on his bed and stood before the dragon his sunstone raised. “Okay hold very still." It was the first chance he had to try out the magic that Moraine had pressed into his old sunstone, transferred across when he claimed his new one. He accessed the instructions she'd left now.

Reading the light Mtehm took a deep breath to fortify himself. Aware it was complicated magic to be trying with an untested sunstone. Building the shell was a lot like building the weight he had used to destroy the chain in class. A layering of light to form structure, except this time it would be hollow.

Once begun however Mtehm found that compared to building the weight this task was almost easy. The sheer power of his new sunstone burst forth at his slightest thought. Before it had taxed him to stabilize a single layer. Now on finding the red forming at his command he slapped on orange and yellow layers too without breaking a sweat.

“Awk?" Castle was looking nervous as multicolored walls rose around him.

“Don't worry." Mtehm assured him as he began to spin green and blue. “This spell is going to keep you safe while we cross to Aenir tomorrow." His heart leaped at the thought and for a moment the shell wavered. Mtehm cursed and turned his focus back to it. Powerful his sunstone may be but it also meant that he had to exert tight control over it.

As the highest wall crept up past his neck Castle squawked his voice carrying with high fear. Panicked he tried to climb out. Mtehm paused the magic as Castle got his forepaws on the rim of the shell. Mtehm knelt in front of the bed and put a hand on Castle's shoulder halting him. He looked into the dragon's eyes. “Castle. Hey. I promise this isn't going to hurt you. It might seem strange but it'll keep you safe. Trust me okay?"

“Aw-wk." Castle replied. He seemed unsure but allowed Mtehm to loosen his grip on the side of the cage and lower him back down into it. “I'll be right here, on the other side. I'll only close it for a moment I promise. So be brave." Castle stared up at him as he stood. “I promise." Mtehm repeated and then lifted his sunstone. He let the power wash through him and closed the red shell over the dragon's head, Castle giving a last low cry as it sealed. He worked fast to close the orange and yellow. Followed by the green and blue. He did the indigo by itself, only right at the end as that layer of the shell met did the magic begin to strain him. He took several deep breaths and called violet. This was more difficult but Mtehm fought with gritted teeth and soon it too closed and became stable. Mtehm's breath whooshed from his lungs as his magic faded back becoming soft white tendrils that transferred energy to his creation.

Before him on his bed sat a violet egg, almost round but a little tapered towards the top.

“Perfect." Mtehm sighed with a grin, he reached forward and tapped it with a nail. Of light it was made but it seemed as hard as crystal. The mesh of light did not give way at all beneath his touch.

“Castle? Can you hear me, are you okay in there?" Mtehm listened but there was no response. Mtehm frowned. The shell even with seven layers forming it was thinner than he'd expected, but it seemed that it was soundproof. Solid and impenetrable to anything including he hoped the magic of passing between the world of Aneir and his own. Magictight, soundtight, watertight, airtight.

“Oh no!" Mtehm exclaimed calling on dispelling magic from his sunstone. There was no need for it. As soon as his attention faltered the strands of energy winked out and the egg cracked apart, disappearing in motes of light that winked away. Castle once more sat on his bed.

Shaking out his wings he panted in air for several breath. “Sorry." Mtehm said, “I should have realized that a spell for bringing artifacts across wouldn't make considerations for live dragons. It must have been terribly stuffy in there."

“Awk!" Castle replied admonishing him, but at least it seemed the egg had held enough air that he hadn't come to harm and he'd recovered fast.

“Ready to try again?"

For the next while Mtehm tinkered with the spell, casting it over and over. No matter what he tried he couldn't make the shell air permeable. It had to be a closed system or else the spell fell apart but he found he could make it larger, to trap more air in with Castle. Casting the spell to take them across to Aenir would only take a few minutes, the workaround wasn't ideal but it would allow them to cross safely.

On the next try, once Mtehm had the shell up, he tried casting the spell that would allow them to cross to Aenir. At first as soon as he began the second spell he lost his focus on the first and the shell vanished. Stumped he tried again.

It was like patting his head and rubbing his belly at the same time but recalling what Moraine had said about magic he preservered and with practice began to master it. Keeping his mind balanced between the two spells he was able to complete the casting.

After several times of managing to get to the last sequence in the travel spell, while holding the shell together, he declared himself ready. He ended his practice there since another second of light play would see him crossing to Aenir and he hardly wanted to do that in his bedroom.

They took a break, Mtehm raiding the kitchen for food for them both.

There was cause to be glad that he'd checked a mirror on his way down and dulled the pits in his face for Ria sat at the common table using a crystal pad.. They'd faded but magic was required to render them invisible. Orion was busy cooking dinner and raised an eyebrow as Mtehm entered. “Interesting light magic you seem to be doing judging by what was seeping under your door as I passed earlier."

“You're practicing light magic without me?" Ria said looking up.

“Something for school." Mtehm replied and switched the subject. “Is that food I can smell?"

Orion nodded, “I got some fowl in the market this morning. Thought I'd bake a pie for dinner."

“Any offcuts?" Mtehm glanced at his brother but he had gone back to his tablet. “I," he mouthed 'We', “are hungry"

Orion gestured with a knife. “In the fridge. Take the plate." Mtehm nodded his thanks and opened the door, the status spell that kept the food fresh disengaging with a crackle.

“Help me with my Achievement training after dinner?"

Mtehm slipped the plate behind his back before Ria could see, it was more than a snack for himself. “Sorry, can't. I'm tied up with this schoolwork." He went to leave but stopped himself and added, “Actually I won't be able to spar with you for the rest of the Achievements. I'm going to stay over at a friend's place for a while. Might not see either of you until the Day of Ascension."

“You're going to skip my victory in Combat?" Ria protested dropping the tablet to the table, put out by the idea.

Mtehm shrugged, “Afraid so. I wish I could be there. It's not every day you get to see your brother get beaten to a pulp."

Ria flashed his sunstone with a rude pattern at Mtehm “I bet it's that weirdo Korres you hang out with."

Mtehm poked out his tongue in response, “He's not weird, he's a brilliant light inventor." Mtehm argued, but he realized that Ria had actually handed him the perfect excuse. Korres was still missing but no one else knew that “And yeah, I'm going to hang with him." He gave Orion a smile, “Don't worry about me, I'll keep in touch. If I'm not back for the Day of Ascension cross over without me, Korres can bring me across with him."

Mtehm congratulated himself on his ruse as he climbed the stairs back to his room. He could send light messages from Aenir. No one would even suspect he was gone.

While Castle ate Mtehm packed for Aenir. There wasn't much to bring, spare underclothes and his canteen went in. Food for the trip he would get the next morning from the castle marketplace using chips of sunstone he had saved up. That would add to the weight of his pack. On a normal crossing he wouldn't need to bring anything across with him except for his robes and a crystal tablet for schoolwork. Other Chosen would ship supplies across for the camp during the Ascension and they would trade with the Aenirian races for whatever else the Chosen needed while they were there.

For two weeks until that happened Mtehm would be on his own. Free to roam Aenir in search of his shadowspirit. So at the market he bought food that would last him.

At last he was ready. Before noon Mtehm headed for Korres' quarters. Abandoned it was the perfect place for him to cross over. Aenir was a world of spirits so he'd be leaving his body behind when he did and he didn't want it to leave it where someone could find it.

Any Chosen would know on sight that he was in Aenir. They could use the connection he retained with his body come after him.

Mtehm came to the lowest green level and twisted his way through the corridors to Korres' quarters. A quick glance either way to make sure he was alone and he lifted his sunstone to the door. Korres had a long time ago given him the sequence to unlock his door, but as Mtehm flashed it there was no sound of the latch opening.

“What?" Mtehm said aloud, he was sure he had gotten the sequence right. Lifting his hand to try again he spotted the reason he'd failed.

A soft purple sigil had begun to glow on the door. Immediately Mtehm recognized it, it was the sign of the Officers of Light! They had been back and they had alarmed the door against anyone who tried to enter. A thrill of fear raced through Mtehm, he'd thought that he'd left them behind. Now it seemed while he had slipped through their fingers they hadn't forgotten about him. The sigil's presence meant they'd decided that Korres had done something bad indeed.

With the alarm already tripped there was nothing Mtehm could do but leave as fast possible before anyone showed up. He took off at a run.

Castle poked his head out as Mtehm pounded along to the nearest stairwell and threw himself up it. “Awk?" he said concerned.

“Sorry for the rough ride." Mtehm replied as he climbed. His heart thumped in his chest, and as he burst out onto another floor he froze. A Chosen, a man in a blue robe came towards him. Mtehm shoved Castle down and held his breath, denying himself a gasp of air after his mad charge. Mtehm strolled up the corridor with his heart pounding in his ears, giving respectful light as he passed. The man gave him a glance and returned light but didn't stop and walked on past.

Around the next bend he leaned, dizzy and sick to his stomach, against the wall. Chest heaving until the black spots that swarmed the edges of his vision went away. “Were safe. for now." Mtehm got out between biting breaths and grimaced. He'd lost his sanctuary, he'd have to find a new one if he wanted to cross to Aenir. There were several places he knew of in the Undercastle that might serve, but he didn't know for certain that they weren't ever used. The only other place he could think of was the abandoned classroom and Lanelle knew of that.

A daring plan came to him. He pushed himself from the wall and headed for the colorless corridors.

Mtehm let Castle out into the floor of the abandoned classroom, the dragon looked around and the squawked at Mtehm, “No, I'm not leaving you here today." Mtehm told him as he shucked his pack onto the floor. “We're going to cross to Aenir. right now." Holding his stone over his pack he called forth light. It fingered out. Flooding over his pack in a white sheet, obscuring it.

“Don't get too close," Mtehm warned as Castle walked up to the edge of the circle of light cocking his head at it. “You're going to go across with me Castle." With a sound like a breath of wind the light dissipated and Mtehm's pack had vanished too. Sent to Aenir ahead of himself. “Now us. Come Castle." He lifted a dust sheet that covered a table laden with small devices and ducked beneath it, he held it up while Castle slipped in after him and then let the sheet fall.

The space beneath the table was large enough for them both. Mtehm sat down and drew his knees up to his chest before he could bump his head on the table and looked around. “This is a stupid idea."he said.

The dust cloth was all that hid him from view. Mtehm had found better hiding places when he was younger playing Hide and Seek with his brother. While they were in Aenir their bodies would be in status, not breathing, unmoving. Fed only through the link back. All he was banking on was that whenever Lanelle came by she would see an empty room and leave again. Or if she did find him that she might not tell. It was a lot of faith to put in a girl he had met only a few times. “So, so stupid." He gave Castle a devil-may-care grin, “But here goes. Ready Castle? We're going to Aenir!"

“Awk!" Castle said and Mtehm began to spin threads of light. They spilled in thick ribbons from his sunstone.

Practice was paying off, he had gotten much better at creating the shell to transport Castle. “See you on the other side." He told the dragon before closing the shell's first red layer. In moments he completed it, allowing the tendrils to continue to lick the shell and draw power from himself.

“Now to send us across." He said satisfied, his shadowguard scuttled out of his robe pocket and came to sit on his lap. Mtehm smiled at it, “You want to go home."

Mtehm was old enough now to bind a spiritshadow. Children's shadowguards stayed behind when they crossed, to guard their master's body. For this first and last time it would be different. The contract the shadowguard was under had expired. It would go across with him and when they arrived it would be gone, going back to live in the wilds of Aenir. “Goodbye old friend." Mtehm told it, lifted his sunstone to call forth light and began to speak the Way. The words of the Way were only a focus to make the magic easier. Tradition rather than necessity, but the Lectorium taught the Prayer of Asteyr to Chosen early.

Waves of light washed over Mtehm and through the cocoon's color he began to see another world.

It started slow, like someone had turned the page in a book for a moment before flicking back. Then it came again, faster and faster. Only Castle's shell remained constant, he'd expanded the Way to encompass it too where usually it would only covered his body.

Everything outside blurred. Jerking between visions of Aenir and the dust cover that lifted as Lanelle's head popped in underneath

“Mtehm?" Her voice reached his ears in a strange staccato, “By the light what's going on? What are you doing." he saw her reach towards him, her hand breaking through his cocoon.

“No! Stay back!" he yelled and in that moment his concentration broke. The Way was in motion, it ran on heedless but the shell of Castle's egg cracked. Red light arced across it from the crack and it began to break. “No!" Mtehm howled and in the moment before he crossed he drew all the power he could from his sunstone wrapping it around the egg to keep it together. Magic exploded from him, the Way expanded and swallowed up Lanelle. The egg fused with all seven colors, while tendrils became beams of wild energy that blazed and blinded. Music played somewhere, pinging like a harp's tune, and then Mtehm was across.

Night time in Aenir.

Mtehm got a brief glimpse of a wide spreading field and then his sunstone winked out. Blinded by the sudden cessation of light Mtehm could only fumble around, feeling damp grass under his bare hands.

Somewhere in the dark a dragon began to scream.

“What? What's going on?" Over Castle's howls Mtehm recognized Lanelle's voice in the dark.

He groped towards her finding her robe, her leg. “Castle's hurt. I need light. Quick, give me your sunstone."

“Here, here." a pale glow emerged in the dark and Lanelle grabbed his wrist and pressed her sunstone into his palm. Mtehm took it and pulled back from her before he slammed it into his own sunstone. Both Mtehm and Lanelle yelped with pain as Mtehm's sunstone burst back into fiery life. Light turning his hands incandescent and raging back against the dark of the night.

Mtehm shoved Lanelle's sunstone back at her and spun around holding the white flame that was his own crystal. He spotted Castle immediately, the dragon had crumpled on the grass not far from his pack. Mtehm staggered towards him, dropping to his knees. He gasped and felt faint at the sight. Castle's entire shoulder was laid open, a thick ragged wound stretching from the center of his chest and curling up over his back like someone had tried to cleave the dragon in half. Blood flooded from the wound, wetting the grass beneath the little dragon as he bled out despite trying to hold his wound shut with his paws. As Mtehm dropped to his knees beside him Castle twisted his head to look up at him, his emerald eyes glazed with pain. He stopped shrieking, quieting to a whimper instead.

Mtehm pressed his sunstone against Castle and called forth a spell. Light pooled into the wound, it swirled, spread and faded. Mtehm cursed and tried another spell and another. He called forth every bit of healing magic he knew and threw it on Castle one after another. Nothing helped, all light fled before him. Desperate he turned toward Lanelle. “Lanelle. Help. Help him please. I can't do healing magic."

She was sitting in the grass her eyes wide. She looked small in the dark, all her usual energy seemed to have deserted her. Careful not to make the wound worse Mtehm picked up Castle, feeling the dragon's blood soak his sleeves he staggered over to her. Dropping to his knees before her he held Castle out. The dragon shaking in his arms. “He's bleeding out. Help him." Mtehm urged her.

Castle let out a plaintive wail and Lanelle glanced down at Castle, she swallowed, “I, I don't know if I can. I don't have the power. I'm not strong enough."

“Try. You have to try!" Mtehm insisted and he shoved his sunstone into her hand, “Use this, it's much more powerful than yours." She shivered as the power within Mtehm's stone washed over her. Fortifying her.

“Okay." she said, fear stammering through her words, “I'll try. It's so deep though. He's hurt bad Mtehm. Even with this I can't heal him."

“Do your best." Mtehm told her, he winced at how rough it sounded. Fear for Castle was closing his throat too as he held the dragon out to her again. Lanelle closed her eyes and held her had over his body. She chanted under her breath and a soft blue glow began to suffuse from the stone. The light traveled up her arm and formed an arch of light like a half halo behind her. It ran down her other arm to coalesce into a hanging sphere of light within her open palm, hovering over Castle.

Light, Green and Blue rained down onto blood dark silver scale. Castle shrieked once as the light touched him and then slackened, passing out in Mtehm's arms.

Mtehm almost snatched him away, but under the light the flow of blood from the gash was slowing, stemming. “It's working! Keep going." Mtehm encouraged her. At last no fresh blood welled from the wound. “Close it. Go on."

Lanelle though dropped her hand, the light dying in her sunstone. “I can't Mtehm." she told him, “I don't have the skill. There's muscles severed, tendons cut. If I close it I'd only hurt him worse. He needs a real healer. I'll go find one." she sounded ragged. The healing had cost her even with the power of his stone. She groaned her way to her feet and looked around. “Where are we?"

“Aenir." Mtehm replied.

She gaped at him, “That's not possible." she looked down at her hand which gripped his sunstone and the grass its light revealed. There was no grass in their world. “Your sunstone. You took us across."

“Me and Castle. You broke into our spell." Mtehm tried to remind her, but she pressed her hands to her chest in horror and staggered away from him.

“It's before the Day of Ascension. We can't be here. You broke the rules!" her voice grew in pitch as she accused him, she thrust his sunstone at him. “Take me back. We have to go back right now."

Mtehm shook his head. “I cant."

“Well I'm taking us back then." She held up his sunstone and began to chant the Way. Light flowed out. Mtehm stepped forward and plucked his stone from her grasp and the light dissipated. “You can't take us back. I had to use magic to get Castle here without killing him. Because you broke into our Way I lost hold of that spell and that's how he got hurt."

Lanelle blinked at him, “That egg? That thing held Castle? I thought I had imagined it." She glanced down at Castle lying limp in Mtehm's arms and her eyes filled with tears. “Hurt, because of me?" she reached forward and lifted Castle's head from Mtehm's arms, stroking his brow. Tears splashed onto her fingers. “I'm sorry. I had a study break. I came down to play with him for a bit. I saw the light and I investigated. I thought one of those odd machines had come to life. I didn't mean to hurt him. Please, we have to save him."

“I dare not risk the crossing again." Mtehm replied, Castle had gotten hurt because of him. He had lost focus. Had cracked the egg. He knew it was extraordinary luck to have been able to hold it together as long he had, the light would have torn apart Castle otherwise.

“I'll go back then. I'll find a healer and bring them over here." Lanelle offered.

Mtehm glanced at Castle, even unconscious the dragon breathed hard in his arms. They would come. They would punish him, dim him down to Underfolk, and they would take Castle away. Yet. Castle would live.

Mtehm nodded and tossed Lanelle his sunstone and she began to chant the Way. Light spun a cocoon around her until she floated in twisting white that obscured everything but a vague shadow of her form. Mtehm could not see through to her as she stood there light washing the grass around in waves. “Nothing's happening. I'm not crossing over." Her voice echoed out from within the cocoon. She collapsed the spell and the light faded out. “What did I do wrong?" Mtehm frowned, nothing as far as he had seen. “Let me see my sunstone." She gave it to him and he held it up. Wan light glowed from its heart. “I've used too much power in fighting us across in the first crossing." he told her. “Add in the healing and we've drained the sunstone. It's no stronger than your own right now." “We can't get back?" Lanelle cried. Mtehm shook his head, “At the moment? No. It's temporary. It'll have regain enough strength in a few hours." Lanelle glanced at Castle, “He doesn't have a few hours."

“He's not loosing any more blood though."

“He's hurt Mtehm." She touched his arm and then stroked Castle's scaled flank. “I could feel it when I tried helping him. There's all sorts of things cut up inside him and I could only stop blood flowing out. I can't help, he needs someone with real healing skills and we're an entire world away from any Chosen."

An idea sparked within Mtehm. “There are the inhabitants of Aenir." he said.

“Aenirian's don't have light magic. They can't help."

“Yes they can." Mtehm argued, “They might not have light magic but they live without it. They have healers that practice medicine. Physical medicine. We'll take Castle to them. You said he'd be dead before we can cross back. It's our only shot."

Lanelle looked unconvinced but Mtehm bent and shouldered his pack. “I'll head for a city. They'll have healers there that can help."

Lanelle gestured out at the darkness that surrounded them. “Aenir walks. Everyone knows that. Except for right here in the Vale of the Chosen its lands change around all the time. You have no idea where to find a city. If you step out of the encampment you'll get lost." Above their heads came the faint sound of wing beats. A Farnek owl dropped out of the darkness above his head, swooped past him with a drawn out hoot and vanished into the darkness before either of them could react.

Mtehm grinned and pointed after it. “Not if we have a guide. Follow that owl." He told her and took of after it.

The pack and Castle slowed him down so it wasn't long before Lanelle caught him up. “Why by Light are we following an owl?" she said between breaths as she hurried along beside him.

“It's my shadowguard." Mtehm explained as he ran. Another hoot sounded in the dark ahead, but off to his left and Mtehm changed course for it. “It came over with me since I'm now old enough to bind a spiritshadow. It should have left, but I guess it hung around and now it wants to help Castle."

“Shadowguards don't have a fixed shape. What makes you think this is it? And what makes you think it's leading us to help? There's only a sliver of the moon to see by, we could walk right off the edge of a cliff in this dark and never know it."

“It liked the shape of the Farnek owl when it was a shadow and., well, I know!" He could tell the moment they climbed up out of the Vale of the Chosen. Grass gave way to foliage that pushed in on either side, dark branches encroaching within Mtehm's sphere of light. The owl lead them on up a dirt path that became strewn with rocks and then turned to stone beneath their feet. They climbed the side of a mountain, a task that would have taken them hours in their own world, but this was Aenir. Realm of spirits. Here both Chosen were stronger, faster, and lighter than normal. Every pace they took carried them twenty so it seemed that they flew, skimming over the ground rather than toiling up a cliff side. Brush grew smaller and fell away and they found themselves in a stone pass.

“Are we close yet?" Lanelle coughed and spat on the ground. “I don't know how much longer I can keep running."

“Not much longer. I hope." Small claws digging into Mtehm arms made him stop. “Castle?" “Awwwk." the dragon's voice whispered with pain but Mtehm almost wept to hear it. “Hang on little guy we're getting you help." Castle moaned again and Mtehm stroked his brow.

Unlike the cold dark in his own world the dark of the night in Aenir was as warm as it was inside the castle but Castle felt cold to his touch. Mtehm looked up at Lanelle, “You're right. He's getting worse." Another owl's hoot came from the dark. “We have to go on." Mtehm tucked his robe as well as he could around Castle's body and then plowed on into the dark.

Minutes later they burst from the other side of the stone pass and instead of finding another forest to plow through they found a long, straight path of packed earth. Fences ran either side of it enclosing fields of crops that lifted leaves made silvery in the moonlight. In the distance lights showed, not reflecting the moon but giving off a softer golden glow. “This is your city?" Lanelle asked.

Mtehm looked around at where they had come to. There were wooden buildings, no more than twenty. “I think it's okay." Mtehm said a little unsure. It was very different from what he was used to but the valley seemed akin to what scholars had described in his schoolbooks. “Aenirian's don't live in a castle like us, they build individual dwellings like our quarters, but separate them out. They call them houses. There's even been talk of building a few in the Vale of the Chosen instead of camping there all the time."

Lanelle snorted through her nose, “I know that, they teach us that in school. But these are not too impressive. I thought Aenirians could work stone and metal like we work crystal. Do you think we'll find someone here who can help Castle?"

An owl's hoot turned Mtehm's head. The Farnek owl had perched on one of the houses. It hooted twice more and then flew off into the dark. Mtehm pointed up at where it had sat. “That's called a chimney and it's made of stone. Come on, this is where my shadowguard was taking us. Someone here must be able to offer help if my Shadowguard led us to this house."

“If we are following your Shadowguard." Lanelle pointed out.

“I hope so too."

Mtehm led the way off the road and up through the wooden gate, past raised wooden boxes overflowing with growing plants. A dirt path led them up to the door of the house. “You see." He pointed to iron bands on the door, a wrought metal lantern, the frame of a window. All metal made. “Civilized people. My shadowguard has led us here on purpose." He raised his fist and thumped on the door.

At first there was nothing, then came a tiny flicker of light within a darkened window. It grew and moved and the door pulled inwards. A creature stood in the doorway. It stood on two legs, but only came up to Mtehm's chest.

On first glance it seemed made of stone, but Mtehm realized that the creature instead wore a long coat of thin stone panels. Beneath the strange clothing it actually had soft gray fur. Its back hunched and it held a flame that flickered at the top of a column of yellow wax. It squinted small back eyes up at Mtehm and hissed, “Chhossseennn? In the middle of the night. Vissssiting our housssse?"

Mtehm stared down at it, “You're an Ebrax!" he exclaimed. He knew the Ebrax from studies in school and also from Beastmaker games. They were one of the Anerian races that traded regularly with the Chosen.

“Yessss I am" The Ebrax said, “You are young. Do you come sssseeking binding? You may only bind the wild onessss in Aenir. We have treatiessss with your people that ssssay thissss."

“What?" Mtehm said, “No, we don't want to bind anyone. Please, my friend had been hurt. Can you help him?" Castle shifted in Mtehm's arms and groaned. The Ebrax leaned forward to peer at the dragon and gasped in a breath. “Bring your light into our home." he said pulling the door open wide, “Put him on the table, I will get the mistressssss."

“Thank you." Mtehm replied but he said it to the creature's back as the Ebrax was already shuffling towards the rear of the house. He vanished through a doorway. Mtehm and Lanelle stepped across the threshold and found themselves inside a kitchen, it was a little surprising how much the Anerian hovel looked like his own place at home. A large dining table was in the center, but made of roughly hewn wood rather than crystal, as were the benches on either side of it. A waist high bench ran part of one wall, butting up against a large cupboard. A stone construction like his own oven at home was at the other end but had a stone column that reached through the roof. It was the chimney.

All surfaces held some paraphernalia of living, but were organized into tidy stacks. Farm tools, drying plants. Pots and pans, a few books. The rough hewn cupboard in the corner probably held more of the same.

Mtehm crossed over to the table and lowered Castle onto it trying to be as gentle as possible to not to rent the gash.

“How is he?" Lanelle asked. Mtehm dumped his pack onto the floor, slipped onto the bench and stroked Castle's head. The dragon groaned at Mtehm's touch but his eyes stayed closed.

“Not good." Mtehm replied as she sat down next to him.

They both looked up as the Ebrax returned and he wasn't alone. A tall figure followed him. Tall and slim, a female figure, but featureless and inhuman. Her naked skin was glass, transparent, but it shushed like fabric as she moved. Within her body blue mist coiled like a beautiful storm cloud. Her elegance seemed jarring and out of place in this rustic house. “What are you?" Mtehm whispered. He hadn't thought he'd spoken loud enough that she might hear him but her thin lips parted and and her voice came forth with the chiming of bells.

“My name is Atterseem. Your kind know my race as Esphina."

Mtehm had never heard the name, in schoolwork or Beastmaker. There were many races in Aenir though, some of them exceedingly rare. Somehow he had the feeling that he was facing one of the rarest.

“Can you help him." He gestured to Castle curled on the table. She crossed to the table and looked down at the dragon. Exactly as the Ebrax had done she inhaled on seeing him, the air rushing into her throat disturbed the clouds in her chest setting them aswirl, but when she breathed out none of the vapor came with it.

“Seraphrim." she whispered the name falling from her lips with the tinkle of glass chimes.

“What?" Mtehm asked but she had already turned away from him. “Harban!" She ordered the Ebrax, “Light the fire. We'll need hot water." she looked at Lanelle, “Girl, there is a large blue bag through there," Atterseem gestured at the door she had entered through, “Get it for me."

“What can I do?" Mtehm asked as Lanelle rose to to do as the glass woman had commanded. She arched an eyebrow at him, or at least the faint ridge on her flat face where her eyebrow would have been and replied, “Pray. Move aside and let me look." Mtehm squished along the bench, unhooking his cloak when it caught on the rough wood. Atterseem bent over Castle. She laid thin blue fingers on him. “You have stopped the flow of blood with your light magic. Yes?" she asked Mtehm.

“Lanelle did. He was bleeding everywhere."

The glass woman nodded, “By the size of this injury I'd imagine so. You were right to, it has saved his life up until now. But it has also created a problem. Blood pools where it should not. It toxifies. Tissue that should have blood flow is now cut off. It dies."

Mtehm swallowed a hard lump in his throat. “You can save him though? Right?"

She stroked Castle's flank, “For him. I will do my very best. If he lives the next hour I will feel much better about his chances."

Lanelle returned carrying a large bag made of thin blue material. Square bottomed and tied with a drawstring. She held it underneath with both hands gripping the edges and the top came up to her chin. “What is this thing?" she asked as she heaved it up onto the table.

“My medicine chest," Atterseem replied, “When I travel this is how I apply my trade. You were lucky. I'm packed still from traveling, I arrived home this morning gone."

“You are a healer then?" Lanelle asked.

“I am. Though I expect not as you understand. Your Chosen magic is different from my art." she reached over and pulled on the drawstring. The bag fell away and revealed a ornate wooden chest. Drawers ranged all four sides. Large wide ones at the bottom, rows of tiny ones no bigger than the diameter of his thumb at the top.

“How is that possible?" Mtehm asked standing to get a better look, the drawers being on all sides they all seemed to share the same internal space of the box, overlapping each other within.

Atterseem chuckled, “It's light magic. Your Chosen light magic. So you might know better how it works than I. I received it as a gift when I saved a young Chosen man's life years ago. In return he cast a spell and pulled this chest right from the heartwood of a Rencor tree." Mtehm shook his head, if this was light magic it was like none he'd ever seen.

Atterseem opened the chest, her hands dancing in practiced fashion over silver handles. She seemed to know exactly where everything that she was looking for was. First producing a square of white linen and laying that out flat next to Castle. Then came tight rolls of linen strips, glass jars with tiny labels and stoppered lids, twists of paper and beaten plant fiber, and metal implements from as long as his hand to a stack of tiny shiny splinters. Those last things all looked sharp. Lanelle picked one up and examined it, “How does this stuff heal?" she asked Atterseem.

“I told you. My healing is different to yours. You Chosen can shine light and tell flesh to knit. My way allows the flesh to do that itself. To heal I must treat the injuries I see."

Lanelle threw the spike back onto the table. “Its barbaric. Mtehm, you aren't thinking of letting her touch Castle with these?"

It seemed strange to Mtehm too, but he knew too that he had no other option. “She says she saved a Chosen's life before. She can help."

“Yes I know the Chosen, and I know your predicament." Atterseem said, “We too can count the days. I know it is too early for the Chosen to cross into Aenir. Yet you are here." She smiled, “You look at me with such guilt, but do not worry. I will tell no one that you have ascended to our plane early. You are not the first you know.

Lanelle blinked at her in surprise, “We're not?"

“Some Chosen come at odd times every now and again. Some come for knowledge, or to trade for things not within your Veiled world. I get to see and hear of them more than most as my art takes me to many places. If they are as young as you they usually seeking the binding. It is good that you do not. Those are the foolish ones, they often believe themselves greater than Aenir and they die here far more often than those who are content to wait. Harban? Is that water ready yet?"

The Ebrax swung a kettle off of the flames he was tending, “Yessss my misssstressss." He carried it over to them and set it on the table. Mtehm was glad no one was looking at him, he'd felt his face heat at Atterseem's words. The sole reason he had come to Aenir was to seek an early binding. Immediately he'd not believed himself like the others she had described, he'd prepared for this. He knew more about Aenir than anyone his age. Knew more light magic. He had fought so hard to claim his sunstone. She couldn't mean him. And yet a thought came to him, one that ate at his insides like a worm in his gut. If he had been content to wait would Castle now be dying in front of him on Atterseem's table? Mtehm squeezed his eyes shut

Chosen died in Aenir too. All the time. The wilds were a dangerous place. When the time came to cross back their bodies never woke up. The mind that had occupied it snuffed out. Yet it hadn't occurred to him that such a thing could happen to him. Mtehm stared at Castle's body with a hollow feeling growing inside him and tears welled in his eyes. There was no more magic. No more chances. If Atterseem could not save the dragon then Mtehm would watch him die tonight. And this time there was nothing he could do.

Atterseem took the lid off the kettle and dipped in a small knife. She slid the square of linen underneath Castle's body and then uncapped a bottle. She transferred a little liquid to a ball of fluff and dropped it in front of Castle's nose. The dragon was fluttering at consciousness, but too hurt to make any great effort, only breathing. Whatever was on the fluff pulled him down to sleep as he inhaled. Atterseem pulled Castle's paw around and the would on his shoulder gaped. She lowered the knife. Blood flowed.

Atterseem had been right. It was no Chosen's healing. No gentleness of soft lights to play out and knit blood and bone back together. Crimson blood and the stark flash of metal was all this world knew. Also unlike a Chosen's healing too it went on and on. Atterseem spoke as she worked, explaining as she went, in words that carried little meaning for either of the Chosen sitting at the table.

Mtehm though found himself rising, he couldn't stand the way the dragon lay there as though already dead while Atterseem cut into him. Feeling numb and tense as he went and sat before the fire. It was warm which felt good, but it was an unfamiliar heat that sat hot on his hands and feet without warming him through.

Earlier he'd watched with a little interest as Harban had set it with strips of wood and set it alight. It seemed to him a bizarre way to boil water. A pass of his sunstone would have achieved the same thing, without the smell of charring wood. He'd not realized how different the wilds of Aenir were. Whenever he'd crossed before there had always been other Chosen, working the magic of their homeworld like they did everyday back in the castle. It had felt like a holiday.

This, this felt like exile. He was alone. He cried.

No one disturbed him as he wept. When there were no more tears in him Harban came by and tended the fire, “It issss early." he said with his back turned. “My misssstresss will work on your friend the night through. You will have her bed. Ssssleep." Mtehm didn't think that he would, he remembered that Atterseem had said the next hours were crucial, but exhaustion was making the flames dance before his eyes so he took the Ebrax's hand and allowed himself to get led away. Soon he sank down in a wide bed that seemed to swallow him whole.

A few hours later he woke, someone had put his sunstone next to his head as he had slept and it read out the time as his old one always had. Back in the castle it would be getting late. Orion and his brother would have finished dinner and be heading for bed. Picking up his sunstone he wondered if he should send them a message. As far as they knew he was staying with Korres safe back in the castle.

Aenir was too big. It crowded his thoughts. How could he pretend that everything was all right with Castle bleeding out down the hall. Perplexed he shifted, rolling over and forgot that thought when he found Lanelle asleep next to him, her face a fingers width from his own, her breathing soft on his cheek. He lowered his sunstone extracted himself from the bed careful not to disturb her and made his way back to the front of the house and to Castle.

For two painful beats his heart thudded in his chest as he entered, but he spotted Atterseem at the table still bent over the dragon. Harban stood beside her holding a spool of thread that wound out to a metal spike Atterseem held. They looked up as he entered. “How do you feel?" Atterseem asked.

Mtehm rubbed his eyes. “Better. How is Castle?"

“Castle?" Atterseem's face lifted in a faceless glass smile, “Neither of you had told me his name. Come, have a look for yourself." Mtehm crossed to the table. Lanelle's sunstone lay there glowing, providing a gentle light that Atterseem worked by. The dragon lay with his paws resting on his chin, the scales on his sides dull like pewter especially those around his throat and snout. Castle remained unconscious but it seemed a more natural sleep to Mtehm than when he had lain stiff on the table hours before.

The part of the wound that had cut across his chest was closed. A long row of stitches like how the Underfolk repaired robes marching up puckered flesh. Only the dragon's back was still laid open. Few drops of blood matted the linen Castle rested on, a different piece than before.

“I managed to reconnect all the vessels that got cut to where they should go." Atterseem said, “It was delicate work. His bones are strong for such a little thing, his ribs stopped the slash before it could damage his heart or lungs. I had to remove a few broken fragments though." She gestured at a tray where some small, blood coated lumps sat. Under the blood they were white, but a faint rainbow of color moved through them.

“Between the blood he'd lost already, and what he haemorrhaged as I worked. I couldn't keep him alive once the magic in him began to break down. He died shortly after you left us and I had to use something special to bring him back." she gestured at an empty bottle lying next to the medicine chest.

“You brought him back to life, how is that possible, what was it you used?" Mtehm asked.

Atterseem smiled, “Bottled lightning is what I call it, but it doesn't come from the sky. I extract it from an unusual plant that grows up in the mountains where storms often rage. It restarted his heart after we fed Harban's own blood into him."

Harban took one hand off the spool and raised his fist, at his wrist was a little V shaped wound, already scabbed over. Harban rested his hand on Mtehm's shoulder. “He'sssss real tough Mtehm. The wound, the magic. The thingssss the missstress did. It ssshould have killed him. Hisss blood was black. I have sssseen larger creaturessss die under sssuch ssstrain."

“Will he wake up?" Mtehm asked Atterseem.

“Now, if you like. He needs to wake so that his blood begins to move in the places I've repaired." Atterseem replied, “I'll need to give him something so that I can keep sewing, and he's going to need some pain relief. He's going to hurt when he wakes." She picked up two vials, the first she dabbed on a bit of cloth and used to coat the entire wound with a sticky clear syrup. Then she opened the other, Harban reached over and pulled open Castle's jaws and Atterseem let a drop fall down his throat. “Don't expect anything right away, It takes a minute to work." she took up her spike again and dug it into Castle's back. “Don't let him move at all."

Mtehm pulled out the bench and sat down. He stroked Castle's neck, but the dragon didn't move or open his eyes. “Castle? Are you okay."

“He's awake now." Atterseem said in a whisper continuing her work on Castle's back.

The dragon's jaws opened a tiny fraction. “Awwwrr." Mtehm couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. He'd thought himself done with tears and yet felt their wetness plashing onto the back of his hand. All the guilt at seeing Castle hurt welled up out of him. “I'm so sorry, my light magic failed, I let the egg break. I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe." Dashing away the tears with one hand he felt a touch upon the other and looked down to find Castle's paw resting on its back.

At last Castle's eyes opened and his flashing green gaze, haunted with pain met Mtehm's “Awwwk."

“Whatever you did." Harban said placing a warm hand on Mtehm's back, “He forgivesss you."

---

Mtehm sat on a rock and looked down at the valley.

After Castle had woken he'd stayed with the dragon a while. While Atterseem had closed the wound on Castle's back Mtehm had told her about his crossing. It had felt good, his own seeping wound lanced. He'd admitted to her that he'd crossed seeking to bind a shadowspirit. Atterseem was not surprised, all she had said was “As is your right as a Chosen." then while she bandaged Castle and Harban served Mtehm a porridge of grain she had suggested that he take a look about the valley. He'd left shortly after, before Lanelle woke. Castle was safe with Harban and Atterseem watching over him and Mtehm wanted to see something that he'd not seen in a year since his last visit to Aenir. A sunrise.

Climbing back onto the pass they'd used the previous night he'd sat down cross legged to await it. It came over the valley, a gradual lightening of the sky and land to the point where Mtehm dimmed away his own sunstone. And then the sun rose.

Mtehm breathed in the air of the warm dawn and placed his hands on the stone in front of himself he gazed out and smiled. “Aenir." The valley below was small, fifteen houses scattered across it, Atterseem's one of the closer ones to the cliff pass. A wide river curled over the land, partly flooding the narrow valley. Apart from the glint of water in the sun he might have mistaken it for a particularly lust strip of fields, but it was shallow surface water that must originate from a spring. Lost somewhere in the copse of cheerful green woods at the far end of the valley.

Somewhere an owl hooted heading back to its nest in those woods. Not a Farnek owl but it still lifted Mtehm's spirits to hear it. The village began to come to life. Ebrax left their homes the shaggy creatures stretching, calling the morning's greetings to each other as they began to go about the chores of the day.

There were no domesticated animals in the village, Ebrax ate no meat so their drowned fields grew crops and orchards. There was nothing in the village that might help Mtehm with his quest though, the little river valley had been tamed by the Ebrax, he wouldn't be binding an Aenirian cabbage and so he turned away.

The other side of the pass was not the thick forest that Mtehm had climbed through the previous night. While he had slept the Vale of the Chosen had moved on. Or rather he had, seeing as the Vale was one of the few places in Aenir that remained static.

Now instead a large caldera stretched out before him. Most of it was underwater and only the peak on the far edge rose above placid waves that hugged a long, curving, and barren island of rock. There was life on that island despite the jagged hostile gray stone that formed the land. Teramius Rocs, huge birds twice as tall as Mtehm flocked upon it. Red feathers bright as a sunburst flashed resplendent light in the early morning sun.

They might look impressive as they preened, or lifted off to flash out over the water and dive before returning again in a shower of droplets. Fish clutched in their claws, but they made for poor shadowspirits. As a shadow all their color and splendor would be dim and gray and they were vain creatures, their self interest was not a foundation for a bond of servitude and loyalty to him.

“I'm going to need to go a lot further to find a real shadowspirit." Mtehm mused while watching them. The best place to find one he knew were deep in the wilds of Aenir. Hidden behind ancient seals, within ancient ruins or mystical forests, in the old places where no one dared go. With the two weeks he had gained by crossing early he hoped to penetrate much further into Aenir than any other Chosen his age and in so doing find and bind himself a powerful shadowspirit.

While Castle recovered though Mtehm was bound to whatever lands came drifting past Atterseem's little valley. As great as his desire for a shadowspirit was he wouldn't abandon his friend to go looking. Mtehm sighed aloud, he could only wait at the top of the pass and hope that Aenir would bring him something better.

Morning wore on and the Rocs flew away. The water rose shortly after and swamped their island. Then all the water reversed and rained up into the sky, forming dark clouds that floated back down to blanket the land. The clouds grew darker and darker becoming a solid black mass like someone had grated the night and dumped it as a mountain into the caldera. Flashes of purple lightning arced within it.

Mtehm loosed his robe a little as heat radiated up off it then when it became uncomfortable he rose and headed back to Atterseem's valley.

Lanelle was sitting at the table with a bowl of her own porridge talking to Harban when Mtehm returned to the little cottage. “You left without me!" she accused him, breaking mid sentence with the Ebrax.

Mtehm shrugged, “I wanted to see the sunrise. I didn't go far, only up to the edge of the valley."

“See anything interesting?"

Mtehm shook his head glancing around, “Nothing that passes for interesting in Aenir. Where's Castle got to?"

“Back there, asleep." Lanelle replied with a wave of her hand towards the room where they had spent the night. “I'm coming with you when you go out again."

“Why?" Mtehm asked, “You still have a shadowguard back home so it's not like you can bind a shadowspirit."

Lanelle looked at him as though he were daft “Mtehm. We're in Aenir. Alone. I'm not going back and I'm not going to sit around here and wait for the Chosen to show up. When they do I'm going to have to stay in camp pretty much all the time anyway so for now let me go see Aenir with you."

“All right." Mtehm agreed. By Chosen law she could not go into the Anerian wilds until her own Day of Ascension, but Mtehm couldn't argue with her after breaking so many rules himself. He glanced at the ring of crystal on his arm. If any Chosen knew all he had done it would be so festooned with the glass loops that he'd be unable to move it. “Now though I'm going to check on Castle."

Castle was asleep, his back finally closed and the wound hidden below a thick layer of white gauze, and so he remained for the next three days. Only waking a little as Mtehm or Lanelle fed and watered him or while Atterseem tended him. She insisted on keeping him drugged, reasoning that the less he moved the better he would heal.

While Castle recovered Mtehm and Lanelle explored Aenir together, each morning together climbing out of the valley to find a new land awaiting them. Tall stone columns that ran with blood in a sea of sand. A grassy field with rings of dark metal hovering above that buzzed like insects and set their teeth doing the same. Trees that sang. Stars that rose and fell. Strange fleshy vehicles hitched in a train. Aenir changed as they watched, sometimes minute by minute, sometimes not for several hours.

Whenever they agreed that it was safe enough they descended down in search of a shadowspirit for Mtehm to bind.

Aenir was bound in ritual, most of the most powerful and dangerous inhabitants walked ancient paths and had powerful spells laid on them. His studies in the Lectorium had taught him all he needed to know about traversing Aenir, what was dangerous to himself and what only seemed so. Much like light magic Aenir could become dangerous fast if one lost their focus. He realized within hours that Lanelle's own training was far from complete.

She, being younger than him, had yet to have had described to her the many things that they now saw and so Mtehm came to find himself teaching her much of what he knew.

Animals were few and far between for the lands that came past and none seemed to want to offer up any secrets they may have had. The most interesting so far had been an old crumbled slab of stone. Once part of a larger structure it had been sticking out of the side of a cliff. Once he'd climbed up onto it Mtehm had found a strange sinuous etched glyph upon it but no amount of effort with either his hands or his sunstone had caused it to react. “Something was once here," he told Lanelle after making his way back to the sandy valley floor, “but whatever it was is long gone."

It was the most promising lead he'd had in days and turned out to be a bust. Despondent he led the way back over the pass.

His spirits were soon lifted when they came into the valley. Coming back up the path Mtehm spotted Atterseem and Harban, the Ebrax was knee deep in water working his way along a line of leafy plants. Every now and then he would plunge his big hands into the water and uproot one of the plants. Depositing the bulbous thing, roots and all, into a wide pan that Atterseem, who was walking next to him on a small furrow so as not to get herself wet, had over her arm.

What perked Mtehm's spirits though was the sight of Castle with them.

The dragon picked his way along behind Atterseem snuffling at the gentle waves Harban's wake caused to lap at the side of the channel. “Castle!" Mtehm shouted. The low afternoon sun flashed off Castle's scales as the little dragon looked up, no bandages other than one great one around his middle wrapped him now. On spotting Mtehm he let out a squawk and bounded towards him.

“Go slow Castle!" Atterseem checked the dragon even as he winced with pain and staggered before catching himself and resuming with an awkward hobble. His front right paw was giving him trouble.

Not wanting Castle to hurt himself Mtehm came to meet him and scooped the dragon up in his arms. Careful to avoid stressing the shoulder. Castle rubbed his head along Mtehm's chin as he stroked the dragon's hide. Tracing his fingers over a puckered, dark scar that ran down underneath one of his wings, over his shoulder and across his chest. Mtehm traced its length in wonder. “What happened?" He asked looking up at Atterseem.

Atterseem frowned in confusion, “He's been healing." she said as she pulled the laden pan off her arm and placed it down on the earth next to her.

“Yeah, but he was only starting to move around when we left. His wound was starting to close. You told me would start reducing his painkillers." Atterseem came over to him and placed her hand on Castle's back.

“No. It's well closed now." she told him and took a step back. “Time doesn't stop when you leave you know."

“Yeah, but in a single day? How is Castle so much better, what did you give him?"

Atterseem blinked at him, “A day? Mtehm you've not been back to our cottage in over two weeks! Harban and I were starting to get worried. Even though we knew you have your sun magic to help you."

“Two weeks!" Mtehm shouted, he fumbled out his sunstone and brought it to life with a thought. Bands of light flickered across it and Mtehm felt his chest clench as he read them.

Lanelle having come up next to him also let out a gasp. “How – how is that possible? We left this morning." She said.

Atterseem regarded them for a moment and then reached forward and grabbed Mtehm's chin. With her other hand she pushed back his hair and then peered at his forehead. A moment later she let out a sigh and released him. “I believe I have seen this before, but you had better come inside for me to make sure. Harban, bring the pan once you've picked a few more. Everyone will want supper."

Atterseem refused to answer any of the questions the Chosen threw at her back.

Inside she lit a few candles as the sun sank away from the windows. She then crossed to the large cupboard in the corner and withdrew a small slab of sea green quartz. “What's that for?" Lanelle asked curious as Atterseem brought the sparkling gem towards them. Castle chirruped up at her, curious too, dancing after her footsteps.

Before she could speak or even reach them though a blush of rose raced up through the crystal until it flushed pink. Atterseem stopped and stepped back and the crystal returned to its soft green.

“What's it mean?" Lanelle asked as Atterseem repeated the movements, whenever it approached them the crystal turned rose. Castle let out an apprehensive whine and twined about Mtehm's feet. Absently he reached down to scratch the dragon's head.

“It means that I was right. Somewhere out there in the wilds you two were time robbed. Now let me explain." Atterseem forestalled the Chosen. “Its nothing terrible. Not now."

She returned to the cupboard and placed the crystal back within. “It means that you have encountered an Aqurex, a time thief. A being that feeds by placing its prey in a state of suspended animation. It consumes their energy until it is full, before it moves on, releasing the prey.

Mtehm's stomach twisted, they'd fallen into the clutches of some Anerian being and he hadn't had a clue. Were it something worse he could have gotten Lanelle and himself killed, or trapped for an eternity, or any of the other cruel punishments that Aenir promised for the unwary He'd been so sure he was prepared for Aenir, and now this had happened. It rocked the faith he had in his knowledge of Aenir that they had been so caught, but something was strange.

“Hold on. I've studied every bestiary on Aenirian creatures in the Chosen library. None I've come across have so much as mentioned these creatures." Mtehm said.

“It's a creature that can make you forget it exists at all." Lanelle offered dropping into one of the chairs at the table as she tucked back a strand of wayward hair. “Don't think you're going to find many Chosen who could remember to write it down."

“She speaks true." Atterseem said, “Chosen have learned much of Aenir, but the time they spend here is brief. Much more exists within these lands than your people know. Unfortunately it is often what you do not know that will get you killed."

Atterseem picked up Castle and deposited the dragon on the table before taking a seat, “Modern Aenirian records of Aqurex date back only ten years or so. Reports started coming in of Aenirians losing their memories in a certain area. There was an investigation launched which tracked the origin of the creatures back to the Ruins of Rorn, now known as the Star Dome. Seems they broke out from there and dispersed out across Aenir. Their numbers were minimal, in time they vanished. Attacks became rarer taking place over too great an area to keep track of them. We had begun to believe them extinct, to know that such evil yet walks this land." Atterseem shuddered with a chime of silver struck glass.

Behind her the door opened and Harban entered. He took in the three around the table and muttered an “Exusssse me." as he carried the laden basket over to the fire pit, laying it down before turning his attention to the cold stone.

“Evil? If they eat memories to feed themselves. They do it to survive, I hate the thought that my memories are gone but how is that evil?" Mtehm asked.

Harban had managed to start the fire and its glow filtered through Atterseem, turning the edges of the mist that swirled in her body blood red as she too took a seat at the table and leaned towards them. “That is their nature it's true, they are not dangerous, but it were not always so. Long ago a darkness rose in Aenir. It gathered powerful allies, forming an army that swept across Aenir. The Aqurex were footsoldiers in that army. Acting as an advance guard at the order of their commander they consumed without compunction. Stealing the minds of all they touched, gorging themselves until their prey became witless mewling babes, unable to defend themselves from being hacked apart at the hands of the Dark Army"

“That's terrible." Lanelle's voice was a whisper, her hand around her sunstone hanging from her neck her thumb rubbing at the stone. Castle whined and stepped across the table to claw at Mtehm's robe wanting to be held.

“Yes, it's frightful but that was a very very long time ago." Atterseem said and sat back, her inner turmoil calming, “No such malice drives the creatures of Aenir now, and Aenir is safer for it. Such a war has not been fought in Aenir since the Chosen sealed the darkness away."

“The Chosen sealed it away?" Mtehm's voice rose in surprise and Castle who had been getting comfortable on his lap let out a disgruntled “Awk!"

Atterseem glanced at him. “Yes, that's how the story goes. With Aenir under his sway the Dark Army utilized its power to break through to the world of the Chosen. In response the Chosen fought back with sun magic. Crossing over during what became known as the first Day of Ascension they rallied the forces of light in Aenir under their Emperor. Together they and the Aenirians who chose to ally themselves to the Chosen pushed back the dark army. Sealing it away all across Aenir, before defeating the dark commander and casting him down. Erecting the Star Dome on the site of their last battle to hold all turned to evil for all eternity. The final act of the Chosen in that war was to sever their own world from ours, to make sure the horror of that time could never again touch them."

“I've never heard any of this." Mtehm said, Lanelle by his side shook her head, her tongue stolen for the moment by Atterseem's words. Atterseem brushed her fingers over the table smoothing down rough splinters.

“Well, it is a ancient story. Few Aenirians remain that can tell it now. The Chosen cast a spell at the war's end that caused them all to forget about your world. Despite the spell the effects of the war linger on. Your binding spell you use to claim your shadowspirit is a pact forged from that time. Dominion over all Aenirians was what the Chosen claimed in payment for the deed of ending the war. Even if there are few who remember that is the reason for it."

“All Aenirians?" Lanelle questioned, “We're taught we can only bind wild creatures in Aenir for our shadowspirits."

“That came later. The Chosen stayed away for a time, until they too forgot and broke their part of the pact. Returning to seek out shadowpartners. For peaceful Anerian inhabitants getting yanked away from their lives all the time to serve Chosen became vexatious. It had many living in fear of your Day of Ascension when the Chosen would arrive. Your Emperor at the time had fought side by side with the Aenirians in the war. Much aged from then he was still horrified at the repercussions his decree was having and returned to Aenir one last time to sit down with the Anerian Council. Together they created the laws which limited the bindings to the wilds. I'm glad to know that you young ones are made well aware of the custom, even if you are not told why it is so."

Atterseem paused for a moment as the smell of roasting vegetables wafted over from Harban at the fire pit. Smells to set the Chosen's stomachs to growling.

Dinner was not far away and Atterseem spoke faster to finish her tale that they may eat. “For the treaties forged did work for the benefit of all. Chosen instead began seeking out the dangerous creatures of Aenir, uncovering the places where they had bound the Dark Army. Between the binding spell and servitude to the Chosen the darkness that had consumed those creatures lifted. Not that this cured them of being wild. Beasts and ancient forces dwell deep in the wilds of Aenir today and the Chosen welcome to them. Add to that the ones that remain locked away in places like the Star Dome, the Aqurex for example, and there's no reason for Chosen to be binding Anerian citizens."

“I suppose not." Mtehm could imagine how such a thing had happened, a brand new world presented to the Chosen. Those early days must have been chaos, Chosen binding every new thing they saw.

Now in this time binding something like a Kurshkin or an Ebrax or Atterseem herself, unusual though she was, as his shadowspirit would get him ridiculed, a lot, before they would dim him several levels for being so lazy and incompetent in his binding. Chosen fought for their partner, forming that bond in combat with wit and skill. Not taking advantage of an Anerian who would invite you to their table.

No, he needed something powerful for his shadowspirit. Like one of the great beasts, or one of the old soldiers of the Dark Army.

Atterseem had mentioned the Star Dome several times in her story, but the Star Dome was well picked over by the Chosen, to the extent that someone like Moraine Half-Bright could recreate a model of it from memory. He supposed that made sense. Being the place most of the Dark Army had been bound it would be the first place early Chosen looking for prospective shadow partners would have gone. Still, Atterseem had said the Aqurex had broken out from it a mere ten years ago. Were other remnants from the war hidden away there?

Harban began to deliver food to the table, spreading it out on plates heaped with piles and piles of vegetables. Charred in their skins before the fire or baked in low, flat dishes and swimming in fragrant oils, dusted munificently with herbs the smell alone halted all conversation. “Don't wait." Harban said taking the seat next to Atterseem, “Having your time ssstolen I doubt you can remember when your lassst meal wasss." Mtehm's hand did not manage to make it to the pan closest to him before Lanelle's. Harban was right, they had both been starving.

Mtehm wolfed the food down, slipping the occasional bit to Castle. The dragon was more than happy with Harban's cooking, despite the lack of meat on offer. He'd grown used to it while Lanelle and Mtehm had been away. “Sure beats the gruel right Castle?."

A flat gruel made from turnips and and other innocuous vegetables that Harban had cooked up was last thing he'd been able to feed the injured dragon. “Awk!" Castle said accepting another tidbit from his hand.

Across from him Atterseem gave a tinkle of laughter. He looked up and as usual she entranced him. Atterseem ate too, lifting food, then somehow it was inside her. Dropping as far as her throat before dissolving apart into the blue mist that swirled within her. The last few days staying with her had done nothing to diminish the bizarre sight.

No, actually the days he'd stayed here on arriving had a fortnight ago. His full stomach twisted.

In a few days more the Chosen would be crossing to Aenir and despite the extra time he had bought himself by stealing a sunstone he was no closer to finding his shadowspirit than the day he'd arrived. Mtehm rolled a carrot between his fingers before tucking it into his cheek. Actually that wasn't true, Atterseem had provided him an idea of where he might start looking. If anywhere the Star Dome was going to be his best bet.

---

Dawn had not yet broken when Mtehm slipped out of the house. He pressed closed the door and turned, summoning a tiny light from his sunstone to make his way down the steps. In the darkness it illuminated a furry snout tilted up at him. Mtehm gave a stifled yelp and fumbled at his sunstone as it slipped in his hands. “Harban!" he hissed, “What are you doing out here?"

The Ebrax shouldered a short spade, “Early morning gardening?" he offered with a wry twist of his thick lips and swung it from his shoulder to lean on. “No. I wasss waiting for you to sssneak out."

Mtehm dropped down the few steps to the ground to stand in front of the Ebrax, who only came up to his chest. “For me? How did you know I was going to?"

“Your Day of Asssscenssion approachessss. You are alone." It was a statement and one that largely ignored his question but Mtehm nodded anyway. “Your friendsss will come after you."

“They won't know where I've gone."

“I wonder." Harban trailed off. “Anyway it isss dangerousss to be alone. Here ssssomething to help. From Atterssssseem and me." He bent over and picked up a box hidden in the shadow. Made of a rough light wood it smelled green and new. “Sssuppliesss to aid your way." He dropped it in Mtehm's hands.

“I. Thank you." Mtehm said holding onto the box.

“Good luck masssster Chosen." Harban said once more shouldering his spade. “Return to usss when you can." he brushed past Mtehm and up the stairs, entering with as little noise as Mtehm had made coming out.

Mtehm blinked after him in the dark for several long moments, he still did not understand how he, and Atterseem too judging by the gift, had known he'd be leaving. “Wait, did you mean because I don't have a Shadowspirit yet, is that what you meant when you said I was alone?" he asked but found himself talking to the door.

Another though occurred to him. Two weeks in Aenir was a long time, the Aqurex had stolen that time, but the beast did not need to hold them all that time. By how Atterseem had described it the Aqurex needed only a few hours to feed on they had been caught in its clutches. What could have persuaded him to leave Castle. What had so distracted him from his quest that he'd been unable to find a suitable beast to become his partner in all that time?

Well, he was motivated now with the Day of Ascension fast approaching and he was glad to have their gift. Tucking the box into his backpack amidst the other provisions he'd brought with him he made his way through the flooded river valley in the dark.

Light rain began to fall as he climbed the pass and he lifted his face to the dampness.

Water falling from the sky. Back in his own world this would have been frozen and stinging ice beneath the Veil. Here it was warm, he enjoyed the feel of it as it slicked down his hair and ran over his skin. Dawn tried to bring light as well as the rain, though the clouds above refused to let in the sun.

Already he was nearing the top of the pass, his Anerian enhanced body making light work of the climb. There came a little taste of what would be awaiting him on the other side as a strong wind blew up, carrying with it the smell of salt.

Topping the ridge an Anerian sea lapped at the bottom of the cliff.

Hazy with rain he could make out a rock spiral that thrust itself like a sea serpent from the midst of the waves. It coiled over the water, becoming lost in the distance. Mtehm laughed aloud to see it, what luck to find an Anerian road! He threw himself down the slope from the top of the cliff, his lightened body drifting down before touching down on a small platform of yellow light that he conjured from his sunstone above the crest of the gray waves below.

Walking along he continued using light magic to create stepping stones, thrilled with the ease at which the magic came, but unable to tell if his new found prowess came from his sunstone or from within himself. He was able to keep up the magic all the way across the bay until he was able to step onto the road.

The rock was grainy beneath his shoes, encrusted with salt from the sea. Within a few steps that grit vanished, becoming smooth worked stone. The rain failed too. Mtehm looked up to find an orange and yellow hued light surrounded him on all sides, keeping the elements at bay.

It wasn't him doing this magic, this was a Chosen road and it drew power from his sunstone automatically. Much like the walls of the Castle he could use his sunstone to direct himself along the paths as they met up and diverged again in an extravagant network, if he knew the color that depicted where he was going. Since he didn't he was going to have to find a waypost to show the way.

While the ends of the roads moved around with whatever land they connected to, the ancient Chosen architects had fixed the crossroads in place with magic. Much like the Vale of the Chosen. There were few crossroads, the magic required to hold them together was immense and required a sunstone of immense power to fuel it, each one keyed to the Emperor himself. Every crossing they needed replacing or the Chosen roads would become ordinary and break apart at the whim of Aenir.

While the Chosen could maintain them the art of making the Aenirian roads was long since lost. All the roads were ancient, the one he was on may date back as far as the construction of the Star Dome itself.

Mtehm took his time as he carried on down this road, his Anerian body again making short work of the distance. Soon the magic around him dwindled, no longer needed to keep the rain from his head or the waves from his feet. He was now in a forest. His rock road transformed to a gravel path.

Trees, all the same type, stood ranked like sentries over rolling hills. They dropped wide hand shaped leaves to a shadowed forest floor that was already covered in more leaves turning a soft shade of brown. Smaller, scraggly plants pushed through this mat, feeling for whatever few rays of light escaped down to them from the wan morning sun hiding somewhere in the thick clouds high above the canopy.

Unlike the ranked trees Mtehm's path did not travel in a neat line but rather wandered around each small hill. Even if he could see the next part of the path from a ridge Mtehm dared not leave the path to cut across the open ground. This forest showed all the signs of someone planting it out, indicating that he was near to civilization, but it was Aenir. Nothing may be as it seemed. On the road Chosen magic reigned. Out there? Chaos could be waiting around the next bend.

As if to spite his caution the land around him decided to carry on a pantomime of sleepy habitualness. Small Anerian birds flitted in the trees, singing to each other their goings on for the day. Small insects and beetles darted through the air, dodging away from the enchanted path when they came too close. A Rikin, a herd animal with small horns and a shaggy coat of short coarse wool crested a rise ahead of him, took one look and fled back the way it had come. Drummings of other split hooves on packed earth betraying the rest of his herd hidden over in the next valley. Running from him as if he were an invader.

Mtehm was feeling like an invader.

He couldn't help starting at each sound. A few days in Aenir had done little to desensitize him to its wild machinations. There were no birds, no animals back in his world. Unless one counted the shadowspirits who rarely spoke or the cave lizards and odd, twisted herd creatures that the Underfolk farmed in the lowest levels of the castle. Not a job for Chosen at all.

Instead of calming him down all the campestral performance set his teeth on edge, so he jumped almost out of his skin when a loud “Awk!" echoed up between the trees from behind.

Mtehm whirled about his sunstone already in his hand and gathering a red ray of destruction. It faltered away a moment later as he recognized the dragon racing full tilt down the path towards him. “Castle!" he yelled out and had time to drop his sunstone, and himself to a crouch before the dragon barreled into him.

The impact jolted the breath in his lungs but he wrapped his arms about Castle and held him tight, letting his brow rest on Castle's uninjured shoulder. Careful not to put an eye out on the pointy bit at the end of Castle's bow slung over the same. “Why are you here? Did you follow me you naughty dragon?"

“We both did."

Mtehm looked up to find Lanelle stalking down the slope towards him, her violet robes billowing with each step. She sounded only a little out of breath. In stark contrast to her red face. “You ditched us!" she accused, not lowering her voice despite the closing distance. Mtehm stood with Castle in his arms, at least she wasn't going for her sunstone.

“Well, Yes." Mtehm admitted, he wasn't going to try lie his way around her. For one thing she outranked him.

he seemed taken aback by his easy admission and halted in front of him, throwing her hands out she cried out “Why?"

That was a tougher question for Mtehm to answer, he took a moment looking out at the trees while giving Castle a scratch behind the ears. The dragon purred, wriggling deeper into his cloak. “Because now I'm serious about binding a shadowspirit Because I've wasted so much time. Because in a few days the Chosen will be here. Because it is dangerous and because I don't want to see you hurt!" He couldn't stop his voice rising, the last heated words coming out as a shout.

Lanelle blinked at him, “Is this because of what happened with the Aqurex?" she asked her voice dropping back to normal.

Mtehm sighed and lowered his eyes, letting his fingers play over Castle's scar. “It's all of it. I left you behind because I want to keep you safe. Both of you."

A moment passed and Lanelle reached out and took his hand. “Mtehm, can't you see Castle and I feel the same way? We want to keep you safe too. Do you realize how horrible it would be if we stayed with Atterseem and you never came back?"

Mtehm set his jaw and tried to pull his hand back but Lanelle held on.

“Atterseem said you would need our help. She told us to go after you, but if you can can look at me and tell that this whole time you would have been better off without us I'll take Castle and go back to her. I'll wait out the next few days and then return to the Vale when the Chosen arrive"

“Awk." Castle said on hearing his name, voice muffled by Mtehm's cloak.

Healed now Mtehm's back gave a sudden prickle, a reminder. Castle and his shadowguard battling the Keeper above the Veil. Castle and his shadowguard winging him to safety, back to the tower and saving him from a plunge into darkness. Lanelle saving Castle's life during the crossing.

Lanelle was right, if they had not been together he would have already lost them, and he too would be dead. The world granted no mercies.

Either world.

Deciding he clamped Lanelle's fingers tight between his own. “I won't. Not again, I want you both with me, whatever happens."

The dappled sun through the canopy lit Lanelle's face as she gave him a wide smile. “Then let us go hunt your shadowspirit." she paused a moment. “You do know where you're going to find one right? You didn't leave without a plan?"

Mtehm let go of her hand and dropped Castle to the ground so that the dragon could walk. Straightening he replied. “No, I've got one." As they walked he filled her in on his thoughts about Atterseem's story. The possibility of there being more than the Aqurex bound beneath the Star Dome.

The road became rougher once they broke out of the forest. It climbed a low side saddle as a snow covered range rose to one side. Rising being the operative word as with a great rumbling of the earth the entire range tore itself from the ground and went hurtling off into open sky. Small rocks, clods of earth and other debris showered the path, bouncing off the light magic when they came too close.

“Mtehm look!" Lanelle thrust her hand across his path, finger extended. Following her pointing he peered down into the great gash that had opened in the land. Much dust hung in the air but amongst it shone a golden light which moved and bobbed its sloped head.

The creature was enormous, each of its four feline clawed feet as large as Atterseem's cottage.A tapered shell that shone with gold covered its back all the way to a stubby tail that dragged the tip on the ground.

“What is it?" Lanelle breathed.

“I think it's a Centurion." Mtehm whispered back a little in awe of the creature. “Imagine having that as a shadowspirit." His hand acting of its own will he lifted his sunstone from around his neck.

Lanelle laughed watching him do it, “You'd crush half the castle on your return."

“Yeahhhh." Mtehm tossed his stone into the air, snagging it with his finger when it bounced against his palm. Feeling foolish he tucked it in a pocket. Shadowguards could change form but shadowspirits were more limited, they could only stretch themselves within reason. The more light available the more corporeal they became, the same when they chose to act physically. Neither could do much about their weight. A castle of crystal light and this behemoth would not mix.

At the other end of the ravine below the Centurion shook itself and began to push along the cliff edge seeking a way up. The ground flinched under each step as it began to make its way closer. “We had better move." Mtehm said his eyes tracking up the ravine, the only place large enough to accommodate the beast's exit was a few hundred meters from the road. Large as the beast was he didn't want to have to think about what he would do if it chose to come towards them.

Taking Lanelle's hand he tugged her away.

As they crossed the saddle and lost sight of the ravine Mtehm could not help but feel heartened by the Centurion's appearance. If impractical the Centurion was exactly the type of shadowspirit he needed. They were getting deeper into the wilds of Aenir. His shadowspirit could be waiting for him over the hill.

As it turned out what was actually over the hill was a fog bank and the path plunged right through it.

The Chosen were leery of it but it didn't try to eat them, the greatest malevolence its insides contained was thick moisture that dampened their cloaks.

Heading back down the other side of the saddle until they dropped out of the low cloud's belly to find themselves at the foot of a lake looking up at glacier. With the fog already rolling away behind them it was revealing enormous blocks of blue tinted ice that towered over their broad lake lying in their shadow.

The path struck arrow straight over the water, leaving the shore at a narrow gravel beach and rising into the air. Built of more of the strange dark rock it rose sharply to meet the ice cliff where at the top it intersected with another path that straddled along the glacier's cliff edge. This new path was cut into the ice. Where the two met Mtehm could see a gleam of royal purple catching the light of the early afternoon sun.

“A Waypost!" Mtehm cried, gathering up his robe he ran out over the water towards it. Boots squeaking on the polished stone. It wasn't long before the steepness of the road, even with the power of his Aenir enhanced body, forced him to slow back to a walk. He toiled against the road collapsing at the end of the climb at the foot of the waypost.

Gasping frigid air back into his chest through spit made thick by exertion he fumbled out his sunstone and pressed it to the foot of the ice slick column. Made of clear ice thicker and taller than he was the waypost was reminiscent of the colorless crystal the Chosen worked back in their world. A simple, smooth structure that fattened towards the top where the sunstone that anchored it stood embedded out of his arm's reach.

At the touch of his sunstone the sunstone in the pillar blazed. Violet light shooting down the trunk of ice and spilling out over Mtehm's feet. It coruscated in patterns over the ice covering it so that Mtehm had to spin around to take it in.

In two dimensions light mapped out Aenir, beginning with the roads in shining threads of amethyst.

The Vale of the Chosen appeared, a swathe of royal purple. Other structures filled in in various shades of orchid, lilac, lavender and heliotrope. Anerian towns and villages, prominent natural landmarks, old ruins, other structures Marlin had no name existing as a marks on a map. Important to some long ago Chosen.

Finally all the lines ran back together, finishing as a white pulsing star above Mtehm's boot. The scale of the map awed Mtehm. The castle and the Vale, the only two places he'd ever lived and each was only a fingerprint to the tapestry now set out before him.

Mtehm scuffed his boot over the ice, his toe landing on the star, a waymarker for where he was. Following the line of the road he scanned outwards trying to trace back where he'd been. Was that little squiggle the saddle they'd come over? It was, but the path further back was now different. No dark line for the ravine, nor forest in soft fuzzy glow. The road ended in the same sea but it was now nowhere near Atterseem's valley.

Aenir had been busy twisting. In fact it continued moving as he watched, light crawling over the soft frost flakes that clung to icy ground.

Mtehm scratched his head watching it. He couldn't see how to use the map, Lanelle may have more luck. Going back to the edge he waved at Lanelle who had made it to the top. “Come have a look, I've found the map!"

“Oh, good. We could use a break." Lanelle said between bitten off breaths as she drew close.

Castle came limping over the edge behind, favoring his bad shoulder. Closed and healed but for the scar the rent flesh did not sit right within the wound and it pained him after the steep climb. Mtehm stepped back onto the rock path to scoop him up, the fur on the dragon's back bristling at his touch. “Good boy! You remembered to lick your fur."

“Awk!" Castle replied as Lanelle looked up from where she had doubled over with her hands on her knees at the edge and shot him a questioning glance. “It makes him cold proof." Mtehm explained.

Lanelle straightened and came to scratch Castle under the jaw. “Aww, is that what you were doing. You're full of surprises." Castle closed his eyes and leaned into her touch, a soft hum coming from his throat. “You got any water in there?" she asked flicking one of the straps of his pack.

“Sure, hold him a sec." He passed Castle to Lanelle and swung it off his back. Opening the drawstrings he located his canteen and uncapped it before passing it to her. She took it, cradling Castle in one elbow and tilting her head back to take large gulps from it. “There's food too. Stuff I brought from home."

“Oh good." Lanelle paused long enough to reply then took several more gulps before lowering the canteen. “Awk." Castle said reaching for it.

“Give him a drink too. Oh, and there's whatever is in this box that Harban gave me." Mtehm pulled it out while Lanelle helped his dragon have a drink. Mouth not quite the right shape for drinking from the round edge of the canteen it took a few tries for him to slake his thirst, the excess damping Lanelle's robe. She giggled at the dragon's efforts and brushed the water away, moisture having turned to frost.

“Oh." the lid of the box popped off at a touch and Mtehm slipped it underneath. Inside were four small woven bags laid out next to to each other. Mtehm recognized the smell of herbs rising from them, much like the smell of Atterseem's healing chest. The first bag did not contain herbs but rather a piece of cork with several fine needles pushed into it, along with a large spool of wound thread.

The second bag he didn't need to open, it did contain medicinal herbs which Mtehm recognized by smell as the sort of painkillers that Atterseem had been using on Castle. The third bag held a glass vial containing a clear liquid, the same Atterseem had used to put Castle to sleep.

The last also held a vial, but in this one swirled blue smoke. He had seen this before too inside a much larger glass vessel. Atterseem had bottled a little part of her essence to go with them. Mtehm smiled as he tucked it back, he had no idea what it was for but the thought of having a bit of the kind Anerian healer close by comforted him.

“They've given us a little healing kit." Mtehm said. Putting the box and his bag down on the ice he retrieved the bag of herbs. Emptying a little out onto his hand he held out the other for his canteen. A few drops and Mtehm mushed it with a finger into a paste. “Here Castle. This will help your shoulder."

The dragon recognized the smell of the herbs too, his muzzle tickled as he lapped them up with a few strokes of his tongue before settling back in Lanelle's arms with a contented sigh.

Mtehm wiped his hand on his cloak and gathered his things. “Come on, we can eat while we look at the map." In spite of not haven eaten a thing since the previous night and it now being well into the afternoon Mtehm had little desire to eat. That had as much to do with the fact that his real body back in the Chosen world fast asleep as it had with a desire to get to the Star Dome. He handed Lanelle some of the rations from his pack while she sat at the base of the waypost and poured over the map. Idly she stroked Castle's fur between bites.

With his pain lessening the dragon yawned, curled into her chest, and was soon fast asleep.

“Looks to me like you ask it where you want to go, same as in the castle back home." Lanelle said. Before Mtehm could tell her he'd already thought of that she'd plucked out her own sunstone and shone a ray of violet light onto the ice. In response a sigil began to glow, two horizontal lines topped with a half circle.

“Whoa." Mtehm breathed, having seen the model of the Star Dome he recognized the simple representation of it on the map as the general shape of its entrance. “How'd you know how to get that?"

Lanelle's shoulders lifted in a small shrug, careful not to disturb Castle. “I dunno. There's lots of extra stuff I have to learn for my lessons. I sort of half remembered it, from some book I guess." Mtehm skirted the edge of the map and walked his fingers from the white star to the symbol, the from the white star back to the ridge. “It's not far from here, if we go now we could make it by nightfall."

Lanelle leaned over her lap, “Or we could wait here." She suggested, “Look, it's moving towards us."

“Is it?" He put a finger on the symbol and within a few seconds the edge of it crept out from under the tip, closer to where the map told them they were. “It is! Come on we'll get there even faster if go meet it."

Lanelle gave a soft chuckle and ticked the top of Castle's sleeping head. “Mtehm, relax. You're always in such a hurry to be off somewhere. Like when you ditched us at Atterseem's."

Mtehm winced, that hadn't been his brightest move. He understood now that leaving Lanelle and Castle behind had been the wrong thing to do, but he also hadn't even said goodbye to the Anerian healer before he'd left. Yet she'd managed to provide him with such a useful gift in Harban's carved box. He couldn't help a little bit of guilt color his face.

Lanelle noticed and her voice softened. “The waypost keeps this land fixed in place. It's protected with Chosen magic. We have the map, so we'll know if the dome changes direction and we have two days before the Chosen get here to bind your shadowpartner. So even if this is a bust we can come back here and plan out next move."

Mtehm opened his mouth. Then closed it again finding it impossible to argue with her logic. He sighed and walked over the map to drop down next to her, lifting a hand to scratch Castle's back. The dragon rolled over in his sleep leaving Mtehm petting his belly instead.

Lanelle put her hand over his and held it. A thrill went through him at her warm touch. He looked at her face but she had her eyes forward, on the map. “Mtehm?" She said and he grunted, unable to find his voice. “Those weeks we lost to the Aqurex? I don't think I need the memories to be glad I spent them with you."

Her words warmed in his chest like his sunstone had caught fire, his lips tried to race his brain for a reply but it was unnecessary. Her cheek touched his shoulder, eyes closed, asleep.

Mtehm turned his head, watching the sigil of the dome creep ever closer, “Yeah." He whispered. “Me too."

---

Mtehm spent the next few hours in fitful doze, watching as the symbol of the Star Dome inched closer. He must have slept at last for the creaking of ice awakened him. Glancing at the map he saw that the Star Dome was now almost on top of them. In fact according to the map he should be able to see it at the far end of the glacier.

Scanning the horizon against the sun, now low in the sky, revealed nothing. Meanwhile the ice was creaking more than ever and rumbling up through his feet. “Lanelle. Wake up." Mtehm shook her shoulder.

She came around, blinking in the late sun reflecting off the ice. “Mtehm? What's going on?"

“I don't know." He replied, “but we should be ready to move." An even louder groan from the glacier awakened the third member of their party. Castle looked around in alarm as Mtehm jumped to his feet, slinging his bag over his shoulder. He grabbed Lanelle's hand and pulled her to her feet, as a series of deafening reports came from the glacier. Across its face several plumes of ice and snow shot into the air.

“The ice, it's breaking up!" Lanelle screamed as the cacophony of shattering crystal continued.

Mtehm was about to pull her back to the road but the ground heaved beneath their feet and it was all he could to grab her and keep them upright. Staggering together on the ice slick surface. “Hold on!" he yelled as with a crunch that snapped his teeth together a split shot over the ice. It zagged from high on the far side of the glacier and speared right towards before turning at the last second and following along beside the road traveling atop the ice shelf. It knifed all the way to the far end where, with a final gout of ice that blasted out into the lake, it stopped.

All fell silent.

Mtehm and Lanelle exchanged a glance then, holding hands, crossed to the far side of their road. Before them the split in the ice plunged down. Cutting off the ice the road was on from the rest of the glacier with a crevasse, wide as his arm was long.

“What in Aenir?" Mtehm dropping to his knees and poking his head over the edge.

“What can you see?" Lanelle asked, her voice over-loud. Both their ears were ringing.

“Trees? I can't see, it's too narrow. Woah." As if hearing him the crack began to widen. The glacier was pulling away from the road.

“Should we jump?" Lanelle asked, as the ice retreated but it was already too far too do so and getting wider every moment.

“No. Look." Mtehm replied pointing down. The crevasse was deep, close to a hundred times his own height but at the bottom he could see a lush jungle. It was coming out of the ice. Or rather the ice at the base seemed to be moving around it in impossible fashion. It was like a layering of light, but instead of light a fully formed canopy was emerging, undamaged from the crushing weight of millions of tonnes of ice. “No wonder the lake was so small, this glacier's been here forming it only a short while." The ice pulled back like a curtain, gathering speed as it rushed over the land beneath revealing acres of thriving jungle. “Do you think that's always been there and we just couldn't see it because of all the ice sitting on top?" Mtehm asked Lanelle, squinting down to see if he could see the ground.

“No way. It has to be newly arrived." she said.

“What makes you so sure?"

In response she pointed to the edge of the glacier. “That." A structure was appearing, nestled within the surrounding verdant growth it stood out for being silver. Looking like a berg the ice had left behind, except that it was round, enormous scaled panels rising in a perfect dome among the trees.

“The Star Dome! Arrgh!" The ice continuing to pull back unshaded the dome from the sun. Before he could pull his eyes away it blazed in resplendent gold catching the light and bouncing it straight into Mtehm's eyes like a great mirror. He staggered backwards lifting his arm as a shield and wiping at the tears that rushed to his eyes.

“You okay?" Lanelle asked catching him by the shoulder.

“Yes!" He cried and turned towards her, her arm slipping around him in an embrace as he lowered his arm. She looked up at him concerned. Funny how easy it was to read that in her face with it this close. He bent his head and kissed her. Fastening his lips with hers.

For several long moment they stood together, then Lanelle gave a muffled squeak and drew back. Mtehm let her go, wiping his mouth by reflex. “Awwwrk" Castle cocked his head at Mtehm and then twisted to look at Lanelle. She giggled, her face reddened by breathlessness, and kissed the dragon on top of his head.

“Err. What now?" Mtehm hazarded, he blinked several times, the spots swimming before his eyes as much a result of getting blinded as the blood pulsing in his head. Deciding to be practical he turned towards the edge of the road.

“We should find a way down. Dome won't be there forever."

Together they inspected the drop off the edge of the path down to the rainforest. “Shouldn't be hard to get down with our magic." Mtehm pulled out his sunstone and called light. A thick coil of yellow spooled out over the side of the path. Concentrating he split a couple of large loops in the rope of light. Handing them to Lanelle he said “I'll lower you both down on this." Looping the coils around herself she approached the edge, turned and stepped backwards over the side.

Under Mtehm's control the rope didn't drop beneath her. With her foot in one loop and her elbow hooked through the other she hung in the air, until Mtehm allowed more rope to play out from his sunstone and she descended over the edge. Peering over he continued the flow of magic. Below Castle scampered to her shoulder and “Awk"'ed up at him.

“I'll see you at the bottom!" Mtehm called out. Paying out light it wasn't long before the violet butterfly of Lanelle's dress became enfolded by the canopy of the jungle and she vanished from sight. A little more rope and it went slack. Lanelle had reached the bottom.

With a thought Mtehm cut the rope, allowing it to vanish in a glitter of sparks, then called forth green light. A large spike of emerald appeared before him, hovering until he allowed it to fall. With a crack of splitting ice its weight buried it deep.

Once more reverting to yellow light Mtehm formed his own rope, tying it off to the spike. Then it was his turn to go over the side. With a whoop he descended in a controlled free fall. Dropping at speed so that the ice face blurred before him and slowing himself up before hitting the trees.

Feet touched leaves and punched through. Branches scratched at arms. A moment later he was on soft ground next to Lanelle. Twisting about and letting the rope fade away as he looked into the jungle into which they'd dropped.

Or lack of one.

Above their heads hung thick and spreading green growth that snatched the sun away. What little made it to the forest floor revealed, nothing. No trees. No shrubs. No animals to make a sound. There was the ground below made of a dark mulchy soil mixed with a sparse number of tiny white crystals that reflected what little light there was. Sparkling like countless stars in a twilight gloom. Above was the canopy starting at a point above their heads and lit green by the sun above. Between there was only empty space. The only other thing illumined in the dark and at ground level was the sides of the Star Dome glistening in silver. Spun moonlight on the far horizon. “Its so pretty." Lanelle murmured, her voice soft. Somehow in the silence of the jungle that wasn't it seemed wrong to speak

She bent over and scooped up some soil letting the fine grains run through her fingers, the crystal specks sparkling as they fell. She did it again and Castle hopped to the ground, pushing his nose in and flicking his head. The earth ran off his scales like water but crystals stuck between them. “Awk." he cried and turned, sitting back on his haunches to allow the two Chosen to admire the silver filigree makeup that now covered his head and chest.

Lanelle laughed and threw her fistful of dirt at him. Castle flinched as it struck him in the face, sending a shower of silver over his back to settle in his fur. The dust getting into his nose Castle sneezed.

“More!" She crouched to gather another handful seeming intent on covering Castle in silver dust from nose to tail tip. Mtehm laughed as Castle recovered from the first onslaught. Seeing Lanelle's plan the dragon crouched, waggled his rear and sprang at her with paws outstretched. Lanelle fell backward with a screech into the soft dirt, losing her handful as she collapsed. “Mtehm! Help!" She cried, but was already scrabbling about for more, which she threw over the dragon.

“Not a chance." Mtehm replied laughing as Castle shook himself sending earth cascading all over her.

Poking her tongue out at him she grabbed the dragon and they wrestled in the dirt, tumbling over and over. The fine earth puffing into the air around them and winking in the last of the day's light that was now fading away as the waning sun and canopy above conspired to cast them in ever deepening shadow.

With a triumphant “Awk!" Castle ended up on top, Lanelle flat on her back beneath him. Both now coated in silver dust they resembled winning sculptures from the Achievement of Architecture. “Yield. I yield. You win. Oof." Castle, prancing his victory, stepping indelicately on her belly.

Moving forward Mtehm scooped up the dragon before he could do so again and rob Lanelle, who was already having difficulty taking in air due to giggling so much, of her next breath. “Aww. You're such a good little conqueror." He told the dragon scratching the silver scales of his belly until Castle flopped limp and purring in his arm.

Lanelle too had gone limp on the ground but having had a moment to compose herself sat up and rolled forward onto her knees. Putting a hand to the ground she went to hoist herself to her feet, then instead let out a “Huh?" and plucked something Mtehm couldn't see from the earth. Blinking in the dimness she held it up and examined it.

Mtehm was about to ask what she had found when she let out a short, sharp shriek and launched what ever it was away from herself. It landed with an audible plop some distance away.

“Are you okay?" Mtehm asked, immediately concerned.

Lanelle wiped her hand on her robe and got to her feet, “A bug. It was a bug. It didn't bite me, it startled me. That's all."

Mtehm crossed to where the bug had fallen. It took him a moment to spot among the flecks of crystal. A white insect, close to the length of his smallest finger writhed in the dirt. Short, segmented, and stubby he recognized it immediately. “A Wampert. Harmless." With the tip of his shoe he flipped some dirt over the creature. Another short, white body flew through the air.

“Huh, another one. What are the chances." With a shrug he turned back to Lanelle, only to find another writhing insect on the ground.

Actually now that he was looking he could see several amongst the crystals, and more were appearing. Burrowing their way to the surface.“Mtehm?" Lanelle was looking about, she had noticed the arrival of the insects too.

“Stay calm." He replied, “Wampert are rock eaters. They can't harm us." He stirred several with the toe of his boot and stooped to inspect them. “Curious. They're coming after the crystals in the ground." He looked up to see Lanelle staring at him, her wide violet eyes contrasting with her silver coated robes in the dim light. “Oh right."

She and the dragon in his arms were both coated with the crystals, if the Wampert could sense the tiny flecks at all the two of them must seem like a bonanza. On that hunch Mtehm pulled his sunstone from his robes and called forth light, shining it around them. White insect carapaces gleamed back. They coated the ground as far as he could see, but far more had broken the surface near to them. Further out there were wide patches of clear earth visible.

“Come on. We had better move out before these things make it hard to walk." The ground underfoot was already soft and was getting worse with the Wampert burrowing, his shoes sank into it and collected their own fine dusting of the rock the Wampert loved as he set out in the direction of the Star Dome.

It was impossible to avoid the critters. Their exoskeletons crunched merrily beneath his boots as he picked the best path he could forge through them. “This is so gross." Lanelle complained, she was getting it worse. Wherever she moved Wampert seemed to follow. Masses of them breaking the surface ahead of her every step.

“Try shaking some of the crystals off." Mtehm suggested. She did, juggling her own sunstone and sending a rain of silver over the insects which reacted, snapping in blind ecstasy at the tiny flecks. It made little difference. Either to the amount stuck to Lanelle or the number of insects that continued to appear. The Chosen picked up their pace, traveling at a stumbling run. Mtehm fell behind, weighed down by his pack and Castle. He'd have put the dragon down but the Wampert were now in a feeding frenzy, their tiny bodies thrashing as they gulped after every crystal. Castle too carried a coating of the stuff. Even blunt teeth would hurt grinding against scale.

Concentrating hard on where he was placing his feet so as not to trip headlong into the nest Mtehm almost didn't register Castle's warning cry. “Wha?" Mtehm started, looking up at Castle's panicked “Awk." as a shadow fell across him. Or rather, given that the sun had now long left the sky, he sensed the presence of something dropping from the canopy above.

Mtehm leaped forward, gripping hold of Lanelle's cloak he yanked hard dragging them both aside into the dirt as the Vengenarl slammed into the ground. Scimitar sharp claws raking through the air that would have been her next breath. Her cry of horror and dismay in his ear at landing amongst the feeding insects did not dissuade Mtehm from dragging her through them as the Vengenarl rounded on them and let out a bellow. Wide, flat cheeks puffing crimson.

Dropping Lanelle he got his knees under him and fumbled out his sunstone, keeping a tight grip on Castle as he did. If the dragon got loose he would fight the Vengenarl tooth and claw against claw and arrow until one of them lay dead. Retreat had to be his best option. While vicious the Vengenarl was not known to pursue for the sake of it. That it had shown up here was no coincidence. Mtehm was almost certain the creature was after prey, the Wampert that they had disturbed.

“We're inside a Vengenarl feeding ground. Run!" He yelled summoning a violet shield.

It blazed out between him and the beast, flaring bright in the darkness. The Vengenarl howled and staggered, its strike falling awry upon the shield of light. Sparks erupted and cascaded to the ground as claws cut deep into the light magic but with the power of the blow broken the shield wavered little and Mtehm rose against it forcing the monster back.

“Mtehm!" Lanelle was back on her feet too. Bringing her own sunstone to bear she threw a red ray of destruction. Without a sunstone as powerful as his own the ray was a flash in the darkness but it struck true, raising a stench of burned hair from the creature's hide. The assault enraged the Vengenarl and it charged Mtehm. “Don't fight! Go. It wants to eat, but it'll fight us as long as we're here on its feeding ground." Blocking with his shield Mtehm retreated one step at a time as claws continued to crash against light.

Castle was a second shield, trapped against Mtehm's chest by an arm. Crying “Awk!" in challenge he fought to free himself and launch into the fight. Mtehm's light magic was strong enough to stop the Vengenarl breaking through but between keeping a grip on Castle and staving off the Vengenarl he was faltering. Continuing this way might get him killed. Mtehm considered putting a red beam of destruction through the creature's head and ending the fight. As Korres had done with his beast, but it didn't seem fair. A Vengenarl was a creature worthy of becoming a Shadowspirit, although seeing the hurt Korres had taken from the beast's Temper made Mtehm feel sick at the thought of binding it as his own.

If it came to it, Castle's life or Lanelle's in the balance, he would make that choice but not while there were other options available.

“Take him and go!" Shifting his grip on Castle Mtehm grabbed the dragon by the scruff of the neck and hurled him at Lanelle.

“Awk." Caught off guard at getting free Castle reacted too slow, managing to open his wings only partway before Lanelle snatched him from the air. He trumpeted his disapproval as Lanelle folded him away inside her cloak and much to Mtehm's relief fled away into the darkness, heedless of the Wampert underfoot, her sunstone a bobbing lavender light in the dark.

Mtehm spun back to the Vengenarl, swinging his shield into the path of a heavy strike from the beast. It roared at him, shaking the air.

Mtehm yelled back. Gripping his sunstone with both hands he cast another spell. Using two spells at once was different to weaving light, at once easier and more difficult. When weaving, once color was set it took little concentration to maintain. Yet demanded an exponential toll of power as more light got added. Adding another spell weaving alongside another meant he had to divide the object of his attention and yet hold them both equal in his mind. No more power got used than if he were casting the spells one after another, but causing different effects was rather like trying to learn words to a song you'd never heard before while singing another.

All the power in his sunstone could not help him with that, what mattered here was his own skill with magic.

Forcing aside fear of immediate death at the Vengenarl's claws and scrapping together every bit of concentration he had Mtehm's shield flared as from the darkness strode enormous emerald Wamperts. They weren't identical to the insects on the ground, these apparitions were thrice as tall as Mtehm and wavered forward on stick thin legs. A marching army they gaped chain link lined mouths.

The Vengenarl broke off its attack, stunned that its natural prey had become predator. Violent in battle when confronted with something new confusion reigned for the beast.

Sensing his advantage with a flick of his wrist Mtehm sent his army forward. Outnumbered the Vengenarl backed away hissing at the enemy as they encroached. Being only ghosts the Wampert held unfazed and they staggered on past Mtehm's shield. The Vengenarl deciding it had had enough gave one last roar and turned tail, vanishing into the darkness. Feeling that his skull might splat at any moment Mtehm let his army fade into the darkness. The apparitions and his shield flickering out as he let his sunstone dim. He sagged back breathing hard, exhausted for the moment from the fight.

Until he heard the howls.

A white flash from his sunstone revealed many more Vengenarl moving through the canopy towards him. Long arms making short work of the distance they swung from branch to branch. “Reinforcements? I already used my best trick." It was Mtehm's turn to run, he picked himself from the ground and fled in the direction of the Star Dome praying that Lanelle had gotten far enough with the time that he had bought.

She had not. Covered in crystal dust and carrying Castle it wasn't long before Mtehm spotted the gleam of her sunstone lighting the mass of Wampert who had not given up on feeding off every last speck. “Lanelle!" he yelled, she turned to him, face pale in the violet gleam, she had heard the howls too.

“What in Aenir is going on back there?"

“More Vengenarl." Mtehm explained shortly, “Come to feast on the Wampert. They'll chase us down as long as we're on their feeding ground." Peering into the dark for any sign of the Star Dome he only saw Wampert. Was it his imagination or were there even more here? It didn't seem possible that the earth could hold so many and yet the insects kept popping up through the fine silt.

The Star Dome he couldn't see at all in the darkness. With the sun gone it no longer dazzled with reflected light.

Thinking back Mtehm tried to guess how far they had come from having seen it sitting on the horizon from the ice ridge. How sure could he be that the Dome was somewhere in front of them, had they strayed, or had Aenir moved during the fight? If they couldn't find it the Vengenarl would catch up. Mtehm had managed to scare off one. More number would make them bold, without sanctuary they'd pull the Chosen down. Castle would fight, Mtehm could kill some, Lanelle too.

Would it be twenty or thirty lives they took before they were overcome? His flash had revealed far more than thirty of the dark things moving in the trees

Useless thoughts he pushed them aside. Making it to the Star Dome was the only thing that mattered. Until it didn't anymore. “Give me Castle." Mtehm beckoned, she'd be faster without the dragon.

Without a word Lanelle passed him to Mtehm. Castle was quiet but as Mtehm took hold of him. Awkward as he now gripped his bow in his paw instead of its usual place slung over his shoulder. Little body vibrating with adrenaline and eyes wide as he too peered back into the dark listening to the movements of the Vengenarl. If Castle went for them there would be no stopping him, they had to find the Dome before he did. They charged on through the dark.

At last, something different than the backs of Wampert or the crystals in the ground glimmered in the light of his sunstone. Threads of silver shining against dark stone. A sob of relief rasped in Mtehm's chest, the side of the Star Dome stood tall, punching its up through the canopy. They'd made it, with little time to spare. Vengenarl seemed to scream out of the dark all around drooping to the ground with thuds that shook the earth.

“How do we get in?" Lanelle shouted, her voice high and tight.

Mtehm thought back to watching Moraine build her model during the Achievement ceremony. “Round the front." He led the way around the structure, glancing back. Huge shadows of the monsters were chasing them, dropping from the trees, climbing the Dome. Getting around the Chosen and trying to cut off their escape.

Castle climbed Mtehm's chest, limbering his bow. “No you don't." Before he could draw his arrow Mtehm dragged him back down. Castle squawked in protest and dug his hind claws in, trying to steady himself to draw the string.

“There!" Lanelle pointed ahead where the dome bulged out, great pillars framing a dark opening to the inside. A few steps ahead of him she skittered around the edge and disappeared through.

Mtehm grabbed hold of a pillar and spun on his foot, ducking underneath the broad swipe from a Vengenarl that had managed to climb over the dome to hang from one of the pillars. He hurled himself to the floor on the inside, landing hard on his shoulder. No soft earth or Wampert to crush to a pulp beneath him in here, hard stone covered the ground. Hitting it hard he lost his grip on Castle but managed to keep his sunstone. Firing a bolt of blue light from it at the doorway.

Instead of passing through into open space the energy froze and spread out in a crackling web blocking the threshold.

The Vengenarl that had taken a swipe at Mtehm tried to follow him in. Touching the web it recoiled with an animal cry as a shock of energy burst through the creature. Before it could try again yellow light sprang up around the web sealing the doorway shut. Mtehm looked over to see Lanelle standing, light blazing in her hands and lighting her face as she wielded her sunstone. Following her idea Mtehm let his own barrier fade and bent his power to hers.

The forms of the many Vengenarl gathering outside grew hazy as the light solidified and then vanished altogether behind the barrier. Along with their howls.

Magic didn't stop then trying to get in and dull booms echoed around the Dome. Stabilized the magic would not break. The barrier stood firm, immoveable beneath blows and soon they faded away as the pack, having seen the intruders off, gave up.

“Good thinking." Mtehm said gesturing at the doorway from the floor and letting his sunstone die away. Lanelle dimmed her own, though she didn't let it fade completely, the barest thread of power keeping the spell intact.

She shot him a weary grin, “Structural magic is not my forte, casting that took a lot. Thanks for the boost." She came over and dropped down next to him as he lifted a hand and wagged his fingers towards her.

“Welcome." he groaned. He'd cast more magic today than he could remember doing for a long time and with the adrenaline wearing off he could only find the energy to do that.

“Awk?" Popping his head into view Castle looked down at him.

“I'm okay." He reassured the dragon. “Neither of you hurt?" Castle shook his head no and stepped around to curl into Mtehm's arm, using his chest for a pillow.

“My cloak's ruined." Lanelle offered prodding at the hem around her ankles. Shredded it was falling apart. “Stupid Wampert ate it. My boots too." Her boots carried many scuff marks where the insects had chewed at them but made of the toughened hide from creatures the Underfolk farmed had survived intact beneath the Wampert remains that caked them.

Lanelle gave her boots a look of disgust and thumped them against the floor, trying to knock some of the muck off. With little success. Giving up she lifted her sunstone instead and called forth white light to take a look around. The inside of the dome was exactly the same as the outside. Large. Round. Not much else came to mind. Constructed of the dark stone with the same fine flashing silver filigree running down the walls. Otherwise it was empty. A vast space where the smallest sounds echoed into infinity.

“What do you think this place is?" Lanelle said.

Moving his shoulders against the stone floor Mtehm attempted a shrug. “Dunno. It's in the Chosen schoolbooks as an architectural piece. A landmark of Aenir. Atterseem said that it served as some kind of seal, a way to get below the earth."

“I don't see any kind of staircase or any way to get down."

Leaning his head back he waved towards the rear of the dome. “We'll try back there." The Dome came to the floor short of the exterior creating a small annex to which three low doors led through. Wishing he'd taken the opportunity to sleep back at the waypost Mtehm rolled himself to his feet with a grunt. Settling for a drink of water from his canteen instead he led the way, Castle trotting at his heels.

The annex was actually three rooms, each doorway portioned off by intersecting walls. The rooms beyond weren't large. Roughly the same size as his bedroom back in the castle but they seemed larger since like the dome they were also all empty. Mtehm poked his head inside the first and looked around. “This doesn't look promising" he remarked.

The filigree on the back wall did come together in a strange way. Lines of silver creating an inverted V shape, but when he flashed his sunstone around the rest of the room he saw that the odd motif was all it contained.

“There's something in this one." Lanelle said peering into the next.

Mtehm left his doorway to come look, though Castle poked his nose into the first room for further investigation. On the floor of the second was a simple design in imperial red. A curved, tapered line like a sickle blade with thin spikes along the concave edge that all came to a point, like someone had beaten a broken, spoked wheel into the floor. “Curious. It looks like crystal from our world." slipping past Lanelle Mtehm crouched down next to it.

The symbol glittered like ruby as light from his sunstone struck it. “Try red light?" Lanelle suggested.

He let it flow which made the symbol to glow brighter but caused nothing more to happen. Mtehm flicked through the rest of the colors but none of them caused a reaction either. “Maybe its a puzzle." He touched his sunstone to the apex of the design and continued calling light. Lanelle watched from the doorway but as Mtehm met with no more success than before she drifted away to investigate the third room.

Following light theory learned in the Lectorium Mtehm continued trying. He struck the stone with his, pressed his hands to it, called heat. Nothing affected the stone in any way he could tell. Bemused Mtehm gave up. “Strange thing to find but I guess this thing is a decoration and nothing more." he said aloud as he tucked his sunstone away.

“Mtehm. Come here quick!" Lanelle's excited shout had Mtehm up and darting to the last room.

“What is it?" He asked hurrying over. The third room was the same as the other two. Same silver and stone, except for a band of even darker, almost black stone that ran around all four walls, cutting its way through the silver cascade at chest height. Lanelle was already pointing to the band. “What is it? More stone?" he asked confused.

“No, look closer." Lanelle urged, her voice tight with excitement.

Mtehm followed her pointing into the room, bringing his face close to the wall. It was the Chosen glyph for light, the Emperor's sigil carved small, no bigger than his thumbnail etched into the black stone. “This. This is it." Mtehm said pressing his fingers to the stone, he grinned at Lanelle in excitement, “It's a seal, a marker. Ancient too, someone placed this here when they built the Dome."

Lanelle quirked an eyebrow at him, “How do you know?"

“I've seen it before." He explained, the last time it had been on a statue's head. Upon the brow of the stone guardian that protected the sunstones above the Veil. The shadowspirit that twinned that statue had been powerful. Requiring the combined efforts of Mtehm with his new sunstone, his shadowguard, and Castle to escape it. If something like that resided within the dome Mtehm would have his shadowpartner. All he had to do was release the seal.

He lifted his sunstone and let royal violet light strike the mark. The stone caught it and the light raced away in both directions following the strip of stone and turning it to amethyst. Lanelle gasped as they both spun to follow it around the sides of the room and then to the doorway where the light stopped and faded out. “Is anything happening?" Lanelle whispered after watching the door for a minute.

Mtehm frowned and looked down at his sunstone. “Something should have happened. I don't understand why it didn't. Is it like the symbol in the other room?" Seeing the mark of the Chosen here had made him sure that something was hidden away, but what if the Dome was empty?

“Let me try." Lanelle turned back to the mark and summoned the same light with her sunstone. Once more light ran out and converged on the doorway. On reaching the edge a series on darkened sunstone chips set into the stone came to life.

Violet light flashed out, bridging the gap and extending in two solid sheets that met with a seam in the middle. “Well that's something different." Lanelle said watching the light play and flipping her sunstone into the air. She almost dropped it a moment later when the floor underneath them gave a sudden lurch and began to descend. Surprised the Chosen grabbed hold of each other. “We're going down." Lanelle said looking at the purple door that had shut them in. Already its base was in line with Mtehm's knees and rising faster. “Wait. Castle! He's still out there!" They exchanged a panicked glance and charged to the door.

“Pull it open!" Lanelle cried working the tips of her into the center crack. Mtehm did the same and they both heaved against it. It didn't budge and they had to reach higher to try again as the floor continued to sink.

“Light take it." Mtehm cursed and reached up to strike the door as it rose out of reach.

Lanelle looked down at her sunstone which had gone dark. “Mtehm? When I opened the seal I dropped my spell."

Mtehm's gut twisted. With no light magic blocking the entry to the Dome the Vengenarl would get inside and tear Castle apart. “Get back, against the other wall." he gave her an encouraging push as he lifted his sunstone and called forth a red beam of destruction. Letting the power flow through him he focused it to a point within the sunstone and released it, sending it blasting into the door.

The beam collided and ricocheted off with a sound like a blade snapping. Lanelle let loose a scream and ducked down as the beam continued on, bouncing off the stone at the top of the shaft and then the rear wall above her head.

If the beam hit either of them it would incinerate them in an instant.

Acting faster Mtehm opened his hands wide and allowed blue light to flood out, neutralizing magic that he threw as a shield over them both and then expanded to fill the space. The beam plunged down into the light and sputtered out before it reached the floor, hissing away into nothing.

“Phew. That was close." Mtehm said, letting the spell fade. “I wasn't expecting that door to be magic proof. Are you okay?"

Lanelle nodded, her face white. Mtehm looked back up at the door now high above their heads. "We're not getting back up there easy." The walls were far too smooth to climb, even if he invoked Orion's light gauntlets to aid him. A platform might work but the lifting involved to carry them up would take advanced magic. Casting the spell would tire him out and there was no guarantee that he could break through the barrier at the top. He'd have to rely on Lanelle to do that with himself having to maintain the platform or send them both back down the shaft to crash against the floor.

Stepping stones like he'd done to cross the sea that morning might work. He could stabilize each one and as long as he didn't lose focus he could help with the door. They'd have to try soon, for every second dropped them further. Mtehm rubbed his sunstone measuring by sight how many he'd need. It was a daunting prospect but to reach his dragon he'd do anything. “Awk!" Castle cried as Mtehm began his spell, spilling yellow light into the air.

“Not now Castle." He replied, “I've got to concentrate if we're going to get back up."

“Awk." Castle continued to chirrup, ignoring him.

“Wait. Castle?" Mtehm glanced around to find that they had reached the bottom of the shaft. The platform they were on lowering as before but like a scroll unfurling, revealing another doorway the same as the one above. Only there was no light magic sectioning off this one and in the corridor beyond and below danced Castle on his hind legs, laughing up at them.

“Castle!" Mtehm didn't wait for the platform to descend the rest of the way. Soon as he could duck beneath the doorjamb he jumped to the floor and scooped up the dragon, crushing him against his chest in a tight hug. “Oh, don't scare me like that! I thought I'd left you behind."

“Awk." Castle protested the squeeze but his body vibrated with a happy buzz as he enjoyed the attention. “How'd you get down here anyway?" Mtehm said, the dragon had to have activated one of the other shafts on the upper floor. Sure enough when Mtehm looked back the shaft on the far left, the first he had investigated with the silver marking along the back wall, had descended too. Only the center door with its red insignia remained blocked off with its stone platform raised.

Lanelle had touched down in their own shaft, the floor slowing to a halt. She stepped off the rough platform and hurried over to Mtehm, a frown of heavy concern across her brow. It lifted as she stopped short. “Wow, look at this place."

Mtehm raised his eyes. Silver lighted the corridor here too but only from a thread that traveled overhead in a straight line away from them. Otherwise the hallway held a strange familiarity. Black stone from above now gave way to black crystal below as far as he could see. Which wasn't far at all, the silver only gave off an uncertain glow here as if whatever magic powered it was weaker this far underground. “It's like we're back home." Lanelle said and she was right. No wonder this undercroft felt so out of place, the last time he'd seen worked crystal was an entire world away.

“Chosen have been here. They built this place." Mtehm murmured, rising to look about.

This corridor was an exact match for any back the castle, except that there was no part of the castle built in black. The Chosen celebrated light and color in their magic, their lives, and their home. To find a place so familiar yet antipathetic was unsettling.

“If Chosen built this corridor then it should work the same as back home." Lanelle reasoned aloud. Plucking out her sunstone she shone a ray of white light towards one wall. The stone responded, but not in the way Mtehm had expected. Rather than the light zipping over the crystal in a line it shattered outwards, crackling through the rock like lightning and leaving a scatter of gleaming white stars in its wake. The passage brightened as within a few heartbeats the stone was lit up like the Anerian night sky. “Awrrr." Castle sighed as the light washed over them causing the few crystal shards left between his scales to glitter. Clawing about in Mtehm's arms he nudged the Chosen to follow the light.

By the stars trapped in the walls it looked like Atterseem had been right. This was a prison. Every ten stretches or so, on both sides of the hall, there were voids in the crystal trapped constellation. Perfect rectangles of darkness roughly his height.

“How did we miss these?" Lanelle skipped forward over a fall of loose black crystal, to shine some light inside the nearest one. Unlike the crystal outside the cell the inside did not respond to her light, staying pitch black. “Not very large for cells are they?" She stepped inside to touch the rear wall. The cells were about the same size as the shaft that had brought them from the Star Dome above. “Do you think that this is where the Arqubex came from?"

“I'm certain of it." Mtehm replied as he kicked some of the larger chunks of stone scattered on the floor “Look. All of these are broken out from the inside."

She poked her head out and looked further down. “Atterseem said that there was a whole army buried here. If every cell is this size, then that's one or two per cell. Which means this place must be enormous." Lanelle shot him a grin, “What are the chances that every one has been broken out of?"

They didn't hang around to discuss it, choosing instead to discover by exploration. Mtehm led the way, his sunstone raised and shining to illuminate the interior of each bleak cell they passed. Each looked alike, down to the rubble that had formed the seals. Except that some seemed much older than others. The broken crystal losing its jagged edges beneath a fine layer of pulverized dust.

Lanelle followed along behind with Castle bringing up the rear scampering around in their footsteps and sneezing as he poked his nose into cracks only to be assaulted with more dust. They marched for a long time, trading thoughts on the kinds of beasts they might find sealed away. No unbroken cells came to light and the conversation drifted to lessons in the Lectorium. Mtehm found himself talking about Ria and Orion. His family back in the castle.

How mad would they be if they knew what he was doing right now? Feeling wistful Mtehm glanced back, they were now so far that the strip of silver above faded out behind. Despite the light straight nature of the prison he could not see the shafts that they had descended. Lost in the gloom behind them.

“What about you?" Mtehm asked, stepping around a particularly large pile of rock. “What about your family?" She had always been so willing and proud to be exploring Aenir with him. He'd never asked if someone might be waiting for Lanelle back in their world.

Lanelle almost stumbled on the same rock and when she recovered she was at a loss for words. She cast an expression of terror and something else at him. There was something that she was dying to say and something holding her back. A sense of deja vu so strong ran through Mtehm's body that he had to put out a hand to touch the wall and ground himself. Sagging a little Mtehm lifted a hand and rubbed at the skin on his forehead.

“Are you okay?" Concerned Lanelle rushed forward, catching at his arm. He nodded, squeezing his eyes shut as feeling began to ebb. “Here, take a drink of water." Lanelle opened his pack and pulled out his canteen. She unscrewed the lid and handed it to him. He did and gave it back to her, waving for her to replace it. “Weird." he clenched his hand a few times before his eyes. Everything felt normal. “For a moment there it felt like we've had this exact conversation before."

“You think so? Your memories are coming back? “Do you remember anything?"

Mtehm stared into her violet eyes as they flashed in the silver starlight. Now he knew what he'd missed before. There was hope there as she turned away. His Violet girl, run away to Aenir with the first person she'd met. Lanelle may love Aenir, and Castle too, but there was more to it. Some vast secret weighed on her. Something was holding her back, if he kissed her again now she would not kiss him like she had at the waypost.

Following he lamented being unable to protect them from the Aqurex. If he had would he know her well enough that he could? Would she, had she, dared he, believe that she had kissed him? The questions buzzed about in Mtehm's head like a pair of fish in a shallow pool, darting away each time he sought to pin them down.

He dropped behind as Castle led the way, “Awk"ing at every empty room. He'd found that this caused his voice to echo back and was making a great game of it. It wasn't long before Lanelle joined in with the infectious fun the dragon was having. The noise faded into Mtehm's self centered ruminating as he stumbled along behind, until he almost stumbled over them both. The corridor had ended. One final pair of empty prison cells and then a wall.

Not a blank wall. Emblazoned on the black crystal that formed it were two familiar marks. They overlaid each other as large as his outstretched hand. The upside down V of silver and the mark of the Chosen. Light depicted in violet crystal. Beneath the design were stars, but unlike the ones in the wall their places were not random. Their glow spelled out a simple message.“By the magic of the Chosen and Seraphrim's light I am opened." Lanelle whispered, “What do you think it means?"

“Light is the magic of the Chosen." Once more Mtehm raised his stone and let it play out a ray of light. Green, his own rank. Immediately to the right of the symbol a darkened sunstone began to glow, giving back its own green shine. Lanelle lifted her own sunstone and let forth her own Violet light. Above the symbol another stone glowed. Mtehm switched to red, then orange, but no more stones responded.

“Does this mean that we need an entire coterie of Chosen to get in?" she asked him.

Mtehm ran his hand over the symbol. “There's seven stones here. No wait. Eight." he added as his fingertips detected the presence of a last stone buried in the center of the image.

“Eight stones, seven colors of magic." Lanelle said.

“There are eight colors, you're forgetting the most common one. White."

Lanelle laughed, “White? It's light but its not magic."

“Could be that it doesn't need to be magic." Stepping back from the wall Mtehm called white light. It had no physical form, no manifestation of effect on the world. This was a small circle of light shining at the heart of the image on the wall. The stone there responded, becoming another star while the light remained. When he moved it away it dimmed.

Lanelle tried the same, and was met with the same response. “So we can both do that stone. Does that help us? We still can't light the rest of the stones, they at least need the magic of Chosen."

“Awk." Castle agreed with Lanelle. Intrigued by the play of light upon the wall he stepped into Mtehm's beam of light and raised his wings.

The light shattered. Pouring through their gossamer construct it struck all seven stones to life. The last remaining stone, the one at the head stayed dark. “ Castle freeze, stay where you are. Quick Lanelle! Your light!" Mtehm said keeping his own stone steady. Once more Lanelle weaved Violet light and the last stone blazed into life.

Stone cracked.

From the center of the design through each stone spider webbed deep fissures. “Back! Back!" Mtehm grabbed the scruff of Castle's neck and the tail of Lanelle's cloak, which threatened to come apart in his grasp, and hauled them away. He fell backwards, pulling them both on top of himself as with a roar the wall came down.

Rubble and stone cascaded into the passage, pushing them several stretches along the floor. Mtehm fought to stay atop the avalanche. Kicking with his feet and crying out when lager stones bounced off his shins, bruising through his cloak and boots. He rolled, seeking to pull the others out of harm's way as their yells cut through the cacophony.

The thunder of the cascade stopped all at once, the energy they had released completing its job. Rock that pooled up around them petering out into a last few clattering stones skipping away back down the hall.

“Everyone okay?" Coughing on the fine dust that now permeated the air Mtehm pulled himself to kneeling and found himself battered but unharmed. A shake pulled his legs free from the pile of shattered crystal that had formed. Lanelle groaned and likewise crawled to her knees, she checked herself and also reported herself unhurt. Castle had escaped the worst, sheltered behind Mtehm's cloak and he was up and yipping at them both with anxious concern long before they had recovered themselves. Lanelle grabbed him, petting his head and neck, calming him with soft spoken words until he allowed her to pick him up in her arms.

Together the three of them turned to face the void. Like the rest of the prison doors this one had fallen outward, blasted apart by the force of the magic Lanelle and Mtehm had triggered.

“How do you think that happened?" Lanelle said.

“I've no idea." Mtehm replied raising his sunstone and shining a light inside. He was readying himself, calling into his mind the binding magic. Expectant now that any moment would see his new shadow partner. Monstrous with power it would engage him in battle. He would defeat it. Bind it, and finally return to the world of the Chosen, to await their egress and eventual return. Presenting his shadow partner he'd earn status and get pushed, championed, into the Blue or even Indigo orders.

At last he... might be worthy of Lanelle.

“Was it Castle?" she carried on in the same vein, “Did he break the seal? What was it written on the door, only by Seraphrim's light? Is that what he is?" Mtehm's mind flashed back to the healer's valley. Hadn't Atterseem said something similar when she had first laid sight upon the dragon? It had to be a coincidence.

“I don't know. I made him remember, he came from a Beastmaker game. From our world. 'Seraphrim' means nothing to me." Dismissing the matter Mtehm took stock of the room. Expecting to see another small prison when his light revealed a much larger room Mtehm pressed forward, boots disturbing the loose scree and sending more rocks clattering.

Beyond the portal his light revealed bare stone floor. Ahead the dust that still hung thick in the air smothered the light and so he stepped over the shattered rubble and inside.

Lanelle followed him in, adding her light to the gloom. “There's nothing here. Oh." The chamber held a clear crystal curtain running from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling. Splitting the room in two. Light had turned it opaque for a moment, reflecting the two Chosen, then pierced through to the shapeless form of shadow that lay on the other side.

“A Shadowspirit? Why is there a Shadowspirit here?" Mtehm said. A shadow in Aenir was nonsense. Aenirians became shadows in crossing over to the Chosen world, but then Castle was an Aenirian made flesh, he had to accept that the reverse might also be possible. Confused Mtehm touched the glass separating them.

“Cho. Sen." The dry growl crackled in Mtehm's ears as the shadow shifted itself. A vague head manifesting atop a rising mass it became humanoid, seeking to copy the shape of the Chosen. With little success. The bulky robes that Mtehm and Lanelle wore befuddled the creature and it remained shapeless, a poor approximation of their form. “You can speak?" Shadowspirits that could speak in their shadow form were rare and often powerful. Yet in Aenir there should be no shadowspirits. In Aenir shadowspirits held their normal Aenirian forms. Only in crossing to the world of the Chosen after being bound would an Aenirian beast become a shadow. To find one in Aenir defied his understanding of Chosen magic. This was no true shadowspirit he faced. They retained their shape, this creature was able to change at will. More like a shadowguard but far stronger.

“Yes." The creature replied, its low growl echoing far louder through the barrier than it should.

“What are you?"

The shadowspirit approached the barrier, pressing close to the glass. It stood taller than Mtehm by a good stretch. “My name. Shar. Rak. Kor." Mtehm stepped back preparing a defense, he was still expecting to have to battle the creature at any moment. Sharrakor stood still, body swirling but making no move to attempt to break the barrier between them. No. Unable to. The shadow made no move because a chain held it. A long chain made of small golden links wrapped one wrist and went down into the ground .

Mtehm may have torn down one of the cells seals but that chain and the crystal barrier pane still trapped it.

“You're some kind of shadow creature?" Mtehm hazarded, it made the most sense. There were creatures of darkness in Aenir, although none that he could think of that fit Sharrakor. Plus there was something strange about the shadow in front of him. A feeling, faint in his head like he got when wielding light magic that seemed to trace back to the creature. Almost like a Sunstone.

“No. I wasn't like this. I had a body. Once. They took it from me. Danir. Ramellan. Took it. Locked me away here." Sharrakor hissed out.

Lanelle nudged Mtehm and with a whisper said, “Those names seem familiar."

“They sound like Chosen names." Mtehm replied, “but why not find someone to bind him instead of locking him away. Do you think this has to do with the Chosen war?"

“It makes sense, binding wasn't part of Chosen magic until after the war ended."

Mtehm addressed the question to Sharrakor “Someone locked you in here? Why?"

“Power." Sharrakor rasped, “I wanted it. They had it. Then I had it and they wanted it."

“What power? Do you mean Chosen magic?" Mtehm allowed light to play out from his suntone, scattering across the glass. On the other side Sharrakor hissed at the dancing light and drew closer. Pressing up against the barricade he surged as the light helped define his form. Bulk carving into shape. “That's it. Power from another world. I remember now. Ramellan showed it to me. Your sun. Different to ours. Filled with life. Burning with it."

Aenir was a manifestation of psychic energy. Sunstones could not draw upon the sun of the Aenirian world like they could from the one in the Chosen's own world. The Lectorium took great pains to instill in its students that Aenir was ephemeral and the Chosen world physical. Though neither was less real than the other, the energy that ran within each world was antipathetic to the other.

It was only by capturing the energy of their home world in sunstones that the Chosen could affect and control Aenir. Likewise the effect of an Aenirian becoming a shadow on entering the Chosen world was due to their losing access to Aenir's power. Sunlight in the Chosen world replace this deficit, but with the Veil in place blocking it Aenirians became shadows of themselves instead. Bound both by the binding and by the need of a sunstone's light to sustain them.

An idea was starting to form in Mtehm's head. Sharrakor, like all Aenirians, craved the light of the sunstone. Mtehm brightened his still further and then allowed it to dim “You could have it. I came to Aenir seeking a partner, I need a powerful shadowpartner. to become the strongest among the Chosen. Are you that strong? Can you show me your strength?"

Sharrakor let out low huffing laugh, letting his shadow flow out, turning the other side of the glass into a maelstrom of darkness. “You demand a test? For a king of Aenir? Very well. Come little Chosen. Press your head against my cell. I will show you."

“What does he mean 'king of Aenir'" Lanelle murmured.

“I don't know." Mtehm said, but he was eager to put Sharrakor to the test and stepped forward to lean his forehead against the cool glass. Inside Sharrakor once more resumed his man form,. Raising an arm he placed a finger against the other side and spoke a word that twisted its way into Mtehm's ears.

In an instant Mtehm was elsewhere. Beneath a rock overhang that half blotted out the stars of Aenir's night above. He and Lanelle curled together before a fire that had long burned down to embers. Lanelle was speaking to him, looking up into his eyes and holding his hand as she rubbed his palm with her thumb.

Then, as fast as it had come, the vision vanished leaving him back in Sharrakor's cell.

“You encountered the Aqurex." Sharrakor said and Mtehm felt his face heat. “That moment. It felt important to you. Now you have it back. You could have them all back. Enough of a demonstration to prove I have the power to help you?"

Unable to speak for a moment, reeling from the memory Sharrakor had shown him Mtehm nodded. While the vision was vanished the memory of it slipped into a space in his mind, a space he'd been unaware existed until Sharrakor had shown it to him. If Sharrakor had the power to undo the magical curse of the Aqurex, something that even Atterseem had been unable to do, then he was a very powerful Anerian. There was only one thing to do, Mtehm raised his sunstone. “Sharrakor. I accept you as my Shadowspirit."

“Excellent. Now set me free. Gather the rest of your Chosen. Perform the same rite that allowed you to enter."

Mtehm frowned. “Rite? What rite? All we did was use Castle's wings. Castle come here." The dragon had been keeping quiet in Lanelle's arms, half buried in her cloak as he'd watched the exchange between Mtehm and Sharrakor. Now hearing his name he scrambled, Lanelle coming forward to let him down to the floor. Castle scampered around Mtehm's feet and then stopped in front of him.

Sharrakor leaned his head forward seeking to see through the glass. “What is that beast?"

“The one who will set you free." Mtehm replied, crouching down behind Castle. “Lanelle? Your light please."

Lanelle found her own sunstone and held it out. “You sure about this?"

“I'm sure,. Sharrakor's the best Anerian I could have hoped to find. I'm sure he's the one Atterseem was hoping we'd find here."

“All right." A beam of pure royal violet leaped forth, piercing the crystal.

Sharrakor gave a start as if a Spark of Destruction had caught him unawares, “Atterseem? That name-" he got cut off as the light from Lanelle's sunstone blinded him, forcing him to flinch back.

“Castle! Now!" White light poured from Mtehm's sunstone and with a cry of “Awk!" Castle raised all six of his wings into the path of the beam.

Sharrakor, recovering from the light swept forward again just in time to see the light shatter through their structure striking through the glass. The six beams lensed, converged and came together, severing the golden chain which fell to the ground with a clatter.

“SERAPHRIM! BETRAYER!" Though it was the magic of the Chosen that turned the glass barrier to powder Sharrakor's howl was so loud that it seemed to destroy the barrier. The glass prison became fine grained sand and fell, rushing out across the floor in a wave. Freed Sharrakor roared forward before either Chosen could react and ripped Castle from the floor. Expanding in size and carrying the dragon by the neck to the far side of the room where the outer door lay in ruin.

“Awk!" Castle cried out as Sharrakor fled. The shadow didn't move to escape. Instead flinging his bulk across the entry and pooling backwards into the cell to confront the Chosen in his man form. Lanelle was staggered by his passage while Mtehm, already crouched, got thrown flat. Both fought to recover themselves as Castle give a strangled yelp, held in Sharrakor's shadowed claws. Both Chosen were up, sunstones blazing as Sharrakor hurled the dragon at his feet.

Castle bounced off the stone and rolled over, lying stunned a moment as Sharrakor placed one dark foot on his chest, pinning the dragon down. “What means this?" he demanded.

“Don't hurt him!" Lanelle shouted, “Please. We don't know what you mean."

“LIES!" Sharrakor spat. “You betray yourselves. Chosen. Sent by Atterseem. In possession of Seraphrim. My ancient enemy. The betrayer. Ramellan's pet. All these years since the war and at last you seek me out. Why, to destroy me?"

Mtehm wiped at his face, fingertips coming away red with blood from above his eye. It throbbed where his head had hit the floor when he had been thrown down. A cut, not deep he hoped, but he didn't have the chance to attend to it now. “We know nothing about the war. I told you the truth, we came to this world for me to find a Shadowpartner. Castle is from our world, I made him in a game of Beastmaker. Castle is not this 'Seraphrim'. Let him go." Mtehm stoked his sunstone to a blaze, causing the air around it to crackle with random sparks as he held in a red Beam of Destruction.

Sharrakor gazed at the light for a moment as he chewed over Mtehm's words, then bent his shadowed head to regard the dragon underfoot. Scrutinizing him.

“No." the shadow wilted back at last. “You aren't him. Of course you're not him. Seraphrim is dead. I killed him." Sharrakor began to lift his foot and Mtehm started to let his spell fade. Until the shadow pushed back down heavily, crushing Castle into the stone. “Except. I know you brother. Seraphrim. Dragon. I don't know how you came to walk this world again, but you'll die again for turning against me."

“No!" Mtehm released his beam, but a shick proved Castle to be quicker. Light snapped up over his paws and he drove his claws deep into the shadow's foot.

Claws proved as effective on Sharrakor as they had on the shadow guardian above the Veil. Sharrakor howled with pain and wrenched away sending spots of shadow spattering the floor all around.

Castle sprang aside, tail lashing as the Beam of Destruction blasted over his head. Sharrakor's reaction to Castle's attack took him out of the path of the beam. Instead of taking Sharrakor's head the Beam blew through his shoulder and on through the mass of shadow blocking the entrance. Vanishing down the corridor beyond.

Sharrakor's howl redoubled. Reverberating off the walls, off the ceiling until both Mtehm and Lanelle clapped their hands over their ears. By the cacophony Mtehm knew the Beam had hurt him but it had done far less damage than a direct hit.

Sharrakor too realized he'd been lucky, with a glance down at his reforming shoulder he sneered. “Hah. You do seek to destroy me! Foul Chosen light magic. It won't help you here. I've seen all your tricks before. Now die." At his command every spot of shadow scattered around shot up in a spear. Hundreds of long needles pierced the air, and would have pierced the two Chosen and Castle too.

Mtehm, knowing he'd missed with the Beam had fallen back on the defensive. Once more conjuring light as a shield he threw a bubble of protective Blue around each of them. The spines shattered against the light. Unable to pierce through but breaking off inches away from skin.

Jerking back from the attack Mtehm used the momentum to fall in alongside Lanelle. “You okay?"

“I'm fine, you go save Castle! I'll do the shielding."

Mtehm felt a shift in the magic as she funneled her strength into his spell, taking it away from him. Mtehm nodded his thanks, if he was going to fight and bind Sharrakor he needed to focus. His was the most powerful sunstone, their best weapon in subduing Sharrakor. Splitting his concentration to protect the others could prove fatal for them all.

Aenir was a deadly place, sometimes Chosen did not return from the task of binding a shadowspirit. It was why the Lectorium encouraged graduates to work together on their hunts, powerful creatures were often easier to take down as part of a group. Like all Chosen Lanelle and Mtehm had been taught how to fight in teams using mock battles against their peers in the Lectorium's arenas. Lanelle, younger than he was, didn't quite have the same depth of experience as himself. It was logical to let her cover him. It kept her out of danger and gave her more time to react while Sharrakor wore himself down against their combined magic. It was good to have someone at his back.

Unfortunately Castle had no such training. The lizard reared back from the spines but when they broke away he gave a battle cry and launched himself like a comet at Sharrakor. Claws extended and ready to tear into darkened flesh. He snapped his wings out and stumbled in mid beat.

“Awk!" Flying proved impossible. Wings pulled at his wounded side, the rent in his chest had healed over but strength had yet to return to the muscle beneath. Castle failed to stretch the top two wings out to their full extent. Unable to compensate for the sudden unexpected lack of lift they sent the dragon tumbling to the stone. Sharrakor retreated out of range of Castle's flashing claws and laughed as he went sprawling.

“Castle!" Hearing the dragon's pain and seeing him fall Mtehm charged to his aid, sunstone spitting fiery sparks but too slow.

Sharrakor swung a mighty blow at the dragon as Castle regained his feet. Heavy shadowed fist cracked into the side of his head and would have crushed the dragon's skull had the bone shield at his neck not been up. The force of Sharrakor's strike still threw Castle across the room to fetch up against the wall but the effect of the blow on Sharrakor was far greater. With a crash like the entire Dome coming down on their heads light blasted out.

Charging the air with static the energy release obliterated Sharrakor's shadowed arm. Light threw him back to vanish into and lose his form in the rest of the billowing mass blocking the exit.

Seeing Sharrakor go down Mtehm abandoned the magic he was calling and headed for Castle. Ducking through shreds of shadows that writhed up from the floor and kicking up rock dust with his boots. Dust that gritted his eyes and mouth as he dropped down next to the dragon. “Castle, are you hurt?" Castle curled at the foot of the cell wall. twisted away from Mtehm. He placed a hand on the course fur of the lizards' back.

At his touch Castle whipped about. It was his eyes that caused Mtehm to snatch his hand away. Narrowed to a point, the gold iris showing all around. Bbattle frenzy gripped him. Castle had fallen under the sway of his Heart.

With all his own heart Mtehm wanted to interpose himself between Sharrakor and the dragon but he knew that Castle would go through him to fight. In this state Mtehm couldn't even touch his dragon, he could only beg, “Please. Please don't fight him. Let me bind him. I can keep us all safe. Castle please stop."

Unheard words. Mtehm expected Castle to charge Sharrakor again, but the rage rolling off the dragon was cold, focused, as he unlimbered his bow.

“Sharrakor's getting back up Mtehm." Lanelle said. She was concentrating on her sunstone, a pale glowing star in her hands as she fed power into the wards that surrounded them. “If you're going to bind him now may be your only chance."

“I can't start the binding spell. Sharrakor'll come after us again." If he began speaking the Words of Binding the ritual would take several minutes to complete. During which he'd be unable to cast any other magic. With only her small sunstone to rely on for shielding stopping a few attacks from Sharrakor the way Mtehm had blunted the one earlier Lanelle would exhaust herself.

“You're going to have to do something." She said gripping her stone, “Here he comes."

Sharrakor came boiling out of his shadow in a rage. The wispy snakes of shadow nearest Mtehm hardened once more at his command. Snapping forward they lashed at Mtehm and Castle, bouncing off Lanelle's ward. Lanelle grunted as each strike fell feeling the blows through her connection. Mtehm glanced over, as he had feared her suntone showed signs of distress, colors shedding off it that had no part in the spell she wove. He needed Sharrakor refocused on him. “Sharrakor! Stop this. You gave me your word that you would become my servant if I freed you."

“Servant?" Sharrakor spat in disgust. “You spoke of partners. I believed you offered an alliance. I respected that because of the blood of Ramellan in your veins that allows you to carry the light of your world. I thought my penance served for the years spent in the madness of my mind, but it isn't so is it? You offer one cage for another."

Ramellan's blood flowed in his veins? That confirmed Ramellan was of the Chosen but failed to explain more. No one, Anerian or Chosen had ever described the figure that Sharrakor spoke of. Was he important or had Sharrakor truly fallen to madness in his time imprisoned? The reason mattered not, Sharrakor was trying to destroy his friends and Mtehm could not allow it to happen. “Lanelle how long can you hold him?"

“A minute – maybe less." she revised as another wave of shadow broke upon them. Castle was taking his time stringing his bow. Heedless of the struggle and the wavering light of Lanelle's ward that protected him. “Mtehm, you got something big enough to take him down?"

“I hope so." he replied.

“Then do it!"

Mtehm nodded and grasped his sunstone allowing power to flow. It was a revision of the spell that Orion had taught him. The gauntlets that had allowed him to climb the tower. Joints of green and plates of blue they covered his hands, but a pair of gauntlets were no match against Sharrakor. Layering light into the spell he forged red and orange. Calling vambraces that settled over his arms. Yellow too and a breastplate appeared. With indigo he completed the armor, boots with greaves and a helm for his head. Last violet twined out from his stone, forming around it and he moved his hands from stone to grip. Taking hold of the hilt of a longsword with both hands. Mtehm swung the new forged blade. Weighted by his stone embedded in the pommel it swung with ease through the shadows that encircled them.

Lanelle gasped with relief as the pressure vanished from her wards. She let them fade, sunstone dimming with spent power.

Mtehm pointed the tip of the blade at Sharrakor. “Last chance. Allow me to bind you."

“You aren't Ramellan little Chosen. You don some pretty chromatic armor, you rely on stolen magic and you bring a facsimile of ancient foes to taunt me. You would make me your servant? I am the Dark King of Aenir!" Raising one hand Sharrakor loosed a pulse of shadow at him. Lanelle's wards gone Mtehm braced to meet it, cutting down with his sword. Cleaved the shadows faded away.

“You call yourself King of Aenir. There is no such thing, not anymore. The Chosen Emperor claimed dominion of Aenir. Oh light." Like a Beastmaker card slotting home Mtehm understood. The Emperor, not the current one but his ancestor who had fought the war had one that. The first Chosen Emperor, but that was his title. The man had a name too and Mtehm knew it. All Chosen did, it was a name from a fairytale.

Ramellan. First Emperor of the Chosen. The man who had raised the Veil.

Sharrakor was not done. A barrage of shadows flew at Mtehm,. Overcome with the realization of who he had freed his swordpoint dropped for a fraction of a second. “Mtehm, watch out!" Lanelle cried out a warning as she saw him falter. He turned away from the attack to look at her.

Four golden arrows blew past his head. Destroying the shadows that had been about to impale him they streaked on. Sharrakor spotting them coming wrapped his own shadow about himself. Four bolts of light struck a moment later digging deep into the black shell he'd formed. Sharrakor threw the shell open, discarding the shadow like a cloak as the light of the arrows began to spread. “Beast. Incarnation of Seraphrim. You dare approximate his power? My darkness destroyed you once will take you again."

“Awk!" Castle cried in defiance already drawing his bowstring for another shot.

Seraphrim. Knowing that Ramellan had been the first Emperor was the clue to make the name ring true. Mtehm now knew what, or rather, who Seraphrim was.

The name belonged to first Aenirian to agree to the pact and become bound to a Chosen. Ramellan and Seraphrim. Danir, Ramellan's wife. The Chosen and the free Aenirians They had all stood together against Sharrakor as his army as they had sought to break through into his world. Mtehm glanced at Castle, at Lanelle. How could the three of them hope to fight such an ancient foe? No magic he could conjure was powerful enough to destroy this last vestige of the ancient war.

Except, Sharrakor had been wrong. There was one trick that Mtehm had that his ancestor had lacked. The Word. The Chosen had locked Sharrakor away before it had ever been used in Aenir.

With enough magic if he could hit Sharrakor hard enough that he stayed down Mtehm could bind him. Mtehm weighed his shadow splitting sword in his hand. He had the tool for the job, if he could find an opening.

An opening came from Castle, the lizard unleashed a salvo of shots from his bow, snapping off several brilliant shafts against Sharrakor. The shadow fell back, fending with shadows that he summoned to leap from the ground into the path of the oncoming bolts. Their light faded out before reaching Sharrakor tore apart many shadows before they vanished. It was into the hole in the darkness that Mtehm stepped hewing aside shadows with his blade.

“Hated Chosen. You don't have the power to stand against me." Sharrakor's form diminished as he sent more shadows curling forward to meet the edge of Mtehm's blade. Blocking left and right against the encroaching darkness Mtehm grunted with the effort of keeping his sword moving and solid, fed with light. Pain laced through his muscles and the sharp glass dust from the collapse of the wall tore his throat as he gulped it down between swings.

Desperate he forced himself forward and stumbled as the shadows bore down on him. Armor pulsed with light where shadows touched and they faded away, but each pulse came weaker. He was failing. Sharrakor sensed it too and raised his arms ready to crush Mtehm in a world of darkness.

“Mtehm! Take it, the last of my power!" Lanelle had scrambled over to Castle. She pressed her sunstone against the dragon's back.

“AWK!" Castle's wings flared open, catching the violet blaze that flowed through them from Lanelle's sunstone. Hauling back on his string an arrow flared into life. Shining violet it coruscated with energy as Lanelle's sunstone went black. The bone bow creaked, limbs folding back as Castle drew past his chin to his shoulder. His wounded shoulder. Castle roared in pain as flesh split and his claws slid from the string. Castle howled and dropped his injured arm as the bow snapped forward, sending the arrow hurtling at Sharrakor with a thunder crack.

With all his shadows concentrated on Mtehm Sharrakor could not withdraw fast enough to defend. The violet arrow took him high in the chest. Screaming Sharrakor stood against it, light cracking off in bolts to blast pits in the cell's stone. Taking chunks from the roof and walls as the shaft sought to sink true.

Sharrakor's form was in flux, twisting as he fought back and he reached forward to grip the arrow. Once, Twice. Arms breaking apart and reforming. Thrice and he gripped it at last and though the light ate his dark flesh Sharrakor bled away the power that sought to burst through him.

Light and dark shrieked against each other and died away.

Much diminished Sharrakor slumped back. Shadows absconding to the corners of the cell, but no light remained to chase them. “Hah." Sharrakor fingered an inch deep hole in the center of his chest, though they raced about the wound no shadows could fill it. “Chosen and Seraphrim together. Not enough, not this time."

“Yes it was!"

Violet sword aflame Mtehm had cut a path while Sharrakor was distracted diffusing Castle's arrow. Now, light gauntlets offering a firm grip, he pressed his blade to the shadow's neck as he tacked Sharrakor. “Gahk!" Sharrakor cried out as Mtehm's charge carried them both to the floor. Mtehm landed on top pressing down with both ends of the sword. Double edged the blade cut into his left gauntlet as his sunstone sparked under his right.

Be bound shadow!" he yelled and began the Prayer to Asteyr.

By the light of his sword Mtehm's natural shadow flexed and became separated from him. Cold rushed into the space, turning Mtehm's breath to puffs of mist as he chanted. His own natural shadow responded. Folding around him it advanced on Sharrakor as the light moved through all seven colors and cast it in pitch black.

Staring up at him Sharrakor twitched in alarm, “What? A Chosen wields Shadowmagic? How can this be? Light is your domain, the shadows belong to Aenir!" His panic grew as Mtehm's shadow pressed its palms to Sharrakor's chest. Any moment now it would pour inside and the binding would be complete. It wasn't a true binding. There were important steps to the ritual that Mtehm had had to forgo, but with the most important step of sharing the shadow complete the binding would be strong enough that Sharrakor would be unable to oppose his will. A more complete rendition of the ritual could be performed later when he returned to the castle. Mtehm had done it. Sharrakor, king of Aenir was his.

Shick

It was almost the familiar sound and Mtehm glanced over at Castle. The dragon was still over near the wall of the cell, bow out held. Lanelle sat and leaned against the wall behind him. The shock on her face told Mtehm that something was wrong but his eyes couldn't pick it out. Still he knew that it was not Castle's claws that had made the sound.

“Awk." Castle said in a very small voice, red blood collecting at his nose and mouth.

“Castle!" Lanelle cried. She dived forwards, catching the dragon as he crumpled. A spike of shadow that had impaled him withdrawing from his body.

Mtehm, still chanting, followed the line of shadow across the stone floor all the way to Sharrakor's out flung hand. He threw a look towards Lanelle, she'd gathered the dragon up. Grief and shock showed in her face, but there was no urgency there. Dark her sunstone may be but she didn't react at all. Lanelle, his violet girl who had fought the wilds of Aenir with him didn't make a move to help the dragon she loved.

Mtehm knew. In that moment he knew that Castle was dead.

“No." His own shadow flickered out of existence as the word, torn from his heart broke the Prayer, it vanished from his lips and his mind leaving a void in place. He could think of nothing. Numb Mtehm pulled away from Sharrakor, violet blade forgotten and hanging in his hand.

He made it two wobbling steps towards Castle before Sharrakor roaring in triumph slammed into his back. Claws screamed against his armor, shredding the pack he wore and catching under his helm. Mtehm was lifted into the air and thrown several stretches, landing with a thud. Belongings bouncing around him. The carved wooden box Harban had given him landed an inch from his nose, its lid popping off and the contents scattering. Mtehm blinked at it, he'd not felt the hit.

Pulling himself to his knees Mtehm crawled the rest of the way to Lanelle.

She looked up from the body of the dragon she held as he came. Her tears rolled down her face to dampen the hem of her gown and Castle's fur where she had her hand pressed against him. Her fingers red with his blood. Her robe black. “I, the wards. I had no magic left."

Mtehm felt his gut twist, she blamed herself but Mtehm knew it was him that had been weak. If his magic had been stronger he could have fought through the shadows sooner. If she hadn't had to lend her power to Castle to save him the dragon would still be alive.

Now? It didn't matter. Mtehm touched her cheek and then picked up her sunstone.

Somehow he'd managed to hold onto his sword. A useless weapon, he dismissed it and then holding the two sunstones in opposite hands with her watching he tapped them together. The sunstones sparked against each other and a tiny light flickered in Lanelle's darkened stone. Burning as a tiny ember inside. Taking her hand from Castle's still body he pressed his own sunstone into her hand. “What are you doing?" Lanelle gasped as he wrapped her fingers around it.

“You know the Way Lanelle." Mtehm replied choking the words out from behind the lump that constricted his throat. “Take Castle. Take him home."

“No!" She grabbed his wrist with her other hand, “You can't fight him with that, and Castle. You, you need to ward him, to keep him safe when we cross."

Mtehm glanced down at his dragon's body and then drew his wrist from her grasp. “I don't think it matters anymore." he replied and turned away to face Sharrakor. Naked stood, a wisp of power at his command. Eternally grateful when the first words of the Way sounded in the cell. In a moment Lanelle would be gone. She at least would be safe.

Sharrakor had been idle, wounded himself he had been biding his time. Seraphrim was dead, the Chosen spent but Mtehm had hoped that the shadow would still be wary. The blow that had thrown him had been but a desperate reaction, but as Lanelle spoke the Way Sharrakor gathered all his remaining shadows and charged towards them.

Mtehm cursed himself for a fool, the monster had known Ramellan, had been to their world, he knew what the Way meant. Mtehm had hoped to sell his life, buying time for Lanelle to cross but had only a second to react as Sharrakor closed. As the glimmer of the Way fell over his eyes Mtehm called the most powerful, radiant shield he could. The last spark flew from the stone, unfolding in front of him in all seven colors.

Sharrakor struck the shield with all his might and for one precious, infinite second it held. Cracking and breaking and with it the stone in his hands. Then both exploded. Mtehm blinked as Sharrakor shot past him and he opened his eyes to white.

The dust sheet gave a slight flutter as the sunstone in Mtehm's hands crumbled into dust, a breath of wind all that remained of its violent destruction in Aenir.

Lungs not used in weeks, fed all that time by magic, once more pulled in air. Flesh felt different, he'd gotten used to his Aenirian body. This one was heavy, and it hurt. His forehead and back the most, the injuries he'd gained in Aenir persisting in his own world.

His own world. Lanelle must have thrown the Way wide and pulled them both across, and the speed that she had done it! A moment later and Sharrakor would have spitted them both.

Lanelle's shadowguard must have felt her return for it had adopted the form of a small cat and was busy at her shoulder licking her ear and cheek. She lay face down at Mtehm's feet where the Way had dropped her during the first crossing, his own sunstone now gripped in her out flung hand.

She groaned in response to her shadowguard's overjoyment and turned her head away from the creature. She was alive and back with him!

Mtehm's heart soared, and then he remembered Castle. The dragon lay curled with his head tucked into Mtehm's hip. Tacky, sticky still damp blood extended in a half circle from his belly, mingling with the long dried and desiccated irregular patch that sprouted beneath his shoulder. Castle had his hurts too. Aenir might be a dream world but its consequences were real. His eye was almost closed, the barest hint of dulled gold showing cloudy beneath the lid.

No dream this, Castle was still dead.

“Lanelle? Wake up. We made it back." He jostled her shoulder until she picked herself off the floor. She glanced at Castle. “He-" Mtehm shook his head and had to look down, he couldn't stand the pain in her violet eyes. Lifting and arm he ran his fingers through Castle's fur.

“Arrrrh" with a roar Castle reared up throwing off Mtehm's hand. Or rather his body did. The voice that came from the dragon did not belong to Castle. Jerking like a marionette his body hung just for a moment before it slumped back down. Strings cut as Sharrakor tore his way free. Lanelle and Mtehm grabbing hold of each other in fright scrambled back from the dragon's body, both yelling with dismay.

“How did he get here?" Lanelle cried.

Mtehm had a sudden memory of Sharrakor dashing past him as the Way had opened. He'd thought the shadow had gone after Lanelle, seeking to stop her spell. “He hitched a ride inside Castle!" the thought made Mtehm sick but it did explain why Castle's corpse had not dissolved in the crossing without being warded. Sharrakor had been forced to keep it intact during the crossing.

Such an effort had cost Sharrakor dearly. “Ahg... gar... uhr." Sharrakor panted with pain standing over Castle, dark blobs of shadow streamed down onto his form from a multitude of injuries. Inert shadow that fled Sharrakor's control, the creature had not the strength to hold his own form together. Mtehm wondered why, had crossing over finished him or was it more than that? The wounds were deep, true, but Mtehm could not see how they mattered to a shadow.

Sharrakor was dying in front of his eyes. It was as if all energy had vanished from the ancient king of Aenir, or as if it were being blocked.

Mtehm's eyes flickered upwards. The Veil. Aenir was gone, the only source of life in this world was the sun, locked safely away behind impenetrable darkness high above. Sharrakor staggered sideways and collapsed, thrashing like a cave fish on dry land. Lanelle looked at him in disgust, “Ugh. Begone beast." she uttered and raised Mtehm's sunstone, it responding to her touch with the magic of the trapped sun's light.

“NO!" Mtehm shouted and made a desperate grab for the stone, but too late. Weakened and falling apart back in Aenir the red Ray of Destruction would have vaporized Sharrakor. Here in this world it threw shadow into stark relief. Even though the magic had been meant to destroy Sharrakor feasted on it. Before the Ray could touch him he whipped around it, following the magic back to the source.

In Aenir the sunstone was only a weapon of the Chosen, here under the Veil it was also life to a shadowspirit. Except Sharrakor wasn't a shadowspirit, he was a free shadow, unbeholden to the commands of a master. With one deft swipe Sharrakor snatched it from Lanelle's hands. Mtehm fell across Lanelle, his fingers brushing the stone as Sharrakor claimed it. “Mine!" he howled in triumph.

Three brilliant white flashes lit the room in quick succession. Mtehm avoided being blinded, his face buried in Lanelle's robe. Lanelle was not as lucky and got to witness Sharrakor's return to power, fueled by the sunstone's power. Lashed by light the big table overturned, throwing all the delicate crystal instruments to the ground in a cascading crash. By the time Mtehm untangled himself Sharrakor once more stood his full height over the Chosen.

Lanelle blinked, trying to get her vision back to normal. From the way she peered at the shadow she at least she could still see but couldn't make out much detail. She screamed and grabbed Mtehm's arm.

Able to see things better Mtehm was horrified by Sharrakor's visage. Sharrakor had grown even bigger than he had been in the cell, now taking up most of the disused classroom. He wasn't terrified by this recovery. It was clear that Sharrakor had forgotten all about the Chosen. He stood turning Mtehm's sunstone in one hand, peering into the depths as it throbbed with a soft light. Connected to the stone Mtehm felt felt the same throbbing in his head, and with it came a word repeated over and over. “Sun." He and Sharrakor spoke it aloud in unison.

Sharrakor was enchanted. Mtehm could feel it. There was only the sun, the ultimate source of power. Sharrakor coveted it with every fiber of his being. Shaking off the effect of the bond to Sharrakor's mind Mtehm pulled at Lanelle, “We cant let him get out of the tower."

“We can't fight him! Neither of us had a sunstone."

Mtehm cast about looking for anything that may help. “There!" He said, his gaze finding Castle's bow amidst the ruins of the tumbled crystal machines, upset from their place of somnolence. He dived for it and caught it up.

“By the light, how does Castle draw this thing?" Though the bone bow was no more than the length of his forearm Mtehm found it impossible to draw more than a stretch. An arrow of light appeared but it was a faded ghost that winked in and out of existence as Mtehm struggled with the weapon.

Drawing was difficult enough, aiming proved impossible and Sharrakor wasn't waiting. He wanted the sun and was going after it. A crash shook the room as Sharrakor threw himself upwards. One blow, two. Each cracking crystal and sending shards crashing into the room below. “Get under the table." Lanelle yelled, covering her head and pulling at the overturned structure. Heeding the danger Mtehm went to assist. Together they managed to right it as Sharrakor struck a third blow, tearing through the ceiling and showering the room below.

Beneath the table Mtehm and Lanelle sheltered while the sound of smashing crystal petered out. When they judged it safe to move they crawled out. “One heck of a hole." Mtehm commented looking up. Sharrakor had punched all the way through into the corridor above, “You think he could have just used the door." At least he hadn't continued straight up, instead vanishing off into the depths of the castle to look for a way outside.

“Everyone in this part of the castle will have heard that." Lanelle pointed out, “Guards will be on their way."

Mtehm glanced down at the bow in his hand and then at Castle's body still sprawled out on the floor. “That might be for the best. Sharrakor's far more powerful in this world. If he's able to harness the sun there's no telling what he may be capable of. He could have the power destroy the whole castle."

Lanelle stared, her shadowguard racing to her shoulder. “We need to warn the Chosen. Now!"

“He'll have to get past the Veil first, but let's go quick. With my sunstone in his control I'm not sure it can hold him." Mtehm paused just long enough to recover the old dust sheet and tuck it around Castle's still form. It wrenched his heart to leave the dragon in such a state but the lives of all the Chosen now depended on them. Boots crunching on broken crystal they left the room.

They headed up, skirting about the hole that Sharrakor had made. A glitter of crushed stone pointed the way the Shadow had gone, headed deeper into the castle. Headed the wrong way, Sharrakor knew not the layout of the vast Chosen structure. Still it was only a matter of time before he stumbled on one of the main stairwells, from there it would be easy to get into any of the towers and to the outside.

“Let's head for the higher order towers." Mtehm said, “Hopefully we can persuade someone to raise the alarm. If Sharrakor breaks through the Veil we're are going to need some powerful Chosen to fight him." Indigo or even Blue mages would suffice. Guards had training for dealing with wild Aenirians. Aenir was the reason why the Castle had a military force.

“Oh, they'll raise it all right." Lanelle replied touching her violet collar.

“Oh right." Mtehm grinned, rank had its privileges. As they game nearer the heart of the castle Mtehm expected to find more and more Chosen but every corridor they turned into remained deserted.

“Where is everyone?" Mtehm cried as they rounded another corner into another empty hall. It didn't make sense. They were near the arenas, this time of day this part of the Castle should have been heaving with Chosen discussing matters of magic and light on their way home or to the gyms. “This is ridiculous. Has everyone vanished?" he skidded to a halt recognizing a particular doorway. Shoving his head inside he glanced around. The common room was tidy, everything put away. Chairs placed up on the tables.

“Well they didn't leave in a hurry." he remarked to Lanelle.

She looked around too and then, despite her face being flushed from trekking through the castle managed to grow several shades paler. “Mtehm? How long were we underneath the dome?"

He scratched his head. “I don't really know. Uh oh." racing inside the room Mtehm located the first sunstone shard that was larger than a sliver and slapped his hand to it. It flashed and he read off the colors. Lanelle watching saw it too. It was past noon, on the Day of Ascension.

“Oh, they're gone aren't they?" Lanelle cried, “That's why we haven't found anyone, they've all gone over to Aenir."

Mtehm whirled about, “They can't all be gone." The castle was dead quiet but that didn't mean there wouldn't still be Chosen about. Unfortunately the Chosen he needed the most, those with experience dealing with powerful Aenirians would have been the first to use the Way. It was the responsibility of the guards to secure the Vale of the Chosen and to travel the Chosen roads making sure they were still functioning and safe. “There's always people in the castle. Someone had to stay behind to run the place."

“Yeah," Lanelle agreed grimly, “Servants. The only people who don't cross over are the Underfolk. They can't help us, they don't have magic."

“Neither do we." Mtehm lamented, if only he still had his sunstone it would be a simple matter to cross over to the Aenirian plane and return with reinforcements. He needed another sunstone, but the only other one he was familiar with was the one Hanth had left Orion, and no doubt that had gone to Aenir with him and Mtehm's brother. A roll of distant thunder came to the edge of Mtehm's hearing. A storm rolling in, this close to the arenas he could hear it, some of the nearby ones were open to the outside.

Outside. Maybe he could climb to the Veil again and claim a new sunstone. Mtehm dismissed the idea as soon as it occurred to him. He had no light gauntlets this time to aid the climb and no Castle to save him from falling, and the thunder was rolling now. It would be suicide to attempt a climb in the middle of a storm. Wait, there was something strange about the thunder.

“What are we going-."

Mtehm quickly shushed Lanelle. “Do you hear that?" he asked pointing upwards. She halted for a moment listening then frowned as she heard it too.

“A storm. Why's that important?"

“It is. Listen." Mtehm replied, he held out his hand in a fist. At the next rumble he started raising fingers, counting of the seconds.

“What're you up to?" Another rumble and he started again. “That only works when you can see the lightning flash. You can't tell the distance of a storm by measuring between thundercracks. It doesn't work that way, it's the speed of oh."

She had twigged but Mtehm kept going. Rumble. One, two, three, four, five. Rumble. One, two, three, four, five. Rumble. “How many storms have you seen that have that kind of timing." Mtehm asked.

Lanelle shook her head, “If it's not a storm."

“Sharrakor." Mtehm finished pressing his lips thin in a grimace. “He's trying to get through the Veil. Come on, we need to see where he is."

There was no storm outside. Only a strong wind that carried the smallest burden of ice to stung Mtehm's face as they entered the arena. He put up an arm to block it even as he spotted Sharrakor, or rather light from the magic Sharrakor was using. The shadow was impossible to make out against the pitch black of the Veil above but no one could have missed the light. It crackled out from a point in the distance, illuminating the broadside of one of the towers and throwing it into garish shades of red, violet, and indigo before the magic was sucked away up into the Veil.

“Doesn't look like he's having much success." Lanelle said, her voice loud in his ear as she spoke over the tumult of the wind. Mtehm agreed, each blast faded into the Veil but then as he looked closer he saw that the light did not fail completely.

Directly above Mtehm's beacon of a flashing sunstone a sliver of light stayed and gleamed wanly against the black. “There! There's a crack in the Veil. Sharrakor's forcing it open."

Lanelle squinted, “You sure? Your eyes must be better than mine."

Mtehm nodded, he was now certain that it was only a matter of time before Sharrakor broke through. “We need to get up there, before he forces it any wider. Which tower is that?" With the light show going on it was difficult to make out the true color of the crystal tower.

“Violet." Lanelle replied. Mtehm almost asked her how she knew, then realized that was nonsensical. Of course she recognized her home. “Let's go. I can lead the way." She took off at a run across the arena, headed for a doorway on the opposite side but not before Mtehm caught the fear that pitched her voice and drew taught her face. A few stretches later Mtehm fell in beside her close enough to notice her shadowguard on her shoulder had become an asp. The same shape it had adopted the first time he'd met her, it was picking up on her fear too.

He elbowed her as they ran, it wasn't Sharrakor that had her frightened, she had faced the monster stoutly before. Something else was on her mind. “You have family up there?" Mtehm guessed, it was what would frighten him if Sharrakor was raging around the green tower. By Aenir, it did frighten him, somewhere back at home Ria and Orion would be sleeping unaware of the danger Mtehm had put them in.

“My father. He'll be up there." Lanelle said, flicking a wrist towards the spire. Mtehm blinked, that didn't make much sense since dwellings for the Chosen were much lower down. The upper floors were for matters of state. With everyone in Aenir the towers should be empty of Chosen but he didn't stop to question her.

They skirted through the edge of the Blue portion of the castle, Lanelle winding her way about. It was good that she was familiar with this part of the Castle. Mtehm had not spent too much time around towers of a higher order than his own. Had Mtehm been alone he would have become lost without a sunstone to use to guide him. Sure there were small shards set into the walls that would suffice but he'd be stopping to check them to make sure he was on the right path every few seconds.

The inside of the Castle was a warren to get lost in but Sharrakor had found his way out of the maze, though the shadow had probably headed straight for the Veil as soon as he'd chanced upon open sky.

Lanelle turned away from the Blue quarter and up one of the main stairwells that ran like arteries through the structure. Through the indigo quarter they went until Lanelle pulled him into a side corridor. “This way, I used to use it all the time when I was getting away from nanny."

'It' was a goods lift at he end of a short hallway. Powered by Chosen magic they were used to move goods from all the way down at the bottom of the castle where the Underfolk farmed. By luck it was already at their level. Mtehm stepped onto the platform and went through his pockets then shook his head in annoyance with himself. It was hard to break habits that he'd had all his life. “How're we going to get this moving without magic?" Mtehm asked, he was regretting not taking the time to go past home. It was a pointless task to want to check on Ria and Orion. Their bodies might be in this world but their souls were a world away, but he could have picked up a minor sunstone while he was there and while one small stone would be no help at all against Sharrakor it would be a comfort for him to have.

“We climb up." Lanelle replied making her way over to the wall. Slots cut into the crystal work there formed a rough ladder that stretched up the shaft. Mtehm looked up as she placed a foot on and started climbing.

“That's a long way." he said his voice echoing in the shaft.

“It'll be faster climbing than going around,. We don't need to climb all the way we only need to get to the next platform. Then it's a straight cross over into the Violet tower." Lanelle said, her breath coming shorter. She sped up the wall going hand over hand and he wondered how many times she'd used this path to escape her lessons.

Mtehm went after her and was soon wishing that he had her rhythm, it felt like every rung he bashed his knuckles on the rock or stumbled a foothold. At least there was little danger of falling, the holds were wide and deep and easy to hold onto, no need for gauntlets on this climb. Lanelle soon vanished up the side of the next platform above. Mtehm taking the last few stretches apace.

Their route beyond the elevator took them past a chunk of Indigo level housing. Mtehm had to restrain himself from bashing on each door they passed, there would be no occupants home to hear him. Instead he followed Lanelle until they arrived at the foot of the Violet tower.

“The tower goes all the way up through the Veil." Lanelle said, “We're not allowed up there but if we can get halfway we can get outside before Sharrakor breaks through. Without our sunstones we'll need to time it just right to stand a chance, it'll take a lot of power to force a hole in the Veil and hold it open. You should take the shot just as Sharrakor tries to go through."

Mtehm hefted the bow, “Back when I first met Castle he shot a sunstone with this. It overloaded. Since it's much bigger I think that if I can hit my sunstone the blast will cripple Sharrakor and without a source of energy to draw on the Veil will do the rest."

Lanelle nodded but looked doubtful. “Are you sure you can make the shot?"

Mtehm's mind flashed back to Sharrakor dissolving Castle's arrow under the Dome. There was no way Mtehm could replicate the feat, but with Sharrakor focused on the Veil there was a chance his best would be good enough. “Get me close enough. We need to take him by surprise."

They hurried up the main stairwell of the tower listening to the thudding as Sharrakor sunk charge after charge of power into the blackness of the Veil. Here in the Violet tower they could feel tremors from the magic reverberating through the stone it as well as hear it. The sounds almost obscured the tread of boots on the floor above.

“Do you hear?" Mtehm and Lanelle both started, then stared at each other. “Someone else!" Lanelle finished. Stopping Mtehm put his hands on the bannister and stuck his head out over the edge to look up. “Ho! Someone there?" He called, the footsteps stopped. Mtehm expected to see the face of an Underfolk, clad in their white robes but when the person above leaned over the edge Mtehm found himself looking up at a Chosen he knew well. “Korres?"

“Mtehm? What in the light are you doing here?" Korres yelled back.

“Saving the castle." He replied as another boom echoed from outside. Korres cupped his ear, “What?"

Mtehm tried again to make himself heard but Korres just shook his head so Mtehm waved up at him, “Stay there. We'll come up."

“Who's Korres?" Lanelle asked as he pulled himself back in

“My friend," Mtehm answered, “I've told you about him, he's the on that created the game board that Castle came from. Come on, he'll have a sunstone. He can get across to Aenir and get us help." Mtehm took the stairs two at a time, the last time he'd seen Korres his friend had been being dragged away by two officers of the light. It seemed impossible that he was in the castle climbing the same tower, yet as Mtehm rounded the landing there his friend stood.

Mtehm threw himself up the few steps between them, he didn't even notice the tears until he buried his face in in Korres' robe.

“Whoa, not the congratulations I was expecting." The older Chosen said putting an arm around Mtehm, his shadowpartner feline bumped its head against Mtehm's hip purring a greeting in silence. Too distraught to notice Mtehm cried against his chest. The relief of finding Korres too much to bear.

Becoming concerned Korres crouched down. “Is everything all right Mtehm? You should be across in Aenir with your brother and your houseman. What's gone wrong, where have you been?" Choking back his tears and catching his breath he eased away from Korres, wiping at his face with the sleeve of his robe. Good thing that Lanelle was taking her time, he didn't want her to see him right then.

“Your man, Orion, tried to contact me but I've been busy. I only learned you'd gone missing a few days ago. We've been thinking you would turn up somewhere safe before Ascension. I told them you would, don't worry though I've kept your little dragon friend a secret."

“Aenir." Mtehm managed to gasp out at last. “I've been in Aenir."

“Don't tell me this is because you thought they'd leave you behind now?" Korres said giving his shoulder a small shove. “Orion let your father know you were looking for a sunstone. He's left one strong enough to get you across to Aenir back in your quarters." Korres' brow creased in confusion, “But you would know that if you'd been home."

Korres looked Mtehm up and down, taking into account the disheveled robe, his hand gripping the black bow and finally glancing behind him. “Your shadow, its gone!"

For a moment Mtehm supposed that Korres might mean his shadowguard which was free roaming happily in Aenir but he looked too, following Korres' gaze. His shadow, his natural shadow was nowhere in sight. Like Korres had said, it was gone.

Of course it was, Mtehm had detached it during his attempt to bind Sharrakor. Castle's death had shocked him so badly that he'd neglected to recover it before crossing back over.

Korres had seen something else too. His jaw dropped several inches and then he hurriedly clawed out the sunstone that hung about his neck, letting rays of obsequious respect spill out. Lanelle had made it up the stairs.

“My lady!" Korres cried out as she approached and dropped to one knee.

Mtehm blinked in surprise, that was laying it on a bit thick, Lanelle only outranked him by three levels. No, wait. Just one. It was then that Mtehm noticed. “Your robes!" Korres was not dressed in his usual moss green, he now wore the brilliant cobalt robes of a shadowmaster of the Indigo order. Two whole orders in two weeks? It was unheard of. “By the light, how did you?"

Korres grabbed the front of Mtehm's robe, pulling him down. Mtehm resisted, keeping his feet but bowing to Korres' level which gave his friend the opportunity to grate, “Bow you fool." in his ear.

“What? To Lanelle?" Mtehm replied glancing back as he pushed Korres' hand away, “She may be a Violet but it's cool. Shes been helping me shadowhunt in Aenir the past couple of weeks."

That snapped Korres back to the here and now, he went pale as if he were about to faint. “Aenir? You two been in Aenir?" he squeaked out. White and blue Mtehm couldn't help but think the combination looked good on him. He pushed the thought away. Korres' new attire, new standing and whatever reason he had for still being in an empty castle when every other Chosen had left for Aenir would have to remain a mystery for now. More pressing matters were at hand, such as Sharrakor continuing to try and rent a hole in the Veil.

Lanelle, who had been waiting and becoming more irate stormed up and stamped her foot in front of Korres causing him to snap his gaze. “Yes we've been in Aenir." Lanelle quickly spoke, “And we've accidentally brought back an ancient foe of the Chosen who right now trying to get to the sun. If he does he'll absorb its power and use it to destroy the castle, killing everyone who is sleeping and removing the last obstacle stopping him from becoming the supreme ruler of two worlds."

Summary of their time in Aenir a little too succinct thought Mtehm. She had left out the part about him releasing Sharrakor from his eternal prison, but did serve to galvanize Korres to action. “Can we stop this enemy of the Chosen?"

“I don't think so." Mtehm replied, “Lanelle and I almost defeated him back in Aenir but that was before Sharrakor had access to my sunstone's power. He stole it the moment we arrived back here and was able to draw from it. He's stronger now than ever. Without our sunstones, without Castle there's no way we can take him down."

“Castle? You mean the dragon that you summoned from my Beastmaker board. I remember him. You brought him to me just before they took me. Where is he now?"

“Dead." Mtehm replied softly through the drumbeat of energy from outside, “Sharrakor killed him shortly before we returned from Aenir."

Korres looked stricken at the news, “A shame, I would have liked a closer look at him. His existence is the sole reason I'm wearing these robes. Without him I'd probably be wearing white, if they hadn't exiled me from the castle altogether."

“What do you mean?" Mtehm asked.

“After I saw you last I got locked in the Shadowmaster's dungeon for a while. Not a very nice place. They tried to get a confession out of me, but I didn't know what I was supposed to be confessing to. Eventually they got around to listening to me, instead of trying to get me to say what they wanted to hear. After I'd shown them my experiments they decided I'd unlocked a whole new branch of magic. I got new robes, new quarters, and we all started experimenting. A whole team of us, a whole team under me! Can you believe it?" Korres said with an abashed grin. “After we blew up part of the green north tower we had to move down into the Undercastle. Which was okay but we also had to continue the next full scale experiment after everyone left for Aenir. Had to get permission to stay behind to do so but it's turned out to be a fizzer I'm afraid. I was on my way back to my new quarters to do a quick writeup before grabbing the rest of my research and heading to Aenir when I heard all this going on." Korres pointed up and waved a finger in a circle, “Came to investigate and bumped into you."

Mtehm's head spun with Korres' story. “The green tower?"

“North green tower." Korres corrected, “A few research labs on the castle edge, just poof. It was unoccupied of course. No one got hurt. Strange, but everyone seemed thrilled by that failure, and this one too. I guess with new magic they're expecting to fail and learning all they can from it. We're all very exited for the next round."

“I'm glad you two are catching up." Lanelle cut in, “But in case you've forgotten if Sharrakor gets through the Veil there won't be any more experiments. He'll bring the power of the sun down on all our heads."

“Right. Of course, sorry m'lady" Korres babbled. “Let's plan to deal with this monster. If we aren't strong enough alone then we need to pull all the Chosen we can back from Aenir. That'll take some time."

“We had a plan too." Lanelle said.

“Right." Mtehm quickly outlined what they had intended to do. Korres eyed the bow. “Seems risky, the way things are shaking out we need Chosen as backup. I can go across but they're all going to be right in the middle of the Ascension ceremony. As I said, it'll take time to get anyone to listen to me. I may be in Indigo but I'm afraid I don't have much pull."

“They'll listen to me." Lanelle spoke up. “We'll cross over with you. Together we can convince them."

“Not me." Mtehm said and stepped away, “If we all go to Aenir there will be no one to guard the castle. Sharrakor could break through while we're away. You two go. I'll try the original plan."

Korres twisted at a ring on his finger until it popped off. He tossed it towards Mtehm, “Here, take that. I can spare it." Mtehm glanced down, the ring in his hands was set with a small but bright sunstone. Not a Primary sunstone but one a good deal stronger than the shards he'd been using, a few shades stronger than Lanelle's or his original sunstone, the one he'd left above the Veil, had been. It warmed as he probed it, releasing a soft glow as it recognized the presence of a new master.

“After you my lady." Korres pointed the way up to the next landing and grimaced as he sat down on hard stone. “I'd prefer a bed but this will have to do. Time might be of the essence but I'm going to get all stiff sitting here. Good thing we wont be gone long." Pulling out the sunstone that hung around his neck he patted the floor next to him. “Join me?"

Lanelle hurried forward and dropped down next to him. Korres looked up at Mtehm. “Good luck." he wished and then began to chant the Way. Mtehm watched for a minute as light covered their forms and a fine mist rose around them, then they relaxed and the magic faded. Korres' empty hand dropping to the floor.

They were in Aenir and Mtehm was alone.

He slipped the ring onto his right hand and hefted Castle's bow in the left listening to the booming of Sharrakor trying to force open the Veil. Not quite alone. Turning from the sleeping forms of his friends Mtehm climbed the tower.

The stairway narrowed as each floor fell behind him, Mtehm quickly losing count but he knew that he soon passed the highest he'd ever climbed the Violet tower. Normally there would have been guards to turn him back at every intersection, and probably to give him a deluminant for his troubles but their usual posts were devoid of their presence.

It still felt wrong to ascend the tower. Every bit of indoctrination screamed at him to turn back. He was a simple green, he didn't belong here but he had caused the disaster looming outside, threatening the castle. So, as he had that first meeting with Lanelle in the abandoned classroom he pushed aside all thoughts of rank and moved above as swiftly as he could. Some things were just too great to let fear of punishment get in the way, Castle had been one, Sharrakor was another.

The drumbeat of magic continued, an ever present assault on his ears. It reverberated around him as he came to a vast door of opaque violet crystal inlaid with gold. He knew it immediately, it marked the entrance to the Emperor's private estate. The great door stood just a little open as if to greet him. Stepping inside Mtehm saw a large and bare circular room. Standing room only, the pit he was in looked up at a podium on a balcony that overhung into the room.

A coil of stone formed a graceful causeway up to it. At the top, behind the podium was another door. Small twin to the one he'd just passed through.

“The Emperor's speaking chamber." Mtehm said to the empty space. This room was always open to the public, or rather those high powered mages who had the rank and merit to hear the Emperor speak from his pulpit, their task to relay his words to the masses beyond this room. All of them were across in Aenir now.

Continuing his rule breaking spree Mtehm strode across the floor, noting the two royal purple tapestries emblazoned with the Emperors own crest that hung from either side of the balcony. Up to the door at the top he went finding it was unlocked. No need to lock a door when it was usually well protected with highly trained mages.

The top of violet tower was laid out the same as the room he'd just passed through, a vast spiral staircase curled up but rooms, rather than empty space, filled both the interior and exterior walls. Hoping to find a way outside Mtehm tried several on his left, ignoring those on this right that couldn't possibly lead there because they backed into the tower. Most of were locked, one of the doors that did open was just storage, holding a pile of clean linen. Another was a meeting room, a broad table surrounded by chairs. Neither showed any promise of a way out and Mtehm was forced to take his search higher.

He stopped to catch his breath against wall and wondered at how many flights he had climbed. Not close to as many as he could have back in Aenir.

Continuing on he passed no more rooms. Blank stone reigned and Mtehm knew he was getting close to the Veil. Sharrakor's commotion from outside waxed and waned with increasing frequency as Mtehm went around and around inside the tower, the stairs getting smaller, steeper and then Mtehm saw it. The stonework stopped. Slicing horizontally through the tower, the stairwell ascending up into its inky infinity, was the Veil.

Mtehm cursed himself for a fool, there was no way out of the tower below the Veil. He would have to ascend through it and then drop back through to confront Sharrakor. “Into darkness once more." Mtehm murmured to himself and sprang up the stairs.

His world vanished. Having crossed the Veil once before Mtehm knew what to expect but it was still unnerved him the way the floor vanished below his feet. Cold, and the sense that he would never see light again pressed down on him, weighing against each foot tread. Each step he took he had no idea if it carried him forward. Had he fallen and become trapped in the Veil? Direction meant nothing in the oppressive black. Time even less.

Mtehm's head poked above the Veil. Gasping in a breath he threw himself down and scrambled out backwards as fast as he could before collapsing on the stone stairs a few stretches above. Laying aside Castle's bow for a moment he called light from Korres' ring, sighing with relief as warm red light washed over his chilled hands and cheeks.

His ring was not the only source of illumination, the stairway went up to an opening through which shone the late afternoon sun. Mtehm grinned, he was outside.

He approached the opening carefully, remembering the shadow guardian that had occupied the green tower. Like the green tower the steps led up to a wide, open courtyard. The top was different to his green tower. No floating stairway led off the top of this tower. Instead spires leaped skywards at regular intervals around the edge of the tower, fanning out above him to create a lattice of beams from which the wide hanging baskets that contained sunstones were suspended.

The thickest beams converged back over his head and met in the center, ends bowing downward to create a cradle for a large shrine to float above him. Mtehm ignored it and the nets was above him and hurried to the far side of the tower where he guessed Sharrakor was. No booming magic here, the Veil swallowed all sound that the ancient general worked below, but when Mtehm peered over the edge of the parapet he was shocked by what he saw. Shining on the Veil's surface, cutting through the dark was a blood red sigil that Mtehm had last seen in Aenir. One of the three that Lanelle and he had discovered in the Dome. A spoked wheel with a chunk missing from the outer rim.

Where the spokes met drew Mtehm's attention, as he watched an inner ring formed and the sigil began to split open. Whatever magic Sharrakor had worked the ritual was complete. Mtehm had arrived too late.

The Veil shuddered as it was shunted aside, creasing up as if it were solid. There was no time to descend the tower now and take Sharrakor by surprise. Weaving a spell around his arms with the help of Korres' suntone to compensate for his lack of strength Mtehm drew Castle's bow. Sighting along the glowing shaft he waited for Sharrakor to appear.

The shadow did not waste time. As soon as a hole in the Veil tore large enough he charged through. Ephemeral below the Veil Sharrakor's material body solidified in the light of the sun. He stood straight, a man twice Mtehm's height with a cloak of his own shadow, the same form as in Aenir. It did not last.

“Ah, the sun of the Chosen." Sharrakor's words reverberated around the tower, “Give me power, give me what I've waited so long for. Return my body now to me." Arms held high Sharrakor drank in the light of the sun and shadow sloughed away revealing gleaming silver skin. He kept his cloak of shadow and became a wild facsimile of a human. Plated silver scale covered his body from head to foot. Head tipped back in rapture Mtehm could make out a silhouette against the light of a sharp brow and nose. Long arms with silver claws dangled at his sides.

Clutched in one hand was Mtehm's sunstone, powerful but dulled in the light of the sun. It still made the perfect target for Mtehm's arrow. He released.

“Champion of the Chosen." Sharrakor sneered, his voice rumbling out like thunder in a clear sky. Without looking he shot out one silver arm, snatching the arrow out of the air with his free hand a moment before it struck the sunstone. He twirled it between his fingers and then tossed it away to fall into the Veil and vanish. “Your magic isn't strong enough to stand against me here under the sun." A beam of sunlight speared out with a wake of Sharrakor's hand, searing the stonework a stretch from Mtehm's head. He ducked behind the parapet, abandoning an attempt at drawing another arrow.

“Now it's my turn to offer you a deal. For freeing me I give you this chance now, the same that you offered me. Become my slave." Sharrakor laughed and floated closer.

“Never!" Mtehm yelled back. “The Chosen are the masters of shadows. Ramellan gave us that right when he defeated you during the war."

“Ramellan was a fool." Sharrakor replied, “He succeeded because my lover betrayed me and because my brother sacrificed himself. Not this time though. Atterseem is long since vanished from this world and Seraphrim's reincarnation lies dead in your castle below." Mtehm's head spun, Atterseem had been Sharrakor's lover, the silver man and the woman of blue glass? How long had the healer lived? Anger pushed the thought aside.

“His name was Castle!" Mtehm roared rising above the parapet to face the oncoming shadow. Summoning his magic he fired a swath of red Rays of Destruction.

With his cloak Sharrakor brushed them aside like a scatter of sparks. “You can't contend with me little Chosen. You think you stand on par with Danir? Ramellan? Your heroes are all gone and I return to the height of my power. Perish, as they did when they destroyed this world." Sharrakor drew back an arm, a great spar of jagged red light manifesting in his grasp. “Die!"

As the tip of the spear crashed down Mtehm threw up a shield of violet, it held as the great weapon struck but the strength behind the blow slapped Mtehm to the ground with sparks cascading around him to fizz angrily on the stone. Sharrakor twisted the shaft and Mtehm cried out, forcing all the power he had through his stone but it was no use, the shield began to fracture. Through the haze of cracks Mtehm saw the shadow descend.

At fist he was sure it was Sharrakor's cloak billowing but a moment later Sharrakor was torn from the air with a mighty roar. The tower shook as the new assailant, gripping Sharrakor in a bear hug, crashed together with the silver man into the stone.

Mtehm knew his savior. It was the Keeper, the shadow guardian he had met on his previous excursion above the Veil. Except this time the shadowed soldier seemed to be on his side. They landed badly, bouncing off the stone balustrade. The guardian atop Sharrakor was thrown wide to tumble over the floor while Sharrakor gripped the railing in an attempt to not be thrown into the Veil below. In his physical form he was limited to just ten fingers and needed all of them to hang on. Mtehm's sunstone skittered from them onto the tower. Mtehm lunged for it, got his own fingers on it and rolled into the low shadow cast by the decorative stonework around the stairwell.

Above the Veil and able to draw the sun for power the loss of the sunstone did not slow Sharrakor down at all, the silver man hurdled the balustrade.

“Seek not the treasures of the sun. I am the Keeper, and none may pass here, save those who know the Words." The swordsman guardian was back on his feet and drawing his blade. Mtehm shivered, the last time he'd heard those words he'd been claiming the sunstone now within his grasp. This time the words weren't aimed at him, Sharrakor and Keeper squared up.

“Words?" Sharrakor said scornfully, “I know all the words but if you are looking for words of this world then I have none to give you, slave of the Chosen."

“Speak the Words." said the Keeper, threatening with his sword. Sharrakor glided forward to peer close at the shadow's face. Mtehm was certain the guardian would strike, he readied himself, a blow from that black sword might cripple Sharrakor long enough for Mtehm to avenge Castle.

“Egrethor." It was just one word, and not a Chosen word but it had an immediate effect on the Keeper who stiffened like he'd been caught by a spell. “Step aside Anerian." Sharrakor commanded, “By your true name I command you."

Simple as that the great swordsman moved aside.

Mtehm stared, the guardian was bound by ritual to the Emperor. Not as his shadowspirit but under his command to guard the sunstones above the Veil. If Sharrakor could compel him so easily to go against his task then there were far more ancient forces at work. Deep magics of Aenir. At least he could not compel Mtehm in the same way, unlike the guardian he belonged to this world.

“Good." Sharrakor said, “Now come soldier, together we will tear down this wretched magic and the structure below and claim this world and its sun for our own. I shall free the Aenirians these Chosen have enslaved-"

“And rule them as king?" Mtehm shouted.

Sharrakor glanced down at him, “Of course. That is my right."

“The Aenirians fought with us to end the war, to stop you. Castle, Seraphrim, your own brother, you said he gave his life to stop you."

“Betrayers. Traitors." Sharrakor hissed, “They deserved their deaths. Allying themselves with Chosen, becoming your puppets for a glimpse of your sun. They would have destroyed Aenir. Our home."

“But instead we destroyed ours."

The words came from a new voice, strong and human. Mtehm spun about to find himself looking at another Chosen as he ascended the last few steps to the platform. The man wore robes of the purest violet, rings set with sunstones glittered on his hands and the delicate circlet set upon his head captured a thick tail of sandy hair. The face beneath sharp with youth but set with eyes dulled by learning beyond his years. There was only one man this could be.

“Yes I know who you are Sharrakor." the Emperor spoke, his voice shining like the sun above, “Scourge of the Dark World. You well know this world was not always named as such. My ancestor, Ramellan raised the Veil to stop you from invading our world. Without the sun there are no shadows. Doing so forced you back to Aenir, but without the sun there is no life. Beneath the Veil our world froze, everyone but those who gathered in the castle perished in ice."

Mtehm started, he'd never heard this history. The Chosen only went back as far as the creation of the castle according to the lessons of the Lectorium. They had never lived beyond its walls. Ramellan, aside from his status as the first Emperor featured few mentions in the history books. According to Atterseem he had ended the war in Aenir, now the man was responsible for ending the world here?

“As those you tried to leave behind in Aenir would have perished." the Emperor continued, “Every time an Aenirian forced their way into our world they took with them some of the life of Aenir. Aenir was dying, the rituals that fuel it were being stripped away and you were responsible for that, Sharrakor, with your empire built on conquest. For what? The power of our sun? Your own brother saw the wrongness of that, to let a world die for the sake of your own might."

“Enough!" Sharrakor cried, “The light of your sun is mine! You cannot stand against me."

“We did once, and this time you have no army on your side. The Chosen awaken. Soon they will come but I will have destroyed you by then." The Emperor threw his arms wide, for a moment nothing happened. Far off towards the noon day sun a great pillar of light erupted from the Veil. The red beam shot into the heavens and then on the other side of the platform an orange beam did the same. Shortly more beams sprang up, all colors of the spectrum until the last, violet, lanced up into the sky from the shrine hanging above their heads.

“You, you're controlling sunstones." Mtehm uttered in awe, he'd realized what was contained in the violet shrine, and what must be within the similar structures at the apex of the other six towers. Like the one he hadn't investigated at the top og the green tower.

“Keystones." the Emperor replied not glancing away from Sharrakor, “The most powerful Sunstones the Chosen have, the very power source of the Veil. I'll use them now to banish you, demon."

“Your light tricks cannot harm me, allow me to show you the power of your sun that burns within me now." Sharrakor threw out a hand, hurling a fire burst of plasma directly at the Emperor. Mtehm lifted his sunstone, ready to defend his leader but before he could a massive blue shield wavered into existence and the projectile splashed harmlessly against it before being absorbed. The Emperor hadn't called on any of the sunstones that he wore, the power had come from elsewhere. To control sunstones at such a distance, no matter how powerful they might be, was a monumental feat. No wonder this Violet clad Chosen was Emperor, his magic far eclipsed Mtehm's own.

Sharrakor continued to hurl fire, advancing on the Emperor until he was slashing at the shield with blazing claws. The stone underfoot began to char and then glow cherry red but the shield held firm against the onslaught. “My Lord!" Mtehm cried, he had his sunstone back, there was magic he could add to the fight.

“Hold your ground Mtehm. I will not allow this beast to destroy the castle." The Emperor said, his voice calm before the rage of Sharrakor. Mtehm had just enough time to wonder how the Emperor knew his name when the man raised his hands. Eight beams of violet light shot forth, piercing the shield and striking at Sharrakor who managed to knock one aside, and another.

As fast as he did they coiled back on themselves to wrap about limbs and neck, bringing him to a halt. The Emperor allowed the shield to fade away as he stepped through it. “The sun may have returned your body to you but you are a shadow of yourself Sharrakor. All this time you have spent imprisoned has not served you well. We, the Chosen, have only grown stronger in the dark. It's in the dark that the brightest lights shine."

Sharrakor spat at him, sparks that danced to their deaths in midair.

“And so are the Aenirians now bonded to us." The Emperor finished. With that vast wings sprouted from the shadow of the Emperor that fell on the stone behind him and his Shadowspirit rose. A great bird of prey as large as Sharrakor himself. A Gaheris. In Beastmaster it was an ultimate card that played in Special granted eternal life.

Here was the real thing, a phoenix firebird that as a shadow stood before Mtehm wreathed in black flame. Each of its mighty talons as thick about as Mtehm's thigh, wings gusting the air as it folded them to its back. “Go now." the Emperor commanded as Sharrakor struggled against his bonds, “Pluck this being's cruel heart." The Shadowspirit glided forwards and bent its head.

“Ware my lord!" Mtehm shouted, “Sharrakor can command Shadowspirits!" His warning came too late. As the great bird's beak touched the silver man's chest Sharrakor's thin lips moved, a whisper in the ear.

The Gaheris went rigid.

Mtehm's heart sank as the raptor turned to face them. Even the Emperor's own partner could not stand against the ritual command that Sharrakor held over the Aenirians. A look of distaste crossed the Emperor's face, cracking the calm mask of authority.

“Converting our allies will do you no good Sharrakor. Bound as you are you stand no hope of defeating me." In spite of his words the Emperor fell back towards the edge of the tower as his Shadowspirit advanced. There was no doubt that his magic was strong enough to slay the shadow, but to strike down his own partner? It was a cruel trick to play.

Sharrakor's gaze flicked to his light bound wrists. “Your light magic is powerful, but I grow tired of these games. It's time for me to take my place in this world. Watch now as I take on a grander form."

The light of the sun brightened, as if a cloud had moved from in front of its face, but there were no clouds above. Sharrakor's body shone in the light and flexed. His arms and face growing longer, chest broadening as it deepened. The bonds of light wavered and shrank away as his legs grew thick. The cloak of shadow became a pair of blackened wings, opening so wide that they cast a shadow across the whole tower Last a tail, scaled in silver like the rest of him coiled out behind.

Sharrakor had become a dragon.

“What is happening? Is that Castle?"

Mtehm, who had been watching spellbound by the transformation whipped his head around at Lanelle's voice. She had gained the top of the tower, climbing the stairs, and Korres followed after her.

“What in Aenir?" Korres uttered, gripping his sunstone.

“It's not Castle, It's Sharrakor!" Mtehm yelled a reply to Lanelle, “He's stolen Castle's form!"

Sharrakor, transformation complete, reached out one great scaled paw, “Despair before the power of my new body." he wrapped his claws around the back of the Gaheris' head and the great bird did not react at all, held in place by Sharrakor's spell.

“No!" the Emperor cried, all the rings on his fingers blazing into life, but too late. Sharrakor closed his fist, crushing the shadow's head on its shoulders.

Laughing in revelry at his own strength he uncurled his fingers again, allowing the great body to crash to the floor.

“GAH!" Lanelle screamed and charged but was brought up short when Korres grabbed hold of her arm.

“Lanelle?" The Emperor said, “I told you in Aenir to stay below when we got back. Go back down, quick."

“Daddy, he killed Gah!"

Sickened at Sharrakor's cruelty, striking down the firebird from behind while held immobile by Sharrakor's spell. Mtehm had been ready to leap into battle, but now he stalled. Lanelle knew the firebird? She knew the Emperor, she'd called him Dad?

He looked at her, saw her violet robe and then at the Emperor, hers was stained and tattered from the road, but there was no mistaking it. They were both precisely the same shade of purple.

"Oh no, no." Mtehm moaned aloud, he'd managed to kidnap the Empress in waiting and run off to Aenir with her. Somehow he had earned a concern to his wellbeing greater than the rampant Aenirian hellbent on total destruction of himself and the world.

Furious the Emperor rounded on Sharrakor shouting out over the clap of the dragon's wingbeats, “You would strike down your own kinsman. Do their lives mean so little to you?"

“All Aenirians serve at my pleasure, as they serve at yours." Sharrakor growled in reply, “That is the nature of power. We both have it. You use it to enslave them as shadows. I hold them in in thrall, but I don't take as much from them as yourselves. I don't take from them who they are."

It was twisted logic but it carried a thread of truth in Mtehm's ear. How was the binding of a Shadowpartner different to the tyranny that Sharrakor held over the inhabitants of Aenir? According to Atterseem it was the Chosen who had first broken the pact after the war had ended and returned to Aenir. Eventually that action had it made it a safer place for Aenir's peaceful denizens that the Chosen should seek and bind the most wild and dangerous foes they could, but how did that redeem enslaving Aenirians?

“Our Shadowpartners are our friends. Protectors and allies. We give them our own shadows that they might share in the light of our world." The Emperor argued. Mtehm's own shadowguard had been his stalwart companion all his life, even after it had been freed it had returned to show the way to the healer's hut. To harm a Shadow was no less a crime than harming a Chosen, each had the same rights. Yet the fact remained, his shadowguard had not chosen to be his companion, it had been captured and bound to him before he could even walk.

He'd been blind. About shadows. About his own history. About Lanelle too. Her, an Empress. What had they had? A few weeks running away together in Aenir. It meant nothing. Sharrakor was probably right about his own Shadowguard. Another of his friends, but when the time had come that he could bind something more powerful he had tossed it aside. Never even thought to say goodbye or thank you for helping him for so many years.

Wrong about his own quest too, he'd sought power. Not a partner. Now Castle was dead and the power he'd released had turned on them all. Useless, all his struggles had come to naught.

Mtehm looked down at his sunstone as it flickered weakly, as drained of energy as he was himself. There was nothing more he could do. Unable to clean the mess he'd made of his life.

Sharrakor touched down on the stone of the tower top, “Your Anerian friends are weak. This Veil your ancients raised to stop me? It saps them. I can feel it within their minds, they do not remember how to draw power from the light. Makes them vulnerable. Tell me Chosen, what do you think would happen if I burned your Shadow to ash? I don't think even a Gaheris would survive." Pulling his head back Sharrakor opened his mouth, an orb of plasma that mirrored the sun expanding within his jaws.

“Our partners have us!" Blue light blazed from the circlet the Emperor wore, flooding the gap between Sharrakor and the headless firebird, as Sharrakor threw his head forward unleashing hellish flame. It struck the barrier and Sharrakor back winged with a cry of pain as the fire reversed and rolled back towards him.

“Get him Daddy!" Lanelle cheered from behind Korres. She leaned on his Fisk her fingers worked into its dark fur as it stood rigid and growling at the dragon. The Emperor raised his hands but did not call on the light of the sunstones he wore. Instead he awoke magic from afar.

Above the Violet Shrine cradled in the crystal web glowed bright. From within its depths came floating a fist sized sunstone. Burning Violet it dropped like a star past Sharrakor's head and the beast snapped at it with his jaws but missed, the stone coming to rest in the Emperor's hand. “With this Keystone I'll banish you back to your prison." Holding the glowing gem aloft he stepped backwards toward Lanelle and Korres, yielding the tower floor as he spoke the first words of the Way.

Sharrakor became maddened hearing the words, he threw himself against the barrier, battering at the light with all his strength.

Mtehm moaned with fear, it was happening again just like in Aenir. Mtehm let his gaze flick about, the same senses that he used for magic screaming raw that something was amiss but try as he might he could not see it. The barrier was holding against Sharrakor. Limited by his corporeal form, this time there would be no surprise attack from the dragon. Mist sprang up to envelop him in defiance of the great gusts from Sharrakor's wings and Mtehm knew the Emperor had succeeded where he had failed.

The Way opened, and snapped shut. Light faded, and Sharrakor was – still in the world of the Chosen. Mtehm stared in confusion as the dragon dropped to the stone. Blinking Sharrakor lifted one claw and then the other. Amazed that still retained his body, could still feel the sun on his back. “Mercy?" Sharrakor rumbled in bewilderment, twisting his head.

The Emperor did not reply, he could only look down at the point of the black blade that skewered him though the chest. The man's body shuddered as the Keeper, Egrethor, the Black Swordsman, pulled his sword from Chosen leader's back. Violet robes staining ruby he fell to his knees. Half turning he held out the Violet Keystone, eyes looking past Mtehm towards Lanelle. Then his strength gave and he slumped face down, the stone bouncing from his grasp.

“My Lord!" Korres yelled.

“Daddy!"

Korres and Lanelle rushed forward to the Emperor's side. Lanelle dropping to her knees beside his still form. Castle, and now Lanelle's father? Both struck down by shadows.

Watching them Sharrakor began to laugh. “Ah. Well done Egrethor. Now kill the others and bring me that Keystone. With it I will break the Veil and we shall rule." The swordsman lurched forward brandishing his sword but Korres, his Burned Fisk bristling at his heels, challenged the shadow. Wielding light the two dueled across the tower top exchanging heavy blows.

“No. You won't." Dashing unshed tears from her eyes Lanelle grabbed hold of her father's Keystone, rising to her feet to face Sharrakor. “As rightful heir and Empress of the Chosen I will finish what my father started." Sharrakor looked down, incredulous at the young girl but never got the chance to speak.

With a clanking rattle green chains shot up from around the tower, long hooks on them catching hold of the balustrade around the tower edge. They tensed under weight. “The Chosen. They're here!" Korres said in awe, and as he spoke a massive ring of green light that encircled the entire tower rode clattering on the shortening chains to draw level with the towertop.

On it rode hundreds of Chosen and their shadowspirits, rising out of the Veil. Amidst the throng there were only two that Mtehm saw. At the front of the crowd, twin sunstones blazing green stood his old retainer Orion and his father Hanth.

The Chosen came with a wave of sound, shouts and exclamations as the denizens of the castle took in the scene, the massive Aenirian dragon and their princess, sunstone blazing as she stood over the fallen body of her father. Lanelle gazed around at the sudden appearance of the Chosen and her face hardened, “As rightful heir and Empress of the Chosen," she repeated, her voice cutting through the noise, “I command your surrender Sharrakor. You cannot stand against us all."

Sharrakor reacted in an instant, throwing himself at her with a cry of rage. Claws outstretched to rend.

He never made it, Cries of, “Protect the Emperor." and “Save the Empress." filled the air, as did the wild magic of the entire cadre of Chosen. The first wave struck and although almost all the magic bounced harmlessly off his silver scales Sharrakor was forced to the ground, warping his black wings about himself to stave off the onslaught.

Shadowspirits rushed him on mass, a dark wave that threatened to break over the dragon. Sharrakor roared back at them, a string of words that ran on and on. The line staggered, shadows falling under his sway, but as fast as they were stopped they were overtaken by another. All the while light continued to hammer Sharrakor from all sides. The Chosen advanced off the green ring, gaining the tower. “Stay back!" Sharrakor yelled, wincing with pain as a Yellow ray caught him below the eye. The magic was taking its toll, slicing through his defenses.

Abandoning the spell he sought to weave over the Shadowspirits Sharrakor opened his jaws and roared out a stream of fire. He turned in a circle as he did and the Chosen were forced back, bringing up their own personal shields to protect themselves as their shadowpartners wavered in the heat of a circular wall of flame.

Mtehm caught Lanelle and Korres looking around wildly the flame had passed well over their heads and Mtehm's own for which he was grateful. Had it been directed at them rather than an attempt to save himself Sharrakor's torrent would have incinerated them all. Instead they were trapped inside, isolated. The odd beam of light from outside still cut through the barrier but most light magic tangled in the flames and dissipated. It was created of sunfire and consumed magic within its blaze.

“You're facing a whole army of us." Lanelle said, bravely considering she stood alone but for himself and Korres trapped in the circle of fire with the dragon. “We'll destroy you!" At her words the Keystone flared, sending out a pulse all around.

It was raw magic, no Chosen spell directed the burst of energy that thudded with a hammer blow against Mtehm. Korres standing nearby dropped to his hands and knees, mirroring the Keeper he'd subdued. Sharrakor, the true target of her anger was lifted from the tower and slammed back down. He'd braced himself well, riding the shock wave and using his powerful rear legs to absorb the tower shaking impact. Flagstones cracked beneath him.

“Lanelle!" Recovering Mtehm screamed her name. She was gathering another blast but Sharrakor was on her, head snaking forward for a killing bite. The Dark General had decided to end the royal Chosen line and wasn't wasting time about it. If Lanelle fell the Chosen would lose their last leader, but she meant more than that to Mtehm.

He would not see her die as Castle had while light still flickered within his sunstone.

Mtehm snapped off a bolt of blue. Lining up his own wasted sunstone with Korres' ring, lensing the power of the larger stone through the smaller to amplify it. The bolt stabbed past Lanelle and crashed against Sharrakor's chest. The dragon grunted, jaws snapping shut a stretch from Lanelle's head, then began to howl as magic became chains that wrapped him, burning blue with cold fire.

Mtehm watched as the last of the magic faded from his stone, such a spell had taken the last of the sunlight from within. Mtehm cast the chunk of dead rock aside and walked towards Sharrakor. “I need your power." He told Lanelle, drawing up next to her.

Sharrakor thrashed, forcing claws underneath and between the links of light that held him, forcing them apart. Any second and he would be loose.

Mtehm put his hand on her arm, it shook with the power of the Keystone uncontrolled. Another burst like the one before could backfire. “Please. There's not enough strength in the Keystone to finish him alone. Give it to me instead." For a heartbeat she hesitated, unwilling to let go. Castle's bow. As he lifted it her eyes went to it and with tears falling nodded and pressed the stone against his chest.

Taking it was like someone had stabbed him with a fire poker. This was the power the Emperor had wielded? White light burned through him, searing every nerve. Tightening his focus he gritted his teeth and forced it out along his arm.

Power unfolded, the black limbs of the bow bled white and extended until Mtehm gripped a weapon almost as tall as he was. Catching the string he drew. An arrow appeared, glowing with the power of the sun but Sharrakor caught the flash and reacted, jaws pooling with sunfire. Mtehm paused.

“What are you waiting for? Shoot him!" Lanelle howled, the Keystone in her hands cracked and sparked, the smell of her skin burning invading Mtehm's senses.

“I can't. Sharrakor will burn the shaft from the air if I let go." He needed more power but there was nowhere to get it, Korres still fought the Keeper and to draw more from Lanelle would consume her. There was no way to defeat Sharrakor.

Mtehm stared at the fire dripping from the dragons jaws and closer the tiny ring on his finger wrapped about the bow. Just enough power for a shield, it wouldn't last long but it would buy him a few steps. A few steps closer and the arrow would punch through the fire, through that silver scale. Sharrakor would die and the castle would be safe. Lanelle would be safe.

And the shield would break and Mtehm would burn like a matchstick.

Well, if that was the price to pay then so be it, releasing Sharraor upon the Dark World was his sin to repent. Too many had died. “Sorry" he whispered in Lanelle's ear and with his elbow gently pushed her away. Her mouth formed an o of surprise, instantly comprehending his plan as his shield wavered into life. She made a grab for him, fingers tugging at his robe but it slipped away and Mtehm was off running, bow at full draw. Sharrakor opened his mouth, preparing to engulf him in flame when a flash of green struck Mtehm from behind.

“What?" Skidding to a halt Mtehm looked back.

There at at the far end of the platform, seen through a tiny hole they had forced in the ring of fire stood Orion and Hanth and through that tiny hole came a thread of light. Mtehm followed the strand of light to where it fed into his arrow. Another flash and a Violet line appeared. More flashes came, a spiderweb of Blue and Orange, Red, Yellow and Indigo light from every direction. More and more, tiny weak threads that wavered in the heat of the sunfire but so many. Stacking together and weaving into ropes of power they poured into and spread along the arrow's shaft casting a rainbow glow along its length.

Hesitation had cost him and Sharrakor unleashed a wall of flame. Mtehm did the only thing he could. Drawing the nock to his ear he fired.

Castle's weapon shattered. Unprotected by Lanelle's spell and unable to cope with the stress of the magic the riser burst into fragments of bone. It had held just long enough. Powered by every Chosen that ringed the tower the missile flew, splitting wide Sharrakor's fire even as the dragon poured it from his mouth in a never ending torrent. Until the shaft slipped below the point of the dragon's jaw to strike the Aenirian full in the chest.

“Arrgh!" Sharrakor whipped back, his bellow of pain echoing Mtehm's own cry as the Chosen fell to his knees. Both clutched a hand to their chests, Sharrakor's claws scrabbling at the fletching. Feathers of light, all that showed above the broken plate scale on his chest. Mtehm gripped his own ruined hand watching with teeth clenched against the pain as the arrow did its work.

Sharrakor writhed as light crept over his body. It grew bright with all the colors of the spectrum and with one final howl Sharrakor vanished.

Mtehm stared at the space where the ancient general had been. Cracked crystal flagstones and the pain that throbbed in his hand remained. The dragon was gone. Consumed by the light.

Sharrakor. Last warrior of Aenir's Dark Army had fallen.

“Mtehm! Mtehm." With Sharrakor's demise the wall of fire had extinguished itself. Suddenly people were all around. Most of the Chosen headed for Lanelle and her father but Orion dropped down beside him. Hanth followed him but stopped and hung back.

Spotting the blood soaking his cuffs Orion grabbed Mtehm's wrist and pulled it towards himself. Mtehm gulped and looked away. Judging by the pain there probably wasn't much left to look at anyway. “A healer, we need a healer here quick." Orion shouted and moments later a young lady in a yellow robe appeared. She took one look and then Mtehm felt the warm glow of a sunstone against his skin and all the feeling in his hand ebbed away.

“The thumb is broken and-"

Mtehm tuned out the rest of it and looked sharply at Orion as she worked. “Korres. The Keeper. What happened to them?"

A man, dressed in indigo and with the crest of a guardsman on his breast overheard and stopped. “The Keeper has been subdued. Without the command of the beast you've slain reason has returned to all the shadowspirits. Giving him the passwords has satiated him."

“And Korres, the man who was fighting the swordsman?" Mtehm prompted.

“Being cared for, he has sustained only minor wounds." the guard's gaze shifted to Mtehm's hand. “Would that we were all so lucky." He said and then hurried away.

“What did he mean by that?" Mtehm asked.

Orion shook his head, “The shadows that the beast spelled before he created the barrier attacked us, that's why it took so long to get through to you. No one's been badly hurt. A few broken bones and burns and the like. We were lucky to have so many of the guard corp with us, they're used to fighting shadows. Your hand will be among the worst injuries I should think."

“I'm done." the healer stood and tucked away her sunstone. Mtehm nodded his gratitude and then finally looked at his wound. It was a mess of blood, but the healer had done her job well. Whole flesh covered the gap where his index and middle fingers had been. The breaking of the bow had removed them entirely. His thumb was stiff and twisted at an odd angle and Mtehm knew he was lucky to have it at all. At least it didn't hurt and still worked.

Grimacing Mtehm dropped his sleeve over it. “Except for the Emperor." Mtehm said climbing to his feet. “He was here, the Keeper stabbed him, under Sharrakor's order." He explained seeing confusion on Orion's face.

Fear and worry replaced it. “All I saw was you and the Princess."

“The Emperor is over there." Mtehm looked to see his father waving towards a big knot of people. The old flare of anger towards Hanth went through him, but it was quashed by his need to find Lanelle. He nodded curtly and walked away.

Pushing through the crowd Mtehm heard murmurs, he was expecting a hush of mourning but instead an air of awe seemed to grip the mob. Confused Mtehm came to the front to be greeted by an unexpected sight. Healers surrounded the body of the Emperor, the glow of healing magic suffusing their faces. It didn't make sense, healing magic only worked on the living. Was the Emperor still alive? It was impossible, the sword had pierced the man's heart as Sharrakor's needle had killed Castle.

Then things became even more confusing as he spotted who was at the Emperor's head. Korres and Lanelle looked up and saw him at the same time as he saw them. “Mtehm!" Korres shouted, he rose and came to take Mtehm's arm, pulling him forward. “Quick. We need your help."

“What?" Mtehm said pulled away, “You know I have no healing ability and besides I've no sunstone."

“Korres says you can help. Mtehm please. My Dad." Lanelle said, her face aglow with the reflected light of the Keystone.

“You won't need a sunstone, we just need someone who has worked this kind of magic before to guide us." Korres tried to explain but it made no sense to Mtehm, nevertheless he allowed himself to be pulled and pushed down next to Lanelle. “We're using Gah."

“That's my dad's firebird." Lanelle interjected gesturing to where the dark hulk of the shadowspirit lay decapitated alongside the Chosen ruler's body.

“Right. That phoenix isn't going to stay dead. In a day or two it'll recover naturally, but we're speeding up the process a little." Korres pointed to the ring of healers. “Together we're going to siphon off a little of that power and hopefully," he said with a little dip of the chin towards Lanelle, “Bring your dad back from the dead."

“What? That's impossible." There was no known Chosen magic that could give life, but Mtehm trusted Korres and he clearly believed it. Lanelle too, prepared to do anything for her father. “What am I supposed to do." he asked.

“Whatever feels right." Korres cried out placing his hands around Lanelle's and cupping the Keystone. A pulse of light flashed out and a bright mist coalesced around them, blocking out the pressing faces of the Chosen that surrounded them. Mtehm gaped at it, instantly recognizing it. The last time he'd seen such a thing was at the Beastmaker game that had born Castle. Except this time he was on the inside.

“Korres? Hey, is this what you've been working on?" Mtehm touched his shoulder but he didn't move. No one did, all the healers, Korres and Lanelle were frozen in time. Part of the spell. Only Mtehm had escaped.

“Kah-ree." It was a soft chirrup that drew Mtehm's attention. A small red and yellow bird, barely larger than the Farnek owl that his own shadowguard had liked to impersonate sat on the Emperor's chest.

“You. You're Gah aren't you." Mtehm guessed. Within the confines of the spell the Emperor's shadowpartner had been reborn as a tiny chick. It wasn't a shadow either, but this wasn't Aenir. Somehow Korres had managed to open up a tiny pocket universe between the two worlds. The magic that powered the game of Beastmaker was now making a lot more sense to Mtehm.

“Kree."

Mtehm shook himself at the bird's call, he didn't have time to ponder it. “The Emperor, your partner," Mtehm said leaning on his arms towards the bird, “can you save him?"

“Rrrree" the phoenix tucked its head and preened. Mtehm frowned, “Hey, you can understand me right?" He couldn't imagine the Emperor not having an intelligent shadowspirit and what little he knew of the Gaheris reinforced that. They were supposed to be among the strongest of Aenirians.

The chick stopped its preening and hopped up on the emperor's chest to pause at the tear in his robe where the Keeper's sword had gone through. “Kah-ree" it trilled touched the Emperor with its beak before turning its head towards Mtehm.

“Korres says we can save him. With your help, but I don't know how." Mtehm told the tiny bird.

“Reeeh." If a bird could give a sad sigh then that was it.

“Oh, its okay. I'll figure out how." Mtehm cupped his hands together and lifted the bird. “I just have to figure out how to use your power. I don't have a sunstone but I just- oh." Holding the little Aenirian firebird Mtehm understood. “It's not for me to do is it? You already can. I'm here because I got caught in the spell, nothing more." He looked down at the Emperor's body, “Maybe I'm here because I'm responsible for this."

“Reeeh"

“It's going to take your life to save him, isn't it." Mtehm guessed, “You can save yourself or him. Your power only extends to one doesn't it?" The bird dipped its head. What a choice to make. Sharrakor had been wrong, whatever the nature of the bond forged between a Chosen and their Shadowpartner it could be more than master and servant.

Loyalty, trust and love. All could exist independently and when they stood on their own no other barrier mattered. It was how he felt about Castle. How he felt about Lanelle.

“You've already decided, haven't you. I know." Gently Mtehm placed the bird back on the Emperor's chest. “I had a friend too. Go on. Do what you need to."

“Kreee." With one final long call Gah bent his head and burned. A ball of sunfire that grew brighter and brighter until Mtehm was forced to close his eyes.

When he opened them again it was to find the Emperor sitting up. Lanelle had her arms about him. Her cheeks wet with shed tears,. Korres and the healers looking exhausted had withdrawn, leaving an open space between them and the crowd.

“Oh Lanelle." the Emperor was saying, “Korres' magic worked, you can see for yourself I am whole." The Emperor has his robe and undershirt open to his broad chest And Lanelle trailed her fingers across his bare skin. Until she came to shadow. Where the sword had gone through the Emperors chest was covered in darkness. A mark like a large black feather all hat was left of the wound.

“Gah?"

“Is here with me, daughter. He is part of me now the two of us are welded together in body. But focus. The dragon, and what happened to the dragon?"

“Mtehm slew it Daddy."

The Emperor looked about seeking confirmation. A thickset man sporting a graying, off kilter mustache and wearing violet robes stepped forth. “My lord, we're still trying to determine what has happened but it seems that the beast, being grievously wounded by the efforts of the Chosen who attended, has retreated back to Aenir."

“Thank you Brightblinder." the Emperor acknowledged him as Mtehm choked out a startled,

“What?" A chill ran down his spine. Sharrakor was alive? “My Lord!" Mtehm cried leaping to his feet. “We need to go after him! Sharrakor can control Aenirians through use of their names. Having failed to take the castle alone he will raise an army of Aenirians against the Chosen and return to destroy us all."

“Sharrakor?" The Emperor waved a hand out towards the edge of the tower, “It's okay. The Aenirians are powerless below the Veil. It will stop any invasion from their world."

“But he's broken through it once." Mtehm protested, “Now he's seen the Veil with the power of other Aenirians at his command he'll be able to do it again."

The Emperor rose, beckoning Mtehm to follow. Lanelle fell in on her father's left as Mtehm matched his pace and they headed for the stairwell. Away from the body of Chosen who were milling about in discussion, some taking direction from the cadre of guards that had arrived with them. No one seemed to mind them go.

“I think not." the Emperor said, “Badly wounded Sharrakor will need much time to recover and there is more to stop him returning to power. One more piece of magic that you don't know about. After Ramellan raised the Veil and the war was won his wife, Danir cast another spell on all the Aenirians, a spell of Forgetting. If Sharrakor attempts to exert control again in Aenir as he did before he'll find it hard going because of the spell Danir cast. All Aenirians including the strongest Aenirians who served the Dark General as lieutenants and captains, will not seek to cross into our world by following Sharrakor. They have forgotten the strength and life our sun gives. In truth they do not remember our world exists at all. The Forgetting. Danir's spell stripped the Aenirians of all memories of the war and our world. More than that it took their very names rendering them immune, or at least resistant to Sharrakor's specific brand of control."

“Sharrakor was able to control the Keeper, and your own Shadowspirit. How is that possible if their names were stripped from them?"

The Emperor pressed a hand to his chest where his Shadowspirit was now bound to him as flesh, His bond now closer than any other Chosen's. “When we bind our shadow spirits. Part of the binding ritual involves giving our shadows to our new partner. When that happens, we recite the Prayer to Asteyr. The prayer undoes the Forgetting, restoring their true name. It must be done, for that's the only way Aenirians can enter our world and survive under the Veil. By being bound to Chosen and sustained by our magic. That leaves them vulnerable to Sharrakor. His word will hold any Aenirian, but for true control he must use their name. So it was with the Keeper and with Gah."

“So Sharrakor can control our partners. But he cannot control all Aneirians, wild or otherwise, as they never bonded to a Chosen and do not remember their names." Mtehm said.

It was a clever system that the first Emperor had set up. Encouraging the hunting of strong partners ensured that the Aenirians who were restored their names had strength enough to resist the Dark General's influence. While Sharrakor remained impotent against those he could dominate at will.

Without knowing it, the Chosen had been pitted against Sharrakor from the moment the war ended. Mtehm grinned to himself, Sharrakor would be enraged when he eventually did try to exert his power in Aenir. Since the Forgetting had been cast after his imprisonment he would be confounded by his lack of power.

Ramellan had been forgotten and the knowledge of the war struck from the Chosen's history but his legacy lived on. As did his blood, held in the Emperor's line. No wonder the Emperor alone had known Sharrakor's name. Everyone else including the Violet Brightblinger had referred to him as an Aenirian beast, they had thought Sharrakor another wild Aenirian, albeit an incredibly powerful one. No one knew they had just faced down the creature that had once ended the world, and that was probably for the best Mtehm decided. Going after him now would likely do more harm than good, it would send the world of Aenir into a panic.

“Doesn't Mtehm deserve something for defeating the Dark General?" Mtehm winced as Lanelle spoke up, he'd like to cast his own spell of forgetting. It was only a small jump to figure it was himself who had freed Sharrakor in the first place and put everyone's lives in danger, and that he'd broken the law in crossing to Aenir early to do it.

“I just wanted a powerful Shadowpartner" he muttered but the Emperor overheard and stopped, one booted foot at the edge of the Veil.

“As any young Chosen would. You will be able to resume your hunt once we all we return to our quarters and cross back to Aenir."

“I-I can't." Mtehm stammered, the Emperor raised an eyebrow.

“Why not?"

“I burned out my sunstone in the fight, Sharrakor used most of it getting through the Veil."

The Emperor immediately removed one of his rings and tossed the stone to Mtehm. Astounded he caught it, feeling the flash of power as it recognized him. A primary sunstone, not as powerful as the one he had taken from above the Veil but plenty strong enough to see him across to Aenir. Mtehm stared at it and back up at the Emperor. “Why?"

“Can't have the Emperor in waiting without a proper sunstone."

Mtehm gaped at him as the man chuckled and descended, slipping into the Veil. “What does that mean?" Mtehm asked after him, but submerged in darkness there was no possibility of response. Instead Mtehm looked to Lanelle. She had blushed deep maroon, the color clashing grotesquely with her robe. The way his face was heating, he didn't think he looked any better. “What did you tell him?"

“Everything" Lanelle replied. “ Aenir. Castle. Sharrakor. About us. It was the only way to get him to bring the Chosen back to save the castle. To save you."

“We found your Dad and manservant in Aenir first." Korres supplied, “It was difficult enough to convince them of the threat to the castle, but eventually they understood and headed back and left us find the Emperor. Orion wanted to rush to the tower immediately. Your Dad argued they stay below and prepare to rally the defense. Good thing too, without him have not been able to bring everyone to your aid so quickly. "

“Daddy got to the rooftop quicker than the others because our quarters are right below us in the Violet tower. We came back as soon as we were able to convince him."

“Which Lanelle did a marvelous job. She interrupted the Emperor right in the middle of his Ascension Day speech. Went right up to the dais and dragged him from the stage. Guards were too shocked to do anything."

The royal princess showing up in the middle of the Emperor's grand annual speech, the one time he addressed all the Chosen of the Castle and hauling him away by the ear while looking like she'd spent the last two weeks trekking through the wilds of Aenir. Which she had, and claiming the Castle was under attack? Mtehm couldn't decide if it made the story less believable or more so. Either way she had managed to convince her father and played their part in Sharrakor's defeat. “What did you tell him?" Mtehm repeated.

“That I met a boy, and his dragon, and that we'd spent the last few weeks together in Aenir."

“And that she loved you. Had kissed you. Honestly Mtehm." He didn't hear the rest of what Korres had to say, he stepped forward and kissed Lanelle. She rose up against him he arm slipping around his waist as she pulled him deep into the embrace.

They enjoyed each others touch for several moments before parting. “What now?" She asked, “Do we go back to Aenir? Daddy said you could hunt for another shadowspirit."

Mtehm considered it, but if they returned to Aenir now he would be sent to hunt on his own. Lanelle was too young to bind a shadowpartner of her own, though her skill with magic likely exceeded Mtehm's now that she held the Violet Keystone.

“Aye, we will return to Aenir" He replied stepping back from Lanelle knowing that there could be no shadowpartner for him. The others did not realize it yet but with his shadow was gone the binding was impossible, but he had to return to Aenir, at least one more time. There was one more thing he had to do. “Let's get Castle first. He needs to go home."

---

Korres, making the excuse that he had to finish collecting and collating his research papers before crossing back to Aenir left them at the foot of the Violet tower. With a leaden heart Mtehm led the way back down, taking the main stairwell this time. The castle had quickened once more with the early arrival of the Chosen back from Aenir. Their unexpected return had thrown the castle servants into disarray. They rushed about while Chosen gathered in bemused knots to speculate on why they had been called back. It was apparent that only those Orion and Hanth had time to gather that knew of the events on the towertop, and because of that Mtehm and Lanelle were allowed to pass down through the corridors of the Castle mostly unmolested. Apart from the occasional eager Chosen who, spying Lanelle's robes, hastened to give light and then faltered, taking in the their bedraggled condition.

Lanelle returned light from her Keystone as they hurried past leaving many scratching their heads in confusion.

By the time they reached the colorless corridors they no longer stumbled into anyone. Not everyone had returned from Aenir and the place was deserted. “No one has found this place yet." Lanelle said as they turned into the corridor that led to the abandoned classroom. Mtehm agreed, it was a ruin from Sharrakor crashing through the roof.

No cordons, no construction team and no investigators trying to determine what had destroyed an entire wing. In a castle of magic where similar destruction might occur on a semi frequent basis Chosen were alert to such happenings, but with them all in Aenir at the time it seemed this incident had managed to evade notice for the time being.

They skirted the hole and descended to the floor below, where Mtehm slowed as he approached the open door, “You okay?" Lanelle asked putting a hand on his wrist. Mtehm felt the touch and glanced down to see her Shadowguard twining the two of them together, cool snakeskin against his racing pulse. “You're thinking about Castle. I loved him too. From that first moment I stumbled over him in this room." she tucked her arm inside his, pulling him close. “I love him, and I love you Mtehm, I'm going to be here with you."

He gently kissed the top of her head, “I've been so blind Lanelle. All this time I've been chasing a shadowpartner. Well I got one. The most powerful Aenirian who ever lived and he nearly destroyed us all. Sharrakor was a grand mistake but I've erred on a much greater scale. Castle was a gift from the light. I have no idea what made me worthy of him, I selfishly risked his life again and again. Until he died."

Mtehm put his hands on Lanelle's shoulders. “I treasure you just as much Lanelle. I love you and want to be with you always. To be by your side every day is my greatest wish. Castle's death shatters my heart, but equal to that heartbreak is that my wish cannot be a reality for us. I no longer rank among the Chosen. With my shadow gone I cannot bind a new Shadowpartner. When we return to the castle it will not be as Emperor in Waiting by your side. Instead I will join the ranks of the Underfolk. That is the fate of those who fail."

“Then don't return." Lanelle implored him, “Let's not even return to the Vale of the Chosen. There's so much more in Aenir. We could see it together."

“Breaking the pact of the Chosen?" Mtehm shook his head, “Atterseem made it clear that's what caused the strife after the war ended. The castle is the home of the Chosen. Aenir belongs to the Aenirians. It should remain that way. That's why I'm taking Castle back there. It's where Seraphrim came from, it's where Castle should be laid to rest."

The classroom felt different to Mtehm as he entered. Always it had been a subdued place, full of forgotten things. Until Castle had brought a bright spark of life to it. Now it's destruction was complete, it no longer resembled anything.

Before there had been a tidy sort of form and order, function beyond Mtehm's ken. Now bright odds of glass assembled in living chaos on the floor, but one thing was quiet in the riot of color. Castle's body lay as Mtehm had left it. Twisted and half covered in the old white dust sheet in the lee of the righted table. “Hey Castle." Mtehm said working his fingers underneath, heedless of the sharp stabs from finely ground glass. Mtehm lifted the dragon's body and sat down on the floor, sinking down to prop his back against the leg.

Tucking Castle into his lap Mtehm stroked the dragon's brow. “Hey. We did it Castle. We beat Sharrakor, but your bow Castle. I'm sorry. I broke it and oh-."

No more words made it past the swelling of his throat. There were only tears. Hugging Castle Mtehm sobbed into his fur and howled out his grief as it ran like a fever through him. Mtehm felt his heart would surely break, but Lanelle was there too. Wrapping her arms around him she shared his pain with her tears and her touch. Holding him together. At last Mtehm raised his head, his cheeks and collar damp.

“Goodbye little one." Lanelle ran her fingers over Castle. Nudging a paw here and putting a leg there until he was laying as naturally as if he were asleep. She placed her hand in his. Mtehm gave it a gentle squeeze in appreciation, as she said, “What you did for my father, would that help him?"

Mtehm froze and looked down at the two rings on his fingers, wrapped in Lanelle's. His mind raced but came up with nothing. “That magic worked because your father bonded with Gah." Mtehm said, voice cracking. “The firebird revived him with his power. It wasn't the magic of the Chosen that saved him, though it did provide the spell and energy required to do so. Even with the new magic Korres is intent on pursuing the Chosen cannot bring back the dead." The glimmer of hope faded from her eyes.

"Then he's really gone."

"Maybe not forever. It was an accident that brought him to me but Castle has lived before. As Ramellan's partner. Seraphrim." A weak smile broke through his misery. "One day I hope he may return, but Castle is gone. My partner is gone. Lanelle, I should have seen it from the start! Though he wasn't a shadow Castle was the partner I had sought. I didn't need to go to Aenir, didn't need a sunstone. All of it, futile."

"No! Never." Lanelle protested, "I would not trade the time we shared together, and Castle would not either. I thank him for our lives. I'll never forget him."

"I know. He saved us both so many times. I only regret all the hurt I caused him." Gently turning Castle Mtehm traced the scar at his shoulder. Unblemished scale rippled below his thumb. “What?" Was he confused? He pushed his hand through Castle's fur, stiff with blood, feeling for the livid ridge of the scar that he knew must be there. It had not been in his imagination that in the crux of the fight with Sharrakor below the Dome that Castle had proved crippled. Unable to fly or draw his bow.

Lifting Castle's body Mtehm inspected the other arm, knowing the action foolish. No scar there either.

Lanelle stared as Mtehm spat on the sleeve of his robe and wiped desperately at the blood that darkened Castle's silver chest. The sticky blood did not budge easily, it only seemed to spread but he cleared enough of it to see the unbroken scale beneath. No gaping wound remained where the dragon had been pierced by Sharrakor's shadow.

Lanelle's mouth opened in surprise. “He's healed? How?"

“I don't understand it. It was nothing I did. You know I can't do healing magic." Mtehm replied.

“Do you think a healing light would aid him now?" Lanelle had the Violet Keystone out and glowing with soft purple light in an instant.

He waved it aside, “It only works on the living and besides, there is nothing to repair now."

“Then how are we to save him if not through magic. What healing is there to offer?"

Mtehm's brow creased, there was only one other type of healing that he knew. “When Castle was in Aenir. When Atterseem fought to save him she said he died then too. Atterseem said she used lightning to bring him back. Restarted his heart."

“Lightning? Why 'tis but a spark. We can do that." She grabbed his hand and pulled Korres' ring from his finger then violently brought it and the Keystone together. A brilliant flash lit the room followed by the sharp smell of ionized air and heated rock. “Think it'll work?" She asked holding the pair sunstones out to him, after blinking a few times and shaking away the static that fuzzed her hair.

“Lanelle, that's brilliant!" he took the stones from her and weighed them in his hands, then put Korres' aside and pulled off the one the Emperor had given him. "It's stronger." He explained. Carefully he extracted the sheet and laid in on the ground, then placed Castle atop it just as Lanelle had coiled him in his lap. The Keystone he placed within the curve of Castle's body.

Raising his arm high above the stone he brought his fist down with all his might.

Mtehm' head whipped backwards, clashing against the edge of the table as the shock lit through every one of his nerves. The ring was blasted from his hand, skittering across the floor.

"Mtehm! Mtehm, are you hurt?"

Stunned Mtehm put his hand to the back of his head and hissed with pain. He'd managed to burn his remaining fingers. At least there was no blood on them, he hadn't cracked his skull open. “I feel like I've bitten into a zapper eel an Underfolk put on my plate when it wasn't quite dead." He stuck the burned tips of his fingers into his mouth. “Castle?"

Castle's body had absorbed the far greater shock, it had been powerful enough to throw over the small dragon tumbling him against Lanelle's knees and she had scooped him up before coming to Mtehm's aid.

Reaching out he placed a finger, one of his unscorched ones, on the fine scale of the lizard's neck. His own heartbeat pounded once in his ears and then, a step out of time, there was a tiny tick beneath his finger.

“He lives." Mtehm uttered in astonishment.

It shouldn't have been possible, Castle had been dead for hours. Blood should have thickened in his arteries making a heartbeat impossible but it continued unabated.

Hearing his words Lanelle ducked her head, placing her cheek against Castle's lips. A moment later it shot up again, her eyes wide, “He's breathing! Mtehm I felt him breathe." Hoisting the dragon in her arms she bounced him gently, “Come on little one. Open your eyes Castle."

Mtehm resisted the urge to grab the dragon from her, there was nothing he could do that she wasn't doing already. Instead he busied himself retrieving the Keystone. The stone still lay on the sheet, but now a great crack marred its surface where he had struck it. Another powerful use of magic might see it split entirely in two. He handed it to Lanelle and she tucked it away without even looking at it.

Mtehm looked around and spotted his own sunstone, the Emperor's ring, lying amongst the smashed crystal leaves of some ruby apparatus. As he stepped over to it broken glass crunched beneath his boot.

That wasn't unusual. There was glass all over the floor, but it made a dull sound and that made Mtehm look down. A small purple bag, velvet, with glass inside. It was one of the bags from Harban's medicine chest. Crossed back over into the Dark World with them when Lanelle had thrown wide the Way and pulled himself, Castle, and Sharrakor over. Mtehm bent to retrieve it and fumbled the drawstring open.

Shattered within were shards of glass, the bottle that had contained Atterseem's essence was broken. All sign of the twisting blue smoke it had contained, vanished. Mtehm felt a pang of regret, her magnificent gift, squandered. Or had it been? The bottle had been broken when he'd stepped on it a moment ago, but when exactly had it been broken in the first place? During the crossing, or after Sharrakor had crashed through the ceiling?

“Mtehm! He's coming around!" Lanelle's excited voice interrupted this thoughts. Castle would live. More than that Castle had been healed. Not just of the wound that had taken his life, but the one that Mtehm had himself inflicted.

There was no other explanation for his miraculous recovery other than the item Atterseem had given him. No wonder Atterseem was a healer with such a powerful panacea at her command. Why then had she not used it when they had first shown up? Mtehm knew the answer, a magic as powerful as that would be kept hidden from strangers. Especially those with the power to take it.

Then she had exposed herself anyway. Giving Mtehm the bottle. His head spun as the pieces fell into place. Sharrakor had known Atterseem, and she had recognized Castle, naming him on sight as Ramellan's partner. Seraphrim. It was Atterseem who had first mentioned the Star Dome. Atterseem had known all along who was imprisoned there, the healer had baited them right into the trap!

But why?

Because of Lanelle! Mtehm cursed himself for his blindness.

The Chosen Empress. Atterseem had known who she was all along too. Descendant of Ramellan. Paired with the reincarnation of Seraphrim, the first shadowpartner. To Atterseem who had lived through the war it must have seemed like divine prophecy come due. Out of nowhere the Chosen had arrived, to finally finish the war. No wonder she had encouraged Lanelle to go after him after he'd left her house that morning.

Atterseem couldn't have told them her involvement in the story. That would have exposed who she was, but knowing the danger she was placing them in she had given them the only thing she could. Had given them a measure of herself, capable of raising the dead. Mtehm wrapped his fingers tight around the bag, feeling the jagged edges of the broken bottle within press against his skin. Silently he forgave her.

“Mtehm!" Lanelle's insistent voice again interrupted his thoughts, he grabbed up his sunstone and shoved both it and the bag into a pocket.

Castle startled awake, kicking Lanelle in the chest with both hindpaws. “Ooof." She grunted and opened her arms as Castle cried a distressed “Awk!' and tumbled to the floor. Mtehm was there at his side a moment later as he righted himself and staggered around in a circle, head low and shaking it from side to side. “Castle! Castle, it's alright. Be calm." Mtehm wrapped his arms around the dragon and held him up as his hindlegs gave out.

“Awk!" Castle twisted his neck and screeched in Mtehm's face, his emerald eyes wide and staring. A flicker passed through them and Castle squeezed his eyes tight, but he seemed to have recognized the Chosen with him for his struggles became less frantic.

“He alright?" Lanelle asked, rubbing at her bruised chest. Castle was calming now but the little dragon had begun to shake violently.

“Confused as a light blinded mouse. Must be the shock that's got him feeling sick. I imagine it's not easy remembering dying in another world only to wake up back home. It must feel like some terrible dream to him."

Picking him up and placing him against his chest Mtehm wrapped his arms around the dragon, cooing softly and stroking his back. Great sobs wracked the dragon but died away in short order as Mtehm soothed him. “Hush my dear, all is well. There's no more danger, no more fighting to be done. Sharrakor's gone and we're all alive and whole." Castle looked up and Mtehm put his hand to the dragon's cheek. He noticed straight away and pushed his nose into Mtehm's palm. “Almost whole." Mtehm amended, flexing the three remaining fingers to scratch under his chin.

“Mtehm, we should think about returning to Aenir. Everyone else will be soon cross back and we should beat them back if we want to get away."

“Of course." Mtehm rose and gave Lanelle a hand to her feet and eyed her, an eyebrow raised and a wry smile on his lips “But we should both do something about our appearance first. Princess."

She put a hand to one of the great rents in her torn robes and frowned before looking at him sharply. “Princess?" she echoed.

“Empress in Waiting." Mtehm amended, “Your father is the Emperor."

“He is. Oh Mtehm, I was going to tell you so many times. But it was so freeing when I first met you and you had no idea who I was. The color of my robes didn't matter to you at all and I wanted to hold onto that. I've never gotten to be close to anyone before and Castle became my secret friend, then you. I didn't want to destroy that." She raised her eyes to his, “Now that you know, does it change things between us?"

Mtehm drew a long breath an let it go again, “I think. I knew. From the memories we had stolen from us. When we freed him Sharrakor showed me a glimpse of the time we spent together in Aenir while Castle healed. Dug it out of my brain. Do you think it's possible you would tell me, given the right time and place?"

“If we'd come to know each other that well." Lanelle's chin tilted up as she trailed off.

“I would like to be there again." Mtehm finished and their lips met as they shared a long kiss before leaving the room.

At the main stairwell they agreed to part and meet again in Aenir in a few hours. With the Keystone Lanelle could cross on her own now and the break would allow her to tidy herself up and change her clothes. The rest of the Chosen had returned straight away, there was still the Ascension ceremony Lanelle had interrupted to complete.

Even Orion hadn't waited as Mtehm found out upon arriving home, the door to the manservant's room was firmly closed. What did surprise him was to find Hanth, his father, slumped in a comfortably cushioned chair in the lounge, the light of the Way playing around him. They must have discussed it, Hanth waiting as long as possible before crossing. Mtehm sighed sure he was going to hear about it when he crossed too.

Pilfering a plate of cold leftover meat from the fridge, he had to stop and restart the status spell that Orion had placed to keep the food edible for the duration of the stay in Aenir, Mtehm made his way to his own room. He cracked the door to his brother's room on the way up, the bed was occupied. Ria must not have been allowed to return with the others.

In his room Mtehm placed Castle on his own bed and plied the dragon with a few cuts from the plate. Castle took a few bites and then pushed his nose into the pillow with a tired, “Awk."

“Go ahead and sleep." Mtehm told him, “I'll be here when you wake."

Once the dragon drifted off Mtehm placed his pair of sunstone rings atop his dresser and left to shower and change into a new robe for himself. Returning he looked around trying to think of anything he had to do before crossing back over, but there was nothing. He had no need to pack. There would be no Shadowhunting quest awaiting on the other side. So climbed onto the bed too, groaning as he did. The hot water had highlighted several new bruises and minor scrapes and cuts. A little of Lanelle's light magic would cure it if she were here to help and he lamented the fact that she wasn't.

His Dark World body had been resting for weeks so Mtehm didn't think it was possible to fall asleep, but with one arm draped across Castle his mind fled. When it returned it was with sounds of clashing and chanting. Darkness roamed about him but it too fled as he opened his eyes.

With the warm glow of the tiny sunstone shards in his ceiling, like the setting sun in Aenir, the fragments of the dream slipped from his mind. Chanting replaced by soft whimpering. He wasn't the only one who had been dreaming. Castle lay rigid, body twisted, still in the grip of his own nightmare. Mtehm was torn, Castle needed his rest but Mtehm hated to see him distressed. The decision was made for him when he looked over at the pair of sunstones on his dresser. Both glowing with a line of bands that told him it was now late in the afternoon. “Castle. Wake up! Lanelle's waiting for us in Aenir." It was well past the time they had agreed to meet.

Mtehm grabbed the sunstones and pulled open a drawer retrieving a clean set of robes and underclothes. He threw on the garments and opened the door to collect his boots left outside. They were still filthy, he hadn't had time to clean them. With a scowl he pulled them on anyway.

Ready now he turned to Castle who had been well awakened by Mtehm's rushing about.

Mtehm rubbed his head and raised the sunstone the Emperor had given him. "Hold still now." Mtehm ordered and began to weave the spell that would take the dragon safely across. The spell came easily, light spreading underneath Castle and rising around him.

"Awk!" With a cry Castle leaped away, tripping over a pillow and falling against the wall.

“Castle! I can't weave the light if you jump around like that." Mtehm admonished. He canceled out the first spell and concentrated again.

As the first glow of light appeared Castle dodged. Mtehm immediately shifted the spell but Castle twisted in midair and landed crouched with a wild growl. "We're not playing a game." Mtehm said in exasperation, "Lanelle's waiting for us in Aenir, and we're already late. Now hold still!" He turned his hand and leveled his finger at the dragon.

Snick

Mtehm froze at the sound of Castle's claws extending and stared at the growling dragon over the sunstone ring glittering behind his knuckle.

“Ah. You really don't want me to do this. Do you?" Mtehm's arm dropped to his side. Seeing that Mtehm wasn't about to force him Castle subsided.

“Sorry," Mtehm apologized, “I wasn't thinking." The last time he had done this Castle had nearly been killed. Lanelle's interruption had caused it but it was himself who had lost control of the spell and the dragon had paid the price. Small wonder Castle was apprehensive to let Mtehm do it again.

Mtehm sat down on the edge of the bed, “I won't force you to cross over with me but Lanelle's waiting for us. Castle, you're my partner. I know I've broken this promise to you before, but I swear. This time I'll keep you safe. Trust me that I can." Calling magic, his hands becoming stained in the light, Mtehm opened his arms to the dragon.

“Awwk" Castle battled within himself, claws kneading the sheets. Fear and love battled and one slow step at a time Castle came forward.

“My love, I'll keep you safe."

“Awk." The dragon buried his head in Mtehm's robe and magic flooded out. With the practice Aenir had given him it was possible to spin the light and envelope both of them. It taxed Mtehm sorely creating such a large enclosure but he considered it a small price to pay to keep a hold on Castle.

Darkness closed on them as the shell sealed,all light magic was focused without. Keeping the danger of between worlds at bay.

Until Mtehm began the Way. Then the inside lit up in a rainbow of color, Castle even poked his head out and let out a soft cry of awe as light danced on mist. Mtehm chanted the spell through without missing a beat and when the final world had fallen from his lips he looked down at Castle with a huge grin of satisfaction. “We're back in Aenir." He could feel the strength of his dream body, hurts falling away like memories.

Mtehm let the protective barrier fade, though the sunstone the Emperor had given him was weaker than his own had been it had not wavered the slightest bit.

“Mtehm!" A pair of mismatched voices shouted his name. He looked around in shock, and knew where he was. Inside his family's tent, the one they used every year in their visits to Aenir. Hanth and Korres were standing around a table looking at him.

“What? How did I get here?"

He hadn't meant to cross into to the Vale of the Chosen, he and Lanelle had agreed to meet atop the pass leading out. There was no chance to ponder it for an exuberant pair of arms wrapped him and a head connected with the base of his chin. "Awk!" Cried Castle and slipped from Mtehm's arms just in time to avoid being crushed between them.

“Ow. Ria be careful." Mtehm protested but he gave his brother a squeeze anyway despite the headbutt. It had not happened before, his brother had to have grown a full inch since Mtehm had last seen him. What else had he missed? Ria scowled, “You missed my last performance, where did you go?" he asked.

Apparently he'd missed his brother becoming a mind reader. Before Mtehm could begin to think of an answer Ria noticed Castle “Light! Is that a dragon? Is that your shadowguard? No it can't be. You have a Shadowpartner already? Wow, that must be the fastest capture ever."

"He's not-" Mtehm started to explain but Ria had already released him, crouching down and calling softly to the dragon to coax him over. Castle went willingly and was soon crooning with delight as Ria scratched him under the chin and across his back.

"We put a spell in place so when you crossed over you would be pulled here," Korres said stepping out from behind the table, Fisk winding about his legs. It was not a shadow. In Aenir all bound creatures assumed their natural forms. Hanth's Delfis, an Anerian bird of prey, preened its feathers atop a steel perch nearby, unconcerned with the arrival of the latest Chosen. Only Ria's shadowguard was missing, staying behind in the Dark World since Ria was not yet of age to hunt his own Shadowpartner.

"I filled your folks in on what's been happening, or the little of it I know at least." Korres continued “Sorry, but they deserve to know. They did save us both up there on the Violet tower."

“You broke Chosen law." Hanth said, “Were I still a tower guard it would be my duty to see you punished. Do you know what the punishment is?"

“Delumination." Mtehm answered lifting his chin, “Being demoted to the ranks of the Underfolk, but that's the punishment for failing to bind a Shadowspirit too. I had to do something, I had no Sunstone!"

“I sent one, to be a surprise for you on Ascension day."

Mtehm fished in his pocket and drew out the third stone he'd taken from his room. “This?" Mtehm stepped over to the table and slapped it down. “Keep it. You were too late. Again." Then he pulled Korres' ring from his finger and passed it to his friend. “Thank you for this one too, but I don't need it anymore."

Korres tried to hand it back, “You should keep it. You'll need a Sunstone for your hunt." Korres knew Castle wasn't his bound spirit.

Mtehm shoved his hands in his robe. “I've no shadow, I can't complete a hunt. When I return I will be demoted. You all know that as an Underfolk it is against the law for me to hold a Sunstone." He didn't mention the other ring, a hard lump in his pocket, that still belonged to him.

“An Underfolk?" Korres laughed, “Right. You kill a demon, save the castle, and become a slave? That's not at all how the story is supposed to go. What's your real plan. Come on Mtehm you always seem to have one."

Mtehm just shrugged and let silence fall heavy between them until Korres relented,. Tucking his ring away he excused himself, “I'd best go, I've research to present."

“You won't be an Underfolk." Hanth grated out as soon as Korres had dropped the outer flap of the tent behind himself, “A shadow can be replaced, any creature's soul will do. Choose something that would normally be used as a child's Shadowguard. We will spell it so you may offer it in place of Sharing the Shadow."

“That would destroy it!" Mtehm objected, aghast.

“We've seen you do that once today. You can do it again."

“I didn't kill Sharrakor!" Mtehm argued, “He escaped back into this world."

Hanth thumped a fist down onto the table, “You would have killed him. We all saw you fire that arrow, and you will sacrifice a shadow. I won't allow you to wear white."

“Why?" Mtehm barked, “Because Orion took the penance for your mistake. The one that killed my mother?" He threw out his arm, the single deluminent jumping out from under his sleeve, “Well this mistake was mine and I will not be like you. I will not let another pay the price for it!"

Hanth's jaw clamped tight. On its perch his Shadowpartner ruffled its feathers in the silence that followed. “Come on Castle." Mtehm called the dragon at last and turned to leave. “Awk." Castle yipped and stood, shaking off Ria who had taken to clinging the dragon while Mtehm argued with his father.

“Don't go." His brother pleaded, standing to follow him “Mtehm you've only just arrived. The sun's going to go down in an hour, we can go watch it. It's been a whole year since we've seen a sunset. We can't miss it."

“Sorry, not this time." Mtehm replied, “There's someone I've got to go find, and I'm hoping she's still there." Ignoring the brother's crestfallen expression he headed for the outside. A flutter of wings and a moment later Castle gripped his shoulder. He paused for just a moment at the threshold and glanced back. “Ria. I'll come find you later."

Outside he slipped between the tents that lined the common and turned his face towards the lowering sun, and the pass beyond the Vale. “She's not up there." Orion's Torqos was a hill of ruddy fur laying against the rear wall of the tent, its yellow eyes like a pair of shuttered lanterns as it dozed in the late sun. Orion himself was parked atop a pair of barrels boring holes in a strip of leather with a short knife.

“How do you know who I'm looking for?" Mtehm snapped, but he couldn't complete the sentence with a straight face, the sight of his old family retainer put him at ease.

“I heard." Orion gestured to the wall of the tent with his knife, “Don't worry about your father. Go after your girl. Live your own life. That's what the Day of Ascension is about after all. But you should be heading into the Vale not out of it if you want to find her."

Mtehm felt his face flush, “How do you know where she is? Or even who she is?"

Orion laid the leather and knife aside, “When you vanished we had no idea that you were gone. Now I can see that you planned it that way. It wasn't until a week after we saw you last, nearing the end of the Achievements that some odd rumors began to trickle through the castle. No one had seen the Empress in Waiting for several days. I didn't think anything of it, such things no longer my concern." Orion touched the hem of his white cloak, “But you are. So it prompted me to seek after you. Well I quickly found out that you were gone as well. As the days ticked by the castle grew restless and I became concerned enough to contact your father, but then that night we got your message that you were safe and well and would meet us in Aenir."

“What? I didn't-" Mtehm broke off, he didn't have any recollection of sending a message, but that didn't mean he hadn't. He must have sent one sometime while exploring Aenir. Sometime during the span of his stolen memories.

“We left you the Sunstone just in case and crossed over. I persuaded you father to put in the spell that would bring you directly here. Forgive me, I know you know the Way, but it was to keep you safe. I didn't want you accidentally dropping into a Vengenarl nest somewhere out in the wilds."

Mtehm shivered, recalling fleeing from the vicious beasts the night before. At least, the Aenirian night before. Since time in the two worlds, Aenir and the Dark World, ran differently Mtehm couldn't be sure how long it had been since he and Lanelle had stepped foot in the Star Dome having fled the predatory Vengenarls. So much had happened since then it felt like it could have been weeks ago.

“While we were finishing setting up the Vale and preparing to head over and hear the Emperor give his address, your friend Korres approached us. With the Empress in Waiting no less." Orion glanced at the dragon on Mtehm's shoulder. “When Korres told us the castle was under attack and he'd run into you and the Empress heading for the Violet tower to stop it I figured out your disappearance and hers were linked."

Mtehm rubbed the ring in his pocket, “Does anyone else know? My father?"

Orion shook his head, “Most Chosen go their whole lives without changing their colors Mtehm. Even if you told people the truth they'll never believe it."

“You mean that I'm doomed?" Mtehm asked, advancing on the Underfolk, Orion's Torqos let out a whuff and swung it's head towards him. “That whatever I do I'm destined to fail?"

Orion reached out and gripped him by the shoulders, “No barrier is insurmountable, if you try you might find that things work themselves out." Orion gave him a small push, turning him back towards the Vale. “You'll find the Empress in the royal commode. The trap we used that brought you to us is a spell from my palace guard training. I've no doubt that she will have encountered the same spell in her crossing. Go find her boy."

The Chosen common was laid out by rank like the castle, but rather than towers each rank commanded its own concentric ring. Violet in the center and down through the ranks to red on the outside. There were many Chosen around engaged with the business of setting up their Anerian accommodation. Others were clearing up after an evening meal, but not many, most had chosen to skip it. With their real bodies back home asleep food wasn't a top priority. Mtehm trotting on through the green encampment gave light as he passed them.

There were no issues with other Chosen spying Castle out in the open her.e With the Ascension the shadows had lifted. Bound Aenirian creatures of all kinds were about. Lying around enjoying the light of the setting Aenirian sun while their Chosen partners worked nearby. Flying above the camp. Tripping through the tents on foot, following after their masters. There were all kinds, intelligent and bestial, predators and prey both. Here in the Vale all lived alongside their Chosen.

Here Castle was one more Aenirian, and it was impossible to tell that Mtehm's companion was not bound to him.

It was Mtehm himself that began to be questioned as he moved inwards. As he passed through the blue quarter no one regarded his presence. By he time he'd reached the indigo part of the camp he got a few heads turning his way. Officially the camp was open to all and he was allowed to travel wherever he wanted, but the camp was laid out in such a way that it made it easy for Chosen to move around via interconnecting paths.

Mtehm was using the back ways. It was like wandering through the Ebrax's fields in Atterseem's valley rather than taking the road, not against any law, just not done. Mtehm had his reasons for taking this route. Especially in Aenir the royal tents would be guarded. Officially their job was to to stop any Aenirian attack but castle ways still persisted. Himself wearing green would undoubtedly be questioned and turned around. He had to get inside to find Lanelle and keep his promise that they might once more explore Aenir together.

The image of the memory Sharrakor had returned flashed once more in his mind. No quest this time, only the two of them. Together.

Tents got bigger as Mtehm neared the center of the Vale and made it easier to steer clear of other Chosen as he passed through the Violet camp. When he had no choice but to cover open ground he did so a brisk walk keeping the sunstone on his finger aglow. Of all the things he had on his person it most belonged here amongst the empurpled cloth. A small but powerful gem worked into fine jewelery. Wealth to be worn rather than to be kept safe like a Primary sunstone. With luck anyone taking a second glance his way would notice it before his robes, it might lend him a little credibility should he be spotted.

Castle jumped down from Mtehm's shoulder, Mtehm started to call him back but the lizard had grasped the game of hide, he scampered to each corner and peered carefully around before progressing. Sometimes when he spied someone in their way he backtracked to Mtehm's side before choosing another direction.

Following him Mtehm made it all the way to the Emperor's accommodation without being noticed. Steeping out from behind a few haphazard barrels thrown on a small cart Mtehm gazed in amazement at the Emperor's tent.

'Tent' did not do the construction justice.

Sat upon a small rise in the green sward the Emperor's Aenirian home was configured in a six pointed star. At each point was a smaller shelter in one of the colors of light. Red and Orange being the two closest to Mtehm. Each satellite connected to the main tent via a covered walkway.

Resplendent in the royal Violet the place where the Emperor held court was massive. Dwarfing the outer tents with its size. Each of those alone larger than his family tent. From his vantage Mtehm could see several Chosen moving about around the perimeter of the royal dwelling. For the most part they wore the motley uniforms of castle guards but there were other colors present too, however every one was at least a Brightblinder or Shadowmaster of their order. None of the lesser ranks here.

Unlike the guards who patrolled around these Chosen stood around or sat on wooden benches in knots of twos and threes. They were members of the Emperor's court, elected to represent the ranks of the Chosen. Only they would be allowed inside the main tent, and only when the Emperor called for an address.

“Awk?" Castle backed up several paces until he bumped against Mtehm's leg.

Mtehm crouched to scratch the back of the dragon's neck, his eyes wandering the scene ahead of him. “Looks like a fortress doesn't it Castle. How're we to get inside?"

With so many Chosen around he needed a large distraction, something to pull everyone away. An assembly down on the common would do it, but with the Ascension ceremony over. There wouldn't be another until it was time to cross back into the Dark World. He was so wrapped up in the problem that he didn't hear Castle's “Awk!" of warning. First he knew of being in danger was the dragon barreling into his side.

Mtehm shouted in surprise and tumbled sideways, only to be clipped on the hip by something solid and be sent spinning to the ground “Awk!" Castle kept his feet and danced away from the cart that had started to move. Mtehm watched it grind to a halt, making shallow ruts in the grass where he had stood.

“Oh my lord. I'm so very sorry!" Having brought the cart to a stop the Underfolk who had set it to moving dropped the handles and dashed around the side. “You aren't badly hurt are you? I couldn't see you over these barrels." he explained as he held a hand out.

Sitting up on the ground Mtehm rubbed his palms together, they had gotten a little grass stained in the fall, and poked at his hip. Judging from the small flare of pain he'd have a nice bruise soon. “Not hurt." he assured the man and took the proffered hand allowing himself to be hauled to his feet.

“Well all right then." Seeing he wasn't about to press the issue of being knocked down the man wiped his palm on his robe and stepped back between the handles of the cart. With a grunt he lifted and the cart trundled on past Mtehm towards the main tent.

An Underfolk headed towards the Emperor's residence bearing supplies? Hauling and fetching for the camp was normally the prerogative of younger Chosen. The jobs needing doing portioned out and paid for in sunstone chips.

It was strange that an Underfolk was doing it. It was strange that an Underfolk be here in Aenir at all. One respected enough to have been brought over to Aenir rather than being left behind to managed the castle in the absence of the Chosen? He had to be someone important, even if he was an Underfolk. “Wait!" Mtehm called out and hurried to drop into step beside the cart and gestured up the green towards the purple tent. “Are you headed up there?"

“Indeed I am young master." the man in white replied, “Lord Caeris has requested a small dinner for himself and a few guests to talk about building our connections here in Aenir during our stay. I am responsible for seeing it prepared. "

“Lord? Oh, you mean the Emperor." This could be his way in. Mtehm seized the side of the cart and bent his back to it. “Here, I'll give you a hand." Shock that a Chosen was offering to helping him showed on the Underfolk's face, but the man didn't protest as between the two of them the cart rolled smoothly up the gentle rise. Fighting against the long grass that threatened to snarl the wheel.

Castle “Awk"'ed encouragement as he ran alongside and jumped up onto the cart with a flutter perching at the fore. A magnificent silver figurehead.

They passed between the red and orange tents, not drawing one whit of attention from the Chosen, guards or magi, scattered about. Mtehm was deciding if this was because the Chosen overlooked the Underfolk, or if the man's presence was common enough to pass without comment when they slowed to a stop.

A flap in the side of the violet main tent stood open. Propped up on long poles to create an awning. In the noonday sun it would have provided shade for the sharp looking clerk dressed in violet and seated at a low crystal table.

With the sun going down the shade had become shadow but the clerk had not noticed judging from the the way he was squinting a the sheaf of papers in front of him. The four pointed star of a sunstone dangled on a chain from around his neck and wasn't even glowing. The only source of light aside from the sun was the glint of emerald in the eyes of the Violet Chosen's shadowpartner. A midnight furred jackal that sat attentively and watched their every move.

“Ril. Where you want these?" Mtehm's companion asked.

Without looking up the clerk waved a hand towards the interior of the tent. “Against the back wall." he replied. Mtehm felt a stab of surprise that the two men, one an Underfolk and the other a member of the highest order of the Chosen should address each other so casually.

“Young master?" Taking a barrel from the cart under each arm the Underfolk gestured and headed in.

“Right sorry." Mtehm rolled one of the barrels towards him and lifted it from the bed of the truck. It was heavy but Mtehm didn't mind the manual labor, for good reason. He walked straight past the clerk into the tent and he was inside.

For about ten seconds as dropped his barrel next to the two the Underfolk had carried in.

Aside from the barrels there were several crates stacked in distinct piles. More supplies for the royal household, food destined for the dinner but Mtehm could see linen and other hardware too. Still a few comforts left to set up to make the place as cozy as home. That was all he managed to see however as the Underfolk came back with another two of the kegs. Mtehm hurried out to collect another himself.

Four more trips emptied the cart, the last barrel being his.

Castle jumped from the cart to the top of it as Mtehm hoisted it in his arms. “Oof, Castle. This is heavy enough without you adding to it." Mtehm complained as Castle settled with a flutter of his wings.

“Awk." Castle answered and gripped the edge, leaning over to give Mtehm ear a lick. “Okay, okay. Stay up there, just stop that. I can't wipe your slobber away while I'm carrying this." Feeling like he'd conquered his new perch Castle stretched out atop the wooden keg.

Mtehm was secretly glad, the dragon had been jumpy since his long recovery after Atterseem had healed him. Mtehm had feared he would become worse after Sharrakor had killed him and Atterseem's potion had brought him back to life but since returning to Aenir Castle was becoming energetic and mischievous, like he had been back when Mtehm had first met Lanelle.

“Lanelle. Light, we need to find her Castle." Mtehm said, remembering his task. The sun was almost down now, just enough light entered below the awning to see where to set down his load. Checking back over his shoulder he could see the shadow of the tall clerk silhouetted against the pinpricks of light that were beginning to show in the Chosen camp beyond. Of the Underfolk man there was no sign, he had to be out with the cart waiting for Mtehm to emerge.

“Sorry," Mtehm apologized both men, “This will probably get you in trouble."

He stepped over to a hanging, also violet, and pulled it aside to reveal a corridor heading towards the heart of the tent. It was just like being in the Castle, except that he couldn't get the walls to tell him which way to go. Or could he? Tiny sunstone shards stitched into the fabric warmed to light the way as he moved.

Mtehm pulled out his sunstone and pressed it to one of the shards and tried to remember the exact shade of royal violet that would lead him to Lanelle. He knew it, it the same color as her eyes.

To his delight the shard flashed in response, followed by the one next to it, then one a bit further on illumined violet. “Come on Castle," Mtehm said, “we've got our path to follow."

The route took Mtehm through several twists and turns, a canvas maze every bit as convoluted as the stone castle back home. At least he was able to ignore the rooms and halls that splintered off by following his light. Castle resumed his capacity as vanguard, trotting on ahead and listening for sounds of other Chosen.

They didn't run into any. Mtehm most feared being caught by one of the guards. Guests of the Emperor he might be able to bluff his way past, but not a guard. But there were no Chosen. Deserted hallways indicated that the guards were only responsible for postings outside.

“Castle, stay near me alright." Mtehm knew he was drawing close, the sunstone light pulses had dimmed to almost nothing. When they petered out entirely Mtehm found himself facing some very heavy drapes. Stained violet but embroidered with silver thread.

Tents within tents. The curving side of a much larger circular structure took a large bite of the hallway Mtehm was in. “This is it Castle, she's in here." Mtehm said and slid the sunstone ring onto his finger.

A heavy hand clamped down onto his shoulder. Mtehm yelped and tried to twist away but only succeeded in facing his discoverer. “What are you doing here?" a sharp featured face loomed in his vision. It was the clerk from the loading dock and behind him was his jackal of a shadowpartner. “No one below Violet rank is allowed in the royal lodging except by personal invitation from the Emperor himself."

Mtehm hadn't managed to give the violet mage the slip at all and Mtehm knew how, he'd failed to account for the Anerian when making good his escape. The Shadowspirit had alerted his master of Mtehm's departure. “Come back with me now." the man ordered shifting his grip to Mtehm's wrist.

Mtehm tried to pull away but the man's fingers held tight. “I do have an invitation." he said in desperation.

“A lie! I'm the assistant to the chief administrator to the Emperor himself in charge of all manifestos, lists, and documentation. No one from the green order is seeing his Majesty tonight. Tell me why are you really here. Is this an Ascension Day dare, has someone put you up to this?"

Mtehm clamped his jaw, he wasn't going to tell the truth, that he'd come to run away with the royal princess. Again. “Honestly, every year." the assistant to the chief administrator muttered, “Well you're lucky I caught you and not one of the guards. Come along, I'll give you a of deluminent for breaking in and an extra one for the lie you told and you can be on your way. Tell your friends to find another challenge. Go hunt down a Vengenarl or something instead."

“That sounds like it could be dangerous." The hangings split open and a Fisk sauntered out towards them. Followed by a new set of Indigo robes. “Let him go please." Korres asked, “Mtehm is here assisting me with my research."

The clerk's lips thinned, jackal partner stalking up to the Fisk, hackels rising. “Korres. You failed to mention an assistant. You're only an Indigo brightblinder, you can't bring in anyone who isn't directly invited by the Emperor. Not without going through proper protocol."

Korres stepped aside spreading the draperies with an arm, “Would you like me to go ask him now?"

A nerve jumped in the clerk's face as he stood silent, but he released Mtehm's arm. “Do as you will." he spat and turned on his heel, shadowpartner trailing after.

“He doesn't like you much" Mtehm stated and gave his wrist a rub.

“Ah, I've been making his life difficult of late. Need for secrecy and all that. It doesn't sit well with someone who's job it is to keeping track of everyone and everything. At least his boss isn't such a stick in the mud."

“That would be the 'chief administrator to the Emperor himself', would it?"

Korres chuckled. “She prefers 'Chief Administrator' and I hope that she holds onto the title for quite some time yet. "

“Is she not well, is that why he's the assistant?"

“Naw, she's just preoccupied with other preparations to worry about me or my research schedule. Come on." Korres called to his partner who broke off tussling with Castle and bounded to his side. “They're serving fresh fruit from Aenir down on the common. Picked this afternoon. I can tell you more while we grab a plate."

“I can't go." Mtehm protested, “I haven't found Lanelle yet."

“The Empress in Waiting? I thought that you had come right here and had already spoken to her."

Mtehm shook his head, “I got sidetracked." Between taking to Orion, sneaking through the camp, and helping with the supplies Mtehm had lost a significant amount of time. The sun was sure to be all the way down by now.

“Well go talk to her!" Korres parted the cloth entrance once more and pushed Mtehm inside

Inside the fabric keep a simple dais was set up, a raised platform constructed of wood harvested from Aenirian trees. A specific species that yielded violet wood.

On the dais sat a pair of crystal thrones with towering backs, the sign of the Chosen carved into their tops. One chair's occupant, Emperor Caeris, sat there reading over a pile of notes in his lap. Without looking up he spoke loudly as they entered. “Let the Chief Administrator know that we need to negotiate a greater supply of paper to take back with us after this Ascension. The light tablets don't last well and we'll be needing to add a significant amount of information to our library. Not to mention all the work that will have to be revised and copied out again."

“Yes my lord." Korres replied and the Emperor's head came up at last.

“Korres? I thought you were the assistant. Was there something you needed to add to these pages?"

“Nothing my lord. There's an unrelated matter?" Korres trailed off and poked Mtehm in the back causing him to stumble forwards. Until Korres poked him all this had largely passed Mtehm by. His attention had been captured by Lanelle, the occupant of the other throne.

Her hair was washed and coiffed, bound within a circlet of gold set with a small amethyst. The robes she wore were new. They didn't even have dust marks on the knees. Mtehm could have failed to recognize her, if upon seeing him her eyes hadn't grown huge and her chin dropped to the violet Keystone hung about her neck, trapped within a cage of gold wire.

“Ah Mtehm. The boy from the tower." Lord Caeris addressed him and Mtehm was finally able to focus his attention on the reining monarch. After another quick poke from Korres he remembered to give light and bow.

Castle at his side screeched an “Awk!" and scampered for the dais.

“Castle!" Mtehm shouted in dismay and snatched the fleeing tip of the dragon's tail, bringing his up short. The violet gaze of the Emperor snapped to the struggling dragon. “Sorry my lord, he's quite delighted to see Lanelle again." Mtehm excused trying to pick Castle up as the dragon huffed into his face in annoyance.

“He means no harm father." Lanelle added having half risen from her seat.

Caeris waved a hand sitting forward in his throne. “Let him go, let him come." he ordered.

“Slowly alright." Mtehm told Castle and released him. Lanelle came forward and Caeris too left his seat as Castle “Awk"ed a reply and shook his wings out. Head high he walked over to the two royals and paused before them, then with a glad cry he spread his wings and hurled himself up into Lanelle's arms.

She gave a peal of laughter as she caught him gripped him tight, spinning about with him in a circle. “Castle you can fly again!" she exclaimed. Her simple observation rocked Mtehm back on his heels. Of course the dragon could fly, the wound on his shoulder had vanished when Atterseem's essence had brought him back to life.

He'd been flying all afternoon since arriving in Aenir, and somehow Mtehm had failed to notice. Probably because for him it had only been a few days since the first crossing to Aenir had nearly killed the dragon. Castle however had been dealing with the injury for weeks. How incredible it must feel to be able to soar through the air again and his delight in flight was matched by Lanelle's delight in seeing him do it. Mtehm knew that she blamed herself for crippling the dragon, what a weight it lifted from her having him hale and whole once more.

“Incredible," Caeris whispered stretching out a finger to run it along Castle's scaled rump, “Seraphrim. You're just as the Codex describes. To think that I should live to see the first shadowspirit, Ramellan's shadowpartner bound to another. Incredible."

“I told you, his name is Castle." Lanelle reminded her father as she came to a halt facing him and scratching under Castle's neck.

“And he's not my bound shadowspirit." Mtehm added, “I have no shadowspirit. I failed in my hunt."

“Failed?" Caeris exclaimed, “How can you claim to have failed? Seraphrim, er, Castle is clearly your partner. Binding or no, he is your partner. Bound as close as my own Gah is to me. Do not think you have failed."

“How can I not? The binding is Chosen law."

“The binding is a ritual created by Ramellan to give us power over Aenirians." Caeris said, “It was his claim for repelling the invasion of our world and defeating the dark army that Sharrakor had raised."

“We know this." Mtehm told the Emperor, “We met someone who told us as much. But Lord Caeris, how is it you know? There are no records of a war in the Chosen library. Our history begins with the building of the Castle."

The Emperor considered this and set his teeth. “Come, there is something I must show all of you."

Caeris led the way to the rear of the tent where he opened a flap to another partitioned off space. It wasn't large, half the size of Mtehm's own bedroom and contained only one item. A large mirror. Not a real mirror. Rather a single slab of opaque gray crystal about Mtehm's height, wide as his outstretched arms and as thick as the width of his hand.

“This item is the Codex of the Chosen." Caeris said gesturing to the monolith. “It is an artifact from before the fall of our world and it alone hold the records of the true history of the Chosen. As you have learned there is for more to the story than you have been taught."

“How does it work?" Mtehm asked. To his surprise the Codex began to glow and upon its surface words appeared. “You have but to ask." he read the silver lettering aloud.

“The Codex is intelligent." Caeris explained, “It will answer any question you have. Though can only respond with facts, it will not weigh matters of the heart." Turning to the crystal Caeris spoke. “How many people lived in the Dark World before Ramellan raised the Veil?"

The answer appeared immediately and Mtehm, Korres, and Lanelle all gasped at the answer. “Twelve billion?" Mtehm couldn't credit it, there wasn't twelve thousand Chosen living in all of the castle.

Lord Caeris closed his eyes in sorrow. “Ramellan killed them all. He saved everyone he could, but to save Aenir he ended so many lives. Twelve billion people died, freezing beneath the Veil."

The revelation pulled gasps of horror from Korres and Lanelle, and would shocked Mtehm as deeply, had this been the first time he'd heard it. “I remember, you accused Sharrakor of as much when you fought him above the Veil. This Codex is how you knew who Sharrakor was?"

Caeris nodded, “The Codex knows the story of how the Dark Army came to invade our world it is true but it can only tell you if you know to ask that question. That is why all knowledge of Ramellan's deeds has been expunged from our history. So that we may never know to ask. Only the Emperors and Empresses, Ramellan's direct descendents ever knew that our history extends further than the construction of the castle."

“And Sharrakor?" Mtehm asked.

“Led the Dark Army in the invasion. He wasn't the only one to cross over mind you. Great big world full of people and sunlight? Aenirians were crossing over in droves. Ritual bound to its inhabitants the more that left Aenir the less stable that world became."

The Emperor paused and placed his hand upon the Codex before continuing. “Sharrakor was already ruler of Aenir at that point. Him and his brother Seraphrim. It was only natural that they meet the leaders of our own world. Seraphrim and Ramellan, and Ramellan's wife Danir grew close. They knew that they had to put a stop to the destruction of Aenir. Ramellan consulted Asteyr, a powerful mage and together they came up with the Binding spell as a way of commanding the Aenirians. Seraphrim offered to be the first test, and so he became the first Shadowspirit, bound to Ramellan. Although he didn't become a shadow since the Veil did not exist at the time." Caeris turned to the Codex, text had been scrawling out on its surface as he'd been speaking. Outlining the same story he'd been telling.

“Sharrakor was envious. Not of the Chosen or the partnership they had found, but of the light and life in our world. He desired for the power of our sun to belong only to him. With Aenir failing saw his chance slipping away. He betrayed his brother and led the attack to conquer our world instead. So the Chosen fought him and his army. War raged, but the Dark Army was steadily gaining the upper hand. In the greatest of the battles fought Sharrakor slew his brother Seraphrim. Grieved by the loss Ramellan put into action the greatest of countermeasures. He the raised the Veil. Our world died in the dark and the Aenirians, all of them, were forced back across into Aenir.

Lanelle shifted Castle in her arms, “But I thought that the Chosen defeated the Dark Army. Not only pushed them back to Aenir."

“They did." her father replied, “Cut off from the sun of our world the strength of the Dark Army and of all Aenirians dwindled. The ritual magic of Aenir had been fractured and the magic of our sunstones then proved the greater force. Ramellan and Danir led the Chosen across and they hunted down sealed away the Dark Army all over Aenir. Four of the most powerful magi, Danir, Susir and Grettier, led by the most powerful, Asteyr finally faced down Sharrakor. They defeated him but Asteyr was slain in the battle. In defeat Danir recognized that Sharrakor had been corrupted by his lust for the sunlight of our world. Rather than destroy him they bound him beneath Rorn, the ruin that lies beneath the Star Dome."

“Then the Star Dome was constructed above as a seal to Sharrakor's prison." Mtehm said and Caeris nodded in agreement.

“For the rest of the Dark Army the Chosen bound them back into the rituals of the land. In doing so they restored magic and life to Aenir. Still the Chosen feared that the Aenirians would seek to return to our world despite the darkness that now shrouded it and the decision was made to sever all ties. One last great spell was cast, a spell which caused all Aenirians to forget their past, forget our world, and to forget our Sun."

“The Forgetting. Ramellan returned to Aenir though, To set out a charter prohibiting binding non wild Aenirians."

“Many times," The Emperor again agreed, closing his eyes, “It was cruel irony, the Aenirians fled their dying world. After the war the Chosen returned to a dead one themselves. Before the Veil our world too looked like Aenir, full of plants and animals. All of it was gone. Destroyed."

“How terrible." Lanelle whispered and her breath tickled the fur on Castle's back.

“Truly," Korres said, “I cannot imagine it, to have one's life so utterly changed. Small wonder that the wonders of Aenir tempted the Chosen back."

“A symptom of what was happening within the castle." Caeris told him, “Ramellan had saved many people, but those left mourned he loss of loved ones. Of the world at large. They blamed him for their fate. They did not wish to live in darkness, especially with a vibrant world just a spell away. A power struggle occurred and came to a head when Ramellan learned that some Chosen had been crossing to Aenir. He was furious and ordered them exiled them from the castle to die on the ice. Before learning that Susir, Grettier and Danir, his own wife were of the accused. They were already taking steps to build a life in Aenir. Together they had constructed the Vale of the Chosen and some of the earliest roads."

“What did Ramellan do?" Korres asked. In response the surface of the Codex began to glow, more words scrawling across its surface.

“Hush Codex! I'm telling them." Caeris protested and rapped his knuckles against the crystal. “Ramellan did banish Susir, Grettier and many of their followers, and he convinced Danir to do it. Atonement for her crime. It was a mistake, proof in many eyes of tyranny. The remaining Chosen who did not support Ramellan fled to Aenir. Danir too. But Aenir was wild in those days. So many Chosen died that Danir was forced to return to Ramellan to try and reason with him. When she arrived she found it was no better on on the Dark World side. Ramellan's people were not thriving either. Beneath the Veil, the magic of the Chosen alone could not sustain them. Cold rock surrounded them and supplies were running out. Ramellan at last he agreed that trading with the various races in Aenir was their only hope. He gave Danir the Binding spell, but stipulated that in exchange no one was to live permanently in Aenir. It was by his decree that Chosen could only stay in Aenir as long as Asteyr the brightest star ascends the night sky. Which is why the time we spend here is known as the Ascension. During which we do exactly as Ramellan, Danir and all the early Chosen did, trade, maintain our paths-"

“And bind our Shadowpartners," Mtehm said, “but only wild ones."

“Right you are. Another of Ramellan's stipulations was that we don't disrupt the lives of peaceful Aenirians. That became Chosen law too. It carries the same penalty as crossing before Ascension. To be stripped of magic and to live as Underfolk."

Lanelle gasped. She had known that they had been breaking the rules. She hadn't known it was one of the founding laws of the castle. Or that breaking it carried such a harsh penalty.

“As does failing to bind a Shadowspirit." Mtehm spoke quickly, wanting to change the subject. It hadn't been her choice to break Chosen law, he was responsible for having inadvertently dragged her across to Aenir. He just wished he hadn't picked such a sore topic to bring up. The lack of his own shadow, evidence of his own failure weighed at him.

“Actually," Caeris said, “The law does not say anything about a Shadowspirit. All it mentions is an Aenirian partner. I assume that when Ramellan wrote our laws he was basing them on the world before the Veil. When Seraphrim was his partner, but not bound to him."

Mtehm stared, “You don't mean-"

“Yes Mtehm. Under Chosen law Castle is your partner." Caeris' lips turned up in a grin, and he bowed from the waist, “Welcome Mtehm, Ascendant of the Chosen. First of this year."

“Awk!" Castle cried and sprang from Lanelle's arms to caper in delight around Mtehm's ankles as he stood dumbstruck. Korres slapped him on the shoulder and hollered his congratulations. Lanelle, catching his eye blushed and dipped her chin.

Caeris drew himself up again suddenly serious. “Lanelle has told me of the time that you two spent in Aenir. It was in breach of our laws. You should be dimmed, but you kept her safe and for that you have my thanks. Further you saved the castle from an ancient and deadly enemy. Succeeding where I failed in my duty."

“Lord Caeris, You knew how to defeat Sharrakor?" Mtehm stuttered out.

“I consulted the Codex before returning from Aenir. It gave me the knowledge I needed, and with the Keystones at my command I would have been able to defeat Sharrakor, but I was far too confident." Caeris pressed his hand to his chest, “For my foolishness Gah paid the price. You saved my life."

Mtehm twisted the ring on his finger, “I'm still not certain if I did anything at all, and if I did you still lost your Shadowpartner."

“Fret not," Caeris said waving away Mtehm's words, “Gah is using this life to heal me, but when his time comes once more he will be reborn. He'll be by my side once more. Which puts me in your debt. Come."

He led them back into the throne room and once there placed a hand on the arm of his throne. Sunstones embedded there glittered. “This will take a moment.." Caeris said, “While we wait can you please give me your hand Mtehm?"

“Well sure." Mtehm replied, unsure but obeying his Emperor. The Emperor took hold of his wrist and pushed his arm down a little and the deluminent, that colorless ring of crystal that he had earned, fell from his sleeve. With his other hand Caeris put his finger on it, a sunstone flashed and the band of disfavor cracked open and dropped to the tent floor.

“My lord-"

Before Mtehm could thank the Emperor a new voice spoke, a woman pushed aside the flaps and entered. She wore pale lilac robes, she was of the Violet order but the lowest of the seven ranks within it. Outclassing Korres by a hair, and Mtehm by some margin. She bore a violet crystal chest which she carried across both her arms. “Place it down here." the Emperor said releasing Mtehm's arm to indicated the dais. As she approached the platform Korres stepped forwards and between the two of them they managed to wrestle it down so that it rested at the edge of the platform

“That is all." Caeris dismissed the Chosen and as she left he turned to Mtehm. “Mtehm, son of Hanth. Ascendant and Chosen of Ramellan." The Emperor intoned. Mtehm taken aback at being addressed as such shot a glance Lanelle. Her eyes had widened and she lifted her shoulders in a small shrug and he looked back to her father.

“I have a proposition for you. As we've just discussed the Emperor's duty while in Aenir to see to our concerns here. There are many Aenirians I will need to take audience with them regarding trade and treaty while we are in Aenir. My daughter's telling of your adventure has convinced me that it is time that she accompanied me on these trips beyond the Vale."

Lanelle let out a squeak in surprise. Caeris couldn't have told her she was going too.

“Mtehm, your defeat of Sharrakor has proven you a puissant and ingenious mage. Aenir is still a dangerous place. Lanelle had no Shadowpartner of her own yet. I would be honored if you would accept a position with my personal guard and continue to protect her as you have done." Caeris flipped open the catches on the chest and the lid sprang open to reveal a uniform in royal violet, the crest of the Chosen blazing silver on its breast.

Caeris unpinned the crest and held the emblem out “Take it," he urged, “As only members of the highest order may serve in the royal guard accept this token and you will ascend to the first rank of Violet."

This was it. The goal he'd sought to achieve from the beginning and it was being handed to him. As Mtehm picked the shard of bright metal from the Emperor's hand he found he no longer cared. The purple robes in the chest and the status they brought no longer interested him.

“I accept." He replied, but looked to Lanelle as he did. She was trying to be stately but the barest twist of her lips betrayed her. It was all Mtehm needed to feel as though she had wrapped him in her arms. Mtehm was a full Chosen. Castle was his partner and with Lanelle they would explore Aenir together. That meant far more than the robes or a badge ever could.

“Good!" the Emperor exclaimed, pulling the robe out and thrusting it towards Mtehm. “Korres, you and your team will be coming with us in this trip. With what you have presented me there can be no delay in your research. Mtehm, this concerns you too. Twice now you have performed the magic Korres has been investigating. Summoning Seraphrim and then again when fusing me and Gah together to save my life. Make yourself available to Korres whenever your other duties allow you to."

“Yes, your lordship." Mtehm agreed, his friend would be coming along too? His new position was sounding better every moment.

“Lanelle and I have a dinner we must attend now. I'll have to leave you in the hands of another. Collect your things and then report to a man by the name of Ranulf. You'll to find him somewhere in the Violet district. Ask anyone and show the badge, they'll take you to him. Mtehm, Korres. Both of you, we leave before first light. Make sure you're with the train."

“Understood your lordship." Mtehm and Korres chorused.

Mtehm wished to stay and talk with Lanelle but it was clear they had been dismissed. “Awk!" Castle cried and jumped down from her arms to scamper after Mtehm as he followed Korres to the exit. He couldn't help but look back as the canvas dropped behind him and he smiled to himself at the sight of Lanelle wrapping her arms around her father. She'd gotten exactly what she wanted too.

---

Aenir. In the brightening false light of predawn it spread out beneath them. Ranulf, head of the royal guard, muttered into his thick beard and pulled the cap he wore lower on his head. His partner, a Korrit, made no such complaints. The huge armored beast rolled its shoulders against the leather traces and bounded up the last few steps to the top of the pass leading out of the Vale.

“Whoa!" Lanelle yelped, gripping hold of Mtehm's arm as their carriage shot forwards.

“You doing okay up there Castle?' Mtehm yelled out. From atop the Korrit's back the silver and rainbow dragon, wings full spread let out a jubilant “Awk!". He caught the air beneath them, and hovered a moment in place until he could drop down to perch next to Mtehm.

“Aww, you're so good at flying." Lanelle told him and tried to capture the dragon in an embrace but Castle ducked below her arms, slurped the side of her face with his tongue and shot off into air once more.

“Ugh. Mtehm, tell Castle to sit still." she complained.

Mtehm laughed, watching as Castle gained height as he circled overhead. “You know he's not my bound Shadowspirit. He won't do anything he doesn't want to, even if ordered to by royal Empresses. Besides, this is the first time he's had so much space to fly in. You can't begrudge him wanting to use his wings a little."

Lanelle pouted until Ranulf's voice came back form the front seat of the carriage.

“Well ain't that a sight."

Mtehm and Lanelle looked ahead. The Chosen path that descended down speared straight ahead cutting through a strange forest. Rank upon rank of blackened trees stood either side. Each a central trunk from which at regular intervals sprouted a ring of eight skinnier branches. Offset they gave the illusion of a spiral marching up their length.

What had caused the comment from Ranulf was not their perfect geometry. As the sun rose each tree began to twirl. Sweeping around like dancers on the floor. As they turned in the light the darkness blew away from their branches like soot on the breeze leaving them gleaming gold.

“That's incredible." Mtehm said.

“That's Aenir." Lanelle replied, “And I want to see it all, with you." The sun touched her face and her lips touched his.

“Mmpfh. What about your dad?" The Emperor's own carriage wasn't far away.

“My dad sees far more than you think." Lanelle replied, “Why do you think you're wearing those robes."

“Castle. Mostly. He is the reincarnation of Ramellan's partner. Do you think this trip is a test to convince your dad if I'm worthy of being his partner?"

“Being Castle's partner?" Lanelle laughed, “No one could mistake you for being unworthy of him. You two are so close you're practically one. I'm talking about you and me. I love you Mtehm. One day when I take the throne Castle will again be the partner of an Emperor."

“Oh. You think your father already knows about us." Mtehm said and slipped an arm around her, “Do you think we should tell him anyway?"

Lanelle rested her head against him and gazed out at the plantation of golden trees. “No. Lets keep it the way it is right now. I know its selfish but I'd like to pretend it's just the two of us seeing the wonders of Aenir together again. I think I'd love that."

“You don't remember that time." Mtehm said. Neither did he, except for the one memory Sharrakor had restored to his mind. But if he could have a moment like that again he'd do anything Lanelle asked of him. “Very well. I promise you. When this adventure ends and we return to the castle I'll wear the mantle of Emperor in Waiting for all to see. Until then we'll learn all we can of this world."

Somewhere far above a dragon's scales flashed silver in the dawning sun of a world that turned by magic. Fantastic and dangerous and strange.

Her head moved against his shoulder as she spoke its name. “Aenir."