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The smell of magic, oxidized air after a lightning strike, hung heavy in the clearing where he found Karniel. Something had happened here, and the fact Mathus wasn't with the bat made Korlyon assume the worst.

“You just missed him," Karniel said and brushed aside the sword hanging in front of his flat snout.

“Meaning?" Korlyon snapped, flashing his blade back in Karniel's face. The hippogryph draped over Karniel's lap started to stir. Korlyon pointed his blade at her. “Who is this?"

“Karniel?" the hippogryph groaned. She noticed the sword hanging over her, and started, but Karniel kept her pinned against him.

“This is Korlyon," Karniel said to her. “Korlyon, this is Cathka. She has been our companion since we got separated from you."

Cathka relaxed a little, and only then did Korlyon notice the mage's hand glowing with a glyph she signed. She said, “Mathus has told me a lot about you. Were we not attacked last night, I'm sure he would have been elated to see you."

Korlyon's heart jumped a little at the thought, but it was tempered by rage as he told Karniel, “You were supposed to protect him."

“I tried," Karniel shot back. He tried to get up, but a twinge in his ribs made him falter. “Fuck," he cursed, falling to his knees. A surge of dizziness and nausea swept through him. He groaned, trembling as he suddenly felt too cold. What was this feeling? Feverish?

Before becoming mortal he'd never been sick a day in his life.

Cathka was at his side. She had signed a glyph, and now some sort of soothing warmth traveled from her fingers along his spine. She asked quietly, “Are you okay?"

“The connection… Mathus is getting too far away," Karniel breathed as his ribs began to throb and ache where he had been stabbed.

“What connection?" Korlyon asked.

Straining a little, Cathka helped Karniel to his feet, the bigger bat leaning heavily against her. She told Korlyon quickly, “Mathus is alive. We were attacked by a group of Faceless and Selvanna the Fell Axe last night. They would have killed us both, but Mathus convinced them to leave us in peace as long as he returned as their captive."

Korlyon's brow furrowed. “Why would they want Mathus?"

“We have a lot we need to catch you up on," Cathka said.

“We'll tell him on the journey," Karniel said while he clutched his chest. “If we don't start closing the distance—guh… dammit, let's just get moving."

***

It started as a scratching on his chest, like some rodent inside him pawed behind his ribs. Slowly it warped into a burning ache, shaped like the slim blade Mathus had forced in his chest not too long ago.

He knew it a risk when he asked they leave Karniel and Cathka behind, but Mathus assumed the pair would be safer not held as captives by Mortel's zealots. They had marched for several hours in the dark before they reached the Faceless camp, and by then his chest only had a faint itch.

They broke for food, huddled under an alchemical lantern hanging off the back of a large covered wagon. Rations were passed around, which consisted of dried meats, hard cheeses, and some sort of hard tack that softened and sweetened in the mouth. After eating, they loaded themselves into the wagon. All except Selvanna, who walked outside it while the Faceless took turns driving the wagon. Mathus was instructed to lay flat and sleep, under the watch of another Faceless. The remaining two slept, and worked in this shift through the night.

Mathus tossed and turned while that pain grew, sleeping through it in fits and starts like a cloying sickness. By morning, a large hand startled him awake. It was Selvanna, standing at the back of the wagon, no longer wearing her helm. She said to him, “We've stopped to water the horses. If you'd like to get out and stretch your legs, you may."

Bleary-eyed, Mathus stumbled to the back of the wagon. Aside from some supplies, Selvanna's poleaxe, and Kiem's remains, there was nothing else in it. The Faceless already hung around outside, talking while they ate more trail rations. Selvanna offered him a hand, and helped Mathus hop out of the back.

“Thank you," he muttered, legs a little stiff and wobbly. She helped support him until he could stand on his own.

“How are you feeling?" Selvanna asked. “Nola says you tossed and turned like you had a fever all night."

Only now did Mathus notice the sweat building up in his clothes, the clamminess of his brow. He leaned against the back of the wagon and sighed.

Selvanna kneeled in front of him and said plainly, “I owe you a debt for saving Jynn's life last night. If there is anything I can do to ease your suffering, all you need to do is ask."

Mathus touched the spot that ached in his chest, licking his dry lips. “Water would be a start."

Selvanna produced a waterskin hanging from her belt. Mathus almost dropped it when he took it, the thing being made for her size and almost too heavy for him to lift in his weakened state. Selvanna took it and popped the cork on its head. “Here," she offered before putting the lip of the waterskin to his mouth. He took a drink, feeling too ill at the moment to even be embarrassed.

“Now tell me what's wrong," Selvanna said after he got a drink. “Is this some spell? The Heart should be keeping your body healthy."

Mathus hesitated. He glanced at the other Faceless and carefully whispered, “It's the same spell that binds me to Karniel."

Selvanna was no fool. “You want to keep this between us?"

Mathus nodded.

“Very well, simply cast a silencing spell between them and us."

Mathus said, “Even if I knew how, I'm not going to use the Heart for that."

“You really won't use the Heart, will you?" She had hoped her impressions of him were misplaced, wrong, that he wouldn't think twice to use the Heart. Selvanna had been wrong.

She looked surprised. Even distracted by the fever and pain, Mathus saw it plain in her eyes. Mathus said, “Not unless someone's life is at stake."

“Alright, then." Selvanna rose to her feet and said to the other Faceless, “I must speak to the Vessel privately."

Mathus keenly felt them being watched as Selvanna led them around the wagon. They had moved off the forest trail onto a main road leading south west. The wagon had been parked on the roadside, near a bridge over a stream. Selvanna stopped at the bridge, with a clear view of her companions but far enough away to avoid unwanted eavesdropping.

“What did you not want the others to know?" Selvanna said.

Mathus leaned against the wooden railing of the bridge, and watched the murky stream below run on. “The spell was cast to make sure I watched over Karniel and made sure he did good in the world. It is not just our life, but our bodies bound together."

“Your distance from him has caused this illness."

Mathus said, “I don't want the others to know, in case they insist on going back and capturing Karniel."

“It doesn't look like you have much of a choice," Selvanna said. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and their difference in size made Mathus feel like a child. “Is Karniel's freedom worth your life?"

“Last night you asked me if I thought Karniel wouldn't try to interfere with our deal." Mathus brushed her hand off and faced her. “Do you think Karniel or Cathka would truly be safe in some dungeon in Sepulcher of Dawn?"

Selvanna actually winced. “No. They would not."

“I didn't know how far we would need to travel before Karniel and I felt this tug on our bond, but if we can just slow down our pace, I'm sure he and Cathka will keep up with us."

Selvanna once again kneeled so they could be face to face. “You're asking a lot from me."

“I've not asked you anything yet."

Selvanna actually smirked, showing a glint of fangs. “You wish for me to keep this secret for you while also slowing our pace. You wish for me to lie on your behalf."

“If you have an alternative that maintains our bargain I'd hear it."

Selvanna cocked her head. “Why are you putting so much trust in me?"

Mathus hugged himself as a chill passed through him. He said, “That's just how we make this work."

“Make what work?"

Mathus had much to say to that. Make their agreement work. Make her and whoever else believe he and Karniel were not a threat. That the Heart was better off in his care rather than being used for whatever machinations Mortel might have. However, all Mathus could muster in his current state was:

“I'm not your enemy, Selvanna."

His skin pallid, covered in a coat of sweat and shivering, Selvanna could not help but want to ease his suffering. She needed to protect and preserve the Vessel, but she recognized under her sense of duty a genuine desire to comfort him. The urge to hold Mathus, to ease that shivering and wipe the sweat from his brow, it all rose up in Selvanna's chest.

It scared her enough she struggled to say around the lump in her throat, “We… we are not enemies."

Mathus offered her a weak smile. “I'm glad you agree."

Selvanna cleared her throat and told him, “I will try my best to keep our agreement."

She got up and went around to the Faceless, who had gathered at the wagon now. “Is everything alright, Vanna?" Noladush asked.

“We are going to wait here a little while longer before moving on."

“Is that wise?" Fawn asked.

Mathus moved to the wagon, staying along the side to listen to the conversation without drawing attention to himself. His chest still felt like a bunch of ants were biting and eating away to build a colony in him. He leaned against the wagon, trying to focus on the conversation and distract himself from how awful he felt.

“The Vessel is ill," Selvanna said. “I would have us wait, allow him to rest, and watch his condition. In an hour we will move on."

“I can try and heal him, if you allow me," Seljynn said. She seemed subdued, and Mathus barely heard her say, “After last night it is the least I can do."

“If he consents to it, I will not stop you."

“Are you his knight now?" Ralab asked. “Why are we so concerned with his dignity when—"

“He saved Jynn's life without a second thought," Selvanna growled. “That should be enough reason to care."

Ralab, the old wolf, wasn't cowed. “Jynn would have been just fine had you any control of your temper…"

***

“You've been awfully quiet for a while now," Karniel said to Korlyon as they followed the tracks left behind by their hunters.

“You've given me a lot to think about, and I'm not sure how much I should believe," Korlyon said. He led his horse by the reins while Karniel rode on the beast, almost comically large in its saddle. A spell from Cathka had made him lighter and kept Karniel's weight from straining his ride too much.

He had managed two steps out of their camp before collapsing. Korlyon, impatient, had offered his horse while Cathka caught him up on their exploits. Karniel felt a bit better now. The dizziness had faded away, and nausea no longer threatened to double him over.

“Whether you believe us or not," Cathka said, walking beside the horse, “The Church of Mortel's only plan for Mathus is to kill him—"

“They wouldn't," Korlyon cut her off, his hackles raised again. “If he really does have Mortel's Heart, he would be welcomed as a second coming. Another prophet like Dialdon."

Karniel sneered. “You mean the prophet that launched the campaign against Gavalon that drafted and subsequently killed your parents?"

Cathka added, “They called him a Vessel. Not a prophet. If I had to guess, Mortel is still set on reincarnating himself through Mathus, which means ejecting his soul from his body and effectively killing him."

Korylon, still quiet, tail tucked, came to a stop. “I still don't—"

Cathka shoved him. “Keep walking, we need to close as much distance between us and Mathus. Unless you want him to get worse."

Korlyon snarled at her, but did as she ordered. Karniel was grateful he had Cathka here to keep the young wolf on track. Still, given Cathka's coldness, Karniel felt compelled to offer Korlyon an olive branch, “Don't be too harsh on him. I'm not sure Korlyon ever thought he would need to choose between these two things."

Quietly, Korlyon said, “I really want to believe in Mortel, in our church. In Dialdon and the Order's wisdom."

“Do you love those things?" Karniel asked.

Korlyon started. Ears raised, he faced Karniel and asked, “What does that mean?"

Cathka put a firm hand on the wolf's shoulder, saying, “Keep moving."

As he did, Karniel answered, “I heard your exchange with Mathus before we left you. You wanted to say you loved him, but he was scared to let you. In case something happened to him."

Korlyon muttered under his breath, “Damn those ears of yours."

“Heard that, too."

Korlyon snarled. “So what if I love him?"

“If you love him, then the choice is obvious," Karniel said.

“It is for us, at least," Cathka added.

Karniel watched Korlyon's fists clench at his side, trembling a moment before his paws went slack. “Very well," he sighed, “I will help you both to help Mathus, but I will only do what he asks of me."

“Even if he asks you to turn on your Order?" Cathka asked.

Korlyon placed a paw on one of the swords at his side. “I've done it once before for him. If anything, my resolve has only strengthened." Despite his words, he sounded hollowed out.

Karniel felt a surprising pinch of sympathy well up inside his sternum. He said, “I'm sorry, Korlyon. Truly, I wish we could have offered you a happy reunion, instead of this fight."

They reached a small clearing with a trail running through it. Korlyon stopped at its edge, and this time Cathka did not try to usher him onward. The wolf turned and said, “If Mathus has the Heart, it sounds like this fight would have been inevitable, but thank you." He faced the clearing and pointed at the trail, “They boarded a wagon here and moved on through the night. The trail they're leaving makes it pretty clear they were not concerned at all about the two of you."

“Insolent of them, but not surprising."

“They did best us handily," Cathka said while all three moved out into the clearing and onto the trail. As they did, she slipped off her jade necklace.

“What are you doing?" Karniel asked while she took Kiem's conduit and twined them together.

“I have been meaning to try something I thought up in Pterodea. I think it will work, but I needed a conduit not attuned to me." She bound necklace and rosary together like she planned to form a rope from them. “The kobold's there, I realized they must have been highly conductive to magic to wield spells like they do. Your species' polar opposite."

“And?"

“Conduits attune to a single body," Cathka said as she finished binding the two together. “They cannot conduct to another body, and yet somehow the kobolds could draw on the power stored in the Heart and my necklace."

Karniel finally put two and two together. “Kiem's conduit conducting to yours?"

“If I channel energy through mine will they become a single system of energy?" Cathka asked.

“And this is easier than simply draining its energy into your conduit?"

“Of course not," Cathka said, “but the Heart doesn't store energy, it transfers it from Mortel's afterlife to here. Now that it's a reality we have to face, I need to start thinking of counters to it should Mathus lose control of it."

“That won't happen," Karniel swore.

“I don't like it, either, but I'm not quite as optimistic," Cathka said while she signed a glyph. A green triangle floated in the air and Cathka whispered into it.

***

Mathus, leaning against the wagon while Selvanna argued with them, heard Cathka's voice in his ear: “Mathus, an old friend of yours scented us out. The three of us are trying to close the distance. Stay strong."

Mathus touched his earlobe, thinking of how Cathka liked to tease it with her beak. He missed her and Karniel and this friend—this friend! The thought of Korlyon made Mathus ache even more. He quickly signed the spell Cathka taught him back in Pterodea and whispered into it, “I'm trying to stall them. Tell my friend I'm sorry."

“What was that?" Noladush asked. Mathus flinched as all of them came around the wagon. Noladush said, “He was talking to someone."

“Does it matter?" Mathus shot back at them. It surprised him to see Selvanna frown. Even through their masks, ears, tails, and eyes told Mathus the Faceless were alarmed and angered.

Selvanna asked Noladush, “Did you hear what he said?"

Noladush shook his head, “I could make out an apology, maybe."

“I sent a message to Cathka, the mage in our company."

“Clearly, we cannot let him out of our sight," Selvanna snarled. She shoved past the other warriors and grabbed Mathus by the collar. “You told me you wouldn't use magic."

Mathus grimaced. “I missed them. I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Selvanna searched his gaze, then let Mathus go. Voice quivering with restrained anger, she ordered, “Jynn, see what you can do to ease his sickness." Selvanna stormed off.

The gryphon approached Mathus, but he barely noticed her, watching Selvanna pace down the road. “Vessel?" Seljynn said to get his attention.

Noladush said to his companions, “I'll go talk to her," and padded off.

Mathus reluctantly faced Seljynn and told her, “Call me Mathus, please."

***

Bile and frustration tossed and turned inside her like two sharks fighting. She needed away from Mathus before she did or said something she'd regret. Stomping down the path, she didn't hear Noladush when he first called out to her, but the second time he said her name she spun and snapped, “Leave me be!"

Noladush barely flinched. The wrought iron staff he wielded as a conduit came up defensively, but the much smaller rat did not retreat. “Leaving you alone is the last thing you need. What's wrong with you, Vanna? I've never seen you like this."

Selvanna locked her jaw, glaring at him, but he did not yield. She wished she had Dialdon here, he would know to give her somewhere private to be with her grief. Would know what to say to console her. A problem with being a dragon: when you lived so long it became hard to let yourself become vulnerable to those who lived such short lives.

Her eyes flicked back to their wagon, and she said, “Give us some privacy and I will talk."

Noladush nodded and signed a few glyphs before turning to the camp and drawing his hooked staff through the air like he used it to yank a curtain close. Between them and the camp the air became opaque as Noladush faced her and said, “We are safe to speak openly, now."

Selvanna took a deep breath and tried her best to order her thoughts. “I've kept you and your relationship to Merin a secret, and now I need you to put the same trust into me."

Noladush said, “You've always had it. Though, when you stabbed instead of subduing Jynn last night you certainly shook all of our faith in you."

“And I never expect any of you to forgive me," Selvanna said bitterly. “I lost control, in a way I can't remember losing control in decades. I had him, and then this human stopped me."

“And you knew for certain he was telling the truth about the spell."

“That little stunt he pulled was the first time he's lied to me," Selvanna snarled. Her tail slammed against the cobbled road. “I don't understand what's wrong with me. Why am I so upset at him?"

Noladush cocked his head, one of his big round ears flattening against the pauldron of his armor. “What do you mean?"

“I don't know what I mean!" Selvanna snapped. She turned her back on him and fumed a little longer. She felt too hot and stuffy. Without a second thought, she began undoing the clasps on her gauntlets, saying as she did, “I should hate him. It should be that simple."

She stripped off a gauntlet and let it fall onto the ground. Noladush cleared his throat, “You're taking off your armor?"

“Dragons heat up when we're agitated," Selvanna said coldly. “Right now I don't have the luxury of a battle to distract from how sweltering my armor is."

“Is that the best idea?"

“I could kill Karniel naked and unarmed," Selvanna said. “After last night I'm certain of that. I'd almost relish the chance." Gauntlets stripped, she started undoing her vambraces next.

“Do you want help?"

Selvanna said, “No, this is giving me something to do. It's helping me think." That's why she enjoyed baking so much, really. The steady work of her hands could bring her peace when little else could.

“Alright," Noladush cleared his throat. “You should hate him, but you don't."

Selvanna nodded as she worked on her armor. “I think… were we not so utterly at odds, I'd have a deep respect for him. He's principled in a way I didn't expect."

“It is not strange to have respect for an enemy," Noladush said.

“It's more than just respect." The words flew out of her mouth so quickly she didn't even realize she spoke something she hadn't dared to think. She froze, fingers under the pauldron of her left shoulder, about to slip it off.

“More than respect?"

Selvanna quickly lifted off the pauldron and tossed it in front of her, working on the second one now. “I admire him," she said, feeling sick admitting it. “It's… it's why it hurt to be lied to, I think."

“Vanna…" Noladush paused, taking a deep breath. He paced around her so her back wasn't towards him. “You know we can't make attachments to the Vessel of all things, right?"

“I didn't want this," Selvanna growled at him. “Hence why I'm so upset. All of it is so ridiculous, and yet…"

“Yet?"

“A dragon's intuition on people is rarely wrong," Selvanna said as if she regretted that fact. “He genuinely doesn't want to use the Heart, Nola, and I'm not sure if that power should be wielded by anyone."

Even under his mask, Selvanna could tell Noladush frowned up at her. “Are you suggesting Mortel, God and Guide to all of us, would abuse his own power?"

“What happens when we bring Mortel back?" Selvanna asked. “Has anyone questioned that?" She now had stripped her other pauldron, arms bared as she worked on her chest piece.

Noladush straightened his back and said quietly, “You're coming dangerously close to heresy right now, Vanna."

“I know I am, but what do you know of Mortel when he lived, hmm? Aside from the histories our church wrote for him. There are few people who were alive when he was, I was only born when his church had been founded." Selvanna shook her head, “Dialdon's never spoken about it, but I know his relationship to his father was complicated. There was a great deal of contempt between them."

“Karniel also used Dialdon to kill Mortel."

“And Mortel was Karniel's partner and lover for centuries," Selvanna shot back.

Noladush whiskers and nose twitched, tail kinking in clear agitation. “Mortel's story is one of being seduced by evil and finding the light, redeeming himself and the Emerald Cities."

“And Mathus believes he tells no lie when he says Karniel has changed for the better," Selvanna said.

Noladush stamped his staff on the ground. “I won't hear anymore of this. I will keep this between the two of us, but if I hear anymore questioning our savior I will have to say something to Dialdon and the Order."

Selvanna sighed as he walked past her back to camp. She looked down at the heap of armor stacked at her feet. She felt the enchantment on the breastplate waning, wanting to separate. She lifted off the chest piece, and the back popped off, clattering across the road as her wings, magically compressed, sprung free and into the air. They quivered a little, stretching out. The cloudy membranes between them had healed, but her left wing was kinked awkwardly, unable to extend to its full length. Under the chestplate she wore a chainmail hauberk which clasped around her waist and neck, open in the back for her wings. She undid the clasps, let it pile with the rest. Finally, she stood in a tunic that, like the hauberk, was open in the back. She still wore her greaves and thigh armor, along with her sabatons, but this would be enough for now.

She did not have answers for anything, but she knew the real person she needed to speak to about this was Dialdon. He would have actual answers for her.

***

Mathus waited inside the wagon, feeling better both because he sensed the proximity between him and Karniel waning, and because Seljynn actually did relieve his symptoms of fever. They had all mounted up again, waiting for Selvanna. Fawn waited in the driver's box, talking with Seljynn who hung out at the front of the wagon. Ralab stood guard outside, and Noladush sat across from Mathus, glaring at him.

Mathus cleared his throat. “Um, did I, uh, do something wrong?"

“I don't know what your plan is," Noladush whispered, “but if you keep trying to turn Vanna against us, I'll make sure you spend the days leading up to Mortel's reincarnation in a coma."

Mathus opened his mouth to protest, but before he could a figure blocked out the light coming through the back of the wagon. Selvanna, her arms cradling a mass of armor that she dumped inside the wagon. He had not seen much of her exposed scales, and the violet cotton tunic she wore left little to the imagination. He had no clue how she managed to breathe with how compressed her wings and breasts must have been, but beyond her bust Mathus noticed the muscle pushing up under her dark scales. She looked strong enough to lift the whole wagon off the ground.

She gave him a curt nod and said, “I hope you're feeling better, because we're leaving right away and not stopping till sundown."

“Uh, yes," Mathus muttered. “Thank you again."

She snorted coldly and went around to walk in front of the wagon. Ralab climbed inside while Selvanna said, “Let's go, Fawn."

“Hey wait!" Mathus tried to get up, but Ralab grabbed his shoulder and Noladush jabbed Mathus in the side with his staff.

“Where do you think you're going?" the old wolf growled.

“I just want to ask Selvanna questions," Mathus said as he allowed himself to be forced back down.

“He's welcome to," Selvanna said, reminding all three the stretched canvas did little to block out noise. She swung around to march behind the wagon instead of at its side. “You two let him go and come here, Mathus." Both Faceless backed off, and Mathus clambered over them to the back of the wagon, sitting at its tail with his legs crossed. Selvanna asked, “What do you need?"

Mathus only then noticed the kink along her wings. They were bunched to her back, standing over her shoulder, but the left wing clearly looked bent out of shape, like the bone did not fasten back as it should. Mathus couldn't help but ask, “Your wing. Are you alright?"

“It's an old wound," Selvanna said.

“One the Scourge inflicted," Noladush added, and Mathus felt a prickling on his nape as both Faceless glared at him.

Mathus tried his best to ignore it and offered, “Would you like me to try and heal it?"

“No," Selvanna said flatly. “Besides, magic has done all it can for my body."

“There's a limit?"

“For dragons there is," Selvanna said. “Do you really not know anything about us?"

Mathus shrugged. “Six months ago I lived on the other side of the world, in a village of less than two hundred people. There's a lot I still need to learn."

“So you have questions," Selvanna said. She still spoke with a cold indifference to him that did not match their earlier conversations, but, with the other Faceless around, Mathus did not want to ask why she acted this way.

Mathus nodded. “I guess I'd like to learn more about this part of the world. Karniel liked sharing anecdotes, but didn't like to talk about his time here."

“Sounds like he wanted to hide from you everything he's done here, done to us."

“I don't doubt that's part of it," Mathus admitted, “but if we're going to make up for all the things he's done I have to know, right?"

Selvanna leaned into the wagon, placing her hand on its edge, getting her face so close to Mathus' that he shrank backwards, blushing. Selvanna asked, “What makes you think we want him here? Would you ask the arsonist back to the burnt temple so he can rebuild it?"

Mathus recoiled like she struck him. She snorted and backed off. He admitted, “I suppose if the people of Emerald Cities wanted nothing to do with us, we would go elsewhere and try to make the world a better place."

“Some scales, Mathus, you can never balance. Are you really ready to spend the next millennia building homes, tilling fields, and delivering babies just to redeem a creature that once slaughtered all the livestock in a region to summon an incubus?"

Mathus blinked. “Th-that story is true?"

“Yes, and people starved so Karniel could have a week long orgy with a demon of pleasure. And that's one of the more tame things he's done with his time in this world."

Mathus chewed on his bottom lip, thinking what to even say to that. Eventually he just snapped, “But he's changed! You know I'm not lying when I say that."

“Just because you believe something, Vessel," Ralab growled from deeper in the wagon, “doesn't make it true."

“We sense when people know they are lying," Selvanna added. “Dragons are not omniscient."

“Do you trust me, then?" Mathus shot back.

“Why should anyone trust someone seduced by the Scourge?" Ralab scoffed. “What a ridiculous question."

But Mathus kept his gaze locked with Selvanna. “Do you?"

“If I did not you would spend this whole trip back in a magically induced coma."

Noladush muttered loud enough for Mathus to hear, “Not too late to put him in one."

Selvanna ignored him and said to Mathus, “We've gotten off track. Ask your questions, and assuming your curiosity is genuine and not part of some plot, we will answer."

***

“Sepulcher of Dawn, colloquially known as the City of Tiers, might once have been a mountain that the great Emerald Sage split and sculpted into a city of floating layers. From above, it resembles a lotus flower blossomed and floating on Lake Umbra."

This description Mathus read long ago, but could still not comprehend what that looked like until he saw it himself. The forest dwindled to nothing, and after climbing a long, steady slope, they reached the beginning of a sweeping river basin. At the very edge of the horizon was the mountain range that most of the Emerald Cities were built along, but the first, Sepulcher of Dawn, blotted out most of that horizon. It reminded Mathus of those strange, ominous steel towers he saw in Dea's vision, obstructing most of the sky.

Massive slabs of stone circled a central column of water that, at a distance, looked like a support column for the city's structure. That water came from the lake, flowed upward to the highest layer in the center of Sepulcher of Dawn, swept in streams through the city, and wept over the side into the layers below, each spilling down to the next until they reached Lake Umbra. Much like a fountain, that water recycled and renewed, fed by rivers that streamed into the basin. Much of the lake itself was obscured in mist from the City of Tier's dozens of waterfalls, and all around the lakeshore civilization spilled.

It was said as many people lived in the Emerald Cities as the rest of the world, and for once Mathus did not doubt it.

The road they travelled merged onto a more trafficked highway, at which point Selvanna returned to wearing her armor and marched with her poleaxe. All the Faceless remained on guard until that evening when a delegation rode out to greet them. Along the highway already existed a steady stream of inns, with a web of roads leading to packed villages and open plantations.

They stopped that night at a roadside temple to Mortel's Church. Mathus' escort quietly unloaded him with even more guards surrounding them. They rushed him in the walled off temple and into a small room in the back of the worship hall. It looked like the sort of bedroom a monk might have. A small writing desk waited off to one side and opposite it was a small bed. They brought him food, asked questions. Guards came in and out with monks and priests who offered prayers, asked for blessing, and Mathus, much to his chagrin, seemed to have no recourse for privacy, even watched when he asked for a chamberpot.

Several hours after sundown, they finally allowed Mathus peace. Exhausted, he barely listened to the servant who told him their schedule for the next day. When the impish fox scampered out the door, Selvanna ducked through it. Her horns nearly scraped at the ceiling, and were she to stretch her arms out she might touch the north and south wall at the same time.

Mathus, who had been sitting back in the bed, bolted upright. “Selvanna! You, uh, you needed something?"

“Relax," Selvanna said. She now wore the same tunic from before, and riding pants that must have been under her armor. She sat cross-legged in the center of the room. “I know how troubled your sleep has been. Rather than have guards taking shifts and coming in and out of your room all night, I'm going to watch you. You need to be well rested for tomorrow."

Mathus rubbed his temples. “Are we worried about an attack?" He assumed she would be wearing armor if that was the case.

“The temple is protected. Given the spell you cast this morning, we were told to keep you under constant surveillance."

“Right… I guess that makes sense." Mathus sighed. “Don't you need to sleep, too, though?"

“Dragons don't need to sleep as much as other races."

“Right, so you're going to just watch me sleep?" Mathus sat back down on his bed.

“I am going to meditate," Selvanna said while he removed the shoes he wore, fingers closing on the hem of his pants reflexively. He froze. “By all means, make yourself comfortable," Selvanna said, “I'm not squeamish about nudity."

“I'll keep my clothes on," Mathus said as he lay back on the mattress. It was not the worst bed he slept on, and compared to being curled up on the wagon it was an absolute luxury. Still, when he pulled the sheet over him, he found himself bunching the fabric to himself, longing for someone to hold. He had slept alone basically his whole life until Karniel came along, and now that he knew how comforting the touch of another could be, he found it difficult to sleep without it.

Mathus closed his eyes as Selvanna reached over to the writing desk and snuffed the candelabra sitting there, pinching each wick quickly and quietly. Sleep did not come right away, and knowing Selvanna, a big mound of shadow with her black scales in the near totally dark room, watched him made him even more uneasy.

He shifted on his back, then quickly on his side, facing her. Her eyes, shining red like they defied the dark, met his. She knew right where to look, and he wondered if her night vision was just better than his.

She quietly asked, “How is your chest? Is the spell that bonds you to Karniel troubling you?"

“They caught up, and it's fine now. I am just restless."

“Understandable. We are taking you to your death, after all," Selvanna whispered, and it surprised Mathus to hear that fact troubled her.

Mathus gnawed on his inner lip, then just asked, “Do you think it's right to let Mortel come back?"

Mathus could only see the flicker of anger flash in Selvanna's eyes. “Why would you ask me something like that?"

Mathus didn't need to be a dragon to know she avoided the question, but he answered her honestly, “After your conversation with Nola, he was cold and angry towards me the rest of the day, even though the night before he had been the kindest among the Faceless."

Selvanna said, “You assumed I said some things he did not like."

“I've not had much to do today but ask you questions and think, like why you choose not to use a conduit."

“I have no use for magic," Selvanna said flatly, but she felt the prickle of her lie shoot from her tailbone up to her neck. She did have a conduit. She simply resented any situation that forced her to use it.

“You don't like what magic is any better than I do," Mathus said. “And that's why you won't answer my first question."

“It is not my question to answer," Selvanna snarled, getting angry like she had this morning. “I have no say in the matter."

“But surely you have some influence in the church? There must be someone to talk to, to appeal to. Don't Mortel's faithful deserve a peaceful afterlife?"

“Of course they do," Selvanna snapped. “But Mortel is their god—"

“So he's not your god."

“Stop twisting my words!" Selvanna covered her muzzle soon as she yelled. Two guards slammed open the door, one with a staff casting light from its tip, another with a shortsword drawn.

“Everything alright, Lady Selvanna?"

“It's fine," she said through her clenched teeth.

“If you want, we can sedate the Vessel for you," the guard with the staff offered.

“I would prefer it if you did not," Mathus said.

They looked at him sheepishly, as if they forgot he could speak. She told them, “Respect the Vessel's wishes, and leave this vigil to me."

They bowed and shut the door. Selvanna sighed, not noticing Mathus had sat back up. He said, “I'm sorry for provoking you."

She touched her hands to the roughly cut stone floor, feeling its grainy texture, and breathing a little longer before she responded. “It's fine. You're fine."

“I knew I was needling you, and that—"

“You don't need to keep apologizing," Selvanna said. “Dragons are creatures of feeling, and I am old enough that by now I should be able to keep those feelings in check." She shook her head and straightened her back. “Besides, you're frustrated, angry with us, it makes sense you would want to upset us, to do anything to get back at your captors."

“That's not…" Mathus hesitated. He wanted to choose his words carefully, but the fact Selvanna sensed lies made him decide to speak honestly. Even if he said things he didn't want to admit aloud: “I don't like that you attacked us and almost killed Karniel, but… I've had a very close companion do that before. We started as enemies, but he was kind and honest and honorable. He was one of your Faceless, sent to hunt Karniel down—"

“Korlyon?" Selvanna asked. She remembered the wolf, vaguely. They had not talked much, but Fawn and Noladush, his two instructors, spoke very highly of him.

Mathus brightened so much at his name that Selvanna thought he might spring back out of the bed. “Yes! He saved my life, and we traveled together for a while, before getting separated." He waved his hands in front of his face as if to dismiss this train of thought. “This isn't about Korlyon, even though I miss him so much. That's why I sent that message today, you see? Cathka told me he had found them, after I had not seen him in months because we got separated. I didn't think about what I was doing. I just needed to say something to him, so I sent Cathka that message, and I'm sorry for breaking my promise."

Selvanna stared at him a moment. “Was this… some complicated apology?"

“No—well, I did want to apologize, but what I meant is, what I felt with Korlyon, when we talked, even though we were still enemies and at odds with each other—that's how I feel with you, Selvanna."

He said it, and he waited, elbows propped on his knees, palms clasped together as if he waited for her to give him bad news.

She could certainly lie to him. It would not feel good, but it also felt right to do. Her chest burned with something close to regret and guilt. That forced the truth out of her: “I think you are a good man, Mathus of Morgen's Rest, and I wish we were not enemies."

“We don't have to be," Mathus suggested so quietly she barely heard him. “I know you don't want to see the Heart used, and if I can't protect it I'd rather die than give it to Mortel."

“You know him?"

“I've travelled his memories, I've spoken to him several times," Mathus said. “He's contemptuous and arrogant and thinks the world should thank him for wanting it made in his image."

It sickened Selvanna how all of what he said he firmly believed. That the sharp pang of a lie did not ring through her. Her intuition about Mortel being confirmed unsettled her.

The silence stretched out between them, and Mathus fought with the urge to go to her, to just grab her hand and get on his knees and beg. He knew that would alarm her more than anything, and so he thought of a different approach. “What are your attachments to Mortel's Church? Why can't you do what you think is right?"

“Because I know I am not always aware of the bigger picture. There are things I may not see, that you certainly cannot see, and beyond all that, I trust him."

“Mortel?"

“No, you fool," Selvanna actually chuckled. “Were you not paying attention when Karniel and I exchanged barbs? Did none of the Faceless or any of the servants and guards you dealt with today tell you?"

Mathus had a guess, but it scared him to even ask, because being right felt like the one doorway to escape getting shut in his face.

Selvanna answered for him, “Dialdon, Mortel's son and the church's appointed prophet, I am his right hand, and my devotion to him spans centuries. I'm not some wolf who only made his vows to the Order a few years before. I can see the good in you Mathus, and I wish these forces propelling us didn't, but I trust Dialdon to know his father better than you. He has spent the last three hundred years making this world better, stronger, more prosperous. And that work makes me want to believe there is a right way to use the Heart."

She loved him. She hadn't said it, but with every word she spoke Mathus sensed it. Her words a firm denial of Mathus. He hung his head in his hands, throat stinging while he fought back tears. For the first time, it felt inevitable that they would sacrifice him, and Mathus was not sure he would be able to convince anyone to do otherwise.

“Very well," he croaked. “I suppose I have nothing more to say. I should just accept my fate."

Selvanna watched him lie back in bed. He took his pillow in his arms, buried his face in it, and quaked once, twice, a third then fourth time. She fought with herself not to comfort him as he sobbed. She felt that strange grief well up inside her and wondered if there might be a way to save his soul, to place it elsewhere. Another body, a special conduit.

To simply let it be siphoned into the energy well of the city, broken up, and absorbed like every other unclaimed soul in the world felt deeply wrong.

She would talk to Dialdon. She couldn't save this life he lived, but perhaps she could still save his life. Mathus did not deserve this—she was certain now. Even if he didn't see the bigger picture, didn't know he was wrong, it didn't mean he needed to be killed for what he had been born with.

How had Mathus ended up with the Heart inside him? Selvanna studied him in the dark, almost asking him. He went so still and quiet she decided to let him drift off to sleep. He seemed so helpless. The Heart might as well have not existed at all had he stayed in his frontier village. She wished that the case, that he had stayed there. Oh, how he should have stayed. She wondered why he even left. Had Karniel talked him into it?

She knew nothing of the pair's journey and decided tomorrow she would ask Mathus to tell her his story when she got the chance. The ferry ride up Umbra's Spine would give her plenty of time. She wanted to piece together the puzzle that was this man, so she might understand why her instincts urged her to protect him even as her sense of duty railed against the thought of doing anything more than somehow preserving his soul.

She touched her chest and whispered, “Dia, love, are we really doing what's right?"

Dogs barked at something outside the temple walls. The guards at the door played cards, their chatter muffled. Mathus' breaths came long and slow as he fell deeper into a grief-stricken sleep.

Selvanna almost got up and abandoned her post, unable to watch him and unable to bear this twisting bramble wrapping its thorns over her heart and lungs, strangling her. Every decision felt like the wrong one, so she focused on him, the way his ribs rose and fell.

Tonight they shared the most basic of bonds: Bodies that kept stubbornly breathing no matter the venom their minds manufactured.

Selvanna took some comfort that Mathus still lived, and she was here to protect him. These facts satisfied both forces warring inside her, and the conflict soothed into a soft, smoldering regret that weighed like a blade forced into her chest. Easy enough to ignore.

She watched him throughout the night, daydreaming about the friendship she knew they would have had if their lives had been different.

***

Karniel's dreams dogged him still, as if they didn't care about all that had happened. Something sharp, burning white, punched through his sternum. It seared his skin, yanked him close, and whispered some words even his ears did not catch, “This disc… bloat… memory dump…"

The thing planted in his ribs spiked like lightning through him, his flesh bubbling, boiling, burning into some twisted simulacrum of a star-shaped tree.

His eyes snapped open, blinking back tears like he'd spent the last hour staring at the sun. It was night time, however. They camped not far off a road that led to the Golden Highway, the largest, most well travelled strip of land in the world. The one that connected each of the Emerald Cities and traveled north to the rest of the world. Cathka was curled up against him, snoring gently, but beyond that he heard the sound of Korlyon.

The wolf had offered to take the first watch that night, and now Karniel understood why:

He must have been so lonely. A pent up teenager traveling the road alone, used to daily romps with the one he loved, suddenly without any company at all. Karniel did not move at first, listening to Korlyon huff. A little, canid whine came from the wolf, his paw moving wetly up and down his shaft as he masturbated.

Korlyon hated having to do this to relieve himself. He'd been pent up and not thinking clearly all afternoon. When he thought himself close to Mathus he had decided to forgo his needs for a few days, save everything for his human. Then this morning Mathus was nowhere to be found, and all Korlyon had was his pent up lust and frustration.

“You're doing an awfully poor job keeping watch."

Korlyon jumped up, twisting awkwardly and falling on his rump. He had his back to their dwindling campfire, which Karniel sat beside. A glint of firelight flashed off his fangs as he smirked. “You don't need to be embarrassed."

Korlyon had his hackles raised, yet he only looked silly with trousers around his ankles, still wearing the top half of his leather armor. At night, the blue undertones of his white fur darkened his coat to an almost grey color. The blonde crescent of fur on his head that went from one amber eye, around an ear and down to his temple was still as fetching as Karniel remembered.

“W-what are you doing awake?" Korlyon growled, his arousal finally flagging.

The bat sat cross legged by the fire and put a finger to his lips. “Shh, no reason to wake Cathka."

“You didn't answer my question," Korlyon hissed in a whisper, sitting on his knees and covering his crotch with his tail. Karniel almost laughed at how squeamish and shy the wolf had become. Was this the same randy youth that used to take Karniel every chance he got?

“You're adorable when you're flustered."

Korlyon glowered.

“Heh, alright, alright, I'll stop with my teasing. A nightmare woke me."

“And you heard me…"

“Pleasuring yourself?"

Korlyon had to bite back the urge to growl at Karniel's stupid smug look.

Karniel ignored the wolf's anger and asked, “Thinking of Mathus?"

“Who else?"

“Never about me?"

“You're not who I ever wanted."

Karniel could tell in Korlyon's defensiveness that not all his fantasies involved Mathus and Mathus only. He let it slide and said, “You know I enjoyed our time together on the road."

Karniel surprised Korlyon with that. His ears flattened and he mumbled, “I doubt that."

“Honest! My pride being what it was back then, I would never have admitted it, but you were good to both Mathus and I, and I was quite fond of you. I wouldn't have given you my tooth if I didn't want you to find us, you know."

Korlyon's tail lowered a bit. By now his length had retreated back to his sheath. He said, “I don't know what you want me to say to that."

“You don't have to say anything." Karniel rolled onto his knees and edged a little closer to him. “I could have just ignored you, but I know you're lonely, Korlyon. You don't have to be. I'd be happy to keep you company for the night."

Korlyon wrapped his arms around his chest, hugging himself as he said to the dirt between them. “S-so you're doing this because you think you owe it to me."

“I want you because I want you, and I did miss you. We were always closer to Mathus, but that doesn't mean we weren't friends."

Korlyon glared at Karniel. Perhaps it was the darkness or the firelight, but Karniel seemed softer, somehow. The familiar notes of musk and sage from him, so strong Mathus wore it like a second scent, reminded Korlyon of passionate nights between the three of them.

Then Karniel said, “We don't have to. I don't want to push or pressure you."

Korlyon quivered, his pulse lifting, something like anger but not sweltered into his throat. It was hard to talk around as he said, “'Don't want to push' me. What kind of Scourge doesn't take what he wants?"

Karniel moved closer. His sultry chuckle made the wolf's tail quiver. “Do you want me to take you?"

“I… I don't…" and Korlyon trailed off because Karniel was right there, looming over him.

“Can I touch you?"

Asked in such a breathy whisper Korlyon might not have heard it if Karniel wasn't so close. This feeling in his throat, these feelings: frustrated denial of how much he missed Karniel, too, how much he did care for the bat. All that handsome, haughty arrogance, Korlyon wanted to be above it and above him, but he knew there was more to Karniel. So much more.

Korlyon threw his arms around Karniel's neck and tugged them both down into the dirt. It felt like such a relief to have this weight and warmth over him. To be touched again. To be with someone who wanted to touch him. Karniel laughed more as Korlyon hugged him close, saying, “I'll take that as a yes."

“Yes, I want you to touch me," Korlyon breathed. “Are you happy you big bastard?"

Karniel touched his jaw and led Korlyon into a kiss. A short but sweet exchange before he broke it, his smolder practically pinning Korlyon to the ground. “Mmm, I'll be happy when we get Mathus back, but for now…" another kiss, a tilt of muzzles, a quick exchange of tongue. A satisfied sigh, Karniel shuddering over Korlyon, exciting him with this signal that their need really was mutual. Karniel kissed him again, deeper, more of his forked tongue slipping along Korlyon's long, smooth muscle. They exchanged grunts and moans into each other's maws, before Karniel broke this kiss. He licked his lips and whispered, “For now I just want to make you feel good, Korlyon."

Fuck. Why did hearing his name send such a shiver down his spine? Karniel sat up and started removing the torn and road worn shirt he wore, saying as he undid the last surviving buttons, “Take off the rest of your armor and clothes. I want to feel your fur on mine."

Fortunately, all of Korlyon's time on the road with Mathus and Karniel taught him how to quickly shuck off his armor at a moment's notice. He was still not fast enough. Karniel, naked now, helped peel off his chest piece, taking off the wolf's shirt under it. Korlyon threw himself at the bigger bat, and Karniel fell on his back, laughing a little as Korlyon burrowed his snout in the ruff of fur lining Karniel's neck and collarbone.

“Mortel's tails, I've missed this scent…" Korlyon whispered.

Karniel held Korlyon, both males humping against each other. The bat's girthy length ground into Korlyon's stomach, its throbbing warmth sliding along the wolf's. A testament to Korlyon's endowment: he was only a little smaller in size than Karniel, a fact he was sure the bat relished when he took that lupine prick.

Karniel whispered, “Never thought I'd hear you say you missed my scent."

Korlyon huffed, paws combing through Karniel's body. His fur coat was thinner and softer than Korlyon's, a delight to touch. Panting, he said, “I used to, hah, hate it. But now… gods Karniel… what did you and Mathus do to me?" He took another deep breath, quaking on top of the bat before looking up at him. “I need you."

“You have me," Karniel whispered. He bent down and caressed Korlyon's cheek. “Come here, pup." They exchanged another kiss. Korlyon whined a little into Karniel's maw, the wolf's tail wagging shamelessly.

More groping and humping, Karniel's body so warm against his. Korlyon felt himself melting against the bigger bat in a frenzy of sweet, lustful release. Karniel reached between them and squeezed their cocks together. The youth's thrusting got more desperate as his slick shaft frotted against Karniel's soft, turgid flesh.

Korlyon broke the kiss to whine, “Karniel… I'm close already… I can't…"

“Mmm, that's a good pup." The teenager quaked at being called a pup. Once he might have thought Karniel wanted to humiliate him, but not once since their reunion had Karniel tried to demean him. This was a term of affection. Korlyon knew he let Karniel take the lead, which is what he wanted. The young wolf had been alone for so long, he craved to be cared for.

His knot swelled. Karniel shifted his grip to the base of their cocks. His fingers wrapped around that growing bulb, so each desperate hump for Korlyon tugged sweetly against the swollen, sensitive cock flesh. Karniel's other hand pressed down on Korlyon's back, keeping the wolf firmly pinned against his partner.

Karniel whispered, “That's it, pup… cum for me… I know you're so pent up. Show me."

Korlyon moaned, unable to hold back. His neck craned up while his balls clenched, body winding up with tension before a spasm rocked through it. His dick, squished between Karniel's and his own stomach, barely moved as that first furious shot of spunk blasted to their chests. Rushing, sticky seed filled the gap between them. Korlyon whined and squirmed, hips bucking every now and then, while Karniel stroked his back and whispered, “Such a good pup… so productive and potent. I bet you can't wait to spill it inside me, can you?"

“Fuck, Karniel… oh gods… oh fuck… ahhah…"

Karniel chuckled a little. The young wolf really was so adorable. Karniel felt a sweet ache blossom inside him, as he quietly realized, he adored seeing Korlyon like this.

Korlyon felt himself slowly come back to reality with Karniel kissing his brow and rubbing gentle circles between his shoulder blades. “How was that, pup?" Karniel whispered.

“Good."

“Hehehe. I'm glad."

Korlyon's ears folded back. “What about you?"

“I told you, I just wanted to take care of you."

The wolf let out a shy little whine and complained, “If you keep treating me like this I'm going to fall for you, too."

“Mmm, would that be so bad?"

Korlyon buried his face in Karniel's chest. “Stop it already. This is confusing enough."

“What's confusing?" Karniel asked innocently. “I'm just trying to spoil my pup."

“Dammit Karniel," Korlyon growled. “What if I go and spoil you?"

Karniel kissed him, silencing all the wolf's bluster with a sweet brush of the lips. He barely pulled his lips away before whispering, “I would love that."

Korlyon felt his heart skip a beat. He couldn't stand to look at Karniel's smolder anymore. By the firelight the stupid bat was too handsome, too caring. If this was how he treated Mathus all the time, then it was no wonder they were already in love by the time Korlyon found them together.

Korlyon spun around so his hips straddled Karniel's shoulders and he saw the mess he made. The mess he now planned to clean up before lavishing and worshipping the bat's meaty dick. The sharp, metallic scent of his cum thickened in the air, pearly gobs of semen glistening in webs up and down Karniel's throbbing shaft.

“Just wanted to take care of me," Korlyon scoffed.

Behind him, Karniel snickered while he grabbed his hips. “Should I not be excited when I get a randy pup to cum all over me."

“Sh-shut up, and just enjoy this," Korlyon growled.

With his thumbs, Karniel spread the pert young rear before him. That soft, pink bud amidst all that fine fur flexed for him, a teasing if unconscious invitation for Karniel to taste. “Oh I certainly will, pu—ahnnf…"

Korlyon took some satisfaction in silencing the bat with his maw. He had lifted Karniel's cock with a paw, then opened his muzzle around it. The metallic tinge of salty sweetness that laced Korlyon's seed was what he first tasted. As his lips sealed around the bat's mushroom head, tongue teasing along the glans and under his foreskin, that flavor became replaced with the earthier, more bitter taste of Karniel's endowment. It was not a bad flavor, but certainly an acquired one. When first Korlyon had tasted it on the road, he had not been prepared for it, how that musk first in his nose then mouth consumed his palate.

Now it was a welcome reward. The meaty flavors enticing Korlyon deeper along that cock. His paw wrapped around the base of it, barely able to close around its girth. Karniel was almost as thick as Korlyon's knot, and it made it difficult for the out-of-practice youth to swallow it. He felt the tip throbbing, pulsing in the back of his mouth. A splash of precum, sweet and salty, far thicker than the canine's preseminal fluid, pooled there. He swallowed some while more oozed down into his maw, adding to the flavors on his tongue, combining with his drool and dripping from his lips onto Karnial's cock and crotch.

Korlyon could only take a third of Karniel's length, but with that paw stroking the bat's base and something to do with his mouth, Karniel needed little more than the boy's enthusiasm. His face was now buried in Korlyon's toned butt, his fangs brushing through soft fur to softer flesh as he kissed the teenager's tailhole. His forked tongue lapped up and down the rosy pucker, tasting its sour earthiness. A bit pungent with days on the road but clean. The youth's need an obvious thing to sample, and that need made Karniel's pleasure sharper. To know he had this horny pup all to himself, that Korlyon submitted entirely to the moment, well, that did as much to stoke Karniel's impending orgasm as the warm maw slavering over his prick.

Korlyon sensed it. A swelling at the glans, the way Karniel's heavy balls began to curl up into his inner thigh. Korlyon bobbed and sucked fast as he could, forcing what little dick he could down his throat. He gagged, eyes watering, as he tried his best to pleasure the older bat. Korlyon, randy youth he was, found his own dick throbbing and dripping across Karniel's chest, but he didn't reach for it nor did he want Karniel to touch him. There was something so good and simple about focusing on another's dick. That pulsing, throbbing heat inside his maw.

Korlyon tried his best to be quiet, but could not help but moan and schlurp and gag as he worked faster and faster. He found he needed Karniel's load, a desperation to his actions. His jaw began to ache, and he slowed down, working in starts and fits, his paw pumping Karniel faster.

Who, for his part, was doing his best to hold back. Karniel's toes spread and curled as he grunted, groaned against Korlyon's backside. He wanted the release, but danced in that sickly sweet spot for as long as he could, still tonguing the boy's asshole. It could not last forever. Korlyon's tongue swirled right under Karniel's glans, in a sensitive spot Mathus had gotten very good at teasing. A slip, suck, slurp, just there, just right, and Karniel found himself cumming.

Korlyon, expecting the orgasm, did not expect Karniel's very large thighs to lift off the ground and wrap around his head. With legs locking the wolf in place, he became smothered in Karniel's fur and musky scent, barely able to draw breath before the dick between his sore jaws jumped in his maw. Gooey, thick strands of seed erupted in the back of Korlyon's throat, making him gag again. He whined, swallowed, tears running down his cheeks as Karniel dumped thick, pungent ropes of cum. It filled then began to spill out his maw. Fast as Korlyon could swallow, Karniel's dick filled his throat faster. Each tense of those fat nuts, the base of that shaft, came with more semen dripping around his lips onto the barrel of Karniel's length, slipping down in sticky strings and matting more of that chocolate fur.

Korlyon was sure he'd be tasting Karniel all night and into the morning. And he wanted nothing else, dazed and happy to get his partner off. When Karniel's thighs released him, Korlyon merely slumped against the bat, cock flopping out of his panting maw. Some last few drops of seed beaded along the urethra, dripping onto the wolf's muzzle every other twitch.

Karniel sighed, laying his head back. “Thanks for that, pup."

“Mmmf, thank you," Korlyon breathed. Even though he hadn't cum a second time, Karniel's orgasm had put him in his own afterglow.

“Come here," Karniel said, shifting the wolf off him. Karniel rolled onto his side, reached behind him, and gave Korlyon's tail a teasing tug. “Spoon me."

“Spoon you?" Korlyon asked.

“I want to be held after that," Karniel glanced over his shoulder. “Is that so wrong?"

Korlyon's eyes trailed from the bat's wide shoulders, his side, slim waist, wider hips, and the large, round butt before him. His erection had flagged a little, but at seeing Karniel like this, he felt his breath pick up a little bit.

“I, uh, may want to do more than just hold you," Korlyon warned.

“Heh, you don't say." Karniel grabbed his rear and spread it, presenting himself. “Good boys deserve rewards, pup, and you've been a good boy, haven't you?"

Korlyon shivered, unable to keep himself away. He lay down beside Karniel, scooting close, his length coming flush against the bat's soft backside. Fortunately, most of their height difference was in their legs, so Korlyon could bury his muzzle into Karniel's fluffy nape while still being at height to bury his rod in that inviting rear.

The wolf whined as he lined himself up, Karniel keeping his cheeks spread for him. While shifting about, he asked, “Why does it feel so good when you call me that?"

“Hmm?"

“Pup," Korlyon whispered. “You used to do it to annoy me, but now…"

“You want to be cared for, miss having an older male around."

Korlyon whimpered. His tip found purchase against Karniel's pucker. His slick, spade length meant for plunging into holes like this. With a push, he wedged his dick inside Karniel's inviting heat. Soft, yielding flesh pinched around Korlyon's length. The paw he used to guide himself in grabbed Karniel's shoulder for purchase. “Fuck," he groaned, surprised by how good it felt, how close to his second orgasm he was.

Karniel huffed when Korlyon spread him. With the lack of prep, there was some pain, but manageable with the balm of pleasure that came after. It was still hard to believe he went his whole life, until that fateful night with Mathus, without once getting filled. Korlyon's hips jerked and thrust forward, sinking more of that bone inside the soft loam of Karniel's body. The flesh teasing along the boy's length, inviting as some fertile, heated tunnel might be. In some ways, it still was. While he no longer could solely feed on it, another's life essence still sated Karniel in ways only that essence could. It was, perhaps, why despite being much larger than his companions, Karniel kept a relatively small appetite in comparison.

Korlyon's claws pinched into Karniel's shoulder. Karniel let go of his rear and reached behind him, pushing Korlyon into him, encouraging his pup. Gasping as Korlyon's dick prodded that button of pleasure inside him. His prostate massaged, causing pressure to fill along Karniel's length and make his half hard cock start to firm up again.

“How, huff, about it, pup? D-do you want me to be that?"

“Be, hah, what?"

Karniel's fingers drifted lower, squeezing Korlyon's butt and yanking him forward. They both moaned as the wolf's knot ground against Karniel's pucker. Those chocolate cheeks wrapped around the bulb, squeezing and flexing against it. “Your daddy, pup," Karniel whispered.

Korlyon whined, surprised at how longing surged hot in his ribs. Korlyon wrapped his arms around Karniel's chest, gritting his teeth.

“Heh, I'll take that as a yes, pup."

“F-fuck," Korlyon whined. “Dad…"

Karniel's ear perked at that. “Something more taboo, hmm?"

Korlyon whimpered, grinding his hips against Karniel's rear. The image of an older wolf in his mind: his father with gentle paws, husky voice. The way he spoke around Korlyon's mother when the two thought they were alone. Taboo fantasies lusting after males, after the one he shared a close, personal bond with. He'd not thought about it in years.

Now he held onto Karniel for dear life, hips plugging away at the bat's backside. His bulb grinding against Karniel's soft rear, that spread rim yawning a little more with each kiss of his red flesh. Karniel moaned, still holding Korlyon tightly to him, thrusting his butt backwards. It was far softer, gentler than any other fuck they had, but the sweet intimacy of it, the way Karniel grunted and whispered, “That's it pup, tie your father. B-breed him."

Korlyon melted against Karniel. Kisses and licks along the bat's nape turned to nips and desperate bites. As if all this wanton desire for Karniel had his body turned upside down. Instinct told him to bite, to tie, to claim. Desperation turned whimpers into frustrated growls and snarls. His thrusting hips got rougher, jabbing his prick in and out of Karniel's backside.

“Ah, th-that's it. Yes, son, right there," Karniel said, now stroking his own length while Korlyon continued churning up his insides. He felt the muscles of his rear growing foggy, numb from constant stimulation, making them more pliant. Karniel felt himself close to a second orgasm. It was so simple, but to have his pup so lost in him, it reminded Karniel of Mathus. An irresistible passion to the way the boy clung to him, unable to control his urges, biting hard into Karniel's shoulder. Teeth punched through flesh, and Karniel groaned, begging, “C-come on, tie your daddy, pup, please."

All that work of loosening Karniel up yielded fruit. Korlyon's orgasm hit him harder than earlier. That hot hole practically sucking, kneading, his shaft. He started to orgasm before he even got his knot inside. That's when he bit down on Karniel's shoulder, as his balls clenched, hidden behind and between his legs. The orbs rising and falling against his hamstrings while he thrust, desperate to bury his knot in his daddy.

Korlyon's moan was muffled as that entrance finally broke under the pressure of his knot. Karniel let out a long, satisfied, sigh. The pain of that spread was nothing like the sudden fullness, the pressure on his prostate making his nut feel ready to pop. “That's it, pup, g-good boy… oh gods, Korlyon, fuck you're so hot, I can feel it." Karniel's babbling turned to incoherent noises as his pup fed him the youth's potent, virile seed. He came, wads of cum jetting across the dirt of their campsite. He did not need to even stroke himself. The satisfaction of the young wolf's seed brought wave after wave of pleasure, Karniel's body responding with the same satisfaction a bitch in heat might. This need in him, this hunger sated as his boy bred him.

Korlyon panted through his wet nose, smelling their pungent sex and Karniel's natural, musky sage scent. It pleased him, even as he couldn't help but hump and tug on his knot, dragging out the orgasm. His balls fed more seed into his hungry daddy until, exhausted, Korlyon relaxed a little of the tension his body held.

Karniel sensed it, already in his afterglow. He took one of the paws clasped around his chest and kissed its knuckles. The tenderness he offered Korlyon just as sweet for the pup, who finally released his shoulder, licking blood from the wound he left.

“How…" Karniel took a breath, “How was that, pup?"

“It was…" Korlyon thought, affection rushing through him. This moment they shared still felt alien but enticing, something to savor, to repeat. He kissed his bite mark and whispered, “Thank you, Karniel. This was wonderful."

“Well of course it was wonderful. Any night with me is a blessing."

Korlyon rolled his eyes. “I guess some parts of you haven't changed."

“Mmm, you know it's charming, pup."

“Is it?"

“Shhhh, just hold me for a little while."

Korlyon did, savoring all of the bat's warmth against him. Soon enough, the pair both began to doze off. Korlyon too satisfied to worry about the watch, Karniel not worried about an attack at all.

Perhaps because he suffered through them already, perhaps because of what transpired filled him with such warmth and satisfaction, Karniel slept till morning, untroubled by nightmares of falling stars.

***

Despair could become quite the sedative. A rooster's crowing, followed by the enthusiastic bark of dogs, woke Mathus sometime at sunrise. He slept without dreaming, woke bleary and wanting to sleep more.

“Mathus?"

He flinched hearing Selvanna's voice. He had his back to the room and had hoped when he woke she would not be there.

“If you want to sleep, I can try and buy you another few hours."

Her kindness felt cloying to Mathus now. A clear poison: like getting a pig stuffed and sleepy before slicing its neck. He rolled over and threw off the sheet wrapped around him, sitting up. “How could you tell I was awake?"

“Your breathing changed from what it had been most of the night," Selvanna said.

What was this look she gave him? Selvanna's face almost looked soft despite the strong features, hard scales, the natural armor plating that swept up from her snout to brow to scalp. Was it the way her ears, a set of frills webbed the same color as her wings, perked up even as her wings remained slack. Or was it how soft the scales on her shoulder looked when in a ray of light that came through the small, horizontal window near the room's ceiling? He even smelled her. Like just sitting in this tiny room all night had been enough to fill it with a strange, sweet dusky smell that reminded him of rose hips brewing in tea.

The ridges over her eyes creased in an approximation of a furrowed brow. “Is everything okay, Mathus?"

“Given I'm being marched to my death, I'd say I've been better."

“Were there some other way, I would do everything in my power to protect you."

Mathus couldn't hide the bitter smile tugging at his lips. “Somehow, I believe you."

“You could still try to run," Selvanna offered.

“You actually want me to fight?"

“It was… troubling me last night. You don't seem convinced you can change our minds, yet you still have the power of this god inside you. Why haven't you tried to resist us?"

He looked down at his hand, studying the lines of his palm. His skin felt so delicate. Gods were supposed to be untouchable, and he did not feel like a god. “I guess I just don't like the idea of hurting others very much, and I figure you're not going to just let me leave."

Now that same bitter smile Mathus' flashed moved to her. A wry expression as she admitted, “A part of me wishes you would."

“Would it make it easier for you?"

Her wings closed against her back like she braced for an attack. She shook it off and admitted, “It would, but if you won't defend yourself, Mathus, who will?"

***

Korlyon and Karniel were practically glued together when Cathka found them.

Of course the pair had woken Cathka up last night. She just silently signed a glyph to give her some peace and quiet and went back to sleep. Now, she nudged Korlyon's shoulder with her hoof and, with how tightly the young wolf spooned Karniel, shook them both awake.

“You two sleep well?"

Karniel woke with a long, languorous yawn as Korlyon startled awake. The wolf tried to roll away, and immediately covered himself as he realized his sheath was a matted, sticky mess much like the chocolate-furred backside he pounded the night before.

Cathka rolled her eyes while Karniel reached behind himself and tried to sleepily tug the wolf back against him. “Must we get up, Cathka?" Karniel complained.

“Yes, before Mathus puts too much distance between us."

He yawned again, long ears quivering, before rolling on his back. Korlyon had already scampered away, sheepishly scooping up his pants and kicking them on. “My word, what is his problem?" Karniel asked Cathka.

“We should have been keeping watch," Korlyon growled.

Cathka smirked. “I'd say there's more than just that embarrassing him."

Karniel gasped. Still naked, he turned onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow and presenting his messy front to Korlyon and Cathka. “Really, who would be embarrassed to sleep with this?"

Cathka snickered and playfully kicked Karniel's shoulder. “Go on and get dressed." Honestly, Cathka couldn't have guessed that of all the things omitted in the biographies on the Scourge, the biggest would be that Karniel was an unrepentant goofball.

Who would have guessed my sister would enjoy such a quality so much, Calth joked at her side. She gripped his hilt, not giving him the satisfaction of a vocal response.

Karniel got to his feet and stretched, then asked Cathka, “Would you mind cleaning me up? Korlyon was quite pent up last night."

Cathka scoffed, signed a glyph, and spanked Karniel's rear, cleaning his fur instantly. “You know I have better things to do with my conduit?"

“Yes, but what else is magic good for but convenience?"

The boys got dressed, and soon the three found their way back to the road. Cathka said as they moved onto it, “I think we need to accept that saving Mathus is going to be next to impossible once he's in Sepulcher of Dawn."

“He's already impossible to save with those Faceless and that bloody dragoness protecting him," Karniel grumbled.

“He's not out of our reach," Korlyon said as he fastened his grip on the reins of his horse. “We could catch them out on the road if we pushed it."

“Hold on a minute!" Cathka grabbed him to keep the youth from swinging onto his saddle and riding off. Between Karniel's footspeed, Korlyon's horse, and her flight Cathka had no doubt they could catch up with Mathus, but no doubt the guard on the man only increased since they reached the Golden Highway.

Korlyon had the gall to growl at her, but Karniel stepped between them. “Easy there, pup. Cathka wants to save Mathus just as badly as we do."

“Then what does she suggest?"

Karniel turned his head. “Cathka?"

“Some subterfuge. Korlyon, they don't know you betrayed the Order, right?"

“As far as we know," he said. “I can't really say, as I've been avoiding Mortel's Church just in case."

“You'll be able to find out, just go to a temple along the Golden Highway. Test the waters, ask for news, but get ahead of us."

“Split up already?" Korlyon glanced at Karniel. “I just found you."

Karniel squeezed the wolf's wrist. “You know we won't be far, pup."

He whined, but did not protest.

“Faceless don't travel with people outside the church unless it's for a good reason. Even if we disguise ourselves we'll just draw suspicion," Cathka reminded them both. She signed the glyph for her purse and the magical portal opened. She reached inside it, retrieving a stick of charcoal and vellum scrap. “Karniel turn around."

He did, and she shoved the vellum against his back so she could write on it. “I beg your pardon," Karniel protested.

“Oh hush," Cathka said as she finished and handed the scrap to Korlyon. On the scrap read: The Drunken Sage, Cockle Street, Sunward Lakes. “That's the address of where we'll be staying. Calth has friends there who will put us up."

Korlyon looked dubious. “You mean that sword who only you can talk to has friends that will hide the Scourge of the Emerald Cities?"

“They know who I am! And no one will know I have Karniel with me." They had discussed the day before about hiding Karniel with an illusion spell. Considering Karniel had no wings or tail to worry about, it would be fairly easy for him to pass as another species. Long as no one inspected him too closely.

“I'm assuming this meeting place is some kind of inn?" Korlyon asked.

“Yes," Cathka said. “You will integrate back into the Order, find out where Mathus is and what's guarding him, then we'll make a plan to free him."

“Then what?" Karniel asked.

Cathka hefted Kiem's old conduit. “I'm going to keep practicing with this, and hopefully, when we rescue Mathus, whether he likes it or not, I'm going to channel his conduit to teleport all of us back to Sebodal. That should give us enough of a head start to figure out what the fuck to do next before the Order starts chasing us down again."

“Shame we can't just destroy your Order, Korlyon," Karniel sighed.

“I hope it doesn't come to that," Korlyon admitted. “I've accepted that I'll fight with you two against my brothers and sisters, but I'd rather not."

Cathka said, “With a little luck, some planning, and a lot of magic, hopefully we won't have to."

They said their goodbyes to Korlyon. Karniel shared a kiss with the teenager that lasted longer than either probably planned before the bat whispered, “I'll have more for you when you come back to us, pup."

Korlyon actually whined, tail wagging before he steadied himself, mounted his horse, and took off at a canter down the road. They watched him go a moment before Cathka said, “It took you one night to wrap that boy around your thumb."

Karniel licked one of his fangs, no doubt savoring the taste of Korlyon's mouth. “Korlyon is young and randy, and I have a way with boys like him."

“Heh, sounds like you have a taste for them, as well."

“Tsk, I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

She got close to him, tracing a claw up his thigh, pressing into his trousers till she groped the tip of his cock. “Come now, Mathus' complete inexperience wasn't a turn on for you? I bet you thought, 'I can shape and mold this human into anything I want.' Bet you want to do the same to your 'pup,' too."

Karniel, utterly seduced, barely managed to push himself away. Shaking his head clear before jabbing her in the chest, “You utter temptress!"

Cathka's laughter only made him more flustered.

He crossed his arms over his chest and fumed, “So what are we doing once we get settled in the City of Tiers, because I'm certainly not going to pass the time sleeping with you."

“Psh," Cathka dismissed him with a wave. “Obviously we're going to get you your conduit. What else?"

***

They washed Mathus and changed his clothes to soft white linens, leather slippers, and a buttercup robe with a clasp carved into Mortel's crest which closed the robe around his collar. He delayed long as he could, but even when bathing there was someone there to manhandle him should he try dragging his feet too much. The servants who groomed him spoke in hushed whispers, working with reverent awe of what Mathus was, and even a day ago Mathus might have protested the treatment, but he was tired and knew that if he could not convince Selvanna then he held little hope of getting help from the temple's help.

Finished, they led him outside to a stagecoach meant to replace their wagon. Mathus ducked inside the coach to find Noladush, Fawn, and Seljynn. Ralab sat with the driver while Selvanna marched outside Mathus' door.

“How are you feeling this morning, Mathus?" Seljynn asked, sitting across from him with Fawn. Noladush sat on Mathus' side, so he made a point of settling in against the coach wall to keep his distance.

“Like I'm being thrown a parade for my execution," Mathus said.

Seljynn pinched her beak close. A few feathers exposed past her mask puffed up with irritation. “I see. I only wished to know if you were still feeling sick."

“Don't want my precious body getting damaged, do you?"

“Some of us would consider the position you're in to be an honor," Noladush sniped.

“Easy Nola," Fawn warned. “I know you don't like him, but there is no reason to provoke the Vessel."

Mathus leaned his cheek against the upholstered wall, peeking out a small window with a slat pulled up to let light in. “I'm not interested in arguing whether I should feel honored or not, but I imagine if one of you Faceless were going to get sacrificed for some god you didn't follow you'd not feel good about it."

“How did you end up with the Heart anyways?" Seljynn asked.

“Guess I was lucky."

“That's not much of an answer," Seljynn said.

“It means he has no clue," Noladush said.

Mathus stopped responding. Whether intentional or not, his dourness must have had an effect on the whole stagecoach, for the other three warriors could not keep up more than a few words between them. Outside, the landscape turned between the same sets of buildings: inn, tavern, stables, temple, and market stalls, while Selvanna marched at pace with them.

They had not been on the road long when the stagecoach slowed to a stop. Seljynn opened the shutter behind her. “Ralab?"

“A rider cut off our caravan," Ralab told them. “It looks like—Mortel's tails is that Korlyon?"

While the three hunters perked up, Mathus tried to open the door, finding it locked from the outside. “Selvanna, please!"

The dragoness slapped her tail against the side of the stagecoach, rattling the carriage and startling Mathus from the door. “Be quiet, if you know what's good for you, Vessel," she snarled before putting her eye to the small window. “And you three, if he has the chance to try the door, he has the chance to sign a glyph. Restrain him."

Selvanna prayed Mathus would just trust her. She saw no point in getting Korlyon killed, assuming the youth did not do anything stupid. She moved past their coach, and past a set of mounted riders carrying banners to Mortel's Church. Before them, the Faceless Korlyon waited on a horse that looked like it had been put at a gallop for the last hour.

“Stand down. I will deal with him," Selvanna said to the captain exchanging words with Korlyon. She waved Korlyon to the side of the road, and the wolf followed her there before she ordered the guards, “Keep the caravan moving, we have a schedule to keep."

Korlyon said to her, “I heard a group of Faceless were seen heading to the city, and I know our kind don't travel in numbers until—"

“Stop lying." Korlyon knew himself caught and reached for the sword at his belt, but Selvanna grabbed his wrist, “And stop trying to get yourself killed. Mathus is hurting enough."

Korlyon gasped. “He told you about me?"

“He did. Now walk with me and quit making a scene."

Reluctantly, Korlyon dismounted his horse. The stagecoach passed them and Selvanna thanked Mortel it no longer rocked back and forth. Korlyon spared a wave to Ralab, and the two waited for a final group of mounted guards before falling in line behind them. The common crowd of travelers swooped in and filled the highway behind the pair, having moved to the side for Mortel's banners.

Selvanna made sure to only speak loud enough for Korlyon to hear. “Mathus told me last night you are fighting for the Scourge."

“He's hardly the Scourge you once knew," Korlyon said. Her hand clenched around the poleaxe she carried. Korlyon did not lie.

“Mathus said the same, and I did not believe him."

“You know I can't lie to you."

“Yet you still tried," Selvanna said.

Korlyon shrugged. “I wasn't sure if what they said about dragons was true."

“No one ever is. But even if I bought your lie, what is it you hoped to do here?"

“And if I don't tell you?"

“Mathus cares a great deal about you, so I don't need you killing yourself in some foolhardy plan to help him."

Korlyon's ears perked up. “And why would you care about his feelings?"

Selvanna growled, “Can we stop going in circles here? I care because I do. Why do you think Karniel's changed?"

“Because he has."

“You'd vouch for him even after everything he's done?"

“I would," Korlyon said flatly, “I swore to protect Mathus and by extension him."

“Sage save me," Selvanna swore. “You are going to stay back here with me for the time being, and tell me about your journey. I'll make sure you can see Mathus when it would be less conspicuous."

“Why are you helping me?"

“I'm helping him. Now start talking."

***

They sedated Mathus in the coach. Desperate to protect Korlyon, he had tried signing a glyph, but Seljynn already had a sleep spell prepared. He slept through the long ride into the City of Tiers' Lakeshore District, slept in the coach even as it boarded a ferry, which traveled through the cascading mists to that central pillar, Umbra's Spine, and, with the magic built into the ferry and city itself, entered that pillar. He missed the bubble of air that surrounded the ferry as it slowly ascended the reverse waterfall, all the way to Sepulcher of Dawn's peak: the Emerald Ward, home to many different palaces over the centuries, and now home to the Grand Temple which acted almost as the city's crown.

Selvanna waited until the ferry, free of its destination, followed one of the canals in the ward through a raised portcullis to the Grand Temple. Over the gates was stamped Mortel's crest, with a giant bronze statue in Mortel's likeness flanking each side of the gate. Once the ferry passed inside, but before it docked, Selvanna chose then to wake Mathus.

He lay across the stagecoach seat. The door into it was barely big enough for Selvanna to fit her shoulders inside. She managed, however, and shook Mathus awake.

“Come on, we haven't much time." Slowly, he stirred into awareness, turning onto his side. When his eyes fluttered open, Selvanna whispered, “Korlyon is safe."

“Kor—mmph!" Selvanna pressed a finger to his lips.

“Careful," Selvanna hissed. “He and the other Faceless left to perform Kiem's last rites. It's just us, some guards, and the cardinals who joined us when we first reached the city. Now come on, I'll make sure Korlyon and you see each other later."

Mathus sat himself up. “I thought you weren't helping me."

“I'm not," Selvanna said. She backed out of the stagecoach and added, “I just don't want to see you suffer needlessly."

Mathus peered out the door at her, baffled. How was allowing Korlyon back into the Faceless' ranks not a means to help him? He didn't ask, for he saw a ram, black fur in groomed curls, step to the carriage.

“Is the Vessel well, Lady Selvanna?"

“Yes Cardinal Gaulantine," Selvanna said with a formality Mathus hadn't picked up on before.

Still shaking off grogginess, he took Selvanna's hand when she offered it to help him out of the coach. This just as their ferry docked. Only half the guard left the wide, flat boat. The remainder stayed on. Mathus followed Selvanna off it with four other cardinals, each with robes like Mathus', but with a gorget clasped around their throat. Two of these gorgets held gem insets that hummed with power. One belonged to the ram, who leisurely walked beside Mathus and Selvanna.

Mathus practically clung to her side like a scared child, as they followed a raised street towards a large central marble structure. It was an octagon, with each point of the temple capped with what he first thought was a flame, but was actually meant to be a fox's tail. More statues of Mortel flanked the entrance to the temple, which went up a flight of stairs to a set of large double doors with a bas relief depicting Mortel's ascension. Overlooking the building's facade was a heavy, circular stained glass window once again in the shape of Mortel's crest.

Mathus began to understand why Karniel loathed Mortel so much. He could hear his husband's voice, the bat going on about how tacky it was to stamp your face everywhere. It distracted Mathus from the crowd that watched them from both sides of the street they followed.

Beside him, Gaulantine and Selvanna talked about current events in the Emerald Cities. Gaulantine was from Sepulcher of Morning, and had arrived via phase glyphs only a few hours ago. They reached the temple, and at the foot of it stood a line of the church's cardinals. Twenty in all, half wearing conduits. And standing in the center of their number was a slim, silver fox taller than Korlyon but shorter than Karniel. He had nine tails arrayed behind him.

Without hesitation, Selvanna knelt before Dialdon and bowed her head. She gestured to Mathus. “Mortel's Vessel, Prophet Dialdon."

Dialdon bowed back, tails sweeping over his head. “Rise, my love," he said.

Once again, that reminder was a punch in Mathus' gut. Selvanna rose and took position hovering behind Dialdon, who approached Mathus.

Dialdon spoke, projecting his voice to the crowd: “I was surprised when my Faceless sent word that the Vessel came here willingly. Perhaps you realized you were given a great honor, to be reborn as Mortel, God to Mortals, He Who Inherited this World, We Who Inherited His—"

“Just shut up and take me to my cell, or I'll make a scene for everyone here."

Dialdon paused, cocking his head and taking Mathus in as if his outburst was some random oddity. “How curious." He slinked closer, looming over Mathus before he said, “What is this spell here, in your chest?" With two slender, pawed digits, Dialdon tapped the spot where they inserted the dagger during his Pact of Binding with Karniel.

Selvanna leaned in and whispered, “Without getting into the details, love, someone bound him to Karniel, and now their lives are connected."

“Oh, well that is an unexpected nuisance. Very well, Mathus, I don't like standing on ceremony anymore than you do." He stepped back and opened his arms in a gesture to their crowd, and, as the sleeves of his robe slipped down, Mathus noticed the scar on Dialdon's wrist. He announced, “Our Vessel is tired, and must be prepared for his reincarnation. Celebrate, Children of Mortel, for our god will walk this world again!"