Rise of the Fifth
The Hidden College Part 1
Pages 136 to 150

Pheone stood on the walls of the college of Julatsa. Xeteskians were in the streets; the pitiful Julatsan force just outside the city was easily crushed and the remaining guard dropped back into the city. FlameOrbs lit up the sky and IceWind and DeathHail ran through the streets. The Julatsan forces were being pushed back towards the eastern gate of the college, limited space was all that was keeping them alive and allowing the small amount of spell shields to protect.

The swordsman and mages were now backed up so far that they touched the walls of the college. And then came the charge, one hundred Protectors bit at the Julatsan line. Axes and swords were used in unison. The Julatsans did not stand a chance; they were cut to ribbons. FlameOrbs arced from the back of the line, only to connect with Xeteskian spell shields and run harmlessly to the ground. Lyx pushed his Protectors on with more force.

"Dex, watch sword to right, uppercut with sword. Half block left. We are one." In return Protectors let brethren know of Julatsan attacks.

"Lyx," communicated one, "Block high sweep right, hit exposed side."

Lyx did just that. The Julatsan sword came down in an overhead sweep which connected with the Protector’s axe. Lyx then spun his sword round, hitting the midriff and blood squirted out. The Julatsan dropped to be replaced by another which Lyx made short work of. His new opponent tried to dummy left then strike right but Lyx was too quick. The back-handed sword strike knocked him off balance before an axe was embedded in his head. Blood and gore spurted forth adding to the already slick cobbled street. The Protectors surged on with few real loses, but the Julatsans were not so fortunate. Blood squeezed from wounds, necks were cut and limbs were simply hacked off with one strike.

And Pheone watched, all her strength used to stop her crying whilst her army was desecrated. A mage came to her side and paused, waiting for permission to speak.

"Yes?" said Pheone, not taking her eyes off the carnage.

"M’lady," replied the mage. "I have some grave news." Pheone's head dropped and for the first time she turned from the battle, nodding to let him continue. "We have had communion with Gailen's forces, he has some information on the Fifth."

"It will have to wait, tell him we need him here."

"Also," the mage paused waiting for the telling nod which came only too soon. "We have had communion with a Dordovan mage. It seems Lystern have turned on them - they wanted to find this Fifth College and have now taken control of Dordover. There is a small bunch of fighters who escaped before Lystern managed to gain complete control of the city."

Pheone's head dropped; this was bad news but could present an opportunity. She lifted her head and once again addressed the mage,

"Get back in contact with Gailen and get him to send the Wolves to Dordover. If we can free some of their forces we may have enough power to stop Xetesk." The mage nodded and turned to leave. "Oh," Pheone stopped him for one last thing, "Send Barras up here, I think we need to talk."

~*~

Talo regained his composure as he watched the Ereth lord, Karil, disappear down the street in the opposite direction with Pen and Joibri...

He couldn't believe it himself when he first saw her standing there. Not that he didn't believe that she was alive - he would have known if she wasn't - it was just that he didn't believe his initial reaction to her change of appearance. His first instinct had been to throw himself at her feet, as if she were a goddess. That was too much, even for him. She was powerful, she was beautiful in that obscure way, yes, but she was no goddess.

Talo, as he was wont to do when trying to organise his thoughts, straightened his robes as they entered the tavern and Kane arranged some rooms for them.

"Are you all right?" Lena asked kindly as she came into his line of vision. At least he could count on her to be nice to him.

"Yes, yes of course. Much better. And you?"

"I'm fine." She looked at him sideways, "Are you sure you are?" Talo made no verbal reply, and so Lena continued, moving out of earshot of the others, "She does that to you, does she?"

Talo looked back at her, uncertain. Should he tell her? Lena was his ally, in that convenience-formed way, so it wasn't like she was a direct enemy. And she was also a woman; maybe that would help her understand what the others - as men and potential enemies - could not. Then again...

"Most women when they dress that way have an effect on men," he responded cryptically, the smile coming back to his face. Lena couldn't understand his dodging of the subject but accepted it anyway - in a way she felt sorry for him.

"Well, if you ever need to talk...that'll give me some purpose in this group, since you seem intent to stay."

"I thank you, but I think you'll soon have a very much needed presence. You're a good mage, after all." Lena smiled at the compliment, and reverted to modesty,

"No I'm not. Not as good as you."

"But they," Talo nodded in the direction of Delenar, Kane, Gasta and Veygan retreating to a large table armed with a flagon of ale, "Will trust you. They will not give me that luxury." Lena was quiet for a moment, then came out with a very valid point,

"Probably because you don't appear to want to trust them. Think about it - we've got a lot of information here," she held up the satchel bag with their various documents tucked inside. "That they could use. Yet we're guarding it when we should be sharing it. After all, aren't we all in this for the same thing?"

"You're right," Talo agreed after a moment of consideration. "Maybe you should do the honours, though."

"If it makes you feel better," Lena also agreed happily. Looking around, there were very little other customers in the tavern to overhear or look over their shoulders.

Taking this into account Lena walked over to the large, circular table where the men were drinking, unbuckling the satchel bag as she went. As her hand took out a wad of parchment Gasta's attention focused on her, since he had been facing in her direction.

"Gentlemen," she addressed them cheerily. "I think we have some...information, that we haven't been too forthcoming about and that you could use." The papers landed smack-dab in the middle of the table, and Talo came to stand beside Lena between Veygan and Delenar, not saying anything for the moment.

~*~

Gailen rode as hard as his strong steed would carry him, his men in perfect unison behind him. He was more determined and less scared now that he had a plan. He would unite the colleges against the coming creatures of Shadows, buying time for Youlvi's team to find and kill the Master and whatever remained of the Fifth. He just hoped it was possible.

He saw the city of Dordover coming towards him and his Wolves; already he could see a line of flags and men milling beneath the walls. He called a halt to survey the siege. Kumonai approached from his left, stroking the long neck of his warhorse.

"One thing concerns me, sir."

"No spells," Gailen answered for him.

And he was right. The be-sieging Lysternians were sending spell after spell at the walls, and yet where was the return fire? Or the flaring of a SpellShield?

"They must be exhausted, sir!" said Kumonai, "Surely that works in our favour?"

"No, the Lysternians are practically beat; just look at their numbers. How is it they exhausted the whole Dordovan army while they still have strength to bombard the walls? No, something is afoot." Gailen removed his helm and rubbed his chin in thought. "Tir-anith! I need your eyes," he suddenly shouted. A tall elven mage trotted forward alongside his captain.

"Sir!"

"What flag is that flying on the keep?" asked Gailen.

All the Wolves turned as one to focus on the distant speck. Silence followed as men and elf alike focused hard on the distant city. All except Gailen, whose gaze was fixed on the face of his strongest mage.

"Heavens it can't be!" said the mage, "Its Blackwings, sir! That isn’t Lystern be-sieging Dordover!" Gailen snarled slightly and replaced his helm securely.

"Saddle up lads, the Wolves hunt tonight!"

~*~

"Prepare two rooms for the night please, Rewel." Karil, Pen and Joibri were sat in the study of the Ereth Lord, the latter two feeling rather uncomfortable about what would now happen.

"Karil, really there's no need..." Pen stopped mid-sentence under the look of his old friend. It almost amused Pen how the older man had always had the knack of shutting him up with that same look. It had been so since they were children.

"So, who wants to go first?" Karil looked between the two of them; they sat like small children being reprimanded by an angry parent, which was just about what Karil commented on when neither made to reply, "What the hells is wrong with the both of you? You're acting like small children!"

"I..." Pen made to start but stopped again when he felt Joibri's eyes on him.

"Pen, out." The warrior looked dumbfounded at his friend, who merely flicked his eyes to the door of his study. "Up the stairs, fourth door on the left. Joibri, you'll stay here."

Pen stood and moved towards the door, looking back at Karil and sparing a second to look over at Joibri who was clearly doing everything within her power not to look at him, again something which Karil made note of. The door closed behind Pen as he pulled it shut, and there was an awkward moment before Joibri broke the silence.

"I suppose you certainly have a different opinion of me now." Karil raised an eyebrow before sitting back down again, having walked to a sideboard to pick up a bottle of Blackthorne wine.

"Not just you Joibri'dan." She noticed that since the group had arrived and the circumstances had changed, the man before her had been calling her by her full name, something which made her feel uncomfortable.

"Pen is different. I don't know how or why, but even Talo knows it. Then again Talo seems to know a whole lot more than he's letting on."

"Really? That's interesting, and he would be the well-dressed elf that Pen clearly disapproved of."

"It seems he disapproves of anything that will help me." At this Karil's eyes narrowed slightly. “It is not his way to be uncaring, quite the opposite in fact."

"Yes, well then it becomes clear to me that you've not seen your friend for a while. He cares little for anyone but himself these days." A pause, during which Karil sipped his wine. "Any other ways in which he is so clearly different? Or has he just, like so many others in Balaia these days, got personal problems that he possibly feels he cannot share with others?"

"Oh great. Side with him, your old friend just like -" Karil stopped her angrily,

"I am not siding with anybody, and I am certainly seeing an alternative side to yourself than earlier. Perhaps it is not Pen after all who has changed but you. We are getting nowhere here, I suggest you go now and calm yourself. Rest. It seems we all need much of this." Sighing, Joibri stood, but feeling she owed him some form of explanation turned before she got to the door.

"I apologise for my behaviour, especially since you and your townsfolk have been kind enough to help me. But I really feel Pen has changed. Not just personality-wise, but also in his physical and mental forms. I cannot as yet tell you everything of the magic I have, but it has showed me differences in him, and they do not appear good. Also, though perhaps Talo's opinion on Pen is not the best to rely upon, he has called Pen a name which indicates certain..." She stopped herself before she said it, knowing she couldn't allow herself to, and this also added to Karil's already deepening worry for his friend. He was about to attempt to form some form of answer but on looking up found she had left so silently he hadn't noticed.

Time for a word with Pen.

~*~

The Wolves were ready, saddled up when they heard the approaching army. They noted the banners that flew high in the afternoon sky, Lystern. Gailen held his troop, waiting to see what would happen. A short way from the Wolves the march stopped and a lone horseman was despatched, trotting comfortably towards them. Gailen trotted to meet him a few feet from his troop.

"I bring word from General Valnez," said the messenger. Gailen was a picture of perfection, breast plate still shining despite the hardships the Wolves had been through - it inwardly daunted the messenger. He conducted this one by the book,

"Please continue."

"The General wishes to offer terms." A little surprised at this, Gailen said,

"I will listen." But why was he offering terms? Although there was a war on Julatsa had no gripe with Lystern. They were always the two colleges after peace.

"If you relinquish control of Dordover you will not be harmed - we will offer you safe passage back to Julatsa on the terms that you stay there and do not interfere with the war." Shocked, Gailen replied,

"But we don’t control.....Dordover..." he trailed off as it all slipped into place - the Blackwings wanted the war and were doing whatever they could to prolong it. The messenger demanded impatiently,

"What is your reply?"

"I have a message for your General. The Blackwings are in control of Dordover, they told us you had the city and you that we did. The new terms I suggest are this, we join forces and take back the city. We will then hand it back to Dordover leaving a suitable defence." Unhappily the mage nodded,

"General Valnez will not be happy but I will relay your terms." With that he turned and sped back to the Lysternian forces. Gailen rode the short distance back to the Wolves, and he was immediately met by Kumonai who greeted him,

"How did it go?"

"Not good, there’s going to be battle. One which we may not win. And we need to get forces to Julatsa quickly."

~*~

The messenger met with General Valnez on his return and told him what had transpired. The general turned to his second in command, and in rage he said, "I don’t know how they think me so foolish - prepare for battle!"

~*~

Meanwhile, on a hill not far from Dordover, Kaynel watched. He turned behind him and addressed a Shadow,

"We wait. Then we will pick off what is left." The Shadow turned and headed away from the general and towards the thousands upon thousands of Shadows massed behind him.

~*~

"Kumonai, where is the army?" Gailen asked impatiently, his thoughts racing.

This was a nightmare. The Julatsan and Dordovan armies had been fighting each other to a stand still, then when news of ‘Lystern's’ occupation of Dordover arrived, they allied to counter this threat. Now Lystern had shown up, also ready to ally with Dordover to fight Julatsa! Blackwings occupied Dordover and the Shadows were ready to pounce and on top of all this, the colleges were being played to make war on each other. And Gailen was helpless to prevent it.

"It will be here within the hour sir, but things aren’t good. They report only two thousand men left, some two-hundred mages. No cavalry to speak of. Supplies are low, since Julatsa has been surrounded. Also Commander Hulan was killed, they are being led here by Mikadun," Kumonai shock his head trying hard not to look defeated, "Sir, the Lystern army must have five thousand fresh troops!"

Gailen shook his head - he felt so helpless! He needed a miracle to stop this war from raging. Only Xetesk still had a reasonable army remaining. Dordover had suffered massive losses, as had Julatsa. Lystern had only a small army anyway and they were about to meet the Julatsans.

"Have we made communion with Dordover yet?!" he shouted.

"Yes sir! They say we have their allegiance against these creatures; it turns out they were attacked by Shadows whilst attacking Xetesk. But they will not spare any men until they have re-taken Dordover. They have tried to make communion with the Lystern forces but it seems no one is listening."

"Then we have no choice - prepare for battle."

An hour later, a tired and wounded Julatsan army drew up against the entire Lystern guard.

~*~

"So what are you saying, Talo?" asked Kane. Talo sighed and looked at the dejected warriors; he couldn't help but feel sorry for their efforts.

"You can't win - at least not yet. None of you have the power to face the Master, even if you could pass the armies of Shadows he controls. Joibri has been given the kind of power needed but if will take years for her to accept it and learn to use it," he sighed once more, trying to force himself to say what none of them wanted to hear, "Without some sort of guidance, Joibri will need years...no, decades to practice her powers. And without an army, she would never get to the Master anyway."

"So what do you suggest?" asked the newcomer, Veygan.

"Honestly. Return to the colleges and raise the largest army Balaia has ever seen. And do it quick. While the Master is alone he can only summon so many Shadows. Once he finds the Fifth, he will find more power and then....I'm sure you can imagine what comes next."

Everyone around the table went silent except Delenar, who raised his goblet and drained the entire drink.

"So there is no hope..." he whispered. Talo shook his head,

"While Youlvi or Arithmus was alive, yes. Now, no one exists who can train Joibri. I can only help her keep the power at bay, not control it. And without the ManaDais at the college there isn’t any chance she can accept it remotely safely. Who knows, perhaps there will be notes left by Arithmus in Xetesk in which case you could learn to use her powers much faster - the ones here only detail the spell Arithmus was going to use in conjunction with ManaForm to possess her. Either way, we need to hope Gailen can get the colleges to see sense and unite."

"What about the rest of Balaia?" asked Gasta - ever the general he was already planning how to raise an army. Talo smiled,

"You are of course, correct. We need to warn all the baronies and recruit as many to this fight as possible.” Kane, who had remained silent throughout most of the exchange, spoke up,

"We should rest up and make decisions tomorrow. You, Talo, need to speak to Joibri. Something tells me she will not like hearing that she is our only hope of saving Balaia."

~*~

And like that it was over; the last Julatsan Guard lay dead on the ground. Xetesk had spared none. But still something wasn’t right - commander Chandyr hadn’t been in the battle outside Xetesk but he had watched from the walls. These soldiers were nothing like those that had tested even a Protector, instead they were mere men and not even the main army. With the men outside the walls of the college dead, terms of surrender would now follow.

High up on the wall, Pheone shed a tear. She could not look at the pile of dead bodies that surrounded her college. At that moment she was considering surrender, then Barras appeared at her side.

"The army has gone to Dordover," he said.

"What?" Pheone was shocked into despair. That really was their last hope - what forces had remained from the earlier fighting between them and Dordover had been sent to help the latter. They should be an enemy at a time of war. Enraged and frustrated she turned on Barras. "We’re here getting slaughtered and you send what hope we have to Dordover? I already sent the Wolves!"

"The army would have been no help; it is tattered and torn to shreds. They would have been slaughtered too, and you know it. Our only hope is to ally and unite."

"Who will join us?"

"Everyone when you hear what I have heard. And all of this," he pointed to the broken bodies and Xeteskian army, "Will seem like nothing to what we will witness."

Pheone didn’t like the sound of that. But she let Barras continue,

"Gailen has come across some more news on the Fifth College. It seems as if that wasn’t the real threat. Another they call ‘the Master’ is behind a lot of the fighting - those skilled warriors the Wolves met were called Shadows. They are creatures from another dimension and they are more powerful than Protectors."

Pheone's face was a picture of shock and despair - now it made sense. How quickly war broke out, the speedy slaughter of entire armies and tensions at every turn. They were being played off against each other and this ‘Master’ had used the Fifth College to hide himself.

"What can we do?"

"Our only hope is to try and ally with Xetesk, it seems they were attacked by Shadows dressed as Julatsans. That is why they came here, so we must convince them of the truth. If not, we will have to surrender the college, get far away and hope another solution presents itself." Barras looked down from the walls and saw Chandyr riding the gates with two guards. "Now,” he said, “I must meet this party and pray this situation hasn’t gone too far."

~*~

Mikadun had never seen such slaughter as he had these past months. He had joined the Julatsan army and quickly worked up the ranks, hunting glory and fame. Gods how he wished he had stayed a guardsman! Everywhere he looked men were falling, worse they were falling under his command. Dead eyes stared at him while voiceless accusations echoed in his mind. Why had he not prevented this? Why had he not formed a better strategy?

A year ago Mikadun was a promising twenty-two year-old captain; now he felt ancient. A stand-in general whom everyone had come to depend on.

A swordsman ran at the distracted general. Mikadun parried the blade aside and rammed his own sword into the swordsman’s groin. He quickly moved aside as a giant warrior swung at him with a huge battleaxe. Ducking inside the swing, he dropped to one knee and launched himself upwards, his head crashing against the giant man's chin. The warrior fell back but Mikadun followed up with a swing that saw the warrior disembowelled. He made ready to lunge at an unsuspecting swordsman but turned his blade away at the last moment. The swordsman was staring to his left, seemingly unaware of the battle.

Mikadun leapt back ready for an attack but found all those ranged in front of him lowering their weapons and taking up the stare. He checked to his left and found his second staring past him, sword lying forgotten on the ground. Slowly, Mikadun turned to follow the gaze.

An army of what looked like men were topping the hill, charging down towards the two armies on all fours. Mikadun's long sword fell from his hand as he realised what he was looking at. Each of the creatures was dressed in black, save from their silver swords and claws and they were approaching at an unbelievable speed.

"Regroup," Mikadun whispered to himself almost in shock. He stuttered as he tried to overcome his fear and master his wits. They were the Shadows that Gailen had spoke of, he was certain. And there were thousands of them.

He heard Gailen before he saw him, riding past the Julatsan flank towards the creatures, he was shouting in Mikadun’s direction. Clearing his mind, Mikadun retrieved his blade and held it aloft,

"Julatsa! Lystern! Regroup!" he bellowed with all the power he could muster, "We fight as one! WE FIGHT AS ONE!" Then he shouted a war cry and charged at the mass, both Julatsan and Lystern troops in tow.

Gailen smiled as he rode towards the Shadow army. He felt a glimmer of hope watching how easily the Lysternians were following Mikadun’s lead, quickly linking formation with the Julatsans. The young general was filled with doubts but he was certainly inspirational in battle.

'He will need to be,' thought Gailen as he urged his mount onwards. There had to be a thousand Shadows streaming down the hill towards them, if not more.

Gailen felt his fear evaporate to be replaced by the thrill of battle as his Wolves drew close to the Shadow lines. He drew his enchanted blades and let out a battle cry. Kumonai followed his lead as did the rest of the Wolves.

And battle was joined.

~*~

Karil was feeling very uncomfortable about Pen. How could he bring up the subjects that were clearly something Pen himself couldn't come to terms with? Looking out of the window he saw the man sat just on the edge of the Ereth Forest that surrounded most of the town, keeping it secluded and barely known of by any other member of Balaia. Sighing, he picked up a flagon of ale and stepped out into the sunshine, the heat from its rays making his shirt cling to his skin.

As he approached his friend Pen looked up, and on seeing him made to stand up but Karil motioned for him to remain where he was,

"How are you feeling?" Karil asked him, handing Pen the ale and sitting on the grass beside him, thinking this was probably the better way to start the conversation that was to come.

~*~

Mikadun fought with a passion he had never felt before, cutting and parrying against the near-immortal creatures. At first the beasts had seemed unstoppable. They had tore into the human army with wounds that closed as soon as they were open. The whole Allied army had almost broken into retreat before it had even claimed a kill.

Luckily Mikadun had seen the threat and instinctively leaped forwards.

He had recalled Gailen’s warnings of dark warrior-beasts that could only be slain by beheading them, so he had swung his long sword in a deadly arc, beheading the creature instantly. As the creature fell, the Allied army had surged forward intent on following Mikadun’s example. Now it was obvious the army would only hold for as long as the spell support kept coming. The creatures were being torn asunder by FlameOrbs and DeathHail, but they were making ground against the human swordsman.

Mikadun downed another beast, his long arms wielding a huge long sword to deadly effect. He took a moment to cuff sweat from his forehead before leaping to the attack again, his sword slicing for the nearest creature. The creature ducked aside and leapt at Mikadun, but the tall warrior was ready and thundered a cross into the creature’s head. As the creature fell back, Mikadun swung his blade horizontally, slicing through its neck.

The general stepped back to wipe his long hair from his sweat-stained head. He had never seen anything move as fast as these creatures did - they were so difficult to hit. All along the line the college men were being beaten back with terrible losses. Mikadun sent a silent prayer that the spells would keep coming. At the moment, they were keeping the army alive.

At that moment HellFire tore into the Shadows where Mikadun stood, burning them to ash in seconds. With room to move, Mikadun leapt to the aid of a Lystern guardsmen, dispatching the distracted Shadow. The warrior looked relieved and nodded his thanks to Mikadun as the creature fell. Mikadun acknowledged the man with a smile before hefted his long sword and launching another attack.

~*~

Lena snuggled into her pillow and let out a sigh - it had been a long, long day... but still,

‘All’s well that ends well,’ she thought to herself, although she knew that there was still a lot that was not well. Balaia's future for one thing. And the Pen-Joibri-Talo problem hadn't resolved itself either. But she felt happier, for her talk with Talo had given her some much needed confidence in herself and the evening she had spent with the rest of the company had been fun and interesting. She had realised that quite a formidable selection of people had come together to form this extraordinary group.

And she was sleeping in a real bed again! The room was simple but it made a nice change to the cold, hard earth. Her bed was soft, the sheets were warm and it was quiet! But she knew she couldn't get used to it, because tomorrow, or at the latest the day after, they would be off again, heading towards the Fifth College again. And then? Who knew what would happen?

~*~

After the madness that had engulfed them at the Inn not so long ago, they had decided that even in this comfortable setting that they would always have someone on watch. It was his shift now until a couple of hours before dawn, when Gasta would come to take his place. Kane glided over the settlement again, his ShadowWings trimmed for a gentle glide, the air currents holding him aloft and so minimising the pull on his mana stamina. Everything was as it should be - quiet and peaceful. That normally meant that something was going to happen, and with his gut telling him there was still something out there waiting for them, he shrugged it off, knowing that with more than one mage amongst them again they'd have a better chance of fending off attacks.

That thought brought him back to the others, Talo and Lena. Delenar had called them the "new recruits" with a smile spread across his elven features. That had vanished after a glare from both Pen and Joibri. Kane still couldn't figure out what was going on between Talo and those two, what with their brooding arguments, but things were beginning to click into place in his ever-calculating mind, and he figured he'd probably have the answer in the next couple of days if it wasn't made apparent to them by then.

He made one more pass and decided he'd sit out the remainder of his watch on the ground, the mild night air keeping the chill from his bones. He descended, landing just outside the door to their lodgings and dismissed the Wings from his back. Making a final walk around the outside of the building he checked all the doors and windows were locked, a futile gesture given the Shadows' abilities but something he thought he should still do. Satisfied, he returned to the front of the building and sat on a bench, his mana-augmented vision cutting through the darkness.

~*~

He sat back, drinking in the panic and fear his creatures were causing outside Dordover. Some of the Allied forces seemed to be gaining a foothold against them, but not enough to push his small force back over the ridge. It wouldn't matter - soon enough he would have enough power to summon tens of thousands more to this dimension. He even thought of the Others. At the moment his power was not great enough to sustain bringing Them here, but once he had taken his rightful place as Head of the Hermetic College he would be able to turn Them loose on all of Balaia.

And it would be a horror even more destructive than his Shadows.

The beast moved beneath him, the skeletal shape of the horse shaking beneath his body. Even dead it feared him. It was as it should be. He turned the creature around, and spoke to his General,

"Kaynel - push the flanks. The centre is holding because of that damn cavalry. I want them surrounded and I want their animals destroyed. Save the warriors - they will make fine servants when I return." A slight nod indicated the answer he knew he would receive. "I will take half of the remaining thousand to the College. I will send Them to you when I gain my rightful seat to finish these mortals." Another nod, and the Master set off, a black mass appearing in the grass behind him as he rode towards the Hermetic College.

~*~

Gailen leapt from his mount as it toppled beneath him. He had no time to mourn the loss of the only mount he had ever ridden - instead he was immediately on the defensive, parrying and dodging as fast as he could. He saw the opportunity to attack and lashed out with his enchanted blades, narrowly cutting his opponent. The blade flared into light and the Shadow did similarly, disappearing before the captain. He sought out Kumonai and saw him defending desperately against two Shadows, his mount lying dead at his heels. In fact, half of Gailen’s force were now unhorsed and fighting a desperate defensive.

"Dismount!" he bellowed as he dispatched another Shadow, "Push forward on foot."

With that he leapt towards Kumonai, battling his way towards his second. His enchanted blades cut left and right, leaving a trail of burning corpses. He linked up with two of his Wolves and together they clove a deep line in the Shadow ranks.

Kumonai fell just as Gailen reached him.

With no time to check on his wounded second, Gailen leapt further forward. He felt fresh anger surge through his blood, forcing tired muscles into new life. He parried, spun and slammed his blade into a creature, leapt forward and cut into another, ducked and hamstrung another. Soon he found the creatures avoiding his deadly blades and backing from his attack. This just gave him more room and he continued his insane attack.

Mikadun saw the attack to his right, saw Gailen single-handedly taking on the army, his Wolves desperate to try and reach him. He let out a cry and launched his large frame into the fray, swinging his long sword in murderous arches. All along the line the college army followed the example and surged forwards, making ground over the smaller army. Spell support increased, more and more FlameOrbs dropping into the retreating creatures, and the death toll rose.

On a nearby hillside, the Shadow general sneered in anger.

~*~

"Now concentrate and hold the shape," muttered Benru.

Both he and his apprentice, Korius, sat crossed legged in the small chamber. He was proud of the young man - he had accepted so much power and could easily use it. Control, however, was Korius' weak point. The vision and voices brought on by the mana had made him slightly... strange. The young mage could suddenly change mood or loose interest in the spell he was constructed. The visions especially made him infuriated, and the loss of Arthimus had made him angry. At the same time the power made him overconfident, but with training he would be a powerful mage. Benru's calming influence was paying off - the events in Korius' bedroom earlier would have been much worse a few days earlier but the training was slowly working.

"Murderer," came a voice. Korius blocked it out, but the voice came again. "You make me sick, murderer."

Still his concentration held; for a further ten minutes the voice taunted and laughed at Korius. It called him a murderer, told him he was pathetic and laughed at the death of his master. Then Korius could take it no longer and opened his eyes, the spell lost to the world. There in front of him was the mage, one eye, blood, the spike. Korius just sat and stared at him, considering preparing a FlameOrb. Benru noticed the change and dispersed his spell,

"What is it my apprentice?"

"He is here."

"Remember, he is the personification of your fears. Control your anger."

"But he taunts me, I will have revenge."

"You will have nothing," said the voice, "You listen to this fool, it was his negligence that got Arthimus killed."

"It was your fault and he is my master now," said Korius. Benru, realising what was happening, acted quickly,

"Korius, look only at me. Address only me."

"But he must be taught a lesson!" screamed Korius, suddenly changing mood.

"He is not real. You will learn to destroy the images in time." The thought of destroying the one-eyed mage suddenly appealed very much to the acolyte...

"But you can see me," the voice returned, "So why don’t you do something about it?"

Korius was breathing heavily - he wanted to take down this mage. His anger was flaring - it was this man’s kind that had killed Arthimus. He would have revenge. But then he looked into Benru's eyes; something about them. So calming. His master, his friend. Korius calmed in response,

"I am sorry my master, I will concentrate again." And with a scream the mage disappeared. Benru smiled, his apprentice was learning quickly. He only hoped quickly enough.

~*~

Now that the town was quiet in sleep, Joibri took the opportunity to go for a walk to try and clear her head. Since her talk with Karil had finished earlier than expected, which she was grateful for, she had gone back to the inn only to find herself eavesdropping on the group from a conveniently-placed window near their table. She didn't care if they had noticed her - if they did they had made no announcement of it.

But because of her little trip of espionage she had learnt exactly what she had been fearing. There was no one else, and she would indeed have to accept the mana. The hated mana. Now she was simply trying to come to terms with that looming responsibility. That and her thoughts about Pen...

"Do you walk at night often?" She sighed in frustration - it was Talo's voice. He wasn't exactly what she needed now; he only seemed to complicate matters.

"Often," was all she gave as a reply.

"I know what you're thinking about. It's probably better for the others that you had eavesdropped." Joibri stopped near the edge of the town and let him walk up beside her, hands behind his back. She didn't look at him, only scanned the forests and the plains ahead on the horizon.

"So, it would take years to accept this poison, would it?" She was surprised to find Talo pause nervously before answering.

"There is a quicker way." Joibri didn't like the idea of accepting the Fifth mana but considering their situation she found herself interested. "If Arithmus had used his ManaForm on you it would have been an immediate, unchosen acceptance. The other mage, Youlvi, became the victim of this because he went to where Arithmus' ManaForm was. You, on the other hand, would have had to have been taken to the Fifth College - the ManaDais there, like a ManaBowl in any other college, I had to specifically design with the purpose in mind that the Fifth's most potent weapons - yourself included - would have to be forced into ManaForm."

Joibri turned to him finally, her gaze surprisingly even.

"So now, that would be the way to make me accept the mana faster? Otherwise there's very little chance of finding anyone or anything who could help me do it naturally?"

"That's right. But I am not entirely sure that we should seek to go back to the Fifth."

"What, so you can keep your hide safe?"

"Joibri I joined that college from the very beginning in the interests of keeping you safe from it. Do not think that now I am out of it that my priorities have changed." Joibri took the chance to bring up the issue she wanted answers to,

"Why is that Talo? Tell me."

"I can't tell you yet," he blurted out, frustrated.

"Why not?! I have every right to know!" Talo kept silent and she fumed. "Talo, can you help me to accept the mana?"

"I'm not authorised..."

"I don't care! In case you haven't noticed I've got to learn how to defeat an army single-handedly pretty quickly! Now if you -" she was broken off quickly as a searing pain flashed in her skull, making her hand shoot up to it instinctively and her mouth emit a cry.

"Joibri?" his hands were on her shoulders as she nearly doubled up. Her vision flashed briefly as red.

"I'm fine, just, leave me," she insisted, though it was her that left. Her breathing quickened as she ducked between the inn and another house, leaving Talo in the main road behind. She dropped to her knees and slumped against the outside wall of the inn, clutching her head and gritting her teeth as she waited for the pain to pass.

In all likelihood, this indicated that the mana had its own ideas.

Talo tuned into the mana spectrum, surveying the damage as he walked down the alley. He would have to help her, some kind of way.

~*~

"Can't sleep," said Kane as Delenar walked up behind him. His quick response to Delenar’s approach startled the elf,

"One day I will learn how you do that, mage," responded Delenar. Kane chuckled to himself - his years of assassin training had adapted his senses - to him Delenar was stomping noisily behind him. Still, he liked to torment the elf,

"It’s not my fault you walk with the grace of a Wesman," he jested whilst trying to hold back a grin. Unsuccessfully. Delenar grinned with him but let the smile fall quickly,

"In fact, everyone is awake, discussing what to do now we know how useless we are. I've volunteered to go to the baronies. See what support we can rummage up." Kane couldn't hide his surprise,

"The baronies? Why would they assist the colleges?"

"They probably won't," said Delenar, "But if this....army...of beasts is coming, the colleges will need to unite not only with each other, but with the KTA too. I thought I'd at least try at convince them." Kane laughed, completely against the depressing mood,

"So you just have to convince the baronies that you speak for all the colleges and that the continent will soon come under attack from a hoard of demons. Good luck, elf!" Delenar smiled, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes,

"Well at least I won't be alone in my struggle." Kane’s laughter died away as he realised what was coming. Delenar couldn't help but laugh out loud - the Dordovan’s face was such a picture! He clapped Kane on the shoulder merrily, "Come on Dordovan, you'll enjoy the trip! What do you say?"

What Kane said was short and crude, and sent Delenar into another fit of laughter.

~*~

"It's been a long time, Pen," Karil sighed. They had decided to walk during their discussion, moving silently through the town. The cheers of drunken townsfolk faded as their path took them away from the centre of the settlement towards the outskirts. "You have changed."

They stopped and faced each other, Pen thinking quickly on how he could reply.

"The same could be said for you, my friend." At this Karil laughed. Then sighing again, he turned away slightly, looking out over his town.

"Indeed, it could," he whispered. "But you always had the ability to twist the conversation away from it's intended direction." At this, Pen fidgeted uncomfortably.

"No one knows for definite about me. They guess, they judge, but they don't know for sure. The only one who did and who could have helped was Youlvi, and now that he's dead there’s no one to help."

"The mage, Youlvi?" Karil seemed genuinely surprised.

"Don't tell me you knew him too," Pen laughed bitterly.

"Only a small amount; he taught me some important things." Pausing for a moment Karil looked seriously at his friend. "What was it he had to help you with, Pen?" Karil had a growing fear he already knew, but did not let on his suspicions.

Pen growled loudly causing Karil to face him fully on in surprise. As he looked at Pen, his suspicions and fears were confirmed. Pen stood before him, his eyes flaming red and blue mana swirling slightly around him. Then almost as quickly as it had come on, Pen was back to normal.

"Dystran has no control over me any longer, but the mana remains, though not as evident as before." He turned to look at Karil, "The time we were in the woods the three of us..." He paused, waiting for a reaction.

"You, myself and Selik?"

"When I disappeared it was then that they took me. I was an orphan living with a foster family - no one would really miss me - so off to Xetesk I was taken and this is me now. It was dormant for so long and I thought I had my life back, but again they wanted me. They wanted to use me like a tool, like a weapon, like they do Joibri." Pen had drawn a dagger and had been playing with it whilst speaking, almost as a comfort. Now he smashed it into the trunk of a tree, embedding it up to the hilt.

"I am sorry my friend." Karil placed a hand on his friend's shoulder hoping it would be of some comfort to the man. "But never think you were not missed. We looked for you for years afterwards up until the time when we met, and again before the DawnThief casting. You were always missed."

"I killed that boy, Karil. It was me." Karil had been thinking this was the truth, but hearing from his friend’s own mouth brought back past memories he would rather not have had.

"It was not you, Pen, it was the demon." Pen looked suddenly confused. "There's something you need to know, Pen. It's important."

~*~

"Stay as still as you can," Talo commanded gently as he knelt over Joibri, who had fallen to the dirt. When she looked up at him her eyes were trying to turn red, and he didn't like it. With one hand on her sweating forehead and the other on her collarbone, he closed his own eyes, "Breathe with me."

Joibri wasn't sure what was happening, but she felt Talo's aura invade her own temporarily, pushing the violent mana back into the core within her and helping her contain it. The pain in her head and sight subsided, and Talo removed his hands.

"You must take me to the Fifth. I'm not having this happen in the middle of a battle. I know I need to accept it whether I like it or not, and if we have to get to the Dais, we'd better do so quickly," Joibri insisted. Talo sighed defeatedly in the dark.

"But, it's too early, you need..."

"What I need, Talo, is to accept the mana. My personal pain is nothing compared with all who will suffer because I didn't. You can only do whatever you just did so much."

"I know, but -"

"No buts. Now help me up."

~*~

The anger surged through his body as he sat in what used to be Vuldaroq's study, the fire blazing in the grate beside him. He was completely oblivious to its presence, or anything else for that matter, as he sat staring unflinchingly and without blinking ahead of him.
News had reached him that they had met Karil in Ereth. If Karil found out what was going on outside of his town he would gather the mages of his town, and, though they were few their belief in what was going on would no doubt help to persuade the Baronies.

"I should have killed him years ago," he whispered under his breath. But then somehow, for some reason unknown to him, his comment didn't feel justified or meaningful and it only worked to increase his rage.

~*~

Kane sat down again outside their temporary lodgings. He had passed on the watch duty to Gasta, the former Xeteskian General settling down easily into a well-worked routine. But something still didn't feel right with the mage. There was just something about this place. It was too idealistic, too quiet, too peaceful. Earlier, just after Delenar had gone back inside, he had found out why. He had made one more fly-over, and this time tuned his eyes to the mana spectrum as he passed over the outskirts of the settlement. There they were - the tell-tale signs of Trap- and AlarmWards, their mana-pulse flickering briefly through long grass and hedge-row alike. So many of them, littering the boundaries.

This many static spells, all recently renewed, had to mean that there was a significant mage presence in the village, maybe half a dozen of them or so, and from the tell-tale yellow, blue and green traits he could tell Lystern, Julatsa and Dordover representatives were somewhere in the village. Not surprisingly, there was nothing to be seen of Xetesk. The Dark College still kept close contact with their mages, and wouldn't let them wander this far from the college walls without a significant Protector guard.

He stood, and motioned for Gasta to follow him inside. They would all need to know what he had found out, for they would want to question their host Karil about why they were surrounded by mages from three of the four colleges, all of whom would no doubt wish to claim Joibri as one of their own.

~*~

"Do I want to know this?" Pen replied, seeing how nervous his friend was by the mere thought of revealing what he was about to, even to a childhood friend such as Pen.

"I think it wise that you know everything. If, as I suspect, your mage friends decide to keep a look out they will discover a fairly major mage presence for a town of such a size as this."

"What, are you saying this place is some form of mage sanctuary where your brother cannot bring his beliefs?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes, that's exactly what Ereth is." At Pen's raised eyebrow Karil walked to a tree stump several feet away and sat down heavily, suddenly looking very tired. "Pen have you any idea where he went for those years after he was hit by Erienne's spell?"

"Here?" There was genuine surprise in the warrior's voice.

"There is something of me which you do not know Pen. I'm a mage." Karil's words certainly shocked Pen into silence, before he managed only to repeat what Karil had already stated,

"You're a mage."

"I was able to help to some extent. Stop the spell from progressing and making it worse than it already was. Therefore in return for my helping to save him, this town goes untouched by Blackwings. I helped re-create the very people that would kill my friends. I helped to turn him into what he is today."

"He's not all bad, Karil." The other's expression told Pen he'd made a grave mistake in voicing his opinion.

"Yes, I did hear something of your working with him," Karil's voice was icy and his eyes narrowed. "You know what he was like when we were younger, and you dare to stand there and speak those words to me! After you were taken by Xetesk you did not witness what happened to us... to him."

"Then why don't you tell me?" Pen’s words sounded a little more harsh than he intended, increasing Karil's anger.

"You have no idea what it's like do you? To see your younger brother go down that road, and to be unable to stop it from happening - to have to sit back and watch as he becomes more embroiled in the shit of this world." Pen was silent; there was little he could say really, only listen. "Around a year after you were taken Xeteskian mages came to our farm. I wasn't there, I’d gone out for some reason. I can't even remember why. When I got back I found our parents dead, and he'd seen it all."

There was a silence before Karil continued.

"Instead of staying there with him, I left to be taught by a man in Arlen, not originally magic, but that's how it ended up. Though I’m a mage in terms of my abilities I’m no college mage. I left him with the family who owned the farm next to ours - I forget their name - they were the ones who always chased us back off their land when you wanted to steal fruit." At this memory from the more happier part of his childhood, Pen allowed himself a faint smile before the story was continued. "You know what they were like. The family was so big they could barely feed themselves after a while so he became the one that would go without. If there was hardly any food their kids would get it, leaving him with fuck all. After a while he ran away, tired of being forced to do the same farm work as the others without getting half the food they did. A few months later he was picked up."

"Travers." Pen interrupted, anticipating Karil's next words.

"Travers." Karil's voice was barely audible in his angry growl. "And there we have the beginnings of what he is now. I could have prevented it. If I’d stayed."

"You can't know that for sure, Karil." His words had been spoken with the intent on trying to comfort his friend but they seemed only to fuel his already burning fuse.

"Don't, Pen! You know that's shit! If I’d been there for him he wouldn’t have ended up this way. And don't ever say he's not that bad - ever! He tortures, he murders! Is that the Selik you knew?"

"No," Pen conceded. "But neither are we the same people we were. There is nothing to say that if things had occurred differently back then, that they would be so different now. And I believe it is better he's the way he is because of his experiences, than if he were naturally like it." Pen knew his words were having no effect, though when he thought of what he was actually saying he figured it wasn't exactly surprising. He agreed with his friend in so far as that magic was destroying Balaia, but he had never killed a mage for Selik and never would.

"What difference does it make why he's the way he is? The fact is he's like it and I could have prevented it. Instead I helped create the current situation, and have directly caused the deaths of so many mages it's impossible to count." There was again an uncomfortable silence. "That is why there are so many mages here. Selik owes me for helping him. His repayment is to ensure no mage from this town is harmed by any Blackwing, with the condition also that I do not use the magic I hold power over."

Pen didn't know what to say. All this time he'd had no idea that the people that had taken him in when he became an orphan had been murdered by mages and that in doing so had made Karil and his younger brother orphans. He certainly had no idea that Selik had witnessed their murders. He sat down on the ground opposite Karil, the two of them sitting in silence.

A moment later however, Karil again broke the silence that had had a hold over them with a sudden switch of topic,

"So when are you going to tell her you're in love with her?" Pen gaped.

~*~

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