by L. Itram and Ben Yackley Main * Story * Setting * Cast * Illustrations * About * Comment

Chapter 17: (untitled) (Posted on 5/11/03 )

"So that's Redstone Island!" exclaimed Zeph as they emerged from the forest which covered the eastern tip of Levend and gazed across the narrow strait at the large conical land-mass.

"Pretty big for an island," commented Luen.

"Fifty miles in diameter!" agreed Zeph, who had found a discarded copy of the Pilgrim's Guide to Levend in one of the roadside inns and had been carefully perusing the appropriate chapters -- occasionally aloud -- for the past three days. "It's actually a sunken mountain, hence the rugged terrain and lack of hospitable beaches which --"

"Thank ye kindly, Zeph. That's enough."

"But I didn't even get to tell where the name came from!"

The others started across the broad wooden pier which stretched between the island and the mainland, slipping into the slow flow of carts and pedestrians headed in the same direction.

"Where did the name come from?" asked Kai, waiting for Zeph to catch up.

"From the color of the rocks! See?" He pointed at the mist-shrouded slopes, which did indeed have a faint reddish tint, like unglazed pottery.

"Figures."

"Clorin," said Luen quietly as the group crossed the mile-long wooden plank bridge across the narrow strait separating the island from the mainland, "Can I speak with you a moment? Alone?"

Clorin slipped away from Zeph, who was busy explaining the history of Redstone Island to anyone who happened to be listening. Luen slowed his pace until they were in the back of the group, several yards behind Viola and Kai.

"What's on your mind?" she asked quietly.

"How much do you remember about before -- before you met Zeph." He was about to say before you became Instilled, but the sorceress had yet to contradict Zeph's story about her past.

"Not much, I'm afraid. There was a room with a big machine. I was frightened and trapped. Then I was in a forest, being chased. I reached safety and ..."

"And?"

"And was changed."

Luen was silent a moment. "And before that?"

"Well..." she paused, then shook her head. "No, I'm afraid it's all mixed up before that. I'm not even sure how much is memory and how much is just from what Zeph told me. I think I remember you ... all of you."

"Do you remember where your name came from?"

"Zeph thought it sounded pretty. I suppose he heard it somewhere. It seems to fit me, though I can't say why."

"Let me tell you what I remember," said Luen.

He told her about the swampy forests of Aezo and going monster-hunting with Kinto and about what the name Clorin meant. He told her about teaching and training and the endless care and effort that went into getting a wild maginaria to trust him and why it was worth the effort when even his coursework wasn't. He told her a little bit about Nhil and its predecessor. He told her about summoners and the maginary plane. He told her briefly about Grandegear but as little about Auli and Almanaque as he could; if Auli's mind was completely gone there was no reason to burden Clorin with her guilt.

Clorin was silent through most of his story, asking questions only when he was unclear or forgot important details. Finally he ran out of things to say and they were both silent -- she deep in thought and he carefully watching her face for any sort of recognition.

"I think..." she said finally, "...I think I have a lot to think about."

"You didn't remember anything?"

"It all sounds familiar...but not clear. Something's still missing." She gave him a sad smile. "But thank you, Luen. I'll figure it out eventually."

"...Well, that's all anyone can really hope for," sighed Luen.

"Seems t'be more stuff goin' in than comin' out," remarked Kinto as another empty cart passed in the opposite direction. "Guess there's not much room t'grow food there."

"You're a perceptive lad, aren't ya," called out a driver behind them. "Actually, we're bringin' in building materials for the bridge."

"The bridge that sir Thomas spoke of!" whispered Zeph excitedly to Clorin.

"Bridge?" asked Luen, ignoring the swordsman.

"That's right." The driver, a brawny Ertseti in his late thirties, leaned over to give them a grin. "Where've you kids been hiding that you haven't heard about the ocean bridge?"

"We've ... been traveling," said Luen evasively as Kai discreetly clamped a hand over Zeph's mouth.

"Certainly looks like it. Here, help me pay for the chroma for this baby --" he patted the side of the cart "-- and I'll give you a lift. Got barely enough for the return trip meself."

"Works for me," Luen climbed onto the pile of timber, followed by the others. "What color do you want?"

As they slowly rolled toward the island, the driver explained that the bridge was a massive project designed to stretch from Redstone Island to Ertset across some seventy miles of ocean.

"Supposedly it's a symbol of peace between former enemies. Personally, I say that anyone who'd carry a grudge for a thousand years has other problems to reckon with. Not like any of the guilty parties are still around now. I'm just glad I won't have t'take the boat back. Nasty things, boats."

"A grudge?" asked Kinto, confused.

"Ages ago, the Levendish tried to colonize Ertset," explained Kai.

"What, when it was already full 'f people?"

"That's the story, yes."

"Sounds familiar," muttered Kinto.

"The Levendish tried to colonize everybody," interrupted Luen. "I don't see why you're taking it personally."

"Redstone Island," recited Zeph as they reached the eastern edge of the bridge, "is poor in natural resources such as timber and minerals --"

"You can see that for yourself." The driver pointed up at the sparsely forested slopes as the procession left the bridge in favor of a narrow road which wound around the island. "Spindly little things, useless for anything except firewood. They build their houses out of mud."

"Brick!" corrected Zeph. "It is also the only known wild habitat of the capriscon, considered a gourmet delicacy in other parts of the world but a vital staple of life to the inhabitants of the island!"

"He's a smart one, isn't he?"

"What's a capriscon?" asked Kai, before Luen or Viola could comment. "Sounds Aezite."

"That name for them is; the locals call them 'trouble'. Little rampaging beasties that swarm over gardens. Never seen a live on myself. That's what I meant about the houses." He pointed up at the slope again, toward a village which looked as though it had been designed by the same mind which had dreamed up Estevas. Blocky houses built of red brick piled their way up the slope, set so closely together that they appeared to share the dividing walls. Ladders and winding paths carved into the cliffs connected the various layers. The inhabitants of the island were as different from mainland Levendish as the Manaqi: rust-red in color with broad ears and thick tails. They also tended for the most part to be either very young or very old - this was because, as the driver explained, most of the adults were working on the bridge.

"Here's your stop. Now off you go before somebody grabs you with the timber."

The six adventurers scrambled off the cart.

"Thanks for the ride," Kai called as the driver turned down a side path toward the bridge.

"Thanks for the conversation," he responded. "And the chroma."

"So now -- Kai, ye can stop waving."

"Sorry, it's just nice to see someone from closer to home."

"Right. So now what?" Viola looked around at construction site. The beginnings of the bridge extended from the top of one of the many cliffs of Redstone Island. Behind it was a makeshift village of tents and thatched mud huts - good timber apparently being too precious to waste on mere housing. Below then a three-dimensional lattice of woodwork extended down to the ocean itself, serving as scaffolding for the unfinished bridge. People from across the globe had gathered to take part in the most ambitious engineering project since Grandegear itself. Despite this, the bulk of the workers were islanders, mainland Levendish, and Ertseti, and despite all the noise and bustle, something was missing.

"No mages," noticed Viola.

"Just because they aren't prancing about in flowing robes --"

"She's right, Luen." Kai shaded his eyes and examined the swarm of people around the bridge. "No levitation, no metallomancy, no woodshaping. They might have a weatherworker hidden away somewhere, but everything else is done by hand or machine."

"What about the carts?" Kinto reminded them.

"Ye dunna need a mage ta drive a cart," countered Viola.

"So not everyone has as much respect for mages -- " Luen darted a brief glare in Clorin's direction "We already knew that. What's your point?"

"I'm just notin'. Perhaps ye'd be so good as ta tell us what we do now?"

"Zeph's the one who wanted to come in the first place."

"I don't know!" snapped Zeph. "I feel an aura of evil emanating throughout this place, but I can't tell where it's coming from!"

"Aura of evil," mumbled Kinto to Kai. "Jus' what we need."

"Can I help you gentlemen? And ladies." A burly Levendish -- obviously one of the foremen -- had approached while they were arguing. He was squarely built and huge even for a mainlander, coming nearly to Kai's shoulder.

Zeph glared up at him. "And who are you?"

"I'm the one who makes sure there are no accidents," he responded, returning the glare.

"I see! And you probably decide what is an accident and what isn't!"

"Zeph!" exclaimed Clorin.

"Accidents aren't the only thing I prevent around here," responded the foreman.

Zeph spun around to face Clorin. "We are in danger at every moment - you know that! We cannot trust -- mphrph!"

"A bit touched in the head," said Kai with an apologetic smile. "He's like that all the time."

"Is he now?" The foreman eyed the squirming swordsman, who was being held back by Viola and Luen as Clorin tried to calm him down while keeping one hand squarely over the lower half of his face.

"Like y'wouldn't believe," agreed Kinto.

"The fact is," continued Kai, "we're travelers, here to see this great symbol of peace being built between our peoples. Well, mine and yours. Those two --" gesturing at Kinto and Luen "-- are just friends."

The two mages attempted to look friendly. Luen continued to keep a tight grip on Zeph.

"Right ... well, now you've seen it. We don't really have room for tourists here, so you'd best head back to the mainland once you're done looking." He turned back toward the bridge.

"One question."

"Luen, we're already in trouble!" hissed Viola behind Zeph's back.

"Yes?"

Luen passed Zeph's arm to Kinto and stepped forward. "We couldn't help but notice that you're rather short on mages around here. Considering that this is the greatest engineering marvel of our day, that seems rather odd."

"Y'might think so. But magic isn't always reliable, and with a project this size we don't have a big enough margin for mistakes, especially given the expense of hiring spellcasters."

"But what about tha machines?"

"Oh, some of the minor ones are chroma-powered... But there's a big difference between using magic to spin a gear and using it to bind a bridge together."

"But --"

"No reliable spellcaster is gonna settle for moving logs around at minimum wage and we don't want the other kind."

"You're in luck there!" said Luen.

"Am I now?"

"We just happen to be four university-trained mages --"

"And a swordsman dedicated to -- mph!"

"And a swordsman," added Luen reluctantly, "who are willing to volunteer our services to this great cause. In exchange for room and board, of course, and maybe a nominal fee."

"I see. And just what do you do?" He sounded unconvinced.

"The lady in lavender is a transpositioner -- she teleports things around."

"I know what a transpositioner is, young man."

"Right. The guy next to her -- no, not him -- is an elementalist specializing in explosive effects. Our tall friend is an herbalist with experience in a number of potion-brewing techniques and I myself have vast experience with controlling and dispatching wild beasts, magical and otherwise."

"Right. And the other two?"

"A swordsman and a healer, on a quest of their own."

"We will be glad to assist you in any way possible," added Clorin, giving Zeph a meaningful look before ungagging him.

"Right! Any way possible!"

"So what do you think?" concluded Luen.

"I think you're a bunch of very suspicious-looking characters. However, mages always are, so I'm willing to make you a deal. Do your thing for the rest of the day -- that's until sunset, mind you -- and I'll decide after seeing how much help you were."

"That's a very reasonable offer. Thank you."

"And keep your hot-headed friend from breaking anything or the deal's off."

Kinto perched on the edge of the barge as it slowly made its way parallel to the shore. He hadn't been too happy about being stuck on a boat, especially since he still couldn't swim, but at least it was slow and didn't bob up and down too much. The work more than made up for it, though -- he was finally blowing things up for a constructive purpose. Literally, in this case; the bridge stretched over lower fringes of the woods, but before the crew could dig the pits for the next set of footings, the rocky beach and shallows had to be cleared. Kinto was good at demolishing boulders, though he'd flatly refused to have anything to do with the underwater ones, pointing out that he couldn't hit what he couldn't see and water and lightning didn't mix. There was still plenty for him to do, though, and he was perfectly happy to do it all day.

Viola stood at the edge of the bridge, watching the workers unload lumber off the cart and into the circle she had marked off in the dirt. She was starting to realize just why the foreman had so much trouble finding "reliable" mages. Teleporting stacks of wood from the unloading spot to the bridge itself might seem like easy work to a non-mage, but it took its toll over time. One of the unloaders -- she couldn't remember their names anymore -- had suggested she take a break and go to the infirmary for a pick-me-up potion from the new healer, but she didn't want Kai or especially Clorin to think her weak. They were probably having the time of their lives, between brewing potions and healing injuries.

Kai slowly washed out his measuring cups, thankful for the brief break in the stream of workers. Fortunately, there had been no serious accidents of yet; the doctor -- a middle-aged woman with extensive knowledge of herblore and none at all of magic -- had said that the safety rules were very strictly enforced and even broken bones were fairly infrequent, though she didn't usually see so many accidents with flying debris. Still, once word had gotten out about his energy-restoring potions, the tent was flooded with workers requesting bottles for themselves and their friends, and the doctor had made Kai promise to give her the recipe, though to brew it without ether was only half as effective and took five days. As busy as he was, though, Kai was most worried about Clorin. She seemed to fret over every new patient, and only the sheer numbers of them prevented her from giving each one her personal attention. Her concern was so un-Auli-like that he was starting to wonder if Zeph's sorceress story might be true. She was curled up on one of the cots and appeared to be dozing peacefully, but once things got busy again he was going to make up an excuse and send her out for more ingredients. Preferably something which grew wild on the other side of the island.

Luen and Zeph patrolled the edge of the woods, keeping sharp lookout for any wild animals or instilled creatures which might see the crowd of workers and machinery as an opportunity for lunch. According to the others in their patrol, they weren't likely to find anything more dangerous than lost livestock from the evacuated village that had stood at the bottom of the cliff. However, one of the archers liked to tell stories about the time young Frederick had wandered straight into a herd of capriscons last spring and been chased halfway down the mountain. Zeph took the story very seriously, but nobody else did.

Late that afternoon, the mages' respective routines were interrupted by an explosion on the bridge.

Viola, being the closest, saw the scene first-hand, but even she couldn't explain how it had started. One minute work was progressing as usual; the next minute the lumber-pile was in flames and a large dark-furred Levendish with a barrel-shaped body and a torn overcoat was standing in the middle of the bridge with a bottle filled with glowing red liquid in each hand.

"Who is he?"

"Who let the loony in here?"

"Revenge!" shouted the newcomer, throwing the bottles in rapid succession onto two more piles.

"Firebombs!" screamed someone, and the workman swarmed off the bridge.

"What happened? Are you okay?" panted a voice behind her.

"Kai!" She noticed with a momentary flash of amusement that he had the featherglass cradled in one arm.

"I heard screaming -- "

"We need water!"

"Better idea -- here comes Luen!"

Instants after the bridge started burning, the news of firebombs reached the barges below. All but one of them headed toward shore to join the impromptu bucket brigade.

"What're we doin' out here?" shouted Kinto. "Cantcha see they need us over there?"

"Plenty of men without us," responded the captain. "We've got a mage and we're not going anywhere."

"What?! Look, I don' care what y'think 'f mages, but we've gotta get t'shore fast!"

"I said we're not going anywhere."

"You may not wanna go anywhere, but they do." Kinto spun around and stared into a sea of hostile faces.

"We're not gonna let you join your fire-flingin' friend," growled one of the rowers.

"Aye, we were told t'watch out fer you," added a deckhand. "If ye want yer plan ta work ye'll have ta swim fer it. An' we've got good aim."

Kinto pulled his shield onto his right arm. "If that's how it's gonna be..."

"Kai, Luen may look like a fish, but he canna conjure water."

"They told us there was a lunatic on the bridge --" Luen panted as he and Zeph reached the others.

"Luen, I need blue chroma." shouted Kai.

"The Lord of Shadows has struck!" exclaimed Zeph, drawing his sword.

"Help yourself." Luen tossed him the pouch.

Viola grabbed Zeph's arm in two of her hands. "Later. We have ta save the bridge first. Kai, what are ye doin'?"

Kai poured the contents of the featherglass into a bottle he had stuffed full of crystals. A squished leaf sat in the bottom. "Viola, get this as close to the center of the fire as you can." He corked the bottle and gave it a shake. "Now."

"No problem," said Viola, and disappeared. In four leaps she warped herself to the top of an untouched pile of wood. "In ye go," she mumbled and lobbed the bottle into the flames. It shattered on impact, dousing the fire in a shower of icy sparkles.

"Arr!" growled the saboteur, who was strangely unhurt by both fire and ice. He grabbed another bottle out of his coat and hurled it at Viola. She vanished just before it could hit her boots.

"Death to the Lord of Shadows!" exclaimed a new voice as Zeph came charging through the flames, sword drawn.

Using a combination of staff-work and shockwave-spells, Kinto made his way across the barge until he'd cornered the captain against a railing.

"Right. Now what's all this about anyway?!"

"Don't! Please!" The captain - obviously put in charge because he knew slightly more about boats than the rest of the team - cringed against the railing.

"I had nothin' t'do with what's goin' on up there!" growled Kinto. "Whoever told you otherwise was lyin'! Who was it?"

"S-Sester Lazuro. He said -- "

"Never heard of him. Wha'see look like?"

"Short. Uh, slouches. Reedy whispery voice. I don't know him very well, honest!"

"But y'believed him?"

"Why would he lie!?"

"I dunno but I'm gonna find out. Bring th'boat t'shore; I just hope we're not too late."

"You shall not succeed, Dark One!" Zeph swung his sword and reeled back as it bounced off an invisible barrier just short of his opponent. "Bespelled, I see!"

The stranger jumped back, flinging another bomb at the swordsman, who rolled out of the way and sprang to his feet again. "Git outta here, stupid kid!"

"Kid!?" Zeph moved in for another strike. "No, I am no longer the child whose village you left in flames! I have returned for vengeance!"

"Great, so've I. So go git yer vengeance somewhere else!"

"Have you forgotten me so quickly, Lord of Shadows? I have not forgotten you!"

"I dunno what yer talkin' about. Th'name's Durst and y'ken tell that to whoever y'want, punk!"

Meanwhile, the three mages watched from the edge of the bridge.

"How're we supposed to take this guy down with Zeph in the way?" grumbled Luen.

arf!

Kai handed another pair of blue bottles to Viola, who promptly disappeared. "Looks like he's shielded anyway - must be a barrier enchantment. Did you hear something?"

"We're next to two lunatics going at each other at the tops of their lungs while glassware shatters all around and you're asking if I hear anything?"

arf! arf!

"Sounded like a dog," said Kai.

"Great, so now we have -- Clorin?!"

The sorceress swept past them, sprinting toward the fight. At her heels was a small fuzzy black-and-white blur.

Luen's jaw dropped. "She summoned the puppy?!"

"What in heaven's name...?" Viola reappeared on Kai's other side.

"It's Nhil!" exclaimed Kai. "I thought we'd lost him for good!"

"Useless thing is going to get itself killed, and Clorin, too!" He started after.

"No he's not." Kai grabbed Luen's arm. "Look!"

Clorin had stopped several yards from the oblivious fighters, pointing one arm like a general ordering her troops to charge. The puppy swept past and launched itself at Durst, scrabbling with all four paws at the invisible force shield, leaving little dark paw prints which expanded into glittering bubbles. The mages could see the faint shimmer in the air as the bubbles ate holes in the shield.

"No wonder that thing gave me headaches," said Viola.

"How did she know, though?" asked Kai.

Kinto hopped off the barge as it stopped at the base of the scaffold and ran toward the path which lead up the cliff. He stopped short at the sound of wheezing laughter.

"You!"

"...well played, mage...."

Kinto peered into the shadows beneath the bridge. "You're the one spreading lies!"

"...dissent...yes..." A darker shadow resolved itself into a figure fitting Sester Lazuro's description.

"Why? Wha'd I do t'you?"

"...not you, them..."

"Them who?"

"...will have ... revenge..." he chuckled again. "...soon..."

Kinto advanced toward him. "Not if I have anythin' t'say 'bout it."

Sester leapt back into the trusswork of the bridge. "...come no closer, mage..." Without taking his eyes off Kinto, he started to climb up toward the bridge. "...can't get me...not without taking the entire bridge down..."

Kinto narrowed his eyes. "You wanna bet?"

Zeph, quickly realizing the change in the situation, pressed his attacks. Durst was keeping out of reach, but the swordsman was gradually forcing him toward the edge of the bridge. "You may hide yourself with any shape or name you please, but I will know thee!"

Durst pulled out a knife and flung it haphazardly, attempting to circle around Zeph toward the cliff. "Scram, kid!"

Zeph didn't move quickly enough and the blade hit his left leg. He fell to one knee and pulled it out, grimacing with pain.

"Don't give him the advantage!" shouted Clorin, spreading both hands in his direction. A shower of green sparkles shot from her fingers, swirling around Zeph.

"Clorin! I knew you'd come! With you I have the strength of ten!" He staggered to his feet, only briefly noticing that his wound had healed and completely ignoring the three mages frantically putting out fires behind him.

Kinto carefully aimed around the timbers of the bridge. Just like the duel, he kept reminding himself, 'cept with a moving target ... and no room for error. Thus far most of his bolts had zigzagged into empty air; Sester was unharmed, but so was the bridge.

"...some mage..." hissed the Levendish, climbing higher.

"You suicidal or something?" Kinto grumbled. Wait, he's trying to get me mad. He wants me to bring down the bridge on him! Aloud he called out, "You really wanna die over a thousand year old grudge?"

"...old grudge, new grudge..." sang Sester, his eyes following the point of Kinto's staff. "...who cares about the Ertseti...the engineers must pay...erk!" Distracted, he didn't quite move fast enough as Kinto sent a bolt sailing around in three neat right angles to hit him in the side. He lost his grip and toppled into the water.

Kinto climbed toward the edge of the trusswork and peered down at the tiny figure swimming away from the shore ... toward one of the cranes used for lowering the huge cross-timbers onto the bridge.

Durst backed away from the raging swordsman and glanced over his shoulder at the edge of the bridge and the scaffolding below, then out at a small figure swimming away from shore. He reached into his coat and pulled out another bottle, this one larger than any of the others.

"Victory will be mine!" Zeph held out his sword and charged.

"Sester's done 'is thing - now it's my turn. Bye, kids!" With that, Durst tossed the bottle in Zeph's direction and leapt over the side of the bridge.

"Zeph!"

Before Zeph could even attempt to dodge, Clorin tackled him from the side, narrowly missing his sword. The bottle hit the timbers and exploded, throwing both of them back toward the railings of the bridge.

"Viola, now!" shouted Kai, sprinting towards the pair.

Viola warped toward the center of the blast, and threw the remaining ice-bombs as far as she could, then reappeared next to Zeph and Clorin.

"Clorin, you saved my life! Clorin? What's wrong with her?" Zeph sat up, unhurt, and stared in horror at Clorin, who was crouched next to him, flames dancing up and down her right arm.

"She's Instilled wit' Green and got hit by a firebomb," snapped Viola, "Figure it out yerself."

"That was the last of the blue chroma," said Kai. "Maybe ... if we had water..."

Clorin whispered something to Zeph. "No!!" he shouted back, removing his jacket and trying to smother the fire with it.

She shrugged him away and reached left-handedly for his sword. Before he could stop her she cut off her own arm at the shoulder.

Kinto was unaware of the battle going on above his head, but when he saw a second figure dive off the bridge into the water and swim for the same crane, he immediately followed along the shore. Before he reached the base he could hear voices.

"Dash it all! I was rather hoping I wouldn't need to use this. However, if they wish to fight we must raise the stakes. Hold my hat, would you? There's a good fellow."

The crane roared to life. Kinto sprinted towards it, only to be stopped by two figures -- one of them annoyingly familiar -- who appeared in his way.

"...no stopping us now..." hissed Sester.

"Yeh!" agreed his burly companion.

"She didn't have a choice," said Luen, "her whole body would've been consumed."

"But cutting her own arm off?" responded Kai in horror.

"There's no blood," Luen pointed out. "It's like she's a plant."

"Not all th'changes Instillment brings are visible ones," said Viola dryly.

"Clorin..." mumbled Zeph, his arm around her remaining shoulder. "Clorin, speak to me!"

Clorin stared blankly in front of her, a glazed grin on her face. She shrugged out of Zeph's grasp and stood up, shutting her eyes tight. Her shoulder began to glow.

"Of course!" exclaimed Luen. "That's why she did it!"

"Wha?" asked Zeph.

Clorin ignored them, her teeth gritted and her remaining hand clenched into a fist as she concentrated. There was a flash of green as something vinelike sprouted from her shoulder and within two seconds a new arm - green and white and out of proportion - hung from her shoulder as though it had always been there. She flexed her fingers carefully, then slumped against Zeph.

The moment was interrupted by Kinto's voice. "Hey! Get down here!" The five turned in the direction of his shout, to see one of the cranes roar to life.

Viola was the first to arrive, teleporting down the steep slope in a single leap. She was soon followed by Zeph, who had also decided to take the slope in a single leap.

"Yaaaaaaaaaoomph!" He quickly scrambled to his feet. "At last you show your true form, Lord of Shadows!"

The three clustered around the crane exchanged confused glances.

"Who is this imbecile!?"

"...crazy boy..."

"Freak!"

"Zeph, these men may be up ta nae good, but they're nae tha Lord o' Shadows."

"Yeah," agreed Kinto. "Isn't th' Lord 'f Shadows some demon shadow thing? These're jus' bandits."

The third member of the group sniffed. "I'll have you know we are not common ruffians. Our motives are the purity of revenge!"

"....can't build the bridge here..." agreed Sester.

"Arr, we live here!" growled Durst.

Their arguments were lost on Zeph. "Lord of Shadows, when you destroyed my village eight years ago little did you know that you set in motion a chain of events which could only end with your defeat! For I am the hand of Fate, and I hold the Sword of Destiny and the Shard of Heaven! The blood of Thomas Goldenedge flows within me and his spirit had guided me to this place that I might finish the job he began! I demand that you stand forth and battle!" He looked over his shoulder at the mages. "Please stay out of this! This will be a duel of epic proportions! If I lose my life for the sake of victory you must take care of Clorin! And tell your grandchildren the story so that the name of Goldenedge will not be forgotten!"

"Kid's mad!"

"...completely lost his mind..."

"Ignore him," said the leader. "We have other matters to attend to." The others climbed onto the crane as he sat down at the controls and turned the crane arm, obviously intending to ram into the bridge.

"So you show yourself!" exclaimed Zeph. "Though you be fifty feet tall, I shall not fear!" He launched himself at the crane, sword drawn.

"What does he think he's doing?!" asked Luen, carefully making his way down the slope with Kai at his tail.

"Fulfillin' his destiny, whassit look like?" retorted Kinto, raising his voice to be heard over the sound of clanging metal and shouts of "Justice!"

"Where's Clorin?" asked Viola

"She's at the infirmary, the doctor's keeping an eye on her," explained Kai. "Shouldn't we stop him?"

Viola shrugged. "He's havin' fun. Tha men inside tha crane are a bigger worry."

The man in the crane had a similar idea. "Durst! Sester! Ignore the madman attacking the crane --"

"But, Hadley!"

"Hold those mages at bay until our work is done!"

The two hopped off the crane and headed toward the cluster of mages.

Kinto and Luen exchanged glances and prepared for combat while Viola teleported her way toward the crane controls. She was just about to tackle Hadley when the machine emitted a large squealing noise. Zeph's banging had opened a repair panel and he had thrust his sword into the gears.

"I cannot hear your pleas for mercy, for you did not hear them when you destroyed my home!"

The crane shuddered as the gears ground against the sword, chewing it to bits but dislocating themselves in the process.

"He's mad!" exclaimed Hadley, diving out of the crane. Viola wrestled briefly with the controls before giving up and following.

"Evacuate the bridge!" shouted Kai as the crane arm swung madly back and forth, dashing itself against everything in its path - the cliffside, the scaffolding, the bridge itself - sending red rocks and timber raining down into the ocean and onto the shore.

"That's assuming we can get to the bridge!" responded Luen.

They were halfway up the switchbacks cut into the cliff when a small black-and-white shape leapt into view and raced past in the opposite direction.

"Nhil! We left you with Clorin!"

"No time fer that, Kai. It can take care o' itself - let's hurry!"

They scrambled up the cliff as the puppy bounced past rocks and falling debris, straight toward the swordsman below.

Zeph backed away from the machine, reaching into his shirt pocket. "Though you bring all to chaos, my justice will shine pure!" He pulled out the Shard and held it aloft.

Nothing happened.

"But...the ultimate weapon..." he stared at the rock in amazement. "Can it be that I will fail in the end? No! It must not be! The sorceress risked her life for mine that I might deal this final blow to the forces of darkness! Though I am alone and weaponless, I shall be victorious!" Gripping the Shard in his fist, he charged toward the berserk machine and plunged the rock into its heart, into the very motor itself.

The crane screeched as the gears ground against rock, but pure celestium was harder than diamond. The metal monster shuddered and then was still.

Zeph stood in shock. "I did it..." he whispered. "I really did it. I did it!" he shouted, holding his broken sword aloft. "Justice has prevailed!"

arf!

He didn't see the small black-and-white shape climbing up the base of the crane toward him.

A translucent figure materialized in front of him. "You have done well, Zeph Goldenedge. You are truly worthy of the name."

"Sir Thomas! I have completed your -- hey, get out of here, this place is dangerous!" Zeph batted his sword-hilt at the little creature dancing around his ankles. It grabbed the metal in its teeth and made happy chewing noises.

"But do not lay down your sword," Sir Thomas continued, "For there are other evils you ... set right ..."

"Sir Thomas? Sir Thomas! You're -- there's a hole --"

arf! arf!

"...not despair ... prevail ... your d..."

"Sir Thomas, your head!"

The ghost vanished piece by piece - the head, then one arm, then the legs, and so on in this fashion leaving nothing but faint glimmers of light - until nothing remained but a cloud of little bubbles which blew away on the wind.

"Sir Thomas! Don't go!"

arf!

Unaware of what he was doing, Zeph absently picked up the little maginaria and cradled it against his chest as he turned around to survey the wreckage in disbelief. "What...? Where...?"

arf! arf!

"Zeph!"

He stared down at the crowd of mages rushing toward him. "You -- what are you doing here?"

"We came back ta see if ye were okay," offered Viola. She frowned. "Are ye okay?"

"I'm fine... but... where am I?"

"Y'mean y'don't remember?" asked Kinto in disbelief.

"I remember a battlefield... I destroyed the Lord of Shadows while you distracted his minions... and then Sir Thomas disappeared..."

"The 'minions' were trying to sabotage the bridge," explained Luen.

"Their village used to be on the construction site," added Kai. "At least, that's what we got out of them."

"What three...? I remember armies..." he looked around again. "And why am I standing on a crane?"

"Come down, Zeph," said Kinto quietly. "We have a lot of explaining to do."

"Fictional?" asked Zeph, sitting on the edge of Clorin's cot in the infirmary. She was awake, but silent, listening to Viola and Kinto's explanation with the same expression of disbelief that was plastered across his face. The mages formed a rough semi-circle around them; Kai and Viola sitting on an adjacent bunk while Kinto stood next to Zeph and Luen leaned against the wall, tossing a checkered crystal from one hand to another.

"Thomas Goldenedge was a kid's story," explained Kinto. "He never existed."

"Then who was it that spoke to me?"

Luen shrugged, "Someone nobody else could see or hear..."

"Then it was all fake? All of it?"

"Do not allow them to deceive you, Zeph!" interrupted a new voice, "They will lead you astray from your quest!"

Kai jumped. "His sword is talking?"

"My mentor!" exclaimed Zeph. "But, teacher, they have been true friends! How can they be evil?"

"That voice!" exclaimed Viola.

"...Davro..." said Clorin hesitantly.

Viola gave her a glare. "Aye, ye would know his name; ye've been takin' his orders fer long enough."

"But I don't!"

Zeph looked from one to the other, confused, "Well he never told me his name..."

"Whatever he calls himself, he's been leadin' ye around tha whole time, Zeph!"

"Not for long," Luen smirked, aiming his chalice at the sword, and pulled the trigger. There was a ripple effect in the air as a multicolored field was drawn out of the sword's hilt - a field that resolved itself into the shape of an opal maginaria, an iridescent beetle-like figure that, between its broadly curving antennae, held a ball of shimmering light, from which the sound of a deep voice issued...

"What?! Zeph -- Zeph can you hear me? I told you not to part with the sword!"

"Yep, leading you around by the sword. I expect he told you never to part with it, right? He's been keeping an eye on you the whole time, Zeph. Playing you like --"

"Like a pawn," finished Kinto.

"Uh, right. Probably planned for you and Auli to get conveniently lost on your 'quest' once he'd gotten what he wanted from you."

"My quest..." Zeph stared into space, stunned. "My whole destiny ... was just someone else's game?"

Kai stood up. "Maybe we should leave Zeph alone for a bit. I think ... I think he has a lot to think about right now."

"Wait!"

The four mages stopped on their way out the door.

"You really are mages, right? That much was real, right?"

"Aye," said Viola. "That we are."

"Then ... you should have this! I pulled it out of the Lord -- I mean, the crane." He handed Kai a translucent blue stone.

"Your Shard? Are you sure?"

"It served its purpose, even if its purpose was fake. I don't need it anymore!"

Kai took the stone and carefully tucked it away in his pack. "Thank you."

"I don't know what to do now..." Zeph admitted, looking more thoughtful than any of the mages had ever seen him. "But, Clorin looks as lost as I am. Maybe we really were destined to meet!"

Clorin smiled and patted Zeph's hand. "Maybe we can figure things out together," she said softly.

"We'll let you get started, then." Kai herded the others out of the room.

"Hang on." Luen tossed something small and round at Zeph. "Take the puppy with you. He'll keep you in touch with reality." As if afraid of sounding too maudlin, he added, "Not like he could do us much good, getting in the way of our spells all the time."

"Thank you! We'll take good care of them!"

They filed out of the infirmary tent.

"Luen, y'okay?"

"Yeah, fine, Kinto... But I've had two maginaria of my own and I lost them both to Zeph. Oh well. There are plenty more out there." He didn't sound too convinced. "Anyway, we've got a Shard now, so our own quest is over. Let's go see if we've earned those beds."

"Personally," said Kai, "I think we could use a vacation. The other end of the bridge is really close to where I grew up, so ... well, I was thinking, why don't you come stay with my parents for a few days before we head back? I think it'd be a good change of pace."

"Aye, we're not in a hurry anymore."

"Sounds good t'me. I've got studyin' t'do. Never did learn that color-change spell."

"And I have some research of me own ta do." Viola gave Kinto a meaningful look behind Luen's back, to which he nodded in response.

Meanwhile...

In a darkened room, three figures clustered around a table.

"...no...the trading post should be closer..."

"Agreed. We place it next to the inn. Perhaps it should be larger to accommodate the passers-by."

"Arr, we'll be rich!"

"...no, Durst..."

"No?"

"Our profits return to the builders as retroactive payment for the damages."

"Oh yeah. T'make up fer them havin' t'rebuild th'bridge."

"...that we destroyed..."

"Arr."

"But not to worry. We have been given the duty and honor of recreating our village as it should be -- in the center of the greatest architectural marvel of the modern world!"

"Th'wha?"

"...the bridge..."

"Arr. Right in th'middle o' th'bridge. That's where we'll be livin'. Once they finish it, o' course."

And so, the mages boarded a ferry across the channel, ready for a relaxing vacation visiting Kai's parents in Ertset, and from there back to Featherglass, their quest complete... At least, that was what Luen had in mind. Viola and Kinto had other plans.