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  Not knowing what else to do, I tuck the dagger into the pocket of my robes, then abandon the site of my tent.

  Tired, dirty and reeking of smoke, I make my way to one of the carriages and decide to curl up inside and sleep. Despite the circumstances I drift off easily, the exhaustion from channeling so much source energy catching up to me. The comforting blackness takes over almost immediately after I close my eyes.

  And luckily, no dreams are waiting when it envelops me.

  Chapter Seven

  Owyn

  The dawn comes early, bringing with it gnawing fatigue and memories of the attack.

  I turn my head to watch as the first rays of sunlight begin to peek over the horizon, painting the landscape in a golden hue and illuminating the blackened remains of the camp. I had chosen to stand guard the remainder of the night, keeping a careful watch from the shadows of the forest to ensure that no more assassins came to finish the job. I am weary and irritable from my long vigil, but my training has prepared me to go without rest for long periods of time. I should have enough energy to make it through the day.

  Grunting, I shoulder my longbow and take a step toward camp, glancing around at my surroundings as the light begins to illuminate them.

  The smell of smoke still hangs thickly in the air, dampened somewhat by the morning dew but still present nonetheless. Those few mages who had managed to fall asleep have already begun to stir, leaving their carriages or tents and picking sleepily through the wreckage. Charred husks are all that remain of the burned tents, black stains on the ground that cover about half the area of the camp.

  Then there are the bodies, covered with blankets and lying in a row near the edge of the tents.

  Stifling a yawn, I make my way to the ash-covered embers of the firepit. Squatting down, I place my hands just a few inches from the coals to test for heat.

  Still warm, I think to myself, rubbing my hands together and looking around for firewood. A small pile still rests not far from my position. Pushing myself to my feet I go to gather a few scraps of wood, determined to reignite the fire so that we can at least have a warm meal before we get back on the road.

  Using some dry sprigs of grass as kindling, I build a small pyre with the wood on the coals. In short order, a healthy flame is dancing in the firepit, warding away the chill of the morning air. Half the camp is roused by this point, the mages and caravan guards shuffling over to me and staring mesmerized at the flames.

  A few moments of weary silence pass before somebody has the presence of mind to start cooking breakfast. Luckily, most of our provisions were salvaged after the attack. We only lost a few tents and boxes of clothing.

  Not to mention the three people who died.

  "We start breaking down camp as soon as everyone has had a chance to eat," Roth, the buzzard-like mage, declares to the group. Nobody says anything. They all seem on edge and worn. "We have another two days of travel ahead of us," he continues matter-of-factly, "so we need to get on the road as soon as possible."

  I nod, grateful that somebody is taking charge after the debacle last night.

  People need direction after something like this happens, I find myself thinking, watching the water in the iron pot begin to boil. The best thing to do is just keep moving. No sense in wallowing in the past.

  Somebody taps me on the shoulder, and I turn to see Zara standing behind me, looking a little abashed. Her grey robes are slightly rumpled, and there is a black smudge of soot marring her cheek. Yet despite the circumstances, she looks as lovely as ever.

  The unpleasant feelings of our argument from the day before have already begun to fade.

  "Owyn, I... wanted to talk to you," she says, hands clasped tightly in front of her.

  She seems nervous.

  "Sure," I reply. "What do you want to talk about?"

  "Last night, I..." her voice trails off as she searches for the right words to say. "I wanted to say thank you," she says at last, her brown eyes locking with mine. "Thank you for coming back for me. You probably saved my life."

  I nod my head, relaxing a little. "Of course. Don't mention it."

  "And... I also wanted to say sorry." Her voice sounds pained, as though she is saying something that is difficult for her to admit. "Your friendship means so much to me, and I should respect your wishes and the things that are important to you. Being a ranger is who you are, and it was selfish of me to think that you would want to stay in Tarsys for any extended period of time. When Elias returns you will return to the forest, and I will remain with the Conclave. It's who we are fated to be."

  Her words sting, even though what she is saying is exactly what I wanted to hear. "Zara," I respond, but she raises a hand, cutting me off.

  "It's alright, Owyn," she says. "You don't have to explain anything. I understand. I only hope that after all of this we can still remain friends."

  I let out a breath, unsure of what I should say next. Anything I try to add will probably only make things worse. Finally, after a few heartbeats, I reply with the only response I can think of. "Of course, Zara. We'll always be friends. And I'll always be there for you."

  She smiles at me, but like her voice it seems pained. Then she abruptly steps up to me and hugs me, pulling me into a tight embrace. For a second I am caught off-guard, feeling her slender body pressed against mine, but then I wrap my arms around her and return the hug. For the briefest instant, I am lost in her physical touch, the smoky smell of her hair and the way she rests her head against my chest.

  Then, all too quickly, it is over.

  Zara takes a step back and looks up at me, her cheeks beginning to flush. "Well, I... I should get ready to leave. I'll see you around, Owyn."

  She abruptly turns away and begins to make her way back to her carriage. I stand there for a moment watching her go, dumbfounded. Was it just me, or did it look like there were tears in her eyes when she pulled away?

  It felt almost like she was saying goodbye to me. What was that all about? We are still traveling to Tarsys together for the foreseeable future! Still, I can't help but feel like I had done something wrong, and the memories of the way I had treated her yesterday come flooding back. Eleven Hells, I was a real git to her out on the road and in the tent. But at the same time, my duty first and foremost is to be a ranger, to protect the realm at all costs. That responsibility is more important than anything else.

  I let out a sigh, reaching up and rubbing my tired eyes.

  One thing in all of this is clear; that hug was the most wonderful and real thing I had felt for as long as I can remember.

  Conflicted and uncertain about our conversation, I turn back to the fire and see that breakfast is being served. Boiled oats and dried berries, washed down with ice cold water. It is nothing fancy, but it is better than most of the meals Elias and I have eaten while traveling.

  Swallowing my feelings, I get in line and hurriedly wolf down my oats.

  After the meal, we begin to tiredly break down camp, taking down the remaining tents and loading up our provisions into crates. The guards somberly pick up the bodies of the fallen and load them into the carriage carrying the corpses of the mages who died during the Battle of Forest Hill, preparing them to be buried in Tarsys.

  Everyone is sure to give that carriage a wide berth. It smells like death itself.

  Luckily, none of the horses had escaped in the chaos – the attackers had apparently not noticed them tethered on the edge of camp. We have more than enough animals to make it across the plains. Our caravan should still arrive at the capital city on schedule.

  When everything has been properly loaded, we set off once again, pulling away from the edge of the Emberwood and delving into the green fields of the Heartlands, the very center of Tarsynium.

  Large, puffy clouds hang lazily in the sky, providing much-needed shade from the sun overhead. The temperature is rather pleasant, the heat of the summer having been replaced by the cool weather of autumn, which is a welcome occurrence considerin
g the complete lack of trees in the vast expanse of grass.

  I gaze out at the wilderness as we fall into a steady rhythm, taking in the sights around me as my thoughts begin to drift.

  Ahead of us, I can see the faint line of the Pillar of Radiance, rising into the sky like a sliver of pure magic. Though I cannot see the tower itself, I can see the beam of energy and where it connects with the sky high above, becoming one with the dome of the Arc of Radiance and blending in with the infinite azure sky.

  I shake my head in wonder at the majesty of it all, and continue to let my eyes wander along the horizon.

  The day is mostly uneventful, and consists mostly of us riding through rolling hills and passing through scattered farming communities. Zara spends most of the time inside her carriage, despite our conversation about her wanting to ride horseback. When she does spend time on her horse, she rides away from me, mingling with the other mages or riding alone.

  It makes me feel even lonelier than I had before.

  I pass the time riding at the rear of the caravan, looking out at the vastness of the Heartlands and thinking about everything from the Ranger's Oath, to demons and my place in the world. I try to think positively about the future, but it proves difficult.

  My abandonment has left me feeling cynical and alone.

  After another long day of travel, we stop on the outskirts of a small village called Solace, deciding that it would be safer than camping out in the middle of nowhere. The mages, using their considerable resources and reputation, replenish our provisions from the local innkeeper, and prepare a delicious meal of roasted chicken and vegetable soup.

  To my surprise, Zara sits next to me while we eat and makes an attempt at small talk. It is a welcome change to my solitude, but for some reason the exchange feels forced and awkward. As soon as we are finished eating she retires to her carriage, leaving me once again alone.

  More hooded figures come to harass us in the night, but this time we are prepared. We chase them off with magefyre and arrows, protecting the village while taking down several of the mysterious assailants.

  In the morning, we wake up to another sunny and uneventful day.

  I notice that the closer we get to the city, the more civilized the landscape around us becomes. The road becomes well-traveled, and our caravan finds itself sharing the highway with merchants and travelers more often than not. Larger communities begin to dot the wilderness around us, and soon we can see inns and cottages and farms as far as the eye can see. By the time midafternoon comes around, we can see the stone towers of Tarsys rising up before us like fingers of pure, white stone.

  As a group we pick up our pace, and by dusk we are within sight of the tall city gates.

  We pull our horses to a halt and most of us dismount, making our way to the front of the caravan to see what is going on.

  Perhaps a dozen mounted horses are riding toward us from the gates, their speed indicating that they are coming to intercept us.

  "The city gates are closed after sunset," Roth explains as I approach him and the other mages. "We will have to explain to the guards why we are here and that we need access to the city."

  I walk up to Zara and stand next to her, and she gives me a weary smile.

  Then we wait in silence for the men to arrive.

  After a few moments the thundering of horses' hooves sound on the road, signaling the approach of the mounted knights. Their banners wave in the wind like the flapping of colorful birds above their heads. For a moment, I marvel at the gleaming warriors, their polished armor glinting even in the low light of evening. From the top of their plumed heads to the bottom of their hobnailed boots they are covered in steel, the segmented plates of armor interlocking seamlessly and making them appear invincible.

  How in the Light are those horses standing? I think to myself in wonder as they approach. That armor must weigh a ton!

  The knights pull on their reins and the horses skid to a halt a few paces from the head of our caravan. "Who goes there?" The lead knight calls from beneath his visor. "Who comes to the city of Tarsys at this late hour?"

  Roth steps forward, his sapphire mage's robes prominent despite the setting sun. "Evoker Roth of the Conclave of Mages," he declares with mild annoyance. "We are returning from a mission decreed by the High Magus herself."

  The knights turn and look at each other from atop their mounts, their movements clearly indicating that they are confused. The leader leans in and confers softly with the man sitting to his right. After a moment, he turns his plated helm to regard us once again.

  "We've not been notified of any returning mages," he replies, his voice heavy with consternation. "Nor were we aware of any mages outside the city at all."

  "It was a secret mission," Roth insists, his nasally, haughty voice becoming tight with impatience. "Nobody outside the Circle of Magisters knew that the High Magus ordered it. But I assure you, the information we carry with us is of the utmost importance. We must be permitted to enter the city at once."

  Again, the knights look at one another, the uncertainty in the air almost palpable.

  "This is... highly irregular," the leader says finally.

  Roth grunts. "These are irregular times."

  "That they are," the knight mutters, voice slightly muffled by his helmet. Nodding, he continues. "Very well, Magus. We will escort you to the city gates. But be warned, certain events have transpired within the city, and the king has ordered a strict curfew after dusk. It would be best if you remain indoors while the sun is down."

  Roth stares at him for a moment before nodding in return, his expression puzzled. "Thank you for the warning. We will set off at once."

  He glances back at the rest of us and makes a shooing gesture, motioning for us to return to our horses and carriages. I give Zara a questioning look before going back to my gelding, but no one in the group says anything.

  Before long, our caravan begins pulling forward, heading toward the now-glowing city lights. Even as I ride, my heart clenches with anxiety.

  We have officially arrived at the city of Tarsys.

  Chapter Eight

  Zara

  Tarsys, the City of Mages, rises up all around us like a shimmering edifice of flawless, white marble, filling me with a sense of wonder I had almost forgotten in my absence.

  It's good to be home, I think as I gaze at the city lights from the window of my carriage, all fatigue forgotten my eyes take in the sights.

  I can hear the great, metal gates close shut behind us as our caravan pulls out onto the main boulevard, the horses' hooves clopping noisily on the cobblestones as we delve deeper into the city. All is as I remember, the tall buildings of stone, the blue magefyre lanterns, even the smells of so many people living together gives me the warm sensation of finally coming home.

  Although, at the same time, not everything is the same. The streets are strangely quiet. Even though it is night, the hour is still early enough that the districts should all be bustling with people. And yet, from my vantage inside the carriage, everything looks deserted.

  Tarsys seems to be asleep.

  I suddenly remember what the knight captain had said out on the road. Curfew. In the five years I have lived in Tarsys, there has never been a curfew enacted on its citizens.

  Never.

  Something must have happened to cause the king to take such drastic measures, I conclude as I settle back in my seat. I wonder if news of the demon invasion has come before us.

  A troubling thought indeed.

  I lose myself in conjecture as I ponder the implications of the king's new edict, the caravan moving steadily toward the middle of the city, toward the Pillar of Radiance.

  With any luck, we will be able to get an audience with the High Magus tonight. It is imperative that the Conclave be told the true facts of what has happened as soon as possible. Any delay could cause more changes like this to take effect.

  I am surprised when my carriage comes to a halt, and I shake myself fr
om my thoughts as I gather my robes about me and slip my feet back into my shoes.

  We have arrived.

  The cool night air greets me like an old friend as I poke my head out the door, taking a deep breath and walking down the wooden steps. The mages and the knights are gathering outside the gates of the tower, and Roth is already speaking with the gate guards with the knight captain by his side.

  High above us, the Pillar of Radiance looms like a giant spike of stone and energy. Its ever-present glow gives light to the city around us, reminding me why we are even here in the first place.

  For one reason or another, the Arc of Radiance is failing.

  Owyn walks up to stand beside me, his eyes cast upward and his jaw hanging open in disbelief. I find myself smiling at his look of wonder, even though his very presence fills me with a strange sadness.

  "It's really something, isn't it?" I say in a soft voice.

  Eyes fixed firmly on the tower, he nods. "I've never seen anything like it before."

  "I remember the first time I saw it up close," I reminisce, the memory coming unbidden to my mind. "I remember thinking, 'How in the Light could people build such a thing?' And then I remembered: magic. Only the mages could have built something this tall, and have it endure for a thousand years."

  Breathless, Owyn finally lowers his eyes and looks at me, his expression utterly stunned. "It's incredible, Zara."

  My smile widens. "Just wait until you see the inside."

  Just then, the ornately wrought iron gates swing open and Roth and the knight captain break away from the tower guards. They walk toward us, Roth looking satisfied and the knight captain looking slightly concerned.