They arrived at the house again, the night still young. The guards around Brag’s house were the same, one soldier posted by the main entrance, and one walking around the circular perimeter.

  Virgil had already disappeared to enact his side of the plan. With him present, the escape turned into a breeze. He was in the shadows of the houses when he distracted the guard walking around the perimeter. The guard vanished into the shadows, alerting the other guard by the front door. Moments later, he came back saying everything was fine. Except it wasn’t the same guard as before. Virgil mimicked his walk, his voice, and his perimeter walking while the other guard went back to the front door.

  Rosa flew in from above and quietly landed on the rooftop. She had taken the robe off, and was wearing some dark clothing that covered her bright feathers. With her long legs she managed to climb down onto the balcony without making a noise. The house was dark, but her eyes would help her see through the night. She opened the balcony door and crept in. Alexx and Sheila watched from afar as the scene unfolded. Alexx was showing concern.

  “Are we sure Rosa is an expert?” he whispered.

  “You have to trust her.” Sheila whispered back.

  A few more minutes passed by, and nothing happened. Alexx watched Virgil complete two laps around the plaza. He didn’t miss a beat, and always had an answer for the second guard when they talked. He felt a tap on his shoulder, as Sheila urged him to look at the shadows of the house. Rosa was waving her hand, signaling them for the next part of the plan.

  Alexx nodded and stepped out of the shadows. He sauntered through the plaza, acting admired by the night sky. Virgil walked up to the other guard and stood by him, talking in low tones. His plan was to keep the attention on Alexx, saying he might be acting suspicious. Alexx would draw near and snatch the captain’s hat and take off down the exact alley Virgil took out the first guard, so they could lure him away and knock him out.

  Playfully spreading his arms, Alexx said hello to the guards like he was a good friend.

  “Love it when I see you guys out on patrol! I can feel so safe.”

  “Move along,” The guard said sternly, “Be on your way, and stay out of trouble.”

  Snickering, Alexx drew near and gave him a sloppy salute. The guard was not impressed and kept silent. His posture was prepared for anything, and Alexx wasn’t within arm’s reach.

  “You mean out into these streets alone?” Alexx said fearfully, “But there’s bandits out there! Could one of you walk me home?”

  “Move along!” The guard shouted.

  “There’s one now!” Alexx pointed to the house behind the guard, but it was a ruse to get him to turn around, which he did. Alexx quickly snatched the fabric from his head and took off. It all went according to plan. Alexx feigned being stuck down the alley, Virgil approached silently from behind and knocked him out, and they tied him and gagged him. As they left, Rosa left the house, with Hammond behind her, safe. Sheila hugged him tightly as they met, before taking each other's hand and running off. Rosa flew into the night, her next plan was to survey from the sky to make sure everyone had a clean getaway.

  Their exit from the town was a pile of boxes and barrels that led over the wall away from watchful eyes. Rosa waved as they left, and she returned to her home.. Meanwhile, the four climbed down the wall and took off to the north.

  “No more cities,” Virgil replied, “We’ll rough it in the wilderness from here on out.”

  “Are you sure about that? There’s trolls and other creatures out here.”

  “They’re going to be more afraid of me.”

  “I don’t think anything besides humans care what a Sorek is.”

  “I thought he meant because he can turn into a dragon.” Alexx inserted.

  “He can do what?” Hammond said aloud.

  “Oh, right, we have to fill him in. Okay it’s my turn,” Alexx wove the story of their past few nights with his usual storytelling finesse until he reached the plan they made to set him free.

  “I see, so the anti-magic properties of the dragon will help Senkazital escape the barrier.” Hammond surmised, “That’s quite brilliant, if this world really is surrounded by such a thing, and we are in a prison.”

  “How do you know that about dragons?” Alexx asked.

  “I’m surprised you don’t know, Alexx.” Hammond replied.

  “I never wanted to know about dragons,” Alexx said, “My grandads notes said to stay far away from them.”

  Virgil chuckled from behind Alexx.

  “Their scales made for excellent armor back in the day, and even now. The armor sets are very valuable and difficult to get ahold of. We can thank the old families for obtaining them.”

  “That’s a history buff for you,” Sheila said.

  “History has helped me out quite well,” Hammond smiled, rolling his shoulders, “Helped me whip up an easy sedative for the dear Lieutenant Brags. She was knocked out cold, and no amount of physical touch woke her up. We should be out of trouble for a few hours.”

  Even with that said, Alexx looked behind him every so often, thinking that he'd see Brags or someone chasing after them. Virgil and Sheila silently shared the same concern, always looking behind them as well. It lasted until evening cast its orange hue across the sky and vigor had run low, the mountains were nearer but still far away. Virgil made a comment regarding the giant hills being another day’s journey.

  After he broke the silence, everyone agreed to make camp. The ocean was moments away, and the waves falling on the shore welcomed them. The two pirates felt a sense of home being on the shore. The adventure inland took away their nautical instincts, forcing them to think outside the realm of comfort. But now with the sand underneath, and the untamed waters in front, a feeling of familiarity swelled within them. Alexx unbuckled his boots and rolled up his pants legs.

  The water’s not too bad. Alexx thought ankle deep. Sheila looked to Virgil who found solace to sit on the sandy shore and run his hands through the grains. She tossed her footwear with Alexx’s and slowly stepped in. In a moment, she felt her troubles washed out with the tide. Home. The ocean greeted her like a friend unseen for too long. She smiled, Alexx looking out towards the northeast, and Virgil, now standing in the water with them, looked off toward the land in the distance.

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  The conversation carried on for a while. Hammond prepared a fire, and Virgil set up a pot of bean stew with some newly acquired kitchen cookware from the Peacemakers. The pirates were pleased with the Jombardin cuisine, and shared more stories as time passed. When it was time to rest, they hardly moved from their seat, except Alexx. He went looking for a rock to lay against. Once he found what he was looking for, he walked towards it until he clumsily dropped to his knees, then set his back against the stone. Alexx sighed as the relief of being off his feet rushed down, and he let all of his limbs go limp. The warmth of the fire could still reach him. Alexx wanted to see what Virgil was up to, but the dragon morph-ling had already covered himself with his oversized jacket and went to sleep. Sheila and Hammond were bundled together heading to slumber next to the dying flames. His first peaceful night began, and his troubles were far from his mind.

  The night passed and Alexx found himself alive and unharmed, but still groggy and sore. Virgil, Hammond and Sheila were awake and talking. Their conversation was the reason he awoke.

  “And you are quite expensive,” Hammond complimenting Virgil.

  “Logistics of living in the desert.” Virgil replied.

  “I know what you mean, the ‘rent’ of an island isn’t cheap either.”

  “It makes me think that Senkazital has a point. Resources seem to be dwindling.”

  “And the population is increasing. There are more pirates than last year.”

  “More jobs on my end too,” Virgil replied, “Passing up more jobs than usual. simple kills, no reason.”

  “You were given jobs like that?” Sheila inquired.

  “Some will request murder for sacrifice purposes. Others for grudges, or petty squabbles. No matter the amount, the money was never a good reason for that. Not for me anyway.”

  “The Sorek has standards.” Hammond teased.

  “But these latest were simply names and the amount. No reasons. And requests like that were filling up the office. Lots of assassins didn't care, it was good money.”

  “Anonymity is the playground of the morally ambiguous.” said Sheila.

  “It almost makes me believe the rumors that the assassin guild is government funded.”

  “I wouldn't say they do it intentionally, but give enough support to something, and then what do you call it?”

  “An adoring fan,” Alexx chimed in.

  “Not bad Junder,” Virgil replied, “I would have said invested patron, but I like yours better.”

  “The assassins will be out of a job if he keeps murdering everyone to make dragons.” Alexx replied.

  “Oh no, the collapse of organized crime.” Sheila replied sarcastically. Everyone shared a laugh except for Hammond.

  “He can’t figure out which host will take to the crystal,” Hammond rubbed his chin, “Soul-gem bonding was forbidden for that reason. All the more to believe his story about Rediew.”

  “How so?”

  “If he just wanted to rule the world, he wouldn’t kill everyone.”

  The group fell silent after considering the fact that their world wasn’t what it seemed. It was something they contemplated all the way to sleep, and into the next day. The country they trod no longer lay straight under their feet. With the mountains being so close, the land rose in a slant, and the grass was thinner. The sky was clouded by natural gray; a light rain was expected to fall at any moment. They walked this landscape for the entire morning. There was no cover, save for the giant boulders that were so huge they couldn’t not see over them or around them.

  Hammond looked to Alexx as they moved up the next mountain range.

  “Do you remember us talking about Mish-Za-Heel?”

  Alexx remembered, “Yeah, the woman Richard is looking for.”

  “Do you know about her?”

  “Should I?”

  “You might benefit from it. Turns out she is a witch. Claims she can summon Kagral to her will. Some say she is a Kagral.”

  “I’ve heard she can control the Kagral.” Sheila said.

  “Control them?”

  “You mentioned Senkazital controlling people, and having the mask repels his sway. Did you know that Dunsoul also is said to have that same kind of power?”

  “Do you think he’s like Senkazital?”

  “And Mish-Za-Heel. I believe they are the same kind of being, and that mask could help us against them”

  “But not against her science crap,” Alexx added, “I hear she can concoct potions, poisons, and has some hidden laboratory.”

  “Sounds fun,” Hammond said.

  “That may be,” Virgil said to Alexx, “How does the story go?”

  “It’s almost become a classic tale,” Sheila replied, “Some idiotic rookies wandered into the wrong place. They met her there, brewing something, out in the middle of nowhere in some woods that were dead. She didn’t say anything, but they decided to try and rob her. Without even showing any sign of fear, she turned around and offered them each a drink. They drank them and proceeded to take everything valuable she had on her. Before they could leave, they were on the ground, paralyzed. She approached them, took back her things, and suddenly they were all overtaken by the urge to puke. As they suffered, she gouged one eye from each of them, some hair, and a finger. They were in excruciating pain, and still hurling. They heard her mumble something about ‘nice ingredients’, and disappeared into the darkness of the night.”

  “Is that the only story you have?”

  “Others say they saw her after that somewhere else entirely, during the night, and would run away. Each time, she was with a cauldron making something.”

  “I believe it,” Virgil joined in the conversation.

  “Have you met her?” Sheila asked.

  “We almost met by happenstance.”

  “How did that happen?”

  “It was during the time with Marcus for his so-called righteous mission when all of this started. I spied on him talking to her in the shadows along with the Kagral that Alexx and I fought at the Graveyard. They feared her, and treated her as royalty, even Marcus.”

  As the day grew darker they found themselves in terrain of dead brown grass and darker mountains.

  “We may have stalkers.” Alexx looked over to Virgil as the changeling announced a presence looking at them. Before he could look around Virgil warned him not to, so he wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

  “Just act like I didn’t say anything. We’ll deal with them in a minute.”

  “Who is looking at us?” Sheila asked.

  “Trolls.” Virgil replied.

  “Trolls?!” Sheila almost screamed, “The big ones or the small ones?”

  “The lesser, and there are many of them.”

  “At least it’s not a greater. What do you think they want?” Alexx asked.

  “Entertainment maybe? Hard to tell, impish trolls could be doing whatever they feel like. But even they know not to harm humans for no reason. The only way they would attack is if we were in their territory.”

  “Are we in their territory?” Alexx stretched his arms.

  “Probably.”

  “Should we use our last resort?”

  “I’m heavily considering it.”

  “Where are they?”

  “They’re on the mountainside.”

  Alexx dared a careful glance toward the great hills, “That’s still a good distance away.”

  “Yes, and we need to keep it that way.”

  “It’s growing dark–“

  From the south came a cry. It was high, drawn out, and accompanied by laughter. It was a cheerful cry.

  “Oh, there he is,” Virgil said in surprise.

  “Oh no…” Alexx groaned.

  Bounding over the hills, there was a small being laughing and hollering as he approached the group. It was carrying a makeshift weapon, and a bag bouncing wildly. Its little feet moved quickly, the claws digging in and covering a distance quickly.

  “I found ye, praise be, I found ye!” It said in the distance.

  “Who is that?” Sheila asked Alexx.

  “A mistake,” Alexx replied.