A solid week of reading and relaxation passed by Logan almost in a flash. His body recuperating from the most recent ordeals, his mind also clear after having to deal with disaster after disaster. Though he still worried about the many forces working in the background, over half were aiming to fight against his progress in the world of Avanar.

  Closing the book in his hands, Logan jumped from his lying down position on the sofa in the foyer of his guildhouse. A few guildies were sitting on nearby chairs reading as well, or chatting around tables about recent quests and further tasks to take on. Logan was happy to continue his slower life for a while, however, events were in motion, and one such event was coming to a sort of close.

  A loud knocking on Logan’s door had the guildmaster approach and open it confidently, a small breeze rolling in as Logan saw Jirango accompanied by Gaius. Both were wearing their combat gear, a novel sight for Jirango but a common one for the Captain of the Scythe Regiment, Gaius.

  “Afternoon, Logan. You’ve been asked to accompany us to diplomatic talks with a representative of the Alaska group. It is to be held on the bridge that leads to the eastern gates, the other party being placed outside of the Demonturtle Shell Barrier”, Gaius explained directly.

  “Logan looked at the pair, they were serious and armed for a confrontation. The armour was also a sign to the Alaska group, saying, “We are prepared”. Logan replied confidently, “I shall go. Do you need anyone else?”

  Jirango shook his head. “It will be us three and a porter for any exchanged items on the bridge. We will be overseen by archers and magi on the battlements, but we don’t expect a conflict with a messenger.”

  Logan nodded, joining the pair as they left the guildhouse.

  With the afternoon sun blazing in the midpoint of the sky, minor shadows were cast over the bridge and its entrance into the capital city, Gauntlet. Steady arms held the battlements up above as a clear hundred men and women were ready for anything to go wrong.

  On the city’s side of the bridge stood Captain Gaius, Half-Hand Jirango, and the Spellthief Logan. Stern, battle-hardened, and visibly reinforced by magical auras and winds, their gear humming softly with the power held within them. The trio’s eyes glowed green every so often as they identified the situation with their skills.

  Opposite them, outside the visible hexagons of the barrier, was a lone man in ceremonial dark-green robes that shimmered with sigils across them. Their head was covered in a bone helmet and mask, their blue eyes visible from two gaps. Shadows clung to the man’s feet, anchored to the stone of the bridge floor, as if he could be saved at any point during the meeting.

  Murmurs and whispers could be heard inside the city, the outside markets and travellers having been called inside for their safety, leaving empty stalls and carts behind the negotiator.

  “Greetings, Captain, Half-Hand, Phasing Hunter. I am Maleth, Expanded of Alaska. As was noted in our letter, I am seeking amicable trade. Are you willing to discuss this in front of your peers?” the man asked, his mask opening as he spoke to reveal his mouth.

  Gaius responded loudly, “Before those of Gauntlet, both civilian and guard, I am to hear your requests without hostility.”

  Maleth bowed slightly with his hand crossing his stomach. “Very well. You hold five of our number within your cells. Under the Independence Act of Terran, I request you release these people into our custody so that we may enact personal punishment.”

  “Do you have sufficient paperwork for this?”

  Maleth motioned to his robe, to which Gaius nodded. Taking a rolled parchment from his robe, Maleth handed it to a man wearing tight leather armour who ran across the bridge to bring it to Gaius.

  Gaius glanced over the parchment and handed it to Jirango, and then to Logan. Responding quickly, Gaius asked, “Your acolytes were found guilty of scrying and granting information on our citizens to those who wanted to do them harm. In response to their capture, more of your people came to break them out, and subsequently, summoned a skeleton lord within our walls. You want balance? Surrender all knowledge of this event to us.”

  Maleth opened his arms and replied, “The skeleton lord was indeed within our command. However, a split sect of our group stole it away and used it against our wishes. We have punished those who attempted this assault. I bring information on this occurrence for your perusal”, he ended as he picked out another parchment that was transferred over.

  Gaius read it quickly again. He then crunched the parchment in his hands and passed it to the others. With a certain bile, Gaius asked, “A misalignment of resources and direction. All of this was done by a fraction of Alaska?”

  “Yes. And per the IAT, we are allowed to resolve this matter amongst our free station.”

  “However, two or more cases were done within a capital city. That supersedes the IAT’s allowance.”

  “One per sect, I assure you.”

  Gaius clenched his fist and held back a retort. “Very well. In return for your five, we request a full list of all interacting members, as well as a cleansing of the skeleton lord’s dungeon, and five of your ‘expanding’ tools.”

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  Logan looked at the back of Gaius’s head. “They want five Respecialisation Pellets? For the monarchy?”

  “We can satisfy the first two, but the latter knowledge cannot leave the Alaska group. It is sacred, held highly by our founder. Blessed is He.”

  Jirango then asked loudly, “If that last part cannot be met. You will offer resistance magics to improve the DSB against invasions such as this.”

  Maleth nodded. “I have brought such an item that we are willing to grant”, he said as he pulled out a necklace from his robe that was ferried over again.

  It was given to Logan, who looked over it. With a sharp intake of air, Logan showed desperate shock as he took a step back.

  “What is it?” Jirango asked.

  “A powerful artefact. It will improve the barrier incredibly. But… how did this get this?” Logan responded.

  Gaius looked back at Logan. “So, it does what he says?” he asked sternly.

  Logan nodded. “I see no curses on it, or ulterior functions. It could be scryed more easily, as they had it before, but outside of common effects, it is only beneficial.”

  Gaius then looked at Maleth. “To cement this deal. Would you and the captives be allowed to have truth magic placed upon them for final details about the events that have transpired?”

  Maleth bowed and pulled out another container. “We expect that to be the case. As such, we will provide the components.”

  The porter carried the container to Logan with haste, allowing the Spellthief to look over it quickly.

  “This will work on six people, at least. No issues”, Logan explained.

  “May we cast it upon you? Right here and now?” Gaius asked loudly.

  Maleth thought for a second, then nodded. “If you have the means. I am not to wait long.”

  Gaius raised his arm and whirled his forearm around. Shortly thereafter, a heavy presence was felt entering the bridge. Jirango knelt down, both out of reverence and necessity, while Gaius and Logan moved to the side.

  Archmage Sorcerer Zinzith walked across the stone bridge, his spellforce causing many people to wince at the intensity. Unlike last time, however, Logan was able to withstand the force, having increased his level vastly since their last meeting, but still finding the man to be an insurmountable opponent, if he became one.

  “Thank you for making time for this, Archmage”, Gaius spoke as he bowed his head steadily, minor sweat across his brow.

  “The eruptions will be steady for a few days”, Zinzith replied succinctly as he passed the trio.

  Zinzith’s grey robes flowed in the wind, their heat mirage effect intensifying in the wind. His yellow eyes pierced Maleth as the Archmage approached. Maleth’s held-back arms and shaky legs showed how much terror Zinzith instilled.

  Holding up a hand with the container, which Logan did not realise had been taken, Zinzith pointed at Maleth. Pure white chains shot from the Archmage’s finger and wrapped around Maleth’s throat, not tightly, but powerfully.

  A few mouth movements could be seen, but hardly any word was heard from either party. A few minutes passed before Zinzith returned to the trio.

  “Maleth speaks the truth thus far. His intentions, at least, are to stick to what has been offered. I shall deal with the prisoners’ tales”, Zinzith informed as his body was cut to ribbons with bright purple lines, teleporting away.

  The trio felt as if a house had been lifted from their bodies, Jirango’s a mansion.

  “Maleth! Your five members will be released at seven PM, on this bridge”, Gaius shouted a bit louder than he probably intended.

  Maleth stroked his neck, the pressure of Zinzith being alien to him, if he hadn’t witnessed Alaska, perhaps. With a croaky voice, like hitting puberty, Maleth responded, “That is agreeable. Thank you for your understanding.”

  The shadows underfoot then wrapped around Maleth and dragged him into them, teleporting differently to Zinzith.

  “Thank you for your attendance, Logan. It seems like you weren’t needed, though”, Gaius spoke as he looked over the bridge and back to the walls, inspecting them for anything out of the ordinary.

  “His seer magic and skills are valuable besides. I trust his word more than most mages we could hire for this task”, Jirango backed up.

  “I suppose they wanted to make sure I knew what was going on”, Logan offered. “Or as assurance, if they held my Oracle status as blackmail”, he thought to himself.

  “I thought they might use that annoying law against us”, Gaius said offhandedly.

  “You did mention the Independence Act of Terran on our way here, I remember it in my reading too.”

  Gaius explained, “Making it short. Terran is a very old religion from hundreds of years ago. Some things happened, and eventually, a law was made that religious bodies may exempt themselves from the kingdom's laws to further their faith. A sort of ‘Family sorts family issues’ kind of affair. It’s intertwined with a lot of the churches in settlements, so it’s a rather steadfast Act. Invoking it here means they are a religious gathering. If their leader is indeed a Blessed, it has solid footing.”

  “People are allowed to worship Heroes, Oracles, and Blessed alike, just as if they followed the Ones Above and Below”, Jirango added.

  “That does mean we can send representatives and investigators to their sites of worship, right?” Logan asked almost rhetorically.

  “With how secretive Alaska has been to this point, this seems a bit of a drastic shift in feelings”, Jirango concluded.

  Gaius loosened his collar as he undid the first two buttons of his tunic. “This won’t be for Scythe to deal with. Since you’re connected, Logan, I will try and get any information sent your way. But for now, feel assured no more from Alaska will aid in hunting you and yours.”

  Logan sighed in relief. “Thank you, Gaius. Jirango too. I will pray everything goes smoothly in the interrogation and handoff.”

  As the trio talked, another porter came running from the gates and stated, “The check has finished. The bridge is safe to cross.”

  “Thank you”, Gaius replied as he waved the rest to return to the city.

  As they all passed the portcullis gates, several guards moved out with the citizenry who plied their trade outside the walls. Many gave the trio a wide berth as they moved through, talking amongst themselves about what had just occurred.

  “We’ll return to the guardhouse to see over the interrogation. Good luck with your endeavours, Logan”, Gaius said as he held a hand out to Logan.

  Logan shook the captain’s hand, and then Jirango’s. “To you, too.”

  --- *** ---