“What!?” Archmage Denayd shouted. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. After all this time, it had finally happened. A kin was here to sell the secrets of the Azure Magebane’s power.

  “SUPREME HASTE!” Archmage Denayd shouted as he cast the spell on himself. The poor messenger was hurled out of his way as the Archmage sped down the corridor. Several more servants experienced similar fates, like flowers tossed at a wedding, before Denayd reached the council chambers doors. He didn’t even notice their fates as his mind raced.

  Was it done by sacrifice? Was some deal struck with a demon? Perhaps she stole power from the mists. These were all hypothesis Denayd had conjectured and then rejected since the Magebane had appeared. Yet no matter what avenue he researched he couldn’t find the answer. Not that he had much time to indulge his desires. After the fall of Fortunia they’d all been busy. Everyone was. The mists, previously contained within the valley, were now spreading steadily. With the mists, came the spawn. Or rather the eldritch abominations within. Oh, how they had been played all these years. Everyone had assume the mists were some natural force spread by unintelligent life. How wrong they were. Soon they would be at the gates of Deepmere. However dire the situation was, Denayd ignored it. Knowledge was his one great passion. Now, he would at last have his answers.

  “OPEN!” Denayd chanted. With a surge of mana the large council doors slammed open. The echoing boom seemed to shake the hall. He didn’t care. He also didn’t care about the dirty looks the posted guards gave him. He had no time to wait for them to open the doors manually. Still moving at incredible speeds Denayd entered the chamber his long green beard, now speckled with gray, whipping back and forth like a flail as he searched for the kin. His eyes passed over the annoyed faces of his fellow counselors. He ignored Kelfina, the elves representative, angry glare which didn’t mare her beauty. He glanced over Calvore. The man was unremarkable with this long aqua blue hair and a goatee that finally grew into a full beard. How he’d ever became a representative of Dageth Magical Combat Academy, Denayd would never know… or care. They were insignificant bugs. None of them mattered.

  There. Sitting in one of the guests seats was a kin. A deer-kin if he wasn’t mistaken. The kin had small antlers denoting his relative youth. His fur was a mottle brown with white spots contrasting with his eyes; which were a deep, almost black, gray. None of that interested him. A quick check and the kin’s powerful mana pool was all the confirmation he needed.

  “HOW IS IT DONE?!” Denayd shouted striding forward. He was stopped by collective glare of the counselors. Unlike the servants this was enough to get Denayd under control.

  “We were just discussing that and other topics with Nicola here,” Lord Arthos stated.

  The deer-kin, Nicola Denayd presumed, turned to face him nodding slightly. Denayd grimaced pulling on his long beard as he took his seat. He wanted nothing more to scurry Nicola away and question him till every answer was his. He’d have to bide his time.

  “Now then,” Arthos stated. “We were discussing your terms.”

  “And I was trying to explain that I don’t have terms for you,” Nicola growled.

  Arthos frowned. “Then why are you here?”

  “I want an offer from them,” Nicola said pointing to Calvore and Kelfina.

  “Now wait one minute,” Grand Magus Arwin said his aged face crowned with blue curls. He looked worn. That wasn’t an uncommon appearance these days.

  “You're a citizen of Deepmere. You should talk to us first. We can…”

  His statement was interrupted with a loud slam of a fist on the table. Nicola furious expression was enough to silence the man.

  “You enslaved my family. I’d rather the mist take me than help any of you.” Nicola spat then turned to Calvore and Kelfina. “What can you offer me?”

  Denayd fumed silently. Everything had gone wrong when they had enslaved the kin. Who could’ve guess that such a decision would have such lasting consequences? Perhaps he could join whatever group recruited the kin. An Archmage was always desirable.

  Calvore grinned as he spread his hands wide. “What do you want? You want gold. It’s yours.”

  Kelfina scoffed. “The elves can pay double whatever Dageth offers.”

  “I don’t need a lot of gold,” Nicola said. “I want safety. For me and family. I also want you to free any kin you have.”

  Calvore and Kelfina each grabbed a magical sphere that pulsed with an inner light. Denayd recognized speaking stones when he saw them. They must be communicating with their superiors.

  “Easily done,” Calvore said. “Dageth was never really interested in the slaves. We’ll make them indentured servants for two years then offer them well-paying jobs at Dageth.”

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  Kelfina glared at Calvore then refocused on her orb. No doubt she was seeking additional incentives.

  “The elves will free our slaves immediately and offer you five thousand gold,” Kelfina said firmly.

  “We’ll need protection. It isn’t safe,” Nicola said. He gave a mental nod to the west, where even now Denayd knew the mists could be seen from Deepmere’s walls.

  Kelfina hesitated, “We can offer you sanctuary at our grove.”

  “I want the kin to be citizens. I want to be a noble.” Nicola stated flatly. To that Kelfina didn’t respond.

  “They’ll never go for that,” Calvore said knowingly. “Elves don’t accept non-elf citizens. Dageth will offer you the same terms I stated before which includes citizenship for the kin. As for you…” He leaned forward fingers steepled. “How does Professor Nicola sound?”

  Denayd gasped. He was never offered professorship at a magical combat university. They must truly want him. Denayd scowled at himself. Of course they do. This was a chance for them to capitalize on the Magebane’s secrets. It could be a revolution in magic. No… it already was. And he was falling behind.

  Nicola seemed to consider the man before looking back at the elf who had a pained expression but said nothing.

  “Agreed,” Nicola said.

  “Excellent!” Calvore said clapping his hands. “We'll be departing with the rest of our mages in two weeks. Have everything ready by…”

  “WHAT!? You’re leaving!?” Lord Arthos shouted standing up.

  “Ah, yes,” Calvore said awkwardly. “We're withdrawing back to Dageth. There's nothing left for us here. I'd personally like to thank you for hosting us. Our academy is always opened to all mages from Deepmere, that manage to get accepted.”

  “Forget that!” Lord Tarwin shouted. “What about the mists! It’s nearly here!” The man had aged terribly in the past year since his son died. He had lost much. His daughter had defected to the kin. His holdings were now a joke. His health… well his once lustrous dark blue hair had mostly fallen out. What remained was a sickly gray that matched his skin tone.

  The other members of the Deepmere’s council added their agreements to the rising objections. Denayd didn’t bother. If he was Calvore he would’ve left already.

  “Your objections are noted,” Calvore said once he could be heard. “However my Headmaster has made up his mind.”

  “What about the lands we gave you?” Grand Magus Arwin asked. “Surely such valuable holding are worth protecting. That doesn’t even include the talented students.”

  Calvore looked at him taken aback and then laughed. He laughed long and deep. It was such a mocking laugh that many of the council began to stand up in rage.

  “Valuable holding? Talented students? I’m sorry but your inflated sense of importance is only match by your incompetence. This backwater city has nothing of value. Never did. The only thing of interest was learning about the mists and the free recruiting grounds. As for your ‘talented’ citizens, most are pathetic at basic spell casting. Those that had any talent we already made offers to them. They all accepted. Now with Professor Nicola here there is nothing of value left.” Calvore shook his head. “Nothing at all…”

  Calvore stood and gestured to Nicola. “Professor if you would join me. I think we need to discuss more details of your employment. We must also make sure the kin get ready for their new home. I assure you they will be treated far better in Dageth than they ever were here.”

  Nicola rose joining Calvore. Denayd knew it was time to act.

  “I’ll also join you!” Denayd shouted standing up. He ignored his fellow counselor’s cries of protests.

  Calvore studied the man briefly.

  “No.”

  “What?!” Denayd cried. Surely he had miss heard.

  “Your loyalty exists only to the extent that it furthers your own gains. You might be an Archmage, but you’re a poor excuse for one.” With that Calvore walked with Nicola at his side. The deer-kin gave the ruling body of Deepmere a smirk before leaving. Denayd collapsed into his seat, stunned. This couldn’t be happening.

  “Who needs those worthless mages!” Grand Magus Arwin declared. “Kelfina, I think the lands that Dageth hold can be given to the elves. We just need…” He stopped as Kelfina shook her head, her almost violet hair swaying like tightening nooses around their necks.

  “The elves are also withdrawing,” she declared. She didn’t say it harshly but each word was a nail in their coffins.

  “You can’t…” Lord Arthos said weakly collapsing into his seat.

  “We most certainly can. The mana forest will be corrupted soon. Any value here is gone.”

  “You’ve been on the council for years!” Tarwin protested.

  “I was here to evaluate the mists. That assignment is now completed. Now if you excuse me I have something important to do.” Kelfina said rushing out of her seat. She began a quick trot after Calvore and Nicola who were just exiting the large chamber doors.

  “Calvore wait!” Kelfina called. “Perhaps if the good Professor here starts teaching classes I can have several elves sit in on the lessons?”

  “Oh,” Calvore said. “Well, we’ll have to talk about fees. I imagine good Nicola here will be in high demand. I’m thinking at least 2000 gold per student for his classes.” Calvore clasped Nicola on the shoulder who seemed stunned.

  “Two thousand!” Kelfina squeaked. “Any chance you could offer group discounts…”

  The pair were cut off as the chamber door closed. The resound clack was the death toll for Deepmere. None of them spoke for several long minutes.

  “We could evacuate…” Denayd said and received glares in return. He quickly went silent.

  “Do we have any allies left?” Tarwin asked.

  “We never had any in the first place,” Arthos said darkly.

  “Should we evacuate?” Arwin said after another minute of silence. “We can’t hold back the mists.”

  “Evacuate to where?” Tarwin asked with a sigh.

  “There are other cities,” Denayd pointed out.

  “Sure,” Arthos stated flatly. “Then we’ll lose everything. All of our lands and valuables are here.”

  “We’ll lose everything regardless,” Arwin pointed out. Several more minutes of silence followed this pronouncement.

  “I think we should come back to the issue at a later date. We’re all exhausted,” Tarwin said standing. Denayd looked at the man and then at all the others. He knew. They’re all going to gut Deepmere as much as they could before fleeing. Not a bad idea actually. How hard would it be too take all the old tomes from the library?

  “I think we should make a general statement to the population. Perhaps tell them that our allies are taking a rest and new reinforcements are on their way?” Arthos said. “Perhaps say that 10,000 additional warrior mages will be here in a month? We don’t want them to panic. It’s for their own safety naturally.”

  No one disagreed. The men exited the chamber. Their fake confidence nearly fell when they cleared the building. On the distant horizon a wall of mists could clearly be seen. A month… yes… they probably had that long…