HehastheMajesticThronewrappedaroundhisfingerfearisanafterthoughtforhim.

Areyouready,Acot?Reganasked.

Thatsnotaquestion,Regan.Ihavetheanswer!Itsnotaquestion.Ireverberated.

Myheartracedwaitingforthesuntomeetthemiddleofthesky.Iwasbecomingjittery.

Youknow,weputyouinchargeofcuttingtheheadoffofthecorruption.Whatanhonorthat
is!Regandivulged.

AndImnotabouttofailCollosuraunt.Irepliedanxiously.

Reganlookeddowninasmile.Shebitherlipandlookedbackupatme.

DoyourememberthetentunderneaththeIridescentMountain?Reganquestioned.

Shemovedclosertome.Itookadeepbreath.

Twohundredwarmsoldiers.Ichortled.

Iputmyhandonhershoulder,lookingatherface.

Dontloseyoursoul,Acot.Regansighed.Youmustfighthere,dontgetmewrong,youhave
tofighthere.Justdontloseyoursoul.Youropponentsalreadylosthissoul.

Sheputahandinthemiddleofmyclothcoveredchest.Iwasstunned.Ifoundadepth
intheworldasmymindsloweddown.Regansdeepbreathwasinterrupted,herpaleface
becamered,distortingthewhitesofhereyes.Shebeganheaving,preparingtocry.

Look,ImnottheMagician,Regan.Isaidtosoothher.CollosurauntthoughtthatIwasthe
kingofRo.Hell,thethoughtfounditswayallthewayovertoYsernia.Historyhasawayof
distortingthetruthlikethat.Thepointis,Regan,thatmynameisAcotandIcouldntbeanybody
elseifIcaredtotry.

Regansdeepbreathingturnedintothefirstdrawofacry.Shelookedatmyfacewith
herreddenednoseandcatgreeneyes.Itookthebackofherheadbehindheronyxhairand
kissedher.Wefoughtforbreathaswecontinuedtomakeout.Shegrabbedmycheeksandwe
putourforeheadstogether.

Dontlose.Regansniffled.

Iwont.Ianswered.


Asweregainedourcomposure,Jujienteredtheroom.Shewasdressedinherformal
dragontamerrobes.Itwassilkenandred.Thedesignhaddecorativewingsattheshoulders.
Thetwoofusweredressedformallyaswell.Ihaddonnedawhitebuttonedshirtandkhakis
whileReganwasdressedinherpinkandbluedress.

Itsmidday,thecelestialguardisrightontime.Jujicommented.

Isourleadershipassembled?Iinquired.

Corgea,Dirk,CharlotteandXavierareallgatheredoutside.Irepresentthedragontamers
today.Jujiproclaimedwithaconfidencethatkeptmeprepared.

Thenletsshowthemwhatweremadeof.Iexclaimed.

Withthefaintesthintofsmiles,JujiandReganwalkedmeoutofthearenacomplex.
Regansfacehadsubduedindramaticflarebytimewemadeitoutside.Corgea,Jujiandmy
companionswereallthere.Wewereescortedbyoveradozencelestialguard.Noneofushad
armororweapons.Weweredressednicely.EvenCorgea,whohadpreviouslyscribbledona
desertrobe,wasaffordedasecondchanceatkeepingregaliaofYserniaclean.Dirkheldthe
tomeandXavierheldabag.CharlotteheldabagofabysscrystalsandthedreadedscrollthatI
hadbeenwarnedabout.

IwasbeyondcuriousaboutwhathadhappenedintheCryptofRoyalEchos.Iwas
informedthatgrotesque,thewordthatBaalhadused,wasaccurate.Iwasmissingthe
emotionalimpactofit,however.Nobodyatthetableflinchedaboutwhattheyhadsummoned.
Therewasnodescriptionoremotionbehindwhattheyhadtosay.AllIhadtogoon,goingto
theMajesticThrone,wasthattheevidencewefoundwasgrotesque.Tomyknowledge,
bansheesandskeletonswereabundantbehindasecretpassageinanancientdesertburial
ground,butthereanimateddeaddidnotcomparetothishorrorundescribed.Uponprying,Ionly
heardofhowtosummonitandwhattheydidasaresultoftheencounter.Isupposedthatit
wouldbeasurpriseforValenciaandmyselfwhenIstreakanabysscrystalacrossthetopofthe
scroll.

WewerenearingtheRoyalCourt.WhatIrememberedmostdistinctlyaboutitwasthe
spaceinbetweenthecentralthroneroomandthebuildingssurroundingit.Today,itwas
different.Thecelestialguardwasinfullcolorstoday.Hundredsuponhundredsofsoldiers
surroundedthethroneroom.Thespacethatcharacterizedtheroomwasfilledwithmilitary
might.Thiswastheendofourcampaigninthedesertwewereconvincinghertostopthe
MagicianorwewerentgoingtoleaveYsernia.IlookedtoReganandIquicklyavertedmy
gaze.IscannedDirk,Corgea,XavierandJujiforascrapofconfidence.Iwasabouttotalkto
Valenciaagain.Theprospectofthatalonefilledmewithdread,Ihardlyfeltonethousand
soldiersmakingabigdifferenceintheamountofhostilitythatfilledthatwalllessroom.


Myfriendsstoppedatthebackoftheperimeteroftheroom.Theystoodontheedgeof
thecolorfulmineralground.Itookafewstepsforward.Ifoundmyfamiliarspotontheground
andstoodfacetofacewiththequeen.Shehadsteppeddownfromherthronetogreetus.She
wasarmedwithheradamantitesword.Otherthanthat,herreddreadlockscoveredherplain,
formalrobesofpurple.Thecelestialguardsurroundedtherestoftheouteredgesoftheroom.
BehindtheguardsthatstoodbythephysicalMajesticThrone,membersoftheRoyalCourt
werepresent.Theyweredressedtotheteethwithjewelryandsilks.Baalwaspresent.Hewore
thesamepurplestripedrobeandcurledstaffthatmadehimstickoutevenwhenitwas
crowded.Thecrowdofsoldierswasnotcompletelysilent.Therewasadullroarthatpermeated
theroom.ItwasloudenoughtosetmeonedgewhileIwasmentallypreparingmyselftospeak.

QueenMeroshanoddedtothebluegildedguardtotherightofherthrone.Hestomped
downthebacksideofhisspear.Itsentawaveofguardsaroundtheperimeteroftheroomdoing
thesame.Ashockwaveofsilencerippledoutintothesandwherealltheguardsfelltosilence.

Thisiswhytherearedragons?

Meroshalistenstothesepeople.

Theguardwouldntbesummonedwithoutbloodbeingspilled.

Theroyaltyofthethronekeptmurmuringeventhroughthespearinspiredsilence.

Quietinmythroneroom!QueenMeroshaboomedoverthemummers.OhDragonslayertrue,
youwilltellmeyourstoryatonce.

Ifeltmychesttryingtoimplode.Inthepresenceofthecelestialguard,QueenMerosha
andallmycompanionsImademycase.

Valencia!Today,thequestionofcorruptionwillbeansweredforyou!Iannouncedtothesilent
massofsoldierswatchingme.Fromthebottomofourhearts,Ithankyouforyourvigilancein
overseeingourworksandyourgenerosityinhousingourmilitia.Wearehonoredguestsinyour
kingdomofYsernia!

Theairwastense.Nobodymovedamuscle.Idarednotlookbackatmyfriends.
Valenciatookastepforwardwithafrownonherunfreckledface.

Yourhonorsremainunnoted.Thesesoldiersarenotpleasantries,Acot.Tellmeyourstory.
Meroshascolded.

Itwasthepointofnoreturnitwastimetomakeapoint.

QueenMerosha,whatmycompanionsfoundatthebottomoftheCryptofRoyalEchoswas
grotesque.Wefoundout,withtheutmostcertaintythatBaal,theMagician,isitthecenterofa
forcethatisdestroyingmultiplekingdoms.

TheQueenoftheMajesticThronestooduprightputafisttohermouth.Herfrownturned
tocontemplation.Theroyaltybehindherbegantomurmur.

Thisisridiculous!Baalexclaimedfrombehindthecelestialguard.Theirevidenceiscertainly
alie.MyQueen,doyouevenneedtolistentotheseinterlopers?!

Baal,consideringthelivesofboththemselves,theirsoldiersandtheirdragonsinourkingdom
areontheline,wewillhearwhattheyhavetosay.Meroshaexplained.Imlistening,Acot.
WhymusttherighthandoftheMajesticThronebeslaininthenameofjustice?

Well,Ibegan.

No!Thisisinsanity!TheMagiciancutin.Thesepeoplearrivedsomefourdaysago.Igreeted
themandaccommodatedthemmyself.Nowtheywanttokillme?Valencia,thisisnotajoke!

YoucanaddressmeasQueenMerosha,Baal.Ithankyouforyourcounsel.QueenMerosha
disclosed.

TheonlyreasonwecametoYserniaisbecausewereadaboutitinBaalsbook.Hetitledit,
MyNewOrder
.Ibeganmyargument.

Dirkthrewthebooktome.Wedidnotpracticeit,soIwasnotexpectingit.Thebookhit
meontheleg.Withoutlookingback,Itookitundermyfootandkickeditovertotheincumbent
oftheMajesticThrone.

Within,hedetailedeveryproblemweexplored.Becauseofit,Iknewthathewouldkidnap
Aqua.Becauseofit,aninterloperlikemyselfcouldevenbeawarethatthereisacryptthatis
guardedbytwostonebansheesinthefirstplace.

QueenMeroshalookedinsidethetome.Itwasfullofpicturesandplans.Insidearoom
ofpeoplelookingtogetbloodinthesand,itwashardlythetimetoread.Iwasnotaboutto
convinceherwithit.

Aworkoffiction!Baalexclaimed.

Heremovedhimselffrombehindthecelestialguard.Withhisdistancefromthequeen,
hebowedashesteppedonagreenmineralrockofthefloor.

IsupposethatIregretevenwritingafictionabouttheglorioussandsofYsernia.Isupposethat
evenoursculpturesaretakenliterallybyforeigners.Baaldefendedhimself.

Valencia!Pleaseturntopageonehundredfortyofhisbook!Iaskedher.Xavier,bringmethe
bones!

Xavierpulleddownhishoodfromthecloakthathehaddrapedoverhisclothes.Helaid
downasackthatwasfullofbones.HespreaditoutbetweenmeandQueenMerosha.Queen
Meroshahadopenedthebook.Charlottefollowedbehindtoputanabysscrystalontheground.
Sheplaceditontheoutstretchedsack.

Thejaggedstonesdidnotyieldsnow.Theyweremountaintopsnonetheless.Consciousness
peeredthroughthewindingtrails.Therewasnolifetobeseen.Byourhand,wehadcreateda
pinchofconsciousness.Wehadmoldedrocks,manaandtheimplicationoflivespastintoa
reanimationofbones.Theabysscrystalsvibratedwithliveliness,theskeletonspickeduponit.
Theyonceagainrattledwithlife.R
eganreadoffofascroll,invokingthewordsthatMerosha
wasreadingfromthetome.

Withasparkofelectricmana,Ihadactivatetheabysscrystal.Thebonesontheground
begantovibrate.Theshiverquicklyturnedintorumbling.Therumblingfollowedamanic
aberration.Beforethebonesbegantoreconfigurethemselvesfromapile,themanausersin
theroomsensedtheformthattheboneswereabouttoanimateinto.Themysteriouslaughterof
thecircusinfectedtheformasthebonesformedaspinestandinguprightunderskeletallegs.
Thenearlycompleteskeletonpickeduptheskullandattachedittothebody.Thereanimated
bodydroppeditsjawandthebonesbegantorattle,grindingagainsteachother.

Theskeletonswehavebeenfightingsincewearrivedareratherfragile.Ifyouaresatisfied,
pleasehaveaguarddropthisskeletonbackdown.Iproposed.

Meroshawalkedbackandpattedthegreengildedcelestialguardtotheleftofthethrone
onhisback.Thesoldierreadiedhisspearandstrucktheskull.Theskeletoncollapsedwithonly
asingleribmanagingtofinditswaytotheedgeofthebrownsack.Werecollectedthedisplay.

Thatisallwellandgood,evenifyoubelieveit,Merosha!Anoldmanoftheroyaltydeclared.I
supposethatdoesmeanthatBaalisguiltyofnecromancy,apracticethatiswidelyfrowned
upon.Doyouevencare,yourmajesty?ThisdoesnotmeanthattheyoungMagicianissome
sortofinternationalcriminalpullingstringsbehindyourback!Thissoundslikeafablethatthe
Dragonslayeristellingtowasteourtime.

Withshiftinglipsandanavertinggaze,Valenciatookintheoverwhelmingamountsof
informationandpressurefromthearmyaroundher.Shedidnotseemtobreakhercomposure.
Instead,sheseemedtothriveinthecontentiousatmosphere.

Thegraymandoesmakeapoint.Yourclaimdoeslackacertaincontinuity,Acot.Idontcare
aboutthewhoresthatBaalbedsormanathatheexperimentswith.Thisshouldbeyourend.
ThisshouldbethemomentwhereIdeclareyouadisappointmentandhaveyourheadplaced
ontheoutskirtsofVagabondsRest.Itsunfortunate,Acot,itsunfortunatethatyourestonmy
weakness.Iamsocurious!ImustknowwhatyoufoundintheCryptofRoyalEchos.Youholdit
inyourbagof
evidence.
Youholdanoveltyinacaseagainstmyrighthand.Givemethe
secondpieceofevidence.ConvictBaalofinternationalcrimes.Wowmewithapieceofmagic
thatshowsmethatweareresponsiblefortheshitholethatyourcontinenthasbecome.

Ilookedbackovertothemilitialeaders.Theyallnoddedatme.Ihadascrollof
grotesquemagicinmysleeve.Theytoldmethatitwasevidenceenough.Thiswassupposedly
enoughtoshowthat,notonlywasBaalinvolvedinsickmagics,buthewasalsotheringleader
behindtheringleader.

PleasereadysixcelestialguardnexttoAcotforthis,QueenMerosha.Charlotteadvisedas
shelaiddownthescroll.

Myheartpoundedasshehandedmeanabysscrystal.Iwasinstructedtostreakit
acrossthescrollandstandback.Thesixguardsmarchedmeticulouslyastheynearedme.The
restofthethroneroomandthearmyoutsideitwassilent.QueenMeroshastooduprightwith
herarmscrossed.Thesilencewasmaddening.ItwasnotaliteralmadnesslikeCorgeasanger,
butamindnumbinganxietythatthreatenedtoswallowmewhole.Icompelledmyshakinglegs
toletmedowntomykneesasIusedmyonearmtorolltheabysscrystaloutonthescrollthat
wehaddiscovered.ItookitinmyhandandsawthatIhadleftaverticalstreakofblackuponthe
opencircleinthecenterofthescrollfullofalientext.Ijumpedupandtookastepbackintothe
platemailofacelestialguard.Hedidnotyieldtome.

Slowly,thescrollbegantoglow.Theglowwasfaint.Aformofmanastoodatopthe
scroll.Theformwasmysterious,butitdidnotinspirelaughterlikethecircus.Theominousform
wassinister.Angerbegantotakeshape.Fromoutofnothingness,fleshbegantophaseinto
reality.Likelifecomingoutfromthebacksideofamirror,afacelessabominationtraveledinto
thethroneroom.Abeakcameoutoftentaclesthatreachedoutfromaroundtheheadofthe
beast.Thethickbodyhadholesinit.Lifeessencesthatweretoopinkandyellowtobeblood
drippedoutofthecavitiesinitschest.Thinstrandsofhairlikestructuresemanatedfromits
sidestoactasarms.Trunksoffleshactedaslegs.Ahorrificscreamofpainandangerwailed
throughthethroneroomasitshoutedwithallitsmight.Thescreampiercedmyskulllike
Hypseausmana.Thebeingcouldbeconfirmedastelepathicfromthescream.Theotherworldly
beasttookthecollectivetensionintheroomandcreateddoubtandfearfromit.

Go!Ishoutedatthesixguardsaroundme.

Inablurofmotion,theguardsbeganpiercingthebeastwithspears.Theydidnotrelent.
Theykeptmakingnewholesinthecavityfilledchestuntilthebeastletoutashriekofpain.It

melted.Thebonestructure,thefleshandtheappendagesallmeltedintoaliquidgooponthe
ground.

Inthethroneroom,Imsuremanyliesgetthrownaroundeveryday.Ineededtomakea
case,soIwasreadytorelyonassumptionsinsuchaterrifyingsituation.

BanditsdonotlistentogildedsoldiersoftheMajesticThrone!Youmayhaveanarmy,but
Baalcouldnotusethecelestialguardtokidnapyourfriend!Heusedthishorribleancientmagic
togetalegupontheMajesticThrone!Heisresponsibleforthishorror.Heisusingthe
corruptiontoundermineyou!Iaccusedandburstedout.

AndwhatmakesyousosureTheMagiciantriedtoshoutoverme.

Itookastepforwardandwavedmyhands.

ItwasthesamecorruptionthatstoppedtradingtieswithDr.Cleed!Baalstheonebehindit!I
knowyoudonthaveaconcretereasonforthathappening.Healsotriedtodevastatethe
monasteryofThills!

Youknownothing,Dragonslayer!Baalblurted.

Heisaliar,atwistedbastardandthecoreoftheproblemthatforcedCollosurauntasunder.He
willnotusethisforceforyourside,Valencia!HeistryingtotaketheMajesticThronefromits
rightfulqueen.Iresounded.Mywordscamefromoutsidemymind.Iwasallin,speakingover
theaccused.

Thisis,byfar,ENOUGH!Valenciayelled.

Onemorepoint,Icontinued.Tobesure,puthisbloodonthescroll.

WehadntdiscussedwhatIjustsaid.TheinformationIwasworkingoffofwasknowing
thatBaalhadfirsthandexperiencemakingtheabysscrystals.Weknewthathe,himself,
workedinthesynthesisofabysscrystalsfromhardenedclownessence.Weconcludedthatwe
couldmakebonesvibrateandmakelegbonescombinewhenbrushedwithavialofbloodfrom
adeadnecromancer.Myself,Ihadconcludedthatasternqueenwithadeadeyelikehers
wasntgoingtobelieveusunlessIdrovethepointhome.Icouldhavedonealltheconvincingin
theworld,itwouldnthavemadeadifferencewithoutadirectpieceofevidencelikethis.In
essence,Ihadsacrificedthepossibilityofourmilitiabeingallowedtoleaveforachanceof
endingthecorruption.WehadcometoYserniatodothelatter.

Baal,doyouneedassistanceinbloodlettingyourself?QueenMeroshaaskedafteradeep
breath.

Yourmajesty.Hebeganwithtearsinhiseyes.No,Idonot.

TheMagiciantookaknifeoutfromhissideandcuthisfinger.Thescrollhadbeen
drizzledwithbitsofeldritchbloodandhadsomeremainsofabysscrystalresidue.Hewipedhis
fingeracrosstheresidue,completelycoveringtheclearspotsofthecircle.Hetookastepback
asguardsreadiedthemselvesagain.

Theroomfellfromasilenceintoanintensefocus.Thescrolldidntreactforawhile.In
thismoment,aneldritchhorrorhadtoappearfromthinairorwewouldallmeetourdemise.At
theendofanexhale,thescrollbegantoglowfromunderneaththestreaksofabysscrystal
residue.Miniaturebeastsbegantoappear.Theyappearedtogetnolargerthantherefoldingof
thescrollafteritwasopenedontheground.Theyhadvariableamountsofarmsandlegs.A
skitteringscreambeganasdozensofthembeganfranticallyrunningaroundthewalllessroom.
Aboutadozencelestialguardbeganstompingthemwiththeirsandalsunderneaththeir
greaves.Afteramomentofsilence,aguardspearedthefinalskitteringeldritchuponthe
ground.Asithadfinished,aguardwasalreadyonthescenewithamoptobegincleaningthe
bloodymess.

TheMagicianisguilty!Ideclared.

Meroshahadhadenough.Shehadgrabbedthebridgeofhernose.

Baal,thisisabsolutelygrotesque.ThishorrorissoawfulthatImwillingtobelievethatAcotis
tellingthetruth.Hehasbeen,attheveryleast,accurateeverytimeIhaveseenhim.Inhis
defense,youareadisgustingindividual.Sinceyouseemtobeatthebottomoftheskeletonsin
theGraveMountains,theMajesticThronedamnsyou.QueenMeroshaconcluded.

TheMagiciansfaceturnedredashecontinuedcrying.Aguffawofsadnesscameoutof
hismouth.

TheDragonslayerseemstobelievethatyouareresponsibleformishapsinCollosurauntand
Thills.Iwillleaveyourjudgementinhishands.Meroshamotioned.Acot,doyouwanttospare
theMagicianforcrimesagainstyourcontinent?

Myguttoldmetoshowmercy.IthenthoughtaboutthenecessityoftheBloodyKingdom
ofRo.IthoughtaboutallthehorrorthathadbefallenourlandevenbeforeIhadgoneinto
Corgeasthroneroom.Iknewthat,evenifIhadcatalyzedthecollapseoftheNorth,destruction
wasinevitablebecauseofBaal.Irememberedthehorroronthefaceofadragontamerwho
threwaYinYangoffofthePhilghanSummitandwailedinagony.Ievencheckedtherumbling
inmystomachasIwaspresentedwiththechoice.

No,Valencia.Killhim.Baalshoulddieforthecorruption.Iannounced.

GrabtheMagicianandtakehimtothegallows.QueenMeroshacommanded.

Theguardsfollowedherorders.