VIII – Faithful Fenix

With the sun well past its peak, Fenix sat at one of the tables littering around what was left of the stage from Festival. Stemming from an idea of Danni’s, a cafeteria of sorts had been opened. Until everyone was back in their homes, and able to cook for themselves, the most efficient use of supplies was to have the village women set up campfires and cook meals for the village all at once. After seeing all of the faces present, Fenix realized that it was an even better plan than it had originally sounded. Everyone eating together kept those who had lost loved ones in better spirits. Children played in the aisles between tables, and although it was still rare, the occasional laugh or chuckle from villagers echoed quietly in the somber late afternoon.

The village itself was in much better condition than the previous day. Men and women tired through the night once again to clear away rubble, sorting it between that which could be reused and that which could not. Any who may have arrived at the village while travelling today still saw a village in ashes, but would be impressed if they had seen it just a few days ago.

Even in spite of their loss, Fenix felt the village was doing well. He was proud of how easily the villagers were able to turn to and console one another. There were those still in shock, whether from the sight of what had happened or from the loss of a loved one, and Fenix could not blame them. But they were not alone. And for a village that could not offer much more than someone to listen, it gave everything it had.

He was also surprised at himself. Once, he had wished for adventure, for valiant fights of warriors defeating evil enemies. Looking back at himself, he was proud he had not gone and found somewhere to hide. He could understand Captain Ternagis being unaffected by the surroundings of death, having been in the King’s Militia, but not Fenix. He felt a pang of guilt as he secretly admitted to himself: the reason lay in the fact that none of his family had been lost in the ordeal.

“There’s really no point in cooking it if you aren’t going to eat it while it’s still hot.”

Fenix blinked from his thoughts and looked up at Captain Ternagis, staring down at him, holding a plate in his hands. Each day, Fenix noticed that the Captain was looking older and older, as if he had held off aging for years, and now his body was rushing to catch up. But then, no one looked their best, recently. “Oh, Captain. I—I’m sorry. This is the first time since the Explosion that I wasn’t needed for something right away. It’s the first chance I have had to think.”

Ternagis nodded silently and slid onto a seat across from Fenix. He laid his meal in front of him: several of the chickens’ eggs and some diced potatoes, both of which had been provided by Terov’s farm. Ternagis lowered his fork, pierced one of the steaming potatoes, and raised it. He blew on it softly, and placed it into his mouth. He considered Fenix as he chewed.

Fenix looked down at his own food. He had to force himself to eat, mechanically. He had no appetite, but he had not eaten since earlier the previous day. He had been stopping to make sure everyone else was being taken care of, receiving food and the like, that he had not focused on himself. Fenix wondered: what was the food supply like, anyways? He asked as much of the Captain.

Ternagis grunted. “It’s like Terov’s an entirely new man. He’s been working feverishly at the farm, him and the other hands out there, bringing everything in they can. They’re bringing in a cart or two a day instead of per week. He wants everything the village may need on hand in the shop, giving it away.”

Fenix nodded, and honestly, he was impressed. Terov was the friendliest man when you needed a favor, but the stingiest man when you needed a deal. Right now, Tel needed friends, not deals.

“And he removed the locks so anyone could get what they needed, even when he’s gone.”

Fenix choked. Turning to cough, he wheezed over the ground. When he could grasp air, he barked, “The lock?” That was a feature of Terov that was common knowledge: his shop was an impregnable fortress while he was not at it.

“Don’t give him too much credit. He had mentioned several times before we held council that we needed to discuss his losses. He had already been helping with some of his stock of foodstuffs, but only after Xia announced that he would be repaid through removed taxes did he become as eager as he is now.”

Fenix nodded. That sounded right.

“Besides, with Harvest as enormous as it was this year, he would’ve been able to donate enough for the village and then still turn a profit without any help from Xia at all. But, with a surplus like that, some of it was bound to rot. The more he can give away, the more he can recoup from the taxes.”

Fenix smirked. “Now that sounds like the Terov I know.”

Ternagis shrugged and cleaned another potato off his fork. “You cannot blame the man; he has many people’s salaries to pay for their work at the farm.” He put his fork down, and crossed his arms, gazing at Fenix. “Everyone has their loyalties, and their responsibilities. How would you expect the village to function, if we did not honor those?”

It was innocent enough, but Fenix knew the last part was meant to dig into him, and put up his hands, as if to defend himself. “My responsibility is to the people here. They need help, and they need Cerberus and his conflicts gone. I know what my responsibilities are; that’s why you picked me.”

Ternagis’ voice stayed neutral, as if addressing the weather. “And they need Xia gone too?”

Fenix gripped his fork in a tight fist and lowered his eyes. But he did not hesitate in answering. “If that’s what keeps them safe.”

“I chose you because you seemed well-rounded, boy.” Ternagis growled, and Fenix jumped. “You knew when the rules needed to be followed, but you ignored them as you chose. You knew when you needed to stick to your friends, and when to speak against them. When your responsibilities conflicted, you knew something had to give, made a choice, and you followed the path you chose with no shame at all.”

Fenix’s eyes glinted defiantly, meeting his mentor’s gaze. “What is so different about now? I had to make a choice, and I did.”

Ternagis leaned forward. “This time, the shame is written all over your face.”

Fenix opened his mouth… and stopped. Fenix knew there was nothing more painful he had done than his actions that morning, and he felt no pride in it.

“Look at what Xia has been through, boy. No less than anyone else in the village, sure, but throw in Cerberus and that…” Ternagis, as tough and stout as he was, still spoke nervously when referencing the events surrounding Cerberus and Xia. “Who has he got to depend on, now?”

“He has Danni.”

Ternagis barked a laugh. “As if there’s not enough tension there as it is. A man needs more than that, Fenix. He needs someone who can stand beside him, catch him when he falls, and fight for him when he’s down. A man needs the piece of mind that it isn’t him or nothing.”

“Well, Cerberus is there.”

“Boy, do you really believe that?” If Ternagis was not upset before, his eyes truly flamed now. “Young as he may be, Cerberus is a soldier, and he has a mission in mind. Frankly, if not for their common…connection…I’m not sure Cerberus would be tolerating Xia along for the ride. And damned if you think Cerberus would not sacrifice him to achieve his objectives.”

First, Fenix realized that the Captain was really angry with the situation.

Second, Fenix realized that the Captain was incredibly more insightful than he originally thought.

Then, Fenix realized that the Captain was right.

Ternagis saw it in his face. “You see, Fenix? You can’t abandon him now. The other townspeople, they need someone, but they have many someones, all working together. Xia, he needs you.” He poked a finger on Fenix’s forehead.

Fenix frowned, rubbing his forehead as if the Captain’s finger had left a smudge. “What about the Council? What will they say if I just up and leave?”

“They’re wondering why you’re not gone yet.”

* * * * *

In short order, Fenix packed a small bag. He stood at the doorway of his room, shared by two others whose homes no longer stood, and gave a final glance to his militia uniform, spread out on his bed. He had enjoyed wearing it, and it had fit him. Not just the clothes, but how others looked at him while he wore it, the feelings it gave him knowing he was an important part of his hometown. He absently ran a finger on the sword at his waist.

Fenix kept wondering how long a trip this would be, but something told him it was not going to be a quick one. He was not sure why; for all he knew, Cerberus would defeat—or capture, or kill…or whatever he was supposed to do to Tailz—and Xia would find the answers he was looking for. Xia would say “it will never happen again,” and they’d all come home by the end of the week.

Fenix turned and walked down the corridor, through the family room, and out the front door. If only we would all be so lucky.

Walking along the path, Fenix drew the sword he had received on Acceptance. It was a long blade, straight and double-edged. The hilt seemed plain upon first glance, but when Fenix inspected closely, he made out the tiny gems that made a small pattern on one side. Small rubies, shaped in the form of the fenix, the legendary flaming creature blessed with rebirth that he had been named for. He rubbed his thumb over it. When he was born, he made not a sound, blue and not breathing. At the last moment, with his mother panic-stricken and doctor ready to give up, little Fenix took a deep indrawn breath and let out an ear-shattering wail. His mother named him after the firebird, for coming back to her. He sighed and sheathed his blade.

In the little time it took for Fenix to pack his things and arrive at the horses’ picket lines, the rest of the Council were already there. Coole was brushing down Fenix’s sorrel, Ember, his back turned to the path. The Council quieted as they noticed Fenix approaching, and stood, waiting. Fenix cast his eyes around, puzzled. “What’s all this?”

“Well,” his father began, still facing the horse, “we wanted you to know you were doing the right thing.” He dropped the thick grass he was using to brush Ember and dusted his hands. He turned and nodded sternly at his son. “We’re scared for Xia. Who knows how he’s feeling, after losing his father, and then dealing with…this.” A growl vocalized from one corner of the group. Fenix’s father nodded towards it, and Fenix realized it was Master Lants. “And Danni too. They could be in danger, Fenix. They need someone to talk sense to them, remind them of home. Xia does not need to be involved with Cerberus any more than necessary, and Danni less so. We need you to make sure they stay safe, and not used as Cerberus sees fit.”

Fenix took this in as the Council nodded silent agreement. “That’s why you kept Ember here.”

Coole nodded. “I figured you’d might want to catch up at one point.”

Unconsciously thumbing the fenix emblem on his sword at his waist, he nodded. “Alright. Let me get a move on, I don’t have much daylight left.”

“In a moment,” the Captain said, stepping forward. He had in his hands an oddly shaped sword. Not quite as long as a longsword, with a double-edged blade much wider than his own sword.

Fenix recognized the falcon-shaped hilt. “That came from one of the swords the Mayor had on his wall.” Fenix swallowed and corrected himself. “The old Mayor, I mean.” Then it dawned on him. “Xia’s father.”

Ternagis nodded. “We found the hilt a couple days ago, on the outskirts of town. It was Danni’s idea to put a real blade on it and present it to Xia.”

“Why did Danni not say anything when they left?”

Ternagis shrugged. “It was not finished yet. The smithy could not smelt a brand new sword, but he was able to salvage most of an older one, and came up with this blade.” He handed the sword, hilt-first, to Fenix. “Make sure Xia gets it.”

“Right.” Fenix took the odd blade, and pulled it from its sheathe. The blade was slightly curved twice, a sinuous snake ending in a deadly point. The falcon hilt was impressive, the blade seemed to protrude from the bird’s beak, and it had four smooth holes, two on each side. It seemed to be its eyes: two on each side of its head. Shaking his head in admiration, Fenix sheathed the blade, and tucked it through his belt opposite his own sword.

As Fenix mounted Ember, Master Lants approached the horse and wrung his hands. “Please,” he begged quietly. “Bring them home safe, boy. Please bring home my daughter.” Fenix nodded assurance as he strapped his bag behind his saddle. With the sun not quite ready to set, Fenix kicked off, dashing down Tel’s central path towards the southern gate.

Fenix made what he deemed to be good time, pushing Ember as hard as he dared before the night fell, knowing he’d only have a few hours to travel. He rode until long after the sun fell beneath the horizon, slowing as the light evaporated from the sky until he was at a walk in the dim twilight. He stopped only when he did not trust his eyes to guide the horse safely in the dark any further, then slept on the ground until first light saw him off again.

He spent the daylight alternating between jogging alongside his horse and riding him ragged, stopping only briefly at each of the watering holes along the path. Fenix was determined to make it to Srynn before stopping. It was not until the sun had risen and fallen again that a weary Fenix trudged along the road within sight of the wall surrounding Srynn.

A single guard leaned against the closed metal gate in the wall. A lit torch sat in a standpost opposite the soldier, shedding a sphere of light that seemed clearly definable in the dark night. As Fenix approached close enough for the flame’s light to flicker across his face, the soldier lazily stood. He nodded at Fenix, and reached to dip his pen in the small inkwell on a wooden stand. “State your name.” He said blandly. “Where ya from?”

Fenix recognized Srynn’s procedure of documenting those who came in late at night. “Fenix Down,” he said. “I just arrived from Tel.”

The guard dropped his pen. “Tel, you say?” Coughing, the night watchman shook his head, and reached down to retrieve his writing utensil. Pursing his lips, he looked between Fenix and the pen, considering.

Fenix tilted his head. “Yes. Is something wrong?”

“Oh!” The guard started as if goosed. “Ah, not at all! Please! Ah, come in.” The guard turned, and banged three times on the gate. A chain behind the wall started to churn loudly, and the doors slowly opened, wide enough to allow the horse and its rider through.

Fenix nodded, perplexed, and guided Ember forward. As he passed through, he saw no one save the crank operator. The town entrance was completely empty. Then a thought occurred to him, and he turned to address the man who had taken his name. “Aren’t you going to write my name down?”

Eyes wide, the guard nodded, and spun quickly, darting back through the gate. “Of course, of course. Right away.” His voice faded as he disappeared around the corner out of sight.

Fenix looked at the beefy crank operator, who gave a massive shrug and began heaving the turnstile, lurching the large gate closed.

Several of the nighttorches were lit, tracing the cobbled main road into town. Standing from the gate, Fenix could follow the road with his eyes until it disappeared into the mesh of streets and buildings that made the center of the city. When it was daylight, from here, Fenix could even see the opposite city wall on the horizon, but the lights of the torches and buildings downtown made Srynn quite a pleasurable sight at night.

The second torch, easily seen from the gate, and larger than the rest, gave the King Faerth’s Inn its friendly glow. The inn’s proprietress had always been like a second mother to the children of Tel. For as long as Fenix could remember, “Mother Jax” had housed the Telians whenever Mayor Townsend had to make trips out to Srynn. Xia always invited Fenix to tag along, and Jax insisted that Mayor Townsend bring as many children as possible. No matter what time of day, whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the children would be treated to freshly made pancakes with huge dollops of fresh cream and butter, and dressed in the sweetest syrup.

Led on by the warm smell of pancakes created by his mind, Fenix grinned and hopped down from Ember, leading him to the ties out front. The lights were still on inside the inn, which was not surprising. Srynn’s inns did not close their common room until the early morning hours sometimes, not at all like the Inn in Tel. In Tell, the Inn closed its doors as soon as the last shard of sun disappeared behind the horizon. Tying the sorrel off, Fenix climbed the few stairs and entered the Faerth’s common room.

Open as it may have been, there was no one present save the staff. Two young men, no older than Fenix, were bent over wiping tables. Their bodies drooped noticeably, exhausted from a demanding day. A third was sweeping the floor. None of them so much as made eye contact with the new arrival. From nowhere discernible, a melodious voice rang. It was tinged with tiredness, but sweet-sounding nevertheless. “Sorry, but the kitchen’s closed up tight; just rooms for the night.”

Fenix’s grin cut his face in two. “That’s just as well, Mistress Jacqueline. A room would suit me well for the evening, but I would ask that you show me to my friends, first.”

A surprised face, just hinting at an age around his mother’s, popped out from the kitchen, and soft blue eyes cast about the room. When they landed on Fenix, a warm smile introduced the rest of Jax to the common room. Her dress was a deep ocean blue, contrasting the sky in her eyes. She seemed to float across to him. “What a surprise!” She clapped her hands happily around his. “What brings you all the way out here, Fenix? And so late! You look exhausted.”

Fenix grinned as the mother in Mother Jax enveloped him whole. He had already been weighed and measured, packaged and tagged. Shaking his head, Fenix replied, grasping her hands momentarily before dropping his arms to his sides. “It’s a long story. I’ve been riding nonstop to get here. My horse is tied out front.” Jax gave a stern look and a quick motion to one of the men clearing off the tables, who nodded and quickly ducked outside to tend to Ember. Her smile sprang back to her face—Fenix wondered if it had ever disappeared—and beckoned him to continue. “But before that, I need to talk to Xia and the others.”

A touch of confusion drew Jax’s smile into a frown. She tilted her head slightly. “But, Xia is not here, Fenix. As a matter of fact, you’re the first of Telian blood I’ve seen through here in a quite some time.”

Fenix’s frown matched hers. “Really? They should have been here long before me.” His body filled with fear. His mind raced through other possibilities. Did Tailz find them along the way? Then he realized, she had said no one from Tel at all, recently. “What about Cheryl? She should have been here even earlier, days ago.”

Jax smoothed her dress, then placed her hands together in front of her. “No, Fenix, I’m sorry.” Her eyebrows drew down, matching her frown. “What’s wrong?”

Sighing, Fenix flexed his hands on the two swords belted at his waist. “No, please, do not apologize. I know Xia and Danni came this way, and if they’re not here, I fear something may be wrong. They could be in serious danger.” He turned and faced the door. “I have to go find them.”

A calm hand on his shoulder prevented him from dashing out. “Fenix,” Jax said softly, stepping beside him. “Danni too? What is going on?” When Fenix seemed at a loss on what to say, she continued. “Well, you cannot go tromping around Srynn after midnight, boy. I won’t allow it. Do you even have any clue where they are?”

Reluctantly, Fenix shook his head. Fenix did not notice how white his knuckles were, clenching the sword hilts in his grasp.

Jax did. “Fenix, earlier there was talk of a knife fight right outside at the gate, of all places, closer than you can throw a stone from here. If your friends are in trouble, you won’t help them by getting yourself hurt at night. Why don’t you stay here until morning? I won’t charge you. Then you can get up with the sun and look for your friends.”

Fenix tried to protest, but he could not think of a more reasonable suggestion. He turned and looked back at the cool cerulean concern gazing at him patiently. The woman exuded blue comfort. “Alright, Jax.” He let himself be led to the stairs at the back.

“Everything will be okay, Fenix. You’ll see.” Fenix almost believed her. “For now, let’s get you into a warm bed. Tomorrow, you can tell me what’s going on before you set out.” She playfully sniffed at him. “And, you can get a bath.”

* * * * *

Tossing the blankets off the bed, Fenix turned onto his right shoulder for the hundredth time. As exhausted as he was, he had opted to go directly to bed, but he started to regret not choosing to soak in a hot tub. He was worried about Xia. Well, of course he was worried about Danni and Deia too, if indirectly. They made up their own mind to follow Cerberus on this crazy trip. They had nothing to do with Fenix. He was not responsible for their actions. He turned and lay on his back.

Xia is not responsible for his actions? His mind softly chided him. Fenix answered it aloud. “I should have been more supporting, at the least.” Then, he sighed. His mother had always told him that if you spoke aloud to no one, that was a sign that your mind wanted a second opinion other than yours. Looking out the window, the only light was the soft glow of the street’s nighttorches. No one would be up at this hour. He twiddled his thumbs idly.

He recalled a memory. Years ago, Xia’s father had come to Srynn to help mediate a nasty dispute. One of the builders of Tel had been called out to put a new staircase into a wealthy man’s home in the city. Two weeks after the staircase was completed, the young daughter of the wealthy man fell down the full length of it. It turned out the top two stairs had collapsed in on themselves. The girl was close to death. Master Townsend stayed at the King Faerth’s, as usual, and brought Xia and Fenix with him.

Late one night, the children heard footsteps in the hall, and decided to investigate. Peeking carefully from their room, they sighted Xia’s father descending the stairs, and followed him. Stepping softly down the stairs, then creeping into the kitchen, the children came upon Master Townsend in a quiet conversation with Mother Jax over fresh milk poured by one of the kitchen staff.

Fenix pushed himself off the bed and grabbed one of the shirts from his saddlepack, tossing it on over his head. That night was the only time Fenix had ever seen the Mayor in tears. The two boys were peering from around the corner, and before too long, tears came to the man’s eyes. Jax had one of his hands in hers, consoling, and the night staff placed a hand on his shoulder. Xia, distraught at seeing his father crying, entered the kitchen, asking, “What’s wrong, Father?” Even Fenix had forgotten about not being allowed out of bed, and tagged along behind him. On seeing them, Jax quickly stood and put her hands on her hips, ready to scold them, but Xia’s father put a hand out to stop her. He wiped his eyes, stood from the table, and reached down to envelop his son in his arms. “You’re squeezing me too hard, Father.”

Fenix shook his head, clearing the reverie from his mind. He was standing at the door, holding the knob in his hand, unturned. Getting a warm cup of milk was a good idea, at the moment. He knew he felt like sleeping, but he also knew his mind would not let him, once he lay down. He turned the knob and pulled the door open. Two lanterns hung in the hallway, turned down low, shedding just enough light to make out the corridor. He was about to turn left, towards the stairs, when he noticed light coming under the last door in the other direction. Jax’s room. She had been up late enough as it was; he was surprised to see that she had yet to go to sleep. Hesitating briefly, he thought getting that second opinion would be more satisfying than the milk. Fenix approached the door, and knocked quietly.

A shuffle told him that she indeed was already up. The door opened partway; cool blue eyes regarded him. As they recognized him, the door pulled open the rest of the way, revealing a smiling, albeit tired-looking, face. The blue robe tied around her was not quite as deep a hue as the dress she had worn earlier, but still made Fenix contemplate when the last time he had seen the woman not wear blue was. “I guess neither of us are sleeping well tonight. What can I do for you?” She beckoned him into the room.

He walked in and sat in one of the chairs. Looking around the room, it had not seemed to change from the last time he had seen it. Jax never changed. “Just can’t sleep.”

Jax closed the door behind her and sat in the other chair facing Fenix. “I’m sorry, Fenix. I’m glad you came to see me though. I find a friend makes these types of things easier, being able to talk through what is eating you.”

“Jax?”

“Yeah?”

“When we came with Xia’s dad for that one dispute he had to do, with the girl who fell down the stairs…”

Jax nodded sadly, remembering.

“Why was he crying that one night?”

“Oh, Fenix,” Jax said, reaching forward and putting a hand on his knee. “Is that what’s bothering you?”

Fenix shook his head. “No, not really. I only just thought about it.”

“Did he never tell you what happened? You two were pretty young back then.” Jax leaned back into her chair.

“No, not really. It never came up.”

Jax put her hands in her lap, and looked down at them. “Well, the truth of the matter, is that the little girl’s father killed her, and made it look to be a very tragic accident. Sam knew that, but he could not prove it.”

“Wait. She died? No one told us that.”

“Fenix, again, you were really young. Xia’s father did not have the heart to tell you anything more than a girl had gotten badly injured.” Then she paused, tilting an ear and listening. When Fenix tried to question her, she put up a finger, so he listened too. “Do you hear that?” She asked.

At first, Fenix dismissed it. It was just soft footsteps. Probably someone else moving around at night. Jax should be more familiar with that by now. Fenix looked at Jax, her head cocked to one side, still listening to the footsteps in the hallway. Jax would be more familiar with people up and about at night: she staffs a worker overnight for just that purpose! Fenix listened more closely to the footsteps.

Then he sat upright, and whispered softly. “There’s more than one person out there.”

Jax nodded and stood up. “I should check on it.”

Fenix stood up quickly and put his hands on her shoulders. “Wait, you don’t know what they’re doing yet.” Waving her to sit down, Fenix crept to the door, put his ear to it, and listened.

More feet scuffling. Then, silence. Then, low, fierce whispers.

A man’s low-pitched growl. “You said he was in here.”

A younger man’s higher voice. “He was! I swear. I made the room, I saw him.” Fear tinged his voice.

The slide of metal, as if from a sheathe. A grumble, from a mouth different than the first two. “We don’t have time for these games. Are we even sure?”

Yet another voice, familiar to Fenix’s ears. “Of course I’m sure! I watched him come in here, and the handler came out and took his horse.”

The low-pitched growl again. “Well, he isn’t here.” Another sound of a blade drawn.

A gasp. Slow steps followed the higher voice, even higher in stark terror. “Please, I tried, I did what I was told!”

The growl stepped forward towards the terrified voice. Fenix pictured a man brandishing a dagger. “Get in the room.”

The voice got just a smidge louder. “Please! I won’t say a word! Please!”

Fenix’s hand went to his side before he realized that he left both swords in his room. Looking around Jax’s room, he whispered sternly. “Weapon? Blade? Anything?” Jax shook her head, her eyes widening. Cursing softly, he realized that fighting outnumbered was not on the list of smart-things-to-do. He needed another plan before someone got hurt.

Then, Fenix’s eyes lit on the curtain rod. Leaping onto Jax’s bed, Fenix snatched it down, letting the curtains hanging from it fall off. He jumped back down, briefly pausing to say, “Sorry for the door.” Jax could only blink before Fenix leveled his shoulder and dove into the door, crashing it into the hallway.

Time became molasses. Fenix stood atop the door he had just been listening through. At the other end of the corridor, next to the staircase, sat one of the young men Fenix had seen downstairs when he arrived. Tears ran down his face, and his hands were raised as a shield towards the three men standing over him.

The guard who took Fenix’s name at the gate was one of them, out of uniform. One was short with an enormous hooked nose. The third was what made Fenix regret, momentarily, that he had jumped out here so rashly. He was one of the largest men Fenix had seen, and a memorable one at that, though Fenix could not decide if the man was openly sneering, or just naturally ugly. Or both.

All four men were staring openly at Fenix. In the second that had passed after the door landed and surprised the current occupants of the inn’s hallway, Fenix sized up the situation. The man on the floor pointed and said, “See! There he is!” Then, as the others looked to young man, Fenix moved quickly. The curtain rod swung down, and then sideways, clipping the guard above his ear. The guard yelled out and dropped to the floor.

Ugly and Hooknose both jumped back a step, flashing their blades at Fenix. “You’re gonna need more than a stick, boy.” said Hooknose.

Fenix waited.

Then, one door opened. Then two. Several people entered the hallway, demanding what all the commotion was about. Each man and woman to come out first looked at Fenix standing on the door in the hallway, focusing on him with their anger at being woken up. Then gazes turned to the other end, which resulted in either the trailing off of complaints, or a quick yell and diving back into their rooms.

Fenix lowered the curtain rod, looking over the heads of those still in the corridor. “You gonna kill us all?”

Hooknose growled and backed up to the stairs. “Later, boy.” He pointed a finger at Fenix. Then he turned and clomped down the stairs. “Come on, Jif.” The tall man ducked into the stairs and followed after.

Heaving out a breath he only realized he was holding, Fenix propped the curtain rod against the wall and sagged visibly, cursing himself. What was I thinking?

Jax stepped out from the room. “Alright people, enough drama for the night. Sorry for the trouble; we’ll get these rabblerousers out of here.” As the guests obeyed, Jax planted herself directly above the guard, still on his knees holding his head and moaning quietly. “You.” She said sternly. “Get up.” When the guard moaned in answer, she reached down, grabbed a fistful of hair, and pulled. He jumped up with a cutoff yelp. Turning his head, she thrust him through the open door of Fenix’s room. The guard stumbled forward, crashing into the floor. Jax pointed a finger. “Go watch that.” Then she turned and tended to her employee, who had yet to move from his position on the floor.

Fenix walked into his room and closed the door behind him. Turning up the lamp, he looked at the guard more closely, and shook his head as he determined the man was indeed the same who took his name at the gate. Walking to the corner of the room, he picked up his sword and started belting it around himself. It was just dawning on him that they might have very well been coming for his life, and he did not feel as if he would be sleeping anytime soon. “What,” Fenix asked, “is all this about?”

The man wiped dusty brown hair from his face and frowned, ignoring the question.

“Well?” Fenix asked. Then a thought hit him, and he put a hand to his stomach. “Do you… do you know where my friends are? Others, from Tel?” Other than a bored glance, Fenix got no answer. The two men just stared at each other. A minute passed, maybe two. The lantern flame flickered wildly, as if a wind had given it cause to panic. Fenix squeezed the hilt of his sword firmly.

The man on the floor glanced at Fenix’s hand on his sword, then back up to his eyes. “You know,” he said, a calm sneer spreading over his face. “You have to let me go sometime. Soon, they’re going to notice I’m not where I should be, and they’ll come looking, asking questions. You don’t want them to find out you attacked one of the Guard, do you?”

Fenix sighed, and dropped his hands to his sides.

The guard smiled.

The door abruptly opened, and both the guard and Fenix jumped simultaneously. Jax appeared from behind the thin wooden door as quickly as it made space for her. “Now tell me, what in all of whichever hell you believe in is going on tonight?”

When no one said a word, she sighed angrily and glanced around the room. “Well, no matter. We don’t have that kind of thing here. Raising metal under my roof!” She caught sight of Xia’s sword still propped in the corner, and purposefully strode over to it. She roughly raised it, and tore off and tossed the sheathe across the room. She admired the blade quietly. “We’ll just slit your throat and throw you out with the refuse.”

The threatened man’s eyes grew wide, but not as wide as Fenix’s. Fenix jumped in front of her, putting his hands around hers. “Jax, no one got hurt.”

Jax shrugged. “Not yet. But right now, either I kill him, or he goes out and does it to someone else. Best clean up the dirt under our noses.” She nodded satisfactorily and took another step across the room.

The guard jumped up, shocked, but Fenix backed up a step and held on to her. “Jax!” Fenix cried. “What is wrong with you?”

Her eyes met Fenix, but not with the caring and compassion of earlier. These eyes were lit with rage. “Boy, you step aside, and when I’m done, I’ll handle you for taking down my door.”

Fenix’s jaw dropped. “But—oof!” A swift upward jab from Jax brought the hilt of the sword into Fenix’s face, knocking him sideways. Landing on the bed, he put a hand to his chin, and stared at her, dumbfounded. He could only watch as the crazy woman approached the man cowering in the corner.

“Wait!” the guard called out. “You can’t do this! You’ll lose everything here.”

“Pfft.” Jax hissed. “There are no less than eight people who saw you in a scuffle just now. As far as anyone else knows, I sent you all outside to finish whatever fighting you brought into here. No one would be the least surprised to find out the next morning that you were the one who lost.” Jax raised the sword.

The guard turned pale white, hollow around the eyes. Fenix reached a hand out to try and stop her, even though she was out of reach, but before he could, the guard dropped to his knees. “Please, come on, let me go! We were not going to kill him. The other two that just left, their boss, he’s not here right now, but they said we better pick him up to be safe.”

Jax lowered her face into the man’s crying in front of her, holding the sword poised to strike. “What for?”

The guard shook his head. “Please! You have to believe me, I don’t know! The others from Tel, they were brought to the Srynn Hall. They said the Metson girl wasn’t needed, so she was taken to the dungeon. They said while their boss was gone, no one was going to go into the Srynn Hall, so we were going to take him to the prison.” He pointed at Fenix. “Honest! We weren’t going to kill him!” He pleaded, tears streaming, his hands clasped together.

Fenix stood, still holding his jaw, stupefied. “Who is their boss?”

“I don’t know. I never met him. He’s a retainer of the Lord Mensch, and we were told to obey him.”

Jax frowned at the man. “By the time I count three, if you are still in my sight, I’m going to kill you anyway. And if you ever come near my establishment again, I will make sure it is the last thing you ever see.” She frowned and stood back, leaving a clear path to the door. “One.”

Before she completed the word, his panicked footfalls down the stairs faded away.

Sighing, she tossed the sword onto the bed. “A messy business,” she said.

Fenix just stared.

“Sorry about the jaw, but consider it equal payment for my door. What was that for?”

“I’m sorry,” Fenix said. “Waking everyone up was the only option I had.”

“Oh, I know that, boy,” Jax laughed. “But couldn’t you have just slammed it really hard? I’m not made of money, you know.”

Not sharing her mirth, Fenix plopped onto the bed, staring at the floor.

“Oh, poor Fenix. What you just went through would be very difficult for anyone.” She sat next to Fenix, trying to console him.

Fenix shook his head, and looked her in the eye. “They have them. They have Xia and Danni.”

Jax’s mouth thinned to seriousness. “He said that the Lord Mesnch’s man took them.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Did they do something wrong?”

“No!” Fenix exclaimed. “It just, it makes no sense. Mensch has nothing to do with this.”

“So they’re innocent?”

Fenix nodded.

Jax thought hard. Then she stood and faced him. “Sounds to me like you have a puzzle on your hands, young Fenix. You need more information to fill in the holes. Your friends are being held in the Srynn Hall, if what that filth said is true, which I believe so, and that means there is no easy way to see them unnoticed. But they also said another was in the prison.”

“He said it was the Metson girl. That would mean Deia.” Fenix rubbed his jaw unconsciously.

Jax glanced down at his sword. “You any good with that?”

Fenix nodded.

“Good. Now,” she said, sitting down. “You will tell me everything that is going on. Everything, mind you. Once I know what I’m getting into, I may be able to help you.”

* * * * *

Just a few hours later, in the early morning twilight, Fenix leaned against the wall of a small shop, three buildings down the street from the Srynn’s prison. At Jax’s insistence, he had done away with the clothes he had come to town in and dressed in the manner of the local farmers of Srynn: plain, worn workclothes covered with soft, brown woolen robes. The robes easily hid the swords sheathed on his belt, both his own sword and Xia’s Falconblade, and the robe’s hood helped to hide his face, lest he happened to run into the guard from earlier. The cobbled road held a few stragglers, mostly milling about until the shops opened to hone in on the best deals.

Jax was across the street, engaged in a delightful conversation with a shopkeeper. Apparently her pancake syrup was purchased from here, because from what Fenix could make from their words, that was the topic. From the way he greeted her, smiled charmingly, and stopped what he was doing to speak with her, it was clear they were old friends, at the least. Glancing down the street, Fenix sized up the dungeon’s entrance. No fewer than seven of Srynn’s uniformed Guard were standing at rest around the street, and Fenix supposed there were some inside, as well.

Turning his gaze back to Jax, he met eyes with her just briefly before she turned away from him, laughing at something the shopkeeper had said. Fenix looked away as well. It was important that no one connect the two of them in their mind. When all was said and done, Fenix was to be an innocent bystander, just like everyone else. He instead looked at everything but Jax. He watched a few birds fly overhead until he could not see them anymore. He smiled, and then laughed, at two young kids running circles around their papa. He returned a friendly nod to a young man who had cheerily waved to him. Since he was dressed similar, Fenix guessed he was one of the farmhands Jax spoke about. The city was nice enough, if you did not know what lurked beneath it.

That irked Fenix to no end, and tried to work it out in his head. He knew Tailz was involved, he knew it. But what Mensch had to do with that, he could not begin to guess. The thought of Tailz working for Mensch seemed unlikely. Then the Guard, following their orders blindly. It smelled of corruption, and that, while not all too common, was not unheard of either. But then, that led him full circle as he wondered what Tailz’ involvement in it was.

Barely stifling a gasp, Fenix turned his head away, pulling his hood down, leaving just enough to peer out its side. The two ruffians from the inn came stalking down the street towards the prison. Fenix watched as the tall one stood idly, letting the shorter one with the bent nose talk to the man guarding the door. Glancing back to the shop, Fenix was going to try and get Jax’s attention, but she was already looking down the road, still half-heartedly holding up her end of the conversation while the shopkeeper continued preparing for the day. He turned slightly, and watched the two goons go inside the prison.

Fenix felt his heart drop. This was going to be more difficult than he feared, but it was too late to turn back now. A second man had approached the shop and greeted Jax and the shopkeeper. Fenix tensed, and then stood from his leaning position. Smiling one moment, the newcomer whistled loudly the next, and half a dozen rundown, dirty-looking men came from all directions. Behind the shop, down the street—one even ran down the alley Fenix was standing in, passing him on the way. They all brandished swords and daggers. “Alright,” the man who had whistled announced loudly. “Give me the money chest, and we won’t have to hurt any one, you understand?”

That was Fenix’s cue. Acting like a farmhand caught in a bad place, Fenix put his hands up in front of him, and backed slowly away from the scene, down the street, towards the prison. Others on the street did the same, moving away from the trouble to not be caught up in it either. As he slowly moved, the contingent of Guard in front of the prison ran past him, waving their swords about and yelling for the thieves to drop their weapons. Fenix flinched as the band of robbers cheered joyfully as they raised their steel above their heads, then threw themselves amongst the guards.

Fenix, being far enough away, turned and began walking down the street away from the commotion. Two of the guards were left at the prison entrance, but before Fenix reached it, a cry for help sounded from behind him, and the guards opened the door and called inside for assistance. Then they drew blades and sped down the street. In quick succession, several others exited the prison and followed suit. Almost laughing with joy, Fenix sauntered over and entered through the open door.

He leapt through with his hands under his robes, ready to draw his swords, but to his relief, no one was in the entryway. They did not leave a single man behind. Glancing at the large metal door that led further into the dungeon, he saw an empty hook that he guessed the keys would have hung on. Judging from the fact that they had not left with the other guards, Hooknose and Ugly were in the dungeon already. Sure enough, the door was unlocked, and so Fenix passed into the dark dungeon, closing the door behind him with a loud clang.

The dungeon was musty and humid, and Fenix could barely see a pace in front of him. He made out the lantern stand next to the door, but the lantern had already been taken. He heard voices, faintly, so with his hands out in front of him, Fenix cautiously made his way through the dark. He snagged his foot only once before making it to where the corridor turned.

Looking down the new length of cells, Fenix could clearly make out the two thugs from earlier at the far end, one holding a lantern up and peering towards him. The light faded before it reached Fenix, and he realized they could not see him yet. He approached them slowly, wanting to be as close as he could before they noticed him. Hooknose also cautiously stepped forward, using the lantern as a brush, dashing away the darkness to reveal what lay behind it. Then, the light revealed Fenix standing in the corridor.

“Who are you?” Hooknose growled. “What do you want?”

Fenix decided to leave the hood down for now. They did not know who he was yet, and was hoping for as much surprise as he could. “I’ve come for the girl.”

Big Ugly drew his sword. “I’m afraid she belongs with us, you get it?

Glancing at the thin corridor, Fenix realized there would not be much avoiding a fight if they pushed for one, and Ugly was already stepping down the corridor. “Very well,” Fenix said, drawing his swords from beneath the robes. “Come then.”

Ugly answered with a vicious slash down towards Fenix’s head. Fenix barely leapt back to avoid it. Then he leapt again, and again, as his attacker growled with each swing. The fool was using all of his strength in his opening attack. Fenix stepped back until he saw the first bead of sweat on Ugly’s brow, glinting in the soft light of the lantern, then rose both of his swords in a cross to meet his opponent’s broadsword. The broadsword stopping before he expected it put a visible shock through Ugly’s arms, and Fenix capitalized on the moment, swinging his arms in succession. Ugly had a hard time seeing in the darkness, and could only move his sword enough to stop Fenix from drawing blood.

“Gah!” yelled Ugly under Fenix’s relentless attack. “I need more light!”

The lantern was being moved, and Fenix knew that he could not keep up this flailing attack, or he’d use up as much of his strength as Ugly had, and he’d lose his advantage, especially once the light was closer for Fenix to be seen more clearly. At the last moment, Fenix reversed his swings, and threw his swords underhanded up at the big thug. Ugly moved his sword sideways to block them away, but overly so. Having no resistance, the two swords harmlessly were knocked away, and Ugly’s follow-through left him open. Fenix leapt forward, striking him square in the nose, and spun, driving his elbow into the man’s temple. Ugly dropped like a heavy rock in a pond.

Holding on to surprise, Fenix quickly leapt over Ugly and swung at Hooknose. The man had a single moment of recognition before he was laid out on the ground.

Fenix reached down and checked Hooknose’s pockets, and sure enough, there were the keys. Finding the key that lined up with the cell door, Fenix looked in, and was relieved to see Deia safe and sound. “We have to hurry,” Fenix said. “I don’t know how long the guards will be gone.” He turned the key, and pushed the door open, then turned to locate his swords. “Let’s go.”

Peering oddly up at him, Deia frowned and said, “Wait, who are you?”

Fenix forgot he had his hood still up, and pulled it off behind him. He began to tell her to hurry along, but Deia dropped to her knees and began to cry.

“What is it?” Fenix asked, bending on one knee to look at her face. Deia just shook her head, crying, and threw her arms around him, weeping into his shoulder. Unsure what was really going on, but knowing they were short on time, Fenix gathered her into his arms, picked her up, and began making his way towards the heavy dungeon door.

As he emerged from the prison onto the street, the sight was surprising. The fight had grown into almost a full scale riot, with a line of Guard across the entire street protecting themselves from the thieves. A loud “whoop” went up, and suddenly, the thieves fell back, retreating further down the street. The Guard yelled in victory and chased after them. No one even so much as glanced at Fenix carrying Deia in the opposite direction.

* * * * *

She cried, and cried. Fenix never said a thing, just held Deia while she cried into his shoulder. She had relayed to him, in between bouts of sobbing, what took place when she and the others had arrived. They had called her a murderer, she said. They separated her from the others and took her to the dungeon. They threatened her, called her names, some of which she had never even heard of before, and worse, she had taken a beating, or several. Bruises lined down the side of her face and neck, and when he got her to show him her side, Fenix immediately sent one of Jax’s staff for bandages and cool water.

When the bandages and water arrived, he stuck his finger in it to ensure it was cool enough, then turned to the door to leave. “I’ll see about some fresh clothes.”

Panic welled up in her. “Fenix, wait.”

He stopped and looked at her.

“I don’t want to be alone.”

Fenix looked from her to the bandages and back and swallowed, but nodded and closed the door. Instead, he turned and faced the corner. Turning away from him, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Deia stood, and reached down and grabbed the bottom of her blouse to raise over her head. Her arms made it just over her head before she winced and moaned quietly.

“You okay?” Fenix asked the wall.

Deia sighed, and tossed her blouse aside. “I can barely move to take my shirt off, much less wrap bandages.” She pursed her lips. “I—I’m gonna need your help.” She looked over her back at him, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Fenix turned slowly from the wall, eyes squinted closed, and carefully opened them. Deia felt herself flinch as he turned his gaze to her. Waiting for his first reaction, she realized. He met her eyes, neither pair so much as blinking. Then, so ever slowly, Fenix’s gaze lowered. It was as if his hands were slipping down her spine. So, which was her true feeling, when the mix of youthful desire and uneasiness in his eyes, after flickering on her nervously, narrowed in concern? Relief, or disappointment?

Frowning, Fenix turned to the small nightstand to pick up the stack of bandages and cloths in one arm, and the small basin of water in the other. He walked around to her side of the bed, and stopped, hissing silently. Deia looked down at herself, seeing the welts and bruises truly for the first time. They covered her sides, her chest, and her neck. Several had broken her skin, and she was bleeding. She realized, in the presence of the first man besides her own father to lay eyes on her skin, she felt disgusting, undesired. Her mouth twisted, and a tear escaped her eye unwanted.

Misunderstanding, Fenix knelt in front of her nakedness, took a cloth, and reached up and dabbed the tear away. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Let’s get you taken care of.” He dipped the cloth in the cool water, and asked her to move her arms back. She complied, and he set to work, carefully cleaning her wounds.

She did not know if it was because of her swollen skin, or her mixed feelings on the situation, but every one of his touches seemed exaggerated. Looking at him concentrating on her left side, she saw him being delicate, carefully navigating his hands around the painful swollen marks, sweeping the dirt and blood away, leaving behind only the soft memory of his fingers, and the warm chill of his breath landing on her as he worked. Fenix went through two cloths on her left side, another two on her right. He hesitated as he came to the bruises above her breasts, but the nervous desire was fleeting, and was overcome again by concern.

Fenix spoke as he tended to her face, the cloth in his hands softly caressing her cheeks. “Do you feel better?” He asked.

“What do you mean?” She asked, hesitantly.

“I remember when you came into Tel. You shed a few tears for your parents when you got there, but anyone could see you were trying to be tough, and hold it in. Nothing like you just did, a moment ago. Do you feel better, letting it out?”

She frowned as he cleaned the cloth in the basin. “That wasn’t for them,” she said quietly. “That was for what those heathens did to me. I did my crying for Mother and Father over their bodies.” Tears ran down her face.

This time, Fenix did not brush them away. “See how it pains you? You cannot hold it in forever,” he said, his eyes locked with hers. “It won’t make it stop hurting. It will never heal, either.” He picked up a dry cloth, folded it, and placed it against a sore on her side. She hissed inward sharply. “Sorry,” he said, holding it in place while using his other hand to place a bandage to wrap around her. “As I recently told my best friend, if you let the weight of the world ride on your shoulders while your insides are racking themselves with pain, you’ll be crushed, and won’t be able to do a damn thing about it.”

She rose her arms, painfully, as Fenix reached to wrap the first bandage around her stomach. He was quiet as he worked, carefully placing and pinning each bandage into place. She thought about his words, which brought back the memories of her smoldering parents’ bodies against her will. He was sitting on the bed next to her when he pinned the final one together behind her shoulder. “There,” he said. “How do you feel?” She answered him by falling forward into his arms.

She cried again, but nothing like she did just moments before. Before, she was angry and in pain because of the wounds to her body, but now, she was grieving and in pain because of the wounds to her soul. It was all she could do to hold herself up, until she realized it was Fenix doing that for her. She wept for the memories of her father, working the farms each year, and her mother, working the kitchen for the hands every day. Her very being poured out of her in tears.

Before too long, Deia realized Fenix was talking to her, but could not make out what he was saying. Fenix pushed her away, and looked at her, that concern in his eyes. “Deia,” he said louder, “you’re burning up.” He put a hand to her forehead to feel it, and hissed, pulling it away. “Lay down, quickly.” She complied, wiping her eyes, and Fenix went to the door carrying the waterbasin. Once she was decently covered by the blankets, he opened the door and asked someone for more water.

Her thoughts clouded her sight: thoughts of her parents, thoughts of Tailz and Cerberus, thoughts of Fenix. She was out long before Fenix returned with the first damp towel to place over her forehead.

* * * * *

A knock at the door woke Fenix. Looking around, he checked on Deia, who was still asleep, the latest towel on her head nearly dry. He jumped up from the chair he sat in, grasping the sword’s hilt that had been jabbing into his side just moments before. He cautiously approached the door.

“Fenix?” came a melodious voice.

Relieved, Fenix put his sword back in its sheathe before opening the door. “I am glad you’re okay.”

Jax looked just as relieved to see him, and entered the room. “That’s sweet, boy, but I was never in any danger. The Guard saw me as a sweet innocent victim, and the boys, well, they weren’t going to harm me none.”

Earlier, after hearing the story Fenix laid out for her, and then some convincing to try to prove to her that what he was saying was real, Jax decided that they had to do something. Even if only a part of what Fenix said beared any fruit, it was events surrounding Deia and the Guard’s odd behavior that made her act. She explained that she knew some men that had owed her a favor, and that they would gladly jump at the chance to help with this, especially with the Guard involved. What she had not told him was that they were a group of thieves in the city. They argued about it at first, but when Jax said she did not expect him to understand how the protection of her establishment hinged on absolute neutrality towards her guests, he let it lie.

True enough, they did the job, and did it well. That’s all that mattered.

“How long was I out?” Fenix asked?

“Out?” Jax asked. “I only just arrived.” She frowned at Deia and then back again. “You poor things, you must be exhausted.”

Fenix walked to the window and looked outside. The sun was barely visible out on the horizon. He had been back at the inn for an hour, maybe two. He must have dozed off. “Deia’s the worst of it, I’m afraid,” he said over his shoulder, watching the street outside. Guards were changing shift at the gate; nothing seemed out of the ordinary. “She’s become feverish.”

Jax walked over to the girl in the bed, and raised the dried compress off Deia’s head, and reached down to moisten it again in the waterbasin on the floor. “Poor thing,” she said again. “Did you find her like this?”

The gates opened outside. Fenix kept watching, half expecting the Guard to start storming the inn at any moment. “No, she just went under, not too long ago.”

“Hm. But, you know what is odd?” Jax said, squeezing the cloth in her hands and reapplying it to Deia’s warm forehead. “Lam and his boys, they said that the Guard was light this morning. Only minimal guards at the usual places, and nowhere as many joined in their little skirmish as they would have liked. We would suspect that the Mayor had been relaxing the number of guards on duty, but why today, all of a sudden, right when we needed it?”

Fenix gasped, and pointed out the window. “Because they were out of town.”

Jax strode over to see what he was looking at, and then put both hands to her mouth. What seemed to be an army, the entirety of the Srynn Guard was marching in the front gate. “Oh, my.” She lowered her hands, and spoke to Fenix without taking her eyes off the incoming soldiers. “What do you think they were after?”

“I don’t know, but—” Fenix cut off, choking. A tightly-formed group of Guard entered the gate, with a man in brown robes and fiery-red hair leading the way. “Tailz!” He growled.

Jax moved an inch away from the window. “That horrible man you told me about, he’s with them?”

Looking closely, Fenix scanned the group Tailz was leading and saw everything centered on one man, chained to himself and moving oddly. Then everything made sense. Fenix slapped his forehead.

Jax blinked. “What?”

“Tailz did not join Mensch. Tailz is in charge! Tailz needed help, forces, to capture Cerberus, and he’s using Mensch to do that!”

“But why keep him alive? Why go through all that killing, and not kill him too?”

Fenix watched the Guard parade down the central street, headed towards the center city. Towards the Srynn Hall.

They realized it together, exclaiming simultaneously, “Xia and Danni!”

Fenix rushed to gather his robe, checking the belt around his waist and his sheathe. “I have to go help them.”

“What are you going to do, Fenix? Fight them all?” Jax scoffed at him. “Boy, you can’t win this one, we have to think of another way.”

“Look, unless your ‘boys’ are willing to take on the Mayor and Srynn Hall, there is no other option right now. Tailz is going to use the Telians as leverage to get Cerberus to do what he wants.”

Jax put her hands on her waist. “What if Cerberus doesn’t count them as friends?”

Fenix drew himself up tall, and put a hand on his sword. “Then they’re as good as dead anyways. I have to get to them somehow.”

Jax pursed her lips, but did not say anything. She walked over to Deia, and looked at her. “What about the girl?”

Fenix opened the door. “Take care of Deia for me.”

“You take care of yourself, boy. I’ll handle the girl.”

“I’ll come back, I promise.” Fenix turned and walked out the door. “With the others.”

Lifting the blanket to check on Deia, Jax winced at the state of her bandaged body. “You’d better come back, boy. You saved her life, and took care of her. If you die now, after everything she’s been through, she’ll only blame herself.”

* * * * *

The window crashed and rained down glass over Lord Mensch. A robed figure flew through the window feet first, driving them into Mensch’s back. Mensch growled loudly as he was knocked forward. The robed man released the rope he had rode in on, and dropped to his feet on the floor. Mensch kept his balance and turned to face the newcomer.

“Bah!” Tailz said, turning away from Mensch and towards Cerberus. “You kill them! Kill them all! I’ll take care of my friend over here.”

Mensch raised his sword obediently. The robed man lowered his hood, and drew two swords from under his robes. “You bastard,” Fenix announced. “Let’s see how good you are now.”