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Laseri breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it part of the way there, now the task was to get to the top floor and rescue Razzle. Simply getting out of Manster would have been difficult enough, but fighting through an unknown amount of enemy soldiers to get to the second top floor entrance and facing down Argus on top of that made this seem like an impossible task.

Fighting continued to echo from the basement floor. Laseri was grateful that he had freed some prisoners capable of fighting. They were already serving as useful decoys for his main group. While the goat did not like to think of other living creatures as such...the situation warranted it. Especially since they did not pledge to help the Seafarers. Therefore, they weren't his to command, and not of his concern.

"Bit of a miracle we made it to the first floor without setting off the whole compound, innit Laseri?" remarked Biel, who's ears were rotating around, listening intently for any noise.

Laseri brushed silver hair out of his face. "Yes, I suppose so. But the second we walk through that door," the goat indicated a wooden double door that was across the room, "they're going to know. And the whole place will go up. You sure you can still fight?"

Biel chuckled. "Yeah. My leather armor's a little torn up, but I can still hold a blade. I wonder why ol' Argus didn't just up and finish me off though?"

"He probably means to either try to convert you, or squeeze information out of you," said Starbuck, who unsheathed a short sword.

"Convert me?" Biel quirked a brow. "You'd think His Holiness would want to wipe 'unfaithful' scum like me from the face of Namir."

Starbuck sighed. "I don't know what goes on in that head of his. He's a strange one, that he is. May'aps he thinks he can get you on his side. They say he's got a tongue made of silver."

"Well, if that's how he does, then we gotta get to ol' Razzle as fast as we can," Biel looked towards the wooden door, "we can't risk him bein' taken by that monster."

"He's a cunning one, that Argus," said Laseri.

"And I'm a fool for falling for his tricks! Dammit I knew things were going too easy. I should've been more careful!"

"Don't blame yourself, Biel. You were out done by a smarter opponent. Use this as an opportunity to learn and grow as a commander."

"I don't mind learnin', Las. I just don't want my people dyin' so I can do the learnin'."

"Right," Laseri looked around the room to take make sure everyone was present. Biel and Starbuck were already counted for. Hazel was leaning back against the wall, visibly uncertain. Franz was stationed over by the stairs, making sure that no soldiers were coming up behind them. Fergan and Ross were chatting with each other, most likely discussing tactics.

"Be ready for anything, Seafarers!"

* * * * *

"Razzle, please, consider what I have to say. It _is_alright if I call you that, or would you prefer your proper name, Raziya?" Argus approached a short wooden stand that had various books scattered about, and a bottle with a bright white label on it. Leaning against it was the golden Valgus Blade, which quietly radiated a magical essence throughout the room.

Razzle didn't say anything to the stag. He just watched him uncork the bottle and pour a ruby red substance into two glasses.

"Listen, Razzle, I know you're upset with me. Friends of yours were injured, killed even. I would feel exactly the same if the situation was reversed," he picked up the glasses with his gloved hands, and walked over to where Razzle was sitting. "Do you drink wine? This particular bottle is from Harian. My comrade, Niko, suggested it," he held one of the glasses over to Razzle.

Out of a sense of (in his opinion) misplaced politeness, Razzle took the glass quietly, but didn't say anything.

"I'll admit, it's not as sweet as the kind rebels drink. Well," Argus smirked, "it depends on the specific group now, doesn't it? Biel and his cohorts are pirates, so they're most likely into ale more. But this? This is fine Harian wine, as I mentioned. Niko's current beloved is the daughter of Harian winemakers."

"...why are you like this?" Razzle suddenly asked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You're...you're so friendly towards me. Aren't I the enemy? I'm a rebel, isn't it your duty as a high and mighty Holy Lannis soldier to cut me down?"

Argus' smirk shifted into a friendly, warm smile. "See, that's what they want you to think. True, I'll kill rebels in cold blood on the battlefield. But I'd love nothing more than to have a conversation, to try to...rectify whatever wrongs you think have been done unto you to cause you turn against the Lord God Lannis. With me, there is always a second chance, if you choose to take it."

Razzle's large fennec ears perked up and opened towards the door to the room as it suddenly opened. He had trouble picking out what it was that came in, as they were clad head to toe in a combination of plate and leather armor that was stained purple. He could see a lower jaw sticking under a metal mask with a slim visor - some kind of canine, perhaps?

Argus turned to greet the visitor. "Ah! Speaking of which, here is one such convert."

"This one's a convert?" Razzle's ears perked up curiously.

"Yes." Said the creature. "My name is Osiris, I used to be a rebel just like you. Then I realized the error of my ways, and Lord Argus here gave me a second chance at a better life," the creature began searching around the room. "Where did you put my arrows, Argus?"

"Sorry, they're over there in the corner," Argus pointed to a book shelf in the back corner of the room where a quiver of arrows rested. "You need more already? Are we under attack?"

"No. But one of those idiot archers spilled their arrows and a good chunk of the lot fell to the first floor. Don't want them leaving their post so I brought more."

Argus sighed. "Lazy estate guards. Go hard on them Osiris, teach them not to be so relax. We've got creatures of high value here, which means those rebels just might try to counter attack."

"Believe me, I will," Osiris picked up the quiver of arrows, but before he left the room he turned to Razzle. "Listen to Lord Argus. He truly does want the best for us all."

And with that, he closed the door.

* * * * *

Little did Osiris know, the fighting would soon begin. The Seafarers were out in a nearby corridor, trying to plan their next move. They were looking out at the main foyer, and just as Hazel had said, the staircase to the upper floor was indeed locked, guarded even.

"Damn. We'll have to go around to that back room after all," said Starbuck as he folded his ears. "No matter, we'll just--"

"Ey! What's you all doin' 'ere? Don't ya see, we're 'ome free, we jus' gotta rush on out!" the group of four prisoners had came up behind the Seafarers, a fox brandishing a large ax. "C'mon Urf, follow me!"

"Wait! Hold on! Don't--!!" Starbuck had no chance to stop the two creatures from rushing out in to the foyer. The hyena was forced to watch as they ran over to the soldiers guarding the upper staircase. He turned to face the rest of the group. "You better be ready, because those damn fools are about to put this whole place on alert."

The duo cut down the two guards easily, and turned their attention to the main doorway, which suspiciously had no guards in front of it.

"WE'VE GOT A BREAK OUT!!" exclaimed a voice from above. The duo barely had anytime to look up before they were peppered with arrows. Urf was the first to go, as one arrow struck his leg, another through his stomach, and a third through his chest.

The fox dodged a couple of arrow shots, and picked up a spear one of the guards dropped. He gave it a clumsy, untrained throw which was answered by an arrow to the arm. Before he could even curse in response, a purple tipped arrow zipped through the air and plunged through his skull.

"We should uh...we should really get out of this corridor!" exclaimed Hazel.

Starbuck consoled the rabbit. "Don't worry Hazel, they wouldn't be able to shoot us here. But you're right, we need to get out of this corridor and start making our way to the back of this wing."

Fergan forward with his friend Ross.

"We'll cover your rear," said Fergan with a nod. "You set us free in those cells, and we're not about to throw our lives away."

The two other rescued prisoners, a stoat and weasel, also stepped forward. "We be coverin' the rear too, long as we get to kill some of those Lannis bastards."

Laseri shook his head. "Be careful what you wish for, stoat, you just might get it."

The Sefarers led the charge down the corridor, with Fergus, Ross, Jam the stoat and Isk the weasel bringing up the rear. They turned the corner into a larger, more open corridor only to be greeted with a decent score of red and green armored soldiers. In the far back of the unit stood a blue and white rabbit in light armor.

"Attention escapees and rebels!" shouted the rabbit, "Lay down your arms now, and the worst that will happen is detainment and a period of forced fasting. If you continue to resist, we will cut you down!"

Laseri made his way to the front of the Seafarers. "I am the ring leader of this group! What do they call you, boy?"

The blue rabbit's ears quivered in anger. How dare that radical refer to him as a boy! "My name is Niko Leonard! You are before one of The Imbued Knights of Lannis! Stand down now if you know what's good for you!"

Laseri placed a hand over a small red book that was hanging off the left side of his waist. The book began to glow, and as Laseri pulled his hand away a fireball the size of his palm appeared in his hand, which was promptly lobbed over at Niko, who quickly raised a shield to block the blast.

Niko drew his rapier and pointed towards the Seafarers. "Soldiers of Lannis and Manster, CHARGE!"

* * * * *

"An attack? Already?" Argus asked the soldier with an incredulous look on his face.

The soldier, a spear man stoat, nodded. "Yessir. Niko and his small group are engaging them now. I checked, and we've got nearly a score of rebel troops to deal with."

Argus frowned. "Damn. That was too fast. I was certain our surprise attack would've left them broken! Very well...return to your post soldier. If they make it to the second floor, let me know immediately!"

"For the glory of our Lord God Lannis, it shall be done!"

The soldier then departed the room, and Argus thought of something before he soon turned to face Razzle.

"You have a beloved, don't you Razzle?"

"What? You mean Hazel?" the fennec's ears perked up as soon as the rabbit's name was mentioned.

"Yes, him. I saw the way you looked at him both shorlty before the surprise attack, and during the transport here. It's obvious there's deep affection between you two," Argus took a sip of ruby red wine.

"So what of it?"

"I could...make it so Hazel remains safe. Secured. Protected," replied Argus. There was a sense of sincerity to his voice, and the stag spoke as if he were a guardian angel. "All you need to do is abandon these rebels and pledge your life to the Lord God Lannis. I have the power to forgive both you and him, and you can both live peacefully, and blissfully."

Razzle scowled. "Or else what? D'you got a knife to his throat or something? Will you slash it if I say no?"

"Dear heavens, no! I'm not some barbarian Razzle, please think of me better than that!" he began to swish the wine in his glass, and stared into Razzle's green eyes as he continued. "I don't use such tactics. That just makes someone little more than someone who's not truly devoted. A 'forced ally' if you will. What good is that? Sure, it boosts our ranks, but it doesn't boost the faithful. And what good is that? Your body is pledged but not your soul, which is what I am after. I desire brothers-in-arms, not those with knives against their necks. Friends, true, faithful allies."

"But...Hazel's most likely in battle. You can...make him safe, just like that?"

Argus nodded. "I can do so personally. If not that, then make sure he is set aside with easy to heal injuries. Nothing fatal or life-changing."

There it was again, that guardian angel tone. Something about the way Argus spoke put Razzle's mind at ease. Perhaps he was wrong about Argus...but then he remembered something about Lannis; something he had learned back in Emerald Leaf. His whole reason for joining the Seafarers.

"But Argus...your own church...Lannis...they killed my parents! You expect me to join after learning they did that?"

Argus swished his wine in his glass once more before drinking the remainder of it. "Do you even know why your parents were killed?"

"Wha...what difference does it make?! The constable...he paid off bandits to kill mother and father! Because they had dared turn against him! You stand there talking about forgiveness, when there's an example of Lannis not being as forgiving as you make it sound like!"

Lannis put up a black gloved hand. "Let me explain, Razzle. Your parents were killed for turning against us, yes, but this was much more than something like joining a group of rebels. Tell me, do you know where your powers come from?"

"You mean my ability to See things?"

Argus nodded. "Yes. That."

"The Upperu Priest that would visit me for vision sessions said I'd had them since I was a child, I assume I was born with them. What does that got to do with why my parents were killed?"

"Raziya," Razzle's ears perked up as Argus spoke his true name, "you weren't born with these powers. You were gifted them, by the very same blade that gifted me my powers."

"You mean..." Razzle looked towards the dormant Valgus Blade. The red jewel on the hilt shone, as if it were trying to call Razzle.

"...Yes, Raziya, yes. You were gifted it. You see, you and I, we're not so different. Oh sure, we're on different sides, but we're both dedicated to our causes, and we've both been touched by The Blade.

"In regards to your parents, they agreed to let Upperu Priests who were strong enough to command the Valgus Blade to gift you these powers. They've been trying for months to gift adults the power to see visions, but each ended in failure. So they thought, what if they gifted a child? By chance, your parents heard about this. They saw it as a chance to gain some potential power, some leverage, as they were not nobles. And need I remind you...a non-noble creature commanding free magic that needs not be conjured by tomes and staves is a rarity. It was their chance to rise above their station, and bring you up with them."

"So...they did it for status?"

Argus nodded. "Yes. And so, after you were born, you were touched by the blade, and the Lord God Lannis kept watch with his faithful priests. As you grew into a young child, they watched you still. Began to have sessions. The Church sought to grow you into one of theirs, help you become everything you wanted. Your parents didn't like that, however, and wanted to escape the life they had agreed to. They wanted to break the agreement."

Razzle listened intently to every word Argus said. There was no sign of lying, no word held any sound of deceit. He felt that Argus was speaking the truth, and he didn't know what to think.

"They sought a way to take themselves, and you, away from the Lord God Lannis. They tried to plunge you into a life of being on the run, of being an unwilling fugitive. That is why they were killed. We had to stop them from ripping you away from your destiny...even though the rebels seemed to manage to do that anyways. But, there's always a chance for you to come back."

"But...but Constable Gareth...his notes...Biel found them and read them before Lannis mages torched the place."

"Either Biel didn't find all the notes...or he _lied_to you," Argus gave a concerned frown. "Either way, your descent into rebellion was based off of a story that wasn't even completed. You rushed into things without knowing the whole story. What do you have to say to that, Raziya Jadestar?"

Razzle looked over to the Valgus Blade, then up at Argus.

---

Steel clashed against steel, axe crashed against shield, and fire balls splashed against armor. The Seafarers were deadlocked in battle with the Manster and Lannis soldiers while Niko observed the brawl from a safe distance. He scowled. The rebels were doing better than he expected! A few close calls were had, but these either ended with someone getting a light cut, or one of their allies saving them at the last moment. That nefarious Laseri even protected his allies that would have surely died no more than three times now!

Fergan, Ross, Isk and Jam intercepted Lannis soldiers that tried to intercept from the rear. Isk and Jam were competent enough fighters, with Isk pulling random weapons off the ground and using them as if they were second nature. No matter what was knocked from his hands, be it a sword, axe, stray arrow or even a large stone if he could grab it, he could fight with it. A true Jack of All Trades!

Niko spoke to a soldier that was surveying the losing fight next to him. "Go on and charge in. I'm heading up to the second floor - I'm going to see if I can pull some reinforcements down. They're surely going to tire after this."

The soldier saluted. "Aye sir!"

Niko saluted back before running off. "May the glory of Lannis guide your sword arm!"

Laseri blasted a soldier's shield to pieces with a well placed fireball, and noticed Niko running away.

"Starbuck! Niko is getting away! I'm going after him!" shouted the goat as he took off down the corridor. Though most soldiers knew they should strike the goat as he ran past, something prevented them from doing so. The superstitious would say that whatever Gods Laseri believed in protected him - Laseri knew better. He knew they didn't want to disturb him and risk getting a fireball to the face. Better to leave that to the rabbit who left the fray. That rabbit was awfully quick though!

Soldiers in the next room over attempted to intercept Laseri. He backed up and threw a burst of fire at one of them, knocking them back and into a nearby shelf. The second soldier rushed the goat, who pulled out an oddly shaped dagger from under his mage robes and jammed it into the neck of the second soldier. They went down instantly.

"This place is full of untrained soldiers...why is that? Were they unprepared that much? Did they not expect us to come?" Laseri thought as he turned to the stairs. "Then again, they don't know my true station, of my Princly background. They probably still think I'm a common mage thief...all the better then."

Before he could advance, Niko came from around the corner of the top floor, with no less than five additional soldiers behind him.

"Ah, ring leader goat, you've come to your death I see," said Niko as he descended the stairs. He turned to the reinforcements. "Leave us. We will duel commander to commander, focus yourselves on those other rebels."

The soldiers saluted and charged down the stairs - Laseri let them go. He too desired a duel with Niko, but he also did not want to risk getting caught by that rapier between spell discharges. He got the impression this rabbit was an experienced fighter - not like that lance soldier he jammed his dagger into.

"You should really stop talking like you're an angel of death, Niko. It really doesn't suit a boy such as yourself," said Laseri, who smirked inwardly.

"A disrespectful ring leader you are!" Niko threw down his shield and drew a long dagger. "Right then goat, have at you!"

Niko thrusted with his rapier arm downward at Laseri, who quickly backed up and observed the weapon. Basket hilted, he knew that he couldn't get away with taking cheap shots at it. The dagger arm was being kept close to the body, and thus closing in for a knife strike would not work. The goat cursed not bringing his true weapon, the katana, but knew that doing so would have risked blowing his cover.

No matter...all the better to outwit this over confident rabbit with skillful use of spells.

Niko angled his rapier an upward angle, and made circling motions as he stepped forward. He knew that Laseri needed to charge up the fire blast from the tome and shoot it at him. A long range spell, not too terribly effective in close quarters. All he had to do was close in on the goat.

They both stepped off of the stairwell, and Niko took two sudden steps forward and attempted a slash. Laseri ducked the attack and rolled to create more distance between him and the rabbit. Now was the time to take advantage of his masterful use of limitation.

Laseri placed his right hand over a second small book Niko failed to notice earlier. This one was green, and with a slash of his arm, a cutting burst of wind swept out towards Niko, who barely side stepped the attack.

Damn! This was not expected! Even with his shield, a wind cutter spell would slice through with relative ease. He would not be put down so easily though, and the two began to circle each other once more.

"I see you were limiting your choices earlier, ring leader! A clever trick, I must say."

Laseri smirked. "Yes. I knew by the time you took stock of the wind spell it would be too late. You may talk a big game, but you have much to learn little Niko."

The rabbit's ears quivered in anger again, but this time he stayed his hand and continued to circle. He got the feeling that there was more to this "ring leader" goat than he let on. As if he were hiding something. He was quite the skilled tactician - where did the rebels get such a creature? Perhaps a hired sword from some distant land?

"Where are you from, ringleader?" asked Niko.

Laseri, very audibly, chuckled. "You're the inquisitor. Inquisite me!"

Niko had enough of Laseri's games - he watched Laseri's hand as it hovered over the green book. He saw the book glow, an the rabbit quickly stepped forward and gave a strong thrust, aiming right for the hand.

What he didn't notice was that during the talking, Laseri had adjusted the red book so it was hidden from view, and as Niko pushed forward the goat jumped back into the air, pulling his hand out from behind his back to reveal the fireball in it which he immediately shot downward at the rabbit. Niko cut away at the fireball in desperation - such a spell from a small book was weak enough to intercept as such - but the effort failed and did little more than slightly weaken the burst, which struck his armor plated chest and knocked him back.

As he came to his senses he saw Laseri striking a pose, ready to continue the battle.

But then he noticed a dark blue wolf run by.

Biel!

He was heading for Argus' chamber!