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13thDay of Sytarel

128 I.E.

The weeks following the battle outside Sanctuary were busy for the Freedom Coalition forces. Laborers from Rogust, Valar, and Kitair had made it into the city to help with the clean up operations. The Coalition was planning to assist with retaking the Republic of Olaraa. Scouting parties had already searched out for the retreating Shadow Legion, but had come up empty. It was assumed the enemy regrouped further into Olaraa's borders, but no one had reported anything concrete yet.

Dane's own work was finally settling down. He'd debriefed and reported on what had happened according to his soldiers. He was looking forward to having a night to himself, to get away from it all, if only for a short time. All he wanted was a short break so he could relax. It was going to get hectic soon with how things among the Coalition forces were shaping up to be. No definitive plans had been settled on in the recapture operation, but they would likely be moving out soon.

He let out a sigh when he looked at the casualties they had incurred. He was drafting the final few letters to send off to the Vedray family. Though he had always butted heads with Elizabeth, he had to admit he admired her for being a no-nonsense individual who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, even to a superior officer. She prided herself on her work, despite working under someone like Digran.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Elizabeth," Dane said aloud, shaking his head. Though he hadn't seen Fippy charging into battle before he wounded her, he still felt guilty for not doing something more to help her. He stamped the Rogarian seal onto the letter and set it aside. It would be the first of many that he'd be writing that day.

Dane was working out of a small room in a building off base. The barracks was still under going repairs, and he didn't want to get in people's way as they worked. He hoped to be able to move back into his room soon, so that he could get out of the musty, moldy home that the military had taken. Sitting in his chair, Dane arched his back and listened as it cracked and popped when he moved. He'd been sitting doing nothing but paperwork for too long, and his back was aching.

If I wasn't on duty I could take a nap, Dane thought, and yawned, But I bet as soon as I hit that bed, Digran will pop his head in.

There was a light knock on the door, and Dane bid the person to enter. An ursar girl stepped in, looking very young and wearing cloth garments in the same shade of purple as the robe that Arion wore. The girl looked around until she spied Dane, then asked, "Um, excuse me, but are you Lieutenant Trueshot?"

"Captain Trueshot, actually," Dane corrected. Digran had fought the idea of a promotion for the man ever since Highlord Gantors had proposed it. Dane hadn't a clue how or why the dwarf thought he deserved one, but he could only assume that the suggestion had been based on whatever Arion had told Gantors of the battle. He had accepted the promotion with pride, and the only thing that made it better was that it annoyed Digran.

"I apologize sir." The cub bowed low.

Dane smiled at her. "Don't worry about it. Now, tell me why you are here."

"Ah, yes. Of course." The ursar fumbled about with something in her pockets, then produced a small scroll and padded over to Dane's desk to hand it off to him. "It's from Master Arion."

"It's an invitation?" Dane asked as he glanced at the parchment, written in flawless script.

Dear Dane Trueshot,

I hope this message finds you well. I hear that you have been busy these past few weeks. You'll have to forgive me for sending one of my students to deliver this; I would have come myself if I did not have business to attend to. I would like to invite you to join myself, the Highlord, and his wife at a dinner with Commander Gryph on the Olaraan base.

I know you said you'd very much like to ask me about Xenaria and my culture, and the Commander had expressed a similar interest, so please feel free to ask whatever you wish. I hope you'll attend the commander's dinner.

Sincerely,

Arion Clothspinner

Addendum: It seems the daughter of one of my students wants to assist me and is delivering this in their place, with her parents blessing of course. Can you please make sure that Sionache is alright? Though she is young by ursar standards, she is bright despite her age, and I don't want to have any harm befall her.

"Huh... So your name is Sionache?" Dane asked the girl, and she nodded her head emphatically.

"Yes sir!"

Dane tucked the scroll away in his tunic, keeping it safe in case he needed it to get onto the Olaraan base. "Can you please tell Arion I'll be sure to be there?"

"Yes sir, of course!" Sionache bowed, and hurried over to the door. "I'll be sure to let him know. Bye Captain!" The door shut behind her, and Dane couldn't help thinking how cute the cub was.

Dane was about to settle down to rush through the remains of his paperwork when the door opened again, and he looked up, expecting it to be Sionache again. Instead, Roweon was coming in from patrol with a few others from the unit. He pulled the scroll out and waved it around when the man approached him. "Guess who's going to a fancy dinner tonight?"

Dane hadn't run into Roweon during the final hours of the Battle of Sanctuary, and only saw him at the end when they were celebrating their victory. The man had sustained only minor injuries, nothing that hadn't healed up after a few days of rest. Nothing life-threatening, but that was to be expected of someone who was fighting in the back.

"Must be you if you're asking. Why? What's going on?" he asked.

Dane handed the scroll over for him to read. "I was invited to join Arion and the Olaraan commanders for dinner tonight."

"Oh," Roweon rubbed at one of his temples. "Would I be able to come along too?"

"Sorry, the invite was just for me. I just felt like bragging," Dane said with a grin, which faded quickly. "Headaches again?"

Roweon nodded, "Yeah but it's not too bad."

"Well then, rest up for tonight and maybe tomorrow we'll go to the Foamy Bull for a few drinks, just you and me."

"That sounds alright to me," Roweon said. "Listen I need to get back to work before the Commander gets back. I'll talk to you later." He looked back towards the door. "Who was the kid? She said I was odd." He scoffed. "No respect for her elders."

"Roweon, Sionache is just a young ursar. You don't need to be like that," Dane said and gave him a reproachful look. It was so strange for the man to become irritated so quickly.

With a shrug, Roweon said, "Well, whatever. I'll talk to you later on then."

He's acting so strange, but then again, maybe it's just the headaches._He hadn't ever seen Roweon act so indifferent to something before, but Dane admitted he hadn't known the man for a very long time. It reminded him of how Talia was when he had first met her. _Maybe he just doesn't like kids?

* * * * *

Xellik paced furiously up and down the deck of the _Sytarel's Wrath_as it sailed the open seas. The wooden planks creaked under his weight. Anyone who stood in his way was casually swatted aside like they were nothing more than a common insect. After one crewman was knocked overboard, everyone else quickly learned their lesson to get out of the frustrated orc's way.

Where is Bytej? And that witch Nazridia has gone missing, too!_Xellik had checked every part of the ship and even had a number of his own soldiers looking around as well. The entire crew had been ordered to notify him should either one of them show up, but as far as anyone could tell, neither the shaman nor the succubus was present on the ship. _And Cinra hasn't reported in since we were on Jha'zal. Something is wrong here.

Not even Haij had seen Bytej since they left Muriaj behind. Xellik began to wonder if he had gotten stuck on one of the other ships, or left behind.

Bah, I don't have time for this wild Korcyn chase. I have an army to lead.

In the distance to the north, they could just barely make out the volcano of the Elfin Islands sticking up like a tiny pimple on the horizon. Xellik stomped over to a tube sticking out of the wall and shouted into it, "Navigation, report in!"

"Yes Warlord. What is it?" replied the chief navigator.

"Change course. I don't want the fleet drifting too close to the Elfin Islands. Take a round-about route to Kitair," Xellik ordered. "I want to make it look like we approached from Konsus, to throw them off."

"At once sir!" the navigator responded.

"I want to see the shore within a week."

"Yes Warlord!"

From the shadows, Haij stepped towards where Xellik was standing. "Why did you have our base built north of Kitair anyways? We're leaving Zugrul entirely undefended by doing this. You know that, right?"

"I'm well aware of our current situation, Haij," Xellik said, exasperated. "Have you heard anything from Cinra?"

"Why would I? Why don't you ask Napir, when he's not gorging on our food stores again," Haij replied bitterly. "Cinra and I never talked."

"You could've just said 'No' if you didn't hear anything."

"So, why did you build our base there? You've had the Zugrul workforce shipping materials back and forth since before we left Rhavik." Haij leaned on the ship's rails, watching the Elfin Islands fade into the distance as the fleet changed its course. "You're lucky there's nothing on Konsus, otherwise the elves might've noticed the ships heading into the northern mountains.

"Bytej told me of a very powerful nexus of ley-lines that resides in the Apollo Mountains," Xellik began. He turned to look at Haij and saw the blank expression on his face. "Basically, it's a point where we can open a dimensional door."

"A door to what?"

"To everything," Xellik replied. "We can create a portal that bridges the gap between our world and Sytarel's home Plane. We'll summon Her demon armies to squash the Coalition forces without expending any of our own troops."

"Do you plan to throw away the lives of all your allies to protect the orcs?"

"That's what this whole campaign has been about. Everything on Muriaj will belong to the orcs one day. I guarantee it. We'll have our homeland back, and so much more."

Haij stood up and started to talk away. "Just remember if you keep throwing your friends away like refuse, it'll come back to haunt you one day."

When the older orc was out of ear shot, Xellik growled and slammed a fist on the deck's railing, leaving a sizable dent in the wood.

* * * * *

The sun had long ago set beyond the Kelial Plains and the distant sound of a loon could be heard coming in through the Olaraan barrack's open windows. The building had once been full of boisterous voices and the dwarves had been enjoying themselves despite the way events had played out for them in recent months. The mess hall was empty, save for a table at the back of the room where several people were sitting amongst discarded and dirty dishes. The grand hall was well lit by luminescent globes stuck within sconces in the walls.

It turned out there were more people at the dinner than Dane had expected. In addition to Commander Gryph, Highlord Glowinglight, and his wife, Arion also invited his family. Daris Clothspinner was a jovial ursar, and he'd taken to having a few drinks of a rice wine he'd brought with him. Aida, his wife, was more reserved, and was quietly chatting with Helga and Arion's sister, Keri.

The dinner was the first time Dane could remember actually enjoying himself since Aiden passed away. It wasn't as if his time with Roweon wasn't unpleasant or even at times exhilarating, but he'd have been lying to himself if he said he'd been happy all the time. After all, he'd been with Aiden for years. Roweon had only come into his life recently and they didn't have as much in common.

The food had been more delicious and more extravagant than Dane could have ever imagined. The entire table had been a spread of roasted boar meat, shimmerscale fish, soup, quail, and more pies, pastries and varieties of ale than he'd ever seen. He'd never eaten so luxuriously before, and he had to wonder if it was normal for people like Gryph to eat like this all the time.

Dane found he really liked the rowdy company of the dwarves, though Helga was more polite than her husband. He had expected it to be a very primp and proper affair considering that he was joining some of the most influential individuals from Olaraa. However it was very casual and open minded, to the point that Gryph was telling raunchy stories of sexual conquest while guzzling down mugs of ale that dribbled profusely down his beard. Dane was more surprised by the fact that the ursar didn't object to the stories, but he was too polite to ask why they were being so tolerant of the dwarf's behaviour.

"I really appreciate the invite to dinner tonight," Dane said after Gryph finished his last story. "I haven't had a good time like this in who knows how long." He lifted his mug into the air. "It's been such an honor to dine with four veterans of both Gnoll Wars, and with such a welcoming family. To my wonderful hosts!"

"Ah, here here lad!" Gryph smacked his cup against his, and soon all but Arion (who had chosen not to drink) were joining in, sloshing ale and wine around, covering their dirty and mostly empty plates in spilled booze.

The ursar had remained quiet for most of the evening, and Dane wondered if he wasn't having as much fun as the others. "Is everything alright Arion? You've been quiet."

"Arion's never been a talker," Daris said with a smile. "Always more of a thinker."

"Pfft, he's always like that," Gantors said and waved his hand dismissively. "Needs ta loosen up a bit if ye ask me."

The monk shrugged, "Perhaps you're right, Highlord. I am enjoying listening to you all though."

"I've been curious, and I hope you'll forgive me if it comes off as rude--"

"Bah, we all be friends here lad!" Gryph said, louder than necessary. His voice echoed off the bare walls and throughout the empty room. "Ye needn't bother wit' that formal crap." The commander had downed more than his fair share of ale. He leaned over to the keg sitting next to him and drew from the tap to refill his mug. Helga excused herself from her conversation with the ursar to discreetly reach over and shut off the tap after Gryph had pulled his mug away, as the dwarf had forgotten to stop it himself.

"Well, I was curious Arion," Dane said, and swirled his drink around. "I admit I know little of Xen, and I know you haven't touched a drop of ale since we started eating, but alcohol is a violation of your Tenants, isn't it?"

"Yes. Why? What would bring up such a question?"

"A couple weeks ago I saw an ursar in a tavern I frequent. I assumed all Xenarians avoided booze so I was curious, but then your father is enjoying some wine so--"

"Xen is like any other way of life," Daris said simply as he moved to refill his glass. "Not everyone who follows it is perfect. Considering events recently, I'd say this is well deserved." He looked to Arion and added, "You should have some too, son."

Aida placed a paw on her husband's arm. "Honey, you're drunk."

"I'm perfectly fine," he said with a big grin on his face.

"You're trying to talk your son into drinking. You're drunk."

"No I'm not."

Keri piped in finally, breaking her silence streak. "Dad, you're drunk. You're swaying in your seat like there's a bard playing music in your head."

Everyone at the table was sharing a short laugh at the elder ursar's expense. Dane found it amusing watching such a large, round individual rolling around in his seat. The ursar had a perpetual grin on his face that felt infectious.

"Oi, this ursar ye saw," Gantors blurted out, as if suddenly remembering what they were talking about, "was he in an Olaraan uniform?" Dane nodded his head. "Bah, that jus' be Bartholomew."

"You've met Bartholomew Stoutmantle?" Arion asked.

"No, I never speak with him, but I saw him at a tavern a few times." Dane sipped his drink. "He seems... interesting."

"He's a Xenarian, but he was orphaned in Olaraa many years ago. He never grew up knowing anything about Xen."

"Well, then I have another question if you don't mind? How can you kill when I'm certain that's against the Precepts of Xen?" Dane asked. He paused, then realized he'd come off as sounding incredibly crass. Both of Arion's parents were looking at him strangely, and he suddenly felt very self-conscious. "I apologize, that was rather blunt of me to ask."

"I'm used to it. I live among dwarves," Arion said with a smile. "You are partially correct." He telekinetically lifted a puffed pastry off a serving tray in the center of the table and floated it over to him and popping it into his mouth. The dwarven pastry was bite sized to the ursar. When he swallowed, he finished his answer. "The second Precept of Xen states that one may not strike another individual with malicious intent."

"Whazzat?" Gryph slurred.

"They're the ten laws that we Xenarians must follow if we wish to achieve Enlightenment," Aida responded. "It's a state of being that grants us insight into the very nature of our existence."

"So then there be some reason Arion can do what he do," Gryph pointed out and took a swig of ale, noisily belching afterward.

Gantors chimed in before Arion could, "He found a loophole, ye see."

"Aye, I did. The first Precept states to always help other beings. By defending my friends and those who are of good character, I break no Precepts. The second Precept states not to strike someone maliciously. To defend an ally is not malicious, is it?" Arion asked, and everyone unanimously agreed that to defend someone is not an act of malice.

"What of the other eight Precepts?" Dane asked. "What are they? Sorry, I once spoke with a few ursar in my youth in Rogust, but I never thought to ask about their believes."

"Ursar went to Rogust?" Daris asked. "There's nothing over there though."

Dane shrugged. "All I know is that there was a temple in the capital city."

"I don't mind your questions, Dane." Arion counted off the Precepts with his fingers as he spoke. "Respect all living things, do not commit suicide, understand the consequences of your actions, do not deny the existence of Xenar, strive to remain stoic in all things, meditate daily, and perform ritual purification on one's self regularly by bathing and praying to Xenar."

Dane began silently mouthing the words as she counted. "I only count nine total. Did I miss one?"

Before the monk could reply, Helga cut in. "Arion, there's no need to say anything if you don't want to," She placed one of her small hands on his thick arm.

The ursar shook his head. "It's fine, it doesn't bother me too much." He looked straight at Dane from across the table. "The third Precept says to not use others for one's own personal gain. To do so would be to selfishly violate their free will. I've done that countless times since I left Xenaria behind. I wanted so badly to assist the dwarves during the Gnoll War that I convinced a large number of my students to help me steal a ship and come along with me." Despite his earlier statement, Arion looked saddened when he spoke. "I continue to sin, even today, and drag my students along with me because I selfishly wish to help others."

"I've told ye before that it ain't selfish, Arion," Gantors said. "There be no use in beatin' yerself up over it."

"I couldn't agree more." Dane added. "What's selfish about convincing people to help others? Helping others is one of the most selfless things a being could do."

Arion shook his head. "It is, but I only convinced them because that's what I wanted, and not because of what was right. It's not about what I did, it's about my motives. I still repeat the same mistakes. That's simply how it is." He stood up to leave. "I apologize for putting a damper on the evening. I'll be taking my leave."

"You haven't, Arion," Dane assured him.

Helga tugged insistently on the ursar's robe. "Please stay friend. There's no need to leave yet."

"Aye, loosen up, 'ave a drink or two!" Gryph pushed his half full mug across the table towards Arion. "Ye've not 'ad a drop since ye came down, an' yer much too sober fer bein' so mopey."

"He doesn't drink," Gantors reminded him

Gryph looked at him, confused. "Eh, not at all? Yer talkin' crazy."

"Weren't ye listenin'?" Gantors spat, frustrated with the other dwarf.

"Nay, why?"

Arion smiled weakly. "You should've been listening, Commander. I won't touch a drop of that stuff." He waved his hand to gently slide Gryph's mug back to him.

"I'm sorry for bringing it up Arion," Dane said. He felt just as guilty as the ursar looked. He hadn't meant to bring up a sore issue.

The ursar shrugged. "It's fine." He extended a claw and used it to jab a sugar-glazed pastry near him and stuck it in his mouth. <Keeps the fur clean> he transmitted to everyone as he chewed, <You wouldn't understand how bothersome it is getting something sticky out of your fur.>

"Quit talkin' wit' yer mouth full," Gantors said, and smacked him in the side with the back of his hand.

<I'm not talking, I'm thinking,> Arion corrected.

Dane just laughed at the exchange, and the others joined him.

A short while later, Dane rose from the table, feeling a little overwhelmed in the hot room. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get some fresh air."

As he stood outside, staring up at the stars, he was eventually joined by Daris. The ursar grunted as he squeezed his bulk through the doorway, and pardoned himself for interrupting Dane.

"I wasn't doing anything," Dane said. "Feeling a bit hot in there?"

"More than a bit," Daris admitted, tugging at his collar. "The_shirokuma_don't handle heat very well."

"I hope you're not offended that I'm so curious about your culture," Dane said sheepishly after a brief silence. "I haven't been outside human lands until I arrived here."

"It's okay. I'm glad my son has someone to talk to." Daris seemed to get a faraway look in his eyes. "He's not had the chance to speak with a peer in a long time." He looked Dane evenly in the eyes, as though sizing him up. "I heard you helped him during the battle, and for that you have my thanks. If you end up fighting together again, will you look after him?"

"I can," Dane said, scratching the back of his head. "But he seems more than capable of handling himself."

"That's not what I meant. He spent so many years training at the Temples and being a teacher that I don't think he's ever had the chance to grow up." Daris plopped himself down on the steps, and Dane felt inclined to join him. "Ursar mature quickly, as far as intelligence and world-view go. But our emotions take a very long time to get a handle on. My son preaches stoicism and leads his Order, but he's still just a cub himself."

"I used to think that he wasn't adapted to the outside world," Daris said. "They took him away when he was only six years old."

"Who did?"

"The Empress' Hands. They took him to the Temple when they learned he was gifted." Daris plucked an errant strand of fur from his arm, inspected it, then tossed it aside to be caught by the wind. "He never had a chance to grow up or to learn how to behave in society. He was forced to grow up at the age of six, and I've always feared what that might have done to him." The ursar shuddered as he exhaled. "Seeing him now, and with his Order, I believe my fears have come true."

Dane nodded as he listened, but remained quiet as Arion's father told him this. He rationalized that perhaps the alcohol had made his tongue more loose, but he spoke with so much sobriety that he had trouble believing that.

Daris clapped a thick paw on Dane's shoulder. The man couldn't help but notice that it was as wide as his head, and the ebony claws that poked out of their sheathes were frighteningly sharp.

"He may be a grown ursar, and he may have experienced many things, but emotionally he has the mind of a child. He won't accept responsibility for his actions, and he is quick to acting irrationally and angrily. He needs someone who has grown up the hard way to help show him how to be a real person."

"I'm not sure what you mean," Dane said.

"I can tell that you've had a hard life, human. You look tired, even when you shouldn't. You have seen things most would never dare to imagine."

Dane shrugged, not giving him any hints that his suspicions were correct.

The ursar stood up as his knees cracked. "You'll look out for him." It wasn't a question, merely a statement. "Make sure you don't tell him about us talking. Don't even think it. Don't even think about not thinking it, because that's when he's listening the most."

Dane frowned at the burden that was just placed on his shoulders. "How do you propose I do that?"

"However you can. I've been doing it for almost thirty years." Daris started to head back inside, squeezing back into the door. "Be a good friend to him."

Dane stood outside for a few minutes more, mulling over the ursar's words. He didn't want to go inside until he'd thought it over enough to satisfy his mind, to keep from focusing on it the rest of the night. Once he rejoined the party inside, he acted as though no conversation had occurred between he and Daris, and everything was once again full of laughter.

They spent a few more hours together before Dane decided to depart for the evening. He was tired and already a bit intoxicated from the ale he'd consumed. He took a moment to look up at the stars once again, and watched as they twinkled. A smile crossed his face as he realized his partner was up there, somewhere, watching him. A soft breeze blew past him, ruffling his hair, and he could swear he heard the sound of his name as it went by.