Kozag also draws the line between north and south. To the south, there is the Akari Kingdom, the first country to go toe to toe against the Kingdom of Auruun from the east. They've been in constant war for more than twenty years.

North of Kozag, there are four countries. Biarkh in the northeast, Nimerya in the north west, the Republic of Kasmuk up north, and Aslanor in the middle, covering the majority of the land.

The region of Sayang in Aslanor is controlled by none other than Theolonius Stalwart. Beneath it are intertwined underground tunnels and caves that hide the most horrendous, forgotten beasts. Somewhere in the middle of all that lies the city of the Sebyan, an even more ancient race that was forgotten, never written about in history books.

One could easily get lost in the tunnels. It is also fairly possible to land in a monster's territory, or its nest.

If navigated with precision, one can easily find his way to any country in the northern region of the continent. Two hooded figures hurriedly walked through said tunnels. Another cloaked figure could be seen in that darkness, slumped on the larger person's shoulder.

***

East of Biarkh, three individuals emerged from a cave. It is said that the cavern held an ancient portal, accessible to the Church of Dhobor alone. The Bishop, along with Pontiff Sullivan and Pontiff Nari, was on an a.s.sa.s.sination mission. They needed to trap Theolonius Stalwart and dispose of him before he summons the Eternal Moon.

It was late in the afternoon. The sun had set, and the Blond Moon was beginning to shed its pale light on the plain the three had just emerged into. The gra.s.s beneath had turned yellow long ago. In the distance, they could see the Golpoch Forest. There was another portal deep within that could easily take them to Stalwart's country.

"We should have teleported directly to Aslanor," Nari said as soon as they emerged.

"Stalwart would have known," Sullivan retorted. "We'd lose our preemptive strike."

"Sullivan is right," the Bishop cut in. "Stalwart cannot be underestimated. Look where that got us."

"What do we do now?" Nari asked. "Should we just walk there?"

"We mustn't stand out," the Bishop said. "We'll walk, but when no one's around, we fly. The full moon isn't helping either."

"Right," Sullivan said. "Stalwart must be in his mansion by now. I a.s.sume he's preparing the summoning ritual. He cannot see us flying in. He's got eyes everywhere in Sayang."

"We'll deal with it when we get there," the Bishop said. "Tell me more about how you lost the empress' bones."

He was addressing Sullivan. One look from the Bishop and the Pontiff knew he was in for a scolding.

"We send minor criminals to the Crucible," Sullivan said. He was about to start his elaborated speech to appease the Bishop's anger, but the latter saw through it.

"I know you were friends with that perverted old man," the Bishop interrupted. "The church never punishes its highly ranked officials for such minor offenses, but why did you leave the empress in his care in the first place?"  

"She was a hard one to break," Sullivan said. "I was young back then, foolish. I thought Jory would help me break her."

"He did," the Bishop said, "but killed her in the process."

The Bishop's small eyes narrowed even more. One would think he had closed them entirely.

"If it weren't for your ingenuity in dealing with the situation, and the previous Cardinal's naivety, I imagine you'd be fighting in that pit until today. Why did you leave her there then?"

"Cardinal Francis had advised me to leave her there, to cover our blunder," Sullivan admitted in a whisper. "Jory extracted the bones and left hid them in his office. He got rid of the rest of her."

"And you thought, in your great wisdom, that the Lord wouldn't know about that? I'm disappointed in you Pontiff."

"She was safe in the smith's study," Sullivan protested. Nari was casting an awfully judgmental look at him now. It made his ears heat up. "No one ever goes in his study, not even the b.l.o.o.d.y Hound."

"Then how were the bones stolen?" The Bishop asked.

"Jory was found dead in his quarters when the bones disappeared," Sullivan said. "His p.r.i.c.k was cut and fed to him. I a.s.sume it was one of his slaves that murdered him. I still can't figure out the connection to the stolen bones though. I was about to discuss this with Utar when we received news of their whereabouts, and the rest, you know of."

"How is Utar involved in this?" the Bishop asked.

"He was the one who delivered Agatha to the smith," Sullivan said. "She's the one who stole a book of Miracles from the Holy Archives."

"And this Agatha," the Bishop said, "is the one who gave you the bones' whereabouts?"

"Yes," Sullivan answered. "She was held captive by one of Stalwart's spies."

"Where is she now?" the Bishop asked.

"We don't know, Your Eminence," Sullivan said. "She was supposed to be in the spy's vessel. I never got to enter it. Stalwart showed up and blocked our way. The spy teleported after that, vanished."

"Nari," the Bishop turned to the only female Pontiff of the Church.

"Yes, Your Eminence?" She straightened her shoulders, awaiting orders.

"You take the portal to the west," he said. "Go west of Aslanor, find out what you can about the woman called Raiya O'Cheran. She was Stalwart's spy. Find her and bring her to me. We'll be waiting in Sayang."

"As you command, Your Eminence," Nari said. She brought her fist to her chest, turned around, and disappeared in the woods.

"Fate had brought Raiya and Agatha together," the Bishop went on after the Pontiff disappeared. "There has to be more to this connection than this. We'll find Utar first. Stalwart can wait some more weeks."

"Is that wise, Your Eminence?" Sullivan asked.

"The summoning can't start until the fading of the Blond Moon," the Bishop said. "What can Stalwart do? Force the Eternal Moon to appear before time?"

"I guess not," Sullivan said. "But Stalwart is unpredictable. You never know what he's planning."

"He's a madman in a quest for revenge," the Bishop cut in, exasperated. "His type is easy to deal with."

The Bishop brought his hands to his back. He looked at the night sky above him. The Blond Moon was casting its pale light on the barren land they stood on. The cool air that brushed up against his face announced that autumn was on its way.

He inhaled deeply. He took in the cold, the smell of dying leaves on the ground, the dry dirt on which they stood. He then turned to the Pontiff. His wrinkled face spoke of wisdom, and hundreds of years leading Dhobor's Church into the powerhouse it was today.

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"I don't like the sudden connections between our church and the mages," he said. "There is something brewing, I can feel it. The moon seems troubled lately. The birds are migrating north, to the icy lands, can you imagine? We will not confront Stalwart blindly. I need to know how those bones ended up in his possession."

If the Bishop didn't feel melancholy that day, if he had concentrated on his urge to a.s.sa.s.sinate the wizard, he would've sensed that somewhere, deep underground, three individuals were making their way north, towards Merinsk.

It just so happened that Myles Stalwart had escaped the Church's fury once more that day. n.o.body had used those tunnels in hundreds of years, and the Bishop would've found it suspicious. Sullivan would've sensed the empress' presence within young Stalwart as well. Things could've gone badly, but they didn't.

Fate perhaps favored him after all. He was now heading for a new adventure, full of surprises and discovery. Myles Stalwart was about to reach a major milestone in his journey. He'd have to decide then. Far behind them, a small three tailed white creature followed, observing them with its crimson eyes.