<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><o:p> </o:p> They stood in the courtyard for a moment, blinking as their eyes adjusted to the bright light of day.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Which way does the dagger lead?" Nestorius asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The scout pointed to a squat building that stood against the curtain wall on the opposite side of the courtyard. "That way."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The two Keepers made their way across the courtyard well aware of the people looking at them. They moved at a carefully calculated pace. Moving slow enough to not draw attention to themselves but also fast enough to also not draw attention to themselves.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The one door to the building had two soldiers standing guard. People were rushing in and out past them. Stealth and Nestorius simply walked past the sentries who took no notice of them.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> They found themselves standing in a large hallway with corridors leaded off left and right and a set of stairs leading upwards. All were clothed in marble that once had been white and brilliant but was now weathered and grayed from long use. People were hustling about on their own errands and paid the two no notice.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Where now?" The mage asked softly.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He glanced at the dagger. "Up."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> They stopped at the head of the stairs. For all the activity going on below them this floor was quiet. The corridors that headed off to the left and right were empty.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Their footsteps echoed loudly as they walked along the marble floored hallway. They stopped as the hallway ended in a door that blocked any further advance.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We need to find Edmund. Why don't we wait till we're back in the present and look for this place?" Stealth asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I've tried," the mage answered. "It's not there in our time. We visited it remember? All we found was waist high rubble. The dagger led us here for a reason. What we need is inside there, now," Nest said and pointed at the doors. "Past those locked doors."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The two stared at the door for a long moment. The door was of a wood as dark as nightfall and banded with steel straps. In the center of the door was a narrow, rectangular shaped depression. Nothing else was on the door, not even handles or hinges.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "So," Stealth said slowly. "How do we get inside?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That I do not know," Nestorius answered. "The magic protecting it is impressively strong. It's been a long time since I've seen wards this powerful and complex."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The Seuilman were here for over five hundred years," Stealth commented as he looked at the door. "Plenty of time to do all sorts of powerful magic. Can you get past it? You are a powerful mage."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Perhaps," the mage answered. "But it will take a lot of time and study."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "And that will take longer than we have I'd imagine." Stealth intoned.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage shrugged. "Not sure. But it took me three years to work my way past the wards that are underneath Hareford."<o:p></o:p> "The lutins will be able to get through it in a much shorter time," Stealth responded. "But we won't live to see it. Perhaps we could order the ghosts to open it?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Unlikely our subordinates would have the means to open it, any more than we do," the mage countered. "And they are liable to ask us why we want into a place that's locked against us. And the lutins didn't get past the wards. They simply burnt the entire building down." Stealth examined the entire length and width of the door. "They must have a way to get in. Someway to open it." "There must be," the mage answered. "Usually a password or a key of some sort."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "This door doesn't have a lock or a keyhole."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It doesn't have to be a literal key to fit into a keyhole." Netorius answered. "With magic it could be almost any object that the lock and warding spells are aligned with."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The scout looked at the odd shaped depression in the door. Stealth unsheathed the dagger and stared at it. He compared the dagger to the door. "Is it that simple?" Stealth placed the weapon into the depression and it fit perfectly.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> There was a soft click and the door swung open silently.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Sometimes it IS that simple," Nestorius commented and patted his friend on the back.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> ***************<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> The officer walked slowly through the market. Outwardly he was the very picture of calm and poise. But inside his mind was in turmoil. So many different ideas and memories were running through it.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The Decanus Exploritie had spoken of a woman named Bridgette. It was an old Centli name even one empress had born it. And it was the name of a Centli goddess. He personally knew no one by that name and yet it seemed familiar. An image of a woman came to his mind but it was oddly not human. Her body was covered with short, thick red fur. The body under the fur looked like a foxes down to the pointy ears and long, bushy tail. What really caught his attention was her legs which were long and spindly. It was like she was walking on fur covered stilts. To him that look was wrong and yet it felt right.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Suddenly the busy market with all its people was gone. In its place was a dark and brooding forest. Gone was the stone, vaulted roof overhead replaced by tall trees rising up into the sky and blotting out the sun. The hard granite floor was gone, Underneath his feet was a thick carpet of leaves and dirt. He used a boot covered paw to push aside the debris and he caught a glimpse of grayish stone underneath that might be the remains of a stone floor. The forest was silent, only the lonely cry of some bird pierced the quiet.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Then suddenly he was back in the market again with all its people and its lively noise.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He shook his head and tried to dispel the ruinous images from his mind but they wouldn't go away. He looked at his hands and saw them covered with golden colored fur with black spots. "Why are my hands covered in spots? That's wrong." a part of his mind said. "No, that's right. I'm a cheetah and they have spotted fur."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The man looked at the world around him. So familiar and now yet so alien. "Who am I?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>******************<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth looked around at the racks and shelves that lined the room. "Where are we exactly? Looks like a library."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That's exactly what it is," Nest looked through the various scrolls carefully. "It's an archive where older messages and orders are stored. There is a lot of important information here!"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth looked at the row upon row of racks holding scrolls. "There must be thousands of scrolls here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage looked up from the scroll he was reading. "At least five or six thousand. Too long to look through them all. We need to concentrate on the most recent messages. That will provide the information we need."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "But what is that information?" Stealth asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nest shrugged. "I don't know but if the dagger led us here it must be important." He walked along the rows before stopping in front of one. He pointed to a date painted onto the wooden rack. "These are less than a month old." <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage was silent for several minutes as he searched through different scrolls. Then he tapped one scroll in particular. "This one has some important information. It's an order to allow the Vertansula full access to the Castra Prenturio, which I believe is the city fortress. It also lists a building and several chambers underneath the fortress. And this is an exact quote 'To be supplied with anything no matter how strange or disagreeable it might be. And none are to be allowed there under immediate death.' It is signed by Falernus Crudicus Tuditanus. The governor of the whole province."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The Vertansula were mentioned in that mail we found last time weren't they?" The scout asked. "Any idea who they are?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage gave a shake of the head in response. "No. I believe they are mages or some sort of magic using creatures."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We already knew that. Whoever they were or whatever they were doing they didn't want anyone else to know," Stealth commented. "And that's not good."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius nodded his head. "Agreed. But this tells me exactly where we need to concentrate our investigation," the mage said, sounding pleased with himself. He pointed to another scroll that was resting next to the first. "But this one has a list of items that their guests would need. Some of the items can only be described as evil."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth tilted his head to one side. "What do you mean?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "One of the items requested is three virgin girls and three virgin boys no more the eleven years of age."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The scout shook his head. "What did they do?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nest shook his head slowly. "I am not sure but that and the other items on the list do give me some clues. I believe they were trying to summon something."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Could it be the Shadow Fox?" Stealth asked. "We know he was bound here to protect the city and the people in it."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I don't think so," was the mage's response. "The Shadow Fox is powerful but he is as trapped as the ghosts are. Also you would never need a live sacrifice to summon something like the Shadow Fox. There is something more powerful involved."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Can you talk to the Shadow Fox? He might have more information?" Stealth asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "The Shadow doesn't talk to me. He only communicates with Edmund," The mage carefully returned the scroll he was holding back to the rack it had come from. "Also I believe the Shadow doesn't understand what happened either. I think he was summoned separately and was trapped when the curse took effect."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Now that idea makes sense. It seems that the more we learn the more questions we have," Stealth commented.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We are advancing," the mage answered. "We know that the cause of all the trouble is something the Seuilman did in 150 and that it happened in the main fortress. That tells us who, when and where. That's more than anyone else has accomplished in over five hundred years."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth didn't answer for a moment. He turned and looked at his companion. "Why us? Why have we managed to do all this when no one else could in five centuries of trying?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage shook his head and shrugged. "I do not know. Something has stirred up the ghosts. Everyone at Hareford has told me that. And nothing like what we are experiencing has ever happened before. But what I do know is that somehow it involves you and Edmund."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It involves all three of us," Stealth added. "You were on that map too."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius smiled revealing large leonine teeth. "Indeed. But we are still missing pieces to this puzzle. There is some information we do not have as of yet."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Unfortunately the undead is not my area of expertise," Nestorius responded. "For that we need Edmund back."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth came to a sudden halt. "I have an idea about Edmund. What rank is he?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "He is a Duplicarius," Nest answered. "Equal to a captain."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "So as a Tribune Arturis you out rank him! You can just order him to follow us out of the city. He has to obey our orders and go with us!"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage smiled. "I like that idea. It's simple and to the point. Once we are done here we will retrieve our friend."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Let's not take too long," Stealth said. "The lutins certainly aren't going to wait."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>****************<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p> They replaced the scrolls in their proper racks and reluctantly left the room. The doorway was closed up properly and the duo made their way down to the ground floor and out of the building.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Slowly the pair walked along the courtyard, though the gate and out into the city proper.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What do we do now?" Stealth asked.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We retrieve our friend and leave this place," the mage answered. "Wait!" Nestorius exclaimed and suddenly stopped.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth came to a halt. "What? Something wrong?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That's the sword!" Nestorius said excitedly.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What?" Stealth asked and looked around nervously as his hand reached for his sword hilt. "What do you mean?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage pointed up the street. The crowd parted and a figure slowly walked past.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> This man was tall, with the dark brown hair that was carefully cut and coiffured. It was showing some gray in spite of obvious attempts to dye it. He was dressed in a long, blue robe that stretched down to his sandaled feet. The robe was edged with the silver and gold lines around its border. He moved at a slow, deliberate rate and his face was a solid mask of calm and determination. What caught Stealth's attention was the sword that hung from a loop on his belt. It was a simple thing with a long, straight blade and hilt. What was unusual was the entire weapon was pitch black in color and devoid of any decoration or enhancement. The blade was not in a proper sheath but seemed to be hanging from a small loop of black chain that hooked over his belt. He'd never seen a sword carried like that. Everyone kept their swords in a sheath to protect it from the elements.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That sword. It's all black, like Misha's axe," Stealth commented.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That is Ka-Staru," Nestorius answered. "One of the Five Sisters."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What?" Stealth looked in the direction the mage pointed. "You mean like Misha's axe and Rickkter's dagger?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The mage slowly nodded his head. "They are part of a set of five weapons all created at the same time. Their look is unique and unmistakable."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth looked at the weapon for a moment. "That does look like his axe. Do you think seeing that was an accident?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius slowly shook his head. "No. The Five are too powerful to just accidentally appear here. Nothing involving them happens by accident."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "So what does it mean? What is it doing here?" Stealth asked without taking his eyes off the sword and its bearer. "And the Axe and Dagger are BACK in the valley in the modern age. Why? How?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius stared at the blade intently as if he could gain the answers they needed that way. "Those are excellent questions but I don't know the answer to any of them. But I will find out."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The sword wielder moved down the street at a steady, deliberate pace and was effecting an air of calm and unconcern, as he was just out for a pleasant stroll. But it didn't quite work. The man's hand never left the hilt of his sword. The smile on his face seemed forced as if painted in or carved in stone.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What is he doing? Stealth asked. "It's like he is showing off."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "He is," came a calm voice. "Curule Falernus is aware of the unease among the people. He is deliberately acting calm and cool to ease their fears."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Both turned to see Edmund standing there. The man had his arms folded and scowling at them.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> With slow and with deliberate steps the officer walked toward them. "Who are you two and what are you doing?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius opened his mouth to speak but Stealth cut him off.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We don't have time for this," the scout snapped.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He waved to some Vigili who were standing nearby. "This traitor is preaching for a false god, detain him."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The officer gave a wave of the hand and the Vigili stopped. He scowled at the two. "Why are you doing this?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "You don't belong here," Stealth snapped. "None of us three belong here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "This is not our time or place," Nestorius added. "You are Edmund Delacot." He pointed to himself. "And I am Nestorius Sentilus." He then pointed to the cheetah scout. "And this is . . ."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "My friend Stealth," Edmund said finishing the mage's sentence.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth looked at his friend. "Ed? Is that you?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The paladin nodded and smiled. "It is. I have regained my mind."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Stealth hugged his friend. "It's good to have you back!"<o:p></o:p> Edmund returned the hug. "It's good to see you!"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> He turned and hugged Nestorius. "I am glad to be back. I have recovered my memories but I am confused as to where I am. Are we in the past?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "It's hard to explain," the mage answered.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "That means he doesn't know what's going on," Stealth added.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I have a good grasp of what is happening but this is neither the place nor the moment to explain," the mage answered. "The short explanation is we are in Camulodunum in CR150. A day before its fall. We must be free of this ghostly city immediately."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund seemed to ignore his friends and stared off to the north. The other two turned and followed suit.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The entire northern sky was lit up as bright as the dawn. Flames shot high into the sky and seemed to envelope everything.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We're too late," Nestorius muttered. "The invasion's begun!"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "No," Edmund countered. "There is still time! We just need to get out of the city."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Just?" Nestorius commented incredulously and pointed to the north. "You do realize there are two hundred thousand lutins out there?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We do not have to defeat all two hundred thousand, just the few in our way," Edmund paused for a moment and looked around. "We are on the Strata Margentus. It will take too long to go to the east or west gates. That leaves north and south. Since the Lutins are to the north I suggest we go south past the forum and the Castra Prenturio."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "NO!" Nestorius shouted and waved his arms. "We have learned that whatever cursed these woods was instigated in the Castra."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund closed his eyes for a moment and slowly shook his head. "Why doesn't that surprise me."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We cannot condemn people for something done six centuries ago," Nestorius commented. "At least till we find out exactly what they did."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Can we concentrate on the important thing, How we are trapped here" Stealth said. "And getting out of this doomed place."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> North," Edmund folded his arms. "With south out we can only go north."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Towards the Lutins?" Stealth asked, surprised.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund nodded. "And hope we can escape before they seal off the city."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Nestorius pointed to the two Vigili who had been standing quietly through all this. "You two are being reassigned. Take your family's and head south. I want you out of the city within the hour."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Sir?" the one vigili asked. "Our assignment is here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "I AM REASSIGNING YOU," the mage countered. "I don't want everyone concentrated all in one place. Take yourselves and your families to Alguntia."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The man slowly shook his head. "I am needed here."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> Edmund took a small quill pen and a piece of parchment from a pouch. He hastily scribbled something on parchment. "Those are your orders. Take yourselves and your families to Alguntia. You should be safe there."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "We don't want to be safe," the second countered. "We want to do our duty and help."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The paladin smiled and nodded. ":And you are doing your duty," he said in a calm but firm tone. "Whatever happens here the people in Alguntia need our protection. Now take yourselves and your family and GO!"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "What about you?" The Vigili asked. "Are you coming?"<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> "Not yet," Edmund countered. He gave the man a pat on the back. "Don't worry. I will not be here long."<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p> The two Vigili slowly walked away talking quietly to each other. Suddenly the horizon lit up with an immense explosion sending even more smoke billowing into the sky. The men started walking faster and then broke into a run. In moments they vanished into the crowd.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p>****************<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></div></body></html>