A/N: Here we are with the final chapter of Interludes. I warned you it was unlike the others, but we hope you enjoyed it anyway. The first chapter of "Reunions Part 1: The Return" should be posted relatively soon...relatively...

Oh, and my dear Di, about that foreshadowing...well, you'll just have to wait and see, won't you? ;-)

Final disclaimer: We don't own the MOTU characters; we just use them to taunt and torture...while occasionally letting them have some downtime. We make no money off of this, but wish we did so we could do it full-time. :-)

Carina

Keldor walked his crying little girl back and forth across his plush sitting room rug. The new father bounced her gently in an effort to calm her. Lyn had been up with the child three times already tonight, so Keldor finally convinced her to allow him to try to get the baby back to sleep. Each night since the surreal moment that Keelyanne was born, the new parents walked this very path in the elusive pursuit of infant contentment.

‘Ancients, I can’t believe this,’ Keldor thought in wonder, “I am in a modest set of room in an out-of-the-way place walking a wailing child in the middle of the night, and there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.’ Keldor shook his head. Looking down at his crying girl, he realized that he wanted to do nothing more than love and soothe this tiny person. He couldn’t believe, sometimes, how much he had changed.

“I guess this means you’re hungry, my greedy little girl?” Keldor asked gently, as he passed their oval dining table and headed towards his room.

Lyn was already up and tying on her robe as her husband and child reentered their room.

“I told you that was her ‘feed-me’ cry,” Lyn said with a yawn.

Keldor passed Keelyanne to his wife. Lyn moved over to the chair they had moved into their room especially for the nighttime feedings. She sat with a sigh and lowered one side of her robe and gown as she began feeding her child.

Keldor propped himself up in bed and watched intently. He never grew tired of the sight of his wife and his baby girl.

“You need to sleep,” Lyn scolded sleepily. “You’re training fighters tomorrow and working with some mages to gather some fenis root in ripper territory, remember?”

Keldor nodded. ‘She’s right. I have to sleep. Lack of focus in ripper territory tomorrow could cost someone their life. Surely I’m too tired to dream.”

Keldor laid back, never taking his eyes off of Lyn and his Keelyanne. Soon he drifted to sleep, Lyn’s humming still echoing in his ears.

Eternia

Lana glanced over at Duncan as the two of them left yet another planning meeting for Adora’s wedding. She shook her head as the click and clack of their footsteps echoed on the smooth tile floor. Marlena was being even more extravagant on this one than she had been on Adam’s, if that was possible. Lana was reasonably sure it was because Adam and Teela had known what they wanted and had firmly said no to some things, while Adora was more hesitant to deny her mother the pleasure of planning this wedding.

“This is half the reason I never wanted to marry," Duncan grunted as he absently looked over the line of portraits on this stretch of the palace’s administrative wing. With Hutch running around and the recent attacks on the palace and Grayskull, security was going to have to be high. And the elaborate plans, the crowd of people attending, and the intricacies needed to pull it all off was going to make security an even more difficult task. "Way too much pomp and protocol."

"So elope," Lana suggested mildly. Her heart raced. ‘Did I just say that? What was I thinking?’ Suddenly she, too became interested in the artwork gracing the hallway. Without a word between them their steps slowed.

Duncan snorted. "As if I'd ever find a woman willing to forego all that," he said with a wave of his hand. He couldn’t keep his eyes from Lana’s face now, though she seemed particularly absorbed in a painting of Granamyr’s dragons in an elaborate carved frame.

"I would," Lana admitted as she looked toward Duncan out of the corner of her eyes.

Duncan stopped dead and looked her straight in the eye, his face void of emotion. "Are you saying you'd marry me?" he asked, his voice flat as it was when he tried to hide his emotions.

"Are you asking?" Lana countered, her heart beginning to pound.

“What if I am?” he asked, his voice lightening ever so slightly.

“What if I said yes?” Lana replied, her voice calm and steady as she stepped closer to him. They had gone to dinner several times, but not once had they kissed. Duncan had seemed intent on avoiding the very idea.

Duncan stared into her gorgeous green eyes and could no longer deny the fact that he loved, respected, and admired this woman. ‘Blast that binding ceremony.’ “I’d say you’re crazy for even considering hooking up with a crusty old codger like me,” he said gruffly.

Lana smiled at last, her eyes twinkling at him. “I happen to like crusty old codgers,” she teased.

Her light, flowery scent drifted up towards him as their faces inched closer together, breaking apart the last of Duncan’s reserves. “I love you,” he admitted, his dark eyes searching her face.

“It’s about time you admitted it, Man-at-Arms,” Lana said. She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. Duncan stood still in shock for just a moment, then gathered her tightly to him, feeling as if he’d just come alive.

Carina

Keldor looked around at the wood-paneled room. Statues of the Ancients were scattered around him as he looked from side to side. A realization hit him with sickening certainty. ‘I’m in the high tribunal chamber in Palace Eternos.’ Keldor looked down and saw his wrists and ankles were chained with lightweight anti-magic restraints. Vaguely, he remembered his and Lyn’s arrest and detention. ‘Yes, of course,’ Keldor thought despondently, ‘my trial is today.’

Beads of sweat broke out over his face as he was consumed with fear for Lyn and his children. ‘She never should have come with me. She should have stayed home with our children. Now my new family falls apart because of what I did to my first family. Ancients, Micah and Neara are losing another set of parents.’ The tears that had been gathering in the wizard’s eyes fell at that thought.

Lyn was dragged in and shoved into the seat next to him by an Eternian Soldier. “Cursed witch, you and your master will get yours soon enough.”

Keldor tried to get up to defend Lyn when the guard pressed a control on his wrist. Keldor fell to the floor screaming. The soldier had activated his shock belt sending a nonleathal, but very painful charge, through his body. Lyn sobbed as two soldiers lifted Keldor up roughly and slammed him back in his hard wooden chair. Then chuckling, the guards fanned out around their prisoners, their weapons trained on them.

“I’m sorry,” Keldor whispered.

Lyn nodded as she tried to gather herself.

Silently they waited as slowly, almost painfully, the nobles began to file into the courtroom. The noise level rose as Keldor shifted nervously in his seat. Occasionally a whisper or rumor would reach his ears, reminding him of some wrong or evil he’d committed. Keldor lowered his head, wishing fervently for his hood.

Finally the royal family of Eternos—his family—entered. His father was being supported by a sister and brother he’d never known. Randor strode to the judgment seat, his jaw twitching and his fists clenched. Adora, Adam, Teela, and the rest of the family sat at the table across from Keldor’s. All wore faces that were in various stages of anger or pain. Randor took his place behind the judgment podium. His face was a vision of rage barely under control.

Randor glared at Keldor as he began, “We are gathered here under the most grave of circumstances. Before us are two of the vilest criminals who have ever walked Eternia, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn. Their crimes alone under those names alone are enough to justify banishment to the prison mines, but in addition to those crimes there is one far greater.”

Keldor saw his father shaking with sobs across the room and was unable to contain his own tears any longer. He lowered his head, hoping to hide them.

“Father,” Randor began gently, “I hate to ask you to do this, but I need you to identify the man we accuse today.”

Miro turned to face his wayward son. His tears were streaming down his face as he said, “He is Keldor. He was once my son, but he is dead to me now.”

The tears Keldor was shedding became silent sobs as his father turned his back to him and walked out of the room supported by Stephen and Mira. His two siblings shot the wizard venomous looks as they left the tribunal chamber supporting the man Keldor once called Father.

Randor cleared his throat and banged his scepter on the podium. “Keldor, formerly known as Skeletor, you have been charged with high treason to the kingdom of Eternos. To name your many crimes would take at least a week.” Randor paused to allow this fact to impact all around the room. “It is my understanding that you have been presented with the charges against you before you were brought before this court.”

“Yes,” Keldor choked, trying to gather himself.

“And is it true you refused counsel?” Randor asked, his voice hard and unyielding.

“Yes,” Keldor replied despondently.

“I ask the same question of you, Lyn, formerly known as Evil-Lyn,” the King inquired, his face stony. “Were you made aware of the charges against you including high treason to the crown?”

“Yes,” Lyn said, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

“And, you, as well, have refused counsel?”

“Yes.”

“Then I ask,” Randor said, his voice brimming with barley contained fury, “how do you plead?”

“Guilty of all charges,” Keldor admitted, his voice low.

“Guilty of all charges,” Lyn said, echoing her husband’s defeated tone.

“Since there is no contest to your guilt, you will be sentenced.” Randor walked from the podium and strode to the table where Keldor was. “Rise,” he commanded.

Keldor and Lyn rose. Keldor looked into the face of his younger brother.

“There is no punishment severe enough to fit your crime,” Randor ground out. “Nothing: not even your deaths can undo what you have done. You and Lyn are hereby banished to the mines on the dark moon of Ganar 6 where you will labor the rest of your days to bring much needed metal to our world so that we be able equip our troops to defeat criminals and traitors such as you.”

Randor’s eyes grew dark with anger and his voice became as cold as steel, “You will be assigned the most dangerous task as your skills are great, but you both will be fitted with shock belts so that if you try to escape you can be subdued. You will be brought together for occasional supervised visits, but you will be housed at separate facilities, so you may not team up to attempt escape.”

Keldor turned to look at his wife. Lyn was trembling. “I’m sorry.”

“I love you,” Lyn whispered as she looked into his sad eyes.

Keldor leaned in quickly in a desperate last kiss. Time seemed to stand still yet it was over all too quickly. The condemned pulled away reluctantly, their cheeks wet with each other’s tears.

“Take them,” Randor ordered.

Keldor saw his wife pulled away down the aisle. He was taken out along the opposite wall.

Keldor was broken and racked with sobs. His breath came in short gasps. Suddenly he was shoved from behind.

Hyperventilating, Keldor woke in a panic. He looked around the room expecting to see guards. Tears of relief leaked out as he saw Lyn and Keelyanne sleeping in the chair beside the crib.

Keldor dragged his shaking hands across his forehead to wipe away the cold sweat that was trickling into his eyes. He got up and walked soundlessly into out of his chambers to the balcony that overlooked the Sunken Jungle beyond the walls of the stone city.

‘What am I going to do?’ Keldor wondered. The mage sat heavily. ‘If we go back to Eternia, we may well end up in that very situation.’

Keldor dropped his head into his hands. ‘Lyn cannot come with me. Micah and Neara can’t know the loss of another set of parents. I can’t take the chance that Keelyanne is orphaned. The Truth only dictated that I go back. I have to convince her to stay here. Maybe if I remind her of my destiny, that I’m sure to get back some time even if it is as a broken old man.’ Keldor shuddered at the idea. ‘Then our children can always have at least one of us.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Keldor thought, perplexed. ‘How can going back do anything but cause more pain and sorrow? Why must I go back and inflict more pain on them? Why must I hurt the ones I leave here? How can I heal anyone on Eternia? My very presence will be like salt in an open wound.’

Once again that strange voice that he heard so infrequently spoke in his mind. ‘Salt removes impurities.’

“What?” Keldor said aloud. He looked over the horizon even though he knew he would not see the speaker. “Blast it! That makes no sense,” he protested into the dark night sky.

Later that morning Lyn walked out to the door of their rooms to see her husband’s silhouette leaning on the railing of their balcony.

Lyn walked up behind him. He was lost in thought—again. Her brow furrowed, she wondered, ‘How many times have I wakened to find him standing out here?’ She tentatively reached out and ran her hand along his stooped back.

Keldor turned. He pulled Lyn into a crushing embrace. “You know how I feel about you?” he whispered in her ear.

Lyn nodded into his chest. “What’s wrong?” she murmured. “You’re more upset than I’ve sensed you in a long time.” She held him tightly.

“I don’t want you to go to Eternia when I go back. We could be arrested-”

Lyn pulled back, a startled look on her face. “What?” she interrupted.

“If we’re convicted, our children lose both their parents. I can’t do that to them.”

“Stop this. Why are you saying this? The Truth has already dictated that you are going to be here on Carina to bring freedom to this world. This trip to Eternia is only temporary.”

“Maybe for me, but we don’t know what will happen to you, if you go. Don’t take the chance, Lyn. Stay here and take care of the children.”

Lyn pulled out of his arms. “No. I won’t stay behind. I’m going with you.”

“Lyn be reasonable.”

“Forget reason. We both have destinies to fulfill, and I refuse to believe anything, even an Eternian prison could keep me from fulfilling mine or you from fulfilling yours. I will be going with you.”

“Drat it, you stubborn shrew, our children need you--,” Keldor began his voice rising.

“And they need you too, you miserable moron!” Lyn shouted. “You are acting as if you’ve already been sentenced, and are waiting for your execution.”

Keldor turned his back to Lyn. “It’s no less than I deserve,” he muttered despondently.

“Stop this. You cannot change what you’ve done.” She glared at him. “You were the one that convinced me that good was strong enough that it would always win even if it meant using the ruins of evil deeds as stepping stones to greater good. Do you no longer believe the very facts that gave you the courage to face your purification in the first place? If we have to go back, it’s for a good reason. And no matter what happens, good will win--whatever the circumstances.”

Keldor turned back to Lyn. “I forbid you to go!” he shouted.

A blotchy red flushed Lyn’s face. “You forbid?” she snarled. “I do what I want! You are not my master, and never were. You cannot forbid me anything. The simple fact of the matter is that you are not ready to go on this trip on your own. You are so eaten up by your guilt that you aren’t thinking clearly.”

“I keyed that spell to only pull me back when I am called. The only way you can go back with me is if you are touching me when I’m summoned. And if I have to stay away from you, the entire time till I’m called back I will do it, you terrible trying tart.”

Lyn looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Fine. You are so convinced that I am not supposed to go with you. We will leave it in the court of the Truth. I will go about my daily life as usual. If I’m meant to go then I will be touching you in the normal course of everyday life. I won’t go out of my way to touch you. But I will prepare for the trip, because I have no doubt in my mind that we are meant to go together.”

“You are insufferable, insolent, and irritating beyond measure,” Keldor snapped. “I’ll just stay away.”

“Fine!” Lyn yelled. “Go! Get lost!” Pivoting on her heel she strode back in her home.

Lyn stalked into her room and slammed the door behind her. Keelyanne woke with a wail at the noise. Lyn rushed to her child. She held the babe close as she resolutely chose to ignore her husband as he entered their room. Out of the corner of her eye she say him toss his wrap in their hamper and heard him pull clothing from their closet. Slowly, Keelyanne began to relax

He walked beside her to grab his staff and left the room without a word as Lyn finally calmed her infant. When she heard the door click behind her, Lyn turned. She laid her child back into the crib and walked, with deliberate determination, to the closet door her husband had left ajar.

She reached up on the top shelf and pulled out a couple of white packs. She packed a supply of clothing that ranged to sleepwear to battle gear, formal wear to hiking clothing for each of them. She walked through the house gathering items that she was sure that they would need on their trip. Finally, satisfied that she had a bag prepared for her and Keldor’s eventual trip to Eternia, Lyn placed the bags in the corner of the closet and tossed a sheet over them. ‘He can deny this all he wants, but he is going back, and I WILL be ready when we are called,’ Lyn promised herself.

Eternia

Lana opened her door to invite Adam and Teela inside. “Come in, both of you,” she said warmly. She glanced down automatically at Teela’s growing stomach. “You’re finally starting to show.”

“Don’t remind me,” Teela groaned. “I feel like a beached whale.”

“You look beautiful,” Adam countered, his hand lightly stroking her arm. Teela blushed, then her eyes widened. She grabbed Adam’s and Lana’s wrists. “It’s kicking!” She pulled their hands down to her stomach, where the baby was apparently doing somersaults as he pushed against their palms.

Adam’s eyes widened in wonder, and he looked up to find Lana nearly in tears, a wide smile on her face. “That’s amazing,” he murmured.

Lana nearly laughed at the dumbfounded expression on Adam’s face. “Haven’t you felt your child moving before?” she asked in surprise. Teela was nearly six months along now.

“No,” Adam replied. “He always stops moving when I put my hand on Teela’s stomach.” The baby shoved again, and a smile lit the prince’s face.

“He?” Teelana asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Adam thinks it’s a boy,” Teela laughed. “He said no girl would disappoint her daddy like that by refusing to move every time he puts his hand there.” Adam turned a shade pink at her teasing glance.

“Are they here yet?” Duncan called as he came out from the hallway leading to the bedrooms. He stopped short at the sight of his daughter and son-in-law. “I guess they are.”

“The baby was moving,” Teela explained, “but it’s stopped now.”

“Did you choose names yet?” Lana asked as she motioned for them to sit down.

“Yes, but we’re not telling what they are,” Adam said mischievously as he sank into a huge overstuffed blue chair. ‘Teela’s going to need me to pull her out of this chair,’ he thought as his wife sat next to him and nearly disappeared into the stuffing.

“Brat,” Lana said fondly. She didn’t sit down. Duncan came over and stood by her side.

“So what’s the big news?” Teela demanded impatiently, struggling to lean into Adam so she wouldn’t sink into the furniture so much. “You said you had something to share with us.”

Duncan and Lana exchanged glances. “We wanted you both to be the first to know,” Duncan said, focusing his gaze on Teela. He cleared his throat and took Lana’s hand. “We, ah…we eloped a few days ago.”

Adam’s jaw dropped open, his eyes wide. “You eloped?” he echoed numbly.

Teela stared at her parents, a wave of emotion hitting her as hard as the wind raider landing without power. She had known her parents had gone out a few times, but she’d had no idea they were this serious. “I don’t know whether to screech with joy or smack the two of you,” she finally sputtered. “What’s with the big secret?”

“We just didn’t want a big deal made of it,” Lana said.

“But I wanted to be there if, I mean when, you got married,” Teela said, sniffling. Adam took one look at her face and knew the pregnancy hormones were kicking in again. He hauled himself to his feet and pulled Teela up next to him.

“Duncan, you old sneak,” he said with a deliberate grin, catching his mentor’s eye and glancing at Teela. “I never thought you’d move that fast. Congratulations!” He gave Man-at-Arms an enthusiastic hug and muttered in his ear at the same time. “She’s going to cry, Duncan. You’d better fix this.”

“I couldn’t help it. It was that blasted binding spell,” Duncan protested as he let go of Adam and turned to his daughter. “Once I realized I loved Lana, I just couldn’t be without her anymore.”

Teela sniffed again, but her face shifted from looking lost and left out to that of a woman who had just heard the most romantic statement ever. “That’s so sweet,” she wailed.

Smiling, Lana quickly brought out pictures and had Teela look through them. Her daughter soon settled down and was gushing over the beautiful, simple ceremony.

“I guess I owe you thanks, Adam,” Duncan said, assessing his young protégé.

“For what?”

“For setting her up with Mekaneck,” his mentor said with a mock glare. “You made it safe for me to take her out as a friend and stirred up my jealousy at the same time.”

Adam shrugged nonchalantly, biting back a grin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said airily.

“Uh-huh,” Duncan muttered. “It’s going to be interesting, watching you step in for your father during the next two months. You’re going to have the nobility spun around like tops.”

“Me?” Adam asked innocently, his eyebrows raised.

“You,” Duncan confirmed, his tone inviting no argument. “I think you’ll make your parents proud.”

Carina

The path to the spymaster’s offices curled through the ruins of the outer city. Keldor wove around the broken and crumbling remains of dwellings. Long abandoned, even the sturdy stone structures had fallen over the many centuries that led to the decline of the number of Truth Sworn prior to the Horde’s occupation of this world. Keldor sighed. He’d already seen architectural drawing and plans for restoring these buildings. They were scheduled to begin work on the projects as he did whatever he was supposed to make their numbers great again.

Keldor shook his head. Everything still seemed surreal at times though now it had been almost a year since he’d survived the purification ritual of the Truth Sworn, and at least a year and a half since he first decided to try to find his way back to good. It was funny. As Skeletor, he had bemoaned that becoming good was taking too long at less than three months of effort. Yet now, he wondered how anything, especially in such a short period of time, could ever make him good.

‘No,’ Keldor corrected himself. “On some level, somewhere, I am at least clean. I am sure of that. I know the taint of evil has left my spirit forever. But how that can clear me of the past wrongs I have done? How can anything free me from the just punishment I deserve to face? I have no clue.’

Keldor trod through the pillars and broken walls of ivory stone for the next few minutes in silence trying to focus on calming himself. Concentration was crucial now. Keldor had much to do and he did not want to spend the day in the turmoil that he was in this morning on his balcony. “Blast but I’ve ruined everything so badly. I don’t know how I can make this better.”

Keldor saw the rough hewn steps that led up to Tari’s offices looming above him. He wanted to check with Tari and see if she had heard anything about the aftereffects of any of his other raids.

A short climb led him up to the small circular deck outside of Tari’s workspace. Keldor walked to the simple door and was surprised to see several crude boxes stacked up outside of the door. He knocked.

Tari threw open the door. Keldor still had not adjusted to his friend as a Truth Sworn. The delicate line of Truth Scores flowing down her face still didn’t seem like they belonged on her mischievous face. “Hi, handsome,” she said, inviting him in. Keldor walked in to see several more boxes and baskets around the room.

“What’s going on?” Keldor asked.

Tari sat against the edge of her desk and fiddled with her fingers. “I can’t do this anymore,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

“What?” Keldor asked completely confused. He stared around the almost bare office as he looked for his answer even as he waited for Tari to give hers.

“I can’t be spymaster anymore,” Tari admitted sadly. “Part of what worked so well for me in that position was my ability to blend in with anyone. I was able to go anywhere and mix with anyone. Now I can’t even stand to be around my connections when they come here. It’s the whole purity thing. I’m constantly uncomfortable, and when they tell me of the measures they had to go to sneak information, or the misinformation they spread… I just can’t do it anymore.” She looked away uncomfortably. “I know it may not make sense, but—,”

“It makes perfect sense. At least to me,” Keldor replied with a rueful grin.

Tari gave the wizard a grateful smile. She began to move around the room to pack a bit more as she asked, “So what can I do for you before I officially hand over this office to one of my best operatives?”

Keldor shifted uneasily on his feet. “I wondered if you heard of anymore fallout from any of my raids?”

“Wanting some confirmation that the random things in our lives have a greater purpose, huh?” Tari said, giving him an understanding smile. She went over to a small stack of papers on her desk. She unfolded a map with dots placed on a map in the shape of a roaring lion, the symbol of Keldor’s father.

“What is this?” he asked confused.

“Each one of the points is a weapons facility somewhere on this planet that has lost partial production in one area or another because of the actions or the raids you’ve planned. The bright eye is the site of the Horde tank explosion. Together they add up to a 50 percent drop in weapons construction.”

Keldor felt weak. What did this mean? Many of his raids and attacks happened hours or days away from the facilities affected. Yet the results and then the pattern: this particular pattern. It could be no random chance.

“I looked at it in the past few days, because I was looking for the same thing you were. Confirmation that if I just follow my leadings that they’ll lead to a better end.” Tari stopped and looked up at Keldor. “I never planned on taking this path. Antaris is wonderful, and the purification….” Tari trailed off lost in memory. “It was painful beyond words, but I would never trade anything for the cleansing I received, but when I have to leave the only thing I was ever really any good at to do who knows what…I just don’t know.”

Keldor nodded. He understood, and he knew nothing to say to comfort her. For several more minutes the only sound was the rustle of paper as it was lowered into boxes.

“If you don’t mind my asking, what is it with the lion’s head symbol, anyway?” Tari asked, before the silence could grow even more uncomfortable. “The Truth has done just about everything but print it on your forehead.”

Keldor grimaced. “Yet another reminder that I am King Miro’s son. It is his royal crest.”

“And for some reason that bothers you,” Tari stated.

Keldor nodded. “I spent my entire adult life trying my best to hurt him and his other children in revenge for a betrayal that I now understand was nothing more than his doing what he had to for the good of the kingdom,” Keldor explained uncomfortably.

Comprehension dawned on Tari’s face. “And for some reason Truth is leading you back into their lives, and you’re fairly certain it won’t go well.”

“I’m fairly certain I’ll be arrested and sentenced for high treason against the crown,” Keldor returned as he began to rub his neck. “And it’s no less than what I deserve.”

Tari walked over to her friend. “You know, Keldor. Almost everything I saw in the Waters of Truth was related to me, but there was one thing that was impressed on me before I left. Something I needed to tell you when I got out. That everything was going to be okay when you went home.”

Keldor nodded. “I remember you telling me that next day. I just don’t see how it could possibly do anything but cause further pain and hardship for everyone involved.”

Tari closed up a box and began to tie it shut. “If I recall correctly you loudly protested to Antaris that you didn’t see how the ridiculous, random raids you were planning could possibly make a difference in the fight against the Horde,” Tari reminded him, jerking her head toward the map on the table. “I guess we’ll both have to have faith,” she said, her voice a mix between annoyance and amusement. “Yeah,” she added sardonically. “We’re the type of people who just excel in that area.”

Keldor chuckled. “I guess we’re going to have to get better at it.”

Keldor started to pass some item to his friend as she began loading her last box. He passed her the map.

“Keep it, gorgeous. A reminder for when you feel uneasy. Like that Horde tread pin you wear around your neck.”

Keldor nodded and tucked the map into the pouch he’d slung over his head before leaving his house.

“So what great work are you embarking on today, noble prince?” Tari asked with mock reverence.

Keldor laughed. “I’m trekking out to ripper territory to get some fenis roots.”

“Oooh,” Tari said with a grimace. “That’s nasty work.” She dug in the latest box she had been packing and pulled out a small corked bottle. “Here,” she said. “Salt. Those roots are strange—in spite of all of their medical benefits. They’re almost like flesh even though they’re vegetable. The spoil like meat left out on a hot afternoon. They have to be salted down or they are attacked by bacteria and become bitter and useless. The salt kills the bacteria that eats away at and destroys them. I’m sure the others will bring salt, but maybe you’ll get lucky, and need this too.”

Keldor tried to hide his surprise. ‘Salt, again? What does all this mean?’

Keldor tucked the small jar into his pouch. His fingers grazed over the map. ‘I didn’t know what all of these raids were about either at the time. I suppose I need to wait and see. Drat it!’

Realizing that there was nothing else he could do, Keldor turned to leave. “Thank you,” he said, the bright light of midday allowing only his silhouette to be framed by the doorway.

“Thank you, too,” she said. Then with a wink she added, “May you return victorious from your fenis root campaign, my liege.”

Keldor stuck his tongue out at her and left chuckling. As he walked down the steps, he reminded himself again, that he was Truth Sworn, and that he would follow the Truth’s leadings even when it did not make sense. ‘Even if,’ he thought, his stomach twisting, ‘it leads to an Eternian prison mine.’