They finished their meal in silence. William looked up and realized it was late in the day. Dark clouds were gathering overhead, and he wondered if it might snow. Raynald had spoken of Artarq, where it hardly ever snowed at all. The idea was strange to him.

"We'd best get back to Carn Gable," said Raynald. "Azgora doesn't like you going missing."

The journey back could have been more uneventful. The three travelers' pace was faster and took a different route. Their path went by the village near Carn Gable. In the village square, they saw Rusara sitting on a stump. She was surrounded by village children, with whom she was telling a story. As they drew nearer, William heard the end of it.

"-and then, the trap door would have opened at the moment..." She motioned with her hands, and the children gasped. "...the spell wore off. Everyone realized it had been the knight, and the real villain was still at large.

"There was a great battle after that, with many valorous deeds. But, unfortunately, that story will have to wait for another time."

"Why didn't they just take the castle by force?" asked a boy.

Rusara smiled. "No one has ever seized that castle by force. At the time, the depths of the Duke's treachery were unknown. Yet with cunning, the knight turned the demon's ambitions to good while denying him his prize."

William shifted in unease as he heard the story. He knew who the knight was, who the Duke was, and who the demon was. Rusara might not have said their names, but he'd heard that story, the real version, from her many times. It was enough to know that she was changing it for dramatic effect.

"What happened to the demon?" asked a girl.

"Well, he was furious," said Rusara. "But he dared not attack the knight while being so well guarded. And now, everyone was wise as to what he was up to. So he fled back into his dark land to plot his revenge. To this day, he has not been heard from." She stood up and made for them. "One moment, children. Raynald, William, I see you are back."

"That isn't the story I remember," noted Raynald.

"Of course it's not," said Rusara with a smile. "The real thing was far too anticlimactic. I had to do something to make it interesting again." She paused and glanced back. "Why don't you three go on ahead. I'll meet up with you later."

"Right," said Raynald, "let's go, William."

The sun was sinking into the distance when they reached the gates of Carn Gable. They opened before them like a hungry maw. Adding to this image was the gatehouse in the shape of a human skull. The two bonfires kept burning in the arrow slits that were the eyes helped, too. The walls looked like rows of jagged teeth all lined up, just for effect.

"I have never understood why Erik the Voyager chose this place as the seat of his power," muttered William. "I mean, it's my home, but it used to be a domain of the Withering. You'd think he'd have destroyed every stone of it."

"And waste a good castle?" asked Raynald in amusement. "Erik the Voyager was not a fool."

They found Lady Azgora waiting for them on the other side. She was clad in polished steel armor and held a round shield in her left hand. On her right was a long spear, and on her head was a helmet that obscured her face. Her long flaxen hair was falling down around her shoulders in waves. She looked magnificent in her armor. William felt slightly scared as they approached. He hoped he had not done something to anger her.

"Mother," he said, "I'm sorry we were out so late, but-"

"Silence," said Azgora.

William shut his mouth as Mother regarded Raynald. "So you return, Witherarm."

Anyone else would have been dead where they stood after calling him that. Raynald had killed men for less. William knew well the love of Father prevented Raynald from striking her down. Mother knew how such words infuriated him and chose to bait him.

"Well," said Raynald, "someone has to raise your son."

"I will raise him, however, I see fit," said Mother. "Now, I would speak with him alone. Leave us." She looked at Felix. "You as well, young Felix."

"By all means," said Raynald, brushing past her.

Felix paused a moment and bowed his head. "Lady Azgora." Then he moved on.

Azgora led William to one side and looked at him hard. William shuddered as he looked at the eyes behind that helmet, cold and gray. The shadows made them seem even more menacing than they usually were. Then Mother planted her spear in the ground and removed the helmet with one hand, holding it under her arm.

For a long time, there was silence between them. Then, "I have noted you are no longer abstaining from your lessons." Mother said. "That is... good."

"I don't want to disappoint you, Mother," said William. How many times were people going to bring that up?

"You have not entirely." Mother assured him before lapsing into silence again. "Among my people..." Here it came. "Men are not trained to fight. I have never understood why things should be so different here. You do not have the right temperament for war. Even so, you are a member of Harlenor's warrior elite. It was unbefitting of one of your stations to evade lessons."

"Yes, Mother." What did she want from him again?

Azgora looked around before turning her attention back to him. "Rusara's lessons are more things which people of your kind should be worried about. Harlenor is a strange place, so you must adapt."

"It isn't strange to me," said William, clenching his fist. Why did Mother pretend as if this place wasn't his homeland? He'd never even been to Themious. Nor did he wish to go there.

Azgora missed his tone entirely. "Yes, I suppose it is not. You have never been home. Truly home." Her eyes grew distant as she looked at the sunset. "You have never seen the Temple of Zeya as it stands upon the cliffs overlooking the bay of Acoria. Nor have you seen true warriors at work. Rather, you have seen the mockery of martial prowess in this place."

"Raynald seems a fine warrior," said William, letting defiance seep into his tone. Why did she pretend this faraway place was much better than his home?

"I don't doubt Witherarm is dangerous in his own right," said Mother. "I have fought him only once, and he was a formidable adversary. But, even so, no divine power runs through his veins, and so he will never be as mighty as you or I might be. In Acoria, cripples like him are left to the wolves."

"His family tried to do that to him," said William. "The wolves brought him back. I don't think I'm all that different from anyone else. How can I know? I've never even left Carn Gable. I don't want to, but I should at some point."

"The time for that has not yet come," said Mother. "For now, continue your studies."

"Raynald," said William, emphasizing the name, "just told me he is being called away by Father. There is a war brewing in Artarq."

"I know; the message came to me first," said Azgora. "I am glad Vanion is calling Raynald to his aid. It will be good to be rid of that cripple. And, fortunately, war should come to these lands before the people grow too complacent."

"A lot of people will get killed," said William. "There doesn't seem to be anything fortunate about that to me."

Mother smiled fondly. "Your tenderness of heart befits your gender, but not a member of the warrior elite. Wars are a chance to win immortality; otherwise, one would fade into the mists of time. Only in battle are vices and virtues brought out in full. There, we may know each other's true nature.

"War is a magnificent and glorious thing. I cannot understand how your father puts so much thought into avoiding it."

"You sound like Raynald," said William.

"Do not compare me with Witherarm," said Mother sternly. "He is a maimed creature. The disabled are a burden upon the healthy. One that should be thrown off."

"Raynald is the greatest warrior in all of Harlenor," said William. "Why are you always mocking him?"

"A question which I have asked many times," said Rusara, appearing behind Mother. "Were you not protected by Vanion, there would have been blood between you years ago."

"One exception does not change the rule," said Mother. "And I am speaking to my son."

"That alarms me," said Rusara. "To my mind, all living things have the potential for great good and immense evil. In a thousand small ways, all things advance causes both causes."

Azgora and Rusara's gaze met in silent challenge. Mother loomed tall over Rusara, but the latter had the higher authority. Rusara was small, even for a Dust Elf. Yet she faced down a princess of the Amazons. It was the princess who looked away first.

Azgora hid the motion by turning back to William. "Bear in mind what I have said. You have a higher destiny."

Then she moved away. Skullcracker cawed from one of the battlements.

"She is in a good mood today, isn't she?" mused Rusara.

"When will you and Raynald leave for Artarq?" asked William.

"Soon," said Rusara, "perhaps in the next few days. But, of course, it depends on when we can get a ship, so I came looking for you. I would like you to go with us.

William got a sinking feeling when she mentioned this. "Me?" he asked, "Go with you to Artarq?"

"Don't be a coward," said Rusara. "Weren't you saying how you wanted to see the world outside this place? So, instead, Azgora would have you remain here until she ships you to wherever she wants you to go.

"I've never understood the appeal of destiny. If our choices are preordained, what is the purpose of making them? Where was I?"

"Leaving Carn Gable," said William, the idea of it gaining some appeal. "Can I take Felix with me?"

"Yes, yes, of course," said Rusara. "He is your servant, after all, and Vanion did assign him to you."

"But shouldn't we tell Mother?" asked William. "We ought to get her permission."

"She'll never give it," said Rusara. "If you want to see the outside world, this is your chance. Take it, or leave it. I'm not going to force the issue. Far better to leave with her none the wiser and have her find you suddenly gone.

"I'd love to see the look on her face."

"Could I at least write her a letter explaining where I'm going?" asked William. "I could leave one in my room. So that she doesn't worry."

"If you wish," said Rusara, "Now, let's not breathe a word of this to anyone. If you want to join us, have Felix find us your answer. Then we'll make arrangements."

William felt this could be the beginning of a great and terrible adventure. He didn't much like the idea at all. Yet he was a member of the warrior elite and had to act like it. Everyone wanted him to be bold and seek out adventures, so he ought to.

Shouldn't he?

Even so, the whole thing boded poorly either way.

Later, he tried playing chess against Felix to ease his troubled mind. It didn't go well at all.

"Checkmate," said William in a dull tone. "You let me win, as usual."

"I am your servant," said Felix with a grin. "I'm not allowed to beat you at anything."

"Come off it. You're just doing it to annoy me," said William, standing up.

William went to the far wall to look at a large map of the three Harlenorian Kingdoms. The island of Haldren to the north, Escor to the southwest across the channel, and Antion to the southeast. Once, they had been one kingdom, united, but that was long ago. Reuniting the nation had been the dream of many, and none had yet achieved it.

He traced a finger from Antion. Then, east into the elven reservations. Then north through Seathorius. Then northwest along the shore until he reached the province of Artarq. On the opposite side of a great river lay Calisha in the east. Artarq was where Baltoth would attack first if he did.

"If I go with Raynald and Rusara," realized William, "I may end up in a war."

"That does seem a fair statement of the obvious," noted Felix. He had begun playing chess against himself. He was winning handily.

"But if I stay here, I'll just stay here forever," said William. "And anyway, everyone thinks me a coward. If I don't take this chance, they may be right. I have to go. It is my duty."

"You are listening too much to Raynald and Rusara," said Felix. "They want you to come with them so they can spite Lady Azgora, and you know it."

"What do you think I should do?" asked William.

"Stay here," said Felix. "You're fourteen; I'm fifteen. We're not of age to fight in wars. Your father would agree with me."

William considered going to tell Raynald and Rusara that right to their faces. But he decided he had too much respect for them to do so. They believed he ought to get out, and they were here while Father was not. He didn't like danger but wanted to see new things and knew he had to go now or never. He could not say where and when it would end, but he desired it.

He wrestled with it momentarily, then realized he had not seen his father in almost two years. The Lord of Carn Gable had left on duties one day and has yet to return. His only contact with him had letters. He wanted to speak with him again about something, anything. William didn't want to go without seeing Father any longer. That tipped the scales.

"Go to Rusara," said William. "Tell her I'm coming with her and Raynald."

"Great," said Felix as he stood up, "but when all this goes to hell, I want to say I warned."

"You have my permission," said William.

"All right then," said Felix. "I'll be back."

As Felix walked out the door, William sat down and wondered what he had gotten into.