Torrel tossed a knurled log into the hearth, the embers pluming outward upon impact. As he dusted his hands off he heard the door click shut behind him. The steps were sloppy and carried the weight of an elephant. His eyes narrowed, a dejected scowl as the presence creeped up behind him.

  "What do you want Balak.." He snipped.

  Torrel refused to turn his attention, staring into the flames that shed a warm light on his face. In his peripheral the bounty hunter's lips curled into something wicked. A conniving fire in his disfigured eyes. The excited and labored breathing assaulted Torrel's ear, causing him to lean away.

  The man remained quiet as he held up the paper. "You're new errand boy is a fugitive Torrel. And your kitchen slave is working with him."

  Torrel's chest puffed out and his arms raised, folding at the chest as he glanced his way finally. "You're lucky Ae's not here, you would've been having your legs broken by now."

  "I do my homework, Torrel. I may be old but I'm still sharp. I've learned her comings and goings. And in this case she won't be back soon enough."

  The tavern keeper shifted, standing confident as the threat was presented. "I know extortion when I see it, what do you want?"

  Balak chuckled breathily. Smiling with a new gap in his teeth. "What I want? Haven't heard you ask that in years. You're tempting fate Torrel. Harboring high profile targets is going to bring the Kordish guard here. And we know what happened the last time they showed up. I don't think the townsfolk would like someone in charge who selfishly endangers them by helping some city kid."

  "And so you're here to force me to hand over the town to you? I don't think a majority of the citizens here would agree that's a good idea. Besides, only reason he gets found is if a snake like you turned him in yourself. And that isn't a good look either. Not that you care about looks."

  The jab made Balak stiffen, waving the bounty in Torrel's face. "The whole town saw it Torrel. I'm not the only one with the consideration of doing so. Just because you and your Kordish friends had fun with a hostile take over of my town doesn't make you untouchable.

  Torrel ripped the paper from the filthy sausages touting it. "They are all just as much a Maverick as you. The only difference is we brought order to Nomad's Haven. And we've learned to stick together. We support and aid those in need. No one would dare try to turn him in aside from you. And I won't bend the knee to such pathetic attempts to intimidate me. Now get out of my Tavern." His arm pointed to the door. The two locked eyes with shadows and firelight mingling between them. The tense standoff between the two lasted minutes. Their sharp gazes studying the other for a moment of weakness. Faltering of any kind. Torrel had no plans to give so much as an inch.

  Balak slowly leaned back, withdrawing from his place at the hearth. Torrel watched him walk to the door, and slam it behind him. The facade collapsed as he fell back into a chair, a frustrated exhale as he leaned against his hand in thought, staring at the dark corner of the room.

  It was a very real threat, and a well placed one. In the moment his faith to his fellow man was unwavering. But Balak's influence had turned the minds of a few. And all it took was one. That heartless man had no qualms of being the one to turn him in if no one else did. The hate he'd receive was worth it as long as Ae and himself suffered. His eyes hesitated to look up, knowing the solution he was about to consider. Above the mantle was his sword. Laid to rest years ago, it's gallant blade hilted by a golden cross guard resembling an eye. Thick black leather wrapped around the handle, a pearl pummel at its base. An elegant weapon that had been misused far too much.

  Nidian leaned against a tree; its bark plucked as he anticipated Malles' arrival. The torchlight came around the corner with his form dimly lit by its warmth.

  "So? Were you able to finally translate it?" He took a step forward to meet him, casting a nod toward the journal tightly held under Malles' arm. The man had covered his body in a dark fur cloak, a drastic change from his casual attire.

  Malles caught the observation and held the book out to Nidian, "After Balak went to the tavern a lot of towns' folk have been giving weird looks. I figured it was best to start concealing identity."

  Nidian's brow raised, "Conceal identity in a town of like- thirty people? Think you might stick out more now."

  Malles exhaled in thought, juggling the consideration it might have made things more suspicious. He dismissed the thought, "It doesn't matter right now. Look, the journal is more than just someone's notes. It's a map!"

  "A map to what?" Nidian seemed reluctant to bite. He flipped through the pages, seeing nothing but writings, odd runes, a few star charts. The moment he turned the page to a constellation the lighter skinned hand of his friend pressed on the page to hold it open. Their eyes met, "A map to the heart of Navi. Half these writings and entries are recent, the ink is far too dark to be older than a year. Whoever wrote this has been observing things no one else has.

  "I thought the heart of Navi was just a fable, one that supposedly was kept by Orlentius Kordhan.Not an actual relic in existence today." "According to this it's very much real, and this journal is a map to it. It talks about something called the Final Dawn. A revival of the one true god of all, Demaraxis. It's some cult by everything I can tell and the author is not fond of them based on their choice of words." His eyes popped a bit as he recalled the profane translations.

  Nidian was past the point of secrets at this point, at least with Malles. It connected instantly what Neiraan was so upset about. What he saw, who was after him. "My friend gave this to me. He said he witnessed a murder and a dozen crimson men were after him and the journal. I saw them chase him out of the city minutes before it was destroyed. Dragons burned it all to the ground. So now we have dragons and a cult?"

  Malles seemed to pale a bit, shaking his head with a grim disappointment, "I'm afraid it appears they are one and the same. It mentions the immortal devotees of Demaraxis, his legions who seek his return. Notated as Demraxites. They're not drawn in any manner, but it states they destroy and consume all in their path. I think it's safe to make the connection between the two."

  Nidian scoffed, disbelief still gnawing at him. He gazed up at the canopies and the last rays of sunlight falling through them. "You gotta be kidding me. So we have a cult working with ancient beings, who are here after a relic they think the Kordahn possesses. And want to destroy everything in their way? So rather than some random freak event of nature this is an organized invasion by what I'm currently understanding to be one of the most evil beings on the planet?" His head came down to glare at his friend, hands on his hips.

  Malles nodded, defeated by the findings as well. "Yeah.. The journal seems to be the result of months of reconnaissance, and maybe a formulation of how to stop it."

  Nidian pointed a finger at Malles as his words struck gold. "That's got to be why the map is there! Whoever made this must have assumed if they could get to the heart first it could be used against the Dem-things."

  "Demraxites..." Malles corrected. "That's a bold assumption but it does make sense. But it's just a star map. Dozens of constellations, no one true direction is mentioned. It rambles about a compass of sorts, and I have the feeling it implies one not so ordinary."

  "What makes you say that Malles?" Nidian closed the book and stuffed it behind his belt.

  "Well if it was any ordinary compass it wouldn't be recorded as hard to obtain, with the only known location being at the Tree of Naviirah."

  Nidian's eyes widened, his body rigid. "You mean to tell me this key is in the Gale? Nobody has ventured there and returned alive except for the most prestigious Kordish monks."

  "Ae has."

  Nidian went silent, he should of expected it once again, what was she not capable of. "Of course she has.." He sighed.

  The ground sudden began to rumble, pebbles on the ground began to rattle. The two looked over at the path back to town. A cacophony of screams echoed out to them, shouting and cries of panic filled the air. Nidian blew past Malles as fast as his feet could carry him while the timid scholar hesitantly followed suit. Whatever they were running head first into, it had frightened a town of people who had faced the wild dangers of Daemora for decades.