Mathias

Mathias stood, watching the funeral parade for his sister. She had died from the air. There was not enough oxygen for most humans to live, and Rhain had been one of those. Mathias' eyes were red with dry tears; unable to cry, unable to not cry.
As the black clad men and women passed, Mathias knelt, his white hood brushing his knee. "I won't fail you, Rhain" he whispered.

    In Rhain's last breath, she had asked Mathias to heal humanity, to save their race from extinction. Gesturing to the gathered crowds, Rhain had said these simple words: "Save them, Mathias."

Mathias stood, his Exkem Muret-Wok standing behind him. The living metallic, orange-glowing mechanism placed a cold, steel hand on Mathias' shoulder. "We should go" it said sadly, "You have a promise to keep."
As the two turned, Mathias already knew who to ask for help. The Merf.

    Exkem and Mathias slid their feet along the slippery paths of the mountain, the rain beating them back against the cliff face, making it almost impossible to fall, yet making it terribly difficult to move. Mathias could hardly breath, and Exkem's glow was dull and low within him, red rather than orange. Mathias slipped, but the wind and rain beating against him kept him from falling. Mathias' hood did nothing to keep the rain out of his eyes, due to the fact that it was soaked through.
        Why would he live up here? wondered Mathias, sliding on once more. Rounding a bend, the wind stopped so suddenly, Mathias almost fell from the lack of force pressing him against the cliff face. Over calculating, He hurled himself back against the wall, smashing his shoulder blade against the rock. Moaning with pain and exhaustion, Mathias pressed on, feeling his way, ever farther up and into the heart of the mountain. In towards the Merf.

        Darkness everywhere, the only light was that of Exkem's orange glow. The rain couldn't get in to where the two travelers were, so Exkem had relighted once more, burning with the fire of Beileor itself. Then came the Wisp. A blue orb of light appeared from around the corner and floated there, seeming to look towards Mathias and Exkem. Then it bobbed and darted back the way it had come.
         "I'm going after it." stated Exkem, and rolling into his ball form, his spikes grasping the rock, Exkem zipped along the wall, chasing the wisp, leaving Mathias blind and alone.
        Rounding another bend, Mathias found himself confronted by a large, dark rock door, seeming to glow with the blue runes imbued into it's surface. Then looking down at the floor of the cave, a strange sight met Mathias' eyes. A 'Welcome' mat was placed neatly by the door. Pressing the handle of the door, he swung it open, showing him into a warm, dry cave, lined with books, scrolls, desks filled with charts, and magical runes scratched onto walls, floor and ceiling. In a large, comfortable looking armchair, crouched The Merf. He crouched rather than sat, due to the obscene amount of pillows stashed on it.  The Merf had not noticed the entrance of a stranger, nor did he seem to notice when Mathias stood in front of him.  Engrossed in a book, his head bowed and his eyes inches from the page, a muffled voice came from him, "Alp yourself to some tea." he said, gesturing to the pot of tea, sitting on a pile of papers on the side table.
Mathias jumped slightly at  the totally unexpected remark.
    "Uuh..." he started, "I didn't come for tea, if you understand my meaning correctly...."
    "Oh," came the muffled voice. "That's funny... I could've sworn the tea was still hot."
    "What?"
    "Hmmm?"
    "I'm sorry, I need your help."
    "It's quite simple really, you put the tea over fire on the rack... quite simple."
    "No, that's not what I meant. I need some information."
    "Alright, it's black tea, with two tablespoons of sugar, the cups are above the-"
    Mathias threw his hands in the air. "I don't want Tea!!"
    "Oh..... then... what do you need?" Asked the Merf, lowering the book.
    Mathias' eyes grew wide at the sight of him. Blond dreadlocks down to his shoulderblades, The Merf was quite a bit younger than Mathias would have guessed. The blue tattoos on his arms and chest seemed to glow in the light of the fire, playing over the strong muscles under the pale, almost white skin. Sharp blue eyes peered out from under the red bandana holding the beaded dreadlocks from his face. The green-and-red plaid kilt, the offset vambraces and the black woolen greaves gave the Merf a slightly crazed look.   
    "You needed help?"he asked.
    "Uuh.... ye-es.... I need a healing power, something powerful enough to heal the air in Beileor. To make humanity be able to live here."
    "Oh! healing.. hm..." said the Merf, leaping to his feet, and rushing over to a table covered by an enormous book. "Healing..." he mumbled, opening the book and flipping through the pages. "Heal.. Health, Healing! shelf.. B" Looking around, he spotted what he wanted and rushed over to a shelf with a blue letter B carved into the headpiece.
    "Pardon me for asking," said Mathias, "but why would a book on Healing be on the B shelf... Why not on the H shelf?"
    The Merf paused, thinking. "Biology." he said, absently. "I believe it has to do with biology."
    "What?"
    "What...?"
    "What...? why biology... it's much simpler to do it by the alphabet."
    "Well, if you want to do it the easy way...."
    "How old are you... exactly...?"
    The Merf licked his finger, "Well, I believe I am six-hundred-thirty two, ten months, fifteen days, twenty three hours, fifty six minutes, and fourteen... fifteen... seconds.... and counting."
    Mathias looked in amazement at this strange man.  "You can tell all that by licking your finger?"

    "No, I know that by heart, I had jelly on my finger."

    The Merf pulled a think volume off the shelf, and handed it to Mathias. This book was quickly followed by three or four others, which in turn were followed by several books which Merf classified as "I need to move these....."
        Mathias held all Merf's books, as The Merf sorted throught the books on shelf 'B'. After these books were all in order, The Merf took the several books from Mathias and started flipping through the book labeled "Healing: P"
        The Merf mumbled as he scanned the page: "Perfume of 'H'... package of 'H'... nonono..... Pen... Pend... Pandant! got it!"
        Dropping the other books, Merf scanned the room once more, then shaking his head, he said a few words in a language Mathias didn't know, and a blue rune on the wall started to glow. Merf stepped quickly to this and pressing his hand to it, a purple glow emanated from the wall. Beckoning for Mathias to follow, Merf stepped through into a room which had appeared behind the wall. Mathias stepped cautiously through the doorway into another room filled with books, scrolls, and documents. Here, the runes on the wall were green, and the letters imbued on the bookshelves were also green. The room was also cold. "I need to put a fireplace in here..." The Merf thought aloud. Then scanning the book again, to the place where his finger marked a stop on the selected page, he bustled over to a shelf with the letter 'A' on the mantle.
        "A?" wondered Mathias, "Didn't you just say 'Pendant'?"
        "This," sighed The Merf, "Is the Pendant ROOM. 'A' stands for 'Amulet' which, as we all know, is a form of necklace. A Pnedant hangs from a necklace, and is therefore part and parcel of an Amulet." The Merf had lain stress on every other word of this shpeal to make it obvious that EVERYONE should know about a Pendant being part of an Amulet.
        Sorting through the books on the shelf, The Merf pulled a book labeled, "Amulets: The complete manual for an Amulet with the powers of Healing."
        "Hmmm..." sighed Merf, blowing dust off the cover. "Northern books always tend to gather more dust...." Musing over the dustiness of northern books, The Merf snapped his fingers and logs and the chair and table from the other room appeared in the center of the Pendant room. Merf looked disapprovingly at the logs. "Don't you know better!?" he told them, "ALWAYS show up ON FIRE, and giving HEAT!"  Instantly, the logs burst into flames, and Merf settled himself in the same crouching stance Mathias had first seen him in.
        "So," mused The Merf, "Tell me your secrets...."
        As he said the word 'Secrets' The Merf threw the book into the air. The book hovered for a moment, then opened to a page with a drawing of a small necklace on it.
        "Aaaahhh..... " agreed The Merf, "The Pendant of Healing! I agree, Manual."   
        The Merf nodded his agreement with the book, then took the volume out of the air and handed it to Mathias, mumbling something about the fact that books are smarter than most humans.
        Mathias breezed over the page, and wondered why, if this Pendant was so powerful, The Merf had not taken it for himself. Mathias asked him, "Merf... "he started, unsure of himself, "Why, if this Pendant is so powerful, didn't you take it... I mean, you must be pretty powerful yourself, but with this.... You could be unstoppable!"
        The Merf sighed, looking to the ceiling. "It told me it was waiting for someone. The right someone. And besides, who wants to be unstoppable? Other than the evil warlord here and there, why would you want to be unbeatable?"
        "But... you..."
        "No, lad, I don't have lice. That's not a nice question."
        "No, not... I wasn't going to ask you that."
        "The shampoo is in the back corner of the shower. Feel free to use it."
        "I don't need to wash my hair, I need to heal the air... remember?"
        "What's wrong with the air? is it bleeding on you?"
        "No, it's not right for humans... you of all people should know that."
        The Merf thought about it for a bit. "If it's not right, then it's got to be left, so I don't see why it matters."
        "Sir, I need to find this Pendant so I can help humanity survive. As it is, there is not enough oxygen in the air for humans to survive."
        "The Pendant doesn't work like that. It sort of helps YOU help others... if you're the right person. But all in all, if you've got your books, the rest of humanity will live on without you, so I suggest you go back to your books, and read."
        "I made a promise to my sister that I would save humanity. I HAVE to do it."
        "When I saw the Pendant, it looked like it didn't have a sister."
        ".....What...?"   

    The Merf looked blankly at Mathias, not understanding his incomprehension.
    "Could you repeat the question?"
    "I said what, it's not hard..."
    "Well, neither is cooking cake, so what's your point?"
    "My point is, you should be able to understand what I'm asking about!"
    "No, I meant what's your POINT. Not the point you are driving, what is the sharpest part of your body."
    Mathias looked blankly at The Merf now, totally lost.
    "Whatever," he said finally, "I need to find this Pendant, where is it."
    "Well, when I last saw it, it was in one of my dreams... it was floating in a green, murky, glowy substance that seemed to be never ending."
    "Where would that be?"
    "Where would what be? Hang on a moment. I'm going to get my things, then we can leave. I'll have Wisp bring your Exkem back, and then you can go fetch! I'm coming along.
    "Oh, this is going to be exciting! I haven't been on an adventure since the Great T-hor Wars of the 3rd age! I'm so excited!"  
    Nitala leaned close to the dragon's neck, barely avoiding the branches and leaves that whipped past her. Beth the ruby Judrun cawed his excitement as the young T-hor Ithim rider clung to his back. Whipping through her long, dark green hair, Nitala gasped as Beth soared out over a high, jungle cliff, the dense foliage of the upper canopy casting a beautiful green light on the falling water, bubbling and gurgling over the edge of the cliffs.
    As Beth wore himself out, Nitala looked for a goo landing place, so the ruby wouldn't kill himself. Seeing a decent place for a landing, she leaped off the back of her dragon, catching branches and vines to slow her fall until she reached the low limbs of the Twrch fruit tree. Beth followed her fall, much more gracefully in the air than she was, falling from limb to limb as she was. Laughing, Nitala brought herself upright, straddling the branch, and rapping her legs around it so she wouldn't fall. Beth made an easy landing a few branches above her, his rawchus cries telling of the joyful spirit in the birdlike dragon.
    All of a sudden, Beth became very tense, his eyes searching the jungle floor. Nitala sensed the strange lifeforms too. Three of them, walking on the ground, making more noise than what she thought natural.
    "Hurry Beth," she said in T-horim, "you need to get away, they can see you!"
    Beth shook his head in disgust of the thought, but flew up into the canopy, where he could still hear what was going on, but not be seen. Nitala, her green skin blending with the green of the leaves, climbed out onto a far limb, trying to see these strange creatures.
As Nitala climbed in amongst the long leaves, the strangers came into view. The one in the lead wore all white but for the red designs on the shoulders, hood, and forearms. A bow was slung at his back, and a quiver of arrows was attached to his belt. The second figure, Nitala could sense, glowed with the very life of Beileor, it's strange metallic armor seemed to hover over a bright orange glow. The third figure was by far the strangest. Long blond hair falling down past it's shoulders, a red strip of cloth holding away from his face, no shirt, and on his bare chest and arms were blue tattoos, which seemed to glow with a light of their own. His vambraces were mismatched also, one being an old, beat up steel with a chipped gold wing on the elbow, and the other being a bright red metal, covering only the outside of his forearm. The green and red plaid kilt was rather distracting, due to it's extreme contrast to the black wool greaves. This last one was different from both the others in one way: knowledge seemed to pour from him, she could feel it seeping from him, she just couldn't grasp any of it, like a child trying to grab bubbles from too far away.
    Then the first one spoke in a language she hadn't heard before. It seemed like he was talking far too loudly than what was necessary. As this one spoke, the second, metallic one began gathering the dead wood from the ground, clearing a space, and lighting a fire. The third however, stayed put, looking around into the trees, his intensely blue eyes visible from Nitala's post in the trees. Then their conversation grew almost unnoticeably quieter, forcing Nitala to move closer to hear well. Curiosity driving her, Nitala did. Then the third figure sat, snapped his fingers and a large, comfortable looking chair appeared, and he sat, snapping once more. This second snap brought a teapot and two cups. One had a whole in the bottom.
Nitala scrambled out onto the far branches of the lowest limb of the Twrch fruit tree. As the strangers had conversed, their voices had grow quieter, and every few words was spoken in T-horim, so Nitala could only catch a few words. Nitala scrambled out onto the farthest branch, holding on to the one directly above her for balance. The strangely dressed human said a few words, one of which was the word "Fruit" in T-horim. Looking around, The human opposite said something Nitala couldn't understand, and spoke even quieter. Nitala let go of her balance branch and crouched on the leaves, her green skin blending in perfectly with her leafy surroundings. As she did so, she realized that the branch she had been standing on was not strong enough to hold her entire weight. As her stomach did a flip-flop, Nitala felt the branch break, and the fall begin. Falling in what seemed like slow-motion, Nitala realized that she would land directly in front of the strangely dress man.
    When Nitala landed with a loud 'Whoof', she looked up fearfully into the calm blue eyes of The Merf.
    "I wondered when you'd join us." he said, in perfect T-horim, with only a slight accent. "Would you care to climb your tree again and getting those pretty green fingers on some Twrchs, would you? I have a nasty craving."
    "Who are you?" asked Nitala, fearfully.
    "Why is it that they invariably answer a question with another question?" The Merf looked across to Mathias.
    "But... What are you doing here? and how do you know T-horim?"
    The Merf rolled his head back, giving an exasperated sigh. "There she goes again!"
    "But..."
    "Shush! now would you like some sugar in your tea? I have found that Mathias doesn't drink tea, and will only accept coffee. Nasty humans..." he shot a glance over at Mathias, nursing his coffee mug. Mathias shrugged.
    "You don't even know my name!" Nitala blurted.
    "Of course I do!" retorted The Merf. "I simply do not find it necessary to address you by Nitala, due to the fact that it is totally unrelated! now, would you like some cake with your tea, or shall I just eat it all, for I have no objections either way..."
    "Please," Nitala begged, "Leave my people alone, they will only hurt you."
    "What do they have to do with the Pendant?" mused Merf, "Last I knew, T-hor Ithim were only interested in bashing each other into gravel... have they gone and gotten greedy?" he said, addressing the last sentence to Nitala.
    "No... but.. you haven't come to kill off my tribe?"
    "No...!" snorted The Merf, "Why would we want to kill THEM!? what do they have to offer us, other than their bone necklaces and their crude clothing and weapons? Have you found any mint leaves lately? I would kill for those... nasty colds during the winter, in the mountain, and sniffles are not something I like."
    "Then what..."
    "I need a guide! my dear gel', and you seem to know your way around quite well, you with your Ruby.
        "A little odd for a female to be riding a Judrun, now isn't it Mathias...?" Mathias opened his mouth to answer, but then clopped it shut as the Merf continued, "See, Males believe that females are a lower gender, a different, lower intelligence,so-to-say. But obviously Nitala here thinks she is just as well as the males of her tribe ( and it is only her tribe that think that way)"
    "Soo," mused mathias, "They think she's a lower race, but she thinks otherwise-"
    "AND SHE'S RIGHT!" squawked The Merf, leaping from his chair in frustration.      
Merf glanced over at Exkem, the metallic life form now in it's most human like form. Exkem's metal skin shimmered dully in the firelight.
    "I once thought about being an Exkem...."
    Mathias and Nitala looked at Merf, bewildered. Exkem nodded slowly.
    "I thought about it... but then my books wouldn't let my head go.... I had a big stack on my bed and they wouldn't move...."
    "Hmmm..." rumbled Exkem, "Books tend to not move when asked."
    "Troublesome things, books. When is Beth joining us, Nitala?"
    "How do you know about Beth?"
    "I saw you flying him of course. Call him here please... I want Mathias to see his first Ruby!"
    Nitala stood, and sang a nervous note, sending it soaring into the trees. A caw of a Judrun answered and soon, the Judrun himself followed. Beth hopped uneasily on the ground, keeping his wings out and ready to fly, his head lowered and ready for a quick dash.
Then a thought occurred  to Nitala, "Oh, Merf, please don't tell my tribe I've been riding! They'd banish me, and I'd be forced out without any of my belongings."
    "Ah, Nitala," sighed The Merf, "don't you WANT to leave your tribe? I know you do, and I can make the arrangements for your belongings to come with us. And then you could be free as the wind through your hair!"
    Nitala, shuffled her feet in the soft moss of the jungle.   The truth told, she did want to leave. She hated her tribe, especially Pekin.
    "How would you get my things?" she asked quietly.

    That night, Mathias slipped through the trees, landing easily from one jump to another, moving his body with the strength and grace of a Belorthi of the Plains. Adjusting for the final leap, he spun off the branch, catching the one above him, and swung around the tree. Letting go of the branch, Mathias Rolled into the tree hut which Nitala had described as her own. Surprisingly, the white robes he wore blended perfectly with his surroundings. The bright moon sent shafts of white light down through the canopy. Inside the hut was dark, but Mathias held out the Wisp that The Merf had given him. A gentle blue glow emanated from the living light, hovering lightly over Mathias' outstretched hand. Grabbing an animal skin bag, Mathias loaded it, carefully packing everything into it so it would all fit easily onto Nitala's back. He smiled as he thought of the fear she had shown as she had plummeted in front of The Merf. And also the courage she showed by staying. Mathias slid easily out the door and onto the platform in front of the hut. The light of a Glowshroom torch gleamed dully on an adjoining platform, showing that a T-hor Ithim was coming this way. Mathias slid into a beam of moonlight, and standing in front of a tree trunk, he stood perfectly still. As the T-hor drew closer, Mathias could see it was a warrior. Obviously of some rank, due to the bones and feathers he wore around his neck, upper arms, and lower legs. A black Mohawk stood several inches off his scalp. This was what Nitala had described Pekin, the brutal war-chief of the jungle tribe, as looking like. Mathias scowled under the hood. By Nitala's description, he was a fully despicable T-hor and it would be well not to cross him. Mathias slid easily away around the trunk of the tree, and catching the first branch, he swung easily into the leaping, swinging, and jumping pattern he had used on his first trip. 

    "Well done, Mathias." exclaimed The Merf, clapping the young man on the back. Mathias was only 16, but he was wise, and he was fully capable of fending (and thinking) for himself. "You have saved our young damsel in distress." Merf continued, "and with some flair, I might add!"
    Mathias grinned at the high praise. Looking over at Nitala, the young T-hora smiling shyly back, Mathias sat down and rested his sore muscles.
    "Now, on to the denouncing of the young lass, eh Exkem?" chuckled Merf. then totally unexpectedly, "I thought about being a dancer once!"
Pekin patrolled the walkways of the tree-top city. As the War chief of the jungle tribe, his rank demanded that the other T-hor, especially the women, make way for him. Frowning at the thought of strangers making their way, with a T-hor Ithim in tow, was offensive to Pekin, even if the T-hor was only a female. As Pekin drew near the place where the strangers were, he met a crowd of T-hor Ithim gathered around the platform, watching the strangers ascend the spiraling stairs. Pekin forced his way to the top of the stairs and stood akimbo, waiting for the intruders, his mighty war spear at the ready on his back.
    When the first of the strangers appeared on around the trunk of the tree, Pekin braced for a fight.
    "What do you here?" he said in faltering common tongue.
    "We come with a traitor!" hailed the stranger, in perfect T-horim. He was dressed oddly for a Herwitz (Human), wearing a green-and-red plaid kilt, much like Pekins animal skin tassets. The almost yellow hair was unkempt and badly tangled, held back from the pale face and shoulders by a red strip of cloth tied around the forehead. Pekin felt as if he were talking to Wisdom itself as he spoke to this strange man. The other stranger was silver, glowing with the orange fire of Beileor itself.  It's skin was metallic, and it had a queer way of shifting as it moved. The third figure walking up the stairs was a female T-hor Ithim, her head held low, shoulders slumped and her eyes wide with fear. As the three proceeded up the stairs, Pekin growled uder his breath. A Traitor? What had this little wretch been doing?
    "Why do you bring her here?" Pekin bristled, returning to his native language.
    "She was riding a dragon! We bring her here for her punishment!"
    Pekin rumbled a frustrated growl. "She was riding a dragon?"
    "In secret, Mighty War Chief! She taught herself to fly on the back of a Judrun."
    "SHE WAS RIDING!?" Pekin roared. "COME HERE YOU INSIGNIFICANT WENCH!"
    The small female stepped fearfully forward.
    "A female riding is punishable by banishment from the tribe. Therefore you have thirty seconds to get yourself off this platform or you will be thrown off!"
    "Please...!" moaned the young T-hora, "All I have is here! Let me go-"
    "NO!" roared Pekin, slapping the back of his hand against her cheek. The force of the blow lifted the featherweight girl, sending her soaring over the edge of the platform.
    "No!" cried The Merf, reaching out, trying to catch her.
    "You!" growled Pekin, "You have thirty seconds to get yourself off this platform too. You and your strange companion."
    At that The Merf chuckled. "You think you have power over me?"

    Mathias heard roars and cries on the platform. He was stationed under the platform in the leaves. At the final roar, he saw Nitala come flailing off the platform. Mathias' heart jumped into his throat as he watched her plunge to the forest floor. Mathias leaped from his perch in the trees, drawing an arrow as he did so. As he fell, Mathias drew his bow, compensating for both his and Nitala's rate of fall. Mathias shot the arrow, streaming a thin rope after it. Quickly, Mathias drew the other arrow and fired it at and opposing tree, this one small enough to bend with the weight of the falling T-hor Ithim and absorb the impact. As both arrows struck home, Nitala hit the thin rope, a whoosh of air coming out of her lungs. The small tree bent over with the sudden weight of the light T-hora. Then springing back up, the rope sent Nitala soaring to a gentle landing on soft leaves. Then Mathias had himself to worry about. Drawing two arrows from his quiver, he slung his bow over his back. Taking the arrows, one in each hand, he watched an upcoming branch, and adjusting so he would hit it with only his hands, he slammed the arrowheads into the branch with a loud thunk. Mathias felt an extreme pain shoot through both arms as the arrows bit deep into to wood and held. Mathias was much heavier than Nitala, and his weight broke both arrows off at the branch, letting him continue falling, with only a slight slowing. Mathias crashed through the undergrowth and slammed onto the ground. His arms and hands ached and the rest of his body felt broken from the landing. Mathias went unconscious.


    Merf stood resolutely at the top of the stairs, refusing to budge. Despite all his efforts, Pekin could not get him to move. It was as if he had grown roots. Merf chuckled delightedly at Pekin's antics. Hurling himself against the Merf, Pekin roared his frustration. Merf simply stood there, as if a fly had landed on his chest, looking piteously down on the sad T-hor hurling himself against him.
    "I used to try to move me too... but then I got tired and my body wouldn't do it... sad right?" Pekin roared.
    "Have you thought about going to see a doctor? that cough of yours seems to be getting worse..." Pekin howled.
    "I'm sorry, but crying never got anyone anything."   
    Pekin hurled himself at The Merf, still standing unmoving at the top of the stairs. This time, The Merf moved, however, rather than moving backwards, down the stairs, he moved laterally, across the top. This was totally unexpected by Pekin, who having hurled himself expecting the solid wall of Merf, felt no contact, but felt himself soaring out into open air. Pekin opened his tight shut eyes just in time to see the hard wooden stairs coming up to meet him. "CRACK!" shouted Merf, perfectly in time with Pekin crashing against the stairs. As Pekin tumbled down the stairs, he swore that he would kill every one of these strangers, and the young female too boot!

    Merf floated gently down to earth in a cloud of blue magical light. Merf looked pitiously at the crumpled heap on Mathias, with Nitala, a bruise line across her stomach, kneeling over him, gently applying a leaf poultice to his bleeding hands. Beside Mathias lay a broken longbow, the string now lying uselessly on the ground.
    "We have to go..." said The Merf. "Now."
    "But Mat-ias!" said Nitala, fearfully. "He can't move! and if we move him, he will probably die!"
    "I can move him." said Merf, "But that Pekin fellow will be on our tails as soon as he can get up from his long tumble... if he has stopped.   

Merf lifted Mathias with the same blue magical cloud he used to float with. Exkem picked up Mathias' bow and his scattered arrows. Nitala took several more leaves to make poultices and followed, holding her middle where the rope had caught her.

    Mathias' eyes opened slowly. He couldn't feel anything. His whole body was numb. Mathias tried to move, but a prickling told him to stop, so instead he moved his head slowly over so he could see what the light was that he could see. Everything was dark but for a pale blue light surrounding him and some blue runes floating in the dark beside him.
    "Where am I?" he croaked.
    "Hush, stupid." came The Merf's voice from beside him. We're in a cave in the Magma Plains. We are hiding from Othirim-Ha, The Lord of the Othorim.
    "Then why is the light blue and not red?"
    "Because you are in a Star's bed, now shut up."
    Mathias puzzled over this for a while, but then he remember Nitala.
    "Is Nitala alright?" he asked, croaking. "I had to do something fast, and the rope was the only thing I had..."
    "I'm... Ok..." came Nitala's voice is stuttering english.
    Mathias sighed his relief, but it was a mistake. He could feel a twinge of pain all through his torso. He saw a face come into light in the blue. It was Merf, his face haggard and weary, something Mathias thought could never happen to one so young, yet so old. He carefully pulled away the bandages covering Mathias' chest and arms. Merf's face contorted with concern.
    "We have to get him to Them..." He said slowly.
    "Who?" wheezed Mathias.
    "My Brothers."
    "You-?"
    "Shush. We need a distraction. We need to get out of here, and Othorim-Ha is waiting for us."
    Exkem stepped into the light, "I will go." he said in his rumbling voice. "I can move faster than any of you, and he is more likely to see me. I do have some powers that He won't expect."
    "Thank you Exkem. If you make it out, we will most likely be at the Temple of Stars. It's the only way to get to my Brothers."
    "I will see you there."
The journey  past in a blur for Mathias, never fully awake, yet never truly asleep. All the days seemed to meld into one, long, terrible night, full of gibberish that he couldn't understand. Something about Merf's Brothers...Stars... Magic... living lights in the sky.... Mathias couldn't understand. He could hardly sleep, and when he did, his dreams were full of a green faced Pekin, his sharp teeth shimmering with hate; Nitala, falling and he was unable to save her again, and he couldn't understand why the rope wouldn't move when she hit it. She would just go through it and land on the ground.
    One night Mathias finally woke fully. There was another life form nearby, and Nitala and Merf stood watchfully by the fire. Mathias coughed. Merf turned his watchful gaze into the light of their fire.
    "Ah, he's awake." he said, dully. Nitala came to him and knelt beside the soft light he was suspended in.
    "It is good to see your...." she halted and looked at Merf. "eyes?" The Merf nodded. "It is good to see your eyes open, Mat-ias." She finished.
    "Who else is here?" whispered Mathias.
    "We don't know." replied The Merf. "It is big, whatever it is." Then came a long, loud note, piercing the night stillness with it's clarity. The song of a bull horn. Merf crouched at the ready, his hands and tattoos starting to glow blue with his inner power. The a large shadow materialized out of the darkness, growing ever bigger until it was the size of a small house. A deep voice rumbled from the shadow: "Beroth, I have a message from the Elders of the Fremennik. We need your help." As these words were spoken, A small part of the shadow detached itself from the enormous shadow beneath it.
    "Ah, Vulgaris," said Merf, relieved. "It is good to see you Friend."
    "And you, Beroth, have changed since last  we met."
    "A change that was not entirely my fault. My wisps couldn't see me in my Fremen armor."
    "Why are you here, Beroth? with a human and a T-hor Ithim?"
    "They required my assistance. I couldn't refuse them."
    "We Fremen do not associate with T-hor Ithim... even small females. They can be spies."
    "Not Nitala. She is trustworthy."
    "I see."
    "Come, Vulgaris, enter the Ring, join the company of Mathias. He wished to meet you."
    Mathias wondered how The Merf had known that. At the bidding of Merf, A giant of a man walked into the circle of light. He was pale skinned, much like Merf, but he was far more massive, his armor adding to the effect. Giant spikes jutted out from the shoulder piece. Only the left arm was covered in armor, the right having only an armored vambrace. The left arm was covered in bulky armor, however the armor obviously didn't restrict any movement. His Chest was bare but for the strap holding the left shoulder piece in place, and his midsection was armored in hard leather, with a large, metal plated belt holding the studded leather tassets in place. A full face helmet covered his head, it's giant horns both a decoration and a weapon, judging by the dried blood on the ends.
    "What has happened to the small man, to make him unable to walk?" 
    "He fell-"
    "Can he not speak for himself?"
    "Well, yes, he can, bu-"
    "Then let him speak. How are you unable to walk, young-of-mind?"
    "I- fell, from a tree.... while saving.... her.." he said, using his eyes to gesture towards Nitala.  "She was thrown off.. a ...platform."
    "I see." said the giant. "Well, you will be healed. I will have my people heal him, Beroth. They are skilled in the arts of healing."
    "I thank you, my brother. You will be repaid."
    "I know. You will follow me, and you will help us with our Moreth Ethem problem." 
Mathias stayed awake throughout the whole journey, listening to the conversation of Merf and Vulgaris. Apparently Merf had once saved the daughter of the Fremen lord, and had at once been put through the Fremen Trials to become part of Tribe. On completion he had been given the Fremen name Beroth. Merf was now an official member of the Tribe and was called 'Brother' by the warriors and 'Son' by the chief. Also he was a 'Father' to the children. Every Fremmennik child was raised not only by his parents, but also by the warriors, the sages and the other women of the Tribe. Therefore, every adult was either a mother or a father to the children. When a boy reached the age of fifteen he was put through the Trials, and if he finished, he was given a name, and he was now a Brother, and only the chief was still father.
    "It has been long, Brother" said Vulgaris to Merf, "since you came to your kinsmen in the north. Where have you been?"
    "I am sorry," replied The Merf, "I have been fulfilling my duty as the Guardian, training the Stars... I apologize, my Brother."
    At that point, the mammoth snuffled. He could feel the cold air, and he was eager to return home to the windy northlands of Beileor.
    "Easy, Mammoth" crooned Vulgaris, "I am eager to reach our home also, however we need to care for our friends. They do not have mounts, and I shall need to catch them a mastodon. We shall be delayed but a little while." Then he looked down to the ground and saw Nitala shivering with cold. She was of the jungle, and even this weather was terribly cold for her, despite the lack of snow and ice of the northern regions. Vulgaris had a general dislike for T-hor Ithim, but he wasn't unkind to them, and he had grown to rather like this young T-hora, so he called to her, "T-hora;" Nitala looked up at him, her face contorted with cold, "You are cold. Come, I will give you a cloak and you will ride behind me on Mammoth." As the massive animal came to a stop at the slightest touch from Vulgaris, the giant (for a giant is what he was, standing at well over seven feet tall) slid to the ground, and wrapping a long, fur cloak around the shivering girl's shoulders, he picked her up, and mounted.
    "Have you not eaten, T-hora?" he asked at her slight frame, "You weigh as if you were a feather! Beroth, have you run out of food? She needs meat! we will have a feast for you when we return home!" and with that, he touched the mammoth, and off they went.
    Merf grew all of a sudden joyful, "A Fremennik feast!? I haven't had one of those for years! Vulgaris! can we not travel faster!? I yearn for the cooking of Fremen women! And the beer! let us move faster, Brother! we on foot can keep up!"

    The massive wooden gates groaned open under the strain of enormous men pushing them open. As mammoth and the newly caught mastodon entered the gates, Merf called greetings to each warrior standing by the gates, waiting to close them.  They returned his catcalls with long forgotten jokes, with merry jabs, with simple hellos. Wooden buildings surrounded the travelers as they rode through the city. Mathias, tied onto the broad back of the mastodon, watched eagerly as the jovial faces of warriors called greetings, the women bustled into their houses, already knowing a feast was in order, and the children scampered between the legs of the massive animal, daring each other to touch a massive toenail, or cut a lock of thick red hair. Mathias wanted to get down and greet them, but his body was broken, and his face was bruised. He would surely frighten them away. But when he was lowered gently by the warriors, all the children gathered around him, giving him small gifts of welcome. A bone knife here, a walrus tusk there, and other small treasures children keep on their persons for the welcome guest. As Mathias was transported to the healing house, he wished he could stay with these people forever.

    Mathias' eyes opened for the first time in days. He had been put to sleep while the Fremen healers had done their work. He could feel the difference from the numb, tingling pain which had said that he was far from ready to move, to now, a dull ache rather than pain. He knew he would be out of commission for a long while yet. Mathias looked over to the far wall where a Fremennik woman sat, sewing a thick shirt.
    "Good morning," she said cheerfully, placing the shirt on a table. Walking over to Mathias' bedside, she gingerly lifted the covers and looked at his chest. Mathias' eyes grew wide as he saw two long scars running down his chest on either side.
    "We had to re-set a few bones," explained the woman. "So we had to open you up and do it. They had begun to set in the wrong way, so we had to re-break them and then set them correctly."
    Mathias nodded.
    "Do you want to go outside? We think you are ready to walk.You heal very quickly for a human." Mathias nodded again when she offered to let him go outside, and he slowly rose to a sitting position, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. Looking around for a shirt, he saw his thigh-length white robe. Grabbing this, he gently put his arms through the sleeves and tugged the front together before tying the belt in place. Mathias shuffled his way to the door, leaning gingerly on the woman beside him. At the door, he put out his hand and gasped. His fingers were bent and crooked from the smashing they had received on the branch.
    "I'm sorry," sympathized the woman, "We couldn't fix your fingers completely. I'm afraid you won't be able to shoot the bow nearly so well."
    Mathias nodded again, a tight lump in his throat. His hands were deformed, and they would never go back to the way they had been. Mathias pushed the door open and saw a gentle falling of snow. Outside the door was a slight frame he recognized. Wrapped in a thick cloak, Nitala stood in the snow, her back to him. Mathias called to her, "Nitala!" Then he gasped as she turned around, showing her face under the cloak. Her face was a perfect white, her large eyes bright and merry. Her once long, thick, dark forest green hair was now shorter and much thinner. It was also a dark, royal blue. "Mat-ias!" she called, running to him with her white hands outstretched. "It is good to see you awake! We have all been so worried about you!" Nitala took his mangled hands in her, fine, three fingered hands.
    "But... weren't you green when I saw you last?"
    Nitala laughed, "Yes, I was. We T-hor Ithim are very adaptable, and we like to hide from most people, so we have developed a system of changing colors. Apparently I haven't lost that talent! It took a lot of doing, but eventually my green skin turned white!"
    "But... How?"
    "I just told you! you are a funny one!" She laughed again.
    Mathias noted the change in attitude she had had since coming to the Fremen. She was much more sure of herself, and didn't seem to mind her differences now. Her good humor seemed to rub off on him. He smiled back at her.
    "I will send for Merf," she said, delightedly, "and then we can have another feast!"
    Very taken aback by her sudden change of color and behavior, all Mathias could say was, "Okay....." Laughing once more, Nitala danced off to find Merf. Mathias gazed after her, still in a state of shock over her change. Shuffling through the soft snow, Mathias was greeted by both adults and children alike.
    That night, Merf brought Mathias up to date on the events of the past week.
    "Well, The Fremennik had trouble with rumors of Moreth Ethem attacking small parties of women and children. This was not true, it was only a band of thieves wearing boots with larg soles that looked like Moreth Ethem tracks. We tracked down the brigands and I froze them in ice. They got so cold that they thought it would be better to come and be prisoners of Fremen than be my toys for a day. I love freezing people in ice... fire doesn't freeze too well, so I don't freeze them in fire. Also, Vulgaris decided that as soon as you were recovered enough, you would be run through the Fremennik Trials, to see if you are worthy to be a Fremennik Tribesman- Would you like some sugar in your tea?- and then when you pass he will bring you to the chief and- oh, right, you don't drink tea... can I intrest you in some coffee? good, I hoped so- he will make you part of the tribe, and you will get a name, and it will all be very wonderful, you and me, being part of the Tribe. of course as a man, you will be part of the war band, so you will come with us to fight back the Daggonoths and other beasties. -Is your coffee hot enough? because I can heat it up for you like-"
    And so the first day of Mathias' recovery began.
As Mathias entered the Great Hall, a chorus of voices met him. All voices, both old and young, were joined in the hubbub of a merry feast. At the head table sat the Chief with his advisers and War band leaders. The Merf sat at the Chiefs right hand, a symbol of his rank among the Clan. When the Merf saw Mathias, He jumped to his feet and shouted with his mouth full of pork, "Maphias! Come hewe boa'! Go'a intoduse ou do va Keef Brund.... " then The Merf swallowed and shouted again, "Come here boy!"
    When Mathias reached the table, The Merf leaped over it and caught him by the arm. Then turning him so the Chief could see him, The Merf whipped down Mathias' hood so that Chief Brundt could see the face of his future Clan-member.
    "My Father!" cried The Merf, "This is the young Mathias, bound to heal the air of this world, due to the fact that it is bleeding on him... or... some other reason which I seem to have forgotten," (Merf would seem to have had too much to drink) "And so! He is here requesting that your healers would aid him in his quest for healing... powers! yes, powers... That is why we're here, right Mathias? Of course it is..."
    "So!" boomed the Chief Brundt, (Also seeming to have had too much to drink) "We are honored by your presents among us! What presence did you bring for my wife?" at this, all the men around the table laughed at his 'witty' statement: switching the words "presents" and "presence". They had all had too much to drink.
    "Alas, Chief Brundt, I have brought naught but my desire for knowledge, and unless your wife would take an eager learner as a gift, I am unprepared."
    "Ah, a clever one you have brought here, Beroth! Well, Young-of-mind, we shall see what our healers can teach you, hay?"
    "Thank you, Chief Brundt. I will go take my place now." and with that, Mathias bowed stiffly at the waist and weaved his way over to the table at which Nitala sat. As he approached, the young T-hora turned and saw him.
    "Mat-ias! come, sit with me!"  she said, scooting over on the bench to make room for him. Mathias sat down, squeezed between Nitala and Vulgaris. Vulgaris was a superior warrior, one of the War band leaders, but he chose to sit with the men and become closer with them. He was leader of the Kyatt pack; the Pack which was always first to enter a battle, and last to leave. They also acted as a sort of special operations task group.  Mathias felt so at home, and so welcome with these people.
     Why can't I stay here forever? He thought.
  

    Pekin growled at the cold weather. He and the warriors of the jungle tribe had tracked the cursed strangers to this place. A high walled, wooden settlement in the far northern regions of Beileor. As his warriors' skin had changed from green to white, they had scouted the city walls, searching for some signs of weakness. So far they had encountered nothing other than the occasional opening of the gates, and this wasn't a regular happening. Pekin growled at the thought that he had not brought sufficient clothing for this climate. He and his men were freezing out in the blizzards (to them, this is anything more than a light falling of snow) while the strangers had been welcomed into the giants' city and society. As Pekin stalked through the camp of once green warriors, Pekin thought of the strange white figure that had been seen saving the T-hora. The White-one had been described to him as having extreme skills with the bow, and having a general sense of assuredness as he had flung himself from the tree in which he had been perched. Firing shots from his bow with unbelievable speed and accuracy, he had not only saved the T-hora from death, but he had also appeared to save himself also, due to the fact that the strangely dressed one had taken him up, and they had left with all his belongings.
    Now the T-hor Ithim war-party was waiting for their chance to strike, the walled city standing defiantly in their path.
Mathias stood on the ramparts with a Fremennik warrior, leaning on his Warspear. The full moon shone bright on the snow outside the city. Mathias had left the feast early, and had joined the lookouts on the walls. Looking out over the vast expanse of snow, Mathias thought of Rhain and the promise he had given her. Why can't I just stay here and be happy? he thought, glumly. All I want is for this to end. And besides, what can I do with my hands like this...? Disgusted with his hands, Mathias shoved them into his muff, slung around his neck.
    "You promised me that you would save them...." he heard Rhain saying.
    "I know... and I will. but how can I heal them if I can't heal myself?"
    "You promised...."
    Mathias turned away and walked morosely down the stairs towards his bunk house. The noise that came from the Great Hall quiet and muffled now that he was outside. The sound of laughter and singing reached his ears, and he sighed inwardly.
Pekin stepped out from behind the ice cliff he had been behind. He was now in full view of the wooden walls. Pekin stood defiantly in the middle of the pass, his spear ready for a quick throw, the short sword like mace swung easily from his belt. A spiked shield rested on his left arm. Pekin waited for the alarm.

    "There's a T-hor Ithim standing in the pass!" came the cry from the ramparts. Vulgaris looked up, his giant blond beard sticking out in front of his chin.
    "A T-hor Ithim, you say?" he inquired.
    "Yes, Brother, I saw him standing there as if he owned the entire pass. Proud, he looked to me. Proud and stupid. He was probably that T-hora's fiance or something, and he's come to take her back. Shall we go send him on the Journey?"
    "Hmmm..." rumbled Vulgaris, "No, I think we may want to consult Beroth before making any moves against the strange little T-hor. I will come see the creature, and then I shall go find Beroth. He will likely know what to do."
     As the massive warrior climbed the stairs to the ramparts, Mathias was climbing the other side. Having heard the cries, Mathias had instantly made sure Nitala was safe from both T-hor Ithim, and Fremen, should any suspicion be aroused.  Vulgaris and Mathias reached the top at the same time, their eyes meeting as they came together. Then looking out over the walls, they saw the T-hor. He had been joined by several more, and now there was a small party, all standing braced for action.
    "Pekin..." murmured Mathias.
    "You know this T-hor Ithim?" questioned Vulgaris.
    "Yes. He is the reason I am in this condition. He threw Nitala off the edge of a tree-village platform. I saved her, but at the cost of my hands and body."
    "Do you think it was worth the loss? to trade the use of hands, but save a life?"
    Mathias answered without hesitation, "Yes."
    Vulgaris continued looking at the T-hors, still gathering in numbers, standing in the snowy path.
    "Then these ones are not after us. They are after you and your companions." and with that, the giant turned away, calling orders to his men to gather their arms and armor. Mathias felt a chill run down the nape of his neck.
    There will be fighting... he thought, and there will be casualties, for both sides. Why does it always happen to me...?
    Mathias stood on the gatehouse tower, looking out over the crowd of T-hor Ithim standing in the pass. Below him, a mob of Fremennik warriors banded together to form a war-band.
    "There will be several hundred of them above the pass on the ice cliffs." The Merf warned Vulgaris. "T-hor Ithim care nothing for honor, and will use any means to defeat us." Mathias looked up at the ice plateau above them, the crags and shelves easily hiding a hundred-or-so T-hor Ithim.
    "I can lead some men up the back face of the plateau." said Mathias, confidently. Merf raised and eyebrow. "Are you sure, lad? You're not in prime fighting condition." Mathias nodded emphatiaclly. "I can take Nitala along to find the safe passes. She's good at climbing. She's lived needing to for the past 15 years or so." The Merf shrugged. "Eh, don't fall to your deaths. Vulgaris, I want it to be you and your band with them. I trust you with their safe-keeping." Vulgaris nodded. Ambush. The Pack's specialty.
    __________________


    Nitala ghosted her way up the cliff face, her fur-lined hood up over her now white face. A blue wisp of hair blew across her eye. She didn't move. There were several T-hor above them. Looking cautiously over her shoulder, she smiled tightly at Mathias, looking inquisitively up at her. Nodding her head slowly, she pointed up to the flat surface above them. Mathias took this as the signal. Slowly, he backed down the cliffs to where Vulgaris and his men were waiting, utterly silent.
    "They are right there," Mathias whispered in Vulgaris' ear. Nodding, the giant stood, beckoning for men to do likewise. Unsheathing his massive, well-oiled sword, Vulgaris started to climb, his padded boots making no noise on the ice.
    Mathias climbed back up to Nitala. "You need to go back now." he said, his whisper barely audible in her ear. Nitala shook her head. "I ca'an't. You will need a... Helper...? to take a telling to The Merf if something goes wrong." Mathias smiled at her misinterpretation of her words. He shrugged. "Stay down below then, ok?" Nitala nodded. As she started climbing, there came a cry from above as Vulgaris rushed in behind the T-hor Ithim, his massive sword slashing the Dragon Riders to pieces. Mathias un-slung his bow, an arrow clumsily notched. "I need to practice.." he said. jumping up on the edge, Mathias drew his bow. Then let go, the arrow flying wide of it's mark, and hitting an arm instead of a chest. Mathias gasped in pain as his ribs gave a little. He wasn't ready to be shooting yet. Mathias pulled out his dagger, taking a rear position in the Pack. Vulgaris and his warriors were reeking havoc on the T-hor. Surprise and non-stop training paid off as the T-hor, unused to these fighting conditions, fell back, towards the edge.
 __________________________

The Merf Heard the racket from behind the gates. "Righty-ho, lads! After me!" Bursting from the gates, the Fremen rushed the distracted T-hor from the side. All the T-hor were looking up on the side of the cliff as their kin were slaughtered or threw themselves from the cliff, hoping a more merciful death from the craggy ice below. The T-hor on the ground were routed as The Merf and his men pounded in on them from the side. The Merf's sword blazed hot fire as his magic imbued itself to the blade, searing through the T-hor like a knife through butter.

 _____________


    Pekin seethed with anger as his war-band was routed, his shield wall collapsing, totally unprepared for the frontal assault. T-hor fell from the heights, their limb bodies being crushed on impact. Pekin looked over at his Judrun mount, Muroku. The birdlike dragon beat it's armored wings, calling for Pekin to mount him and join the fray. The dragon loved battle, his bloodlust just as great as his master's.
  Merf whirled at the scream of a Judrun. Then he grinned. Pekin the war-chief was bearing down on him, red eyes blazing. Merf formed a red, runic circle, filled with cosmetic designs between himself and Pekin. This would be simple.
Pekin roared his wrath at the stranger who had caused him such grief. Here he was, smiling at the fearsome sight of a T-hor Ithim in full charge, racing straight toward him. Pekin was furious. Merf let go his hold, fireballs hutling from the runic circle directly into the face of Pekin. The T-hor Ithim screamed in agony, lashing out with his spear in the direction of Merf. Merf rolled easily under the thrust, and came up in the face of Muroku, the Judrun. The dragon snapped at him, but found it's beak pierced nothing but air. Merf swung up behind Pekin.
    "Beautiful day for a ride, what?" Laughed the Merf. Pekin thrust back with his elbow, catching The Merf in the ribs. Merf wheezed momentarily before bringing his arm around Pekin's neck. Pekin was prepared. Grabbing The Merf's arm, he sunk his razor teeth into the flesh. Merf yelped, yanking Pekin's head back. Muroku barrel-rolled in the air, flinging both riders to the ground. Merf ended up on top.
    "BIP...!" yelled Merf, sharply. The sound was more a sound of concentration than anything else. Pekin started wriggling, but Merf held fast. Finally, Merf's tight hold on the T-hor's neck caused the Dragon rider to pass out from lack of air. Merf sagged back, nursing his bitten arm.
    "Ooo..." he said, looking down on it. A tooth was stuck in the flesh, white bone protruding slightly. "Hm... well.... hm. Okay. I suppose I'll have to deal with that."

_________________

Mathias and Nitala watched this scene from above, totally shocked, their breathing tight with suspense. Vulgaris and his Pack had routed the T-hor who had dared invade their lands. Now that Merf had finished Pekin, Mathias and Nitala scrambled down to him, the worry clear in their faces. Mathias quickly pulled the tooth from Merf's forearm, cleaned and bandaged the wounds, all the while, Merf made complaints about how he could manage, or the women of the Fremen could take care of it, or how rough Mathias' hand were, or...

    Spring in Fremen territory. Mathias looked out the window, his heart yearning for some green. Everything here was always white, always ice and snow. He knew Nitala was feeling the same way he did, but she was hiding it very well. Mathias was impatient to get on with his task. Sighing, Mathias turned and fell upon his cot, his black hair flopping back from his forehead.
    Throughout the winter, Mathias had become re-used to his bow, finding new techniques with his bent and crooked fingers. He was now almost as good as he had been before his fall. Merf had made a special bow for him out a metal he called simply, "Black". This bow had contractible arms, being able to slide down into the handle of the bow. A steel string was also part of the bow. Mathias had learned how to use this bow, it being far shorter, but also far stronger than any other bow he had ever used. Merf had also imbued several arrows for him in several ways. Two were fire-arrows, a feint orange glow emanating from behind the head. There were also several other types of arrow, but these were less powerful, and do not need mentioning. As Mathias gained his strength, Nitala had gained confidence. She was now a social butterfly among the Fremennik.
    A knock interrupted Mathias' contemplation.
    "Come in." Nitala entered.
    "Merf wants to see us, Mat-ias. He says when the pass is clear we are going to continue your journey." Mathias jumped up, excited all of a sudden.
    "Does he know when the pass will be clear? is it going to warm up?" Mathias was in disbelief. Nothing warmed up around here. Ever.
    "I don't know. I think it might warm enough to go through. We need to go see him though, Okay?" Mathias nodded and opened the door for Nitala. When they were through, Mathias led the way to Merf's cabin, up on the hill near the Hall. Merf was a respected citizen of the Fremen community.  When they entered the house, Merf was sitting, or rather crouching, in his same chair he teleported around. Merf hardly looked up to see them.
    "Hullo," he said, his voice muffled by his book. "The tea is in the fire, help yourselves." Nitala took a cup, but Mathias refused the tea, due to the fact that it wasn't coffee.
    "So," continued Merf, "It's time we moved on in your questy-doo, Mathias. The air is bleeding on you, yes?" Mathias smiled.
    "And so, we are bound be the vow to a dying sister that we must not break, or else our backbones will likely disappear.  Anywho, our vow binds us by means of all doo-dads that we need to stitch the air up in time to save all the humans from bleeding out, and so on and so forth. All this amounts up to the fact that Mathias is duty bound, and we are bound to him by friendship. Vulgaris has offered to join us (as I knew he would) and he will be, because I know you will have no objections. SO! pour us all tea, Nitala, and we shall drink to our quest. The pass will be clear in a week or so, and I may-or-may-not help it along. TO THE QUEST!" he roared at last, leaping from his chair, spilling all but the sip necessary for the toast.
    The matter of what to do with Pekin was troublesome. After Merf had knocked him out, he had been put in a hut with almost no furniture, and no windows. Now when the group was about to set out, his release, or his keeping was a difficulty. If he were to be let go, he would pursue Mathias and company until either they, or he, were dead. If the Fremen were to keep him prisoner, he would certainly die of self imposed evils. Finally, Mathias opted that he be set free, of course they threatened him with death if he were to follow them, but they knew he would follow them anyways. Pekin would be escorted to the borders of the northern plains, then set free to find his way home to the jungles on the shores of the eastern sea. After that detail had been taken care of, Merf decided it was far time to "help the pass along". Meaning he went out for hours at a time and hurled fireballs at the drifts and ice-walls blocking the pass. When there was finally enough gone for it to be safely passable, Mathias and company left the Fremennik, but not before another farewell feast. The Fremen were fond of feasts.

_______________________________________

Mathias felt the slow, methodical tramp of the Mastodon under him. Vulgaris and Nitala sat astride Mammoth, Vulgaris' Mammoth mount, while he and Merf rode on the smaller, more laid back Mastodon. Merf sat reclining behind Mathias, his feet propped up on the Mastodon's high hindquarters, back resting against the pack saddle.
    "Remind me," said Mathias, quizzically, "WHY am I driving, and not you? aren't YOU the one who knows where we're going?"
    "Oh, aye," replied Merf, "and if we always knew where we were going, why on earth would we take detours, yes?" Mathias puzzled over this.
    "Are we taking a detour?"
    "Yes."
    "Oh..... why?"
    "There are some people who I need to meet with."
    "Oh." was all Mathias could respond with. He wanted to reply with some snide remark, but nothing came to mind, so he remained silent. Finally he asked, "So.. where are we going?"
    "A city." Mathias was surprised at this: "What city? a big city, like in the southern plains? or a smaller one?"
    "A big one. Very big. You may have heard of it. Bladesh. Very renown for it's silks and Circuses. Tea is very shabby there, I'm afraid."
    "Bladesh? the Dark City?"
    "Mm." mumbled The Merf.   
    Mathias and Nitala walked through the large, bustling city. Vulgaris and The Merf had tod them to stick together, and watch out. Mammoth and the Mastodon had been tethered outside the city at a temporary camp. Dragons swarmed the streets, puling wagons, being ridden, acting as taxis, all the transportation seemed to be by means of dragon.
    Mathias saw a flier in the town square: "Circus de extravaganza! Running two nights at Rolven o' the hours. 10 quith per person." Mathias looked at Nitala, her eyes wide with fascination. "wanna see a circus?" Nitala looked up at him, her eyes alight. "A what?"
    "A circus. You know, where people and animals all join together in an act. Clowns? Jugglers? do you know these things?" Nitala shook her head no.
    "We'll see a circus."

___________________________________

Mathias and Nitala sat in the bleachers of the circus tent. Lights flashed, popped corn filled the air with smells. Vendors walked among the people, (mostly T-hors, but there were a few pale, weak looking humans) calling out for people to buy their wares. Nitala was drinking it all in, her big eyes even wider than usual. Her skin was now a pale blue, changing from the white of the north, into a more suitable color for southern climates. Mathias watched as the ringmaster and his assistants got ready for their show. Mathias heard the ringmaster calling in loud tones, obviously used to these loud crowds, directing his assistant T-hors in what to do. Mathias noticed one climbing a rope- ladder to the tightrope and rings up above them. He carried a small box. The box had a slit cut into the side that wrapped around the box, almost like an observation window for a small person. Setting the box down on the platform, the T-hor clambered back down the ladder, leaving the box. Mathias made a point to watch this box, and see what part it would play in the act.
    "T-hor Ithim, T-hor, and humans!" Bellowed the ringmaster from inside the ring, holding a cone-shaped device up to his mouth. Mathias figured it made his voice sound louder. "We welcome you to our Circus de Extravaganza! Yew shall not be disappointed in your choice of joining us! So without further ado: LET THE ACT BEGIN!" and with this, a curtain opened and a parade of animals jostled out, all painted or clothed in bright colors. Ursa, large, bear-like creatures lumbered in on their hind legs, all with an Ice-monkey on their heads. Mathias saw that the monkeys were attached to the Ursa with a chain on their legs, and then around the Ursas' necks. An imp walked into the center of the circle of creatures and started flinging fire around, matching his throws perfectly to the rhythm of the music. The audience applauded his act, and he bowed low, sweeping his top-hat off from his bald, red-skinned head, his small silver horns showing without his hat on. As this act ended, the tent grew dark and out walked a tall, green skinned figure walked out into the single spotlight. Dressed in a jesters outfit, his hat and clothes divided into two colors: yellow and red. This figure held knives in his hands. The ring assistants placed targets surrounding this odd looking figure. Then the creature started to juggle his knives, catching some by the blade, some by the handle, others he would fling high into the air and catch behind his back, all the while he was spinning and twisting, flipping and diving. Eventually, he started to throw the knives at the targets, continuing to juggle as he did so. This creature was incredible. All his knives flashed and sparkled in the spotlight. When all his knives were expended, he bowed to the roaring crowd and jogged his long-legged jog back into the tent. Then the room became foggy. Mathias looked around to find where this blue soup was coming from. Remembering the little box on the platform, Mathias looked up to it. Sure enough, a feint blue glow emanated from the slits, not bright enough to be seen be those not looking, but there, sure enough. Mathias was going to see what, or who, was inside this box after the show.
    Brightly colored light started piercing the fog, swirling and flashing, in and out of being. These lights kept the eyes of normal folk on them, but Mathias looked beyond the lights and saw dim figures climbing the rope ladders to the acrobatic equipment, past the glowing box. Finally the lightshow ended and the fog cleared instantly. Brightly clad creatures, looking much like T-hor Ithim except for the fact that they had tails, stood on platforms, waiting for their cue. When the fast paced music started, the acrobats all started leaping from ring to ring, catching each other at the last second and, in essence, risking their lives for the performance.

_______________________________

When the show ended, the crowds leaving nearly separated Mathias and Nitala, but Mathias grabbed Nitala's wrist and held her firmly. He wanted to investigate that box.When the crowds had cleared sufficiently, Mathias made his way to the ring, Nitala in tow.  The ringmaster saw them coming.
    "Excuse me, young man," he said, his loud voice louder than necessary. "You need to pay extra for a backstage pass. 20 quith per person." Mathias nodded understandingly.
    "I know, I just want to see what's in that box of yours," he said, gesturing to the box on the platform.
    "Like I said, 20 quith." and with that, the held out his hand, gesturing for money. Mathias looked at Nitala, raising his eyebrows. Nitala nodded.
    "Very well." sighed Mathias. He and Nitala left the tent, the eyes of the ringmaster following them all the way to the exit.
                Mathias slipped under the tent, lifting up the bottom in between two stakes. He came out in a dark portion of the tent, obviously a storage center. Nitala came in behind him.
    "I need to find that box," whispered Mathias, his voice barely audible. Nitala nodded. The ringmaster wouldn't put a box that played such and important role in the show in the storage area. He would surely keep it in a more accessible place. Hearing a quick burst of laughter, Mathias worked is way to the flap dividing this room from the rest of the tent. A sliver of yellow light pierced the darkness of the storage tent. Mathias made his way over and under crates and boxes toward the light. Another burst of laughter. Mathias peered through the crack. There were numerous figures in the adjoining room, some sitting, some standing, and some were lying down. Mathias didn't take any notice of this, except for the fact that none of the creatures sitting or standing moved more than three feet away from posts driven into the ground. Mathias did think this was odd. Finally Mathias stepped out of the storage area. Silence met him. All eyes turned toward him, and the creatures lying down sat up and stared at him, faces showing no interest. Mathias looked around at the faces of the other creatures. Once again, there was no curiosity. Just blank expressions. Finally, one of the sitting figures, Mathias recognized him as the knife juggler, spoke in a slow, melancholy voice, "It's rare for someone with a backstage pass to come in from the storage tent." There was no interest in his voice.  It was then that Mathias saw the chain wrapped around his ankle. Looking around, Mathias saw that all the creatures were so bound, either a chain on their ankles, or around their necks, or they were stashed in cages too small for them. Mathias' brow furrowed in a frown.
    "I don't have a backstage pass." That did get the actors' interest.
    "The ringmaster let you in for free?" asked the fireball imp from inside his cage.
    "No, we slipped in the back. We came to find the box they put on the platform that controls the fog and fire." The green, knife juggler nodded.
    "That would be Poko. He is the elemental master. He is over in that shoebox. If you're planning on freeing him, just slip him in your pocket. He's small enough." Mathias looked to where the green creature had gestured. A white shoebox sat on a table, the lid was locked on with a pad-lock. Mathias chuckled. A cardboard shoebox with a padlock. He could tear the cardboard as easily as lifting a feather. As Mathias strode over to the box, he saw all the lonely faces of the actors, and he knew what he was going to do.
    Mathias opened the white box. Looking inside, Mathias didn't see anything too odd. There was a small bed, a small sofa, and some odds and ends of other items. Then a small object moved. Mathias saw two beady eyes looking up at him.
    "That's Poko, the animated sack-boy." said a stiff voice from behind him. Mathias nodded.  "He controls the elements of our show. He is also a skin-changer." Poko the sack-boy stood up from his reclining position and flicked his knitted hand in an informal salute. Mathias held his hand into the box, "I'm setting you all free." he said, determinedly, "Tonight." Turning around, he came face to face with one of the acrobat troop. Her purple skin and hair giving her away as a mutant-T-hor. She was very much like a T-hor Ithim, only she had a tail and smooth skin textures, rather than the camouflage stripes of T-hor Ithim.
    "Good luck with that," she said, her voice giving her away as the stiff voice Mathias had heard before. "This tent is guarded all the time."
    "I'm not thinking of hiding." said Mathias, mischievously, "I'm setting you free by force." So saying, Mathias took out an arrow. Then he realized that this acrobat wasn't chained.
    "Did you break your chains?"
    "No," sighed the mutant, "I am the leader of the acrobat troop, so I have some privileges. My name is Yenn. We all want to leave, but are too afraid." Mathias nodded, understanding. "Then I'm here to help you."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The ringmaster lifted the flap to his chambers.
    "Newt, I'm tired and thirsty, get me some wa-" his sentence was cut short by and arrow pointed into his throat.
    "20 quith, please. My friend and I want a refund. This Circus is terrible."
The ringmaster put his hands where the assailant could see them. It was the young man who had tried to come in backstage.
    "Well, I see no need for violence." said the ringmaster, cautiously. Mathias raised an eyebrow. "You have been keeping your actors prisoner, eh?" he said, suspiciously.
    "Ah, I see you've come in the back way, only logical for a sneak-thief.  I now understand the hood."
    Mathias noticed that as he spoke, the ringmaster was edging towards his desk. "Where are you going, slavemaster?" he said evenly, "I hope you are getting the quith and the keys. I need the keys to release your prisoners."
    "Well, then, you'll need to ask the owner for that. he keeps them on his person at all times." then in a  moment, the ringmaster leaped behind the desk. Mathias raised his eyebrows. There came a green flash, and the ringmaster flew back out from behind the desk, green energy darting around his face. Nitala stood, her energy gauntlets from the Merf still glowing with the earth energy. She flicked her wrist and the gauntlets collapsed back into their bracelet form. Nitala smiled at Mathias. "I got the keys, Mat-ias. He had them under his coat." Mathias nodded. "Good. Now as for you," he said, threateningly to the ringmaster, who sat on the floor in a most undignified manner, holding his nose. "You'd better think twice befire hiding behind a desk where a pupil of Vulgaris was waiting for you." he said gesturing to Nitala. "Now, I want my quith back."
    "The ringmaster nodded, slowly. He stood carefully, steadying himself on the desk while he took out a money bag. After receiving his money, Mathias tied the ringmaster to a chair and took the keys to the prisoners tent. As he entered, all the performers looked at him in awe, the keys dangling from his crooked fingers. As he quickly unlocked the cages and pad-locks, the actors gathered their items, some weapons, some hoops, and the imp (who Mathias had learned was named Zimberfizz Doobeshport Vermillenitz Jr., Fizzle for short) gathered his fire bombs. They all knew there would be a fight. The tall green knife juggler took his knives and stood next to Mathias, standing a head and a half taller than the boy. Yenn, the acrobat, gathered the younger performers into little groups. She then took Poko in her hand and stood with the small group gathering around Mathias and Nitala. Fizzle, Alfonzo the ice-monkey, and Bill the knife master all stood with their rescuers. Mathias nodded, "We will go through the ring, straight through where they least expect us to go." Yenn looked at the sackboy in her hands. Poko shrugged and nodded his assent.
    "Prepare yourselves, my friends," said Alfonzo, his voice extremely unexpectedly deep for someone so small, "For your last act of the Circus Extraviganza!"
   Mathias led the small group out of the flap. Of course the ringmaster had escaped his bonds and had set up a perimeter. As soon as they emerged, Mathias pulled an arrow from his quiver and knocked it. The T-hor Ithim guards shouted and raced towards them, weapons bared. Mathias saw a small shape hop to the ground. It was Poko. Mathias watched as the small sackboy moved forward into the center of the ring. waving his small arms in methodical patterns, the earth around him glowed green. Mathias saw what was happening and raced forward. Poko timed his move perfectly with Mathias' jump. As Mathias jumped, Poko brought the earth up giving Mathias an extra push into the air. Yenn and Bill rushed forward, Bill throwing his knives and Yenn leaping and diving over and under flying arrows from the T-horim bows. Nitala flicked her wrists and her earth gauntlets formed. She started sending the magical shot into the T-horim ranks. As he spun through the air, Mathias fired arrows into the T-hor. All hit their marks. Landing in the light, Mathias punched the ground, in an effort to stop his momentum from rolling him into the legs of the guards. As he stood, Nitala raced up beside him and gave the T-hor readying to hit Mathias an uppercut. Nitala stood in the position Vulgaris had taught her, which had now become second nature to her. Mathias flicked two arrows onto the string and fired a snapshot off into a T-hor's chest. Poko and Fizzle fired their fireballs at the T-hor, who being agile as all T-hors, dodged them easily enough, but that distracted them from Mathias' arrows and Bill's knives. As Mathias rolled and fired, Nitala rolled and hit out the legs of her opponents, after which she punched them in the face, knocking them out cold. Mathias came into a crouch and caught the stroke of a sword on his black-metal bow, the resounding clang echoing in the near empty tent. Mathias twisted the bow and caught the sword in between the arm and the string of the bow. Mathias then rammed his elbow into the T-hor's nose. The T-hor fell flat. Mathias felt a whip cracked across his back. Reeling in pain, Mathias turned to face the crazed ringmaster, his yellow eyes burning with hate.
    "Your show just got more interesting!" cried the master, pulling his arm back for a second strike. The whip never came forward again. The fire in the ringmaster's eyes died and turned to a cool confusion. He then fell, revealing a man in a black coat, the hood pulled up over his eyes. The man retracted the blade in his hand back into his palm. (assassin's creed, anyone?) The man grunted gruffly to Mathias before leaping into action again, his coat tails flying.  Mathias watched the black man from a crouched position, nursing the would across his back, already bleeding profusely.
   Mathias led the crowd of performers out the city gates and into the plains, where their camp was made. The two large shapes outside the ring of light grunted in greeting.
    "Hello, Mammoth. And you Stubborn." greeted Mathias in a quiet voice.
    "Mathias, lad, is that you?" came The Merf's voice from the other side of the fire, where Mathias couldn't see through the light into the darkness beyond.
    "Me and Nitala... and some... others..." said Mathias doubtfully.
    "Others?" questioned The Merf. Mathias heard him stand and his shape came into sight. "by Zaros!" exclaimed the eccentric mage, "How many bodies do you have with you?"
    "Upwards of thirty..."
    "Where did the come from?"  
    "Uh... the Circus..." Silence followed. The Merf rounded the fire, peering suspiciously into the dark mass before him. Mathias' shape was clear in his white robes, but the rest were all in their circus clothing still, so it all melded together and into the black behind. "Send them into the Light, boy." commanded The Merf, his voice grave. Mathias tried to make an excuse for his predicament while sending the others into the light, but Merf cut him off.
    "Hmm..." said The Merf. "These are the actors from Cicus de Extravaganza!" he laughed, "These were the reason for my meeting with the Freedom Brethren!" Mathias cocked his head to the side, "The who?"
    "The Freedom Brethren are a band of men and women who sree flaves... free slaves" he corrected himself, "but anyways, we were going to free them tomorrow, but seeing as you have already done so, I must call off the attack. I will contact the Brethren. Now, where are Poko, Yenn, Afonzo, Bill, and Zimberfizz Doobeshport Vermillenitz Jr.?" Asked the Merf.
    The called creatures came forward, some shyly, and some with more vigor. Yenn spoke up, "You are The Merf, are you not?" she asked, her sharp accent cutting through the night air. The Merf yipped and hopped in a circle, "Ah, she KNOWS who I am...! Very good- Now!" he said, plopping himself down, "I may-or-may-not need your help."
    The Merf and Mathias went into town early the next morning. T-hor crowded the streets, their colorful bodies making the air hot and humid. Mathias covered his face with his hood, the white brim shading his face.  The Merf led the way easily though the crowded streets, toward and inn with a leprechaun sign over the door. This was a well-kept inn with three stories and a porch overhanging the street on the second level. Mathias looked sidelong at Merf. The strange man looked happy and unperturbed by the fuss being made over two healthy humans. On entering the inn, Mathias smelled the smell of sweat, long left on the body.
    "Pew!" he gasped at the rank smell, "you'd think they'd want to bathe every once and again." Merf silenced him with a quick cutting motion with his hand. Walking up to the counter, Merf laid a gold coin face down on the boards, "A beer from the basement, for me and my compatriot."  The barman nodded and walked into the back. in a few moments he came back with two glasses in his hands.
    "Here you are, gentlemen."
    Merf downed his in a gulp and pulled Mathias away before he could take a sip. "No' ol' nuff," said Merf around the key the barman had put in his drink, and Merf had taken into his mouth. When they entered the stable, The Merf pulled the key out of his mouth and pulled a log out of the wood stack, revealing a keyhole behind it. Merf inserted the key and turned it. A small click came from a stable door, and The Merf pulled the now unlocked stall open and scuffed away some hay. (the stalls were all surrounded in iron bars, so no one can just hop in) The Merf pulled a sting on the floor that had been concealed but the straw. There came another click and a door swung open in the back of the stall.
    "Time to Beet the Mrethren... Meet the Brethren..." said Merf, eyes aglow.