"RUN!"

I didn't know who shouted. I looked around, barely aware of where I was.

What I did know was that Earl was in the Union, and already causing untold chaos.

Reality snapped back as another guard grabbed my arm and yanked me down the street.

We were retreating. A few feet away, supported by another guard, I saw Warden Anso staggering down the street. An arrow sprouted like a straight black weed from his armor. This was not good.

I had to think. I had to move.

I had to...

I didn't fucking know anymore.

Our escape dragged us deeper into the city, Siroth mages hurling attacks from behind.

I took a couple of hits, staggering from the force, but my armor absorbed the worst of it.

Just when I thought we could make it clear, more enemies poured out of a side street and the shit just kept hitting the fan.

I couldn't stop my traumatized brain from replaying Earl's snarling face on a loop, but the new arrivals finally forced it to switch gears.

From stunned to violence in a heartbeat, I roared at the newcomers and charged.

Sword swinging in a wild high arc like I was chopping firewood.

Ugly, ungraceful—and effective—I split the head of my first opponent in two.

Momentum carried me forward, and I smashed into him with my shoulder, tearing the sword free in the same move.

Someone was to my side, about to strike. I smashed the pommel of my sword into their face before they could, then stabbed another man in the gut, cutting through his toughened leather armor like it was paper.

I wasn't sure when it started, but tears were streaming from my eyes. There was no time to blink them clear as my sword jammed in my last victim. As he fell, I let the sword go and roared again, throwing a gauntleted jab to the next person in the pain line.

His head rocked back, nose splattered flat. He kept his feet, but his recovery was met with my armored right hook. It thundered into his jaw and the whole thing snapped at an obscene angle.

As he went down screaming, I used his falling body like a springboard, launching myself at the next one.

Flying kick straight to a scrawny bastard's chest. Ribs cracked like wet sticks. I landed on him hard, knee to sternum, blood spurted from his twisted mouth like a fountain painting my pretty golden armor red.

Another Earl. He was still here. His face on every enemy.

I couldn't let him get away again. I needed to kill each and every one of him.

I spun with a back hand that smashed into a fat green cheek. No cracking this time, as the hulking Level twenty-four Warrior staggered a pace and then returned my blow with interest.

Earl's face with that green hue made me even angrier. It made me sick. I needed to break it. Make it stop.

My helmet rattled from another blow:

[ALERT: Helmet Integrity 70%]

The distraction almost cost me another unanswered shot. I swayed back, a leather-gloved fist whistling a hair's breadth from my face. Time to end this.

I lunged forward with a quick fire left-right combo. He stepped back. I leapt after with a headbutt to his tusked mouth.

He was down.

I stamped on his throat, then turned to my next opponent.

Bewilderment set in.

There were none.

More golden armored Archons had appeared and for the first time I noticed there was a portal swirling nearby.

Of the Siroth, they were either dead of fleeing.

The anger that had kept me upright now drained as the danger disappeared. I sagged, trembling, blood dripping from my gauntlets, blood covering every inch of my armor.

A voice reached me. Familiar. Friendly. "Are you okay, Adam Henshaw?"

I looked up. Warden Anso stood over me, healthy and whole, and missing an arrow. He offered a hollow smile. "You did well today."

Behind him, the surviving House Guard soldiers clustered together, all watching me. I couldn't make out their faces. Just the weight of their judging eyes. The message in their lightly blood spattered armor was clear. I'd lost it and they'd all seen.

"Stanis…?"

Anso shook his head. "He didn't make it."

I knew that.

"We need to get back and report to Prime Garazal. The reinforcements can take care of everything here."

I nodded mutely and followed.

At Elasin Garazal's summer house, I was escorted to my room. Stripped of my armor and guided to a bath. Beyond basic instructions, the only information I was given was to wait to be summoned by the Prime.

By the time I left the bath, I felt almost human again. My Irala academy uniform was the only clothing available, laid out on the bed perfectly clean and pressed.

I dressed and then tucked in to the food that had been brought while I soaked in scented water and misery.

Fresh fruit, warm bread and salted meats. I ate mechanically, working at suppressing the trauma that Earl's appearance had dug up.

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I was good at it now. I'd had plenty of practice and while there'd come a time where I'd have to deal with what it meant for me, right now, I needed distance.

It was either that or embrace another full mental breakdown and who has time for that?

After dinner, I looked over my stats. I hadn't felt any change during the fighting, but then, I hadn't felt anything other than shock and rage.

The information jumped up across my vision and I wasn't surprised to see I had indeed leveled up:

Name: Adam Henshaw

Title: Squire of House Garazal

Level: 20

Class: Warrior/Mage

Stats:

Toughness: 23 + 5

Mental Acuity: 16

Harmony: 21

Total: 60

Progress in Class:

Warrior, Level 12: 95/120

Level 10 Boon: +5 in durability based Toughness. Bonus points not reflected in level.

Tradesman, Level 0: 0/10

Mage, Level 7: 15/50

Despite the Level and the generous boon, I frowned. At not one point did I even consider using magic in the battle. Why, amidst everything else I was dealing with that surged to the front of my mind, I wasn't sure. But it was an embarrassing realization and one I couldn't afford to make again.

Of course, it didn't do Augur Stanis any good.

Prime Garazal was seated behind his desk when I was brought to him. He watched me like a fox as I crossed the room to stand in front of his desk.

Anso sat across from him, and there was a second chair, which he gestured to.

"Sit Squire Henshaw, we have things to discuss."

I sat, and he stroked his perfectly symmetrical chin as he studied me. "You no doubt noticed that the mission to Velkyn did not go as expected?"

What kind of fucking question was that!

"It hadn't escaped my notice, Prime Garazal."

"No. I suppose it wouldn't. I hear you were in the center of the major actions, and I'm intrigued at your version of events." He dropped his hands flat on the desk and his eyes sparkled with—something. Delight? Menace?

"Let's start with the death of Augur Stanis and the fact that you froze when your assistance could have saved a powerful asset of House Garazal."

I froze again. Of course we'd start with that.

"Was it your intention to help the Earther?" He pressed, and the question brought me back.

"No. It wasn't. And I only froze after Stanis had fallen."

"Interesting. And how exactly was Stanis killed? I am receiving mixed reports and as you were closest, I'd like to hear your version."

I took a deep breath. Stay cool Adam. You did nothing wrong. Just state the facts.

"The Earther stabbed through Augur Stanis' containment field like it wasn't there. Stanis was so totally unprepared for the move that he made no effort to avoid it.

"The spear went through the slit in his helmet, into his eye and into his brain. I couldn't believe what I'd witnessed, and I froze. I'd been trying to get to him to cover his back but… there was nothing I could have done to save him."

Garazal arched an eyebrow at my story and nodded. "Very good. Is there anything else you'd like to tell me about the situation?"

"I… no. I apologize for freezing. I wish there was more I could have done."

"Is that so? Perhaps there is something you could do now."

"If I can, I will," I replied warily, feeling like a noose was tightening around my neck.

"The Earther who stabbed Stanis. Part of his name was the same as yours. Does this mean anything to you?"

I shifted uncomfortably. Mind working in overdrive. "It's a surname. It's common on Earth for lots of people to share the same one."

He nodded and I thought I'd gotten away with it, but no.

"So you do not know this particular Henshaw at all?"

I weighed up how bad it would look if they knew and resolved to take the secret to my grave. "No. I don't know him."

Garazal smiled so wide his white teeth beamed and my heart sank. "That, young Squire is the first lie you have told me since you arrived."

Shit. Luckily I didn't have to come up with an excuse too soon as he continued, clearly enjoying himself. "This might be a good time to tell you that I have the truth telling skill. Luckily for you, so far you've answered honestly and as far as I can tell are not guilty of any wrong doing. So please, let's not go down this dangerous path of lies."

I was screwed. I didn't want to take ownership of Earl, but with the stakes as they were, I had to answer honestly, so I might escape worse questioning. He had to believe I was loyal.

"Earl Henshaw is my older brother."

I felt Anso shift. Garazal didn't, but his eyes flickered with some unknowable emotion.

"And the plot thickens. You say you did not want to help your brother?"

"I did not. I didn't realize it was him until the last moment, and even if I had, I wouldn't have wanted to help him."

"Sibling rivalry. How delightful. If we managed to acquire his services could you work with him?"

I shook my head. "I need to be as far away from that evil bastard as I possibly can."

For an ancient, powerful being, Garazal was leaning forward with great interest, lapping up my words. "Go on."

"Earl is a psychopath. He has no empathy, no sympathy, no love in him. He's violent, cruel and dangerous. If you want my advice, do not acquire him. He won't do as you ask even if he pretends to for a little while. You can't trust him."

Garazal smiled. "You forgot to mention that he appears to have very strong magical resistances."

"I didn't know. He must have been brought through after me. I have no idea how or why. I thought he was back on Earth and I was happy with that distance between us."

"Fascinating." He sat back, then steepled his fingers. "One last point. You led the defense of my household guard during the retreat. You rallied seasoned, high-level soldiers. You broke the Siroth line. Why?"

Why indeed.

"We were about to be overrun. I didn't intend to lead anyone. I just wanted to kill every Siroth in reach and get us the hell out of there."

"Truth again. Modest and brave."

I didn't feel like either, so I stayed silent. My mouth was dry and my nerves were frayed.

My lack of response didn't appear to bother him as he reached into a drawer and produced a small box no larger than his hand. He opened it and removed something.

"This," he said, "is a Vault Mark. It will be bind to you and you alone." He held out his hand and whatever was in it. Left with little choice without causing a scene, I tentatively put my hand out to take it. A single matte-black coin dropped into my palm, etched with an incredibly detailed serpent eating its own tail around a sun. "That will allow you to access House resources. A stipend while you study. It is not without limit, but will allow you to spend freely according to your station as an honored squire of our house."

I studied it and then looked back up to him . "Thank you for the trust."

"You've earned it. But you must accept the coin."

I frowned and he chuckled like an old grandfather showing a favorite grandchild a trick. "With your mind. Mentally acknowledge ownership of the token."

I gasped and jerked my hand back as it melted into my skin like water on a cloth. It made no difference. It was gone. No mark. No scar. Just a subtle pressure in the center of my palm, like something was curled inside the muscle, waiting.

"Summon it when needed," Garazal said, unfazed. "It will manifest on your palm."

"When would I need this? I can't even leave the academy."

The corners of his mouth twitched up. "That is not forever. Should you continue to prove yourself and perform well during your placement with the House Guard, then you may travel freely in your second year. Until then, it is better we keep an eye on our investment."

He reached back into the box and removed a dark bronze lapel pin with the same serpent-sun design. Three thin red lines ran beneath it like blood trails.

"This," he said, "is an Emblem of Honor. Awarded for services rendered in defense of our house. Normally reserved for full members of the Guard, but you have earned it."

I stared at it.

"You will wear it on your uniform. Prominently."

Panic surged. I really didn't need something to make me stand out more in the academy.

"I see your mind working over the obvious. Will this make you a target? How will others treat you? None of that matters. You have proven today that you will be a very valuable asset to my house and I want that known to all who see you. If you remove it, I will know."

His last words were as clear a threat as if he'd told me he would kill me directly. My stomach twisted, but I kept my voice steady. "Understood."

He handed me the pin and I attached it to the front of my uniform. It caught the light with a faint red gleam that made my skin crawl.

Garazal sat back. "Now. Return to Irala and continue to work hard. It is not long until the intra-academy tournament and I expect you to show everyone there why you wear that pin." He dismissed me with a flick of his fingers and I happily obliged.

As I left the room, I flexed my palm to feel the token. There was nothing to feel though it still itched at my consciousness just as much as the pin.

More brands. One inside me. One on display and one carved into my back.

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