It was late on Loh day afternoon when I arrived back at the Irala Academy. It felt strange not having the portal created by Stanis, and I sensed the weight of that loss bearing on Warden Anso as we stepped through into the courtyard.

"Augur Stanis was a good friend of mine for many years," he said abruptly, his hard eyes boring into me.

My heart sank. I did not want to be having this conversation right now, but what did he care about my wants.

"I'm glad you tried to save him, Honored Squire Henshaw."

I tried not to squirm at his words.

"On Earth," I started, voice rougher than I expected, "I trained to be a soldier. The first thing I learned was that the men beside you aren't the ones making the calls. They're trying to survive, same as you. When I go out with a team, they're my family."

"A good way to look at it. But Earl Henshaw actually is your family." "No. He's not." I fought to keep my voice even. "He's a dangerous animal that needs putting down. That's all." Anso surprised me with a genuine smile. "It's good to hear you say that. Because I intend to hunt and kill him. And since we may be working together for years to come, such an act might have caused... resentment."

I shook my head. "You see him. Put him down. Just, be careful."

Anso snorted. "He's Level 14. I'll think I'll be fine as long as he's not surrounded by a Siroth army. And if he is? I'll make sure to have my own army with me."

I didn't care if Anso lived or died. He wasn't my friend no matter how amiable he was being. So I said no more. But he was wrong. So, so fucking wrong. He'd never faced anyone like Earl before. No matter what he thought. I nodded. "I suppose you're right."

Clearly content, he raised a hand and lightly tapped the pin on my lapel. "Well done back there. You earned it."

Then he spun on his heel and strode back through the portal, leaving me alone with a hell of a lot to unpack.

I looked up at the academy tower bell. Aetheric magic was the last lesson of the day and it still had an hour left. Long enough to walk up to the field and take part.

I stared at the path for a while, then turned away. I didn't have the heart for it.

Back in my room, I sat and waited for my friends to return — and soon regretted the decision as thoughts I wasn't ready to face tried to claw their way to the surface.

To distract myself, I focused on my palm, trying to summon the creepy black coin that had melted into my skin.

That didn't help as a sick feeling twisted in my gut when it wouldn't reappear. The only positive was that it had killed some time.

Ellaazi burst through the door first, laughing with Ressa right behind her. They both froze the second they saw me. Only for a second. Then it became a race between them to see who could reach me first.

Ressa won by clearing the table in a jump and landed in my lap, immediately wrapping me up in a tight hug.

Despite everything I'd just been through, a surge of desire still rose at her proximity and I had to fight to suppress it.

After a moment, she leaned back and grinned. "We were worried."

"Not as worried as me," I muttered.

She surprised me with a kiss on the cheek before removing herself and taking a seat next to me. I felt both loss and relief at her repositioning.

Ellaazi was less physically affectionate, and settled for gripping my shoulder with a firm squeeze.

"It's good to see you, Adam."

"Not as good as it is to see you both."

Ressa nudged me.

"You look older. Was it that bad?"

"Worse," I said losing a bit of my renewed vigor at the question.

"And what's this?" Ellaazi asked, poking at the pin on my chest.

"That is an Emblem of Honor, and apparently it's a big deal."

Ressa frowned. "It is a big deal." She took hold of it and her eyes widened. "It is a genuine House Garazal Pin of Honor, Adam. How the hell did you get this?"

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I strongly considered evasion, but what was the point. I was too mentally drained to make something up and then have to deal with all the questions that would follow. So I told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

"I tried to save Augur Stanis before he was brutally stabbed in the face by my brother Earl before he was pulled through a portal by the Siroth. Then, when Warden Anso was shot with an enchanted arrow and the Siroth overwhelmed us, I led the House Guard of Garazal in a counter attack, breaking their lines and giving our own reinforcements a chance to arrive."

I rubbed my chin. "Yeah. I think that about covers it."

Ellaazi laughed like I'd just told an epic joke. Ressa's jaw hung low. "You're not even making that up are you?"

I shook my head miserably. "I don't think I could if I tried."

She held up a hand. "So let me get this straight. Your insane brother who tortured you for years actually came through the Dross Portal, he killed a high-level mage and he's fighting for the Siroth?"

A dry laugh ripped out of me before I could stop it. "I don't know what he's doing with them. But if the Siroth think they can use Earl for anything, they're in for a rude awakening. If you hate the Siroth like you say you do, then rejoice. He's a ticking time bomb, and when he goes off, he'll take a nasty chunk out of them."

Ressa frowned but said nothing. I noticed Ellaazi had fallen silent too. I eyed them both carefully. Confused at the change in atmosphere.

"Wait a minute. Are you both…"

Wide-eyed, Ressa shook her head, expression pleading me to not ask the question I'd begun. Ellaazi's expression wasn't too dissimilar. They didn't need words.

It was Ellaazi who finally spoke, and she did so with surprising tact. "Union history is complicated. "Not all that shines bright is good and not all that hides in the dark is bad. All you need know about my allegiances are that they are for the Union first and foremost. I will fight for the Union without question."

"As will I," Ressa said, and I sat wondering what had just happened.

It took a little while, but I finally found a smile for them. "You're two of the best people I know in this crazy Union or back at home. Thanks for being here with me. Now if you don't mind, if I never talk about Siroth, or Earl again it'll be too soon."

"Agreed," Ressa said, relaxing a little more.

"One more thing." I held up my palm just as Torma and Yoru walked in and my question died on my lips.

"I thought they'd killed you for sure!" Torma shouted with the biggest smile I'd ever seen on the Grunir as he came trundling over.

Yoru followed with far more grace. "It is good to see you back, Adam. We were all worried about you."

"It's good to be back, and thanks for your concern. I was just about to broach something either of you might be able to help me with as well." I pointed to my palm. "Prime Garazal gave me a Vault Mark while I was visiting. Honestly it's creeping me the fuck out having it stuck in my skin and I want it out."

No one gave me the reaction I expected. Torma held out his hand. "Give me a look. I'll tell you if it's been altered to spy on you or anything else."

"Well that's the part of the problem. It's stuck in there."

He snorted. "You have to think you're going to use it. You'll get used to just summoning it, but try this for now. Adam. You owe me ten unitols for the gear I borrowed from the forge." He thrust out his hand.

"Seriously?"

"I only didn't change because you didn't have any money, but now you have, you can pay me back."

I held out my palm, and considered paying him. Lo-and-behold the coin rose out of my hand. Torma held out his palm. "Don't worry, I won't take anything out of it. You don't owe me."

He studied the coin with interest before flicking it up in the air catching it and handing it back. "It's legit. No reason not to keep it on you. No tracking, no listening, just a standard Vault Mark."

I balked at the thought. I don't want that thing in me."

"Bah, don't be daft Adam. This is how we carry money." He immediately summoned a black coin from his own hand and showed me. Not only that, Ressa, Yoru and Ellaazi had all done the same.

Ressa smiled. "Almost all union banks provide them. This is one thing you don't have to fret about."

I understood then that the black token was the equivalent of a debit card. But I still felt deeply unsettled by it sinking into my skin. Yet as they all reabsorbed their own tokens, I didn't feel like I had much choice to follow suit.

"Let's have a look at that pin, then. Make sure It's got nothing on it that shouldn't be."

"I checked," Ressa said. "It's definitely tracking and it's sensitive to being influenced by magic, and if I had to guess it though I can't be sure, it's likely able to listen."

"Seems excessive with the mark in place," Torma said.

Ressa's eyes went wide at the statement and without speaking she started tugging at my shoulder. She silently pointed at where the mark would be.

I unfastened the front of my uniform and allowed her to pull the shirt and jacket back to reveal the mark. She said nothing but patted my back with a wide smile.

"Gone?" Torma asked confused.

"And a title as well," Yoru added. "Honored Squire of House Garazal. It seems like your house is beginning to trust you. Congratulations."

Torma's eyes glazed a little as he checked my identifier. "Honored and Level 20! Sounds like you've got a story to tell, Henshaw."

"He does," Ellaazi said. "But we need Jagga first!"

I waved her off. "Not for me. Especially not with where my head's at right now. Though I could murder a stiff drink."

"I have just the thing," Torma said, jumping up and heading to his cupboard in the kitchen. He pulled out a chunky but ornately carved bottle. "Grunir Burning Grass!"

Ellaazi cheered, Yoru smiled and Ressa groaned as he grabbed five small glasses and carried them over. "Brought it back yesterday. Didn't expect to have an excuse to tuck in so soon, but I'm taking it!"

He poured out five servings and knocked his straight back smacking his lips. Both Yoru and Ellaazi did the same, though I swear I saw Yoru's eyes water a little. I got to mine before Ressa reluctantly picked up hers. I raised it in toast, and then knocked it back preparing for whisky or tequila so I couldn't be surprised.

The mental preparation worked as the smooth liquor poured in. It was very similar to a good mid-range single malt and it definitely deserved better than to be drank in shots.

I raised the empty glass to Torma. "I wondered what I was going to spend Garazal's money on. I think I just found the answer."

From that point on, the drinks and laughter continued to flow, and even when I relived the events of the last two days, I managed to keep the smile on my face.

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