The troll tried to sit up again, but this time, a silver sword burst out of its throat, slicing through its flesh.


    [Burn the Weak]


    Deep red flames, flecked with motes of white, roared to life in Abad''s hand. The troll''s green eye locked onto his hand, and fear flooded its features. It tried to scramble backward, but before it could make it a single foot, Abad threw his flaming hand forward, and the red flames flowed off his hand and engulfed the creature. It screeched as the fire caught, its skin igniting and hissing as it did, until the creature''s flesh flaked away until nothing but bones were left.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He drew all of the remaining essence from the dead trolls, feeling the motes of energy enter his spirit, then got to work burning the remaining bodies. Within minutes, there was nothing but wet soot staining the road.


    However, as the final mote of life entered him, a vision flashed through his mind. He could see a large hill, a twisted, black tree at its top, and standing at the top was a robed figure. He tried to focus more, but the vision left him, and he was standing on the road again.


    "Are you okay?" Shani asked, and he felt Zethari approach him from behind. Her strong hands pressed against his chest. He hadn''t realized he''d wavered.


    "I am." He turned to Zethari. "Thank you." She nodded and let go.


    He burned the rest of the remains, and when his cruel work was done, he took stock of the women. Shani was looking at Zethari, but the wolven woman was looking toward the trees.


    "Sorry. I don''t know if you wanted more information from it, but I didn''t want to take any chances." She wiped the blade on a scrap of cloth she picked up from the ground.


    "No, you made the right call. It was nearly regenerated. We don''t need to take any unnecessary risks." He nodded to the woman, then scanned the area, making sure he''d burned everything away.


    "What did he mean by ''her''?" The elf asked.


    Abad thought for a moment. "I believe it was referring to other lupana, or possibly other fey''ra, like Zethari. That''s my best guess at least. Obviously, Zethari has been with us the whole time, so it couldn''t have been her." He looked back toward the fey''ra. Her jaw was clenched. Her yellow eyes scanned the treeline, clearly looking for any evidence that her people had been there, but from her face, he could tell there was none. "I would have guessed a griffon or chimera had done this if it weren''t for the troll''s words, but we have a lead now. I''d guess that some of her people have escaped since Bolton''s death. I know it''s not much, but that''s my hunch."


    "Nightstalker." She looked away from the forest and toward him. "My tribe. My people. Do you think...?" She didn''t ask the question, but he knew what she meant.


    "It''s possible. We will do everything in our power to find out, my friend. We may need to find this cave and check. There could be something else to learn there." Plus, he might be able to find traces of this "master."


    Shani''s voice was hard. "I don''t want to fight a bunch of trolls, and I especially don''t want to fight whatever the hells can kill them like this. If the fey''ra did this, they''d slaughter us if they caught us unprepared."


    He nodded to the woman. "There''s no guarantee that they''d attack us the way they did these monsters, and even if we do find the fey''ra, I doubt we''d need to fight. Zethari and I can talk to them."


    "I will not allow harm to befall you, Nightstalker." Her yellow eyes met Shani''s. "Or your friends." She scowled as the final word left her lips.


    The elf woman let out a deep breath. "Thank you, Zethari." Her voice was strained. The fey''ra''s words didn''t seem to comfort her.


    "Let''s get back to the caravan. There''s no guarantee all the trolls are dead or that we aren''t missing something. We should have Ulrich push for Wysten to be sure we aren''t caught out here unprepared. Experience has taught us how cunning these creatures can be." Abad turned and marched back to the wagons. When he arrived, Ulrich popped out of the door of his wagon.


    "What was it? Everything okay?" The man asked.


    "Trolls. All but one were dead, and the last was nearly so. We aren''t sure what killed them, but whatever it was, I don''t think we should make camp tonight." He didn''t want to implicate the fey''ra. The mortals were cautious enough as it was around them. "I suggest we push hard today and reach Wysten. We don''t want to be caught out here."


    The man nodded and shouted to the caravan that they were leaving. The other party members were a few wagons up, weapons drawn, and when they heard the calls, they headed back to their wagon. A few minutes later, everyone was loaded up, and they were rolling away.


    "What was it, lad?" Firtz asked Abad as he settled in.


    "Trolls. We think some fey''ra took them out." The others looked at him curiously, so he told them what he''d learned from Drugg.


    En-In''s eyes narrowed as Abad finished. "I knew the fey''ra were powerful, but I had no idea they were that strong."


    Zethari scoffed. "We were forged by the sod''ra to be their weapons. You think we would be anything but lethal?"


    The half-elf''s eyes were filled with caution. "I mean no offense. It''s just shocking."


    "I agree. It''s hard to believe that a being so small and... beautiful..." A-Nis said, "is capable of such destruction."


    "If it weren''t for the laws forbidding us from taking our true forms, you would not feel as such." Zethari snarled at the woman. "Our claws would rend the flesh from your bones, our teeth would tear away the soft meat of your throats. We would drink your blood and lap at your marrow." She grinned at A-Nis, revealing her sharp canines. "If only we were free of you filthy te''ra, I would show you just how lethal we can be."


    A-Nis''s eyes narrowed. "Zethari, you''re frightening."This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Zethari snorted and turned away from her, her face settling into her typical sneer. "Pretty, weak, useless little things." Her words were low, laced with a deep growl. "If it were not for the Nightstalker''s wishes, I''d not tolerate your weakness." The woman smiled a cruel smile. "You are no warrior. Go find a man to make you a broodmare, and leave us warriors to our duty. Your pretty face would be better used that way, te''ra."


    "Zethari, stop," Abad warned the woman, but he could see the fury in her eyes. He knew she was frustrated. They had found a possible lead, but they were no closer to finding her mate. Looking toward the others, he saw the tension on their faces.


    Firtz reached for his axe. "I''ll not tolerate your threats, beast. Stay your tongue lest you lose it." The dwarf''s face was red, and his words promised violence.


    The fey''ra''s yellow eyes snapped to the dwarf. "You wish to test your words?" She stood up and bared her clawed fingers.


    Firtz stood. "If it''ll teach you your place." He stood and readied his axe.


    The fey''ra stood, and he saw her muscles swell. The buttons placed throughout her clothes began to pop open as she began to grow. He knew what would come next.


    Watching their petty squabbling, Abad could feel his blood boil. Deep within his spirit, the darkness called out to him, beckoning for him to reach out and take it. He could assert himself with a single word. He could end their squabbling in a single command. He could take the reins and force them into line. His line. All he had to do was give in to the darkness and exert his will. It would be so easy. Just a single command. A single word. He felt his face flush. His hands flexed. He could taste it... Their submission. Their obedience.


    "[Sit]!" His words were laced with raw authority, and both the dwarf and the wolf girl were thrown on their butts. Even the wagon stopped for a brief second, the draft horses neighing in protest as their legs froze for an instant. "All of you. Enough."


    "These disgusti—"


    "[Silence]." He felt his head swim. As weak as he was, [Dominion] was taxing. He let his [Mask of Many Faces] go, freeing up some essence. His red eyes bore into her. "You will not threaten our allies again. If you do, I will end you. Do you understand?" He felt the darkness coursing through him.


    "Why should we—"


    "Do. You. Understand."


    Her eyes fell away from his, and she gave a small nod.


    He felt his blood cool, if only a little. He took a deep breath. He had to contain himself. Get a grip. He looked to Firtz, who was sputtering indignantly. "If you insult my vassal again, I''ll treat it as the threat that it is. You know what I can do. Do not test me." The dwarf''s eyes filled with rage, but Abad ignored it. "You may insult me all you want. You have done so time and again. I will take whatever you have to give with grace. I deserve your scorn." He pointed to the fey''ra. "Zethari does not. Your kind has harmed her gravely, and I will not tolerate her being harmed again, in body or in word." He glared at the group, meeting each of their eyes. He let them all feel the power of his wrath, his gaze searing into each. "We''re allies for now, and that''s the end of it. If either of you has an issue, take it up with me." The dwarf looked like he was going to say something, but Abad stared the dwarf down. "Do not make an enemy of me, Firtz. I''d like to keep the axe buried."


    The dwarf closed his mouth and huffed.


    He took a few more deep breaths. "I know we don''t trust one another. How could we? There''s bad blood between our kinds. But, I''d like to start trying to build bridges with you all, and that won''t happen if we''re at one another''s throats." He looked to Zethari, whose eyes were downcast. He placed a hand on her shoulder. Her head snapped up, but she calmed when she saw it was him touching her. "I''m sorry, my friend. You''re going through much. I understand how hard it must be. I wish we were closer to finding him too. Forgive me."


    She looked away from him. "I would never dare take insult, Nightstalker. You are right." She looked at the group. "I apologize." Her eyes dropped again. "To all of you. You have helped me much on this journey, and you have shown me kindness. I am thankful." Her words were soft.


    "Him?" A-Nis asked.


    "My mate. Rennar. We are searching for him." Zethari said, her eyes not leaving the floor of the wagon.


    Abad felt the tension break. A-Nis nodded, a sad look crossing her face. Kjormur sighed, En-In rubbed his chin, and Firtz grunted.


    The latter finally spoke after several moments. "I often speak without thinking, and my temper is well-known," Firtz said. "Also, my people hold little love for either of your kinds. I suppose that prejudice has colored my view, despite the words of the Goddess and my own best efforts." The dwarf looked at Zethari, then Abad. "I will do better."


    Abad nodded to the dwarf. "Thank you, Firtz." Abad rubbed his face. "Now that we''ve gotten that out of the way, we need to talk about the real issue here."


    Kjormur sat up and gave him a hard look. "Which is what, exactly?"


    "The fey''ra." He pointed to the northeast, where the troll had pointed before. "If the fey''ra are indeed in the area and killing monsters, that means that they''ve managed to both escape their captors and survive. It''s only a matter of time before they begin attacking travelers, and if they''re already attacking in packs, then they''re going to be nearly unstoppable against regular folk." Abad looked at each in turn. "We need to find them and reason with them. We may be able to find a way to convince them not to attack people. They likely have few supplies, and with Darkfall approaching, they will become more desperate as new monsters form, which seems likely from everything I''ve heard. If we can''t find them and talk them down, they''re either going to be slaughtered, or they''re going to kill innocent people to obtain resources and shelter. I want to prevent either option from taking place."


    "There will be little to hunt for many months," A-Nis added. "Even if they have food and supplies, it will be many moons before they will be able to replenish them. If they have significant numbers, they will do what they must."


    Abad nodded to the ranger. "Exactly. I''m also uncomfortable with this ''master'' the troll spoke of. If he was telling the truth, then someone has taken control of a tribe of monsters. If that person is powerful enough to control that many monsters, they are likely dangerous." He thought against adding his final conclusion, but he decided that he should build bridges through honesty for once. "And if they can control monsters, they are likely one of my kind. [Dominion] is one of the few ways one can control the minds of monsters."


    "How so?" Firtz asked.


    "Every being with the power of [Dominion] subtly affects the minds of monsters." Zethari looked up at him. "It''s just how it works. Both our power and the power that creates monsters exist outside the Goddess''s laws. Monsters can''t help but be swayed by us." He saw something pass behind the fey''ra eyes. He hadn''t wanted to tell her that part of their dynamic since he wasn''t sure if it was the same with the fey''ra. After enough interactions with them, he had come to assume it worked much the same. "Direct application of [Dominion] can allow my kind to dominate the minds of all beings touched by the shadow, though it takes much power to do so. Trolls are one such being."


    "Can''t the dark mages of this world control minds too?" A-Nis asked. "There are tales of the witches of the north and their terrible magic that can turn the minds of the strongest men."


    Abad nodded. "It''s possible. Black Magic like the kind I wield also has some ability to do the same. It doesn''t work through the same principles as [Dominion] and is incredibly difficult to accomplish at large scales though. For a black mage to control the mind of a monster like that troll, they''d need a strong focus, and I''ve never heard of a warlock or witch controlling entire tribes." A thought came to him. "But if they have an object of power, like my old scepter, it''s possible." He looked toward his open pack, where he could make out the raven head of [Final Law]. "But for now, I''m going to assume it''s one of my people."


    En-In let out a low whistle. "If you''re right, we could be heading into a fight with multiple parties and a powerful mage, or a devil." His eyes met Abad''s. "No offense."


    "None taken."


    The half-elf continued. "So much for a simple escort job. This is sounding more and more dangerous by the moment. We''re going to need help, or we''re going to have to be smart."


    "If we can convince my people to help, we may have allies in battle." Zethari''s yellow eyes shone.


    Abad reached out and squeezed her hand. "We will try. I promise."