Scourge looked over his mount, made the saddle secure and checked over the provisions. Tellar did the same.

"Looks like we are gonna be up to our old tricks again, Tellar. And we thought retirement would be easy." Scourge laughed. Tellar smiled.

"We hated every minute of it, and you know it. Except maybe the staying up all night and drinking part." Scourge laughed harder.

"Must you be so loud and annoying?"

"Come colonel, if we are to be traveling mates, then you must

lighten up some. We are off for adventure, albeit very forced and involving wizards, but adventure none the less." Scourge's sarcastic tone wasn't missed. He wasn't happy about this either, Tarren decided.

"At least call me by my name. I am Tarren." Tarren extended his hand to Scourge, and after a moment of thought, Scourge took it. Better that they be friends, for now at least. Tellar also offered his hand, which Tarren gladly accepted.

"Ahh, here come the others." Scourge and Tellar turned to see their new travelling companions. The first, a monster of a brute, stood easily at 6'5" and weighed no less than 100 stone, strode closer wielding a giant battle axe. His thick black beard and piercing eyes gave him the look of a well armed bear, a bear dressed in leather armor; none the less. The next man was much smaller than the first, but well built.

Tellar took particular interest in the man, noting his ranger uniform and long bow. Strapped to his side was the standard long sword, but Tellar knew it would not be used if it could be avoided. The next man strode into the light, and Scourge was hard pressed to tell what he was. He was dressed in a one piece suit type, the legs, torso, arms, and head covered in a material of striped black, grey, and blue.

Scourge doubted that this guy could be seen in a shadow. More amazing, was the number of weaponry on his person. Two swords, many knifes, and several other objects Scourge didn't recognize. He would be sure to find out later.

"They are of the different kingdoms. If the warnings ring true, all will be at war pretty soon. The threat has been enough to temporarily unite." Tarren commented.

"So they have sent us their best warriors?"

"Hardly Scourge, hardly." The Dursian and Greytan appeared moments before Scourge approached the last stranger. The Dursian motioned for all to be silent. Greytan was looking decidedly pale.

"You must head south, into the enemy lands. We do not know where the book is, but we have given Greytan the means to track it. He is the only one who can use it, guard him carefully.

"It will be far too much trouble for me to magically transport

you, so I shall spell your mounts. For four days, they will ride at full speed untiringly. You will probably need those days, so rest as little as possible. May you succeed."

Scourge and the others mounted and set out, taking off at full speed in a southernly direction.

An hour or two after Scourge and companions left, the store where Greytan had lived exploded in mystical fire. Greytan, Scourge, and Tellar were reported dead inside by the authorities. No one really cared. Except the man in black. He knew better.

Someone is going to trouble to hide those three, he thought. I'll have to look into this. After I notify my master. And in the darkness someone waited. Soon.... Very soon....

A raven glided slowly down from the sky, shimmered and in its place stood Arieadne.

"I don't have the Black Tome of Arischonn, but at least Volpone got this for me," she thought.

She opened the blood red book and read the passage again.

"THE NATIONS SHALL CONVERGE. BLOOD SHALL FLOW FROM EVERY HOME OF EVERY MAN. THEN SHALL THE IMAGE FORM. THEN SHALL THE POWER BE IGNITED."

The very thought of what those words meant brought a smile to her lips.

"Now I still have to get the Tome. I tracked it down once I can do so again."

She shimmered and a black raven flew of into the awaiting sky.

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