“The world moves in mysterious ways. Even the greatest of the Gods cannot see all ends.” - High King Ioannis, First of the Benelim

  Leo was as ready as he could ever be as he walked back to the temple. He had washed and put on fresh clothes and a new hat, with all the feathers that marked his status. He cleaned up his sword, sheathed it in a scabbard on his back. He also had some provisions, but his gut told him to pack light. He saw familiar faces as he approached the temple square.

  An array of shining black and gold.

  It was refreshing to see the Guardia Grifone again. They had arrayed their pavise shields up as a barricade from one side of the street to another. Pikes jutted out behind them. The banners of the guardia were tall and proud. Upon seeing Leo, he heard cheers and distant orders. The barricade opened up, giving him room to pass.

  “Knock ’em dead out there, Capitano.” said a familiar voice.

  “It is tenente now, Michael,” replied Leo, a smile on his face.

  There was commotion outside the temple. Annabelle was standing by the door, and she looked pretty dour. Elizabeth was with her. People were moving rotting wood, rusted metal, and other rubbish to a spot outside the entrance. How strange; Leo couldn’t even guess what they were doing. What was also weird was there were no horses, carts, or anything. He was concerned he would be late, but evidently, things were behind schedule. Salvatore nodded as they finished their work.

  Etheros strode out of the temple, Avella and Martin at his side. “Excellent, thank you.” He rubbed his hands together in preparation. He raised his arms out, and he began to chant. The pile of rubbish began to glow and contort until it became a white-hot glowing mass of energy.

  “What’s he doing?” asked Leo.

  “Powerful Godshards tend to lean to certain types of spellcraft naturally,” answered Avella. “We call them Magical Leanings. Dominus Omnitus was a God of omnipotent power, we believe the Leanings are his many aspects as a result. Not that we cannot do anything we choose, of course. I, for one, tend to focus on elemental magic. Spells about or related to the elements such as fire, water, and the storm.”

  “Is that why I have healing abilities?” asked Annabelle.

  “Of course.”

  Leo gestured to Etheros. “What is he then?”

  Avella pointed at what the glowing mass was becoming. Slowly but surely, over minutes, it began to take a new form. Wheels jutted out of the bottom, a rectangular shape morphing on top. Seats were shifting and warping inside. The nature of the object became clear.

  It was a wagon. One big enough for all of them. Silver metal rimmed the wheels and shimmered like star iron. The brown wood had a goldish finish that reminded Leo of the hull of the Benelim vessel. A canopy covered the top, with slots at several points. It looked ideal for placing crossbows or guns. This wagon could suit any purpose they required. Everyone was astonished; well, save Avella. She had a smug look on her face.

  “Transmutation,” answered Etheros. “That isn’t all. Leo and Elizabeth, may I see your weapons for a moment?” They looked at each other and back at the wizard. They obliged and handed them over. Etheros drew Leo’s sword out and placed his hand on the blade. He reached into a sack that was embroidered into his robe and took out metal chips. They shimmered faintly as he delicately placed them on top of the blade.

  He chanted once more, and the blade began to glow and shimmer before stopping. The shimmer remained. “My other specialty is alchemy. Your already well-crafted sword is now made of star-iron, which will serve us well in the coming journey.”

  Leo stuttered as he took it back. “You are too kind, Wizard Etheros.” It felt lighter than before. He struggled not to grin like a little boy. Etheros began to do the same to Elizabeth’s guisarme. She tried to hide it, but Leo could see a ghost of a grin on her face.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “You haven’t lost your touch, Etheros,” said Avella.

  Etheros gave Elizabeth back her weapon. “Did you expect anything less, Avella?”

  Annabelle folded her arms and cleared her throat. “I don’t mean to be crass, but we still don’t have any horses.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m sure there is still som—” said Salvatore before a commotion at the pavise shield barricade got their attention. An opening appeared before a person rode in with three horses. Two of them looked familiar to Leo. Could it be?

  “It’s Magnus and Rubert!” exclaimed Avella.

  Leo stuttered, “How in all the realms?”

  The person ushering them was on a maxime horse of his own. He was Benelim, but from which realm Leo could not say. He guided them to the assembled group.

  “Ben sends his regards,” said the rider before leaving as quickly as he came.

  Avella climbed aboard the saddle, rummaging through the sacks. She pulled out a familiar appendage. “It’s still here! The dread-wasp leg!”

  Leo sighed in relief. “Thank the Gods. That means the enemy didn’t take it after all. But how is this possible?”

  “Maxime horses are smart and fast,” said Salvatore. “They might have fled and simply gotten away before their pursuers could enclose their trap.”

  “Perhaps I can be of assistance,” said Etheros as he walked up to Magnus and placed his hand on his head. He muttered a quiet chant, and his and the horse’s eyes began to glow.

  “What do you see?” asked Avella.

  “Something was chasing them. Shadowy figures cloaked in black. They were faster. I see the gates of Raveno. A cloaked figure had tried to close the gate to bar their escape. He failed. They kept running. They ended up in another town. They were surrounded. A true Nephilim intervened.”

  Leo nodded. “Ben.”

  “He had a big axe, and he cut them to pieces. He brought them to a stable. Several Benelim and humans were there. They watched over the horses for the night, and then Ben sent them back to Tressviae.”

  “This Ben fellow seems to have quite the network,” said Salvatore.

  “Indeed,” said Etheros. “Perhaps he could be an ally. For now, it would seem we have our mounts. And mighty good ones at that. Let’s hurry and finish packing.”

  They proceeded to yoke the horses to the wagon. Leo tossed his stuff on board.

  Salvatore placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “May I talk to you for a moment?”

  Leo tilted his head. Salvatore looked different. Instead of his usual charming presence, he looked sad. Even the glowing in his eyes dimmed. “Sure, Padre.”

  The two of them walked to the side of the temple.

  Salvatore took a deep breath and said, “I hope you know that everything I’ve done was to help you. To help all of you. I wish I could have done more.” He gestured to Annabelle, who Elizabeth was gently guiding into the wagon and continued, “But for all my sacerdozio’s problems, I want to believe I’ve done some good.”

  Leo placed his hand on his shoulder. “Of course you have. You’re the one who suggested I enlist. You’ve been more of a Padre to me than my actual birth Padre. We go way back when it was just me, Martin, and Gio. No one could ask for better.”

  He gave a shaky grin. “I just wanted to make sure you knew that.”

  “You’re making it sound like you’re about to die, Padre. What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t explain. One day you’ll understand, but not now.”

  “Can you try? You’ve been the rock of the town. If I could return the favor, I would be honored.”

  “Oh, Leo, I wish you could see the world as I see it.”

  Salvatore walked past Leo to the edge of the temple. He looked out into the courtyard and turned toward Annabelle and Elizabeth. Their essence and bond were strong, like a great fire. He looked at Elizabeth holding Annabelle’s hand and saw potential futures. An Elizabeth consumed by her hatred and her past; an image flashed of her dead body. Or she could rise above them to become a powerful and virtuous woman. An image of her wearing a winged helm and a red cape entered his mind’s eye.

  Annabelle, he saw that if she could discover the value in herself, she could be more significant than her Shard size would dictate. He saw her in a blue robe with a grey hood. How interesting.

  Etheros was hard to read, but he knew that the daemons would fail, and he would be a significant reason. In Avella, he saw a whirlwind of despair. She had no idea the journey she was about to undertake, even considering the plan she had formulated with Etheros.

  With Martin, he saw a man about to get a dose of reality. Things will open his eyes that books, wealth, and writing cannot convey. He had a significant role in what was to come; he just didn’t know it.

  Leo had many futures. He saw him dead, corrupted by foul powers, murdered by comrades. But one outcome—the one he’d been pushing him toward—is one where he’s a leader, a hero in the spirit of Imperial Commanders of old despite his self-doubt.

  Leo walked ahead of him. For a moment, Salvatore saw their essences coalesce. He smiled as their scattered fires became a great inferno. More significant than the sum of its parts. A blaze where they could change the fates of all.

  They could save the world.