Nina woke up feeling restless. One single thought was on her mind this morning. A thing she was planning to do, and the ramifications of her action. As she got dressed, that one thought stayed in her mind. "I know I'm doing the right thing."

Umber spent most of the night thinking about Nina. The way she talked, the way she smiled, the overall way she lived. And at such a young age. He remembered something Rand told when he pointed out a girl that walked past them. "That girl has an very old spirit inside her."

Uber didn't understand what he meant back then, but thinking on it over some time, he finally understood what he was talking about. Nina is the same way. Far more mature and knowledgeable then her years showed. It got to the point where he was remembering when Nina hugged him, thanking him for spending the night with her. And the next thing he's kissing her passionately.

"No!" Uber just about shouted. "I shouldn't be thinking of Nina in that way. I mean, yes she's pretty and I'm sure she'd be a wonderful person to be love with. But I've know her less then two days, and here I am thinking about taking her to my bed.

I'm sure this is something Gunner would do?..... No. He would just try and charm the pants off her.

Maybe it's something Tosh would do?...... No. He would romance her over a long period of time.

How about Rand?..... No. He'd turn the tables on her and make her fall in love with him."

It was at that moment that he realized that he was talking out loud. He sighed loudly.

"You know something, Sir Uber?" It was Nina. "You make falling in love a very difficult thing for yourself."

His eyes went wide, and didn't have the courage to turn and face her. He had an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach. "This...can't be happening." he thought.

Nina moved around to face Uber, at this moment, he was dying of embarrassment. He stammered that he was sorry that she heard what he was saying, but she chuckled and told him he look so cute when he was blushing. Uber though, it was easier for him to fight the mercenaries, then looking into Nina's smiling face.

The two were silent for several moments. Moments that felt extremely uncomfortable for Uber.

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Sir Uber? Nina asked, taking a seat, facing him.

"No, I don't mind." he replied, not after hesitating for a few seconds. "Go right ahead." Nina took a second to take a deep breath before speaking.

"Have you ever been in love?"

"Oh great!" Uber thought. "Tie me up in some more emotional knots, will you." But one look at her, Uber could see that she wasn't trying to be funny or anything. She was really curious about him. "I guess, to answer your question. It's yes and no." Nina titted her head, not sure what he meant. "I was ...no. I'm still in love with someone. But I never had the courage to tell her I felt. Because of that, her heart belongs to someone else." He was talking about Merc. "But I always told myself, if I couldn't have her heart, I'd be happy with her friendship. We're good friends now. But sometimes I wish there was something more between the two of us."

Nina's eyes teared up and her mouth quivered. She said nothing for a long time, then glanced down at the table.

Uber didn't expect this from her. "I'm sorry, Miss Nina." he said getting up from where he was sitting and walked over to where she was sitting. "I didn't mean to upset you." Nina looked up at him and smiled.

"I guess that will teach me not to pry too much into other people's business." She reached out and took Uber's hand. "It is rare for me to hear the painful parts of a person that's in love. I guess I live a sheltered life."

"That can be a good thing, Miss Nina." Uber said. There a lot of ugly things out in this world. Things I hope you never see."

"This may be true, Sir Uber. But I want to the world. The good, the bad and the ugly." Uber smiled.

"I'd love to show you what I've seen." But Uber cursed himself for saying that. It wasn't like they were planning to travel together, or anything like that. But Nina smiled at what he said.

"I'm sure we could talk all night again, but I need you to take me to the church. I must have a talk with Stephen." Uber nodded, and walked over to the entrance to receive his sword.

Nina rose to his feet and fell behind Uber to head out the door. They walked to the church in silence.

Arriving at the church, Nina and Uber were once again challenged at the gate even though the guard knew Nina was a member. He tried to stop Uber, but Nina told him that he was her bodyguard and demanded that he step aside. And he did.
As they walked onto the grounds of the church, Uber could see the hard look of determination on her face, and for the life of him, he wish he knew what was on her mind. But he was sure he'd soon find out. As the entered the church, they were met by the monk they met the day before.

"I'd like to see my brother Stephen."

"I'm sorry, Sister Nina," he said in his arrogant tone. "He's talking to the abbot right now. I'm sure they will be finished within the hour." Uber could see in her eyes that Nina wasn't going to accept that.

"Sir." Nina said, in a hard tone in her voice. "Please go in there and tell my brother that I'm out here waiting for him, or do I have to go in there myself?"

"I'm not allowed to disturb them, Sister Nina."

"Very well. I'll just go in and see him myself." She said sighing deeply and walking around him. The monk ran ahead to stop her, saying that she couldn't go in there. Nina face darkened.

"Sir Uber?" Nina called out sweetly. "If this fool does not get out of my way...I want you to kill him."

Uber's eyes went wide, but he drew his sword and walked towards the monk. "In the head or heart, Miss Nina?"

"You wouldn't dare!" he shouted, moving away from Nina.

"That's better. She said, smiling. "Please keep an eye on him, Sir Uber."
She walked into the back room, and saw Stephen reciting verse with the Abbot.

The Abbot was of medium height, but heavy, broad at the shoulder and hips, with thick black hair and beard. He wore a beautiful long, white robe with gold and silver threading.

"Nina? What are you doing here? Stephen asked walking towards her. "You know, I'm not to be disturbed when I'm with the Abbot."

"Brother. It is important. I have something to tell you. And no, it couldn't wait." She looked over to the abbot, she said she was sorry for barging in without permission. He smiled and told her it was alright.

Stephen sighed and asked her what was so important that she couldn't wait for him to return home. This is what really wangle her nerves about him these days. His arrogant attitude, like he was so high and mighty over her.

She made it short and sweet. "Stephen? I'm leaving you. I'll have my things packed and ill be gone before night fall." With that, Nina turned and walked out of the room.

Stephen looked like he was kicked by a mule. For several seconds, Stephen stood opened mouthy in shock, as her sister headed for the church entrance.

"Take me home, sir Uber. I need to pack." she said walking past him.

"Nina!" Stephen shouted out to her. "Stay where you are!" As he fast walked towards them,

Nina asked Uber to keep him from her. Uber turned to face Stephen with one arm out stretched.

"Keep your distance, Stephen." Uber said firmly. "If you wish to speak to her. Say your peace from there."

"W-who the hell you think you are, Uber?"

"I'm her bodyguard." Uber said flatly.

"You can't leave! I won't permit it! he shouted. Nina chuckled.

"You won't permit it?" She chuckled once again, her arms crossed across her chest. "That's my point. You see me as a piece of property. Not your sister. Ever since you came to this church, you've become less of a brother and more of Zealot. And I want nothing more to do with you." she turned and begin to walk out.

"I'll disown you!" Stephen stammered. "I will see you will have nothing! You will have no money, you'll be all alone!" She turned and smiled once again.

"Disown me? she asked. "You need to own someone to do that."

"And she will not be alone." Uber spoke up. Stephen, surprised asked what did he mean.
Uber turned to faced a surprised Nina. He drew his sword and went to one knee. He held out his sword out in both hand. "Nina Cutler? I request to pledge myself and my sword to you, as a protector and a friend. Will you accept my charge?"

Nina said nothing at first, no doubt surprised what he asked. She took a long, deep breath and spoke." I accept your charge, Uber Pendragon. As my protector...and my friend. She reached out her hand and touched Uber's forehead. Uber bowed his head then rose to his feet feet, sheathing his sword.

"I'll be leaving now, brother. I'm sure it will be some time be before we see each other again, and not the stranger you've become." With that, Nina and Uber walked out of the church, without looking back.

As soon as they past the main gate. Nina turned to face Uber, but he told her to wait til they get back to the house, because he couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched. As they walked to the house, Nina walked at Uber's side instead of walking behind him.

When they finally reached the house, Nina looked at Uber with eyes filled with sadness. "Sir Uber! I'm so sorry! It wasn't my intention to drag you into all of this. Even though it must look that way to you." She wanted to say more, but Uber hushed her.

"Nina!" Uber said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "It's alright. Remember, what you told me in the scriptorium? that you know what kind of person I am. If that is the case, how could I not do this?"

Feeling all chocked up, Nina threw herself in Uber arms. They held each other for several moments. Uber Told himself. 'Don't try and kiss her' He sighed inwardly.

Nina stepped back from him, her green eyes seem to sparkle. "I better go and start packing. It won't take long."

"Take your time. Take everything you want to bring with you. We won't be coming back here for a while."

Nina said there would be no way for her to carry all of her things she wanted to take with her. But Uber told her that he had the means to her her. She wasn't sure how he could help, but she nodded and walked into her room.

"Sir Uber?" Nina called out, turing to face him. "I'm grateful for all you've done for me, and doing for me. But I do have one small favor I wish to ask of you."

"What is it?" Uber asked, not sure where this was going.

"Is it alright...I mean, can I?" Uber said nothing. "Can I address you as Sir Thomas instead of Sir Uber?"

Uber raised an eyebrow. He wasn't expecting that. "Why?" Uber asked. Then the answer came to him. "Don't tell me, you think the name 'Uber' is stupid also?"

"Well...." Nina said nervously, turing her head away and slightly coughing. Uber had to smile.

"You can on one condition." he said.

"And that that is?"

"Only if you drop the 'Sir' title." He said walking towards her and stopped in front of her. "I'm not noble. I'm a commoner just like you. Nina Smiled.

"Alright...Thomas." They shared a laugh.

As Nina went into her room, Uber went to the table and sat down. She didn't like my name either?" he muttered, shaking his head.

Nina moved thought her room, quietly packing her things, but there was a grin on her face. "He knelled before me." Nina thought to himself. "I couldn't believe that he did that... for me! I felt like a princess in all those stories mother use to tell me when I was younger." Nina was feeling Giddy.

"I knelt before her." Uber thought to himself. "What the hell was I thinking? What am I? A prince in a story my grandmother told me when I was younger?"Uber buried his face in her hands. "This has to be the stupidest thing I've done. Thank goodness Rand and the others aren't here to see this. They'd never let me hear the end of this."

The more he thought about it, Uber knew he did the right thing. Even though he knew what he had had to do. "The hell with my ego." he nearly shouted. "I need Rand's help."

He got to his feet and drew his sword. It pulsed and glowed with the power Uber come to enjoy. He remember what he taught to do. He held the sword out before him. He closed his eyes and became one with the sword. There he called out the name of the person he wanted to get in contact with.

"Rand." he waited for a response. Nothing.
"Master Rand?" Again he waited. Nothing. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Uncle Rand."

"You keep calling me that, Tosh and Mentokka are going to have issues with you."

Uber heard the voice behind him and smiled.

As Uber and Nina took the unconscious Stephen to church, the two talked. He told her that he was sorry that she had to see him hit her brother like he did. But Nina saw the way Stephen was bleeding, and she knew he had little choice

It was quite a site, seeing Uber carrying Stephen over his shoulder like a sack of grain. When asked what was wrong with him, he would smile and tell them that it was the first time the boy tried the ever famous Fatorian Ale.
Most would nod and other would bust out laughing, calling him a 'Virgin'.

"Virgins is what Fatorians call anyone that try Fatorian Ale for the first time." Uber said with a grin.

"Is it really that strong?" Nina asked.

"I've seen people fall out after two glasses, and my friend swears that see saw a person fall out after sniffing the open bottle." The two shared a laugh. They made it to the church in minutes.

The Church of the Spiritual Flame was not a very large structure as large churches go. But Uber could see that there have been few additions to the structure. Two smaller buildings were added on either side of the main structure. Large stain glass windows, showing portraits of characters of there faith. But the one thing that Uber notice was the stones of the church seem to gleam in the midday sun, as if they polished every stone by hand.

Uber wouldn't put it past them. All the money they saved getting rid of the magic healers, Uber was sure that they've had plenty to spend on themselves and grease the palms of the people of authority and power to get what they want or need. Uber could never understand how faith in certain places be so... nonspiritual.

The three was challenged by an armed guard at the entrance of the gated off area. Nina showed the guard a charm with the symbol of the church on it. She reached into Stephen's pocket and produce the same charm. When the guard asked if Uber was a member of the church, Nina said no. He wasn't going to let him enter, but Uber asked if he was going to carry the boy inside or did he expected the girl to do it.
The guard let them in, with a huff.

As they headed inside, Uber noted that his grandfather told him that this church use to welcome anybody. "Times have sure changed." Uber thought. "And not all of it for the better."

Once entering the well decorated interior, they were challenged once again. This time by a monk wearing a beautiful silk robe, with the church symbol on it right side in what Uber thought it was in pure gold thread.

The monk talked down to them, as if they weren't worthy of kissing his boots. But his attitude changed when he learned that Nina and Stephen were members of the church. He started calling them 'Brother Stephen and Sister Nina'.
Uber could only guess the the monk must of been new. Yet, he kept a civil tongue and explained what happened to Stephen.

He told him that he had to 'sedate' him when he was treated by a magical healer. Uber could see the monk's expression changed when he mentioned magical healer. But Uber told him that Stephen wanted to see the abbot.
Not wanting to stay any longer then he had to, he placed Stephen, who was beginning to come around at the monk's feet.

He asked Nina if she wanted to stay with her brother, but she said she wanted to go home.
One look told Uber that Nina was physically and emotionally worn out.

"The poor girl." he thought

He knew that Stephen went though far more, but seeing his attitude towards magic and his sister, he saw him more like a religious zealot then a wounded boy. And a part of him wanted 'very' little to do with Stephen at the moment. As the two were heading for the entrance to leave, Stephen called out to Uber.

"You hit me you bastard!" Uber turned to see Stephen faced him with his hands on his hips, looking as if he was about to strike him.

"The young fledgling is spreading his wings and showing his talons." Uber said smiling. "But let me warn you, you try anything, the abbot with have to heal your broken jaw."
Uber smile disappearing, his fist clenched til the knuckles cracked. Stephen seeing the look in his eyes made him involuntarily move a step back. Uber had to chuckle inwardly.

He knew when he could use the scare tactic on certain people. Stephen was that kind of person, that you could get into head with just words. Silently, he escorted Nina out of the church.

Uber wanted to stay quite and get Nina home, because she didn't look good at all. But she wanted to talk about her brother.

"You have to forgive Stephen, Sir Uber." she said tiredly "He wasn't always like this. He was a kind and caring brother. Our father was an active member of the church and took Stephen along when he was younger."

"Are you saying, that your father forced this faith onto him?" Uber asked. He could see Nina wanted to say no, but after a moment she nodded.

"He wanted me to come along, but mother wouldn't have it. She never trusted them. Always saying one thing and doing another thing. They often argued about this, with Stephen taking father side. And when they died, Stephen thought it was his duty to take over for him. He was never quite the same after that. He made me join, but I rarely go there. It never felt right to me."

Uber could say nothing. Not like he could say anything. "Another broken family".
He was feeling like Rand. A magnet to these kind of people. Tosh, Mentokka, Merc, Gunner and now Nina and Stephen. They walked the rest of the way in silence.

The thatched roof home of Nina was common for those who lived outside of the walls of the city, but they were positioned well. Located neatly a little back along the main roads that lead in and out of the city. The front area was well kept with several flowers growing to the right of the house. At first Uber thought they were wild grown flowers, but when Nina walked over towards them and knelt down in front of the them, she gently touched one of the flower's pedals and whispered something to it. Uber remembered seeing his grandmother do the same thing. She said it helped them grow. He never knew if it worked or not, but it always brought a smile to his face, as it did now.

As the two walked inside, the groan of the old floor boards broke the silence. Uber could see that it was large single room with a table in the center. There were two doors on either of the large, separated by a large fireplace. No doubt the sleeping quarters of the siblings.

Uber was about to take his leave, only because of the condition of Nina. He was sure that she wanted to get some rest. But she asked him to have a seat, while she serve up some tea that was already over the fireplace. Seeing that this wouldn't take long, Uber happily accepted.

Shortly after the tea was served, Nina asked Uber to excuse her. She told him that she was going to change her clothes. "I don't like the site and smell of blood on me." Uber nodded, as she walked off to her room to the left.

"I know the feeling." Uber muttered. "I must reek like a slaughterhouse to her, with all the fighting I had to do this day."

He rose to his feet and removed his leather tunic, that was caked with dry blood. He also removed his scabbard sword and placed the two pieces near the entrance. He figured, he wasn't going to stay long, so he he would pick it up when he left. "This way I won't offend Nina so much with my bloody gear out of site of her."

Soon after Uber returned to his seat, Nina came out of her room, wearing long, dull white dress, with simple sandals on her feet, and a gold locket around her neck.

Almost instantly, Uber's mind flashed back to the first time he met Mentokka. She was wearing a dress similar as Nina. This was the first time he really took a look at Nina. Her appearance. Nina was a pretty girl for her age. Not as pretty as Mentokka.

"Why am I comparing Nina to Mentokka?" he thought to himself. This is the kind of thing that Gunner would do."

From what he was told, Mentokka- Tor has been a very pretty girl for most of her life. But Nina was the kind of girl that was cute for a young age. Her true beauty would most likely come out when she got a little older, he thought.

When Nina sat down, Uber could see that she regained her healthy glow once again. Uber guessed the change of clothes was the thing she needed to feel better.

"I use to sit her and talk to Stephen nearly ever night before going to bed." Nina said, talking a sip of her tea. "But nowadays we hardly speak. When we met you at the scriptorium, that was the first time we did something together in weeks." Nina looked away and sighed.

"Is it really that bad between the two of you?" She nodded.

"What really pushed apart was last month when the church tried to arrange a marriage with me. Stephen agreed to it. I on the other hand wanted nothing to do with it."

Nina explained the man that they wanted her to marry. He was old enough to be her father. Uber could see Nina shiver when he described the man.

"The man's spirit and eyes were very dark and angry. When I told Stephen about my fears, he said I was being foolish. But he doesn't see things like I do. We argued about it for two days, when at a meeting at the church, Stephen stood up and announced that the marriage will take place, even though I clearly told him I wasn't going to do no such thing. I rose up and told him that he doesn't speak for me. He tried to say that he was the 'man' of the house, and I would do what I was told. Right there I lost my resolve. I grabbed Stephen by the arm and slapped him as hard as I could. I was sure that slap reverberate though out the church. I shouted at him, if he thought that this man would be such a great addition to our family, then go marry him yourself.. I stormed out of there , with my eyes burning with tears of rage."

Uber remained silent. He could see Nina's expression darkened when she spoke about it. He waited for her to calm down.

Several moments later, Nina looked up at Uber and smiled. She told him that she was and she didn't think that she was doing to talk about her brother so much.

"We use to always talk before going to bed. It never failed to to relieved any kind of tension or stress either one of us were feeling. I miss those talks we use to have. But I'm going to have to accept the fact that Stephen maybe lost to me. As a brother...and a friend."

She said this was the reason why she asked Uber to escort her home. To enjoy some conversation before calling it a night. When she asked him to stay a while, she promised she wouldn't talk about Stephen, for she knew it would only upset the two of them.

Uber looked into Nina's face and he could see what talking did for her. How could he say no. He agreed to stay for a while.

Uber half expected to be there for a little more then an hour. But as it turned out, it lasted long into the evening. He was enthralled by her knowledge and elegance of the words she used.

"It like I'm talking to Rand." he thought, amazed.

But why would he. Rand had many years of learning under his belt. He didn't expect to hear such knowledge coming for a seventeen year old girl. And especially a girl.

"No! That's not right!" Uber thought, almost muttering out loud. "That kind of foolish thinking came from men and boys under my command, during my time in the military" He remembered being bombarded countless times about how men ruled everything and women and girls were good for staying home and taking care of the family. He also remembered putting several them in there place.

Uber often struggled with theses feelings. Yet, he had to admit, there had always been smart and intelligent women in his life. His grand mother for starters. She was the one that taught him how to read and write. She was the one who installed values and respect for others. And there is Shandra....

"Sir Uber?" Nina asked. "Are you alright?"

"Oh! I'm sorry, Nina. I was just lost in thought, for a moment." Uber replied looking away from her.

"Any thing you wish to talk about?" Uber returned his glaze and smiled.

He told her the truth. He was amazed by the words she spoke. He asked her, were these the kind of talk she had with her brother. She said yes, but it never lasted as long as there was.

"Stephen always claimed he was tired a little after an hour." Uber was sure that Nina intimated him.

"I'm sure he couldn't keep up with her." he thought to himself.

"My goodness!" Nina said looking past Uber, looking out the window. "I didn't know it was this late." She rose to her feet, stretched her arms over her head. "I do believe it is time we call it for the night, don't you agree?" Uber nodded.

"I will take my leave, but I must say, I enjoy our talk, and I hope we can do this again in the future." As soon as Uber rose to his feet, Nina stopped him.

"Sir Uber." Nina said softly. "I have a favor to ask of you?"

"What is it?"

"With all that has happened to us this day. I don't feel comfortable being alone tonight. Would it be too much for me to ask you to stay here for the night?"

Uber's eyebrows rose. He wasn't expecting this. Then again, he wasn't really sure what he was expecting her to say. Yet, as he looked into those pleading green eyes, as expected, his resolve melted away.

"This is like having Mentokka asking something of me. I could never say no to her. I have a feeling that history is about to repeat its self. I can only wonder if they some how talked to each other sometime in the past?" he thought to himself. He looked at her and smiled. "Miss Nina. You go and get some rest. I'll watch over you."

Nina smiled, and walked over to him and hugged him, thanking him. Uber wanted to ask her why she trusted him so much? Then he recall Rand reading his mind every now and then. He was sure Nina was somehow doing the same thing with him. Reading his mind, touching his soul. Figuring out that he's a good man. He once again felt like an open book, and Nina had just finishing reading it for the second time. He sighed inwardly.

As soon as she released him, Nina told him that here was more tea in the pot over the fire, and there was bread and smoked meat in the cupboard if he got hungry. Before heading into her room, she bowed before him and once again thanked him for all he's done for her. All Uber could mutter out, that it was his pleasure.

After Nina went into her room, Uber took a few seconds to figure out what to do. Then it came to him, that his leather tunic and his sword needed cleaning. With that, he removed the bottomless sack that hung as a tiny bag on his belt. Once he opened it, the sack grew to its original size. There he removed several rags and a small brush. He walked over to the door to pick up his things. He returned to the table and got to work on his sword. He thought he needed to talk to Rand about what happened to his sword. But he also remembered Rand telling him that there were things he was going to find out on his own. Uber sighed and started wiping his sword clean with one of his rags.

In her room, Nina now in her night gown, she sat on her bed. She was thinking for several moments, about what she was planning to do with the rest of her life. And one answer came to her. "I'm sure that, Sir Uber is the one."

With that, she climbed into her bed to go to sleep, with thoughts in her head about what she was planning to do the next day.

Leaving the Scriptorium, Uber calmly looked around. He knew the kids would most likely be heading home, but which way did they go? He knew at least three ways to get to there dwelling, which was just outside of the east gate. A part of him thought to try and think like a teenager. But realization sunk in and he remembered that he didn't do much thinking when he was that age. He grinned, and decided to take the main road.

He mostly walked in the middle of the main road. This way he could see both sides of the somewhat crowded street. As he scanned the street, something to his left caught his attention. It was a group of City Guards. Normally, he wouldn't thought about it , but there was something that caught his eye. They weren't walking in formation. And Uber being a former solider and in a military family, he found this odd.

"That guy's posture is all wrong." Uber thought, seeing one of the men walk with a slouch. "City Guardsmen are trained to walk up right. Almost second nature to them. Fatorians hold them in the highest honor. They can't be the real thing."

Uber decided to shadow the group. He moved in close enough to hear what a few of them were saying to each other. After several moments, he knew it did not take a genius to tell him that they were not City Guardsmen. Real Guards would never allow themselves to be followed this close where they could be heard by someone.

Suddenly a man came running towards them.

"This way guys!" he shouted. "They somehow found out we were following them. They took off. There heading for the east gate!" They all began running up the main street.

Uber was going to follow them, but he knew a short cut. He headed right and ran between two buildings, down an alley and up another street. After several moments of running, he saw Nina and Stephen run past them, going up a side street. He was about to call out to them when he saw two guardsmen chasing them.

Still Running, he drew weapon, that was already cracking with energy. Uber learned it was easier for him to run with his large sword pointed out in front of him as if it was a lance. This way his running was balanced, and any one that got in his way, learned quickly and the hard way to stay clear. He angled over to his left, and called on a burst of speed. He caught up with the man on his left and using the tip of his sword, tripped the man up before he knew what was happening. The man fell face first onto the ground and Uber knew he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. The other man hearing his partner fall, turned to face Uber.

"Who are you?" he asked in a thick western accent. "You are interfering in City Guard business." A smile broke out across Uber's face.

"City Guard business?" Uber said. "Last time I checked, Fatorians can only become City Guards. Am I wrong....West lander?" Seeing that his ruse was found out, the man drew his sword and rushed in.

Right away Uber could tell that he was a mercenary. He moved in blindly, swinging his sword. The textbook style of a man who attacked in a group or mob.

"Your not worthy of blooding my sword." Uber said. The two swords met with a clash of steel.

"Then I'll be more then happy to bloody mines." he said.

He was about to say more, when Uber forced the two weapons high above there heads, when he slammed his head into the bridge of his nose. The man screamed, falling back holding his nose, which was now spraying red with blood. Uber drew back his sword.

It would be so simple to take this fool's head off with one cross cut. Instead he drove a hard right fist to the side of the man's head. He went down, with blood still flowing from his nose.

Uber sheathe his sword when he heard a voice called out to him. "Sir Uber!" it was Nina. He and Stephen ran towards him.

"Are you kids alright?" He asked, placing his hands on her shoulders. She was trembling. The two were breathing heavily, but they nodded saying that they were alright.

"Why are the City Guards chasing us?" Stephen asked, taking deep breaths. "We done nothing wrong."

"There not City Guards, Stephen." He replied. "They're mercenaries. I'm sure there after your map."

He was about to say something to Nina, when he heard shouts behind him. The rest of the mercenaries found him. "Damn He muttered. He didn't expect them here this soon. "No time! Let's move!" They ran down one of the side streets.

As Uber and the kids ran for the city gates, a crossbow bolt hit Stephen. The boy went down. Uber dropped to one knee, Stephen was hurt badly.

"G-Go! Leave me.....Save Nina!" Uber saw the mercenaries close in on them.

Being a former solider, 'You didn't leave your wounded comrades in battle.' He stood in front of Nina and the injured Stephen and drew his sword. He chopped the crossbow man who for some reason was leading the mercenaries charge. Uber blade cut though the wood stock of the crossbow and the forearm of the mercenary. He went down screaming.

The other mercenaries stopped in there tracks, when they saw there fellow mercenary fell. But that wasn't all. Uber sword, now bloody from the crossbow man's blood began to glow. And it was much different from the kind of glow when the enchanted weapon charged up. Instead the whole weapon was glowing in a brilliant golden light. Uber could see that the weapon was changing in his very hand. The large bastard sword blade change from a wide triangular blade to the standard narrower broad sword blade. It also changed it's color from silver to gold. Uber didn't have time to observe his weapon's changes. He pointed it at the mercenaries.

"Leave or Die!" Uber said flatly, his eyes narrowing.

Suddenly a roar of laughter rose from there ranks.

"Alright boys, were after the map! Kill this fool! Finish off the boy, but don't hurt the girl. She'll be my little plaything tonight. You can have her after wards." Several of the men cheered.

"She cute enough for sloppy seconds!" one of the men called out.

Uber looked back to see Nina holding onto her unconscious brother in her arm. He could see the terror in her eyes.

"I won't let them hurt you." he whispered to Nina. He didn't know if he heard him.

Uber was seeing sheets of red rage. There sick taunts set off something inside of him. So without giving them a chance to make the first move, Uber screamed a battle cry and rushed in for the attack.

Nina held onto Stephen tightly. She tried her best to treat his wound. She was thankful that he was wearing his leather tunic or she was sure the bolt would of went though him, instead of lodging in his back. She removed the bolt easy enough, and she tore a piece of her dress to plug the wound and stop the bleeding. She feared for Stephen's life. His skin was pale and his skin felt clammy to the touch. She wasn't thinking about her own safety at the moment. She was sure Uber was skilled with a sword, but she didn't know he would fare against so many men.

"Don't worry, brother." she whispered. "Sir Uber will save us. I have faith in him, so hold on."

She was jarred out of her thoughts, when she heard a blood curling cry, from a man that collapsed on the ground bleeding from hideous wounds. She looked up to see Uber tear into the men with a cold ferocity she never seen before. His blade came up and around, taking the head off one man, then swept up and down to parry another. A quick double handed slash opened up one from hip to hip, then Uber side stepped to his right and sliced opened two more mercenaries that moved to flank him.

Nina have seen sword fights before, but she never seen a person fight with such ease. Low sweeps sliced up into thighs and groins, opening arteries, careful parries directed blades past him by just enough, then the blade would perforate a bowel, pierce a heart or cut a throat with the ease of slicing a loaf of bread.

The screams and blood letting would of made her sick to her stomach. But she couldn't take her eyes off what she was seeing. Armored men getting sliced apart as if they were coming at him naked. Men who was boosting arrogantly was now begging for the gods mercy.

As soon as the last mercenary fell, Uber stood motionless for several moments, his sword still in a two handed grasp, in the attack position. It took Nina calling him several times for him to finally respond. It looked as if he was coming out of a trance or returning to the person he was.

"Nina, are you alright?" he asked, moving to where she was knelling, and sheathing his sword. "How is your brother?"

Nina was about to answer him, when a sound behind Uber caught his attention. The sound of running feet coming closer towards them. Uber expecting the worse, turned to face them, drawing his bloody weapon once again.

Suddenly, a dozen or more City Guardsmen entered into the area. Uber could tell right off that these were real City guardsmen, so he lowered his sword.

The lead solider, a Captain stopped in his track at what he saw. Uber was sure what was going to happen Seeing dead men dressed in City Guardsmen uniforms. No doubt a fit of rage will come over him and his men. Uber knew he had to think fast or he would have to use his sword and more blood would be spilled.

"Stay your hand Captain!" Uber shouted "Before you order your men to attack. Take a good look at these corpse. They have the same unit badge as you do. Are any of these men part of your group?"

Uber could see that the Captain was a level headed man. He ordered several of his men to check each body to see if they were known to them. After awhile, each of the men told the Captain that they didn't know who any of these men were. The Captain walked over to where Uber was standing.

"There mercenaries." Uber said, before the man had a chance to speak. "They were after these kids." he sheathed his sword.

"Now why would they do that?" he asked.

"They wanted a map that they translated. The head caretaker of the Royal Scriptorium is most likely responsible for this." he turned and walked over to where Nina was still holding on to his brother. He knelt down and whispered to Nina to let her brother go. She released her hold on her brother and stood up. Gently, Uber gathered Stephen into his arms. Stephen moaned.
He asked Nina to stay on his left, so she could keep an eye on her brother's wound. They were about to leave, when the Captain stood in front of them, his arm extended.

"I can not allow you to leave." he said firmly. But Uber was not in the mood to hear it.

"Captain?" Uber said. "This boy was hit with a crossbow bolt. He's loss a lot of blood. I'm taking him to a healer. I don't know if he's going to live. But if he dies because you and your men held me up? I promise, I will draw my sword and more blood will be spilled." The Captain saw death in Uber's eyes. He moved to let them pass.

Uber told him, that he would be at the Healer Shandra, in the area near the north gate, if they wanted to ask him any questions. They walked as fast as possible, Uber trying not to jar Stephen around too much in the process. They stopped once to change Stephen's dressing. During this time, a man offered to carry the three of them in his horse drawn cart. Uber smiled.

"The people who ran this city were more or less corrupt. But the people who lived here were some of the most good hearted people I've ever met."

And that was a good thing too. For they made it to the healer much sooner then if they walked. Uber knew there were many healers in Fatoria, but Uber knew the healer Shandra for several years, and she rarely asked questions.. Unless it was necessary.

As soon as they reached the modest two story stone building, Nina rushed inside as Uber gathered up the injured Stephen and carried him inside.

"Thomas, my dear boy." A voice called out to him, as he walked into the building. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?" Even though Uber was worried about Stephen's condition. He had to smile when he heard, that cranky, motherly voice.

The healer Shandra, like Rand, was adept in healing magic. Years earlier, she taught her trade to the students for the Church of the Spiritual Flame. The largest in Fatoria. But during that time there was a power take over in the leadership of the church.

Forced out, the leaders that had an open mind to magic and those who were not believers in there faith. In came the leaders who wanted nothing to do with magic and only those who believed in there message. And there message that dealt with healing, was faith healing. This proved to be disastrous for Shandra and other magic healers like her. Teachers who worked for the church for years found themselves out of work. Shandra could only shake her head with sorrow. At that time, the war was still going on, and healers were in great need.

But when the church change the magic healers with faith healers....{though the use of heavy bribes} All of the army's magic healers who were hired though the church were out of work.

The army tried it at first, but nothing good came out of this. Solders and mercenaries died from wounds that that magic healers cured with in minutes. Less then a week, the army got rid of the faith healers out right and hired the magic healers themselves, over objections of the higher ups in Command.

Shandra was hired to use her healing skills in the field instead of the classroom. She never felt more alive during that time, even though she was wounded several times herself. After the war, she opened up her own clinic, not too far from the church that once employed her.

Many of the other teachers opened up there own clinic, just to show the church that they were needed and wanted in Fatoria. It was this time when Shandra healed a wounded Uber and Gunner, and they been friends ever since.

"The boy was hit by a crossbow bolt." Uber said placing the boy on his stomach on the examination table. "He loss a lot of blood, but I'm not sure how much."

Before Shandra started, she removed the dressing to his wound. She cut away his tunic, so she could see how much damage the bolt did to him.. To her relief, there wasn't any damage to the boy's spine as she could see. She raised her left hand and cast a slow healing spell over the wound. Nina gasped in amazement, as she saw the flow of blood stop. There they cleaned the wound, and casted another healing spell, that made the wound slowly close up. No doubt, it was her first time seeing healing magic at work.

"Come with me, Thomas." Shandra said, after finishing her spell.

The two left the room, not before Shandra asked her assistant to keep an eye on Stephen condition when he wakes up. Nina stayed by her brothers side.

"Now, Thomas," Shandra said, taking a seat in her office. "What happened to him?" Uber smiled.

"You know, I don't go by that name these days."

"And you know, I will not call you by what you call yourself, these days. By the gods, Thomas! What in the world was you thinking to come up with such a stupid name?"

Uber kept quite. What could he say. Not like he could say anything to change her mind.

"I should go and tell your grand father, Thomas." she said with a evil grin. "I'm sure, Sir Albert would order your execution....or whip the hide off you."

"If your trying to scare me. It's not working, Old mother." Shandra smiled.

Uber always called her that. For the main reason, he saw here as a second mother, after he left the military. Her words always had a calming effect on him. And he was always grateful for that.

Uber told her everything, from his first meeting with Nina and Stephen in the Scriptorium to the attack on the boy and fight with the mercenaries after wards. The doctor looked at him and told him that she was not surprised by what he told her.

Shandra said this wasn't the first time that she seen or heard about this. The only difference is that Stephen and Nina are still alive to talk about it. She told him that those children owe you there lives, and Uber said he had someone to thank. They talked for about twenty minutes.

Shandra was about to tell Uber that Nina and Stephen's lives are most likely still in danger, when Nina came into the room.

"Doctor, Sir Uber!" she shouted. "It's Stephen, he's...."

They both got to there feet and hurried to the examination room They saw Stephen awake and struggling with Shandra assistant.

"Hold still, Stephen, your bleeding once again." He said, trying to cast an healing spell on him.

"No! No magic!" he shouted trying to get to his feet. "My faith doesn't allow it."

"Faith?!" Shandra gasped. "Don't tell me your one of those followers of the Spiritual Flame."

"I am." Nina was about to say something, when Uber stepped up.

"Stephen. You would of died if it wasn't for the doctor's healing magic." he said firmly. "Now let the doctor heal your wound and you can go to the church after wards."

"I will not allow this!" he shouted. "The Abbot skills will heal me." Uber looked at Shandra.

"Can we take him to the church, without healing him?" he asked.

"Of course!" Shandra replied. "He'd most likely die from blood loss before he reached the church. And the Abbot can give him his last rites instead."

Nina moved towards her brother her brother and pleaded with him to reconsider his stand. His expression darkened, as he shoved her sister away and told her to be quite. Uber caught her before she fell.

"Stephen! Have you lost your mind?!" Uber shouted.

"No one tells me what to do! Not my sister! Not even you!" Uber was about to reply, when Shandra spoke up.

"Enough of this!" she shouted, noticing how much blood the boy was losing. "Thomas! Sedative!"

Uber looked at her oddly, as if he didn't know what she was talking about. It last for only a few seconds. He walked over to where Stephen was still trying to get to his feet.

"Stephen." Uber said. "Wait a minute, what is that?" He asked pointed to something to his left.

As soon as he turned his head to look, Uber reeled back and punched Stephen right to the side of his head. He fell back on to the table without making a sound.

"Sedated, doctor!" he said, shaking his hand.

"Good! Now, heal him up and get him out of here, or I'll kill him myself." Shandra said.
"This is going to cost you extra, Thomas." Uber's eyes went wide for a second, then slumped his shoulders.

"By the gods!" Uber sighed. "Who ever thought 'faith healing' would be so costly to me." He reached into his tunic and pulled out the small bag of gold coins. Not bothering to count it, handed the bag over to her. Nina was speechless at what she saw.

Uber waited for the assistant to cast the healing spell on Stephen. When he was finished, Uber asked her to reinforce the spell, just to be sure.

"Not about to have this fool, die on my watch."

Uber scooped the unconscious Stephen in his arms, and threw him over his shoulder as if he was a sack of grain.

As he began to leave. Shandra stopped him.

"Keep a close eye on them, Thomas." Uber nodded, then said where he could be found if anyone was looking for him. Nina followed.

"Gods! All wrong." Uber muttered, after finished translating the eighth map the caretaker of the Royal Scriptorium of Fatoria brought to him. "Another fake." He was angry. He had a urge to rip it all the map and parchments to pieces. They were all copies.

Rand-Tor's words rang in his ears... {There are people. Some in very high places of authority and power that do not wish for those secret to be known for one reason or another.}

"Gaining of power for ones self and greed are the main reasons, if you ask me, Rand." he thought.

Once again he was indebted to Rand-Tor. The knowledge he passed onto him was priceless. The scholar's touch spell that Rand shared with, more or less branded his translation book onto his brain. With this new knowledge, he rewrote his own translation book.
Hell, he didn't even need a translation book to translate the ancient writing of the Pondor and several other great civilizations.

His thoughts were once again back to the question of Rand and the others. 'Why did he leave them'?

He couldn't lie to himself. He missed them. Gunner was right. He felt like he was part of a family. And being an only child, it was a good feeling.

"It would be so easy to go back to them."

He couldn't count how many times he said this since he left. But he knew what the answer was. It was his pride. His own, selfish, overbearing pride.

"I just can't stand being a number two to Rand. Even though....it's where I belong when I'm with him." Uber sighed in spite of himself.

He took a moment to look around the study area. It was a large room, well lit, with fine marble pillars, hand polished wood floors and walls, with large stain and glass windows.

Uber was sure that this place was something other then a scriptorium back in the days. He was sure they didn't spare gold in the building of this place. He could only guess what the areas that wasn't open to the public looked like. He looked around, noticing all the people, mostly old men, reading, writing or translating. Uber sighed.

"They looked like they belonged in a old closet. Gods! There is no life in them. They move like there zombies. I pray I don't move around like that if I reach there age." He muttered.

He was about to say more when, his eyes caught a pair to his right. It was a pair of teenagers. A boy and a girl.

It seem to Uber that they were brother and sister, with few differences. The boy looked around eighteen, with a wiry frame, much like his own when he was that age. He had close cropped dirty, blond hair, with a pair of gentle blue eyes, that complemented a hard, from jawline.

The girl looked the same age. Maybe a year younger, maybe two. Unlike the boy, she had shoulder length, honey blond hair that was braided and hung over her left shoulder. Another difference was her eyes. Where the boys eyes were blue, her eyes were a sparking green color, kind of like Merc. The only similar feature of the two was the firm jawline.

It wasn't odd for young people to be in the scriptorium. It was the wide eyes look of excitement on there faces that caught Uber's eye.

"That was me not so long ago." Uber thought with a smile. "My eyes had that gleam of amazement. My head filled with thoughts of treasures, and the joy of thinking how easy it would be for me to find them."

But it didn't quite work out for him. He ran in countless dead ends. Paths that lead no where, and countless days of frustration. And he had to thank Rand to show him who was leading him to one dead end after another. This very scriptorium. More like, the people who ran this place.

He couldn't express who much he hated the people here, or the ones who they took orders from. At that moment the boy spoke.

"I give up sis." the boy said with a sigh. "I'm not getting any where with this translation. It's leading me around in circles." Uber smiled. Clearly remembering himself saying more or less the same thing a time ago.

"Are you sure you marked the correct spots?" the girl asked, moving where the boy was sitting.

"See for yourself." he replied, moving the map towards her. After a few moments of looking at the map and cross referencing with the translation book, she put it down and nodded.

"No problem there." she finally said. "Could we be looking in the wrong area?" The boy raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders slightly, saying it was possible.

Uber looked and saw that the two was using a translation book given to them by the scriptorium.

"That's where you should be looking. That damn translation book." he thought bitterly.

He was about to get to his feet and offer to help, when a voice to his left caught his attention.

"Ah! Sir Pendragon." it was the caretaker. "Have you any success in the translation of these particular parchments you asked about?"

The caretaker was an old man, with white hair and a long white beard. Other then the slumped posture, his eyes were clear and his hands were steady. He wore a long Grey robe with Fatoria's crest on it's left side.

Uber felt the urge to throw the papers in the old man's face, but he remained civil.

"No sir,I did not." he said respectfully. "But I'm sure it's just me being tired and all. It's been a long couple of days for me."

He was about to say more, when he noticed the girl coming towards them with the translation book in hand.

Uber was sure what was going to happen. She would ask him questions about the translation book, no doubt saying she was having trouble with it. Then he would offer her another book, which he was sure that it would lead them, to even more confusion. He would know, the old man did it to him a while ago. And more then once.

Thinking quickly, he asked the caretaker for a book he knew that it would take him some time for him to retrieve. Clearly irritated, the old man walked off saying he would be back momentarily. He told the girl that he would help her as soon as he returned.

As the old man walked off, the girl seemed a little upset with getting brushed off like that without getting the chance to speak. Seeing the girl was about to head back to her table, Uber made his move.

"Excuse me." Uber called out to her. "You have a moment?" The girl turned to face him, as he walked towards her.

"What you want?" she asked in a soft voice..

"First I'd like to apologies to you for sending the caretaker away when you clearly wanted to talk to him."

"Why would you do that?"

"I'd be happy to explain, may I sit?" Uber asked. The girl pointed to where the boy was sitting, looking at them.

After they sat down, Uber asked the girl was the boy her brother. She nodded. Uber first thanked them for hearing him out.

"I take it you wanted to speak to the caretaker about the translation book you was holding in your hand." The two looked each other for a moment, then nodded. "My guess is that you are having trouble pinpointing the location on your map. Am I wrong?"

The two still said nothing, but he could see that they were clearly surprised by what he was saying, so he continued.

"You wanted the caretaker's help." Uber said flatly. "See if you were doing something wrong with the translation, but that's not where the problem lies. It is not your translation skills. It is the translation book itself. It's a fake."

"H-How do you know this?" the boy asked "Who are you?"

"My name is Uber Pendragon." he knew what was coming next.

"Uber?" the girl asked. "That's a strange name."

"I know," he replied with a smile. "Sounds kind of stupid when you think about it. But there's history behind it."

"I'm sure there is." the boy said. They all laughed. I take it that isn't your given name." Uber said it wasn't.

"And you are?"

"My name is Nina Cutler. And this my older brother Stephen." Uber reached out to shake the boy's hand.

Moments after the introduction were completed. Uber went into what he knew about the doctored translation book. He first pulled out his own, then asked Nina to hand over the book that they were using. She handed to him.

He then placed the two books on the table in front of Nina. Then he asked her to slowly and carefully compare each book side by side... He asked her check each page in both books at the same time, to see if any of the translated phrases or symbols were any different.

After a few minutes. Nina said there were five differences with in the two books.

"So there is a few mistakes." Stephen said "This means nothing." Uber looked at him and smiled.

"I take it that your new to this. Nina nodded, and told him that there parents were adventures before them. When Uber asked asked Nina about there parents. She looked away and told him that they died searching ruins in the south. Uber sighed inwardly.

"Well, this explains a lot." Uber thought to himself "These kids have no clue what they're getting into." He should know. IT was the same for him when he got into this life.

"It mean plenty, Stephen. Uber said firmly. "You know one mistakes on a map at the least can end up leading you in circles. And at the worst, putting you in the wrong place all together." Stephen nodded. But Uber could see, he hated the fact that he agreed with him. Right there Uber came up with an idea.

"I would like to put what I told you to a test." Uber said pulling out a small bag out from his tunic. "I would like you to go over your map once again. But this time using my translation book. Now if I'm wrong and it leads you to the same place on the map as the other book did, I'll give you two this bag of gold coins, then I'll leave you two alone, never to bother you again. But if I'm right. You two will mostly find what your looking for on the map and you'll have to accept what I was saying is true. So?... Care to try your luck?"

The two were silent for several moments. Was it because they were shocked to speechlessness or was it the bag of gold. Uber wasn't sure. But what ever the reason he had to chuckle inwardly. Finally Stephen spoke.

"How do we know if this isn't some kind of trick to get our map?" Uber nodded in agreement.

"This is true." Uber had to agree. "So how about this? Me and Nina will go though the translation book together, while you move over to the other side of the table with the map. This way you can pinpoint the location on the map without me seeing it. And like I said before, if it comes up in the same location as with the other translation book, the gold is yours."

Finally after some prodding from Nina, he agreed to Uber's challenge. Uber and Nina sat together, while Stephen moved over to the other side of the table with the map in front of him. Before starting Stephen asked a question.

"Why are you doing this, Uber?" He asked looking at him. Those blue eyes seem to bore into him."Are you looking for something from us if what you say is true?" Uber smiled, then spoke.

"Two reasons." he said. "I don't want you to end up like me." The two said nothing. Not sure where he was going with this. "I don't want you to feel the anger I felt when I found out I was lied to. The sick feeling in my gut when I found out the location on my maps were all wrong. And all that time I figured that I was doing something wrong. But it was a friend that opened my eyes to the truth. That there are people in authority and power that do not want the secrets getting out to commoners like us. They can't stop us from find or buying maps. But they can sure make it damn near impossible to find what your looking for. I don't want you to lose that gleam in your eyes That excitement you had when you were translating your map. It was like I was looking at myself years ago."

"And what is the second reason?" Nina asked.

"That's simple." Uber replied. "One day someone is going to ask you for help. If you believe what they say have merit. Give it to them." Nina and Stephen nodded in agreement.

For the next couple of minutes, the three worked slowly and carefully. Uber and Nina taking extra seconds to translate the information to Stephen. Stephen repeating what was translated, then painstakingly following the information that lead him to the final point on the map. After the last translation was past onto Stephen, he marked it on the map. Then his eyes went wide.

"Sis!" Stephen called out. "Look at this!"

"What is it, brother?" Nina asked sliding over to her her brother sat.

After several seconds of looking where her brother was pointing to.

"By the gods!" Nina nearly shouted, looking at her brother. "Are you sure?" Stephen said he triple checked it.

"No doubt it, Sis. Everything, Sir Uber said was correct."

Uber stayed where he was. Letting them see that wasn't showing any interest in seeing there map. But he couldn't help smiling, and picking up his bag of gold coins and placing it back into his tunic.

"So? What are you two planning to do now?" Uber asked, turning to face them.

"What do you think?" Stephen said "We're going to explore these ruins" Uber wasn't surprised. He would of done the same.

"I understand. But there is something I must urge you to do."

"And what is that?" Nina asked.

"Hire yourself a tracker and a sword arm or two for protection. I need not remind you, it can be dangerous." Nina nodded.

Nothing was said for several seconds, then Stephen leaned over to Nina and whispered something to her. She smiled and looked one towards Uber.

"Sir Uber?" she asked softly. "Are your services for hire?" Uber arched his eyebrows. Clearly he wasn't expecting this He took a deep breath before speaking.

"They are. But I think you should go to the guild and hire who you need there."

"Why?" Nina asked.

"Because you don't know me. Stephen could be right and the only thing I want from you is your map."

"Your just saying that." Nina said shaking her head. "I don't believe your that kind of person."

The way she looked at him, Uber wondered if she could read his thoughts. He seem to run into a lot of girls and women that could do that lately. Mentokka, Merc and now Nina. "I must be a magnet to these girls. Am I sounding like Gunner?" He thought to himself, worried. "But why me?" Uber asked.

"You seem to be a fair man. You have knowledge about this, and the sword you wield tells me you can take care of yourself." Stephen said

"And protect others." Nina added. "Will you help us... Please." They waited to here the words.

Uber was feeling conflicted. There was so many things he wanted to do, now that he was on his own. But looking into those green eyes of Nina. It was like talking to Mentokka. He could never say no to her. And history was about to repeat itself.

"Very well, you two." he said, taking a long sigh. "You got a deal. I guess I'm a sucker for a pretty face." He looked at Nina. She blushed slightly.

"I knew you couldn't resist my good looks." Stephen said in a mocking tone and flash his eye lashes at Uber. They all laughed.

The three spent the next few minutes going over where they should meet to talk about there agreement. Uber asked the two of them to keep quite about about this. Too many long ears in the city. With nothing more to say until later. Nina and Stephen rose from there seats.

"We want to once again thank you for helping us, Sir Uber." Nina said, the two bowed with respect.

"You know, you don't have to keep calling me, Sir" The two smiled.

"Well, we could call you 'Uncle', but I don't think you'd like that." Stephen said, his smile got broader. They all laughed again.

As the two walked off, Uber returned to his table, to wait for the caretaker to return.

Minutes later, as the old man returned, he thanked him for the book. The caretaker asked him about the two youngsters that was sitting at the other table. Uber told him that they were having trouble with there translating, so he offered his help. Uber noticed the expression of the caretaker changed form cheerful to angry. But it only last for a few seconds. Uber didn't think about it, after he received the book and the old man walked off.

He took his seat and was about to open the book, when something made him turn around. He looked to see the caretaker talking to a man. Uber wouldn't of thought much about it, but the way the old man was talking and his hand gestures, he was sure he was describing someone.

"Or maybe two people." he muttered.

After they finished talking, the man walked away, heading out of the Scriptorium.

Uber turned back around and thought for a moment. At first he thought he was over reacting. But thinking more on it, he wouldn't put nothing past these people.

"Fake translation books." he thought to himself. "Why not robbery...maybe even murder? By the Gods! Stephen! Nina!"

Uber stored all his belongings into his hip saddle bag, and strapped on his weapon. He was hoping it was nothing. But it was better to be safe then sorry.

Rand woke with the rising of the morning sun with Merc sleeping soundly in his arms. He looked down at her sleeping form, brushing away several strands of her red hair from her face. He didn’t expect this. He thought it would be a light dinner, with the two of them talking about training and other similar things. But instead this happened. Thoughts of Thrya came rushing back from that place in his heart that he thought long buried.

"Do I dare think those thoughts?" Rand thought to himself. "Even after all these years, Thrya’s death still hurts. Could Merc fill that one spot that I though was lost to me?"

Even though his thoughts were strong, Rand thought it would be best if he wait to hear what would be Merc’s feelings about this. Could she be thinking about being a wife and a mother of his children? Was it a one-night thing, for all he done for her with her training? Was she attracted to man that he is now? Taken the form of Rand the Younger, he’s almost thirty years younger then his original self. Or maybe, she has dreams to live her life on her own. It was safe for him to say, he had no clue.

He gently rose from the bed trying not to wake Merc, but she stirred all the same. Rand told her that he was going meditate by the stream. She rose up also, saying that she was going to cook some breakfast for the two of them when he gets back.

As he walked he knew he wouldn’t be able to do much meditating this morning. His thoughts were being bombarded, and there was no way for him to line them all up in one neat pile.

There was Merc that was in his thoughts. He could sense that Mentokka had become one with her magic. Even though he had his doubts, but once again, his ’Little Girl’ proved him wrong. He was so proud of her and Tosh.

But now, though his magic he felt the turmoil the two of them were feeling for each other. He knew what was wrong. It was there magic. It intensified there deep feelings of desire for each other. It would be so easy for him to come to them and tell them what needed to be done. But he sensed that they want to solve this on there own. Once again he felt proud for his kids, with a touch of regret, knowing he won’t be apart of it. But he also knew if they wanted his help, they’d ask. He couldn’t blame them, for he know what they must be going though. In truth, he blamed himself, having them living alone in the grasslands.
Thoughts of incest is nothing a person wish to brag about, much less talk about.

Back in the days, he fought with those kind of feelings, when he got introduced to his magic for the first time. It was directed towards his cousin who was three years older then him. Her name was Ada, and she had the reputation of being a bit of a flirt, and she always enjoyed teasing Rand when the families met. Yet, Rand adored her, when she told him stories of her time when her family traveled to other lands, and the different cultures. Rand was sure she stretched the truth some what, but he didn’t care. Like his magic, her stories lit a fire in him. She was a little taller then Rand, with black hair, that was flowed past her shoulders. She had large, doe eyes that shimmer a soft brown color. Her body was fit with small breasts and long, firm legs. She always kept herself in great condition.


But this day, it was Rand that moved on her. Ada wasn’t prepared for what Rand had planned for her. He asked her would she go for a walk with him. He took her to a wooded area several yards away from his family’s house, his secret place. Without his full knowledge, Rand’s new found magic broke down most of Ada’s defenses, for she was a girl that knew her way around when it came to relationships and one time flings. Rand kissed her with such passion, it left her gasping for air and shaking. When she looked in her cousin’s eyes, she didn’t see a fifteen year old boy, she saw a man that was going to make love to her, like one of her male lovers that was nearly twice her age. It was at this point, where Rand practically had most of her clothes off, when his better judgment stopped him. He looked at her with eyes wide with shock, not believing what he was about to do.

Ada could see the change in him quickly got dressed and took Rand into her arms, for she knew what happened to his cousin. They talked for about an hour, and it was Ada thought that it was Rand’s newly acquired magic that intensified the feeling he had for her. Ada was magic sensitive. Rand never knew if she could use magic, but she knew people who was adept in it. Years later, he told his brother about what happened between the two of them. he just smiled and nodded. His brother asked Rand did he ’go all the way’ with her. Rand nodded, embarrassed. He told him that it happened a couple of days later, in his room when they were alone. They went slowly, with Ada showing him what to do step by step. After they were done, Rand thought his first time was nothing short of pure ’magic’.

His brother confessed to him that Ada was his first time also. the two brother could only wonder how many other cousin did Ada seduce, for to Rand’s knowledge, there another six male cousin, and four female cousin. Smiling, Rand knew he wouldn’t put nothing past her.

"Ah, Ada." Rand thought happily. "How you always bring a smile to my face. I wonder how your is doing? Its been so many years, since we spoke."

Ada was only a memory, now it was Merc that was in the center of his thoughts. He decided to go back to the restaurant and have breakfast with Merc. He was hoping that she will tell him her feelings for him. But if she doesn’t. It would be alright, he wasn’t going to rush her. He was sure she must be going though a storm of emotions right about now.


Merc cook the breakfast in silence, more or less. Humming a song she remembered her mother sang when she cook her food. How important her mother was in her life. She was so full of life when it came to cooking. She would take her out to the woods to pick mushrooms and other herbs. She would take great care to point out the differences between the ones that was safe to eat and the ones that was harmful. Merc was told to write and chart down everything that she learned. growing up, she would take pains taken care to try and research everything that she was taught.

She realized that a lot of what her mother taught her was more or less, ’Old Wives Tales’. but there were plenty of things that was still important to her. Every now and then, she would look though that old and worn book and go though it. There was one passage that always read and smiled. It was story her mother told about.

"My grand mother use to tell me tales about a race of people that lived in the high north thousands of years ago. They had great powers, and it was said that the food they ate was blessed by the gods. When I asked if they still were alive, she shook her head and told me no, but there magical recipes were hidden though out the known world."

Growing up, Merc always looked at magic and magical things with a kind of ’Yeah, whatever’ kind of attitude. Not a part of my life, so why think about it.

Then the Tor family came into her life, and suddenly she was washed in magic. Seeing Rand, Tosh and Mentokka using magic as simple as normal people breathed air. Her mother was very leery about people who used magic. Some of that rubbed off on her. But seeing how they lived, laughed and loved like any other family. She could see that her worries were misplaced.

"No different from anybody else, even though Uber was right, they are crazy some times, but Uber is a bit crazy also. But in a good way."

But, her mother got so angry when it came to her father and men in general. When she asked her about it, she would brush off her questions or change the subject altogether. But hearing it everyday while growing up, it had to rub off on her in some way. She looked at Master Rand in that way. A man that never married, never had children of his own. You’d think that he was the kind of person that her mother shouted, cursed and grumbled about.

But she would of been so wrong about Rand-Tor, what a father he would of been. Merc would of loved having him for a father, but she loved her father, no matter what her mother said about him, and eventually drove she him away. She remembered crying long into the night when he left, never to be seen by her again.

"Am I looking a Master Rand as a father figure or a lover?" she thought, as she wrestled with the thought."It has to be a lover. I gave my virginity to him. I wouldn’t of given something as special as that to a friend, like Uber, Tosh, and even Gunner....{Sigh}!"

Merc could only wonder what Master Rand was thinking about now. Was his thoughts being pounded as hers were. Do she tell him her feelings, open her heart to him. What was her feelings about him? A husband? Father of my children? Why was it so hard? It shouldn’t, but there it was.

Without realizing it Merc had more or less finished cooking, even though she was lost in thought about Rand. She was not about to ask how she done it, though. When Rand entered the restaurant, Merc had to take a moment to steel herself, for she knew, it was going to be an some what uncomfortable breakfast for the two of them.


* * *

"Lovers?" Tosh whispered. "You know what your saying, sis?" Mentokka nodded.

"I’m sure it the magic inside of us that is most likely intensifying our feelings for each other. But to say there the thoughts were and not there and were not feeling them. We be both lying to ourselves, and each other." Tosh had to agree to what she said, but.

"I don’t want to have those kind of feelings about you, Mentokka. Your my sister! And I still fight with thoughts of going to bed with you. It hurts me so bad it’s almost physical pain. And not because I don’t want to. Its because I do." Mentokka could see Tosh shaking. He got up and turned away from her. She was about to say something, but Tosh spoke first.

"I love you, sis". he blurted out. "I love you so much, I can’t breath sometimes. As much as I’m ashamed to say it, but it true. When I took off your clothes to put you in bed.....I stared at your naked body for a long time. That’s why my hands were shaking. Not because I was out of focus. I was very focused. Fighting those terrible urges." Mentokka couldn’t speak, yet Tosh went on. "As much as I want you, I fear we’ll never look at each other as brother and sister any more. We won’t laugh and joke about the silly and stupid things we always talk about and do. I fear, if I take you in my arm to hug or embrace you, I’d have to kiss you passionately. Right now I’m scared what your thinking about me. Do you see me, like some kind of monster with thoughts only of ravishing your body."

Mentokka could hear his voice quivering. She could hear the thickness of passion in his voice also. She knew that her brother had though about her. Sexual thoughts. But she never knew the intensity of what he was going though. She always marveled how Uncle Rand had such a strength of will, and now she could see it in his big brother. She was sure that a lesser man would give in to his desires. But not Tosh, it would be so simple to offer herself to him and end his torment sexual thoughts and passion for her. There was nearly nothing she wouldn’t do for him.Yet, when she heard his fears, it only made her love him even more.

"Tosh," she said sitting up on the bed, bring her knees up to her chest. "You never have to fear that I won’t see you as my brother. Your too important in my life. Besides, I had those kind of feelings for you also."

"There’s more, sis." he said turning to face her. "I wanted to tell you this years ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell you."

"What is it, Tosh?" Tosh remained silent for a long time, with his eyes closed.

"Sis? I married Patti because........" he stopped short.

"Patti? Your wife? What about Patti?" she looked at him intensely

"I married her, to......to get away from you." Mentokka was wide eyed with shock. "It started back then, when you were twelve. All those times I’d carried you on my back. All those times you’d run into my bedroom saying your were having nightmares. You’d climb into my bed an huddle next to me saying that you wasn’t scared any more. That’s when those....sick feelings started coming to the surface. at first I didn’t think much about it, figuring it go away. But it didn’t. It slowly got worse."

"Are you serious, Tosh?" He nodded, Tosh was too overcome with shame to say anything, he wouldn’t look at her. "Are you telling me you didn’t love Patti?"

"It’s nothing like that!" He said, looking up at her."I loved her. It’s just I asked her to marry me a whole lot sooner."

"Do you blame me for this?" she asked, worried.

"No!" he shouted. "Never in a thousands life times, I’d never blame you. I’m to blame for this. Me, and me alone! If it was for my weakness.....Patti and Little Tosh might still be alive." Right then, Tosh feel to his knees, sobbing. A hand covering his face.

Mentokka was seeing her big brother fall apart right before her eyes. The Older Mentokka told her that he did this in front of her. Something about Patti and little Tosh. She realized that ’This’ was the source of his pain and torment.
He must of thought he buried them deep down in his soul. But things like this always come back up to the surface to reopen old wounds.

And just like the older Mentokka before her, she got off the bed to take him in her arms.

"Go ahead brother, let it all out. Don’t think you have to grieve for them by yourself."

And some where inside Mentokka, the older Mentokka whispered to her to remove the pain and guilt he was feeling. She smiled closed her eyes and nodded.

"Tosh," Mentokka whispered. "Forget about the pain and guilt. Just remember Patti and Little Tosh in life. When they made you happy about life and living."

Suddenly, her hand started glowing, and the two of them was surrounded in a glowing light. Tosh stopped crying, muttered her sister’s name, then slumped unconscious, falling forward. Mentokka eased him to the floor. She rose to her feet to put some clothes on. She looked down at her brother and she was that he was smiling. And she knew that he was going to be alright.

And it was good thing too, for deep inside of her, her new magic was telling that she needed Tosh whole and strong for things ahead for the Tor family.