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.