We sat around the campfire, studiously ignoring the 19 dead bodies roughly 20 feet away from us, while Corina told me the nonsensical tale of how I supposedly slayed the last dragon with the current empress consort.

  Apparently, Empress Nadia Chass, the youngest daughter of Duchess Elaine Chass, a child no one considered to be anywhere close to being in the running to be chosen as the next empress consort, was actually Korin, it seemed.

  She desired to prove herself worthy of becoming the next empress consort. So, somehow she got into contact with Myr, the maiden of fire, and both women set out on an adventure to slay the last dragon.

  It was a tale of struggle and triumph, filled with death-defying feats. And at the end, Myr and Nadia, through close friendship, slew the beast and then parted ways. Nadia returned to the Capitol, bringing one of the largest azurite gems in history as a gift to the Emperor.

  Of course, the gem was turned over to the magisterium, who, appreciative of the gesture, threw their support behind her.

  Facing overwhelming support from the magisterium and commoners, the emperor had no choice but to choose Nadia. The tale spread through the empire like a plague, told in every tavern, in every city, and in every village. There were songs, books, and poems written about the adventure.

  Arch Magi and Imperial investigators, as well as a number of respected nobility, all attest to the authenticity of the story. Eventually, the magisterium dropped the bounty even further to a paltry 50 golden royals.

  I covered my mouth and chuckled under my breath as Anicia finished the story.

  “That didn't happen?” Anicia asked, sounding disappointed.

  “Oh, we did kill a dragon. But there were seven of us. And Korin hated me. It’s all propaganda.”

  ‘But why would the daughter of a duchess risk herself like this? Could it be a proxy?

  “Does the empress have a scar? What about her hair and eye color?” I asked.

  “Aye, she has a scar on her brow from the dragon. I don't really 'member 'er hair and eyes. She made quite the splash at that summer’s Imperial ball; the whole empire was talkin’ bout it,” Anicia said.

  ‘I need a better source of information. But that does explain why we had to complete the mission before the end of spring. They needed time to arrange everything for the summer ball.’

  I snorted at the lie and said, “Noblemen and women all came bringing gifts, each more ridiculous than the last, and in walks Korin, the dragon slayer, with a gem worth an emperor's ransom.”

  Anicia nodded, seemingly enthralled by the idea of a ball. “Aye, she had some backin’ too. Some powerful Magus and others. Don't know any names, though.”

  ‘Heywood…it has to be. And maybe whatever imperial investigator was tracking me. They were usually powerful members of the nobility with high standing. And if Heywood is involved, then the magisterium is backing him. Korin is a puppet; the emperor was holding off on choosing a wife for some time. Heywood, the magisterium, and whoever else is involved with this now has control and influence over the empress consort and the heir of the empire.’

  I grit my teeth, annoyed that I didn't pay enough attention to the high-ranking families in the empire.

  ‘Orian was bluffing, then. He had to have supreme confidence in his understanding of my personality to make such a bold move. The villagers, servants, guards, the mercenary, and everyone else would attest to Korin actually participating in the quest. She took that much of a risk to guarantee the story wouldn't be doubted, or she was too proud and self-righteous to use a proxy and take the credit. It doesn't even matter; the outcome is the same.’

  I shook my head and started mumbling, “If Orian and Korin knew that the Occularums could be tracked, then. All they had to do was make sure I left with them. There is even a chance I could have handed over the gem without any drama. But under no circumstance could they afford to have me learn the true purpose behind the quest. If I did, then under no circumstance would Orian’s ploy work.”

  ‘My death would have been the perfect end. Was it all planned from the beginning, or was it modified from someone else's plan? And they simply figured they could kill three rats with a single arrow? Install a puppet empress, neutralize Myr without any repercussions from the citizenry, and continue the stranglehold on magic. There’s someone behind all this, someone with an impressive ability to predict my actions.’

  ‘Of course, they never announced my death. It would counter the narrative; over time, the tale of Myr would have passed into legend. My influence among the commoners would fade; sometimes, it’s better to let a fire burn itself out.’

  A wicked smile spread across my face.

  ‘But the fire didn’t die, Heywood. You failed; you all failed at the last stretch, and now you’ve given me even greater fame and glory, beyond anything I could have accomplished on my own. Oh, how I would love to be in the room when you and Korin learn of my survival.’

  “I’m guessin’ that story is shite.” Anicia said, then asked, “What’s the real story then?”

  “Perhaps I can tell you later; for now, I wish to know yours, Corina.” The woman bit her lips and proceeded to speak, but I raised a hand, cutting off her words. “I’ve worked with murderers, thieves, and villains of all kinds in my life. Worse than those men… Far worse. Do not leave anything out because of your shame or fear of my reaction. Lie to me once, even by omission, and you will lose my trust forever.”

  “I’ve done bad, Myr,” Corina said, unable to meet my eyes.

  “I’m no priestess; I'll not judge you. The only sin you can commit is lying.”

  Corina took a deep breath and said, “My life ain't much to talk ‘bout. Was born in Heathcliff, a village far west. Ma died givin’ birth to me; by the time I could walk, Pa put me to work on ‘is farm. After that, I was married off to a man twice my age.”

  Her daughter reached over and put a hand on her shoulder. “He was a cruel man. The bedding was a horror, but he couldn't care less. No matter how much I bled.”

  “Strange enough, those years drifted by like I was half-dead. Pain turned into numbness. Then I got with child.” Corina took a deep breath and continued, “My, Anicia was born and became the light in that darkness. Didn’t matter how cruel he was; the pain…nothin’ mattered. Anicia’s smile was better than any poppy.”

  Anger rose in her voice. “Then he wanted to sell her off to the headman for land. The fat bastard wanted her before she even bled.” The hate in her voice as she spoke was palpable and familiar.

  “So, I started plannin’… secreting away coin. Figured we could run to the city and start over.” A sad smile came over her face. “I remember that day when we took off in the night; I was as scared as I was happy. Three nights in the forest, then a day on the road.”

  “Then I ran into Hender and the rest; I knew our fate. So I grabbed my girl and held a dagger at her throat; better that than what those men would have done?”

  I raised an eyebrow and looked at Anicia. She smiled and shrugged, tacitly approving.

  “Turns out the law was looking for Hendrick and his men. We struck a deal. An hour later, men on horses wearing the baron’s armor came down the road; he asked questions, I gave ‘em a bit of a smile, did some flirtin’, and then he was off back where he came.”

  “Why not surrender to the guard?” I asked.

  “He had a dozen men hidin’ in the woods. Some had arrows pointin’ at us.” Corina shrugged hopelessly. “After that, he made another deal; neither my Anicia nor I would be touched so long as we worked for him.”

  I nodded. “Tell me about that work.”

  ~

  For over an hour, she explained her work with Hender. She would trick villagers to allow them through the gates, then they would steal supplies and run off with young women, using them ten times a night for a few months and abandoning them once they broke. Travelers in small groups and isolated villagers were their primary victims.

  She just kept speaking, pouring out her sins to me. All of it was to keep her daughter safe; running wasn't an option anymore. Oddly enough, Hender kept his word, and besides a few close calls, they were never touched. Though that was bought with the suffering of many innocents.

  They were already guilty; she had outstanding bounties in several baronies. And a few times she had to draw a blade to defend herself when a plan to raid a village went south. I just sat there listening as she spoke. In one tale, a girl lunged at her with a dagger; Corina, with meticulous detail, explained what it was like when she struck her down with a kitchen knife to the eyes.

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  For two years, she lured innocent people into a trap for Hender and his men, all for her daughter's protection. All for love.

  “And then you came walkin’ down the road, and here we are.”

  I nodded and said, without any inflection, “Thank you for sharing.”

  Corina blinked twice. With some humor in my voice, I said, “You expected me to be repulsed?”

  “A little bit,” Anicia said.

  “I’m not the hero the stories say I am. I’ve left a trail of bodies behind me.” I pointed at the cooling corpses. “This amount of killing doesn't even faze me anymore.”

  “Ah, I see,” Corina said, slightly numb.

  “So ya didn’t rob Enoras to give the people coin?” Anicia asked. I smirked, shook my head, and tossed her my reservoir.

  “I’ll get ya some clothes,” Corina said. She looked a bit frazzled, so that was probably an excuse to have a moment alone.

  “What is this?” Anicia asked. Staring at the odd, slightly glowing metal.

  “Orichalcum, the rarest metal in the world, is what I stole. The gold was just to make it harder to track me. People are less likely to offer information on a hero of the people than a ruthless, power-hungry maiden.”

  “It is magic, innit?” She asked.

  “Yes,” I said. She tossed it back to me.

  “Thanks fer not judgin’ Ma. It ain’t been easy for ‘er.”

  “There’s nothing to judge. In my eyes, everything she did had a reason.”

  She looked at me, genuinely confused. “I know, but it still was horrible. Ain't much different than them.” Anicia nodded towards the bodies.

  “It’s far different. She did it for a purpose, not enjoyment. Committing horrible acts for the pleasure of it is a waste of energy. People who lose themselves in their depravity are worthless, little more than animals, easily baited, and easily killed. Do not compare your mother to them. It insults her sacrifice.”

  “Those girls were innocent. But you still killed them.” She muttered.

  “And what of it? The dead tell no tales; we're far enough from the road that the bodies will rot to bone before anyone stumbles on them. You and your mother are safe, and I’m safe. The end result is what matters, not the means.”

  After a minute, she asked. “Is that why you wanted us to work for you? ‘cause of Ma?’ Cause she can do somethin' bad for others?”

  “Yes, but more importantly, I just need people with a decent head on their shoulders. My life is dangerous, and I need people to watch my back.”

  “What do we get in return?” She asked.

  “Loyalty is a two-way street. Which means you get access to my magic and wealth, and I’ll kill for you, as I would expect you to do for me.”

  Anicia looked at me, confused. “I ain’t a sword woman or anythin’.”

  I smirked, “I’ve never swung a sword in my life. I have magic.” Reaching for my dagger, I tossed it to her. “Stalk towards me like you're trying to rob me with that.”

  She stared at the dagger, confused, shrugged, then drew it and walked towards me. Then she did a small hop backward as she felt the protection amulet pushing against the dagger. “Arrows can't go through that, or swords.”

  She kept poking air; the dagger kept drifting to the left and right as it was deflected.

  “It takes less than a second to load that crossbow with a practiced hand. Now combine both of those, and who exactly could harm you?” Her large green eyes became saucers as she realized the implications.

  “Yes, I can even put some magic on your gloves for you to summon flames like I do. It won't be as powerful. But is a sane man going to try to fight you when you can have ten feet of fire between you and him?”

  ‘I’ll keep laying out bait, drawing her in until she can't imagine a world beyond me.’

  I let her stew in her thoughts as she returned the dagger. Her mother came back, carrying a bundle of clothes.

  “Ya don’t seem to have any kind of shame,” Corina observed as I stripped and dressed in front of them. I changed into a simple blue cotton shirt and brown knee-length pants, and old brown boots that were decently worn in.

  Shrugging, I said, “I spent the last several months naked; I'm used to it. Besides, I have nothing to be ashamed about; I'm quite lovely.” I chuckled at their puzzled expressions. “My life is a bit strange.”

  There was an awkward pause as both women looked at me. “What is it?” I asked.

  “What do we do now? We ain’t got anywhere to go.” Anicia said.

  “Right, you did agree, though under duress. So I ask again. Are you willing to work for me?”

  Corina answered, “I don’t know who you really are, Myr. I don't know what ya want from us…servants? ...protection.” She trailed off, making a vague hand gesture of mild confusion.

  “Well, take it step by step. I’m heading southeast to a span of forest north of the Tar Flats. There are some things I want to pick up. For now, we need supplies. Corina, I want you to check the bodies for anything of use, especially metal. Stack them in front of that carriage.” I ordered, pointing to a large two-horse carriage with a rich brown tarp as covering.

  I looked between each woman and asked, “Can either of you drive a carriage?”

  “I can,” Corina said.

  “Alright, you’ll be the driver.”

  “Anicia, that large covered carriage will be our transport. I want to search the tents and every other carriage for anything of value… coin, maps, tools, food, anything that can be useful.” I reached into my pack and brought out a small metal cube with a hinged lid. Inside were 15 bolts. “Keep this on your person for protection. You two have an hour; I’ll search the main carriage. Whichever one of you finishes first helps the other.”

  “Understood?” I asked both women. They nodded. “Alright, let's get this done before sunset.”

  ‘This should serve as a good test run for my leadership capabilities. If they prove to be useless, then I’ll kill them.’

  ~

  32 silver eagles, 122 bits, 12 swords, 3 hammers, two spears, and a pile of mostly worthless clothes. Pots, pans, knives, and flints, perhaps three weeks of provisions, and most importantly, a map.

  Reaching into my pack, I pulled out my coin purse. The women watched as I poured 20 golden royals into the small iron lockbox.

  “Anicia, how are your numbers?” I asked.

  “I get by. Can count coin easy enough.”

  “Good, you’ll keep track of it for me,” I said, then handed her the box to place in a brown leather satchel that hung over her right shoulder.

  Her eyes widened. “This is a lot o’ coin.”

  “You’re quick to trust,” Corina observed.

  “I’m one of the least trusting people you’ll ever meet. But I said I would take you into my service, and that means placing my trust in you. It is up to you to break it.”

  ‘That coin is barely a pittance compared to what I have buried.’

  “The nearest village is further southwest, so that's where we’ll head. Our goal is food and supplies.”

  “What if someone asks who we are?” Anicia asked me.

  “How old do I look?” I asked her.

  “‘bout seventeen summers.”

  “I’m actually over twenty.” They both gave me dubious glances.

  I looked at Corina. “Just say I'm your daughter and I took after my father. We're not too far from the Gracian Mountains. Corina, you're 28 years old, so the timeline doesn't really match up, but there are perverts out there who like children. A quick show of sadness would stop most from inquiring further.”

  She shrugged, then nodded to the pile of supplies. “What about the other carriage and the spare horses?”

  “All trash that will be burned. I can make whatever we’ll need. We’ll change our clothes after finding a decent town. Proper armor will have to wait, but once I make all your magical tools, it’ll be largely irrelevant until I can enchant them.”

  “You can make enchanted items?” Anicia asked.

  “Yes… Theoretically. I know how; I just never got the chance to practice.” Glancing at the sun, I made a decision.

  “Alright, take a last look at the pile for anything you want. I’ll do some magic. Then we can head out. ”

  “Can I watch?” Anicia asked.

  “Of course,” I said.

  I spent an hour making a three-foot-wide shape transformation ring from the scrap iron, weapons, and the bronze bits. I dug a hole in the ground and compacted the earth to form a crude crucible. And used a circle drawn around the edge to heat the metal until molten. It was slow work since I had to pause for my amulet to recharge. The campfire was a poor source of energy.

  Then I lit four other fires, wasting a large amount of the spare wood. But I needed as much energy as possible. With these fires fueling my amulet, I believed I could just barely make what I desired.

  My allies stared open-mouthed as the puddle of molten iron formed into the shape of a mini energy furnace. I had to work in bursts; making major changes and inscribing in the detail of the runes drained almost 10% of my amulet’s energy per second.

  I sighed in satisfaction as the three-foot-tall energy furnace finally took shape, with all the circuits filled in with bronze. It was a standard design with two intake tubes at the bottom, with a circuit to regulate the flow of air and several heat absorption circles in the two-foot-tall flue, all bridged together and connected to a distribution circle with 30 nodes that I could use to power items.

  It was essentially a sized-down version of Rennah’s energy furnace.

  ‘To think this took me days the first time.’

  “That was the most amazin’ thing I’ve ever seen,” Anicia said. “What is it?”

  “An energy furnace. Come help me break up some wood, and you’ll see.”

  ‘I wonder if I can have a carriage built with this in mind.’

  ~

  After putting out all the fires and gathering the wood, we spent time breaking it into pieces to fit into the burner section of the furnace.

  “It pulls in air from the bottom, burns the wood, and extracts energy for me to use,” I said as we listened to the soft whistle as air flowed into the bottom.

  “Why not just use a campfire?” Anicia asked.

  I held up a finger, and then after a few more seconds, the whistling stopped. “It’s not pulling in air, so the burning will slow down significantly. The magic can respond to usage, so there is very little waste.”

  Anicia nodded. “So, when ya need power, those tubes suck in air like a bellows, making the fire big.”

  “Indeed.”

  “How's that even work?” she asked.

  “Magic,” I answered unhelpfully.

  “No need for a campfire when you can have this.” I pulled out one of my glass lights; I only had two, since I gave the others to the Andregi. Until we found glass, I couldn't make more.

  They stared at the brightly glowing orb of glass sitting in a shiny metal tray. The women’s eyes were locked onto it as if it were some great treasure.

  ‘Hopefully, these two will be of use. By looking into Anicia’s eyes, I can make her my creature before we even reach the dragon parts. Once she becomes my thrall, the mother will follow; it is inevitable. I suppose that’s two people in my corner; a few million more to go.’