Kyllos stepped out from behind his desk, giving his visitor a respectful bow of his head. "Good blessings to you, Brother of The Order."

From just inside the closed door, where the Inonni Portal had deposited him not moments ago, the robed and somber form of Holy Order Elder Iridus closed his eyes and bowed his head in return. As he lifted his gaze, the lines etched into his thin and sallow face sharpened. "And to you, Fledging Brother of The Order."

Kyllos smiled and folded his hands before him. "From your choice of address I can assume the purpose of this visit is not to convey full Elder status to me quite yet."

Iridus' lips twitched as if they intended to respond to the attempt at humor. The rest of him remained rigid, giving his somewhat gaunt form a stick-like appearance. "Were I here to do such a thing, Kyllos, I would do so in full view of your Cohorts, so they may celebrate in the moment," he said in a formal voice. "It may happen yet."

"I will be honored when and if that day comes."

"Perhaps that is something you should keep in mind in the days to come."

"Oh?"

"You have heard of the great tragedy at the former D'ronstaq Manor? And the one who is accused of doing it?"

Kyllos uttered a slow, quavering sigh, and his eyes misted. "If you have come to seek insight as to the actions of my beloved Wanderer, I fear you will be disappointed. I have no more knowledge as to the inner workings of his thoughts which led to this deed than anyone else."

Kyllos was aware of the Holy Elder's scrutiny, looking for any sign of duplicity. The Elder would find none. Kyllos had taught Jollis how to control and manage his emotions, yet he needed to call upon every scrap of discipline he possessed in this ancient skill. His betrayal of Jollis was necessary if he were to continue in his role of exposing the horrid cancer which had infested the body of the Inonni people.

"While such insight would prove valuable, Kyllos, it is not our immediate concern," said Iridus, his tone lofty. "We have our best warriors searching for him in the jungle, and we watch the ports. He will be found before long. Then, perhaps, I will seek your counsel again. Until then, there are more important matters to consider."

"Such as?"

Iridus laced his hands together, his long, thin fingers twining like bony snakes. "Such as what I have heard of the recent activities of the Oceanus Mages."

One of Kyllos' eyebrows rose slightly. "You will forgive me, but I have been tracking a great many activities of all the Oceanus Guilds. The Mages, apparently, are not the only ones acting in a manner obstructive to--"

"It is only the Mages who concern me, and I should think you would know of what I speak."

Kyllos looked into the cool eyes of the Holy Elder and realized there would be no dissuading the man from his course. He understood how Jollis had felt in the days leading up to his necessary if distasteful action: not knowing whom he could trust. Someone among the Cohorts who knew of the intelligence reports concerning the Oceanus Mages had taken it upon themselves to voice their concerns to a higher power.

"Yes, I do recall that now," said Kyllos. "They experiment with Portal energies at a former Overlord Manor."

"And you saw nothing which warranted concern?"

"No, Iridus, I did not. Understand that I have many responsibilities now that Emperor Z'garon has proven so intractable. I need to be selective with my attentions."

"Then perhaps I can take this particular burden from you and investigate it myself."

Kyllos paused. As polite as the statement had sounded, it was tantamount to both a threat and a show of disapproval. "With all due respect, I feel it will be a waste of your time."

"And why is this?"

"They can gain no insights into our Portal technology by simply dumping energy into one of their own tired Portals."

"That is not what concerns us."

Kyllos remained quiet, his folded hands tightening.

"If it were at all possible, we would not wish Oceanus to have Portal technology of any kind whatsoever. Perhaps if we better controlled the means of transit across this continent, we would have fewer problems."

"Is that how the former Noble Lord Tarras continues to escape your notice? He has acquired Portal access?"

Kyllos' expression did not alter in the tense silence which followed. He realized that hurtling a veiled insult at the Elder was not the wisest move; the continued freedom of the few remaining former Lords and Overlords was a thorn in the side of the Holy Order.

"We have detected no such thing," said Iridus in a crisp voice. "He is likely holed up somewhere, or traveling by back roads through sparsely populated farmlands. Please do not distract us from the main point of this conversation."

"My apologies," said Kyllos with a bow of his head. "Since you are so concerned, may I assume that plans to shut down the former Overlord Portals at the Manors we control will be accelerated?"

"We will do so as soon as we have learned all we can about the Oceanus level of technology," Iridus responded in a more casual voice. He gave Kyllos a pointed look. "And then we will destroy the Portals at the Manors we did not occupy."

"A prudent measure, yes. You intend to do so with the one which has held the Oceanus Mage Guild's attention of late?"

"Yes."

"Surely you will wait until the Oceanus Mages are done with their experiments."

"And why should we wait?"

Kyllos gave Iridus a small smile. "I find I am able to accomplish more in bringing Enlightenment to Oceanus when we do not seek confrontation. I fear that is what you will engender if you interrupt the Mages in their work."

Iridus shook his head. "Not me, Kyllos. You."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Recall my statement earlier. Your elevation to full Elder may come soon. We will be watching you carefully as to how you handle this situation."

Kyllos maintained his smile and easy manner. "If you have some insight into their actions that I do not, Iridus, I would be most appreciative of being further enlightened."

"You have as much information as we do, and likely more."

Kyllos wondered if the Holy Order knew more than they let on of the Oceanus Mages' intentions. "I do my best to keep on top of things," said Kyllos. "Even those I do not believe are yet a threat. However, I will take your concerns into account."

"And what do you propose to do?"

"I will monitor their activities more closely. I will send Jol ... some agents to watch them more closely. I will dispatch a Mage to take more accurate readings on the Portal energies, but it will take some time to get one in place, likely not before a quarter moon. We cannot open a Portal too close lest we alert the Oceanus Mage Guild we are spying on them."

"And yet, if their intentions are innocent, should they care about such scrutiny?"

Kyllos paused. "So you would have me tip our hand so early?"

"Perhaps. If on the outside chance they do seek havoc upon us, this will dissuade them, and, as you put it, avoid confrontation."

Kyllos nodded once. "Your logic is quite unassailable, Iridus. I will set upon this course immediately."

Iridus gave Kyllos a genuine smile. "Forgive me for seeming so harsh. The Holy Order appreciates the hard work you have done and will continue to do. I will make sure you are present for the formal ceremony of shutting down the Oceanus Portals."

"I thank you, Elder. Is there anything else I may do for you?"

"Another Elder will be sent later today to replace the one whom we have so tragically lost," said Iridus. "He will come here first to confer with you. You will accommodate him and provide him a Portal to the D'ronstaq Manor."

"Of course. I am at the Holy Order's service as always."

Iridus gestured. With only a vibrating hum and a faint crackling of energy, a Portal opened behind him. "Good blessings to you."

"And to you," said Kyllos.

Iridus turned and stepped into the Portal. He hurtled away down the silvery corridor at impossible speed before the Portal closed with a faint popping sound.

Kyllos drew a slow, deep breath and let it go. His mind raced. If Jollis' suspicions were correct, then sending an Inonni Mage would surely discover their true intentions, possibly in time to stop them.

He shook his head. What he was contemplating was not just distasteful, it was madness. He felt better to do as Iridus had instructed. He would stop the Oceanus Mages and determine some peaceful means to stop his brethren's work upon the Portals.

But Iridus' words had suggested they were very close to achieving their goal. Then the Inonni would have transdimensional Portal technology, and he could not trust the Holy Order to use it wisely. Such a power simply cannot be used wisely.

Kyllos stepped to the door and passed his hand over a blue pearl embedded in the center. He watched the faint glow come and go as a privacy spell was activated which would allow no stray sound to escape the confines of the room. He withdrew a Farviewing pearl from his robes and passed his slightly trembling hand over it.

After a pause, Jollis shimmered into view, surrounded by deep jungle. A bandage was wrapped about his torso just below his chest. No camp was in evidence. He looked fairly surprised to see his master.

"I am glad to see you are well, Jollis," said Kyllos.

"Forgive me, but is it wise to contact me?" asked Jollis in a bemused voice. "Surely you do not intend to further associate with me."

Kyllos let a small smile play at his lips. "I fear I cannot break myself of this habit with someone who is like a son to me."

Jollis' eyes were liquid. He drew himself up straight and bowed his head. "You have honored me in a way beyond words, Master."

"And, I fear, I must send you once more into danger. I have a new task for you."

Jollis' head snapped up. "I am yours. What do you wish of me?"

Kyllos told him.

Jollis was silent for a long moment, and Kyllos could hear the rustling of leaves and the patter of rain. "This will be most complicated."

"You have every right to refuse, and there will be no fault on your part. I do not feel I have the right to task you with something which could mean more unwanted death by your hand. You ... you have suffered enough."

"I cannot suffer any further than this, Master," said Jollis. "I can be no more the wanted man and no more the fugitive. I am now Wanderer in every sense of the word. Perhaps that was my ultimate destiny and I am simply fulfilling it."

Kyllos nodded, but his eyes glistened. He did feel like he was sending his own son into danger. "I will contact you as soon as possible with the details. I will need to find someone I can trust among the Cohorts."

Jollis considered. "There is one who has worked closely with me. He has done me great service since I first arrived in Oceanus. He is the one called--"

"Yonlas," said Kyllos with a small smile. "Yes, I know him well."

Jollis slowly smiled. "You do him great honor by calling him by name, Master. I will be sure to do the same when I next see him. Good blessings to you, Master."

Kyllos watched Jollis' image fade and heaved a deep sigh. His joy at having another chance to enjoy the presence his best Journeyman was tempered by the realization it would likely be the last.

Katla stood at the podium in one of the training chambers at the Guild Hall, looking over her "class" of twenty assorted Mages who comprised the bulk of her team, save for the few who remained at the site to keep the Portal stable. She saw a collection of Empiricists and Traditionalists, plus three who called themselves Synthesists, the few who took Uroddus' words to heart to find a common ground between the two disciplines.

Katla had finally accepted her role as their leader. She had wanted to consider herself simply another member of the team, assuming Uroddus took the lead role, but he had let her work without interference. If anything, he was behind, as he had not finished reading all the equations her team had produced. Which suited her fine, especially given the worries he had expressed the other night.

"So it should be clear what we need to do," said Katla. "If we're lucky, we can do this in another three days."

"That's putting us a day behind schedule," piped one young female journeyman.

"It can't be helped. Unless someone can suggest a faster way to quiesce the backwash energies, we're not going to get there any faster without blowing ourselves up in the process."

"Are you concerned about how much work it's taking to keep the Portal stable?" asked an older male Mage.

"Yes, but I pretty much figured this was going to happen," Katla said, and most of her team nodded their heads. "If we had more time, we could stabilize it, but then we risk wearing out the Portal device, which is on its last legs as it is."

"What about the Guildmaster?" asked another. "Could he offer some insight?"

Another more vigorous nodding of heads. "Well ... he might, but he's been holed up in his office all morning and asked not to be disturbed."

Katla was not told what Uroddus was doing, only that he had entered his office with a large sheaf of parchments and had engaged a privacy seal on the doors. She hoped the parchments were not what she thought they were.

"Anyway, this is for us to figure out," said Katla. "He trusts us to come up with the solution. I think that shows he has a great deal of confidence in our abilities. And we're almost there. We know the formulae will work. It's just a matter of timing and calibration now. Are there any more concerns?"

"Yes, actually," said the young woman who had spoken earlier. She adjusted her spectacles and peered at her parchment. "As we refine our work, I've been recalculating the power of the energy excursion which will result from the target Portals. It is somewhat alarming how the figures keep going up."

"Yes, I know, but--"

"Including the energy in the backwash when it returns to the point of origin. I do not believe there has ever been an explosion of such magnitude on the face of Narlass in all its recorded history."

Katla sighed. "Yes, I know. We're caught between two extremes. If we don't pump enough energy, then all we achieve is a temporary burnout which they can repair with a new gemstone. But once we get past the threshold which will ensure complete destruction of the Portal device, we have trouble stopping the energies from--"

The door to the chamber opened. Several of Katla's team suddenly sat up straight.

"Katla," said Uroddus in a soft, somber voice. "I need to see you for a moment."

Katla's jaw tightened. "Can this wait, Guildmaster?" she said in a voice of forced calm. "I want to finish--"

"This cannot wait." He paused. "I will try not to take up too much of your time."

Katla stepped down, her footfalls heavy as she followed Uroddus into the corridor. "This better be good," Katla growled as Uroddus closed the classroom door. "I don't have a lot of time as it is, and--"

"I do not want you triggering the Portal cascade."

Katla remained silent as her eyes searched Uroddus' face. He looked tired, as if he had not slept the night before. His eyes glistened, and when he adjusted his spectacles, she saw his fingertips were ink-stained. She let out a slow sigh.

"I have read through all the formulae and now understand all the details of this plan," Uroddus said in a flat voice. "And I now understand it is not enough to trigger the cascade and leave. It has to be constantly monitored until the backwash flow starts."

Katla covered her eyes with her hand. "Uroddus, please ..." she said in a low voice that was almost a whisper.

"Why did you not tell me this? Surely you knew this was the case."

Her indignant gaze snapped up to his face. "This conversation we're having is precisely the reason I didn't tell you!"

"Why are you so intent on sacrificing yourself?"

"And who says I am?"

"Katla, I do not need to tell you that which you already know, but you seem to insist upon it. Once the backwash starts, there will not be a lot of time before it returns to the point of origin, which will produce the largest explosion of all."

"I don't intend to be caught in it. Give me credit for some sense. I intend to have a Portal open and ready for me to jump into when the time comes."

"But by that time the energy from the Portal device will be so great and so erratic it will interfere with a proper Portal opening. It would have to be opened some distance from the Portal device to avoid interference."

"Then I'll run!"

"You are not thinking this through. You ..." He trailed off when Katla's eyes swam.

"Don't you t-tell me I haven't thought this through!" Katla bellowed as a tear slid down her cheek. "You think I like the idea that there's a possibility I won't make it back?! You think I like personally causing the death of hundreds of people?! You th-think ..."

She collapsed against Uroddus. He drew his arms around her tightly as she turned her face into his chest, weeping softly.

"I-I don't want to do this," she whimpered. "I hate the Inonni for making me do this."

"You don't have to," Uroddus said in a low voice.

Katla drew back, her eyes blazing, her face shining. "Don't tell me that. I'm the only one skilled enough to do it. You know that. Don't make this harder for me."

"And you don't think this is hard for me?"

Katla caught the catch in Uroddus' voice and finally saw the fear in his eyes. She swallowed and wiped her face when another tear slid down her cheek.

"I can't let you go to your death," Uroddus said. "I can't be responsible for causing the death of another about whom I care so much."

Katla let out a quavering sigh and gripped her lover's arms hard. "Oh gods, Uroddus, you're still blaming yourself for Q'yros' death."

Uroddus said nothing, his eyes shimmering.

"We've been over this. He made his own decision. And I'm making my own. You're not ordering me to do anything. And don't you dare order me not to do this! Don't make me defy you. Please."

Uroddus drew in his breath and it caught, like a small sob. He drew Katla towards him and gave her a hug so fierce she almost could not breathe. She felt him trembling and closed her eyes, another tear sliding down her face.

"I should go in your place," Uroddus said.

Katla shook her head against his chest. "No, absolutely not."

"But I should not let anyone do something I am not willing to--"

Katla fought her way out of his embrace. "Stop being stupid. The Guild needs you."

"And you imply it doesn't need--"

"And furthermore," she said, speaking over him. "You may have read the formulae and understand them, but I am the one applying them every day. I have the practical experience. I can do it far better than you ever can."

Uroddus opened his mouth as if to protest, but he stopped and let rationality take hold over emotion, as much a struggle as it was. When he spoke again, his voice was steady if forced. "Your logic is unassailable. As always."

Katla's lips twitched into a tiny smile. "I'm serious when I say I don't intend to die."

"I will consult with our best Portal specialists," said Uroddus. "To see if they can suggest methods for opening the Portal closer to you."

Katla nodded, not trusting her voice.

"Please forgive me, I only wish ... I ..."

Katla squeezed his hand. "I'll see you tonight," she said in a soft voice which held both desperation and promise.

Uroddus nodded, now the one unable to trust his own voice. They squeezed each other's hand again and parted.

Jollis slunk through the underbrush, his clothing damp and his skin clammy from the earlier rain. The sun had emerged from behind the lingering storm clouds, but it dipped low with the approaching sunset, its rays unable to penetrate the jungle canopy and dry him properly.

His way back to the Manor had not been difficult, as it was the last place they would think to find him. They assumed he would find some means off the island, or hole up within its dense environs. Thus the warriors had concentrated their search there. Even then, he could avoid them; Warriors were good at fighting but not tracking. For that they would need an agent as good as himself.

Yet the foliage thinned near the Manor, and Jollis moved with greater care. When he came to the main road into the Manor, he darted from tree to tree, his senses tuned to the tell-tale buzz of additional wards. He found only the original wards around the perimeter of the Manor. They had been extended upward but not outward, preventing clandestine entry from the treetops.

The Cohorts at the gate had been replaced with warriors. He saw more inside the manor, far more than had been present before. In a way, Jollis felt honored to be considered that much of a threat.

He spotted two Cohorts approaching the gate and recognized them as Rolas and Hurus. As the warriors turned to face them, Jollis scurried closer to the gate. He was in full view of the Cohorts for two breaths, yet they did not react. He never should have doubted his Master's resourcefulness; Kyllos had managed to contact the very Cohorts Jollis knew he could trust and apprise them of his plans.

Jollis tensed as the Cohorts stopped, and the warriors turned to face towards the road. He slowed his breathing and cleared his thoughts. The humid air felt heavy in his lungs.

A Portal opened in a flash of blue-white lightning at the gate, and an Elder of the Holy Order stepped out. Both warriors and Cohorts dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Jollis burst from his hiding place and dashed towards the Portal, keeping it between him and the others. Just as its coruscating energies loomed in his face, his ears caught the words of the Elder. "Now rise, and face me as ..."

And Jollis was through.

His skin prickled, as if thousands of ants crawled over his body and nipped him with their mandibles. His head spun, and his ears rang like a gong. He quelled the fear he had caught the Portal when it was already closing, and the collapsing tunnel of space-time would crush him into nonexistence.

The next moment, he hurtled through the air and slammed into an unyielding crystal surface. Blood spurted from his nose as he fell to the floor of the Portal chamber. Two sets of hands grasped for his arms and hauled him to his feet.

"By the goddess, are you all right, Jollis?"

The words came thickly to Jollis' gray consciousness, and his legs trembled. Kyllos and Yonlas began to lower him back to the floor when Jollis recovered and pushed back up despite the ache in his muscles and the pain of his smashed nose. "Portals were not meant to be entered from behind, it appears," Jollis said in a voice with a faint trace of amusement.

"I did not mean for you to suffer distress, Jollis," said Kyllos. "I had hoped there would be little difference, since the arrow had not appeared to suffer any damage during its transit."

Jollis smiled as he admired his Master's brilliance and memory, knowing now what had given Kyllos the idea. When Jollis had returned to the D'ronstaq Manor prior to the arrival of the Inonni invasion, he had been discovered by Roquan, and an arrow had been fired into his Portal from the other direction as he left. It had emerged in the opposite direction from where Jollis had exited, embedding itself in the back wall of the Portal chamber.

"It was well played, Master, and I will suffer no lasting damage once my nose is attended to," said Jollis.

Yonlas pressed a cloth to the Wanderer's still bleeding nose, which Jollis accepted with a nod of his head. "I will procure healing supplies for you at once," said Kyllos as he left.

"It is good to see you again, Honored Wanderer," said Yonlas.

Jollis held the cloth to his nose, and his voice was somewhat distorted when he spoke again. "And you do not fear association with a criminal, Yonlas?"

Yonlas did not hear the amusement in Jollis' voice, shocked at the sound of his name from the lips of the one he would call mentor. He paused to recover, then responded in a serious tone. "What you have done is something I could only wish I had the courage to do, Wanderer. You ... you understand the path to Enlightenment far better than I ever will."

Jollis clasped Yonlas' shoulder. "No, my friend. I do not yet understand completely, but by the grace of the goddess, I hope to. We are on a journey longer and more difficult than any of us had ever imagined." He removed his hand, as he needed both to staunch the bleeding.

"What is next?" Yonlas asked.

"I know only what Kyllos has told me. In a short while, we will attempt a similar trick to allow me transit to where the Mage will be sent to monitor the Oceanus Mages."

"And you cannot tell me what they are doing and why it is so important they be allowed to continue?"

Jollis paused. "It is better you do not know. And if events unfold as I feel they must, I would not be hurt if you reevaluated your high opinion of me."

Yonlas looked askance at the Wanderer, as if he could never bear the idea that he could look upon Jollis as anything but an inspiration. Yet he kept quiet, and simply folded his hands tightly before him, trying not to look anxious.

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