After an interminable time of hanging in shackles in the deepest dungeon of castle that he didn't even know the name of, the monotony was finally broken. They put him to work.

He had never seen more than 2 guards at one time and his cellmates did not speak any language he knew, so when 5 guards came to the cell, he felt sure it was the last moments of his life.

His magic didn't work at all. Well, actually, magic did work, but the first attempt at an unlock spell on his shackles caused the bones in his left hand to break and a small healing spell gave him bowel cramps and a headache for over 4 days. Since then, he had tried a few spells here and there with the same results.

The bones in his hand had healed badly, and he had a twisted claw now that ached for any and every reason. At one time he had watched as their jailer, in one of his many drunken binges, had chosen to beat a cellmate near to death. Raistlin got frustrated and tried a spell of wind to push the guard into the wall hard enough to knock him unconscious (and maybe be able to get the keys) and it seemed like the spell went off fine. Until the cellmate started screaming and shaking, foaming at the mouth until blood trickled ran from the tongue he had bitten through. The jailer stared in shock and then laughed as he watched the man die from bleeding to death.

Raistlin didn't try any spells after that.

It didn't help that he couldn't speak his captor's language at all nor that anyone in his cell could speak any language he knew. There were normally 5 of them in the cell, and that changed as prisoners came and went, which was not an uncommon occurrence. They went by death more often than on their own feet.

Raistlin had began to count new cellmates to measure the passage of time more than days, since he hadn't seen a ray of sunlight in a longer time than he knew. Since meals were served at the whim of the jailer, even that could not be counted upon. But death could be.

And then the guards came. They unlatched the shackles from around their wrists and put ankle and wrist shackles on, all lined together by chains, then linked the seven of them together by a single chain, and proceeded to push, shove, poke and prod them up stairs on legs that many of them hadn't used in weeks or months. By the time they left the darkened confines and stumbled into the daylight, the prisoners were bruised, battered, bleeding and utterly exhausted.

The sunlight had blinded them, but the fresh air filled with the odors of pig and horse manure smelled as sweet as honey. Even the cold water that was thrown on them was fresh and the licked every drop from their filthy bodies that they could get.

They were then taken with another group chained just like them to wagons, loaded up, and they traveled away from the large stone edifice of the castle and out onto cobbled stone paths. The Castle itself rose into the air as if carved from one single block of granite, with 2 tall and 2 small towers within the outer wall, and guard towers placed at about 50 paces all around the visible wall. Raistlin didn't see anything else for sometime, since the guard decided he was being too curious and promptly cudgeled him to sleep.

The wagon was still moving when he awoke and began regretting each and very jolt and bump the wagon made. It was after sunset when the wagon came to a stop. The prisoners were hauled into an unused barn that was open to the elements from a caved in roof, the chains secured to the thick support timbers and left to sleep.

To Raistlin, sleeping under the stars in old musty hay was almost heaven. His head and hand were agonies he tried his best to not aggravate, but just the intensity of the emotional release from being trapped in the cell to being outside and able to look up into the starry sky made him break down and weep for the taken for granted feeling of being free, even if freedom was being shackled and beaten.

He took some small comfort in that he heard a few others also weeping and sniffling just like him.

The morning came with loaves of bread thrown to them and 3 water buckets set before them to drink from. The guards laughed at the way 2 of the buckets were knocked over while several prisoners fought over them. The third was watched over by 2 men on the other chain from Raistlin's who doled out the water carefully.

Raistlin felt shamed at the manner of these 2 men. They seemed to have beards and hair as wild as any of the ones on his chain, indicating they had been in the dungeon as long as any, but these 2 seemed to maintain a way about themselves, a sense of security that no one else even came near. They wore an invisible armor against their situation and in the days to come, Raistlin watched as they took blows and pushes from the guards in stride, how they helped others when they could, and at meals made sure everyone got their share. In fact, they stood out so much they often got the worst treatment from the guards, who eventually backed off at their failure to break these two down to the rabble around them.

It was because of these two strangers that the other prisoners began to actually improve. They were natural leaders, and the rest were followers. Even Raistlin began to look to these two with the unspoken respect given to ones betters.

They traveled for several days, and at one stoop near a river, they were shoved into the shallows and given soap to wash up. After that, one by one, a guard brought out a knife and shaved each man. The blood ran, but each man endured it because the first 2 to get shaved were the leaders, and they stood and took the cold shave and endured several cuts each.

Raistlin finally found out their names by a combination of listening to the others and some sign language. As best as he could make out through the thick and heavy accent of these people, they were Khuspusare and Gunforsax. They Khuspusare seemed the stronger of the two, standing taller than Gunforsax by 2 inches, the former with brown hair and penetrating brown eyes, the latter with wavy brown-blond hair and a hint of a smile always in his young but lined face with what Raistlin called 'mood eyes', eyes that seemed to change color with his mood. Raistlin could tell these two had to have been nobly born.

One day they came upon a bridge that arched over a river that had to be about 15 wagons long and wide enough for 2 wagons. The bridge had two spans, each one beginning at one shore and both meeting in the middle. At one time it arched over the river, but not currently. There was wood scaffolding built around the span on this the east side of the river that was centered on the problem with bridge. It looked one of the wagon lanes had fallen into the river, causing the remaining lane of this section to crack and look ready to fall into the river with the rest of the blocks.

The guards gathered the men together and spoke to them, apparently telling the prisoners what was expected of them. That night, he got the gist of the intent. They were to dive into the river to recover the stones and help rebuild the bridge.

Raistlin was appointed cook due to his hand and his inability to speak and understand the language. He was appointed a burly guard with the demeanor of a torturer. Raistlin nicknamed him Attila. And Attila lived up to his name.

----

The days passed and Raistlin thanked his God for the few times he paid any attention to Dave explaining how to cook. He knew with his hand and lack of language skill with these people that he was dead weight, and anything dead weight out here under these circumstances would usually be discarded for wild animal food. He had to make himself as useful as possible. Fortunately, he was able to produce what was expected of him.

Work proceeded slowly as blocks were retrieved. The head engineer finally declared that the prisoners had recovered all he needed and then set about removing a few key stones from the bridge that were obviously problems.

Their camp was kept off to the side of the main road through here and traffic regularly passed by. A variety of wagons and travelers passed by, some with goods and wares, a few wagon trains, many horsed riders but many more walking travelers. Raistlin looked for opportunities to escape as everyone else did, but his disabilities worked against him going anywhere. He was stuck unless something better came along.

One day he was heading down to the river for water when he got the shock of his life. He saw Dave walking down the road towards him.

---

Dave had tried to stay away from magic but knew there had to be some way to find Raistlin and walking around the world on a hit or miss basis wasn't going to cut it. He tried talking to some people at a few towns along the way, but found the people very suspicious of strangers, especially ones who were as brown skinned, lean and fair-haired as he was and who had such a strange accent. It was thinking on this that Dave realized that when people spoke to him, their lips moved differently than the words they spoke. Which would explain the odd looks he often got and why people who seemed very friendly up front often had a sudden change of mood after just a few words shared.

He made it a point to talk to people as little as possible until he figured a way to address this ability that was both a great convenience as well as a potential problem. He figured the plume was somehow making it possible but it was best not to push the ability without a lot of study as 'Eshta' had told him. So he relied on the supplies he had and make few stops in towns, preferring to sleep outdoors as much as possible.

He had stopped in one town early on that he saw had a blacksmith and purchased a decent sword and knife. When the smith began to get surly due to the way Dave would never speak to his face and at the odd silver coins paid, Dave put 2 golds into the mans hand, told him to keep the change and immediately left town and headed into deep woods nearby.

He stayed away from main roads and kept to animal trails as he traveled. He had tried to sense a direction to go from Culders feather, but didn't get any response. It was figuring out the Eshta's feather created a magic field that made him use both together. He got a weak pull to the south-southwest. He adjusted his course and headed off in search of Raistlin.

---

He had been walking on this general course until last nights reading told him to head much more westerly. He came across a river road that had regular traffic on it. He went back into the woods nearby and took another reading. Due north and a bit west. He walked for half a day until he could make out a crossroads of sorts at the river that seemed to have some kind of stonework going on at a bridge. The tug he got was very strong and directly towards the camp just to the east of the bridge. He waited upon a hill in a small copse of trees until he saw the target of his search being beaten with a whip to haul some water a little faster by a large and mean looking guard that always seemed to dog his every step. The leg and wrist shackles did not make for a pretty picture. For the rest of the day, Dave watched the events of the repair and the slaves involved, the guards and their habits, trying to get an idea of how he was going to get Raistlin out of this mess.

Dave went to bed with a headache and cold dinner, wishing he could cast the smallest little fire spell. One to warm his blanket, one to fry the arse of Raistlin's tormentor.

He resolved that he needed to get close enough to talk to Raistlin. But the doing of that could get either or both of them killed. He rolled over, thanked Eshta for another 'challenge' in the best sarcastic tone he could come up with, and drifted of to a fitful sleep.

----

Dave watched the road until it cleared enough for him to be practically the only one on the road then entered it south of the bridge and headed north. He had noticed that the guards watched whoever went by the bridge but only the officer over them spoke to any people and no wagons or people were stopped. In fact, they were given every incentive to keep walking and NOT stop. This was the late morning, about the same time he saw Raistlin go get water as yesterday, making several trips to fill a squat barrel. He hoped that it was a daily errand and that

Raistlin would recognize him and what he was going to leave behind.

He approached the bridge and tried to adopt the same gait as many of the foot travelers had taken, a kind of weary shuffling walk that quickened into a quickstep pace to pass through the rough guardsman ahead. Only Dave was going to add an extra step to his gait.

---

Raistlin did everything he could to contain himself and hide the gawking gaze he had for the stranger approaching on the road. It was all he could do to keep the 2 buckets from spilling their water to the ground as he returned to his regular pace. His left hand decided to spasm at that moment and he did drop the bucket, but managed to drop his arm with it before he fully lost his grip on the rope, so that when it hit the ground, only some of the water sloshed out. He heard the whistle of the whip and flinched at the growingly familiar pain across his back. He flexed his hand to get it back to working again while trying to catch a glimpse of Dave as he approached. Dave seemed occupied with watching the work at the bridge, as many travelers did.

Raistlin wanted to scream a something, but the whip hit again and again, until he finally picked up the bucket and proceeded back to the wagons. He would have to cross the road in a few paces and hoped he could maybe bump into Dave and get his attention, anything to get Dave to realize he was here. And then the big ham-fist of Attila grasped his shoulder making him stop and stand still to allow the traveler to pass. This was one of the rules that were enforced with great fervor by the guardsman. No prisoner was allowed near nor to speak to ANY traveler, on pain of an intense and prolonged whipping. There had been a few times it had happened, or at least that the guards had thought it had happened. The point was made when they whipped one man to death because he had merely waved back to a peasant boy who had waved at him.

Dave continued to walk towards him and would pass him soon, and the whole time it looked as if he would spend all his attention on the work at the bridge and would never see Raistlin just a few steps away. And then Raistlin realized that he couldn't say anything, do anything that would betray his presence to Dave. Unless Dave saw him on his own and had the presence of mind to not react at all and keep walking, then the fact that they recognized each other would alert the guards and Raistlin's life would probably be counted in minutes. The ones after they either ganged up and killed Dave, or the ones after Dave walked on up the road. Against every need to be free and rescued, Raistlin did the hardest thing he had ever done in his life. He slowly turned his back to the approach of Dave so that the scars on his face would not be visible and bowed his head toward Attila in a submissive gesture.

There was a sudden noise behind him and the sound not unlike someone falling to the ground. He heard cursing in Dave's voice and felt Attila grip his shoulder tighter. The sound of other guards in their chain shirts come running up interrupted Dave's tirade at the stupid rocks and his own folly for not paying attention. The guards said something to Dave in their commanding tone.

Dave said, "Yes, sir. I am so sorry to have disturbed you work by falling flat on my face and making myself look like a gawking fool."

The guard grunted and another chuckled a bit, then the first said something that sounded like an order.

Dave said, " Yes, sir, as soon as I get my water bag. There, thank you. I will be going along now. May the God of the Triple Fang bless all your future ventures, tonight and always."

Raistlin tensed and feared that Attila would feel it through his grip on Raistlin's shoulder. Raistlin's mind leaped at the implications of Dave's words. Not only had Dave been carrying on a conversation with the guards, but also at the name of Triple Fang, his sword, Dave had told Raistlin he knew he was here. He was here FOR Raistlin. He saw out of the corner of his right eye the figure of Dave walking on up the trail, wiping dust from his clothes as he went. Attila turned Raistlin around quickly and pushed him on towards the camp. Raistlin quickly scanned the area on the trail where he thought Dave would have fallen and was rewarded by what appeared to be a circle with a single line through one side, the right one from Raistlin's perspective, essentially pointing south while Raistlin was walking east. A symbol he knew well. Left for him by Dave.

Raistlin did something he had forgotten to do these many months gone.

He dared to hope.

--------------------------------------------------------

Raistlin couldn't sleep. Despite the constant attentions of Attila, the heat of the day, cooking over the hot fire, and cleaning up without any let up from Attila, sheer exhaustion couldn't stop the adrenaline from pumping through his veins, making him remain restless and distracted. He could tell that the other prisoners knew something was up with him but they didn't try to press him. Not that they could. Despite the months in the dungeon and the weeks here at the bridge, his grasp of their strange language was still almost nil. It was really odd the way he couldn't seem to make his mouth work the heavily accented and guttural words and phrases that flowed so easily off of the lips of these people. He had learned to react more to tone and body posture, eyes and mouths, hand motions and a few symbols drawn in dirt that seemed common to both his and this world. Still, it was a puzzle he had often tried to work out with no success. And here Dave walks by, speaks perfectly understandable words he could hear, and yet the guards who couldn't possibly understand the words seemed to carry on a conversation with him. Somehow, Dave had found a way to make himself understood, using a translator of some kind, he guessed. But that implied magic at work. And magic that worked could be used to make chains unlock.

Raistlin smiled at that last thought. To be free again. He was going to owe Dave big time for this one, but he couldn't care less.

While laying there mulling over possibilities, Raistlin finally turned his mind to how they would escape. And the more he thought about it, the more he felt despair closing in, turning hope into a shriveled worm on a hot rock.

The prisoners were literally bedded down each night chained together. The chains NEVER came off. The guards had two posts hammered into the ground and a heavy chain wrapped several times around each post. Another chain was pad-locked to the chain of one post, then run through the central loop of each prisoner leg irons, then pad-locked to the other post. There were 2 sets of such posts. Each set secured 7 prisoners. The prisoners slept in the open in a cleared area near to the base of a nearby hill, right on the edge of camp. There were 2 sentries set to watch the prisoners in shifts. There was only one key for the chain that held them between the posts, and that was held by a very well muscled, lean and mean-looking sergeant-type. The sergeant's immediate superior held the key that unlocked the chains around wrist and legs, probably a Captain. While the prisoners could be separated for work, they always were immediately secured as soon as they came back from the days work, fed, and left to sleep. If it was cold, it was cold. If it rained, it rained on them. No blankets were provided.

This constant exposure had taken its toll on the prisoners. Each man had begun to look like skinny wraiths of what were probably strong bodies. With growing fatigue and weakness and constant exposure to the elements, these men were approaching the end of their strength, and a few, perhaps their lives. They were 14 men. 12 guards, a sergeant and a Captain guarded them. There were the engineer and his three assistants at another camp some distance away, and each of those men were tradesmen, stone masons or apprentices, and each was as big and muscular as most of the beefy guards who hovered over the prisoners. They were clearly outnumbered and outclassed.

The area they stayed in was an open area for a hundred paces in all directions. Any sound in the night would be heard like a bell ringing in a tower. The clink of a chain, passing gas, and scratching ones self had earned the sleeping villain a swift kick at least, a minor flogging at worst. Unlocking his shackles, getting out of them and running over open territory like where he was would only draw the attention of the guards and their bows. The practice session they had watched, clearly staged for their benefit, proved that each of the guards were actually excellent marksmen.

Awakening early the next morning, just as the sound of Attila approaching came to him, Raistlin actually felt good. The earth herb had done its magic, and the experienced warrior knew that to chew such an herb slowly until it lost its entire flavor was the best way to get all the benefits it could give. He wanted to jump up and work out; doing stretches and forms but knowing that was not on the agenda. Attila had a routine to keep and the first part of that routine was making Raistlin perform his own kind of workout.

Within a short time, Raistlin had the root tea that these people seemed to favor brewing, a vile smelling concoction that tasted more like old mule-team harnesses boiled for hours rather than the herbal teas and coffees Raistlin knew and preferred. The porridge was also beginning to steam and Raistlin was working the dough into the flat loaves that would cook quickly in the small stone oven, the basis for the midday meal.

Today was perhaps the hardest day for him, because he felt so good about himself, so rested, strong and without pain that he had even though about punching out Attila once. But by showing his strength, he would kill any chances of escape. He had to hide his health and remain the pain wracked, sorry state of a man he had been. So, he used an old trick learned through many years of traveling. In his mind he created an image of the man he had been and made that person live in his mind until he seemed real, and since it had only been a few hours since he had actually been that man, it was all the easier. Then he donned the person as if that person were a cloak, and wore him the rest of the day.

Another hard part was his hand. It had healed up and was no longer as painful as it had been, but it had healed badly, remaining warped and essentially useless except in small uses. He had to act like it was far worse than it really was.

Throughout the rest of the day, he continued to go over in his mind how to accomplish what Dave wanted, but the plan that had been given to him, although very sketchy, did seem to have the best chance of success. The danger was great, but freedom had to be obtained within the next fortnight, because the repairs to the bridge would easily be accomplished by then.

And then it was back to the dungeon.

Raistlin did his duties, took the slaps from the whip, and bided his time.

---------------------------

Raistlin waited until after the beans had been served before he made his next move. He sat and watched the men eating and began to see looks of surprise appear as they ate. Dave pointed out that dried earth herb, when cooked over many hours, brought out a rich nutty flavor like garlic but also enhanced the herbs healing ability. The flavor difference was enough to get a few looks from his fellow prisoners, many of whom simply nodded when they met his gaze. But when they began to realize what was happening to their bodies, the easing of pain, the strengthening of limb, the healing of cuts and scrapes, they turned their eyes to Raistlin with questions in their faces. Then it was his turn to nod to them once.

He sat down on a log next to the one he was always chained to at night whom he called Jon. Without saying anything, he kept shoveling the food into his mouth, but slowly with his foot he drew in the dirt two circles connected by a line, then nudged Jon to look. Jon glanced at it, and Raistlin rattled his chain a bit. Jon nodded his understanding. The circles and lines represented their chains.

The Raistlin made a jagged line through the other line. He saw Jon pause in his chewing, then glance up at Raistlin. Raistlin nodded again, then erased his picture in the dirt. Raistlin finished eating and started gathering up the others plates.

He left the rest up to Jon and the flavor of the herb on their tongues and the warm sensation flowing through their bodies to take effect.

----------------------------------

When he brought the noonday meal to the prisoners the next day, Khuspusare and Gunforsax both watched him intently, and when he poured water into their cups, Gunforsax kept moving his cup until Raistlin looked at him. Gunforsax looked intently into Raistlin's eyes and felt himself being evaluated. Raistlin let his guise of the weak man fall for just a few seconds, enough to earn a twitch at the edge of Gunforsax's left eye and a small crooked smile. Gunforsax's eyes let his go and Raistlin moved on to Khuspusare who helped Raistlin pour from the heavy water bag. Something happened in which Raistlin suddenly found himself dizzy and Khuspusare was holding him up. Suddenly Attila's whip slapped across his back and the dizziness that had assailed him quickly left as Attila laid stroke after stroke upon his back.

He had to endure Attila's special attentions for the rest of the day and almost missed the chance to put another herb in the evening's beans, but he caught a moment when Attila was called to the Captains tent and put the herb in the bubbling pot.

That evening's meal was a mix of looks and silence. The hardest part of this whole plan was the lack of communication between Raistlin and his fellow prisoners. It was Jon who kept trying to 'talk' with Raistlin, through small gestures and furtive drawings, but Raistlin was able to convey that the 'broken chain' drawing he had made included all 14 men. And also Raistlin let Jon know one other detail about the guards. He drew 12 lines and nodded to Attila. Jon understood. Then he erased one of them. Jon looked at him funny. Raistlin drew a line, then a circle at the far end of it. He then traced a half circle from the circle to the other end of the line. Jon nodded and Raistlin erased his drawing.

'OK Dave', he thought, 'Don't make me a liar'.

The next day, while working on the bridge, one of the soldiers walked down under the bridge where he couldn't be seen, intending to relieve himself. A splash was heard and the body of the soldier was seen to begin to float downstream, face down. The guards ran and pulled the body out. He was dead. The prisoners all glanced to wards the camp where Raistlin stood, cooking the evening meal.

He was over 200 paces away from the bridge.

'Way to go, Dave.' Raistlin thought. He turned back to slicing turnips.

-----------------

Dave had been watching the camp and scouting the area for usable items, and plotted carefully how he would accomplish his part of the plan.

As the guards focused on dragging their comrade from the river downstream of the bridge, no one thought to look for anyone swimming upstream under water, hand over hand on a rope to help facilitate a quick escape. Dave managed to make it around a pile of rocks before he had to come up for air, the blowpipe he had used tucked in his belt. He had given Raistlin the credibility he needed, even though communication was next to impossible.

Dave had already discovered that the guards knew of a nearby farmhouse with a widow woman eking out a living there. The guards' coins for food and an hour's pleasure was welcome income to the poor old woman. It also created an opportunity for Dave to act upon later. For now, he needed more help if he was going to be able to pull this off.

Dave would now have to execute the next action very carefully. For it would mean death to one of the other prisoners if he failed.

-----------------

The evening meal passed as men nursed bruises from the angered guards and Jon and Raistlin 'chatted' some more, but very little actually. The guards had grown suspicious after the mysterious death of one of their own and seemed to have noticed that something was different among the prisoners. It seemed the prisoners had been trying to keep their improving health a secret, having figured out that whatever Raistlin was up to, he was strengthening them to assist him later. The death of the guard had earned him a new measure of respect.

-----------------

Khuspusare spoke quietly under his breath, "I disagree. I know herbs and whatever he is using is not native but extremely powerful. There is magic in it, that I can say, and you know better than to argue with me on that point."

Gunforsax grunted non-committedly but continued. "Whatever he is doing, it is effective. He clearly wants us to know what he is about, and has shown that he can deliver on his claims. If he has access to such rare herbs, from where did he get them? I am both concerned about his motives and his obvious intent to escape. The odds are just too much against us. His lack of ability to understand us is real, I am sure of that, but I would give Grindels Shield to know where he is going with this and just how it includes us or endangers us. By beginning this action, we will son be put into a position of fighting by his side, for him, or having to turn him over to the guards just to insure our own survival. No matter how you work this out, we need to know more of what he is up to before we give ourselves to it fully."

"Of course, but you Read him. And you told me he is to be trusted, a warrior from afar, and that his future shows a crown as one of his possible futures. Such a seeing always suggests nobility or strength of courage and will. Such men are meant to be leaders and ones to stand beside and for. I believe this trial of ours is coming to an end and he is the one you foresaw as the deliver. Whatever he plans, we must stand beside him and support him. It will be better to stand and perhaps die as a man rather than return to Castle Ingfrousel and spend our lives rotting in rat droppings."

Gunforsax sat silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. "True, I have my misgivings, but you are right my friend. Whatever cards are being dealt now, we must play them out. Very well, let us continue to try to talk to this 'Rayslen' fellow and see what the gods have in store for us."

Khuspusare smiled. "Then we will be ready. And stronger too, thanks to our new friends cooking."

---------------

That night, Dave came to Raistlin, but only to ask him about the prisoners and who would be most helpful. Raistlin answered with short descriptions of each man and was rewarded with five more herbs, more instructions, and Dave's silent and invisible leave-taking.

Khuspusare felt the presence come near him and did not start when the hand fell over his mouth. He actually smiled, because he had suspected that Rayslen might have had someone helping him. With this action, his suspicions were confirmed. Of course, the strong feeling of magic that had been present 3 nights prior and at the bridge when the guard had died, and the occasional hints of something off in the trees simply enhanced his suspicions.

A voice spoke softly into his ear, "Can you understand me?" He nodded yes.

The hand was removed. "I am a friend of the cook and want to set him free, but it will have to be by freeing all of you. He thinks you and your friend might be willing to help. Are you?" Again, Khuspusare nodded yes.

"You are not surprised by me, which suggests you knew I was coming. Did you? Again, yes.

"Good. My name is Dave, and this is the working plan we have so far."

---------------

Dave made it back to the tree line before the sergeant, Attila as Raistlin called him, had arisen to start the day. These nights were draining to him, since he had to concentrate very hard on the feather to impair sound and trick eyes from hearing and seeing him, but then also allowing his speech to be understood. With Raistlin it was easy to talk, but with the Koos-guy it was necessary for the translation to work. He had figured out that by simply projecting a need strongly enough the feather responded to the need. But to project several specific needs constantly for hours was draining, since it was coming close to defying the laws of magic in this realm. Laws Dave had no clue about and no ability to harness.

Well, it seemed worth it. Things were looking better, but he had much to plan and set up before the sun got too high in the sky. He slowly and quietly hauled himself up and went to gather the things he needed to make today's event successful.

------------

Gunforsax had had enough. The guards pushing and bullying had increased due to the death of their comrade at arms, and Gunforsax had grown tired of their incessant whips. So when the whip hit his head and stung his eye, he roared in pain and rage, grabbed the shocked guard and hurled him to the edge of the bridge, watching him tumble over the side and onto the riverbank. Then he felt the first arrow hit him in the shoulder, the second in the thigh, the yell from Sergeant Atillantos, felt his knee buckle, and then he fell into the water of River Frindelmere. The cold hit him like a blow and he felt the chains drag him down into its dark blue depths.

The guards converged on the prisoners, re-connecting their chains and making them sit quietly in their groups. The one prisoner who had been the big ones companion was frantic, yelling that Gunforsax couldn't swim, but no one paid him any more heed than 20 lashes of the whip, until the man had rolled into a ball weeping. A somber and subdued mood fell over the prisoners. The guard thrown over the edge of the bridge managed to walk away with only a broken arm, but the Captain had more to say to him than any of the prisoners. The prisoners were gathered together again and put back to work.

----------------------------------

Darkness turned to light as air once again poured into his lungs instead of the muddy water of the river that he had swallowed. He would have coughed up all the water in his lungs, but a strange flavor of greenery was in his mouth and a soothing heat was penetrating his throat and lungs. He opened his eyes and looked into the face of another stranger, this one with brownish-blond hair and a bronze skin tone.

"Remain quiet. Someone smart decided to search up the river for you just in case. The reeds will hide us, but you must keep still. " He held up a dried herb that was now dripping wet. "This is one of the herbs I had Raistlin put in your food. Chew on it but do not swallow it. When all flavor is gone, you can then swallow." Dave offered it to the man he was holding up in the river water. The man said "Thank you" and popped it into his mouth and began chewing. The ache of the arrow wounds lessened slowly but perceptibly as the sound of splashing in shallow water came nearer. The man helping him slipped a dagger into Gunforsax's hand, let go of him when he saw Gunforsax was able to hold himself in the reeds, and a long dagger rose to the surface in his hand.

Soon the splashing moved further up the river and eventually was gone. The blond man turned to Gunforsax and spoke in a low voice. "We will have to wait until after sunset and after they have gone back to camp before we can tend to your wounds. The herb will maintain you for a while and I have several more as needed, but we cannot take the arrows out until I can get you to dry land. So please be prepared to wait several hours more."

Gunforsax looked at this stranger who had pulled him from the water and revived him. "It looks like your plan worked. I took a chance with that stunt and placed my life in the hands of a total stranger. You came through. Know this foreigner. I was once called Bernario Gunforsax deGrond if't Nooranian, but circumstances now limit my name to Gunforsax. You have saved my life and there is now a blood debt of honor I owe you. It is the way of my people. I am your man until I can repay in turn the honor you have bestowed upon me. I will abide as you have said. We have friends and fellows to rescue. We together will succeed and freedom will be ours again. By the blood of my ancestors and Great Cresnifir, I so swear."

With that, the man called Gunforsax pulled himself into the reeds until they supported him and he seemed to relax, but his eyes we calm yet calculating, looking everywhere yet at nothing specific.

Dave did not expect that response at all and was unable to think of any kind of response. The quiet intensity of Gunforsax's words were penetrating and as he spoke it seemed that the heat of the afternoon surrounded him and then dove right into his skin upon the conclusion of Gunforsax's oath. His head swam, his blood heated and flowed faster, and then clearing and slowness returned. A new awareness had penetrated his mind and senses and it was all focused on Gunforsax. He could feel the man, feel the impairment and pain caused by the arrows as if they were in his own body, could feel heat beating and even a sense of commitment, calm assurance and satisfaction emanating from the man. Somehow, this man's oath, simply spoken, had gathered forces and made some kind of bond between them.

The feeling and sensations were heady and new, but Dave began to see a solution. He moved to Gunforsax, and carefully removed the feathers from the arrow in his thigh. The arrow had gone through the tissue and it looked inflamed. He looked at him and said, "Try not to scream. I think your oath gave me something I needed." Dave then projected the need for numbness through the feather and into his own thigh at the same point where the arrow entered Gunforsax's, until he could feel nothing at all. A smile crossed Gunforsax's face and he sighed with relief. Then Dave slowly pulled the arrow through Gunforsax's leg until it slid all the way out. For both of them, they felt nothing at all but a sense of tugging in the surrounding tissues.

Dave gave another herb to Gunforsax who immediately added it to the one already in his mouth. Dave smiled and watched as the flesh began to draw together and the blood to stop flowing.

They repeated the process on the arrow in Gunforsax's arm, and soon Gunforsax was back on the road to sound health.

Dave offered his hand to Gunforsax, who took his arm in a clasp. Looking into Gunforsax's eyes, he said, "I have never had anyone pledge to me as you have and I don't pretend to know all it truly means. But this link allows us to know each other and that will be critical in the days to come as we rescue our friends. So, let me say that I will strive to be worthy of such a pledge and to learn to honor you as you have extended honor to me. With you by my side, I am more confident that the success of our friends rescue if greater than I could have hoped. May we learn to be friends and comrades in arms as well as blood-debted."

Gunforsax nodded in approval and smiled. "So be it."

"Now, about these chains......?"

---------------------------------------

Khuspusare felt the oath-power and knew that only Gunforsax could have uttered it. He had already sensed out the troops here and knew that none of them had any sensitivity to the Power at all, so none of them could have known what it portended nor could they create such a bond. They had succeeded in getting one of their numbers out of the camp to aid the other, Dayves, in releasing them from bondage. Having two experienced warriors free and with the coordination of the prisoners, the odds were increasing towards success. That some would die was inevitable, but most of them would get free. This was a chance everyone would be prepared to take.

Khuspusare continued to act the bitter mourner, but inwardly exulted at the success they had so far. But soon the suspicious nature of the guards would begin to see a pattern and the chance for escape would immediately die. Plus that he overheard the Captain reporting their replacements would soon arrive made the whole matter more urgent. They would have to move soon. Very soon.

--------------------

Dave's visit was brief and he simply said "After midnight tomorrow", then left.

Raistlin was able to convey the message to Khuspusare, and everyone was nervous around dinner. Sleep was almost impossible, but for Raistlin, the calm that came before a known battle stole over him. At last there would be action and freedom was just a few hours away. He slept more soundly that he had in days.

------------------

It was after dusk that found the two men on the road south. Their gear clinked and rattled in the quiet of the night. The topic of discussion was not a pleasant one.

"I think our luck is going bad. Gintran dying in the river, Faoren breaking his arm, and now loosing that big prisoner. I tell you, the Gods have turned on us and there are bad things to come."

"Rinfarg, you must learn that we have had several months of good luck. Bad things were bound to happen sooner or later and now they are happening. So what? We will soon be able to go back to the castle and leave this drudgework to others. So cheer up! Tonight we feast on berry pie, enjoy Caraloras attentions, and revel in that we still are alive to live life to the fullest." The bigger man smacked Rinfargs back and caused the man to stumble a bit.

"Well, maybe you are right, but I am not going to hold my breath on it. Hold a moment." Rinfarg stopped to sniff the air. " Do you smell it? By Ghrisna, I believe she has cooked up a RasterBerry pie. I'd bet my pay on it!"

Geelt sniffed the air and then looked at his friend. "You just did. That be GorenBerry or I am a Rendorian Pig!"

Rinfarg looked over at Geelt. "Well we already knew that and that you cannot smell right proves it."

He then began trotting towards the path that would lead to the cottage. Rinfarg followed, sliding his dagger in and out of its sheath.

-------------

It was after moonrise that found the two men on the road north back to the camp. Bellies full and loins sated, they almost ran into the cloaked man standing in the middle of the road.

"Enjoy yourselves, gentlemen?"

The two guards started at the voice and both had their swords partially unsheathed in a moment, holding back baring their steel until they better assessed what was happening.

"We are of the Royal Guard and if you value your life, you will clear the road and return from whence you came, bandit." Geelt managed to put steel into his voice, strengthening the threat.

"But gentlemen, I am not here to rob you nor to detain you for longer than necessary. I simply wish to ask you to drop your swords and clothes on the ground and then you can continue on unhindered. Please gentlemen, I truly mean you no harm."

The two guards looked at the man, and Rinfarg began to scan the trees to the side of the road for other possible threats.

Geelt glared at the light haired man and unsheathed his sword. "In the Kings name, you will leave the road now or I will cut you down like the dog you are."

The cloaked man smiled, sighed heavily and said, "Such a pity that such loyal men to their king were never given enough manners to step away from base threats. Did I not just give you an oath that I meant you no harm? Why do you threaten me with death."

"You think to toy with me, bandit? More the fool you. You will not be getting one thing from me but cold steel in the gut!"

"Not if my friend has anything to say about it", Dave said.

Geelt heard the sound of a sword passing through the air and of it connecting, then saw an object fall to the road in front of him and roll past the cloaked man. As the body of Rinfarg fell, he realized the object was his friend's head. He whirled and felt the pain of a sword sliding into his stomach and tasted blood in his mouth. He stared at the wild haired man in front of him, with a beard and rags to complete the image.

"I just wanted to make sure one of you saw the face of death before he takes you, King's man", Gunforsax spoke to his face.

Geelts sword fell and he slowly followed it to the ground.

Dave walked up and looked down at the two bodies. Then he looked up at Gunforsax and said, "You really need a shave and a haircut."

"No time. Let us gather the things we need and let us be off."

---------------

THE ESCAPE

Raistlin awoke suddenly, alert for every sound and smell. A few quick glances showed the guards doing their walking patrol, one remaining the west of the prisoners near the guards tents, and the other walking to the east of the prisoners, nearer the tree line. He could sense it has to be moving on towards sunrise, because the coolness that preceded it was only just wafting over the camp. No dew yet, but soon there would be. He looked around slowly at the other prisoners and saw a few others who were also awake, although trying to conceal it.

He glanced around once more and noticed the guard to the west was missing. He had not seen him go anywhere and did not dare to rise up to see if he had fallen. A whisper of sound behind him made him look before he caught himself. A shadow had just finished lowering the guards body to the ground and began moving slowly towards the Captains tent to the north of the prisoners. Beyond that lay the masons camp and tents.

Raistlin knew the more he moved the more likely his chains would rattle and silence was essential to their success. So he stayed still, even though his beating heart was like a small earthquake in his chest.

He felt someone approach and a wooden object was placed in his hand and something on the ground. He looked to see Dave move on to Koospoosaray and lay a sword in his hand and a few other weapons on the ground. He made a motion to be quiet to Koos, then turned and made an open palm motion down towards the ground several times to the few who were rising and jingling their chains. The silence returned and Dave moved towards the tent that held Attila.

Raistlin held his breath as he watched first Gunfer first and then Dave enter the tents.

Long moments passed.

Dave was the first to emerge and make his way towards the prisoners. Raistlin felt the adrenaline rising and could barely contain himself as Dave walked up to the Post holding the other 6 prisoners and quietly opened the lock that held the chain binding them together and to the post. He then moved to Raistlin, but stopped when a light appeared in the Captains tent. He tensed and waited, seeming indecisive, then moved quickly to Raistlin's post and opened the lock to his sides chain.

This lock made a very loud click as it opened.

Raistlin felt his heart drop into his bowels and he looked towards the guard's tents to see if anyone heard.

For precious seconds, which felt like hours, nothing happened. Then the Captains tent exploded as first Gunforsax came flying out backwards and then as the back of the tent burst into flames.

This was followed a few seconds later by guards running out of their tents in various states of undress and armed with swords and a few with bows.

Raistlin heard Koos bark something and a second later the chain linking them together was being drawn towards the other post. Raistlin grabbed the bag of darts, inserted one without touching the tip and took aim at the guard who already had an arrow out and was preparing to fire. He paused, took aim, and blew. It struck the guard in the chin as he drew and the guard yelled, dropping the arrow and pulling the dart out. He looked at it and began choking, then fell to the ground in convulsions.

The other prisoners were getting up quickly, thanks to the three herbs he had added to their meal last night, several with daggers, another with the sword tossed to him by Koos, and Koos was already beginning to engage another bowman, although two guards with swords quickly converged on him. The chains still on wrists and ankles impaired movement and put each prisoner at the disadvantage.

Dave had moved towards the guards also but slowed and threw some kind of dust in an arc that covered three guards in a cloud of powder, then dropped the pouch that it had been stored in to the ground. Shortly after they all started itching, then howling in pain.

The 3 of the men on Koos's chain ran immediately towards an archer and tackled him. Two had daggers and made use of them, while the third got back up and waved his chain towards the approaching guard bearing down on them with a sword. The guard didn't pause at all, but ducked once and swung under the prisoner's arms into his chest and abdomen. The prisoner fell down and the guard continued to the other two prisoners now getting up and backing away from his charge. The guard suddenly jerked and grabbed his neck, then began to jerk and convulse like the other one Raistlin had hit successfully.

Raistlin heard swords and saw Gunfer and the Captain engaged in whirling swords, the Captain looking a little sooty as his tent went up in flames behind him and Gunfer seeming to hold his own, but with a dark line across his upper left arm that looked like blood. More swords sounds came from Dave and Koos as they fought back to back, each against their own opponent. The other two guards were backing towards the bridge with the other prisoners, with daggers and picked up swords advancing on them in numbers.

Raistlin was about to nail Koos opponent when Attila burst from his tent, battle-axe in hand.

--------------------

Khuspusare feinted and thrust, knowing he did so clumsily, enough to draw a slash from his opponent which he ducked easily under and blooded the blade in his hand. The guard fell and Khuspusare turned to watch the hulking sergeant move to engage Dave. Khuspusare grabbed the dagger from the dead guards hand, turned and threw at the guard Dave was engaged with, distracting him enough for Khuspusare to step in and take Dave's place so that he could face sergeant Atillantos.

---------------------

Atillantos kept trying to shake the dizziness from his fog-shrouded mind and wished the metallic flavor in his mouth would go away. The sounds of battle had roused him enough to get moving and the more he moved, the better he felt, but he was also aware that he had to have been drugged somehow.

He grabbed his axe and roared out of the tent. The drug made the flames and movements around him to create multiple images of everything. He shook his head several times until one man caught his attention. The light colored hair and dark skin along with the odd battle stance registered in his mind as a threat and he lunged as best he could towards the man.

Dave dodged Atillantos's charge easily, knowing the man would be in a haze for some time yet, but still being respectful of the unknown factor of just how good the sergeant was. Men reacted differently and even the best concoction of herbs that would work on 99 percent of all men would fail on that special one percent. Dave caught sight of Gunforsax still battling the Captain and could feel the two cuts he had already received and the steely determination of the mans will keeping him focused and alive.

It was a marvelous thing the bond they shared. As soon as Dave had put the three drops on Attila's lips he sent a sense of satisfaction over the link they shared to let Gunforsax know he had succeeded. He had felt the sending of accomplishment that would indicate that Gunforsax had obtained the key, but then the next second he had felt the pain burst into the mans skull and the pains throughout his body as Gunforsax hit the ground after sailing through the air. Gunforsax had gotten up quickly and engaged the Captain, but the need to finish quickly that came over Gunforsax had been replaced by a childlike enthusiasm as the battle went on.

In short, Gunforsax was having fun.

Atilla swung again and again and again, but Dave managed to keep out of the path of the lethal edge of the axe. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye as a ragged form leaped onto Attila's back and wrapped his chains around the mans throat. Attila staggered then dropped his axe and tried to grab the chain, but Raistlin was not going to be denied his prize. He had endured weeks of beatings and whippings at the hands of this man and it was his to finish Attila off.

Quickly looked around how things were going. He saw two prisoners down and dead guards everywhere. The three he had thrown zhunta root powder into were disarmed and guarded by three prisoners, but that was not really necessary. They wouldn't recover for days.

The two guards trying to get to the river had not made it. The one with the broken arm had thrown down his sword and had been killed. The other had tried to run for the bridge and had been brought down by 2 arrows. The other prisoners caught up to him and finished him off.

Dave turned to look towards the mason camp but there was no movement. It looked like the horses and mules were gone, but the wagons were still here.

Dave saw Gunforsax still fighting the Captain, but clearly the Captain was in worse shape that Gunfer, bleeding from multiple cuts, his left arm dangling, all but useless. But he still stood, panting and refusing to give in. He looked back at Raistlin and saw that he had Attila on the ground and had maneuvered to be looking in the mans eyes as Attila breathed his last on this world.

Dave started walking towards the battle between the Captain and Gunforsax. As Gunforsax caught sight of his approach, a strong thrust of emotion hit Dave through the link, essentially rage and anger. It was a clear message. Stay away. Dave stopped and put the point of his sword to the ground and stood like it was a cane and he was idly watching.

The other prisoners began to gather around Dave and stood silently waiting and watching.

In the firelight of the burning tent, the men watched as the Captain refused to yield, and as Gunforsax swung, parried, thrust and thrust again, sliding his sword into the mans heart. The Captain fell to his knee with Gunforsax holding the blade in his chest, looked up at Gunforsax, nodded and then fell forward and to the side as Gunforsax allowed the blade to slide out of its victim.

He paused, walked up to the Captain, Made a formal salute, spoke some words that Dave was too far away to understand, then wiped the blood on the sword across his forearms. Dave watched as the blood from the sword seemed to be absorbed by Gunforsax's skin, until nothing but his own blood was left.

Through the link, Dave felt a wave of energy and another presence for just a moment, and then the fatigue and weakness in Gunforsax's every limb seemed to slowly dissipate away.

Dave looked at the figure of Khuspusare next to him, his face grim yet with a trace of pride in his friend. Khuspusare turned to look at Dave. "The guards were talking of going back to the Castle in the next few days. They mentioned a patrol of the King's Legion would be passing through here in the next couple of days to cross the river at this spot. They spoke of this after a courier stopped by yesterday morning."

Dave looked at the man, shook his head and said, "When it rains, it pours."

Khuspusare frowned and cocked his head to the side. "A strange epithet, that. But if I understand it's implications, then yes, it does appear to be pouring."

Dave looked around the camp and found Raistlin approaching, and felt Gunforsax nearby also.

The sound of a chain falling and hitting the dirt caused Dave to glance towards Gunforsax, who was unlocking the prisoner's chains with the key obtained from the dead Captain. Once finished, he handed the key to the man and bid him to remove the others chains. As Gunforsax walked up to Dave and the others, the men all dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. To Gunforsax.

Dave felt a flash of irritation from the link that turned into a wave of pride, and then a sudden deep pain surfaced. Gunforsax suddenly glanced at Dave, and then Dave felt a sudden wall slammed down through the link between him and Gunforsax, so powerfully that he gasped and jumped a bit in surprise.

Khuspusare helped to steady Dave as he shook off the effects of the wall. It seemed like it was made of iron, so much so that he actually found he had a metallic taste in his mouth.

The voice of Gunforsax was heard next to him. "I regret that I may have hurt you just now, Oath-Brother, but some things I am not yet ready to share. Forgive me, but for the moment, it must be so."

Dave nodded his head.

"Lord Gunforsax, Magister Khuspusare, we would pledge our lives and swords to you, if you would have us." The voice of the prisoner Madrick spoke, to be followed by the rumbling assent of every other survivor. In all, 8 men knelt before them and all looked at them with eyes filled with hope.

Khuspusare stepped forward to Madrick. "Those men you speak of are declared Outcasts by command of King and Tower Guild. No man may declare to or for them, upon pain of sharing their fate and Curses. The paths those two must walk will lead to their doom and a very painful death. You know the power that hangs over them. They have little time left on this soil and only suffering will come to those who declare them. For your own sakes, and for the moment of joy you gave them, we ask you to run away from us now. Seek your own paths and destinies. Those Outcasts can only bring you to ruin."

Madrick replied, "We know of the curses hanging over the Outcasts. But if we stay here, we will be cut down for the deaths we have caused. If we run, we will have curses sent after us, since we are known to the Castle to be here, and we will have Wraiths and Ballocks hunting us until we are run down. Where can we go that will be safe? Our only chance, our only hope lies with you. We are condemned either way. Let us at least be your men for the little life we have left. Let us die as men, and not cowering pigs."

Raistlin came up beside Dave. What are they talking about? I can't understand them. Dave took the feathers from under his tunic and had Raistlin touch them.

Gunforsax stood before the men. "You give us too much honor. Were it possible to accept your service, I would gladly accept you as my men, but the very curses that will be put upon you will only be made worse and compounded by your presence with us. And your presence and Curses will only increase our pain and deaths also. We will all suffer more for standing by each other rather than alone. That is why Outcasts walk alone. For Outcasts to walk together only makes their deaths worse. My Blood Brother and I walk together because we are condemned to do so. Such is the way of things. This is as it has always been and how it will always be. There is no other option. You must all walk alone now. For your own lives. I am sorry. I have spoken." Gunforsax stood in a regal pose, and the kneeling men all looked at him. As he spoke, the spark of hope turned to ashes in their eyes. Now they looked like death had already claimed them. Some even wept.

Raistlin looked at Dave. "Did I really get the gist of that?"

"Probably. We don't have a lot of time. What do you think?"

Raistlin looked into Dave's face, then nodded. Dave nodded his head towards the men kneeling, took off the feather necklace, and placed it around Raistlin's head, then held onto his shoulder.

Raistlin cleared his throat loudly and stepped up to Gunforsax. In a loud voice he said. "There is one other option we can offer you."

-------

Every eye turned and looked at the man who had never spoken nor understood a single word of their language despite the months he had been among them. Yet now they had understood each word, each syllable, each intonation and inflection perfectly. Gunforsax looked suspicious and angry, but it was Khuspusare who stepped up and confronted Raistlin. "How is it you can now speak our language so easily now?"

Dave replied, "It is this feather. It holds a magic that allows us to speak our language and for you to understand it, and for us to understand you as you speak yours. It translates...."

"You lie! Such a thing is impossible. No magic can be contained in a feather. It is too fragile and can bear no rune. What game do you play with us?" Khuspusare had his sword out and was pointing it at Raistlin.

Dave spoke in Raistlin's ear, "Show them."

Raistlin started speaking. "I understand why you are questioning us, and since we do not know how magic works in this world, both Dave and I defer to your superior knowledge." His hands came up and grabbed the leather thong that held the feather necklace. "But just because something is impossible here does not mean it is impossible somewhere else. We are foreigners to this realm, but also to this world. This necklace is based on a magic that works in another world. We came here with it and we are going to be returning to that world soon. It is far away..."

At this, Raistlin took the necklace off and threw it away, but kept on speaking.

"hisha asuhpasr aij wotfjkopij weiedj we wpoefj djkdp ds d 0sad 'ae su vs'ioufv oifjauj w sai glarg 'skg sdgk diswju grrg ee ps dl a afp am v oijsf zcv osad."

The impact of the sudden change in language caused the men to stir and begin murmuring amongst themselves.

"Gnfrrsetch, nosid osihbf phjn posdj? " Raistlin pointed at the necklace, then made motions to pick it up and walk back over near him. Gunforsax understood and walked over to the necklace, continuing to hear Rayslens voice speaking gibberish. He stooped to pick up the necklace, and turned to the two foreigners, but the gibberish continued. Dave waved him closer and Gunforsax approached them.

"Geffen oi sdifj pasf 0aijv aifj bsfh ijsv ojusan nv'ai oifjwr gsw askiv sidv so that it becomes possible to understand each other. It is not meant to be a great magic, just a useful one. "

Gunforsax stopped walking as soon as he could understand Raistlin. He then held up his hand. "Enough. You have made your point to me, but it is my Blood Brother you must convince. Continue talking."

Raistlin took up his diatribe again as Gunforsax walked beyond where he could understand him and motioned for Khuspusare to join him, which he did by striding defiantly to Gunforsax.

"This is impossible. I am... was Tower-Trained of the Golden Triumvirate and I tell you it is impossible for such an object to hold magic. You KNOW this Brother. They must be lying."

"Then tell me why even I can feel the power in this object." He held up the feathers in the palm of his hand.

Hesitantly, Khuspusare reached out and took the feathers. Shock registered on his face as the familiar warmth of power, of magic, emanated from the frail pinion he now held. He tried to savor the taste of the magic, but it eluded him. There was a very earthy feel to it, like fresh turned soil and a faint sense of age, but it was clearly magical.

In all his life, in all his schooling, studies and trials, magic had three basic forms. The Spoken word, the Written word and the Inscribed word. The Spoken word required intensive training, study and phonetic accuracy to gather the forces and bind them through tone and will into an effect.

The Written Word used the Spoken word, or more accurately, the Chanted form of the Spoken to imbue Ink and paper with magic power, which could not in and of itself remain in these elements, except that there was a process to Chant a binding and a spell together, such that the desired effect became bound into the paper and ink form, making a Magic Scroll. To read a magic scroll without knowing HOW to supply the final sonorous tones that would safely release the spell to the desired effect would usually result in the magic becoming unbound in a totally unpredictable manner, usually a fiery explosion, but there were a few exceptions. Otherwise the power would remain in the paper and ink. But over time, the magic would cause the paper and ink to decay, eventually resulting in another type of explosion. When used, the scroll and ink were destroyed completely.

The Inscribed word took the form of Runes. Mastering both the Spoken and Written words were hard enough. Runes were a form of pure power. They were a way to permanently imbue an object with a specific great power by etching it into the object through a higher form of chanting and a specialized etching process. A Rune of Fire on a wood object would incinerate the object. The object would have to be able to contain and hold the power imbued within it. Usually, metals and gems were the only objects that could contain such power, although there were ancient fortresses, some few still standing, that had Runes of power Inscribed right into the rock itself.

But here in his hands was an object with no inscription and no writing yet possessing a power just short of the power of a Rune. In a frail object like a feather, this was utterly impossible.

Khuspusare turned to Dave and Raistlin and strode towards them. "Explain how this is possible!"

Dave reached over and took the feather necklace, Raistlin's hand on his shoulder.

"Here in this place, such a thing is impossible, correct?"

"Yes, that is so."

"But here I hold an object that defies that truth. So either your truth is wrong, or else there is another truth or at least another possibility: that there is a place where such an object can exist."

Khuspusare stared at Dave for a moment, and suddenly his eyes went wide. "Are you suggesting that this is from another world?"

"It does seem to be a possibility, doesn't it?"

"No, it cannot be. We have tried for centuries to try to cross into other worlds but it also is impossible."

Raistlin spoke up. "Look, when I first came here, I tried to heal myself and nearly killed myself. My hand is crippled because I tried to unlock the shackles and instead it broke the bones in my hand. The magic I use doesn't work here the way it should because this world has an entirely different set of rules than we are familiar with. You live within those rules and I am willing to bet they are pretty specific and give you a very narrow path to have to walk. If you take the slightest step the wrong way, 'poof', you are dead. Am I right?"

"I am not permitted to discuss magic with anyone outside of the Tower."

Gunforsax joined in. "Yes, you are right. The attrition rate is very high for those learning, but once you obtain a certain proficiency, you find ways to create safer ways of using magic. But it does take a terrible toll on the practitioner."

Dave took back up the thread. "Raistlin and I are World Walkers. We were born with the innate ability to be able to travel from world to world. Both of us can also wield magic, but there are limitations we must face. We have been to other places you would probably only dream of, but even we must follow the laws and rules of magic wherever we go. In this world magic requires the ability to speak your language to use magic, but for some reason we are barred from learning it. So we cannot cast spells without experiencing great consequences."

Khuspusare stared off into the dark sky. "Do you use magic to travel these Worlds you speak of?"

"Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Some worlds require that a doorway be created, opened and shut. Others require tunnels that go on for great distances before you reach the next world. And at other times you can just be walking and suddenly you realize that you have passed into another world. Each situation differs from the next."

Gunforsax spoke. "It sounds like you would have to be quite a survivor to change so much."

Raistlin turned to him. "Adaptability. You either do it or you wind up dead. It gets harder and harder, but its either that or the grave."

Khuspusare asked, "So how did you get here? By Magic?"

Dave looked at Raistlin with a look saying, 'How did YOU get here?'. Raistlin spoke. "A friend of mine brought me here after I had an accident. We wound up in your dungeon and then he got out somehow. I haven't seen him in months."

"But did he use magic?"

"I don't know how he did it, but he is also a World Walker and had just had a recent transformation. Maybe his new form allowed him to cross into your world without casting a spell. I am not sure."

Dave held up one of the feathers in front of Raistlin's face. "This was how I tracked Raistlin here. This feather belonged to that friend and will help us to find out what happened to him. As for me, another creature with feathers brought me here. It is possible that creature cast magic, but I also know from first hand experience that the creature does not have to cast a spell if he doesn't want to. He is a force unto himself." He held up the other feather in front of Raistlin's face.

It took a moment, but Raistlin's brows shot up and his eyes bugged out. "He came BACK?" Dave nodded.

Raistlin cursed and said, "When it rains, it pours."

Khuspusare looked intently at the two foreigners. "Another bad omen, I assume?"

Dave merely nodded. "Khuspusare, I came here hoping that Raistlin had magicked his way into this World, but it seems that didn't happen. We can't use the magic of this land to move on nor can we use our own power to get out. In situations like this, we are left with only two possible ways out. One is to find a nexus point. It's a place where this world and another world come very close together. At that spot, if we use enough raw unfocused power, we can punch a small hole through to the other world and pass through. You said you have tried for centuries to cross over to other worlds. Have you ever tried to find nexus points?"

"Yes, of course. It is basic to the concept to see that such locations might actually exist. But there aren't any such places."

Dave held his tongue on that. It was becoming clear that the strict teaching disciplines of this world 'excluded' certain possibilities because it was too dangerous to explore them. Such rigidity often became black and white to the holder of such a position, but prevented reasoning around those possibilities to consider alternatives.

"Then we have only one other option. We need to find someone who can wield magic in this world to open the door for us."

Raistlin and Dave looked directly at Khuspusare.

"Khuspusares eyes narrowed, his features changed to a knowing conspiracy look and said, "So. At last you have come to the crux of this matter." He turned to Gunforsax. "They seek to make me use my power and bring the Curse upon us. This whole escape, these many months have led up to this moment.

"Knowing that we must escape, knowing that the King's Legion rides down upon our heads probably as we speak, knowing we must move with haste, they give us a story that is just convincing enough to tantalize me into using that which has been forbidden. I am Outcast. To use my magic now is to bring the Curse upon me one hundred fold and thereby shred my soul and scatter it into the ether. Never to rest with my ancestors, to always exist in scattered realms of afterlife, feeling the fire of magic for all eternity sear and tear at me? No, I am no fool. I see through this deception and refuse to believe another word of it. Our enemies have worked a marvelous deception in this. I fell for it once; I will not fall for it again. The answer is NO!"

Khuspusare began to walk away.

Gunforsax spoke. "You forget two things Brother."

Khuspusare stopped and turned. "I do not think so. I have heard and watched these many months and remember every detail, as well you know I can. But for the sake of our Brotherhood, say what you will."

Gunforsax approached slowly. "My vision and the Blood-Oath I have with Dave."

Khuspusare looked at Dave, then back at Gunforsax. "The Vision I do recall, and I am unchanged in my opinion. Tell me what the bond has to say."

"Every word Dave has spoken has been truth and there has not been any deception in his heart at all. So I do swear."

Khuspusare's eyes darted back and forth, from Gunforsax's left eye to the right one. Then he looked down at the ground. He was silent for several moments. Then he looked back up. "And what about your vision? We have discussed it many times and I do not see them in it at all."

"Remember the cloud of ravens that followed us everywhere? We agree that this cloud is the curse upon us and it is our death. At the last, one who could not talk freed us from our chains and then we stood in a grass field where blood ran, with a funeral pyre nearby. Such is the field we stand on now. You stepped up and started to call upon magic and the ravens descended upon us. But at the last, a door opened and we flew through the door on dove's wings. The ravens could not follow. They were left behind and we survived.

"Khuspusare, I did not mention one detail to you. The wings were not the gray wings of a dove from my home. They were the white wings of the Tower doves. Where magic resides. White wings with white feathers. Like those feathers." Gunforsax pointed at the feathers in Dave's hands.

Khuspusare stared at the feathers, his face going through several different countenances, until at last he heaved a sigh and spoke. "So be it Brother. We have followed your visions before and they have led us well. But how do I something like this? I have no training in it and all my training screams at me that this is impossible."

Dave walked forward and hung the feather necklace over his head. "Have you ever wanted to enter into Gunforsax's sleeping chambers and see him?"

"Of course."

"So. You approach a door and turn the latch to open it, all the time expecting to see Gunforsax on the other side, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, all that you have to do is create a door in the air, with the expectation that you will find the owner of this" Dave held up one feather, "feather on the other side. Same thing, no difference."

"You do not understand what you ask. It is impossible."

"And that is why you will fail", said Raistlin. "I spoke about adaptability earlier. You either adapt or you die. So long as you continue to believe it is impossible, then it will be. But you have evidence before you that it is possible. Dave and I are proof. The feather is proof. Gunforsax's vision, which you place in high esteem based on prior experience. That guides you. You have enough proof to cause you to doubt that it is impossible. Now take the next step and believe that which can be possible."

--------

All the men stood ready when Khuspusare called up the magic, and he immediately felt the resistance, a jelly-like sensation when he touched it. He had never dared press beyond this point, but if they were to be truly free again, they would have to leave this world behind. To travel other worlds. What an opportunity. To do what none other had ever been able to, at least from his world.

He pictured a doorframe and then plunged his hands into the jelly-like substance that lay between him and his magic and pulled upon the power. With a pop and a flood of power, he created the frame into the air. A golden rectangle formed into the air. He then grabbed the feather and pulled power through it into the door. Then with a loud click, the door unlatched and bluish-white light stood paper thick in the air.

He then felt it. The backlash of power that the Outcasts Curse placed upon him. Any spell he cast would be visited upon him one hundred fold, but in raw power only. And this was not a simple spell. He had had to use part of the higher power he had developed to create this door. Power that could punch holes in castle walls, ignite an entire forest, cause a thunderstorm in a desert. And the sudden pressure around him rose to dizzying proportions. He could feel the men passing through, but the pressure was quickly becoming intense. He could not tolerate this for much longer let alone survive the impact. Just as he felt it almost ready to begin searing his heart from his chest, the gentle presence of Gunforsax picked him up and they crossed the threshold.

And into a new World.