The beginning

"We're meeting Bion?" Five shifted his weight and shook his head. "Not a chance."

"I do not see why Bion would want to bring Cala back," Soren sighed. "His name is Aelius. He took Cala from Bion. Do you know of him?"

"Aelius?" Five asked, turning a shade lighter. "Aelius who?"

Soren silently noted Five's reaction. "Aelius Elek," he replied. "Is he someone of interest?"

India's voice was cold. "I don't care who says to trust them. They burned down the city and started the war that killed off society. I'll never trust a Miser and I'll never treat one. Kallias may be the ambassador, but that doesn't make me trust him."

Zander leaned against the counter and sighed. "I know. You're right. The Misers are monsters." He looked at India. "I'm sure they've taken people from you. They've taken people from all of us..."

"I'm not spending another day reliving the past," India said quietly. She started cleaning the room for the next patient. "But I would have strung that Miser up and stoned him."

Zander looked at the floor, mulling India's words over in his head. "A lot of people feel that way," he agreed. He picked up his shotgun and put it on his shoulder. "I'd rather kill them and be done with it. Waste of time to make them suffer when there's so many..." He looked off into the distance in a trance before nodding at her. "Thanks for taking care of the girl."

"It's my job," India replied sullenly. "I should head to the market and get supplies."

Another shade of color disappeared from Five's skin. He scratched at his sloppy mane and shook his head. "Forget Cala, go back to Lost Valley."

"Take care. And welcome to the camp." He ducked out of the office and left the building.

"Will we be avoiding him?" Cala asked while fixing the skirt of her dress. "Or fighting him?"

Soren knitted his brow heavily. "I am afraid I cannot do that, Five," he replied, almost coldly. "Why would that be in my best interest? What are you not telling me?"

"Do you like being dead? No? Then it's in your best interest to go back to Lost Valley and forget about Cala." Five covered his mouth after almost shouting. "Aelius isn't supposed to be around here. It's bad news."

Anna stayed close to Kallias, hugging his leg. "So... Krios is in there?" she asked in a whisper. "Scary..."
She tugged on his sleeve until he looked at her. "Do you carry it with you?" she asked with wide eyes.

A frown formed on Kallias' lips. "You're not a normal Miser..." he muttered with furrowed brows. "You released Athen, know where Krios lies... and now this..."
He gently shook his arm free from Anna's grip and started towards the tower. "There isn't time to talk. We have to hurry before the Misers start looking again."

"I've lived a long time and I've spent my years well," she said proudly. "If I wasn't learning how to do things for myself, I'd have to live like a human child. If Athen beats Krios, things can back to normal for us Misers, right? That's all I want. I'm not like the other Misers. I'll never get any bigger or stronger. The other Misers will eat me if Tira's in charge. If she doesn't have Krios, we can beat her. I just needed your help so we can win."

"Even with Krios dead, the Misers won't stop feuding with one another. If Athen wins, someone stronger will kill him. Tira will seek revenge." Kallias stopped at the base of the temple and drew in a slow breath. "Wars like this never end."

Anna looked at the temple dejected and bit the inside of her cheek. "I want to have my human body back," she mumbled.

India watched Zander's back and sighed. It's not safe anywhere you go these days. There are Misers living in the safe camps... She put her supplies away and headed to the market for herbs and fresh water.

"If we can avoid him, I'd like to. He's just a corpse... but once upon a time, he was a dear and friendly man that I enjoyed talking with." Aelius put an arm around Cala's waist and pulled her close to him, winking. "Are we ready to go?" he asked while leading her to the door.

Against her desire, Cala's face reddened and she pushed at Aelius hand. "I don't see how this is necessary," she protested.

Zander walked his usual route around the camp, talking to the various refugees and giving directions to new faces. All the while he was deep in thought regarding the Misers and Kallias. He was so deep in thought he almost bumped into another refugee, a man who worked in the make shift headquarters in communications.
"Sir, the convoy will be here shortly," the man immediately said.
"Huh? What convoy?"
"Um...the one carrying your new apprentice, sir?"
"Oh. Yeah, I remember. Ok, thanks." He waved the man off. His eyes wandered over the city across the river. Something's coming, he thought, a shiver going down his spin. He shrugged it off and continued his patrol.

"That does not mean I will abandon my apprentice to that city." Soren took a step towards Five. "Who is Aelius?" He repeated in a low voice.

"Go find out," Five barked. "But you'd be better off if you didn't."