Things were even crazier on my birthday. A wedding was supposed to be happening, but I wasn't going to agree to anything. The ladies that were sent to get me ready for the wedding. I told them I need to have some alone time before I get married. They reluctantly released me. My plan was to go outside the wall for a bit of horse back riding with Chai, Carelna, and Din.

When I got to the stables, Chai, Carelna, and Din were waiting for me. I climbed onto Uli, my horse, and we rode off outside the wall.

"It feels like it's been forever." I said happily.

"I know. I miss this. I mean the four of us." Chai replied.

"Even though you two are out of our classes, doesn't mean We still aren't your teachers." Carelna laughed.

"Agreed." Din added with a grunt.

"It's been so busy at my place. The stupid wedding, my coming of age, and everything else. It's just so nice to be back outside." I said, "I've tried on so many dresses that it makes me want to never wear one again!"

Everyone stopped. Chai looked at me. "So y-you're still getting married to him?"

"Only if you don't marry me first." I said assertively.

"Let's get married then. We can skip the ceremony and all of that. I have a ring." Chai said as he pulled out a two rings and threw one at me. I almost fell off my horse trying to catch it. It was small and simple. It was made of a white gold and had a sapphire and a diamond on it.

"It's beautiful." I said placing the ring on my finger.

"Generally there is a ceremony to go with that, but I guess it really doesn't matter. I mean that's just words."

"Congratulations children." Carlena and Din said in unison.

Just then a loud boom came from over the mountains. There was a rumble, and a dust cloud was forming. Objects were beginning to appear.

"Deathbringers!" Carelna yelled. "Arimo, Chai! Get back!"

Carelna and Din did the same transformation technique that the blacksmith did. Where Carelna wore a tunic of ivory, she now wore a deep indigo one. She pulled out her weapon, which was a silver katana with an indigo handle. She had no armor. Din transformed into a dingy brown armor. He had a mace that matched the armor. Chai transformed into a warrior wearing steel gray armor. His axe appeared out of nowhere, but It wasn't an axe. It was a woman. She had light blue gray hair and wore a gray tunic.

"You called, Chai?" She said in a quiet voice.

"Yeah, You ready for a fight?" He asked. She quickly transformed. "I continued studying. Vitali showed me how to transform from wearing clothes to armor." He added.

Chandrakant, my sword, appeared out of nowhere carrying gold armor.

"Hello Arimo. You haven't used me in a while. I brought you armor as well. Maeve told me there was trouble." He said handing me my armor. I quickly put it on and grabbed Chandrakant out of the air as he transformed.

The people riding towards us were riding a strange lizard hybrid. It looked like a giant lizard, but it had bullhorns. It was a strong looking beast. Some were dark reds and greens others were pale blues and bright colors. The Claws of it were what probably helped it get across the mountain range.

The person leading the pack of Deathbringers was dressed in a black cloak and black clothes. From the way their leader was riding I could tell it was a girl.

Once they came to a stop the leader jumped down from her beast and stalked towards us. Her black cloak drifted in the still air as she came closer. She had horns poking through the hood. Two were long and higher up on her head the other two were placed closer to her ears. She had the tail of a black lion sweep the ground behind her. The cloak had a mask so you couldn't see her face. All that was visible was her eyes. Slitted like that of cat, they were emerald green.

"Stay back!" Carelna said quickly. Panic was in her voice.

"Calm down. I'm only here for one reason." The woman said. Her voice was like silk.

The rest of the pack of Deathbringers arrived. They dismounted from their rides. The woman withdrew her hood, revealing long jet black hair with white streaks. Horns of ebony were mounted on her head. She withdrew two daggers. Pommels and crossguards made of a tarnished gold. The grip was a dark red. A medium length, black, jagged blade made the daggers look menacing.

"What are you here for?" Carelna said. She went into her battle stance. It was about to get serious.

"I'm here to retrieve someone, and I believe she is right there." The woman said pointing her dagger towards me. "Hello sister dear. It's been a while."

"Bashemath?" I said. Tears were starting to spill from my eyes. I started towards her but was pushed back by Carelna.

"No Arimo! Stay back. She's lying!" Carelna screamed. "Don't go to her!"

"I am not lying old friend, for I am the same Bashemath you knew all those years ago. Now please let me take my sister." my sister said.

Carelna leapt at Bashemath, but my sister easily dodged. "You know you were always weaker than me. Why even bother attacking?" Bashemath said plainly.

If Bashemath is stronger than the strongest warrior in Alcestis, then that means.

"CARELNA STOP!" I screamed but it was too late. My sister brought down her daggers with enough force to break a building. There was a snapping of bone, a scream, then silence. Carelna lay in a crumbled heap of the ground. Blood was starting to pool around her. Carelna had been cut through completely. Din stood there, tears started to pour down his rugged face. He ran towards my sister and fell as easily as his lover.

"I'm terribly sorry you had to see that." Bashemath said as she flicked blood from her daggers and slid them back into their holsters.

I stood with my mouth hanging open, and Chai the same. "I-I, uh, b-but how?" I stammered.

"Do not worry. It was their time anyways. I knew this would end this way. I made their deaths as painless as possible. Who is this man you have with you?"

"I'm Chai. I married her, and I am also her best friend." He said bravely. He looked as though he was about to faint.

"Oh, married already are you sister? Well, they will be quite happy to hear that." she said with a smile. "You will ride on the Alsezairds provided. Unfortunately your horses won't make it through the mountains. They will be driven around the mountains by some of my men."

She led me and Chai to a pair alsezairds. One was a light blue with green spikes, the other was forest green with a pair of gold horns. The both had silver armor and dark gray saddles. Chai and I climbed onto our alsezairds, and waited for Bashemath to come. She was talking to people that followed her here. My sister started shaking her fist. From where Chai and I were it looked as though she was getting angry.

"I don't care if you think that we should leave the boy behind!" Bashemath yelled. "We were sent here to pick up my sister and anyone else who was with her that did NOT attempt to kill."

"The boy clearly can't go back. He would tell the chief of Alcestis and thus start a war. He knows too much now to just leave him behind." Another said. Clearly agreeing with Bashemath.

The one that opposed said, "It vould just be a vaste of time and provisions. Vee 'ave a veek long journey a'ead of us. Vee must save as much as possible!"

"No! If you have a problem with your commanding officer's orders then I will dismiss you!" Bashemath said. "Do you wish to be dismissed, Claus?"

"No. I do not vish to be dismissed." Claus said. Anger was clear in his voice, but he kept still.

"Very well. Now then, Claus, Neomea, and Hamish I want you to take the horses around the mountain. I trust that you three will make it around before the ceremony. I'm giving you three weeks."

"Three weeks! That trip will take double the time!" Neomea exclaimed.

"Aye, she's right ya know. Tha's a month long trip ya can't 'spect us to make tha' in two weeks." Hamish said.

"I'm giving you two weeks. No extra time. Leave now and keep a quick pace then you should make it in two weeks. It took me that long." my sister replied. Her body language screamed that what she said was final.

The three that were assigned to take the horses left, and Bashemath and the remaining three came back to myself and Chai.

"Sorry that took so long. Shall we get going?" Bashemath asked. She jumped onto her alsezaird and started to make it move.