The pyree welcomed Caleb entering the council hall. When all the formalities were complete they took their seats and waited for Pyra Cassador's arrival. Amongst the familiar faces was Pyra Kelemir. The young man lowered his head, Caleb responded with the same. Kelemir extricated himself from a group and approached Caleb.

"How is the kid?" he asked and folded his arms in front of him.

Caleb frowned. "Better. He is awake at least, and able to talk."

"Good news then," Kelemir nodded. "He will recover fine. Jalee knows what she is doing."

"Yes, but she is not allowing me to help."

"She hates our arts above all else; you expected different?" Kelemir winked cheekily, a smile touching the corners of his lips.

Caleb laughed. "Aye, and she dislikes many things I guess."

The humour reached Kelemir's eyes but disappeared almost at once. He lowered his head and Caleb watched as his eyes widened at the sight of his ringless finger. "Where is your crest?" he asked.

"Lost it," Caleb growled. "It is a long story, one I will explain in a few minutes."

The frown did not disappear from Kelemir's face.

"I remember the first time I misplaced mine." Kelemir folded his long arms in front of him and pretended to think back.

Caleb remembered it too. It had been the longest lecture he had given the boy. "I'm glad. At least I taught you something."

Kelemir chuckled softly with tight lips. "One of many things, Caleb, one of many."

Caleb smiled. He gave Kelemir a hearty pat on the back before sighing. "It is good to see you, my boy. Go take a seat. By the look on everyone's faces, we are about to begin.

He nodded and walked off, deep in thought. Caleb sighed and took a seat in one of the high-backed chairs. About two dozen identical chairs stood in a circle in the middle of the large hall. It was usually an empty room, used for all sorts of occasions. The ceiling was high and the floor was a terra-cotta tile with coloured stones making a mosaic in the centre. Many of those tiles were missing, but no one had the skill, nor the resources, to fix it.

A candelabra hung from the ceiling and similar sconces scattered the walls — half wooden, half plastered and very old. The plaster had once held brilliantly coloured frescos depicting forest life and beautiful landscapes, years of sunlight and decay had left remnants, an echo of a once terrible beauty.

It was not long before Pyra Cassador entered the hall; he was old, if you compared his life to that of the average man—in appearance he seemed to be close to sixty—but to the pyree he was in his prime. The pyree had a life span that extended well over three hundred, maybe even four hundred years, because of their connection to the Will. 

Cassador's light brown hair was long with streaks of grey and a thick beard grew wildly from his chin. He wore a dark green cloak that billowed and flowed as he walked. Creases at his eyes were evidence of strains and knowledge in all fields of the pyree's life. Strong and agile, just like any young man, he chose to have an appearance of an aging man rather than a youth. An aged appearance often gave respect, something Cassador needed, especially the kings and queens of the elemental nations. He never told anyone his true age but Caleb guessed he was well over two hundred years, making him by far the oldest.

"Friends, I welcome you to this sudden meeting with open arms." Cassador extended his arms to encompass all in the room. "Please, sit and relax. There are many issues to discuss and numerous bits of news to be shared, so we might as well make ourselves comfortable." The tall pyra—for he was a very tall man, even compared to Caleb—took a seat. The congregation followed and settled.

"Our most pressing matter is that of Pyra Hari. As most of you know he went missing some time ago after he was sent west by Pyra Kelemir." Caleb felt the shock spread through his entire body. This Cassador had failed to mention before he left rIim months ago. Kelemir had not mentioned his involvement either.

"What was his reasoning for sending poor Pyra Hari out there alone?" The pyra who had asked the question, Pyra Fi, must have been second eldest to Cassador. A thin, lanky man with deep scars across his face from an encounter with a kuvas. The attack had left him in a month long coma. Everyone had thought him dead, yet he appeared months later with healed scars on his face and a tragic tale.

"All in good time Pyra Fi, but first I would like to hear Pyra Calebrean's report. As you know, I sent him to look for our missing brother and bring back news of his discoveries. If I could call upon him to hear his account and findings?" 

Caleb nodded to Pyra Cassador and made his way to the middle of the circle so that all could hear him. He faced Cassador as he spoke and slowly turned to look at all twenty-three Pyree faces.

"Before I left, Cassador explained to me why Hari had been sent out and where, so to answer your question Pyra Fi, news of horrific creatures seen in the Aldo had been reported by Pyra Kelemir de Nir, however, I was unaware that Kelemir had been the one to send Hari out. I assumed that Pyra Cassador had done so but this plays no importance in my report. I followed his trail deep into the Aldo and was attacked by a troop of mounted goblins." Caleb waited for the exclamations to die down before he continued. "I fought and killed most of them, but there were too many for me to handle alone, and I suffered from a severe leg injury from a poisoned weapon, as well as the unfortunate loss of my crest." 

Caleb paused, looking down at his ringless finger, the ring that once occupied his middle digit—that indicated to anyone who set eyes upon it that he was a pyra— was lost to him. He looked at the other pyree in the room and felt a lack of identity pass through him. His gaze lingered on Kelemir who frowned at him. "My mount saved me by throwing me and drawing the enemy to him. I knew I had to find shelter before the troop returned. So I limped towards the nearest town of Tjorin Vale and there I rested and recovered."

"But surely it did not take you this long to recover."

"No, I recovered within a week. I stayed for personal reasons." Caleb faced Pyra Fi challengingly. The old man was trouble—inquisitive and stubborn. He had never been fond of him, but respected the wisdom that came with age. Fi purposefully raised his hand, allowing the sunlight to glint off the silver surface of his own crest. The ring glinted in the light and Caleb found himself wincing.

"But you ignored your orders." Fi said waving his ring hand before him.

"Not deliberately, I assure you." Caleb schooled his face to calmness.

"Orders is not the right word, Pyra Fi," a snappish voice called.

"Apologies Pyra Eta," Fi growled. "But my point still lingers. What made you stay on?" Fi leaned forward in his seat, his scrutinizing look digging through Caleb.

"A boy." Caleb did not want to say too much just yet. He wanted to discuss one matter at a time.

"A boy? I did not know your interests lay in that direction, Pyra Calebrean."

Caleb growled despite his firm grip on his control.

"Enough, Pyra Fi, please allow Pyra Calebrean to finish his tale." Cassador said calmly but with intense authority.

Fi lowered his head and leaned back in his seat—his eyes fixed on Caleb. Clearing his throat and pretending he did not notice Fi's scrutiny, Caleb gathered his thoughts and continued.

"It was a good thing I remained in the town, since I found Hari's crest in one of the stalls at the annual end of year festival." Caleb pulled out the small ring belonging to the dead pyra. Gasps came from all around the room.

"That must be sent to his wife and children as well as the bad news of his passing." Said Pyra Cassador as he strode forward and took the crest from Caleb.

"I found his body on the way back here by chance. He had been attacked like I myself, but had not been as fortunate as I. His body full of goblin and kuvasai markings was badly hurt and broken. I buried him in the forest, not wanting to move him from his place of death or causing more harm to the carcass." Silence filled the room after Caleb's final words and he took his seat.

"Dark days are upon us already and I fear it is to grow darker still. A new crest will be made for you Pyra Calebrean, I assure you. But in the mean time, Pyra Kelemir, you will have a lot to explain in your defense."

"Defense against what?" Kelemir's usual confident voice sounded weak and fearful of what was to come.

He should have nothing to be frightful for—...

"Conspiracy and co-operating with the enemy."

"I have done no such thing!"

"Let us hope you haven't, but you were the one to send Pyra Hari on the mission without my permission. How can we be certain you did not plan the ambush in the forest. Your doings have been questionable of late to say the least. And from recent reports and observations it is not unknown to any pyra that we have a traitor amongst our midsts."

Kelemir's face had turned ashen and Caleb felt a sudden pang of fear for him. He could see why Cassador considered him a threat: he kept to himself most of the time and had gone behind Cassador's back. The penalty for treason was harsh, not to mention fatal. Any traitors against the elementals would be hanged; it was the law of the land. Caleb could not imagine Kelemir betraying anyone, especially those that had cared for him from a young boy. 

Years could change a man, but years did not change protocol. Despite all theta worked against and for the youth, Caleb prepared to jump forward and defend Kelemir. 

 "I would have gone myself but I was preoccupied with other matters and when Pyra Hari volunteered to go in my stead, I agreed. You were not in Irim at the time so I could not tell you and by the time you returned the matter had slipped my mind completely."

"How can a matter like this just slip your mind? He lies Cassador, I can almost smell the deceit that spills from his mouth." Pyra Fi had risen to his feet and was pointing accusingly at Kelemir's retreating form.

"I don't speak of any falsehoods, old man! And I'd never be disloyal to my people or the elementals for the likes of the enemy!"

"How can we believe a word that comes out of your mouth?" Fi shouted.

"Why do you accuse me so?" Kelemir retorted, "Is it because you have something to hide, or is it because you generally dislike me, Pyra Fi?" 

Caleb winced.

"Do not be so childish as to think I attack you because of a personal vendetta. I need not prove my loyalty to anymore. I have done so time and time again. However, you keep to yourself, stalk around and tell no one of your doings. Tell me Pyra Kelemir, why is it you cannot tell us what you were up to and how you came upon the reports?" 

"Pyra Fi this is ridiculous," Caleb growled.

"You know nothing of the matter, Caleb," Fi spat. "The boy you raised has become a shady character in this town. No one trusts him and neither should you."

"What is your proof?"

"I need none. The signs are clear. Tell us, Kelemir, why do you find it necessary to lurk near the border? What is it you are seeking in those ancient libraries you are sneaking off to? If you cannot explain yourself, how are we to believe anything you propose?"

"You just have to trust me! If not you, Fi, than everyone else." Kelemir said through clenched teeth.

"Trust you?" Cassador slowly leaned forward, "It was that trust that caused the death of one of your own kind and now you wish for us to rekindle that trust? No, I cannot do that so easily this time. Can you explain where the reports came from?"

"No."

"Can you explain to me why you told no one else of your instructions to Pyra Hari?"

"No. But it was for a good reason. I know it was foolish but—"

"Those are petty excuses young Kelemir." Fi said dryly.

"Tell me what was it that you were working so enthusiastically on at the time."

"I cannot."

"This could decide whether you live or die, yet you refuse to tell me."

"If I told you it would do me no good."

"So you choose death?"

"I choose loyalty to the elementals."

"Then display that loyalty by helping me understand your position."

"I cannot!"

"Kelemir," Caleb warned, he feared for his friend's well-being now. The discussion had long since left the safety net of discussions and arguments and was steering towards threats and sentences. "Think about what you are saying, lad."

"I have and I am," Kelemir said curtly. "Your brother would understand."

Caleb flinched.

"Either you explain yourself or you force my hand," Cassador uttered in an exasperated voice.

Kelemir stood stoic, no complaint on his lips.

"Then I am afraid I have to deal you a fatal sentence."

Caleb leapt to his feet. Surely he cannot decide Kelemir's fate so quickly. 

Kelemir's face blanched and the white's of his eyes shone with moisture. "On what grounds?"

"Treason and murder. Seize him!"

Caleb was about to protest, but all he was able to do was open his mouth.

Kelemir's face plummeted, but he rapidly recovered. He looked at the approaching pyree as still and lifeless as a statue. Four pyree, including Fi surrounded Kelemir and escorted him out without a struggle.

"Cassador, please." Caleb turned to his old friend for explanation, perhaps even mercy.

"Not now, Caleb," Cassador croaked, not looking at him in the process.

Caleb returned his attention to Kelemir. 

He has accepted his fate already? Maybe he is guilty? 

He watched as the five pyree exited the hall. A pain ran through his chest and he had to double over so as not to show the discomfort on his face. Cassador surely had looked into the matter and knew what he was doing. He must have seen signs that Caleb missed or was simply unaware of. Perhaps he was too emotionally attached to see any faults of his young friend. He decided to trust Cassador's judgment for now. Even if he had said it, Cassador would never mean death. Perhaps it was a method of fear he was instilling. 

The meeting was long and Caleb often found his mind wandering off or dozing lightly. Topics ranged from other encounters with goblins, new healing methods, news from the guardians and new apprentices. The latter caught Caleb's attention and he joined in and told the group about Nic.

"I sense great potential in him; greater than any other." He explained to the council

"We all say the same about our own." Caleb turned to the lady pyra that had spoken.

"I understand, but I sense something more within him."

"We would all like to believe our apprentice is the most powerful. We must not fool ourselves, Pyra Calebrean."

"Maybe you are right, Pyra Eta, but maybe I am too."

"Enough, there is no point in continuing this fruitless argument any further. Pyra Calebrean, do you wish to take this young apprentice under your guidance?"

"I do," Caleb smiled.

"Then I congratulate you on your recruitment and permit you to begin his training."

Caleb lowered his head, keeping a controlled face inside he was beaming. Nic would be his first apprentice in a long time—since Kelemir. 

When Cassador dismissed everyone and left the hall, Pyra Eta approached wearily. Caleb gave her a toothy grin to show her he was all right.

"Congratulations are in order," she said stiffly. "But are you sure you are prepared for another apprentice?"

"I am fine, Eta," Caleb assured.

"You may think yourself fine but you were close to Kelemir. Closer to him than anyone here."

He did not reply immediately. "Should I go talk to him?" he asked eventually.

"You must decide whether you can handle that encounter or not."

Nic fell asleep as soon as Caleb had left; he was not particularly tired but sleep came nonetheless. He awoke a few hours later from another knock on the door.

"Come in," he croaked.

The door opened silently and Caleb stepped through.

"Back already? How did the meeting go?"

Caleb regarded Nic for a few seconds before answering, "It was eventful, maybe even a bit productive."

"Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself while I..." he indicated to his bed.

"I never said I enjoyed myself, but I did gain an apprentice."

Nic's heart lurched, he hid his anxiety and attempted a smile. "Are you happy about this gain?"

"Of course I am, it is what I wanted from the start, to be quite honest."

Nic stared at Caleb. Was he teasing him or just ignorant of his worry? "The start of what exactly?"

"Since the start of our journey... and maybe even before."

"Just to make this clear for myself," Nic eased himself up against the pillow, "Would this apprentice be me?"

Caleb's expression changed from smugness to shock. "Now why would you think that?"

Nic tried to think of a way to redeem himself from his embarrassment. Caleb spoke before he could think of anything.

"Nic, do not be a fool, of course you are the apprentice I speak of. Who else would it be?"

A surge of happiness filled Nic up from his crown to feet, "I am honoured to be your apprentice." He could think of nothing else in his ecstasy and it seemed the right think to say.

"And I am honoured to be your teacher, but we cannot begin your training until you have recovered fully."

"Jalee came while you were gone, she said it would be months until I am back to my normal self."

"I can maybe do something about that, but you must say nothing of it to her."

"What have you got in mind?"

Caleb's only response was a smug smile, which Nic returned.