Chapter 2

“Yes, magic,” Erren confirmed. “As in throwing spells around.”

“And I can’t use magic?”

“No. Your ... aura is the antithesis of magic, hence you can see these shadows and destroy them and normal humans can’t.”

“But they can set me on fire if they see me first?”

“The more experienced ones can, yes, though chanting the spell will give you time to react,” Erren explained.

“So no just flicking their fingers and ... boom!?”

“No, wizards and witches study long and hard to gain a limited mastery over magic but they don’t really understand it. Some races like the Elves and Dwarves are better at it than humanity due to their longevity. However, you will need to be very careful about upsetting an experienced wizard or witch of any race.”

“And if I’m injured?”

“If you die or return here, I’ll reset you. But, whilst out in the world you will be mortal, so try to avoid injury as it will still hurt. I don’t need a hero, just someone who will do the task I set him without fuss or fanfare.”

“Do you know what the purpose of these shadows is?”

“For the moment, no. But I’m working on it,” Erren replied.

“I’ll do it, but why can’t you do it?”

“One of our rules is we can’t take physical form in this world,” Erren explained. “Only someone who is actually physically there can deal with these creatures.”

“And you have a brother who has some kind of reason to unleash these creatures on this world?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm ... won’t he interfere if I go ... extinguishing these shadows?”

“Almost certainly. Though he’s limited, as am I, as to what we can do.”

“So he can direct his other ... servants to interfere with my task?”

“Yes, though I’m hoping you can avoid such incidents and simply get to the target and eliminate it,” Erren replied with a smile.

“Yes, one-on-one I’ll stand a chance,” Darras nodded.

“I will equip you with gear that will both protect and enable you to fight, if necessary.”

“Do I get a magic sword?” Darras chuckled, already guessing the answer.

“No, you couldn’t use one anyway,” Erren replied with a tinkling laugh. “Also, unless you are a soldier, most nations will not permit you to carry a sword, simply a dagger.”

“No firearms?”

“No. They have magic for that.”

“What of bows?”

“That you can have. It’s a hunter’s tool, so is permitted.”

“And my garb will protect me?”

“Yes, it will look ordinary but will be lined in a special light mail that non-magical blades won’t penetrate.”

“But won’t weigh me down?” Darras asked, frowning slightly.

“No. It’s made from a material our world calls mithril. It wasn’t available on your world.”

“Fair enough,” Darras nodded. “Now tell me where do you want me first?”

“Not so fast,” Erren laughed. “There’s much you need to know, plus rest a while and have a look around.”

“Guess that was a bit impulsive,” Darras chuckled.

“Just a bit. Besides, I get to show off my home as well as enjoy the company of someone who isn’t seemingly overwhelmed by my presence,” she said with a smile. “You’ll be able to understand and speak any language you hear,” Erren began as they both stood and she linked her arm through his. “That said, certain races are not going to be ... pleasant with you as they don’t particularly like humans or humanity ... or anyone else, come to that.”

“But I’ll still have missions amongst them?”

“Yes. They won’t try to kill you on the spot ... well ... most of them. But you’ll struggle to get good service or information out of them.”

“And you’ll frown if I get aggressive, I take it?”

“Only if you start it,” Erren smiled. “I’ll be most disappointed in you, if you go around picking fights.”

“I’m a soldier, my job was ending them,” Darras chuckled. “Is there an honour code?”

“Only amongst some nobility. Yes, your targets will include them as these shadows seem to infiltrate amongst them seeking to further corrupt the already corrupted.”

“I assume there are some good nobles?”

“Oh yes, but they aren’t actively seeking out any troublemakers,” Erren replied with a thin smile.

“These shadows seem to be more than a nuisance,” Darras noted thoughtfully.

“To me they are, though I’m not the one who will be going toe to toe with them.”

“Do they co-operate?”

“Not that I know of, though they do appear to work to a similar rationale.”

In all this, Erren took him around her home, showing off in a sense, though he had to admit he was impressed. It was both beautiful and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. He also realised she’d given him some knowledge as to what was what and how to use it ... including the toilet, as the Ostari commoners of the Republic used long drop privies ... when they used them at all. Soldiers often enough just dug and used a pit when in camp, even the women. Night soil collection was known to happen in the cities and towns, but he wasn’t personally that knowledgeable of it.

He was amazed at her bathing area. It was huge, kept to a decent temperature and was self-cleaning. The garden area was beautiful too, full of vivid colours, soft, gentle on the feet with grass and wonderfully scented too.

“So, you created all this to accommodate your ... human body?” Darras asked.

“In a sense, I actually created it for us,” she replied.

“Us?”

“Yes. This is a place of refuge for you, where you can relax and enjoy good food and good company, as in me,” she said with a smile.

“What of others?”

“Others?”

“Might other gods visit?”

“It’s possible. You can also bring other people here, though I’ll be the final judge as to how long they may stay,” she replied.

“I’d expect a visit from your brother when he realises you’re interfering with his creations,” he chuckled.

“Probably,” Erren giggled. “Though he can’t harm you here or do much of anything except talk.”

Darras raised an eyebrow and gave her a doubtful look.

“That I know of,” she temporised. “I suppose he could punch you.”

“Just not kill or use magic on me?”

“Yes, though that would be rude and provoke a reaction from me. One he would not like at all.”

“Does he have a name?”

“He’s worshipped as the ‘Lord of Darkness’ on the world where you’ll be working, though he has many names,” Erren replied thoughtfully. “I call him ‘brother’.”

“Do you have other brothers?”

“Oh yes. Lots of them, sisters too,” she replied with a wide smile.

“And you just call them brother or sister?” he quizzed.

“Yes.”

“How would they know who you were speaking to if there were two of them here at once?” Darras asked, quite puzzled.

“Oh, we’d know. It’s sort of a god thing.”

“Back to my missions,” he began, realising, from her responses, that Erren was not quite human. “I assume you can’t just drop me on a target?”

“No, you’ll use a gateway. All lands and races have them. They’re a gift of the gods.”

“Even the more primitive ones?”

“Yes, though they don’t really understand them and the civilised races avoid them as they tend to kill strangers when they run across them.”

“What’s to stop an army using one to invade?”

“The ‘one at a time’ rule, plus only people can use them, not horses or other transport animals.”

“How do I survive if you send me to a hostile tribal area?”

“They don’t normally hang around the gateways. You’ll be able to emerge, then disappear,” Erren replied. “If there are any near, I’ll make sure they avoid the area for a while.”

“Magic?”

“Yes, an aversion spell. Plus, unlike the races of this world, I don’t need to use a casting circle.”

“Works for me,” Darras replied with a smile.

“I’ll also provide you with various documents permitting entry to any country that requires one at a gateway,” Erren explained.

“Good, what will I be posing as?”

“Itinerant merchant, basically. You’ll have a pack of spices, jewellery and other specialised goods that are in high demand in these countries.”

“Bribes?”

“You’ll have a bag of coins and gemstones to use. I’ll advise of any issues and amounts. If necessary, all you’ll have to do is say my name in prayer.”

“I guess if I get into real trouble, I can just kill myself and restart?” Darras asked with a wry grimace.

“Yes, but please don’t, unless you really have no choice,” Erren warned. “It takes time to restore the dead, unlike repairing the living.”

“I understand,” Darras nodded. “Do you have a first target?”

“You are keen,” Erren laughed.

“Yes, my goddess, I am,” he chuckled.

Darras sat in the lounge as Erren fussed around with what were basically snacks and a flagon of the best tasting beer he’d ever dreamed of having. For one thing it was cold, not just cool, nor was it low potency military issue used to remove taint from water, but actually as cold as an upper mountain stream fresh off a glacier. Flavourful too, despite the cold, an incredible treat for a man with no real sense of the finer things in life ... other than his Erriane.