Chapter One: Train To Feyhymn

    The station stood motionless in the bright sun. The cloudless sky gave no respite to the arid landscape. The train had been stopped at the station all morning. Jason looked over his equipment more than a few times in his boredom. They were adventurers and so they never had more than what they could carry one them. The merchants and civilians were still packing things away in the heat. The occasional breeze was all the relief from the sun that beat down on the ornate platform as the crowd packed their wares into compartments. The wolfkin looked over to Mika, who was reading one of his many books. He was going to ask him a question when the elf gave him a look. Jason looked to Lars, sleeping on the same bench.

    “I'm going to explore a bit.." Jason said, to no one in particular.

   Mika shrugged in reply.

    Jason walked down the platform, towards the back of the train. He weaved through the mass of people, most of whom seemed to be stretching their legs after a night on the train. The station was warm, the balmy winds only brushed warm air against his fur. Even as people packed and got ready to head out, Jason could see peddlers selling what they had not yet packed. Soon he was near the back of the train, where there was a masked man sitting motionless on the last bench and Hector at the final compartment. He was alone, carrying packages into the car through the back door. Jason walked briskly past the masked man. He recognized what the man was, but ignored him. It was best to pretend they didn't exist if you didn't need to. Hector was whistling pleasantly to himself as Jason approached. He hopped down to the tracks then without asking, Jason grabbed the last box on the platform.

    Hector looked over to Jason, “Jason, good morning." He looked at the box, “You're not robbing me are you?"

    Jason gestured behind him, “With that thing around? No thank you."

    Hector looked over Jason's shoulder, “I don't think petty thievery would get his attention."

    “Probably not. Where do you want it?" Jason replied, following Hector onto the train.

    Hector shrugged, “Anywhere, be careful, I think some of the stuff in here is dangerous."

    Jason looked around the compartment. It looked like it was for storage, barrels and crates filled most of the room. The windows were covered in cloth that was nailed to the walls. The young twins were asleep near the door on the other side. The female was covered in a blanket while her brother was sprawled out on the floor.

    Hector nodded to the two, “Rose is the girl, and Zak is the boy."

   Jason looked over to Hector, “Are you guys.. Stowaways?"

   Hector sighed, “Not exactly.. Jason, can I trust you?"

   “I.. Yeah, I think so." Jason stammered, not sure how to respond.

   Hector looked dead in Jason's eyes, “The twins have been through a lot.. This is where they are comfortable." He looked over to them, “Who am I to deny them?"

    Jason nodded, “Are you guys really bards?"

   Hector shrugged, “I am, or was.." He sat down beside on of the crates, “I am helping them find a new life. So they are traveling with me until I find a proper mage to train them."

    “They can cast?" Jason asked.

   Hector nodded, “Somewhat, I taught Zak, what little I know. But all I know are minor illusions and some healing."

    “You know magic, too!?" Jason looked at the feline in shock.

    Again, Hector just nodded, “A little, yes." He sounded almost apologetic.

    “That's pretty cool, though." He smiled at the bard, “I know a wizard, maybe I can get him to give you guys some books."

    Hector grinned, “That's quite alright-"

    “It's no problem at all!" Jason stood up, “He has many books he's read already."

    Hector shook his head, “No! The less people who know we are here, the better."

    “I.. I'm sorry." Jason began to feel foolish for being so enthusiastic.

    Hector stood up, placing his hand on the wolf's shoulder, “It's fine, I trust you. But the twins are rare. Their from a race nearing extinction. If the wrong people find out about them.."

    “I understand that.." Jason looked over to the covered window, “Is that why you are back here with him near?"

    Hector sighed, “Not exactly..."

    Jason was going to press further when the sound of the train's whistle howled ahead of them. A voice in the distance issued the warning to get on the train. Jason turned to Hector who embraced him in a tight hug. Jason stood dumbfounded a moment before wrapping his arms around the bard.

    Hector's watery eyes looked up at him as he said, “Good-bye, Jason." He stood back and bowed, “It is customary for a bard to wish all other travelers well when they cross paths." He smiled at         Jason and continued, “So, I wish you well on your journey from one traveler to another, find adventure when you want it and peace when you need it." 

   Jason stammered, “Uh, you, too." 

   Hector grinned, “You should get back to friends, now."

    Jason nodded, “Yeah.. I should." He felt uneasy, but compelled to comply, “I hope to see you again."

    Jason exited the final train car into the heat. He lifted himself onto the platform where he saw the masked man slowly stand up. Jason walked down the emptying station, with the masked man right behind him. He could hear the ticking of the clockwork in the mask. It made his heart beat faster. He felt he was being followed. With a deep breath he turned to face death itself. He looked at the tall figure. He wore black robes, there was no real sign to see any gender or racial features. The only part of it's body not clothed in black was the mask. It was made from marble, layered in shifting plates, which made one feel sickened to look at with any real scrutiny. The figure stopped in front of him.

    “Move along citizen." It said, with it's distorted voice, “This is no time for a heroic rescue."

    Jason froze and nodded, “I.. I'm no hero, sir."

    The figure laughed, “Oh? Is there nothing more noble to aspire for than to save a life?"

    “I'm sorry, what?"

    The figure put it's clothed cold hand on Jason's head, petting him like a dog, “If you were given a chance to be the hero, would you not take it? Would you stand up and fight? Or would you do as you are told, like a pet sitting at his masters will?"

    Jason stood still, letting this person rub his ears, afraid to react, “I don't follow.."

    “Oh, for you to come home with me to mine home. I would sit you on my lap after a long day as we warm ourselves by the fire. I could keep you at my side, I will teach you to fetch twigs for me and to roll over as I command." He leaned down low, his mechanical face inches from Jason's, “You'd be such a good boy."

    Jason shook his head, “I would never.."

    “Oh! I see a hero in this one." He stopped petting Jason and stood up, “You would deny one of my prowess? Brave to stand up to one of such outstanding stature as myself. Run along citizen, this is no place for heroes."

    With that the masked man walked past him, ducking into one of the train cars. Jason stood there in silence a moment before hearing the whistle of the train again. He shook his head, looking down to the platform to his party. Mika was waving to him to hurry.

   He ran to his things and got onto the train before the final whistle blew. The train was more filled than the one they had arrived in. The four of them ended up sharing a compartment. It was still comfortable. Darren was leaning against the window, watching the platform as the train began to move. Lars leaned back and began to sleep again. Jason felt uncomfortable. He checked his bag again, looking over his armor and gear again to try and clear his mind. Something still nagged at him.

    He looked over to Mika, “Hey, do you have any extra spell books?"

    The elf looked up from his book at Jason, “Looking to learn?"

    “I uh, I know someone just starting out and think coming home with a book would be a nice present." He lied.

   Mika shrugged, “I am not a library, Jason."

    “I know, I just thought maybe if you had some extra books.."

    Mika gave a loud drawn out sigh, taking a piece of paper from a notebook and scribbling down on it, “This is a basic fire spell." He handed the scrap to Jason.

    Jason looked at it with a puzzled look, “How do you read this?"

   With another sigh, Mika said, “First lesson: Don't practice what you can't read."

    “Alright, I get it." He put the scrap a paper in his pocket as Mika went back to reading.

    The nagging feeling kept at him. Jason couldn't relax. With a sigh, he got up and grabbed his shield and his bag.

    As he opened the door to the compartment he hear Darren speak, “Where are you going?"

    He looked back, “I'll catch up with you guys later, I think someone's in danger."

    “Danger?" Darren replied.

    Jason nodded, “One of those masked things is on the train."

    “Good, the Justiciary will deal with the threat." Mika said into his book."

    Jason lowered his head, “Maybe.. But something doesn't feel right.."

    Darren walked out with him, “C'mon Mika. Aren't you curious? I've never seen one close up."

    Mika shook his head, “Do you know why I group with you guys?" Darren shook his head.

    “Low stakes." Mika continued, “I can relax, make enough coin to live off of. My skills are wasted, but I am in no danger. I am more than satisfied with that."

    Darren rolled his eye dramatically, “Alright, Just us three, then. Right Lars?" He shook Lars awake.

    Lars wasted little time to nod and jump up ready for a fight, “I'm ready!"

    “We're not going to fight, just watch, Lars." Darren said, patting his brother's shoulder.

    Jason grinned, “Good, then let's-"

    Jason was cut off from a scream coming from the next car over, “Vampire! Everyone open your blinds! Stay in your cabins! Vampire!"

    “Shit." Jason said, under his breath.

    A man in a suit was walking quickly from car to car, warning the patrons. He got to the three adventurers, giving them a look over, “Please, stay in your cabins, there's a vampire on board."

    “We can fight it." Darren cut in, looking pleased with himself.

    The man shook his head, “No need to worry, a Justiciary is on board. No doubt tracking the beast." He passed the group to warn others.

    Jason began walking towards the back of the train.

    Darren grabbed his arm, “Maybe we should sit this one out, huh?" He looked worried.

    Jason pulled his arm away, “I think I need to do this." He sighed, thinking of the poor twins and Hector stuck in the crossfire.

    Darren nodded and followed him to the exit, “I'll hang back, but I have your back, Jason."

    It was quiet as they made their way through the train. People huddled in their bright rooms. Jason was only able to strap his scabbard to his waist and his shield to his arm. The leather armor in his bag was back in his cabin. Not that he felt it would do much against a vampire, or a justiciary for that matter. Jason quickened his pace, his body ready to fight. He saw the vampire as he crossed the threshold onto the second to last car. He was tall, dressed in a dark suit. His straight black hair hung down his back as he grinned over to Jason. One of his gloved hands clutched a dark umbrella, which remained closed. The other held a small hand crossbow. He was alone, leaning against the door opposite Jason. As Jason entered the cabin, the vampire dropped his umbrella and snapped, the door behind him shut tight. Jason turned to Darren as they tried to get the door open. Darren held up a finger and mouthed something about Mika, running off quickly.

    “Brave little thing, aren't ya?" The vampire said.

    Jason turned to face the vampire. His expression was disarming. There was no hunger in his eyes. He didn't advance, or show any sign of aggression. Jason unsheathed his sword.

    The vampire raised an eyebrow, “Silver?"

    Jason shook his head, “Iron.."

    The vampire shrugged, “Then it will be more useful sheathed."

    Jason held the sword still.

    “My name is Auriss, it's good to meet you." The vampire stated.

    Jason remained silent.

    Auriss laid down on of the of benches beside the window, “If you want to pass, I won't stop you. Check on your friends."

    Jason glared at Auriss, walking towards the other door, keeping his sword ready. As he opened the door, he saw the storage room. It looked empty, with the masked man standing beside some barrels, looking them over. It heard Jason enter and turned to face him.

    The distorted voice of the figure rung out in the small room, “Go back to your seat, citizen, this is no place for heroics."

    “I'm not going to be your pet." Jason replied.

    “..What?" The figure said, it's body losing it's prideful stance, replaced with a confusion visible through it's whole body.

    “We were just-" Jason started before he was pushed into the room. Auriss was right behind him. Jason could feel his breath on his neck.

    The vampire whispered into Jason's ear, “Ready your shield, hero. This might hurt."

With a shove, Jason was thrown into the room. As Jason stood up, he saw Auriss breaking the link between the train cars. There was a lurch as the room slowed down. Auris was holding the dark umbrella to cover himself from the sun as he picked up his hand crossbow. He spoke into the bold, blowing onto it, the tip catching fire.

    The justiciary yelled, “Auriss, no!"

    Auriss aimed his shot, yelled, “Good luck!" and fired.

    Jason ducked as the bolt whizzed past him, then through the robed figure. It hit on of the barrels, which immediately began to catch fire.

    The robed figure looked down at Jason and frantically yelled, “Jason! Take cover!"

    Without thinking, Jason raised his shield as the fire consumed the entire train car. The shield was the only defense against the burning heat that surrounded him. He was thrown back a distance before he felt himself hit dirt. He was in a daze, feeling burns and bruises all over his body as he looked at what remained of the storage compartment. Three blurred figures surrounded him as he felt like passing out. He heard Hector's voice, speaking in a language he didn't recognize. Other voices he assumed were Rose and Zak's joined in. Slowly the parts of him that hurt began to heal. As the group healed his wounds, he began to focus more.

    “What was that?" Jason asked, looking up to Hector.

    Hector gave him a weak smile, “A lot of explosives."

    Jason nodded, standing up with Hector's help, “What's going on?"

    Hector lead Jason away from the wreckage. Sitting him down on a small undamaged box. The group had arranged them in a circle. Hector sat down last, looking over to Rose and Zak, who were examining Rose's body for damage. It was then that Jason finally noticed that she was pregnant. He looked over to Hector, who looked tired.

    “What's going on, Hector?" Jason stated.

    Hector sighed, “The next train will be here a little after nightfall. You can stay here and wait for it. There will probably be another justiciary on that train. Tell them everything, do not lie to protect me. They will know."

    “What aren't you telling me?" Jason asked.

    Hector sighed, “I will tell you everything you want to know, but on one condition."

    “What is that?"

    Hector looked deep into Jason's eyes, “Come with us."