Amadan didn’t know why he was running at first. All he knew was that his friend was back and that he was getting into trouble. There’s a memory inside his head that told him that. The memories are inside his head, but he seems to think that it didn’t matter at the moment.

“She shouldn’t reach us here.”

“Why is she after me?”

“You refused her. That’s all. Zula, she’s a wacko that thinks she’s higher than heaven. Either you deny her and become her enemy or accept her bidding. She’s smart as well and knows how to pick her fights.”

Amadan crossed his arms. “I guessed that she has a lot of people around her?”

Fez nodded. “Yeah, she has a lot of them. Usually, these guys have been instructed on how to capture the denier of favors. You are marked.”

“Can I say anything that might change her mind off me?”

“I don’t think so.”

“How old is she?”

“Who knows? It’s a deathwish to ask that to her.”

“I’ll send her a letter then. Maybe she’ll stop bothering me.”

Fez looked at him funny. “You sure that would work?”

“Talking and not misunderstanding usually works. How did I offend her?”

“You didn’t come to her meeting. She took it badly and in the customs of her nation. That’s the same as slapping and spitting in her face. People who didn’t want to meet her usually.”

“I,” Amadan nodded. “I’ll talk to her through a letter.”

“She’ll kill you. Or possibly collar you. Her nation has a tradition of slaving away for two days for penance. She’ll have you eating impregnating her by day and a month later you are a father.”

Amadan looked at him. “That’s an odd thing to say. Why say that?”

“Because she’s the thorn queen. She’s beautiful as a rose and has many lovers as she had before. Oh, you don’t remember do you, you meet her band when she was roaming the untamed forests. They were attacked by a pack of beasts and she was one of the many that were injured. Your nosy self came to the aid of her band and you helped them so much that it was impressive enough for her. That’s what you told me and that’s what I hear from them. You are strong and your medical skills were charming. Not to mention that she likes tall me with sharp jaws.”

“That’s it?”

“Not everything is complicated. But I assure you that the attraction she felt for you is gone now. It turned into a bog of hate that you can’t get away from. What were you thinking about jumping down from that height?”

Amadan explained. “It was an accident, I slipped.”

“I’m going to accept that even though it sounds bullshit, but then again you aren’t the guy who’d give up on life so easily. I saw you in the worst conditions, brother.”

The two walked to this camp clearing. Amadan noticed the claw marks around the trees. Fez guided his mount around the side and settled it down. It behaved perfectly well that it kinda bothered Amadan.

“This here’s my clearing. Been using it to look at the city and get away from the bustle. My partner here can’t stand the bustle of the city. Lately, adventurers are looking for the tower mirage. Even skirmishes are happening because of that tower.”

“Tower? So they are fighting over a tower?”

“Yup, a tower that they saw while half-drunk probably. An adventurer overheard two adventurers discussing this hidden tower with all kinds of resources. To that guy, it sounded like a wonderful place to explore.”

“Is there anything that might be true with that? People are going around for something that might just not be drunk rambling?”

“Who knows?” Fez shrugged. “People here are naturally curious and remember, there are people who take things too seriously, like that one time about a goose that predicts the weather. Turns out the goose just ate something funny and the cold was making it act like it was predicting the weather. This mirage tower they are talking about sounds real to me. A tower that could only be seen those who can see through the mist.”

Amadan settled on the log while kicking a rock to the fire pit. “And they are looking for this prize while the other part of the continent is burning?”

“Well, why would you go to the burning lands when you can instead find a tower that might bring you riches and glory? Adventurers are seekers of the hidden, and they would want to know if the tower truly exists or not.”

“I see,” Amadan rubbed his brows. “Anyway, it looks like I can’t move away from this place for the week then.”

“You aren’t leaving?” Fez asked. “They are out to get you, brother. You should get out before blood starts spilling.”

“I’ll try to be reasonable to them. I cannot leave this city until I know what my employer wants from me. If she wants me out then I’ll wander. I’m recovering my memories and I am not fond of being in one place. So I’ll leave the place or stay and serve her. I owe my employer too much to care about the thorn queen’s legion. I’ll be sneaky and skulking if I had to.”

“Well you ain’t changing your mind,” he raised both hands. “My pal here,” he pats his Wyvern mount, “will be with me and will be around you then. Besides, I don’t think you are lying when you say that you lost your memories. But I think you need a few talking to joggle that memory of yours. It has been two years since we get to sit around all quietly. I’ll have a flask and a bottle in my saddlebag. You?”

“I’ve nothing.”

“It’s okay, I’ll spare us some raw meat that I got from hunting awhile ago, should still be fresh.”

Fez started taking out things from his saddlebag. He started the fire. He sticks the raw meat and started roasting while sipping on his flash. Amadan leaned his back on the stump and tried to recollect as many memories as he could.

“