FSE

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"I can handle myself," Krater said. Nefertari just scowled at him with her glowing, red crocodile eyes. "You know I can. Who commands magic better than I?" At once red bands of runes surrounded him, binding his arms, legs, and tail.

"You know much, boy. But never presume to think you know everything." She shook her head. "And if I could get you to forsake your dependency on those needless gestures, you wouldn't be stuck right now." The crocodile didn't even flinch as the wind blew another gust of sand at them.

Krater scowled. His eyes shone like the sun through amethyst, but it was true. Without the gestures taught him by the Greeks, he couldn't begin to cast a spell. "I'd be prepared for something like this from them. You took me by surprise."

"Fine. You want to get yourself killed? That's none of my concern." Nefertari spat into the dust. "You can find the body puppets to the south. Far. Walk south and south again, until the land cedes to endless cursed waves. You'll find them, or they'll find you. May you find safety in Isis' colors, fool."

When he opened his eyes, Krater found himself lying before Saelus' monument, draped with the cape Albinus gave him for warmth before departing. At first he thought the grass was wet from his tears, but it must have been dew. The sun hung low over the mountain peaks to begin its journey yet again. Krater wasn't sure what force drew it across the sky each day, but he rather liked the thought of Ra. He wasn't sure if anyone still worshipped him, it had been a long time since he'd been to Egypt.

"Find your way by the light He gives," Krater whispered. He knew a thousand gods that would never hear another prayer, but perhaps he could offer one now. "May His light show the path I travel."

A flash of green flooded the mound and just as soon was gone, leaving only a small glow hovering over the grave. Krater could see no source and quickly formed his mage armor, but studied it curiously. "What are you?" He asked as it began to move, floating higher and closer to the monument. It stuck to the chest and sunk in, forming a rune. The same rune of the spell that killed Saelus.

Krater spun around, quickly casting a spell that would make the essence of life visible to him, learned long ago from an Aboriginal tribesman. Patterns of rainbows shimmered across the field, showing the grass all around. Specks of red, blue, green, and yellow revealed insects all around. Blue birds flitted past through the sky, but Krater found no evidence of another spellcaster as he scanned the field. He looked at his own paws to be sure the spell worked properly, noting the vibrant purple held within.

Turning back to the statue, Krater took a step back. The rune still glowed green, but a hidden white sat behind it, almost like... like there was life contained inside. He blinked, dismissing the spell, and stared dumbfounded as the white vanished. Only once before had he encountered spells containing life, in the southernmost reaches of Africa. The magic practiced there didn't bear thinking about. Krater shuddered, remembering the times he'd nearly died there.

Still, there was one important detail learned from his time there. Spells don't create life, they capture it. Somewhere in that rune, the spell's subject lived yet. Saelus wasn't dead.

Krater leapt onto the statue's base, balancing on his tail to look the rune straight on. He gripped the stone effigy around the sides, staring intently. Always before it had been black, but the symbol was the same. The spell was a prison, meant for nothing but to trap whoever was unfortunate enough to be in its way. Not an efficient way to go about killing someone, but the Roman forces were prepared for the usual methods. However, with luck it was reversible.

Magical energy poured into the rune, probing it for weakness, any sign of what might unravel it. Fueled by the very life it trapped, the glowing rune proved too powerful for even Krater's ability, offering no answer. It would take another living spell to pierce the rune, anything less would lack the strength needed to get through.

"Time for us to move on, mage. Rome awaits." Krater turned to see Albinus looking up at him, a chunk of bread held out. "You missed breakfast, thought you could use something to keep you."

The bearoo climbed off the pedestal and accepted the bread, but didn't eat any. "Albinus, if you could exchange your life for Saelus', would you?"

"Best leave things lie, Krater. Wishing does no good." The deer reached out to put an arm over Krater's shoulders to steer him away, but the mage pushed it off.

"I'm serious. No wishes. He could still be alive, in a sense, and I may be able to bring him back." He glanced up at the statue. "It might end up killing someone else, though. I haven't studied this magic much."

Albinus tilted his head in thought. "He was a great man, to be sure, and a good leader. But is it right to ask a man to offer his life for another? I know you must miss him greatly, Krater. The two of you worked well together in uniting the legion's soldiers and mages. I just... I don't think I'm ready to die, even for him."

"I'm not asking you to," Krater said. "How much do you know about casting spells?"

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Spells prepared, Krater stood on the pedestal. He turned to face Albinus and lifted himself onto his tail, covering the rune with his body. "Don't worry too much, I've done all the work," he said. "All you need to do is activate it and make sure it finds the target."

"I'd really rather not have your death on my hands, mage." The deer shook his head and lifted the prism Krater had given him anyway. "Are you ready?" The bearoo nodded, and Albinus took a breath. "Live!" he shouted at the crystal.

The glow in Albinus' eyes was teal, but the runes around him were all purple, as the hidden magic within him changed inside the prism. Krater's spells drew it out of the deer, pulling it into the crystal and back out again as full spells. Some mages kept a familiar around for the extra magic, but Krater had never needed it before. Once the precautionary spells were set, Krater took a breath and looked into the deer's eyes, nodding. Albinus lifted his arm, aiming the prism at the mage.

Krater saw the rune form. He saw its purple form streak through the air to him. He felt it hit his chest. Then, nothing.

No sight. That he noticed immediately, and the lack of sound shortly thereafter. The meadow's sweet scent was gone, and all others with it. That lingering taste of bread was present no more, nor the feel of his rough robe.

Now that's different. Am I mad already? How long has it even been? Months?

Saelus! Krater thought. It didn't precisely sound like him, more of a feeling. The feeling of whiteness, of grandeur. The feel of a voice made of the hardest steel and the sweetest honey.

I grow weary of these visions. But what is a vision without sight? Are you a phantom, perhaps? The lion's thoughts came as those of a man pulled headfirst through the dunes of the Sahara.

Krater willed himself nearer to Saelus' thoughts. Like a gentle brush on the arm, he felt himself touch. I am no specter, Saelus. Do you know me? Do you remember?

No. The force, the conviction of that one word staggered the mage. No! Krater. You shouldn't be here. You can't be dead! Something almost like tears flowed about.

Not dead, Saelus. And you aren't either. Not if this works. The bearoo wrapped his consciousness around the lion's, unsure precisely how. Hold tight, love. A sense of motion rushed past, as the lurch of an overeager horse. The odd feelings in the dark void faded, replaced with something more familiar to the mage. A heartbeat. Senses returned as he opened his eyes, looking down at the confused Albinus.

"Did it work?" the deer asked. Krater didn't answer, leaping off the pedestal and turning to examine the monument. The rune's glow faded from the edges, losing its form, and hopefully its function. Pulling magic all about him, Krater threw dozens of digging runes into the fresh grave, lifting dirt back out of the hole.

A body greeted him, preserved to perfection yet motionless. "Live, damn you!" he shouted, climbing into the hole and grabbing Saelus by the shoulders. "Get up and get out of this cursed ditch!"

"Krater." Albinus peered down from the surface. "I'm worried about you. Please, come back to the carts with me?"

"Either the captain walks out of here, or you bury us both." Krater bent low over Saelus' face, feeling for the slightest breath on his fur. "I know you're alive." No heartbeat. Yet. An easy remedy, with just one more spell-

He coughed, sending dust flying all about the pit. Krater and Albinus both were held in shock for but a moment. Coughs became wheezing, ragged gasps of pain as eyes full of dirt blinked rapidly. "I'll fetch water!" Albinus cried, "And the priest, too!"

"Just the water!" Krater called before turning his full attention to Saelus. "Calm down, I'll get you cleaned up, my love." Much as he hated it, Krater was forced to completely paralyze the lion to keep him from thrashing. Weaker versions of the spells that dug the grave pulled soil from Saelus' eyes, nose, and throat before another quickly dusted him off. That done, Krater released him, immediately diving into his chest for a hug.

Saelus held the bearoo gently, his huge frame wobbling a bit and coming to rest against one side of the grave. "I don't know how," Saelus rumbled, "and I don't need to. Even past death, it's enough to have you." He pressed his muzzle into Krater's, breathing deeply in a passionate kiss. Neither of the lovers paid any heed to anything but the other as their tongues met, their hug growing tighter, fiercer.

"Ah, Captain!" The two separated, finding Albinus staring intently at everything but the pair in the hole. "I, uh... I have the water." He lowered a waterskin into the hole, still looking up at the sky.

"Peace, soldier. Thank you." Saelus accepted the skin and took a long drink, nearly draining it all in one breath. "Would you mind helping me out? I don't feel in top condition at the moment."

"C-certainly," Albinus said, extending a paw. Though Saelus' head and shoulders were well above the hole's opening as he stood, it still took both Krater and Albinus together to get him out, where he collapsed on the grass, drinking the rest of the water. The deer's blush showed through his fur as he gave an awkward cough.

Krater clambered out and gave Saelus a quick squeeze on the shoulder before sitting beside Albinus. "No sense ignoring it. There's a reason I handled the captain's... death so poorly." He sighed. "Only question now is if you'll keep the secret."

"Don't worry. You merely caught me off guard." Albinus smiled, looking genuine if still a little uncomfortable. "I wouldn't shame my captain, nor the mage that saved him and I both."

"Am I still your captain?" Saelus asked. "Seems to me that I've been buried for a while, or is that statue of some other lion?"

Glancing at the monument, Krater laughed. It felt good, so he kept doing it. "Only a single night, Saelus. That statue was... it was to be my final gift to you." He smiled and leaned in for another hug. "No more. I have a great many gifts for you."

"We'll have to do something about that inscription," Albinus said. "As long as you're not planning on staying here forever, that is. Hurry though, they'll be wanting to get those carts moving quick."

Krater looked into Saelus' eyes. "Tell them I decided to leave," the mage said. "I've already been dismissed." He grinned at the lion. "And as long as you're okay with it, I think we should keep this little miracle secret for now."

"That would be for the best," Saelus said. "No sense bringing trouble down on us. You'll have people thinking you're a god, or else a demon." He gave Krater a tight squeeze and looked up to Albinus. "If you'll permit me one last order, go back to Rome with the carts. Keep my secrets. You have my thanks, Albinus."

"Yes, Captain!"

"Saelus. Call me by my name."

"If you wish it, Saelus. Thank you." The deer gave both Krater and Saelus a quick hug before departing, jogging back to the carts.

The two remained in each other's arms, holding close and trading frequent kisses. Hunger got the best of them, and before noon they got up in search of food, after filling in the grave and making a small adjustment to the monument.

Let your feet be reverent

Let your tongue be still

Let your thoughts be pure

You tread on sacred ground

Here was a man of valor

Who gave his life in battle, and had it given back

Captain Saelus

"I thought you wanted to keep it secret," Saelus said as they walked toward a nearby village. From what Krater gathered, the village was sustained by the war, many casualties resulting in a high demand for diggers and stonecutters.

"As though anyone will actually read it. And I doubt anyone will understand what it means anyway." He grabbed Saelus' paw, holding it tight. "We'll be just fine."

Saelus nodded, gripping Krater's paw firmly. "You're probably right." He smiled as they walked, seeming to have regained some of his strength. "I know I said it didn't matter, but one of these days you will have to explain exactly what you did there. Honored as I am to be the only one, if you really can raise the dead..."

"It was a special case, love." The mage sighed. "In short, a spell held your spirit captive, and I freed it. I've never seen it happen in green magic before, though. I'll have to find out where it came from. If that magic is spreading, we have a problem. It's dangerous, far more than anything else we've dealt with."

"If it's important to you, we'll do it." Saelus patted his belly. "Can we eat first, though? I feel like it's been days since my last meal!"