Juan was interrupted from his conversation with Bucephalus. He'd been sitting beside the crater, projecting his astral form into the sanctum. A rude shake on his shoulder and brought him back to his physical body.

Standing in front of him with a two guild enforcers, called Boaz and Jachin. They were stocky, identical bearded men in matching uniforms. They carried wands outstretched, the mark of a lesser magician on an errand.

"Why am I being disturbed? I'm on my way to Anwyn as we speak. I'm on guild business. There's no call to treat me like a rebel."

"All right, hold your temper. We've just been summoned to make sure you don't meet with any undue stress, or danger on the way, and give you an escort to headquarters."

"What if I'm not prepared to go right now? Who's to say my business is done?"

"Our orders are to deliver you. We have to follow those orders. There's no mention of whether you've accomplished anything or not. You just need to come with us, and they can decide where you go after that.

"And if I don't want to go with you?"

"Well, I'm certain you can make short work of us, Mr. X. But between me and my baby brother, I'm sure we could singe your beard at the least."

Juan sighed , detesting being ordered around like some lackey. He briefly considered casting spells that he could cast to reduce them to fiery skeletons or trap them in hell for millions of years. But technically, they were still coworkers, and he didn't know that they were they were his enemies yet.

The pillars were identical twins. One never spoke and the other always talked. It was strategy. One ran his mouth, aggravating and unsettling the adversary come out while the other watched and look for weaknesses.

They were only modestly talented magicians, but they made up for it with their symbiotic consciousness and their unmatchable martial arts skills. One mind, two bodies.

Juan thought he could beat them in a fight without unleashing a curse but he would have to pick his moment and be incredibly precise. He had a hunch that one secret was that they were actually interchangeable. They took turns being Boaz and Jachin, alternating the motormouth and the mute. They could always keep their observers on their toes.

They climbed into a waiting unicorn drawn carriage, which departed for Anwyn. "What's been happening, Boaz? Any Giant riots since I left the city?"

"Very funny, Mr. X." Jachin pursed his lips while Boaz looked ahead. "No Giants are in guild custody at this time. There's a reports of an undersea giant in a cavern in chains, near an air pocket, but nothing has been confirmed. You haven't captured Bucephalus, I take it?"

"I thought I had him, but it turned out to be a huge bear. I'm still searching."

"All right. Hope you can locate him soon. They'll send the Legion if they get desperate."

That band of mercenaries would devastate the countryside. Juan shuddered thinking of it.