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“Wear this at all times,” Sister Nan-Tamé said, pinning an embroidered badge to the giant's furs, marking Sythius as one of hers. “As of today, you begin working off your debt to Moonguard. You will learn to protect our people. You will become a guardian of our people. Do you understand?”

She spoke slowly, understanding as everyone else had so far that it was necessary. Sythius seemed to have reacted primarily to the words “protect” and “guardian.”

He didn’t seem to understand, or care, that he was being given a chance to avoid prison. Sister Nan-Tamé wondered if the big man had any idea what prison was, or that it would hurt his reputation.

“The people of Moonguard need you,” Captain Milford said sharply, catching Sythius’s attention. “There are people like Scratch, all around us. Men like you stop them from hurting the people here. Remember the little ones, that Breckenridge takes care of?”

Sythius blinked, then nodded.

“You will learn to keep them safe. You will work with us, to keep them all safe. Can you do that? Will you do that?”

There was a long stretch of silence.

Sythius nodded again.

The captain smirked. “Good man.” He glanced at Heiler. “He’s in your hands, Sentinel. Trust your instincts, and make sure he understands how this is going to work. Make doubly sure he understands that, if he can’t cooperate, we’ll have no choice but to toss him to the Wolves.”

Heiler nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

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“You’re concerned about the fact that we are ignoring the law in order to land ourselves a new recruit,” said Captain Milford. Heiler nodded. “That isn’t quite what’s happening here, Sentinel. The commander is simply permitting Master Sil’nathin to exchange a prison sentence for military service. This is not an offer given to many, to be sure, but that has much more to do with temperament than anything else.”

“... Other criminals can’t be counted on to serve?” Heiler guessed.

“Exactly. This one, however, had a very specific reason to kill. We have very little recourse in reprimanding this man, considering two facts: one, the only difference between a vigilante and a soldier is the time of day. Two, the Iron Wolves have been attempting to ... handle Scratch for some time now. He did us a favor.”

Heiler sighed. “... I see.”

“That attitude is a good thing,” Sister Nan-Tamé said slowly, causing Heiler to stare at her, “because this is an unusual circumstance, but one that I don’t think we can afford to let pass. You know as well as anyone, Sentinel, that we aren’t in much of a position to negotiate. We need new recruits.”

“I ... understand, my lady.”

“Good. Now, as I said, your attitude is a good thing, because I have an assignment for you. Your first, in fact, as an officer of the Third Guard.”

Heiler bowed.

“Sythius Sil’nathin is now your subordinate. You will work with him, train him, and ensure whether he is fit to join our ranks.”

“... Yes, My Lady.”

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“I think we can forego traditional training,” Captain Milford murmured to himself, as Sythius stood back up as a man. “His body is clearly conditioned. We needn’t worry about his physical state. It’s his mental faculties that concern me.”

“He’s not too bright,” Heiler conceded.

“Not exactly typical of us,” Sister Nan-Tamé murmured thoughtfully. Her countenance brightened. “Then again, perhaps that will be useful!” She eyed Sythius critically. “Sythius Sil’nathin.”

The giant perked up.

“My name is Ai. It is a pleasure to meet you.” She bowed.

Sythius frowned thoughtfully, then mimicked the gesture. “Pleasure,” he said.

“Welcome to Moonguard. Are you enjoying your time in the city, so far?”

Sythius looked confused for a moment. Then he said, “... Pleasure.”

“You arrived within our walls recently. Word has it that you ... killed a man, your first night here.”

Heiler blinked. “What?”

Sythius blinked, as well. He didn’t speak.

“An assassin. Uncle Scratch.”

Heiler did more than blink this time; he took a step back. “What?!”

Again, Sythius did not speak.

“Murder is a crime in Moonguard. Sythius Sil’nathin. No matter the character of the person you kill.” Sister Nan-Tamé raised an eyebrow. “What should we do about this?”

“Wait,” Heiler said, “you ... knew about him? Already?”

The Commander winked. “I’ve been debating how to get his attention for some time now. You’ve solved that problem for me, Sentinel. Thank you.”

Whatever might have passed for offense on Heiler’s face disappeared, replaced by confusion. “Uh ... yes. Well. Um ...”

Sythius still hadn’t spoken.

“I think perhaps there’s a better way for Master Sil’nathin to ... repay his debt to Moonguard, than prison,” said Captain Milford.

Heiler crossed his arms. “We’re being rather cavalier about a murderer. Aren’t we?”

“He killed an assassin who targeted children,” Sister Nan-Tamé replied. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t lose any sleep.”

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They could hear the stretching of muscles, the popping of bones, as the transformation took place. Sister Nan-Tamé and Captain Milford exchanged glances. The bear pelt wrapped around its bearer like a swaddling blanket, and melted into the rest of him.

After a handful of moments, a hulking bear shook its shaggy head and looked around.

Heiler raised an eyebrow, then reached out a hand and put it on the bear’s flank, scratching its fur like he would with a trained hunting dog. When Sythius did not respond, except to glance sidelong at him, the boy smirked.

Sister Nan-Tamé stepped forward. “Impressive,” she said. As always, her voice was cultured, calm, and not even the captain could guess what she was thinking. But there was something in her normally regal eyes that belied her impeccable façade.

“Mama—that is, my Lady Mother thinks that you would be able to help him learn to ... smooth out the transformation,” Heiler said. “She called it skin-walking.”

“It’s rough,” Sister Nan-Tamé said. “I’ve seen ... similar skills before, in Jul Nastae. He did not learn from a master, or a school.” She, too, put out a hand and touched the bear. “This is no illusion.”

Jul Nastae, cult city of Saint Ulria. 

The Bed of Wisdom, where the greatest scholars worldwide gathered to record, and share, their knowledge. It was no surprise to anyone that Sister Nan-Tamé would have been there before. As a priestess tasked with Ulria’s tenets, she would have trained there. Likely, she'd spent her childhood there.

“... Are you saying that this man,” Heiler said slowly, “is showing us magic that hasn’t been seen in the Great Library?”

It was the commander’s turn to smirk. “... It certainly seems so.”