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Lazarus and his group were led into a large multilevel home with different breeds of Elves and dwarves milling about.
A servant stood at attention for them and without a word led them all to different rooms. Royce grumbled a little. He was not used to staying in a room.
Lazarus said, "Royce, do you want to stay outside the city?"
"No, but I want to show you something, Alpha Mage," Royce said.
"You are also an Alpha Mage."
"Come to my room when you are ready," Royce said. He ducked under the doorway and walked into his room.
Cindy approached Lazarus. "What was that about?"
"I don't know."
He entered this room. It was a large, cavernous dwelling. The walls were dark oak and had filigree symbols along the top and bottom. A bed stood in the middle with a headboard with cylindrical designs on the surface. There were lanterns on the tables, but he was not sure how to turn them on.
He sat on the bed. It was soft. He couldn't remember when he’d slept on a bed like this. It must have been before the Breaking of the Bastions. Lazarus didn't have much in luggage or supplies. He wondered if he could have a bath somewhere, but he decided to go to Royce's room before he explored more. But he didn't want to stand up yet, and sat on the bed for a few more minutes.
Groaning, he finally left his room and moved toward the hallway, the lanterns along the walls glowing a warm amber color. He stood in front of Royce's room and knocked. The door was opened by a man inside.
"What? Who are you?" Lazarus asked.
"It's me, Royce," he said.
The man in front of him was of average height with sandy brown hair. He was wearing a dark shirt and jeans.
"You can change back?" Lazarus asked.
"I like to. I realized I could do this when I came to Middle Earth. I feel like I have more power here. Come inside. We have things to discuss," Royce said.
Lazarus stepped inside and closed the door. It was odd seeing Royce as a human again. He’d known Royce was a normal person before he was changed into a Grog, but this was still odd. They sat on chairs facing each other.
Lazarus waited. Royce seemed to be working up some courage.
"I'm sorry for what I did to your friend, Mathew. My rage was being used against me. I was always in my father's shadow."
Lazarus was not sure who his father was and why he felt like this, but he didn't comment.
Royce continued. "I don't want your forgiveness. I want you to tell Cindy and Grace that I am sorry. I wished I could take Mathew's place and have him here alive with you instead of me. I was never a good person, and I didn't expect to amount into anything." Royce sighed and looked at Lazarus with pain in his eyes.
"I accept your apology." Lazarus paused. "I have also felt that my powers have grown. I think it has something to do with this place, as well as being trapped in the crystal."
Royce nodded. "Thank you, that means a lot to me. I first changed back to my human form a few days ago while I was hunting. It seemed natural, and when I was human again my anger stopped and I could think clearly again."
Lazarus had wondered before about Royce's Grog form, and if it was permanent. "I will tell the others. Are you going to stay in this human form?"
"Yes, I feel more at peace with myself. Another time I will tell you about my family. Right now, I need some sleep."
"Okay, get some rest," he said.
***
"LAZARUS, WHAT ARE YOU telling me?" asked Cindy.
"Royce apologized. He feels bad about what he’s done," Lazarus said.
Grace was sitting on Cindy's bed, cross-legged, and with her back against the headboard.
"You also said that he changed back."
"Yes, I did say that," Lazarus said. He waited a few seconds. "I believe him. He was sincere. We should give him a chance."
"It will take more than words for me to forgive him," spat Grace.
"I'm not sure," Cindy said. "I will wait and see."
Lazarus knew the women were going to say this.
Cindy said, "Have you taken a bath? It was wonderful."
"Yes, you cannot tell I smell like rose-petals?" he said.
"No," Grace said. She smiled.
They had been through a lot together. They had all grown. He knew Cindy had not forgiven him about his secret. He didn't want to speak about it in front of Grace, though he knew Cindy had told her. He felt ashamed.
Cindy said, "Have you tried these wonderful lamps?"
"What lamps?" Lazarus asked.
She moved closer to one of the lamps and tapped the bottom. A light appeared.
"How is this done?" he asked.
"I think it is magic," Cindy said.
Lazarus stood from his chair and placed his hand closer to the lamp. He felt a tendril of magical power coming from the base of the light.
"I think you’re right," he said, though he was not sure how it was done. He wished he knew how.
Lazarus needed to speak to Professor Jacobs, and ask if this was in Earth's new world. He knew he shouldn't be mad and angry at Merlin, but he was.
"You both have not told me about how you are doing."
"You mean, being imprisoned in a crystal for a hundred years?" Cindy said sarcastically.
Grace shook her head. "I don't know. I haven’t thought about it."
Lazarus sat back in his wooden chair. "You understand why Merlin had to do that. He had no choice. He knew that they would be going after him someday after they found us."
"I know," Cindy said. She looked very vulnerable sitting across from him in her chair. He wanted to reach across the table and hold her hand.
Grace said, "I will try to give Royce a second change. But I don't trust him."
"Fine, that is all I ask. I don't trust him myself. But he is an Alpha Mage, like we are. I feel like our Final Battle is getting close and we will need both him and Merlin."
"Have you communicated with Merlin?" Cindy asked.
"I tried," he said.
Grace said, "Should we try again?"
They both looked at him.
"Yes, but not right now. We need a safe place, and we need to get out of this city," he said.
