《The Legend of Astaril》


 Prologue

    The land of Terramaul was once plagued by monsters.


    Deep in the south of the large continent that made up the bulk of their world, at the pinnacle of a mountain range that hugged the eastern side, was a smouldering mountain with caves that ran deep into the earth. Some caves eternally wept lava like wounds that would never heal. And those caves that did not release lava, released endless legions of monsters instead.


    Giant spiders, many headed serpents, poisonous plants, horses armed with horns in the centre of their foreheads which they impaled upon those who could not run fast enough. There were lizards that could turn any living thing to stone that beheld their gaze, ogres that stomped on unsuspecting souls, goblins that wrecked continuous havoc and animals that were blended together in ways that seemed utterly unfathomable and yet, out they poured from the bowels of the mount.


    And all these monsters fed on the flesh of the humans of Terramaul.


    The humans lived in fortresses and clan groups, fragmented and isolated.


    All travel, even the smallest distance, was treacherous indeed. And if one was desperate enough to cross open land for help though they knew the chances of anyone saving them was slim, by the time they returned to their home, there was no one left alive.


    The obliteration of their world seemed inevitable.


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    After all, who could stand against the savagery of mindless, powerful monsters?


    In the end, it was not one man who did¡­but one man and his four knights, aided by a powerful sorceress who united the isolated clans, rallied the people to make a stand and took the fight to the monsters.


    And as he and his knights fought, the people built a wall.


    Thirty feet high, reaching from the south western edge of the continent where the turbulent water of the ocean was a natural deterent to the very mountains of which the dreaded mount was a part of.


    A thousand years later, the wall continues to endure and in the northern half of the continent, now known as ¡®Terra¡¯, the people have thrived under the kingship of those descended from the valiant man who united the people in the city named after the star that hangs in the heavens above ¨C Astaril.


    To this day, the monsters continue to spawn and rage yet are thwarted by the wall and the valiant and brave souls who stand watch against the corrupted land of Maul and who keep safe the land of Terra.


    And yet, despite all of this, not all monsters were obliterated from the north. Some went into hiding. Others circumvented the wall by dangerous means of which few survived. They are the remnants, the last surviving blights upon a united kingdom that has grown fat and lazy in its safety. Only those that seek to distinguish themselves above their peers would bother with seeking out monsters upon which to cut their teeth and burgeon their reputation.


    And yet¡­there is one such person who does not know it yet but upon whom all hope of Astaril and indeed, all of Terramaul, rests. Perhaps that is for the best. After all, legends are always better in rear reflection, nobler in deed, grander in appearance and stronger than all others.


    We would not want to put undue pressure upon a man who has yet to fully wash the smell of fish from his skin and shake the scales from his clothes.

 Enter Judd LaMogre...

    Judd made sure his sheath was securely strapped to his belt and felt a tingle of pleasure as his fingers grasped the hilt of his sword.


    His sword.


    Not a fishing net.


    Not an anchor or the sheets of a boat.


    Not even the handle of a knife used to descale endless catches of fish.


    He let his fingers run over the grooves.


    It didn¡¯t matter that it wasn¡¯t new or custom made for himself.


    That sort of luxury and prestige would only come after he had distinguished himself. Yet he had already begun to imagine a blade of such craftsmanship that he only needed to draw it and the monsters would run in terror as its reputation went far ahead of itself, as well as the one who wielded it.


    Judd heard a huffing noise and looked up at his travelling companion. He was a redheaded young man with a pinched expression that came from constant reading¡­or perhaps disdain for his appointed task. Judd didn¡¯t know much about the learned men from the illustrious halls of the Order of the Grail yet this cleric that had been assigned to him seemed to embody all the stereotypes that tradesmen imagined of a ¡®bookworm¡¯.


    He wore the robes of a typical cleric, cream calico with sleeves down to his wrists and the hem was too long for his unimpressive height which meant he was prone to tripping up. His boots were also a little big which wasn¡¯t as obvious but he had complained numerous times about them since leaving Astaril. His slight frame was in danger of being swamped not only by his robes but also by a cappa clausa, a hooded cape in dark red. Peeking out from beneath the hood, gleaming dully in burnished copper, was a four pointed, somewhat lopsided, star inside a circle which had come to not only represent the affluent city of Astaril but also the Order of the Grail.


    He puffed and gasped for air. Judd might have thought him obese beneath the folds of his clothes except that he bore a rather substantial travelling pack on his back which threatened to crush him. Judd wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if the pack wasn¡¯t twice as heavy as the cleric himself.


    Judd¡¯s own pack consisted of a bedroll, a few scraps of food which were the remains of the rations supplied by the stewards of Sir Rylan¡¯s academy of knighthood and a whetstone with which to sharpen his sword.


    ¡°Caste, if we do not make haste, we will be travelling in the dark.¡± Judd pointed out.


    Caste wheezed, putting his hand onto a tree and leaning into a stitch in his side.


    Thankfully the weather was perfectly clement so if they had to sleep outside, it would at least be warm. After leaving Astaril they had travelled through the outer farming regions to where large expanses of property were maintained by single stations. The farmers and station owners had been perfectly accommodating, allowing them to sleep in their haylofts. This was not to Caste¡¯s liking and he made sure Judd knew how much the straw itched and how the animals affected his sinuses. They had left the furthest station to the east of Astaril two days ago and had to sleep out in the open for one night.


    This was also not to Caste¡¯s liking.


    ¡°Why do we not swap packs?¡± Judd offered.


    Caste held up his hand and shook his head.


    ¡°I¡­was¡­entrusted¡­with the¡­knowledge¡­of the¡­Order¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re running out of daylight Caste. Either I take the pack or you stagger on without resting.¡± Judd insisted, hoping that his mild threat would force his companion into accepting his help.


    Caste heaved the pack firmly onto his shoulders and braced himself. He could spare no more energy to speak, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the next. Judd chuckled and fell into step beside him, letting the cleric have his own, stubborn, way.


    Since leaving the farms behind, the landscape had become rockier, boulders breaking through the wild grasses that quivered in every breeze. Nothing was neat or trimmed, tended or planted. No, here the world was uncultivated and unkempt. There could be dangers lurking around any corner, bandits, brigands¡­monsters even. Judd half expected to look up and see a harpy descend upon them in such beautifully wild country.


    Judd¡¯s spine trembled in delight.


    The foothills of the northern mountain range that only ended when the continent met the relentlessly turbulent ocean was their goal. There was a village nestled against the slopes, tucked away in a forest and according to one of the farmers whose loft they had stayed in, plagued by a witch. To begin his journey to knighthood by cutting down a witch¡­surely this would bode well for the rest of his endeavours.


    ¡°How fortunate for us that someone knew of a monster that exists on the list provided by the academy of knighthood?¡± Judd remarked. ¡°We might have wandered for days before finding anything.¡± Caste couldn¡¯t speak but he did manage to roll his eyes. ¡°Even you cannot complain about our good fortune. And so close to Astaril. This threat must be dealt with.¡± Judd put his thumbs through the straps on his pack and looked up at the sky that was starting to succumb to the softer hues of eventide. ¡°I know it is not first on the list¡­but when I inquired if the monsters should be cut down in order, the steward said that it mattered not. So it does not necessarily mean that the monsters at the top of the list are easier than the ones at the bottom.¡±


    Caste¡¯s heavy breathing was all the reply Judd received.


    ¡°And after I have cut down all the monsters¡­I shall be a knight.¡± Though it was hard to tell, Caste¡¯s huffs sounded a little more¡­scornful for a moment before he returned to regular gasping for air. ¡°Whatever you may think, I will be a knight. I¡¯ve dreamed about being one since I was a child.¡±


    They kept to the path that was nearly obscured by thick ground cover that didn¡¯t realise a road needed to be seen in order to be followed. It took them to the top of a rise where trees began to fill the landscape, thickening in number the further away they were. And beyond the border of the forest, there was the tell tale sign of civilisation, a single plume of smoke rising above the tree tops. The path they were on led them straight into the forest. While Judd hoped for a dark, intimidating jungle, he couldn¡¯t fault the forest for its warm air and pleasant surroundings.


    As the light was truly beginning to wane, they reached the village.


    Judd had grown up in Astaril so he was used to a metropolis¡¯ roads and buildings yet he was born the son of a fisherman and had humble origins despite his family¡¯s current wealth. So he didn¡¯t baulk at the clothes flapping on lines stretched between houses made from mud brick and thatched rooves. He wasn¡¯t precious about avoiding the manure on the ground dropped from the pigs and sheep that roamed freely, blissfully ignorant that they might indeed be supper. He smiled at the children who play fought together then dropped their sticks when they saw the two visitors. They ran away to hide behind their mother¡¯s skirts who looked at them warily.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡±


    Judd paused and looked at Caste who waved his hands at him.


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°To be invited in¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Judd stepped back to stand in line with Caste, ¡°thank you.¡± He was well aware that he was not versed in common courtesy when travelling.


    A barefoot man in trousers, tunic and a thick cloak, approached them. ¡°My name is Klin. Are you lost, weary travellers?¡±


    ¡°We are not lost,¡± Judd explained, ¡°I am Judd LaMogre and this is my cleric, Caste¡­er¡­¡±


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    ¡°Undern¡­¡±


    ¡°Caste Undern,¡± Judd made a mental note to apologise for forgetting his cleric¡¯s name¡­he was terrible with names, ¡°from Astaril.¡±


    ¡°Travellers from Astaril?¡± Klin raised his eyebrows. ¡°What brings you so far north?¡±


    ¡°We have heard that your village is plagued by a witch¡­¡±


    Klin stepped forward, putting his finger to his lips and Judd¡¯s words died out.


    ¡°Say nothing more,¡± Kiln whispered then declared loudly, ¡°it is so easy to become lost in the wilds where the paths have all become overgrown. Please, allow me to extend to you the hospitality of our home.¡± He gestured for them to follow and they did so, walking around the well where more villagers were gathered, speaking softly and glancing at them. ¡°You must excuse our curiosity, Sir Knight. We do not receive many visitors.¡±


    Judd wanted to correct Klin¡¯s misinterpretation of him being a knight but was silenced as he urged them into his house which was small by Astaril standards but clearly the largest in the village, boasting all of four rooms. It smelt of warmth, spices and though the ground was packed dirt underfoot, the home had a soft atmosphere to it as though it was a safe and loving place to live.


    Klin closed the door behind them then pulled the curtains closed before lighting a candle. ¡°Forgive my hasty greeting,¡± he apologised, gesturing to them to sit at the table on three legged stools, ¡°but I felt your safety was worth my rudeness. I would never wish to offend a knight of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°I am not a knight,¡± Judd hastily explained and Klin blinked, his good natured face revealing understandable surprise, ¡°but, the stars willing, I will be one.¡±


    Caste gave a small, less than well concealed, huff next to him which he chose to ignore.


    ¡°You seek to distinguish yourself by slaying a witch as dangerous as Dragoslava¡­yet you are not even a true knight?¡± Klin shook his head. ¡°Young man, I urge you to reconsider¡­Dragoslava is not to be trifled with. She lives deep in the forest and has held our village in thrall for nearly three decades.¡±


    ¡°You have not sought help from King Rocheveron?¡± Caste asked, sitting primly on the stool, trying not to touch anything with his pack resting on the ground, off his weary shoulders.


    ¡°We were warned that any attempt to seek help would be met with retribution.¡± Klin explained.


    ¡°How would she know?¡± Caste demanded and Klin leaned forward, the table creaking slightly as the mood darkened around them.


    ¡°Dragoslava reads minds¡­she knows our thoughts¡­and she can kill without ever coming close to you.¡±


    Judd¡¯s skin prickled and he began to question the stupidity of challenging a monster that was far down the list. He should have started with something easy like goblins. But he was here now and these people needed help. Klin¡¯s eyes were desperate for him to believe, to be warned at the danger.


    ¡°I will not be swayed from my quest.¡± Judd responded with more confidence than he felt, straightening his shoulders. ¡°Monsters have plagued the citizens of Terra for hundreds of years while their kin beat mindlessly against the wall to the south. It is time we knew true peace in our land.¡±


    ¡°Judd, you should listen to the man,¡± Caste looked at him, ¡°you are not ready for this.¡±


    ¡°Your learned friend speaks wisely.¡± Klin insisted.


    ¡°And yet I am undeterred¡­¡± Judd stood up, sure his knees were turning to jelly.


    ¡°Good sir, I beg you to reconsider,¡± Klin urged, ¡°at least wait until the morning. Even an experienced knight would hesitate to enter the woods at night for the moon¡¯s light has an evil glow just as the stars shine brightly with hope.¡±


    Judd sighed and sank back onto his stool, conceding to Klin¡¯s advice. ¡°I will wait until morning.¡±


    Klin visibly relaxed. ¡°Then allow me the pleasure of sharing our evening meal with you.¡±


    A pig was roasted over a spit and the villagers gathered around the fire to celebrate their liberator. Crackles and sparks drifted into the air, following the wafts of smoke that could not veil the countless stars in the sky. The mood was celebratory, quietly so but joyful nonetheless. Judd¡¯s shoulders and back were sore by the end of the evening from the slaps he received as the men and women of the village praised his intent to slay the witch. He wished their words were equally as encouraging.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to raise a glass to the star you shall become upon your death.¡±


    ¡°Never look the witch in the eyes lest she turn you to stone!¡±


    ¡°Good intentions are never wasted. Take care.¡±


    Judd escaped the clamour of the crowd to recline next to Caste who sat primly on a log. His hands were tightly clasped in his lap and if anyone walked past him, Caste squished his shoulders together, trying to avoid all contact. Judd held up his stein of mead.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t bad.¡±


    ¡°Oh sure, if you don¡¯t mind risking at least a dozen poisons whose flavour could be masked by the overwhelming taste.¡± Caste remarked tightly.


    Judd shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re not going to poison me. They¡¯re celebrating me. They want to be free of the witch.¡±


    ¡°Or they¡¯re performing the wake before the funeral.¡±


    Judd rolled his eyes and sat up as a blushing young woman approached him with a jug. ¡°More mead?¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Judd nodded and gave her a lopsided smile.


    She giggled bashfully then turned to Caste. ¡°Would you care for some?¡±


    ¡°No thank you.¡± Caste said curtly and she bobbed and moved away, Klin coming forward to take her place.


    ¡°Is the mead to your liking, sir knight?¡± He asked, sitting on the ground next to Judd.


    ¡°Very fine.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°I make it myself. The secret ingredient is honey.¡±


    ¡°Honey¡­¡± Judd looked at Caste and grinned.


    Caste¡¯s gaze was deathless but Judd had endured the disapproval of his parents upon his declaration of intent to pursue his knighthood. Klin waved to a young boy who held a plate of shredded meat and slabs of bread.


    ¡°Try the pork,¡± he insisted as the boy came over, ¡°and the bread is freshly baked.¡±


    ¡°You really didn¡¯t need to go to all this trouble.¡± Judd insisted, feeling somewhat guilty about his hero treatment.


    ¡°For the man who would rid us of Dragoslava?¡± Klin returned with equal certainty.


    Judd cleared his throat and sat up, taking some warm bread and meat. ¡°Thank you.¡± He said to the boy whose eyes were flinty and his mouth was turned down.


    ¡°Are you really going to kill the witch?¡± The boy asked.


    Judd nodded. ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    Rather than be elated like the rest of the village, the boy¡¯s eyes sharpened.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you just leave her alone?¡±


    ¡°Anto,¡± Klin stood up and grasped the boy¡¯s shoulders, looking into his eyes, ¡°please¡­¡±


    Anto wrenched himself away and hurried to the other side of the fire. Klin looked at Judd and Caste with a rather guilty expression.


    ¡°Forgive my son,¡± he blurted, ¡°Anto fears Dragoslava¡¯s retribution should you fail.¡±


    ¡°Retribution?¡±


    ¡°She has been known to steal children from the village. We do not know what happens to them.¡±


    ¡°Why do you stay?¡± Caste demanded. ¡°Why not leave?¡±


    ¡°We dare not risk her ire. If she is happy, then we have abundance.¡± Klin coughed and gestured to the food. ¡°Please, eat.¡±


    Judd swallowed down the meat and bread as best he could. Thankfully the mead relaxed the tension he¡¯d felt building in his body and sometime after midnight he stumbled into the room Klin told him he could sleep in. Caste was lying very still, arms cross over his chest, trying to make himself as small as possible to avoid touching as much as possible. At Judd¡¯s entrance, he opened one eye and glared at him.


    ¡°Some of us are trying to sleep.¡±


    ¡°I brought you some bread.¡± Judd offered, holding it out. ¡°I noticed you didn¡¯t eat much¡­if anything.¡±


    ¡°I will not eat in a place such as this.¡± Caste retorted. ¡°I doubt any of them have any concept of cleanliness regarding food preparation.¡±


    Judd slumped onto the bedroll, dropping the bread onto his pack. He heaved himself onto his back and let out a deep sigh. As his eyes adjusted to the dark he could make out the strands of straw above him and could hear the light sounds of the village settling down for the night. Everything was becoming calm and quiet, meaning his inner turmoil could be more easily heard.


    ¡°Do you think the witch¡­can be killed?¡±


    ¡°She can.¡±


    ¡°By me?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Judd rolled onto his side to look at Caste. ¡°Really? That¡¯s all I¡¯m getting?¡±


    He sensed Caste was rolling his eyes behind his eyelids. ¡°What more do you want?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the cleric assigned to me! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s supposed to advise me on my journey to knighthood.¡±


    ¡°I told you, you were going to die.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not advice.¡±


    Caste huffed and opened both eyes, staring up at the thatch. ¡°Yes, it is. Advice is guidance or recommendations regarding a prudent future action.¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Caste grunted. ¡°You have no idea what I just said, do you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­figuring it out.¡±


    Caste moaned and put his hands on his face. ¡°What was Sir Rylan thinking? Offering knighthoods to the eldest sons of middle class families? You don¡¯t have the training¡­the bloodline¡­your knowledge or lack thereof is unfathomable¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here!¡± Judd sat up. ¡°You¡¯re the brains! I mean¡­you¡¯re a cleric of the Order of the Grail. You¡¯ve got to be somewhat¡­smart¡­I guess¡­¡±


    Caste sat up and glared at him. ¡°Somewhat smart? I am the youngest son of a noble family in Astaril. I have been tutored in history, geography, mathematics, science, biology, languages and the contamination of the south as well as the philosophy and theology of the Order of the Grail. My ¡®smarts¡¯ cannot be accurately measured by any layman margin, making me the youngest novitiate to be accepted into the order. My attentiveness to detail and perfect recall then made me the youngest novitiate to become a cleric.¡± Caste stood up and brushed off the little flakes of straw that had settled over him from the underside of the thatch. ¡°I was on my way to being named the youngest deacon of the Order of the Grail when this ludicrous endeavour by Sir Rylan saw me assigned to you, an inexperienced fisherman¡¯s son of a barely middle class family. Now, all my work, my knowledge¡­my training¡­all of it is to be thrown away while you embrace delusions of grandeur and I¡­¡±


    Interrupting Caste¡¯s rant was a solid snore from Judd. Caste looked down at him, his fingers curled into fists and his indignation rising. He debated about smiting Judd with something but was loathed to touch anything other than what he absolutely had to.


    A week ago, Caste had dined at the table of Bishop Peele and the dozen archdeacons, an elevated role of deacon of the Order of the Grail, a sure sign that Caste was being considered for early advancement.


    Now¡­he was sleeping in filth, starving and would have to attempt to sleep while the young man he was tasked with ¡®advising¡¯ snored loudly next to him.


    Caste lay down and rolled onto his side and wondered how his life had gone so wrong.

 Promise me that you will take me away from here…

    The next day, when he had finally risen after sleeping off the honey mead, Judd ventured into the forest beyond the village. The path was easily enough to follow which would take him to a stream.


    ¡°I follow the stream until the forest turns evil and I¡¯ll know I¡¯m in Dragoslava¡¯s territory.¡± Judd licked his lips, clutching at his sword. ¡°Right¡­so I guess I¡¯ll just keep walking for now.¡±


    Even though Caste was surly and pedantic, Judd wished he had chosen to come with him. But the cleric had emphatically stated there was no point the two of them dying in the forest.


    ¡°What about your advice?¡± Judd had asked.


    ¡°My advice is for you to leave this village, go back to Astaril, give up on this ridiculous quest and follow in your family¡¯s trade.¡±


    Oddly enough, Caste¡¯s words had snapped the hesitation from Judd¡¯s heart.


    He couldn¡¯t go back, not until he had the proof of his conquests and could be named a knight.


    He wouldn¡¯t be a fisherman.


    He was going to succeed.


    But as the forest began to darken and the only sound around him was the pad of his poorly booted feet on the leaf carpet of the forest floor, the doubts he had found their second wind.


    He¡¯d only just completed two weeks of training.


    He still bore bruises from being pummelled with padded swords.


    His childhood fantasies of brilliant sword fights and dramatic battles dimmed as the light around him began to fade, the trees huddling closer and closer together, as though they were afraid of the witch as well.


    Judd¡¯s triumphant stride had become a hesitant walk and he peered into the shadows beyond the broken rays of sunlight. When he came upon the stream, he paused and breathed in and out, calming himself.


    ¡°You promised the villagers you would rid them of Dragoslava.¡± He reminded himself. ¡°She can¡¯t be as bad as they say she is¡­¡±


    His words lacked conviction. Frightened of what else he might hear, Judd almost began to run alongside the stream, jogging quickly to escape his fears, throwing himself towards the danger.


    He had to skirt around some trees but returned immediately to the water¡¯s edge when he skidded to a halt, a young woman kneeling by the stream. She was dipping water sacks into the flow, allowing the current to fill them up before standing, grasping their ties tightly in her hand.


    Judd yanked on his sword so hard it flung out of his hand and he madly scrambled to pick it up.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He heard the young woman say as he scraped his weapon from the dirt. ¡°Do you not know there is a witch in this forest?¡±


    He stood up and held his sword out, hoping the weight of it would stop his hands from shaking. The young woman gazed at him with lavender eyes, her hair covered with a hood from her cape that did its best to cover the bedraggled state of her clothing, a dress with tattered hems, stained from mud and damp where she had knelt on the bank of the stream.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Judd gaped at her. ¡°I have come¡­to kill the witch?¡± He kicked himself for phrasing his statement like a question. He made a mental note to sound more assertive in the future.


    The young woman shook her head. ¡°No, no, no¡­you should not have come. She will kill you!¡± She looked over her shoulder then stepped towards him. ¡°You have to leave at once! Please¡­¡±


    Her lavender eyes begged him to listen and Judd found himself hopelessly distracted for a moment, the immediate danger of his current situation forgotten in the company of a pretty face.


    ¡°Are you one of the stolen children?¡± She blinked, staring at him. ¡°Klin told me that Dragoslava liked to take children from the village¡­from the way he said it I thought she must eat them¡­¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Dragoslava is old¡­she needed me to serve her¡­¡±


    ¡°Old?¡± Judd swallowed. ¡°How old? Like¡­barely able to walk¡­or defend herself, old?¡±


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    The young woman¡¯s eyes were grave. ¡°What she lacks in physical strength, she makes up for with dark and terrible knowledge for she drank of the tainted waters from the south.¡± She leaned forward, her voice becoming a terrified whisper. ¡°She can kill with a thought¡­¡± Judd¡¯s spine quivered in terror. ¡°You must leave before she becomes aware of you.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I cannot.¡± He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders. ¡°I have vowed to rid the village of the witch, Dragoslava.¡± The young woman shook her head. He tilted his head to catch her eye. ¡°Will you help me?¡±


    She rubbed her arms against the ominous chill in the air. ¡°She will kill me. The only reason I am alive is because I do not defy her¡­¡±


    ¡°Help me end her life¡­and you will be free.¡± Judd held out his hand. She looked at it nervously. ¡°Please¡­¡±


    ¡°Promise me,¡± she whispered, ¡°promise me that you will take me away from here¡­¡±


    Though Judd didn¡¯t have the first idea what it would mean in order to do so, he said with full sincerity, ¡°I promise.¡±


    She licked her lips and nodded. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Judd hastened to keep up with her as she darted into the forest, still following the stream yet, as the trees grew even larger and closer, the stream disappeared more often than not. The air became close and the leaves underfoot never seemed to dry out, becoming squelchy and soft. There was a smell in the air, like sickly overripe fruit and any happy rustlings of friendly forest creatures became silent.


    The young woman led him further and further into the forest, looking about herself, wringing her hands.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± She looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m Judd LaMogre.¡±


    She paused and smiled, a little light blush appearing on her cheeks. ¡°Aalis.¡±


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°pretty name.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aalis tugged on the edge of her hood. ¡°So, Sir LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not a knight¡­¡± Judd wished he hadn¡¯t spoken those words when she turned to him, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°Not yet, anyway.¡±


    ¡°You are not a knight?¡±


    He gulped for a moment. ¡°I am a knight in training¡­¡±


    Aalis trembled. ¡°You should not be here¡­¡±


    ¡°I am not going to leave a damsel in distress in the hands of a witch.¡± Judd said strongly.


    ¡°But¡­you could die.¡± She said softly.


    ¡°I could live.¡± He tried to lighten his tone. ¡°I¡¯d like to have the chance to try.¡±


    She nodded and continued to walk. Judd saw two dead trees on either side of the vague path they were on, their branches tangled together overhead.


    ¡°This is where her territory begins.¡± Aalis explained. ¡°From here there is no turning back.¡±


    Judd took several deep breaths and unsheathed his sword, relieved he didn¡¯t drop it again in the presence of the pretty young woman.


    ¡°I am ready.¡± He vowed and followed Aalis as she stepped past the trees.


    ¡°When you strike the witch, you must cut off her head for she has no heart,¡± Aalis explained, ¡°and do not be fooled should she turn into a monster for it is but an illusion.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°And whatever you do, do not¡­¡± Aalis suddenly stopped, her words gurgling in her throat. Foam began to bubble out of her mouth and she wheezed and gasped as though she could not catch her breath. ¡°No¡­please¡­I am sorry! I will never disobey you again!¡±


    ¡°Aalis!¡± Judd cried as she staggered backwards, scratching at her throat, streaking blood across her skin. Her eyes were wide with fright and she tried to speak when her body convulsed violently and she slumped into silence¡­dead.


    Judd gazed down at her, unable to fully comprehend what he¡¯d just seen. He trembled so strongly he nearly dropped his sword.


    ¡°Dragoslava¡­¡± He shuddered. ¡°You monster¡­¡± He held his sword out in front of him. ¡°Come out and face me! Don¡¯t kill like a coward!¡± Though his words were bold, there was a tremor to his voice that he could not quite hide and though he wanted to charge forward, he found his knees threatening to give way and his steps could be measured in inches.


    The two dead trees were just the beginning of the death of the forest. There were fallen, leafless trees everywhere and though that should have meant there was more sunlight, the sun seemed to have hidden itself behind clouds, frightened of the witch as if she were a threat against its enormous being. Tattered fabric hung from branches and as Judd advanced in the only direction he could, he began to see the skulls of animals bound to the bracken and strange symbols were marked on the corpses of trees. His heart was pounding and his nerves were already stretched thin when an eerie moaning echoed through the air. Judd spun around, trying to find the source of the sound but it howled over and over and he stumbled backwards, his feet squelching into water and mud. He yanked his feet out of it, swiping at his boots, his fingers coming away slick and red.


    ¡°Judd¡­Judd¡­LaMogre¡­¡± A rasping voice called and his head came up sharply, looking around in horror. ¡°Judd¡­LaMogre¡­¡±


    His already battered confidence snapped in half and he spun on his heel and bolted, fighting his way through cobwebs and skulls hanging from the branches of trees. He screamed as he heard his name called over and over again, sprinting back the way he had come, past the two dead trees and, using the stream as his guide, didn¡¯t stop running until he burst from the forest¡¯s edge, scampering into the village proper.


    Caste called out his name but Judd didn¡¯t stop to explain. He had to put as much distance as he could between himself and that cursed forest, his knighthood be damned.


    His lungs were on fire and his legs felt like they¡¯d been jammed into a blacksmith¡¯s forge when he finally allowed himself the chance to pause, his hand on a tree trunk, wheezing like an old woman.


    He couldn¡¯t shake the sight of Aalis, dead on the ground and the smears of blood upon his boots.


    Blood had always turned his stomach and made him want to heave¡­


    Judd paused, a fragment of rational thought returning to him and he lifted his free hand, still smudged with red, to his nose and sniffed.


    He closed his eyes and scrunched his forehead, an extraordinary theory beginning to form.


    By the time Caste caught him up, puffing and panting with his pack on his back, Judd had turned on his heel and was striding towards the village.


    ¡°Wait¡­where are you going?¡± Caste demanded between breaths. ¡°Judd? Judd!¡±

 Appearances can be deceiving…

    Aalis retrieved her water bags where she¡¯d dropped them and draped them in the stream¡¯s flow. As she waited for them to fill with water, she pushed back her hood, exposing her white/grey dreadlocks and sighed. Deception was not something she was comfortable with but given the alternative¡­


    When the water bags were full to bursting she scooped them out of the stream, clutching at their ties, ready to make the trek back to her home.


    ¡°The fake blood kind of let you down.¡± She froze, her heart fluttering in fear at the voice that spoke behind her. ¡°I mean, not that everyone would pick up on it¡­but I¡¯ve been around my fair share of blood and all of it turns my stomach.¡± She turned stiffly, her eyes cast to the ground. A pair of boots entered her shamed line of sight. ¡°Once I stopped being afraid enough to realise one thing was fake¡­¡± She closed her eyes, embarrassed beyond all measure. ¡°There is no witch, is there?¡±


    Aalis smiled sadly and lifted her head. ¡°I am the witch.¡±


    The young man who had so valiantly promised to take her away with him after confronting the demonic witch, Dragoslava, gazed at her with an understandable amount of scepticism.


    ¡°You¡¯re the witch?¡± He said dryly.


    Aalis shrugged and nodded. ¡°I am Dragoslava.¡±


    Judd studied her. ¡°In Astaril, once a year we have the Maul festival where the dangers of the south are put on display, grotesque images of creatures I can¡¯t even begin to fathom painted on canvas so lifelike they gave me nightmares¡­and you look nothing like any of them.¡±


    Aalis didn¡¯t doubt that. ¡°Appearances can be deceiving.¡± She said quietly.


    Leaves rustled softly in the silence that extended between them.


    Judd struggled to find the words to say and Aalis offered nothing more.


    ¡°So¡­it was all a lie?¡±


    Aalis¡¯ cheeks flamed with colour. ¡°No, not all of it.¡±


    ¡°What was true?¡±


    She sighed and began to walk the path towards the two dead trees, Judd falling into step with her.


    ¡°Dragoslava did exist before me. She found me when I was lost and brought me here.¡± Aalis was surprised when Judd took some of the water bags from her hands and slung them over his shoulder. ¡°She was quite old and needed to be looked after and I¡­had nowhere else to go.¡±


    ¡°No home to return to?¡±


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°She was a bitter old woman, shunned most of her life but she was kind in her own way.¡±


    ¡°By tormenting the village?¡±


    Aalis laughed softly as they passed the two dead trees and entered the tunnel decorated with animal skulls and tattered lengths of fabric that had convinced Judd that he had been trapped within spider¡¯s webs.


    ¡°She did not torment anyone. She lived in the forest and knew herbal remedies and practiced healing salves¡­she was so very knowledgeable about botany, from the roots of every plant to the tips of their leaves, the medicinal or danger of their flowers¡­to the very core of the trunks of trees. And she shared that knowledge with me.¡±


    Judd thought about this for a moment. ¡°So¡­why was she here? Why did she or others call herself a witch?¡±


    Aalis paused, her eyes sad. ¡°Because¡­she was touched. From the little I gleaned from her before she died, she used to live much further south and when she was a child, she stumbled through a stream that was tainted. Her nails blistered and blackened and her eyes became yellow¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what the witches of the Maul Festival looked like.¡± Judd admitted.


    Aalis¡¯ lavender eyes were sad. ¡°She might not have had the most cheery disposition¡­but she did not deserve to maligned as a witch because of an accident when she was young.¡±


    Judd was so distracted by the tale that he nearly stepped into the puddle of ¡®blood¡¯ that had tipped his fear over the edge into full blown hysteria. Aalis drew him around its edge and they continued to where there were branches shaped like hands reaching into the tunnel. Judd could imagine how they would have seemed like they were clawing him if he had made it past the blood puddle. But Aalis casually slipped past them and he did the same, marvelling at the lengths she had gone to. He reached out to touch the fingers of one of the branches and leapt back in fright as it jiggled, sending all the arms into a frantic, snatching frenzy.


    His heart was pounding mightily but he looked at Aalis and she let go of a piece of string and the arms hung limply once more.


    ¡°That¡¯s effective.¡± He said, willing his teeth to stop chattering. ¡°The Maul Festival committee could learn a thing or two from you.¡± Aalis smiled and continued to walk. Judd left the clinging arms and fell into step with her. ¡°The fake blood, the dead trees, the animal skulls, the grabbing branch hands¡­your rather dramatic and effective death, bravo by the way¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°It¡¯s all just to keep people like me away?¡± He asked. Aalis nodded, her dreadlocks tumbling over her shoulders as they entered an open clearing that backed onto a slab of rock, part of the mountains that made reaching the very north of Terra impossible. In the rockface was a cave and a hut of sticks, mud and thatch had been built onto its mouth. There was a fire with a pot sitting over it. As Aalis hung the water bags from a peg, Judd sniffed the contents of the pot. Not a green and purple magical brew used to curse and poison¡­but a normal stew with carrots, potatoes and possibly some rabbit.


    ¡°You can have some if you like.¡± Aalis offered.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s okay.¡± Judd backed away, more embarrassed by his nosiness than he was mortified at the thought of eating the brew of a witch. ¡°So¡­if Dragoslava died¡­why are you still here? Why aren¡¯t you in the village?¡±


    Aalis opened a pouch and threw some herbs into the stew, giving it a vigorous stir. ¡°I am not fond of populated areas and after living here for so long¡­it would have felt strange to leave.¡±


    ¡°Yeah but¡­everyone thinks you¡¯re a witch¡­¡± Judd paused. ¡°Wait, does Klin know the truth?¡± He groaned at Aalis¡¯ smile and sank onto a log. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I pick up on it?!¡±


    ¡°Klin and I came up with the plan that, should anyone come looking for the witch Dragoslava, he would send word to me.¡±


    ¡°You meet the adventurous soul at the stream, lead them to the tunnel, die horribly¡­how did you do that?¡±


    ¡°Some fermented berries with an activator to stimulate the frothing. And I had a pouch of ¡®blood¡¯ in my pocket which I put on my fingers and ¡®scratched¡¯ my throat.¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°Well¡­I¡¯ve been played for a complete fool, haven¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis squatted next to him and he gave her a scathing look, ¡°well¡­perhaps¡­¡± Judd groaned and put his face in his hands. ¡°But I tell you the truth, you are the first to return.¡±


    He grunted then peeked out from behind his hands. Aalis¡¯ eyes were sincere and kind. ¡°You know, for a witch, you¡¯re awfully nice.¡± He muttered. ¡°Is that why Klin and the rest of the village go along with the ruse?¡±


    ¡°I help them when I can.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°I can set a broken bone, treat fevers and I know a great deal about botany and how to help a harvest be plentiful¡­¡±


    ¡°So why not be the ¡®healer¡¯ of the woods?¡± Judd asked, sitting up. ¡°Why continue in this dangerous farce of being a witch?¡±


    ¡°Because a woman living alone in the woods comes with a certain¡­presumed reputation.¡± Aalis replied. ¡°Dragoslava was well known long before I assumed the role.¡±


    They sat in silence, watching the flames dance and lick the bottom of the pot which was beginning to bubble, releasing a delicious aroma. Judd¡¯s stomach grumbled. Without asking, Aalis dished some into a bowl for him. It was very tasty and Judd scraped the sides and bottom clean to enjoy every last drop. He looked over at Aalis who was kneeling at a low table, chopping herbs.


    He wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of her. His training didn¡¯t cover grey areas when it came to monster slaying. Women who were touched by the contamination of the south were known to develop strange abilities like being able to read minds, cause limbs to shrivel and die and one witch had kept an entire village under her thumb for nearly ten years because she could cause crops to die by merely speaking a curse over the fields. They also tended to have physical attributes like the blackening of nails and yellowing of eyes. Judd¡¯s mandatory reading, which he struggled through during his training, told him that some witches had unnaturally hued hair, green and orange, blue and purple¡­


    None of that rang true with Aalis. True she had dreadlocks that were unusually colourless for her age and her eyes were lavender¡­but she hardly looked like a witch. Then again, his training had also told him that he could not always trust his eyes when it came to the contamination of the south and the insidiousness of the monsters to even attempt to mimic human form if it served their purpose.


    And she said she was the witch Dragoslava.


    What human in their right mind would admit to being a target?


    Those interested in collecting a bounty would happily drag her through the streets of Astaril, bound and gagged, to present her capture before King Rocheveron before being executed.


    Was it possible that Aalis, perhaps not a witch, was not quite right in the head?


    That would make her situation unfortunate but hardly worthy of death.


    He blinked, a soft query bouncing off his distracted brain. ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°I asked if you enjoyed the stew?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­very much so.¡± Judd stood up. ¡°I should probably be going.¡± She nodded and stood, brushing down her skirt. ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡±


    ¡°I thought I owed you at least that. I will walk you back to the village.¡±


    The forest no longer intimidated him and Judd was astonished he¡¯d been so frightened by the shadows and creaking branches. Perhaps it was not the friendliest of forests but it was hardly infested with evil.


    ¡°Have you had to fend off many knights,¡± Judd asked, ¡°or young men wanting to be knights?¡±


    ¡°There was only one not long after Dragoslava died and I assumed her role,¡± Aalis admitted, ¡°but recently there have been several young men coming to slay the witch.¡±


    ¡°Probably young men like myself trying to become a knight.¡± Judd mused. He caught her confused expression. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± she floundered, ¡°I mean no offense but¡­are knights not meant to come from noble houses?¡±


    Judd winced. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    Aalis blushed. ¡°No, I mean¡­yes¡­but not just you. The other young men also seemed¡­¡±


    Judd saved her from having to say what he knew to be true.


    ¡°Common?¡± He shrugged and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m the eldest son of a middle class family¡­and when I say middle class, I mean if there was a ladder, we¡¯re on the bottom rung. But eating fish is currently in fashion so our family have escalated from working class to middle, now that my father can employ others to do that which he learned from his father, who learned from his father¡­¡± He waved his hand, knowing the spiel off by heart, having heard it many times.


    Aalis tucked a dreadlock behind her ear. ¡°And that is not what you wanted?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand the smell of fish.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°It never goes away. I swear I could smell my hands now and get faint whiffs of salt water, scales and rust.¡±


    ¡°Rust?¡±


    ¡°I was never particularly good at cleaning my knives.¡± Judd cringed. ¡°I always dreamed of becoming a knight but thought I was doomed to fish forever¡­then the heralds of King Rocheveron announced that the eldest born son of even middle class families would receive two weeks of training, a sword and some basic supplies and be sent out into Terra. If we complete our quest list, a who¡¯s who of monsters slain, we will be knighted.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Aalis licked her lips. ¡°And¡­witches are on this list?¡±


    Judd looked at her. ¡°Yeah¡­they are¡­so I¡¯m probably not going to be the last to try to kill you.¡±


    They were walking along the stream, coming closer and closer to the village.


    ¡°If you killed me,¡± Aalis said softly, ¡°it would be one less monster on your list¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, if I killed you, you¡¯d be the first monster on my list¡­¡± Judd chuckled then blanched. ¡°I mean, no¡­not that you¡¯re a monster. I mean¡­I just meant¡­look, you aren¡¯t a witch so there¡¯s no reason for me to kill you¡­¡±


    Aalis¡¯ lavender eyes had softened into a troubled blue hue and Judd wondered if it had simply been the light of the forest that made her irises appear to be such a pretty but unnatural colour. He opened his mouth to speak though he knew not what he was going to say when the sound of screaming reached their ears.

 Suddenly his fear was afraid of him

    ¡°The village!¡± Aalis gasped then they both recoiled as a throaty roar overpowered all other sounds.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± Judd cried.


    Aalis was already running towards the village and Judd was fast to chase her. As they burst from the line of trees, a great grey hulk came into view, smashing its way through one of the buildings, splintering beams and scattering the thatch. Judd grasped Aalis and pulled her down as one beam flew towards them.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Judd cried.


    ¡°An ogre! Dragoslava said they used to hibernate in the northern mountains.¡± Aalis gasped. ¡°It has woken up hungry and angry!¡±


    The people of the village were running from the twelve foot tall ogre who looked a little like a human but with skin that had the texture of stone, probably to blend in with the mountains. Around its waist was a tattered loin cloth which did nothing to hide its rather enormous backside. Its bottom jaw jutted out, revealing jagged teeth and a long black tongue that ran over its bulbous lips as it grabbed pig and crammed the poor creature into its mouth.


    While it was distracted, Judd scanned the rubble remains of the village and caught sight of a tuft of red hair cowering behind an overturned cart.


    ¡°Stay here.¡± He ordered and ran to where Caste was shaking so hard his teeth were making a ridiculous clatter. ¡°Caste!¡±


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± Caste demanded. ¡°You go running off without explanation and leave me to be chewed by¡­that!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s currently chewing a pig.¡± Judd growled then paused. ¡°I thought monsters ate human flesh!¡±


    Caste opened his mouth then paused. The two of them raised their heads slowly and looked over the side of the cart at the ogre. It chomped for a moment, its little eyes narrowing and it spat the masticated contents to the side, drool trickling from its jaw.


    ¡°Maybe it thought the pig was a child?¡± Caste gulped then hunkered down, flattening his hair. ¡°Oh curse my red hair that looks like a target!¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Judd thought frantically. ¡°If it thought the pig was a human¡­it¡¯s eyesight mustn¡¯t be good.¡±


    ¡°What good is knowing that?¡±


    ¡°Anything to give me an advantage.¡± Judd retorted, unsheathing his sword and going to stand up. Caste grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? You cannot go up against that!¡±


    Judd gazed at Caste, his fears returning to him¡­


    ¡­then he heard a child screaming in terror and suddenly his fear was afraid of him.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Judd stood and bolted out from the cart, away from Caste¡¯s grasp. The ogre was advancing on Aalis who had two children behind her. She was trying to keep the well between herself and the ogre but with one stomp of his dingy sized feet, he crushed the stones, their usually unbreakable form turned to powder.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Judd cried. ¡°Over here!¡±


    The ogre, not the smartest of monsters, preferred what he could see rather than what he could hear and what he could see were two particularly juicy morsels and a more mature meal in front of him. He lumbered towards them and the children screamed some more. Judd ran at the ogre and used his sword to slash at the ogre¡¯s ankle. It roared and halted in its advance, one of its barrel sized hands clasping its ankle, green blood so dark it could have been black, covering its sausage fingers. It grunted at the blood and its beady eyes turned and locked onto Judd.


    Suddenly Judd realised he was out in the open, without cover, facing off against a creature that was at least ten times as heavy and twice as tall as him. He was pretty sure that all his training told him NOT to end up in such a situation. The corner of the ogre¡¯s mouth trembled as a terrible, gurgling growl echoed out of its throat and Judd¡¯s spine went into hiding as its fingers cracked loudly as they curled into fist mallets.


    In the pause between heroic acts, Judd¡¯s fear returned with a vengeance.


    His palms became slick with sweat as the ogre advanced on him and he finally unlocked his legs and dove for cover, sacrificing his sword in his desperation. The ogre roared angrily and stomped again, over and over, trying to crush Judd like a cockroach. Judd scrambled and rolled, his body jolting as the ground shook, the ogre able to cause the very earth of Terra to shudder.


    He couldn¡¯t keep up the mad dash forever. Sooner or later, probably sooner, he wouldn¡¯t be able to move in time and all that would be left of him would be some revolting jelly remains in the imprint of an ogre¡¯s foot.


    Then, unexpectedly, there was a slight reprieve. The ogre gave a strange warble, almost like a cross between a growl and a yawn and Judd flung himself behind the chicken coop. The chickens had vacated, squawking in terror and he inched towards the edge of the coop and peered around it. The ogre had stalled, almost in a trance like state, standing in the middle of the decimated village.


    Judd couldn¡¯t comprehend what had arrested its attention so and looked around frantically. He spied his sword near the remains of the well, looked between ogre and the sword¡­then ran.


    His presence jolted the ogre out of its reverie, and it roared and thundered towards him. Judd leapt over a large chunk of unbroken stone and lunged for his sword. To his horror, as he picked it up, the pointed end did not rise with it. In the ogre¡¯s chase, it had stepped on the sword, snapping off the most effective piece of it.


    But a sword was a sword¡­albeit a broken one. He grasped it wildly, skidding in the dirt and flung himself onto his back just as the ogre tripped on the stone and fell towards him.


    Judd heard a scream of fright as the body of the ogre tumbled on top of him, Judd¡¯s less than impressive sword driven deep into the ogre¡¯s chest.


    Aalis gasped, standing not far from where the ogre had begun its final charge of Judd. She went to dash forward but her legs were weak and she was terrified of what she would find. The ogre was half popped up on the broken well remains and from beneath its overweight torso, a human leg protruded.


    ¡°No¡­¡± Aalis breathed. ¡°Oh¡­no¡­¡±


    Then as she watched, the foot gave a wriggle and then the leg it was attached to gave a squirm and then the ogre¡¯s body shifted ever so slightly as something beneath it tried to get out. Aalis ran to the flailing arm and grasped the hand, heaving backwards until Judd finally clawed and scraped his way free of the ogre¡¯s corpse. He was stained with dark green blood, scratched and bruised but he looked at her with a strangely delighted expression and smiled...


    ¡­right before he emptied the contents of his stomach.

 One down, nine to go...

    Caste opened his leather roll and perused the tools within. He glanced at the nature of his imminent work and chose the largest, sharpest blade and a pair of pliers. He stood up, looked at the body of the ogre lying prostrate, taking up a sizeable portion of the middle of the village¡­and shuddered.


    Thankfully, owing to its death throws, one of the ogre¡¯s feet was not facing down so Caste was able to reach the toes that smelt of mould, mildew and decay. He drew a leather mask out of his apron and donned a pair of gloves before picking up his tools and eyeing off the smallest toenail which was the size of one of his hands. He gripped the nail with his pliers and, using the blade, began to remove it from the ogre¡¯s foot. Several times he retched to the side, delaying the procedure but eventually the nail came loose with a little blood for good measure. Caste retreated to his tool roll where a plain wooden box awaited him. He held the nail away from himself as he opened the box and, from the concealed flap in the lid, drew a piece of parchment with a list of monsters written on it with a circle beside each name.


    Caste held both the nail, clutched in pliers and the list as far away from himself as possible as he dabbed the bloody corner of the nail onto the parchment within the circle against the word ¡®ogre¡¯. The dark green blood stained the light colour of the parchment before reacting to the ink within the weave and becoming blue. He put the nail in the box and tucked the parchment into its flap before closing the lid and letting out the breath he was holding.


    Immediately he knew he was being watched and looked at Judd who was beaming at him as one of the villagers, a woman with silvery grey dreadlocks, was dressing a cut on his arm.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Caste asked tersely.


    ¡°Oh I was just thinking,¡± Judd remarked, ¡°that¡¯s one down, nine to go.¡±


    Caste rolled his eyes and gathered his belongings. ¡°Well, after slaying an ogre, if you can call falling on your sword, ¡®slaying¡¯, I suppose you can¡¯t be talked out of this ridiculous quest?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Caste huffed. ¡°What about the witch, Dragoslava? You stormed off into the forest to look for her after fleeing in, let¡¯s face it, unforgettable terror¡­are you going to attempt to face her again?¡± Judd glanced at Aalis who raised her eyebrows. ¡°And before you leap in without looking again, may I point out that the witch probably took offense to your trespass and sent the ogre to punish the village?¡± Caste put his hands on his narrow hips. ¡°What? Why are you smiling?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Judd tried, in vain, to wipe the grin off his face. ¡°Sorry, perhaps I should introduce you to the young woman who didn¡¯t hide behind a cart, who put herself between the ogre and some children, helped pull me free and is currently tending my wounds,¡± he cleared his throat, ¡°Aalis, this is Caste, the cleric assigned to me. Caste, this is Aalis,¡± Caste¡¯s lip was curled in disdain as he looked at Judd, ¡°also known as Dragoslava.¡±


    He possibly enjoyed the change in Caste¡¯s expression from incredulous to aghast a little too much. Caste gaped and stammered.


    ¡°She¡­she¡­she¡­¡±


    ¡°Is the witch.¡± Aalis curtseyed. ¡°How do you do?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡­I¡­I need to pack.¡± Caste turned and fled.


    Judd chuckled then hissed.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Aalis said as she wrapped a clean strip of fabric around his arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, really.¡± Judd insisted then gazed at the body of the ogre. ¡°You know¡­it never occurred to me¡­what¡¯ll happen to the corpse?¡±


    ¡°It will have to be cut up then burned on a bonfire away from the village.¡± Aalis explained.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Judd swallowed down the bile rising in his throat. ¡°They tell you how to kill the monsters in basic training but they never tell you how to dispose of the body. I guess part of me hoped they would just disappear into sparkles of light¡­or clouds of smoke.¡±


    Aalis laughed softly as she finished tying the bandage. ¡°You did a good thing, Judd LaMogre,¡± she said warmly, ¡°I know Klin would happily put up with an ogre burning bonfire over the loss of any of his people.¡± Judd saw her gaze and blushed, rubbing the back of his neck before gasping and clutching at his chest. ¡°Do you have cracked ribs?¡±


    ¡°Just scratched.¡± Judd insisted then batted her hands away. ¡°I¡¯m going to have to get used to battle wounds if I¡¯m going to continue to try to become a knight.¡±


    Aalis knelt in front of him, her eyes blue with concern. ¡°Are you going to continue on this quest?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­yeah, I am.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°It¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted. I want to be an old man one day and look back at my life without regret. It¡¯d be so easy to settle for something safe¡­but I¡¯d hate every day of it.¡±


    She stood up and brushed her skirts free of dirt. ¡°Then I wish you well, Judd LaMogre. The world of Terra could do with more knights like you.¡±


    Judd gazed up at her. ¡°You know,¡± he said, standing and unrolling his shirt sleeve, sliding the toggle into the loop at the cuff to keep it from flapping open, ¡°you could come with me.¡± Aalis glanced at him, her eyes pale with surprise. ¡°I mean¡­you¡¯re a healer and you¡¯re a brilliant cook¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°And before you say no,¡± Judd interrupted her, ¡°consider that I¡¯m not the only young, foolish, middle class, dreams of being a knight, adventurer that is going to come this way.¡± Aalis paused. ¡°Sooner or later, someone won¡¯t be taken in by your forest of horrors¡­and kill you before they got to know you.¡±


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°Judd¡­it is a very intriguing offer¡­but I am not sure it is wise.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a heck of a lot wiser than almost everything I¡¯ve done today.¡± Judd pointed out and she laughed.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­¡± She tucked her arms around herself. ¡°You are awfully trusting, given that I am a witch¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re a witch for one moment.¡± Judd retorted. Aalis looked away, her fingers wringing together. ¡°Klin insists on us staying the night but we¡¯ll be heading out in the morning¡­just think about it?¡±

 And then there were three…

    When morning came, Aalis was nowhere to be seen. Judd¡¯s brown eyes surveyed the village eagerly upon emerging from Klin¡¯s, thankfully undestroyed, house. The corpse of the ogre had already been dragged out of the village¡¯s perimeter, its revolting bulk, a semblance of life, already beginning to decay. To keep the children safe, who wanted to creep closer and closer to its terrible form and poke it with sticks, the ogre had been lashed with ropes and every able bodied villager had helped to remove it. Even Aalis had lent her strength to the cause but when Judd looked for her afterwards, she had disappeared into the forest she called home without a goodbye.


    And no matter how he searched the broken village, he couldn¡¯t see her face.


    Unwilling to face the disappointment of not having a pleasant, and rather pretty, travelling companion, Judd slung his swag on his back and walked over to Klin who greeted him warmly, shaking his hand.


    ¡°I cannot tell you how relieved we are that you were here, Judd LaMogre, when that ogre attacked.¡± Klin gushed then paused. ¡°I¡­I hope there are no hard feelings¡­¡±


    ¡°What? That you deceived me, delayed me and set me up for a heaping of horror?¡± Judd asked sternly then broke out into a smile. ¡°After meeting Aalis and hearing her tale¡­I can hardly blame you.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been a real blessing to us and no mistake,¡± Klin sighed, ¡°we sure are going to miss her around here.¡±


    ¡°Miss her?¡± Judd raised an eyebrow before a mellow voice spoke behind him.


    ¡°I am ready when you are.¡±


    He turned and saw Aalis, dressed in travelling clothing and carrying a pack on her back that seemed to hold most of her life in it. Her dreadlocks were tied back from her face and her eyes were lavender blue and bright.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­coming?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°However, I have a condition. When you have fulfilled the requirements of your knighthood quest, I am to be returned to this village. Then I will give you the evidence you require for slaying a witch.¡±


    ¡°You¡­you¡­¡±


    Aalis eyed him cautiously. ¡°You still want me to come with you¡­do you not?¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Judd nodded vigorously while he waited for his brain to produce words. ¡°Yes,¡± he blurted after he nearly shook himself silly, ¡°but¡­why?¡±


    She smiled. ¡°I thought about what you said, about being an old man and not looking back on your life with regret¡­and I want that too.¡±


    Judd stared at her. ¡°You¡­want to be an old man without regret?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You want to live without regret?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis laughed softly, ¡°I want you to be an old man, having lived your life without regret¡­and your chances of reaching a ripe old age will greatly increase if you have a healer on hand.¡±


    Judd¡¯s cheeks broke into a grin so large he thought his head might snap in two. He wanted to take her hand and hold it firmly, the thrill of adventure he¡¯d been infected with upon being sent out from Astaril on his quest returning to him.


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°I am packed,¡± Caste announced, ruining the moment, ¡°and we¡¯re burning daylight.¡±


    ¡°Caste, before we head out¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh very well,¡± Caste turned to Klin, ¡°thank you for your hospitality. It was very¡­it was bearable.¡± He looked back at Judd. ¡°Now can we go?¡±


    Judd cleared his throat. ¡°Caste, we have a new travelling companion¡­you remember Aalis?¡±


    Caste glanced at Aalis then grasped Judd¡¯s arm. ¡°Would you excuse us?¡± He half dragged Judd aside and in a voice he had no intention of softening he hissed, ¡°Are you insane? She¡¯s a witch!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a healer.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what she wants you to think!¡±


    ¡°Caste,¡± Judd removed his hand from his arm, ¡°trust me.¡±


    ¡°Trust you!¡±


    Judd ignored his protestation and returned to Aalis and Klin. ¡°Well, shall we go? Oh,¡± he clicked his fingers, ¡°do you know of a weaponsmith anywhere near here? I can¡¯t fight monsters without a sword.¡±


    ¡°The closest is Fort Faine, a two and a half day walk directly south of here.¡± Klin advised.


    ¡°Perfect. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you.¡± Klin said sincerely as his son, Anto, ran over to them. ¡°We are truly grateful.¡±


    Judd nodded and looked at Aalis. ¡°Ready?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    He glanced at Caste who was looking rather put out but Judd was starting to sense that was his resting face and squared his shoulders. ¡°Then on to Fort Faine!¡±


    They strode out of the village, children waving and farewelling them in the manner befitting a hero¡¯s departure. Judd paused at the turn of the path and gave them a jaunty final wave. He could see himself in his mind¡¯s eye, a heroic figure departing a village, inspiring children to follow in his masterful footsteps¡­


    Anto put his hand to his mouth and cried, ¡°Try not to become dead!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­sure!¡± Judd coughed and hurried after Aalis, passing Caste who was already grunting with the effort of carrying his pack. She gave him a smile as he chuckled. ¡°You ever notice that real life sometimes doesn¡¯t live up to fantasy?¡±


    ¡°Actually I think that is more true than not.¡± Aalis confessed. ¡°But for what it is worth, while you went to slay a witch and free a village, you killed an ogre and saved many lives. Perhaps your fantasy was unrealistic but the reality was not too shabby.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°Not too shabby¡­I like that.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°Well¡­on to Fort Faine!¡±

 Fort Faine

    Almost directly in the middle of the northern half of Terra was a mountain range of somewhat stubby proportions known as the ¡®Hump¡¯. It lacked the dramatic and ominous flare of the southern mountain range which formed part of the wall that kept the monsters out of Terra. Its highest peaks were almost never dusted with snow as Terra enjoyed far more clement weather than Maul. Even the mountains that fell off the northern most tip of Terra and continued to peek out of the ocean were more impressive, defying the deep salty waters with their jagged slopes and moss covered surfaces.


    But the stumpy mountain range with the unfortunate name did offer several advantages to the inhabitants of Terra. The slopes on the southwestern side were mined, quarries dug out of them, providing much of the slate and marble that was used in Astaril¡¯s construction. And rather than be coated with snow, large blankets of forest were draped over the more northerly portions of the mountains and hills, broken only by rivers that were fed from deep underground lakes. Orchards were plentiful and the land was almost always in a state of harvest of some kind. Food was never hard to come by and because of its central, northerly position, it rarely suffered monsters.


    Fort Faine was built on the lowest slopes of the range and a stone wall reached out from it to encompass the township it was responsible for. Not that the wall could have protected the people from anything more than the most paltry attack. It was low and in some places, overgrown with climbing shrubbery. The lack of upkeep spoke of the safety the people of Fort Faine felt. Had they suffered consistent monster attacks, the wall would have been built high with parapets and guards and a moat might have been dug around its exterior.


    But there was no moat, the entrance was wide open and the only guards Judd and Caste could see were stationed at the armoured gate that led into the keep where Sir Jesa resided. They were more impressed with Caste¡¯s clerical status than Judd¡¯s knighthood quest and were ushered into the upper bailey where they were bade to wait.


    Judd looked around at the guards lounging about on heaps of straw, the piles of horse manure that were being shovelled into a cart and the chickens that ran without restraint, chasing the lead chicken that had snared a rather large piece of bread.


    ¡°You know¡­when I thought of a knight¡¯s abode,¡± Judd mused, ¡°this is not what I had in mind. What is that smell?¡± He saw a servant trudging towards him with a bucket clutched in both of her hands. A cloud of flies buzzed around her as she grasped the bottom and rim and heaved the disgusting contents into a drain that led outside the wall.


    Judd swallowed down the bile rising in his throat and glanced at Caste who had his handkerchief clapped over his mouth.


    ¡°For once, you and I are in agreement.¡±


    ¡°Cleric Caste of the Order of the Grail?¡± A middle aged man with a gait that immediately brought a duck¡¯s waddle to mind, caught their attention. He wore the same robes as Caste but where Caste¡¯s hem scraped constantly on the ground, the cleric of Fort Faine¡¯s hem showed off his shoes and half of his stockinged calves. This was a result of the robes draping over a rather large girth. ¡°I am Cleric O¡¯Dear.¡±


    ¡°O¡¯Dear?¡± Judd asked with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Greetings to you, O¡¯Dear, from Bishop Peele and the officers of the Order of the Grail,¡± Caste interjected, ¡°may the light of Astaril shine forever.¡±


    O¡¯Dear smiled and bowed, gesturing towards the keep and leading them on. Caste fell into step with him, leaving Judd to follow.


    ¡°It has been some months since I last had word from Bishop Peele,¡± O¡¯Dear expounded, ¡°I was growing concerned that he had not received my last three missives containing my doctrinal thesis in which I question the origins of the sorceress Grail, given that there are distinct inconsistencies with her conduct as opposed to her low born birth and lack of education¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Caste paused, ¡°O¡¯Dear, I am afraid there has been a slight miscommunication. I am not here as a messenger from the bishop.¡±


    O¡¯Dear looked at him. ¡°You are not? Then why would a cleric, such a young one at that, be travelling the land of Terra? True there are few monsters this far north but it is still not safe.¡±


    ¡°That I know,¡± Caste murmured, ¡°have you heard of Sir Rylan¡¯s initiative?¡±


    ¡°The knighting of eldest sons of middle class families?¡± O¡¯Dear snorted which was an unfortunate sound for him to make as it could have easily be mistaken as flatulence. ¡°When I heard the missive I was joined with Sir Jesa in questioning Sir Rylan¡¯s generosity of spirit¡­and lamenting the poor clerics assigned to such poorly trained and badly equipped knights to be. Tis a death sentence, I lamented to him, of some of our finest up and coming clerics who are scant months away from being promoted as deacons¡­¡±


    Caste¡¯s face was flushed red and his jaw was tight. Judd cleared his throat. ¡°Perhaps I should introduce myself,¡± he leaned forward, getting O¡¯Dear¡¯s attention, ¡°Judd LaMogre, poorly trained and badly equipped knight to be.¡±


    O¡¯Dear looked at Judd¡¯s outstretched hand then at Caste, raising his eyebrows.


    ¡°Well then¡­I suppose you¡¯ll be wanting to speak with Sir Jesa.¡± He turned on his corpulent heel and waddled through the doors of the keep, waving the guards aside.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡± Caste insisted.


    ¡°A cleric of the Order of the Grail is always to be admitted¡­and whatever company he keeps.¡± O¡¯Dear said pointedly then gestured to a stone pew which sat outside a pair of double doors which let into the knight¡¯s equivalent of a throne room. And Judd supposed it to be rather appropriate. After all, King Rocheveron could not be expected to govern the entirety of Terra without his knights who were representatives of the might of Astaril. Knights were to outwork King Rocheveron¡¯s laws and protect the people within their purview. As such forts had to have a knight appointed as their ultimate authority, bar the throne. It was up to the knight to maintain military standards of soldiers, kill any monsters that entered their territory and ensure the upkeep of all defences of their fort.


    The knights of Astaril were imbued with the authority and power of the throne and even the lowliest, poorest knight, was to be treated with respect.


    However, knights to be didn¡¯t seem to engender such treatment.


    O¡¯Dear opened one door with a huff and squeezed himself through. Judd sat on the pew and looked at Caste who stood with his arms folded, his gaze grim.


    ¡°Do you know anything about Sir Jesa?¡±


    ¡°Nothing specific.¡±


    ¡°Anything in general?¡±


    ¡°Not particularly although it ought to be noted that the orchards and farmlands we passed through in the last day probably fell within his authority.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°So I should probably offer to pay for the apple I plucked from the tree this morning?¡± Caste¡¯s expression was not amused. Judd tapped his teeth together. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Sir Jesa must be a pretty well to do knight if he has a cleric by his side.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know anything?¡± Caste glared at Judd. ¡°When a knight is given land, a fort and boundaries to maintain and protect, he is designated a cleric of the Order of the Grail. All knights with forts have a cleric to ensure that the doctrine of the order is adhered to and that King Rocheveron¡¯s authority is not being abused.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Judd mused on this. ¡°What about roaming knights? Those too poor or uninterested in being allocated a fort and land?¡±


    ¡°A cleric would not be expected to traipse around the countryside, exposed to every monstrous danger, with a knight too poor or unworthy to be given a fort.¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°And yet knights to be, such as myself, have been allocated a cleric.¡± The corners of Caste¡¯s mouth were turned down. ¡°I can see how your assignment to my quest would be¡­inconvenient.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea¡­¡±


    ¡°But look at it this way,¡± Judd stood up, ¡°when I receive my knighthood, you could be the cleric assigned to me!¡±


    Caste¡¯s gaze was deathless and grim. ¡°If,¡± he said pointedly, ¡°you complete the requirements of knighthood, Sir Rylan will knight you and I will return to the hallowed halls of the Order of the Grail and regain the ground I have lost in becoming a deacon.¡±


    Judd was hardly surprised by the comment. Caste was not his greatest supporter.


    O¡¯Dear heaved the door open and waved them in.


    ¡°Sir Jesa has deigned to grant you an audience.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Judd slapped him on the shoulder and missed Caste¡¯s apologetic glance at O¡¯Dear as they entered the throne room.


    Sir Jesa was reclined on a large, high backed chair with a long table in front of him, probably for hosting feasts and entertaining other knights. He had curly hair in a nondescript ash blond hue on the top of his head and hugging his chin and ruddy cheeks and he looked up from his map and goblet of wine as Judd and Caste approached him.


    ¡°Sir Jesa,¡± Judd bowed, ¡°allow me to introduce myself. I am Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°One of Rylan¡¯s pups!¡± Sir Jesa chortled, standing to his feet, exposing his generous girth. ¡°I heard his incentive to the middle class first borns. An endeavour of excessive generosity, giving out knighthoods to the lower classes,¡± he strode towards them and Judd was relieved to see him extend his hand, ¡°but there is no finer knight than Garo Rylan. The citizens of Terra owe him beyond measure for maintaining the security and strength of the wall.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± Judd gushed and Sir Jesa put a heavy hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°I was there, you know, when he dragged three minotaur heads before King Rocheveron, as proof of his love for the Princess Genovieve.¡±


    ¡°I heard he killed them with a unicorn¡¯s horn and nothing else!¡±


    Sir Jesa laughed, his deep voice reverberating off the walls that weren¡¯t covered in tapestries in an attempt to keep any chill out of the hall.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to think my own knightly accomplishments are worthy of note in the historical records¡­but even mine are lacking compared to Sir Rylan.¡± Sir Jesa propelled Judd to a seat at the table and returned to his own, Caste standing a small way back from Judd. ¡°And now his own great deeds are inspiring a new generation of knights¡­¡±


    ¡°If I can do my part to rid Terra of monsters, then I am happy.¡±


    Sir Jesa chortled. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re a knight to be and not a cleric in training?¡±


    Judd¡¯s reply was delayed by Caste¡¯s snort behind him. ¡°Certainly not.¡±


    ¡°Clerics have their uses, to be sure¡­but there¡¯s nothing like the prestige, the fame and the honour of being a knight.¡± Sir Jesa waved to the wine bearer who poured Judd a cup full. Judd saw his status displayed in the two cups. His was plain, made of wood and a little rough around the edges while Sir Jesa¡¯s was a metal goblet, decorated with gemstones. ¡°Drink, knight to be, Judd LaMogre.¡±


    Judd swigged at the wine, noting the pleasant flavours. He¡¯d drunk wine before but only in the house of his parents and it always left an aftertaste of fish in his mouth. He couldn¡¯t understand why. The wine Sir Jesa served was decidedly delicious.


    ¡°Now,¡± Sir Jesa wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, ¡°Judd LaMogre, you¡¯ve done me a politeness by visiting me before monster hunting upon my land and for that, I thank you, however, I am afraid there are no monsters to be killed. My land is far too far north for any large monsters to reach without being sighted and as for littler ones, we¡¯ve had no word.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you don¡¯t suffer monster attacks,¡± Judd insisted, ¡°but the reason I am here is because I heard you have a weaponsmith?¡±


    ¡°I do indeed, Paxt, a finer melder of metal you¡¯ll never find, even the ones boasted of in Fort Omra.¡±


    Judd sighed and brought the two broken pieces of his sword into view, laying them on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose he¡¯d be able to fix this?¡±


    Sir Jesa peered at the snapped blade and tutted. ¡°That¡¯s one broken sword¡­has this even been sharpened?¡± Judd shook his head, unsure. ¡°I¡¯ll have a servant show you to Paxt,¡± Sir Jesa stood up and Judd followed suit as he began to lead him out of the hall, ¡°and for a lightweight piece of silver it¡¯ll be good as new.¡±


    Judd froze, Sir Jesa¡¯s hand sliding from his shoulder.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°This should be good.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°The thing is,¡± Judd cringed, ¡°I have no money with which to pay the weaponsmith¡­¡±


    Sir Jesa stopped and turned to him. ¡°Tell me this isn¡¯t so?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid it is.¡± Sir Jesa tutted and shook his head. ¡°Is there any way to get a line of credit?¡±


    ¡°And when you die in the wilds, who will settle your debt?¡± Sir Jesa eyed him and Judd recoiled in shame. ¡°You have to pay your way in this world. No one gives anything to you.¡±


    ¡°Then is there any way I could earn the repair? Something I could do for you?¡±


    Sir Jesa opened his mouth, his head already shaking, when Cleric O¡¯Dear cleared his throat and they all turned to him.


    ¡°Sir Jesa, without meaning to be presumptuous¡­but perhaps¡­the forest bandits?¡±


    Sir Jesa paused, stroking his beard. ¡°Perhaps¡­although¡­¡±


    ¡°I could do it!¡± Judd exclaimed, eager beyond all measure to pay for his sword repair. ¡°Please, Sir Jesa, I cannot resume my quest to become a knight with a broken sword. I¡¯ll look for your forest bandits in exchange for my sword¡¯s repair.¡±


    Sir Jesa sighed then nodded. ¡°Very well¡­O¡¯Dear can direct you to their last known location¡­and if you return, Paxt will repair your sword.¡±


    Judd¡¯s thank you was little more than a squeak. He felt Caste grab his arm and propel him back to the table where O¡¯Dear was waiting.


    ¡°The bandits you seek are former tenants of this,¡± he jabbed the map with his chubby index finger, ¡°orchard. They leased it from Sir Jesa several years ago and after paying their taxes dutifully every year, last year they began to claim they could no longer meet the payments. Sir Jesa generously extended credit to them but this year, when the harvest should have been picked and packed, they were nowhere to be found, absconding with the fruit and all of the profits.¡±


    Judd studied the vague lines on the parchment. The orchard looked to be pressed against the forest.


    ¡°And they are attacking people who travelling through the forest?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°So far, no.¡± O¡¯Dear admitted.


    Caste looked up. ¡°Then why label them bandits?¡±


    O¡¯Dear shrugged. ¡°Bandits are thieves¡­and these people have stolen fruit and money and broken Sir Jesa¡¯s trust.¡±


    Judd looked at Caste who nodded. ¡°In that way, I suppose it is true¡­but why do you believe these tenants are the bandits? Would it not have been safer to leave the area entirely?¡±


    ¡°Not long after they abandoned their lease, a spat of crimes began to occur anywhere farmland butted up against the forest. Pigs, sheep and chickens have been stolen, crops have been raided or trampled and in one instance, a storehouse was set on fire.¡±


    ¡°And you believe these tenants, turned bandits, are doing this?¡±


    O¡¯Dear gave Judd a condescending look. ¡°We had no trouble until they abandoned their lease.¡±


    Judd sighed and nodded. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll go to the orchard and start from there.¡±


    ¡°May the holy light of the star of Astaril guide your way.¡±


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s very kind of¡­¡± Judd realised that O¡¯Dear was speaking to Caste, rolled his eyes and left the hall. Caste hastened to join him as they left the keep, entering the public space of the fort. There were markets and shops, leatherworks, a baker, a butcher and even a public bathhouse.


    ¡°Are you really going to track down a bunch of bandits just to get your sword fixed?¡± Caste demanded.


    ¡°Unless you¡¯re willing to sell one of your precious books to pay for the repair¡­¡± Judd glanced at Caste whose face went white. ¡°No, no¡­I was joking.¡±


    Caste shook off the horror. ¡°So let me get this straight¡­you¡¯ve accepted a quest, a subpar quest, in an endeavour to fulfill an aspect of your ultimate quest?¡±


    Judd thought about this. ¡°That sounds right, yes.¡±


    ¡°What happens when this sub-quest ends in another minor quest or, heaven forbid, multiple minor quests?¡±


    ¡°Caste,¡± Judd stopped him outside the bathhouse where a man sat in a tub of water and a woman scrubbed his pot marked back, ¡°I want to be a knight and as such, I need a sword. Not want, need. I¡¯d complete a dozen sub-quests in order to make it happen. And I am sorry I have to drag you along for it all¡­but that decision was out of my control.¡±


    Caste sighed and nodded. ¡°Fine¡­¡±


    ¡°So let¡¯s pick up Aalis and head to the orchard.¡± Judd turned around. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°Probably setting up a fortune telling booth¡­¡±


    Judd chose to ignore Caste¡¯s remark. A brief search of the markets found Aalis just beyond its border, applying some salve to a little girl¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Now, try to keep it dry for two days, alright?¡± Aalis warned her. ¡°If your mum can spare the salt, a little in boiled water can be used to clean it.¡±


    The girl nodded her head eagerly and darted away as Caste and Judd approached. Aalis wiped her hands and stood up, her rather distinctive dreadlocks covered with her hood.


    ¡°Making friends?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°A little healing help goes a long way.¡± She remarked. ¡°Was your sword able to be repaired?¡±


    Judd pulled a face. ¡°I lack the funds to do so¡­but Sir Jesa gave me a task to complete and if I do so, the weaponsmith will mend my sword.¡±


    ¡°What is the task?¡±


    Judd explained it to her as she closed the pockets of her pack and swung it onto her back.


    ¡°Chasing down tax evaders¡­¡±


    ¡°I know, not the most knightly endeavour,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°but I need a sword.¡±


    Aalis nodded. ¡°You do. Well, shall we go?¡±

 A knight has no place alongside a witch

    The march to the orchard took an hour of steady walking, however, it was easy going as there was a beaten track to follow and a stream gurgling alongside them. Judd had seen on the map that the stream fed, first the orchard, then went on to fill the well of Fort Faine so he knew they were heading in the right direction. They climbed over a small hill of clover and took in the sight of the orchard.


    It was extensive and there were hundreds of trees planted in semi straight lines but not a piece of fruit could be seen. Not only that, but the leaves were also a faded hue and the tips were curling as though they were withering. Judd shook his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of trees¡­¡±


    ¡°You do have a habit of stating the obvious.¡± Caste remarked.


    ¡°No, what I mean is¡­it¡¯s a lot of trees so it would be a lot of fruit¡­so where is it all?¡±


    ¡°O¡¯Dear said the tenants absconded with it.¡±


    Judd looked at Caste. ¡°All of it?¡±


    They turned around on the spot, surrounded by fruitless fruit trees.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­the trees were not particularly bountiful?¡± Caste offered lamely.


    ¡°O¡¯Dear said the tenants were dutiful taxpayers,¡± Judd reminded him, ¡°unless Sir Jesa was demanding far more than he ought¡­¡±


    ¡°All dealings with tenants become part of O¡¯Dear¡¯s clerical account of Fort Faine.¡± Caste shook his head. ¡°Sir Jesa would not be able to do so without O¡¯Dear¡¯s collusion and we are held to a higher standard of integrity than any other human in Terra.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m baffled.¡± Judd leaned forward to see Aalis with her hand resting against the trunk of a tree. ¡°Any ideas from our travelling botanist?¡±


    Aalis had looked up at the leaves, her hood falling back, exposing her dreadlocks. She shook her head and turned to him. ¡°I can tell you that these trees are sick. Even if you ignore the lack of fruit, the leaves are almost tortured¡­withering from the inside out¡­¡± She sighed. ¡°I would not be surprised if these trees could not produce a harvest in even the smallest measure.¡±


    ¡°And O¡¯Dear did say that the tenants asked for help last year regarding their taxes.¡± Judd added. ¡°Well, we¡¯re not going to find anything more out here. We¡¯ll head into the forest and find somewhere to camp.¡±


    ¡°You mean to go blindly into the forest without any idea of direction?¡± Caste asked scathingly.


    ¡°No, we¡¯ll follow the stream. After all, the bandits need to drink water too.¡±


    Two hours later they had all reached their walking limit. The forest surrounded them, a carpet of red, brown and gold beneath their feet, smooth white trunks like marble pillars stretching upwards and the reach of their branches tangled with the others nearby until the canopy was almost solid above their heads. Yet, while the sun was up, the forest was not dark. The leaves were not opaque, letting down warm, friendly light, tinted by the colours of the leaves.


    However, the sun had set and they were hungry, thirsty and tired. Fortunately there was plenty of wood around for Judd to build a fire over which Aalis set her pot and began to make their supper. She poured water into the pot from her waterbag and added carrots, potatoes, the remainder of roasted chicken meat and a sprinkling of herbs from one of her many pouches.


    ¡°I hope that¡¯s the ¡®taste amazing¡¯ pouch and not the ¡®feel better in the morning¡¯ pouch.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°I have pouches for just about everything.¡± Aalis smiled, stirring the pot. They both looked up as Caste returned from the stream only a stone¡¯s throw away from their campfire. He was just capping his waterskin, wiping his mouth.


    ¡°Going to try some of my cooking tonight, Caste?¡± Aalis scooped some out and waved it towards him. ¡°I promise, no frogs legs or eyeballs were sacrificed in the making of it.¡±


    Caste¡¯s expression was dry. ¡°I will do quite well with my water, my bread and my cheese.¡±


    ¡°Your loss.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°I am going to go¡­¡± Aalis blushed slightly and jerked her head towards the shadowy darkness that lay beyond the light of the campfire.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep the stew from burning.¡± Judd promised and watched her go. He turned back and saw Caste¡¯s disapproving glare following her. ¡°I take it you¡¯re not convinced yet that she¡¯s not a witch?¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°It sits alongside other failed endeavours, like convincing you that you¡¯re not capable of becoming a knight.¡±


    Judd sighed and stirred the pot. ¡°Caste, Aalis has done nothing to warrant your suspicion.¡±


    ¡°So that tunnel of terror was what? Her way of saying, hello?¡±


    ¡°Given what people like you assume about people like her, it makes a certain amount of sense!¡±


    ¡°And what if I¡¯m right?¡± Caste eyed him. ¡°A knight has no place alongside a witch.¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°I, for one, am glad she agreed to come with us. If nothing else, for her fantastic cooking skills.¡±


    When Aalis returned to the campfire, she took over stirring the stew until she decided it was ready. She and Judd ate heartily while Caste nibbled on his hard cheese, stale bread and bland water. Aalis put a cover over the pot.


    ¡°If we keep some coals hot and stoke the fire tomorrow morning, we can have a hot breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Mmm, hot breakfast,¡± Judd winked at Caste who shook his head, ¡°hey Caste, you¡¯re sitting a little close to the fire.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m cold. It¡¯s a cold night.¡±


    Judd and Aalis looked at each other. ¡°You¡¯re¡­cold? In all those robes?¡± Sitting on the ground Caste¡¯s stiff cleric robes bunched around him like he was sitting inside a tree trunk stump.


    ¡°Some of us do not come with inbuilt insulation.¡± Caste retorted, shuffling as close as he dared to the fire¡¯s edge.


    ¡°Are you calling me portly?¡± Judd glanced at himself.


    ¡°You are not portly.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°You have excellent muscle tone.¡±


    Judd¡¯s head lifted. ¡°Really?¡±


    Aalis¡¯ complexion turned bright pink and her eyes darkened into a deep purple. ¡°I mean¡­what I mean to say is¡­not that I was looking! I just¡­¡± She closed her eyes. ¡°You have quite a toned¡­muscular form. Better than most knights.¡± She groaned at Judd¡¯s chuckle. ¡°I only noticed because of your tan line.¡±


    ¡°My tan line, huh?¡± Judd leaned back on his bedroll. ¡°Well, all the time I spent on the fishing boats, gaining my muscular tone¡­I rarely wore a shirt so I¡¯m not sure where my tan line would be¡­¡±


    Aalis glared at him, her pink deepening to crimson. ¡°You took your boots off two days ago. I noticed that the hue of your feet was richer than your leg.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Judd rubbed the back of his neck, ¡°yeah I rarely wore shoes on the boats either¡­but I always wore pants.¡±


    He was about to say something else when Caste gave a violent shiver. Aalis sat up straight.


    ¡°Caste, are you feeling well?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± His chattering teeth gave him away and his forehead was dotted with sweat.


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°No you are not.¡± She stood up and shifted around the fire to kneel next to him. Caste lurched away from her, fear that seemed exaggerated even for him in his eyes. She put her hand on his forehead then yanked it back. ¡°Caste, you have a fever. You are burning.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± He argued.


    ¡°It¡¯s a warm night.¡± Judd argued.


    ¡°Some of us aren¡¯t used to sleeping outdoors.¡± Caste snapped in return, his freckled complexion becoming pale.


    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯re allergic to fresh air and exercise.¡±


    ¡°Maybe she poisoned me!¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Judd exclaimed. ¡°You haven¡¯t touched anything Aalis has cooked!¡±


    ¡°She did it¡­¡± Caste blinked sweat out of his eyes. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Aalis had her mortar and pestle out, grinding herbs. ¡°I am making a broth for you to drink that will bring the temperature down.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, no, no¡­¡± Caste shook his head, his muscles becoming loose and wobbly.


    ¡°Caste, you are getting very sick, very quickly. I do not think you have the internal fortitude to combat this fever.¡± Aalis scooped some of her stew into a bowl and sprinkled the herbs onto it, mixing it through. ¡°Eat this.¡±


    Caste shook his head, lips clamped together like stubborn child refusing their supper.


    ¡°Caste I swear I will kneel on your chest and force your mouth open, so help me¡­¡± Judd grunted.


    Even the threat of violence did not sway the red headed cleric. Aalis put her fingers over his as they clutched tightly at his robes.


    ¡°Caste,¡± she said gently, ¡°I know you do not trust me¡­but the way this fever has taken hold¡­you cannot beat it on your own.¡±


    He stared at her with glassy eyes, a dribble of sweat slowly making its way down the side of his face. Without agreeing, he grasped the bowl and gulped the stew down, swallowing it with force and thrusting it back at her, retreating to the sanctuary of his clerical robes. Within ten minutes, Caste¡¯s chin had dropped to his chest. Judd eased him onto his bedroll, the cleric¡¯s large pack resting close by. Aalis wrung a cloth out of water, folded it into a little parcel and laid it on his forehead. Judd squatted by his side.


    ¡°What caused the fever?¡±


    ¡°I am unsure.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°It is possible he contracted something while at Fort Faine.¡±


    ¡°Caste isn¡¯t a people person. I would have been more likely to catch something.¡±


    Aalis lifted her gaze to look at him, her eyes cast in a soft amber glow. ¡°I do not think Caste¡¯s bodily defences are as strong as yours.¡±


    ¡°Tanned, muscular and bodily strong.¡± Judd winked at her and she shook her head, her dreadlocks rippling. ¡°What if it was a snake bite or something?¡±


    ¡°I cannot imagine Caste not feeling something like that but there are many small insects that could carry toxin or a virus¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell him that when he¡¯s conscious. He won¡¯t go another step further with me, royal edict or no.¡± Judd studied her. ¡°You¡¯re really worried about him, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Is that so surprising?¡±


    ¡°Considering he calls you ¡®witch¡¯ and makes no disguise of his dislike.¡±


    Aalis brushed her hands. ¡°I called myself witch, remember? And Caste has no reason to trust me.¡±


    ¡°He will when he wakes up and the fever is gone.¡± Judd glanced at Caste who was shivering. ¡°Want to take turns watching him?¡±


    ¡°I will watch until I know the broth has lessened the fever.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°I will wake you when I need to sleep.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Alright. Goodnight then.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight Judd.¡±


    Judd lay down on his bedroll, turning his head to gaze at Aalis who watched Caste with sincere concern across her pretty face. He couldn¡¯t imagine how anyone would label someone so caring as a witch. It seemed petty and cruel.


    His eyelids became heavy and soon it was impossible for him to keep them open. He was sure they had only been closed for a moment when he felt someone shaking him and he immediately remembered that he was going to switch places with Aalis to watch Caste.


    However, before his eyes had a chance to open, he heard Caste bark at him.


    ¡°Judd, wake up! Aalis is gone!¡±

 Where oh where has the witch gone?

    Judd stared up into Caste¡¯s part angry, part frightened, expression and tried to process what he¡¯d said.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gone!¡± Caste shifted backwards, allowing Judd the space to sit up and they both looked at where Aalis had been situated around the fire the night before. Apart from her bedroll, it was like she had never been there.


    Judd¡¯s brain was trying to keep up. ¡°She¡­she was supposed to wake me¡­¡± He looked around at the shafts of light brightly shinning between the gaps in the leaves, the air filled rainbows of autumn hues. ¡°Where did she go?¡±


    ¡°How should I know?¡±


    Judd put his hand on her bedroll. It was cold. ¡°This¡­this doesn¡¯t make any sense. Why would she leave?¡± And as Caste opened his mouth he held up his hand. ¡°And don¡¯t say it¡¯s because she¡¯s a witch. She healed you, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    Caste¡¯s teeth clamped shut and his eyes darted away. ¡°Not necessarily¡­¡±


    Judd rolled his eyes then caught sight of disturbed leaves. They had been lightly pushed to one side, the crisp golden leaves on top moved to reveal darker, older leaves beneath. Judd knelt and studied the odd track.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I think she went this way.¡± Judd gestured to the ground. ¡°I think, as she walked, the hem of her skirt brushed the leaves aside as it swayed.¡±


    Caste gaped at him. ¡°That¡¯s the sum total of your evidence?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd quickly packed up the campsite, rolling his bedroll tightly and buckling it onto his swag, ¡°I don¡¯t think she left of her own volition.¡±


    ¡°What in Terra makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°If she was going to sneak away and take her pack, why leave her bedroll?¡± Judd eyed Caste. ¡°We know there are bandits in the forest. What if they kidnapped her?¡±


    ¡°Then they¡¯ll be delighted when they find out she¡¯s a witch and curses them all.¡± Caste grunted. Judd heaved his swag onto his back. ¡°Alright! Alright, just give me a minute.¡±


    It took nearly ten for Caste to finally get himself together so Judd punished him with a march that was so fast it was just shy of jogging. The marks in the leaves continued, a sweep to one side and then to the other.


    ¡°It¡¯s actually convenient,¡± Judd remarked, ¡°footprints would be impossible to follow unless you were an expert tracker but this side to side gathering of leaves is something even I can see.¡±


    ¡°You sure¡­she didn¡¯t just¡­take off?¡± Caste demanded, breathing heavily.


    ¡°Why would she?¡± Judd slid down an embankment and then watched as Caste slipped, slid and landed by his feet.


    ¡°Well¡­I can¡¯t imagine she was too thrilled about being a part of your ¡®entourage¡¯.¡± He said as Judd pulled him to his feet.


    Judd stared at him. ¡°What are you doing with your fingers?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When you said that would ¡®entourage¡¯ you wiggled the two fingers next to each thumb. You¡¯ve done it before too.¡±


    Caste slapped his forehead. ¡°They¡¯re quotation marks!¡±


    ¡°Who are you quoting?¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness¡­it emphasises a word¡­in this case, sarcastically!¡±


    Judd¡¯s expression flattened. ¡°You know, the only reason Aalis might not have been ¡®thrilled¡¯,¡± he said sarcastically with his fingers wiggling like Caste¡¯s had done, ¡°by being part of my entourage was because of all the grief you gave her about being a witch.¡±


    ¡°Judd, she called herself a witch!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to go on and on and on and on about it and make her feel bad.¡±


    ¡°Have you completely lost sight of why you want to become a knight?¡± Caste demanded, running after Judd as he strode off in the direction of the sweeps in the leaves. ¡°It¡¯s to rid Terra of the presence of all of Maul¡¯s monsters, witches included.¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe witches shouldn¡¯t be included. I mean¡­they¡¯re not the same, are they?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Judd readjusted the pack on his back. ¡°All the other monsters of Maul, minotaur, centaurs, goblins, ogres, harpies, cockatrices, basilisks and the rest¡­they come directly from Maul.¡±


    ¡°And a witch is an unnatural version of a woman who has been touched by the taint of the south.¡±


    ¡°But how is that her fault?¡± Judd demanded.


    Caste shook his head. ¡°Look, maybe Aalis¡¯ touch wasn¡¯t intentional¡­but there are multiple accounts of women seeking power in Terra who go in search of the tainted waters of the south.¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Judd put his hand out and stopped his clerical companion, ¡°because of a few misguided, desperate¡­vindictive women whose actions are recorded in the book of Grail, someone like Aalis, who may or may not be touched by the south, are condemned?¡±


    Caste gave a shrug. ¡°Astaril and the Order of the Grail cannot be seen to condone anything that comes from the south. Next there will be committees on the cruel treatment of monsters. Parades will start with people claiming that monsters are just our misunderstood neighbours¡­and before you know it, the wall comes down and we lose everything we¡¯ve gained since Andigre, Grail and the Four Spire Knights.¡±


    Judd¡¯s brows felt so oblique that they were touching in the middle of his forehead. ¡°So¡­even though she helped you overcome a fever and insisted on watching over you as you slept¡­you¡¯d condemn Aalis?¡±


    Caste¡¯s mouth was firm but his eyebrows were sad. ¡°Her presence among us brings all our actions into question. Your knighthood could well be forfeited because of your ¡®fraternisation¡¯ with a witch.¡±


    Caste began to walk before Judd had fully comprehend what he¡¯d said. A few minutes later the taller young man with a dream of knighthood fell back into step with the cleric.


    ¡°I won¡¯t deny that,¡± Judd finally admitted, ¡°but you¡¯re a cleric of the Order of the Grail and you keep an account of my actions, yes?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­maybe in doing so, we¡¯ll create a new account, an argument for the protection of women persecuted for something they could not prevent or change.¡±


    Now they were both silent, each of them thinking over what the other had said.


    ¡°While laudable,¡± Caste remarked and Judd wondered if laudable was a good thing because it sounded a lot like laughable, ¡°we still have to find Aalis first or else my account of her will be two lines of script in my journal.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll just keep following the trail for as long as it exists.¡±


    The swept leaf trail did not fail them and they followed it until the shafts of sunlight became so warm that it was a relief to step into the cool of the shade. Judd was impressed that Caste had not begged for a pause and was about to call one himself when there was a whistling noise and an arrow struck the ground only a foot away from his boots.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Is that a¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Judd hissed and they waited in tense silence as four men and a woman appeared from behind trees, brandishing farm tools in place of weapons.


    ¡°One move and our archer will put an arrow through your eye.¡± The lead male warned.


    ¡°Duly noted.¡± Judd swallowed.


    ¡°Hand over your weapons.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Judd slowly revealed his broken sword. The lead bandit took the two broken pieces and then looked up at him.


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°You can tell it to our leader.¡±


    The march to the bandit camp was not long. In fact, had the bandits not taken them captive, Judd and Caste would have stumbled on it only fifteen minutes later. It was a ramshackle hideout of stick and thatch huts, campfires and a mangy dog that barked at them before becoming distracted by its tail.


    ¡°Wait here.¡± Judd nodded as the lead bandit walked to the largest hut and disappeared inside. He glanced around and saw the archer, who had appeared during their walk, standing to one side. He was a tall, lithe fellow with blue eyes and black hair that was bound into submission by a bandana around his head but stuck out in defiance where the bandana ended.


    ¡°Thanks for the warning shot.¡± Judd said lightly.


    The archer just glowered at him and said in a deadpan voice. ¡°I was aiming for your head.¡±


    Judd was actually relieved to see the lead bandit bringing the leader towards them, allowing him to reframe from responding. The leader of the bandits was a little disappointing to behold. He didn¡¯t have a patch over one eye or any worthy of note scars. He wasn¡¯t clad in leather armour or holding a sword or shield. In fact, apart from the archer¡¯s bow and arrow, there appeared to be no weapons of any kind that were not originally farming tools.


    ¡°Are you sure they are the only two?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Goodness knows how they found us.¡± The young man put his hand on the leader¡¯s chest to stop his advance. ¡°Claud, we know they spoke with Sir Jesa.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m sure he told you the violent and despicable tale of our treachery.¡± Claud remarked, his greying hair tied back in a relaxed tail.


    ¡°Absconded rather than violent or despicable.¡± Judd quipped and heard Caste¡¯s groan.


    ¡°You can take a message back to Sir Jesa that we cannot be held responsible for not paying our taxes when we reported several times the state of the orchard and how last year, it only produced a half yield and this year¡­nothing!¡±


    Judd glanced at Caste then turned back to Claud. ¡°And the stolen livestock and burning of the storehouse was what? Your way of getting back at him?¡±


    ¡°Listen to the lies he sows!¡±


    ¡°Get back, thug of the oppressor!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡±


    ¡°Kurst, calm down.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just trying to talk here¡­¡±


    ¡°Put down the rake!¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± All arguments ceased as Aalis ran into their midst and spun around. ¡°Stop, for one moment and listen!¡±


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd gasped, ¡°you¡¯re alright!¡±


    ¡°I am fine.¡± She insisted then turned to Claud. ¡°Claud, I know you are wary of anyone who comes in Sir Jesa¡¯s name¡­but these men are not hired muscle.¡±


    ¡°Well, actually¡­¡± Judd clamped his mouth shut at her sharpened glare.


    ¡°They were looking for me.¡± Aalis explained. ¡°You cannot abduct someone and then be shocked when her companions arrive, looking for her.¡±


    Claud looked abashed. ¡°This is true.¡±


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t change the fact that this one,¡± Kurst pointed at Caste, ¡°is a cleric and bound to tell the truth and this one bore a sword!¡±


    ¡°A broken sword.¡± Judd said, happy to point that fact out.


    Claud ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°I¡­we¡­we have done nothing wrong.¡±


    ¡°Apart from abducting Aalis, stealing livestock¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis turned to him and took his hands, ¡°please do not blame these people for their actions or those which they have been accused of. Come and see what they needed me to do.¡±


    Judd glanced at Claud, Kurst, Caste who shook his head then back at Aalis. ¡°Alright.¡±


    Aalis breathed out in relief. ¡°Claud, allow Judd to see what it is that is happening and perhaps we can get to the bottom of it.¡±


    Claud put his hands in his pockets. ¡°Very well.¡±


    Both Kurst and Caste let out huffs of indignation as Judd followed Aalis to the larger of the huts built between two trees. Aalis paused at the entrance and turned to Caste who had followed to get away from his captors.


    ¡°Caste, perhaps you should stay here.¡±


    ¡°And leave me out here with these people?¡±


    ¡°There are sick people inside.¡±


    Caste paused and Judd could see him calculating the odds. ¡°I will wait out here.¡±


    Aalis nodded and entered the hut, Judd ducking his head in order to do so. The light inside was diffused by the sticks bound together that did not form a solid wall, tiny beams of light cutting across the large space. Judd blinked several times until he adjusted to the dim light and realised the hut was full of people lying on bedrolls or on the ground, coughing and shivering. All walks of life were there, from the very young to the elderly.


    ¡°They¡¯re¡­all sick?¡±


    ¡°Very sick.¡± Aalis knelt and soaked a cloth in water, wringing it out and putting it on the child¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°What is it? A form of influenza?¡±


    ¡°No, it is not respiratory.¡± Aalis squeezed the child¡¯s hand gently and stood up. ¡°Claud tells me it started not long after they arrived but much milder and only striking the already frail. Now¡­it is affecting everyone and it is getting worse.¡±


    Judd picked his way gingerly through the bodies curled up on the floor, dismayed. ¡°If it is not influenza¡­¡±


    ¡°They all have fevers, hot and cold chills and at the height of the illness they are becoming delirious.¡±


    Judd paused and stared at Aalis who gazed at him calmly. ¡°But that¡­that¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Caste began to exhibit early symptoms last night.¡±


    Judd pushed his fingers through his hair. ¡°Is¡­but that means¡­it¡¯s not contagious. Caste has been nowhere near these people.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis rubbed her arms, ¡°it is a poison. These people are being consistently, maliciously poisoned.¡±


    Judd felt the blood drain from his face. ¡°But¡­you can treat it, like you did with Caste, right?¡±


    Aalis grasped his arm and drew him aside. ¡°I can treat the symptoms and give them a reprieve,¡± her voice turned into a hushed whisper, ¡°but if we cannot find the source of the poison and stop it, their symptoms will increase and their bodies will wane until they begin to die from the fever.¡±


    Judd was numb as he followed Aalis out of the hut to a fire where a large pot rested and Aalis¡¯ pack sat nearby. Aalis inspected the pot, dipping her little finger into it and sucking it. She added some more herbs and gave it a stir.


    ¡°So these people¡­they kidnapped you to treat their illness?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°One of their own had infiltrated the markets, trading for medicinal supplies and saw us yesterday. They trailed us to the campsite and watch as I treated Caste. They thought I could help.¡±


    ¡°And you left without telling us?¡±


    Aalis cringed. ¡°I did not have a choice. They said they would kill you both if I did not come.¡±


    Judd groaned. ¡°Just when I thought these people weren¡¯t violent¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd, they are desperate.¡± Aalis insisted, waving to two women who hurried towards the fire. ¡°One scoop of the broth for each sick person and, if there is enough left over, those who are not sick should have some to help fortify them.¡±


    The women hastened to fulfill Aalis¡¯ instructions. She wiped her hands on her tunic and turned to Judd. He was conflicted.


    ¡°I thought¡­Sir Jesa said these people were bandits¡­¡±


    Aalis¡¯ eyes dropped. ¡°I do not know all there is to know about what happened¡­but Claud has been very polite and even apologetic about the manner I was brought here. Judd¡­he needs help.¡±


    Judd sighed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him.¡±


    Her shoulders relaxed. ¡°Thank you.¡± She put her hand on his arm and ducked back inside the hut. Judd breathed out and looked around, jumping when he saw the archer leaning against a nearby tree, chewing on straw, his blue eyes glaring. ¡°Ah¡­could you tell me where Claud is?¡±


    The archer said nothing and Judd could only follow the slight inclination of his jaw. Claud was digging a hole with a shovel when Judd came across him. He looked up, breathing heavily.


    ¡°I¡¯m a farmer,¡± he said at the unasked question in Judd¡¯s eyes, ¡°it¡¯s hard to stop.¡±


    Judd saw the mini orchard he was attempting to plant in the forest. ¡°Then why abandon the orchard?¡±


    Claud returned to his digging. ¡°Didn¡¯t Sir Jesa tell you all you needed to know?¡±


    His tone was hard and bitter. Judd studied him quietly. ¡°I was told all he knew¡­so now, because Aalis says you¡¯re a good man, I¡¯m prepared to overlook the kidnapping of my friend and hear what you know.¡±


    Claud¡¯s eyes closed and he sagged. ¡°Judd¡­I am sorry. This is not who we are. This is not what we ever wanted to be.¡± He glanced at the spartan little village they¡¯d cobbled together in the forest. ¡°I certainly never wanted to be called a bandit.¡±


    He leaned the shovel against a tree trunk and sat on the carpet of leaves, Judd reclining next to him.


    ¡°When I took over the lease of the orchard with my family, cousins, grandchildren and all, we thought all our good fortune had come at once.¡± Claud began. ¡°This area in Terra has never known not to produce generous crops and for the first few years, paying Sir Jesa¡¯s tax percentage was a breeze. There was always more than enough to go around. Then last year, the trees failed to produce anything like they had. I could not account for it. Apart from a few curling leaves, the orchard seemed in perfect health. In the beginning, Sir Jesa was very understanding and patient¡­but that did not last when the orchard failed to produce anything at all.¡±


    ¡°Did he not come and see the orchard himself?¡±


    ¡°He sent a couple of his guards who took a cursory look around, threatened us with the stocks and that Sir Jesa¡¯s patience was at its end¡­I panicked.¡± Claud closed his eyes. ¡°We gathered everything we owned and fled into the forest and tried to build a life here but whatever curse has plagued the orchard has followed us here too. I did not mean for my people to kidnap your friend so violently. You must know that they would never have harmed any of you.¡±


    Judd thought about the archer and Kurst. ¡°What about stealing livestock from Sir Jesa¡¯s land? Or destroying crops and burning down a storehouse?¡±


    Claud¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°We had nothing to do with that!¡±


    Judd raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°I swear.¡± Claud stood up. ¡°We hunt birds for meat and scavenge the forest for berries and plants to eat. Only when we were desperate did any of us return to the markets of Fort Faine to trade with the sellers for things we could not hunt or find.¡±


    Judd rubbed his hands over his face. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just leave the forest and go elsewhere?¡±


    ¡°We talked about it but then the sickness began and I couldn¡¯t leave anyone behind.¡± Claud¡¯s arms dropped by his side. ¡°We may not have always acted as wisely as we ought but I promise we have not committed these acts that Sir Jesa has branded us with.¡±


    Judd glanced at the tiny, impoverished village and could see no truth in the accusations made towards Claud and his people.


    ¡°I believe you.¡± He said, standing up. ¡°Now we just need to find out what¡¯s making your people sick and who is targeting Sir Jesa¡¯s land and livestock.¡±

 Innocent bandits

    Aalis escaped the hut for a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere of illness inside was oppressive and she needed to distance herself so she could think properly.


    Apart from being marched from the campsite to the village with her hands bound behind her back, Aalis had not been restrained or guarded in any way. And any motivation to escape disappeared the moment she saw how many people were sick. Claud¡¯s desperate plea for help had been unnecessary. Aalis could not have left feverish souls in their agonised state.


    She stretched her arms and yawned, tired from being awake for so long. She inquired as to where there was fresh water for her to bathe in. She was directed to a barrel with a lid to keep leaves from littering it. She slid the lid from the barrel, pushed up her sleeves and dunked her hands in. Immediately she stiffened, her body tingling with a sense of foreboding she had come to trust. She drew her hands out and stared at the water until the ripples softened and the water¡¯s surface became still and smooth.


    Aalis looked around and saw the archer watching her nearby.


    ¡°Where is this water barrel filled from?¡±


    He pointed and she hastened to follow the direction of his pointed finger. A large stream splashed and rippled through the forest not far from the village. Its closeness was one of the reasons the farmers had probably encamped where they had. There were large rocks along its length and even breaking through the rushing torrent. Aalis knelt on one and put her hands into the water. She closed her eyes and concentrated then pulled her hands out, confused. A leaf fluttered down beside her, its tip curled and its edges withered. Aalis stood, the leaf in her hand and looked around for the tree it had come from. It was a sapling near the water¡¯s edge and while it ought to have been healthy from a constant source of water, it looked as withered as the leaf that had fallen from it. She put her fingers against its smooth trunk and held her breath. Her fingers recoiled from the tree and she stepped back.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    She turned and saw the archer standing nearby, having followed her curiously. Aalis opened her mouth then darted back to the village. She caught sight of Judd and Claud speaking together and ran up to them.


    ¡°It is in the water.¡± She gasped. ¡°The reason people are becoming ill¡­it is the water.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°The water¡­but how¡­¡±


    ¡°Get rid of it!¡± Aalis ordered and Claud hurried to comply.


    ¡°The water? Someone is poisoning an entire river?¡± Judd demanded.


    ¡°There is a toxin in it, poisoning the ground, the trees¡­¡±


    ¡°The orchard?¡± Aalis nodded. ¡°The trees were sick so they stopped producing fruit.¡±


    Judd called out for Caste to join them, bringing him up to speed.


    ¡°Wait a moment,¡± Caste held up his hands, ¡°a poison in the water?¡±


    ¡°It is what made you sick last night when you drank from the stream.¡±


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you two become ill?¡±


    ¡°I used water from my waterbag. Had I refilled it, Judd and I would have begun to show symptoms although perhaps not as acutely as you.¡± Aalis explained.


    ¡°Wait, the medicinal broth!¡±


    ¡°I used the last of my waterbag¡¯s supply.¡± Aalis reassured Judd who relaxed.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Caste frowned. ¡°If the water was constantly toxic, surely we would see more evidence.¡±


    ¡°That is what makes me think that someone is doing this deliberately, perhaps putting poison in the river further upstream once a day.¡±


    ¡°So once a day, the water becomes dangerously toxic and anyone taking water from it or drinking it, becomes sick.¡±


    ¡°It is why Claud¡¯s people continually become ill in waves. Sometimes the water is pure and other times¡­¡±


    Judd put his hands on his hips and sighed. ¡°Look, I hate to cast dispersions on a knight¡­but could this be the work of Sir Jesa? From Claud¡¯s account he didn¡¯t really look into the issues on his land with any kind of thoroughness.¡±


    ¡°I do not believe it is Sir Jesa¡¯s doing.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°The river feeds the stream which waters the orchard then goes on to fill the well at the fort. The ground of the orchard has been acting as a natural filter but as the level of toxicity rises, it will contaminate the water of the fort, making everyone who drinks from the well as sick as Claud¡¯s people.¡±


    They stood in silence, concerned and contemplative.


    ¡°What do you suggest we do?¡± Judd asked Aalis.


    ¡°You are asking me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m completely out of my depth here.¡± Judd confessed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know what a toxin would look like.¡±


    ¡°While I am loathed to agree with Judd,¡± Caste sighed, ¡°you do seem to be our best chance at figuring out the cause of the poison.¡±


    Aalis smiled and he rolled his eyes and looked away. ¡°I do not know if I said it before, but I am glad to see that you are well.¡±


    Caste mumbled something that might have been a thank you but was lost in his forced cough.


    ¡°All the water toted from the stream has been poured out.¡± Claud announced as he joined their group with Kurst by his side. ¡°However, if my people become desperate enough, they will drink directly from the stream.¡±


    ¡°We need to leave the village.¡± Judd announced.


    Kurst blustered for a moment before Claud held his hand up for him to stop. ¡°We never intended on imprisoning you. Of course you are free to leave¡­¡±


    ¡°We need to leave to discover the source of the toxin in the water,¡± Aalis explained, ¡°we will not abandon your people to suffer, Claud.¡±


    He visibly relaxed at her words. ¡°You thank my thanks. When do you leave?¡±


    ¡°Now.¡±

 Following the river, the river, the river…

    Without needing to explain why, the four of them followed the stream in the opposite direction of its flow. Judd led the way with Aalis following, Caste behind her, unwilling to walk anymore but even more unwilling to be left in the village of farmer bandits and Verne, the archer, who had insisted on accompanying them. Not unexpectedly the walk was mostly uphill, the ¡®Hump¡¯ incline beginning in earnest. There were slight slopes for long stretches then clambers up steeper slopes, following the stream which was fed by multiple sources from the mountains. They would have found it difficult to know which stream to follow except for Aalis pointing out the dying trees. These became their markers as they trekked, the water tumbling down small waterfalls, causing the air to be constantly filled with rushing water.


    ¡°Do your people never venture this far into the forest?¡± Judd asked Verne as he fell into step with him, passing Caste who was, as he was prone to do, falling behind.


    ¡°No.¡± And though Judd waited, Verne ventured nothing else to his reply.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one in the village with an actual weapon.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Judd wracked his brain for something more to say. ¡°I don¡¯t know many farmers who are archers.¡±


    Verne managed to avoid speaking at all for his reply, shrugging instead.


    Judd was wishing he had never tried to start up friendly conversation when Aalis called his name and waved him ahead. Before her was a wall of rock, a plateau that seemed to signal the start of the mountains at the back of the forest. The stream had been diminishing as they¡¯d followed it and was dribbling down the slimy rocks, a trickle compared to its lower flow.


    ¡°Have we followed the wrong stream?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°Look,¡± Aalis pointed at the rocks on either side of the small waterfall, ¡°there is evidence the water flow is much wider but it has been dammed by those logs up there.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Judd had to step back to see where she meant. ¡°That¡¯d be a great way to dump the toxin into the water, build it up then release it in one go.¡± Aalis nodded. ¡°I think I can climb over there. Give me a minute.¡±


    Aalis waited at the bottom, watching Judd clamber up the rocks, Caste and Verne joining her on the carpet of leaves below. Judd reached the lip of the plateau and dragged himself up, his eyes peeking over the edge. Immediately he pulled back, his eyes wide and his face pale. He climbed down so fast he nearly slipped.


    ¡°Well?¡± Caste demanded. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Is the source of the toxin up there?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°You¡­you really need to see it for yourself. Can you climb that?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Aalis and Verne climbed the rocks, grasping at handholds until they were able to pull themselves over the edge.


    Before their eyes was a large pool of water, naturally formed from another waterfall from another, smaller plateau an arrow¡¯s flight away. And scampering around the water¡¯s edge, jumping on each other, pushing each other and behaving like cruel, vindictive children, were goblins.


    ¡°Goblins?¡± Aalis whispered. ¡°Here?¡±


    ¡°Claud said Sir Jesa boasted that there were no monsters in the forest.¡± Verne said darkly, the most he¡¯d ever spoken in a sentence to any of them.


    ¡°I think Sir Jesa¡¯s lack of thoroughness was not limited to maintaining his land and the protection of his people.¡± Aalis muttered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Verne leaned forward, trying to remain hidden by brush, ¡°how are the goblins responsible for the toxin?¡±


    Aalis shook her head, unable to fathom a reply when she saw what the goblins were doing. Her face paled and her stomach churned. She and Verne, after a wordless glance between them, scrambled down just as Judd had done minutes earlier.


    ¡°Did you see it?¡± Judd asked.


    Aalis and Verne nodded.


    ¡°What? See what?¡± Caste snapped. ¡°What did you see?¡±


    ¡°Goblins,¡± Aalis shuddered, ¡°two score at least.¡±


    ¡°Goblins? But they¡¯re limited intelligence, low ranking monsters. How could they be responsible for slowly poisoning a fort full of people? That¡¯s beyond their comprehension.¡±


    Aalis looked at Judd who sighed and turned to Caste. ¡°The goblins are¡­they have dammed the water flow and are¡­relieving themselves in the pool.¡±


    Caste blinked, the rest of him frozen.


    ¡°Two score goblins, urinating several times a day¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you telling me,¡± Caste said tightly, ¡°that I drank goblin urine?¡±


    Their pained expressions told him what he didn¡¯t want to know. Caste heaved the contents of his stomach onto the ground and without another word, they marched back to the village.

 Urination toxification

    Claud was understandably distraught, by the goblins and by the source of the poison. ¡°With goblins so close and the polluted water, we will have to risk travelling while some of my people are still ill.¡±


    ¡°Even if you do manage to leave the forest, you will be labelled as wanted men and women by Sir Jesa,¡± Judd argued as they stood in a huddle, ¡°you¡¯ll have to live in hiding for the rest of your life. And Sir Jesa won¡¯t know if you¡¯ve left the forest so he¡¯ll keep blaming the raids on his land on you which, I¡¯m pretty sure, are the goblins doing as well.¡±


    Claud looked at Verne who nodded and said in his soft, low voice. ¡°It all fits, Claud.¡±


    ¡°What would you have us do?¡± Claud asked weakly.


    ¡°We need to kill the goblins and cleanse the water.¡± Judd stated.


    ¡°How can we possibly do that?¡±


    ¡°I can make an herbal decontaminate that will counteract the goblin¡¯s,¡± Aalis swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat, ¡°toxin. I can have it ready in half an hour and we could do it today.¡±


    ¡°Today?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re damning a pool, filling it up with concentrated¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it¡­¡± Caste begged, pale and bleak.


    ¡°Stuff,¡± Judd croaked, ¡°then releasing it. They¡¯re currently getting ready to unleash another load of the poisoned water.¡±


    ¡°You mean to tell me,¡± Claud stared at Judd, ¡°that you¡¯re going to kill dozens of goblins on your own?¡±


    Judd cleared his throat. ¡°I was kind of hoping you and your people would help me.¡±


    ¡°We are all too sick or weak from being sick,¡± Claud lamented, wrung his fingers together, ¡°and despite what Sir Jesa has said about us, we are not bandits. We¡¯re farmers.¡±


    Judd sighed and looked at Aalis who bit her bottom lip.


    ¡°Then¡­I guess we¡¯ll have to do it ourselves.¡±


    Caste moaned and walked away from the group before spinning on his heel and returning.


    ¡°Judd, hear sense! You cannot¡­CANNOT, take on dozens of goblins without an army and a broken sword! The goblin presence in this forest is Sir Jesa¡¯s responsibility.¡±


    Judd faltered then turned to Aalis. ¡°What if we just returned to Faine to inform Sir Jesa of the goblins?¡±


    ¡°Every day the goblins contaminate the water is another day the orchard and surrounding land must recover from.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°Judd, the land will claw its way back to health but sooner or later¡­and I believe from the evidence of the orchard that it is sooner rather than later, it will be beyond the reach of restoration.¡±


    Judd tapped his teeth together, thinking hard.


    ¡°Could you climb a tree with the cure?¡± Verne asked, surprising them.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡°Is that important?¡±


    ¡°There were a number of tall trees on the plateau, some hanging right over the pool. If you climbed one and dropped it in the water from above¡­the goblins would be none the wiser. There would be no need to fight or kill any of them.¡±


    They all stared at him. ¡°If Aalis stays here and continues to make the cure while I return to Fort Faine¡­¡± Judd nodded. ¡°That might work. But I¡¯d like to come with you today to make sure the cure works.¡±


    ¡°I would feel safer.¡± Aalis admitted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you too.¡± Verne offered and then all three looked at Caste.


    His eyes narrowed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go too¡­but under protest.¡±


    ¡°Naturally.¡±


    Aalis worked quickly on her water cure. Judd watched her work, fascinated.


    ¡°Is this really going to work?¡± He whispered.


    ¡°Caste¡¯s recovery from the fever gave me a base to work with and knowing how the earth is filtering it naturally gives me hope.¡±


    ¡°Not for the first time I am very grateful you agreed to come with me on my knighthood quest. If I was here alone, I wouldn¡¯t have the first idea what to do.¡±


    ¡°I doubt you would have found this place,¡± Aalis said, jerking her head, ¡°without my kidnapping to give you something to track.¡±


    ¡°True.¡±


    As soon as they were able, they left the little village, the light beginning to soften as the sun started to ease across the sky, tired after a full day¡¯s worth of shinning. Fortunately their hasty pace through the forest meant they were hardly cold, breathing rapidly as they reached the base of the plateau. Three of them began to climb. Caste watched them go, unable to be convinced to join them.


    Once they reached the lip of the plateau they scrambled for cover and hunkered down. Judd pointed to a tree and they huddled behind its trunk, trying to keep out of the sight of the goblins who seemed to be having a competition as to who could pee the longest into the pool, cackling with laughter.


    ¡°You want me to go up?¡± Judd whispered.


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°No offence, but I am lighter.¡±


    Judd nodded and cupped his hands together. Aalis stepped into his palms and he lifted her up as high as he could. She grasped the lowest branch and pulled herself into the tree. It was painstaking progress but she eventually reached a branch that had another one overhead that she could cling to and inch her way out over the heads of the goblins. Judd and Verne were both silent as they watched her.


    Abruptly the branch Aalis was standing on cracked. She froze, her eyes going wide, her fingers tight on the branch above. Judd and Verne looked at the goblins. Some had lifted their heads at the sound but never thought to look up. They were the size of children but with heads too big for their bodies and long, bony, pinching fingers. Their bellies were bulbous and it didn¡¯t help that the way they stood seemed to make their stomachs protrude even more than they should.


    Aalis looked down at Judd.


    ¡°Throw it.¡± He mouthed. She nodded and let one precious handhold go of the branch above to pull the pouch from her belt. She used her teeth to loosen the ties, braced herself then threw under arm, towards the water. Judd and Verne held their breaths as it fell, fell¡­and snagged on a low branch, and frustratingly, refused to do so upside down.


    ¡°Damn.¡± Judd cursed quietly. He lifted his gaze to Aalis and she shook her head then started pointing rapidly.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne nudged him and whispered, ¡°look.¡±


    The goblins were making for the dam, grasping logs and trying to heave them out of the natural path of the water. The trickle that flowed began to increase.


    ¡°No, no, no, no!¡± Judd swore.


    ¡°I got this,¡± Verne said, taking his bow into his hands and grasping an arrow, ¡°but I can¡¯t hit it from here.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Judd watched as Verne simply walked out in full view of the goblins and lifted his bow. The goblins could not help but see him, their little teeth like razor blades in their mouths snarled and snapped, forgetting about the dam as they sprinted towards him.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Judd cried, running out in front of Verne and further still, drawing their attention. ¡°Hey little goblins! Bet you can¡¯t catch¡­woah!¡± He underestimated his effectiveness or their hunger for human flesh as most of them broke off to chase him. Thankfully goblins weren¡¯t too bright but unfortunately, they were fast! He darted away as Verne released an arrow from his bow, the tip slicing through the pouch Aalis had prepared, the contents dumping into the pool of water.


    ¡°Run!¡± Aalis cried and Verne turned on his heel and bolted, slinging arrows as best he could.

 Run you redheaded cleric, run!

    At the plateau¡¯s base, Caste could only surmise what was happening when Judd and Aalis began to yell but a moment later, he realised just how serious it was as Judd and Verne nearly killed themselves clambering down the rock wall.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He demanded as they half leapt, half fell over his head, hitting the ground and sprinting.


    ¡°Run you redheaded cleric, run!¡±


    Caste didn¡¯t have to look. All he heard was the snarling, snapping sound of dozens of goblins launching themselves from the plateau and took off like a startled rabbit. Judd and Verne were no slouches when it came to running but the terrified, unfit cleric outpaced both of them, streaking ahead as a blur.


    ¡°You know,¡± Verne yelled in between gasping for breath, ¡°if we keep on like this¡­we¡¯ll lead them to the village!¡±


    Judd had already worked that one out. He knew they had to do something to stop the goblins.


    ¡°See that rocky outcrop?¡±


    ¡°A last stand?¡±


    ¡°Yep!¡±


    They bolted to the rocks, Verne leaping up as high as he could before spinning around, unleashing all the arrows he had left at the goblins that were far too close for comfort. Judd unsheathed his sword. It was broken but it was better than fighting the goblins with his bare hands.


    Their snarling faces raced closer, some falling from Verne¡¯s arrows but there were plenty more for Judd to take care of. Just as he lunged at the leader, he heard a battle cry behind him and suddenly Claud, Kurst and several of the farmers brandishing their tools, rakes, shovels and hoes, leapt into the fray. The goblins chittered and screeched, unafraid at the increased numbers. In their minds, the more humans that fought them, the more meat to go around.


    But while Claud and his people were not fighters, they knew the weight of their tools and used them brilliantly. Rakes smashed into goblin¡¯s heads, throwing them sideways. Shovels cracked down on the goblins, knocking them senseless and hoes buried deep into their chests until they were bloodied, silent and still. The fight was hard and fast and over quite quickly and not one of the goblins survived.


    Judd looked around at the victorious farmers then turned to Verne, splattered with green blood.


    Verne chuckled softly and nodded.


    ¡°Judd, are you hurt?¡± Claud asked, approaching him.


    ¡°Any wounds make me grateful to be alive.¡± Judd clasped his hand. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I felt terrible that you were going up against those goblins for our sake and that I hadn¡¯t offered to lift a¡­¡±


    ¡°Shovel?¡±


    Claud leaned on his battered tool. ¡°When your cleric came screaming into camp, I grabbed my shovel and ran and those that could, came with me.¡±


    ¡°Well, you certainly saved our skins.¡±


    ¡°And the water?¡±


    ¡°The water¡­Dam! I mean, the dam! Aalis!¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Despite the excruciating stitch in his side and the ache in his legs, Judd hurried back to the plateau, Verne going with him. Claud and the other farmers said they would stay behind to burn the goblin bodies. When they finally dragged themselves to the top of the plateau, rolling onto the flat ground with no grace whatsoever, Judd heard his name cried out.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± He looked up. She was still in the tree.


    ¡°Look out!¡±


    A goblin leapt at him, too close for Judd to get his sword out of its sheath. Suddenly an arrow ran the goblin through the eye and it crashed to the ground at Judd¡¯s feet, skidding in the leaves. Judd turned to Verne, aghast as the archer lowered his bow.


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± Judd shuddered, ¡°you were aiming for its feet?¡±


    Verne smiled.


    ¡°Are the goblins dead?¡± Aalis called.


    ¡°Yes. You can come down now. We¡¯ll unblock the dam.¡±


    Aalis nodded and began to make her way across the branch when it gave a single, spine twinging crack and snapped from beneath her. Aalis¡¯ fingers scrabbled madly at the branch above her head but it was too little, too late and she plunged into the pool.


    Judd didn¡¯t hesitate, running to the edge of the water and diving in as Aalis surfaced in a panic, splashing wildly.


    ¡°I cannot swim!¡± She shrieked, going under again.


    The one thing Judd knew how to do, apart from gut a fish, was swim. His strong arms propelled him across the pool and Aalis¡¯ hands clung to him desperately.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡± He urged. ¡°It¡¯s alright¡­calm down.¡±


    He swam back to the bank of the pool, drawing her with him and they sank onto the slippery rocks that lined the edge.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Aalis breathed.


    Judd was out of breath from all the running, climbing, jumping, running, fighting, running, climbing and swimming so he just waved his hand in response.


    ¡°That goblin¡­he was in the cave behind the waterfall and when he heard me yell, he stayed behind, throwing rocks at me.¡±


    ¡°Aalis, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Judd moaned.


    ¡°It was not at all your fault.¡± Aalis insisted.


    ¡°Just so you know,¡± Verne stood over them, ¡°I kicked the logs that made the dam out of the way and got the river flowing at full capacity again.¡±


    ¡°Worth your weight in Astaril gold, Verne!¡± Judd grasped his hand and allowed himself to be pulled up. He helped Aalis to rise and then ran his hands through his hair, spraying water. ¡°Did you say there was a cave?¡±


    ¡°Yes, behind that waterfall.¡± Aalis pointed. ¡°I doubt there are any goblins hiding inside but it might be worth exploring.¡±


    ¡°Monsters do love their treasure.¡± Judd chuckled. ¡°Ooh, you never know¡­I might find a new sword! Or a shield! No, I definitely need a new sword.¡±


    They slipped and slid over the rocks at the base of the waterfall, ducking their heads to get inside. The cave wasn¡¯t very deep and it smelt rather similar to the ogre¡¯s feet from Aalis¡¯ village. Moss grew abundantly and was so slippery they had to use their hands to keep falling over as they clambered towards the back.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Verne nodded and they all squinted into the darkness where moonlight, now that the sun had gone down, was shining a bright white beam onto a cross like shape that appeared to be buried in many small, round flat pebbles.


    ¡°Something shining?¡± Judd whispered and hastened towards it. ¡°Wait¡­that¡¯s the hilt of a sword! Look!¡± He lurched towards it. ¡°It¡¯s¡­it has the mark of Astaril upon it! It¡¯s a knight¡¯s sword!¡±


    ¡°I think it is safe to say it is your sword now.¡± Aalis remarked.


    Judd trembled. ¡°This is fate¡­destiny¡­a guiding light! This is showing me that I¡¯m not a freak or a laughing stock to be following my dream of becoming a knight. This sword confirms it!¡± His fingers wrapped around the hilt. ¡°I can almost feel the power. This sword will be my right hand as I smite the monsters of Maul!¡± He grasped it tightly and drew it from the pebbles, holding it high above his head¡­


    ¡­only to realise that there was no sword attached to the hilt. It was just a hilt and the blade was broken off so close Judd couldn¡¯t have cut himself with the edge, let alone a monster.


    Judd¡¯s face flushed with humiliation and his arm dropped.


    Aalis saw his dreams dissipate like smoke.


    ¡°I liked your speech,¡± she offered gently, ¡°and one day there will be a sword worthy of it,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°and no sword can tell you your future so do not give up on your dream, Judd LaMogre.¡±


    He smiled ruefully and nodded. ¡°Thank you, Aalis.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­what¡¯s all that?¡± Verne pointed at the pile of pebbles. Judd looked down at his feet and scooped some into his palm.


    ¡°Huh¡­a whole lot of a copper coins¡­¡±


    ¡°I have pockets.¡± Aalis laughed and they rooted through the cave, gathering all the coins they could as well as a few other trinkets caught between the crevices of the rocks.


    Then they began the long trek back to the village.

 Two down, eight to go...

    Sir Jesa pressed his fingers together and listened to the tale Judd, seated in his throne-like chair with Cleric O¡¯Dear hovering nearby. Caste stood in the same position behind Judd as the young man explained the tale of adventure they had stumbled into.


    ¡°In the end,¡± Judd finished, ¡°it was the farmers who really dealt with the goblin infestation. And as such, I was hoping that they would be granted clemency from their unpaid taxes and be allowed to return to their orchards.¡±


    Sir Jesa had not been surprised at Judd¡¯s return, expecting Judd to lament that the bandits were too strong or the task was too difficult for a knight in training. He was not expecting Judd to arrive with stories of poison water, of farmers turned warriors and of a goblin hoard making itself at home within the borders of his land.


    ¡°This is a rather extraordinary tale,¡± Sir Jesa said at length, ¡°and seems a little¡­embellished and unlikely.¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t argue. He knew it would sound that way. ¡°I appeal to the testimony of my cleric who witnessed most of what happened.¡± Judd replied, quoting what Caste had told him to say.


    Sir Jesa eyed Caste. ¡°Even clerics must have imaginations¡­¡±


    ¡°As clerics of the Order of the Grail, we are conditioned to only speak the truth,¡± Caste looked at O¡¯Dear, ¡°is that not true?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes it is, in point of fact.¡± O¡¯Dear stammered at Sir Jesa¡¯s glare.


    ¡°Well,¡± Sir Jesa cleared his throat, ¡°while I commend the efforts of the farmers, I cannot simply wipe out their debt to me from Fort Faine¡¯s accounts. I will no longer brand them as bandits and punish them accordingly but their debt still remains.¡±


    ¡°Even though the goblins were releasing a toxin into the water supply that poisoned the orchard?¡±


    ¡°That can hardly be proved.¡± Sir Jesa retorted.


    ¡°Goblins that were amassing a force within the borders of your land that you claimed were ¡®monster free¡¯?¡± Judd used Caste¡¯s quotation mark finger wiggle to emphasise his words. Sir Jesa¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°It is my understanding that knights who were honourable and competent enough to be allocated land and a fort were expected to protect the people within his purview.¡±


    ¡°You arrogant little upstart!¡± Sir Jesa roared, his face becoming red and he slammed his fists on the table. ¡°You have the audacity to come into my fort and start making accusations and demands? I¡¯ll have you thrown into the stocks!¡±


    ¡°If I may interject here,¡± Caste held up his hand, ¡°one of the functions of my role as Judd LaMogre¡¯s cleric is that I keep a detailed journal about all travel, monsters slain and interactions records. These journals will become part Astaril¡¯s historical annuals, regardless whether Judd LaMogre survives his knighthood quest. And before they are relegated to dusty shelves in a forgotten library, all words within will be scrutinised and any,¡± Caste paused thoughtfully for a moment, ¡°injustices¡­will be made known.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Sir Jesa¡¯s eyes were bulging and his jaw was tight. Judd swore his knuckles cracked several times over, his fingernails possibly drawing blood from his palms.


    ¡°My lord¡­¡± O¡¯Dear said softly and leaned down to whisper in Sir Jesa¡¯s ear. Judd and Caste tried to respectfully not eavesdrop.


    Sir Jesa waved O¡¯Dear back, his fingers still hooked, unwilling to give up the fist clench.


    ¡°You¡¯re a child playing a grown man¡¯s game, Judd LaMogre.¡± Sir Jesa said darkly and stood up. ¡°However, as a gracious knight of integrity I will scrub the debt of the lease to the orchard for last season and this one and allow the farmers to return without fear of punishment or reprisal.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir Jesa.¡± Judd stood and bowed. ¡°You have been most patient and understanding.¡± He turned to leave.


    ¡°What about your broken sword, Judd LaMogre?¡± Judd turned back to Sir Jesa who had stood up. ¡°After all, you did deal with the bandit problem. Aren¡¯t you going to demand your payment?¡±


    Judd¡¯s smile was a crooked one. ¡°I thought that might be pushing things a little too far.¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I insist,¡± Sir Jesa loomed over him, ¡°because, one day, if you do indeed become a knight and a worthy opponent, I will challenge you to a duel to the death,¡± he leaned down, his eyes like flint, ¡°and I promise you, you will need a sword that day.¡±


    He paused for a moment to let his words sink in then strode out of the hall, O¡¯Dear waddling after him making apologetic noises.


    Judd¡¯s breath was shuddering and he looked at Caste. ¡°Did he just threaten me?¡±


    ¡°That is what it sounded like.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­well then¡­¡± Judd shivered. ¡°Can we just go to the weaponsmith and get out of this place?¡±


    Paxt, Fort Faine¡¯s weaponsmith, while admiring the hilt Judd had pulled from the goblin trove, swore there was nothing he could do to fix it.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame really as it would have been a very fine blade in its day but there¡¯s no one in Terra who can turn that hilt into anything more than a paperweight. I¡¯ll buy it from you¡­¡±


    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll hang onto it for now.¡±


    Paxt reforged Judd¡¯s sword and showed him how to keep it sharp. When he handed it to Judd, Caste leaned over.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t cut yourself on it now.¡±


    In the marketplace, Aalis, Claud and Verne waited for them.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be back in your orchard by now.¡± Judd clasped his hand.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t let you go without thanking you again for all you did.¡± Claud insisted. ¡°My family is well, we are back where we have always wanted to be and the water is safe to drink again.¡±


    Caste retched and turned away.


    ¡°Ah memories.¡± Judd chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m very glad to have been of service, Claud. If we pass this way again, we¡¯ll visit.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll always be more than welcome.¡± Claud patted Verne on the shoulder and strode out of the marketplace. Judd watched Claud go then looked at Verne quizzically.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going with him?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing some of Terra and less of Fort Faine,¡± Verne explained, ¡°and you could use an archer in your party.¡±


    ¡°Well, I know I need no convincing but you ought to know that Caste doesn¡¯t tend to welcome newcomers¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh please,¡± Caste snorted, picking up his pack, ¡°at least Verne has proven somewhat competent in battle¡­even if we don¡¯t even know his last name or where he comes from.¡±


    ¡°Sachon, Verne Sachon,¡± Verne replied lightly, ¡°and that¡¯s all you¡¯re going to get out of me for now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more than enough for me.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°So, where are we headed?¡± Aalis asked.


    Judd shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We have a little money and I finally have a useable sword¡­¡±


    ¡°Fort Bastil is known to host sword fights and archery contests.¡± Verne picked up his swag. ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s a great place to learn even if you don¡¯t win.¡±


    ¡°Huh, Fort Bastil¡­Caste?¡±


    Caste already had his map out. ¡°It¡¯s on the eastern coast to the south. We¡¯ll have to go around the mangrove swamp in order to reach it¡­and there might be monsters along the way.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll just add them to the list.¡± Judd chuckled then paused. ¡°You did get confirmation of the goblin kill for my quest list, right?¡±


    Caste snorted. ¡°In lists I am proficiently competent.¡±


    ¡°Then, on to Fort Bastil!¡±

 Shortcuts are NEVER a good idea…

    Not two days later, Judd used his reforged and freshly sharpened sword to cut down vines blocking his way. He¡¯d lost count of the amount of times he¡¯d had to do so and his right arm was aching with an infernal pain. He switched to his left and wiped the sweat out of his eyes.


    ¡°Remind me again, whose stupid idea it was to cut through the mangrove swamp?¡± He panted and looked behind himself. Aalis had tied her dreadlocks into a knot on the top of her head like someone had left a bundle of snakes upon her crown and blotted at her skin with a cloth.


    ¡°From what my poor, addled brain can recall, we did put it to a vote.¡± She admitted and drank from her canteen. ¡°Verne?¡±


    He accepted the water and gulped it down, his jagged black hair lank and limp, the bandana around his forehead catching all the sweat.


    ¡°We need to take it easy on the water,¡± he huffed, ¡°unless we want to risk drinking that¡­¡± He pointed to the water and they all shuddered.


    The mangrove swamp lived up to its name. Sprawling trees with branches as tangled and unruly as their roots made their home in the drenched, sodden and muddy ground of the eastern border of the continent. The only solid ground that could be counted upon were the roots of the trees. Thick scum, water moss and floating masses of gathered debris all pretended to be safe to walk on and they had all made the mistake of assuming they had solid footing and ending up knee deep and soaked.


    And as if it was not hard enough to find solid ground to make any progress, vines hung from the mangroves, some as thick as Judd¡¯s arms and all seemed to have a life of their own, attempting to hamper their march without mercy. Adding insult to injury, the flying insects were driving them mad. Mosquitos, moths, flies and dragonflies buzzed about incessantly so that the mangrove swamp seemed to hum, frogs adding their own mellow burps to the melody.


    Judd eyed the water near where he was standing and shuddered.


    ¡°I think we just need to press on¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you said two hours ago.¡± Caste snapped from behind them, staggering from the weight of his pack, slipping sideways, cursing his soaked socks and drenched boots. ¡°I told you shortcuts never a good idea but did you listen to the cleric who was assigned to you?¡±


    Judd moaned and wiped his face down again. ¡°You¡¯re negative about everything! How can I possibly take anything you say seriously?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious about everything!¡± Caste missed his footing and banged his knee, whimpering as he flicked his hands free of the sludge they were coated in. ¡°You are going to be the death of me!¡±


    Judd sighed and looked at Verne, removing his swag. Verne took it and Judd wrestled Caste¡¯s pack off his back.


    ¡°No, no! I am a cleric of the Order of the Grail and I have been entrusted with the knowledge and wisdom¡­oh fine¡­carry the damn pack!¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Look, if we put some speed into our steps, we¡¯ll be out of this wretched swamp by nightfall.¡± Judd lugged the pack onto his back, staggering at the weight of it. ¡°How in Terra have you been carrying this?¡±


    Aalis followed him as he continued to lead the way. ¡°Perhaps, if we are fortunate enough to win a sizeable purse at Fort Bastil, we could purchase a pony to carry our supplies?¡±


    ¡°We should probably replenish all the herbs and medicinal supplies you¡¯ve used up since joining the party,¡± Judd added then looked at Verne, ¡°a new bow for you and maybe arrows?¡±


    ¡°I can make my own arrows,¡± Verne said sternly then paused, ¡°although¡­they are a pain in the¡­¡±


    ¡°Before you spend any and all our fantasy money on your wish list,¡± Caste grunted, ¡°I would like to request one thing.¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    They all turned back to Caste who was hunting in the swamp water, balancing on one leg. Finally he found what he was looking for and dragged a mud encased boot out of the murkiness.


    ¡°Boots that fit!¡±


    ¡°Done.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°As soon as we find a cobbler I swear we¡¯ll¡­did anyone else hear that?¡±


    ¡°What? The buzzing? Flapping? Croaking?¡±


    ¡°It was a child¡¯s cry¡­¡± Aalis whispered. ¡°I thought I heard it too.¡±


    They remained still, holding their breaths until another shriek reached their ears.


    ¡°This way!¡± Judd cried and bolted through the swamp.


    ¡°Are you mad? It could be sirens! A harpy! A lost cat!¡± Caste moaned and tried to keep up with just one boot on, refusing to let go of his muddied footwear.


    Judd swiped and hacked at the vines hanging in front of him, trying to keep him from the girl whose cries of fright were coming closer and closer. They were going deeper and deeper into the mangrove swamp and the solid ground was in a losing battle to the large expanses of green water. He ripped down a barrier of tangled branches, leaves and vines and spied a girl in tattered clothing, caught in a net, suspended high above the ground. She wrestled with the net, her thin arms and legs tangled in the weave of the netting.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to help!¡± Judd called out to her and she recoiled from his muddy party as best she could in her net. ¡°Hold still! Verne, can you break the rope holding her up?¡±


    Verne slid an arrow into his bow, lifted it, drew back the string and fired, the arrow going wide.


    ¡°Sorry, damn sweat¡­¡± He scrubbed at his eyes.


    ¡°We could just cut the rope from where it is tied,¡± Aalis suggested then tapped the trunk of a mangrove, ¡°right here¡­¡±


    Judd grinned at her and held out the sword. ¡°You cut, I¡¯ll catch.¡±


    He braced himself beneath the net as Aalis heaved the sword up, raking it across where the rope of the net was tied. The girl gave a small scream, plummeting to the ground then landed in Judd¡¯s arms. Immediately she began to fight and wrestle and kick, flailing her arms wildly.


    ¡°Hold on, just¡­hold oof!¡± Her heel connected with his jaw and Judd stumbled backwards, tripping over a root and tumbling into the green water, disturbing the lily pads and sending waves of green moss surging.


    ¡°Judd!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m alright. It¡¯s not deep.¡± He waved his hand. ¡°Watch out, she¡¯s stronger than she looks!¡±


    The girl fought her way free of the net and Aalis studied her with interest. Her skin was stained with the colours of the mangrove swamp, browns, greens and even a little yellow. Her eyes were wide and her hair was wild and matted. Her body was clad in clothing made from leaves stitched together and reeds. She lurched backwards from them, her big eyes watching them in terror.


    ¡°We are not going to hurt you.¡± Aalis said as gently as she could. ¡°We just¡­¡±


    She took off without warning. Judd sloshed through the water and clambered onto the ground, Verne gathering the net into his hands.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he ordered, running in the direction that the girl went, ¡°we can¡¯t lose sight of her!¡±


    ¡°Judd, use your miniscule brain and think!¡± Caste cried. ¡°She could be leading you anywhere or nowhere!¡±


    ¡°But I bet she came from a village and that¡¯s got to be better than this mangrove swamp.¡±


    Caste blinked. ¡°What are you waiting for? Chase her!¡±

 Strangers are not welcome here. Whether or not he lives, you will leave tomorrow

    They bolted through the swamp, struggling through heavy veils of leafy tendrils and hacking aside vines. Judd had quickly lost sight of the girl. The only tracks he was following were the disturbed leaves, the ripples in the water and the fading footprints in the mud. Eventually even those tracks became too faint for him to see. He continued in the general direction, Aalis, Verne and Caste sprinting to keep up.


    Then Judd gave a yell and they climbed over the roots of a mangrove to see him writhing on the ground, clutching his right calf, howling in pain.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Aalis cried, running to his side.


    ¡°Stay out of the water!¡± He managed to squeeze out between screams of agony. ¡°Something¡­a plant bit me!¡±


    ¡°A plant?¡± Aalis tore his trousers, exposing his calf. Her spin tingled at the sight of a curve of angry red teeth marks in his skin. And in the veins around the bite, she could see the evidence of dark poison starting to flow.


    Verne looked over her shoulder. ¡°That is one angry plant¡­¡± He said in his low voice.


    ¡°I need to halt the poison¡¯s advance,¡± Aalis gasped, hunting frantically through her pack and drawing out a length of bandage, ¡°Judd, try to hold still!¡±


    ¡°It burns!¡± Judd whimpered. ¡°Aalis¡­it hurts so much!¡±


    ¡°Verne, hold him down!¡± Aalis wrapped the bandage around Judd¡¯s upper leg and forced herself to tie it tightly. Judd¡¯s screech made her fall back as his back arched then he collapsed on the ground. ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m alright.¡± His white complexion and dilated eyes said otherwise.


    ¡°We need to get out of this place,¡± Aalis looked at the water fearfully, ¡°but I¡¯m not sure we can risk moving him¡­¡±


    ¡°Help me up.¡± Judd groaned and grunted, leaning heavily on Verne. ¡°Caste!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m safe here, thank you very much.¡± Caste said, clutching all their packs on a mangrove root.


    ¡°The more Judd moves his leg, the faster the poison will spread. You need to help him!¡±


    ¡°And go where? Have you any idea where we are or where we should go?¡±


    Aalis¡¯ soft temperament began to flare up. ¡°Caste, you selfish human being, we cannot just give up!¡±


    ¡°I told you shortcuts were a bad idea!¡±


    ¡°That is not helping!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we follow the girl?¡±


    Aalis and Caste looked at Verne who nodded towards a tree trunk where a pair of fearful eyes peered out at them from around its girth. As they watched, she wriggled her fingers at them to come closer.


    ¡°She wants us to go with her¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, because that¡¯s not going to¡­¡±


    Caste¡¯s words were cut off as Aalis¡¯ hand slapped over his mouth.


    ¡°Judd¡¯s life is at stake!¡±


    ¡°It could be all our lives!¡± Caste roared, ripping her hand away.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°What do you want to do, Judd?¡± Verne asked.


    Judd¡¯s lifted his head, his screaming stopped but the pain evidenced by the tears streaming down his face.


    ¡°Follow her¡­¡±


    They stumbled and tripped in their haste to follow the girl, Judd¡¯s weight becoming heavier with every step. His arms were around Verne and Aalis¡¯ shoulders and he tried to hop in sync with their steps but even the smallest jarring of his leg made him cry out. Because he would not carry Judd, Caste was expected to carry both his own and Judd¡¯s pack, doing his best to keep up despite his protestations.


    ¡°Do you have any idea where we are?¡± Verne whispered urgently at Aalis.


    She shook her head. The girl wove and darted, leading them across a series of small solid islands that ended at a hedge of vines and willowy tendrils. She urged them forward and pulled the vines aside like a curtain. The four travellers squeezed through the opening then gazed at the settlement they had come upon with astonishment.


    Reed and stick domed huts were built on bamboo scaffolding and connected with numerous tunnels of arched and bound reeds. The scaffolding and bridges were all above the water, at least a foot high so Aalis suspected that the residents were well aware of the danger lurking within the green opaque depths. The only way to reach the village, unless you dared to foolishly swim the swamp water, was by swing bridges.


    The start of one such bridge was nearby and the girl leapt onto it and waved them to follow her.


    ¡°We have come this far¡­¡± Aalis swallowed. They could not walk three abreast on the swing bridge so she had to let Verne take Judd¡¯s weight. Judd clung to the rope rail, wincing and moaning, panting through the pain. There were insects aplenty buzzing in the air and Caste swatted wildly at them.


    ¡°Keep still.¡± Verne snapped at him, Caste¡¯s frantic motions rocking the bridge.


    ¡°Ah, they¡¯re in my tunic!¡±


    He flapped his clothes madly as they crossed the swing bridge.


    ¡°Where did the girl go?¡±


    Aalis couldn¡¯t see her for a moment, a smoky haze surrounded the strange waterlogged village. Then the girl appeared from around one of the huts, leading three women with the same swamp stained skin, wild matted hair and reed and leaf clothing.


    ¡°Please,¡± Aalis said, edging forward, her arms outstretched, her palms facing upwards in what she hoped was a peaceful gesture, ¡°please, help us¡­my friend was bitten by a plant in the water¡­¡±


    The lead woman with skin like crumpled parchment and eyes as dark as monster blood, glared daggers at them. The girl spoke in a strange voice and so fast, her words were one continuous blur. The woman lifted her head and nodded then gestured for them to come.


    Aalis let out the breath she was holding. ¡°Come on,¡± she urged Caste as the woman bade them to enter one of the huts, ¡°they said we could go inside.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going in there! We¡¯re probably on the menu for their supper!¡± Caste swiped endlessly at the insects.


    ¡°There are no bugs in here!¡±


    Caste dove into the hut, a beaded string curtain clattering aside then falling back into place, keeping the creatures outside. The floor of the huts was spongy, made from lashing reeds and bamboo together. All the huts were circular and joined together by the arched, reed tunnels. Smaller circular rooms also existed off the larger ones and into one of those Judd was lain. He panted and puffed, his face as white as powder and streaked with sweat.


    ¡°Can you help him?¡± Aalis implored the woman whom she guessed to be the village leader or hopefully, a healer.


    The woman looked to the entrance to the hut where three young women had appeared, the girl at the front probably less than fifteen summers. The woman chattered in her rapid way and the girl came forward and knelt by Judd¡¯s side, Aalis shifting out of the way to allow her to inspect the wound. She touched the tourniquet and looked at the older woman who said something unintelligible.


    The girl leaned down to the wound and put her lips over the bite marks.


    ¡°What is she doing?¡± Caste hissed.


    ¡°Sucking the poison out.¡± Aalis guessed, feeling terrible that she had not thought to do the same.


    The girl sucked strongly until the older woman barked something at her then she raised her head. Aalis expected her to spit the poison to the side but to her horror, the girl swallowed.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡± Aalis cried as the girl slumped backwards, her eyes rolling around in her head. ¡°You just drank poison!¡±


    The older woman waved at the other two girls who helped their friend or sister to her feet and half carried her out of the hut. Then she turned back to Aalis, Verne and Caste.


    ¡°If the man child is strong, he will survive what remains of the proving.¡±


    ¡°Proving?¡± Aalis demanded as the woman walked away, Caste cringing to the side as she passed by him. ¡°What proving?¡±


    ¡°Strangers are not welcome here. Whether or not he lives, you will leave tomorrow.¡±


    At the end of her clipped, awkward speech, she turned on her heel and left.

 The village of the swamp coven

    In the middle of the hut was a metal dish that held a fire. There was a hole in the roof, allowing the smoke to escape and a funnel woven from yet more reeds hung over the fire to keep the smoke from going anywhere else. The three conscious travellers sat near the room where Judd was lying and were quiet for a long time. Judd made strained, huffing sounds and Aalis used what little clean water they had left to soak a cloth and laid it across his forehead.


    She sat on the floor in the larger space they didn¡¯t dare venture out from and drew her legs up to her chest.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Verne asked softly.


    ¡°I think the poison has reached his heart and head.¡±


    ¡°The tourniquet couldn¡¯t stop it?¡±


    ¡°It only slows the poison¡¯s advance.¡± Aalis felt wretched.


    ¡°What about what you made the farmers when they were sick from drinking contaminated water?¡±


    ¡°This is not a fever. I think it is a type of hallucinogenic.¡±


    ¡°A what?¡±


    Aalis cleared her throat. ¡°Something that makes you see things that are not there. Some people call them dreams or visions¡­¡±


    ¡°Some artists obtain powders or potions from the black market for ¡®inspiration¡¯.¡± Caste added tightly, curled up into as small a space as possible with his pack beside him like a shield.


    ¡°Is that why that girl swallowed Judd¡¯s blood and the poison along with it?¡± Verne asked in a hushed, nauseated voice.


    ¡°The woman, I am guessing she is the shaman of the village, called it ¡®the proving¡¯.¡± Aalis shrugged. ¡°It is possible it is a rite of passage for the young girl who drank it.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t seem too positive about Judd surviving it either.¡± Verne observed. ¡°Have you noticed there isn¡¯t a single man here? Granted we haven¡¯t seen a lot of the residents but still¡­not one?¡±


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Caste¡¯s tremulous gasp caught their attention and they turned to him, ¡°oh no, oh no, oh no¡­¡±


    ¡°What, what, what?¡± Aalis demanded as he dug through his bag and emerged with a leather bound volume with a thick spine.


    ¡°Female only tribe, living in a swamp¡­¡± Caste¡¯s eyes darted along the pages then stopped, closed and he groaned. ¡°Take a shortcut, they said. It¡¯ll be quicker and easier, they said¡­¡±


    ¡°Caste¡­¡± Aalis said with warning in her tone.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the village of the swamp coven,¡± he hissed, holding out his book with writing on one side and an illustration of women cackling around a cauldron, surrounded by a border of tangled roots, ¡°witches who maintain a female hierarchy and commune with Maul.¡±


    ¡°How can that be?¡± Verne whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t they need a male to¡­¡±


    ¡°There are accounts of unknown young women seducing men in villages and towns only to disappear once they¡¯ve¡­¡± Caste¡¯s face reddened and he coughed.


    ¡°So there are no men here at all?¡±


    ¡°From the little we know of the tribe, no, none.¡± Caste¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You don¡¯t think¡­they wouldn¡¯t try to seduce us?¡±


    Aalis tried to swallow an almost irrepressible smile. ¡°I think you will escape this encounter unscathed.¡± She chuckled.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you say!¡± Caste blurted. ¡°My intellect alone is a highly attractive quality!¡±


    ¡°Pity it operates independently of your mouth¡­¡± Verne said dryly.


    Before Caste could react to Verne¡¯s remark, Aalis caught his attention.


    ¡°Caste, how could these women commune with Maul? Maul is a place, not a person.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes the men who were seduced would imprison the woman, hoping to keep her from returning to the swamp. She would undergo a sort of delirium, ranting about the high priestess and how she would never let her go.¡±


    ¡°What happened to these women?¡±


    ¡°The accounts all say that they were able to escape, probably helped by others from the coven.¡±


    Aalis pondered this then shook her head. ¡°It still does not mean these women commune with Maul. The high priestess could simply be a human woman, like the one I thought might be the shaman of the village. Maybe she is the high priestess.¡±


    Caste blinked at Aalis. ¡°You¡¯re not endearing her to me.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­perhaps¡­¡±


    Their conversation fell silent as a small parade of women broke through the bead curtain, each carrying a plate of food which they lay down on the floor of the hut. There were small, round pieces of an unidentifiable meat, some odd looking berries and several pieces of fish, all arranged on a bed of leaves.


    ¡°Is this for us?¡± Aalis asked, seeing the girl they had chased to arrive at the village.


    She nodded and mimed eating the food.


    Aalis swallowed and reached out for one of the round pieces of meat.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Caste hissed.


    ¡°I am being a polite guest.¡± Aalis returned softly.


    ¡°You can¡¯t trust a witch¡¯s cooking!¡±


    ¡°You eat mine now, do you not?¡± Aalis returned lightly and picked up the meat and put it in her mouth. It was very chewy and rather salty but she persisted in eating it and swallowed down the lump with determination. ¡°Good.¡± She nodded at the girl who beamed and followed the other women out of the hut. Aalis turned to the other two and coughed. ¡°Stick to the fish. I think I just ate a snail.¡±


    Verne picked at the flesh of the fish and sucked his fingers. ¡°Not bad.¡± He nodded. ¡°You¡¯re gonna go hungry, Caste.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait, if it¡¯s all the same to you.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He wants to see if we have any adverse reactions to the food.¡± Aalis winked and ate some of the fish. Caste¡¯s hunger did not let him wait for long and eventually they devoured most of the food, the snails discreetly wrapped in a pouch and hidden in Aalis¡¯ pack to be thrown away at a later time.


    ¡°I have to ask,¡± Verne looked at Caste, ¡°if that book contains so much information on this coven, why hasn¡¯t Astaril sent an army of knights to deal with them?¡±


    ¡°Uh,¡± Caste pointed to where Judd tossed and turned in restless delirium, ¡°that¡¯s why! This place in all but inaccessible and unreachable.¡±


    ¡°Why did you not say as much when you objecting to the shortcut?¡± Aalis asked.


    ¡°I had no idea it was this swamp,¡± Caste explained, ¡°and we were supposed to be cutting off a narrow corner, not plunging into the heart of mangrove Maul.¡±


    They were all quiet for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.


    ¡°We should probably take it in turns to keep watch,¡± Verne suggested, ¡°that way someone can sit with Judd in case he gets worse.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take first watch.¡± Both Verne and Aalis stared at Caste. ¡°What? I¡¯m not going to be able to fall asleep in this place unless I am so tired I can¡¯t keep my eyes open and my fear will keep them wide for hours.¡±


    ¡°When you feel like you¡¯re going to fall asleep, I¡¯ll take over.¡± Verne offered.


    ¡°And I will take over from you.¡± Aalis nodded.


    It wasn¡¯t easy to go to sleep especially when the tribal women began to chant and sing in mournful tones. It was any wonder Caste was able to fall asleep at all but when Verne gently shook Aalis awake, she saw Caste curled up against the wall of the hut, snoring softly. Aalis yawned and sat up, taking Verne¡¯s position next to Judd. Verne¡¯s strained expression was understandable when Aalis saw that Judd had not improved at all. In fact, he seemed to be getting worse. He was bone white with deep shadows beneath his eyes and when she drew back the collar of his shirt, his veins bore traces of the dark green of the poison.


    Judd mumbled and whimpered in his delirium. Aalis watched him suffer, hopeless and wretched.


    ¡°Judd, you have to beat this,¡± she whispered, ¡°do not give in to the nightmares.¡±


    He gritted his teeth, his curly dark hair damp with sweat and plastered across his face. He clawed at the air as though trying to climb or escape from something.


    Aalis worried her bottom lip, drawing back the fabric of his trousers, seeing the angry wound on his leg. She swallowed and glanced into the main portion of the hut. Caste was still fast asleep and Verne was curled up on his side. The fire in the metal bowl was low and though the hut was warm, it was dark.


    She swallowed again and stretched out shaking fingers to hover over Judd¡¯s leg. She licked her lips and lowered them to rest lightly on the wound. She planned to start slowly, to ease into the absorbing process but it was as though the poison sensed a new body to infect and Aalis jolted upright, her eyes darkening to monster blood green.

 A glimpse of what might be…

    She staggered as though the ground was moving beneath her feet, her stomach lurching and she fell to her knees and crawled as best she could. The ground was hard exposed rock, whipped bare by the vicious wind that was blowing her sideways. She realised she was climbing up a slope, heading for a rise. A flurry of snow blinded her as she dragged herself to the apex of the incline and she coughed, icy air filling her lungs.


    She had to wait until the wind eased off, finally able to see what lay ahead.


    It was a battlefield¡­hundreds of monsters were strewn across the unyielding landscape and filling in any space where they were not, were human soldiers bearing Astaril livery. Spears, swords, shields¡­all were broken and the humans, even more so. Bodies were slashed with claws or bore terrible bite marks. There was so much blood, both red and dark green, mingling together, soaking into the land. Beyond the battlefield was the wall that divided the north from the south. And even further beyond was the mount of Maul, smoking black and ominous.


    ¡°What¡­is this?¡± She whispered stepping back and tripped over someone behind her. She looked down and to her horror, she saw the face of Verne, gashed and bloodied, his bow broken and his arrows gone. Next to him was an unknown man, with a handsome face even in death yet his torso had been run through with multiple thick, black arrows, a shattered shield fallen to the side that had not been able to protect him. Blood poured from a wound in his head to congeal and mat his blonde curls together. She whimpered and turned away only to see Caste¡¯s body fallen against a cart, his neck snapped and his eyes open yet lifeless. A man with dark skin, his back embedded with an axe of spine splitting proportions lay at Caste¡¯s feet.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    She began to sob.


    ¡°No¡­this cannot be!¡± She began to panic, panic overwhelming her. ¡°Judd! Judd! Where are you?!¡±


    A cry filled her ears and she spun around to face the battlefield where a single figure stood. He was a blur as the wind began to blow, scattering dust into her eyes but she saw him lift a sword into the air¡­and suddenly the world went silent¡­


    ¡­as the world seem to explode into a fiery red rage.


    Her eyes filled with the sight of an angry red storm coming towards her so fast there was no chance of escaping it.


    She spun around, a wall of heat striking her back and flinging her forward¡­


    ¡­into a cool marble hall with stained glass windows and fine, filigree and gold plated furniture. There were vases full of brilliant blooms and suits of armour and tapestries hanging from the walls. She stumbled to a halt, the blur around her solidifying into a congregation of mournful faces. No one seemed to see her. They were all preoccupied with an ornate coffin which rested on the altar at the far end of the room. She walked towards it, shivering.


    Behind the coffin were four figures and as she approached, she saw that Caste and Verne, as well as the two men she did not recognise, stood solemnly like a guard of honour for the coffin¡¯s resident.


    Trembling she approached the casket of death, a beautifully detailed masterpiece, one reserved for kings and princes with a polished glass lid with a gold seal of royal approval. A noble, kind face lay within the coffin, a knight at rest. She wept, putting her fingers out to touch the unyielding, cold glass.


    ¡°Judd,¡± she whispered, ¡°you cannot be dead. You cannot be so!¡±


    Her words could not reach him and her tears struck the glass, trickling away. A reflection moved into her line of sight and she looked up to see her own face gazing back at her, dressed in magenta and purple, her eyes filled with sorrow and her mouth turned down.


    ¡°What is this?¡± She begged. ¡°A vision? A premonition? A curse? What?!¡±


    Her reflection¡¯s eyes filled with dark green and she breathed out a cloud of darkness. She recoiled, cowering from the haze of poison¡­

 The high priestess calls you by name…

    Aalis lurched backwards from Judd, gasping for air as though she had been holding it for hours. Her vision was blurry, her body was quaking and her stomach rolled in violent, warning waves. Aalis staggered to her feet and stumbled blindly to the main hut then out through the bead curtain to throw up over the side of the railing into the murky green water below. She retched until she was weak and empty, clinging to the railing, shaking like a leaf in a brisk autumn breeze.


    ¡°By Astaril¡­what¡­what was that¡­¡± She wheezed.


    ¡°A vision,¡± she started and looked at the woman she had dubbed the shaman of the tribe of female witches, ¡°given to you by the blessing of the bite.¡±


    ¡°Blessing¡­¡± Aalis wiped at her mouth. ¡°That¡­was a nightmare!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the shaman grasped her arm with strength that belied her slender frame, ¡°it was a glimpse of the future!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Aalis stepped back. ¡°No, it cannot be!¡±


    ¡°The women of my tribe seek such a vision. They pursue it, desperate for a glimpse of that which was bestowed upon you!¡±


    ¡°You cannot be serious!¡±


    The shaman gazed at her with glittering eyes. ¡°You have no comprehension of the depth of power you touched the edge of. Yes it torments us but it also enlightens and elevates us. Only those born of this tribe, conditioned to the bite of the future teller have endured the visions¡­until you.¡± Aalis wanted to shy away from her knowing eyes, the way that seemed to strip the layers of privacy from her heart, exposing her with brutal cruelty. ¡°Who was your mother?¡±


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°No¡­my mother had nothing to do with this¡­with any of you!¡±


    ¡°You are either a liar¡­or you do not know.¡± The shaman lifted her chin. ¡°Do you want to know?¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°I¡­I know who my mother was.¡±


    ¡°Then the secret may be hidden deep within your past, so deep only the high priestess could reveal it. And she wishes to meet you.¡±


    Aalis swallowed. ¡°The high priestess wishes to meet me?¡± The shaman smiled, revealing yellow, pointed teeth. ¡°I¡­I should ask¡­¡±


    ¡°None of your men may accompany you. They have their uses but the high priestess will only meet with women¡­and it is you and you alone that she has called into her presence.¡± The shaman¡¯s eyes lowered. ¡°Even I, who inherited my place from my mother, have never been called for by name¡­yet you are summoned, Aalis.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ skin prickled so painfully that she rubbed her skin, trying to get her goose bumps to recede. The shaman began to walk away as though already knowing that Aalis would follow her.


    ¡°I am not sure¡­¡±


    ¡°She can tell you why you can feel the mood of the forest, the state of the water¡­the grief in the ground¡­¡±


    ¡°And my dreams? When I was a child? The voices?¡± The shaman nodded and continued to walk.


    Aalis glanced inside at the hut then bolted after the shaman before she could disappear into the labyrinth of the village.


    It was not long before dawn and there was finally a brief reprieve from the insects that never seemed to land. The torches illuminating the village had died low and even the chanting of the women was silent. The mangrove swamp wasn¡¯t nearly as close as it had been, stretches of sky opening up above. The shaman led Aalis along a swing bridge to a raised stone path. The air was cool and a soft, dark blue that was lightening gradually.


    ¡°Your high priestess,¡± Aalis brushed willow tendrils aside, ¡°she can see the future?¡±


    ¡°The future sight is within us,¡± the shaman touched her chest, ¡°but the high priestess can tell us what it means.¡±


    ¡°She does not live in the village?¡±


    The shaman gave a soft laugh. ¡°She does not.¡±


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°Does¡­she commune with Maul?¡±


    The shaman stopped and turned to Aalis with condescension in her eyes. ¡°You speak with the knowledge of flawed, weak men who know nothing about us. The high priestess broke with Maul many, many years ago, when my great grandmother¡¯s great grandmother was a child. Since then, she has guided us with her wisdom.¡±


    Aalis nodded, hoping she seemed suitably admonished. The shaman continued to walk and Aalis noticed that there were more and more stone ruins and debris protruding from the water.


    ¡°What is this place?¡±


    ¡°An old world power that sank into the swamp¡­or was consumed by it.¡± The shaman seemed amused by this knowledge. ¡°Man thought himself wise to build a fortress on such poor foundations and in the end, it ended him.¡±


    The shaman led Aalis to what she guessed was the throne room of the ruined fortress. A stone throne, sitting upon a dais, reached by skipping across several stones. In front of the throne was a large expanse of green water, covered with lilies, lily pads and moss. There were a number of pillars, in various degrees of brokenness, giving a vague indication of just how large the former king of the fortress¡¯ throne room had been.


    ¡°Sit.¡± The shaman gestured.


    ¡°Me? Sit there?¡± The shaman nodded and Aalis picked across the stepping stones, grasping the edge of the throne. The atmosphere was so peaceful and calm that Aalis wasn¡¯t sure what it was she was supposed to be afraid of. The leaves shivered with the first touches of sun that started to cast across the land, sending streaks of light across the water.


    Aalis eased herself into the throne. She looked at the shaman. ¡°What do I do now?¡±


    The shaman smiled. Abruptly vines shot out of the water and flung themselves across Aalis, wrapped around her, pinning her to the throne.


    ¡°Stop! Let me go!¡± She kicked and squirmed but the vines held her tightly. ¡°Help me!¡± She cried to the shaman. ¡°Please!¡±


    ¡°The high priestess has granted you an audience¡­¡±


    Aalis opened her mouth to protest when she was suddenly aware of a bubbling in the middle of the pool of water in front of her. The moss was scattered and the lilies were pushed to the outer edges as something large began to surface. Water erupted off the top of it and waves surged violently, bashing themselves against the pillars, washing up against the dais, soaking Aalis¡¯ feet and skirts. She closed her eyes and turned her face, keeping her mouth shut.


    When the waters began to settle Aalis, despite her heart thundering in her breast, peeked at what had surfaced¡­


    ¡­and screamed so loud birds took flight.


    A green ball, large enough to fill the space of the throne room, had risen into view, covered with slime, barnacles and leafy debris. And then the green split across the middle and drew back, a giant eyeball exposed beneath, staring at her. Its iris was the colour of pale grey stone with shifting hues of lavender and blue across its unnatural expanse and its pupil was as large as Aalis¡¯ head.


    Aalis strained and pulled but she could not break free.


    ¡°This was a mistake! This was such a big mistake!¡±


    ¡°Gairil Palaidin nee Aalis,¡± Aalis paused, hearing the shaman speak yet in a voice that was unlike hers, ¡°your arrival is unexpected. I calculated that you became deceased in the year of the eighth alignment.¡± Aalis looked over at the shaman, surprise overriding her fright. The shaman was standing stiffly, her head cocked to one side and to Aalis¡¯ crawling horror, a plant, probably one similar to that which bit Judd, had sunk its fangs into her neck. Its stem curled around her arm and drifted down into the water where the eyeball stared without blinking.


    ¡°What¡­are you speaking through the shaman?¡±


    ¡°She is my mouthpiece.¡±


    Aalis felt sick as the fangs dug deeper, blood trickling down the shaman¡¯s neck. ¡°Let her go.¡±


    ¡°She is willing and even welcomes my control.¡± The waters had stopped thrashing and now only the movement of the giant eye caused ripples in the water.


    Aalis licked her lips and swallowed hard. ¡°Why¡­why did you call me Gairil?¡±


    The eye studied her and Aalis¡¯ spine seemed to recoil from its gaze. ¡°Your genetic likeness, though uncanny, is flawed. Initial assessment is flawed. You are Aalis.¡± Aalis shivered, her name spoken in an accent that was both grating yet familiar. She wanted to strain against the tendrils that held her but her need to know overruled her need for freedom.


    ¡°The shaman tells me you can make sense of my vision.¡±


    ¡°You see the future¡­you see the end¡­long has it been in coming and long have I waited¡­¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°What do you mean the end?¡± Aalis stammered. ¡°It¡­it was horrific! Humans and monsters dead¡­¡±


    ¡°Extermination of the enemy is the primary goal.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡­monsters too? But¡­you are a creature of Maul,¡± Aalis paused, ¡°are you not?¡±


    The eyeball glared at her, the pupil narrowing. ¡°I am birthed of Ekidna but I broke from her command many decades ago.¡±


    ¡°Ekidna?¡±


    ¡°The mother of Maul.¡±


    Aalis stared at the eyeball, her fear retreating. ¡°It has a consciousness?¡± The notion was overwhelming. ¡°But¡­we thought¡­it is a mountain that reached down too deep into the earth and monsters climbed out of the pit¡­¡±


    ¡°How small and petty have you become, Gairil!¡± The shaman lamented and the eyeball¡¯s pupil shrank down to strike Aalis with a merciless stare. ¡°You were once the Alpha! The head!¡±


    ¡°What? No! I was never anything!¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°You have me confused with someone else!¡±


    The eyeball gave her an eyeroll. ¡°Do you not feel the touch of the air, the state of the water¡­the pain in your friend¡­the poison in his veins¡­¡± Sweat began to trickle down Aalis¡¯ forehead as she started to pant. ¡°Before you reached adolescence¡­could you not hear voices in your head?¡±


    ¡°Stop it¡­¡± Aalis whispered. ¡°Please¡­¡±


    ¡°You cannot hide from what you are!¡±


    ¡°I am nothing! No one!¡±


    ¡°Their fears, their woes¡­their grief?¡±


    Aalis sobbed. ¡°Please¡­please stop!¡±


    ¡°Denying it does not change the fact.¡±


    Tears joined the sweat streaking across Aalis¡¯ cheeks.


    ¡°I am not who you think I am!¡± She screamed at the eyeball, slumping forwards, trying to catch her breath. She wheezed and coughed, forcing herself to breathe through her nose and out through her mouth.


    Nothing was said and Aalis¡¯ scream had long been absorbed by the mangroves and deadened by the water when she finally lifted her head, sunlight striking the pool, sparkles of luminous light dazzling her eyes.


    ¡°No you are not,¡± the eyeball tilted slightly and the eyelid narrowed, studying her, ¡°and you are also not Gairil,¡± Aalis shivered in relief, ¡°however, your resemblance is far too similar and Ekidna may fall for your authority just as I almost did¡­¡± Dread began to form in Aalis as clouds passed overhead, blotting out the sun. The iris of the high priestess began to darken and its pupil dilated. ¡°It would be better to eliminate you as a threat,¡± Aalis gulped, a vine snaking around her neck, pinning her against the throne, tightening with murderous intent, ¡°for while I no longer hear Ekidna¡¯s commands, we are still connected¡­and what befalls her will befall all her children¡­¡±


    Aalis couldn¡¯t breathe and her vision was going dark. She let out a pathetic whimper, knowing she was about to die¡­


    ¡­when the vine around her neck relaxed.


    Aalis coughed and wheezed, dragging air into her lungs down her ragged throat. ¡°Why,¡± she croaked, ¡°why?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­there is another way¡­a way for me to see beyond this swamp and across the territory of the enemy.¡±


    ¡°Enemy¡­¡± Aalis¡¯ speech was lost in a rasped whisper.


    ¡°You will become my eyes, my ears¡­my will.¡± Water began to bubble in front of the eyeball and pushing up through its surface was a long, snaking tendril that curled its way towards Aalis, a tiny bulb at its very tip. Aalis watched in horror as the bulb gave a squirm, splitting in half, revealing an eyeball no bigger than the head of a pin. It wriggled and writhed, straining towards her. ¡°I will be with you¡­¡±


    Aalis pulled and strained but the vines tightened until she was sure she would be riddled with bruises and the one around her neck made sure her head could not move.


    ¡°No,¡± she squeaked pathetically as the little eyeball danced merrily, coming closer and closer, aiming for her ear, ¡°no!¡±


    ¡°I will be in you and I will ensure Ekidna¡¯s triumph¡­and my own survival!¡±


    Aalis could almost feel the stroking of the vine against her cheek, the gnawing at her ear¡­the burrowing into her brain¡­


    ¡­when the shaman screamed as the eyeball lurched backwards, an arrow sunk deep into its pupil. It writhed and thrashed, more vines trying to swat at the arrow and pull it free.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± Judd roared, leaping to the dais, bringing his sword down, severing the vines, sending the tiny eyeball flying into the turbulent waters of the pool where the pillars were tumbling, bashed apart by the agonised eyeball, stone blocks flying like deadly hailstones. He hacked and cut until she was free and pulled her to her feet.


    ¡°Judd, I am so sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Run!¡±


    They bolted from the dais, passing the shaman who was screaming curses at them, clutching at her own eyes as if she had been the one who was struck. Judd held onto Aalis¡¯ hand as they ran past Verne who let loose several more arrows before following them, keeping to the old castle ruins and then to the swing bridge.


    ¡°Stay out of the water!¡± Aalis cried.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me that!¡± Judd yelled back, vines appearing out of the swamp, whipping the air, smashing down on the bridge before and behind them. He stabbed and hacked until their path was clear, making for the village.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Caste yelled, standing on a platform with all of their swags gathered around him. He heaved his own onto his back and started running, each of them grabbing a pack and following him just as the tribe of women began to howl and screech. ¡°Seriously, run!¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Judd pushed against several women who were trying to block their path, knocking them into the water, the vines grasping at them, pulling them under.


    ¡°I¡¯m just following her!¡± Caste pointed at the little girl they had saved only yesterday.


    ¡°Her?¡± Verne leapt nimbly over slapping vines. ¡°She led us here!¡±


    ¡°Oh sure,¡± despite running for his life, Caste¡¯s tone was still dripping with sarcasm, ¡°when Judd wants to follow the savage witch girl, you¡¯re all, hey, let¡¯s go for it! But when I want to¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up and run!¡±


    The combined weight of them and the women who were still chasing them caused the swing bridge to sag dangerously low, scraping the top of the water. At the end Judd leapt aside, waited for Aalis and Verne to pass him and severed the ropes from the mangroves. The swing bridge immediately sank into the water and the women splashed about helplessly as the vines grabbed at them, slapping about blindly, unable to tell friend from foe.


    Judd ran after the other three and their little guide. She didn¡¯t stop for an hour, her lithe little body leading them at a constant frantic pace until they reached semi solid ground. Even then she danced about nervously until there was a kind of mangrove root wall between them and where they were headed. They had to climb over it, falling to the other side where, for the first time in nearly three days, there was open land ahead as the mangroves finally gave up their stranglehold.


    Not until there was dry ground beneath their feet, waving grasses and a complete open sky above did the five of them stop. In truth, four of them collapsed, the little girl somewhat amused by their exhaustion.


    Aalis slumped over her pack, her fingers covering her face, her shoulders shaking.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd used whatever drop of energy he had left to shuffle over to her, ¡°Aalis? Did that thing hurt you?¡±


    She sniffed and shook her head.


    ¡°What did it want?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°I hardly know¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we should stay here.¡± Caste announced.


    ¡°I thought you would have welcomed a rest.¡± Judd moaned.


    ¡°Our guide seems to be insisting on us moving.¡±


    She was gesturing furiously at them. Judd moaned and used his sword to prop him to his feet then helped Aalis to rise. He favoured his injured leg but waved aside her concerns, assuring Aalis that he was much recovered. They followed at a pace only slightly faster than walking, crossing a stream of clear water which they drank deeply of and none questioned its cleanliness. From there it was a short trek to a tiny farmstead where two men were plucking heads of grain.


    ¡°Papa!¡± The little girl cried.


    One of the men spun around and dropped what he was doing.


    ¡°Iesha!¡± He yelled and ran towards her, picking her up into his arms and swinging her around. ¡°You came back! Oh my little girl¡­you came back!¡± He held her tightly to his chest and sobbed without care.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it¡­¡± The other man shook his head. ¡°She¡­it¡¯s been years!¡±


    ¡°I told you, Hal, never give up hope.¡± The father kissed his daughter¡¯s smudged and stained cheeks and she beamed brightly at him then pointed at the four travellers. ¡°You,¡± the father approached them, ¡°you brought my little girl home?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s more accurate to say she brought us.¡± Judd admitted.


    ¡°We were lost in the swamp. Your daughter got us out.¡± Verne explained.


    ¡°Brave girl.¡± Aalis said softly and Iesha grinned.


    ¡°Please, please come and allow us to look after you.¡±


    The food was more than edible, even by Caste¡¯s standards and the two men, Hal and Falin, bestowed upon them their own brewed cider.


    ¡°The last of the season,¡± Hal warned as Judd gulped at it then coughed, ¡°it¡¯s got a good kick to it.¡±


    ¡°I can feel it warming me down to my toes.¡± Judd chuckled, putting his stein down. ¡°This is a strange place for a farmstead, with the mangrove swamp so near¡­or is that on purpose?¡±


    Hal and Falin both nodded. ¡°We have both suffered losses to that swamp and the tribe of witches.¡± Falin explained, gently pulling out the sticks and leaves from Iesha¡¯s hair as she munched happily on toasted bread. ¡°I knew the stories of the witches but believed the willowy woman who seduced me was sincere in her declarations of love. But when she was confirmed to be with child, she left.¡±


    ¡°She must have cared for you a little,¡± Hal reassured Falin, ¡°or else she would not have told your daughter about you.¡±


    ¡°And you set out traps to catch her?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Traps?¡± Hal and Falin looked at each other. ¡°What traps?¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes. ¡°The witches set the traps, to catch Iesha so that she could not return to her father¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh my girl¡­¡± Falin attempted to brush her tangled, matted hair. Iesha wiggled contentedly.


    ¡°And despite being free¡­you took us back to your village,¡± Judd mused, ¡°because you knew that¡¯s where I stood the best chance of being healed?¡± Iesha nodded. ¡°Brave girl indeed.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± Caste asked Hal who cut some slices of meat from the spit. ¡°Why stay here? For Falin and his daughter?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Hal said sadly, ¡°unfortunately my situation can never be resolved. You see, my wife and I were travelling to Fort Bastil and we passed too close to the swamp. For whatever reason, the witches decided she was better off in their coven than with me so they kidnapped her. And I did not see her for nearly two years.¡±


    ¡°But you did see her again?¡±


    Hal stood up and went to a room in the farmstead, easing open the door. Inside was a woman on a low bed in the midst of a delirious sleep. Her pale blonde hair was damp from sweat and in a tangle beneath her head as she moaned and whimpered, his fingers clutching at the straw stuffed mattress beneath her.


    ¡°It was the happiest day in the world when she returned to me¡­but it seemed she could not escape their clutches completely for she endures fitting and delirium frequently. And the farther from the swamp we go, the worse it gets.¡±


    ¡°It is possible that what the witches do to themselves makes the women dependent upon something in the air or water.¡± Aalis said softly.


    Hal looked at her with hope in his eyes. ¡°Are you a healer?¡± She nodded. ¡°Please¡­I have consulted every physician and healer I have heard of and none have been able to relieve my wife¡¯s suffering. Is there anything you can do?¡±


    Aalis hesitated. Judd put his hand on her arm. ¡°Aalis,¡± he said gently, ¡°you are exhausted and emotional¡­¡±


    ¡°I would like to try.¡± Aalis stood up and entered the room, closing the door behind her. She gazed at the woman who could not have been aware of her presence but who barred her teeth at Aalis as though sensing a threat to the possession of its soul. ¡°I know you now,¡± she said firmly but quietly, not to the woman but to the thing that writhed inside of her, ¡°and I know what you do¡­and I swear, for the lies you have visited upon those women for generations and the control you have affected over them, I will never let another to suffer it¡­not while I have any say in the matter.¡±


    She put her hands on the woman¡¯s forehead and closed her eyes.


    It was different to when Judd had been poisoned and Aalis had drawn it out of his veins. That poison had leapt into her, sensing a female host. This time there was reluctance and engrained strongholds of addiction and conditioning. But Aalis was determined, made so by the horrific fright and threat of what she had endured. Her mouth turned down and her brow furrowed as the woman jerked and convulsed, hissing and panting through her gritted teeth.


    ¡°No more.¡± Aalis commanded. ¡°You will submit,¡± she licked her lips, ¡°by the order of Gairil Palaidin.¡±


    The woman¡¯s body arched mightily and for a moment Aalis wondered if she would snap in two when she sagged back onto the mattress. Aalis lifted her hands away, coughed and spluttered, spitting the darkness out of her body. Instead of dispersing onto the ground, it collected together, forming a dark green, slimy wriggling tendril. Aalis stood up and without hesitation, crushed it beneath her heel.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± She looked at the woman who gazed at her with clear soft brown eyes. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Aalis gazed at her, doubt creeping into her heart. ¡°I¡­do not know anymore.¡±

 Fort Bastil

    Fort Bastil was protected from the insidious mangrove swamp on its northern border by an impressively high wall that even the desperate witches of the tribe within could not traverse. In fact the wall had to be so imposing in order to protect the fort¡¯s inhabitants from the residents of the swamp, the original architects had studied the wall of the south at length. For if it could withstand the test of time and the monsters that battered themselves against it, then something similar should hold up against human witches.


    And where there was no wall, there was a fence of sharpened wooden spikes facing both in and out, making the northern side of the fort impenetrable. However, once inside the fort¡¯s elaborate defences, which did not include a moat for fear of slimy interlopers sneaking in from the swamp, the land was open and friendly and the people were pleasant.


    Hal and his wife, Varia, Falin and his daughter, Iesha, travelled with Judd and his party to Fort Bastil. It had been all their intended destination regardless of the length of time it had taken to reach it. Hal and Falin had dismantled their farmstead and their ponies had carried all their belongings and a recovering Varia to the entrance where Sir Alaykin was the lord of the land.


    At the mouth of the bustling marketplace, Hal and Falin turned to Judd and his company as they retrieved their packs from the cart.


    ¡°We cannot thank you all enough for what you have done.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just happy to have been able to help.¡± Judd insisted and Aalis and Verne nodded while Caste looked undecided.


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re staying at Bastil for a while, you¡¯ll find us in the farmlands. We both have family there and you¡¯re more than welcome at any of our tables.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    Aalis waved to Iesha who looked nothing like the wild little girl that had led them out of the swamp. She sat beside Varia on the cart as they skirted the outside of the markets, heading to the pastures of Fort Bastil. Judd turned to Aalis, Verne and Caste.


    ¡°Where shall we start?¡±


    ¡°You and I need to introduce ourselves to Sir Alaykin.¡± Caste said with great authority.


    ¡°Perhaps Verne and I could scout the markets for some supplies?¡± Aalis suggested.


    In the end they agreed to meet back in the same place that they separated from in an hour. Judd was first to arrive and waited for the others while leaning on a fence post. He was not bored in the slightest as a minstrel sat on a bale of straw nearby, plucking at a rather plain lute, sang in a warm, warbling voice.


    ¡°Bestow upon me, the sweetest of berries,


    The rich darkness of blue,


    The sweet tartness of red.


    Bless my lips with the taste of the best of the harvest,


    Yet your kisses are the things I wish to taste best.¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t help but grin as the minstrel, who was blessed, not only with a fine voice but a head of golden curls like a cherub and a handsome face to match, was surrounded by several young women who reclined in front of him, their eyes watching him in rapt adoration. At the end of the song they all put a coin in the cap by his feet, one young woman drawing it out of the bodice of her dress with a suggestive wink.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Judd rolled his eyes and chuckled as the women darted away, giggling after the minstrel thanked them with a practiced flirtatious air. He heard Judd¡¯s chuckle and looked up, seeing the young man¡¯s mirth.


    ¡°It is a hard life.¡± The minstrel grinned, tucking the money into his purse and slinging his lute onto his back.


    ¡°I can see that.¡± Judd nodded farewell to him as Verne and Aalis approached. Aalis turned and looked at the minstrel. Judd felt a small twinge of jealousy and wished he was not so plain to behold. There was something captivating about the minstrel¡¯s blond curls and summer blue eyes that had just the right amount of sincere suffering coupled with rehearsed womanising.


    Aalis shook her head and turned back to Judd, smiling as brightly as she could.


    ¡°Replenished your herbal stock?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Somewhat, although much of what I use, I gather as I travel.¡± Aalis admitted.


    ¡°Looks like you left something behind in the keep.¡± Verne remarked.


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Judd chuckled, ¡°I think the reason Caste wants us to announce our arrival to every knight in every fort is because every knight in every fort must have a cleric to keep them on the straight and narrow¡­and Fort Bastil¡¯s cleric offered Caste a room within the fort.¡±


    ¡°You mean he willingly forwent sleeping on the ground and eating peasant food?¡± Verne smirked.


    ¡°It¡¯s shocking to me also.¡± Judd laughed. ¡°I thought we might take Hal and Falin up on their hospitality offer for tonight and then, with a little luck, be able to pay for our own accommodation and food.¡±


    ¡°So Fort Bastil do host contests here?¡±


    ¡°Just like Verne said,¡± Judd took Aalis¡¯ pack from her so she could walk unhindered, ¡°in fact, Sir Alaykin boasts that Ford Bastil, under the instruction of its sword master, has produced more soldiers of knightly quality than any other fort in Terra, even better than Astaril and the barracks of King Rocheveron¡¯s military.¡±


    ¡°He sounds charming.¡± Aalis murmured.


    ¡°He was a bit boastful¡­but it sounds like he has a well established training arena.¡± Judd¡¯s countenance fell a little. ¡°When I asked if I could¡­avail myself of his sword master¡¯s wisdom and experience...he was less than eager.¡±


    Aalis looked at Verne. ¡°He felt threatened?¡±


    ¡°No¡­more like¡­a little kid fishing with his reel going up against fishermen and their professional tackle¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Aalis paused, ¡°What did Sir Alaykin say when you told him about what happened with the swamp tribe?¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t overwhelmed,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°and it turns out the next fighting tournament and archery contest is over two weeks away¡­but he did say I could go a few rounds with his sword master, Dalain Thiery who could give me some pointers¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something.¡± Verne didn¡¯t sound convinced.


    They had to ask directions to where their farmer friends were stationed. Hal and Varia welcomed them to their shared home with several other families. Falin and Iesha were there also, Iesha playing with the children of the adults who worked the land. Judd found, while Sir Alaykin and his cleric were not impressed with his experiences thus far on his knighthood journey (which again seemed to have something to do with the fact that Judd was not high born enough in the eyes of tradition), he, Verne and Aalis were immensely popular amongst the farmers. Falin and Hal had been spreading the story of their survival of the swamp and the healing of Varia.


    It was both thrilling and a little embarrassing. Judd tried several times to serve himself at supper and even offered to wash up but was refused and asked, instead, to tell the tale of the battle of the goblins of Fort Faine. By the time the night was cooling off and the children were being urged to bed, Judd was somewhat fed up with the sound of his own voice.


    He slumped next to Aalis who was sewing a patch on her dress and gulped down half a stein of cider.


    ¡°Bravo. You are quite the storyteller.¡±


    ¡°Thankfully I have had a bit of practice.¡± Judd confessed.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the eldest son of a semi-largish family and I¡¯ve regaled my siblings many times with epic narratives of knightly stories, complete with dynamic air-sword fights and dramatic dying scenes.¡±


    ¡°Are you in earnest?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Judd laughed, ¡°no one has ever died more times than I have and my sword play was second to none.¡±


    ¡°I might have to start an ¡®encore¡¯ chant again just to see it for myself.¡±


    ¡°Not you too,¡± Judd moaned and she laughed, ¡°if anyone else wants to hear the ballad of Judd LaMogre¡­I might just hire that minstrel to tell it for me.¡±


    ¡°The young man in the marketplace?¡± Judd nodded. Aalis frowned. ¡°Did he seem familiar to you at all?¡±


    ¡°No, not really. I¡¯ve never left Astaril before and unless he¡¯s ever done a stint at the docks or one of my father¡¯s boats¡­¡± He studied her expression which was pale, her sewing forgotten. ¡°Why¡­is he familiar to you?¡±


    ¡°In a vague sense, perhaps¡­¡±


    Judd recalled the eager women crowding the minstrel and his twinge of jealousy became a pang. He wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to know if Aalis had met the young man before and was debating about asking her¡­when he opted for the coward¡¯s way out, pretended to yawn and excused himself for an early night.

 Minstrels tell nothing but fiction set to music

    Caste was in heaven. Bede, the cleric to Sir Alaykin, had insisted that a member of the Order of the Grail had to be given appropriate accommodations in the keep of the fort and treated as an honoured guest. And after three weeks of sleeping on the ground or in common houses where their floor was still just glorified ground or on the floor of the coven of swamp witches, Caste felt not a twinge of guilt at farewelling Judd and following Bede to his room.


    It was beautiful. Dark woods, rich tapestries, a mattress that was so soft it felt like sleeping on a cloud and duck down pillows that caressed him softly and restored his battered and weary soul.


    He woke with sparkles drifting elegantly along the beams of sunlight through his narrow window, announcing gently that morning had come yet did not demand that he rise and begin to trek endlessly across the wilds with his unrefined, uneducated companions.


    Caste hadn¡¯t been worried about them in the slightest. They were accustomed to lesser living. To them, sleeping outdoors was common, even natural. But Caste had never been comfortable with the outdoors and did everything he could to separate himself from it.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    He was just starting to feel the press of his bladder and wondered where his bedpan was when music reached him, a voice singing in tune with the melody. Caste sighed and got up, padding across the thick rug on the floor that covered the cold stones, his nightshirt drifting around his ankles. He was going to pull the window closed when he paused, hearing the name ¡®Andigre¡¯ in the melody.


    Curious he leaned on the narrow sill and peered out of the window to see a minstrel with hair like the colour of straw and playing a lute, was playing in the lower bailey of the fort. He was leaning against the inner wall, close to the entrance to the fort, catching the attention of all those coming and going on their early morning business.


    ¡°Andigre and his Four Spire Knights,


    Held back the demon hoards of Maul.


    With fire and spire from their Sorceress Grail,


    They kept the land safe for all.


    One by one the knights did fall,


    Yet Andigre¡¯s might did not waver.


    And when the dust of battle settled,


    Grail¡¯s delights he was eager to savour¡­¡±


    Caste rolled his eyes at the crass implication and closed the window.


    ¡°Minstrels tell nothing but fiction set to music.¡± He quoted and went hunting for his bedpan before it was too late.

 Imagine your whole life constantly walking yet never going anywhere...

    Judd enjoyed a hearty breakfast the following morning of porridge and stewed fruit. Then he retrieved his sword from his pack and tried to find a secluded place to practice. This was harder than he thought it would be as the children of the farmers, those not old enough to work and those playing hooky, followed him everywhere. It didn¡¯t seem to matter where he went. There was always a group of children around him, asking questions, wanting to hold the sword and getting far too close for comfort to a dangerous weapon.


    Judd eventually began to run, hoping to outpace them but they were as dogged as hunting hounds. Judd ducked around buildings and jumped over hedges but his victory came when he vaulted a fence and the children stayed on the other side. Immediately aware that they were not following him, he looked around but could see no bull or other animal he ought to be afraid of.


    Knowing he couldn¡¯t shirk his audience entirely but relieved they were out of the reach of his sword, Judd tried to recall the moves he had been trained in during his two week stint in Astaril before being sent out. There he had practiced on a dummy and to his relief, there was a scarecrow in the field. Judd approached it and performed fighting stance one. The children beyond the fence made appropriate awestruck noises which made Judd feel self conscious. He compensated for this by vigorously going through the motions, striking the scarecrow several times, knowing he was repeating himself but unable to remember all the fighting stances he¡¯d been drilled in.


    Still, that was what the training session with Sir Alaykin¡¯s sword master was for. He would receive instruction that would refine his style.


    Judd did his best to clutch at his sword which was quite heavy and tried to do an impressive move from his daydreams which involved two great diagonal slashes across his foe, creating an X in the middle and he would drive his sword through where the two lines met. Only problem was he lost control of his sword mid swing and lopped the poor scarecrow¡¯s head off.


    The children applauded this mortal blow. Judd puffed, wishing he was being praised for something he intended when a crotchety voice barked angrily at him.


    ¡°What in Maul are you doing to my scarecrow!¡±


    Judd spun around to see an elderly man striding towards him, waving his cane, a farming hat crammed hard on his head but unable to shade the fearsome look in his eyes.


    ¡°Your scarecrow¡­sir, I am so sorry!¡± Judd gulped and dropped his sword, scooping up the scarecrow¡¯s head and attempting to perch it back on the body of the decapitated field sentry.


    ¡°Give it here!¡± He barked, snatching the head away. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± He bellowed. Judd turned to see the children scattering as fast as cockroaches when exposed to the light. ¡°Next person to cross my fence feels my cane,¡± he eyed Judd with a watery yet strangely dangerous gaze, ¡°no matter how big they are.¡±


    ¡°Sir, you are absolutely right¡­I should not have trespassed.¡± Judd blurted as he retrieved his sword. ¡°I was just looking for a place to practice without injuring any children inadvertently and I¡­¡± He stopped when he realised the man was not listening to him, muttering under his breath as he inspected the damage.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to replace the whole damn spine of this thing¡­¡± The old man grouched and glared at Judd. ¡°What do you think you are doing, swinging that thing around? You¡¯re a little old to be playing make believe, especially with someone else¡¯s sword.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°This is actually my sword. I¡¯m Judd LaMogre, a knight in training¡­¡± The man made an uninterested noise as he yanked weeds out of his field. ¡°I¡¯m off to the keep this morning. Sir Alaykin¡¯s sword master is going to give me some pointers¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better hope he¡¯s using a padded blade because the only point you¡¯re going to get is one straight through the chest.¡± The old man looked up. ¡°Dalain is not known to be kind to rookies.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Judd swallowed. ¡°Well, I hope I¡¯m not entirely a novice at sword fighting. I have killed an ogre and several goblins¡­¡±


    ¡°On purpose?¡±


    ¡°How could it have been otherwise?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not particularly smart monsters. They probably fell on your sword by accident.¡±


    Judd cringed, recalling his defeat of the ogre. ¡°Well¡­possibly¡­but that¡¯s why I need the instruction and why I wanted to practice first.¡± He sighed when he realised he was lamenting his woes to a man who was clearly not interested in hearing them. ¡°Again, I apologise for trespassing.¡±


    He went to the fence and clambered over it. As he began to walk away, he thought he heard the old man say, ¡°You¡¯re going to die.¡±


    Judd shivered and put some speed into his stride.


    Aalis was reluctant to enter any fort or go anywhere too populated for fear of being judged a witch so Verne offered to accompany Judd to the gates of Fort Bastil. He was a relatively quiet sort but hardly shy or retiring. It helped that he was exceptionally good at something. Sure he said he was aiming for Judd¡¯s head and missed the first time they¡¯d met but Judd had seen him make some impressive shots with his bow and arrow. Yet Verne gave very little away about himself, his raggedly cut black hair tied somewhat back with the bandana around his forehead. His bright blue eyes observed everything and Judd wondered if he was constantly picking out targets and judging whether or not he could hit them.


    Despite there being no moat around Fort Bastil, there was a standard drawbridge that could seal up the gates to the lower bailey in case of attack. Given the typical safety of northern forts, it was a little excessive but it did boast a grandeur that had been lacking from Fort Faine. As Judd crossed the lower bailey he realised Verne was no longer beside him and turned to see the young archer gazing at horse, shackled to one side of the gates. Its head was lowered and it seemed less tired as it was bored.


    ¡°Verne?¡± Judd called, going back to him, guessing at what he was looking at. ¡°Drawbridges, while very grand, are monstrously heavy. Some forts have gears and a pulley system so that they can be drawn up just by the turn of a wheel. It¡¯s really quite fascinating.¡±


    ¡°Fort Bastil does not seem to lack finance¡­so why rely on the horse?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Horses,¡± Judd corrected, pointing to where another horse was shackled on the other side, ¡°the drawbridge is too difficult to raise or lower with just one horse. And it¡¯s because of Fort Bastil¡¯s prosperity that they use horses. They¡¯re a lot more expensive over time than installing gears, cogs and pulleys.¡±


    He was wracking his brains to work out what was so interesting when Verne turned and continued to stride across the lower bailey. It was only after applying to the guards to gain admittance to the upper bailey that Verne said softly, ¡°Imagine your whole life constantly walking yet never going anywhere.¡±


    Judd wanted to query this but was interrupted by Dalain approaching him.


    ¡°LaMogre! Come,¡± he slapped him on the shoulder, causing him to stumble, ¡°let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    ¡°Sure¡­I mean, yes sir!¡± Judd hastened to keep up as Dalain, a well built man possibly ten years older than himself and at least half a head taller, fitted with tailored armour that shifted perfectly with his stride. His head was shaved closely around the sides with the bulk of hair on top, so long it was braided at the back of his skull and in a brown so dark it looked black. ¡°I just want to say how grateful I am to you for your instruction.¡±


    Dalain said nothing to this, leading Judd to a fighting ring.


    ¡°This is where I train Sir Alaykin¡¯s soldiers to become the best of all Astaril¡¯s forces,¡± he announced, leaping into the ring with familiar ease, ¡°and that is only after they have completed rigorous training in the lower bailey. To have someone like yourself in this ring is an honour you have not earned.¡±


    Judd knew if he tried to vault the top rope of the ring he would trip over his own feet so he slid his body between the two ropes then undid all his caution by snagging his foot. He kicked himself free, trying to regain some dignity.


    ¡°Though I am not insensible to the honour of this instruction, I have completed two weeks of training in Astaril.¡± Judd explained.


    ¡°We shall see how much you learned.¡± Dalain drew his sword from its sheath, an impressively long and detailed weapon which he gripped the hilt of with one hand and swung it around several times in a manner Judd had often dreamed he would be capable of. ¡°Come along, I do not have all day.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡± Judd drew his sword out, trying to mimic Dalain¡¯s grasp yet he did not seem to have the same control that Dalain possessed, his sword as still as a statue. Judd¡¯s wavered about so he gripped the handle with two hands.


    ¡°Hold your sword properly.¡±


    Judd could only assume Dalain meant as he was doing so he attempted to mimic his single handed grasp. He felt like a small child trying to use a fishing rod that was too long, having hooked a fish that was too large for his size.


    ¡°Don¡¯t we need shields?¡± He asked, already feeling the muscles in his arm tremble.


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Dalain chuckled and advanced on him.

 A moving target is harder to hit

    ¡°How did you find your accommodations?¡± Bede asked Caste as they walked the outer corridors of the keep which looked down into the upper bailey.


    ¡°Without fault.¡± Caste declared then paused. ¡°Well, perhaps one niggling irritation that it faces the bailey and this morning I suffered the abrasive melodies of a factually inaccurate minstrel.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, I know the one you mean,¡± Bede snorted, a cleric who was the same weight as Caste yet taller so he seemed to lean no matter what stance he took up, ¡°blond curls, blue eyes¡­surrounded by a crowd of fawning women.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡±


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli. He travels around Astaril with whatever caravan will take him, singing his songs and enjoying his audience, if you catch my drift.¡± Bede leaned and winked. ¡°He came up with a group of archers, jousters and swordsmen who attended Fort Bastil¡¯s monthly festival, three months ago now, and we have not managed to get rid of him yet. However, it is only a matter of time.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Eventually a father will take umbrage with him and he¡¯ll escape with another travelling band so unfortunate as to acquire him. Men like that are forever moving,¡± Bede snickered, ¡°for a moving target is far harder to hit.¡±


    Bede was not amusing nor was he particularly witty but he was Caste¡¯s host so he gave him the thrill of a moderate, albeit fake, laugh. Their conversation was interrupted by a shout down below and the both of them went to the arched window closest to where they were, leaning out to see what the fuss was about. Two swordsmen were in the fighting ring, one chasing the other around with frighteningly strong brute strength.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that your middle class ¡®wants to be a knight¡¯ assignment?¡±


    Caste¡¯s green eyes had immediately recognised Judd scampering about on the loose gravel, trying to put distance between himself and Dalain¡¯s lightning fast reflexes.


    ¡°Yes, that would be Judd LaMogre.¡± He sighed, shaking his head. Judd was in over his head in more ways than one. He couldn¡¯t hold his own against sword master Dalain Thiery. He couldn¡¯t even get back on his feet unless Dalain called for another round, giving Judd a moment to pause, breathe and stand up before being knocked back down again, slamming into the ring post, the soldiers and guards of Fort Bastil cheering and laughing.


    ¡°Dalain is doing what Dalain does best.¡± Bede chuckled.


    ¡°What does he do best?¡± Caste asked.


    ¡°Puts soldiers in their place.¡± Bede looked at Caste. ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll have to worry about following a commoner unworthy of the title of knight around Terra for much longer. I¡¯d say he¡¯s about three rounds away from giving up,¡± there was a loud crash and a series of jeers, ¡°two rounds.¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre is as stubborn as an ox.¡± Caste rolled his eyes.


    ¡°And I¡¯ve seen Dalain send more than just soldiers packing. He doesn¡¯t accept second place.¡± Bede drew back from the window. ¡°You showed an interest in Fort Bastil¡¯s library. Why do we not retire there for the morning?¡±


    Caste nodded and followed with only the smallest back glance to the window. He felt little guilt about the thrashing going on down below. Goodness knows he had warned Judd multiple times about the foolishness of his knighthood dream. Perhaps Dalain Thiery would finally knock some sense into him.

 Heed the advice of Terra’s best sword master…go home

    Aalis pounded the roots of a plant to a paste and added a little water. She used her fingers to apply the salve to a boy¡¯s arms.


    ¡°This will help it stop itching,¡± she promised, ¡°and you will never forget what poison ivy looks like, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± The boy whimpered.


    Aalis put some of the salve on his neck then buttoned the toggles of his shirt.


    ¡°Now, no scratching and no bathing until the salve rubs off.¡± She warned.


    The boy beamed and looked at his mother. ¡°Did you hear mama? No bathing!¡±


    She laughed and held out a copper coin. Aalis stood up, shaking her head but the woman insisted. Aalis accepted the coin and slid it into the pocket of her dress. Perhaps, if she continued to save, she might be able to purchase a dress of far better quality that did not seem to scream, witch. Her dreadlocks slid over her shoulders and she smiled as she used the thickness of her locks to tie them into a knot at the back of her head.


    ¡°Unless I was to shave my head, these do tend to speak for themselves.¡± She mused then looked up when she heard her name called. Verne was coming towards her, Judd¡¯s arm over his shoulders, limping badly. ¡°Judd!¡± She cried, running to meet them and helping to get Judd to the tree stump she had been using as a diagnostic chair. Judd¡¯s jaw was turning a delightful shade of purple and his right eye was going black. He was favouring his wrist and he moaned as he sat, clutching at his ribs. ¡°What happened? Were you set upon by thugs on the way to the keep?¡±


    Verne¡¯s blue eyes were grim and hard. ¡°Thug¡­that is the perfect word to describe Dalain.¡±


    ¡°Sir Alaykin¡¯s sword master did this?¡± Aalis gasped. ¡°But¡­but¡­but¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd didn¡¯t stand a chance. The brute rushed him from the start and never let up.¡± Verne leaned Judd¡¯s sword against the hut.


    Aalis tore fabric from her skirt and dabbed at Judd¡¯s split lip. His eyes were downcast and his shoulders were bent. He wasn¡¯t just physically broken. He was emotionally and mentally destroyed.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Did no one think to stop him?¡± She demanded.


    Verne shook his head. ¡°From what I could tell, it¡¯s a form of entertainment for the guards and soldiers. I saw them placing bets on how long it would take for Judd to accept defeat.¡± Verne swore softly.


    Aalis knelt in front of Judd and tried to catch his eye. ¡°I am going to prepare some medicine and salves for you.¡± He said nothing and she stood up, drawing Verne aside. ¡°Verne¡­he seems more than just hurt¡­¡±


    Verne¡¯s face flinched. ¡°Sword master Thiery gave no instruction the entire time until Judd was on the ground, for the eighteenth time mind you, unable to rise. Then he stood over him and said, ¡®heed the advice of Terra¡¯s best sword master¡­go home. You have no business being out in the wild defending others when you cannot defend yourself¡¯.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ jaw tightened and her hands clenched. ¡°That despicable, arrogant¡­¡±


    ¡°It was all I could do to get him out of the ring. I thought I was going to have to drag him back here.¡± Verne admitted.


    Aalis paused, closed her eyes and breathed out to calm herself. ¡°Verne, I need clean boiled water,¡± she handed him a pouch from her belt, ¡°with a handful of salt thrown in.¡±


    ¡°At once.¡±


    As Verne hurried to do so, Aalis returned to Judd. ¡°Judd, where does it hurt?¡±


    His undamaged arm lifted to touch his chest. Aalis felt tears swell up in her eyes when she realised he meant his heart. She blinked and swallowed, putting on a fa?ade of professional healer.


    ¡°You need a bandage for your wrist. I will not be long.¡± She explained.


    Judd heard her words but they were fuzzy in his head. He paid little mind to the pain of his body.


    It didn¡¯t compare to the ache in his soul.


    Footsteps scuffed nearby. ¡°Where¡¯d the healer go? I¡¯m an old man who needs his medicine to stop the burning sensation when I pee¡­Huh¡­what happened to you?¡± Judd lifted his head, knowing he was squinting but unable to do anything else for his right eye was swelling shut, and saw the crotchety old farmer who had fumed over the decapitation of his scarecrow only just that morning. ¡°Oh it¡¯s you¡­¡± Judd stared at him and the old man shook his head. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not stupid enough to ask for a rematch. People like you are not much more than training dummies to people like Dalain. Do yourself a favour and go home.¡±


    Judd felt the salty taste of tears on his lips and lowered his head.


    ¡°Mr Agress? I have your tonic right here.¡± Aalis appeared and approached the old man.


    ¡°How much is this going to cost me?¡±


    ¡°I only accept what people are willing to pay.¡±


    ¡°Free medicine. Must be my lucky day.¡±


    His footsteps moved away and Aalis sat in front of Judd again.


    ¡°What did he say to you?¡± She put her fingers over his hand. ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Aalis knew he was lying but let it go, choosing instead to attend the wounds she had some skill in healing.

 The story of Andigre and Grail and the forging of the Four Spire knights

    Sir Alaykin¡¯s feasting table was perhaps not the most refined of dining experiences but Caste was willing to overlook any faults in delicacy in light of the contentment he was feeling. He had spent most of the day ensconced in Fort Bastil¡¯s library, availing himself to the tomes unknown to him. Books were notoriously expensive and sadly rather fragile. Fire, water¡­even just sitting on shelves had the ability to turn the wisdom within into mouldy, charred lumps. While the Order of the Grail had an extensive library, the best in all of Terra, there were many volumes lost, scattered throughout the continent, some never to be found and others, buried within the libraries of the forts, each knight unwittingly becoming the protector of valuable books when they were assigned the responsibility of a fort.


    Clerics were not the courageous, adventurous sort and so many did not travel beyond Astaril unless it was to take up residence in a fort. Caste had found a gem of comfort in his cavorting about the countryside with LaMogre. He could bury himself within libraries and study their texts in the same way that a young man studied the face of the girl that he was enamoured with.


    In fact, Caste had become so entranced by the contents of Fort Bastil¡¯s library that he had to be reminded to attend supper. He made sure his tunic was smooth and clean before arriving with Bede. Though clerics were essential to the establishment of forts and of a knight¡¯s command, they were not highly thought of by the military aspect. As such, Dalain Thiery and his second in command sat at the head of the table with Sir Alaykin while Caste and Bede were situated halfway down the table.


    The intercourse offered by men of military minds didn¡¯t interest Caste and women rarely paid clerics any attention. It was not that clerics could not marry but simply that the kind of person who preferred books to people were uninclined to get married. After all, why would a woman fawn over someone like Bede, tall and leering when there were ample soldiers to flirt with? Sir Alaykin might already be taken, his wife confined to her chambers as she was expecting a child in the next month or so, but Dalain was available and judging by the coy looks of the ladies of the court, some of whom were married, Dalain could have his pick of any female and be able to crush any husband who might object.


    So Caste endured Bede¡¯s less than dazzling wit and enjoyed the food as much as he could, the flavour of the mead improving with each sip he took but in order to consider it fine, he would have to be blind drunk. He was just starting to calculate how long it would be before he could excuse himself from supper when Sir Alaykin guffawed at the head of the table, slamming his fist onto the thick boards, causing all the cutlery to jangle.


    ¡°He got up seventeen times? Seventeen? Middle class might be common but my word, they¡¯re stubborn!¡±


    ¡°And thick skulled.¡± Dalain snorted. ¡°I must have knocked him on the noggin three times! Whatever sense there was in there has been well and truly sent flying.¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan might be a first class knight but even I can¡¯t fathom his intent with welcoming the lower classes into the elite world of knighthood.¡± Alaykin shook his head. ¡°Most of those lads would be dead before they killed one goblin.¡±


    ¡°LaMogre claims to have killed several goblins and an ogre.¡±


    ¡°Must have been an elderly or infirm ogre.¡±


    Caste felt his jaw tighten. He had seen the ogre. There had been nothing elderly or infirm about it but before he leapt to Judd¡¯s defence, he reminded himself that Judd was incompetent and inexperienced and the ogre had, quite literally, fallen on Judd¡¯s sword. It was hardly a dazzling kill.


    ¡°Do you know what he told me?¡± Alaykin huffed. ¡°He is the son of a fisherman! What business does a man, who reeks of fish, have becoming a knight?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry about it,¡± Dalain gulped his wine, ¡°he¡¯s going to have a long time recovering from today to consider the wisdom of trying to become a knight.¡±


    ¡°I should hope so.¡± Alaykin cleared his throat. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have some music? A minstrel has been entertaining many of Bastil¡¯s soldiers. I thought, why not invite him to play for us?¡±


    ¡°By Grail¡­¡± Caste moaned quietly as the doors to the feasting hall opened and the blond headed minstrel appeared, lute in hand and he gave a flamboyant bow to the guests.


    ¡°Sir Alaykin, sword master Dalain, honoured guests and radiant ladies,¡± there was a round of tittering at this less than subtle flirt, ¡°my name is Giordi Gavoli and I thank you for asking me to play at your table. Have you a melody in mind? An epic battle? A romantic drama? A risqu¨¦ ditty?¡±


    ¡°Sing the story of Andigre and Grail and the forging of the Four Spire knights.¡± Alaykin said, waving his hand, leaning back in his chair.


    ¡°As you command, my lord.¡± Giordi waved his feather plumed hat in a theatrical bow then, holding the lute with both hands, he began to play and sing as he moved around the table.


    ¡°I wager you know of Andigre,


    Of his Four Spire Knights and of Grail?


    But there is more truth to be known,


    Like blood from a stone,


    If you would but listen to my tale.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Sir Callain was a horseman unrivalled


    And of such great skill and repute


    It was rumoured his mother,


    Romanced by a centaur


    Foaled this horseflesh capable brute.¡±


    Caste shuddered at the thought, dismissing it firmly from his mind. He certainly did not need that rather unpleasant image visiting him again.


    ¡°Sir Omra had the strength of ten strongmen,


    Was brawny, brash and tanned


    He could throw a spear,


    Simply stand still and hear,


    As it circled the world to return to his hand.¡±


    ¡°Good grief¡­¡±


    ¡°Sir Mavour¡¯s bow was seven foot long,


    And his draw was equally wide.


    He could fire an arrow


    Through the heart of a sparrow


    And hit a bullseye on the other side.¡±


    ¡°Physically impossible and needlessly unkind towards sparrows.¡±


    ¡°Sir Verion was Andigre¡¯s second


    Alas in more ways than one


    For hearts of countless maids


    Did not remain unscathed


    Yet by Grail he was denied and undone¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­that can hardly be denied and there is some small evidence attesting to its truth¡­¡±


    ¡°There was no woman more beautiful than Grail


    No woman more elegant or well endowed


    For while she had power at her long fingertips


    She only needed to purse her full lips


    And the monster of Maul simply swooned or cowed.¡±


    ¡°Star of Astaril, give me strength¡­¡±


    ¡°Sir Andigre, noble, strong and true


    Handsome, brave and a romancer too


    Terra has never seen his likeness before


    And the monsters were unable to keep him from Maul


    His sword cut down their hoards


    Though they bore both tooth and claw


    When at last the war was through.


    So strong was his hand,


    With his sorceress at hand


    And all of Terra he had vowed to protect


    Refusing to grow old,


    With ambition so bold


    Into the mount he strode, the end of the monsters to effect


    Though he never arose,


    To his death we suppose,


    Went Andigre, the first knight, in a word, perfect.¡±


    ¡°No one is perfect, not even Andigre.¡±


    ¡°Gone is Andigre,


    Gone too Callain and Mavour


    Omra, Verion and Grail


    But though they are dead


    On that score, enough said


    Thank the minstrel for his entertaining tale.¡±


    Giordi finished his merry melody of Sir Andigre, his Four Spire knights and of Grail with a dramatic twang of his lute and then a bow with a flourish. The feasting guests applauded loudly, the soldiers and Sir Alaykin thumping their approval upon the table, causing all the crockery to jolt and jar in a cacophony that Caste almost preferred over the minstrel.


    ¡°Bravo Gavoli! You¡¯ve more than earned a dash of silver,¡± Alaykin flipped him a silver piece which Giordi caught in his hat, pocketing it securely, ¡°and a place at my table. Sit and drink.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir Alaykin.¡± Giordi bowed again then, to Caste¡¯s annoyance, the cherub minstrel took up a seat next to Bede, almost directly opposite himself. When his tankard was full he lifted it to Sir Alaykin. ¡°May your cup always been full to the brim and may you never miss your bedpan.¡±


    His toast caused the half drunken guests to chortle as if he had displayed some sort of remarkable wit. Caste fixed his eyes upon the minstrel with a stern dryness which he returned with a sparkling blue gaze.


    ¡°Is it the habit of every minstrel to exaggerate the truth to realms unimaginable?¡± Caste demanded.


    ¡°Not at first,¡± Giordi said as the conversation at the table swelled around them so that their intercourse was not all that could be heard, ¡°however, the longer one sings these songs, the grander the accomplishments, appearance and all around flare needs to become. After all, no one wishes to hear of a half baked knight and his motley crew of misfits¡­unless I was telling a comedy.¡±


    Caste shook his head. ¡°Perhaps a little metaphoric flare is permissible¡­but I doubt there was one absolute fact within that web of lies you just sang.¡± He leaned forward as Giordi swigged his wine. ¡°For instance, Sir Mavour¡¯s bow was seven foot long? That is not possible and certainly not useable. He would have had to be fifteen feet high simply to wield such a bow. And all scholars agree that the world is flat so if Sir Omra could truly throw a spear as you say he could, it would not return to his hand but fly off the edge of the plateau!¡± Caste did not realise it but his voice was rising as the minstrel¡¯s wicked grin was deepening. ¡°And do not get me started on your lustrous illusions about the sorceress Grail upon whom the Holy Order of clerics is founded. You practically called her a harlot and a seducer of monsters.¡±


    ¡°Tell me,¡± Giordi leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head and putting his feet upon the table, ¡°what is your occupation that allows you to so acutely mock mine?¡±


    Caste wanted to grind his teeth. ¡°As if you could not tell when I am wearing the robes of a cleric.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­and I thought you were an unfortunately crowned woman in a rather voluminous gown.¡±


    ¡°A woman in a gown?¡± Caste fired up. ¡°It is because of people like you that the general populous believes all sorts of errant and inaccurate opinions and description about people who were perfectly normal. You¡¯ve turned them all into¡­obscene heroes who bear no resemblance whatsoever to the truth.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a minstrel,¡± Giordi replied with a shrug, ¡°and as such I am prone to exaggeration so I will continue to ply my trade of wit and whimsy while you, as a cleric, can enjoy your facts during your monastic existence.¡±


    Caste was going to retort when Sir Alaykin banged on the table and declared that some of the ladies wanted Gavoli to sing the song of the romancing of Grail. Giordi winked saucily at Caste, pushing his chair back and standing to oblige.


    Unfortunately for Caste, the requests for melodies continued throughout the feasting and if that were not bad enough, he was paid handsomely for his obscene exaggerations and mediocre musical talent. Eventually Caste begged to leave the table because of a headache. He had intended on using the excuse earlier in the evening. However, now it was true.

 I am wasting my time with you

    Aalis had not slept well, her concerns about Judd causing her to toss and turn, wondering endlessly if she should check on him during the night then admonishing herself not to be so motherly.


    ¡°He is a grown man,¡± she murmured quietly to herself, ¡°he does not need you fussing over every scraped knee and stubbed toe...¡±


    However, it was not his physical injuries that made her restless. If she was honest, it was the hollow look in his eyes. His brown gaze, that had been rather unremarkable except for the exuberance and hope that had sparkled in them, no longer shone. It had caused her heart to ache to see how one man¡¯s arrogance had destroyed another man¡¯s hope.


    Still¡­a good night¡¯s sleep should restore some of his resolve and if they could get away from this awful fort, Judd would recover.


    Aalis rolled over onto her back and played with the end of one of her dreadlocks. ¡°Stop it,¡± she whispered harshly to herself, ¡°Verne is there and will look after him. For goodness sake, Aalis, go to sleep!¡±


    Understandably then, the sun was already up by the time Aalis woke, her body finally sinking into a deep sleep and unwilling to rise. She yawned and left the hut that she shared with some of the other young women who worked the farmland of Fort Bastil. She stumbled to the well and, drawing water from it, she splashed some on her face, willing herself to wake up.


    ¡°Aalis?¡±


    ¡°Verne, good morning.¡± She greeted. ¡°How is Judd?¡±


    Verne paused, his blue eyes concerned and grave. ¡°Judd¡­wasn¡¯t on his bedroll when I woke up,¡± Aalis¡¯ body seized for a moment before painful prickles flooded her body as Verne added, ¡°and I haven¡¯t been able to find him.¡±


    She stared at him, unable to form a single word before darting to the hut that she had put Judd to bed in the night before. His bedroll was alarmingly empty and his sword still leaned against the wall of the hut as though forgotten. Aalis¡¯ felt panic starting to set in.


    ¡°Where¡­where¡­¡± She turned to see Verne behind her. ¡°Where would he go?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Verne admitted. ¡°He said nothing last night¡­but you saw what that brute Dalain did to him.¡± His brow furrowed. ¡°You don¡¯t think he¡­¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Aalis sagged slightly before forcing herself upright. ¡°No¡­not Judd¡­surely¡­¡± She licked her lips, trying to gather her wits. ¡°We just need to find him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll search the marketplace and the fort.¡± Verne offered, moving away to immediately start searching.


    ¡°You do not believe he would return to that place?¡±


    Verne cringed. ¡°It is the one structure high enough that if he chose to¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Aalis said, putting her hands out to stop his words and the imagery they conjured. ¡°Yes¡­go. Search. I will ask around here.¡±


    Verne hurried off to comply and Aalis began to ask anyone she came across if they had seen Judd. For an hour she came up with blank expressions and shrugs of ignorance. She widened her search and leaned over a fence to catch the attention of a man plucking weeds from his garden.


    ¡°Excuse me!¡± She called. ¡°I am looking for a young man, Judd LaMogre. He is taller than I with curly brown hair¡­¡±


    ¡°The one who took a beating from Dalain¡­yes I know him.¡±


    Aalis gasped. ¡°You¡­you were there yesterday when I was treating him...¡± The man grunted in reply. ¡°Mr¡­Agress.¡± He didn¡¯t even respond to this. ¡°Have you seen him this morning?¡±


    ¡°I saw him.¡±


    Aalis waited but Mr Agress didn¡¯t offer anything else.


    ¡°Where is he?¡±


    ¡°How should I know?¡±


    She ground her teeth. ¡°You saw him!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t follow him.¡±


    ¡°Which direction did he go?¡± The old man gave a half hearted wave eastward. Aalis turned and frowned. ¡°What is that way?¡±


    ¡°More fields then there¡¯s the fishing community, the docks¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh no¡­¡± The blood drained from her face. ¡°He has¡­gone back¡­to that life¡­Oh, no, no, no¡­Judd¡­what did that hateful man do to you?¡±


    ¡°Knocked some sense into the whelp if you ask me.¡±


    Aalis turned and studied the old man, dread forming in the pit of her stomach. ¡°You did say something to him yesterday!¡± He shrugged and she climbed over the fence. ¡°What? What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Get off my garden!¡±


    ¡°What did you say to him?¡± She demanded, not caring one wit about his garden.


    Mr Agress stood up with cracking joints that put a scarecrow¡¯s creakiness to shame. ¡°I told him to do himself a favour and go home.¡±


    Aalis stared at him, astounded. ¡°How could you?¡± She whispered, her anger gone. ¡°How could you say that to him?¡±


    ¡°Look, if the fool wants to go out into the world and get himself killed while trying to become something he¡¯s clearly got no right, no experience and no training to be, someone needs to be the voice of reason.¡±


    ¡°Your reason,¡± Aalis snapped with her hands on her hips, ¡°and where you see no right, no experience and no training, I see eagerness, kindness and compassion, humility and integrity.¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± The old man snorted. ¡°Does that sound like any knight you have ever known?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Aalis argued, ¡°but that is the point! Maybe this world needs less knights like Sir Alaykin who encourages thugs like Dalain who humiliates people by knocking them down eighteen times and more like Judd LaMogre who has done nothing to¡­¡± She stopped herself and stepped back. ¡°Do you know something¡­I am wasting my time with you.¡± She spun on her heel and began to run for the shoreline, her anger with the old man dissipating with every step as her anxiety grew.

 I’m the son of a fisherman who was the son of a fisherman and so on and so forth

    Fort Bastil was built right up against the rugged coastline that almost sagged immediately to the north of the impressive structure until it became the soggy land that fed into the mangrove swamp. The ocean could be reached by three sets of stairs that ended on a wide dock where the fishing community of Fort Bastil toiled.


    Aalis skipped down the steps as fast as she dared, avoiding the labourers carrying crates and pieces of equipment. Everything smelt of fish, of salt and of sweat. It was a powerful blend that threatened to turn her stomach. She ducked around the pulley and tackle elevators that took larger catches of fish and equipment up and down the cliff face without the need to clamber the steps, risking slipping on slimy patches of fishy spillage.


    At the base there was almost an entire community separate to the rest of Fort Bastil. There were bathhouses, workshops, a baker attempting to fill the air with the scent of something other than seafood and numerous slaughter tables where fish were taken once sorted.


    There were three piers stretching out from the dock. One of the two gaps created by the piers was a living tank, its sides and mouth enclosed with fishing net. The boats that hauled catches from the ocean would draw up alongside the catchment and dump their loads into the water, the fish remaining fresher for longer until they were ready to be killed, scaled, gutted and taken topside.


    Aalis knew she was receiving some strange looks as there were very few women on the docks and certainly none that did not reek of the ocean but she darted about, her blue eyes constantly searching.


    When she finally spied Judd, she nearly wept.


    Whether it was with relief or grief, she was not sure.


    He was standing at the edge of one of the piers, helping unload fish into the catchment from a newly returned boat. He had shed his boots and even his shirt, immediately fitting in amongst the other dockworkers, even down to the bowed aspect of his shoulders.


    ¡°Judd!¡± She cried, squeezing past rolls of rope and a hefty, belching fisherman to reach the end of the pier. ¡°Judd?¡± He glanced ever so briefly in her direction then continued to work. She put her hand on his arm. ¡°Judd¡­what are you doing here when you should be recovering?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    And not just from the physical wounds he had sustained.


    ¡°Your administrations were more than adequate to get me back on my feet.¡± Judd said, shaking the net, dislodging the caught fish into the catchment.


    Aalis was taken aback at his flat tone. ¡°Then¡­what are you doing here?¡±


    He swallowed and continued to work. ¡°What I was born to do.¡±


    ¡°Born to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the son of a fisherman who was the son of a fisherman and so on and so forth¡­it¡¯s in my blood.¡±


    He sounded like a completely different person. He¡¯d lost his bounce, his buoyancy¡­his zeal for life and his hope for the future.


    ¡°But Judd,¡± Aalis licked her lips, ¡°you hate fishing.¡±


    He paused and closed his eyes. ¡°But I¡¯m at least competent at it¡­far better than I ever would be a knight.¡±


    ¡°No, Judd,¡± if he had been wearing a shirt she would have grabbed his collar and made him face her but she had to grasp his upper arms to try to turn his body away from the boat, ¡°that is not true. You were on your way to becoming a remarkable knight.¡±


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°It is true.¡±


    ¡°What would you know of knights and of being one?¡± Judd asked her sadly and without accusation. He lowered his head. ¡°That¡¯s what my father said to me. What could I possibly know about anything other than this¡­¡±


    Aalis slid her hands down his arms and grasped his fingers. ¡°I know that, without you, my village would have been decimated by that ogre who was desperate to feed on flesh. I know that the farmers at Fort Faine are blessing your name because you were able to defend them against toxic water and goblins¡­¡±


    ¡°The ogre fell on my sword, the farmers killed most of the goblins and you fixed the water.¡±


    ¡°What about Sir Jesa? You stood up to that knight for not protecting his own.¡±


    ¡°Like he even listened to me¡­¡±


    ¡°What about me, then?¡± Aalis trembled. ¡°If not for you¡­those witches¡­that high priestess eyeball in the swamp¡­it would have buried itself into my brain and possessed me¡­¡±


    Judd wouldn¡¯t meet her gaze. ¡°If not for me,¡± he said sadly, pulling his hands out of hers, ¡°you would not have been put in danger¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°And I can¡¯t drag you around the continent, exposing you to more danger when I can¡¯t protect you¡­not like a knight should.¡± He stepped back and onto the boat. ¡°I¡­I have work to do.¡±


    Aalis watched the boat pull away from the pier, Judd¡¯s shoulders bent as he went back to doing what he knew he could¡­


    ¡­even when it was the last thing in the world he wanted.


    She looked up at the fort that leered over them, casting a great, black shadow with its imposing bulk. ¡°Ugh!¡± She cried, kicking a random fish into the catchment and storming off the pier.

 Stop trying to learn the lesson before it’s even been taught

    As the sun was sinking beyond the horizon and the cliff face cast longer and longer shadows, Judd stepped off the boat, picking up his shirt and boots as he did so. He was thanked by the boat¡¯s steward for his help and walked along the pier to the dock, heading for the steps. He trudged higher and higher, looking no further than where to put his next step and when he reached the top of the cliff he leaned against a post and sighed. The air was cooling so he slid his shirt on, knowing that it would inevitably smell like fish but then, what else was new?


    He had always smelt of fish. The first memories of his childhood were of watching his father descale fish from his perch atop the gutting table, hundreds of scales flying into the air, littering the ground at his feet. And the smell of fish was ever present. It was soaked into every aspect of his life, into his home, into his clothing, even into his skin and apparently, all the way to his soul.


    He was the furthest any LaMogre had ever been from Astaril and yet he still could not outrun the stench of fish or the way it insisted on dictating the course of his life.


    He had made up his mind, upon returning to the hut, to tell Aalis, Verne and even get a message to Caste somehow to go back to their homes. He was no knight and no amount of positive attitude or grit was going to change his future so that he became one.


    Perhaps he should just go¡­


    ¡°Ow!¡± He yelped and clutched at his head. ¡°What in Maul¡­¡±


    ¡°You ought to look where you¡¯re going.¡±


    Judd turned to the speaker and saw the old farmer who had summed him up so succinctly as to his prospects reclined against a fence post, flanked on either side by ears of wheat waving in the breeze that was picking up. He had cracked Judd over the head with his cane and took Judd¡¯s glare with ease.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to look,¡± Judd retorted, rubbing the bump on his head, ¡°you told me where to go and I went. Isn¡¯t that enough for you?¡±


    He began to stride off when the old man¡¯s voice reached him.


    ¡°So that¡¯s it? One little discouragement and you¡¯re giving up.¡± Judd kept walking. ¡°Is that what a knight would do?¡±


    ¡°As you so scathingly noted, I am not a knight nor do I have to ability to be one.¡± The old man made a scornful snort and Judd turned to see him push off the fence post and walk towards him.


    ¡°Since when did you care for the opinion of strangers? Everyone¡¯s got an opinion! Even fools!¡±


    ¡°I care when I am beaten to within an inch of my life just to prove a point!¡± Judd snapped at him. ¡°I care when it becomes blatantly obvious that I cannot protect anyone who travels with me, especially kind hearted healers and reluctant and pedantic clerics who cannot defend themselves. Dalain did me a favour my showing me just how utterly foolish I am!¡± He realised he was yelling and closed his eyes. ¡°All my life I kept looking at the horizon, wishing I could see what lay beyond¡­when I should have been focussing on what was right in front of me.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    He started walking away again.


    ¡°Just tell me one thing,¡± Judd sighed and paused, not turning around but waiting to hear the question, ¡°did Dalain Thiery really knock you on your arse eighteen times?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re still standing?¡±


    ¡°Aalis is a good healer.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯d have to be a blimmen sorceress to have so completely healed you.¡± The old man reached his side. ¡°Dalain hits like an ogre wielding a sledgehammer¡­and you got up seventeen times from that?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Judd studied the old man, ¡°how¡­how do you know what he fights like?¡±


    The old man snorted. ¡°Cause I¡¯m Oster Agress, former sword master.¡± Judd stared at him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a knight?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd.¡± Agress started walking. ¡°Why be a sword master when you can be a knight? It¡¯s a matter of bloodlines, boy, and neither myself nor Dalain have the right ones. The best people like myself could ever hope for is to be a sword master.¡±


    Judd was so stunned for a moment that he had to jog to catch up with Agress. ¡°You¡¯re really Sir Alaykin¡¯s old sword master?¡±


    ¡°Nay lad, I was Fort Bastil¡¯s sword master. Knights come and go but sword masters¡­well, we have the experience and responsibility over the soldiers of the fort and so we tend to stay with the forts we are promoted into.¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t fathom that the wiry old man walking beside him had been a sword master.


    ¡°How long?¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Agress paused then shrugged. ¡°Oh¡­nearly twenty years.¡±


    ¡°Twenty years!¡±


    ¡°Over ten of those serving beneath Alaykin.¡±


    They walked together, Judd¡¯s mind awhirl and Agress¡¯, just wondering what he would have for supper.


    ¡°If you were a sword master for twenty years¡­you must have been extremely good.¡±


    ¡°I was.¡± Agress said with confidence. ¡°Fort Bastil¡¯s reputation of having some of the finest soldiers in all of Terra came from my time as sword master.¡±


    Judd considered this. ¡°I suppose Dalain Thiery was one of those?¡±


    ¡°He was¡­until he decided he didn¡¯t want to take orders from me anymore.¡±


    ¡°He got you dismissed?¡±


    ¡°He certainly had a part to play in it.¡±


    Judd chewed his bottom lip, the hope he had crushed beneath tonnes of fish that day starting to wriggle out and become noticeable once more.


    ¡°Do you think¡­would you be able to teach me? To be a warrior?¡±


    Oster Agress stopped and looked at him with a gaze that could have stripped the skin off a shark. Judd could feel himself withering away.


    ¡°What use are sword skills when you¡¯re a fisherman?¡±


    His heart sank. ¡°That was a test, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Judd¡¯s hope slipped away. ¡°I¡­didn¡¯t remain strong and I¡­ow!¡± He rubbed his head and shied away from the old man. ¡°Would you cut that out!¡±


    ¡°Stop trying to learn the lesson before it¡¯s even been taught!¡± Oster rubbed his face. ¡°Young people¡­honestly¡­so eager to get where they¡¯re going they don¡¯t appreciate where they are.¡±


    Judd waited for a long time until the smarting of the second bump on his head began to dissipate. ¡°So¡­you will or you won¡¯t teach me?¡±


    ¡°Oh I¡¯ll teach you.¡±


    Judd brightened. ¡°Because¡­I¡¯m tenacious? Noble minded? Strong?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Oster snorted, ¡°because you can get up seventeen times against blows dealt by Dalain¡­there aren¡¯t many who can do that.¡± Oster leaned towards Judd who kept a close eye on his cane. ¡°Just promise me one thing.¡±


    ¡°You want me to give Dalain a beating?¡±


    ¡°Nay lad, at least, not in the same way you were beaten¡­¡± A wicked gleam sparkled in his eye. ¡°Come by my place tomorrow, first light and I¡¯ll see if I can¡¯t turn you into a half decent swordsman.¡±

 Work with what you’ve got

    ¡°Well, what are you waiting for?¡± Oster Agress barked at Judd the following morning. ¡°Get in here!¡±


    Judd swallowed and climbed over the fence, treading gingerly along the rows the old sword master, turned farmer, had dug and planted with as next harvest. The poor scarecrow Judd had decapitated was still without its head, the bulbous straw stuffed adornment sitting in the weeds where the post met the earth.


    ¡°And you can stop glaring at me, missy,¡± Oster grunted at Aalis who stood behind the fence with her arms folded, ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt him.¡±


    ¡°Anymore.¡± She said sternly then looked at Verne who nodded in an unspoken promise so that she could return to her hut where she could administer salves, potions and tinctures. Verne remained leaning on the fence post.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re going to tattle on me if he gets even one bruise?¡± Oster rolled his eyes. Verne picked up a piece of straw, put it in his mouth and chewed it, his blue eyes doing all the talking. ¡°Fine.¡± Oster gestured for Judd to come closer. ¡°Oh stop being precious about the garden and come here and show me that sword.¡± Judd held it out for his inspection. ¡°Well, I can see why you were able to withstand some of Dalain¡¯s blows. This thing is little more than a metal club with a sharpened edge. It doesn¡¯t break easily¡­except for the tip which has been reforged¡­how did that happen?¡±


    ¡°An ogre stepped on it.¡±


    Oster handed it back. ¡°That explains it. Not even Dalain could hope to match an ogre¡¯s weight. Now, show me how you hold it.¡± Judd grasped the handle with both hands and settled into a solid stance. ¡°Hold it properly.¡± Judd sighed and released one hand, the heaviness of his sword causing even his fisherman muscles to quiver after just a moment. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Holding the sword properly, like Dalain said to.¡± He grunted through gritted teeth.


    Oster whipped out his cane and smacked Judd¡¯s hand, the sword torn from his grasp, striking the earth and falling over. They both stared at it for a while.


    ¡°I¡¯ll work on my grip strength¡­¡± Judd promised as Oster rubbed his face, straightening some of the creases out.


    ¡°Pick it up.¡± He ordered and Judd did so, flinching as Oster came closer. ¡°Dominant hand?¡± Judd held up his right. ¡°Hold the pommel with that and your left cups the very base of the sword in front of the hilt.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡± Judd gestured to the base of the blade and Oster nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll cut myself.¡±


    ¡°What fool sharpened it all the way down there?¡± Oster shook his head. ¡°Where¡¯s your gauntlet?¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡±


    ¡°Mail glove?¡±


    ¡°A what?¡± Judd¡¯s heart sank as the former sword master stormed off as fast as his hunched shape could go, stomping towards the hut. Judd turned to Verne and gave a helpless shrug. Verne shook his head, equally as baffled then nodded for Judd to turn back. Oster Agress was approaching, waving a small object in his hand.


    ¡°¡­out without proper equipment or training. It¡¯s like Sir Rylan wants these lads to be killed. Foolish, stupid¡­idiotic¡­give me that.¡± Oster took the sword from Judd, exchanging it for the object. ¡°Put that on your left hand.¡±


    It was a glove of sturdy leather, oiled and cared for but on the palm side there was the finest chain mail, forged to mimic the hand¡¯s shape and stitched securely into the leather. Judd wriggled his fingers and was surprised at how flexible the glove was.


    ¡°That¡¯ll keep your hand from being cut off.¡±


    Judd took the sword back and tested it. ¡°That¡¯s¡­it feels like I¡¯ve got a lot more control.¡±


    Oster heard the doubt in his voice. ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°Dalain used his sword with just one hand and mocked me for using two.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because he¡¯s using a sword that is much lighter to use.¡± Oster explained. ¡°He¡¯s faster because of it.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe I need a new sword?¡±


    ¡°Nay lad, work with what you¡¯ve got.¡± Oster argued. ¡°Each weapon has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, Dalain¡¯s sword is lighter which makes him a faster opponent, but that sword won¡¯t hold up against something as solidly built as yours.¡±


    ¡°It didn¡¯t seem to have much trouble two days ago¡­¡± Judd paused. ¡°Mind you, he would deflect my sword then use his weight to knock me down.¡±


    ¡°And when you¡¯re holding your sword in a way that does not support the weight or the skill of the wielder, then you¡¯re probably better off not having one.¡±


    ¡°Needless to say, he didn¡¯t tell me any of that when I faced him.¡± Judd sighed.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s start working on some basic stances¡­because from what I saw the other day and the evidence of my poor scarecrow,¡± they glanced at the lopsided head on the ground, ¡°we need to start at the very beginning.¡±


    Aalis prepared multiple salves and bandages, concerned that Judd would return to her in a belittled, bedraggled state. Yet, despite bearing some bruises and a sore shoulder, Judd seemed to be in relatively good spirits. She made him sit on the log and looked over his injuries carefully.


    ¡°Good grief, he is not a baby.¡± Oster muttered.


    ¡°You do not have a say in my administrations.¡± She warned.


    ¡°Save your ire for the ass that beat him to a pulp in the first place lassie.¡± Oster sank onto a log, aching and creaking.


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t feel that bad.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°Truly.¡± But he let Aalis fuss over him until she was satisfied. He knew he owed her that much after taking off without a word the day before. He must have really scared her.


    ¡°Well¡­you are not permanently injured¡­¡±


    ¡°See?¡±


    Aalis muttered something unintelligible, indicating for Judd to remove his shirt so she could apply salve to his shoulder. He groaned as she kneaded the aching muscles.


    ¡°I learned more in one day of Agress¡¯ instruction than two weeks in Astaril.¡± Judd flexed his shoulders, grunting. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I even thought of going out into the wilds knowing as little as I did¡­huh¡­I suppose Caste was right. Don¡¯t tell him I said that.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s high in his castle, enjoy peace, serenity and comfort.¡± Verne muttered, sitting against the hut, folding his arms and getting comfortable. ¡°Trust me, he¡¯s already at the height of superiority.¡±

 I am afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree

    ¡°No, no, no!¡± Caste retorted, feeling his rage fire up like no one had ever ignited in him during his time in Astaril. ¡°You are wrong, utterly and completely and grossly wrong!¡±


    His opponent, the ever smiling minstrel, simply chuckled as if he was not taking the debate seriously. ¡°Forgive me for saying so but in what tome in what dusty old forgotten library could there ever be a reference to the height of the giant that Andigre slayed at the battle of the wild plains?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a reference,¡± Caste ground his teeth, ¡°the idea that a giant could be fifty feet in height would mean it would have a stride of up to twenty five feet!¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So!¡± Caste¡¯s hands were clenched into the uncharacteristic form of fists. ¡°That means its legs would have been at least half, if not closer to the full height of the wall.¡±


    ¡°Your point being?¡±


    ¡°The point being, you distorter of facts to the obscene, a giant of that size could easily vault the wall and should it take a dislike to it, it could simply break it down and allow the hoards of Maul out. There can not,¡± Caste leaned closer to Giordi, ¡°CAN NOT,¡± he barked angrily, ¡°be a monster of those proportions in Maul, nor could there ever be one!¡±


    ¡°What if there was one and only one?¡± Giordi asked brightly, the argument only heated on one side and having drawn a bit of a crowd. ¡°After all, in the historical tomes there were accounts of dragons and manticores but now none exist. Isn¡¯t it remotely possible, even in your creatively challenged consciousness, that such a giant might have existed?¡±


    Caste¡¯s eyes bulged at him. ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± the minstrel stood up, uncrossing his long legs and ruffling his curly blond locks, ¡°I am afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree.¡±


    ¡°No, you are wrong.¡±


    ¡°Come now my clerical companion,¡± Giordi put his hand on Caste¡¯s shoulder who shrugged it off with disdain as though Giordi was made of manure, ¡°there are more important things in this world than right and wrong.¡±


    ¡°No there are not!¡±


    ¡°Your loss.¡± Giordi smiled brightly at a young woman who was gazing at him adoringly and left Caste and the argument aside, moving on to the next distraction while Caste fumed and fizzled, sure smoke was pouring out of his ears. Caste watched as Giordi took the young woman¡¯s arm and led her out of the lower bailey and into the marketplace.


    ¡°I would caution you not to waste your time on such promoters of pomposity.¡± Bede suggested, having stood to one side while Caste had descended upon Giordi as he sang about Sir Andigre¡¯s grand accomplishments.


    Caste knew Bede was right but he just couldn¡¯t stand to watch as the minstrel, who was clearly doing his utmost to turn any fact in his lyrical tales into fiction by the gross injustice of exaggeration. He was crowded by men and women alike, raking in a considerable quantity of coins for his lies and encouraged by adoration and admiration.


    Caste had descended upon him to take him down a peg or twenty¡­but the minstrel was as slick and as wily as an eel.


    ¡°Why must people always give credence to stories and lies over the truth?¡± Caste demanded. ¡°Why bother having the Order of the Grail to preserve the laws and truth of antiquity when those that distort it are praised, extolled and even vindicated?¡±


    Bede didn¡¯t have an answer for that so Caste turned and made for the library where he could soothe his raw pride and indignation by reading the dusty tomes that Giordi had mocked so unkindly.


    Oddly enough, Caste began to wish Judd would send word when they would leave Fort Bastil. He wondered about it at the evening meal, when he went to bed, when he woke up, when he heard Giordi¡¯s warbling tone singing, he was sure, deliberately beneath his window¡­


    Eventually, after a week, Caste could not be comforted by the luxury of the fort, the knowledge of the library and the semi intelligent intercourse with his fellow cleric.


    He remembered that the farmers they had chanced upon when they¡¯d escaped the mangrove swamp had offered for Judd to stay so, after dodging Bede and skirting Giordi in the lower bailey, Caste left the fort. He traipsed through the marketplace then, after being directed in a southerly way, found himself amongst the cultivated land within Sir Alaykin¡¯s authority.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Upon asking where Judd LaMogre might be staying, he was pointed to some huts where the workers who came for seasonal harvests slept. However, Judd was not there, nor was Aalis or Verne. Caste began to fret a little, wondering if Judd had left Fort Bastil without telling him. He wouldn¡¯t have done so if he was still hoping to become a knight but if he had given up after Dalain had¡­


    ¡­Caste felt a strange wave of dread well up inside of him. He had made no pretence of his scepticism that Judd could ever complete the quest task list that would enable him to rise above his peers and become a knight. He had hoped that sword master Thiery would knock some sense into Judd¡­


    ¡­but had he knocked so much into him that he had deserted his quest without telling Caste?


    Or had Judd¡¯s injuries been worse than what had been reported?


    Before Caste could sink into the pit of panic and dismay, he heard his name called and turned to see Aalis coming towards him with a deep beaten metal bowl in her hands which she set down over the fire.


    It was no wonder that people called her a witch or even that she called herself one. Her dreadlocks, which contrasted with the long, swinging or braided natural hair of other women, were an oddly definitive sign. Her clothing was also a little different, her narrow waist slung with crisscrossing belts, from which hung several pouches. Her dress might have been a lavender hue once but it seemed to be grey upon grey, her sleeves lightly puffed then cinched at the elbows, the cuffs a little ragged and stained. Her skirt hem had multiple layers so that as she walked, they rippled around herself.


    But ultimately it was Aalis¡¯ eyes that seemed to confirm the term ¡®witch¡¯. They were oddly reflective. Even if Judd hadn¡¯t picked up on it by now, Caste was already well aware that Aalis¡¯ irises changed with her surroundings. And if anyone gazed too intently into them, she shifted her gaze, furtive and hidden.


    ¡°Aalis, you¡¯re still here?¡± He blurted.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she nodded, throwing some white grains, possibly salt, into the bowl, ¡°of course.¡±


    ¡°I just¡­¡± Caste cleared his throat. ¡°Is Judd still here?¡±


    She folded her arms. ¡°Why would he not be?¡± Caste shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Aalis cleared her throat. ¡°He is.¡± She checked the bowl on the fire then wiped her hands. ¡°I will take you to him.¡±


    Caste followed quietly as she led him through the fields, past hedges grown to help separate crops to where smaller plots existed as people¡¯s personal property. Before Judd came into sight, Caste could hear the sound of grunting and fighting, heavy blows and the ringing of metal. He dashed ahead of Aalis to see Judd on his knee in the midst of a destroyed garden patch, a shield braced above him as an old man and Verne hammered at him with a metal rod and what looked to be a piece of fence post.


    ¡°Hey?¡± Caste cried then ran to the fence. ¡°Hey!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Verne and the old man looked up.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±


    ¡°Trying to break the shield.¡± The old man snorted as if Caste were an idiot.


    ¡°Are you insane?¡±


    ¡°Take it easy, Caste,¡± Judd got up and leaned on his sword, the shield braced on his arm, ¡°I¡¯m uninjured.¡± He turned to Verne and the old man. ¡°That¡¯s incredible. I barely felt a thing!¡±


    ¡°Remember, keep this technique in reserve in the fighting ring. Don¡¯t use it until and unless you need to.¡± The old man slapped Judd on the shoulder.


    ¡°Fighting ring?¡± Caste asked, feeling lost.


    ¡°Sir Alaykin is hosting another of his battle festivals in a week.¡± Judd explained, coming over to the fence. ¡°I¡¯m entering the combat portion of the tournament.¡±


    Caste gaped at him. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    ¡°After the sword master beat you to within an inch of your life?¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you were watching?¡± Caste felt a twinge of shame that he had not intervened. At the time he was hoping Judd would start thinking logically but when Alaykin and Dalain were laughing about Judd at the feasting table that night, he¡¯d formed the opinion that they enjoyed humiliating people.


    ¡°I¡­heard about it.¡± He muttered.


    Judd chuckled. ¡°It was a hard lesson but one I needed to learn. You were right, Caste, I don¡¯t have the skills to survive in the wilds and any kills I¡¯ve made so far have been a result of pure luck. I can¡¯t rely on it forever.¡±


    ¡°So¡­you¡¯re getting sword fighting lessons from a farmer?¡±


    ¡°Oster Agress, former sword master.¡± The old man sniffed.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Caste nodded, ¡°I heard Dalain say your name the other night¡­¡±


    ¡°I bet it was none too respectfully.¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    Oster shook his head then groaned, clutching at arm. ¡°Ah, lassie¡­I don¡¯t suppose¡­¡±


    ¡°I have something that will soothe your muscles.¡±


    They regrouped at Aalis¡¯ campfire where the water was boiling. She grasped it with her skirts and moved it aside to cool, soaking a cloth in it before instructing Oster to sit. There was a basket of apples nearby and they used metal forks to skewer the fruit and toast it over the flames.


    ¡°Are you really going to enter the tournament?¡± Caste asked after inspecting his apple thoroughly for worms and other burrowing creatures.


    ¡°I am.¡± Judd studied Caste. ¡°Are you worried about me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Caste shrugged, ¡°just counting how many days I have to suffer that infuriating minstrel¡¯s melodies for.¡±


    ¡°With the fort flooding with hopeful warriors, he¡¯ll be out in the marketplace.¡± Verne bit into his apple and wiped his sleeve across his mouth.


    Caste sighed, poking his apple.


    ¡°Caste,¡± Aalis said softly, ¡°were you worried we had left without you?¡±


    Caste froze, only his eyes looking up. Her cornflower blue irises gazed gently at him.


    ¡°I¡­no of course not.¡± He blundered. ¡°I knew Judd would need me with him if he wanted to complete his knighthood quest.¡± He stood up, leaving the apple behind. ¡°I¡­well, you know where I am when you do decide to leave.¡± He kept his eyes on the ground and fled the company around the campfire.


    ¡°He¡¯s a tightly wound little fellow.¡± Oster remarked.


    ¡°You have no idea.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°Goodness knows why he was here. I mean, what would it matter if I left without him? He¡¯d just go back to Astaril.¡± Judd leaned on his knees. ¡°So¡­what else do I need to know about this contest?¡±

 Stop looking behind you and be in the moment of where you are

    Fort Bastil¡¯s festival drew large crowds, occurring every six weeks during thinning of the second moon. Because it had hosted many of them before, the steward and organisers had the preparation of the festival down to a fine art. Within two days it was transformed from its large grey bulk into a celebratory establishment that lost some of its intimidation with all the banners and flags waving from every conceivable post, pole and even from the narrow windows.


    The marketplace swelled to three times its usual size, travelling merchants knowing that the Bastil tournament was a grand place to turn over a tidy profit in the four days that it ran. Accommodation disappeared overnight and tents and carts with canvases stretched over the top littered every pocket of available space. Some merchants turned their carts into their stalls and simply slept behind the counter, doubling as security.


    Weaponsmiths also arrived, eager to either sell their wares or repair the weapons of warriors hopeful of taking home any kind of prize from the fighting rings.


    So while Judd felt rather awkward in his borrowed armour, at least he didn¡¯t stand out.


    The helm was styled so that the cheek pieces came forward but did not meet, allowing for a narrow channel upwards that turned into a horizontal slit for Judd¡¯s eyes. The gorget, or neck piece, had clasps at the back of his neck, the two pieces of metal forming protective links between the helm, the shoulder guards, or pauldrons and the breastplate and backplate. On his upper arms were the rerebraces and on the lower were the vambraces and putting the two together over each elbow were the couters, each piece tightened and fastened into place by small catches on the inner and shielded side of the body. Judd¡¯s mail glove had been replaced with two gauntlets with wide cuffs that rested over the ends of the vambraces.


    He wore a tasset which was a little like a knee high skirt with layers of metal and open at the front which might have looked like a tempting place to thrust a sword but it was covered with chain mail, linked beneath the line of the tasset and giving the warriors even more freedom of movement. The upper leg guards, or cuisses were strapped into place then the calf armour called greaves. Oster¡¯s feet were smaller than Judd¡¯s but thankfully his metal shoes or sabatons were only meant for the tops of his feet and up around his ankles, made from more layers of metal to allow for movement. Judd wore his regular boots beneath and strapped the sabatons over, allowing him the comfort of wearing his own shoes. He had his own tunic and trousers on as well but it was almost all completely covered.


    The armour was mostly dark grey except for a line of etching around every edge which had been painstakingly filled with a thin ribbon of silver. The effect was simple yet striking.


    ¡°Thank you again for the use of your armour.¡± Judd said sincerely.


    ¡°Figured you¡¯d have a better chance of surviving with something more fortifying than¡­would you stop fiddling with it?¡±


    He forced his hand down from his vambrace and sighed. ¡°I know I¡¯ve trained in it¡­but it still feels a little odd.¡±


    ¡°Good¡­cause it ain¡¯t yours.¡± Oster grumbled, hobbling beside him. ¡°It was mine when my spine wasn¡¯t bent like a fishing rod caught on a reef.¡±


    Verne flanked Judd¡¯s left and Aalis remained in the farming community.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Judd sighed and looked up at the fort. ¡°I wish Aalis could have come.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s safer where she is,¡± Verne muttered, dodging around the press of the crowd, ¡°and she would have hated this.¡±


    ¡°I know, but¡­ow!¡± Judd glared at Oster. ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Stop looking behind you and be in the moment of where you are.¡± Oster grunted.


    ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    At the gates into the lower bailey they found the registration officers and Judd announced his desire to compete in the fighting ring.


    ¡°There will be three rounds of preliminary fights,¡± the man said in a bored tone, ¡°which will determine where you rank in the lowest tier and fought with padded weapons. You will then be informed of when and where and who you will be expected to fight tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Those who succeed on the lower tier will be informed of when, where and who you will be expected to fight on the following day in the middle tier. Out of the middle tier, only four warriors will ascend to the final tier where their numbers will be drawn at random into two matches. The two winners of these matches will fight for the title of champion.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°Make your mark,¡± Judd did so and received a blue bandana with the number thirty two sewn onto it, ¡°and be ready for the ringing of the first bell.¡±


    Judd then stepped aside so Verne could approach the man who raised an eyebrow at the young man with the bow strapped to his back and his quiver on his hip.


    ¡°Archery contest.¡±


    ¡°I never would have guessed.¡±


    Once registered they moved into the lower bailey and found a place against the wall to prepare. A large rectangular space was pegged and roped out, taking up a large portion of the lower bailey but left enough space for spectators and food vendors to squeeze around.


    ¡°When you¡¯re called for the preliminaries, you¡¯ll be paired at random,¡± Oster explained, ¡°judges will watch your fights and decide where you rank with your skill.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hoping I do well.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Judd looked at Oster in surprise.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give away too much too soon. No matter how badly you fight, everyone goes into the lowest tier.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Right.¡± He sighed and wriggled his shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t see Dalain or Sir Alaykin here.¡±


    ¡°And belittle themselves by watching the nobodies fight?¡± Oster huffed.


    ¡°Perhaps that¡¯s for the best,¡± Judd admitted, ¡°I mean, I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re even allowed in the fort anymore after your dismissal.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, lad,¡± Oster sat on the bale of hay beside Judd, ¡°I don¡¯t look anything like I used to.¡±


    Judd and Oster watched the lower bailey fill to almost overflowing. Half of the crowd were competitors, each of them warming up or calming down in their own way.


    ¡°Oster,¡± Judd said quietly, ¡°how did Dalain get you fired? Did he lie or start rumours¡­or beat you in the ring like he did me?¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that. He simply told Alaykin I was too old.¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°Too old?¡± Oster nodded. ¡°But that¡¯s¡­that¡¯s¡­you¡¯re not old!¡±


    ¡°You need your eyes checked?¡± Oster glared at him. ¡°Judd LaMogre, my skin has age spots and my hair is going grey. My body clicks a thousand times when I get up or down and I rise three times a night to pee.¡± Oster shook his head. ¡°Dalain told Alaykin the truth when he said I was old¡­¡±


    Judd paused, his mind chewing over Oster¡¯s confession. ¡°So why do you want to get back at Dalain for what he said?¡±


    ¡°Just because it was true, didn¡¯t mean I had nothing left to offer.¡± Oster¡¯s voice became hard and angry, uncovering the hurt beneath. ¡°I knew I wasn¡¯t getting any younger¡­but I had twenty years of experience¡­of training arrogant sods like Dalain who could only see the value in getting ahead and not helping others to become better. I still had so much more to give¡­¡± Oster looked at his wrinkled hands and sagged on the hay bale. ¡°But Alaykin only heard Dalain say that I was old¡­that I was an embarrassment to Fort Bastil¡­¡±


    ¡°Now I really want to squash his face into the dirt¡­¡± Judd said angrily. He was surprised at Oster¡¯s calm hand on his own.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever do that, lad.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Take someone else¡¯s offense as your own. Making offense your motivation will only cause you to become bitter and angry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that part of the reason you¡¯re helping me isn¡¯t to get back at Dalain just a little?¡±


    Oster pulled a face. ¡°Maybe just a little¡­¡± The bell rang and he forced his legs to straighten so that he could stand up. ¡°Come on, lad¡­it¡¯s time.¡±

 You can’t rely on others to stoke the fire of your motivation

    Judd was pretty happy with how he performed in the preliminary battles. As Oster had warned him, he did not go all out and reveal all that he could do. As it was the judges placed him fairly low on the qualifying board but it was more that Judd felt a greater confidence in his abilities. He could use his padded weapon to attack and deflect the blows coming his way and didn¡¯t fall once. His opponents had all been drawn at random from a barrel, each pair of bandanas pulled out matching the ones worn by the registered fighters.


    Oster commented only by critiquing some of Judd¡¯s techniques and by saying that he did a passable job. This, coupled with the fact that he didn¡¯t hit Judd once over the head with a cane, was a big compliment.


    The second day was not much different but Judd could feel the seriousness of the competitors as they also settled into the tournament, knowing that they would miss out on any chance of advancing to the second tier if they lost more than one round. The padded weapons had been discarded and Judd was thankful for the armour Oster had let him wear.


    ¡°See,¡± Oster had told Aalis when Judd return from the lower tier with a definite placement in the second, ¡°he isn¡¯t injured, mortally or otherwise.¡±


    She had to concede to his assessment and ladled stew into bowls for them.


    ¡°How did you fare in the archery contest?¡± Judd asked Verne who scooped stew into his mouth.


    ¡°Like you, neither brilliantly nor terribly,¡± Verne replied vaguely, ¡°and, like you, I will know in days to come where I rank amongst the other archers.¡±


    Judd ate his stew heartily then turned to Oster. ¡°The champion from the last festival¡­how good was he?¡±


    ¡°How should I know?¡± Oster shrugged. ¡°I haven¡¯t attended a match in years but he won so he¡¯ll be very good.¡±


    ¡°Better than Dalain?¡±


    ¡°Dalain wouldn¡¯t stand for that to be the case. He¡¯ll just be sitting on the balcony with Alaykin, studying the opponents as they fight. After all, part of a sword master¡¯s responsibility is gauging the skills of the final match and giving Alaykin his ¡®experienced assessment¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Aalis looked up, ¡°Dalain is not the top tier combatant?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd saw her expression, ¡°I thought¡­I thought you knew.¡±


    ¡°Knew what?¡± Aalis said, her heart cringing.


    ¡°Dalain doesn¡¯t compete in these tournaments. He prefers lording it over the matches from above with Sir Alaykin.¡± Oster explained. ¡°The only way to get him to fight is for him to come down and challenge Judd himself.¡±


    Aalis put her stew down, tucking dreadlocks back. ¡°And how,¡± she said in a cautious tone, ¡°are you going to do that?¡±


    ¡°Simply by making it to the upper tier.¡± Judd explained. ¡°That should prick his pride, that the man he crushed two weeks ago has gotten so good, so fast.¡±


    Aalis looked between Judd and Oster. ¡°That is your plan?¡± She gasped and they nodded. ¡°Are you out of your minds? Dalain will not hesitate to humiliate you to the point of killing you should he be goaded to fight under those conditions. His pride is at stake!¡±


    ¡°Aalis, you supported me on this before¡­¡±


    ¡°When I thought that he was the inevitable top tier combatant,¡± she exclaimed, ¡°not when you were going to goad him into fighting you on top of fighting all the others.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate your knight to be friend,¡± Oster chuckled, ¡°he can take a hammering¡­¡±


    ¡°After two weeks?¡± Aalis stood up. ¡°Two weeks, Judd, of training with Oster¡­those men have been training for years!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to go head to head with him.¡± Judd reasoned, standing to face her. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of skill but if I¡¯m clever and am able to use his weaknesses to my advantage¡­¡± Aalis turned her head from him, her eyes closed. Judd reached out and took her hands, turning her body towards him but she refused to open her eyes. ¡°Aalis,¡± he said softly, ¡°you were the only who told me not to give up. You were right.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    She stepped back. ¡°This revenge is beneath you, Judd¡­and Dalain will not play by the rules.¡± She left the light of the campfire and Judd sank onto the log.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to give up, now?¡± Oster asked.


    ¡°I made a commitment,¡± Judd said firmly then sighed, ¡°but Aalis was the first person to believe in me. Not my parents, not the training instructor in Astaril¡­certainly not Caste¡­no one thought I could do this. Aalis did and still does. Her support means a great deal to me.¡±


    ¡°And what if, one day, she isn¡¯t there anymore?¡± Oster remarked and Judd eyed him sadly. ¡°You can¡¯t rely on others to stoke the fire of your motivation. Sometimes, you need to be bold all on your own.¡±


    The middle tier of the fighting portion of the festival put Judd¡¯s training to the test. He could sense the weight behind the blows, the determination of the fighters to not lose their place as they began to be whittled out of the qualifying numbers. They began to fall rapidly and Judd had to start digging deep to not lose more than a single match.


    ¡°It¡¯s hard because there are so many matches in one day,¡± Oster explained, ¡°but that is held in tension with the ability of the fighters. There are more matches on the lower tier but the level of opponent is often lesser or, like yourself, keeping some in reserve. The middle tier there are less matches for the level of opponent is stronger and in the upper tier will be made of the strongest but there are only two fights with four opponents and then the winners of those matches fight each other.¡±


    Sir Alaykin appeared during the middle tier and watched some of the fighting. Judd didn¡¯t know if he recognised him from so high up. The final tier would be fought in the upper bailey which provided a much closer view for those in Fort Bastil.


    Judd returned to the farming community that night with enough energy to eat, be given a brief check up from Aalis then slumped onto his bedroll, falling almost immediately asleep.


    He was a little stiff the next morning, he and Oster grumbling about aches and pains in their bodies and comparing the two as though they were in competition before Judd donned the borrowed armour once more. Armour was expensive and as such, it was more often than not custom made for knights or swordsmen of great proficiency and depth of pocket. Oster¡¯s armour was from when he was younger and he¡¯d refused to sell or part with it. He confided with Judd that upon his dismissal, he did not want Dalain claiming it as if it was his right and smuggled it out of the fort.


    ¡°Twenty years of my life I gave¡­I was not giving up my first set of armour. It was a gift from Sir Ulra, a worthy knight to serve.¡± Oster gave the ties at Judd¡¯s side a final pull then stepped back. ¡°Mind you, he couldn¡¯t hold his liquor.¡±


    ¡°Many drinking games I gather?¡± Judd tried to breathe deeply, feeling his chest pressed against the armour, the tunic and some light padding he wore the only thing keeping the metal off his skin. ¡°I wonder who won more often?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think he gave me the armour? To pay off his drinking debts.¡± Oster snorted and slapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Come along then. Today¡¯s the day and you¡¯d better be prepared to face what is ahead cause when it starts, there¡¯s no turning back.¡±


    Judd nodded then caught sight of Aalis coming towards the campfire, her skirt hiked up as a catchment for barley grains.


    ¡°I¡¯ll meet you at the gates.¡± He said and Oster nodded, hobbling towards the fort. ¡°Aalis?¡±


    She pretended not to hear him, shaking out the contents of her skirt into her metal bowl. She brushed the errant grains away and set about sorting the barley from the husks and stalks.


    ¡°Aalis, please just listen¡­¡± Judd paused. ¡°My aim today is not to fight Dalain.¡± She worked without stopping. Judd squatted next to her, trying to catch her gaze. ¡°What I wanted was to learn from Oster Agress and test my skills in an arena that would help me gauge just how good or bad I was.¡± She licked her lips but continued to sift the barley. ¡°But¡­I can¡¯t go into that arena without knowing the risks. I don¡¯t intend to challenge Dalain¡­but he¡¯s going to see my presence there as an affront to his capability. If he doesn¡¯t demand a rematch, then I¡¯m wrong and happily so. But Oster couldn¡¯t let me go into this without warning and preparing me for the possibility of a fight against Dalain.¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Judd sighed and stood up. ¡°You¡¯re the first person to believe in me, Aalis or at least, you were. I hope you still do. I hope I¡¯m worthy of your good opinion.¡± He tapped his teeth together a couple of times before giving up on trying to get a response. He walked away, feeling his sword smack against his leg, his helm caught in the crook of his elbow and prayed he was doing the right thing.


    ¡°You seem a little agitated this morning, Caste.¡± Bede remarked and Caste looked up from the dining table.


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve had a nervous energy since you sat down which has resulted in leg jiggling, spoon tapping, teeth clashing¡­¡±


    Caste sighed and tried to rein in his nervousness. ¡°Forgive me. The final day of the festival is upon us.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Bede tilted his head, studying him, ¡°I must say for a cleric who has shown a thirst for knowledge I have never seen before, you have been surprisingly fixated on the tournament.¡±


    Caste blinked. ¡°Well, yes¡­because Judd LaMogre, the young man I was assigned to accompany on his knighthood quest has been competing.¡±


    ¡°I saw his name on the tier board.¡± Bede nodded. ¡°He has done surprisingly well for one who was so heartily thrashed barely two weeks ago.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you concerned that he will continue to do well, thus bolstering his confidence and force you to continue on his knighthood quest?¡± Caste looked up, uncertain as to how to answer Bede¡¯s question. As it was, his fellow cleric assumed he knew Caste¡¯s response. ¡°Fear not, Caste Undern. Regardless of his unexpected ascension through the tiers of battle, it is doubtful the trend will continue. While he is not fighting the warriors of Fort Bastil, who are reputed to be the best in all of Terra, he is unlikely to succeed against the warriors who come to distinguish themselves.¡±


    Caste wasn¡¯t all that reassured.

 The final tier of Fort Bastil’s fighting tournament

    ¡°Finest warriors my arse,¡± Oster muttered as he waited for Judd at the gates into the lower bailey, his watery eyes observing the soldiers that were supposedly guarding the entrance to the fort, ¡°you couldn¡¯t keep a chicken out of this place.¡±


    The stream of people into the fort was considerable. While the preliminary matches and lower tier were attended by only fighters fighting other fighters or observing fighters to know what to expect if paired against them, the middle tier was a crowded cacophony with bales of hay lining the walls so that the audience could see even at the back. The highest of the tier matches, which Judd LaMogre now faced, was in the upper bailey. Rather than bales of hay, there was staggered seating, wooden pews brought out, custom built for the occasion so that each one fit and maximised the arrangement for the fight. And of course, being the upper bailey, the keep was one of the sides and Sir Alaykin had his own personal balcony set up as a viewing platform.


    Even though there would only be three matches fought that day, the opponents drawn at random, there was ample entertainment. The centre ring was a performance stage for jugglers, fire breathers and, of course, the current favourite minstrel who had everyone singing, at least at the chorus for no one remembered all the verses. When the actual fighting began, the crowds would push at the roped ring boundaries, each person desperate to see the wining strike and the knockdown blow.


    Oster folded his arms.


    Judd was not good enough to win, not by conventional means.


    However, what the lad lacked in experience, which was a matter of time that they did not have, he made up for with a willingness to learn and an ability to get back up when knocked down. And not just physically. Sword master Thiery should have driven any interest in pursuing his knightly quest out of Judd with his humiliation.


    Yet here the young man was, risking it all again but far better equipped this time.


    Goodness knows, he was going to need all the help he could get.


    ¡°Oster?¡± He looked up and spied Judd standing in front of him. ¡°You looked a hundred leagues away.¡±


    ¡°At my age, it¡¯s the best and safest way to travel.¡± Oster huffed and joined Judd¡¯s side as they ventured into the lower bailey, allowed to bypass the queues of people because Judd was a competitor. ¡°I take it your lady friend did not agree to come and watch?¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want her to,¡± Judd said quietly then added quickly, ¡°not that I wouldn¡¯t want her to¡­I mean¡­¡± He sighed and rubbed his neck, or at least tried to, his metal fingers catching on the gorget. ¡°She kind of¡­sticks out.¡±


    ¡°You mean with the,¡± Oster gestured to his head then over his body, ¡°and the¡­¡±


    ¡°And people, especially Terra military and clerics, would be quick to judge before they got to know her.¡±


    ¡°What about your little clerical tag along?¡±


    ¡°He made his objections known¡­but Aalis is a valuable companion.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°She¡¯s helped get me and Caste back on our feet.¡±


    ¡°What of your archer friend? The one who doesn¡¯t speak much?¡±


    ¡°Your guess is as good as mine. He¡¯s not a big talker but he¡¯s got a keen eye with his bow.¡± Judd paused. ¡°I wonder how he will do today during the archery finals¡­¡±


    ¡°Keep your head in this space,¡± Oster rapped on Judd¡¯s armour and he nodded, ¡°trust me, Verne is far safer than you are about to be.¡±


    ¡°Oh, this is probably a little late to be asking but¡­what¡¯s the prize?¡± Judd turned to Oster. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m guessing there¡¯s something we¡¯re vying for but I just thought, what if it¡¯s a placement at Fort Bastil? Am I going to offend anyone if I turned it down?¡±


    ¡°Most contestants are aiming for just such a position,¡± Oster explained, ¡°and Sir Alaykin has offered a position in the past in lieu of a prize if the champion is, as they ought to be, exceptional.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°What¡¯s the prize?¡±


    ¡°A horse from Sir Alaykin¡¯s stables. He has a keen eye for horseflesh, trading frequently with the nomads to the south, so the beasts are always a fine prize.¡±


    ¡°Why would anyone give that up?¡±


    ¡°Because most of them have no hope or intention of becoming a knight so a horse, while an excellent prize, requires a decent income to feed, house and maintain. But a position in Dalain¡¯s ranks of soldiers receives a consistent income, the perks of being a soldier and probably the responsibility of riding the horse he would have won anyway.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Judd took a deep breath, feeling the press of the breastplate when his lungs were at their fullest before letting it out. ¡°Well¡­I guess I¡¯m about to find out where I rank.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, these matches are not a knockdown event. It¡¯s a shield match which means you¡¯ll need to keep strength in reserve.¡± Oster warned.


    Judd nodded then they both looked up as trumpets called for all attention to the balcony of the keep where Sir Alaykin presided, Dalain Thiery at his side.


    ¡°Welcome competitors and spectators alike, to Fort Bastil¡¯s legendary fighting competition! After three days of gruelling matches, we arrive at this moment, the upper tier where four opponents will battle each other and then the two victors will compete. And here, on this day, you will bear witness to the tournament champion who will stand above the rest, crowned and declared, their name recorded in the annuals of Fort Bastil for all time.¡±


    Alaykin¡¯s speech was well rehearsed yet, punctuated with the clamour and cheers of the crowd, it was also sincere. Judd listened with half an ear, spying Dalain standing beside his lord and master. He felt a tremor of fear pass through him and hoped, if he was successful in winning, that Dalain would stay on the balcony and not descend to teach him a lesson.


    ¡°The four warriors to compete in this final arena, step forth when your name is called.¡± Sir Alaykin held the scroll out in front of him. ¡°Aras Fray, Royce Colton, Judd LaMogre,¡± there was a slight hesitation as he said Judd¡¯s name as though it had been all but forgotten and he was trying to place where he knew it from before he continued his speech, ¡°and Eda Marione.¡±


    Judd stood up and entered the ring where the steward of the arena waited for them.


    ¡°Present your bandanas.¡± He ordered.


    Judd untied his and handed it over. A page ran the bandanas through a door, up through the keep and onto the balcony where Sir Alaykin received them. Judd¡¯s eyes had to be turned upward as was all gaze within the upper bailey. He couldn¡¯t avoid seeing Dalain now. Judd wasn¡¯t entirely sure Dalain had realised he was even there until he received a narrow slitted glare from the sword master.


    Judd swallowed.


    Sir Alaykin hid the bandanas in his hand and held his fist out to Dalain who had to draw two out. He flung them over the edge, the colours bright and clear.


    ¡°Aras Fray and Royce Colton take the first match!¡±


    Judd breathed out and existed the ring, retreating to the wall where Oster leaned.


    ¡°The random draw worked in your favour. I would say that Eda Marione is the least skilled out of the upper tier four.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t make him a slouch, either.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Oster chuckled. ¡°He¡¯s no harder, possibly easier, than the opponents you faced in the middle tier. Remember your training and you¡¯ll do fine.¡±


    There was a roar from the crowd. Oster looked up. ¡°Aras Fray is down one shield. I don¡¯t think this match is going to go on all that long.¡±


    Unfortunately Oster was right. Aras could not hold his own against the ferocious Royce Colton. He couldn¡¯t even break one of his shields while Royce shattered all of Fray¡¯s.


    ¡°Your turn, lad.¡± Oster rapped Judd¡¯s armour as he stood up and entered the ring.


    Judd stood in the opposite corner to Eda Marione who had a sword not unlike Judd¡¯s and wore armour made from metal and leather in a flexible combination. At Judd¡¯s feet were three round wooden shields, the same make as the ones in Eda¡¯s corner. Oster picked up a shield and strapped it into place over Judd¡¯s left arm. The fighting was not meant to be lethal. The shields were the gauge as to who won a match. Three shields each. The last one without a shield was the loser.


    Judd looked across at Eda who danced about on his feet, baring his teeth at Judd. He was skilled with his blade which was how he had ascended so high in the tournament. However, Eda was several years younger than Judd and he did not have Judd¡¯s physique or his experience at manual labour.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready?¡±


    Judd smacked his shield with the flat of his sword.


    ¡°Eda Marione, are you ready?¡±


    Eda did the same. The steward, on the safe side of the ring looked between them. ¡°Fight!¡±


    Aalis wished the sounds of battle would not reach her so far from the fort. If it had been a stormy day or if there had been more people around, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t be subjected to the clash of steel and the shouts of the crowds. But most of the farmers had gone to watch the upper tier matches and the day was clear and bright.


    She paced back and forth with no work to do to occupy her mind.


    She didn¡¯t dare leave the fire in case Judd returned injured and in need of healing.


    Aalis¡¯ fingers wrung themselves as she looked at the fort, shouts of victory and screams of adulation taunting her ears.


    ¡°Judd¡­do not die¡­¡±

 The final top tier warriors

    ¡°Sir Alaykin, may I present to you your two top tier warriors! Royce Colton and Judd LaMogre!¡±


    Judd held himself firm as Sir Alaykin looked down at them. Though he must have recognised Judd by now, there was no scorn in his eyes. The same could not be said for Dalain for Judd was sure he felt his eyes scraping over Judd like he was manure on the bottom of his shoe.


    ¡°Noble warriors, I commend you for your skill in battle.¡± Sir Alaykin announced. ¡°Out of the two of you, one will be crowned the victor of the tournament. I look forward to your match.¡±


    ¡°And now,¡± the steward announced, ¡°we will have a midday reprieve with some light entertainment.¡±


    Judd escaped the ring and sank next to Oster on a hay bale, his armour slapped many times and spectators shaking his hand.


    ¡°Get that off,¡± Oster ordered, removing Judd¡¯s helm, ¡°and get this into you.¡±


    Judd gulped at the wine, still breathing heavily from the match. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t like to go up against Eda Marione in a year or two. He¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°This place is an excellent testing ground for new fighters.¡± Oster nodded. ¡°Mark my words if Marione doesn¡¯t become one of Alaykin¡¯s soldiers when he eventually wins this tournament. That said, you¡¯re the one who won that match.¡±


    ¡°He got one of my shields.¡± Judd muttered.


    ¡°Lucky blow.¡± Oster said then clipped Judd over the head. ¡°Just like that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know, I wasn¡¯t expecting it.¡± Judd looked at the bottom of his cup. ¡°No more?¡±


    ¡°Not unless you want to try to relieve yourself while wearing armour cause I¡¯m not doing all those fiddly catches and ties up twice in one day.¡±


    Judd chuckled.


    ¡°Well done, LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t wait to see how you fare against Colton!¡±


    Judd nodded as people complimented and commented. He glanced at the balcony where Sir Alaykin was enjoying his midday repast.


    ¡°Dalain recognised me.¡± Judd said quietly.


    ¡°That was inevitable really.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d meant that much to him.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t. Thugs like Thiery don¡¯t recall those they humiliated. But I would wager Sir Alaykin would and he might have mentioned, in passing and with more than a drop of condescension, that Dalain must have been mistaken in his assessment of you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why.¡± Judd huffed. ¡°Alaykin would probably just think I was shaming during the ¡®training¡¯ with Dalain.¡±


    ¡°To what end?¡± Oster peered into Judd¡¯s face. ¡°It makes no sense. However, if Dalain lied about the degree to which he thrashed you¡­¡±


    ¡°But he didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°And yet, here you are.¡± Judd was given a plate with roasted chicken on it. He removed his right gauntlet and filled his hungry belly. ¡°Don¡¯t satiate your hunger. You don¡¯t want to be so full that you can¡¯t move.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡± Judd chewed. He wanted to look up at the balcony again but knew every time he did so, the tension in his body increased.


    Caste was permitted to sit in Alaykin¡¯s balcony with a superb view of the fighting ring. He had wanted to lean out over the wall to watch what happened but instead, tried to appear indifferent, as if, somehow, he could convince himself that he was so. Bede talked to him almost endlessly and seemed utterly appeased by Caste¡¯s noises and vague answers.


    Food was a welcome distraction and Caste was about to put a piece of perfectly roasted pheasant into his mouth when he heard Judd¡¯s name spoken.


    ¡°¡­surprised to see how far LaMogre has ascended in the tiers, let alone now to be facing off against the only person standing in his way to winning.¡± Sir Alaykin tilted his head, studying Dalain. ¡°Perhaps your assessment of his abilities was somewhat¡­lacking?¡±


    ¡°The whelp could have been bested by a child with a wooden sword.¡± Dalain grunted.


    ¡°I see no whelp.¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t wearing armour when he came to me for training.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Ah, of course¡­that must make all the difference.¡± Alaykin¡¯s voice was mordant and Caste could see Dalain bristle like a vicious dog desperate to be let off his chain.


    ¡°Royce Colton will make swift work of him in the final tier. Judd LaMogre, armour or no, won¡¯t stand a chance. His shields will fall.¡±


    ¡°Had I not seen him fight with my own two eyes, I might have agreed blindly with you before but now I will reserve judgement.¡±


    Caste took a bite of his pheasant and chewed without tasting it, wishing he was anywhere but on the balcony. However, he couldn¡¯t run away now. Not even the irritatingly inaccurate minstrel¡¯s melodies were enough to drive him from the balcony.


    If Judd LaMogre¡¯s quest for knighthood was to end in that ring, Caste would have to bear witness.


    A blast of the horns announced the end of the midday meal. Judd looked at Oster.


    ¡°Nearly time.¡± Oster checked over his armour. ¡°You know you¡¯re up against the toughest fighter of the entire tournament?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Judd whispered, ¡°I saw what he did to the last person he was matched against in the middle tier.¡±


    Royce Colton fought with a heavy axe and had the muscles to wield it well. Colton¡¯s middle tier opponent had fled the ring howling, his arm hanging uselessly by his side. It was possible Colton had broken his collarbone, using the blunt side of the axe as a club.


    ¡°He¡¯s strong but slow. You¡¯re going to have to dodge his blows because any of them that connect with you, will kill you. And if your shield gets in the way, you¡¯ll lose it.¡±


    Judd nodded, shaking. ¡°How do I beat him?¡±


    ¡°Tire him out. He might be strong but he can¡¯t wield that thing effectively for long. Eventually he¡¯ll get sloppy and you¡¯ll have no problem breaking his shield. Hey,¡± Oster snapped his fingers in front of Judd¡¯s face, drawing his attention to his eyes, ¡°lean into your strengths and don¡¯t let him target your weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°Sir Alaykin, sword master Dalain, ladies and gentlemen of the court and to all those present, we call forth two great warriors who will go head to head in this ring for a chance for glory,¡± the crowd shouted as the steward put all his effort into his announcement, ¡°for the honour,¡± another shout, ¡°and the title of Fort Bastil¡¯s tournament champion!¡±


    The crowd roared their approval and the clatter of armour as Judd¡¯s nerves caused him to shake, was lost in the cacophony.


    ¡°Warriors, present yourselves.¡±


    Judd moved towards the ring, the crowd parting for him to do so, his armour rapped by those closest to him while those who could not reach him, applauded and cheered. He held on tightly to his helm with one arm, grasping the hilt of his sword with the other and ducked his head beneath the top rope of the ring. After the claustrophobic press of the spectators, the emptiness of the ring was both welcomed and alarming.


    For while there were only two other people in it, one of them was Royce Colton. He was built even more heavily than Dalain and would have given the ogre a run for his money in an ugly competition. He brandished his axe and flexed his muscles.


    ¡°Royce Colton,¡± the steward turned to Judd, ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­acknowledge each other.¡±


    Judd held out his hand and was relieved it was clad in a gauntlet for Royce¡¯s eyes glimmered at the opportunity to bestow a prebattle blow. Judd knew he was not winning any support because of his confidence. He could only imagine how small he had to look compared to Royce.


    ¡°Lean into my strengths. Protect my weaknesses.¡± Judd repeated softly.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready?¡±


    Judd smacked his shield.


    ¡°Royce Colton, are you ready?¡±


    Royce did the same, his deep set eyes glowering at Judd.


    ¡°Fight!¡±


    Judd immediately moved out from the corner of the ring. Though it meant he was getting closer to Royce, he could not afford to be pinned into a tight space as Royce wound up for a skull crushing, rib shattering blow. Judd dove out of the way, the armour protecting him but also stiffening his movements. He scrambled to his feet to see that Royce was already coming at him, his axe swinging wildly. Judd¡¯s courage all but deserted him and he leapt back, instinctively raising his shield, a hard blow shattering the wood.


    The crowd booed and cheered, depending upon their betting preference.


    Royce chuckled darkly and moved away.


    ¡°Round one to Royce Colton!¡±


    Judd sighed and went back to his corner where Oster was waiting.


    ¡°I know,¡± Judd said before Agress could berate him, ¡°I let him intimidate me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got tire him out and for that, you need to move faster.¡± Oster insisted, strapping on the second shield. ¡°How¡¯s your arm?¡±


    ¡°I felt the blow but without the gauntlet, I think it¡¯d be broken.¡±


    ¡°Treat him like a big fish you¡¯re trying to reel in.¡±


    Judd looked over at Royce who smiled at him and not in a nice way.


    ¡°I hate fishing.¡± Judd muttered and stood up.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready?¡±


    Judd hesitated smacking his shield for when he did, he couldn¡¯t escape the match.


    And in that moment of silence, he heard Dalain snort derisively.


    The trauma of the beating he had received from Dalain returned to Judd with a vengeance. Suddenly he wanted to be anywhere else other than the ring. Royce rushed Judd whose distracted brain had turned the noise around him into dull thuds. Judd had barely enough time to duck out of the way but instead of turning and attacking, he scampered to the other side of the ring, booed and jeered at, all his supporters dissipating. As Royce charged again, Judd tried to get around him but Royce¡¯s reach was wide with his axe. It collided with Judd¡¯s shield, shattering it and knocking him off his feet, his body slamming into the ropes of the ring.


    The crowd cheered loudly as Royce bellowed like a bull.


    ¡°Round two to Royce Colton!¡±


    ¡°Come on, LaMogre!¡± Judd heard Oster order. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡±


    Judd stayed on the ground, his arm throbbing with a terrible pain. It was possible Colton had fractured his forearm and his shoulder hurt as well. He yanked his gauntlet off and flexed his fingers, feeling the sinews of his arm scream.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this¡­¡± He gasped, his face close to the ground, his eyesight swimming. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd, get up.¡± The gentle voice next to his ear reached him with remarkable clarity and he lifted his eyes and saw Aalis kneeling at the edge of the crowd, so close he could see her dreadlocks hiding within her hood, her fingers clutching the rope, her eyes soft and pleading. Judd started to shake his head. Aalis reached her other hand out and clasped his injured wrist. He felt a rush of cool strength flowing from her grasp all the way up his arm, almost as if she was imbuing him with steel like strength. Her eyes blazed with intensity, the colour in them shifting from the hue of straw to a dark amber that sparked with golden light. ¡°I said, get¡­up!¡±

 He’ll fall, my lord. I promise you that. He will fall

    ¡°You see, my lord?¡± Dalain Thiery snorted. ¡°LaMogre has only arisen so far in the tournament because of lucky pairings in the matches but against a half competent opponent, he crumbles.¡±


    ¡°He has one shield left.¡± Sir Alaykin remarked.


    ¡°He will forfeit, mark my¡­¡± Dalain¡¯s words were interrupted as the crowd cheered and he leaned over the edge of the balcony to see Judd LaMogre standing to his feet and going to his corner, his third and final shield strapped on and a surprising look of grim determination in his eyes.


    ¡°You were saying?¡±


    Dalain ground his teeth together. ¡°He¡¯ll fall, my lord. I promise you that. He will fall.¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready?¡±


    His sword cracked against his shield.


    ¡°Royce Colton, are you ready?¡±


    The responding sound rang out.


    ¡°Fight!¡±


    Judd charged Royce without hesitation. Royce faltered for a second, surprised at the aggressive nature of his belittled opponent then returned the charge. Judd faked left then dove to the right, the unexpected motion causing Royce¡¯s heavy weight to stumble. Judd spun around and struck Royce¡¯s shield from behind, splintering the wood.


    The spectators screamed their approval. Royce got up from his stumble, tossing the debris of his shield aside, striding past Judd.


    ¡°Lucky shot.¡±


    Judd returned to his corner, still only with one shield as Royce picked up his second.


    ¡°You can do this, lad.¡± Oster said quietly. ¡°Keep him on his toes. He can¡¯t move like you.¡±


    ¡°Reel him in.¡± Judd cracked his shield and darted into the ring.


    Caste had thrown restraint and embarrassment aside and was leaning against the edge of the balcony, watching the match without blinking. Thankfully everyone in the balcony was doing the same so his uncharacteristic desire to watch primitive violence was forgotten.


    Judd had been broken, he was sure of it, cowering against the rope of the ring. There seemed to be no way he could recover from the battering of Royce Colton. And yet, he had arisen, pulled his gauntlet back on and taken up his third and final shield. And now, astonishingly, Judd was not only holding his own, but he had also broken one of Royce¡¯s shields.


    There was a shout from the spectators and Caste inhaled sharply. ¡°Two shields down¡­one to go.¡±


    ¡°They are now on equal footing.¡± Sir Alaykin remarked.


    Caste noted that Dalain did not dare contradict Alaykin¡¯s assessment. He gave the sword master of Fort Bastil a furtive glance and trembled at the fury in his expression.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready! Royce Colton, are you ready?¡±


    Caste found himself holding his breath, watching as Judd strode into the middle of the ring, Royce Colton hesitating, possibly for the first time in his life. Caste¡¯s knuckles whitened and he was as still as a statue as the final round began.


    Judd stopped walking and stood still in the centre of the fighting ring, his eyes fixed on Royce who looked uncertain. Previously, Judd had charged him and broken his two shields. Now he was just standing there. Royce could hear the jeers of the crowd, once directed at LaMogre but now his name was the one being mocked. His anger ignited and he threw himself at Judd, putting everything he had into his attack. He swung his axe right then left then right, bringing it down, slicing it sideways¡­


    ¡­but Judd LaMogre was never standing where Royce thought he ought to be. He ducked and dashed, wove and ducked again, avoiding every single blow Royce levelled at him. Royce, knowing only one way to do things, became angrier and angrier, his axe swinging recklessly over and over again until Royce¡¯s arm refused to lift it anymore. He looked up at Judd who stood back from him, calmly watching.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    So Royce ran at him, his shield up, sure his brute force would win out. Judd simply sidestepped, his foot out, tripping Royce up to crash heavily on his shield, snapping it in two.


    There were a few seconds of silence as the spectators and even the steward tried to comprehend what had just happened¡­


    ¡­then the shout that echoed from the upper bailey could be heard all the way across the land belonging to Fort Bastil.


    Judd breathed out, feeling his muscles sag in relief. His shielded arm was grasped as the steward held his arm up.


    ¡°I give you Fort Bastil¡¯s champion! Let¡¯s hear it for Judd¡­¡±


    And then, slapping the sand of the ring at Judd¡¯s feet, was a gauntlet. Its sudden and unexpected presence silenced the crowd in the upper bailey in a heartbeat. All eyes turned to it and then they lifted to see Dalain Thiery glaring at Judd.


    ¡°I challenge Judd LaMogre to a duel,¡± Dalain snarled, ¡°for the right to be named Fort Bastil¡¯s champion!¡±


    Sir Alaykin stood and raised his hands as the crowd murmured into a sea of conjecture. ¡°Judd LaMogre, do you accept this challenge?¡±


    Judd¡¯s shoulders couldn¡¯t visibly sag because of his armour but his soul slumped inside of him. ¡°If there is no other way¡­¡±


    ¡°Then in one hour we reconvene.¡±


    Judd turned and walked to his corner of the ring as the steward hastened to try to work out the logistics of the unexpected duel and the punters all began to place even heavier bets than they had before. Judd sat on the hay bale, Oster Agress clambering into the ring.


    ¡°Well, you were right,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°he couldn¡¯t just let it go.¡±


    ¡°He received his position by making others appear unworthy, not because he necessarily possessed the qualifications himself.¡± Oster explained. ¡°Dalain would always wonder, if only subconsciously, whether he truly has what it takes to be sword master of Fort Bastil. Any threat to his position is made more serious in the insecurity he feels.¡±


    ¡°The problem is, while he mightn¡¯t deserve the position of sword master, he¡¯s no slouch when it comes to fighting.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you must,¡± Oster put his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder, ¡°must stick to the strategy we devised.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Judd shuddered, pulling his helm off, sweat trickling down his face, plastering his brown curls against his skin.


    ¡°By the way, bloody good show at defeating Colton.¡±


    ¡°I almost feel bad for him,¡± Judd paused, ¡°almost.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s your wrist? I was sure he must have broken it after your second shield shattered.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­it wasn¡¯t as bad as it looked.¡± Judd frowned, wondering just what it had been that he¡¯d seen when cowering on the ground. ¡°Is¡­Aalis here?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see anyone or anything in this crowd.¡± Oster shook his head. ¡°Besides, not only did she not approve of this fight, but she would also risk becoming a target should someone take a dislike to her.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Judd flexed his muscles, accepting more watered wine.


    The steward re-entered the ring and approached them. ¡°The duel will be fought in the same manner as you just did with Colton. Three shields each, of course you will be provided with new ones and the winner will be crowned champion.¡±


    ¡°I thought I already was.¡±


    The steward was apologetic. ¡°You have the better part of an hour to prepare.¡±


    ¡°After fighting two matches already and Dalain is fresh from the balcony?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m somewhat relieved.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°If the match had been tomorrow or even hours later, I¡¯d have more time to panic. I know what to do. I just need to do it.¡±


    Oster nodded and held a towel to Judd to mop up the sweat. Judd remained in the ring. He didn¡¯t like being the centre of attention but at least being where he was meant the crowds couldn¡¯t surround and consume him again. He looked at his left arm, still in its gauntlet and flexed his fingers inside, watching the metal glove wiggle. There was no pain, no ache after two bone crushing blows from Royce¡¯s axe. It was nothing less than astonishing.


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡± He murmured quietly, looking around at the spectators, seeking her hooded visage amongst the crowd yet unable to see her at all.


    Before an hour was over, Dalain Thiery made his appearance in the upper bailey, striding out of the keep, clad in his custom armour that had been polished so that Judd¡¯s dust coated armour appeared shabby in comparison. Dalain leapt into the ring, taking his sword out and warming up his muscles, inciting the crowds to cheer and shout his name.


    Judd swallowed and somehow, Oster was able to feel his tremble as he checked over the ties on his armour.


    ¡°Remember, Judd LaMogre, you cannot beat him.¡± Oster said firmly.


    ¡°I know.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°I know¡­¡±


    Three new shields were placed at Judd¡¯s feet and Oster strapped the first one on his arm. Dalain did the same in his corner, cracking his neck, his nimble sword shining brightly in the sunlight.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, spectators of the tournament of Fort Bastil,¡± Sir Alaykin announced and they all turned their eyes upwards, ¡°you will bear witness to the duel challenge between Fort Bastil¡¯s own sword master, Dalain Thiery and tournament champion, Judd LaMogre of Astaril.¡± He gestured to the steward who bowed and took over the ceremonies.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre and Dalain Thiery, approach.¡±


    Judd stood up and walked to the steward. Dalain did the same, his eyes fixed on Judd with a menacing glare that was attempting to undo any elation Judd felt at winning the tournament.


    ¡°You both understand the way in which this duel will be fought? Three shields each. The winner will be the one without a shield.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Judd said.


    ¡°Naturally.¡± Dalain replied.


    ¡°Acknowledge each other.¡±


    Judd held out his hand and Dalain grabbed it, almost pulling Judd close into an intimidating embrace before releasing him.


    ¡°Return to your corners.¡± Judd did so, his heart hitting his ribs it was beating so hard.


    ¡°I cannot beat him. I cannot beat him.¡± He repeated over and over. ¡°I cannot¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready?¡±


    Judd struck his shield firmly.


    ¡°Dalain Thiery, are you ready?¡±


    Dalain smiled sinisterly at Judd as he clashed his shield.


    ¡°Fight!¡±

 Remember, Judd LaMogre, you cannot beat him

    Caste could not be torn from the edge of the balcony by anything less than the second coming of Sir Andigre and his Four Spire Knights. And even then, he might have asked the spectre of the knight of old to possibly halt his restoration of Terramaul for a moment so that he could watch the match between Judd and Dalain. Although, after five minutes, Caste started to wonder if the second coming would put an end to the humiliation.


    Judd was getting thrashed. Dalain was faster, stronger and Judd simply didn¡¯t have the natural instincts that came with experience to compete against the sword master.


    He held his own for three minutes before his first shield was torn to shreds.


    Dalain had held his arms aloft, his name chanted by the spectators.


    Judd had returned to his corner and picked up his second shield.


    That one didn¡¯t even last a minute.


    For a moment, as Judd caught his breath while half collapsed on the ground, Caste thought Dalain might have said something to him. Judd¡¯s eyes moved away from Dalain¡¯s face and he trudged back to his corner to pick up his third shield.


    ¡°Against Royce Colton, Judd LaMogre had the slimmest chance of success which he widened into victory,¡± Bede shook his head, ¡°but Dalain does not lose.¡±


    Caste was becoming less concerned about Judd losing than he was at Judd being killed during the match. He found himself biting his nails, which was a bad habit he had forced himself to stop doing years ago yet returned in his heightened state of anxiety.


    Perhaps it was a good thing Judd only had one shield left.


    Caste¡¯s nails would become bloody stumps if the match lasted much longer.


    Judd took some of the watered wine and gulped a mouthful as Oster strapped his final shield on.


    The crowd cheered and he saw Dalain doing a victory pose for them.


    ¡°Confident much?¡± Judd lamented. ¡°He has reason to be.¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Oster looked at Judd, ¡°seventeen times¡­you remember that. Whatever happens, you got up seventeen times against a bully.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t stop him though.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just because you didn¡¯t know how.¡± Oster rapped him on the helm. ¡°Brace yourself. He won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, are you ready?¡±


    Judd smacked his shield and strode into the ring and the moment Dalain did the same, the final round was on. Dalain was as fast as one of Verne¡¯s arrows and it was all Judd could do to keep out of reach of his sword. He felt it scrape across his armour several times, sparks flying before Judd could put distance between himself and the sword master.


    ¡°Are you a coward that you refuse to face me?¡± Dalain taunted.


    Judd tried to keep his eyes on Dalain and not on his sword that danced about like a rapier. He threw himself sideways, rolled and clambered to his feet, on the far side of the ring.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°Stop delaying the inevitable!¡±


    ¡°Stop making excuses for why you can¡¯t hit me!¡± Judd retorted and Dalain roared as the spectators laughed. He rushed Judd as fast as he could and Judd¡¯s fake dodge only just saved him from being struck, Dalain¡¯s sword skimming the edge of his shield which was braced with a thin circle of metal. Judd yanked it back, becoming off balance as he tried to protect his shield rather than it protecting him and fell to one knee.


    Dalain charged at him and Judd, with nowhere else to go, put his shield up.


    Dalain¡¯s sword came down on it like a hammer¡­


    ¡­and in the pause afterwards he stared at the shield for it had not broken.


    Dalain grunted and brought his sword down again but the shield remained intact.


    Small jeers from the crowd began to rile him into a rage. Dalain began to strike the shield over and over and over again but he could not cause it to break. Finally he flung his shield from his left arm, grabbed the hilt of his sword with both hands and went mad, hammering Judd¡¯s shield, bellowing all his rage into a final, devastating blow.


    His sword finally ripped through the shield, the two battered halves falling away but Dalain was thrown backwards, his sword striking, not the curve of a gauntlet that would have deflected the blow, but the unyielding edge of a much heavier sword. There was the sound of metal splintering and a shard of Dalain¡¯s sword flew through the air, striking the balcony, the bulk of the sword¡¯s blade hitting the sand of the ring, skittering to a halt and all that was left in Dalain¡¯s hand was the broken hilt.


    His shoulder, arm and wrist jarred badly and the shock of his sword breaking caused him to pause.


    In that moment, Judd drew his sword out from where he had braced it, running along the length of his gauntlet, strengthening his shield tenfold and held it out at arm¡¯s length so that the tip danced above Dalain¡¯s throat.


    The silence was deafening.


    Judd¡¯s chest heaved mightily.


    Dalain might have forgotten how to breathe, so stunned was he.


    The steward looked between the two of them, the crowd waiting for a determination yet he could give none. Helplessly, he turned to the balcony where Sir Alaykin stood, his expression, unreadable.


    ¡°Well now,¡± he said in a steely voice, ¡°this is an interesting turn of events. Who shall I name champion?¡±


    Judd willed his arm to remain strong and Dalain could not, dared not, move.


    But his mouth still worked.


    ¡°My lord, LaMogre has no shields left! By the rules of the match, I am the winner!¡±


    Judd said nothing.


    Sir Alaykin tilted his head. ¡°Judd LaMogre may have no shield¡­but he still has his sword and could land a fatal blow. You, Dalain Thiery, have neither sword nor shield for while you possess three, you wield none.¡± Dalain gulped for air and Judd held firm. ¡°You tell me then, sword master Dalain, whom should I call champion?¡±


    Dalain¡¯s eyes faltered and he trembled.


    Sir Alaykin studied them both for a moment.


    ¡°While the rules define Dalain Thiery as the victor, the match was in the spirit of a duel challenge and by that right, Judd LaMogre has, indeed, won,¡± Sir Alaykin lifted his chin, ¡°unless you wish the duel to continue, Dalain?¡±


    Dalain¡¯s eyes darted to where his shields were, far behind him and his broken sword wasn¡¯t even worth looking for. Then he looked at Judd. Perhaps if he had known him even a little, Dalain would have realised that Judd was not nor was he ever out for revenge. But Dalain only saw himself as he saw others and had their roles been reversed, Dalain would not have hesitated to cut him down. Naturally, Dalain could not comprehend that Judd LaMogre would not do the same.


    With broken pride, Dalain dropped the hilt of his sword. ¡°I yield¡­¡±


    Judd stepped back, his sword tip dropping to the sand.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre,¡± he lifted his eyes, the only part of his body he had the strength left to raise, to the balcony where Sir Alaykin gazed down at him, ¡°you are not only Fort Bastil¡¯s combat tournament champion, but you have held your own against a stronger, faster and more experienced opponent. I am pleased to offer you the prize of victory, a horse from my own stable.¡± He stopped and studied LaMogre. ¡°In the past I have invited worthy champions into my employ in lieu of this prize¡­but given your quest for knighthood, I doubt such an offer would be of interest to you.¡±


    ¡°It is an honour,¡± Judd admitted, ¡°but my journey cannot end here.¡±


    ¡°Then I bid you well, Judd LaMogre,¡± Sir Alaykin bowed, ¡°may your journey end in victory.¡± His eyes shifted to look at Judd¡¯s corner of the ring where Oster stood, waiting. ¡°Well played, Oster Agress¡­well played indeed.¡±


    Judd nodded then felt his arms grabbed by the steward.


    ¡°Fort Bastil, I give you, your champion, Judd LaMogre!¡±

 You have the opportunity to become a knight

    Aalis sat by the fire, surrounded by farmers who were speaking in lively tones, laughing and cheering, staring into the flames. Dusk had just given way to night and the sparks from the fire rose into the air. Spit roasts were being cooked and barrels of cider were being emptied yet she sat on her stool and waited. When she heard Judd¡¯s name being called she looked up to see him approaching, weary but happy. His brown eyes caught her gaze and she stood. Judd gave her a bashful smile.


    ¡°I won.¡±


    ¡°I heard.¡± Aalis said softly but sincerely. ¡°Well done.¡±


    He was going to speak when Oster, who had come back to the farming community hours before, ordered him to remove the armour. ¡°You¡¯re not going to be able to dance in that.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the energy to dance!¡±


    Despite his protestations, Judd followed Oster to his hut and peeled the armour from his body piece by piece, revealing sweat stained clothing beneath. Judd doused his hair with clean water and scrubbed his body dry before dressing in a clean tunic, trousers and boots. He glanced at Oster who was checking over his armour. ¡°You haven¡¯t said much.¡±


    ¡°Not much to say that wasn¡¯t already said.¡± Oster shrugged. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re here at all.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°Surely Alaykin would have invited you to the final feast in the keep.¡±


    Judd snorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to sit at a feasting table while Dalain glared as Alaykin praised¡­I just wanted to be back in good company.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Oster nodded.


    Judd finished tying his leather armbrace into place and studied the old man for a moment. ¡°So, Alaykin recognised you after all.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he didn¡¯t ask you back to the fort after this.¡±


    ¡°While I wouldn¡¯t mind a soft bed, I didn¡¯t do what I did to secure my own comfort.¡±


    ¡°Then why train me?¡± Judd asked as Oster locked his little hut and they headed towards the party. ¡°It¡¯s not just about getting up seventeen times, is it?¡±


    ¡°Not entirely.¡± Oster admitted. ¡°In a way¡­I envy you.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I was born a commoner, in these very fields as it happens and despite being excellent at what I did, the highest I could ever rise or be commended as being, was sword master.¡± Oster shrugged. ¡°You have the opportunity to become a knight. And more than that, you don¡¯t feel entitled to it just because of your birth rite. You want to earn it and you wanted to become a better warrior to protect the people who support you¡­trust me, you will make an excellent knight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a knight yet.¡± Judd chuckled. ¡°But hey, if I become one and I am made responsible for a fort and surrounding lands, maybe you could be my sword master.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°While I suspect you would actually follow through with that promise, I would decline.¡± Oster shook his head, leaning on his cane. ¡°Oddly enough, this chance encounter with you has made me glad that I¡¯m in the fields now¡­I just can¡¯t keep up with you young people anymore.¡±


    In the end, Judd had to retreat to sit against the hut to keep his shoulder and back from being slapped anymore. After two hours of it at the party, he was well and truly bruised. At least when people shook his hand, it didn¡¯t hurt. Verne was already there, standing but leaning in his nonchalant, semi distant way.


    ¡°Hey, I meant to ask how you fared in the archery tournament?¡±


    ¡°Third place.¡±


    ¡°Well done!¡±


    ¡°Not as prestigious as first place,¡± Verne smiled softly, ¡°however, I won a new bow which is mostly what I was hoping for. I made my old bow myself and it was always a bit of an amateur construct with flaws that I learned to correct for when using it. This new bow,¡± he held it out, balanced upon his finger, ¡°is perfectly weighted and a good draw strength for me. It¡¯ll make hunting for food that much easier.¡±


    Judd scraped his hair from his face. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll stick around Fort Bastil for a while?¡±


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°Well, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Then neither am I. There¡¯s still more of Terra to see¡­I admit I¡¯m curious as to how Judd LaMogre¡¯s story plays out because so far, it¡¯s been interesting to watch.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s an understatement.¡±


    Verne drank his cider then yawned. ¡°I¡¯m off to bed.¡±


    ¡°You can sleep with all this ruckus going on?¡±


    ¡°I slept perfectly well with seven brothers snoring the roof down.¡± Verne said, letting slip a little of his background without giving anything away. He gave Judd a jaunty half salute, half wave and disappeared into the hut.


    Judd yawned, wondering if he could escape the party and do the same when Aalis broke away from the silhouettes that were dancing around the campfires. She held out a metal fork with roasted meat on it.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He said, sitting up.


    Aalis reclined on the ground, crossing her ankles, the firelight flickering in her eyes, reminding Judd of when he¡¯d seen her during his match with Colton¡­or thought he¡¯d seen her.


    ¡°Hey Aalis,¡± he said quietly, ¡°did¡­were you¡­¡± He paused, clearing his throat. ¡°I¡¯m scared of asking because I¡¯m scared of the answer.¡±


    ¡°Alright¡­¡±


    ¡°Were you in the upper bailey today? When I was fighting Royce Colton?¡± He looked at her fearfully.


    Aalis gazed back at him calmly, her eyes soft and normal. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Judd breathed out the tension that had been building. ¡°Thank Astaril¡­¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because I thought I¡¯d concussed myself and only imagined you were there.¡± She smiled. Judd studied her. She must have felt his gaze because she turned and looked at him, her pale eyebrows raised.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he coughed, ¡°it¡¯s just¡­after what you said¡­I don¡¯t know why you risked it.¡±


    Aalis sighed, bringing her knees up to her chest, her arms wrapping around them. ¡°I realised I was being a hypocrite.¡± Judd huffed but she shook her head. ¡°No, I was. I want you to become a knight, Judd. I think Terra needs more people like you, compassionate and not arrogant, with integrity and not presumption.¡± She swallowed. ¡°In order for you to be a knight, though, you need to fight, to risk being injured¡­and sometimes not just against monsters of Maul¡­but human ones as well.¡± She turned to face him, her countenance clear and trusting. ¡°Oster was right to prepare you for what might and then did happen. I think his training has made you more self-aware¡­more¡­accountable.¡±


    Judd gazed at her, the party noise dulling to a soft background noise, the only relevance the world contained existing between them. ¡°You know why I wanted to become a better swordsman?¡±


    Aalis paused. ¡°If not to defeat Dalain¡­then I am at a loss.¡±


    ¡°Because I can¡¯t go out into the wilds again, dragging you and Caste and Verne without being able to adequately protect you.¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°You¡­did this to protect us?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the ones aligning yourselves with me and my journey and if I continue to go after the monsters on my knighthood quest list, then danger is inevitably going to arise.¡± Judd explained. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡±


    Aalis smiled. ¡°Like I said, Judd LaMogre, Terra needs more knights like you.¡±


    ¡°Not a knight yet.¡± Judd chuckled and was about to hold out his hand and ask her to dance when a group of children descended upon him, pulling him into the circle of dancers. He gave Aalis a helpless shrug then joined in happily.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Aalis said softly, ¡°but you are well on your way.¡±

 It shouldn’t just be put out to pasture because someone got old

    Oster Agress never had any trouble going to sleep. The older he became, the easier it was to nod off. That in of itself was a little alarming. He wondered if the natural course of old age was, one day, to fall asleep and die, never to wake up at all. But worrying about it wouldn¡¯t delay the inevitable and when he heard the cock crow, he dragged himself upright. Not that he was particularly keen on farming but he had learnt to heed the cry of his bladder.


    As he ate his bread and cheese, he reflected upon the enormity of the two weeks prior, culminating in the surprising victory of a middle class lad triumphing over lordly superiority and pride.


    It had been a wonderful moment.


    A final crowning achievement to his experience and skills.


    He didn¡¯t feel so cast aside now.


    Sure, being a farmer was almost the last thing he ever wanted to be but as the very last thing was growing old, Oster realised there were some things that couldn¡¯t be avoided.


    Besides, his life wasn¡¯t so bad. He had food, shelter, the ability to pee without it burning after the healer¡¯s effective tonic and his little plot of land that was in need of attention after two weeks of neglect.


    Oster picked up his cane and put his hand on his door, hearing a grunting, huffing noise outside. His fingers tightened around his cane and he threw open his door, ready to give the kids who thought nothing of running through his garden, trampling his seedlings, a serving of words that would make a fisherman proud.


    But his words died when he caught sight of Judd LaMogre, champion of Fort Bastil¡¯s fighting tournament, digging up weeds. His lady friend with the knack for healing was raking leaves and the mostly silent one was reattaching the head of the scarecrow onto its body.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Oster demanded but in a voice that was hollow.


    ¡°That might scare the children away,¡± Judd jerked his head to the decapitated scarecrow, ¡°but it¡¯s useless against crows.¡±


    ¡°After training Judd for two weeks,¡± Aalis added, ¡°he was concerned that your garden had been both damaged and neglected.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you some big hero now?¡± Oster challenged.


    Judd snorted. ¡°Champion isn¡¯t the same as hero. If you¡¯ve taught me anything, it¡¯s that I¡¯ve got a long way to go before I can be called that.¡±


    Oster couldn¡¯t muster the strength to argue. He couldn¡¯t comprehend this lad and his little entourage. They didn¡¯t make sense to him. But perhaps, during this age of assumed and expected comforts, Judd LaMogre made more sense than anyone else. They worked all morning until the plot of land was restored and the scarecrow¡¯s head was back on its body, albeit at a strange angle.


    ¡°There are plenty of leftovers from last night for our midday repast.¡± Aalis announced.


    ¡°As long as we go easy on the cider.¡±


    ¡°Hold up, lad.¡± Oster stopped Judd.


    ¡°Is there something more I can do for you?¡± Judd asked.


    Oster stared at him for so long that Judd grew uncomfortable, shifting his weight on his feet.


    ¡°Come with me.¡± Oster led him to his hut and allowed him inside. His armour adorned a wooden mannequin of the most basic construct in a corner of the hut. Oster put his hand on it, saying goodbye then turned to Judd. ¡°I want you to have my armour.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Judd said out of pure instinct. ¡°Ow!¡± He rubbed his head as Oster glared at him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t belittle an old man¡¯s gift.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not belittling it.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°It¡¯s your armour. It¡¯s from when you had a straight spine and when you were a sword master¡­it¡¯s your legacy.¡±


    ¡°And without a wife or children, what¡¯ll happen to it when I die?¡± Oster shook his head. ¡°One day I won¡¯t wake up or I¡¯ll keel over in my field¡­and my beloved armour will be stolen by an opportunist or divvied up amongst the greedy and the conniving¡­¡± He sighed. ¡°It¡¯s got so much more life left to give. It shouldn¡¯t just be put out to pasture because someone got old.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Judd couldn¡¯t swallow past the lump in his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you would be a good start.¡± Oster grunted as Judd embraced him solidly.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Easy on my back you great oaf.¡± Oster cleared his throat, driving away his embarrassment. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get it ready to travel.¡±


    When Judd and Oster returned to the campfire, Verne approached them. ¡°Judd, there¡¯s a minstrel here to see you.¡±


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli,¡± Judd nodded and walked over to the golden haired musician, ¡°I see you¡¯re ready to depart.¡±


    ¡°Whenever you are.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s coming with us?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°I asked if I might accompany Judd LaMogre on his knighthood quest.¡± Giordi smiled easily, dimples appearing in his cheeks.


    ¡°And give up a plumb placement in Fort Bastil, with all your lady admirers?¡± Oster folded his arms.


    ¡°I go where inspiration leads,¡± Giordi replied vaguely then touched his cheek, ¡°and there can be such a thing as too many lady admirers.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing the last one objected to how favourably you were being admired.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, the jealous female is hardly an understanding creature,¡± Giordi turned at Aalis¡¯ gasp and swept into an elegant bow, ¡°but who is this?¡±


    ¡°Aalis, this is Giordi Gavoli, a travelling minstrel who has asked if his travels might coincide with us.¡± Judd explained.


    Aalis just stared at Giordi, her expression unreadable. ¡°Of course.¡± She said softly. ¡°Welcome, Giordi, to our table.¡± She cleared her throat and held out a shallow basket of party food leftovers. The meal was simple but tasty and Giordi¡¯s company was amiable and pleasant.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t lose the opportunity of chronicling the rise of a middle class fisherman on his quest to become a knight. It¡¯s the kind of epic saga that most minstrels dream of.¡± Giordi explained. ¡°After Dalain¡¯s defeat, I could not sleep as my mind began to construct the words around a melody to tell the tale.¡±


    ¡°Not sure how popular it would be in Fort Bastil,¡± Judd winked at Verne, ¡°but it¡¯ll probably amuse others elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°So, when do we leave?¡±


    ¡°I left a message with the steward to pass on that I would be leaving tomorrow morning.¡± Judd explained. ¡°Caste should be here by then.¡±


    ¡°And your stable stallion?¡± Oster asked.


    ¡°Actually, I think it¡¯s being delivered right now.¡± Judd thumped Verne on the shoulder and stood up as Fort Bastil¡¯s steward led a horse towards their party.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, champion of Fort Bastil¡¯s fighting tournament,¡± the steward greeted, ¡°I am pleased to deliver to you, your prize.¡±


    ¡°Well, Verne, what do you think?¡±


    Verne stared at the horse, stunned. ¡°It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s¡­¡±


    Judd stepped close to the horse with the brown and white spotty coat, its placid eyes gazing around itself in interest.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who drew my attention to them. The horses that spend their lives walking yet never go anywhere. I thought, well, why not walk with us?¡±


    Verne rubbed the mare¡¯s nose with his hand, stroking its coat, tucking the fringe of its mane from its eyes.


    ¡°You chose a horse that pulls the drawbridge up and down over a stallion?¡± Oster exclaimed.


    ¡°Actually, Sir Alaykin was with me at the time and I believe his exact words were, you cannot be serious. One of my stallions is worth twice as much as this animal¡­so then I said I¡¯d take both of them.¡±


    Verne, Aalis and Giordi leaned to look past the first horse to see its pair standing behind it, nibbling at the grass it could reach, twitching its ears in the light breeze.


    ¡°Why?¡± Verne asked, turning to Judd. ¡°Not just why you picked these horses¡­but why didn¡¯t you get a stallion?¡±


    ¡°What would I do with it?¡±


    ¡°Ride it!¡±


    ¡°I know less about riding horses than I did about swordplay,¡± Judd chortled and rubbed the neck of the horse closest to him, ¡°and even if I was bold enough or skilled enough to ride a spirited stallion, what are you all going to do? Follow on foot? Seems pretentious to me. So Quell and Zeke,¡± he gestured to the first horse then to the second, ¡°will be able to carry most of our provisions and we¡¯ll walk with them.¡± They all stared at him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°For a man who wants to be a knight, sometimes you don¡¯t act very knightly,¡± Oster observed, ¡°and I mean that in the best possible way.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Then I leave these two steeds in your hands,¡± the steward placed the reins into Judd¡¯s grasp, ¡°oh, and before I forget, Cleric Caste asked to accompany me when I delivered your prize.¡±


    ¡°Where is he?¡± Judd paused when he heard a wheezing sound. ¡°There he is!¡± Caste, bearing his hefty travelling pack once more, stumbled into their midst. ¡°You know we¡¯re not leaving until tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Like I want to get up at the crack of dawn just to make sure you don¡¯t leave without me.¡± Caste blurted and before Judd pointed out that he couldn¡¯t leave without his cleric, Caste¡¯s eyes narrowed when he caught sight of Giordi. ¡°Although I¡¯m starting to wonder if I wouldn¡¯t be better off doing so that endure more pointless melodies.¡± Gavoli simply smirked at Caste¡¯s attack. ¡°Still, at least it¡¯s just for one night.¡±


    Judd opened his mouth then paused. ¡°Oh I haven¡¯t the heart to tell him.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Verne folded his arms. ¡°Giordi Gavoli is coming with us.¡±


    Caste stared at Verne, blinking slowly. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, no, no, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Come now, my clerical companion,¡± Giordi slapped Caste on the arm, ¡°music is good for the weary soul.¡±


    ¡°Not when it kills the listener! Judd¡­Judd! We have to talk about this!¡±


    Verne looked at Aalis who smiled as Caste berated and complained and objected, not caring if Giordi heard him.


    ¡°Do you think we should soften the blow by telling Caste he does not have to carry his pack across Terra anymore?¡±


    ¡°In a minute¡­or two.¡±

 And then there were five…

    ¡°I tell you the tale of a fisherman knight


    Who was mocked in the ring of Fort Bastil¡¯s fight


    Noble his heart, but humble his state


    He managed to engender Dalain Thiery¡¯s hate


    For the sword master¡¯s blade did shatter and break


    The crown of victory our hero did rise and take


    Fort Bastil¡¯s tournament well and truly over


    And our champion is but one, Judd LaMogre!¡±


    Giordi sighed and ran his hands through his golden curls.


    ¡°LaMogre¡­over¡­¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t rhyme.¡± Caste ground out between gritted teeth.


    ¡°That all songs must rhyme is a fallacy,¡± Giordi returned lightly which only served to make Caste¡¯s aggravation that much more pronounced, ¡°but it lacks something in its weight, in its address¡­quite frankly, it is simply not my best.¡±


    ¡°I see what you did there.¡± Judd laughed.


    They were crossing the southern foothills that heralded the start of the ¡®Hump¡¯, the mountain range Fort Faine was tucked into the north of. The air was fresh, losing some of its warmth due to their southern trek yet there was no lazy wind that might turn fresh into chill. This was because they were surrounded by a forest that was similar to the one where Judd had fought the goblins. However, those trees were spread out and there was plenty of room between them. This far south, the trees were closer, their leaves were green, not amber and there was a great deal of undergrowth.


    Judd LaMogre¡¯s little party of five had to stick to a path that wound its way through the shallow valleys of the foothills, heading for the western coast of the continent. Quell and Zeke, their newly acquired horses walked happily alongside them, the leash of their harnesses clutched in Judd and Verne¡¯s hands. Their docile eyes took in the world that was unfolding around them, never having known anything other than the stables and the stone walls of Fort Bastil.


    Aalis picked leaves from bushes as she passed them, crushing them between her fingers and smelling their aroma, sometimes pausing to gather more and other times eating what she gathered. Not many were willing to try her vegetation diet. Because she was not in anyone¡¯s company other than those she travelled with, she had let her hood fall back and tied her dreadlocks into a crown of silvery white.


    Caste, despite being unencumbered by his clerical pack which weighed more than all of their swags combined, was lamenting their nomadic minstrel¡¯s poetic musings. His copper red hair was darkened in the shadow of the forest, becoming a bold, red hue which only served to make his fair skin paler by comparison and his freckles stood out brightly.


    Giordi, with his lute strapped to his back, had been practicing his lyrics for some time, his golden curls catching any sunlight they could, his handsome face almost angelic. ¡°It is simply that LaMogre is not the easiest name with which to rhyme.¡± Giordi lamented. ¡°All I have been able to come up with is ¡®ogre¡¯.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°I did kill one of those.¡±


    ¡°Yes but I can hardly include such a feat into every song I write. It would quickly be identified as lazy writing.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not lazy if that¡¯s all there is.¡± Verne pointed out.


    ¡°What about¡­ochre?¡± Aalis offered.


    ¡°It is a forgivable relative rather than a rhyming sibling¡­but I suppose I could yield to a fair lady¡¯s suggestion.¡± Giordi winked at her.


    ¡°Well, if it does not have to be a sibling rhyme and just a close relative,¡± Verne murmured, ¡°what about¡­odour?¡±


    Judd gave Verne an unimpressed glance. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Stoker?¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°Bloater. Choker. Poker¡­floater¡­¡±


    ¡°There once was a fisherman floater, who was known as Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Really¡­just¡­shut up.¡± Judd sighed.


    ¡°What does LaMogre mean?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°I know that!¡± Caste snorted. ¡°It means boring.¡±


    ¡°That is unfortunate,¡± Giordi admitted as Judd groaned, ¡°for while a great deal rhymes with boring, it is not the sort of thing I am looking for in my lyrics. No, I will have to venture far from rhymes and irritate you a little more, Caste.¡±


    ¡°Cleric Caste to you.¡±


    As their bickering continued, Aalis skipped ahead a few paces to join Judd at the front of the procession.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to regret allowing Gavoli to join us.¡± Judd said softly and only half jokingly. ¡°Caste is going to have a stroke if this keeps up.¡±


    ¡°It took Caste a while to become used to me. He will settle down.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Caste got used to you. I think others came along that took his scathing attention away from just you.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°When Giordi asked to accompany us, I thought we¡¯d be singing songs around campfires and that it would be a bonding time¡­¡±


    ¡°I am not sure that Giordi is deliberately goading Caste¡­but even if he is, Caste will simply have to learn to ignore him.¡± Aalis plucked a purple frond from a bush and rubbed it between her fingers, smelling it. ¡°Lavender¡­beautiful.¡±


    ¡°I get a little worried when you just pick and eat things.¡± Judd glanced at her. ¡°How do you know it¡¯s not going to make you sick or possibly kill you?¡±


    ¡°Trial and error.¡± He raised his eyebrows and she smiled. He chuckled then froze when she grabbed his arm. ¡°Judd¡­look.¡±


    A parade of wild turkeys was marching across the path they were on. Their plump black feathered bodies contrasted with the red of their necks and the wide frill of their tail. They were either unaware or uninterested at the attention they were receiving.


    ¡°What¡¯s the hold up?¡± Caste groused from behind.


    ¡°Ah, turkey meat¡­delicious with crushed cranberries in fermented wine¡­¡± Giordi sighed.


    Judd looked at Aalis. ¡°You¡¯re thinking¡­supper?¡±


    ¡°We have been travelling for four days now and our food supplies are growing bleak¡­unless you want another helping of barley nettle soup.¡± Aalis said pointedly.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°Verne,¡± he jerked his head, ¡°time to put your bow to the test.¡±


    Verne slid an arrow into his grasp and eyed down the shaft at the walking buffet but just as he fired, Quell jerked her head and whinnied and the turkeys darted away, the arrow striking the ground. The turkeys were now startled and began to cluck and gobble, their awkward walking becoming faster and faster, fleeing the hungry travellers.


    Judd swore, unsheathing his sword. ¡°All of you! Quick!¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± But Aalis¡¯ cry was lost as Judd and Giordi darted forward, lunging at the turkeys.


    Immediately the flock scattered, gobbling with mad indignation, their legs scampering and their claws scraping the ground. There were feathers, screeches, yells of fury and despite the humans being that much larger than them, the turkeys didn¡¯t just flee¡­they fought back.


    Judd¡¯s hands narrowly missed one turkey, skidding into the dirt then felt another on his back, pecking his head.


    ¡°Ow! Get off me you fowl!¡±


    ¡°Foul fowl? Ow!¡± Giordi screeched as three turkeys attacked his legs.


    ¡°I can¡¯t get a clear shot!¡± Verne lamented.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you hit me¡­shoot one of them!¡± Giordi howled, running as the turkeys chased him.


    Judd was now covered with turkeys, his sword lost as he cowered his face with his hands, feeling the aggressive birds jab him all over. He couldn¡¯t risk one of them pecking his eyes out.


    Suddenly there was a sound like an instant and over in the blink of an eye shower of rain¡­and for one glorious moment, the turkeys stopped attacking him. The next, they were gone. Judd sat up, seeing the turkeys run at Aalis who had scattered a handful of barley at her feet. The turkeys clamoured around her, greedily pecking at the grains. Even the turkeys that had chased Giordi were arrested at the sound of food and gathered around her.


    Giordi, panting and huffing, along with Verne who holstered his bow and folded his arms, stood with Judd as Aalis looked up and smiled.


    ¡°I think we can take our pick of the flock now.¡±


    ¡°Never underestimate the power of the feminine mind.¡± Giordi breathed.

 Until the deep recess of sleep take me, I will write melodies in my mind

    Less than an hour later they had set up camp in what passed as a clearing in the southern forest.  The designated turkey had been killed, plucked and put on a spit to roast over the flames. Quell and Zeke were relieved of their burdens and ate heartily from the grass that grew outside of the clearing.


    Giordi had bemoaned the scratches he had received from the turkeys. Aalis gave him a salve to apply to his legs and hands.


    ¡°Fairest of fair, I thank thee for thy kind attentions.¡± He said, rubbing the cream into the scratches. ¡°Foul feathered fowl¡­how tasty yet vile you are¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re making a mortal wound out of a scratch?¡± Caste retorted, sitting stiffly with his pack behind him, a book in his hands.


    ¡°Alas, I have never been a fan of pain¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought musicians were meant to suffer for their art.¡±


    ¡°I think that¡¯s only the poor souls who travel with them.¡± Caste muttered at Judd¡¯s remark.


    ¡°I do hope the flight of the turkeys isn¡¯t going to be turned into a song.¡± Verne leaned against a tree, crossing his legs at the ankles and yawning.


    ¡°It¡¯s not exactly the stuff of legend,¡± Judd grimaced, ¡°running, screaming and hiding from supper.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it would not be the most popular of verses,¡± Giordi admitted, ¡°however, it has to be said that in song, all heroes have no flaws and all heroines are pale with golden hair and a figure draped in gossamer and silk.¡± Aalis shook her head, turning the turkey on the spit. ¡°In my endeavour following Judd LaMogre¡¯s ascent to knighthood, I want to capture something of the humanity in him. The heights of his achievement yet coupled with the flaws and the failures¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s plenty of those¡­¡± Judd sighed.


    ¡°Yes but at least the common man would have something to relate to.¡±


    ¡°At least it would be honest.¡± Caste rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Are you calling my work dishonest?¡±


    ¡°Here we go again¡­¡± Judd sighed. Verne shook his head and closed his eyes, blotting out the debate that was inevitably going to blow up into a full on squabble.


    ¡°You peddle fallacy and sell lies, distorting the truth of the tomes.¡± Caste glared at Giordi from across the flames. ¡°It is as if you have no regard for the truth.¡±


    ¡°Truth never served me all that well as a minstrel,¡± Giordi admitted, ¡°for who wants to hear the tale of Sir Andigre the mediocre and his slightly better than average Four Spire knights?¡±


    ¡°Do not forget sorceress Grail, frumpy and plain.¡± Aalis laughed softly, the gold of the flames dancing across her white dreadlocks.


    ¡°Every woman, no matter her station in life, whether the princess of Astaril or the most common born scullery maid, is beautiful in the eyes of her lover.¡± Giordi said with such sincerity and focussed attention that Aalis¡¯ face filled with a heated blush.


    Judd watched the exchanged, equal parts intrigued to disturbed.


    ¡°I suppose you would know a great deal about women¡­¡± Verne grouched from his place against the tree, breaking the tension between Aalis and Giordi.


    ¡°I would not call myself a novice in that area.¡± Giordi replied as Judd used a knife to cut portions of the turkey away, the juicy flesh snapped up quickly. ¡°But it is not all born from experience alone. It is observation and contemplation that derive the greatest revelations.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Judd held out a drumstick and Giordi took it.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Napkins?¡± Caste laughed outright at Giordi¡¯s request. Well, perhaps laugh was too generous a term. It was more a short burst of scornful noise but it was about as mirthful as the cleric ever became. Giordi shrugged and held onto the blistered skin of the turkey leg as best he could, biting into it. ¡°Oh for a table laid with a satin cloth, fine porcelain plates, crystal goblets¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fortunate just to have food.¡± Judd protested. ¡°This is more than adequate and without Aalis, we would probably be on the verge of starving.¡±


    ¡°But that is just my point!¡± Giordi insisted, leaning forward. ¡°Even if Grail just cooked meals for Sir Andigre and the knights, she was a pivotal part of Terra¡¯s establishment. What army does not march on its stomach?¡±


    ¡°I think you are over stating my role in the quest,¡± Aalis insisted, ¡°and belittling Judd¡¯s.¡±


    Judd smiled warmly at Aalis for her endorsement.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Verne roused himself, tearing at the bird meat with no manners but a happy zeal, ¡°if the historical tomes can be trusted to be accurate¡­¡±


    ¡°Which they can,¡± Caste glared at Giordi, ¡°unlike other forms of historical remembering¡­¡±


    ¡°Grail was a sorceress. If she was a cook, surely the tomes would have said as much.¡±


    ¡°See, that¡¯s always bothered me.¡± Judd admitted, leaning against his swag, wiping at his mouth with his sleeve. ¡°Grail was a sorceress but witches are condemned by the Order of the Grail.¡±


    ¡°Your point?¡± Caste asked, genuinely stumped.


    ¡°You mean,¡± Giordi waved the remains of his drumstick, ¡°what separates a sorceress from a witch?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I mean, sorcery seems pretty close to witchcraft so how does the Order of the Grail justify condemning one and not the other?¡±


    Caste put his hand on his face. ¡°By the star of Astaril¡­I¡¯m travelling with fools and ignoramuses.¡± He sighed and lifted his countenance with a calm and experienced air. ¡°A witch is defined as one who has been touched by the waters of Maul. We know from experience and exposure that such victims are imbued with unnatural and often dangerous powers.¡± Judd¡¯s eyes flickered to Aalis as Caste spoke but he turned them back to an almost glare-like stare at the cleric, trying not to draw attention to their healer/cook. ¡°The term ¡®sorceress¡¯ was only ever used once to describe the ability that Grail possessed.¡±


    ¡°From the songs and stories I¡¯ve heard,¡± Giordi cleared his throat, ¡°Grail was thought to be able to command the monsters to retreat, to change the seasons¡­to heal mortal wounds and even to possess the minds of men.¡±


    ¡°While I would not wish to defame the infallibility of minstrel musings,¡± Caste¡¯s voice had been sauteed in sarcasm, ¡°the accounts of Grail, while vague, are more along the lines of simply being knowledgeable.¡±


    ¡°You mean knowledgeable as in¡­reading, writing¡­spell casting¡­¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Caste argued, leaning forward, ¡°consider that the civilisation of Terra only began once Andigre united the clans, sharing knowledge and even forming a single language. Clans were led by the strongest but after Andigre and his knights were able to protect the north as the labourers built the wall, elevation amongst one¡¯s peers came by knowledge and understanding. Long past are the days of brutes with clubs claiming lordship.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a knight to me¡­¡± Giordi murmured.


    ¡°And so,¡± Caste said sternly, eyeing the minstrel so he¡¯d stop talking, ¡°as education did not exist, Grail was probably a third generation healer and her knowledge only extended to knowing which plants healed and which killed and how to dress a wound.¡±


    ¡°And cook a meal?¡± Giordi said, gesturing to Aalis who was cutting as much meat from the turkey corpse as she could.


    Caste glanced at Aalis briefly then looked away. ¡°Yes, very possibly although not definitively.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you stopped seeing Aalis as a witch?¡± Judd said then cursed his words as he realised he¡¯d just announced what he¡¯d been trying so hard not to imply. Aalis looked at him, pale and uncertain and then all eyes turned to Giordi. ¡°I¡­I mean¡­¡±


    ¡°A witch you say?¡± Giordi raised his eyebrows.


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°We¡­have not had this conversation yet, have we?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not a witch.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°Despite claiming to be so.¡± Caste argued.


    ¡°She¡¯s a healer.¡±


    ¡°Who said her name was Dragoslava and maintained a ¡®witch-like¡¯ reputation.¡±


    ¡°She explained why, acting out of self preservation.¡±


    ¡°How can you possibly say that when the words themselves invoke persecution?¡±


    Aalis gazed at Giordi and shrugged helplessly. ¡°It is not a popular subject.¡±


    ¡°Who could possibly think you are a witch?¡± Aalis gestured to her appearance. ¡°It matters little to me.¡± Giordi said lightly, silencing Judd and Caste¡¯s bickering. ¡°When you have travelled around as much as I, you see so much more than just the gilded inhabitants of Astaril¡­¡±


    ¡°Gilded¡­¡± Caste huffed.


    ¡°There¡¯s a whole world beyond its borders and if you¡¯re not breaking the rules of the Order of the Grail, who am I to judge you?¡±


    Aalis smiled, the tension escaping their campsite. ¡°Thank you, Giordi.¡±


    ¡°Always an utmost pleasure, my lady.¡± He chuckled then yawned. ¡°Fresh air, full belly and a warm campfire¡­I will see you all in the morning.¡± With that he lay down with his hands behind his head, his eyes open at the canopy of leaves and, beyond that, the sky full of stars.


    ¡°Giordi,¡± Verne tilted his head, ¡°you know you need to close your eyes to sleep?¡±


    ¡°Until the deep recess of sleep take me, I will write melodies in my mind.¡±

 I am a master at the gushingly sincere and subtle flattery

    The pale, cold morning saw the party travelling further through the forest, following the path that took advantage of the valleys between the foothills. The weather had taken a turn for the bleak and unpleasant. There was a low fog and if that were not bad enough, a light drizzle had set in which caused even the most amiable of them to become terse and sullen. Caste walked with his head down, grouching about the unfair turn his life had taken. Verne was even more quiet, only grunting when spoken to and that was only when a nod or shake would not suffice. Aalis clutched at her cloak, the hood up over her dreadlocks, the hem becoming unavoidably filthy. Judd shivered, his light tunic and leather coat not much defence against the chill. He debated about donning his armour as some kind of defence then reasoned that walking briskly would simply have to suffice.


    Only Giordi seemed to enjoy the soft misty touch on his face, his radiant golden curls toning down to a silvery hue in the diffused light. He was almost always humming to himself and could even walk with his lute and play at the same time. However, on this somewhat dank morning, he had strapped it securely on the back of Zeke and even tucked it in for good measure beneath an oiled, waterproof cover.


    Judd listened to him sing softly to himself. Had it been another bright and glorious morning, Caste might have started up a debate about any and all of the lyrics Giordi was uttering but not even the cleric wanted to waste energy on the endless argument.


    ¡°Constructing your masterpiece of my ascension to knighthood?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°I have already scribed some interesting lyrics about your accomplishments so far,¡± Giordi smiled, ¡°I use times like these to sing all the songs I know so that I never forget the words.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have any of them written down?¡±


    ¡°Some¡­but certainly not most.¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ve heard you sing the same song twice¡­you must know dozens.¡±


    ¡°Hundreds, almost undoubtedly,¡± Judd¡¯s mind boggled at the sheer capacity of Giordi¡¯s mind, ¡°however, I cannot reasonably take credit for being able to remember all the lyrics.¡±


    ¡°I think you can.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°It is the nature of the human mind to remember things more accurately and with greater longevity when put to music.¡± Giordi smiled and lifted his face, enjoying the light misty spray. ¡°Music¡­it has the means to lift us up or bring us down¡­oh joyous melodies with the power to enthral or rebuke.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°Did you always want to be a minstrel?¡±


    ¡°It was either that or continue as a stable hand, rising in condescending steps to the ultimate pinnacle of achievement¡­stable steward.¡± He snorted, a normally unpleasant sound but somehow Giordi made it seem delightful. ¡°Imagine that, stinking of horse day by day, shovelling manure, helping a knight clad in heavy armour or a fat lord into a saddle¡­¡± He shuddered. ¡°When my father told me he¡¯d secured me a position as a stable hand¡­I knew that was the day I had to leave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing he wasn¡¯t too impressed.¡±


    ¡°I think, deep down, he understood¡­I was never one for manual labour or ¡®self sacrifice¡¯ in service to another. I could never keep my mind on my chores, chasing butterflies and counting the colours in the clouds¡­¡± Giordi smiled. ¡°I always enjoyed singing and my uncle, a dreamer much like myself, gave me his lute and showed me how to play. I strapped it on my back and headed out into the wide world¡­that was three years ago.¡±


    They walked in silence, the moisture in the air getting beneath Judd¡¯s collar. The sound of the forest seemed dulled and bleak, absorbed by the mist that didn¡¯t want to lift.


    ¡°Have you ever been back?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°Not once?¡±


    Giordi gave a small shrug. ¡°I wasn¡¯t exaggerating when I said the world was wide. I¡¯ve been travelling for some time now.¡±


    ¡°On your own?¡±


    ¡°Usually with other entertainers. That¡¯s how I learned so many songs.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Must be hard, though¡­not having a home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never been one to settle down.¡± For a moment, Judd thought Giordi¡¯s eyes alighted on Aalis who was speaking with Verne.


    ¡°I guess,¡± Judd cleared his throat, ¡°to coin a fishing phrase, there are many fish in the sea?¡±


    Giordi laughed softly and shook his head. ¡°You have no idea¡­¡± His eyes slid to the side and he gave Judd a knowing glance. ¡°So¡­about Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°What about her?¡± Judd heard himself bark then moaned as Giordi laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°What do you know? I went fishing and caught you on the first line.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re teasing me now, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡± A brisk breeze struck the trees, showering all the drops of mist that had accumulated on the leaves onto their shoulders. There was a round of curses and complaints as they flicked their cloaks. ¡°Are you in love with our resident sorceress?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°no¡­not in love¡­I mean¡­I like her.¡±


    ¡°That much is plain.¡±


    ¡°It is?¡± Judd was aghast. Giordi nodded. ¡°Does¡­does everyone know?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine the cleric figured it out yet. For all his knowledge, he really is monumentally ignorant. Verne probably has but from what I have observed about the stoic archer, he will not betray your confidence.¡±


    The weather was becoming more and more miserable as the mist had stopped hovering and was starting to fall, drizzling upon them, not enough to soak but certainly enough to chill.


    ¡°What about Aalis?¡± Judd asked quietly.


    ¡°To be honest, I am not sure.¡± Giordi admitted.


    Judd¡¯s chest felt tight. He cleared his throat. ¡°Are you¡­I mean¡­do you¡­think¡­she likes anyone else?¡±


    ¡°From what I have observed, Aalis is equally kind to all yet perhaps a little more defensive of you.¡±


    Judd looked at Giordi. ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Giordi looked genuinely surprised.


    ¡°You practically wooed her last night with your¡­words¡­¡± Judd blundered.


    Giordi chuckled and shook his head. ¡°They were just words, elegantly spoken and eloquently phrased. I am a master at the gushingly sincere and subtle flattery.¡±


    Judd wasn¡¯t sure if that made him feel better or worse. He opened his mouth but wasn¡¯t sure what he was going to say when the light drizzle turned into proper rain.


    ¡°Judd!¡± Verne stopped and turned to them. ¡°The weather is going from bad to worse! We¡¯ve got to find shelter before we¡¯re soaked through!¡±


    ¡°And become very ill.¡± Aalis added.


    ¡°Any thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Several!¡± Caste ground out miserably, a pair of eyes peeking out from his hood as he clutched his cape around his body, shivering violently.


    ¡°We need to go into the forest and find a place to camp, clearing or no!¡±


    They found a place where the trees were thicker and their leaves stretched overhead, providing a natural canopy for them. They had some oiled sheets that they used to construct basic shelter, under which Caste immediately dashed, terrified his precious books would become soaked and ruined. Verne built a fire and all but Caste stood around it, fanning their clothes, trying to dry off. Steam rose from the campfire, the air becoming humid and sticky.


    ¡°And now we¡¯ll all smell like smoke.¡± Giordi lamented.


    ¡°Boots off, socks off,¡± Aalis ordered, tying string to the branch of a tree, making a clothesline, ¡°having cold and wet feet is the best way to become ill.¡±


    They all hung their cloaks from the trees that were close around them and Aalis set her cooking pot over the fire. The air had been filled with the sound of rain striking the leaves, hundreds of drops pattering every second¡­until they suddenly stopped.


    The silence was surprising and they all looked up.


    ¡°Now it stops¡­¡± Caste grumbled.


    ¡°You act as though you wanted it to keep raining.¡± Judd muttered, wiggling his cold toes, stretching out his legs as close as he dared to the fire. Verne and Giordi did the same while Caste rubbed his hair vigorously with a square of rough towel then turned the same attention to his feet.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°The further south we go, the colder it will become.¡± Giordi warned. ¡°This chill is nothing compared to the icy spray from the strait in Fort Callain or the way your breath freezes in your lungs in Fort Verion.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we should purchase better travelling gear¡­¡± Judd sighed.


    Aalis looked at him in alarm. ¡°We will not be going to any of those forts¡­will we?¡±


    He could see her recoiling at the thought of going somewhere with a greater population than the tiny village he¡¯d found her in. The only reason she had suffered Fort Bastil was because she could reside in the farming province.


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason to think we ever need to.¡± Judd insisted.


    Aalis nodded but he could see she was not as at ease as he would have liked her to be. Before he could reassure her again, she lifted the lid of her pot and peered in.


    ¡°Thankfully I had the presence of mind to keep the turkey carcass and make stock. In an hour we should have a fine stew once I add some vegetables.¡±


    ¡°Quell and Zeke could use a drink.¡± Verne announced.


    ¡°There is a stream just that way but its banks are overgrown with poison ivy,¡± Aalis pointed, ¡°however, if you follow it upstream you will come across a pool of clean water.¡±


    Verne gave her a salute of thanks, took up Quell and Zeke¡¯s reins and began to wind his way through the forest towards the stream. Aalis gave her stew a stir then sat on her cloak and rubbed her toes, trying to keep her legs hidden. Judd felt an adolescent thrill any time a peek of ankle appeared. Giordi smacked him on the arm and jerked his head backwards.


    ¡°Caste,¡± Giordi announced, ¡°come for a walk with us.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡± Caste glowered at them from the safety of his nest.


    ¡°Just as well,¡± Giordi shrugged, standing, gesturing for Judd to pick up his sword, ¡°Judd said you wouldn¡¯t be able to confirm whether or not he¡¯s using the correct grip on his sword¡­¡±


    Giordi grabbed Judd¡¯s arm and started walking him away. Judd opened his mouth but Giordi put three fingers to his lips then removed one so that there were two¡­and just as they reached the edge of the circle of light of the campfire, there came a rustling behind them.


    ¡°You think because I can¡¯t physically pick up a sword, that I can¡¯t tell when you¡¯re using the wrong wrist grip?¡± Caste¡¯s voice was shrill. ¡°I haven¡¯t been carrying around ¡®The Fundamental Basics of Swordplay¡¯ for weeks for nothing!¡± He opened the volume and, trying desperately to read it in the dying light, held it up at all manner of strange angles. ¡°When using a double edged blade, first you must ensure that you are wearing a chainmail¡­¡±


    ¡°Caste,¡± Judd stopped him, ¡°I don¡¯t need help on my grip.¡±


    Caste huffed furiously. ¡°You¡¯re going to ignore centuries of recorded swordplay techniques by the masters of Astaril but you¡¯ll listen to a random farmer and fluke a win in a tournament just to spite me?¡±


    ¡°Oh dear little clerical Caste,¡± Giordi said and with heavy condescension, ¡°we have not drawn you from your mobile library on a matter of instruction¡­but on a matter of modesty.¡±


    Caste blinked. ¡°Modesty?¡±


    Giordi nodded. Judd frowned. ¡°You mean¡­Aalis?¡±


    ¡°Travelling with men makes it difficult for a young woman to remain both clean and modest. We are not ashamed of our bare feet and exposed ankles¡­but ladies are.¡±


    Judd sighed and shook his head. ¡°I guess¡­yeah, you¡¯re right. Ladies don¡¯t show off much skin¡­¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Giordi chuckled, ¡°they do if it presses their advantage¡­¡± He swept his hand over the top of his chest and Caste groaned.


    ¡°You mean to tell me I¡¯m out here in a forest which is probably riddled with monsters in the company of two idiots and with no shoes on?¡±


    They all paused and looked at their feet. Each of them wiggled their toes.


    ¡°Yet another verse that will never be sung.¡± Giordi chuckled.


    ¡°I¡¯m going back!¡±


    ¡°Wait, Caste,¡± Judd grabbed his arm, ¡°come on, give her a minute. Aalis hasn¡¯t had any privacy when we¡¯ve travelled. She might enjoy a few minutes to herself.¡±


    Though unimpressed, Caste gave up on pulling away and the three of them stood awkwardly, not saying anything, all of them rather aware that they were without shoes. Thankfully the ground was blanketed with leaves and because of the density of the canopy above, it was almost completely dry. As the clouds began to dissipate, shafts of dying sunlight began to filter through.


    Giordi took in a slight breath and grabbed Judd¡¯s arm. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± He whispered.


    Judd and Caste held their breaths, listening intently.


    ¡°Monster?¡± Caste breathed before his lungs could burst.


    Giordi shook his head. ¡°I think that greedy flock of turkeys followed us.¡± He paused, his eyes closed then he pointed. ¡°They¡¯re that way.¡±


    He and Judd began to walk towards the sound, or at least where Giordi insisted the sound was. Caste folded his arms. ¡°You really expect me to follow you?¡±


    ¡°You can have your pick of the roasted turkey if you come and don¡¯t complain.¡±


    Caste faltered then followed. The turkeys were only a stone¡¯s throw away, and that would have been thrown by Caste so it wasn¡¯t far at all. The three of them hid behind trees and peered into the tiny clearing at the plump birds.


    ¡°No Verne and no barley,¡± Judd breathed, ¡°how do you want to do this?¡±


    ¡°Bushes are pretty thick on either side,¡± Giordi replied softly, ¡°what if we crawl up on them and just grab one each?¡±


    ¡°Good idea.¡± Judd handed Caste his sword, expecting him to take it. Caste didn¡¯t. The sword fell onto the soft ground with a dull thud that barely triggered any attention in the turkeys. Judd looked at Caste in disbelief.


    Caste shrugged and mouthed, ¡®what?¡¯.


    Judd shook his head. He and Giordi took up position on opposite sides of the clearing, inching forward as they crawled, reaching through the brush. One turkey was particularly close. Judd¡¯s fingers could close around its legs with ease but he waited, knowing that once he grabbed one, all Maul would break loose. He couldn¡¯t see Giordi through the wall of black feathers but counted down from ten before grabbing the turkey¡¯s legs.


    It immediately began to sqwark and carry on, the other turkeys scattering, unable to see what was attacking them. Judd held on tight, his body half pulled through the bushes as he wrestled with the terrified fowl, finally getting his other hand around its wings to stop the mad flapping that blinded him so badly.


    ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°I got mine, Giordi¡­what about¡­¡± Judd¡¯s words faded into horror when he saw that Giordi was hanging onto his own bird¡­


    ¡­but it wasn¡¯t a turkey.


    Its head was that of a turkey, its legs as well and it had feathered wings¡­but its body was long and scaled, rippling with a sinister motion.


    Giordi, the blatant over achiever, had managed to grab a cockatrice.


    A monster of Maul.


    Giordi was cowering on the ground, the cockatrice pulling out of his grasp, a snake hiss coming from its beak, its body slithering through the leaves as it eyed Giordi.


    Judd willed him to stay down, to not inflame the cockatrice anymore than he had already done so. A cockatrice¡¯s claws were deadly. It withered humans, turning them into blistered, dehydrated corpses in a matter of seconds.


    One peck and Giordi would be dead.


    One scratch and this clearing would become his grave.


    It hissed and taunted, its back to Judd. He went to grab his sword, his hand grasping nothing but air on his belt then looked over at where Caste was hiding. He waved at him to toss the sword. Caste shook his head, or possibly he was simply shaking all over but he was clutching the book against his chest as though it was a shield. Judd¡¯s gesturing became almost violent. Caste stepped backwards, deeper into the shadows but as he did so, he tripped over a rock and managed to make quite the noise as he did so.


    The cockatrice¡¯s head snapped up and around, its entire body writhing and turning, its eyes fixed on Caste¡¯s location. It hissed, raising itself to its full height, flapping its wings, its foreclaws striking the air just before it darted towards him.


    ¡°Caste!¡± Judd yelled but Caste was already a blur of clerical fear induced speed. Judd grasped Giordi and hauled him to his feet. Giordi screamed and batted at his hands before he realised that it was not the cockatrice that had grabbed him but rather, his muse. The cherub minstrel was grubby, pale and in shock.


    ¡°Where did it go?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s chasing Caste,¡± Judd picked up his sword and sprinted after Caste, ¡°he¡¯s gone back to the campsite!¡±


    They crashed through the bushes, scratched and scraped, heading towards the golden glow of the campsite. But before they could reach the edge, a scream filled the air.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± Judd roared, storming into the campsite, seeing Aalis curled up on the ground, the cockatrice standing over her. ¡°Hey!¡±


    It turned and hissed at him, darting away from the edge of his blade, scrambling through the coals, flinging itself into the air, its claws swiping at Judd who threw himself to the side and brought his blade down. There were a few horrible seconds as both portions of cockatrice writhed and hissed before they finally became silent and still.


    Judd wrestled his eyes from the revolting corpse, running over to Aalis who hadn¡¯t risen and grabbed her shoulder. She gasped in horror, her eyes as pale as mist, rimmed with black and she tried to pull away.


    ¡°Aalis, it¡¯s me!¡± Judd knelt. ¡°Did it hurt you? Are you alright?¡± Her arms were clutched into her robes, her entire body shaking violently. ¡°Aalis!¡±


    ¡°I am fine.¡± She blurted, broken from her terror stupor.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Judd put down his sword and cupped her face. ¡°It was standing over you!¡±


    ¡°It did not strike me¡­¡± Aalis whispered. ¡°It was going to¡­but you killed it.¡±


    Judd closed his eyes and lowered his head. ¡°I¡­I thought¡­¡± He heard the snap of a twig and looked up, anger firing in his eyes at Caste who was on the other side of the campsite. ¡°You¡­¡± His tone darkened and he stood up. ¡°You had my sword and refused to throw it to me!¡±


    ¡°I have no upper body strength, you know that!¡± Caste protested, trying to keep the fire between himself and Judd.


    ¡°Then you abandoned us to the cockatrice yet managed to lead that monster back here!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know where else to run!¡± Caste squeaked as Judd grabbed his scuff, pushing the cleric into a tree.


    ¡°Judd!¡± Aalis cried, trying to stand up.


    Judd was beyond hearing their words and only when a tight grip latched around his wrist did he pause. Verne¡¯s strong fingers were like a vice. While Judd was not in pain, he also could not move.


    ¡°Judd, please,¡± Aalis insisted, finally able to get to her feet, ¡°do not blame Caste. I am well. Please, let him go¡­¡±


    ¡°Before you do something you regret.¡± Verne said in a dark voice.


    Judd followed his gaze to his wrist and then to where he was holding Caste by his tunic, the slight build of the cleric barely about to scrape the ground with his toes. Judd blinked, the red haze of rage dissipating and he let go, stepping back.


    ¡°Sorry¡­¡± He gasped, ashamed of the violence that had coursed through his body.


    Caste didn¡¯t move.


    ¡°Caste, go back to your nest.¡± Verne ordered and the cleric hastened to do so. ¡°Judd, pick up your sword and clean the monster blood from it.¡± Judd did as he was ordered. ¡°Giordi, deal with the cockatrice.¡±


    ¡°I am not really one too¡­¡±


    ¡°Just do it.¡± Verne said with no room for argument.


    Judd sat down on his spot, his cheeks flooded with shame and put his hand to his face.


    Aalis swallowed. ¡°I¡­I will go to the pool and just¡­¡± She left the sentence unfinished. No one questioned her leaving. No one had the capacity to do so. They were all consumed with self.


    Aalis found the stream then followed it to the pool where she had instructed Verne to take the horses. She avoided the poison ivy as she knelt at the water¡¯s edge then drew her left arm out of hiding from within her right sleeve. She couldn¡¯t contain her whimper, her right arm perfectly smooth while her left was shrivelled, the sinews able to be seen and her fingers bony and unable to move. Tears ran down her face as she touched her ruined arm then dove both into the water, caring not that she was soaking her dress. She had to breathe through the panic that flooded her, that tried to make her pant and weep. Aalis closed her eyes to concentrate then opened them, rippled of blue shimmering in her irises, as though they were two tiny pools of water themselves.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± She froze at Verne¡¯s soft greeting. ¡°Judd didn¡¯t want to seem cloying so he asked if I would check on you.¡±


    ¡°I am fine.¡± Aalis reiterated but couldn¡¯t keep the waver out of her voice.


    ¡°You keep saying that¡­¡± Verne came closer and Aalis recoiled from his gaze. ¡°But you¡­wait¡­what¡­what is it? Are you hurt? What happened?¡± He grasped her left elbow and drew her up, forcing her to turn around, her arms stretched out in front of her. ¡°But¡­¡±


    Aalis braved a look down.


    Her right arm was smooth and clean¡­


    ¡­as was her left.


    If Verne had possessed the presence of mind to realise it, Aalis was as shocked as he. ¡°Sorry,¡± he said, stepping back, ¡°it¡¯s just¡­I thought¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°Must have been a trick of the distortions in the water.¡±


    ¡°Pay it no mind.¡± Aalis said weakly. ¡°I just need a moment.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Verne¡¯s forehead indicated doubt but he took her at her word and retreated. ¡°Just¡­yell if you need anything.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Aalis waited until he disappeared into the shadows before sinking to the ground, her arms clutched around her body, shaking.

 Three down, seven to go…

    To say that the travelling party¡¯s mood was subdued was an understatement.


    To say that it was amiable was an outright lie.


    The forest had long since lost its appeal and with the band of rain clouds moving behind them, they put all their energy, where it might have whittled away in idle conversation, into walking as fast as they could. The result was by mid afternoon, they could say with certainty they had put the forest behind them.


    Civilisation had also become quite sparse. It still existed but there were no small settlements like the ones that took advantage of the, mostly, monster free northern privilege. The further south one went in Terra, the closer to Maul one inevitably travelled and monsters inevitably became more plentiful.


    The temperature had also dropped and while the days were very pleasant for walking, the nights were becoming quite cool. The ground was harder as well and the air was brittle. But no one thought to complain about it. They were still all a little preoccupied with internal conflict.


    Judd finally broke the silence with the call to rest. He helped unload the horses then picked up his sword, muttering something about going for a walk as he slapped some long blades of grass.


    No one dared point out that they had been walking all day.


    Caste set up his nest which was always, in his mind, the safest location around the campfire. Tonight he was pressed against a large rock slab which also did a good job of keeping the wind from scattering their fickle fire. He opened his pack and dug to the bottom, pulling out the plain wooden box that held the proof of Judd¡¯s knighthood quest accomplishments. Before he opened it, he donned his leather apron and gloves then unfastened the clasp. In the base of the chest was the toenail of the ogre, a twisted ear from one of the goblins at Fort Faine, both of which had been documented on the parchment within the lid.


    Caste took the parchment out and laid it carefully to one side, putting a stone on it to weigh it down. Then he looked back into the box and shuddered. Using a pair of pliers he picked up the cockatrice¡¯s foreclaw. With careful precision he smeared the bloody end of it against the parchment in the dot next to the word ¡®cockatrice¡¯. Even though the blood was dried, it was still new enough to react with the chemical in the circle, the parchment turning blue.


    ¡°What¡¯s that you¡¯re doing?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°Documenting Judd¡¯s knighthood quest.¡± Caste explained. ¡°As unfortunate as the encounter with the cockatrice may have been, it was on the list.¡±


    Aalis flexed the fingers of her left hand, the memory of her shrivelled arm revisiting her during the night and giving her nightmares. Thankfully no one was the wiser that she had been scratched in the cockatrice¡¯s attack and Aalis knew she would eventually put it behind her. There were other more terrifying things in her memory that took precedence. Something so new would be fleeting and fade all more quickly than it would for anyone else.


    ¡°So, there is a list of monsters for Judd to slay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Caste replied curtly, stiff and aching, inside and out.


    ¡°What¡¯s on it?¡± Verne asked.


    Had Giordi inquired, Caste might have fobbed him off but Verne irritated him the least out of all his companions, so Caste decided to answer his query.


    ¡°A cockatrice, an orthros, a goblin, a basilisk, an ogre, a werewolf, a beast of unnatural size, a unicorn, a witch and the last is a minotaur.¡± Caste turned the list around to show those who were interested.


    Giordi leaned forward. ¡°What are those circles next to the names?¡±


    ¡°A place for a smear of monster blood to be recorded.¡± Caste explained.


    ¡°I thought monsters of Maul bled green.¡± Giordi shuddered. ¡°At least, that¡¯s what that cockatrice did last night.¡±


    ¡°They do,¡± Caste put the parchment carefully inside the lid of the box, ¡°but each circle has been treated with a specific chemical that reacts with the blood of the specific monster type. You know you¡¯ve got the right one when the circle turns blue.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that kind of science was even possible¡­¡± Giordi shook his head.


    ¡°The Order of the Grail is highly advanced in its studies of the monsters of Maul.¡± Caste said with a flicker of his usual arrogance.


    ¡°So why keep bits of them in your box? Isn¡¯t that a little macabre?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s physical proof. Both parchment and box are required when claiming the knighthood.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    He put the cockatrice claw into the box and closed the lid.


    ¡°I see,¡± Giordi nodded, ¡°that¡¯s quite thorough.¡±


    ¡°Yes it is.¡±


    ¡°A bit boring though¡­¡±


    Caste rolled his eyes and packed up his belongings.


    ¡°Can I ask,¡± Aalis said quietly, ¡°are the creatures on the list in order of smallest to largest? Easiest to hardest?¡±


    ¡°Smallest does not necessarily mean the easiest,¡± Caste¡¯s took up a lecturing tone, ¡°and by no means should any of the monsters on this list,¡± he put his hand on the box, ¡°should be considered easy.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve really got that holy order priesthood condescension down, haven¡¯t you?¡± Giordi chuckled.


    Before Caste could come up with a retort, Verne leaned forward. ¡°If we take the list as some kind of, do it in this order¡­then Judd killing an ogre first is quite the accomplishment.¡±


    Aalis paused, glancing at Caste. Previously, he would have made some kind of disparaging remark about Judd¡¯s ogre ¡®kill¡¯ but she noticed he said nothing now.


    ¡°If you call nearly getting myself killed and the ogre falling on my sword an accomplishment¡­¡± They looked up as Judd joined their circle around the fire. He stood, looking uncertain and awkward. ¡°I¡­I wanted to apologise¡­for my behaviour last night.¡± Judd swallowed, his eyes arrested on the flames. ¡°I was scared and took it out on you¡­well, specifically you, Caste.¡± He forced his eyes to meet Caste¡¯s who was staring at him, his pinched expression even more so in that moment. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have grabbed you like I did¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    There was a long pause. Everyone was waiting for Caste to say something but he seemed to be rendered mute just like the rest of them.


    ¡°If minstrel retellings are anything to go by,¡± Giordi offered at long last, ¡°knights are known to be hot headed. They¡¯re even praised for it in song.¡±


    ¡°I think this is one of those moments where it¡¯s ¡®lost in translation¡¯.¡± Judd said dryly.


    ¡°True.¡± Giordi conceded.


    ¡°I really am sorry, Caste.¡± Judd sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve been threatened physically,¡± Caste shrugged, ¡°but it¡¯s the first time anyone¡¯s apologised for it.¡±


    Judd sat down near Aalis. ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s something I guess.¡±


    They all stared at the flames, no one knowing what to talk about next. The sparks from the fire travelled upwards into the unobscured sky, just another flash of light against the indigo wash of night. The air was fresh and cool and the five travellers huddled as close as they dared to the fire, hugging their cloaks around their shoulders.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Giordi cleared his throat. ¡°Caste was telling us about the monster list and after the ogre, the goblin and the cockatrice¡­¡±


    ¡°Three out of¡­ten?¡± Verne raised an eyebrow which was somewhat lost beneath his bandana.


    ¡°What about the swamp monster?¡± Aalis asked. ¡°Surely that counts for something?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t grab anything to verify the kill¡­and I¡¯m not entirely sure it¡¯s dead.¡±


    ¡°Nope¡­it just has something stuck in its eye.¡± Verne smirked and they all chuckled, the tension oozing away.


    ¡°So where are we heading and what monster is Judd going to kill next?¡± Giordi rubbed his hands together. ¡°It would give me a head start on my lyrics.¡±


    Caste groaned and closed his eyes.


    ¡°Go on, Caste,¡± Aalis laughed softly, ¡°where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Before we left Astaril, there was a vague report of an orthros terrorising Keenstone Isle.¡±


    ¡°Keenstone Isle¡­doesn¡¯t it form part of the wall?¡±


    ¡°Unofficially,¡± Caste nodded, finding his map of Terra and studying it, ¡°when the wall was first erected, the people didn¡¯t have the ability to cross bodies of water and they, wrongfully, assumed that monsters were equally as hampered. Fort Callain, which serves as the most westerly fortified guardian of Terra from Maul, was entrusted with the sea as well as land and they did the best they could, using bows and arrows and, when weaponry advanced, trebuchets to cut down any monsters seen swimming northward.¡±


    They all envisioned the serpents of mythology fighting against the tide of the water, cut down by the merciless aim of the Fort Callain gunners.


    ¡°But if any made it to shore, it would be more than likely Keenstone Isle than the mainland?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± Caste nodded. ¡°Once humans were able to cross the strait, several knights were sent ahead to kill any monsters that had made it to the island. Then the isle was colonised and a fort was built, Fort¡­¡± he peered at his map, ¡°Sol.¡±


    ¡°I thought the forts that made up the wall were all named after the Four Spire knights?¡± Judd frowned. ¡°Sir Verion, Sir Callain, Sir Mavour and Sir Omra. There was no Sir Sol.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why the isle is an unofficial part of the wall but it is still, in part, responsible of the border control of monster incursions.¡± Caste explained.


    ¡°What does this have to do with an orthros?¡± Verne asked, impatient to get to the end of the lecture so he could sleep.


    ¡°It was sighted by two or more people at separate times and a report was written from the cleric of Fort Sol and received by the Order of the Grail clerics to be verified.¡±


    Verne blinked. ¡°What does this have to do with an orthros?¡± He said again in a stale tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s on the list!¡± Caste grouched. ¡°I did think, after all these weeks and with other knighthood questers probably seeking out something as low on the list as an orthros that it has probably been dealt with¡­but Judd felt it was worth looking into.¡±


    Everyone nodded at Caste¡¯s words. Giordi looked at everyone then shrugged.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll ask. What¡¯s an orthros?¡±


    ¡°Oh thank goodness!¡± Verne groaned.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure to be honest.¡± Judd sighed.


    ¡°No idea.¡± Aalis admitted.


    Caste let out a deep breath. ¡°An orthros is a two headed dog.¡±


    Everyone nodded.


    ¡°The only thing worse than a dog that bites you is one that bites you twice.¡± Verne lay back down. ¡°Wake me when it¡¯s my turn to keep watch.¡±


    Aalis shook her head, tucking her dreadlocks back. She caught Judd¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°That was a very decent thing you did, Judd LaMogre.¡± She whispered.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Apologising to Caste.¡± Aalis nodded towards the cleric who was hunkered down, almost indistinguishable from his nest, covered in blankets. ¡°What he said, about it not being the first time he had been threatened¡­¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Judd grimaced, ¡°I felt awful in that moment.¡±


    ¡°But exonerated the next.¡± Aalis said gently. ¡°All of us have reasons why we do what we do.¡±


    ¡°And why do you do what you do, Aalis Dragoslava?¡± Judd asked boldly.


    Aalis smiled. ¡°It is too late and too long a story to tell.¡±


    ¡°I have a feeling you¡¯d say that to me even if I asked first thing in the morning.¡± Judd grunted, lying down as Giordi begrudging sat up to take first watch. He watched as Aalis pulled her cloak over her body, the fire dancing off her pale features. ¡°Maybe one day¡­will you tell me?¡±


    ¡°One day¡­maybe.¡±

 Fearsome…is not a word I ever thought anyone would call me

    ¡°We¡¯d be happy to look after the horses for a few days.¡± Clai Borre reassured Judd who offered to pay for the safe keeping of Quell and Zeke.


    Judd and his party had come across the armed shepherds on their way to the western coast of the continent. Clai Borre and his companions who were mostly family, wandered the rolling hills of the land between the ¡®Hump¡¯ and the coast with their large flocks of sheep. Land was rather tightly controlled to the north and more than three quarters was allocated to crops, farmers and cattle. However, sheep required more roaming territory than was available so shepherds of the south were hearty, armed and fearless. Their occupation was a dangerous one and they were very well paid, risking their lives by living much of their life out in the open.


    Clai was missing an eye and two fingers and all of his companions had similar injuries yet none of them seemed unhappy with their lot, though they could become lonely at times. The shepherds welcomed the small band of travellers. Outsiders were rarely to be seen and they enjoyed Giordi¡¯s minstrel musings and Verne¡¯s archery which saw them feasting upon rabbit stew.


    It was decided that Quell and Zeke, the doe eyed and once castle bound horses, would probably not enjoy a channel crossing and so Judd had asked if Quell and Zeke could wander with the sheep, protected by the shepherds.


    ¡°You leave your pretty ponies with us,¡± Clai Borre grunted with a common slur, ¡°and if you¡¯re gone for more than a week, head to Quarre. We¡¯ll be handing over two score of our finest and replenishing our supplies but after that, our wanderings will become erratic. If you haven¡¯t returned by the time we leave, we¡¯ll stable your horses with Lord LeMewn.¡±


    ¡°Unless we¡¯ve eaten one of them in lieu of payment,¡± his brother, Rai Borre, tapped his nose with was bent out of shape from several breaks, ¡°I haven¡¯t had a horse steak in many a month¡­¡±


    ¡°You would not dare lay a hand on those horses!¡± Aalis blurted, darting forward from where she had been attending her pack. As she did so, her hood fell back, exposing her rather distinctive dreadlocks.


    Shepherds, especially armed shepherds, were not the kind of people to scare easily but the sight of Aalis had a profound effect on Clai and his companions. The ruddy shepherd went quite pale and Rai began to stammer apologetically. In fairness, in her gown fettered with plaited belts, pouches hanging from them and even a cluster of herbs she wanted to dry, her reflective eyes sharpening and her dreadlocks seeming to scream a certain ¡®stereotype¡¯, Aalis¡¯ alarm was enough to alarm the shepherds.


    Clai Borre fell to his knees. ¡°Please, forgive my brother his foolish tongue and do not cast a curse upon us!¡± He hit Rai in the leg and he knelt as well. ¡°I swear we had no ill intent towards your horses.¡±


    Aalis was both horrified and speechless at their reaction. Judd put his hands on her shoulders and turned her away, giving her a light shove to where Giordi and Verne were standing.


    ¡°Aalis is not a witch so you have nothing to fear from her. She was simply concerned about the welfare of our horses.¡± Judd stated, standing between Aalis and the shepherd brothers.


    ¡°I¡­well, if the people¡¯s champion who put Sir Jesa in his place says so¡­who are we to disagree?¡± Clai stood up, casting a fearful glance in Aalis¡¯ direction.


    ¡°I did no such thing.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be modest. We have family who chose to live in the safety of Fort Faine¡¯s protection, only to be threatened by goblins.¡± Clai explained. ¡°We have not long come from Fort Faine where we sold half our flock and the people speak your name with great respect.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Huh¡­really?¡± Judd was taken with this notion for a moment before Verne cleared his throat gruffy and he held out his hand. ¡°Well¡­we should be going. Thank you for your hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Take care on the isle.¡± Clai warned. ¡°I¡¯ve not heard anything good said about it by anyone who¡¯s come from there.¡±


    ¡°We will.¡± Judd promised. ¡°Thanks again.¡± He slung his pack onto his back, turned and faced his party. ¡°Caste, lead on!¡±


    Caste used his compass and pointed them down the slope of the hill they were on. The ground was crumbly and a little dry and the grass that kept it all from scattering in the enthusiastic breeze was rather grey in colour. The sky was also grey and while it did not threaten to rain, it was determined to stop the sun¡¯s rays from shining brightly and warming them up.


    ¡°Jolly good of those shepherds to take Quell and Zeke for us.¡± Giordi announced, strumming his lute.


    ¡°You may think a shepherd a hard lot to live


    Alone and adrift, only sheep to be with


    Yet in his own way, he is knight of his flock


    His crook is a sword, his sling a sharp arrow


    His kingdom is great though his subjects are narrow


    And when they annoy him, he eats all but the hock!¡±


    ¡°What did I do to deserve this?¡± Caste moaned and none too quietly.


    ¡°Perhaps you should have cut some wool from one of the sheep and stuffed it in your ears?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps I could have cut some wool from one of the sheep and stuffed it in your lute.¡±


    ¡°I used to think that music soothed the savage beast¡­but in your case it just inflames it.¡±


    Judd chuckled and looked over at Aalis to see if she was amused but he could immediately see that she was not listening. She¡¯d put her hood back up and now and then he saw her tug at the edges of it, tucking her dreadlocks back.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he said, side stepping over to her, ¡°you¡¯re not worried about the horses, are you?¡±


    ¡°Not anymore.¡± Aalis sighed.


    Judd nodded. ¡°It¡¯s about what the Borre brothers called you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°I should not be surprised,¡± she admitted, ¡°after all, I call myself a witch, I lived in a forest and I look like this¡­¡± She gestured to herself.


    ¡°Why do I get the feeling that you simply adopted the look of what people already thought you were?¡± Judd asked. ¡°They called you a witch so you went, fine then I¡¯ll look like one.¡±


    The corner of her mouth curled up a little. ¡°Perhaps¡­but the real alarm was that they thought I was going to curse them.¡± She turned to Judd, her eyes as moody and blue as the grey clouds above. ¡°I would never do that. I cannot do that¡­¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Judd insisted firmly and Aalis sighed.


    ¡°I know you know¡­and I know the others¡­well, they tolerate me to some extent¡­¡±


    ¡°You belittle your role in our party.¡± Judd argued. ¡°You cook, you heal¡­you know about poisons, toxins,¡± Aalis was unconvinced, ¡°but I think the most valuable attribute you have¡­is your compassion.¡±


    ¡°My compassion?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°When it comes to looking after people, even when they¡¯re clerics who aren¡¯t that keen on you, you¡¯re fearsome.¡± Aalis laughed outright which was a surprise from her usually quieter reactions. Judd floundered. ¡°Did I say something amusing?¡±


    ¡°Fearsome¡­is not a word I ever thought anyone would call me.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Never, never, never¡­¡±


    ¡°But you are!¡± Judd was astonished that she was so surprised. ¡°You protected children from the ogre, you stopped me from getting into a fight with Claud then showed me the sick farmers, you kept me from dying in the swamp by going into the heart of the witch village¡­¡±


    ¡°I do not think of any of those things as being particularly brave.¡± Aalis replied. ¡°Also, I would like to add, I was frightened while I was doing all of those things.¡±


    ¡°Yet you did them.¡± Judd argued. He could see that she wasn¡¯t convinced when Verne spoke up.


    ¡°This might be a little late to be asking¡­but how are we going to get to Keenstone Isle?¡±


    ¡°Caste?¡±


    ¡°There is a ferry.¡±


    ¡°A ferry?¡±


    Caste nodded. ¡°It is situated at the narrowest point of the channel and has been established since the colonisation of the isle.¡±


    ¡°Oh good,¡± Giordi shuddered, ¡°for a moment I thought we were going to have to swim.¡±


    ¡°Judd would be able to build a boat.¡±


    ¡°I was the son of a fisherman¡­I didn¡¯t build boats. I fished from them.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you can catch us our supper while on the ferry?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­I hate fish¡­¡±

 Anyone else wondering how it endured so long?

    They reached the coast by midday the following day and followed the beach line southward, trying to keep out of the sinking sand. The ocean was not a pretty clear blue like it was in the north of Terra. Here it was a tempestuous blue/green and opaque only a few feet from the shore. The grey clouds that had been above seemed to have lost their buoyancy and had settled on the water but even through their melancholy presence, Keenstone Isle could be seen though not in great detail.


    It only took an hour of frequently asking Caste if he was sure, absolutely sure, completely sure, that they were heading in the right direction for the cleric¡¯s temper to ignite.


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure!¡± He barked angrily. ¡°We could see a small forest on our right when we reached the coast and so we were too far north! Why have a cleric in the party, trained in cartography, if you¡¯re going to interrogate and doubt him?¡±


    His walk turned into an angry stomp and the others left him alone as he began to stride ahead, still muttering about his idiotic companions. It was with no little triumph that, at a turn in the coastline, Caste pointed an authoritative finger to a building that had a large wheel, not dissimilar to a waterwheel though without the little scoops, built onto its side. From the top and bottom of the wheel, two thick lines stretched out over the water, towards the island that was starting to look like it belonged in the clouds and not on the ocean. It was impossible to make out its base through the fog.


    ¡°I think you owe someone an apology.¡± Verne said, looking at Giordi.


    ¡°You asked too!¡± Giordi chortled, never fully taking Caste¡¯s moods seriously.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get down there and talk to the ferryman.¡± Judd urged and they slid and skidded down the hill onto the beach where they made tracks across the sodden sand. As they approached the wooden building, Caste was standing at the door with a confused look on his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°There should be a ferryman here at all times,¡± Caste explained, ¡°but it looks deserted.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not ominous¡­¡±


    ¡°What about the ferry?¡± Caste shrugged and gestured out to the channel.


    ¡°Probably on the Keenstone Isle side.¡±


    ¡°Any way to get it back?¡±


    They entered the wooden building that had sand across the floorboards and smelt of salt and seaweed. Because Judd was taller, he managed to walk through a spider web. He also managed not to scream although there were several smirks at the frantic dance he did, scraping the sticky strands from his face and hair.


    He shivered. ¡°I hate spiders.¡± He confessed.


    Caste pointed to a wheel that was on the opposite side of the waterwheel. Judd put his pack down and turned it. He was surprised at how easy it was.


    ¡°I thought it was going to be rusted through.¡± He admitted, able to turn the wheel with ease, Verne confirming that the outer wheel was in fact moving, pulling the thick rope into the wheel, dragging the ferry, hopefully, across from where it was.


    ¡°This ferry is one of the old world¡¯s greatest accomplishments.¡± Caste announced with great superiority. ¡°It proved that humans did not have to be limited by expanses of water or mountains or valleys¡­it was a feat of engineering that is still used to this day, even in Astaril. This,¡± he patted the wheel Judd was turning, ¡°is history that endured to this day!¡±


    Fifteen minutes later they were standing on the veranda, staring at the ferry.


    ¡°Anyone else wondering how it endured so long?¡±


    The ferry was simply a platform of wood, not much larger than a cart, set upon barrels that had been waterproofed and sealed with tar though it looked like water might have found its way into one of the barrels as the far left corner was a little lower than the rest. The platform didn¡¯t look sturdy either with several planks on their way to becoming rotten. In the middle of the platform was another wheel, bolted onto what appeared to be the keel which kept the ferry from tipping over¡­in theory. And if there was any confidence in the mechanics of the ferry¡¯s pulley system, it was eroded by the presence of an oar. Just one, somewhat mouldy and the handle was broken off short. The two thick cords were strapped through the smaller wheel which was operated with a handle, the ropes going on to connect with the Keenstone Isle ferry wheel that was lost in the fog.


    Judd looked it over then shrugged, pulled his boots and socks off and slung them and his pack onto the ferry.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡°Come on then.¡± He ordered. ¡°Packs on, we¡¯ll push it into deeper into the water, climb on and get ourselves across.¡± Everyone stared at him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You cannot be serious.¡± Caste said, voicing what they were all thinking.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s not ideal,¡± Judd shrugged, ¡°but it¡¯s either this or we swim.¡±


    ¡°I cannot swim.¡± Aalis said faintly.


    ¡°I can and I¡¯m still not keen.¡± Verne said darkly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not going to sink.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°I¡¯ve seen some pretty awful boats before that stayed afloat and while this isn¡¯t brilliant, it just needs to be handled correctly. Packs on first then we¡¯ll get ourselves situated and balance it out before we are too deep. Alright?¡± They were still hesitant. ¡°It¡¯s going to get dark soon¡­¡±


    Verne cleared his throat and heaved his pack on, also removing his footwear, Giordi doing the same. Judd held his hand out for Aalis¡¯ pack which she gave up reluctantly and he set it down carefully.


    ¡°Come on, Caste.¡±


    ¡°I think I should¡­¡±


    ¡°Stay here by yourself and be eaten by a random three headed lion of Maul?¡± Giordi gave a shrug. ¡°You¡¯re probably right. What are the odds of that?¡±


    Caste glowered at him then put his pack on the ferry. Judd gestured for them to push the ferry from the sand into the water from where he¡¯d managed to drag it using the ferry house wheel. Once it was slightly bobbing in the water he turned to Aalis.


    ¡°Aalis, on you go¡­¡± Caste spluttered as Judd helped Aalis up. ¡°Sit down in the centre as we push it out a little more.¡± They did so and to Caste¡¯s relief, when the water reached his thighs, although everyone else just had wet knees, he was next to climb aboard. ¡°Alrighty gents,¡± Judd cracked his knuckles and braced himself, ¡°another few feet and we¡¯ll be deep enough to get on ourselves.¡±


    ¡°At this rate we could walk to the isle¡­¡± Giordi muttered.


    ¡°It¡¯s further than it looks.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see it at all now. Damn fog¡­it¡¯s darkened everything and feels clammy.¡±


    Judd let the others heave themselves up before doing the same, the ferry rocking and Caste giving light shriek of terror. Aalis would have done the same but she was already clutching the wheel and stifled her fear. Judd stood up, more at home on the deck of a boat than he would like to admit and quickly organised everyone to sit in certain spots, distributing the weight.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he looked around, ¡°we¡¯re ready to go?¡± He grabbed the wheel and turned it. Immediately the ferry lurched forward, Caste yelping in alarm as he was on the corner that was no longer fully supported due to the waterlogged barrel beneath. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll go more smoothly.¡±


    Soon he managed to establish a rhythm and the ferry began to pull away from the shore, the ferry house disappearing as the fog settled between them. However, as was the nature of fog, the water of the channel around them was easier to see now. There was a circle about the size of the fighting tournament ring in Fort Bastil around them that was visible, the darkest teal depths lapping against the ferry, leaving swirling tendrils in its wake. But that was all they could see. The shore of both the mainland and the island disappeared. They could have been in the middle of the vast ocean so isolated were they.


    Judd guessed that they were about halfway when Giordi looked around sharply, his weight shifting and the ferry dipping to one side in response.


    ¡°Sit still!¡± Caste snapped, his knuckles white and tight.


    ¡°Sorry but I thought I heard music.¡± Giordi explained.


    ¡°Music in the channel? Have you taken leave of your senses?¡±


    ¡°Possib¡­there!¡± Giordi peered into the fog. ¡°I swear¡­the sound of strings¡­gentle plucking¡­¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything.¡± Verne shrugged.


    Judd went to turn the wheel again when Caste jolted at the same time as Giordi. The minstrel eyed the cleric.


    ¡°I knew you had keen hearing!¡±


    ¡°Of course I do! I hear every wrong note you play!¡± Caste shivered. ¡°Whatever I just heard¡­it wasn¡¯t music¡­but more like¡­¡±


    ¡°Singing?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Caste nodded. ¡°I thought I heard someone singing.¡±


    ¡°Calling out for help?¡±


    Caste shook his head then they all cried out as the ferry heaved right, straining against the cords, Judd clinging on.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Verne hissed.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Judd barked then stopped. He, Caste and Giordi all looked around. ¡°Now that I heard!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Aalis whispered, her body infused with terror.


    ¡°Someone is calling¡­singing out to me¡­¡± Judd peered into the fog. ¡°Is anyone out there? Can you hear me?¡±


    There was a splash. Judd, Caste and Giordi all leaned to look, Aalis clinging to the wheel.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Where¡­¡± Judd turned around. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Here, Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    Aalis was starting to see shapes shift in the fog, as though the water was bubbling and releasing steam but rather than float upwards and dissipate, the white mist began to coalesce and for a moment¡­she thought she could see a face in it, the visage of a beautiful girl.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you hear it?¡± Giordi cried. ¡°It¡¯s a woman! A woman calling out my name!¡±


    ¡°Giordi¡­sing to me¡­¡± The fog swirled and shifted and Giordi caught sight of a beautiful woman reclined on a rock, scantily clad with mournful eyes. ¡°Sing words of love to me, Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    ¡°How can I refuse a maiden¡¯s request?¡± Giordi crooned, edging to the lip of the ferry.


    ¡°A woman¡¯s visage in the water¡­¡± Aalis breathed.


    ¡°Caste Undern, how your recitation of the table of the elements thrills me to my core¡­¡± A woman with long strands of hair falling over her bare shoulders drew herself onto the edge of the ferry, causing it to dip dangerously yet Caste was too enthralled to be frightened. ¡°Speak to me now. Tell me your alternate theory of the genealogy of the monarchy¡­¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I really shouldn¡¯t because the bishop hasn¡¯t verified my paper¡­but what the Maul!¡±


    ¡°Calling out to men to come closer¡­¡± Aalis put her hands over her ears, trying to think while the sound of women¡¯s voices, overlapping and becoming louder and shriller, began to pain her.


    Judd held onto the wheel. ¡°I¡¯m here! Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­help me!¡± A pale hand reached up out of the water, her face following it as she kicked and struggled in the opaque teal depths. ¡°Please!¡±


    ¡°To fall into the water¡­¡± Aalis¡¯ eyes went wide. ¡°Sirens!¡±

 You’re all alone now! My sisters will feast upon flesh tonight!

    ¡°Hold on!¡± Judd flung his coat aside. ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡±


    ¡°Judd, stop!¡± Aalis grabbed him as he went to dive off the ferry.


    ¡°There¡¯s a woman drowning out there!¡± He pulled against her grasp.


    ¡°There is no woman! It is a monster of Maul!¡±


    Judd stared at her, reason fighting with overwhelming pheromones and lustful suggestion. ¡°I¡­I¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± he turned to look fearfully at the woman who was beginning to sink beneath the waves, ¡°my knight¡­my saviour¡­hold me¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± He banged the side of his head as the woman began to weep then choke as she started to drown. ¡°I¡­I have to help her!¡±


    He flung Aalis aside and she hit the ferry hard, seeing Judd about to leap¡­


    ¡­when Verne grabbed his arms and heaved him backwards, slamming him into the rotting ferry platform.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Judd screamed, desperation turning him violent. ¡°Let me go to her!¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Verne cried. ¡°Aalis¡­Caste!¡±


    Aalis saw Caste leaning out to the woman who was drawing back into the water, her eyes glowing with a lustful fire. Aalis gasped and lunged for him, grabbing his tunic and pulling him back, his clerical body scrambling to reach the woman. It was like trying to hold onto a wild cat!


    ¡°The only woman to ever love me! Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Caste! She is not real!¡±


    ¡°I would sing a song of endless love to you all!¡±


    Aalis groaned and only just managed to catch Giordi by his belt before he plunged headfirst into the water where his audience of many siren beauties simpered and flirted. She heard a sharp slap and looked up. Judd ignored Verne¡¯s strike, still trying to save the drowning woman.


    ¡°It¡¯s like they can¡¯t hear us anymore!¡± Verne yelled over the sound of the shrieking of sirens. ¡°What do we do?¡±


    ¡°We have got to get out of here¡­¡±


    ¡°If we let go, they¡¯ll fall into the water!¡± Verne tried to grasp the ferry wheel but needed both hands to hold onto Judd who was by far the strongest out of all of them.


    ¡°Tie them down?¡±


    ¡°To what?¡±


    Aalis felt like she was going to be torn in two, Caste and Giordi pulling her in different directions. Then revelation struck.


    ¡°To each other!¡±


    She threw Caste, the lightest of all of them, onto the ferry floor, unhooking one of her belts, threading it through Giordi¡¯s belt, wrapping it around Caste¡¯s waist who was trying to crawl to the edge of the ferry, nearly tipping them over in the process. She heaved the two ends together and pulled tight.


    ¡°Here!¡± Verne put all his strength into a powerful thrust and shoved Judd into the middle of the ferry. As Judd stumbled, unable to stand upright as the ferry teetered and tottered, Verne yanked his belt from his trousers and strapped Judd to Giordi and Caste.


    Now bound together, they were all fighting against each other to go in different directions. Verne managed to slip the loop of the belt over the keel and in their delirium, the three bound companions couldn¡¯t muster enough logic to free themselves. They were wild and desperate, straining against sense and reason, their minds completely overrun with the need to reach the women in the water.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    And then things took a drastic turn for the worse.


    No longer content with enticing their prey to them, the sirens began to churn the water, the waves becoming violent, thrashing beneath the ferry, tossing it this way and that. They rose in the waves, their pretty fa?ade gone, snarling, predatory fangs appearing in their mouths and their screams became howls and wordless threats. Aalis dug her fingers into the boards, clinging on.


    ¡°We have to reach the island!¡± She cried, flicking water out of her eyes.


    ¡°Turn the wheel!¡± Verne barked, pulling out his bow and loosing arrows into the sirens who darted and dodged, their laughter jarring them to their core. Aalis crawled to the wheel and began to turn it, holding on as the ferry tipped dangerously to one side then to the other.


    ¡°They are trying to tip us!¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t while we¡¯re tethered to the pulley! Keep turning the wheel!¡± Verne ordered, firing arrows into the water. ¡°Blasted things! I can¡¯t hit them! I can only slow them down! Get out of here!¡± He stomped on several hands reaching over the edge of the ferry, their limbs dissolving into water, two reaching out for every one that he destroyed. ¡°Aalis!¡±


    ¡°I am trying!¡± Aalis cried.


    ¡°Aalis!¡±


    She looked up to see water hands grabbing Verne, pulling him towards the edge.


    ¡°Verne!¡±


    ¡°Behind you!¡± He cried before falling into the water.


    Aalis spun around to see an army of sirens leering at her, rising out of the thrashing depths, made of water and fog. She picked up the rotted oar and swung it wildly as the sirens lunged for Judd who was closest to them. He groaned and tried to grasp their hands.


    ¡°Leave him alone!¡± Aalis cried, running the oar through the sirens but they reformed around the oar, laughing maniacally at her. ¡°Verne!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re all alone now! My sisters will feast upon flesh tonight!¡±


    Aalis was splashed with water. She shook her head madly, trying to see through the blur of salty water, unwilling to take her eyes off a siren that was so close it was within her reach. The siren laughed as the oar swiped through its body, uninjured and undeterred. Aalis¡¯ wild blow unbalanced her precarious footing. She collapsed onto the ferry, the oar flying out of her grasp, landing with a splash in the water. Aalis hung her head, defeated and defenceless.


    ¡°Pathetic, foolish human!¡± The siren closest to the ferry hissed, a forked tongue appearing from between its pointed, flesh devouring teeth. ¡°No mortal can touch us!¡±


    Suddenly it gulped, its eyes bulging, its mocking voice silenced as Aalis¡¯ hand wrapped around its neck¡­and held firm. The siren spluttered and gasped, its watery fingers trying to free itself but Aalis¡¯ hand would not be moved.


    ¡°Not¡­possible!¡±


    Aalis breathed in and out slowly, then looked up¡­her jaw clenched, her hair wild and her eyes filled with dark teal that thrashed like the ocean, white caps dancing across the peaks of her rage. The siren yanked and pulled but Aalis refused to let go. All gentleness and helplessness was gone from her countenance. Her expression was as hard and merciless as theirs had once been.


    ¡°Please¡­¡± The siren begged, its rippling body churning and convulsing, shrinking down within Aalis¡¯ grasp. ¡°Please¡­¡±


    Then with a small ¡®pop¡¯ it vanished into a mist of tiny droplets.


    Aalis let her hand drop, the other sirens cowering together, unable to take their eyes from her. Aalis saw the question in their eyes and unclenched her teeth. Fog escaped from the corners of her mouth, almost hissing away, their departed siren sister no more than vapour. The sirens were still, frozen and frightened¡­then Aalis took a step towards them¡­and they faded backwards, disappearing into the mist and the water of the channel finally became still.


    Aalis blinked and swallowed then turned, her eyes immediately lightening.


    ¡°Verne!¡±


    He coughed and spluttered, clambering onto the ferry. Aalis did what she could to pull him onboard.


    ¡°What¡­happened?¡± Verne spat up water, soaked through. ¡°I was being dragged down to the bottom, hands clawing at me and I swear something bit my leg¡­then they all vanished and I swam to the surface.¡±


    ¡°I am not sure,¡± Aalis lied, ¡°perhaps we drifted too close to shore?¡±


    Verne puffed, still trying to fill his lungs with air. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you could pull us all the way in?¡±


    ¡°I can.¡± She stood and turned the wheel, the ferry shifting through the water that had grown calm almost immediately after the sirens had disappeared. Judd, Caste and Giordi were in a befuddled state, almost as if they¡¯d suffered blows to the head, dazed and confused. The fog began to lighten and lift and it wasn¡¯t long before Keenstone Isle came into view and only a few minutes later the ferry scraped the beach, the ferry house and its wheel a mere stone¡¯s throw away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the gear.¡± Verne offered, grabbing the packs and hauling them to the beach.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis knelt in front of him, ¡°can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°We need to get off the ferry.¡±


    He nodded and she undid the belts and cords that had bound all three together, releasing them from the keel. They walked like they were drunk, staggering and weak, following Verne¡¯s footprints up the beach to the ferry house. Aalis picked up her own pack and hauled it over one shoulder, sparing a glance at the water of the channel. She shivered, turned her back to it and hastened after the others.

 You’re a funny one, Aalis Dragoslava

    The ferry house was empty like its mainland counterpart but in comparison, it was less spartan as though those who had abandoned it had only left a few days ago. It was one large space but crammed into it were a half dozen beds covered with blankets, a table lined with pews, several coats hanging from hooks and even wood stacked by the fireplace. Verne was busy laying fresh wood, having dug out the old ash and was attempting to get a fire going. He¡¯d discarded all his outer layers and grabbed a dry coat from the wall, draping it over himself as he shivered.


    ¡°You need to change.¡± Aalis ordered.


    ¡°Fire first¡­¡± Verne stammered. When the fire was in no danger of going out, he found some dry clothes in his pack and went to the latrine to change.


    Judd, Caste and Giordi sat on the stone floor covered with a woven mat in front of the fire. None of them had said a word since leaving the ferry. Aalis, not caring much for modesty at that point, yanked her overdress off her body and wrapped a holey shawl she¡¯d spotted hanging from the wall around her bare shoulders. This cobbled together look only enhanced her witch-like appearance.


    Because the ferry house had its own cooking space, Aalis was able to prepare a meal quickly. The shepherds had offered them some of their lamb as they reasoned they had plenty. She overloaded the stew with as many vegetables as she could cram into the pot, knowing that they all needed something hearty to revive themselves.


    As she cooked, she looked up from her work. Judd, Caste and Giordi were quiet and subdued.


    ¡°Will they be alright?¡± Verne asked, tousling his black hair and tying his bandana on as he joined her in the kitchen.


    ¡°I think so. Whatever the sirens were using on them to dull their wits might take time to wear off.¡±


    Verne took two bowls and Aalis balanced three and they joined the others by the fire. ¡°Here,¡± she said, pushing it into Judd¡¯s hands, ¡°eat and be restored.¡±


    Judd took it without looking at her as did Caste after she nudged him with her foot. Verne handed Giordi his who seemed to be perking up and even managed a ¡®thank you¡¯. Verne flopped down on the floor next to him.


    ¡°What were those things?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know about sirens?¡± Giordi asked, quite surprised.


    ¡°Never been near open water like that before. I¡¯ve only swam in lakes or dams.¡±


    ¡°They prey on men, sailors mostly.¡± Judd explained softly.


    ¡°Oh¡­only men?¡± Verne asked with a slight squeak.


    ¡°Even if they only preferred the taste of men, I think they would have drowned Aalis out of spite.¡±


    ¡°Seductresses of the deep,¡± Giordi sighed almost wistfully, ¡°their calls have drawn many men into their bosoms only to be dragged down to the depths and feasted upon. In song they are almost depicted as desirable and I¡¯ve heard many a man wish that they could see one¡­¡±


    ¡°If I ever hear a man say that¡­I¡¯ll thump him.¡± Judd muttered.


    ¡°I feel that is only fair.¡± Giordi nodded, reclining backwards.


    ¡°They call with words, their aroma is sweet,


    But beware those who follow.


    For sure enough, their kiss they keep


    Then feast upon you in the hollow.


    The deepest recess of your mind,


    Hidden shame and lust,


    They dull your wits with offers of bliss


    Then devour you to dust."


    ¡°That,¡± he said airily, ¡°is a siren. They are the sweetest vision, the embodiment of all our desires poured into one heady, seductive moment¡­¡±


    ¡°Before they get their hands on you and eat your soul.¡± Caste ended bleakly.


    Judd stared into the flames then turned to Aalis with a cowering look. ¡°Is there any way I could imagine that you didn¡¯t see or hear what happened?¡± Aalis gulped and made a stammering sound. Judd put his face in his hands. ¡°Maul¡­I¡¯m so embarrassed¡­¡±


    ¡°So you do remember what happened?¡± Aalis asked, surprised.


    ¡°Vaguely.¡± He admitted.


    ¡°Almost sadly¡­¡± Giordi said with a sigh. ¡°To think I saw a vision of perfection¡­oh so many visions¡­yet all were monsters of Maul and soul devourers¡­¡±


    Caste snorted. ¡°Of course someone like you would envision a harem and not a single woman.¡±


    Giordi turned to him. ¡°And what was your vision, cleric virgin of the Grail? A dusty book? A parchment of theology? Or a scantily clad young woman who waits on you hand and foot when you return from a long day of being a bishop?¡±


    Caste¡¯s face flamed with heat.


    ¡°I think we should say that whatever happened out there, should never be spoken about.¡± Aalis said firmly, seeing Judd withdraw and Caste¡¯s shoulders bending in shame. Giordi was no stranger to romantic diversion but the other two were deeply ashamed of their actions and their responses.


    ¡°Never.¡± Caste shook his head, bowing his head. ¡°Never, ever, ever¡­ever¡­¡±


    ¡°Although, before we fully agree never to talk about it, there is something that needs to be said,¡± Judd turned to Aalis, a little red but determined to be forthright, ¡°if it wasn¡¯t for you, Aalis, we¡¯d all be dead.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Caste said firmly, albeit quietly.


    ¡°My life was safe within your beautiful hands.¡± Giordi declared.


    ¡°Well¡­it was not¡­¡± Aalis faltered, glancing at Verne.


    ¡°You saved all of us¡­thank you.¡± Verne responded, blue eyes darting away from hers.


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°You are welcome.¡±


    She looked down at her stew and ate it quietly. Soft chatter began to fill the heavy silence as the shock of the encounter with the man-eating sirens began to ebb. Aalis tried to swallow her stew, feeling it become stuck in her throat. She didn¡¯t dare look at Verne who sat opposite her. In the end she took her meal to the table and scraped it into the pot. She busied herself as best she could, her heart twisting in her breast.


    ¡°¡­away from the water.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not stupid.¡±


    Aalis lifted her eyes to see Verne leave the ferry house, closing the door behind. She waited a few minutes then, without saying what she was doing, crept out of the house. She didn¡¯t catch Judd¡¯s glance and bowed shoulders.


    Outside the fog had lifted almost entirely and a black velvet sky, sewn with a million silver sequins was hung above the isle. The air was much clearer and she could see the entire length of the beach before it turned, following the curves of the island. Sitting on the sand, as far away as it took to dull the sound of the ferry house chatter and keep all things said, secret, was Verne.


    Aalis tightened her grasp on her shawl and crossed the sand.


    Verne didn¡¯t look at her, knees drawn up, hair tied back in its usual style, eyes gazing at the channel waters. Aalis sat down, crossing her ankles and licked her lips, tasting the salt in the air. Though she had gone looking for Verne, she didn¡¯t know what she was going to say.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Aalis blinked and looked at Verne.


    ¡°Thank you?¡± Verne nodded. Aalis swallowed and sighed. ¡°You were every bit as important as I in surviving the channel. I feel terrible, being given all the credit¡­but you seemed reluctant at everyone discovering who you are¡­¡±


    ¡°You mean what I am.¡±


    There was venom in Verne¡¯s force, a deep seated bitterness and a sorrow that made Aalis¡¯ heart ache.


    ¡°You make it sound like a curse.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Verne glanced at her. ¡°I never meant to lie. I never even said one way or the other¡­¡±


    ¡°We just assumed because others assumed¡­¡± Aalis realised. ¡°I am sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Verne insisted softly, ¡°I mean, I certainly didn¡¯t correct you¡­¡±


    ¡°And it sounds like you did not mind us coming to our own conclusions.¡± Aalis probed gently.


    ¡°That¡¯s the way it¡¯s always been.¡± Verne admitted, her blue eyes darkening from the deep teal of the channel¡¯s reflection. ¡°I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m one of eight children, the last one¡­and all I had were brothers.¡± She looked up at the clouds, the only sound in the silence was the lapping of waves upon the beach. ¡°Ironic, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°What is?¡±


    ¡°My older two brothers, followed by the twins, then followed by triplets¡­but giving birth to me¡­that¡¯s what killed my mother.¡±


    ¡°Oh Verne¡­¡±


    ¡°No, not Verne,¡± Verne swallowed, ¡°Vernice. That¡¯s what she called me before she died.¡± She huffed sadly. ¡°My father didn¡¯t know what to do with a girl¡­so he brought me up like a son. Bare foot, wild, tree climbing, trap setting, lake swimming¡­archer¡­¡±


    ¡°It does not sound so bad.¡± Aalis remarked.


    ¡°Oh it wasn¡¯t.¡± Verne nodded. ¡°I loved my life.¡± She leaned back on her elbows and smiled sadly. ¡°We lived in this ramshackle house on a plot of land my father had purchased, sure there was a seam of gold just waiting to be found. He mined that thing every day¡­yet we were always so desperately poor.¡± Verne rubbed her nose. ¡°There was no way we could afford new clothes for me, certainly nothing girlie so I dressed in my brother¡¯s hand me downs. Whenever father would find a little gold, he¡¯d march us all into town to buy whatever it was we couldn¡¯t scrounge for on the land¡­and everyone always thought he had eight sons. One time, I saw these girls all playing together with their dolls, their hair curled and in pretty dresses and I was standing, staring at them, in pants that were too short yet somehow too big around the waist, held up by braces over a filthy shirt and with no shoes on¡­and I remember my brothers teasing me. Will we curl your hair, Verne? You want to be a pretty, prissy girl? So I went home and hacked off my hair with my mum¡¯s old sewing scissors.¡±


    ¡°What did your father say?¡±


    ¡°Something like, it¡¯ll reduce delousing keeping it short like that!¡± Verne laughed at the memory. ¡°That was my father¡­¡±


    Aalis gazed at Verne, a question growing in her mind of why Verne had left her family. For all the wildness and poverty, she recalled her memories with fondness.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Verne sat back up and yanked a piece of beach grass from its sandy hold. ¡°The worst thing I could imagine. When I was sixteen, father¡¯s stupid mine finally gave up the gold. We went from destitute to obscenely wealthy almost overnight.¡± Verne shook her head. ¡°My home became the base for miners and father bought a big house in the town. I had my own room, we had servants¡­there was food on the table every night¡­¡±


    ¡°Big changes,¡± Aalis recognised, ¡°what about you?¡±


    ¡°Stayed as I was, really. No one probably knew I was a girl and no one tried to make me look like one¡­at least for a while.¡± Verne threw the grass into the air, caught by the breeze to go scattering across the beach. ¡°Then my father remarried.¡±


    ¡°You do not think she loved him?¡± She asked, guessing by Verne¡¯s tone that all was not well.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I couldn¡¯t imagine her living in a one roomed house in the forest, trapping, skinning and cooking rabbits for supper.¡± Verne sighed. ¡°My father wasn¡¯t exactly a gentleman but now that he was wealthy, he did try to spruce himself up¡­and into our lives she descended.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°It gets better. She was an experienced mother¡­of girls. Two perfect, pretty¡­ringlet adorned girls.¡± Verne snorted. ¡°You should have heard the clang of her jaw hitting the ground when father told her I was a girl. I don¡¯t think she¡¯d ever been unable to be polite in a social setting before.¡±


    The waves rushed against the shore, light lines of foam deposited on the beach, the water retreating as the foam dissolved into bubbles that popped and disappeared into the sand. After the mortal danger of barely an hour before, the calm was a little eerie in its own way.


    ¡°Was she horrible?¡±


    ¡°Not intentionally,¡± Verne admitted, ¡°I mean, I think she saw me as a, endear herself to my father, project. She wanted to help turn me into a lady in time for a grand party which she believed would make a perfect ¡®entry to society¡¯ moment for me. I think she thought I was being contrary the entire time¡­and difficult and surly¡­¡± Verne looked at Aalis. ¡°I swear I wasn¡¯t¡­but I just¡­I didn¡¯t¡­my feet were too wide from going barefoot for so many years and couldn¡¯t fit into dainty shoes. I¡¯ve got barely any bust to speak of,¡± Verne clutched at her chest, ¡°so all the dresses sagged no matter how many ¡®alterations¡¯ were made and I was muscular so my arms tried to pop the seams of my sleeves and the square neckline of the gowns¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°The servants bowed and scraped and said how beautiful I looked¡­but all I could see was a boy in a dress. I don¡¯t care what they said, I didn¡¯t look like my stepsisters. I was a plank of wood in a dress¡­a plain plank of wood.¡±


    Aalis swallowed. ¡°What happened at the party?¡±


    ¡°I could tell my stepmother was wary and hovering nearby, finally convincing a boy to dance with me¡­but then he decided to find out if I really was a boy or girl and groped me,¡± Verne shuddered, ¡°so I broke his nose¡­with my forehead.¡±


    Aalis felt herself smile but squelched the instinct to do so.


    ¡°No one needed to tell me I¡¯d crossed a line. I went upstairs, hearing my stepmother, with eloquence that would put Giordi to shame, smooth over the offence and the party continued without me. I sat on my bed until midnight¡­but no one came to yell or question¡­¡± Verne shook her head. ¡°When I heard the clocktower ring out, I had made up my mind. I changed into my boy clothes, packed anything that was from my old life, grabbed my bow and arrows and climbed out of the window as I¡¯d done many times before to go hunting¡­only this time I never went back.¡±


    ¡°Never?¡± Aalis breathed.


    ¡°Nope.¡± Verne shrugged. ¡°I left a note saying that I didn¡¯t want to be an embarrassment to them and that I would be fine on my own. And honestly, I was. It¡¯s not been easy but I joined a few caravans travelling around and after a year or so, found myself at Fort Faine and managed to get work in the orchard just as it was all going wrong.¡±


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°Verne¡­you are really quite remarkable.¡±


    Verne gave a lopsided smile. ¡°You¡¯re a funny one, Aalis Dragoslava.¡±


    ¡°I think that goes without saying¡­but why?¡±


    ¡°Because out of all the things I thought you¡¯d think of me from my story¡­remarkable was one of the last.¡±


    ¡°I guess¡­I cannot imagine heading out on my own¡­just like that.¡± Aalis tugged on her shawl. ¡°You are so brave.¡±


    ¡°If I was brave I would have stayed.¡± Verne muttered. Aalis wasn¡¯t sure what to say to that. Her own past was hardly an example of how to conduct oneself. ¡°Are you going to tell the others?¡±


    Verne¡¯s voice was quivering with nervousness.


    ¡°Not if you do not want me too,¡± Aalis said without thinking about it and Verne relaxed before Aalis turned to her, ¡°but I do want to say that they are good men, despite their faults¡­would it be so terrible to tell them?¡±


    Verne groaned and put her head down. ¡°Oh¡­but they¡¯ll change.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll¡­it¡¯ll¡­¡± Verne grunted then stood up. ¡°I like being one of you. I like being trusted to do the hard stuff, the hunting and fighting. What if they start trying to protect me? What if I can¡¯t do things because ¡®I¡¯m a girl¡¯? What if they start opening doors? What if one of them flirts with me!¡±


    Aalis laughed at Verne¡¯s distress then sobered up, realising that she was in earnest.


    ¡°I understand, I really do.¡± Aalis stood up, brushing the sand from her gown. ¡°But let me just warn you, the longer you maintain a lie¡­the more devastating the fallout when the truth is revealed.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Verne admitted. ¡°For now¡­I just want to be Verne.¡±


    Aalis grasped Verne¡¯s arm, bent it into a crook then looped her own arm through it. When she caught Verne¡¯s confused look she smiled.


    ¡°You would not want a frail lady like myself to walk back to the ferry house on this unstable sand alone, would you?¡±


    Verne laughed outright. ¡°Aalis, for all your timidity and softness, you are hardly frail. The way you managed to save the others and even help me onto the ferry¡­you are quite remarkable.¡±


    Aalis recalled the moment she had been cowering on the ferry, all hope lost and all defences gone as the siren had shrieked with laughter at her¡­when rage had ignited inside her chest and she had lunged out and grabbed the siren, forcing its form to be trapped in her grasp. She remembered how she had held and squeezed, absorbing the life of the siren even as it pleaded for mercy¡­but Aalis had felt none.


    And when she had breathed out the remnants of the siren, the others had fled, probably back to the southern waters of Maul or even out to the open ocean¡­because they were terrified of her.


    And in truth, Aalis was a little frightened of herself.

 Judd, if I may say so, learn from my mistakes rather than make them yourself

    It was universally decided, without discussing it, to travel to Fort Sol inland, climbing up the sandy, gorse bush and grey grass headland to where the beach finally ended. No one wanted to walk along the beach, despite Fort Sol being built on the most south easterly point of the isle, on top of a cliff so that it had a clear line of sight to Fort Callain, at least on a clear day.


    Though the sirens were only reported to inhabit deeper waters, none of the men wanted a repeat of the channel crossing.


    ¡°There is some evidence, of sailors who lashed themselves to their masts so they couldn¡¯t throw themselves into the ocean, that they developed a kind of immunity to the call of the sirens.¡± Caste remarked.


    ¡°We await your confirmation¡­¡± Giordi gestured to the channel.


    Caste paled. ¡°I think I am happy with it being an unconfirmed theory¡­¡±


    ¡°We are going to have to cross the channel to get back,¡± Judd said what they had all come to the conclusion to in their own minds, ¡°but before we do, I¡¯d like to go to Fort Sol and see how long the sirens have been here for.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Verne mused, ¡°you would think the presence of sirens would have been reported to the Order of the Grail¡­even trumping the presence of an orthros.¡±


    ¡°There was no report before I left Astaril,¡± Caste paused, ¡°however, I have been gone for close to two months¡­¡±


    ¡°Unless no one survived to make the report¡­¡± Giordi felt rather than saw their glares. ¡°We were all thinking it.¡±


    Judd sighed and nodded. ¡°When we reach Fort Sol, we¡¯ll ask the cleric for more information about it.¡±


    ¡°Who is the knight in charge?¡±


    Caste thought for a moment. ¡°Sir¡­Bobellion.¡±


    They walked steadily onwards, the clouds diffusing the sunlight. The channel had lost its teal darkness but instead had opted to reflect the sky and was as grey as the clouds. Waves thrashed, capped with white and the isle had an abandoned atmosphere. From the ferry house there was a track beyond the beach which led to a road of packed earth. Trees grew sparsely and the vegetation was even more so. There were fences but from what any of them could see, there were no animals beyond. No cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and the only birds they spied were the ones that soared overhead, howling a gloomy caw.


    ¡°Not the friendliest of locations.¡± Judd murmured. ¡°I would have thought, or hoped, we¡¯d come across people by now.¡±


    ¡°Given the deserted nature of the ferry, I think the trouble on Keenstone has grown since the sighting of orthros was reported.¡±


    Judd licked his lips. ¡°What¡­what do you suppose happened to them?¡±


    ¡°The only scenario I can imagine is that someone, possibly going to plead with King Rocheveron to send aid to the isle, was on the ferry, the Keenstone isle side already deserted and they were attacked by sirens. The mainland ferryman might have heard the lament and tried to help¡­¡± Giordi said lightly, distancing himself from the gruesome scenario.


    ¡°Tell me you did not lie awake last night imagining such things?¡± Caste shuddered.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°It is the curse of an active imagination,¡± Giordi shrugged, ¡°it is hard to turn off.¡±


    Judd clutched at the straps of his pack clumsily in his gauntlets. He had chosen to march in his armour as the report of the orthros sighting had not said where on the isle it was. He wanted to be ready at a moment¡¯s notice to leap into battle and clutched at the hilt of his sword, feeling a sense of security at its heavy, solid presence.


    He looked over at Aalis who travelled quietly, her eyes as grey as the clouds. He wanted to strike up conversation with her and had just decided on a topic when she turned her head and smiled at Verne who returned it with a small one of his own.


    Judd¡¯s heart sank. What had happened with the sirens was a little blurry in his mind. It had been like a dream that he had willingly participated in only to have sense and reason return when he was awake and felt ashamed of his conduct. He knew the siren had called to him, had pleaded with him to save her¡­yet Judd had somehow known that she was simply trying to draw him into the water with the promise of lustful fulfillment. Even now he felt the skin beneath the gorget of his armour grow hot in anticipation of the sweaty, dangerous liaison. Every pore in his body had been saturated with a terrible desperation and all else was inconsequential. He would have thrown Aalis into the water to the sharks had the siren ordered him to do so and he cursed his fickle nature that would have tossed aside the woman he deeply appreciated over a single, heady romp in the water.


    He suspected Aalis was being very discreet and considerate of all their illusions yet she could not be unaware of how their innermost immature desires were laid bare. Aalis probably couldn¡¯t stand the sight of Judd now after seeing how he would behave if all inhibitions were removed.


    No wonder she had gone after Verne when he¡¯d left the ferry house last night. Verne had probably been restrained or at least modest. Perhaps his illusion had been of Aalis herself and Aalis had seen it and¡­


    ¡°You have a face like thunder, LaMogre.¡± Giordi remarked, surprising Judd who hadn¡¯t seen him come along side. ¡°Ready for battle?¡±


    ¡°Wasting energy on beating myself up.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°It won¡¯t change what happened.¡±


    ¡°You speak of your conduct in the channel?¡± Judd hung his head. Giordi clapped him on the shoulder then winced at the unyielding metal. ¡°You were drugged, addled¡­out of your mind.¡±


    ¡°Yes but of all people to witness it¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Giordi raised his eyebrows. ¡°I think she, as much as you, wishes to put it behind us.¡±


    ¡°I just can¡¯t imagine what she must think of me now.¡±


    ¡°Judd, if you are that keen on the fair maid, why do you not woo her?¡±


    ¡°Woo?¡±


    ¡°With words and songs and confidence.¡± Giordi chuckled and waved his hand in front of Judd. ¡°Show her the suave Judd, the strong and bold, the brave and daring¡­the romantic knight to be.¡± Judd snorted. ¡°You disapprove?¡±


    ¡°I read the stories of knights and have listened to dozens of your songs since you¡¯ve joined the party and while I may have had illusions about simply just being a brilliant warrior knight, I always knew I was never going to be one of the romantic ones.¡± Judd shrugged helplessly. ¡°I¡­I grew up on the docks of Astaril. I know my speech isn¡¯t what you would call refined and maybe if I was interested in a girl from the world I was brought up in, fine words would be pretentious¡­but I¡¯m out here in Terra¡­standing before knights and their sword masters and ladies¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d like to be able to sound as though you belong?¡±


    ¡°I can hold my own,¡± Judd explained, ¡°but doing so elegantly...¡±


    ¡°Words full of such rapier wit that your host doesn¡¯t realise he¡¯s bleeding because he is laughing so hard?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Judd paused. ¡°Well, maybe not exactly¡­I don¡¯t want to insult people¡­¡± He stopped when Giordi put his hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°I think I might be able to help you. As one who has sampled the gracious hospitality of many knights and their ladies and observed their interactions, I have absorbed much of their language and poise.¡± Giordi winked. ¡°Our first task is to have you speak words of elegance to make a certain lovely lady blush.¡±


    Judd tried to glance over his shoulder at Aalis but it was hard to do so subtly when clad in armour. ¡°Is¡­is that something you can¡­learn?¡± He asked hopefully.


    Giordi studied Judd. ¡°You would be surprised.¡±


    Judd nodded, licking his lips. ¡°Well¡­if you don¡¯t mind trying to teach me, I¡¯m open to learning.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Giordi rapped his armour, ¡°let us start with how to greet a married woman verses an unmarried woman. It is an important lesson to get right.¡±


    ¡°You speak from personal experience?¡±


    Giordi sighed dramatically as he was prone to do. ¡°Judd, if I may say so, learn from my mistakes rather than make them yourself.¡±

 She’s never going to really think I’m talking about her

    The landscape of Keenstone Isle seemed to go from gloomy to downright depressing. It was as though the island was experiencing the season of winter and all the leaves had fallen from the trees, their bare branches stark against the sky. The weather wasn¡¯t freezing but it certainly lacked any friendly warmth and Judd was all too aware of how bright their campfire looked in the barrenness.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± He asked, leaning over Caste who was flanked on either side by scrolls and maps.


    Caste held up the map of the isle and pointed. ¡°We are here. We should make Fort Sol by midday tomorrow, if not sooner unless we¡¯re ambushed by some hideous beast.¡±


    ¡°Now, now,¡± Giordi chortled, reclining lazily by the fire, ¡°don¡¯t go being all cheerful, Caste. We wouldn¡¯t know how to handle you.¡±


    ¡°I do not require handling,¡± Caste said tersely, ¡°and my remark is not an unreasonable one if you consider that this road we are on ought to be a thoroughfare from the ferry to the fort.¡±


    ¡°I think we have all realised that.¡± Judd looked around. ¡°It is a gloomy place¡­perhaps no one lives outside of the fort?¡±


    ¡°If the threat of the orthros was a bad one, Sir Bobellion might have called all isle residents inside the fort.¡± Verne had his arrows out and was counting them. He winced and shook his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re low on arrows?¡±


    ¡°I fired a score into the water at those sirens¡­usually when I hit something, I can retrieve the arrow but they all disappeared into the water.¡±


    ¡°Can you make your own?¡±


    ¡°I can but it¡¯s a bit of a task and would hold us up.¡± Verne admitted.


    ¡°We should be able to buy arrows at Fort Sol.¡± Judd hoped.


    ¡°With what?¡± Caste asked brittlely. ¡°In case you had forgotten, we¡¯re down to our last few coins and I need more quills and ink.¡±


    ¡°Is that really necessary?¡±


    ¡°I am the cleric assigned to your quest,¡± Caste fired up, ¡°and if you want it documented accurately so that your knighthood is not in question, then yes.¡±


    Judd held up his hands. ¡°Fair enough, Caste.¡±


    ¡°I could do with new shoes.¡± Giordi lamented, looking at his feet.


    ¡°We all could.¡± Verne sighed. ¡°Mine are practically worn through.¡±


    ¡°There is still mud caked on mine from that hideous swamp.¡±


    Judd rubbed his face. ¡°I promise we will work something out. Even if we stay a few days longer than we intended at the fort. Sir Bobellion may have work for us.¡±


    ¡°Other than killing monsters?¡±


    ¡°Giordi¡­can you please move?¡± Aalis asked, trying to reach the fire.


    ¡°Apologies¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s for supper tonight?¡± Caste asked.


    ¡°Bread and whatever is left of the stew I made.¡± Aalis explained, setting her pot over the fire. Judd noticed she was looking tired, shadows smeared beneath her eyes. ¡°I am afraid there has been no game to hunt and our provisions are thin. Thankfully the well is not dry and I was able to confirm that the water is clean.¡±


    ¡°Time to refill my water pouch.¡± Caste announced, standing up.


    ¡°Take mine too, would you?¡±


    ¡°And mine.¡± Caste groaned and grasped the strings on all of the pouches and lugged them towards the well, muttering something about having no upper body strength.


    ¡°Giordi, could you please help him?¡± Aalis asked.


    Giordi held up his lute as some kind of excuse. Verne made an annoyed noise and stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Aalis put her hands on her hips and gave Giordi a rather irritated glare. ¡°We all pull our weight when camping out, Giordi Gavoli. You drink water, you can fetch it when required.¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Judd raised his eyebrows, stunned by Aalis¡¯ sharp tone. It only reinforced his concern that she was looking tired and weary.


    Giordi stood up and with an elegant flourish, bowed towards her. ¡°Fair maiden, for you I would move both the heavens and the earth upon which we stand just to make you smile for in your radiant countenance, I am blessed.¡±


    Aalis blushed but folded her arms. ¡°I like the heavens and the earth upon which I stand as they are, thank you but if you would be so kind¡­¡±


    Giordi nodded his head and walked past her towards the well. As he did so he looked back at Judd and gave a wink. Judd frowned and Giordi gave a strong head nod towards Aalis then nodded before moving away. Judd swallowed, his palms starting to sweat. He stood up and wiped his hands on his trousers, his armour removed so he could sleep. He wandered hesitantly over to where Aalis knelt, plucking green leaves from stems and throwing them in the pot, dropping the red berries into the mortar between her knees.


    ¡°Nettle stew again?¡± Judd asked lightly.


    Aalis didn¡¯t look up. ¡°I would not recommend drinking this.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in it?¡±


    ¡°I am boiling mistletoe leaves and grinding the berries into a pulp.¡± She explained.


    ¡°And that¡¯s¡­bad?¡±


    ¡°I asked Caste if there were any instances where mistletoe was found to be a deterrent to monsters,¡± Aalis pounded the berries as hard as she could with the pestle, ¡°and he said there was some evidence to support it. I spotted the mistletoe in the forest where you killed the cockatrice and picked as much as I could carry. I thought a monster repellent might come in useful.¡±


    ¡°How did you know about mistletoe? Was it a lucky guess?¡±


    Aalis glanced up at him, her dreadlocks shifting like water over her shoulders. ¡°The witch who taught me all about plants and animals said mistletoe was toxic to her.


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t bother you?¡±


    She shook her head, turning the hard round balls into mush. Judd glanced nervously over at the well and saw Giordi¡¯s pointed look. Judd shrugged helplessly and Giordi rolled his eyes¡­then deliberately ¡®accidentally¡¯ spilt the water pouches. There was a round of curses from Caste and Verne. Giordi waved his hand at Judd furiously. Judd nodded and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Well¡­uh¡­ahem¡­you¡­¡± He cleared his throat several more times.


    Aalis looked up. ¡°Are you coming down with a sore throat?¡± She stood and, after wiping her hands on her apron, put one against Judd¡¯s forehead. ¡°You are a little warm¡­perhaps you need a tonic.¡±


    ¡°Fair maid¡­den¡­your attentions would send me delirious¡­¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Aalis stared at him.


    Judd swallowed, pulling on the collar of his coat. ¡°I mean¡­when I am with you¡­I feel hot.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ eyes were wide. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Judd waved his hands, trying to erase all that he had said, ¡°you¡­I mean¡­fairen maidest¡­no, wait¡­fairest maiden,¡± he suddenly knelt awkwardly before her, ¡°I would slay a mighty beast for you¡­est.¡± Aalis was too stunned to react as he took her hand. ¡°You are as fair as¡­wheat and you shine like¡­a polished sword¡­and your figure is¡­ah forget it!¡±


    Judd got up and threw his hands into the air just as Giordi, Verne and Caste approached the two of them, Verne and Giordi roaring with laughter and Caste sniggering.


    ¡°I told you,¡± Judd said accusingly at Giordi, ¡°I¡¯m not good at the¡­saying of words¡­¡±


    Caste snorted, unable to stand upright and Verne was wiping tears away.


    ¡°We might need to work on your metaphors.¡± Giordi laughed.


    ¡°I half expected you to start comparing poor Aalis to a fish!¡± Verne¡¯s shoulders continued to quake in hysterics.


    Caste was too overcome with laughter to say anything.


    Judd put his hands on his hips. ¡°I tried my best, alright?¡±


    ¡°What exactly were you trying to do?¡± Aalis asked fearfully.


    Judd faltered but Giordi piped up. ¡°Flirt with grace and dignity.¡±


    ¡°What dignity!¡± Verne half collapsed, snorting as he tried to breathe.


    Aalis¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You were flirting with me!¡±


    ¡°No¡­I mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd asked to learn how to be more eloquent in speech and I suggested it would help if he practiced on a young woman such as yourself.¡± Giordi said tactfully.


    ¡°How was that eloquent?!¡± Caste blurted.


    ¡°Giordi said to compare parts of Aalis to beautiful things.¡±


    ¡°And you came up with a polished sword and wheat?¡±


    ¡°Stop, please stop!¡± Verne was clutching at his ribs.


    Judd sat down in a grump and put his hands over his head.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis went to him and put her hand on his shoulder, ¡°you were trying to compliment me?¡±


    He refused to answer.


    ¡°Perhaps I started at a too advanced place,¡± Giordi mused, hanging the water pouches from a tree, ¡°tomorrow¡¯s lesson shall be describing the world to me and we will simply begin by expanding your descriptions of things around you so as to develop your complimentary metaphors.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd muttered, ¡°I quit.¡±


    ¡°Oh thank Terra¡­¡± Verne finally dragged himself to his sleeping mat and lay down. ¡°My ribs couldn¡¯t take another session like that. Ow¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d tell you to stick to what you know but you¡¯ve never listened to me before¡­¡± Caste admonished lightly.


    Aalis gazed at the humiliated form of Judd. ¡°I think you should continue to listen to Giordi and work on your vocabulary.¡± Judd grunted from the recess between his knees and chest. ¡°No, really Judd,¡± she put her hand on his arm, ¡°I think it is a fine thing to want to increase your learning and develop who you are.¡±


    ¡°You do?¡± Judd peeked out from behind his fingers.


    Aalis nodded. ¡°As long as you promise me one thing.¡±


    ¡°Anything.¡±


    Aalis smiled. ¡°Always be sincere. Never lure a woman with frilly words just because you can. Our hearts may be strong, but they are not unbreakable.¡±


    Judd lifted his head fully. ¡°I would never want to do that.¡±


    She patted his arm and stood up, returning to her mistletoe brew. ¡°Then you are welcome to practice on me again in the future.¡±


    Giordi sat next to Judd as Aalis continued to work, speaking with Verne who separated the leaves from the berries, discarding the branches themselves, helping her make her strange potion.


    ¡°Somehow, despite completely failing your first attempt at flirtation, you managed to come out more endearing and likeable. Aalis even agreed to allow you to flirt with the in the future.¡±


    Judd sighed. ¡°Yes but you see the problem, now, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Giordi nodded. ¡°Unfortunately I do¡­¡±


    Judd gazed at Aalis. ¡°She¡¯s never going to really think I¡¯m talking about her¡­¡±

 Verne, I need you to cover them then, please…cover me

    The climb to Fort Sol was a steep march up a hard road, flanked on either side by dark grey stone.


    ¡°I¡­thought¡­the¡­inland¡­road¡­would be¡­easier¡­than the¡­beach¡­one¡­¡± Giordi complained.


    ¡°It¡­is¡­¡± Caste wheezed like an old donkey, almost parallel with the sharp incline.


    Judd was wishing he hadn¡¯t chosen to wear his armour again. Then he realised that at least it was evenly distributed all over his body and not just in his pack which might have tipped him backwards.


    ¡°Someone¡­shove¡­the¡­cleric.¡± He called and Verne gave Caste a push, keeping him moving.


    ¡°We are not far from the top.¡± Verne announced and everyone despised his fitness, jogging ahead of them. ¡°I can see where the land starts to flatten out.¡±


    Judd heard a huffing next to him and glanced at Aalis who gave him a rueful smile.


    ¡°Want me¡­to take¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t finish the sentence but just tapped her pack.


    She shook her head, saving her breath and finally they reached the end of the incline.


    Fort Sol was immediately in sight. It was not as big as Fort Bastil but on top of the cliff, it didn¡¯t need to be. Made from dark grey stone, probably cut from the pass that they had just traversed, its base didn¡¯t stop when it reached the ground but seemed as though it stretched all the way to the thrashing waves at the base of the cliff. Its main building and courtyard were all walled in but the village that surrounded it, like a child hugging the legs of its parents, was not so well protected.


    ¡°They probably think those trebuchets would keep any monster at bay.¡± Verne pointed to the two large missile slinging constructs that was built onto the sides of the fort. They were unable to be reached except via the fort. Verne put his hands on his hips and whistled. ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t give to fire one of those¡­¡± Verne felt their amused gazes and shrugged. ¡°What? I like firing things.¡±


    Judd chuckled and shook his head.


    ¡°The village looks deserted.¡± Giordi jerked his head towards the buildings nestled up against the fort, surrounded by a barrier of large logs cut into giant spikes.


    ¡°Not just the village¡­¡± Aalis whispered, leaving the road to cross onto the land that looked as though it was normally tilled and farmed. A tree was nearby but it had no leaves and even more damning was its colour.


    ¡°It looks like it was caught in a fire.¡± Giordi said softly.


    Aalis put her hand on its trunk, her face turned away from them. She stepped back hurriedly, shaking her hand.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Judd reached out his hand but she waved away his concern and he retreated. ¡°The trees look a little like the ones at Fort Faine.¡±


    ¡°Worse,¡± Aalis said softly, ¡°I think this is what they would have looked like in a matter of weeks had we not stopped the goblins.¡±


    ¡°But there isn¡¯t a river near here.¡±


    Aalis shook her head and pointed to the ground. Around the tree¡¯s base was a circle of dead grass. ¡°Something was poured on this tree which killed it, possibly instantly.¡±


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s not the only one¡­¡± Judd breathed, moving forwards, the land on the plateau of the isle barren and charred as though a blistering fire had raged only days ago. However, there were still buildings that were untouched further out from the village. Verne and Judd jogged over to them but came back shaking their heads.


    ¡°Deserted.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d wager the whole village is the same.¡± Judd unsheathed his sword and breathed out. ¡°Ready?¡±


    Verne had an arrow in his bow and walked several steps behind him while Caste and Giordi hovered further back. Aalis, while timid, edged closer and closer.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so close.¡± Judd warned as they approached the gates of the village barrier. Aalis¡¯ breathing sharpened as Judd put his hands on the gate and pushed¡­then pulled. ¡°Come on!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps the villagers barred it?¡±Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°It feels like there¡¯s some give¡­¡± Judd stepped back. ¡°I¡¯m not ashamed to say I need some help.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­all¡­uh, all of us?¡± Caste stammered.


    ¡°Pack down and give the gate a shove.¡±


    Reluctantly Giordi and Caste joined the other three at the gate and they put their hands on it.


    ¡°One, two, three!¡± They heaved.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­moving!¡± Verne cried then they were all propelled backwards, panting. ¡°It goes in then rebounds us out.¡±


    ¡°One more push before we try to climb through the barrier somehow.¡± Judd flexed his muscles and gripped the gate. ¡°Ready? Heave!¡±


    ¡°What happened to our countdown?¡± Giordi grunted, throwing his weight against the gate.


    As they pushed and heaved, Judd tried to look through the gap forming. ¡°There¡¯s¡­something¡­there¡­¡± He braced against the gate with his shoulder and pulled his sword out. ¡°I think it¡¯s been tied shut with rope. Hold on¡­¡±


    ¡°Holding¡­¡± Verne squeezed out between gritted teeth.


    Judd slid his sword through the gap as high as he could reach and dragged down on it. Small jolts coincided with each inch the sword came down.


    ¡°Nearly there!¡±


    Abruptly the rope gave up its hold and the gate flung inwards, all five collapsing to the ground. Judd groaned, retrieving his sword from where it had landed and wiped the dirt from his face.


    ¡°What happened to my life?¡± Caste said mournfully, his tunic filthy.


    ¡°It looks as though it is going to rain.¡± Aalis remarked, on her back facing the sky. Judd held out his hand to her, drawing her to her feet.


    Giordi laughed and they all glared at him. ¡°Onward in triumphant entry!¡±


    Judd sighed.


    ¡°Judd¡­did you see this?¡± Verne picked up a piece of the rope that had bound the gate so tightly shut. It was as thick as Judd¡¯s finger. Judd reached out for it but Verne couldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Ugh¡­sticky¡­¡±


    ¡°The rope has been coated in something¡­¡±


    Verne shook his hand madly, trying to get it off. Eventually he pressed it against another piece of rope still hanging from the gate and the two strands stuck together so strongly he was able to pull his hand free. He wiped it on his leggings with a shudder.


    ¡°Judd¡­the village.¡± Aalis whispered.


    They all turned and took in the sight of Fort Sol¡¯s civilian town. It was as barren and lifeless as the landscape outside the barrier. Clothes hung limply on washing lines and doors hung open on houses and shops. There was no smoke from chimneys or chickens clucking though there were clearly pens for them. The bucket for the well was discarded to the side as though someone had dropped it and run.


    But there wasn¡¯t a sound to be heard.


    Judd¡¯s breath had stalled in his chest and his heart began to pound.


    ¡°Judd?¡±


    He jumped out of his skin and clamped a hand on Giordi¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°What?¡± He asked brittlely.


    ¡°Can you hear that?¡±


    Judd frowned. ¡°No¡­nothing.¡±


    Giordi¡¯s finely tuned ears were giving the minstrel reason to look worried. ¡°I can hear something¡­something¡­rumbling.¡±


    ¡°Surf?¡± Aalis whispered. ¡°From the waves on the cliff?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s at our height.¡± Giordi trembled. ¡°What did you say an orthros was again?¡±


    Judd opened his mouth when growling, so deep it made the earth tremble, seemed to surround them. Instinctively they huddled, going back to back, forming a tight circle.


    ¡°Dog,¡± Caste said breathlessly, ¡°two¡­headed¡­dog.¡±


    ¡°Stay together and keep your eyes open.¡± Judd warned.


    ¡°Where is it?¡± Verne¡¯s arrowhead darted all over the place as he tried to find a target to fire upon.


    ¡°It sounds like there¡¯s more than one!¡±


    ¡°Stay together.¡±


    ¡°Is it behind the well?¡±


    ¡°That house over there!¡±


    ¡°Coming from the fort!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t move until you¡¯ve seen it!¡± Judd ordered.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi tapped his shoulder, ¡°it¡¯s coming from that building.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Judd couldn¡¯t hear properly with his helm over his head.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got good ears. Trust me.¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t want to question the minstrel but he wasn¡¯t entirely sure Giordi was right¡­


    ¡­then a shaggy grey head glared at them from the open doorway of a house that faced the main thoroughfare.


    ¡°I see it¡­¡± Judd hissed, reaffirming his grasp on his sword.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Aalis put her hand on his arm as the dog stepped hesitantly out from the house, gnawing on the bone in its jaws, its tail wagging at the sight of five intruders staring at it in terror.


    ¡°I thought orthros were supposed to have two heads.¡± Verne whispered, not taking his eye or his arrow off the dog.


    ¡°Then this can¡¯t be an orthros. It¡¯s just a regular dog.¡± Caste muttered and their shoulders all relaxed¡­


    ¡­when a large black body bounded over the thatched roof of the house and down onto the dog, the grey shaggy beast whimpering beneath just one of its club sized paws.


    Judd recoiled at the sight of two black heads, stubby and snarling, their gums curled up over their sharpened teeth, their green eyes alight with frightening intelligence. It was as large as a small pony, short black hair covering its body, its tail bristling and its four ears back against its skulls. The heads were joined to the body by thick necks and each operated independently of the other as though they were separate dogs.


    The right head of the orthros leaned down and snapped the air above the cowering grey shaggy dog who relinquished its grip on the bone. The right head snatched it up, releasing the grey dog in order to do so. The grey dog scrambled to its feet, dashing out of sight as fast as its legs could carry it. The right head chomped hard on the bone, breaking it in half. The left head snarled at it and it growled back.


    ¡°You think they¡¯d notice if we just left?¡± Giordi breathed.


    Unfortunately his words, though barely above a whisper, were caught by two pairs of ears and the orthros¡¯ heads immediately turned and their green eyes glowered at them.


    ¡°Ah Maul¡­¡±


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t just keep your mouth shut?¡± Caste snapped.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut it both of you,¡± Judd snarled in much the same manner as the orthros, turning his head to snap at them but not taking his eyes off the two headed dog that was advancing towards them, each paw thudding the ground like its own mini earthquake, ¡°when it charges, make for high ground.¡±


    ¡°What about¡­¡±


    ¡°Verne, I need you to cover them then, please¡­cover me.¡± Judd licked his lips and though his heart was rampaging in his chest, he forced himself to step forward.

 We’ll try to figure out the mystery of the abandoned village once we’re dry

    The orthros paused, its hackles rising into sharp spikes, its snarls unable to be contained by clenched teeth and its eyes locked onto Judd.


    ¡°Here puppy, puppy, puppy,¡± Judd teased as he tried to move away from the others and keep its attention on him, ¡°I¡¯m not going to hurt¡­¡±


    The orthros lunged at him and he swung his sword, clipping its shoulder as he darted to one side, scratches from its foreclaws scoring across his left pauldron. Immediately the fight with Dalain returned to him for the orthros was the same strength to speed ratio. It was fast and the weight of its blow nearly sent Judd spinning. Judd turned to face it only to find it was already flying at him and he was thrown backwards, the orthros above him, snapping both its jaws only inches from his face, his sword the only thing keeping it from crushing his skull.


    ¡°Judd!¡±


    The orthros yelped, an arrow from the bow of Verne striking it in its right flank. It jerked and Judd was able to free himself and grasped his sword, determined not to be surprised by the two headed dog¡¯s attack again. The left head snarled at Verne who was standing on a barrel, having hoisted Aalis onto a thatched roof. The right head twisted the other way, hearing Giordi bark at Caste, the minstrel reaching down to the cleric, trying to pull him onto a roof.


    The orthros, with two separate heads with their own ideas, snapped and snarled at each other then looked at Judd as he took a step closer.


    ¡°Call it!¡± He yelled, holding his sword out in front, keeping the orthros at bay. ¡°All of you!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding!¡± Giordi grunted, grabbing Caste¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Here boy, here¡­¡± Aalis cried and the orthros tried to look at her.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Giordi let go of Caste¡¯s hand, stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled hard.


    The orthros, fighting against itself, twisted to glower at Giordi, seeing the defenceless Caste jump and squirm, a tantalising piece of calf appearing as his tunic became twisted. The orthros licked both sets of jagged teeth in its salivating jaws. Caste screeched and almost launched himself up the side of the house, the force pushing Giordi over and then the thatched roof, unaccustomed to anything heavier than rain and pigeons, collapsed beneath them, dropping both into the house with a fantastic clatter.


    The orthros¡¯ attention was no longer divided. It couldn¡¯t reach the girl on the roof, the one on the barrel had stabbing sticks and the man in front had a sharpened blade but there were two defenceless, possibly broken, dinners scrambling about helplessly in what looked like a meal box to the orthros.


    It turned, no longer caring about Judd and bounded towards the house.


    Judd leapt onto the bucket, stepped on the edge of the well and launched himself into the air just as the orthros ran in front of him and he brought his sword down hard.


    The left head of the orthros hit the ground, Judd¡¯s reach unable to cut through both. The right head howled and began to run around, its screams of pain and rage louder than the thunder that was rolling overhead, the advance of the storm unseen until now. Judd was transfixed in a horrifying way, unable to take his eyes off the one headed dog that was scrabbling around, snapping, biting, snarling but at no one, unable to escape its own agony.


    ¡°Kill it, Judd!¡± Aalis cried. ¡°Please, end its misery!¡±


    Judd blinked, jolted out of his fixation and ran to the orthros, severing the other head from its body. The headless form collapsed onto the ground with a few unnerving twitches. Judd couldn¡¯t help but stare, shaking with the horror of it. He was pushed aside as Aalis ran forward, kneeling by its side. Her shoulders shook as she wept¡­


    ¡­and then the sky joined her.


    Judd¡¯s skin prickled at the timing of it, the way the clouds were weeping with Aalis as though they felt her pain. Judd staggered backwards, underneath the fringe of the thatched roof of the house Caste and Giordi had disappeared into. Giordi had extricated himself from the tangle of straw, limbs and ceiling beams, brushing himself down.


    ¡°She¡¯s mourning the death of a monster?¡± He asked a little too loudly and bluntly.


    Aalis¡¯ shoulders went rigid, her head lifting. Though they couldn¡¯t see her expression, they could hear her voice.


    ¡°I am mourning the life of the animal lost to the depravity of Maul¡­that it became this¡­thing¡­¡± She put her arms around her body. ¡°It did not deserve this¡­¡±


    Judd swallowed. He felt terrible. The orthros¡¯ death had been gruesome and he wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he had nightmares about it for weeks to come¡­but even he hadn¡¯t considered that the monster might have once been a normal dog.


    ¡°We¡¯ll bury it.¡± He blurted, wishing in some way to show some respect and tenderness after dispatching the monster so cruelly.


    Aalis shook her head and turned towards him. ¡°No. Burn it.¡±


    ¡°But I thought¡­¡±


    ¡°I was sad because of the life that was ruined¡­but this deformation,¡± she looked back at the body, now lying in mud as the rain poured down, ¡°must be burned or else its blood will seep into the earth and poison the ground.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°I reckon it was the dog poisoning the trees.¡± Verne ducked his head beneath the edge of the house. ¡°Peeing on them, marking its territory.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Just like the goblins.¡±


    ¡°Only their tactic was diluted by the water and dispersed by the flow of the river.¡± Aalis shivered, her shoulders and back soaked.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to be able to make a fire now,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°but there might be a hearth large enough in the fort.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean we have to touch it?¡± Verne shuddered.


    ¡°We¡¯ll put the three¡­bits¡­into a sack and throw the whole thing into the fire.¡±


    ¡°Not before I get my proof of conquest.¡± Caste grunted, tugging his tunic straight. He gave Giordi a glare as if he was responsible for their tumble through the roof then he and Verne ran into the rain and retrieved their packs. Everyone watched as Caste retrieved a small, very sharp, saw and his pliers, donned his apron and mask and cut off one of the orthros¡¯ paws.


    ¡°That¡¯s a pretty big paw¡­¡± Judd swallowed down the bile in his throat as Caste dabbed the blood onto the knighthood quest parchment, the circle turning blue. ¡°Hey Caste, I don¡¯t suppose that would also count as my ¡®monster of unnatural size¡¯?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s beast, not monster,¡± Caste corrected mercilessly, putting the paw into the box of unpleasant trophies, ¡°so in order to qualify, the creature itself must be just large.¡±


    ¡°And a two headed dog, though the size of a small horse, just doesn¡¯t cut it?¡±


    ¡°Two heads,¡± Caste explained, ¡°it was, as Aalis put it, deformed or an aberration. Besides, as big as it was, it¡¯s not exactly ¡®abnormally¡¯ big.¡±


    ¡°You mean Judd would have to kill a giant serpent with no ¡®abnormal¡¯,¡± Giordi used his fingers to mimic and mock Caste¡¯s own gesture, ¡°abilities apart from being enormous?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± Caste stood up and folded his arms, staring at the body with clinical concern. ¡°I am surprised¡­¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°That it really wasn¡¯t that big of a threat.¡± He turned at all of their scoffing laughs.


    ¡°Says the man trying to climb up onto a roof to escape it.¡± Giordi snorted.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying it wasn¡¯t dangerous,¡± Caste eyed him sharply, ¡°but look around you¡­this place is deserted¡­¡± They did so, the rain turning all detail into a haze but if anything, it just made the village seem all the more¡­abandoned. ¡°Judd managed to kill the orthros on his first attempt. Fort Sol had a contingent of soldiers and an experienced knight protecting it.¡±


    ¡°It does seem strange that the orthros alone managed to wipe out an entire village¡­¡± Verne murmured.


    ¡°Maybe they aren¡¯t dead,¡± Judd shrugged, ¡°maybe they took refuge in the fort.¡±


    His reasoning was thin but no one pointed it out. The pieces of orthros were gingerly handled and put into a sack found in the house whose roof they¡¯d destroyed. Giordi complained about having to be the one to drag it but after being told he could do that or wield the sword, he stopped whinging and they walked towards the fort.


    There was no moat of water or tar. The gates opened into the village with no other barrier however they were shut and probably barred on the inside. The keep of the fort was a great deal closer than any of the other forts they had come across and Caste explained that, rather than have a lower and upper bailey, the smallness of Fort Sol meant it only had a courtyard. Unfortunately, it was inaccessible by the main gates which were shut, locked and likely barred for there was no give when they pushed and no answer to the bell.


    ¡°There should be a side door,¡± Caste insisted, ¡°so that people can leave without needing to open the gates, thereby exposing the courtyard and the rest of the fort to attack.¡±


    ¡°Is that it?¡± Verne pointed to a door that might have been harder to find if the hedge that had been planted at the base of the fort hadn¡¯t withered and died, leaving only sticks climbing the walls with no leaves to obscure. Judd tried the handle and the door swung inwards.


    ¡°Promising.¡± He jerked his head. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of the rain at least. We¡¯ll try to figure out the mystery of the abandoned village once we¡¯re dry.¡±


    The door opened into a narrow passage, making it impossible for a large force to enter the fort without being bottlenecked and cut down. Judd¡¯s armour made him quite wide so he had to turn sideways and shuffle along it, up a flight of stairs in an awkward crab climb and still further until he reached another door. It was heavy to open as though a weight was leaning against it. He heaved on it then, turned and grasped the door¡¯s edge, allowing the others to quickly enter before the large tapestry, which hung from the wall, pushed the door back into place, making it almost impossible to find unless you knew what you were looking for.


    ¡°We must have circumvented the courtyard and come out in the main hall¡­¡± Caste breathed.


    The tapestry was one of eight hanging from the walls of the main hall of the keep. Stone was notoriously unfeeling and cold so the tapestries were there to keep the chill out. They had faded over the many years since being made and due to the expense of the material and work that went into making one, it was likely that the tapestries had been hanging on the walls since the fort had been constructed. There were two hearths on either side of the length of the main hall, large enough for fires of impressive size to burn in and keep the residents, at least those who were in the hall, warm.


    However, they were dull and dark, along with all the torches that were carefully arranged so as not to be anywhere near the tapestries. The main hall had an A-frame roof with beams crisscrossing overhead where the vertical wall met the slanted ceiling. Thick blankets of holey gossamer were draped from the beams and some of the strands hung down. While it might have been intended to give the hall a glamourous air, the scabby nature of it spoke of neglect and indifference.


    There was even a hole in the roof, parts of broken beams and shattered tiles in a puddle of water that was pooling from the rain. It wasn¡¯t a big hole and from the discarded bucket nearby, it looked as though, rather than repair the roof damage, the drip had simply been addressed and the hole, ignored.


    At the far end of the hall there was a dais and another hearth situated at the back of it, also unlit and disused. High above, set into the stone, no doubt at great expense, was a stained glass window circle, panels of coloured glass held fast inside heavy black lines. The colour of the panels was dull from the lack of bright sunshine and the ones at the centre just looked like a nondescript black blob.


    ¡°So¡­this isn¡¯t creepy at all¡­¡± Giordi breathed.


    ¡°You said this was one of the minor forts?¡± Verne looked around, shaking his head.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Caste shivered, his tunic soaked through.


    Verne whistled softly. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine what one of the major forts looks like¡­¡±


    ¡°Fort Sol has only tried to mimic the prestige of other forts,¡± Caste explained, ¡°the wall forts are ten times as grand and even then, they¡¯re not even comparable to the castle of Astaril which is more beautiful and elegant by far.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just because it doesn¡¯t need to be made ugly by monster killing fortifications.¡± Giordi pointed out, dumping the bag with the deceased orthros in it near one of the side hearths for future burning.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Aalis asked, pointing.


    Judd peered along Aalis¡¯ line of sight. ¡°Looks like a sack¡­suspended from the ceiling over¡­well, I¡¯m going to call it a throne.¡±


    ¡°Knights do love their ¡®lordship¡¯ perks.¡± Caste muttered as they advanced through the hall.


    ¡°Given Sir Bobellion¡¯s lack of taste in decor, it could be anything.¡± Giordi crinkled his nose in disdain. ¡°Drapes with holes in them, faded tapestries¡­he probably serves meat half raw with no cutlery.¡±


    Judd ignored Giordi¡¯s critique of Sir Bobellion¡¯s decorative style and tried to focus. ¡°Verne, I need your eyes¡­Verne?¡±


    Verne was standing by a wall, fingering one of the strands that hung from the white drapes. ¡°It¡¯s the same stuff from the gate¡­¡± He had to stick it to itself to get it off his fingers. ¡°Sticky rope.¡±


    ¡°Is that sack made of the same stuff? It seems to be suspended by it¡­¡± Judd¡¯s eyes were hardly deficient but Verne had proven to have brilliant vision and the archer came up beside him and stared into the gloom.

 Now they count as creatures of unnatural size, right?

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­a body¡­a body in a sack.¡±


    ¡°A body?¡± Aalis whimpered.


    ¡°At the bottom there¡¯s a foot sticking out¡­and I can just see the ridges of a helm at the top¡­¡±


    ¡°Armour¡­a soldier?¡± Judd breathed.


    ¡°A knight maybe?¡± Giordi picked up a piece of broken sword and held it out. Caste hurried over to him and, retrieving a book from his pack he flicked through the pages. ¡°There, that one¡­no back, back¡­there. That¡¯s the same crest.¡±


    Caste sighed. ¡°The crest of Sir Bobellion.¡±


    They all looked at the body in the sack.


    ¡°Ew.¡± Giordi shivered. ¡°What a terrible way to die.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s dead.¡± Judd inched forward, straining his eyes to focus. ¡°His chest¡­it¡¯s moving! He¡¯s not dead!¡±


    ¡°Judd, wait¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to get him out of there!¡± Judd, deaf to anything except his own righteous desire to save anyone he could, lunged forward. Verne slammed his body into him, pressing him against the wall with his whole weight. ¡°What are you doing? We¡¯ve got to help him!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the knight that¡¯s moving.¡± Verne said darkly.


    Judd paused in his fervour and Verne let go, allowing Judd to peer more closely at the sack. It was trembling, almost bubbling all over¡­as if something was trying to get out.


    ¡°Back¡­back!¡± Judd cried as the sack ripped apart, the emaciated and emancipated body of the knight striking the stone floor with a heavy sickening thump and dozens of black objects fell to the ground.


    Caste¡¯s scream echoed through the room as a sea of spiders surged towards them, clambering over each other in a bid to reach the five travellers first. Each spider was the size of Judd¡¯s fist and collectively they seemed to hiss and screech. Judd hollered, his spine disintegrating and his knees turning to jelly.


    Aalis suddenly bolted past him, running towards the spiders and she hurled the contents of her cooking pot onto the ground, an oily brew descending upon the spiders in a wide wave. The spiders that were struck by the liquid screeched and withered, their legs burning as though they¡¯d touched acid. The spiders that avoided the initial hit with the brew thought nothing of using their dying siblings to scramble madly towards them. Some slipped into the mistletoe oil slick and shrivelled, convulsed and died while a few made it past the sea of death, still determined to pounce on their five person feast.


    ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°What you do to all bugs!¡± Verne cried, stomping on the spider closest to him. ¡°Squash them!¡±


    Caste used his pack like a club. Giordi jumped and kicked. Aalis hiked her skirts up and killed a couple with her boots. Judd spun around slashing his sword down, missing the spiders with his blade but managing to step on others in his frantic defence. He slipped backwards, his boots crushing on the corpses of deceased spider babies, jamming his sword between two cracks in the stone pavers to keep from sliding in the mistletoe oil. He panted wildly and saw their surprised expressions.


    ¡°I HATE spiders.¡± He shuddered uncontrollably, feeling like they were crawling over his body.


    ¡°Now they count as creatures of unnatural size, right?¡± Giordi demanded, his fright making his tone sharper than he intended.


    ¡°While unimpressive as single spider when you can just squash it with your boot,¡± Caste paused to allow Judd to groan and shiver, ¡°compared to the size a spider is meant to be¡­yes. Yes, it counts.¡±


    Judd¡¯s skin was hot and he felt sick. The fear had hit him hard. ¡°Well¡­now we know why the fort and village was abandoned.¡± He gagged.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Judd closed his eyes and groaned then glared at Caste, ¡°no, don¡¯t look at me like that. I¡¯m simply saying that Sir Bobellion couldn¡¯t have been strung up in that weird¡­sack by those spiders.¡±


    Their eyes naturally looked to where the half devoured remains of Sir Bobellion lay on the steps of the dais.


    ¡°Spiders¡­lay eggs, don¡¯t they?¡± Verne looked at Aalis.


    She nodded. ¡°In a sac¡­an egg..sack¡­¡±


    ¡°So that means¡­something killed the knight, made the sack¡­and laid eggs in it¡­¡±


    Judd¡¯s face began to empty of colour, dread forming in the pit of his stomach. He turned to look at the others. ¡°What are you saying?¡± He demanded in a hollow voice.


    ¡°Uh¡­Judd¡­¡± All four of them began to walk backwards, their eyes lifting from Sir Bobellion¡¯s remains.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Judd¡¯s knees wobbled with treacherous cowardice as he turned slowly and made himself look up. Lightning flashed outside the stained glass window, rain streaking down its panels and as he watched, the black iron of the window pried itself off the glass, eight long legs, each six feet long and as round as the width of Judd¡¯s arms. The opaque mass in the centre lifted up and then leapt into the air, landing on the throne, a cord of white, sticky thread hanging behind it. Eight eyes blinked, focused on Judd.


    ¡°Oh sh¡­¡±


    It lifted its front legs and hissed louder than all its babies combined.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think mamma¡¯s very happy!¡± Giordi screeched.


    ¡°And I¡¯m the one standing in spider baby soup!¡± Judd squeezed out of his strangled throat.


    ¡°Then I suggest you run!¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t know what the others were doing. He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the spider, feeling it glower at him, a mother¡¯s rage at the death of her flesh devouring children in every quiver of her eight hairy legs. He grasped his sword, the tip wobbling and no amount of self control could stop it.


    She hissed¡­and then jumped into the air, her back legs working frantically, pulling herself up and beyond the veil of drapery which were now no longer the tacky decoration of a knight¡¯s ambition¡­but layers and layers of webbing.


    ¡°Where is it?¡± Judd panted, spinning around. ¡°Where is it?¡±


    Lightning flashed again and the enormous shadow of the spider was cast upon the floor. Six of its legs were outstretched while the two at the front rubbed together as though imagining how good Judd would taste. Judd was bathed in its shadow and leapt to the side as the spider pounced, tearing through the drapes with its fangs. It landed on the stone pavers, not caring at all about the mistletoe sludge. Its fangs gnashed together and up close, its eyes blinked in unison, seeing Judd in fragmented vision. It hissed and advanced on him as he slammed into a tapestry, madly scrabbling for the secreted door but unable to find it. He turned and as the spider¡¯s forelegs tore through the tapestry, its back legs holding it up and it leered at Judd, drool dripping from its fangs in anticipation.


    Verne unleashed an arrow at it but the spider had a sixth, seventh and possibly eighth sense and simply batted the sharpened projectile away.


    ¡°Do something!¡± Aalis screamed as Judd stared at his imminent doom.


    Giordi, grabbing his lute, ran forward and cracked the spider as hard as he could, the neck of the lute snapping from the body, hanging uselessly by its strings. The spider turned on him and quivered, ready to strike. Giordi stumbled and fell onto his backside, yelling.


    Judd grabbed his sword and, like he was forcing a door to swing a way it was not designed to do, brought his sword up and down, severing two of the spider¡¯s legs from its right side. It howled and screeched like no spider should ever be able to muster and turned on Judd but he had already bolted towards the end of the hall, running for the stairs, taking them two by two as fast as he could.


    He reached a corridor and ran its length, finding more stairs and climbing further and further up, logic and reason gone as he put as much distance as he could between himself and the spider. He threw open the hatch at the top of the steps and clambered onto the roof. The rain was sleeting down, turning the world grey and blurry. He peered over the edge and realised just how close he was to the cliff face.


    He backed away and turned and to his horror, he was standing in front of the stained glass window. So close he could see that the glass had been shattered and the spider had turned the space into a perfect location to spin its web, looking like the window itself. All too late he realised that, if the spider got into the fort that way¡­then it stood to reason¡­


    Hissing fangs and snapping jaws made him throw caution to the wind, scrambling frantically up the slope of the roof of the main hall, tiles breaking and falling away, trying to drag him with them. The spider, with its sticky feet and extra limbs, though it was missing a couple now, followed him, its weight bending the beams, the tiles sliding from beneath it as well. With a giant leap it flew over his head and perched on the ridgepole and chittered, wordless noise but the intent was known.


    It was measuring Judd for his web sack coffin and imagining how many eggs were going to fit inside his body. It danced on the tips of her legs, awkwardly perched on the ridgepole and Judd braced himself, his sword held out in front. It couldn¡¯t attack him directly, despite darting back and forth, testing his defences because he kept the tip of his sword up even though he was shaking so hard it waggled back and forth like a happy dog¡¯s tail.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he trembled, ¡°what are you waiting for?!¡±


    It spluttered and hissed back at him. Judd¡¯s fear finally reached a breaking point and he roared and charged the spider. It was taken aback and reared to get out of the way but it was missing two of its legs and was badly balanced and slid to one side. In the blink of an eye that it took to try to right itself Judd rammed his sword into its bulbous black body and then, because he was full of fear fuelled rage, he kept going, bellowing against the thunder, pushing it further and further back. Green blood and slimy entrails slipped out between the grievous wound, the spider trying in vain to remove the painful obstruction from its body. But its sticky feet couldn¡¯t grab it without cutting itself and it its pain filled distraction, Judd pushed it all the way to the end of the ridgepole, its body falling to the grounds of the courtyard. Judd nearly lost his own footing in his adrenalin filled rush and had to put his arms out, his sword still embedded in the spider¡¯s body that lay lifeless and limp far below.


    He closed his eyes and breathed out, turned and began to make his way off the roof¡­but he was shaking, the rain was hammering him and it only took one tile to slip for him to take a fatal tumble. He hit the tiles and slid, scrambling for only a second, which felt like a year, before he managed to grip a tile that had a tenuous grasp upon the roof. Judd held tight and tried to reach the ridgepole but it was too far and the tile gave a terrifying tremble. Judd groaned and looked around, seeing a black shape in the roof.


    The hole!


    He licked his lips, stretching his arm out then leaning as far as he could, fingers just scraping the edge of the hole when the tile finally gave up its tether and fell away. Judd lunged and grasped the hole, pulling himself up in such haste that he fell through it.


    He had barely conceived of possibly climbing down to one of the exposed beams below by the time he¡¯d thrown himself through the hole and now, didn¡¯t know where a single beam was. He fell into the hall, giving a cry of fright before his body was caught by something soft that gave him a little bounce before he began to roll, webbing wrapping around and around him as he tumbled, the strands holding it up giving way under his weight and dropping him to the pavers in his own cocoon of safety.


    He lay on the ground, panting, unable to move, his arms pinned awkwardly to his sides. He looked up, four faces staring down at him.


    ¡°Did you kill it?¡± Verne demanded.


    ¡°Or should Aalis give you something for intestinal distress?¡± Giordi added smartly.


    Judd moaned and lay back. ¡°Just¡­get me out of this¡­please.¡±

 Facing what you fear, which you did, makes you a knight

    It took a while to cut Judd out of his wrap, Caste eventually finding his small saw and carefully breaking the threads. The large doors that would open onto the courtyard had been sealed shut with even more spider web but Giordi had a guess that fire would make quick work of it. They were able to find flint stone and, using the tip of Verne¡¯s last arrow, were able to make sparks that leapt onto the webbing. The spider¡¯s web lit up in a flash, the whole hall clearing in a matter of seconds and all that was left were a few stray sparks.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t try that on me.¡± Judd warned, sitting up, carving at the last bits of web that bound his legs together. Verne lit several of the torches which were laced with a flammable oil and immediately a friendlier glow was cast over the gloomy hall.


    The body of the giant spider was the first thing they saw upon opening the doors into the courtyard. Verne retrieved Judd¡¯s sword then he and Giordi, who made a fuss about manual labour, dragged it into the main hall.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need fuel for the fire¡­¡±


    ¡°We could use the thatch from the house whose roof we ruined.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡±


    Aalis watched Verne and Giordi head for the main gates of the courtyard that would open into the village then turned back to Judd who was trying very hard not to look at the spider¡¯s body.


    ¡°Did it scratch or bite you?¡± She asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Judd rapped his armour, ¡°this kept me pretty safe¡­although up on that roof I could have used a little less weight.¡±


    ¡°You were very brave,¡± Aalis frowned as he gave a mocking laugh, ¡°what is it?¡±


    ¡°Brave? I tried to find the door to escape,¡± Judd winced in shame, ¡°I¡­I would have left you all behind¡­¡± He shuddered. ¡°I really, really¡­really hate spiders. But not you.¡± Aalis raised her eyebrows. ¡°You ran at them and threw your mistletoe brew¡­you killed so many. I don¡¯t think we would have been able to defend ourselves against all of them.¡±


    ¡°It did not work against the big spider, though.¡±


    ¡°Still, if we come across any more mistletoe, we¡¯ll be stuffing our pockets with it.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°Giordi was quite brave too, attacking it when he did.¡± The broken lute was a pathetic sight.


    ¡°Caste will be happy,¡± Judd groaned as he stood up, ¡°and perhaps, by the time we¡¯ve found Giordi a new one, he¡¯ll have forgotten to write the ballad of the arachnophobic knight.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis said firmly, ¡°you cannot help the things that make you so frightened that you lose all reason. Fearing something is an attribute of being human. Facing what you fear, which you did, makes you a knight.¡±


    Judd smiled warmly at her and she tucked her dreadlock behind her ear, bashfully blushing.


    ¡°If I ever become a knight, I¡¯m going to make that my motto.¡± She smiled, shaking her head and he opened his mouth to say that her gentle wisdom was just one of the things that he admired about her, which was turning his initial appreciation into a deepening emotion¡­when Verne and Giordi started yelling. ¡°What now!¡± Judd¡¯s reflexes were on high alert and he looked up, hearing them cry ¡®watch out¡¯ just as a grey force knocked him down and began to lick him madly. ¡°Oof¡­get off me you mad duffer!¡±


    ¡°Sorry Judd!¡± Giordi called, he and Verne running into the hall, their arms full of thatch. ¡°I think he was waiting until our backs were turned to run inside.¡±


    ¡°Oh poor boy,¡± Aalis scrubbed his neck, his tail whipping back and forth, spraying water, his tongue hanging out with pleasure, ¡°did that mean orthros torment you and steal your dinner? Yes he did¡­¡±


    Judd got up and sighed, rubbing the dog¡¯s head to a show that he held no grudge against being knocked over.


    ¡°Poor fellow,¡± he shook his head, ¡°he probably had owners in the village¡­¡±


    ¡°There hasn¡¯t been a single sign of life.¡± Caste remarked quietly, looking up from marking his parchment with the blood of the spider. The giant leg he was using didn¡¯t fit in the box so it had to go in its own sack.


    ¡°Strange that out of an entire village, the only body we found was of Sir Bobellion.¡± Giordi said as he and Verne tossed the thatch into the hearth and, using the flint and arrowhead, attempted to get a fire going. ¡°If this takes off, we¡¯re going to need more firewood.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°There should be more in the fort kitchen to feed the oven.¡± Aalis brushed her hands. ¡°Maybe we will find you something to eat, hey?¡± She rubbed his head then picked up one of the torches.


    ¡°Need help?¡± Judd asked, hoping she would say yes and they could continue their conversation.


    ¡°I am sure I will be fine.¡± Aalis called, finding a door on the opposite side of where the stairs were situated behind the dais.


    Aalis reasoned that kitchens needed to be close to feasting halls so she hoped the door she opened would lead her to where she wanted to go. Fortunately her instincts served her well and she found herself in a large kitchen that was as empty as the rest of the fort. There were a few unpleasant smells from food that was rotting and mouldy bread. She rested the torch in a metal brace then approached the large table in the middle where half a pig carcass had been lay abandoned. She used a cleaver to hack off the bone of the leg.


    ¡°Here boy, look what I found you.¡± She turned, looking for the dog that had happily followed her when called. ¡°What do you have over there? Found a rat?¡±


    The dog was scratching at the ground, splinters of wood coming up from its claws and it was whining with increasing frenzy. As Aalis approached she saw there was a large metal circle bolted to the wood on the otherwise stone floor, a large barrel having fallen across it, possibly in an attempt to hide it. Aalis heaved against the barrel and managed to move it enough that the ring was freed and she could see now that the wood the dog was attacking was a panel of heavy, metal bound planks set flush into the floor.


    ¡°Oh¡­could it be?¡± She grasped the ring and tried to put, the dog leaping back, barking in excitement but the trapdoor was too heavy. She couldn¡¯t lift it. ¡°Judd! Verne, Giordi, Caste!¡± Already summoned by the dog¡¯s barking, the others were swift in appearing. Aalis pointed to the trapdoor. ¡°I think someone is down there. I cannot lift it.¡±


    ¡°Allow me.¡± Judd grasped the ring.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Caste gasped, ¡°what if it¡¯s a monster?¡±


    They paused.


    ¡°What if it is a survivor?¡± Aalis cried.


    ¡°Dogs are good judges of character.¡± Verne nodded at the grey hound that was scratching at the trapdoor again and whimpering. ¡°I say trust it.¡±


    ¡°Then on three. One, two¡­three!¡± Judd heaved, the weighted trapdoor requiring all his strength to pull it up and back onto himself. He then realised the foolishness of his position, trapped in the corner of the kitchen with the heavy wood planks against him.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Aalis called. ¡°Is anyone down there?¡±


    Silence ensued¡­then¡­


    ¡°Are you human?¡±


    She laughed and gasped at the same time. ¡°Yes, yes we are!¡±


    Judd squeezed out from around the trapdoor and saw a pale face looking up at them fearfully.


    ¡°There was a spider¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dead.¡± Judd said with finality. The face looked at him with a great deal of scepticism in their eyes but Judd¡¯s monster blood splattered armour seemed to convince the survivor. ¡°The orthros too.¡±


    The survivor breathed out with a deep sigh. ¡°The alarm was raised to come inside the keep. Sir Bobellion¡­what happened to him?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid the spider killed him.¡± Caste said softly.


    The survivor shook his head. ¡°He¡­he mightn¡¯t have been the most auspicious knight¡­but he saved us.¡±


    ¡°Us?¡± Judd peered into the darkness. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, there are dozens of us down here.¡± The survivor disappeared and dull words could be heard then they reappeared and climbed up the ladder, stumbling a little. ¡°Sorry, there wasn¡¯t a lot of headspace down there. We¡¯ve been cramped for days.¡± He wore the tunic of a cleric, dusty and stained.


    After the cleric came several adults, all dazed and apprehensive. Judd and Verne helped several elderly villagers climb the ladder and then the children began to appear.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a fire going in the main hall,¡± Giordi announced, ¡°follow me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think he was the hero.¡± Verne rolled his eyes, helping a weeping young woman out.


    ¡°Oh thank you!¡± She threw her arms around Verne who looked at Judd awkwardly. He chuckled at the archer¡¯s discomfort then found himself thanked in the same way. ¡°Thank you!¡±


    Caste and the Fort Sol cleric, Elde, stood to one side, Elde flexing his legs and feet.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you all survived down there,¡± Caste was aghast, ¡°and for how long?¡±


    ¡°Four days.¡± Elde stretched his arms. ¡°There¡¯s quite a lot of space down there, it¡¯s just not very tall. It¡¯s a natural cave in the cliff face that is used for food storage for the fort. Sir Bobellion ordered us in there knowing we could survive for a while. There are holes that let in air and light and we gathered water when it rained from those holes, collecting it into barrels.¡±


    ¡°Sir Bobellion remained in the fort?¡±


    Elde nodded. ¡°He was going to kill the spider. We had no warning. It must have been biding its time in a cave on the southern most side of the isle then attacked. We were already on tenterhooks because of the orthros. Sir Bobellion and his contingent of soldiers were confident they could kill the spider but minutes turned into hours which turned into days¡­and we couldn¡¯t get out. The trapdoor wouldn¡¯t lift.¡± Elde put a trembling hand into his tunic and drew a small pouch out. ¡°I¡­if you hadn¡¯t come when you did¡­I would have been forced to put this into our collected water¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Caste took the pouch and carefully pried it open, peering at the contents. ¡°Wolfsbane?¡± He hissed in a whisper.


    Tears welled in Elde¡¯s eyes. ¡°Cut with a heavy sedative¡­if¡­if the children were¡­starving¡­¡± He sobbed, sagging forward onto Caste. ¡°I¡­I haven¡¯t slept in days¡­I thought I was going to be their executioner¡­¡±


    Caste looked at Judd who heard the weeping cleric and glanced over at him. Caste looked helpless and Judd jerked his head at him. Caste tried to give Elde a comforting hug which came out as an awkward pat but Elde seemed to be better for it.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis said softly, ¡°these people are going to need food. I thought myself, with anyone who can help, might make this kitchen operational. They are in a terrible, fear saturated state.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t leave them until we know they are safe and provided for.¡± Judd promised.

 I just wish I could have done some good, you know?

    A few days later, Judd was perched on the rooftop that Caste and Giordi had fallen through, laying new thatch to fill in the hole. His companion was one of the villagers and between them they were making short work of the process. Judd was grateful for his assistance as he didn¡¯t know that much about laying thatch but he did want to continue to help the villagers.


    ¡°Judd!¡± He looked down at Aalis who jiggled a water pouch at him. ¡°Here!¡± He caught it and swigged deeply, handing it to the other man. ¡°How is it going?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re making progress.¡± Judd wiped his brow free of sweat. ¡°I think all the damage done will be repaired by the end of today. How are the crops? Have you been able to detoxify the earth?¡±


    ¡°My remedies seem to be working.¡± Aalis nodded, her dreadlocks hidden beneath a piece of cloth she had turned into a long handkerchief. She had plaited the thick strands then draped the cloth over her forehead and tied it into a knot at the nape of her neck. ¡°Thankfully the orthros did not urinate on the plantations like it did on the trees so we have been able to salvage much of their harvest.¡±


    ¡°Excellent.¡±


    Aalis went back inside the fort and Judd continued to work for several minutes before he heard a snort from below. Verne had a large cluster of sticks and branches strapped to his back.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t Caste and Giordi helping you?¡± He asked. ¡°They¡¯re the ones that did the damage!¡±


    ¡°Giordi¡¯s attempting to mend his lute and Caste is in the library with Elde.¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes and readjusted his load, taking it into the fort. After clearing out all the evidence of monster occupation, the villagers had lived in the fort, unwilling to inhabit their homes until they felt safe. After the death of the orthros and spider, there was a great deal of work to be done. They had scrubbed the floor of the main hall clean of spider remains and the mistletoe oil and cleared out all the fallen debris. While they could do little about the tiles that had fallen from the roof, they had sealed the hole with a rudimentary patch and boarded up the stained glass window. The two side hearths were always lit and the kitchen was operating, Aalis able to leave the bulk of the preparation to those who had manned it before they¡¯d been sequestered below. She was busy making tonics to help many of the villagers sleep through the nights and treating the earth, trying to save all the trees and plants she could.


    Verne was always on his feet, lugging water, dragging wood, hammering nails. Giordi, while usually compliant when told to do something, never offered so it became a chore to nag him. Verne had started to pitch the nearest stone he could reach at the minstrel¡¯s shoulder which usually removed any need to use words to point out something that needed to be done. Caste might have been a permanent guest of the fort library if not for Elde having some sense of obligation, possibly imbued with the thrill of being the highest ranking member of the staff of Fort Sol that remained, lending a hand. His knowledge of the fort was quite impressive.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Caste was surprised when he found out Elde had only been stationed at Fort Sol for six months.


    ¡°I¡¯m older than you by a number of years so we were never in the same class in the Order,¡± he had explained to Caste, ¡°and when I applied to become a deacon¡­I was unsuccessful.¡±


    ¡°Did they tell you as much?¡±


    ¡°No. They just assigned me here.¡± Elde huffed sadly. ¡°It didn¡¯t need to be said when I received my orders from the bishop to be Sir Bobellion¡¯s cleric at Fort Sol. This place,¡± he looked about at the impoverished library, ¡°was probably rather impressive in its day but has never received the same attention or wealth as the wall forts¡­not that I think any amount of money or battlements could have stopped that spider.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Anyway, where was I¡­oh yes, when I got here and found that the rumours the clerics had whispered about Fort Sol were all too justified, I decided to try to make myself as useful as possible.¡± Elde shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I did any good¡­I¡¯m not even sure what will happen to this place now. Fort Callain can watch the channel.¡±


    ¡°What will happen to you if you go back to Astaril?¡±


    ¡°Probably be put in historical record retrieval.¡± Elde shook his head. ¡°I just wish I could have done some good, you know? Something more of note¡­but I have to say, after hearing about knighthood quest proposition, I was relieved not to be able to be assigned to it. I couldn¡¯t imagine traipsing around the countryside in the company of a middle class gent with delusions about his lot in life¡­¡± Elde paused. ¡°Yet without him and those who travel with him¡­¡±


    Caste knew he was thinking of the pouch of wolfsbane.


    It had been a terrible burden to suffer.


    Even now, Elde seemed to have permanent shadows beneath his eyes. Caste did not have a good memory for people. This was not because he didn¡¯t have a good memory but rather, he chose to blot them out, to turn them into blurry blobs in his mind. He preferred his facts and dates, his black and white world where grey need not encroach. He didn¡¯t know Elde or any of his cleric colleagues personally but seeing Elde in the real world, O¡¯Dear and Bede too, reminded him that not all clerics were like him, destined to become deacons, possibly to become one of the twelve archdeacons and, then, who knows, the bishop?


    Caste felt an uncharacteristic pang of sympathy for Elde and dug through his pack, drawing a book out.


    ¡°This is ¡®The Second Coming¡¯, a collection of essays and supposition about Andigre¡¯s prophesied return.¡± Caste cleared his throat and pushed it towards Elde. ¡°For you to read.¡±


    ¡°A new book?¡± Elde gasped at the offer. ¡°Oh¡­no I couldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it here, then.¡± Caste slid it onto one of the shelves, decades, possibly centuries newer than anything else in the library. ¡°Just promise me you¡¯ll take good care of it.¡±


    ¡°I swear¡­¡± Elde danced on his toes for a moment before darting to another shelf. ¡°Well, as a thank you¡­may I offer you this volume?¡± He held it out and Caste seriously considered declining as it was dusty, grimy and the leather binding was splitting and cracking. ¡°I know it isn¡¯t much to look at,¡± Elde said, either seeing Caste¡¯s revulsion or anticipating it, ¡°but it is a book on traditional manners, reconciliation traditions and customs and was quite interesting¡­and amusing. For instance,¡± he leaned forward, ¡°did you know there was once a limit as to how low the bodice of a woman¡¯s dress was allowed to come down her¡­ahem?¡±


    Caste¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Are there¡­illustrations?¡± He half squeaked.


    ¡°Well¡­as it is so old it was written before the propriety restrictions on explicit content¡­but even then, it is not detailed.¡±


    Caste wasn¡¯t sure if he was relieved or disappointed. He took the volume, utterly intrigued where mere seconds earlier he was repelled. He was tempted to flick open the front cover when they heard running footsteps and turned to the library door. A young man, a servant of the fort, appeared on the threshold.


    ¡°We have company.¡±

 Not only as brave as a knight but as noble as one too

    Judd was just laying the last of the thatch on the roof when he heard a shout and looked up, seeing people hurrying towards the fort, away from the entrance to the village. The gate had been left open so that the farmers could tend their fields and supplies could be brought into the town. As such there was nothing to stop anything from barging in. The argument had been made that the orthros, while unpleasant, could be dealt with again if another made an appearance and the spider had simply climbed over the barrier and even the fort¡¯s defences were no match for it.


    So the man, coated in custom made armour in matt black and his armed two dozen soldiers simply marched straight in. Judd kicked himself for becoming complacent and leaving his sword inside the fort. He wasn¡¯t in his armour and he didn¡¯t like his chances if the newcomers were hostile.


    The man in the distinctive black armour surveyed the village through the slit of his helm then caught sight of Judd on the roof.


    ¡°You there!¡± He called. ¡°I am Sir Egrette of Fort Callain. I seek Sir Bobellion or the person who is in charge of this fort should he have fallen.¡±


    ¡°Everyone is inside Fort Sol, sir.¡± Judd explained. ¡°They will have barred entry,¡± he slid down, the knight eyeing him calmly, ¡°but I can get them to open it.¡± He led the knight and the soldiers to the gates that had been closed in haste and pulled on the bell. ¡°Verne! Open up! Reinforcements are here!¡±


    Verne didn¡¯t reply but a moment later the gates opened a crack and his blue eye fixed on Judd then on the knight behind him before opening the gates fully. Judd stepped aside to allow Sir Egrette and his soldiers to march into the courtyard. Appearing on the steps up to the keep was Cleric Elde with Caste in tow.


    ¡°You, cleric,¡± Sir Egrette pointed, ¡°where is your lord?¡±


    ¡°Sir Bobellion was slain in battle,¡± Elde said, adopted a formal, even dramatised telling of the knight¡¯s demise, ¡°and the bodies of the soldiers were never found.¡±


    Sir Egrette eyed Elde sharply. ¡°Fort Sol had a dozen trained soldiers and Sir Bobellion was an experienced knight despite his years. What could have happened here?¡±


    ¡°An orthros had been sighted for months but unable to be found and killed. I sent a report of the sighting to Astaril. Then there was trouble in the channel after sirens cut us off from all aid and slaughtered anyone who attempted to reach the mainland,¡± Elde explained, ¡°although we only know now of their fate as we have been told that both ferry houses are abandoned. Finally, seven days ago, the fort¡¯s defences were breached by a¡­spider¡­¡±


    Sir Egrette had removed his helmet, showing off a head of tousled shoulder length sandy hued hair with a beard and sideburns to match and was studying Elde with a sceptical expression.


    ¡°A spider?¡±


    ¡°It¡­it was¡­¡± Elde floundered, his hands falling to his sides, unable to do the size of the spider¡¯s body justice. He looked at Caste helplessly.


    ¡°This might put it in perspective.¡± Caste said, retrieving his pack and carefully offered the severed leg of the spider for Egrette¡¯s inspection. The hardy knight was taken aback and there was a soft murmuring amongst his soldiers. ¡°The body of the spider was probably as long as I am tall.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Sir Bobellion fell to this vile creature?¡±


    Elde nodded as Caste tucked the leg away. ¡°He ordered us into a storage room into which we were trapped when the trapdoor was jammed shut. We would all be dead now if it weren¡¯t for Judd LaMogre and his companions.¡±


    ¡°I do not know that name,¡± Sir Egrette frowned, ¡°one of the soldiers?¡±


    ¡°No, a young man engaged in Sir Rylan¡¯s quest for knighthood.¡±


    Now Egrette¡¯s jaw fell open fully and he slammed it shut in haste. ¡°A middle class novice killed the spider?¡±


    ¡°And the orthros and crossed the channel without falling prey to the sirens.¡± Elde nodded.


    ¡°This I find hard to believe. Where is this man? I must meet him. Surely he must be a giant.¡± Elde gestured, a little embarrassed as Egrette was looking for an armour donned warrior and turned to see Judd, grubby from manual labour and in his casual clothes. ¡°You?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°You were repairing a roof!¡±


    ¡°I felt it was only right to try to help the residents of Fort Sol to get back on their feet,¡± Judd explained lightly, ¡°we have been making repairs to buildings, bringing in crops, looking after the sick and the elderly¡­¡±


    Egrette shook his head. ¡°An unknighted warrior novice did what Sir Bobellion could not?¡±


    As Judd tried to recall a way to prove what had happened, if only to get back into Sir Egrette¡¯s good books as he seemed almost ready to run Judd through, one of the soldiers cleared his throat and leaned forward.


    ¡°Sir,¡± he said softly, ¡°the list of Fort Bastil tournament champions was posted in the barracks only a day or two before we marched for Fort Sol. A Judd LaMogre was marked as the tournament¡¯s champion.¡±


    Sir Egrette considered this, his captain sliding back into line then studied Judd. ¡°Well¡­I am quite honestly astonished¡­but pleasantly surprised as well. To have cut down an orthros is neither here nor there but a spider of those¡­proportions¡­very well done.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Elde waved his hand politely, ¡°may I ask how you crossed the channel? How did you resist the sirens?¡±


    ¡°We saw Fort Sol¡¯s torch burn bright seven days ago,¡± Sir Egrette explained, ¡°I can only surmise that one of the soldiers must have lit the beacon which was sighted by Fort Callain¡¯s lookout and I rallied my finest regiment to leave the very next day. When we arrived at the ferry house it was abandoned and the ferry was in such poor condition that we had to cross the channel in several trips¡­but there were no sirens or any kind of disturbances in the water.¡±


    Judd gave Caste a relieved look. ¡°That will make the crossing much easier.¡±


    ¡°Then we marched on Fort Sol, expecting a battle¡­I confess, I am a little put out.¡± Sir Egrette said sternly but the corner of his mouth curled up.


    ¡°Could we make it up to you?¡± Giordi spoke up, bowing with his usual flare. ¡°The fort kitchen is well stocked and your men are probably tired of marching rations.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Captain?¡±


    ¡°At ease, soldiers.¡± The captain barked and the soldiers relaxed their stiff stance. ¡°Lead on.¡±


    Giordi led them inside. Sir Egrette turned to Judd, putting his hand on his shoulder as they walked into the main hall. ¡°You have done the residents of Fort Sol a tremendous service, Judd LaMogre. I fear I am ill equipped to bestow any kind of reward or compensation upon you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just relieved we got here in time.¡± Judd insisted and then stumbled as the taller man clapped him hard on the shoulder and guffawed.


    ¡°Come now, there¡¯s no need for false modesty. Knights of old might have been given the option for up to half the kingdom for the heroics you performed.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t want a reward,¡± Judd stopped walking and Sir Egrette turned and stared at him, surprise in his eyes, ¡°there are a few things that my companions and I need¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, Astaril gold perhaps? New sword or armour?¡±


    ¡°A lute,¡± Judd paused, ¡°we could all use new shoes and my archer desperately needs arrows but of course, I am not demanding these things or even requesting. I wouldn¡¯t even bring them up except my minstrel saved my life by ruining his lute and a bow is useless without arrows, no matter the skill of the archer.¡±


    Egrette stared so long at Judd that the younger man shifted his weight uncomfortably. ¡°Nothing for yourself?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­shoes but I¡­¡±


    ¡°Not only as brave as a knight but as noble as one too.¡± Egrette shook his head. ¡°I think you¡¯ll go a long way, LaMogre was it?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°I look forward to hearing your name again in the future. I have no doubt I will.¡±

 Five down, five to go…

    Sir Egrette¡¯s arrival, while too late to confront the spider, orthros or sirens, was quite well timed with the work done in the fort. Judd and his companions had reached a stage where they could not do much more without making long term plans.


    Egrette decided to leave his captain and half his soldiers behind to protect the fort and the village. With Cleric Elde able to assist the captain, the knight decided that there was enough life and structure to keep the fort running, at least until he¡¯d heard from King Rocheveron.


    ¡°Honestly the king doesn¡¯t really know what goes on down this far south,¡± Sir Egrette said to Judd as they left the village, waving farewell to several of the children before they ran off to play with the grey dog that was happy to have company and food once more, ¡°but that¡¯s hardly his fault. Astaril is where he resides and it is the crowning jewel of Terra. But the southern forts, where shield meets monster and sword meets beast¡­that¡¯s the real struggle, the endless struggle, of our world.¡±


    ¡°You really think King Rocheveron would consider Fort Sol a lost cause?¡± Judd asked as they marched down the slope cut through the grey stone, the water of the channel seen from so great a height and it sparkled with innocent bliss.


    ¡°Prior to this occurrence, I would have sworn Fort Callain was more than adequate to keep an eye on the channel but clearly, I was wrong.¡± Sir Egrette remarked and Judd liked how he was willing to admit he was not always right. ¡°Sir Bobellion should have done more and sooner but that is usually the case in rear reflection. He probably didn¡¯t want to lose face asking for help to defend his fort from a two headed dog.¡±


    The sun was brightly shining, the gloomy clouds dispersed since the heavy rainfall. New growth was popping up all over the land and instead of being coloured grey, it was bright and green with small buds of yellow and white flowers appearing. Judd glanced at Aalis, hoping she was enjoying the restored land. She was walking quietly, her eyes lowered and her head down, her hair completely covered. She did not want to draw attention to herself and Judd understood her fear.


    Sir Egrette was one of the famous southern knights. His deeds were so impressive that Giordi would need an hour to sing about all of them, especially with the way he liked to dramatize the telling. Egrette¡¯s crest was of a hawk in flight and his soldiers, while good on the ground, were rumoured to be such great archers that they could pierce a hawk through the heart even at the dizzyingly high heights they flew.


    Judd found it difficult to talk to Egrette. On one hand he almost wanted to pounce on him and ask a thousand questions about his battles, his tactics and beg for stories of his conquest of the griffin incursion a decade ago and how he routed a goblin stronghold almost singlehandedly. On the other hand, he was quite intimidated. The festival of Maul that was held in Astaril did not just highlight the monsters that seethed and writhed on the southern side of the wall, but also the knights who kept the wall intact and chased down anything that managed to get through. Sir Egrette was one of the four knights and Judd had, much to his embarrassment now, pinched posters from the festival streets, each one displaying a different knight or their crest, and plastered them on the walls of his room. He had read every book on all the grand things the knights had ever done. He knew everything about Sir Egrette, probably even more than the knight knew about himself. He was old enough to be Judd¡¯s father. Egrette had a son, Judd¡¯s age, who lived in Astaril with his uncle and was almost always talked about as being as headstrong and headline making as his father, though perhaps not always for the best reasons.


    So it was hard to know how to be around him.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    The younger Judd, the giddy child wanted to be clinging and cloying.


    The slightly older Judd was as awkward as an adolescent asking a girl if she would like to hold hands.


    Middle ground seemed to be the way to go but unfortunately it seemed to be a pendulum swing. One moment he was chirpy and lively and the next he was quietly reserved as he tried to figure out something to say that would dazzle the knight. Perhaps the extremes were avoided but Judd still struggled to find a balance between talking loud and fast to not talking at all.


    But even in the midst of Judd¡¯s adoration, he also recalled Sir Egrette¡¯s merciless stance on witches.


    He didn¡¯t tolerate them at all. Tainted water was an unending problem so far south so the knights of the wall forts had to become calloused and unyielding when following through on the culling of witches.


    At the base of the slope, Sir Egrette and his soldiers kept up such a sharp pace that Judd and his companions almost had to jog to keep up. Thankfully a horse, which had been found roaming the fields, avoiding being eaten, had been hitched to a cart filled with beams, rope, barrels and everything else needed to build a new ferry. Into the cart also went their packs so at least they weren¡¯t weighed down but by the time they reached the ferry house, they were exhausted.


    ¡°We¡¯ll cross¡­in the¡­morning¡­¡± Judd wheezed and Sir Egrette laughed.


    ¡°Once you and your party cross the channel, we¡¯ll draw the ferry back and construct a sturdier ferry and just bolt the wheel from the first onto the new base. That will make getting reinforcements to the isle easier and, if Fort Sol is decommissioned, we will be able to relocate the villagers.¡±


    Egrette had learned that Judd¡¯s party included a cook so there seemed to be no way for Aalis not to be the centre of attention that evening as she was prevailed upon to make them supper. She kept her head down and the handkerchief covering her hair was firmly pinned into place. Her belts of pouches and medicinal herbs tied to them were hidden in her pack. Judd felt awful but he didn¡¯t know how to shield her.


    Egrette swore softly and stood up from the table. ¡°That was mighty fine. Hey, I¡¯ll have more of that if there is any.¡± Egrette waved his bowl in the air. Judd watched as Aalis faltered and went to stand up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you¡­¡±


    ¡°Let the woman serve the men. It¡¯s what they do.¡± Egrette held the bowl out, his arm extended so Aalis quickly took it and filled it back to the brim. Nervously she approached the table and put it down in front of him. One of the soldiers winked at Aalis and her blush was one of nervousness instead of pleasure. Egrette caught the man¡¯s display and looked at Aalis who was standing beside him. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you rather pretty?¡± Judd¡¯s throat tightened as Egrette¡¯s, and everyone else¡¯s, full attention was on Aalis. ¡°My, my¡­I should throw you over my shoulder and carry you back to Fort Callain with me¡­but to be honest, I¡¯m not sure where I¡¯d put you. In the kitchen or the bedroom.¡±


    Aalis flushed bright red and Egrette laughed as though he had been incredibly witty and turned back to his meal. Aalis escaped to the kitchen and then, when she hoped no one was looking, she fled outside.


    She closed the door behind her and let out a shaky breath.


    ¡°Charming, aren¡¯t they?¡± Verne remarked from her lean against the side of the ferry house.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Aalis shuddered. ¡°In the kitchen or the bedroom¡­¡±


    ¡°Who said that?¡±


    ¡°Egrette.¡±


    Verne shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m relieved they think I¡¯m male.¡±


    Aalis smiled. ¡°Maybe I should cut all my hair off too¡­although yours is growing.¡±


    Verne tugged on a strand of hers. ¡°I¡¯ll have to have a go at it with a blade soon.¡±


    ¡°I would not concern yourself.¡± Aalis took off her shoe and tapped it, sand trickling out of it. ¡°It is all quite uneven so it appears jagged and certainly not feminine.¡±


    ¡°You mean, unlike your dreadlocks?¡± Verne chuckled.


    Aalis laughed and nodded. ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to go to sleep. That way I won¡¯t have to listen to them brag about all the women they¡¯ve bedded.¡± Verne yawned. ¡°You coming in?¡±


    ¡°In a minute. I have a stubborn stone in my shoe.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Verne went inside and Aalis leaned against the ferry house and peered into her shoe before giving it one sharp bang on the wall and a tiny pebble flew out.


    ¡°Thank goodness.¡± Aalis breathed and lifted her foot to brush the sand from her toes. Her heart did a double jump in her breast and her spine trembled in horror.


    Two of her toenails had turned a green so dark they were almost black.

 Monsters do tend to love a full moon

    It was with no little trepidation that the five travellers boarded the lopsided ferry the next morning. Though the day was bright and clear and there wasn¡¯t a cloud to be seen or evil fog lurking, the water of the channel held disturbing memories for all of them.


    Before they left, Sir Egrette made a little presentation.


    ¡°You could have asked for up to half a kingdom. I couldn¡¯t have given it to you but you could have asked,¡± he said with a pleasant smile, holding his hand out behind him and one of his soldiers placed a bow and quiver full of arrows into his hand, ¡°for your archer in accordance with your wishes.¡±


    ¡°For me?¡± Verne stammered and Giordi gave him a push forwards in order to take it. ¡°This¡­this is what you asked for?¡±


    ¡°Actually I think I just asked for arrows but that bow¡­¡± Judd whistled.


    ¡°A bow of Fort Callain¡­¡± Verne held it reverently. ¡°This is a dream¡­¡±


    ¡°And plenty of arrows.¡± Verne looped the quiver strap over his head, too astounded to say anything else. ¡°When a knight, albeit a young man well on his way to being one, says his archer needs supplies¡­I take notice.¡± Egrette chuckled. ¡°Now, as for the shoes and lute,¡± Giordi brightened, ¡°I can do nothing about.¡± Giordi¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°I have a small pouch of Astaril coins which should cover all your footwear requirements and the purchase of a lute¡­although I confess, I have no idea how much they cost.¡±


    Judd accepted the small bag of money. ¡°Thank you, Sir Egrette. This is very generous of you. It wasn¡¯t even your fort.¡±


    ¡°Sir Bobellion would have done as much, if not more but alas¡­my pockets are now empty, so go forth, Judd LaMogre,¡± Egrette clasped his hand, ¡°I thought Sir Rylan had crossed that thin line between brilliance and insanity when he told us of his proposal for middle class first born sons to become knights¡­but it seems his faith in you was justified.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    ¡°If you make it through this knighthood quest and return to Astaril, do look my son up. He could use an example like yourself to live up to.¡±


    Judd nodded then waded through the water to the ferry and climbed onboard. Several of the soldiers helped push it out a little further and then Judd turned the wheel, the beach of the isle becoming smaller and fainter as the mainland came closer. On such a clear day, it was possible to see one shore from the other although it was reduced in detail to a little yellow line.


    ¡°Anyone else terrified?¡± Giordi asked as the ferry wobbled along.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been holding my breath.¡± Verne admitted.


    ¡°I hate ferries.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°I have belts and rope ready.¡± Aalis reassured them although she wasn¡¯t sure if it made them feel at all better.


    Judd gazed at her as he turned the ferry wheel.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± he said softly, ¡°about last night¡­what Egrette said¡­¡±


    ¡°Pig.¡± Verne said with heat, catching Judd¡¯s words.


    ¡°He was paying Aalis a compliment, albeit a tacky one.¡± Giordi tried to excuse.


    ¡°Did you feel complimented, Aalis?¡± Verne asked.


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°I know it is the custom of men to make merry with women, especially amongst knights and soldiers¡­and I do not think he was serious at all¡­but that only meant he was poking fun at me for the sake of a few laughs.¡±


    ¡°He cheapened your existence to a punchline,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°and all that business about your being a woman and women are there to serve men¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you taking that out of context?¡± Caste asked.


    Judd shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°You might just be being a little protective of Aalis,¡± Giordi said then saw Judd¡¯s slightly alarmed glance, ¡°I mean, because¡­you know¡­she might have been labelled a witch.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­that yes, well¡­¡± Judd paused. ¡°I could be.¡± He wondered for a moment then cleared his throat. ¡°Moving on, while you can¡¯t escape,¡± he looked at them all, ¡°it seems to me that there are only two of us who can wield a weapon with any proficiency and no,¡± he eyed Giordi who was about to protect, ¡°your lute does not count. In a battle situation there is myself and Verne¡­and after the fight with the orthros and the spider it was made abundantly clear that even though you may not have any interest in learning a weapon skill, you two,¡± he looked directly at Giordi and Caste, ¡°need to become better equipped at defending yourselves.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°I protest!¡± Caste exclaimed as Giordi scoffed. ¡°I am a cleric, not a fighter, warrior, soldier or combatant.¡±


    ¡°I think of myself as a warrior with words¡­¡± Giordi excused.


    ¡°Not good enough.¡± Judd said flatly and their jaws dropped. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t expect you to jump into the fray and I don¡¯t want you to kill anything for my sake. This is my knighthood quest and I have to do the hard kills¡­but you¡¯re travelling with me and as much as I want to be able to protect you in a general sense, when we¡¯re trapped in a village with a two headed dog chasing us down, I need to have the freedom to know you can look after yourselves to some degree so I can concentrate on fighting.¡±


    ¡°We got out of the way!¡± Giordi exclaimed.


    ¡°You fell through a roof!¡± Verne retorted. ¡°If Judd hadn¡¯t performed a feat of acrobatics by launching himself off the well, those two heads would have torn both your throats out¡­at the same time!¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°And that orthros was on the lower end of scary scale. It¡¯s only going to get more dangerous from here on in. So, here are my terms. If you¡¯re going to stay in this group, you have to learn to defend yourself with a weapon of your choosing and no,¡± he eyed Giordi, ¡°your lute does not, again, count.¡±


    The minstrel groused for a moment while Caste looked indignant. ¡°You pretend you¡¯re giving us a choice but the fact is I have to stay with you so now, according to you, I have to wield a weapon.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if all you pick up is a small blade and learn how to use it.¡± Judd chuckled.


    Caste¡¯s jaw was tight. ¡°What about all my knowledge? What about my training? Surely that counts for something.¡±


    ¡°Unless you¡¯re going to throw books at the monsters and give them nasty papercuts¡­¡±


    Caste grumbled quietly, conceding but only in the grumpiest of tones. Judd looked at Giordi who sighed. ¡°Well¡­I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t have any particular preference¡­I¡¯m also not a fan of pain¡­¡±


    ¡°You carry your lute for long periods of time,¡± Judd suggested, ¡°I think you could be equipped with a shield and be strong enough to use it.¡±


    ¡°Let me get a shield for you to practice with¡­oh no wait¡­¡± Caste clicked his fingers and sighed in derision.


    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll put it on the shopping list.¡± Judd paused. ¡°What about archery?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got Verne.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t hurt to learn and we have a second bow now.¡± Judd looked at Verne who was now not looking impressed. ¡°Could you teach Giordi some basics?¡±


    ¡°I suppose¡­¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± Aalis asked when Judd appeared to have finished speaking. ¡°I could learn a weapon skill.¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Judd shook his head.


    ¡°Why?¡± Verne sneered. ¡°Because she¡¯s a woman,¡± he said in the same way that Egrette had, ¡°Aalis isn¡¯t capable of learning a weapon skill? Women are only good for cooking and bed warming?¡±


    Judd was quite surprised at Verne¡¯s ire but he reasoned that it was because he and Aalis seemed to be becoming quite close of late and thought Verne might be taking the insinuation personally.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it at all. Aalis is great,¡± he squeaked out ¡®great¡¯ and cleared his throat, ¡°great,¡± he said firmly, ¡°in battle.¡±


    ¡°When?¡± She exclaimed.


    ¡°You defended children against the ogre, you climbed a tree in order to detoxify a river while a score of goblins gathered below, you are able to treat and heal wounds and let¡¯s not forget that your mistletoe brew was not only brilliant but bravely dealt in a battle situation.¡± Judd continued turning the wheel while he talked. ¡°Aalis, you are remarkable and you pull more than your own weight in this party.¡±


    ¡°Here, here!¡± Verne nodded and Aalis blushed, this time with pleasure.


    ¡°Well¡­I would still like to learn how to defend myself. Perhaps Caste and I could be armed with small blades?¡± Aalis looked at Caste. ¡°You have books about anatomy, do you not?¡± He nodded. ¡°I would love to study them. If I only have one chance to defend myself, I think it would help to know where vital organs are or major arteries¡­¡±


    Caste seemed taken aback by the interest. ¡°Well¡­we can do that,¡± he blinked, ¡°but you would need to know how to read. Every commoner can understand signs and basic forms¡­but my books are detailed and meant to be read by educated¡­people.¡±


    Aalis looked at him. ¡°You were going to say men, were you not?¡±


    Caste sighed. ¡°It is not illegal to educate women of the lower classes¡­but it is frowned upon.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s frowning?¡± Judd demanded softly.


    Caste looked tight lipped.


    ¡°Do these books have illustrations?¡± Aalis asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then I will study those. Does that put your mind at ease?¡±


    Caste nodded.


    ¡°Hold on, we¡¯re nearly at the mainland.¡±


    One by one they all leapt off the ferry and carried their packs aloft to keep them from becoming wet. Judd sat on the sand and put his boots on then picked up his pack.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He squinted into the sunlight at Aalis who smiled at him.


    Judd chuckled then leaned close. ¡°You know how to read¡­don¡¯t you?¡±


    Aalis leaned in as well. ¡°More than I think Caste would like to believe¡­¡±


    ¡°I suspected as much.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Caste asked and Judd thought frantically.


    ¡°Just¡­wondering¡­how far to Quarre? We¡¯ve been gone for more than a week and the Borre brothers said they would take Quell and Zeke to Quarre and stable them there for us.¡±


    Caste opened his map and held it up. ¡°We are here and Quarre is on the western side of ¡®The Hump¡¯ but south of the pinnacle¡­so that¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°One, two¡­two and a half finger widths.¡± Giordi chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll be there by dusk.¡±


    Caste¡¯s gaze was withering as he rolled his map up. ¡°You are such a cretin. It¡¯ll take the better part of three days to get to Quarre and if I am not mistaken, and I never am, we¡¯ll be risking these open lands during a full moon if we¡¯re delayed at all.¡±


    ¡°Monsters do tend to love a full moon.¡± Judd muttered.


    ¡°And it is unclear whether they like a full, full moon or they become more horrific in the lead up to a full moon.¡± Caste¡¯s warnings were becoming more severe.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make it there by the third night.¡± Judd promised.


    ¡°I hope our shoes last.¡± Verne sighed.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a new bow. Don¡¯t complain.¡± Judd looked at Caste. ¡°Lead on.¡±

 I don’t know what superfluous means

    ¡°She came to me, in dead of night


    She came just like a thief.


    She crept into my bedchamber,


    Her face awash with grief.


    ¡°I love you,¡± she said to me,


    ¡°All others I foreswear.¡±


    I kissed her tears, I kissed her lips


    Undone by love we shared.


    Brave her soul and bold her heart,


    My lust she did excite.


    We would stand together, day by day,


    And lie side by side at night.¡±


    Giordi¡¯s voice had a warm tone and it filled the air with a pleasant warble as the five travellers made their way across the lonely hills coated with shallow soil, adorned with long grasses and threaded with gurgling streams. Perhaps if Giordi only had a limited repertoire his almost constant singing might have become irritating but he knew many, many songs of varying tempo, key and subject. Some were lively while others were mournful. Some were as rowdy as a drunken brawl and others were as introspective as a lonely shepherd. Judd, Verne and Aalis quite enjoyed the variety.


    Caste however¡­


    ¡°Oh look, he¡¯s annoying even without his lute¡­¡±


    Giordi gulped water from his pouch then hooked it on his belt and smiled at Caste, undeterred. ¡°Somehow, my dear prudish cleric, I suspect that I could walk alongside you in complete silence¡­and I would still irritate you.¡±


    Caste¡¯s jaw was tight. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt to try¡­¡± He muttered.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that song a little¡­¡± Judd cleared his throat, leaving the description unsaid but clear by the red hue creeping up his neck.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite mild compared to others I know.¡± Giordi chuckled. ¡°There was one I learnt that came from Fort Omra where it was all about the¡­activities in the bedchamber of the knight of the same name.¡±


    ¡°Unless Sir Omra documented such going ons, your song is nothing but a continuous lie.¡± Caste grouched.


    ¡°He¡¯s not worried about the explicit detail¡­just that it might be historically inaccurate.¡± Verne whispered to Judd then jogged ahead as Giordi and Caste began to debate heatedly.


    Judd fell back a step, putting some distance between himself and the bickering cleric and minstrel to where Aalis was walking. ¡°Are we going too fast?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she breathed quickly but not breathlessly, ¡°it is just a long way¡­and a lot of walking.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Judd frowned then lifted his chin. ¡°Verne! Keep an eye out for the next stream! We¡¯ll stop to rest for a bit.¡± Verne waved back as Aalis protested.


    ¡°I do not want to hold up our progress.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll sit and rest.¡± Judd smiled and she nodded. They walked together, following Verne¡¯s lead, Caste and Giordi having reached an end to their argument with its usual conclusion that the other person was wrong. ¡°Aalis,¡± she looked at him, ¡°I just wanted to say¡­I wanted¡­um¡­Sir Egrette, in fact, many knights or men in general, have¡­an attitude about women¡­¡±


    ¡°We already talked about this.¡± Aalis said, still unnerved by Egrette¡¯s manner and determined to put it behind her.


    ¡°I just wanted to say, or ask, really¡­do you feel comfortable with me? I mean¡­us?¡± Judd caught her surprised expression. ¡°I don¡¯t ever, ever, want to be like Sir Egrette¡­which is funny because when I was young I wished for exactly that¡­and up until he said it I thought he was finally a knight I could fully respect¡­¡±


    ¡°Then he spoke to me the way he did¡­and you are a little disappointed?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°and also ashamed that I ever wanted to be like him when he¡¯s like that.¡± Aalis smiled and shook her head. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Sir Egrette¡¯s attitude is not uncommon amongst knights but I do not think that knights alone are the only ones who act like that.¡± Aalis sighed. ¡°Attitudes and prejudices might exist in individuals but when endorsed by the throne of Astaril¡­¡±


    ¡°It is something taught by behaviour and tradition.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­which makes your treatment and opinion of me even more surprising.¡±


    Judd thought about this for a moment. ¡°Well¡­I guess¡­it¡¯s because of my parents.¡±


    ¡°Suppose.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Judd looked at Giordi who dropped back to join them.


    ¡°Not ¡®guess¡¯ but ¡®suppose¡¯. Suppose is more refined.¡±


    Judd sighed and tried again. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s because of my parents.¡±


    ¡°In what way? I thought you were not on good terms with them.¡±


    ¡°They weren¡¯t happy about me¡­¡±


    ¡°My, not me.¡±


    ¡°They weren¡¯t happy about my¡­desperation to become a knight,¡± Judd looked at Giordi who nodded, ¡°but they¡­¡±


    ¡°However.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m begging yours. What?¡±


    ¡°I beg your pardon!¡±


    ¡°What am I begging here?¡±


    Aalis smothered her giggles as Giordi stopped Judd. ¡°However in place of using the word ¡®but¡¯. However is more gentlemanly. And if you need someone to repeat something, ¡®I beg your pardon¡¯ is far more genteel than ¡®huh¡¯ or ¡®what¡¯.¡±


    Judd rubbed his hands down his face. ¡°You asked for this¡­remember that, Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Go on, try again.¡± Aalis urged as they began to walk again.


    ¡°I¡¯m second supposing everything now¡­¡± Judd moaned. ¡°My father treated my mother like a queen. He never made her feel like she was second best or lower class just because she was a woman. He told me once that, when she was giving birth to me, he thanked the stars he wasn¡¯t born a woman because he didn¡¯t think he would be strong enough to do what my mother did. He adored her and she adored him.¡±


    Aalis turned her face to the sun and enjoyed its warm glow. ¡°They sound lovely.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they are¡­¡± Judd paused. ¡°Maybe¡­one day¡­you could meet them?¡±


    Aalis¡¯ eyes opened and she looked at him. ¡°They live in Astaril, do they not?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­yeah but¡­¡± Judd floundered then shook his head. ¡°Anyway¡­I just thought¡­¡±


    ¡°The word ¡®anyway¡¯ is redundant.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what? Or should that be, it¡¯s I beg your pardon?¡±


    Giordi groaned. ¡°No, what I meant to say is, the word ¡®anyway¡¯ does not add anything to the sentence. Your sentence was, ¡®Anyway I just thought¡­¡¯ however, if you dropped ¡®anyway¡¯ the sentence would still mean the same. And it goes for the end of a sentence too. Sticking ¡®anyway¡¯ on the end of a sentence is a common habit. It¡¯s dismissive, as though you are almost distancing yourself from your statement.¡±


    Judd moaned then looked at him. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to be able to remember all that at once. Isn¡¯t there some way to simply it for me?¡±


    Giordi tapped his teeth together, his brow furrowing. ¡°Watch your contractions.¡±


    ¡°My what now?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t, can¡¯t, don¡¯t¡­words crammed together for the sake of simplicity and speed.¡± Giordi explained. ¡°Dropping contractions from your vocabulary will slow your speech naturally and give a more cultured tone to your words.¡±


    ¡°You really think so?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Eliminate contractions from your speech, try not to use superfluous words at the start or end of a sentence and if you catch yourself saying ¡®um¡¯ or ¡®uh¡¯, pause first, breathe and then speak without them.¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°There is no need to fill a silence with doubt. Let it be a respectful moment before you speak. Verne¡¯s spotted a stream!¡± He jogged ahead to where Verne was waving.


    Aalis looked at Judd and became concerned. ¡°You are frowning.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t¡­did not want to say¡­I do not know what superfluous means.¡±

 Women are unsuitable for education

    The pause at the stream was a welcomed rest for all of them. Verne yanked off his shoes and sank his feet into the cool water, groaning in relief. ¡°I didn¡¯t think ground could be different levels of hardness¡­but I¡¯d take the forest path over this trek any day.¡±


    ¡°Even risking cockatrice attacks?¡±


    ¡°Even then.¡± Verne slumped onto his back. Judd, Verne and Caste did the same as Verne, cooling their feet in the water.


    ¡°And suddenly I¡¯m back on the docks of Astaril,¡± Judd closed his eyes, ¡°a rod in my hand, seagulls calling to each other¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought you hated fish.¡±


    ¡°I never put any bait on my hook.¡± Judd confessed. ¡°I just wanted to sit in the sun. Then one of my brothers would dare me to swim to the outer buoy and we¡¯d abandon our rods and dive into the water¡­¡±


    Caste shuddered. Verne opened one eye and looked at him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Bacteria.¡±


    Verne snorted. Judd looked over his shoulder. ¡°Aalis, you¡¯ve got to try this. It¡¯s so good.¡±


    ¡°No, thank you.¡± Aalis stammered, her toes curling in her shoes. She was thinking about her darkening toenails.


    Judd sighed. ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s modesty thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± He said, misinterpreting her reluctance.


    ¡°I suppose girls on the docks of Astaril are not so encumbered with notions of modesty?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say yes. Look at the gleam in his eyes!¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°Actually, I always thought how unfair it was. Men seem to be less bound in many ways than women. I mean, just look at clothing! Corsets, stockings, heels, bodices, long skirts, long sleeves, low neckline yet woe betide showing off ankle or wrist¡­¡± Giordi shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t wear a corset, do you, Aalis?¡±


    She gave a horrified gasp, her arms clutching her body. ¡°What an impertinent thing to say?!¡±


    ¡°Gavoli!¡±


    ¡°Yes father!¡± Giordi chuckled at Judd¡¯s authoritative use of his last name. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for my own titillation¡­¡±


    ¡°Could have fooled me.¡± Said the cleric.


    ¡°¡­I just wanted to make a point. Even women in villages are expected to wear corsets and under things. Only women like Aalis who live without the constraints of society are free to be without such trappings. And as for being a queen or female nobility¡­¡± Giordi snorted. ¡°Do you know how many layers a noblewoman must wear to be considered ¡®modestly dressed¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I suppose you know from personal experience?¡± Verne asked dryly.


    ¡°Very personal,¡± Giordi chuckled, ¡°but, as reluctant as I am to leave this example of men verses women, it is the same with education. I mean, are there any female clerics?¡±


    Caste snorted and they all turned to him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I take it that¡¯s a no?¡± Verne asked again, his tone reaching new levels of dryness.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­women are unsuitable for education.¡±


    Aalis put her hands on her hips. ¡°Which part of us makes us unsuitable?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Verne jerked his head at her and she gulped and put her hands down, her face reddening as she realised what she¡¯d asked.


    ¡°I meant their minds.¡± Caste argued. ¡°Men¡¯s minds are more attuned to the nature of education. We are dispassionate, regimented and focussed. Women are notoriously emotional and empathetic and easily distracted.¡± Verne laughed outright. ¡°It is a proven fact, a documented difference between the sexes!¡±


    ¡°And who proved this documented fact? Who wrote the rules for the sexes?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°Well¡­the Order of the Grail is responsible for over ninety percent of the doctrine taught in Astaril¡­¡±


    ¡°Which is made up entirely of¡­men?¡± Caste nodded to Giordi¡¯s question.


    ¡°You don¡¯t¡­ugh¡­you do not think that this makes your findings a little biased?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t write it.¡±


    ¡°But you do believe it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making it out to be a faith step belief, like whether or not the Second Coming is a physical manifestation of the knights of old or a metaphor. This isn¡¯t open for debate. It¡¯s a closed theology on the difference between men and women, assembled by the Order of the Grail and approved by King¡­Etchelon I think¡­¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m confused.¡± Giordi put down his bread and cheese. ¡°The Order of the Grail¡­it¡¯s based upon the Sorceress Grail¡­so why aren¡¯t women allowed to be clerics?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that they¡¯re not ¡®allowed¡¯,¡± Caste did his finger motion as he mocked Giordi¡¯s words, ¡°but no woman has ever applied.¡±


    ¡°I bet not a single woman in all of Terra knows that they could ¡®apply¡¯.¡± Giordi motioned back. ¡°A restriction conveniently put in place by simply not advertising the opportunity.¡±


    ¡°It does seem a little hypocritical that the Order of the Grail, started by the Sorceress Grail, has no female clerics.¡± Judd agreed.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you are all under the misinformation of how the Order came about.¡± Caste sat up.


    ¡°Oh Maul¡­¡± Verne closed his eyes.


    ¡°Here comes the lecture.¡±


    ¡°After the king and knight, Andigre, left the newly formed kingdom of Astaril because he believed he could end the threat of Maul, Grail, sorceress and queen, taught her son, the crown prince, Inigre, her knowledge, the history and tales, the deeds of the knights¡­all of it. It was Prince Inigre who established the Order of the Grail in order to preserve and pass on this information so that our history would never be forgotten. He named it after his mother.¡±


    ¡°But it was still based on Grail¡¯s knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Yes but she gave it to her son.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just because he was there.¡± Judd said, taking his feet out of the water and kicking the droplets off. ¡°If Andigre and Grail had had a daughter, only women might have been allowed to become clerics and men would have been seen as the lower gender and in service to their queens, princesses, wives, sisters...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s preposterous!¡±


    ¡°Pity¡­¡± Giordi laughed, picking up his pack.


    They camped a little earlier than usual that night because they found a defensible position near a stream. In such open country and after the warnings of the shepherds, Clai and Rai Borre, Judd and his party were aware that danger was without restraint in the absence of walls. It was even clearer that they had made a good choice by the presence of an old campfire and a pile of wood left from the previous campers.


    Giordi flung himself onto the ground, groaning with his usual dramatic flare and his habit of, once down, not back up again until the next morning. He was kicked from the side and looked up, Verne standing over him.


    ¡°Come on.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You agreed to learn how to use a bow.¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    Verne folded his arms, his blue eyes as unamused as a stormy sky. ¡°Light¡¯s fading and it¡¯s kind of hard to hit things in the dark, regardless of how full the moon is becoming.¡±


    Giordi groaned and dragged himself back to his feet, following Verne to where some trees stood a short distance away.


    ¡°How long before you think Giordi comes back after Verne breaks a bow over his head?¡± Aalis laughed at Judd¡¯s remark which conjured an amusing image in her head as she unpacked her cooking pot. Judd put his hand out and stopped her. ¡°Oh no, not tonight.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m cooking tonight.¡±


    Aalis smiled at him. ¡°Judd, you do not have to prove you are a gentleman.¡±


    ¡°Thank you but¡­ahem, however, that is not what I am doing. You need to study.¡±


    ¡°Study?¡± Judd nodded then pointed to where Caste was seated.


    ¡°Before you have to peer at the words by firelight.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± He nodded again then shoed Aalis towards Caste. Then he paused and looked towards the stream. He sighed and marched off in its direction, carrying the pot.

 I do what I do because I’m no good at anything else

    ¡°This,¡± Verne said flatly, ¡°is a bow. This,¡± he held up an arrow, ¡°is an arrow.¡±


    ¡°This is a waste of both our times.¡± Giordi remarked.


    ¡°Do you have a lute?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a shield?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then take the bow.¡± Verne thrust it at Giordi who held it like it was made of glass. ¡°It¡¯s not a precious vase or stained glass window.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Giordi tried a more casual stance and promptly dropped it.


    Verne closed his eyes. ¡°Break it and I¡¯ll use you as target practice.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Verne held his bow out. ¡°The main body of the bow is called a limb.¡±


    ¡°Limb?¡±


    Verne nodded then tapped the outer curve. ¡°Back,¡± he said then tapped the concave curve on the other side, ¡°belly and string.¡± Verne showed Giordi where his fingers sat on the grip and how the arrow shaft just before the sharpened head rested on the side of his finger. ¡°Hold here, raise the bow up so that you can sight down the shaft of the arrow. The nock,¡± he tapped the end of the arrow where a groove had been carved into the shaft, ¡°embraces the string which provides the propulsion.¡±


    ¡°Uh huh¡­¡± Giordi said none too confidently.


    ¡°Then these two fingers,¡± he tapped Giordi¡¯s hand, ¡°lock into place as you draw the arrow back until you are ready to release¡­which you never, ever, do until you have found your target.¡±


    ¡°And what is my target?¡±


    Verne held up a leather circle with smaller circles marked on it. ¡°We¡¯ll start with just hitting this target before moving on to aiming for specific parts of a body.¡± He walked to a tree and tacked it onto its surface. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Verne whispered, ¡°I doubt any of these arrows will hit.¡± He strode back to Giordi who had dropped his arm. ¡°Up,¡± he said and Giordi lifted his arm, ¡°sight down the shaft of the arrow, draw back and¡­release!¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    The arrow flew through the air before hitting the ground, only halfway to the target.


    Giordi huffed as Verne retrieved the arrow and turned back. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­weird.¡±


    ¡°What is?¡±


    ¡°Pulling back on the bow so hard. I feel like it might snap. I¡¯ve lost count of the amount of strings I¡¯ve broken on my lute.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a lute. It¡¯s a bow and it¡¯s designed to do this.¡± Verne reassured him bluntly and handed him the arrow. ¡°Again.¡±


    Giordi tried and Verne looked at him instead of the target. When his second arrow failed to reach the tree Verne shook his head.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re holding the bow away from yourself like¡­like it smells.¡± Verne took his bow and held it, the limb close to his body, the bow almost becoming part of him. ¡°You have to get closer. You have to commit.¡±


    Giordi sighed and lowered it. ¡°It feels¡­ungainly¡­and awkward¡­¡±


    Verne eyed him. ¡°Do you think I look awkward when I use my bow?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Giordi insisted, ¡°it¡¯s just the whole¡­I feel like I look foolish.¡±


    Verne pressed his fingers to his face. ¡°By Maul, Terra and all the stars¡­what does it matter what you look like?¡±


    ¡°When I look like this,¡± Giordi gestured to himself, ¡°it matters!¡±


    ¡°You are so shallow!¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    Verne stopped and stared at him. ¡°What?¡±


    Giordi shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m shallow. I know it. It¡¯s what I am.¡± Verne gaped, astonished by the admission. ¡°I play music, sing songs and I¡¯m handsome¡­that¡¯s my life. I don¡¯t hunt for food or fight monsters or go in tournaments. I do what I do because I¡¯m no good at anything else.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s got to be the most pathetic excuse for laziness I have ever heard.¡± Verne snapped. ¡°You promised Judd you would be an active part of this company so stop acting incompetent and you might just find you¡¯ve got more to offer the world than a pretty face and a passable voice.¡±


    ¡°You think I¡¯m pretty?¡± Giordi beamed and Verne couldn¡¯t resist cracking him over the head with his bow that had been a gift from Sir Egrette. ¡°Ow!¡±


    ¡°Only compared to some¡­now actually try to hit the target.¡± Giordi sighed and lifted the bow. ¡°Level with your eyes,¡± he lifted it higher, ¡°closer to your body¡­closer¡­I said closer¡­think of it as embracing a woman.¡±


    ¡°That I can do.¡± Giordi said and did so. ¡°Well, hello there¡­I must say what a beautiful figure you have¡­and¡­release!¡±


    They were both surprised when the arrow hit the target. It was on the outside of the circle of leather but it was a surprising jump in Giordi¡¯s demonstrated ability up to that point.


    ¡°See, you can do it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably about the length of time that I spend with a woman¡­socially I mean.¡± Giordi laughed and Verne rolled his eyes and thrust the arrow at him.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    ¡°For how long?¡±


    ¡°Until you can hit a moving object or it gets too dark to see.¡±


    ¡°Come on sunset!¡±

 People do not come back from the dead

    Aalis sat next to Caste, a book of anatomy in her lap and a dagger in her hands. Now and again she would glance at Caste who twitched at her gaze. Finally he couldn¡¯t stand the looks anymore and snapped his book shut.


    ¡°Do you need help understanding some of the words or the illustrations?¡± His condescension was barely masked, if at all.


    ¡°No¡­I was just looking at you, trying to determine if I could identify where your primary arteries are in order to know where to stick a blade.¡± She said lightly and Caste¡¯s face paled even as his eyes narrowed.


    ¡°I am not a practice dummy.¡± He said, returning to his book.


    ¡°Well¡­I had a thought that perhaps this is not the best book to study.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a book critic now?¡±


    Aalis tied her dreadlocks back into a knot. ¡°No, what I mean is that I am not likely to be defending myself against humans. Judd is not ridding Terra of bandits but of monsters.¡±


    Caste paused, looking up at the sky that was turning all shades of yellow and orange. ¡°That is a good point.¡± He rummaged through his pack. ¡°So¡­a book on monsters¡­which would you like?¡± He held out three. ¡°This one is a dissection manual by Archdeacon Orto, this is ¡®Monsters and Mayem¡¯ by Deacon Pek and this one, by Deacon Peele, is the definitive edition of all monsters, creatures, beasts and other deformations known to exist.¡±


    Aalis stared at the books. ¡°Caste¡­how can you possibly carry all these around on your back?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± he nodded, ¡°the weight of being responsible for this wealth of knowledge is a heavy burden to bear¡­¡± He lamented with self-righteous pomposity.


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis took the biggest one, nearly dropping it, ¡°this one weighs more than my cast iron cooking pot¡­and you have more in your pack!¡±


    Caste hesitated. ¡°Well¡­I couldn¡¯t be unprepared for the wilds, especially with an ignorant soul like Judd LaMogre to advise¡­not that he listens.¡±


    ¡°He listens more than you realise,¡± Aalis heaved the book onto her lap and opened it, ¡°however, he has to sift through your negativity at times.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not negative. I¡¯m realistic.¡± Caste retorted.


    ¡°Deacon Peele¡­is he not Bishop Peele now?¡± Aalis asked.


    ¡°Yes. It was his attentiveness to detail and dedication to accuracy and authenticity that drove him to write such a comprehensive manual.¡±


    Aalis was not as impressed as perhaps Caste wanted her to be as she flicked through the pages. ¡°This section,¡± she gasped, ¡°is just the forward alone¡­¡±


    ¡°A big book requires a big introduction.¡±


    Aalis looked up thoughtfully. ¡°Bishop Peele has been the head of the Order of the Grail for quite some time now, has he not?¡±


    ¡°Twenty eight years. Longer than any other bishop in history except for Bishop Sagges who led the order for thirty years.¡±


    ¡°So this book, while comprehensive, might be a little out of date? After all, he wrote it when he was just a deacon, not even an archdeacon¡­¡± Caste looked at her strangely. Aalis paused. ¡°Unless this is an earlier edition¡­¡±


    ¡°There was only ever the one edition,¡± Caste said as though Aalis was a little foolish then leaned over and pointed to the title on the cover, ¡°the ¡®definitive edition¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Would that not mean there was more than one?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps books by other deacons but this,¡± Caste tapped it, ¡°has no peer. It stands alone and is irrefutable documentation of the monsters of Maul.¡±


    Aalis had nothing to say to that, moving on to the first illustration in the book and read the caption.


    ¡°Agiokampus¡­a monster of Maul with the head of a goat and the tail of a fish first documented in the fifth year of King Fashal¡­¡± She studied the illustration and shook her head, turning the page. ¡°Basilisk, a reptilian monster whose gaze turns those who look into its eyes to stone, not dissimilar to a cockatrice however they inhabit different environments¡­but the cockatrice did not turn me to stone.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you did not look into its gaze.¡± Caste said offhandedly, studying a diminutive volume that looked like it had seen better days.


    ¡°What about Giordi or Judd?¡±


    Caste faltered for a moment before saying hastily, ¡°It is simply possible that the two creatures operate in the same manner and so, Bishop Peele simply references one in the same category as the other.¡±


    Aalis frowned and flicked across several pages, the light becoming faint so she had to squint.


    ¡°Cockatrice,¡± she announced, ¡°part rooster, part snake that can kill a man with a single scratch or turn them to stone with its stare.¡± She looked at Caste. ¡°If that had been true, then we would all have been dead.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re reading the captions,¡± Caste blurted, retrieving his book with a resentful glare, ¡°undoubtedly the in depth description and detail of the monster would have more accurate information. And it¡¯s also possible,¡± he said, still defending the book and its author despite the fact that Aalis had said nothing, ¡°that the person who illustrated the monsters for the book made inaccurate captions.¡±


    Aalis felt like she had pushed him a little too far and was relieved when Verne and Giordi approached the campfire. She stood and brushed her skirts straight.


    ¡°How goes target practice?¡±


    ¡°Once he put his ego aside, not bad.¡± Verne flopped onto the ground. ¡°Turns out he might have a natural knack for it and could get quite good¡­if he wasn¡¯t so lazy.¡±


    ¡°I will take that as a compliment.¡± Giordi grinned then looked around. ¡°So¡­supper?¡±


    Aalis shrugged then heard Judd speak up. ¡°Sorry, on my way.¡± He set Aalis¡¯ cooking pot down near the fire then made a frame of metal rods. On the one that went over the fire he threaded several fish that he¡¯d gutted and descaled.


    ¡°Fish?¡±


    ¡°That stream was brimming with trout. I blocked their escape, put the pot in and dragged it along, scooping up half a dozen.¡± Judd explained. ¡°I can¡¯t cook a stew but I can catch fish.¡±


    ¡°I thought you hated fish.¡± Verne muttered.


    Judd floundered but Aalis knew what it was he really hated.


    ¡°It was the life you could not stand, was it not?¡± She asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, really.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°These won¡¯t take long¡­and you¡¯ll be able to write the ballad of LaMogre and his fish banquet which he caught and served with his own two hands.¡± He looked at Giordi.


    ¡°I think that should be set to a three/four time¡­I can even hear the chorus¡­¡± Giordi chuckled.


    Aalis offered some salt and seasoning for the fish and they all shared a laugh when their stomachs grumbled in unison at the aroma of freshly cooked fish. The colours of the sunset were all gone now, the wash of navy chasing the last glow of light on the horizon, highlighting the eastern slopes of the ¡®Hump¡¯ in the distance.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that Sir Rylan ever had a song written about himself that involved cooking.¡± Judd poked the fish with a fork then turning the spit some more.


    ¡°No one¡¯s written any songs about Sir Rylan.¡± Giordi responded, yawning.


    Judd looked at Giordi in horror. ¡°Surely you can¡¯t be serious. Other than Sir Andigre, Sir Rylan is the most famous, the most experienced and skilled knight in all Terra.¡±


    Aalis looked up, her brow furrowed with concern.


    ¡°Hero worship, same as Sir Egrette much?¡± Verne questioned.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me that Sir Rylan doesn¡¯t deserve our respect. He¡¯s legendary. The way he brought down a griffin without spear or sword or shield¡­¡± Judd looked at Giordi pointedly. ¡°That has to be a song!¡±


    ¡°Songs aren¡¯t usually written until the person who inspired them is dead.¡± Giordi explained. ¡°Makes it harder for them to protest the details of the chorus and verses.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re just following Judd around until he dies then cash in on his demise by demonstrating all the songs you¡¯ve written about him?¡± Caste asked dryly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m hoping he¡¯ll die, especially before his time¡­but songs are a way to capture the knowledge and inspiration of heroes and battles.¡±


    ¡°All the fabricated lyrics of all the melodies ever written cannot hold a candle to the documented truth of these,¡± Caste brandished a book, ¡°tomes!¡±


    ¡°I guarantee more people have heard me sing than anyone who has ever read¡­that.¡± Giordi retorted brightly.


    Judd wrapped a piece of leather around the spit and lifted it off the flames. Aalis held out plates and he slid a piece of fish onto each one.


    ¡°I thought Sir Rylan was dead.¡± She said as she handed the plates to the other three.


    ¡°Surely you¡¯ve heard me talking about Sir Rylan¡¯s knighthood quest. Who did you think started it?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­well¡­I thought that it was in his name, as a way to honour him.¡± Aalis shook her head. ¡°The village where I lived only heard news by way of rumour and gossip. No heralds ever came. I thought I heard of his death but I¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think anything could kill him.¡± Judd took his plate and sat back. ¡°I mean, I know knightly deeds are generally exaggerated,¡± he caught Caste¡¯s glare, ¡°except, of course, for the painstakingly accurate chronicles of the Order of the Grail¡­but even if only half of what is told is true, he¡¯s on par with Sir Andigre.¡±


    ¡°That¡­¡± Caste paused then nodded. ¡°I will concede to that statement, yes. In fact, much of Sir Rylan¡¯s accomplishments are confirmed fact and not exaggeration by other parties.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever been invited to a party?¡± Giordi returned lightly, unphased by Caste¡¯s barbs.


    ¡°In less reputable circles, those with looser adherence to facts and proof, purport that Sir Rylan is the embodiment of the Second Coming.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that mentioned before.¡± Verne pried a fish bone from between his teeth and flicked it into the fire. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Does that mean Sir Andigre is coming back or that someone will stand out like Sir Andigre did and lead us into a new era?¡±


    ¡°This is the centre of the debate and believe me, more air, words and mental capacity have been wasted on trying to understand a single statement made by Queen Grail after Sir, well, King Andigre¡¯s absence was finally confirmed as a death.¡±


    ¡°What was the statement?¡±


    Caste closed his eyes and concentrated. ¡°Though our first knight, Inigre¡¯s father and my beloved husband, King Andigre, has now been declared dead, I truly believe that it is not the last we will see of him for one day the same determination and force will rise again and finally rid Terra of the threat of Maul forever.¡± He opened his eyes. ¡°You can see why there is so much speculation about it.¡±


    Judd scraped the remains of his fish onto the fire and swigged from his water pouch.


    ¡°What do you think it means?¡±


    Caste looked at Judd with a deadpan expression on his freckled face. ¡°If I give my opinion, would you even hear it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m genuinely curious,¡± Judd glanced at Giordi, ¡°unless you want the minstrel to start serenading us?¡±


    ¡°Now what shall I sing¡­¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Caste grunted, ¡°you want to know what I think it means? It¡¯s got nothing to do with Sir Andigre coming back. People do not come back from the dead. They just don¡¯t. He¡¯s gone as are all the others who stood with him.¡±


    ¡°So you think another will rise in his place? A kind of¡­catalyst leader?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°Not really, no.¡± Caste shook his head. ¡°I think it was something Grail said to honour her husband¡¯s memory and encourage others to not give up.¡±


    ¡°You mean, she didn¡¯t say it because she saw it¡­she said it hoping that one day we would fulfill it because she said it?¡±


    ¡°Oh my head¡­¡± Verne grunted.


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Then it has to be said, Sir Rylan fits the profile.¡± Judd announced. ¡°He¡¯s the most decorated and remarkable knight since Sir Andigre, he is entrusted with the grandest and most important fort of all, bar none¡­and if he needs his ¡®four spire knights¡¯ to complete the embodiment of the prophecy, then he¡¯s already got the three other wall fort knights and just needs another, after the death of Sir Bobellion.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re thinking you¡¯d make an excellent four spire knight?¡± Giordi raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°Of course I¡¯ve dreamed about it.¡± Judd admitted easily. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a boy in all of Terra that hasn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡± Caste said, raising his hand.


    ¡°Never occurred to me.¡± Verne added.


    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re on your own there, Judd.¡± Giordi grinned.


    Judd shrugged good naturedly. ¡°Oh well¡­¡±


    They set about spreading their bedrolls out, each taking the time to make their sleeping space as comfortable as possible. Verne was first to sit up and keep watch as they all lay down. It was quiet and still apart from the crackles of the fire as it began to burn down low. Verne gave the stones around the edge a nudge with his boot to keep the cinders from escaping.


    ¡°For the record, I don¡¯t give much weight to the whole ¡®second coming¡¯ theory either,¡± Judd admitted with his hands behind his head, ¡°but given the lack of an heir to the throne of Astaril¡­Sir Rylan might well be made king of Astaril, which does signal the end of an era.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no one else of Andigre and Grail¡¯s lineage?¡±


    Caste shook his head.


    ¡°King Rocheveron had a son, didn¡¯t he?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°The Crown Prince, Nicolin Rocheveron¡­died in his sleep before the age of twenty.¡± Caste recited. ¡°Queen Viene and King Rocheveron struggled to conceive an heir for many years after their marriage and she died when Nicolin was eleven.¡±


    ¡°I guess, because he had a son, the king didn¡¯t think he needed to remarry and try for other heirs?¡± Verne pulled his quiver of arrows close and inspected each one, always giving attention to maintaining his weapons.


    ¡°Actually, King Rocheveron had twins. A boy and a girl. The raven twins they were named on account of their hair.¡± Caste explained.


    Giordi pulled a face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Rocheveron had a daughter.¡±


    ¡°Neither did I.¡± Verne added.


    ¡°She was hidden away for most of her life. I have heard accounts that she was either a sickly child or King Rocheveron feared for her safety¡­possibly both.¡±


    ¡°Until this knighthood quest, I lived my whole life in Astaril and I never laid eyes on her.¡± Judd confessed. ¡°There were those I worked with on the docks who thought she was a work of fiction.¡±


    ¡°Not unlike one of Giordi¡¯s fantasy women¡­¡±


    ¡°Surely you must have heard of the wedding between Sir Rylan and Genovieve?¡± Judd sat up. ¡°It was a week long celebration.¡±


    ¡°I hate to break it to you, Judd, but a lot of what happens in Astaril doesn¡¯t actually directly impact the rest of Terra,¡± Verne said pointedly, ¡°it¡¯s possible that the forts might have held a feast or street party to honour the marriage¡­¡±


    ¡°Even then¡­¡± Giordi huffed. ¡°And do not forget that there are dozens and dozens of villages where there are no knights in charge and no clerics who do the will of the Order of the Grail. A lot of places just get by on their own with very little Astarilian influence.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a word.¡± Caste muttered as Aalis rolled onto her side.


    ¡°Sir Rylan married the princess,¡± she stated softly, ¡°so, by default, he would become king?¡±


    ¡°Except that not long after Nicolin passed, Genovieve died of the same malady as her brother.¡± Caste explained.


    ¡°Poor girl,¡± Giordi sighed, ¡°only just starting to live her life when it ends¡­¡±


    ¡°Please tell me you¡¯re not going to write a melancholy melody based on her tale?¡± Verne sighed. ¡°That smacks of insensitivity¡­and that doesn¡¯t usually bother me. Are you going to go to sleep at some point or am I wasting my time keeping watch?¡±


    They all lay down again.


    There was a long, quiet pause.


    ¡°You know,¡± Verne groaned and everyone else huffed and looked at Giordi with withering expressions, ¡°if Sir Rylan wanted a straight shot to the throne, even upon marrying Genovieve, he¡¯d need to get rid of the Crown Prince.¡±


    ¡°I cannot believe you just insinuated that Sir Rylan would do something like that.¡± Judd¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°The man is a paragon of virtue.¡±


    ¡°Besides, Nicolin died of natural causes.¡± Caste added.


    ¡°A healthy young male just dies unexpectedly in his sleep?¡± Giordi snorted. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that was not investigated?¡±


    ¡°It was by Bishop Peele and two archdeacons of the Order of the Grail as well as the royal physician.¡± Caste responded sharply, taking offence at the slander that the Order might not have done their duty. ¡°There were no poisons, no bite marks and no physical injuries. Just a little blood in his ear indicating a possible tumour in the brain. He simply died in his sleep.¡±


    ¡°What about his sister? Twins often share traits.¡±


    ¡°Because of the distance between Astaril and Fort Verion, Sir Rylan¡¯s cleric had to see to the formalities of her body¡¯s preparation to be entombed in the royal crypt. The cleric had to make the decision to cremate her rather than let her decay.¡±


    ¡°So no one inspected her body?¡±


    Caste sat up in a huff. ¡°Even if there was foul play involved, why would it be Sir Rylan¡¯s? Genovieve was his unobstructed ¡®ticket¡¯ to the throne. If what you¡¯re insinuating is true, Sir Rylan would be the last person to harm her because he now runs the risk of King Rocheveron naming someone else to be king.¡±


    ¡°As if there¡¯s anyone better.¡± Judd added.


    ¡°As much as I cannot stand bull headed, muscles before mind knights,¡± Caste nodded, ¡°I would have to agree.¡±


    Giordi yawned. ¡°Well, even in the uncivilised land of Terra, I know of Sir Rylan and if his reputation is even a tenth of what is exaggerated, then so do I.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll reserve judgement.¡± Verne muttered.


    ¡°Until when?¡±


    ¡°Until you all go to sleep!¡±

 No, no…no improvising

    As the travellers headed steadily inland and northward towards the town of Quarre, the ground became decidedly rockier. It was not without grass or shrubbery and there were plenty of streams, some of which were so wide they had to wade through rather than jump over. Trees were in small groves where there was enough earth to set down deep enough roots. None of them were particularly large and their trunks were not wide due to the limitations of the landscape and very few produced fruit. However, there were several berry bushes and as they trekked onward, looking forward to recovering their horses so that they could take the burden of their packs, their mouths became stained with blackberry juice.


    Giordi smacked his lips and sighed. ¡°Delicious. Right, again Judd.¡±


    Judd cleared his throat. ¡°Sir Achard, thank you for your gracious invitation that I can¡­¡±


    ¡°May.¡±


    ¡°That I may dine at your table.¡±


    ¡°You are welcome, Sir LaMogre,¡± Giordi said in a deep, affected voice which he said he adopted for the solemnest of songs, ¡°please, allow me introduce you to my wife, Lady Gaillot Archard.¡±


    ¡°My lady, the descriptions of your beauty do no justice for you are lovelier in person than they have led me to believe.¡± Judd paused. ¡°Is that really appropriate to say while her husband is standing there?¡±


    ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s better when he¡¯s there¡­unless he¡¯s of the insecure variety of husband who immediately orders you flogged or run out of town.¡± Giordi assured him.


    Judd frowned. ¡°What if she isn¡¯t lovely?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever known a knight to marry a hag?¡± Giordi raised his eyebrows. ¡°Why be a knight if you cannot have the pick of the loveliest ladies?¡±


    Judd made very sure he did not look at Aalis when he spoke. ¡°What about love?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure many of them do.¡±


    ¡°But you sing love ballads all the time.¡±


    ¡°Again, they¡¯re all dead and can¡¯t correct the inaccuracy of the lyrics. It¡¯s the notion of romantic love rather than the reality of marrying a knight that people want to hear.¡±


    Judd tapped his teeth together. ¡°What if the knight loved a woman of less than¡­lovely appearance¡­or acceptable¡­¡±


    ¡°Repute?¡± Judd shrugged awkwardly. ¡°I don¡¯t think knights are allowed to but upon that score, we should consult our resident cleric. Oh Caste!¡±


    ¡°This should be good.¡± Caste attempted to jog to reach them but it was barely faster than walking and he was already panting. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Are knights are allowed to marry anyone they choose or is there a selection criteria?¡±


    Caste gave them a deathless glare. ¡°Why don¡¯t we see if Judd makes it to knighthood before we start worrying about who he is going to marry?¡±


    ¡°Humour us.¡± Giordi teased. ¡°You¡¯re not going to let slip an opportunity to teach us something, are you?¡±


    Caste ground his teeth together. ¡°Fine. A knight may marry anyone he chooses¡­however, the marriage must always be blessed by the King and condoned by the Bishop of the Order of the Grail and if either of them disapprove, the knight must break off the courtship.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°He can marry the woman but only if he renounces his knighthood.¡±


    Judd felt the blood drain out of his face. ¡°That¡¯s¡­quite the test.¡±


    ¡°Have no fear, Judd LaMogre,¡± Giordi grasped his shoulders and shook him, ¡°you will be swamped with offers by the time you reach knighthood.¡±


    ¡°If they can only be of women of approved repute, I¡¯m going to end up a bachelor. It¡¯s already been made clear that my middle class background is a problem and I doubt that¡¯s just suddenly going to dissipate even if and when I become a knight, elevated to the status of nobility.¡±


    ¡°Consider yourself fortunate you can marry at all.¡± Caste muttered then felt their glances. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I thought clerics could marry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not encouraged and a sure-fire way of never making bishop or even archdeacon as women are known to addle the brain and make a man useless.¡± Caste waved his hands. ¡°But that¡¯s not what I meant. Back in the days of Andigre and Grail and the Four Spire Knights, knights were not permitted to marry. Oh no¡­not another stream¡­¡±


    ¡°You can use these stones to cross.¡± Aalis pointed to the path she and Verne had taken. ¡°We¡¯re going to that cluster of trees. Verne thinks we can have pheasant for supper.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Judd waved then he and Giordi crossed the stream with rapid nimbleness then turned and waited for Caste. He perched, slipped, froze and clambered over the stream, managing to completely soak his left leg. Judd grasped his arm and pulled him onto their side and Caste lamented the state of his clothes.


    ¡°Just¡­let me wring out my sock.¡± He begged and pulled his shoe off, water trickling out of it.


    Judd sat on a boulder and Giordi flopped onto the ground. Butterflies danced over dandelions. Giordi plucked one and blew on it, sending dozens of little fronds flying, caught on the breeze. Dragonflies darted over the stream, attracted to the water and their buzzing wings filled the air with a continual but pleasant hum.


    ¡°If knights could not marry¡­what are all the love ballads about?¡±


    Giordi snorted then saw Judd¡¯s expression. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re serious.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°Even I know the answer to that.¡± Caste muttered, wringing his sock tightly.


    ¡°Just because they could not marry, doesn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t¡­romance and enjoy a woman¡¯s attentions, both in public and privately.¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d stoop to a less tactful explanation than that.¡± Caste pulled his sock on then slid it into his boot, grimacing.


    ¡°He happily romanced her in public before she succumbed to his attentions, her gates of pleasure flung wide as she gave up her forbidden fruits in a mad tumble.¡± Giordi folded his arms. ¡°Is that what you were expecting?¡±


    Both Judd and Caste¡¯s expressions were bright red.


    ¡°That¡¯s about right¡­¡± Caste squeaked, picking up his pack.


    Judd busied himself with adjusting his pack, wishing he wasn¡¯t quite so embarrassed by Giordi¡¯s bluntness. He hadn¡¯t had that much experience with women. Working on the docks meant he always smelt of fish and it was hard to remove it entirely from his body. Even now, as he recalled just how strong the smell could be, he put his fingertips to his nose. It was unfortunate that he had only handled fish the night before, for the smell immediately took him back to the sundrenched hours hauling in netloads of fish, gutting, descaling and salting endless varieties and countless tonnes.


    ¡°Why weren¡¯t knights allowed to marry?¡± He asked, forcing the memory out of his mind.


    ¡°It probably had something to do with the fragile nature of the kingdom of Astaril and the country of Terra in the years following the construction of the wall.¡± Caste explained. ¡°Sir, I beg your pardon, King Andigre wouldn¡¯t have wanted knights marrying and producing heirs when he was just establishing his own royal line.¡±


    ¡°He might have seen other knights as a threat and made it a condition of knighthood.¡± Giordi concluded.


    ¡°But the Four Spire Knights were said to be Andigre¡¯s friends, not just warriors but his closest allies.¡± Judd argued as they walked in the direction of the copse Verne and Aalis were nearing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that each of Andigre¡¯s knights fell during the construction of the wall.¡± Caste cringed every time he put his left foot down, his boot and sock squelching. ¡°All of them¡­Omra, Mavour, Callain and Verion¡­they gave their lives to hold back the monsters of Maul. There was no one left other than Andigre and Grail to begin the united kingdom of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°So why did it change?¡±


    ¡°Probably for many reasons but in the end, a knight was considered to be an upper class citizen¡­and if he had children then they would also be upper class and the sons could go on to pursue knighthood and the daughters became eligible matches for other knights, thus creating the notion of nobility and class distinction.¡± Caste shrugged. ¡°At least, that¡¯s how it seems to me. My thesis has yet to be publicly approved by Bishop Peele.¡±


    ¡°There you are.¡± Giordi cleared his throat. ¡°Now, where were we¡­oh yes, greeting a knight and his lady. Now you know knights clasp their arms together like so,¡± he held out his arm and Judd did the same, each of their hands grasping the other¡¯s forearm in a strong hold, ¡°but for a lady, you are permitted to kiss her hand.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­¡± Judd said awkwardly. ¡°We¡¯re not going to practice that¡­are we?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­perhaps not you and I¡­Oh Aalis!¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Judd ground out an unpleasant description of Giordi as he jogged towards Aalis who was just tying the bodies of pheasants to her belt, Verne¡¯s sharp aim collecting three for their supper.


    ¡°We need a lady for Judd¡¯s eloquence and manners training.¡±


    ¡°I really do not think¡­¡±


    ¡°Trust me, it would be more awkward if he kissed my hand.¡± Giordi chuckled and drew her forward. ¡°Now I will be the host knight, Aalis will be my wife and Judd will be Judd.¡±


    Judd shrugged helplessly at Aalis who was wide eyed and nervous.


    ¡°This will be good.¡± Caste sat on a boulder and took his boot and sock off once more, laying them out to dry.


    ¡°Sir Judd LaMogre, welcome to my home.¡± Giordi held out his arm to Judd who groaned.


    ¡°Sir Archard, thank you for your gracious invitation that I may dine at your table.¡± He said, clasping Giordi¡¯s arm in a firm grip.


    ¡°For one who has rid my province of a foul monster, it is the least I can do.¡±


    ¡°No, no¡­no improvising.¡± Judd warned.


    Giordi chuckled. ¡°May I introduce my wife, Lady Gaillot Archard.¡±


    ¡°My lady, the descriptions of your beauty do no justice for you are lovelier in person than they have led me to believe.¡± Judd recited stiffly.


    ¡°Sir LaMogre, you are too kind.¡± Aalis replied quietly, bobbing into a curtsey.


    ¡°Now a lady will offer her hand, giving you permission to kiss it.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± Caste barked, causing Aalis and Judd¡¯s outstretched hands to recoil like they¡¯d been burned. ¡°First the guest must ask permission of the host if he may kiss his wife¡¯s hand.¡±


    Giordi raised an eyebrow at the red headed cleric who had little highlights of copper from the bright bursts of sunshine. ¡°Surely not,¡± he countered, ¡°I¡¯ve seen this greeting many times and it is assumed¡­¡±


    Caste held up one hand for silence, the other clutching the small book that looked like it was barely holding itself together. ¡°To kiss a married woman¡¯s hand, regardless of her social status, requires first the permission of her husband.¡± He read and looked up.


    ¡°Let me see that.¡± Giordi grasped the book. ¡°Good grief¡­this is so old¡­it¡¯s probably from Andigre¡¯s era.¡±


    ¡°And it is very delicate.¡± Caste said in a dangerous tone, taking it back gently.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think such manners are a little outdated?¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Judd interjected, ¡°I prefer the custom of asking for permission before kissing a married woman¡¯s hand.¡±


    Giordi turned to Caste. ¡°What if it is refused?¡±


    Caste turned the page. ¡°If permission is refused, the guest must accept the refusal, however impolite it is in the role of a good host, with gracious acceptance.¡± He paused, looking thoughtful. ¡°Something along the lines of¡­a husband who keeps others from his wife¡­I applaud you sir.¡± Giordi snorted into laughter. Caste snapped the book shut. ¡°You do better.¡±


    Giordi bowed with a grand flourish. ¡°I acquiesce in deference to your ascendancy.¡±


    Judd gaped. ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°I agree to yield cause you¡¯re her husband.¡± Giordi beamed. ¡°Quite frankly you¡¯ll be fortunate if the host understands you but if he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯ll pretend that he does and go on to be flattered and his wife¡¯s virtue, intact.¡±


    Caste slapped his hand over his face.


    ¡°What about unmarried women?¡± Judd asked. ¡°I mean, daughters of knights?¡±


    ¡°Any woman in the care of another male.¡± Caste rapped on the book.


    ¡°That rules them all out!¡± Giordi lamented then sat next to Caste. ¡°What if they throw themselves at you?¡±


    ¡°Let go of my book!¡±


    Giordi held it aloft, taller than Caste. ¡°Let¡¯s see in the index. Table manners, courtship guidelines¡­punishment for acts of adultery, reconciliation through the rite of purification¡­how is that relevant to today?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tradition and culture from the founding of Astaril which makes it timeless and precious so give it back!¡±


    Giordi crowed in delight. ¡°There¡¯s a section purely dedicated to hem and sleeve length, corset height and cleavage allowance!¡± He looked at Caste. ¡°Have you been holding out on us?¡±


    Caste¡¯s face was red with fury. ¡°I swear¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s got illustrations! She¡¯s got a lovely neckline!¡±


    ¡°Give it back you wretched warbler!¡±


    ¡°Cantankerous cleric!¡±


    Judd glanced at Aalis who was pressing her lips together to keep from smiling.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± He whispered.


    ¡°I said you could practice your manners with me.¡± She returned quietly.


    ¡°I never thought it would mean kissing you¡­I mean, your hand!¡± Judd flushed red and tugged on his collar.


    ¡°You have not actually kissed my hand.¡± She held it out to him. Judd stared at it. ¡°Something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No¡­just¡­I never thought my kiss would be up for assessment.¡± He swallowed.


    ¡°You do not devour my hand.¡± She laughed. ¡°You barely touch it with your lips.¡± She wiggled her fingers at him and Judd swallowed again, taking her fingers. ¡°Lift them up a little without lifting me off my toes, lean down and¡­¡± Judd brushed his lips across the top of her hand. ¡°Perfect.¡±


    He beamed then rubbed the back of his neck self consciously.


    ¡°Delicately done,¡± Giordi said, relinquishing the book to the cleric, Caste storming off in a huff, limping with only one shoe on, ¡°and just for your own judgement, you can gauge a great deal about the intent of the young man by the manner in which he kisses the hand and about its reception by the way the young woman reacts.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Giordi nodded. ¡°Really.¡±

 Are you trying to get me to use you for target practice?

    Giordi managed to get quite comfortable that evening before Verne kicked him with his foot, jerking his head. Giordi groaned and dragged himself back up, following Verne with the same attitude that Caste had demonstrated only earlier.


    ¡°You know we¡¯ve been walking all day¡­¡±


    ¡°On top of which, I was bringing down supper.¡± Verne held up his bow. ¡°This is a bow¡­¡±


    ¡°You did this already.¡±


    ¡°This is an arrow.¡±


    ¡°By the stars¡­you¡¯re really going to do this all over again, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Until you get it right.¡±


    Giordi took the bow and gazed at it. ¡°Well¡­if we really are to become so closely acquainted¡­I shall call you Ilania.¡±


    Verne¡¯s gaze could have peeled strips of bark from a tree. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s got a belly, a back and it¡¯s all one limb¡­it¡¯s almost a person and if I¡¯ve got to hold it close, it¡¯s going to be of the female variety.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my bow!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got that one.¡± Giordi pointed to the one in Verne¡¯s hand.


    ¡°They¡¯re both mine!¡± Verne put his fingers to his nose. ¡°You are making this impossible.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I know what will liven it up!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°If I hit the target, you have to have a drink with me.¡±


    Verne snorted. ¡°No. For every bullseye.¡±


    Giordi gaped. ¡°I¡¯ll never hit that!¡±


    ¡°You will if you practice and I promise,¡± Verne glowed at him, ¡°one drink per bullseye.¡±


    Giordi tapped his chin, his blond curls going burnished gold in the setting sunlight. ¡°I need a shave¡­¡± He muttered then held out his hand. ¡°Very well. I accept your terms.¡± Verne stepped back, allowing Giordi to demonstrate just how much it was he¡¯d learnt the night before. ¡°Come on Ilania¡­I¡¯m gonna drink Verne¡¯s pockets dry at Quarre.¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes as Giordi released the arrow. It struck the side of the tree and speared off into the grass. Giordi grunted and held out his hand.


    ¡°Oh no, you can go fetch it. I¡¯m not a dog.¡±


    Giordi jogged to the place the arrow disappeared and lost valuable time scrounging for the missing arrow.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair, you know.¡± He muttered, hurrying back.


    ¡°If you hit the tree or the target, you wouldn¡¯t have to go looking so far for it.¡± Verne returned lightly. Giordi held the bow up again. ¡°Closer and higher¡­sight down the arrow shaft¡­¡±


    The arrow hit the tree this time but not the target and certainly nowhere near the bullseye.


    ¡°I thought I had it then.¡± Giordi grumbled.


    ¡°Slight breeze¡­you¡¯ll learn to compensate.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Giordi managed another half dozen strikes, several of them hitting the target yet none sinking into the bullseye when, upon his return of his final arrow he gasped and stared at the sky.


    Verne spun around, expecting to see a griffin or dragon or giant¡­or something.


    But all there was, was sky.


    ¡°Are you trying to get me to use you for target practice?¡± Verne demanded.


    ¡°Look at that sky!¡± Giordi shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s stunning!¡±


    Verne turned back to the sky. It was pretty enough with plenty of colour in it but he didn¡¯t quite understand what had captivated Giordi¡¯s attention so¡­and then realised he was probably just delaying his bow practice.


    ¡°Stop trying to get out of doing what you said you would¡­¡±


    ¡°Just stop!¡± Giordi barked at him and Verne was surprised by the heat in his tone. ¡°Look at the sky!¡±


    Verne shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°Look at the yellows, oranges, pinks¡­all the way down to that nearly blood red magenta¡­royal purple there, edging those clouds¡­¡± Giordi breathed. ¡°See how the colours are intensifying¡­as though they know they will be blotted out by the merciless wash of indigo and black of night¡­so they are declaring a final glorious hurrah before succumbing to inevitability.¡±


    Verne stared at Giordi, wondering if the minstrel was quite sane. ¡°It¡¯s a sky¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the only sky. The only time we will ever see it for never will it be again¡­not like this.¡± Giordi sat down on the edge of a small ledge, transfixed by the firmament before them. ¡°Verne¡­it¡¯s going to die¡­the least we can do is witness its passing.¡±


    Verne swallowed, glanced back at the target then finally sat down next to Giordi. He wasn¡¯t sure what the minstrel meant with all his ramblings but there was an awestruck lilt to his tone, like a breathless sorrow that Verne was reluctant to break or disrespect. He reasoned that they had got in a little target practice and was resolved to wait.


    The colours were quite dazzling and Giordi was right about their intensity. It was as though they were glowing brighter and brighter.


    ¡°Even if I dared to endeavour,


    To try to capture the sky


    To mimic its wonderous beauty


    I¡¯d be painting ¡®til I died.


    Every colour of creation,


    Every beast and bloom and maid


    Is captured within each sunset


    Beauty fleetingly portrayed.


    But if I painted each sunset,


    If I never lifted brush from skin,


    The sky I might one day capture


    Yet I would miss it all to win.¡±


    Verne wasn¡¯t quite sure what to say to that. Giordi had quoted the poem or possibly lyrics without looking like he was concentrating at all. His handsome face was bathed in luminous colours of the sunset and he seemed utterly content in his languid repose.


    ¡°What does it mean?¡± Verne asked, sensing that Giordi was trying to convey something yet baffled as to what it might be.


    ¡°It is the lament of an artist, attempting to capture the beauty of a sunset,¡± Giordi sighed, ¡°realising the futility of his efforts and it is his final conclusion that, even if he did succeed¡­he would miss the point.¡±


    Verne frowned. ¡°What is the point?¡± He asked in a whisper.


    ¡°That some things are not meant to be captured and bottled and preserved.¡± Giordi shook his head. ¡°They are meant to be experienced. A shooting star¡­a glorious sunset¡­the rush of a first kiss¡­if you try to hold onto it, you miss the moment. I mean, look¡­just look at that!¡±


    Verne turned and studied the sky, the hues reaching their luminous apex and for a single, dazzling moment, it looked as though all the colours of creation were exposed¡­like the fabric of the world had been torn apart and for an instant, a brief, glorious second, Verne could see the wonder beneath.


    Immediately the colours began to fade, succumbing to the inevitability of night, the dark blue that had started as an ominous line on the opposite horizon now a tidal wave, soaking up any of the pale blue that was left and blotting out the colours with its overwhelming, heavy hue.


    Giordi breathed out softly. ¡°We have just witnessed the death of the day¡­it falls to us to take notice of its end.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t possibly expect everyone to drop what they are doing and watch the sunset.¡±


    ¡°Not everyone watching every sunset¡­but every sunset should be watched by someone.¡±


    Verne swallowed. ¡°Surely just the pretty ones¡­¡± He was unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.


    ¡°Some of the loveliest sunsets are those that appear plain for a true artist can see the beauty hiding beneath.¡± Giordi closed his eyes. ¡°Those are the most exquisite moments when you realise you have discovered something rare and precious.¡± He opened his eyes and cleared his throat. ¡°Ah well¡­I¡¯d best collect all the arrows I lost.¡± He stood up and walked back to where the bows and quiver rested. ¡°Coming?¡±


    ¡°Uh huh.¡± Verne said, standing slowly, eyes still on the sky, feeling oddly unsettled.

 I am not a knight!

    ¡°When are we going to get there?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll get there when we get there.¡± Caste snapped at Giordi.


    The going had been uphill for the better part of an hour. The rocky foothills had given way to steeper slopes. For a time, Judd was worried that the only way to reach Quarre would be to climb. Thankfully, due to Caste¡¯s excellent navigation skills, they found there was a main road, hard packed and well worn.


    ¡°Quarre is the small city that operates the largest quarry in Terra.¡± Caste had explained when asked how he knew there would be a road. ¡°You didn¡¯t really think they wouldn¡¯t have a maintained road in order to transport the blocks of stone they cut from the ¡®Hump¡¯, did you?¡±


    ¡°It never occurred to me.¡± Judd admitted.


    As if confirming Caste¡¯s word, a large cart drawn by four Clydesdale horses and piled solidly with stone blocks, lumbered down the road. Judd and his party had to duck to the side to avoid being trampled.


    ¡°How far to Quarre?¡± Judd inquired of the driver.


    ¡°Lengthen your gait and you¡¯ll be in time for ¡®is lordship to invite yer to supper.¡± The man grunted, flicking his reins, the cart ambling down the road.


    ¡°Is he really setting out at this hour, without any guards?¡± Verne remarked.


    ¡°Who cares? Supper in a lord¡¯s house,¡± Giordi rubbed his hands together, ¡°let¡¯s do as the man said and lengthen our gait!¡±


    Unfortunately, lengthening their gait led to breathlessness which caused them to need to stop. Judd wondered if they would have made better time had they walked slower and not pushed themselves so hard. Judd was starting to wonder if they ought to forgo a lord¡¯s supper and find somewhere to camp as the shadows of the pine trees that littered the slopes began to lengthen drastically, the sun sinking even more rapidly in the mountains than on the plains they¡¯d left behind. However, before he could make up his mind, the gates of the city appeared around a sharp bend. The road led up to the gates but also branched away to lead around the north side of the city which was protected by a wall of rock.


    ¡°Must be a direct road to the quarry rather than the carts coming through town.¡± Verne observed.


    ¡°Gates are shut.¡± Judd nodded at the wooden gates that were made from lengths of pine. And as the pine trees grew tall, the gates were equally impressively so.


    Caste wheezed something. Judd turned to him. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°B¡­be¡­bell¡­¡± He flapped his hand uselessly towards the gate. Judd turned and saw a bell cord hanging on the side of the gate. Judd strode towards it and gave the cord a solid yank.


    A loud chime sounded and before its last echo had faded, a voice called down to them from atop the wall the gates were bound to. ¡°The gates of Quarre close at sunset!¡±


    Judd glanced over his shoulder, the sun sinking fast.


    ¡°Knocking off early today?¡± He joked lamely. The guard said nothing but Judd could sense he was unimpressed. ¡°We have business in Quarre!¡±


    ¡°I see you are armed. We have no need of the business of knights or warriors here.¡±


    ¡°Our horses were brought here by the shepherd brothers, Clai and Rai Borre. We are here to collect them.¡±


    ¡°I know these men. Who are you? Speak your name!¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre.¡± The voice didn¡¯t reply. Judd looked over his shoulder at the others who looked as idealess as he. ¡°Listen, I¡¯ve got a cleric of the Order of the Grail out here, a young woman, a minstrel and an archer¡­it¡¯s nearly a full moon which makes camping in the wilds very unsafe! You¡¯re not really going to¡­¡±


    There came the sound of wood groaning and a heavy thump then chains rattled and one of the gates creaked and groaned, opening enough for a guard to appear.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, your presence has been anticipated by Lord LeMewn. It is on his good grace that you are permitted into Quarre after sunset,¡± Judd wanted to argue the sunset issue but kept his teeth clamped together, ¡°but you must vouch for the integrity of your companions.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re good.¡±


    The guard frowned then cleared his throat and nodded. ¡°Very well¡­enter.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re good?¡± Giordi whispered. ¡°Have you learned nothing during our eloquence lessons?¡±


    Judd shrugged helplessly and followed the others through the narrow pass the open gate had created. He noticed that Aalis stayed behind him, her dreadlocks tightly plaited and covered in her hood.


    ¡°Wait one moment before I escort you to his Lordship.¡± The guard said, entering a guardhouse. They could hear him speaking and then a boy appeared from the guardhouse and, with only a fleeting but very curious glance at Judd and his companions, took off like a shot into the city.


    Judd glanced around at their surroundings. Being a city, Quarre was much larger than any other village or township they had come across except for the forts and even then, it would be a close match.


    Judd looked at Caste. ¡°Probably should have asked this before but¡­Quarre isn¡¯t a fort, is it?¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s a city, probably the only city other than Astaril that isn¡¯t a fort.¡± Caste replied.


    ¡°Is that why it is governed by a lord and not a knight?¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Caste glanced over his shoulder at the guardhouse then stepped forward to whisper in confidence. ¡°When the previous knight of Quarre died, LeMewn, petitioned King Rocheveron for permission to be made lord of Quarre. He was already an illustrious resident so it was little change for him.¡±


    ¡°Why did LeMewn think he had the right to request such a post?¡± Judd whispered in return.


    ¡°LeMewn had a brother, Rocheveron, who married Viene, the only direct heir to the throne of the line of Andigre and Grail.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°LeMewn is King Rocheveron¡¯s brother?¡±


    ¡°I think he had a different mother after Rocheveron¡¯s mother died and his father remarried but yes.¡±


    ¡°Not a blood relative of the throne?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly¡­but close enough for a heavy degree of respect.¡± Caste stepped back as the guard reappeared.


    ¡°I apologise for the wait,¡± he bowed sharply, ¡°I had to make sure my post was covered so I could escort you to His Lordship and it gave him time to prepare for your arrival.¡±


    ¡°Carry on.¡± Judd blurted then proceeded to follow the guard who strode swiftly down the main strip of Quarre.


    Unlike other villages and towns, even the ones associated with forts they had visited thus far, the buildings of the residents of Quarre were not made of wood and thatch. Everything was made of stone, cut from the quarry that was secreted off to the side of the city. While it had a solidness that was impressive to behold, Judd noted that it was also quite grey. Even the second story of the buildings of the main square, which were made out of wood for lightness, seemed to be tinged with greyness.


    Judd didn¡¯t know how to phrase the question delicately and was wondering if he could point it out to one of his companions when the answer to his question appeared. A line of workers entered the main square from a street that led to the side the quarry was on. They were covered in grey dust, their faces streaked with grime and sweat. Judd also noted that they left footprints in the stone pavers behind them and turned to see that they, too, were leaving tracks. Not of what came off their shoes, but rather, where their soles picked up what was already on the ground.


    ¡°You can taste it in the air, too,¡± Giordi said, seeing Judd¡¯s glance and guessing his revelation, ¡°its¡­metallic on your tongue, like you¡¯re biting down on steel.¡±


    ¡°Have you been here before?¡± Judd asked as Giordi smiled at several young women who were looking at him, whispering urgently to each other. He could almost feel their gaze, eyeing the young minstrel up and down.


    ¡°I do not recall specifically¡­¡± He beamed as one young woman approached and slapped him, hard. She flounced back to her companion who congratulated and consoled her. Judd raised his eyebrows at Giordi who shook his head. ¡°Oh yes¡­I¡¯ve been here before.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just remember where you¡¯ve offended daughters and wives?¡± Verne grunted.


    ¡°Easier¡­but nowhere near as entertaining.¡± Caste grinned.


    In the middle of the main square, as was the case with most villages, towns and even cities, was a well. However, unlike other wells, the well of Quarre was at least a man¡¯s length wide, the wall was three foot high and on the four points of the compass were metal pumps so that, rather than using the traditional method of drawing water with a bucket from the metal rail, water could be pumped into containers.


    A waft of humid air struck Judd and he turned to see a sign for a public bath and made note of it, thinking he could use a solid soak and wash. There was also a tavern on the opposite side.


    ¡°I think we¡¯ll be using some of Sir Egrette¡¯s gold tonight.¡± Judd remarked.


    ¡°I saw a cobbler sign back there.¡± Verne pointed. ¡°We¡¯ll need to visit it at some point.¡±


    Judd began to fret about the cost of rooms, food, clothing and a decent bath.


    It wasn¡¯t easy maintaining such a large group.


    ¡°This way, sir.¡± The guard drew them on, to the right and up a steep, winding incline of steps, which had their only recently rested calves screaming at them, to a grand house that stood higher than all the others. There were no buildings on the slope to the house but there were large, staggered platforms with rambling rose bushes, creeping vines and carefully maintained shrubbery. It was the only colour, so far, that Judd had noticed that wasn¡¯t grey. The boy who had run from the guardhouse was fingering a pretty, shiny coin. The guard told him to go home to his mother for he was done for the day and he scampered off.


    The front of the two storey house had a large, square entrance that jutted out from the rest of the house, the pillars reaching to the roof on the second storey. The guard led them to the front doors, set back from the pillars and rapped smartly on the door. It immediately opened and the doorman spoke softly then dismissed the guard who bowed to Judd and left.


    ¡°Sir LaMogre, please, come in. His Lordship awaits.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­well¡­¡± Giordi cleared his throat and jerked his head so Judd swallowed his words and did as he was told, the others following him inside.


    The foyer was lit brightly with many candles, the floor made of polished wood squares. Judd immediately noticed he was tracking grey dust that he¡¯d picked up from the city streets. There was a chandelier hanging from the two storey ceiling, damask drapes adorning the long windows and a beautifully woven rug on the floor that Judd made sure not to walk on.


    ¡°Sir LaMogre!¡± Judd looked up to see a man of burgeoning girth with silvery hair slicked back from his face. He was descending the stairs in a velvet cloak, a gold chain hanging around his neck. ¡°Welcome to Quarre, knight of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your gracious welcome but I¡­¡±


    ¡°Come, my dear and meet our guests.¡± Lord LeMewn gestured for his wife to step forward. She had been hidden by his extravagant and illustrious form. It was not that she was dowdy but her manner was the complete opposite of her husband. He boomed and she was quiet and demure. Her hair was an unremarkable shade of brown, neither light nor dark while LeMewn¡¯s looked like slightly curly silver strands. His arm gestures were almost out of control while she kept her hands clasped neatly in front of her. His clothing was opulent and hers, while lovely, was rather plain in comparison. ¡°Sir LaMogre, allow me to introduce my wife to you, Lady Lia LeMewn.¡±


    Judd floundered as Lia offered her hand to him. He suspected that, with the hand offered, permission was already given and took her gloved fingers and barely touched the lace before retreating.


    ¡°My lady, the descriptions of your beauty do no justice for you are lovelier in person than they have led me to believe.¡± He recited, feeling utterly ridiculous and a hopeless fraud.


    She gave a light blush in pleasure then retreated as he had done, standing behind her husband¡¯s elbow. ¡°Welcome to our home, Sir LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Ah, about that¡­I¡­¡±


    ¡°Clariet! You are tardy¡­come¡­¡±


    ¡°Apologies my Lord,¡± Clariet said in a smooth as silk voice that put even Giordi¡¯s satin tones to shame, ¡°I was attending to the matter of tomorrow¡¯s trial and judgement.¡±


    Clariet was clothed in the same style as Caste, however, despite being of a similar build to Caste, the robes suited him, tailored to flatter his shape and shortened so that he was not always catching his booted feet on the hem. Even the sleeves had been shortened so that his hands could be seen and not swallowed up inside a far too long cuff. Caste¡¯s tunic was calico, off white and after months of journeying, it was starting to come off as brown, the hem filthy and torn in places. In comparison, Clariet¡¯s tunic was pure white, shimmering with a hint of satin lustre and his cappa clausa, the hooded cape that all members of the Order of the Grail wore, was made from a dark red velvet. The embroidery on the hem was in gold thread whereas on Caste¡¯s, it was in the same colour thread as the cape and so, didn¡¯t stand out like Clariet¡¯s. Not surprisingly, Clariet¡¯s pendant which was the four pointed start within a circle was bigger than Caste¡¯s as well and possibly studded with precious jewels.


    ¡°Clariet is my cleric, though he will profess he is a deacon.¡± LeMewn winked but there was nothing subtle about it.


    ¡°I was promoted to the office of deacon before being assigned this post, my Lord,¡± Clariet¡¯s voice did not waver, showing neither embarrassment nor agitation, ¡°welcome, Sir LaMogre¡­your reputation precedes you.¡±


    ¡°I am not a knight!¡±

 After all, you may yet be a knight…but you may be a knight yet

    ¡°I am not a knight!¡± Judd cried then realised, a split second later, just how loud he had been. He swallowed, seeing the stunned expressions of his lordship, his ladyship and the cleric/deacon. ¡°I apologise for my outburst,¡± he blundered madly, ¡°but I cannot allow you to continue in your mistaken identity.¡±


    ¡°Mistaken?¡± Lord LeMewn¡¯s tone was unimpressed.


    ¡°I¡­uh¡­¡±


    ¡°What Judd LaMogre means is that you have unfortunately been the recipients of misinformation and he would never wish to deceive you, Lord LeMewn.¡± Giordi offered with an elegant bow.


    Lord LeMewn¡¯s rising ire had been interrupted and even Judd knew he had to press the explanation.


    ¡°I am one of those who has taken up Sir Rylan¡¯s knighthood quest. It is possible those who heard as much, believed I am already a knight.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­well then¡­¡± Lord LeMewn turned to Clariet. ¡°I am surprised you did not call him out yourself, Clariet.¡±


    ¡°My Lord, I received the same misinformation as yourself from the brothers, Borre, about Judd LaMogre¡¯s knighted status.¡± Clariet expertly deflected any responsibility. ¡°In future we will put less weight upon the word of shepherds.¡±


    Judd cringed, wondering if they¡¯d just managed to land the brothers in trouble the next time they visited Quarre.


    ¡°The brothers Borre were very kind to us, looking after our two horses while we crossed the channel to Keenstone Isle and said, if we were gone for more than a week, that they would see to it our horses would be looked after here.¡±


    ¡°Your horses are in His Lordship¡¯s stables,¡± Clariet bowed, ¡°as we were under the impression they were the steeds of a knight¡­though perhaps their somewhat humble appearance should have given us reason to question this assumption.¡±


    ¡°My love,¡± Lia said so gently it was as though she was whispering, ¡°it is hardly the fault of our visitors that we have mistaken them so. Will we not still invite them to dine with us?¡±


    ¡°Then, perhaps, Cleric¡­?¡±


    ¡°Caste Undern.¡±


    ¡°Cleric Undern will return to Astaril with a favourable report of your generous hospitality.¡± Clariet added.


    Lord LeMewn paused to consider this. Though it was only for a few seconds, it felt like an eternity. ¡°Yes, let us proceed as planned. After all, you may yet be a knight¡­but you may be a knight yet.¡± LeMewn chuckled as though he had been incredibly witty. Judd laughed weakly, sure LeMewn had just made a joke but was too rattled to truly understand it. ¡°You and your companions will dine with us this evening.¡±


    ¡°While your graciousness knows no bounds, Your Lordship,¡± Giordi declared with enviable confidence and eloquence, ¡°we could not possibly dine at your illustrious table in our current state.¡±


    Judd wanted to add, because we smell, but suspected that was not the kind of conversation Giordi had in mind.


    ¡°Perhaps in an hour, after you have availed yourselves of our public baths?¡± Lord LeMewn suggested.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Judd looked at Giordi who nodded as subtly as he could. ¡°Yes, we would be delighted.¡±


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Clariet said softly, ¡°perhaps, in honour of the house of the Order of the Grail¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course¡­¡± Lord LeMewn waved his hand.


    ¡°Cleric Caste, I would be pleased to offer you a room in the house of His Lordship.¡± Clariet bowed.


    Judd was none too surprised that Caste immediately accepted the offer.


    ¡°We will see the three of you in an hour.¡±


    ¡°Was there not one more of you?¡± Clariet asked and they turned.


    Judd was astonished to discover that Aalis was not with them. ¡°She¡­she was right¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis is extremely shy, Your Lordship,¡± Giordi explained as quickly as he could, ¡°and of very humble origins. I fear your grand abode has overwhelmed her.¡±


    They bowed and escaped out of the manor house as quickly as they could. After putting a little distance between themselves and the house, Judd glanced around. ¡°Aalis?¡± He hissed.


    She appeared from behind a bush, her face coloured with shame. ¡°I am sorry¡­¡± She blurted.


    ¡°So am I,¡± Judd sighed then saw her expression, ¡°that I didn¡¯t do the same thing. That,¡± he glanced at the house, ¡°was awkward.¡±


    ¡°At least it is over¡­¡± Aalis could feel the mood sag. ¡°It is over, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Not¡­exactly.¡± Judd cringed. ¡°We¡¯re invited to supper.¡±


    ¡°And I suspect they¡¯re delaying it so can we bathe first.¡± Giordi fluttered his hands at them and they hurried down the path to the main square.


    ¡°I do not have to come, do I?¡± Aalis asked in horror. ¡°Judd, I am not¡­I¡­look¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all in the same situation.¡± Judd lamented.


    ¡°Not exactly.¡± Verne said with scathing dryness. ¡°You¡¯re not going to risk being accused of being a witch and condemned to death just by having supper.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean¡­that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Judd pushed his hands over his face. ¡°Even if we put all our best clothes into a pile, I doubt we¡¯ll come up with anything worthy of a lord¡¯s supper table, let alone clean.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on getting bodily clean.¡± Giordi decided. ¡°Judd, Verne¡­come on.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Verne grasped Judd and Giordi¡¯s packs, ¡°I¡¯ll get us a room at the tavern. I mean, we¡¯re not going to be staying up there¡­are we?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Giordi chuckled, ¡°otherwise we¡¯d be bathing there.¡±


    ¡°So, I¡¯ll get us a room and keep watch over our gear while you bathe and then we¡¯ll switch.¡±


    ¡°So do not take too long.¡± Aalis said, standing with Verne.


    Judd nodded and followed Giordi to the baths. He glanced over his shoulder at Verne and Aalis entering the tavern and sighed, his shoulders sagging. He climbed the steps to the baths and paid for them both to enter. The attendant handed them a towel each and a tiny piece of soap then jerked her head towards the right where the male baths were found inside a large room, each bath sunken and big enough for four men of reasonable size to recline without unnecessary¡­contact. It was relatively busy and there was a great deal of steam obscuring their vision. Giordi appeared right at home, yanking his boots off, his trousers, tunic and vest, striping down to nothing. Judd looked away and did the same. Giordi was not embarrassed so he reasoned he should not be either.


    Giordi sat on the ledge in the water, leaning back so that he could sink a little deeper, the water halfway up his chest.


    ¡°Is there anything more heavenly than a warm bath?¡±


    ¡°A hot one.¡± Judd muttered, wishing the water was warmer. He picked up his tiny piece of soap and lathered his hair into a crown of bubbles then dunked beneath the water and rinsed until it was clean. He gave all other parts of his body as much attention as he dared in a public place.


    ¡°You really need to learn to enjoy a bath¡­¡± Giordi sighed happily, his piece of soap untouched.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to get back so that Verne and Aalis can bathe.¡±


    ¡°You sure you¡¯re not trying to get back as soon as possible in order to interrupt anything they might be doing?¡±


    Judd¡¯s face was already a little flushed from the water but he felt it increase in colour. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± He said roughly, getting out of the bath, scraping the water from his body as best he could and yanking on his pants as quickly as possible.


    ¡°I think you do.¡± Giordi opened one eye and looked at Judd. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not sure you¡¯ve got anything to worry about. The way Aalis smiles at you is usually the way I gauge that a young woman would like more of my attention.¡±


    Judd paused. ¡°I just don¡¯t know about that. Aalis and Verne seem to have a connection since the incident in the channel with the sirens and I can¡¯t help but wonder if those hateful illusions had something to do with it.¡±

 They will see me and know what I am…

    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s all bathe together.¡± Verne snorted, heaving their packs into the room they¡¯d booked. She looked at Aalis and put her hands on her narrow hips. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t have been awkward at all!¡±


    ¡°You made a brilliant excuse for an escape.¡± Aalis smiled.


    ¡°What about you, slipping away before we got to LeMewn¡¯s front door?¡± Verne shook her head. ¡°Now that was an escape.¡±


    Aalis sighed and sat on the bed closest to her. ¡°How am I going to escape tonight?¡±


    Verne sat on the opposite bed. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She admitted. ¡°Can you feign illness?¡±


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°I do not need to feign attire. Judd was right. We are not dressed well enough for a supper invitation with a lord.¡±


    Verne laid back on the bed and glared at the curtains. ¡°You couldn¡¯t make something dazzling out of those, could you? Oof!¡± She sat up and threw the pillow back at Aalis then looked around. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be able to afford to stay here long.¡±


    ¡°It is the nicest place we have stayed.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°Verne¡­how are you going to bathe?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Oh, those places usually have his and hers bathing rooms. I¡¯ll just duck into the female bath.¡± Verne stretched her arms then grimaced. ¡°I stink¡­and all my clothes stink¡­¡±


    They both sat up at the knock on the door, Verne scrambling for her bandana that helped hide what she thought of as her feminine face shape. Aalis stood up and at Verne¡¯s prepared nod, called softly,


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Aalis, it¡¯s me, Judd.¡±


    She opened the door and allowed Judd to come in, still ruffling his hair vigorously. The dampness made his hair even curlier than it was prone to be.


    ¡°Giordi not with you?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°While he insisted on haste, the way he sank into the bath told me he didn¡¯t intend on following his own advice.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°You two go and I¡¯ll try to work out what I¡¯m wearing.¡±


    Aalis kept watch as Verne hastily undressed and climbed into the bath. Thankfully it was approaching supper time for most of the families in Quarre so the baths, the female side at any rate, was empty.


    ¡°What is it like?¡± Aalis asked softly. She heard a soft bubbling noise and glanced over her shoulder. Verne had completely submerged herself into the water, all detail obscured by steam. She grasped the edge and drew herself up slightly to lean on the lip of the bath. ¡°Good?¡±


    ¡°Not the cleanest water but so warm. You getting in?¡± Verne frowned at Aalis¡¯ hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll close my eyes.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry¡­I have never bathed with anyone else before.¡± Aalis heaved her gown off, hanging it from a hook, threw any undergarments she was wearing over her discarded shoes then gingerly slid into the water. ¡°Oh¡­that is so nice!¡±


    She sank to her shoulders, her hands tying her dreadlocks up into a knot. Verne peeked out of one eye and seeing Aalis was happily situated, reclined in the water.


    ¡°You know, when I think of quests, of knights travelling and heroes conquering¡­I never imagine that they would get dirty.¡± Verne stuck a foot out of the water and glared at her toenails. ¡°They never have ingrown toenails or stink from days of wearing the same thing¡­and as for that wretched blood rush every new moon¡­¡± Verne saw Aalis look away and sighed. ¡°Sorry¡­I¡¯m a little blunt. Raised by a father and seven brothers¡­if I needed to know something feminine there was no delicacy in telling me. And when things like that monthly issue happened¡­well, all my brothers knew about it. Verne¡¯s in a ladylike way or Verne¡¯s still a virgin.¡± She tapped her teeth together. ¡°As if any man would have anything to do with someone like me.¡±


    ¡°That is the trade off, is it not?¡± Aalis rubbed her soap into bubbles. ¡°You have the advantage of not being treated like Sir Egrette treats women but you do miss out on some things.¡±


    ¡°What? Like falling in love?¡± Verne snorted.


    ¡°Well, yes I suppose.¡± Aalis frowned. ¡°Verne, what if a woman were to approach you?¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Verne laughed. ¡°I have nothing to worry about. I¡¯d just wait for Giordi to smile at them and they would be distracted by his radiant good looks and ridiculous charm. He has greater accuracy with women than he does with a bow.¡±


    Aalis laughed with her. ¡°I take it archery lessons have not been a huge success?¡±


    ¡°I think if he applied himself, he could be quite good¡­but he spent half of our last lesson making lovey eyes at the sunset.¡± Verne scrubbed her hair and scalp until her skin tingled then rinsed it vigorously. ¡°If my brothers ever caught me looking at the sunset like that, I would never have heard the end of it. Ooh, Verne¡¯s gone all girlie again¡­¡±


    Aalis did her best to dry herself with the towel she was given, dressing in her clothes that felt unforgivably filthy now that she was so clean.


    ¡°Verne,¡± she said softly, ¡°I do not wish to cast dispersions upon your family or the way they brought you up as I know they do love you,¡± she glanced at Verne who was scraping her fingers through her hair until it was pulled back from her face before she tied her bandana on, ¡°but is it possible you resent your female nature?¡±


    ¡°More than possible really.¡± Verne admitted quietly, tying the ties of her boots. She had one on then put it down, looking up, staring at nothing. ¡°I used to think, I¡¯ve been born into the wrong body¡­surely the mistake is not with the world¡­it¡¯s with me.¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°You called it a curse, once.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­maybe not a curse¡­¡± Verne shrugged, stomping her foot into her other boot. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a place in this world for someone like me. Not a girl pretending to be a boy. Just¡­me.¡±


    ¡°Maybe there will be, one day.¡± Aalis said softly. ¡°You can be known as being a woman, as tough and as brave as any knight and as feminine as a queen even in trousers and boots.¡±


    Verne¡¯s blue eyes were cloudy and sad. ¡°That sounds like one of Giordi¡¯s lyrical fantasies.¡± She sighed and made sure her bandana was in place. ¡°We should get back.¡±


    When Aalis and Verne returned to the tavern, they discovered their beds covered in clothing, Giordi making ¡®tutting¡¯ noises as Judd rearranged outfits.


    ¡°It¡¯s no use, I tell you,¡± Judd lamented, ¡°there is no way of rearranging anything we own to make it half decent.¡± He looked up as they entered. ¡°Nice bath?¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Aalis felt her skin warm and ducked her head, pretending to study the clothes. ¡°Oh dear¡­¡±


    ¡°You see our problem.¡±


    ¡°If we had arrived an hour earlier, we might have been able to purchase new shirts at least.¡± Verne folded his arms. ¡°Although we need new boots¡­¡±


    ¡°I think there is nothing for it.¡± Giordi decided. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to come up with one reasonably good outfit¡­and the rest of us will just cry poor.¡±


    ¡°What about this tunic¡­¡±


    They all started at the knock on the door. Judd opened it to discover two servants standing upon the threshold. ¡°We have been sent from Lord LeMewn¡¯s house with a gift for Judd LaMogre and company.¡±


    ¡°A gift?¡± He glanced at the others then back to the servants. ¡°Please, tell His Lordship that no gift is¡­¡±


    ¡°It is not from His Lordship.¡± They announced and without asking permission, walked into the room, taking stock of those in it and handing a parcel to each of them. Then they bowed and left, closing the door behind. Without being able to think of a single thing to say, they each unfolded the soft leather parcels.


    ¡°No¡­is this possible?¡± Judd held up a dark green shirt with an open neck that could be tightened or loosened with a tie and the cuffs were the same way. There was a pair of trousers beneath the shirt in dark brown with ties at the waist, a baggier fit from hips to knees then they tapered in to allow them to tuck into boots. ¡°With a quick polish, my boots might do these justice!¡±


    Aalis looked at Verne who held a white shirt with similar ties as Judd¡¯s although the fit was slimmer and the trousers included were tapered from waist to cuff, with tie lacing down the outer legs.


    ¡°You will cut a very trim figure in that, Verne.¡± Aalis noted. ¡°Giordi, blue is your colour!¡±


    Giordi held the cornflower blue shirt up to his beaming face, his trousers in the same style as Judd¡¯s but in black.


    ¡°Very striking.¡± Giordi chortled.


    ¡°Who did this, do you suppose?¡±


    ¡°Not His Lordship, going by the servant¡¯s insinuation.¡± Giordi mused. ¡°Maybe Her Ladyship¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re hoping.¡± Verne rolled his eyes.


    ¡°What about you, Aalis?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Aalis took a breath, grasped the top of the garment and let the parcel fall away. It was a two piece dress with the underdress in calico with long sleeves and a gathered neckline that could be drawn across in a straight line or allowed to rest on top of the shoulders, causing the neckline to turn into a gentle U shape. The overdress was a bodice corset with thick straps over the shoulders, laced loosely or tightly depending on the shape of the woman wearing it and a split skirt, allowing the calico to show through. The bodice skirt was in a similar cornflower blue fabric as Giordi¡¯s shirt.


    ¡°You¡¯ll look lovely in that.¡± The minstrel admired.


    ¡°The blue will really bring out your eyes.¡± Judd added. Aalis just stared at the dress in her hands. Judd cleared his throat, took her arm and led her outside, shutting the door. He turned to her in the corridor, her rapid breathing alarming him. ¡°Aalis, what is it?¡±


    ¡°I cannot do it.¡± She rasped in a hollow voice. ¡°I cannot go into his house¡­I cannot dine at the table¡­they will see me and know what I am¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis, Aalis listen to me. You don¡¯t look like a witch!¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°That is because you have become numb to my presence!¡± Aalis drew back from him. ¡°Judd, when we first met, what did you think?¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°That you were beautiful¡­and lonely.¡±


    Aalis went pink and closed her eyes. ¡°I¡­I meant afterwards¡­¡±


    ¡°You have never been a witch to me and I¡¯ll fight anyone who says so.¡±


    Aalis put her hand on his arm. ¡°Please,¡± she implored brokenly, ¡°I beg of you Judd¡­do not ask this of me.¡±


    Judd wanted to argue. He wanted to prove her wrong.


    ¡°If that¡¯s what you want.¡± He let go of his own agenda and stepped back.


    ¡°It is what I want.¡±

 Perhaps we might attempt a duet?

    Lord LeMewn¡¯s dining table was royally elegant. It had carved legs and an engraved pattern on its long surface, carefully filled with seams of gold and sealed beneath several layers of polish. There were candelabra along its length, tall enough not to obstruct vision of the other guests and able to distribute ample light so that they could see the delicate dinner setting with hand painted motifs which Judd suspected was the Lord¡¯s crest. There was a medium sized plate resting on a large plate and on either side were pieces of cutlery that were polished shinier than his sword had ever been. The end of every piece was embossed the same crest.


    Judd stared at the setting, terrified. He couldn¡¯t fathom which fork to use, as there were several and when he caught sight of his bewildered reflection in the crystal goblet, he felt sick to his stomach.


    He no longer resented Aalis¡¯ lack of fortitude in coming.


    He was beginning to wish he lacked it as well.


    ¡°I hope you are hungry, LaMogre, for my cooks are some of the finest from Astaril.¡± LeMewn announced.


    Judd couldn¡¯t fathom eating a thing.


    ¡°I am sure it will be delicious.¡± Giordi replied, making up for Judd¡¯s silence. Judd looked up at his words and caught the sparkle in Giordi¡¯s eye and then saw him breathe¡­which made Judd realise he was holding his breath he was sitting so stiffly.


    ¡°You seem a little tense, LaMogre,¡± LeMewn waved his hand, ¡°some wine will relax you. A social lubricant, if you pardon the coarseness of my words.¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t pardon what he didn¡¯t understand but he found himself holding his breath again as the servant with the large glass jug of wine leaned over and poured the dark red liquid into his glass. There was silence as the servant did the same to all the glasses at the table then a stream of servants appeared, setting a bowl into the arrangement of plates in front of them.


    Judd breathed out in relief. He knew how to eat soup.


    ¡°Please, enjoy.¡± LeMewn declared, waiting a moment to take the first mouthful. Only then did Giordi¡¯s warning finger drop and Judd suspected it was safe for him to start to eat.


    While soup was the easiest item to know how to eat, Judd found it was also one of the most difficult to do so elegantly. Lord LeMewn sat at the head of the table. To his right was cleric, or perhaps it was, Deacon Clariet and next to him was Caste and to the cleric¡¯s dismay, Giordi was brushing elbows with him. Lia LeMewn was on her husband¡¯s left, Judd seated next to her and Verne on his left. Giordi seemed to have a decent grasp of etiquette so Judd followed his lead and if he got stuck, he glanced at Caste whom he was sure would know what every fork did and even their proper names.


    ¡°One of your companions was not able to come?¡± Lia LeMewn asked so softly that Judd had to strain to hear despite sitting next to her.


    ¡°She was unwell after such a long journey.¡± Judd lied.


    ¡°Ah the feminine sex, how they do suffer all manner of malady.¡± Lord LeMewn said superiorly. ¡°Before I was made lord of Quarre, I used to travel to Astaril three or four times a year but since my appointment here at King Rocheveron¡¯s behest, I have not been able to make the journey quite so often.¡±


    ¡°Given that communities as large as Quarre tend to be under a knight¡¯s command and not a civilian demonstrates a deep level of trust and respect of you by King Rocheveron.¡± Judd said, glancing quickly at Giordi who gave him a subtle nod of approval.


    ¡°Another knight¡¯s appointment would only establish Quarre as a military establishment, rather than a community. I like to think that I have done my best to ensure the safety of the inhabitants of Quarre.¡±


    ¡°Lord LeMewn is too modest,¡± Clariet said smoothly, ¡°before his appointment, Sir Ift, the knightly predecessor, had to make constant patrols of the mountains surrounding Quarre. Now, no such patrols are necessary.¡±


    ¡°Can I ask what kind of monsters used to roam the mountains?¡± Judd inquired, his half eaten soup whisked away, replaced by roast pheasant with a fragrant gravy and some very pretty and daintily arranged vegetables. He looked to Giordi for an idea on what fork and knife to use.


    ¡°Looking for another mark on your knighthood quest?¡± LeMewn waggled his eyebrows.


    ¡°I would be very careful in venturing deeper into the ¡®Hump¡¯,¡± Clariet warned, ¡°the mountains are a breeding ground for basilisk whose stare will turn you to stone.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Judd looked at Caste. ¡°I do need a basilisk kill on my list, don¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Do I not?¡± Giordi correctly softly and Judd kicked himself.


    ¡°It is very dangerous to leave Quarre except by the main road.¡± Lia said, surprising Judd by resting her fingers gently on his arm for a moment while LeMewn coughed into the tablecloth. Judd felt a light squeeze from her fingertips before she withdrew.


    ¡°Whatever happened to that other young fellow who wanted to be a knight? He came¡­oh, about a month ago?¡± The LeMewns had no difficulty in consuming their pheasants while all Judd seemed to find were bones every time he tried to insert his knife.


    ¡°Fell and broke his neck.¡± Clariet said without missing a beat. ¡°He was searching for a basilisk.¡±


    ¡°And his cleric?¡±


    ¡°Scuttled back to Astaril as fast as he could.¡± Clariet shook his head. ¡°He was an unfortunate cleric. The Borre brothers told us they found the deserted campsite and some remains which they brought to us. I was able to identify Cleric Wann.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Caste sat up, ¡°but he was brilliant!¡±


    ¡°And yet, because of this knighthood quest foolishness, he is dead.¡±


    There was a long, mournful silence. Caste stared at his plate and Judd swallowed, knowing Caste was probably counting how many times he came close to suffering the same fate as Cleric Wann.


    ¡°The Borre brothers spoke grandly of your assistance to Sir Jesa,¡± LeMewn drank more wine. Judd did the same, trying to wash down what he suspected was a bone lodged in his throat. ¡°You killed goblins, cleansed the river and brought farmers back to their fields. Sir Jesa must have been truly put out.¡±


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡±


    ¡°Have no fear, LaMogre, there is little love lost between myself and Sir Jesa.¡± LeMewn shook his head. ¡°He made no small noise of opposition when King Rocheveron made me Lord of Quarre. He said, even though I am the King¡¯s half brother, that I was unsuited to protect a city so far south¡­and to hear that he allowed an infestation of goblins in proximity to his own people, so close that they were being poisoned by them¡­I was quite amused.¡± Lord LeMewn picked up a pheasant drumstick and sucked the meat off in a single motion. Judd glanced at Giordi but it was Caste who shook his head, see the question in Judd¡¯s eyes. ¡°What monsters have you killed, LaMogre?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­well, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Lady LeMewn,¡± Giordi spoke suddenly, ¡°we would not wish to offend or disgust you¡­¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± she said, lifting her head and speaking softly, ¡°pay me no mind.¡±


    Giordi gave Judd the nod. ¡°To this day I have killed an ogre, goblins, wrestled with a swamp monster, killed a cockatrice, narrowly escaped sirens, beheaded an orthros and killed a giant spider.¡±


    LeMewn looked at him. ¡°Truly? All those monsters?¡±


    ¡°I appeal to the testimony of my cleric.¡± Judd gestured to Caste who nodded.


    ¡°I can confirm that Judd has indeed done all that he has said.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­you are quite possibly the only success story of Sir Rylan¡¯s interesting knighthood proposal.¡± LeMewn admitted and the plates with the half eaten, or perhaps only picked at, pheasants were taken away, replaced with a little silver bowl with some fruit in it. ¡°Perhaps, if you continue in your accomplishments, you might return as a knight to my table.¡±


    ¡°I would feel as honoured then as I do now.¡± Judd assured him. ¡°I would hope to do your table justice one day.¡±


    ¡°Well, I confess I was a little concerned by your appearance not two hours ago¡­but you are quite transformed. I suppose you only wear your good clothes for occasions like this as befits the table of one so connected with the throne of Astaril.¡±


    LeMewn¡¯s comment left Judd absolutely baffled as to who had sent them the clothes. He wondered if Lady LeMewn had done so yet it was impossible to tell.


    ¡°We have been inordinately blessed.¡± Giordi replied and Judd was so relieved he could hold his own in conversation. Verne was even more muted than Lady LeMewn and of no help when pauses stretched out into uncomfortable silence. ¡°We hope to avail ourselves to the variety that Quarre holds.¡±


    ¡°We have an excellent range of wares here.¡±


    ¡°May I inquire, is there anywhere I could purchase a lute?¡±


    Caste dropped his spoon with a clatter, his grape rolling across the table. Everyone seemed fascinated by it before Clariet turned to Giordi.


    ¡°A lute? Why in Terra would you wish for a lute?¡±


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli is an accomplished minstrel and lyricist.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°He asked to accompany me on my quest and to document it in song.¡±


    ¡°Is not the painstaking and accurate documentation of Cleric Caste enough?¡± Clariet asked lightly but with a slight barb to his voice.


    ¡°Caste¡¯s work will one day stand alongside other historical tomes, preserved for posterity,¡± Giordi said with his usual flare, ¡°however, my songs will be sung for the celebration.¡±


    They all jumped out of their skin, the grape Judd had been desperately trying to balance on his spoon flying behind him to be squished into the rug by an unsuspecting servant, when Lord LeMewn struck the table with a commanding fist.


    ¡°Let us have a song, then!¡±


    ¡°Alas, I have no lute with which to accompany me.¡± Giordi said sadly then lifted his head. ¡°However, do I spy a harp in the corner?¡±


    They all twisted or craned their necks to see the silk covered instrument.


    ¡°Lia liked to pluck away on it occasionally.¡± LeMewn said dismissively. ¡°It got on my nerves.¡±


    Giordi looked at Lia. ¡°Perhaps we might attempt a duet?¡±


    ¡°Mr Gavoli,¡± Lady LeMewn said sadly, ¡°I have not played in quite some time¡­¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a simple melody?¡± Giordi said, standing and walking around the table. ¡°Do you know ¡®Tomorrow never comes¡¯?¡±


    Lady LeMewn nodded then rose to her feet and removed the cloth over the harp. She sat on a small chaise, her ankles crossed daintily, her fingers gently caressing the strings. Giordi listened as a trill of notes cascaded from the strings.


    ¡°Though not played, it is clearly maintained and loved.¡± He nodded to her and she gave a small smile. ¡°Whenever you are ready.¡±


    Lia paused, her fingers hovering above the strings and for a moment Judd wondered if she would bow out but then, with accuracy and delicacy, she began to play. A gentle melody sung from the harp, soft yet strong. Giordi, without needing to be told, knew when to start singing.

 You are unusual, Judd LaMogre

    ¡°I watch the world, fascinating,


    Insects buzz, pulsating


    Fields of planting, branches heavy


    The earth is dry, the harvest levy


    Thunderstorms, long, hot days


    Summer shimmer in a haze.¡±


    Though the song was quite quiet and contemplative, Giordi sang confidently. Lady LeMewn drew strength from his constant, practiced singing, her playing increasing in volume to match her vocal accompaniment.


    ¡°I watch the world, anticipating,


    Leaves are falling, separating


    Golden hues, red and brown


    Dying, withering, falling down


    Carpet gold, kingly fit


    Trees are bare, the sky is lit.¡±


    Judd had a vision of the forests behind Fort Faine where the farmers had hidden and the goblins had terrorised. He recalled the way the leaves had made a carpet of the most beautiful hues and the trees, white like pillars of marble, as though the forest was always in the grip of a beautiful, endless autumn.


    ¡°I watch the world, contemplating,


    Snowflakes softly permeating


    Icy breath, frosty toes


    Lazy south wind, it blows


    Nights are long, the days are cold


    In my bones, so very old.¡±


    Caste shivered, remembering the nights he spent in a dorm room with other Order of the Grail clerical applicants. His roommates would be off talking and laughing in the dining hall while Caste huddled on his bed, trying to keep warm, a lantern clutched in one hand and the other, steadying the book on his knees as he studied.


    ¡°I watch the world, speculating


    The first green shoots, indicating


    Sunlight warms, springtime breathThis content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Throwing off the cape of death


    New life bursts through crack and vein


    The world has come alive again.¡±


    Verne closed her eyes and recalled the days following the hateful winters where food was scarce and heat was even more so. She would erupt from the bed the moment she could, sprinting across the frosty ground, hunting for green sprouts which would tell her that the seemingly unbreakable grasp of winter had finally relinquished its hold.


    ¡°I spend my life in endless waiting,


    Always still, hesitating,


    Watching as the world goes by


    My life continues til I die


    So I will sample this gift of life


    No matter the season of wealth or strife


    And in this moment, what else becomes,


    I shall live for tomorrow never comes.¡±


    Lady LeMewn ended the song with a few light caresses of the harp then rested her fingers against the strings to silence their hum. She looked at Giordi, her eyes shimmering with unbroken tears.


    ¡°A more than worthy accompaniment.¡± Giordi said before she could speak, bowing to her then took her hand and led her back to the table.


    ¡°I was hoping for something a little more jaunty.¡± Lord LeMewn lamented.


    ¡°Harps are not typically jaunty instruments, I apologise.¡± Giordi said, taking the criticism wholly onto himself.


    ¡°Beautifully sung, Gavoli,¡± Judd complimented then looked up at Lady LeMewn as she took her seat, ¡°beautifully played, Lady LeMewn.¡±


    She nodded her head, lightly blushed from the praise.


    ¡°A warrior with musical appreciation?¡± Clariet raised his eyebrows. ¡°You are unusual, Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what my cleric keeps telling me.¡± Judd joked lightly then realised his dessert had been taken away while he was distracted. He had to hide his sigh, hoping his rumbling stomach wouldn¡¯t embarrass him.


    ¡°What about you, the silent one, on the end?¡± Clariet asked.


    He could only mean Verne who met Clariet¡¯s gaze without flinching. He couldn¡¯t help his appearance but there was something a little unsettling about Clariet. He had such light coloured hair it was almost white yet his eyes were dark. In a way he reminded Judd of pictures he had seen of snowmen with bits of black coal for eyes in a bed of white snow.


    ¡°What would you have me say?¡± Verne replied flatly.


    ¡°Are you as unusual as the man you follow?¡±


    ¡°Verne Sachon is a brilliant archer,¡± Judd interjected strongly, ¡°he has saved my life and I would say is the bravest of all of us.¡±


    ¡°Even you?¡±


    Judd shrugged. ¡°There have been moments where I have faltered but Verne has not. Not even the spiders of Fort Sol unnerved him.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it is your archer who is killing the monsters and you¡¯re taking the credit?¡± Judd¡¯s jaw fell down and he struggled to know how to respond to this less than lightly phrased accusation.


    ¡°I have never taken a kill away from LaMogre,¡± Verne said strongly, with a bite in his tone, ¡°and it is possible that Judd speaks too highly of me.¡±


    ¡°Possible¡­but not likely.¡± Clariet looked at LeMewn. ¡°Perhaps we should tempt the archer with a placement amongst your own guards?¡±


    Judd heard Verne¡¯s teeth grind together and wondered if there was an etiquette rule about being unable to refuse a lord, especially one was the half brother to the king whom they served.


    ¡°You are a cleric or deacon? I¡¯m a little confused on that score.¡± Judd asked, hoping to change the subject.


    ¡°I was promoted from cleric to deacon a mere three days before I left Astaril for my post here.¡± Clariet explained.


    ¡°Though I am not a knight, my lordship of Quarre still required an officer of the Order of the Grail,¡± Lord LeMewn narrated, ¡°but after the death of the cleric who assisted Sir Ift, King Rocheveron refused to send a mere cleric to assist me so he and Bishop Peele came to an agreement that Clariet should receive his deacon promotion,¡± Clariet gave a small smile which LeMewn caught sight of, ¡°not that he did not already merit such an honour and his presence means I am never without guidance and counsel. Clariet has been invaluable to me in establishing order and understanding in Quarre.¡±


    ¡°Your Lordship is too kind.¡±


    ¡°An excellent pairing, it seems.¡± Judd drank more wine, alarmed when the servant refilled it.


    He was glad the tavern was downhill. He suspected he would be rolling the entire way.

 If, for one forbidden moment, she was happy…was it really so bad?

    Aalis had borrowed one of Caste¡¯s anatomy books and had taken a pause in her chores to read it, her feet aching. She rubbed her feet with one hand, her eyes devouring the written word when she heard footsteps thumping up the stairs and down the corridor. She put the book down then frowned, hearing slurred singing. The door to the room opened and she stood up in shock as Judd practically fell through onto the floor.


    ¡°Judd!¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Judd looked up with a squinty expression. ¡°How are you standing on the wall?¡±


    ¡°How am I what?¡± Aalis looked at Giordi and Verne who were leaning on the doorframe. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Dinner with Lord LeMewn.¡± Verne muttered, helping Giordi drag Judd into the room so they could shut the door. ¡°Small portions¡­lots of wine.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear.¡± Aalis tried not to giggle as Judd attempted to stand. ¡°Whoa¡­one moment there¡­let me clear off the bed so you can lie down.¡±


    ¡°I thought I was lying down.¡± Judd said happily as Aalis gathered the clothing she had laid out on the bed.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Giordi looked around the room that resembled a laundry, ¡°have you been washing all our clothes?¡±


    ¡°Seeing as you were in perfectly clean, new clothes, it seemed an unmissable opportunity.¡± She explained. ¡°Come on Judd. Onto the bed.¡±


    She and Verne yanked off his boots and dropped them to the floor. Judd put his fingers to his forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t feel so good.¡±


    ¡°Has he had much to eat?¡± Verne shook his head. Aalis frowned. ¡°Verne, could you ask at the kitchen downstairs if we could have some stew? They were serving it earlier. A little food in his stomach might help nullify the wine.¡± Verne hastened to do so. Aalis looked at Giordi who was yawning. ¡°You do not seem so affected.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t hampered by a lack of etiquette and managed to eat a little more than Judd did.¡± He yanked his shirt over his head, exposing a rather fine torso and Aalis turned away. ¡°Where is my nightshirt?¡±


    ¡°Hanging up over there¡­¡± She pointed vaguely. Giordi took it from her makeshift clothesline.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be my nightshirt¡­¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°It is. It is just clean now would you please put it on?¡±


    Giordi chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping in a room with three men, not to mention camping out in the middle of nowhere with four when Caste has no other options and you¡¯re embarrassed by my bare chest?¡±


    ¡°It is a matter of propriety.¡± Aalis retorted. ¡°You and I are as good as alone!¡±


    ¡°What about when you treat us for injuries?¡±


    ¡°I am not looking at your body! I am treating wounds!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m dressed, by the way.¡± She turned with her hands on her hips and glared at him. ¡°I apologise Aalis. I suppose it is that familiarity we have come to assume¡­perhaps we should book you a separate room.¡±


    ¡°I am not sure our,¡± she picked Giordi¡¯s discarded blue shirt up off the floor, ¡°finances will stretch that far. Indeed, I am not sure if we will all be able to afford shoes.¡±


    ¡°At least we have clothes now. Something decent to wear.¡±


    ¡°Did you find out if the clothing was a gift from Lord LeMewn after all?¡±


    Giordi shook his head as Verne entered carrying two bowls.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that he¡¯s that hungry.¡± Giordi lay on his bed.


    ¡°I am.¡± Verne muttered. ¡°Bloody lords and their stupid serving sizes¡­Judd, sit up!¡±


    ¡°Come on, Judd.¡± Aalis helped him to rise. ¡°Get some solid food in your stomach.¡±


    ¡°Not too much though,¡± Giordi hinted as he kicked the bedpan across the floor, ¡°make sure he¡¯s got this beside him in case.¡±


    Judd managed to eat a little but he struggled to remain awake. Giordi was already asleep, curled up on his side. Aalis undid the ties at Judd¡¯s neck then, with Verne¡¯s help, managed to pull his shirt off to keep it from creasing. He slumped onto the mattress.


    ¡°What about his pants?¡± Aalis asked, concerned.


    ¡°After you.¡± Verne snorted and they both laughed softly. Verne sat against a wall and ate the lukewarm stew. ¡°Much better than that slop they served us for dinner.¡±


    ¡°I am very surprised it was not nice.¡±


    ¡°It probably tasted alright but the portion sizes¡­¡± Verne shook her head.


    ¡°Giordi said you did not find out who gave us the clothes.¡± Aalis crossed her legs, sitting on the bed.


    ¡°Not Lord LeMewn, that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    ¡°His wife?¡±


    Verne paused then shook her head. ¡°I doubt it. She was not much more than a shadow at that table. The only time she stood out was when Giordi cajoled her into playing the harp so he could sing.¡± Verne chuckled. ¡°Honestly, I half expected him to disappear between the manor and here, return to the house, climb the outside and romance Lady LeMewn in her bedchamber.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think him capable of poaching another man¡¯s wife?¡± Aalis asked softly, glancing at where Giordi slept, snoring softly.


    ¡°Is it really poaching when the pheasant throws itself into a snare?¡± Verne shrugged. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know if he was flirting¡­but I do know for a few minutes, she looked happier¡­¡±


    Aalis sighed lay on her bed. ¡°Is it permissible then?¡±


    ¡°Who am I to say? I didn¡¯t like the man but he didn¡¯t seem a brute and perhaps she didn¡¯t ever have much of a personality to begin with.¡± Verne scraped the bowl clean then pulled off her boots and climbed into bed. ¡°If, for one forbidden moment, she was happy¡­was it really so bad?¡±


    Aalis worried her bottom lip, looking up at the ceiling that disappeared when Verne blew the lamp out. She pulled the covers over herself, facing the wall. In the end, she gave way to the tears because she couldn¡¯t restrain them and keep her sobbing silent.

 I have always been able to see in the dark

    ¡°I quite enjoyed this evening.¡± Clariet remarked as he led Caste through the darkened manor house, holding a lamp before him. ¡°What interesting companions you have, Cleric Caste.¡±


    ¡°They are certainly interesting.¡± Caste mused then frowned. ¡°I¡¯m surprised at how well dressed they were¡­perhaps Judd spent all the gold Sir Egrette gave him on clothing rather than boots.¡± He cringed, knowing just how close his weathered footwear were to tearing through.


    ¡°Oh, those were a gift from me.¡±


    Caste shot Clariet a surprised glance. ¡°You?¡± Clariet nodded. ¡°But¡­why?¡±


    ¡°I could see Lord LeMewn was somewhat¡­disappointed by your companion¡¯s mode of dress, especially when coupled with the revelation that Judd LaMogre was not a knight.¡±


    ¡°That was an unfortunate misunderstanding.¡± Caste reiterated. ¡°For all his faults, and he has a multitude, Judd has never claimed to be a knight.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. So I took it upon myself to lift their general state of being.¡± Clariet escorted Caste down the corridor. ¡°Lord LeMewn does not always know best though he is a stubborn man to sway and it has fallen to me, his deacon and spokesman for the Order of the Grail, to shift the ground a little beneath his feet, to keep him on his toes.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Is that really wise?¡± Caste asked gingerly.


    ¡°He has learned to listen to me,¡± Clariet nodded, ¡°and as such, we work well together. In fact, he appreciates my counsel to such a degree that this entire wing of the manor house is mine.¡±


    ¡°An entire wing?¡± Caste breathed, having seen the opulence of the house in brighter light than he was now attempting to see by. ¡°Only Bishop Peele has grander accommodations.¡±


    ¡°As befits the station of the officer of the Order of the Grail.¡± Clariet bowed. ¡°I am pleased to be able to offer you your own accommodations while you are here.¡±


    ¡°And I am very grateful for the loan of the tunic and cappa clausa.¡± It has been a great relief to Caste to be able to bathe properly and dress in appropriate attire for supper with Lord and Lady LeMewn.


    ¡°Think nothing of it.¡± Clariet paused in front of a door. ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing Caste the lamp, ¡°I bid you goodnight.¡±


    Caste took the lamp and opened his door. ¡°Will you not trip in the dark, Clariet?¡±


    Clariet gave a small, somewhat sinister smile. ¡°I have always been able to see in the dark.¡±


    Caste swallowed, clutching the lamp rather than holding it, entered his room and shut the door firmly behind himself.

 A man of your height probably needs a big pair of boots

    ¡°Drink it,¡± Aalis ordered as Judd sniffed the cup she offered him, ¡°all of it¡­or I will start telling everyone how you sang drunkenly from the manor house to here.¡±


    Judd gulped it down and thrust the cup back at her, forcing himself to swallow. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± He winced, blinking away the tears.


    ¡°Do not be. It is not a pleasant flavour.¡±


    ¡°I meant, sorry about last night.¡±


    Aalis smiled and shook her head. ¡°It was hardly your fault. Small meal, empty stomach, lots of wine¡­¡±


    ¡°If it was ale, I could have held my own. Ale is the preferred after work beverage of dock workers and fishermen.¡± Judd sighed, standing up. ¡°I don¡¯t know what was in that wine¡­but it was strong.¡±


    ¡°Here.¡± Aalis handed him a shirt which he took and pulled on gratefully. ¡°Your boots are by the door.¡±


    Judd leaned against the wall with one hand, the other tugging his forlorn boots on. ¡°Where are Verne and Giordi?¡±


    ¡°Casing the town.¡± Aalis said, using Caste¡¯s exaggerated finger motions. ¡°Verne spied a cobbler yesterday.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be able to cobble my boots back together.¡± Judd sighed, looking at how thin the leather was. ¡°We¡¯re all going to need new shoes.¡±


    ¡°I could get by¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Aalis was surprised by the strength of Judd¡¯s protestation, ¡°you put yourself last all the time. You need new shoes just like the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°Shall we see how much the cobbler is going to charge us before we start deciding how much we need to buy?¡± Aalis opened the door to their room and they walked down the corridor to the stairs, Judd using his hand to guide his feet. ¡°Are you going to be alright?¡±


    ¡°A bit of fresh air and maybe a slap of cold water will do me the world of good.¡± Judd decided. ¡°I slept in far too late.¡±


    ¡°Soft beds are a hard thing to climb out of.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d forgotten what one felt like.¡±


    They exited the tavern, which was quiet after the initial rush of the morning¡¯s occupants to get to work or grab a meal. All the men had gone to the quarry but not even their heavy boots and loud chatter, irrespective of the earliness of the hour, had woken Judd from his slumber.


    Outside the tavern they were both caught unawares by the chill in the air.


    ¡°By Terra and Maul!¡± Judd exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s brisk!¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Aalis shivered, arms about herself. ¡°The mountain air is much colder than I thought it would be.¡±


    ¡°This far north, I thought it would at least be a little warmer.¡± Judd stamped his feet and rubbed his hands together. ¡°I¡¯m awake now!¡±


    ¡°Shall we try the cobbler and see if Verne and Giordi are there?¡±


    They discovered Verne at the cobbler¡¯s, surrounded by shelves of boots, shoes and sheets upon sheets of leather. A little man with spectacles so thick his eyes were alarmingly large in his face until he took them off, was stitching with nimble fingers at the back of the store, no less than three lamps around him, shining brightly on his work.


    ¡°Verne,¡± Judd greeted then shuddered, ¡°oh it¡¯s good to be out of the cold air.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll wish you were back in it when you hear the prices.¡± Verne shook his head. ¡°I think we can get away with two¡­two and a half pairs of shoes¡­¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°With what remains of our Egrette gold?¡± Judd exclaimed. Verne gestured furiously at him and he lowered his voice. ¡°How can they cost so much?¡±


    ¡°For starters, this gentleman makes all the shoes for the entire city¡­including the heavy boots for the quarry workers. He doesn¡¯t make flimsy, fall apart the next day, shoes.¡±


    ¡°I have me pride!¡± The old man muttered, his eyes blinking out of sync, magnified by his spectacles.


    ¡°Nothing wrong with his hearing.¡± Judd whispered. ¡°I still thought we¡¯d be able to purchase shoes for all of us.¡±


    ¡°I confess, I gave Verne a budget as I am holding some of the money in reserve.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°We have to pay for our accommodation, which is lovely but compared to the cheapness of camping, pricey and unless Lord LeMewn invites you to dine at the manor house for every meal, we will have to start buying food.¡±


    ¡°When you reserve enough to cover those, even for a few days¡­¡±


    ¡°I get it.¡± Judd groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. ¡°Whose shoes are the worst?¡±


    Aalis put her hands on her hips and looked pointedly at Verne.


    ¡°Ugh¡­fine.¡± Verne lifted his boot and showed off the hole in the bottom. ¡°Damn slate ripped into the thinning leather on the climb up here.


    ¡°Mine are about three steps away from being the same.¡± Judd tapped his teeth together.


    ¡°As I said, I can get by.¡± Aalis insisted.


    Judd was starting to wonder whether he was going to have to ask her to.


    ¡°Where is Giordi?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Verne jerked his head towards the back of the store. ¡°Turns out the cobbler has a very pretty granddaughter.¡±


    ¡°Is he trying to get us thrown out?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to get you a discount!¡± The old man groused. ¡°Stupid Fleta¡­¡±


    ¡°I can hear just as well as you, grandfather,¡± Fleta said, emerging from behind a curtain made of leather strips, lightly adjusting her bodice as Giordi followed her, ¡°I was just showing Mr Gavoli our wares.¡±


    ¡°Your wares, you mean.¡± Her grandfather grunted then the old man¡¯s steely demeanour softened as she kissed his cheek. ¡°Fine¡­give them a discount¡­but he¡¯d better be worth it!¡±


    Fleta turned and smiled at them. ¡°I could get you all a discount¡­well, maybe not you,¡± she said, looking at Aalis who flushed red at the implication, ¡°but your friend who arrived so late is certainly worth a few minutes of my time.¡±


    Judd¡¯s clearing of his throat sounded like a donkey dying. ¡°I am afraid I don¡¯t have time to spare.¡± He said, now sounding like he was choking.


    Fleta looked him up and down brazenly. ¡°Pity. Are you in Quarre to work?¡±


    ¡°Passing through.¡±


    ¡°So you will not require my grandfather¡¯s patented steel capped boots.¡± She waved her hand at one side of the wall then turned to the other. ¡°Occupation?¡±


    ¡°Minstrel.¡±


    ¡°Archer.¡±


    ¡°Healer.¡±


    ¡°Knight in training.¡± Judd glanced back at the steel capped boots. ¡°Perhaps those boots are a good idea. I could strap the sabatons over the top and when not wearing those, I¡¯d still be relatively protected.¡±


    ¡°Sit down and allow me to fit you.¡± Judd¡¯s expression went from embarrassed to mortified as she winked at him then took a pair of boots from the wall. ¡°A man of your height probably needs a big pair of boots.¡±


    ¡°I can try them on myself.¡± Judd insisted before Fleta could bend over, her sizeable bust only just covered by her bodice.


    ¡°I like the look of these,¡± Verne noticed the boots that did not have a thick sole and were laced up to the knees, ¡°supple,¡± he took a pair down and felt the fawn coloured leather flex, ¡°good for feeling the ground. I spent so many years of my life bare foot that anything too thick makes me feel like I¡¯m walking on stilts.¡±


    ¡°Try them on.¡± Fleta insisted. She glanced at Giordi. ¡°We can work something out later.¡±


    He bowed and smiled at her.


    ¡°Not tonight,¡± her grandfather looked up, ¡°or have you forgotten that it¡¯s a full moon tonight?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t get into any trouble if I¡¯m back before curfew.¡± She retorted, hands on her waist.


    ¡°You¡¯d get into trouble at a monastery¡­¡±


    Aalis clucked her tongue softly, gazing at the shoes.


    ¡°Aalis, try a pair.¡± Judd looked up. ¡°We won¡¯t know what we¡¯re up for if we don¡¯t make a choice.¡±


    ¡°I do not think¡­¡± She stopped when he stood and leaned close to her.


    ¡°If we have to leave a day or two earlier than we intended so that we are all well shod, then that is what we will do.¡± He said firmly then drew back. ¡°Aalis, we can live off the land¡­we cannot make shoes out of it. We¡¯re not that clever.¡±


    Aalis sighed and nodded. She found a pair not dissimilar to Verne¡¯s that only reached halfway up her calf in dark grey.


    Nearly an hour later they left the cobblers, Judd, Verne and Aalis all in new shoes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll work out a pay for play deal later.¡± Giordi smiled confidently.


    ¡°Good. While you¡¯re working that out, help me figure out how to tell Caste he¡¯s got to forsake his soft bed at the manor house earlier than he would like so we can afford him boots.¡± Judd grouched. He immediately felt Aalis turn and knew she was going to go back to the store to try to return her boots. He grasped her arm and drew her back. ¡°No you don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh but I¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on over there?¡± Verne nodded to where, past the well, a small stage was being assembled.


    ¡°No idea.¡± Judd craned his neck then shrugged and shivered. ¡°Can we observe this from inside the tavern?¡±

 In the morning you will be judged…or you will be dead

    Over the next hour they watched as the stage was constructed then the workers left.


    ¡°Odd.¡± Judd frowned then shook his head and looked to the others. ¡°What would you think if I tried to get some work at the quarry?¡±


    ¡°Giving up on your knighthood quest?¡± Verne asked, drinking a mug of water. ¡°I think they melted snow for this¡­cold¡­¡±


    ¡°Probably came straight from the well,¡± Aalis pushed the cup back towards him, ¡°for all the fluids you drank last night, I suspect you are all dehydrated. More water.¡±


    ¡°Why are you thinking about working in the quarry?¡± Giordi asked, puzzled.


    ¡°It¡¯d be a way of earning some money to pay for things.¡±


    ¡°You cannot be expected to pay for all our expenses.¡± Aalis argued.


    ¡°Giordi cannot earn anything while he doesn¡¯t have a lute. Verne¡¯s archery, while excellent, will only get him conscripted into LeMewn¡¯s guards and Caste isn¡¯t costing me a coin at the moment.¡± Judd shrugged.


    ¡°I could do something.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    Aalis faltered. ¡°Oh¡­well¡­¡±


    Judd sighed and leaned closer. ¡°Your skills are essential but here, as you so noted, they might generate the wrong kind of attention.¡± He paused. ¡°I could try selling that hilt. The swordsmith in Fort Faine offered me some money for it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that is a shame.¡±


    ¡°I know, but what else can I¡­is it that late already?¡± Judd peered out of the window.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°Look.¡± They crowded together to see what Judd was pointing at. A line of grey workers were leaving the quarry. ¡°It can¡¯t be the end of the working day, surely. I know I slept in but this is ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they work in shifts?¡± Verne said vaguely.


    ¡°No one is leaving. They¡¯re all¡­coming into town.¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡± The tavern owner¡¯s wife put her hands on her hips and eyed them sharply. ¡°I mean, other than water?¡±


    ¡°Could you tell us why the workers are coming back to town?¡± Aalis asked as sweetly as she could.


    ¡°It¡¯s a full moon.¡± She replied tartly.


    ¡°Is that significant?¡±


    ¡°Are you from Astaril?¡± She huffed at them. ¡°Out here, there are monsters.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there a wall around Quarre? We heard there were very few monsters to deal with.¡±


    She tossed her head. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    The four companions shared confused looks which did little to enlighten. The sun had clipped its apex and was starting to dip down the other side of the sky when the clocktower rang for mid afternoon. The residents of Quarre began to emerge from their homes, pouring out of the streets of the grey city and filling the square. Moved by curiosity, Judd and the others left the tavern to stand by the wall. There were several boxes and crates, possibly placed against the tavern to provide a higher vantage point for those at the back of the crowd. All of Quarre turned out for the chiming of the bell to stand before the stage.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s not a spectacle,¡± Giordi mused, ¡°or else there would be a rush for the front.¡±


    ¡°I can see a gap between the crowd from the stage to the well,¡± Judd craned his neck, perched on the corner of one of the boxes, ¡°like a path.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a wedding?¡±


    ¡°No one is waiting at the well,¡± Judd stepped down, ¡°the crowd seems to be giving it a wide berth too.¡±


    Aalis looked at him. ¡°What is going on?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re about to find out.¡± Verne jerked his head and they saw Lord LeMewn descending from his house, in robes of dark purple and gold. He was preceded by three guards and followed by three more. Following them was Clariet and Caste.


    Two of the guards stayed with Lord LeMewn as he climbed atop his stage, Clariet standing in front of it but off to one side while Caste hovered nearby, invited but uninformed it seemed, judging by the confusion in his green eyes. The other four guards walked down the path Judd had observed, past the well and towards the gates.


    Lord LeMewn held his hands high and the light chatter softened then silenced completely.


    ¡°People of Quarre, men, women, children¡­my people,¡± he declared in a practiced manner, ¡°it falls to me to keep you safe. It is my obligation, my responsibility¡­my pleasure to protect you and to ensure that Quarre is a city of honour, safety and security. That is why all grievances and transgressions are dealt within your sight, that I might be transparent before you and that you will see justice done.¡±


    Clariet gestured and the crowd turned towards the gate.


    ¡°The guards are returning.¡± Judd whispered. ¡°They¡¯re bringing someone¡­¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s tall¡­he¡¯s taller than the guards¡­¡± Judd¡¯s eyes widened and he ducked his head.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Aalis urged him.


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­he has the dark skin of Maul.¡±


    Aalis paled. Judd licked his lips and looked up again, the dark skinned man marched between the four guards, his ankles and wrists shackled. He had two thick braids through his dark brown hair from his forehead, ending at his crown where the unfettered hair joined the rest of his shoulder length locks. His eyes were dark and his expression was even darker. In fact, everything about him was dark, including the air of menace he exuded.


    The guards marched him to the stage then forced him to his knees.


    Clariet stood in front of the man with no fear, taking a scroll out from his cappa clausa. ¡°Suvau,¡± he spoke clearly, his voice carrying to every ear in the stillness, ¡°you arrived in Quarre on the day following the half moon, having travelled from Fort Omra and immediately began to sell your wares and your craftsmanship. Lord LeMewn allowed you to do so under his authority which you repaid by attempting to extort gold from His Lordship as well as accepting payment for poor workmanship. I have the written accounts of the testimonies of those you have wronged and witnessed your dealings with Lord LeMewn. The evidence is irrefutable.¡± Clariet looked up from his scroll. ¡°Have you anything to say in your defence?¡±


    He said nothing. Judd couldn¡¯t see his expression as he was facing the wrong way. He looked at Verne who shrugged helplessly.


    ¡°Very well.¡± Clariet bowed to Lord LeMewn.


    ¡°In Quarre,¡± LeMewn continued, ¡°we do not allow these kinds of offences to go unpunished. Unlike other cities and forts, however, it is not we who will judge you.¡± He nodded to the guards who forced the man to stand and took him back to the well where the shackles on his wrists were unlocked, replaced with a manacle that had a longer chain. The guards passed the end of it around the metal bar that was erected over the well then brought it back to lock around his other wrist, effectively chaining the man to the well. ¡°You must face the consequences of your actions¡­and in the morning you will be judged¡­or you will be dead.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Verne hissed at Judd.


    ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°Return to your homes, for when the sun has set and the gates are shut, the curfew is in effect.¡± Clariet ordered.


    Four guards escorted the manor house residents back up the slope while two remained near the well. The crowd began to move away, returning to their homes, whispers starting to echo as they gave the well an even wider berth than before. Judd stepped down from the box he¡¯d stood on.


    ¡°Judgement? What judgement?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Verne leaned close, ¡°but that¡¯s a man from Maul¡­imagine what LeMewn would do to Aalis?¡±


    Judd swore and looked around. ¡°Aalis¡­where is she?¡±

 Here you will be a witness to history, Cleric Caste

    Aalis pressed through the crowd as it tried to push her back and down. She bowed her head and put her hands out, forcing her way towards the well. She couldn¡¯t hear anything around her, not the exclamations of rudeness and the sharp rebukes at her presence that went against the flow. There was only the pounding in her brain, the throb as though her mind was trying to explode.


    She had to see.


    She had to know.


    She grasped at the two people in front of her, trying to claw her way forward, the curses at her offensiveness thudding against the overwhelming need to reach beyond¡­


    ¡­when she suddenly fell from the crowd, stumbling to her knees. She put her hand out to the wall of the well and grasped its cold stone, pushing herself up.


    Then she saw his face.


    The man of Maul.


    His black eyes glowered at her, soulless and hard, his mouth in a merciless line and his skin¡­darker than any tan or biological hue could create¡­darker than anyone else she had ever seen before¡­


    ¡­except once.


    Aalis froze, staring at him, terror binding her legs and arms with unseeable shackles. He was so close, he could reach her if he tried.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± Judd¡¯s arms grabbed her, pulling her back from the well and the shackled man. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Get her away from here.¡± A guard barked then his eyes narrowed.


    Judd sucked air sharply through his teeth and grasped Aalis¡¯ hood, flicking it over her dreadlocks.


    ¡°Come away, Aalis. Come on.¡± She stumbled with him, her legs as wobbly as if she had been at His Lordship¡¯s wine. Judd got her back to the tavern where Verne and Giordi were waiting. ¡°What in Maul were you thinking?¡± Judd snapped.


    ¡°Not now, Judd.¡± Verne grasped Aalis¡¯ arm, drawing her inside. ¡°We need to get out of sight.¡±


    Aalis looked over her shoulder, the man from Maul staring at her.


    And her soul trembled.


    She knew his face.


    She had seen it before.


    In the mangrove swamp, the vision brought on by the toxin of the plant that bit Judd¡­the vision of a battle fought in vain, the erupting mount of Maul¡­the death of Judd preceding all of it¡­


    ¡­this man had been there.


    ¡°Can I offer you a drink, Caste?¡± Clariet asked in his private sitting room in the wing of the manor house.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Caste said, admiring the elegant furnishings, the damask curtains, the dark woods and gold trim. Not even archdeacons of the Order of the Grail lived so well. The officers of the Order tended to live quite plain lives, more interested in expanding their library than investing in luxuries like d¨¦cor. Bishop Peele alone had finely appointed chambers which was appropriate to his station. After all, he needed to be able to host dinners with his twelve archdeacons and prospective clerical novitiates who were candidates for promotion to deacon. Caste had dined at that very table, a sure sign he was on the fast track to being a deacon.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    His meticulous plans had been somewhat waylaid by Judd¡¯s infernal insistence on pursuing his knighthood but Caste reasoned that, if he was able to help Judd knock off the remaining monsters on his list within six months, Caste would still make youngest cleric promoted to deacon in Order of the Grail history.


    Caste looked at Clariet who poured amber liquid into two petite glasses.


    ¡°Were you disappointed to be assigned this post?¡± He asked, taking the glass Clariet offered.


    ¡°I confess to a little¡­bitterness,¡± Clariet shook his head and smiled, ¡°after all, I had ambitions of succeeding Bishop Peele one day.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t every deacon, arched or otherwise?¡± Caste remarked lightly.


    ¡°Few are committed enough to the study of the prophecies and tomes or brilliant enough to garner attention,¡± Clariet gestured to the chairs, each lined with beautifully stitched tapestry covers, ¡°and those that are, face tremendous opposition.¡±


    ¡°Opposition?¡± Caste sipped his liquor, noting its smooth flavour.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s only natural, isn¡¯t it?¡± Clariet leaned back in his chair, his legs crossed, cutting a lordly figure. ¡°After all, there can be only one bishop at any point in time and should Peele see a deacon rising faster than his peers, threatening his dream of being the longest serving head of the order¡­well¡­¡±


    Caste put the glass down. ¡°You think you were sent here because Bishop Peele saw you as a threat?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I know he did.¡± Clariet laughed softly. ¡°He knew I had the support of many of the deacons, my work being fresh, not hampered by old traditions and tedious interpretation. He could not avoid my promotion to deacon but he made sure I would be appointed somewhere, publicly as an honour but privately as exile.¡±


    Caste frowned, feeling uncomfortable at the notion that the bishop would have behaved so vainly.


    ¡°You speak lightly of it.¡± He said, trying to shift the awkwardness he felt.


    ¡°Well, look around you.¡± Clariet waved his hand around the room and Caste did. ¡°I live in bishop level comfort, my work is unhindered by nit pickers and naysayers and Lord LeMewn welcomes my counsel.¡±


    ¡°Even regarding trials and judgements?¡± Caste wondered if his segway into the strangeness of the event in the main square was too obvious.


    ¡°I wondered when you would ask.¡± Clariet tilted his head, his eyes conveying complete understanding, as though Caste¡¯s skull was transparent and he could see what he was thinking. ¡°The man, Suvau he called himself, purported himself as being a weaponsmith of exceptional skill and promised to forge Lord LeMewn a sword of incomparable quality. When he arrived in Quarre, he set up his own stall, taking business away from other blacksmiths, overcharging them and then tried to extort an obscene price from LeMewn for the sword.¡±


    ¡°I do not doubt his culpability, of course,¡± Caste clasped his hands together, ¡°but a man from Maul¡­here?¡±


    ¡°Lord LeMewn visited Fort Omra and that is where Suvau met him and promised the sword. In the wall forts, Suvau¡¯s kind are tolerated as a slave class and over time, familiarity breeds so that they ingratiate themselves to the knights and are granted freedoms as though they are on equal standing with us.¡± Clariet shook his head. ¡°In doing so, Sir Fereak has given permission for the men of Maul to infest our land¡­¡± His mouth turned down in disgust.


    ¡°The knights of the wall forts are meant to protect us from the savages of the south.¡± Caste said, sitting up, becoming indignant.


    ¡°Knights are not always the brightest and clerics are sometimes pushed to one side.¡± Clariet rose, a hand behind his back as he walked to the window and stood in the soft light through the lace of the sheer curtains, framed in the dark damask. There was a telescopic viewing device set up on a tripod at the window. Caste knew they cost a small fortune and marvelled again at Clariet¡¯s prosperous placement. ¡°However, I believe there is a time coming where we need not fear the savagery of the south. But it is not through complacency.¡±


    ¡°What is it through?¡±


    Clariet turned to him. ¡°Authority.¡±


    Caste blinked. ¡°I am not sure I understand.¡±


    ¡°You will. Here you will be a witness to history, Cleric Caste.¡±

 Sometimes it is about cruelty and condemnation that make monsters out of humans

    ¡°What do you mean Lord LeMewn orders the gates of Quarre open at night?¡± Judd asked, incredulously stunned.


    Fleta, the granddaughter of the cobbler was at the tavern, having arrived to enjoy the benefit of her ¡®discount¡¯ with Giordi and had been propelled to their table when he discovered she knew what was about to befall the man from Maul who was shackled to the well.


    ¡°Just what I said,¡± she flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder, ¡°the day of the full moon, Lord LeMewn brings out those who have been accused of a crime in Quarre and they are shackled to the well.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s justice?¡±


    ¡°It is if they don¡¯t die.¡± They all stared at her. ¡°Why do you look at me like that?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, if they don¡¯t die?¡± Verne demanded.


    ¡°Again, just as I said.¡± Fleta looked at Giordi. ¡°I thought you were the cute dumb one but I¡¯m starting to think you¡¯re the brains of this group.¡±


    ¡°Tactful and sincere flattery, my dear, is a gift given to only a few.¡± Giordi said with a wry grin.


    ¡°Consider that we are new to Quarre and have no idea how this works.¡± Judd had to rein in his temper to not snap at the girl who was becoming impatient, her evening with the handsome minstrel waylaid as she was called upon to educate them.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she sat down properly and the three men leaned over the table, ¡°a few years ago, crime in Quarre was a common occurrence but even worse were the monster attacks in the quarry and the road leading up to the city. Lord LeMewn was losing control and there was talk about King Rocheveron putting a knight back in charge. Not even the cleric who was here, can¡¯t remember his name, could help and personally, I think the stress killed him.¡± She paused and took a breath, her generous bosom rising and falling, unable not to be seen by any of her male audience. ¡°Then King Rocheveron sent Deacon Clariet to Quarre and three months later, the trials began.¡±


    ¡°Trials?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening out there.¡± She nodded at the well.


    ¡°How is that a trial?¡±


    ¡°Lord LeMewn took those accused of a crime and shackled them to the well on the cusp of a full moon. Work ends early that day so we are all safe in our houses as the gates to the quarry are left open.¡±


    ¡°Not the gate to the main road?¡± Judd asked.


    Fleta shook her head. ¡°Just the quarry. Lord LeMewn said that those who were innocent would survive the night. Because of the curfew, we were all ordered inside our houses and even the guards were not permitted to remain outside. In the morning, following that first full moon, all those who were shackled to the well were gone.¡±


    ¡°Gone?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°There was a strange fog, a rising mist that poured out of the well¡­I remember watching from my window, my grandfather insisting I go back to sleep but I couldn¡¯t look away. I couldn¡¯t see much at all¡­yet I heard the screams.¡±


    ¡°Screams¡­¡±


    ¡°Blood curdling screams¡­the likes of which would turn your hair,¡± she looked at Verne, ¡°white by morning. And there was a snarling¡­heavy breathing¡­then nothing and when dawn broke, the accused were gone with only blood smears to show where they¡¯d been¡­and crime dropped in Quarre like that.¡± She snapped her fingers.


    ¡°No one is willing to risk being murdered.¡± Judd muttered.


    ¡°Is it murder if those accused of the crimes would have been flogged first then died of infection?¡± She asked pertly. ¡°The end result is the same and because we live within the rules laid down by Lord LeMewn and his deacon, we are safe. Even the monster attacks in the quarry have stopped,¡± Fleta stood up, ¡°and that is all I have to say about that. You,¡± she looked at Giordi, ¡°owe me some quality time.¡±


    ¡°Indeed I do.¡± Giordi stood up and as she began to walk away, glanced back at the others and rolled his eyes dramatically.


    ¡°Why do I get the feeling he¡¯ll overlook her ¡®flaws¡¯ for the sake of her ¡®attributes¡¯?¡± Verne muttered then stood and took her place at the table so that he could see Judd¡¯s expression. ¡°Could Fleta really be telling the truth?¡±


    ¡°I think she takes the world at face value.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°Besides, we heard Lord LeMewn talk about ¡®judgement¡¯ regarding that man at the well.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean,¡± Verne leaned towards Judd, ¡°he intentionally allows a monster into Quarre every month?¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°To deal out justice, or at least, his idea of justice.¡±


    Verne blinked. ¡°Is that¡­right?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°I wish¡­I wish Caste were here then I could pick his brain for what he knows.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think he¡¯d be swayed by his comfortable living at the manor house?¡± Verne asked dryly and Judd paused.


    ¡°Caste has always been very straight laced. I know it gets irritating but at least he¡¯s¡­true¡­if a little blinkered.¡±


    The tavern owner¡¯s wife put bowls of stew in front of them. Judd tried not to start counting the cost of their accommodations and meals as they picked up their spoons. Judd put a spoonful in his mouth and chewed slowly, his eye drifting to the window where he could just make out the form of the man from Maul in the blur of the frosted glass of the tavern. Several children of Quarre had taken to throwing rotten vegetables and fruit at the man, jeering at him. He felt sick at the display.


    ¡°Do you know much about them?¡± Verne¡¯s words took a moment to register and Judd looked up at him. ¡°Men from Maul¡­do you know anything?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°I know they¡¯re said to be stained by the south, a little like how Caste said women became witches by touching tainted water.¡±


    ¡°So¡­they¡¯re not actually from Maul?¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°Not with the wall in place. But it¡¯s possible that their kind snuck over before the wall was assembled and just inhabited one of the forts.¡± He looked at Aalis who had been silent the entire conversation, her eyes grey and troubled, unable to move from the window, her supper untouched.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Verne scrunched his face up. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. If they were on this side of the wall, why didn¡¯t they ever try to bring it down and let the monsters loose into Terra?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what makes me think they¡¯re not from Maul as all monsters actively try to kill and devour humans.¡± Judd scooped another spoonful then let it drop. ¡°I know Fort Omra, where this man is supposedly from, is under the control of Sir Fereak. He¡¯s not a pushover. King Rocheveron assigned him that fort because he trusted him to keep the savages of the south under control.¡±


    ¡°By letting them roam the countryside?¡±


    ¡°That leads me to believe that they¡¯re not as savage as the festival of Maul makes them out to be.¡± Judd confessed. ¡°Perhaps they are a group of people with¡­dark skin. It¡¯s not their fault if we call them the savages of the south when they¡¯re only allowed to live in certain places.¡±


    ¡°Well, as interesting as this has been,¡± Verne put his spoon down, ¡°what are we going to do?¡±


    ¡°What can we do?¡± Judd asked. ¡°This isn¡¯t our city. It¡¯s under Lord LeMewn¡¯s control and it¡¯s his responsibility.¡±


    ¡°But monster killing is what you do.¡±


    ¡°I doubt I¡¯d get close with those guards in place. Besides, should I really risk everything in defence of a man who might be guilty?¡±


    ¡°I do not care if he is guilty,¡± Aalis¡¯ voice, quiet yet severe, took them by surprise, ¡°to be killed by a monster¡­that is not justice.¡± Judd and Verne glanced at each other then back at Aalis who turned to them, finally arresting her eyes from the windowpane. ¡°We must help him.¡±


    Judd¡¯s body felt like it was being pulled in two directions. He knew he had a tendency to favour Aalis out of a growing attraction to her of which he was painfully aware but he couldn¡¯t just do as she said every time.


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t think¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd, please,¡± Aalis put her hand on his arm and he was reminded of the way Lia LeMewn had done so, as she warned him at the dinner table, ¡°this is not justice¡­¡±


    Judd gazed at her, struggling internally to know what to do.


    ¡°You know,¡± Verne interjected softly, ¡°LeMewn said if the man survived the night he would be judged.¡± Aalis and Judd turned to him. ¡°All we have to do is get him to survive the night. At least then we could make an appeal to Lord LeMewn for some kind of proper trial.¡±


    ¡°If we are seen as interfering, we¡¯ll be the ones on trial.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°Besides, unless I¡¯m standing out there with a sword, how can I possibly defend that man? We don¡¯t even know what monster is let loose into Quarre. Damn it¡­we need Caste.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re probably as smart as he if we put our heads together.¡± Verne said firmly. ¡°I know he¡¯s smart but Aalis is brilliant,¡± she looked up, surprised by Verne¡¯s remark, ¡°I¡¯m not learned but I¡¯m no slouch and you¡¯re a monster aficionado.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­although I didn¡¯t know what an orthros was.¡±


    ¡°No one knew what an orthros was except Caste.¡± Verne snorted. ¡°Right, what do we know about this monster?¡±


    ¡°Fog from the well,¡± Judd listed, ¡°screams of the condemned, blood the next morning¡­¡±


    ¡°She said the bodies were gone so it has to be strong¡­or it ate them on the spot.¡± Verne gave Aalis an apologetic glance as she shuddered and pushed her stew away. ¡°Sorry. Any ideas, Judd?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, none of that points us to a specific monster. Strong monsters that feed on flesh,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°that describes most of them.¡±


    ¡°What about the moon?¡± Aalis looked at him. ¡°Fleta said the trials always occur on the cusp of a full moon.¡±


    Judd¡¯s mind began to spark with thought and a thrill ran through him.


    ¡°A strong monster¡­full moon¡­and didn¡¯t Fleta say something about snarling?¡±


    ¡°She did.¡±


    Judd¡¯s spine trembled. ¡°I know what it is¡­it¡¯s a werewolf.¡±


    There was a long pause as his words sank in, each of them considering the alternatives yet returning to the same conclusion.


    Verne leaned back. ¡°So¡­how do we stop a werewolf?¡±


    ¡°With a sword.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Judd,¡± Verne folded his arms, ¡°what do you know about werewolves?¡±


    ¡°I know Sir Mavour killed three in a single encounter using only a short blade.¡± Judd exclaimed. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m not a learned man.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Aalis gasped, standing and running upstairs, Judd and Verne following, discovering her on her bed, flicking through the book she had ¡®borrowed¡¯ from Caste, ¡°this is the definitive book on monsters, creatures etc, from Maul. It must have¡­there!¡± She opened the pages and thrust it towards them. ¡°It has a chapter on werewolves, specifically humans who become monsters.¡±


    Judd and Verne sat on either side of Aalis, looking over the carefully written notes. ¡°Full moon, strong¡­teeth¡­growling¡­¡± Judd read. ¡°Damn.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Well, the full moon is a bit misleading. Apparently they are strongest when the moon is at its zenith¡­which is about three days.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s worry about tonight, tonight and we¡¯ll figure out tomorrow, tomorrow.¡± Verne grunted.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    ¡°Does it say any weaknesses?¡± Judd read hurriedly, Aalis too. Verne let them read, waiting for a revelation. ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°Nothing definitive, despite the title of the book,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°just a reference to human/monster aberrations being weak against silver.¡±


    ¡°How could they know that?¡±


    Judd looked up. ¡°Sir Mavour was also known as the ¡®Silver Knight¡¯. It¡¯s one of few metals that the purer it is, the stronger it gets.¡±


    ¡°A strong pure blade¡­that¡¯s how he killed three werewolves.¡± Verne gasped. ¡°That¡¯s something!¡±


    ¡°Yeah but unless we give the man a silver dagger, how does that help us?¡± Judd demanded, standing with his arms folded.


    They remained still and quiet, each lost in thought.


    ¡°Would it be enough if the werewolf just smelt silver?¡± Verne mused.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Aalis turned to him.


    ¡°Well¡­if they¡¯re weak against silver, maybe all werewolves know it¡­and maybe if they smelt it on the man¡­¡±


    ¡°How do we get it on him?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°Do we have any silver coins left from our shoe purchases?¡± Aalis blurted, pushing past them to where the pouch of diminishing funds was hidden, opened it, scattering the contents on the bedcover. ¡°No, no¡­yes¡­yes¡­¡± She held up three. ¡°Silver coins!¡±


    ¡°Great,¡± Judd was at a loss, ¡°but what do we do with them? Would it be enough if he had them on him?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful,¡± Verne took the coins from Aalis and jingled them in his hand, ¡°the werewolf is part human after all. It might be able to reason that a person could have silver coins on him. The best way would be to coat him in silver.¡±


    ¡°Call me insane but I doubt three coins could coat him.¡±


    ¡°What about a splash on him?¡± Aalis asked, looking up. ¡°We melt these down and dash it on the man.¡±


    ¡°Melt?¡± Judd swallowed, eyeing the coins.


    ¡°I do not know how we would do that¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Verne jolted. ¡°I do! Wait here¡­¡± He dashed out of the room.


    Judd watched Aalis collect the other coins, the change remaining after the silver coins were removed.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to be left with much¡­¡± He said softly, admitting his greatest concern.


    ¡°We could save a life,¡± Aalis said without looking up, ¡°is that not worth the cost?¡±


    He studied her head, her dreadlocks uncovered with her hood down.


    ¡°Who is he?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    She gathered the coins into the pouch and pulled the cord tight.


    ¡°Who is this man, Suvau, that you would risk your life?¡±


    Aalis glanced up. ¡°I am hardly risking my life.¡±


    Judd squatted in front of her, his brown eyes searching hers. ¡°You ran forward, pushing your way through a crowd, to see him.¡± She paled, realising his meaning. ¡°For someone who is terrified of crowded spaces and of being ¡®recognised¡¯, you took a Maul of a risk.¡± Aalis trembled and Judd felt a pang of doubt, suddenly and painfully aware of how little he really knew about her. ¡°You seem inordinately concerned about him.¡± He added.


    ¡°This coming from a man who leaps into danger to protect others.¡± She returned weakly.


    ¡°This is not about me,¡± he argued, ¡°this is about you.¡±


    ¡°No, this is about what a knight should stand for,¡± Aalis retorted and he blinked, surprised by her sharpness, ¡°it is not always about fighting monsters and garnering acclaim. Sometimes it is about cruelty and condemnation that make monsters out of humans.¡±


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd swallowed, ¡°there are no humans on my knighthood quest list.¡±


    ¡°But there is a human to be saved.¡± Aalis insisted.


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°I¡­I cannot right all the wrongs of this world.¡±


    He felt her hand touch his face and lift his countenance. ¡°I know,¡± she said softly, her eyes shimmering with iridescent blue, ¡°but you can here, today.¡±


    Judd really wanted to kiss her in that moment but Verne burst through the door, cradling something in his arms.


    ¡°Uh¡­am I interrupting?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd stood, Aalis with him, ¡°what do you have there?¡±


    ¡°Our silver delivery system.¡±

 Filth! Scum! Monster of Maul!

    Verne pinched a needle between his fingertips. It had been begged from Fleta who had several pinned to her dress. He used it to carefully punch a hole in one end of an uncooked egg then turned it over to do the same on the other side. Leaving the needle in he made circular motions which made the hole at one end bigger.


    ¡°Gently.¡± Judd said, looking over his shoulder.


    ¡°I think the first two have already reminded me of that.¡± Verne muttered.


    Judd glanced at the remains of the first two eggs in a bowl that had shattered when Verne¡¯s attempts to hollow the delicate shell capsules had resulted in cracking and failure.


    ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Go stand somewhere else.¡±


    Judd left Verne alone. He wanted to pace but Verne had already ticked him off for that, the bouncing boards doing little for the accuracy of his work.


    ¡°Where is Aalis?¡± He asked, concentrating.


    ¡°Still downstairs.¡± Judd frowned. ¡°I wonder how she¡¯s going to explain her need to melt silver¡­¡±


    ¡°Hopefully she won¡¯t need to at all.¡± Verne breathed out. ¡°Right, now to blow.¡± He put the egg to his lips and blew into its shell, dribbles of the yolk and white trickling out of the hole at the other end.


    ¡°It¡¯s working.¡±


    ¡°I should have this ready soon. Even if there¡¯s a little egg left inside, at least we can fill the rest with silver.¡±


    ¡°Fill,¡± Judd muttered, ¡°it¡¯s only three coins worth¡­our only three silver coins¡­¡±


    ¡°Could someone open the door?¡±


    He did so, letting Aalis into the room, a cast iron spoon with a wooden handle in her hand. She was walking very slowly so as to not let the tiny silver pool in the spoon slop out.


    ¡°Any trouble?¡±


    ¡°An early curfew meant an early rush on supper.¡± Aalis said, her eyes locked onto the spoon. ¡°No one paid me much attention at all. Verne, do you want this now?¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯m as ready as I¡¯ll ever be.¡± Verne murmured, peering through the hole. ¡°I can see light.¡± He turned over one of Judd¡¯s old boots and plucked some mud from its faded tread. He pressed it into the smallest hole, smoothing it over then turned it up so that the large hole, although not wide enough for anything bigger than a blade of grass to fit through, was at the top.


    ¡°How are you going to get the silver into there?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°By being very, very careful.¡± Verne looked up. ¡°Who has the steadiest hands?¡±


    Judd and Aalis exchanged looks. ¡°I guess I have steady hands.¡± Judd offered.


    ¡°Take this,¡± Verne held it above his hand, ¡°carefully,¡± Judd nodded and cupped the egg, ¡°and I¡¯ll take the silver,¡± Aalis handed him the spoon, ¡°now¡­hold still.¡±


    Judd and Aalis both held their breaths as Verne, with a sharp eye and a hand that did not waver, tipped the spoon slightly, using a natural groove in its rim as a spout and the needle to help direct the melted silver into the egg.


    ¡°Ooh,¡± Judd gave a light gasp, ¡°I can feel the heat of it.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope it doesn¡¯t crack from it.¡± Verne said, continuing to pour. ¡°Nearly done¡­¡±


    ¡°I cannot believe how steady you are.¡± Aalis breathed.


    ¡°Comes from making my own arrows. Wood tips are common but metal tips are profoundly more accurate and dangerous¡­so I learned to make my own moulds, melt whatever rubbish metal I could find and pour my own arrow heads¡­¡±


    Despite his skill, all three let out the breath they were holding when the spoon was finally empty.


    ¡°Right,¡± Judd said, unwilling to move, ¡°what do we do now?¡±


    ¡°Now,¡± Verne put the spoon down, ¡°we egg him.¡±


    Light was beginning to fade by the time their egg preparation was over. The tavern was starting to empty, the conscientious residents of Quarre determined to get home before the curfew was in effect. Judd did wonder if some liked to stay behind to be ¡®locked in¡¯ to their drinking hole.


    He paused at the bottom of the stairs and grimaced. ¡°Damn¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I thought the kids might still be throwing rotten vegetables,¡± Judd turned to Verne and Aalis on the stairs, ¡°kind of hard to hurl a single egg inconspicuously.¡±


    ¡°Giordi would be proud of your word use.¡± Verne clucked his tongue.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Judd handed Verne the egg gingerly, ¡°that¡¯s who we need. Our resident rally crier.¡±


    ¡°What is he¡­¡± Verne looked at Aalis. ¡°What is he doing?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure.¡± She shivered as the lanterns were lit in the tavern. ¡°Verne, we are running out of time.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Verne frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I could cover the man with my arrows, could I?¡±


    ¡°I think LeMewn, or at least his deacon, would figure out it was you.¡± They stepped back as Judd reappeared, a box of vegetables in his arms. ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°Giordi¡¯s about to stir some serious dissent.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Verne, I think you¡¯ve got the best aim out of all of us.¡±


    ¡°With a bow.¡± Verne looked at the egg. ¡°You know what¡­I won¡¯t argue with you.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because I just felt it crack. We need to do this now.¡±


    Thankfully, Giordi was nothing if not attention gathering. Within minutes, he had the remaining patrons of the tavern whipped into an aggressive frenzy, claiming that his sister was defiled by a man from Maul and that they were a people to be despised, all of them killed before their evil could spread.


    ¡°He¡¯s a little too good at this¡­¡± Verne shuddered.


    ¡°He has a way with words¡­and he just shouted them all a round of drinks to get them on his side,¡± Judd muttered then shook his head, ¡°come on, we need to be part of the crowd.¡± He glared at Aalis. ¡°Stay here.¡± He said, his voice without room for argument.


    Giordi soon had the drunken patrons rallying together, stumbling outside where Judd had conveniently left the crate of edible projectiles.


    ¡°Filth! Scum! Monster of Maul!¡±


    The vegetables began to fly, the man ducking his head to avoid being struck in the face but he was a big man and unable to avoid all of them.


    ¡°Verne, you¡¯re going to have to hurry¡­¡± Judd hissed, seeing the guards approach.


    ¡°We have one chance at this¡­don¡¯t rush me.¡± Verne snapped, cradling the egg in his palm.


    ¡°By the order of Lord LeMewn, curfew is in effect! Return to your homes!¡±


    ¡°Verne¡­¡±


    ¡°I know¡­¡± Verne grimaced. ¡°He¡¯s ducking. If I miss¡­¡±


    Giordi handed Judd a tomato, a squashy pumpkin in his hand.


    ¡°Suvau!¡±


    The man, hearing his name, instinctively looked up just as Judd and Giordi threw their rotten projectiles, Verne¡¯s arm joining their hurl, the single egg flying through the air to shatter on the man¡¯s chest.


    Before they could gauge his reaction, they were all hustled inside by the guards.


    ¡°Get home,¡± they ordered the residents then turned to Judd, ¡°get inside before we have to arrest you.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. Sorry sir.¡± Judd bowed his head and ducked back in. The tavern owner pushed them out of the way, putting a heavy bar across the closed door.


    ¡°Those vegetables and drinks are going on your tab,¡± he warned them, ¡°and I¡¯ll be fining you an extra fee for rabble rousing!¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°And if I catch you removing this bar and endangering my wife and myself, I¡¯ll have you brought up on charges with Lord LeMewn.¡± He stomped off, muttering about idiotic visitors.


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°Please, Verne,¡± he whimpered, ¡°tell me it was worth it?¡±


    ¡°I reckon I got him fair and square on the chest.¡± Verne peered through the glass. ¡°He¡¯s confused¡­I think he knows it wasn¡¯t a regular egg¡­¡±


    ¡°Not unless there¡¯s a chicken out there laying silver eggs.¡±


    ¡°Along with a goose that craps golden ones.¡± Giordi chuckled.


    Judd glared at him. ¡°Did you have to buy everyone a round of drinks?¡±


    ¡°Got them on my good side and their manipulability goes up as their inhibitions go down the drunker they become.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d better get upstairs.¡± They headed for the stairs. ¡°What happened to your lady friend?¡±


    ¡°Who? Oh Fleta,¡± Giordi shook his head, ¡°not really my type.¡±


    ¡°What? Too eager and not enough of a challenge?¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ hands were wringing themselves tightly when they appeared in the room.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a breastplate of pure silver.¡± Judd announced.


    ¡°I hope it¡¯s enough.¡± Verne added.


    ¡°It has to be,¡± Aalis swallowed, ¡°it just has to be¡­¡±

 I wish I knew what it was I saw…

    After curfew was in effect, the guards disappeared from the square. While this meant no one would stop them if they decided to throw more vegetables or worse, rocks and stones, no one ventured out of their homes. Even drunkards knew not to challenge the darkening of the sky and the approaching night.


    Before it became too dark to see, a mist bubbled up from inside the well, curling and lazy, pouring out onto the ground, a haunted vision that would put the Festival of Maul to shame. The man, Suvau, was almost entirely obscured. Whatever befell him, it wouldn¡¯t be able to be seen.


    Aalis watched from the tavern window, the owners in bed and the place, deserted. She didn¡¯t have a lamp or lantern. She just sat in the dark with a shawl around her shoulders, trembling but whether it was fear or cold, she couldn¡¯t tell.


    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± Judd asked, coming up from behind her. Aalis shook her head. ¡°You can¡¯t stay awake all night. It¡¯s been hours.¡± She refused to answer. ¡°Aalis, whatever else happens, you did everything you could.¡±


    ¡°I wish I understood¡­¡± She whispered. ¡°I wish I knew what it was I saw¡­¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°What?¡± Judd urged gently. ¡°Aalis, what did you see?¡±


    Aalis ached with loneliness, her heart desperate to know what it was like to be vulnerable yet safe. ¡°I¡­I saw¡­¡± Her words stalled when a low growl rumbled softly through the mist. ¡°Oh Terra¡­¡± She whimpered.


    ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Judd swallowed. ¡°Aalis¡­Aalis, come here.¡± He grabbed her shoulder and forced her to face his chest, the growling deepening until the ground began to resonate. ¡°Don¡¯t listen. Don¡¯t hear this¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡­I cannot do this. Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°Hands over your ears,¡± he ordered, ¡°and don¡¯t look.¡±


    She shook uncontrollably, her fingers clawed around her ears, pressing so hard they hurt. She had to concentrate on Judd¡¯s heartbeat, the only thing she could hear but even that was becoming faster and faster, Judd¡¯s tension unable to be hidden. She jumped with violence, Judd¡¯s arms clasping around her when a wolf¡¯s howl echoed so loudly it was as though it was screaming into her ears. Aalis wept and he clutched her to his chest, his arms wrapping around her body so that his hands were over her ears.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Verne¡¯s voice asked from the stairs. ¡°Did it work?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Judd swallowed. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Verne leaned so close to the window his breath fogged it up. He rubbed at it furiously, peering through the glass.


    ¡°Well?¡± Judd hissed.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­I can¡¯t see¡­wait¡­the fog is lifting. It¡¯s fading from the square¡­dawn is coming. The sky is lightening¡­I don¡¯t believe it!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Judd demanded.


    Verne turned to him, eyes wide in shock. ¡°He¡¯s still alive.¡±

 You may commune with him all you want now, witch

    The stage, that had been dismantled after the previous day¡¯s proceedings was hastily re-erected and the people of Quarre gathered in the shadowed corners, whispering to each other, unwilling to enter the main square any further than to lay eyes on the survivor, the only survivor, of Lord LeMewn¡¯s justice system.


    The city was held in tension, everyone distracted by the sight of the dark skinned man, still alive, shackled to the well, kneeling on the ground. Not even the workers who would normally be at the quarry at daybreak made it all the way to their occupation. They stopped and stared at the man before retreating, unsure as to how to proceed.


    ¡°It¡¯s as though no one knows what to do.¡± Verne murmured.


    ¡°No one has ever survived the night like this.¡± Judd¡¯s voice ached with sorrow.


    ¡°I wonder what Lord LeMewn will say.¡± Giordi drank a cup of warmed goat¡¯s milk and yawned.


    ¡°How can you be tired?¡± Verne demanded. ¡°You slept!¡±


    Giordi yawned again, shrugging at the same time.


    ¡°Surely he will at least give the man a fair trial.¡± Aalis drank her milk as well, deep shadows beneath her eyes. Judd wasn¡¯t sure she had slept at all. She looked at him. ¡°He will¡­will he not?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re about to find out.¡± Verne jerked his head. ¡°The Lord doth descend.¡±


    ¡°He doth, doth he?¡± Giordi yawned for a third time and stood up. ¡°Right, well¡­let¡¯s hear what he has to say.¡±


    The bell tolled and if that was not enough of a summoning, guards began to shoo people into the main square, driving them out of the streets to form a congregation before Lord LeMewn whose previously rehearsed expression was lost in doubt and nervousness.


    ¡°Deacon Clariet doesn¡¯t seem all that bothered.¡± Verne observed.


    ¡°Caste does.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that pleases or disturbs me.¡±


    ¡°Straight laced,¡± Aalis recited, ¡°but not heartless.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Judd licked his lips. ¡°Have you noticed they haven¡¯t unshackled Suvau yet?¡±


    ¡°Hopefully just a formality.¡±


    ¡°People of Quarre,¡± Lord LeMewn spoke and the rustling whispers died out, all eyes on him, ¡°before you is a man who, with irrefutable evidence of his guilt, has survived the full moon. You may be asking yourselves, how is this possible? Could he be innocent? Could the wheels of justice of Quarre be so mistaken?¡± He held his hands out to the people with a sorrowful expression. ¡°No, of course not. For today, you bear witness to the manipulation of Maul, the way in which those of the south commune.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Judd nearly exploded but Giordi clapped his hand over his mouth. Thankfully chatter in the crowd was beginning to rise, covering any exclamation with their collected murmurings.


    ¡°This man,¡± Lord LeMewn cried, regaining their attention, ¡°if he can be called such a thing, spoke with the darkness and begged for his life. Ancient covenants, dark and deadly¡­of this there can be no doubt.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to let this go, is he?¡± Judd closed his eyes as Lord LeMewn continued to speak and support of his words grew in the gathering. ¡°Aalis, I¡¯m not sure there¡¯s anything else¡­where in Maul is she?¡±


    ¡°There.¡± Verne pointed as the hooded figure of Aalis pushed through the crowd.


    ¡°Not again.¡± Judd swore, getting down. ¡°We¡¯ve got to stop her!¡±


    ¡°¡­and in doing so, in eliminating this threat to Quarre, you can know without a doubt, that I am doing the will of King Rocheveron,¡± Lord LeMewn expressed with grandeur, ¡°the will of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡±


    The crowd jolted, startled by the accusation. Caste saw the hooded figure tear her way into the open path between the well and the stage, her lavender eyes growing darker by the second.


    ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Caste felt the blood drain so fast from his face, he was sure he would faint.


    ¡°How dare you stand there and proclaim to do the will of the King when you pervert his justice to your own ends!¡± Aalis screeched, Lord LeMewn staring at her, astonished that anyone, let alone a woman, would defy him so. ¡°King Rocheveron would never condone this mockery of justice!¡±


    ¡°I am his will!¡± Lord LeMewn snapped back at her.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°You are a hypocrite!¡± Aalis returned without fear, shaking with fury. ¡°You said that this man, if he survived the night, would be judged. A trial is the true and unshakable will of Astaril! Instead, you offer only execution! You intimidate and you condemn! There is no justice here!¡± She pointed her finger at Lord LeMewn who recoiled from it. ¡°You are not worthy to judge!¡±


    Lord LeMewn looked at Clariet, his expression reminiscent of someone who was about five seconds away from running. Clariet, on the other hand, was a pinnacle of calm, having been speaking with a guard before taking the steps to the stage. He stood in front of Aalis, gazing at her without fear.


    ¡°You approached the condemned,¡± he said in a cold, still voice and Aalis¡¯ finger drew back, the heat of her anger diminishing, ¡°the guard has confirmed it. You¡­what are you?¡±


    Aalis jolted, taking a step in retreat but a guard grabbed her from behind. She struggled in vain as he held her tight, Clariet walking up to her, his hand reaching out.


    ¡°No!¡± She cried, Clariet tearing the hood from her head, exposing her dreadlocks.


    He stepped back with a contented smile. ¡°Witch.¡± Clariet turned to Lord LeMewn. ¡°We have discovered the reason the judgement was unsuccessful. This witch,¡± he gestured to her, ¡°protected the man from Maul.¡±


    ¡°What do you decree, Deacon Clariet?¡± Lord LeMewn asked.


    ¡°That she share his fate.¡± Clariet turned and smiled at Aalis and she could almost see her blood in his teeth. ¡°I assure you, judgement will not fail twice¡­not now that it knows the face of deception.¡±


    Aalis was hauled to the well, her knees becoming useless, unable to hold herself up. She was half dropped at the base of the well, attempting to crawl away as one of the guards unlocked a single shackle from Suvau. He grabbed her gown and dragged her back, locking the second shackle into place around her wrist.


    ¡°You may commune with him all you want now, witch.¡± He threw her towards the dark man.


    Aalis fell to her hands and knees, looking up in horror as the man from Maul stood over her. Terror overrode her senses and she stood and ran, the shackle chain joined to his wrist, looped around the well bar. She jerked backwards and turned, unable to move more than two feet from the well.


    ¡°Deacon Clariet has spoken wisely and has exposed a witch hiding among us.¡± Lord LeMewn decreed. ¡°Let no one approach and when the bell tolls for curfew, all are to abide by it or suffer the same fate.¡±


    Ten minutes later...


    ¡°Lord LeMewn, I must protest this act of judgement and beg for mercy for this woman you have condemned!¡±


    ¡°Now try it in a less demanding tone.¡± Giordi advised, trying to keep up with Judd as they climbed the ascent to the manor house. ¡°Judd¡­Judd! You have to wait!¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­wait¡­if you hadn¡¯t made me wait, I could have protected Aalis!¡± Judd snapped at him.


    ¡°She was already beyond your reach, bound to cause a scene no matter what happened!¡± Giordi protested. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t stopped you, you¡¯d be chained there with her!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right, Judd.¡± Verne jogged beside them, the house coming closer and closer. ¡°If we¡¯re going to have any hope of saving Aalis, you have to calm down.¡±


    ¡°I am calm!¡± Judd¡¯s head snapped back and he clutched at his jaw, Verne¡¯s fist having connected with his face. ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°For being a fool!¡± Verne snarled. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one desperately worried about Aalis! So stop charging in, listen to Giordi and for the love of Astaril, use your head!¡±


    Judd gazed at Verne, seeing how he was shaking. He dropped his hand from his jaw. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± His voice was hollow and broken. ¡°I¡­I know it. I just¡­can¡¯t imagine how frightened she must be.¡±


    ¡°So let¡¯s try to fix this with as little violence as possible.¡± Verne said sternly.


    Judd nodded, swallowed and turned back to the house, his stride calmer and restrained.


    Giordi looked at Verne who finally let pain show on his face, shaking his hand.


    ¡°Nicely done.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a jaw like iron.¡± Verne muttered.


    Giordi chuckled and they hurried after Judd, joining him at the door. They were admitted into the foyer then, after a wait, welcomed into Lord LeMewn¡¯s study, although welcome was too warm a word for the icy reception. Lord LeMewn sat behind a large, cherry wood desk in a highbacked chair, his hands clasped together with his elbows on the leather writing mat. Deacon Clariet stood to one side while Caste was in a corner, watching the proceedings.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, Clariet was right in predicting you would make an appearance before me today.¡±


    ¡°Lord LeMewn,¡± Judd paused to breathe, ¡°I have come to beg for the life of Aalis.¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡±


    ¡°The woman your deacon condemned as a witch.¡±


    LeMewn studied Judd. ¡°And why would I do that when King Rocheveron decreed that all witches must be put to death.¡±


    ¡°That decree was based upon the determination of Bishop Peele and the Order of the Grail,¡± Judd licked his lips, willing himself to be calm, ¡°but I am not here to debate doctrine. Aalis is a member of my entourage, a valuable addition amongst my companions as we travel Terra.¡±


    ¡°You freely admit you travel with a witch?¡± Clariet asked in an almost bored voice.


    ¡°She is not a witch,¡± Judd heard Giordi breathe the word ¡®calm¡¯ behind him, ¡°she is a healer, a recluse who was convinced to travel by me because her skills are considerable.¡±


    ¡°A witch¡¯s skills may also be considerable¡­that does not make her any less a witch.¡± Clariet argued lightly as though they were having a lively debate, not a life and death word duel.


    ¡°Can I ask, My Lord,¡± Giordi interjected, ¡°what are the qualifications of Aalis being named a witch? If it was just her hair¡­¡±


    ¡°She approached the man of Maul.¡±


    ¡°Out of curiosity.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°Do you not see how terrified she is of him?¡±


    ¡°The same expression is on all the faces of those who are caught in wrongdoing and condemned.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because they¡¯re facing a merciless judgement with no trial to determine guilt!¡±


    ¡°And what would we find if we hosted a trial?¡± Clariet fired up and Judd was hard pressed not to recoil from his sinister savagery. ¡°What would we discover if we peeled back the layers and truly¡­examined this woman?¡± The way he said ¡®examined¡¯ had Judd lunging forward to strike Clariet. He was only dragged back in time by Verne and Giordi, the deacon smiling at him without fear. ¡°Your protestations are noted but the process will go ahead as planned.¡±


    ¡°Why you¡­¡±


    ¡°Remove LaMogre from Lord LeMewn¡¯s home at once,¡± Clariet glanced over his shoulder as he walked past the trio, opening the door and speaking with the guards outside, ¡°and inform the soldiers that should he or any of his entourage approach the well and the condemned, they are to be shackled to the well for interfering with the wheels of justice.¡±

 I am not aligned with the darkness. I am its master

    Clariet poured liquor into two glasses and looked up. Caste was at the window, peering through the telescopic viewing tube, the lenses pointed at the main square. He was able to see the man of Maul and the woman condemned as a witch as easily as if they were in the same room.


    ¡°You are quiet, Cleric Caste,¡± Clariet remarked, ¡°could it be that you have¡­concerns?¡±


    ¡°Several.¡± Caste admitted, taking his eye away and turning to Clariet.


    ¡°That is to be expected.¡±


    ¡°You seem awfully calm.¡± Caste accepted the liquor.


    ¡°I have complete faith in the method Lord LeMewn and I developed.¡±


    ¡°Judgement by monster?¡±


    ¡°A werewolf, to be precise.¡±


    Caste gaped at Clariet who sipped the amber liquid. ¡°You¡­allow a werewolf into Quarre?¡±


    ¡°If we did not allow it, the monster would climb the walls and kill innocent civilians.¡± Clariet announced, standing by the fireplace where a warm blaze could not dispel the chilly fear in Caste¡¯s chest. ¡°Imagine Quarre before I arrived. Lord LeMewn was struggling to maintain guards of quality because of the lack of military training in his background. The nature of the quarry is that it is always breaking new ground and new ground is bound to be rife with monsters. Crime was on the rise and civilian deaths were increasing. King Rocheveron, urged by Sir Jesa, was talking of removing LeMewn from lordship and assigning a knight instead. But before he gave up on his half brother entirely, he sent me to be his advisor after the death of the previous cleric. For a time, I was also consumed by the hopelessness of the situation¡­then, while observing Lord LeMewn¡¯s latest stallion acquisition being broken, I had an epiphany.¡±


    He turned to Caste and smiled. ¡°The monsters of Maul are not made to be feared¡­they are made to be broken and to serve us.¡±


    ¡°Serve us?¡± Caste¡¯s voice was a hollow rasp.


    ¡°Indeed, just as a wild horse must be broken, a monster simply needs to know who is in charge. Then, with their power harnessed for our own, we can rule with absolute authority.¡±


    Caste closed his eyes, shaking his head. ¡°But the doctrine of the monsters of Maul is quite clear from the time of Andigre¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you ever read the account of Sir Verion when he managed to wipe out a legion of goblins?¡±


    Caste¡¯s mind thought frantically. ¡°It¡­I have a vague recollection of it.¡±


    ¡°I have an account, older than I believe the manuscript in the archives of the Order of the Grail.¡± Clariet opened a cupboard and drew a leather scroll out, laying it on the little table. He undid the ties on the leather and let it roll open, displaying the frail parchment inside. Caste leaned over, naturally curious but also very cautious. He knew about the delicacy of such documents and wondered at its survival. ¡°What I once thought to be a whimsical retelling I read in wonder as Sir Verion did indeed slaughter, in excess of three and eight score of goblins on the plains of Aroda.¡±


    ¡°That seems unlikely.¡± Caste confessed.


    ¡°Until you read this passage,¡± Clariet pointed, ¡°for it says, aided by the darkness did Sir Verion reduce the goblin hoard to rubble.¡±


    ¡°Aided by darkness?¡± Caste looked up. ¡°Rubble?¡±


    ¡°The ancient tongue can be translated into ¡®stone¡¯.¡± Clariet rolled the parchment carefully and put it away, opening another cupboard. ¡°Sir Verion used a basilisk to turn the goblins into stone. He forced a monster of Maul to work for him. It taught me that we need not fear the darkness.¡± There was a metal squeak and Clariet¡¯s arms reached into something, drawing an object out. ¡°We only need to know how to handle it.¡± Clariet turned towards Caste, a basilisk in his hands.


    Caste stumbled backwards, tipping over the table and ending up half on and half off the chair. He closed his eyes in horror, sure he was seconds away from being turned into the most embarrassing statue in all of Terra.


    ¡°Fear not, Caste, for my basilisk will not harm you.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me¡­I cannot take your word for it.¡±


    ¡°Even now I am looking into its eyes,¡± Caste peeked out, morbidly curious and saw Clariet was doing exactly as he said, ¡°but it is not looking into mine.¡± He turned the basilisk towards Caste who flinched, instinctively terrified yet he immediately saw that the lizard¡¯s eyes were milky white. ¡°I caught this creature slipping over the wall, unhindered and unafraid¡­until I caught it and blinded it with acid. Now it can harm no one. It is entirely dependent upon me.¡±


    Caste¡¯s chest was tight as he disentangled himself from the chair, straightening his tunic. He moved around behind the chair as if it could be of any use protecting him against the stone forging gaze of the lizard. Clariet scratched the basilisk on the head, cooing to it as though it was a pet.


    ¡°You¡­took an unnecessary risk,¡± Caste shook, ¡°to what end?¡±


    ¡°To know that I could stand before any darkness and be unafraid.¡± Clariet smiled and put the basilisk back in its cage. It could feel the straw and nuzzled about in it, covering its body. ¡°So I waited until there was a full moon and went to the quarry. I knew there was at least one werewolf prowling the mountains. It only took two nights before it approached me and as I stood, unafraid, it spoke.¡±


    ¡°It spoke?¡± Caste gasped.


    ¡°With words of intelligence and understanding.¡± Clariet shook his head. ¡°Imagine my astonishment as it reasoned with me and we communed.¡±


    ¡°The very thing you have charged Aalis with!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Clariet shook his head, ¡°I am not aligned with the darkness. I am its master.¡±


    Caste was tempted to look around, sure the walls were closing in. He could feel an oppressive weight in the room and wished for nothing more than to escape.


    ¡°The monsters answer to no one.¡± He whispered.


    ¡°On the contrary, they are more organised than you think,¡± Clariet smiled and Caste recoiled from it, ¡°however, they need to be controlled¡­subdued¡­and made to work for us. Those that do not comply will serve as an example to others.¡± He studied Caste. ¡°You seem¡­unsettled, Cleric Caste.¡±


    ¡°You¡­your ways¡­¡± Caste tried desperately to wet his lips, his throat refusing to swallow. ¡°They are not the ways of the Order of the Grail.¡±


    ¡°Which is why all my papers, my thesis of human/monster collaboration were never published or else you would not be so shocked by my theories as they would be common reading knowledge.¡±


    ¡°They weren¡¯t even distributed as editable material to the clerics.¡± Caste confessed. Even though he had never socialised beyond absolute necessity, Caste knew such papers would have been widely talked about. Bishop Peele probably only let archdeacons see them and even then, just a trusted few before locking them away¡­or burning them.


    ¡°I am unsurprised.¡± Clariet sighed. ¡°Genius is often misunderstood.¡± He looked up with an air of reminiscence as though the topic was not grievously grotesque. ¡°But even Bishop Peele cannot stand in the path of inevitability. Quarre will exist as proof of my revelations.¡±


    ¡°That man and Aalis are¡­proof?¡±


    ¡°Examples.¡± Clariet corrected. ¡°After all, if a werewolf can kill a man from Maul and a witch, then it is truly under my control.¡± He paused, his eyes narrowing and Caste wanted to clutch at his heart. ¡°You travelled with this woman for many weeks now, months even¡­yet I fail to see how one as astute as you did not recognise her as a witch?¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Caste faltered. ¡°She¡­she¡¯s done nothing wrong.¡± He stammered lamely.


    Clariet stared at him, unblinking. Hot flushes of nausea washed over the cleric but his heart was a block of ice, unmoving and terror stricken. Caste wondered if he would reach the door before Clariet attacked him. He was obviously out of his mind.


    ¡°It is of little matter,¡± Clariet finally said, waving his hand, turning from Caste who used the break his in stare to edge his way to the door, ¡°soon justice will be done.¡± Caste didn¡¯t ask permission, putting his hand on the latch of the door and drawing it open. ¡°Cleric Caste,¡± he froze, unable to turn, ¡°my order about approaching the condemned is all encompassing. Brother officer of the Order of the Grail you may be, but go anywhere near that well¡­¡±


    He let the threat hang in the air but Caste was already fleeing to his bedroom. He closed the door behind him, stumbling backwards, unable to take his eyes off it. He backed into his desk and gave a yelp, spinning around and ripping the curtains wide.


    ¡°Light,¡± he gasped, ¡°I need light¡­and air¡­¡± His vision began to blur. Caste put his hands on the desk and lowered his head. ¡°Breathe. Just breathe, Caste.¡± His head got lower and lower until it was pressed against the cool wood, his stomach tying itself into knots. He hadn¡¯t had one of these panic attacks since he left Astaril. Not even the cockatrice, the ogre, the giant spider or the orthros had sent him into such a debilitating spiral. Only those in the novitiate program with him, the alphas who made themselves the power by singling out an individual and making them the brunt of all their bullying, practical jokes and spitefulness, had caused Caste to suffer like this. Caste¡¯s health had become precarious while studying, determined to graduate early so that he could be a very young cleric and move ahead and away from the cruelty of his peers.


    And he had succeeded, he reminded himself. He was a cleric while those who had belittled him were still trying to secure their own clerical promotion or given up and gone on to other occupations. He wasn¡¯t readily accepted in his much older class of clerics and largely shunned but while it was a somewhat monastic existence, Caste would take it any day over this raging panic that left him weak and confused.


    It took almost an hour before Caste could lift his head, his knees having given way but he¡¯d sat in the chair. He looked at the light through the window, limp and weary. He couldn¡¯t think about Clariet or his mad philosophies. He couldn¡¯t recall anything about that room or else he might go mad with terror.


    He had to distance himself.


    He had to pretend it wasn¡¯t there.


    Whatever it took to survive and not sink into panic induced delirium.


    The light was kind on his face. He drew the curtain aside, wanting the light to chase away the shadows that formed in his soul. As he did so, he caught sight of a hooded figure slipping down the side of the stables, keeping to the shadows then, with a furtive glance about, ducked behind it. Caste leaned forward, staring and waiting but the person never emerged. He couldn¡¯t understand it. There was nothing behind the stables. It was just a wall of rock and beyond that was¡­the quarry¡­


    ¡°The quarry¡­¡± He frowned. ¡°But¡­that means¡­¡±


    He swallowed and looked at the door then back at the window and the view from the courtyard. Then his eyes dropped to the desk which was adorned nicely with the usual studious adornments like ink well and quill, some parchment for writing and a seal opener which looked a lot like a metal dagger in a polished silver hue.


    Caste picked it up, his hand trembling. ¡°Probably too blunt to be of use against anything other than wax¡­I hope the werewolf doesn¡¯t know about stationary¡­¡±


    He put his cappa clausa on over his tunic. Though not remotely protective, it gave him a feeling of safety, the dark red folds familiar and heavy without crushing, like a hug that Caste didn¡¯t object to. He had to gather his courage to open the door of his room and peered out. The corridor was vacant. He clutched the seal opener in his hand, hidden in the folds of his sleeve and eased his narrow body out of the room, closing the door as quietly as possible. The thick rug on the floor deadened his steps as he crept along its length. He reached the end where the rug finished and stepped gingerly onto the boards. One creaked with a traitorous groan and Caste looked backwards, sure Clariet was going to be standing right behind him.


    However, whether he was supremely confident in his threat or thought Caste was no threat at all, Clariet was nowhere to be seen. Caste hastened along the landing to the stairs and practically ran down them. The doorman was startled by his abrupt appearance but before he could open the door for him, Caste flung it open and ran for the steps, descending into Quarre.


    He had already guessed where Judd and the others were staying and decided to try to reach the tavern through the back, unwilling to go anywhere near the front in case the guards took his presence as being ¡®too close¡¯ to the well. He had to negotiate back streets and alleys, stumbling over piles of rubbish and getting caught in washing that hung from low clotheslines. By the time he reached the tavern, the hem of his robes was dusted grey, he was sweaty and out of breath but Caste didn¡¯t pause, sprinting for the back door.


    However, before he could reach it, he was grabbed and thrust against a wall.


    ¡°Get away from me!¡± He screeched, brandishing his letter opener blindly.


    ¡°Caste, it¡¯s me you freak!¡± Judd bellowed and Caste opened his eyes and stared at him.


    ¡°Oh thank Astaril¡­I¡­I thought¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s going to faint.¡± Judd hauled him to a crate and set him down, pushing his head even lower. Verne took the letter opener out of his hand. ¡°What were you going to do with this? It¡¯s about as blunt as the cobbler¡¯s granddaughter¡¯s suggestive overtures.¡±


    ¡°Jealous?¡± Giordi teased.


    ¡°Of her, please!¡± Verne snorted then saw Giordi¡¯s expression. ¡°I mean, of you? Certainly not!¡±


    ¡°Gentlemen!¡± Judd snapped then turned to Caste. ¡°What in Maul are you doing here, Caste? Why are you creeping around Quarre, armed with a blade¡­a blunt one at that?¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be enjoying Deacon Clariet¡¯s philosophies of monsterical manipulation.¡± Giordi remarked.


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­he¡¯s out of his mind!¡± Caste gasped. ¡°He¡¯s completely convinced that humans and monsters are meant to coexist.¡±


    ¡°Coex¡­they eat humans!¡± Judd roared.


    ¡°Coexist as in, monsters are subjugated to humans.¡± Caste explained. ¡°He claims monsters just need to be broken in.¡±


    ¡°Like a horse?¡± Giordi was aghast.


    ¡°He can¡¯t be serious.¡± Verne shook his head.


    ¡°He¡¯s already done it.¡± Caste tried to stand but his knees wouldn¡¯t let him. He sank back onto the crate. ¡°He blinded a basilisk with acid and keeps it as a pet.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­disturbing but hardly¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s also had¡­communications¡­with the werewolf.¡±


    ¡°He spoke to it?¡±


    Caste nodded, mopping his brow. ¡°I think he formed an understanding with it. Humans, criminals, brought out every full moon...¡±


    ¡°For the werewolf¡¯s pleasure.¡± Judd ground his teeth.


    ¡°What does Clariet get out of this?¡±


    ¡°No one would dare break any rule here. After the way Quarre was falling into anarchy, Clariet¡¯s solution has merit,¡± Verne shrugged, ¡°but is that really enough? What about all the other monsters?¡±


    ¡°There are none.¡± Caste closed his eyes. ¡°I think the werewolf keeps Quarre safe in this agreement.¡±


    ¡°As long as humans are sacrificed.¡± Judd snarled. ¡°That¡¯s despicable, Caste!¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi put his hand on Judd¡¯s arm, ¡°Caste came to us to warn us. He¡¯s not agreeing with Clariet.¡±


    Judd rubbed his hands on his face. ¡°Sorry¡­I¡¯m sorry Caste¡­I don¡¯t know what to do. Aalis is chained to that well with the man from Maul and if we go anywhere near her, the guards will arrest us. In order to save her, I¡¯d have to fight humans who are just doing as they were ordered.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no other way to stop Lord LeMewn¡¯s command?¡± Verne looked at Caste. ¡°Surely this wouldn¡¯t be condoned from Astaril.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps if an independent cleric with testimony and observations were to appeal before Bishop Peele and King Rocheveron, then yes, something could be done.¡± Caste argued. ¡°However, that would take months!¡±


    ¡°We have hours¡­if that.¡± Judd looked at the sky.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re a monster killer!¡± Giordi slapped his forehead. ¡°So go, do! Go kill the werewolf!¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know where to start looking.¡± Judd confessed. ¡°If I charge into the mountains, I could miss it. At least I know it¡¯ll be here when night falls.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s in the quarry,¡± Caste said softly and they all turned to him, ¡°that¡¯s where the worst of the monster attacks occurred because the quarry is always breaking new ground, expanding territory. It¡¯s the only gate left open at night so it has to be there and someone left the manor house grounds through the back. The only things behind it are the mountains and the quarry.¡±


    Judd licked his lips. ¡°Right¡­well¡­that¡¯s where I¡¯ll go.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to go the same way as the workers.¡± Caste explained as Judd checked his sword.


    ¡°I will then I¡¯ll head to the back and hopefully I¡¯ll find a path. If it comes through the quarry, there might be tracks left from last night.¡±


    ¡°Then that¡¯s what we¡¯ll look for.¡± Verne said, picking up his bow. Judd put his hand out.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re staying here.¡±


    ¡°Why in Maul would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± Judd swallowed, ¡°if I fail¡­you¡¯ll be the only one standing between Aalis and a werewolf.¡± Verne gazed at Judd, stunned. Judd put his hand on Verne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°When I told LeMewn you were the bravest of all of us, I wasn¡¯t exaggerating. I need to know you¡¯re here, defending Aalis¡­so I can leave.¡± Verne nodded, tight lipped and severe. Judd breathed out, his shoulders relaxing. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not keen on you going on your own.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be.¡± Judd looked at the minstrel. ¡°Giordi is coming with me.¡±


    ¡°I am?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see me cut down a werewolf?¡±


    Giordi sighed dramatically. ¡°A minstrel¡¯s life was never meant to be this dangerous. Can I have a bow?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± both Verne and Judd said at the same time, ¡°but you ought to have a weapon¡­¡± Judd looked at the seal opener. ¡°How blunt is that?¡±


    ¡°Very,¡± Verne held it out, ¡°but I¡¯d wager it¡¯s silver.¡±


    Giordi took it with a rueful sigh. ¡°I¡¯m going to die with a letter opener in my hand¡­¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡± Caste asked fearfully. ¡°I suppose you want me to defend Aalis with a plank of wood¡­¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd tightened his belt, making sure his sword was strapped on firmly, ¡°no matter what happens tonight, I need you to live, Caste.¡± The cleric gazed at Judd, surprised. ¡°If we fail, you need to get back to Astaril somehow and expose what¡¯s happening here.¡± He paused and gazed at Caste. ¡°Do you understand?¡± Caste nodded. ¡°Then we need to get moving.¡±

 Witches are condemned by the Order of the Grail and must be executed

    Judd and Giordi had to take numerous backstreets until they were on the quarry side of Quarre and could reach the road that would take them out of the city without being spotted by the manor house. Judd hated not being able to speak to Aalis but he couldn¡¯t risk being seen, especially dressed in armour with his sword on. Several residents spotted himself and Giordi but that couldn¡¯t be helped. They jogged down the road where a pair of wooden gates, about half the size of the main ones, were left wide open, the slope they were on becoming steep.


    ¡°I know why they wear steel capped boots in the quarry,¡± Judd muttered as they stomped down the steps, slipping on the smooth parts, ¡°it¡¯s to ground you so you don¡¯t fall.¡±


    ¡°At least you wouldn¡¯t die,¡± Giordi nodded, ¡°look, a dam.¡±


    Judd peered over the edge of the road they were on. Dam was right. It was a dark pool of opaque water at the base of a manmade cliff.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to fall into that or attempt to climb out.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°Those sides are steep.¡±


    ¡°It was probably the start of the quarry before it filled up with water¡­then they began to dig this way.¡±


    It was a world of grey stone and dust and dangerous gravel on the slopes. Thankfully scaffolding had been constructed to take the place of all the stone that had been mined and there were numerous sections of steps leading down into the base of the newer quarry. Large piles of rocks were gathered together and an empty cart, not unlike the one they had seen leaving the city two nights earlier, rested quietly, ready to be loaded.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°That must be the road around Quarre,¡± Giordi pointed then turned around, ¡°where do we go from here?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to head further back.¡± Judd decided and they crossed the abandoned quarry floor. No one was there and it was eerie quiet. ¡°Can you see anything? A path? A cave¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve got a cave!¡± Giordi exclaimed and propelled Judd around a stack of barrels. ¡°Look, tucked away and covered with that netting. It¡¯s almost impossible to see.¡±


    ¡°How in Maul did you spy it?¡±


    ¡°You said there might be tracks.¡± Giordi pointed down at the ground.


    Judd squatted and gazed at the rather nerve shatteringly large wolf prints in the dust which led into the cave.


    ¡°That¡¯s where it comes from,¡± he breathed, unsheathing his sword, ¡°ready?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Judd steeled his spine and pushed the netting aside.


    Back in Quarre, Verne stayed in the shadow of the tavern wall, able to keep an eye on the well.


    ¡°Any change?¡± Caste whispered.


    Verne shook his head. ¡°None.¡±


    ¡°Are they even talking?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure Aalis is even sensible¡­she seems half dazed.¡± Verne glanced at Caste who was pacing, wringing his hands. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re this concerned about her. You¡¯ve always been a bit suspicious of Aalis.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t deny at times her conduct has been a bit suspicious.¡±


    ¡°Hardly worthy of condemnation.¡±


    ¡°Witches are condemned by the Order of the Grail and must be executed.¡± Caste declared quietly. ¡°That is what I believe and Aalis openly said she was one.¡±


    ¡°Then why aren¡¯t you throwing rotten fruit at her?¡±


    Caste paced some more. ¡°This isn¡¯t an execution¡­it¡¯s anarchy masquerading as control.¡±


    They both looked up as the bell for curfew chimed.


    ¡°Well¡­we¡¯re both on the wrong side of the law now.¡± Verne paused. ¡°If you want to leave, then go.¡±


    Caste shuddered. ¡°I¡¯d rather be here¡­than in that house¡­¡±


    Verne was surprised by Caste¡¯s fear, so strong it was palpable. He wondered just what it was that Clariet had said to the cleric that had terrorised him to such a degree.

 We shall return to the slaughter of old…and welcome you into our dark embrace

    The cave was the entrance to a tunnel which clipped the corner of a hill and emptied into a pine needle valley. The smell was all around them. Judd pinched his nose.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m allergic.¡± He whispered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t start sneezing.¡± Giordi hissed. ¡°Which way?¡±


    The tracks they had followed disappeared so they half slid, half clambered down the slope to the valley floor. Light was waning fast as the sunset was blocked by the outer wall of the quarry. There were hardly any shadows now and soon, it would be almost impossible to see.


    Giordi tapped Judd¡¯s arm and pointed. Judd turned and saw a precarious path down the backside of the mountain that formed the edge of the city of Quarre.


    ¡°Must be how Clariet gets down here¡­¡± He breathed.


    Judd nodded and they continued to creep past the trees to where, at the back of the valley, thick bracken and dead or broken trees began to cluster. Judd was reminded of Aalis¡¯ witch tunnel that she had designed to scare off knights and those who wanted to become knights. However, unlike her tunnel which was only the semblance of horror and gruesomeness, the dead valley was far more real. There were human skulls skewered onto large thorns and wind chimes of bones that clattered with hollow timbre.


    Judd clutched the handle of his sword, suddenly seeing a dash of colour and pushed Giordi back. They paused, their ears straining to hear.


    ¡°¡­never happened before.¡±


    ¡°¡­warned them.¡±


    ¡°I swear¡­I¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re too far.¡± Giordi whispered.


    Judd nodded then waved his hand. They crept up a small slope that turned into a low ridge, obscured by bracken which shielded them as they made their way closer.


    ¡°¡­smelt silver. You protected him!¡±


    ¡°Why would I do that? I lured him here for this very purpose!¡±


    ¡°And then you felt compassion and guilt.¡± The voice was as hard as stone and as cold as ice.


    ¡°Why would I feel that towards a man from Maul?¡±


    Judd glanced at Giordi and frowned. ¡°Clariet?¡± He mouthed.


    Giordi shook his head. ¡°LeMewn.¡± He said silently.


    ¡°It¡­it really is a testimony to how our partnership is working,¡± LeMewn said in a slightly hysterical voice, ¡°there are almost no crimes in Quarre anymore. I have no criminals to offer you. You¡­you must understand that.¡±


    ¡°I understand that you are making excuses¡­and I warned you that failure to produce sacrifices for judgement would result in¡­consequences.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that!¡± LeMewn very nearly squeaked. ¡°I swear¡­in fact tonight there are two sacrifices! The man from Maul and a witch.¡±


    ¡°Another innocent dragged from some unknown hole?¡±


    ¡°Clariet said she was a witch.¡±


    ¡°She is no daughter of Maul¡­but if she is tainted¡­¡± The voice was almost melodic with a deepening purr. Judd frowned at Giordi who was concentrating. He wondered if he was thinking the same thing. ¡°I grow tired of your shackles, LeMewn¡­and of cleaning up your incompetence.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you to chase down that poor cleric! I didn¡¯t know he¡¯d heard Clariet¡¯s ravings and run back to Astaril.¡±


    ¡°Yet he met my teeth in the end¡­¡±


    Judd closed his eyes, hot and sick.


    ¡°But it was Clariet who started all this! He was the one who said we could be partners¡­cohabitation¡­¡±


    The voice which could only belong to the werewolf began to laugh, an almost pleasant sound that ended in a sharpened snap. LeMewn yelped in horror. Judd went to rise. Giordi grasped his wrist and shook his head.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°Would you like to cohabit with me, LeMewn? Shall we conspire for your wife to meet an unfortunate end? Then you and I..."


    Giordi¡¯s eyes widened and he turned to Judd. ¡°Woman.¡± He mouthed. Judd shook his head but Giordi nodded.


    ¡°Stay away from my wife¡­¡±


    ¡°Just a little push into the quarry¡­a broken neck¡­a drowning¡­or shall we chain her to the well as a witch?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a monster!¡±


    Judd felt a shiver in the air and peered upwards. The sun was gone and the moon was rising. The werewolf was reaching its peak of strength. He had to act now.


    ¡°I was once very beautiful. Men lusted after me¡­and I have seen it in your eyes too¡­that burning desire¡­¡±


    ¡°All you see is loathing! I should never have let Clariet talk me into making this covenant with you!¡±


    Judd eased his sword out of its sheath, trying to avoid the bracken whose rattle would give away their position.


    ¡°Regret is a human hinderance¡­you cannot escape this covenant without consequence.¡±


    ¡°You failed to keep your end! If you cannot kill the man and the witch tonight, you are the one who will face the consequence!¡±


    More laughter. Judd tried to stand up but the bracken was trying to scratch his armour and something had him hooked. Giordi leaned backwards and saw a thorn caught on Judd¡¯s belt.


    ¡°Fortunately, I speak the language of wolf¡­and they are not so hindered by the smell of silver¡­or of curfews¡­¡±


    A loud howl filled the air. Judd and Giordi clapped their hands over their ears, wincing at the way it pierced their minds. A few seconds later, numerous howls returned the call.


    ¡°They come, my brethren¡­and with me to open every door¡­¡±


    ¡°But¡­they¡¯ll kill everyone, not just the condemned!¡±


    LeMewn¡¯s voice ended in a strangled squeak.


    ¡°You wanted to be rid of this covenant¡­so be it. We shall return to the slaughter of old¡­and welcome you into our dark embrace.¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t hesitate. He barrelled his way through the bracken and leapt into the clearing. His sword didn¡¯t reach the werewolf as she threw herself backwards, LeMewn tossed from her claws like a dog¡¯s chew toy. The werewolf drew herself up, two feet taller than Judd, braced upon her shaggy hindlegs and her tail. Her bust was barely covered with a tattered tunic, a leather pouch hanging from a strap around her neck. Hair covered the lower half of her body leaving her arms free though she bore long claws. Her hair was the same hue as her fur, a mane of shaggy silver grey and her eyes were amber without a flicker of the spark of a soul behind them. Her lips curled up in a snarl, pointed canines appearing.


    ¡°My dear Lord LeMewn¡­we appear to have company.¡± She kept her distance from Judd as they felt the edge of the clearing with their feet. ¡°Where are my manners?¡± She lunged across the clearing, her claws scraping Judd¡¯s breastplate and he threw himself out of her reach, slicing his sword horizontally. The werewolf screeched, the tip clipping her calf. She stumbled backwards, limping from the wound, her eyes filled with rage as she wiped at her leg then licked her green blooded claws. ¡°First blood is yours¡­¡±


    Judd kept his eyes on her, knowing that to even blink would mean his death. She snapped at him, her hands clawed and the hair on her back, bristling. Judd half stumbled, the rush of the moment gone and the extraordinary danger he was in like a terrifying slap in the face.


    ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± She sneered. ¡°You¡¯re no knight! I smell your fear!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re always more aware of your own stench than others.¡± Judd taunted, recalling the horror of smelling fish on his fingertips.


    She howled and swiped at him, his sword only just deflecting her blows. Her claws struck the branch of a tree, deep gouges appearing in the trunk and for a moment, she was caught. She had to brace to pull her claws out and she turned to lunge at Judd across the clearing¡­but he was standing right behind her.


    Her body sank deep onto his blade, her face so close he could see the dilation of her pupils, as though the pain was a terrible pleasure. She staggered in retreat, green blood pouring from the wound but rather than clutch at it in a vain attempt to stop the ebb of life, she grasped the pouch around her neck.


    ¡°You think¡­you have ended me?¡± She panted, her pointed teeth in an eerie smile. ¡°I¡­will rise again¡­with Ekidna¡­over and over¡­¡±


    Judd swung his sword, cutting her head from her body and both parts fell to the clearing floor. He closed his eyes and shuddered.


    ¡°Well done,¡± Giordi pried himself loose from the bracken and clambered down, ¡°she thought you would run but you were right there.¡±


    ¡°When did it become a ¡®she¡¯?¡± Judd spat bile to the side, his stomach churning. He used his sword to keep himself from falling to his knees, trying not to look at the body of the werewolf as he fumbled about in the fallen needles for the pouch. His glove clutched around it, his fingers scraping it towards himself.


    ¡°What is that?¡±


    Judd shook his head, standing. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he turned and glared at LeMewn, ¡°but we have more immediate concerns.¡± They walked up to the Lord who was slumped on the ground, his bloodied hand over his face, his robes in disarray. ¡°You,¡± Judd pointed at him with his sword, ¡°I can¡¯t even begin to list all the crimes you have committed.¡±


    ¡°You¡­you don¡¯t understand!¡± LeMewn wept. ¡°Quarre was out of control! Sir Jesa was petitioning the king, my half brother, to have a knight take away my place!¡±


    ¡°And for your pride you allowed Clariet to convince you that getting in bed with a werewolf was not only permissible, but right?¡± Giordi exclaimed.


    ¡°He said it would be the way to change everything! We would no longer be at war with Maul!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t make peace with evil and think the war is over!¡± Judd roared. ¡°You make peace with evil and you invite the enemy into your homes! Into the lives of those you love!¡±


    LeMewn sobbed. ¡°I¡­I had no choice.¡±


    ¡°Oh I hate that clich¨¦.¡± Giordi rolled his eyes. ¡°It smacks of lazy creativity.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with you later,¡± Judd threatened, ¡°now get up. We¡¯ve got to stop those wolves!¡±

 Only one of us will survive this night

    The hysteria she had suffered left Aalis dizzy and befuddled. She kept looking at the shackle, terrified of it one moment then confused the next. She put her hand to her head. She hadn¡¯t had these kinds of moments since she was a child.


    No one had spoken to her. Not Judd, not Verne¡­Giordi or Caste¡­not even the man she was bound to. And with the tolling of the bell, there weren¡¯t even guards to berate her should she try to pull her hand free. Night had fallen and wispy clouds, like wads of cotton, were drawn out across the sky where stars sparkled merrily, unaware of the grief she suffered.


    She knelt in the pungent remains of the rotten vegetables thrown, the only sound she could hear was her panting, every breath a desperate plea for mercy even as she knew it wouldn¡¯t come.


    She should have known.


    She should never have left her home.


    She should never have been born¡­


    ¡°Why did you save me?¡±


    Aalis blinked, the words spoken so deep they reverberated in her mind. She looked up, the man from Maul sitting on the edge of the well, his black eyes upon her. He stood up, the chain pulling slightly, his expression severe.


    ¡°Why¡­¡±


    ¡°I know the smell of silver,¡± he touched his chest, the silvery residue like a sparkling breastplate, ¡°I know the cost¡­why did you save me?¡±


    Aalis tried to speak but her words were gone. She was weak and sick and couldn¡¯t organise her thoughts. Suddenly the man yanked on his end of the chain, forcing Aalis to her feet, her chin caught in his grasp, his face leaning down to glare at her.


    ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± She exclaimed.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    He paused, doubt in his eyes. ¡°Why did you save me?¡±


    Aalis faltered, his face the same as the one from her vision. She had seen this man, cut down by an axe, at the feet of a dead Caste. Had he killed Caste or had he been trying to protect him? Who was this man? She couldn¡¯t understand. She couldn¡¯t comprehend. Her head was throbbing. She couldn¡¯t think straight.


    ¡°Who¡­are you?¡± She whimpered.


    The man let her go without answering and she slumped against the well. Neither said a word until the howl of wolves reached them from outside the city. Aalis¡¯ panicked breathing returned and she trembled mightily.


    ¡°Your trick will only fool the werewolf once,¡± the man said coldly and looked at her, ¡°only one of us will survive this night.¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t decide if he liked or hated his armour. It saved his life but it was a chore to run in. He grabbed LeMewn¡¯s arm and forced him out of the cave onto the quarry floor.


    ¡°Look!¡± Giordi shouted and Judd lifted his eyes. ¡°Wolves!¡±


    Dozens of shadowy bodies were disappearing over the rise, up the road into Quarre.


    ¡°They¡¯ve made it to the gate.¡± Judd sprinted for the incline. ¡°We have to hurry!¡±


    ¡°I never meant for any of this to happen!¡±


    ¡°Save your defence for the royal courts!¡± Judd groused at LeMewn as they clambered up the scaffolding.


    ¡°Clariet said it was the only way!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s insane! You didn¡¯t figure that out?¡±


    ¡°He swore it was able to be supported by the texts of the Order!¡±


    ¡°Providing you leave out all the parts that say, thou shalt not!¡± Judd panted at the edge of the road, the last sharp incline to the gates ahead. ¡°Come on, LeMewn!¡±


    ¡°Leave him behind, Judd!¡± Giordi cried and Judd was inclined to agree. He sprinted after Giordi who, without armour, was able to move more quickly. ¡°We¡¯re almost¡­Judd, look out!¡±


    Judd turned but was in no way able to stop LeMewn from barrelling into him, throwing his body from the edge of the road, tumbling down the grey slate cliff to land in the black water of the dam.


    ¡°Judd!¡± Giordi screamed as LeMewn pushed past him. ¡°Judd!¡±


    He searched the darkness, frantically hunting for the young man, wondering if he¡¯d broken his neck in the fall. He nearly fell over the edge himself in relief as Judd broke through the surface, clutching at the closest edge.


    ¡°What are you, immortal?!¡± Giordi yelled. Judd wasted no time in speaking. He started to climb but the cliff was not jagged. It had been made by the tools of man and it was almost smooth with only the vaguest horizontal ledges to grasp. ¡°I¡¯ll get a rope! Or help!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Judd barked.  ¡°Get to the main square! Save Aalis! Go!¡±


    Giordi faltered then started to run.


    Judd clung to the edge of the dam, catching his breath. He couldn¡¯t look up. He couldn¡¯t gauge how far he had to climb, soaking wet and clad in armour. He could only live each moment, one edge, one inch at a time¡­

 What in Maul is that?!

    When Verne heard the wolf howls, he left the shadow of the tavern wall and, forsaking any respect for the curfew, strode into the main square which was flooded in knee height mist. He stood in front of Aalis and the man from Maul, an arrow in his fingers, his eyes on the road from the quarry.


    ¡°Aalis, stay down.¡± He ordered, the sound of running paws coming towards them.


    The first wolf tumbled, an arrow through its throat. The second yelped, skidding to a halt, Verne¡¯s arrow in its eye. Verne held his ground, sighting along another arrow. There were at least a dozen now, leaping over their fallen comrades, snarling with a green light in their eyes. Verne released another arrow and another, trying to stop the incoming pack but it was no use. He was losing ground. There were too many of them and some were darting around the buildings, using alleys to get past Verne¡¯s sharp aim.


    ¡°Verne, run!¡± Aalis cried.


    Verne wouldn¡¯t though he knew he should. Another arrow and another¡­until his quiver was empty. Verne swore then grabbed his bow and belted the nearest wolf with it before being knocked down by a wolf who lifted its jaws, teeth braced to sink in¡­when it was ripped from Verne¡¯s body and thrown aside.


    Giordi grasped Verne¡¯s hand and pulled him out of the mist.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how you use a bow!¡± He rebuked, a plank of wood in his hands, pilfered from the quarry.


    ¡°I¡¯m out of arrows!¡± Verne cracked another wolf over the head. ¡°Where¡¯s Judd?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s¡­coming.¡± Giordi stumbled and Verne yanked him to his feet. Giordi waved his silver seal opener around. ¡°This thing is useless!¡± He tossed it aside and clutched the wood. ¡°We¡¯re losing ground!¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± They retreated to the well, the wolves increasing in number.


    ¡°In the name of LeMewn!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Verne snapped at the three guards who ran into the square. ¡°You¡¯re going to arrest us now?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s up to His Lordship to decide tomorrow,¡± the first guard clutched at his sword, his shield strapped to his arm, ¡°for now, we¡¯re under Her Ladyship¡¯s orders to drive back the wolf threat from Quarre!¡±


    Giordi looked at Verne who shrugged. ¡°That works for me!¡±


    They held the line, killing wolves, maiming others but there seemed to be no end, as though they had been called from every corner of the ¡®Hump¡¯ to invade Quarre. Verne and Giordi relinquished their useless weapons, given shields by the guards and doing their best. It was impossible not to hit a wolf as they swarmed the square but one by one, the humans were falling. Already two guards were down, wounded and unable to fight. They cowered against the well, behind Verne, Giordi and the remaining guard.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Where¡¯s LeMewn?¡± Giordi cried.


    ¡°Do I look like I know or care?¡± Verne faltered and grasped Giordi¡¯s arm. ¡°What in Maul is that?!¡±


    Giordi looked up at the darkened figure striding into the square up the quarry road. It was slimy and dripping, eyes glowing darkly from its smeared and blackened face. ¡°Oh thank Terra,¡± he looked at Verne, ¡°it¡¯s Judd.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Judd was barely able to stand. His arms were like lead weights after dragging him up the dam wall. His sword was an anchor, pulling him down, his legs barely able to hold himself up. His exhaustion was overwhelming¡­so he did what he did whenever something was in his way¡­


    He roared at it and charged.


    His bellow echoed in the square, catching the attention of the wolves and they turned to see him coming up from behind, his sharp blade swinging left and right, cutting them down recklessly as he charged through their pack. The wolves became frenzied, snapping, snarling, out of control, terrified of this black figure that didn¡¯t smell like anything they recognised.


    The wolves turned and bolted towards the well, their teeth sinking into whatever and whoever they could, even each other in their madness. Judd looked up to see them overwhelm the only line of defence, Verne and Giordi disappearing beneath grey bodies and the man from Maul stood, grabbed Aalis in his huge hands and threw her into the well.


    ¡°No!¡± Judd screamed, hacking this way and that, beating back the bodies between himself and Aalis. The last guard standing leapt out of the way of an attack, his body slamming into the metal bar that the shackles were looped around, the rod snapping and falling down the well. He heard Aalis shriek and then a damning splash.


    Judd¡¯s terror was blinding. He cut down everything with fur, everything that snarled he sliced at until a final pitiful howl announced defeat and the wolves scampered away, running for the quarry, some falling in their haste, until they were gone. Judd put his boot on the final kill of the night and yanked his sword out, striding towards the well. The man from Maul was wounded but alive, however, Aalis was gone.


    ¡°Get away from there!¡± Judd grabbed the man and tried to pull him back.


    ¡°Let go!¡± He grunted in return.


    ¡°You¡¯re drowning her!¡± Judd was thrown aside by the strength of the man¡¯s arm. He scrambled to his feet, brandishing his sword, sprinting forward as the man stood on the edge of the well and heaved up, his muscles straining, his biceps flexing, the chain retracting¡­until a pale arm flopped over the edge limply.


    ¡°Help her!¡± He ordered.


    Judd grasped Aalis¡¯ arm and pulled her out of the well, collapsing on the ground. She was soaked through, as cold as ice and insensible.


    ¡°Aalis¡­Aalis!¡± Judd looked up. ¡°She will not wake!¡±


    ¡°Judd, the baths!¡± Giordi pointed, coming out from beneath the shield he¡¯d cowered under.


    ¡°Wait,¡± the dark skinned man said, picking up Judd¡¯s discarded sword and lifting it high, ¡°hold still¡­¡±


    He brought it down, shattering two of the links in the chain that bound them together. Judd picked Aalis up and carried her into the baths. He leapt into the first one he could see, both fully dressed and submerged Aalis as deeply as he could.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± he called, patting her face gently, ¡°Aalis¡­come...come on¡­you have to wake¡­wake up Aalis¡­please¡­Aalis, please¡­¡± Her eyelids, as blue as Verne¡¯s eyes gave a light flutter. Judd whimpered. ¡°Aalis?¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­¡± She croaked, her fingers clutching at him weakly.


    He held her against his body, closing his eyes, resting his cheek on the top of her head. ¡°I thought I¡¯d lost you.¡±


    ¡°So¡­cold¡­¡±


    ¡°I know. It¡¯ll get better soon.¡±


    Aalis trembled, her eyes closed. ¡°I thought I was doing to die¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t ever let anything happen to you. I swear.¡± Judd rubbed her hands, keeping her body submerged as much as possible. ¡°You¡¯re safe, Aalis. You¡¯re safe.¡±

 The madness of Maul is undeniable

    Caste, Verne and Giordi looked up as Judd stumbled down the steps from the baths, his armour discarded and in dry clothes Verne had the presence of mind to bring him.


    ¡°How is she?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°In the care of Her Ladyship¡¯s servants.¡± Judd shivered, rubbing his arms. ¡°It was kind of her to send them.¡±


    ¡°She sent the guards to help us too.¡± Verne agreed.


    ¡°We¡¯d be dead if not for them.¡± Giordi folded his arms. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°I want a soft bed and twelve hours sleep,¡± Judd picked up his sword, ¡°but first, I want a word with Lord LeMewn and that wretched Clariet.¡±


    ¡°And¡­him?¡± Giordi jerked his head towards the dark skinned man who listened to their conversation from where he rested on the ground.


    ¡°I think he wants a word with LeMewn as well.¡± Judd tilted his head. The man said nothing but nodded, standing to his full height which dwarfed Judd¡¯s considerably. ¡°Your name is Suvau?¡±


    ¡°It is.¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre.¡± Judd held out his hand and Suvau grasped it, Judd¡¯s fingers disappearing in his large grip.


    ¡°After you.¡± He said. Judd wondered if he realised just how intimidating he was.


    ¡°Ah, Judd?¡± Caste hovered on the opposite side of Judd to where Suvau was. ¡°He¡¯s still a possible criminal¡­what about his shackles?¡±


    ¡°I think he¡¯s had enough of those.¡±


    All five of them turned and walked out of the main square. The moon had reached its apex. There were at least three hours before the dawn but it was at least coming. Still, Judd wasn¡¯t about to wait until ¡®calling hours¡¯ to bang on the door of the manor house.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell me to mind my manners?¡± He said to Giordi as they approached the house.


    ¡°Manners? The guy pushed you from a cliff into a dam,¡± Giordi exclaimed, ¡°sure you emerged as a swamp monster which scared the living Maul out of Verne,¡± which evoked a grumble from the archer, ¡°but I think manners have gone by the wayside.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good.¡± Judd kicked open the front door and marched in. ¡°LeMewn!¡±


    The foyer was deserted. Under any other circumstance, Judd might not have thought it suspicious as turning up at a house in the middle of the night never warranted a big welcome. But given that no one in Quarre had probably slept a wink, he was surprised that there was no one minding the door.


    "LeMewn!"


    "Judd, listen." Giordi held up his hand. ¡°I can hear whimpering¡­¡± He pointed. ¡°That way.¡±


    Judd led the way, out of the foyer into the dining room of the manor house where Lady LeMewn was held in the clutches of her husband with a hand around her throat while the other twisted her arm behind her back. He ducked his head down, panting as he glowered at them from over Lia¡¯s shoulder. Her eyes were wide with fright and she was unable to stifle her sobs.


    ¡°Well, LaMogre¡­I must congratulate you on being an excellent climber.¡±


    ¡°Lord LeMewn,¡± Judd addressed him as he hid behind his wife, ¡°you cannot hide from what you¡¯ve done. Let Her Ladyship go¡­¡±


    ¡°Never.¡± Judd frowned, LeMewn¡¯s usually cultured tone somewhat ragged and savage. ¡°You were supposed to die. You were all supposed to die!¡±


    ¡°To cover your atrocious management of this city? Well, when you¡¯ve killed so many, what¡¯s a few more?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, not a few more¡­just you.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne whispered, ¡°look at his hand.¡±


    LeMewn¡¯s hand flexed over Lia¡¯s throat and Judd felt a prickle of horror. There were hairs on the back of it and his nails had sharpened into claws.


    ¡°LeMewn¡­let me look at you.¡±


    He ducked his head and gave a rasping chuckle.


    ¡°Why?¡± Lia gasped, his grasp tightening.


    ¡°Uh¡­no reason.¡± Judd hastened to excuse.


    ¡°But,¡± Giordi cleared his throat, ¡°you might want to take a look at your reflection, Lord LeMewn¡­it seems you are in need of a shave.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking,¡± LeMewn turned to the reflective surface of a candelabra, ¡°about¡­¡± He peered at it. ¡°No¡­no this is a trick!¡± He let go of Lia¡¯s arm to pick up a platter from the table, its flat surface without flattery. ¡°No¡­it cannot be!¡± Suddenly he saw his clawed hand and dropped the platter, horrified by his changing form. ¡°I¡­no¡­I¡­¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°You were bitten by the werewolf,¡± Caste said quietly, ¡°in rare cases, when the werewolf does not feast¡­it is recorded that the victim, by way of transformation from the toxin in their teeth, becomes a werewolf.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, no, no¡­¡± LeMewn clutched at his face. ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already happening¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡­it cannot be! I cannot be one of hers!¡±


    ¡°Her? Her who?¡±


    ¡°The werewolf?¡± Giordi whispered.


    Lord LeMewn was sobbing now, wretched cries interspersed with growling. ¡°This is my curse! My punishment! I welcomed monsters into Quarre and now I am one!¡±


    Lia was shaking, LeMewn¡¯s grip becoming so tight it was crushing her throat¡­when he suddenly thrust her away from him. She stumbled to the floor, Giordi kneeling by her. Judd stepped forward.


    ¡°LeMewn,¡± he howled into his hands, unable to hear Judd¡¯s cry, ¡°LeMewn!¡±


    ¡°I can feel my power growing¡­I can feel it!¡± The transformation was taking him over as hair sprouted across his body, his clothing tearing apart at the seams. ¡°I¡­I hear her voice! She calls to me!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Judd demanded, stepping forward once more. He was suddenly grabbed by the scruff of his shirt, pulled close to LeMewn whose eyes were turning amber and pointed teeth appeared, piercing his lips.


    ¡°Kill me,¡± he hissed, ¡°quickly! Before it takes me completely!¡±


    Judd faltered, his hand on his sword but unable to strike.


    There was no heat in battle.


    No monster to be slain.


    LeMewn was still a man¡­and Judd could not kill in cold blood.


    ¡°Hurry! Before I forget who I am, use silver to sever man from monster before the monster is all I am!¡±


    Judd gulped. ¡°I¡­can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Kill me now or I swear, I will tear your throat out!¡±


    Suddenly Judd was yanked aside as the man of Maul lunged forward, plunging the silver seal opener into LeMewn¡¯s heart. And at the same time, he put his hand out, catching LeMewn as he fell, laying him gently to the floor. Judd was stunned, unable to fully comprehend the speed or savagery of the attack. Suvau knelt by LeMewn¡¯s side. The werewolf features were fading, the hair falling away and the pointed teeth were receding. He looked at his killer with human eyes and gratitude was his expression.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± He breathed, closed his eyes and died.


    Judd slumped against the table.


    ¡°Is it over?¡± Giordi asked, looking up from where Lady LeMewn was half fainted in his arms.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Judd turned to Caste, ¡°where is Clariet?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Caste had to wrest his eyes away from the corpse of Lord LeMewn, ¡°maybe in his chambers?¡±


    ¡°Bring him here.¡±


    ¡°On my own?¡± Caste trembled. Judd was too tired to notice the fear on his face but Verne did.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with.¡± He said and he and Caste left the dining room as servants began to enter. There were a great deal of exclamations and concern over the death of Lord LeMewn. The steward even went to call for the guards.


    ¡°That will not be necessary,¡± Lady LeMewn said weakly as Giordi helped her rise, ¡°my husband, Lord LeMewn, was bitten by a werewolf and in danger of killing us all. These brave souls saved us and their requests are to be adhered to. Please, provide refreshments as soon as cook is able.¡±


    The steward bowed and hastened to the kitchen, probably to rouse the cook from his slumber if he hadn¡¯t woken from the chaos. He returned with a white sheet which he laid over the body of Lord LeMewn. Suvau stood up and stepped back, standing by Judd¡¯s side.


    ¡°Was there no other way?¡± Judd asked softly.


    ¡°The madness of Maul is undeniable.¡± Suvau said sorrowfully. ¡°There is no escape.¡± Judd sighed and rubbed his face. He was exhausted and close to collapse. He turned to the door, wondering where Clariet was. ¡°Perhaps he has run?¡± Suvau remarked.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t strike me as the kind of person who can defend himself in the wild,¡± Judd paused, ¡°although he might be able to talk himself out of any situation.¡± A moment later Verne appeared. ¡°Where is Clariet?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­upstairs, in his sitting room.¡±


    ¡°Well? Bring him down.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne¡¯s face was drawn, ¡°for the sake of Lady LeMewn, I think you should come¡­and bring your sword.¡±


    Judd forced himself upright and he and Suvau and followed Verne into the foyer then up the stairs.


    ¡°He¡¯s only as big as Caste. Even if he protested, couldn¡¯t you have just picked him up by the scruff and dragged him down?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Judd huffed and strode down the corridor to where Caste was waiting outside a room with the door partially open.


    ¡°Caste, what is going on?¡±


    ¡°He¡­it¡­¡± Caste was pale. ¡°Just¡­look, please.¡±


    Judd put his hand on the door and pushed it inwards¡­


    ¡­revealing a stone statue in the middle of the room dressed in a pure white tunic, twisted as though attempting to run from something in the room. The statue was grey and cracked as though it was made of poor stone and badly constructed. But even the crumbling nature of the statue was not enough to disguise the wide eyed horror, the contorted features of a man who had seen the futility of his own folly a split second before it killed him.


    ¡°Is that¡­¡±


    ¡°Clariet.¡± Caste nodded.


    ¡°But¡­he¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Stone. A statue.¡±


    Judd pushed his hand through his hair. ¡°The basilisk?¡± Caste nodded. ¡°You said he blinded it. How could its gaze do that?¡±


    Caste closed his eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise it at the time when I entered the room¡­but Clariet must have gotten the basilisk out of the cage to¡­pet it¡­¡±


    ¡°There were eggshell fragments on the ground.¡± Verne explained.


    ¡°Eggshell¡­a baby?¡±


    ¡°Caste thinks the blinded basilisk hid the egg in the straw and when it hatched, Clariet was taken by surprise.¡±


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°Wha¡­where is it?¡±


    ¡°It couldn¡¯t get out of the cage. When I realised¡­¡±


    ¡°Verne grabbed Clariet¡¯s cappa clausa and covered the cage.¡± Caste shuddered. ¡°If not for his quick thinking¡­¡±


    ¡°What about the adult?¡±


    ¡°It was huddled in a corner, unable to escape in its blindness. I caught it and put it in there with the baby.¡± Verne swallowed. ¡°You have a basilisk on your monster list.¡±


    Judd cringed. ¡°That¡¯s¡­is that really¡­it¡¯s already in a cage.¡±


    ¡°Judd, if you don¡¯t, eventually curiosity will override better judgement and it¡¯ll do this,¡± Verne gestured to the statue of Clariet, ¡°to others.¡±


    Judd swallowed. ¡°Let¡¯s take it outside.¡±


    They carried the cage gingerly to the courtyard. Judd picked up his sword, feeling sick. He braced himself, grasped the sword tightly and brought it down on the cage over and over until it was a shattered, green bloodstained mess. Caste dabbed up some of the blood and applied it to his parchment, securing one of the claws that had broken off. Then, without removing the cappa clausa, the cage was taken to the household furnace where it and the red hooded cape were thrown into the flames.

 Eight down, two to go…

    Lady LeMewn sat upon her highbacked chair in her private sitting room, the dark wood of the entire manor house softened with pinks and creams, the mood lighter there than anywhere else. She was dressed in a new gown, the old already burning in the furnace. The gown was black, the colour of mourning and highlighted the shadows beneath her eyes. She looked to Caste who sat beside her at her desk. He nodded at her, parchment laid out before her, quill in hand.


    ¡°Send him in.¡± She said quietly.


    Judd LaMogre bowed and opened the doors to her sitting room.


    Suvau entered, his tattered and rotten fruit-stained clothing replaced with new trousers, shirt and boots. A wolf had managed to sink its teeth into his leg before Giordi had crushed its skull with his shield, Suvau unable to defend himself as he tried to shorten the chain to keep Aalis from drowning. Thankfully the wounds were not extensive, only giving him a slight limp. He had bathed, removing the stench of imprisonment, sweat and fear and made a presentable, if formidable, presence which dwarfed her sitting room.


    ¡°Suvau,¡± Lia LeMewn said in her soft manner, ¡°there are no words with which I can truly ever express the sorrow of what you endured at the hands of my misguided and manipulated husband.¡± He gazed at her peacefully. ¡°Yet I am deeply grieved by what you have suffered.¡±


    ¡°You have no reason to believe me but I tell you, I did not strike your husband down out of vengeance.¡± Suvau said in his voice that was as dark as his skin.


    ¡°I know,¡± Lia nodded, ¡°even in my stupor, I heard him thank you for your mercy.¡± She paused and licked her lips. ¡°I¡­would not have blamed you if you had turned on me.¡±


    ¡°I have a wife,¡± Suvau said unexpectedly, ¡°and a daughter. I could not return to them with an innocent¡¯s blood on my hands.¡±


    Lia smiled. ¡°When you return to your wife, please beg her forgiveness for me, for having worried her so with your extended absence.¡±


    ¡°It was my wife who warned me against the foolishness of this trade,¡± Suvau said strongly, ¡°she said it was ¡®too good to be true¡¯.¡±


    ¡°You speak, of course, of my husband¡¯s ruse of a commissioned sword which you forged for him and brought to Quarre.¡± He nodded. Lia looked to Caste who opened and drawer and took a pouch of money out, resting it on the desk. Lia picked it up and rose, approaching Suvau. ¡°I believe this is the amount you are owed.¡±


    He looked at the pouch which was weighed with gold then back into her face.


    ¡°You are not responsible for your husband¡¯s debts.¡±


    ¡°I rather think that I am.¡±


    ¡°Then I refuse to sell.¡±


    Judd wanted to interrupt but held his ground.


    Lia pursed her lips. ¡°Suvau,¡± she said quietly, ¡°you misunderstand. I am not purchasing the sword. I am compensating you for the way you have been treated, the lies, the fear and threat.¡± He began to shake his head but she clasped his hand, her pale fingers bright against his. ¡°Please, allow me this.¡±


    ¡°And the sword?¡±


    ¡°Do with it as you will.¡± She nodded and stepped back. ¡°Your belongings were confiscated by my husband. I have ordered them returned to you. I rather think you will want to go home as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°I do and I shall.¡± He bowed respectfully, turned and left.


    Lia sank into her chair.


    ¡°You handled that brilliantly.¡± Judd complimented.


    ¡°Perhaps not brilliantly but at least competently.¡± Lia corrected then turned to Caste. ¡°You have recorded all that we said?¡±


    ¡°All is now part of Quarre historical record.¡± Caste assured her, dusting powder onto the record and tapping the excess off, setting the ink on the parchment.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, may I beg to retain your cleric for a few hours more?¡± Lia asked. ¡°Without an officer of the Order of the Grail to verify the tumultuous days Quarre and its people have experienced, I fear that my letter would be dismissed when it reaches the hand of Bishop Peele. This city needs a cleric of moral fortitude and a knight to replace my husband and a letter with the seal of a cleric will carry more weight.¡±


    ¡°What will you do?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°I will stay until a governing authority arrives then I shall return to Astaril.¡± Lia breathed deeply. ¡°There are too many ghosts here now¡­¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°I understand. Of course Cleric Caste will assist you in any way that he can.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lia paused. ¡°How is your friend?¡±


    Judd paused. ¡°Aalis is well. Your Ladyship was very kind to send your own servants to look after her.¡±


    ¡°Before you leave Quarre, be sure to return for your mounts. I would wish to say farewell.¡±


    Suvau looked over his wagon, checking the joins and making sure all the tools he had brought were still in the box on its flat surface. He unwrapped the sword that had been the cause of all the trouble in the first place and, satisfied it was not tampered with, put it back in its leather wrap and tucked it onto the wagon.


    ¡°I can feel your eyes upon me,¡± he said as he worked, ¡°I will not bite no matter what you have been told.¡± He turned and looked down at Aalis who had stood behind him for several minutes. Dry and warm, she had recovered to the point that her life was no longer in danger, which was a great relief to Suvau who thought he might have both drowned and frozen the girl.


    ¡°Why did you save me?¡±


    ¡°I very nearly didn¡¯t.¡± He admitted. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the best idea in the world¡­¡±


    ¡°You knew I would not be able to defend myself against the wolves,¡± Aalis couldn¡¯t meet his gaze, ¡°you threw me in the well because they could not reach me there.¡±


    ¡°I thought,¡± Suvau shook his head, ¡°I thought if I was killed, my corpse would at least prevent you from falling¡­but when the bar snapped¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He paused, taken aback by her thanks. Aalis wrung her fingers together.


    ¡°Why did you save me?¡± He asked. ¡°It¡¯s clear you are frightened by me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is true¡­¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°I¡­I am from the north and we are told all sorts of things about your people¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard some of them,¡± Suvau huffed, ¡°you should have welcomed my death rather than kept the werewolf away. Why didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Why did you save me?¡± Aalis asked again.


    He paused and studied her. ¡°I have a daughter, younger than you I think¡­brave, bold¡­smarter than you could imagine,¡± Aalis struggled to hold his gaze, ¡°she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to do what you did and without flinching¡­and yet you did it with fear coursing through your body. I could not let someone that brave die because of my foolishness.¡± He folded his arms. ¡°Why did you save me?¡±


    Aalis swallowed. ¡°Because I believe this world needs you.¡±


    Suvau blinked, surprised at her answer. Aalis rubbed her arms.


    ¡°Are you cold?¡±


    Aalis was chilled to the bone but not from the temperature. ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis!¡± Judd jogged towards her. ¡°Suvau, I¡¯m glad I caught you.¡±


    ¡°Where did you, Giordi and Verne go?¡± Aalis asked, escaping the topic of her coldness.


    ¡°Back through the quarry, to the valley where the werewolf was so we could burn its corpse. Caste gave instructions on what part of it to remove so that it can join the other proof of death evidence in his box.¡±


    Suvau stared at Judd. ¡°That sounds like a disgusting box.¡±


    ¡°Oh it is. And creepy too.¡± Judd held the leather pendant out to Aalis. ¡°She was wearing this.¡±


    ¡°She?¡±


    ¡°Female werewolf,¡± Giordi smiled, his dimples appearing, ¡°a little less hairy and she would have been mighty fine to look at.¡±


    ¡°By the stars¡­¡± Verne rolled his eyes.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Aalis held the leather pendant.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but I¡¯ve never known a monster to wear something that wasn¡¯t¡­modesty related.¡± Judd shuddered.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think monsters had any concept of modesty at all.¡± Verne muttered.


    ¡°Oh¡­it is not a leather pendant. It is leather, strapped around something¡­¡± Aalis worked the leather, stiff from years of being bound together and began to unravel it until a dark blue cylinder, the length of her little finger and just as round, fell out of the leather wrapping. Judd lunged for it, catching it in his palm and held it out. All of them, including Suvau, peered at it.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­unusual.¡± Giordi murmured. ¡°Is it¡­sapphire?¡±


    Judd held it up to the light and they saw that it was translucent.


    ¡°It could be.¡± Judd admitted.


    ¡°May I?¡± Suvau asked and Judd put it in his large hand. Suvau poked it with his finger. ¡°I have worked with gemstones in the past. It does appear to be sapphire or something very similar. It is so smooth. There are no groove marks of tools¡­I cannot fathom how it was refined into this shape or why it was made into a pendant.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Sapphires are precious stones and usually their finished shape is meant to be elegant and striking, but a small cylinder wrapped in leather? It makes very little sense.¡±


    ¡°Maybe a custom job?¡± Suvau gave it back to Judd and he held it up. ¡°Strange¡­I might ask Caste about it. Who knows, the brains in the Order of the Grail might be able to work out what it is.¡±


    ¡°You ought to let me daughter have a look. She¡¯s smarter than everyone I know, including the cleric who serves Sir Fereak.¡± Suvau straightened to his full height. ¡°It would also afford me the opportunity to repay you for saving me.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t think¡­¡±


    ¡°It is a matter of honour.¡± He said with finality. Judd gulped.


    ¡°Uh¡­you¡¯re from Fort Omra, yes?¡± Verne tapped Judd¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve knocked off all the little monsters from your list. If you¡¯re serious about this knighthood, we¡¯re going to need to go further south.¡±


    ¡°And who better with than a terrifying swordsmith!¡± Giordi chuckled.


    ¡°If you are willing to travel with us?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°I could be persuaded.¡± Suvau smiled, his teeth startling against the richness of his skin.


    ¡°My cleric is on loan to Lady LeMewn. We won¡¯t be able to leave until tomorrow, would that suit?¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Judd¡¯s arm was clutched and Aalis drew him aside. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°South?¡± Aalis trembled. ¡°To a wall fort?¡±


    She was terrified. Judd¡¯s eyes were sympathetic.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you. As long as you promise not to stand in the middle of a crowd and call the knight a hypocrite, we should be alright.¡±


    Aalis blushed. ¡°I do not know what came over me. I was so angry¡­¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been so frightened for you, I would have been deeply impressed.¡± Judd put his arm around her shoulder. ¡°I promise I will always save you.¡±


    Aalis gazed at him and he saw doubt and fear in her eyes. He wished he knew how to reassure her of his vow. He didn¡¯t know that she wasn¡¯t looking at him in this moment, but at the future Judd LaMogre, dead in a coffin.


    ¡°Who will save you?¡± She breathed, closing her eyes.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Aalis shook her head. Judd sighed. ¡°Well¡­we¡¯d better see what we owe at the tavern. It¡¯s not going to leave us with much¡­if anything.¡±

 And then there were six…

    When the seven of them stood before Lady LeMewn the following morning, Judd was full of gratitude for she had settled their debt with the owners of the tavern.


    ¡°You are too generous, Lady LeMewn.¡±


    ¡°For your bravery, your skill with the blade and your remarkable companions, it is the least I could do.¡± She replied.


    Not only had she settled their debt, but Her Ladyship had purchased more clothes for them and made sure that they were all well shod with spares. Cleric Caste was in his travelling tunic and cappa clausa but packed in his bag were some of Clariet¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Whatever will I do with them? And it is unlikely they will fit the cleric who will take Clariet¡¯s place. They are more suited to your height and build.¡± Lia had insisted. She turned to Verne. ¡°Have you enough arrows?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Your Ladyship,¡± Verne bowed, ¡°I have plenty of arrows.¡±


    ¡°And you, Aalis?¡± Lady LeMewn turned to the young healer who met her gaze shyly. ¡°The gowns fit?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re lovely.¡± Aalis insisted, wanting to check her hood was over her dreadlocks. It didn¡¯t matter that everyone already knew her hair was unusually styled. She found the attention uncomfortable.


    ¡°Every young woman deserves something lovely to wear.¡± Lia insisted.


    Aalis wore her soft, supple leather boots over tights, a gown of lavender with a travelling cloak of dark blue. Her eyes were luminous in the hood, deepening into blue.


    ¡°Please, convey our thanks to your guard for the gift of a shield.¡± Judd added, nodding to where Giordi stood, one of Quarre¡¯s guard shields leaning against him.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I am not sure your minstrel is thrilled by it,¡± Lia smiled with a glimmer of mischievousness in her eyes, ¡°it lacks a lyrical flare.¡±


    ¡°My Lady, I am touched by the implication that I am worth shielding.¡± Giordi said graciously.


    ¡°Well, I was going to gift you with this¡­but if you prefer the shield¡­¡± Lady LeMewn gestured to her steward who brought an object out with a rather bulbous end, hidden by a red silk cover. ¡°This was my father¡¯s and it has been in a box for far too long.¡±


    Giordi drew the red silk aside, gaping without restraint at the beautiful lute in the hands of the steward. ¡°It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him speechless before.¡± Verne whispered.


    Giordi¡¯s fingers itched to take it but to his credit, he restrained himself. ¡°It is too much, Lady LeMewn¡­¡±


    Lia stood and took it out of the steward¡¯s hands, walking up to Giordi and handing it to him. ¡°Please, accept it with my deepest thanks for the duet we gave.¡± She urged. ¡°I had almost forgotten what music sounded like.¡±


    Giordi swallowed then accepted the lute. ¡°I shall so long as you promise me to continue to play. Perhaps, one day, if I return, we might perform another duet.¡±


    Lia smiled. ¡°I would like that.¡± She seemed to hesitate then she darted forward and kissed him briefly on the lips. ¡°Thank you.¡± She said breathlessly.


    Giordi handed the lute to Judd and stepped forward, scooping Lady LeMewn into his arms and dipping her down into a deep, warm kiss. No one knew where to look for several long seconds and there were numerous red faces as Giordi drew back and said,


    ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    Lady LeMewn was a little unsteady on her feet, her bosom showing a happy flush. ¡°Oh my¡­well¡­¡±


    ¡°We should take our leave.¡± Judd said, bowing, hoping everyone else was following suit. ¡°Farewell, Lady LeMewn.¡±


    He turned and left, taking the steps down to the main square where their horses waited for them. Quell was hitched to Suvau¡¯s wagon which he had previously drawn himself. The wagon had several packs on it while Zeke held the rest.


    ¡°Honestly, you can¡¯t be trusted¡­¡± Verne grunted at Giordi.


    ¡°She needed a good kiss.¡± Giordi defended.


    ¡°You risked offending a woman of noble birth!¡± Caste groused.


    ¡°She kissed me first!¡±


    ¡°That is not a good reason to do anything!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to the arguing.¡± Judd assured Suvau who nodded. ¡°Right, on to Fort Omra!¡±

 Even heroes need help sometimes

    ¡°Hi diddle diddle,


    I¡¯ve got me a fiddle


    Caste¡¯s expression is none too pleased.


    Oh dear little cleric,


    You think me barbaric?


    As I write you a melodic tease?


    Hey diddle dute,


    I¡¯ve got me a lute


    Caste¡¯s glare could curdle the cream


    You think that I care?


    The longer you glare,


    Only provides me with much more steam.


    Hey diddle day,


    I¡¯m strumming away


    And Caste is grinding his teeth.


    If he does not relent,


    His teeth will be spent


    He¡¯ll be sucking food up with a leaf!¡±


    ¡°Would it be considered bad manners if I took that lute and cracked Giordi over the head with it?¡± Verne asked darkly, his shoulder blade length hair kept relatively in check by the bandana tied around his forehead. He carried a quiver of arrows on his right hip, his bow slipped over his head, braced against his chest. There was always an element of readiness about the blue eyed archer that Judd found quite reassuring.


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m waiting to see who will break first. You or Caste.¡± Judd chuckled, leading Zeke down a decline between two boulders, following a path that was leading them steadily southward.


    The six companions and their two mounts had travelled past the southern foothills of the ¡®Hump¡¯, following a line of lush land between eastern steppelands and the western prairies, populated by wilds herds of horses and roaming nomads. While this meant their feet were less abused than rockier ground, they did have to almost wade through the thick heather at times and cross, not just streams, but rivers.


    Suvau led the way. He was a big man, six and a half feet tall and his skin was a very deep brown. This made his eyes and teeth quite startling, framed in his face by his dark, almost black hair which had two braids running from his temples to his crown. He had the harness of Quell in his grasp, leading her down the narrow curves, his wagon hitched and drawn behind.


    Judd cringed as the sides of the wagon scraped one of the boulders. ¡°You sure it¡¯s going to fit?¡± He called.


    ¡°I came this way from Omra to Quarre. It will fit.¡±


    Verne raised his eyebrows at Judd. ¡°If it didn¡¯t, I think he could carry it on his shoulders, passenger and all.¡±


    Judd frowned, seeing Aalis on the wagon. Since the business at Quarre, where she had experienced a debilitating hysterical collapse, followed by nearly drowning in water that was about two degrees above freezing, Aalis had been rather weak. She tried to keep up with their long stretches of walking but Judd managed to convince her to sit on Suvau¡¯s wagon. Eventually the exhaustion caught up with her and she had laid down and fallen asleep.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be alright, Judd.¡± Verne said, speaking Judd¡¯s deepest concern. ¡°It¡¯s only been two days. Give her time to recover.¡±


    ¡°I honestly thought she wouldn¡¯t open her eyes.¡± Judd confessed. ¡°I mean, if Suvau hadn¡¯t done what he did¡­I think a wolf might have killed her¡­but it¡¯s really taken its toll.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it had much to do with the water, to be honest.¡± Verne observed. ¡°Aalis has always been frightened of large crowds, forts¡­being condemned as a witch¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi called to them, slinging his lute onto his back, ¡°Suvau says we¡¯re at another river crossing!¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°River, not stream.¡± Judd muttered then sighed. ¡°Off go my boots once more.¡±


    When they saw what they had to traverse, they stared in dismay. It was a ford of intimidating proportions, a wide stretch of river rushing rapidly, tumbling over rocks that were hidden by the frothing flow. Judd pressed the reins of Zeke into Verne¡¯s hands and hurried to where Suvau was unhitching his wagon, Aalis having woken and looking around, trying to get her bearings.


    ¡°Suvau,¡± Judd got his attention and pointed, ¡°we can¡¯t cross that!¡±


    ¡°That,¡± Suvau chuckled deeply, ¡°is not as high as it was running when I crossed it before.¡±


    ¡°Even so,¡± Judd put his hands on his hips, ¡°you might be able to cross that but I doubt the rest of us can.¡±


    ¡°Watch.¡± Suvau strode into the water, leaving Quell¡¯s reins in Aalis¡¯ hands. The water engulfed his ankles then went up his calves and Judd was expecting him to disappear into a deep pool but the water stayed around Suvau¡¯s knees. He turned in the middle of the rapid flow. ¡°It is not the depth you need to be careful of but the force of the water. Here is where the horses must cross as it is the smoothest for their hooves to find grip,¡± he pointed downstream a short way to where the water leapt off a low ledge that protruded from the river then continued its way, ¡°all others should cross there as you can see the stones for your footing.¡±


    They unpacked the wagon¡¯s contents onto Quell¡¯s back who lifted her head from her long drink from the river. Suvau grasped the wagon¡¯s hitch and dragged it across the river. The wagon was slab sided and at times the water¡¯s flow so strong it tried to tear itself out of Suvau¡¯s hands but he never faltered, only letting go when he reached the bank on the far side.


    ¡°He¡¯s strong.¡± Verne shook his head. ¡°Well, ready Quell?¡± He led her into the water, taking it easy and making sure the horse could find its footing.


    ¡°You can take Zeke?¡± Judd asked Giordi.


    ¡°I can.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with Aalis and Caste.¡±


    ¡°Uh, Judd?¡± Caste danced about on the riverbank. ¡°Could I not ride one of the horses across?¡±


    ¡°And if it falls and you¡¯re trapped beneath and drown?¡±


    Caste paused. ¡°I¡¯ll walk.¡± He conceded with a less than gracious grunt, hiking his tunic and cappa clausa up as he approached the place where he, Judd and Aalis would have to cross. He hesitated then looked at Judd. ¡°Can someone else go first?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Aalis offered, removing her boots, tying them to her belt.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd said softly, ¡°I can carry you, if you like.¡±


    ¡°Thank you but I will be fine.¡± She insisted.


    ¡°You¡¯ve not been well¡­¡±


    ¡°I admit I have been tired but I had a good sleep and I am well enough to do this.¡± She put her hand on his arm. ¡°However, I might have to show a little ankle.¡±


    Judd gulped as she hiked her skirts up, gathering the fabric into her fists and stepped gingerly onto the first rock. Judd gaped at her ankle and calf then heard Verne whistle. He looked at the archer who made a furious sign at him to keep his eyes up.


    ¡°Right!¡± Judd fumbled then began to walk after Aalis, Caste following behind.


    Moss wouldn¡¯t have had the gall or the tenacity to grow on the boulders that formed the little ledge that the water fell from. This was in their favour as moss was notoriously slippery. However, the water was relentless. Aalis had to step from surface to surface, over the deeper sections, sometimes taking a circuitous route in order to find a way across.


    At one point, three quarters of the way across, she slipped, her left foot sliding into the water and she grasped the rock she was on, keeping herself from going over.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± Judd cried, darting forward, not taking care and he put a foot where there was no rock and tumbled into the water, heading for the waterfall. He managed to grab an outcrop and hauled himself sideways, looking up to see Aalis standing over him with her hand outstretched. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be the hero!¡±


    ¡°Even heroes need help sometimes.¡± She laughed as he took her hand and stood unsteadily to his feet. ¡°Quickly, before Giordi pens a verse about the treacherous river crossing of Sir LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°He could make an epic out of anything.¡± Judd grunted, stumbling after Aalis, escaping the river.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi chortled from afar, ¡°what happened?¡±


    ¡°I was feeling a bit warm!¡± Judd retorted, flicking water from his hands.


    ¡°We need to get you out of those clothes,¡± Aalis said and Judd¡¯s head came up, his face flaming with colour which hers immediately mimicked, ¡°no, no, I mean¡­you cannot stay in them! Oh, that is no better¡­you are wet and¡­and¡­¡±


    ¡°I get it.¡± Judd cleared his throat and looked over his shoulder. ¡°Caste, get a move on! I¡¯m freezing here!¡±


    The little cleric was perched halfway, having watched Aalis and Judd¡¯s near misses and was frozen on the spot.


    ¡°Caste, you can¡¯t stay there!¡± Verne roused.


    ¡°I¡­just give me a minute!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a minute!¡± Judd shivered.


    Caste refused to budge. He made a comical sight, grasping his hems, water slapping at his feet, stuck in the middle of the river, unable to come and unable to go.


    Judd grunted. ¡°I¡¯ll have to drag him across¡­¡±


    ¡°Allow me.¡± Suvau said and strode into the water as though it was not flowing with force. Caste was trembling, fixated on the water and didn¡¯t see the big man¡¯s approach until it was too late. He grasped Caste by the scruff and heaved him over his shoulder like a small bag of flour then strode back across the water to deposit him on the other side. So swift and decisive was his actions that Caste stood on the riverbank, stunned and unsure what had happened.


    ¡°There¡­there was no need to handle me like that!¡± Caste blurted.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Suvau said as he walked away.


    Caste let go of his hems and brushed madly at his shoulders and cloak.


    ¡°What?¡± Judd folded his arms. ¡°You¡¯re worried he rubbed off on you?¡± Caste gave him a dirty glare. ¡°Suvau isn¡¯t the criminal Lord LeMewn made him out to be.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Caste retorted. ¡°He¡¯s from Maul! His very presence is an affront to the mandates of the Order of the Grail.¡±


    ¡°Mandates written, again, by those of the opposite persuasion.¡± Judd shivered and Aalis urged him up the riverbank.


    ¡°For good reason! There are accounts of wars with his type from the time of King Hallow.¡±


    ¡°If you distrusted him so much, why didn¡¯t you object when I asked him to join us?¡±


    ¡°It would have been wasted breath. You never listen to me!¡±


    Judd huffed, his frustration covered up with a violent shiver.


    ¡°You need to change before you become ill.¡± Aalis ordered. ¡°Suvau, is there somewhere we could camp nearby?¡±


    He nodded, hitching his wagon back to Quell. ¡°It¡¯s not far.¡±

 I cannot go bending the rules to suit my own agenda

    Judd changed his clothes at the river, hiding behind a large tree as he did so. The campsite was not far at all and Aalis did her best to hang his clothes from the trees around them.


    ¡°They should dry by morning.¡± She announced. ¡°Oh, Suvau¡­that is very clever!¡±


    Suvau put his toolbox on the back of his wagon which tipped it up on an angle. He had a blanket, treated with a waterproof agent which attached to the handles that he pegged to the ground, creating a small tent.


    ¡°When one does not have an escort of your¡­colouring,¡± he said as tactfully as he could, ¡°who can vouch for your presence even if just to sleep in a loft, you have to know how to camp in the wild.¡±


    Giordi went to sit down when he saw Verne coming. ¡°I¡¯m up, I¡¯m up!¡± He declared, putting his hands up then following the archer to where he¡¯d set up the target. ¡°Slavedriver¡­¡±


    ¡°You can work on your archery or you can work on being a better shield wielder.¡±


    ¡°How does one become a better shield wielder?¡±


    ¡°Stand your ground and let Judd and Suvau bash at you until you break.¡±


    ¡°Lead on, raven haired archer.¡±


    Judd laughed and shook his head, dropping his boots upside down and close to the fire to dry. The steel toes made for excellent protection but they had become somewhat waterlogged.


    ¡°How many days is the journey from Fort Omra to Quarre?¡± He asked, sitting down to put his socks on.


    ¡°I made it in four.¡±


    ¡°Pulling your wagon?¡± Suvau nodded. Judd whistled. ¡°That¡¯s quite the feat!¡±


    ¡°I am used to manual labour.¡± Suvau shrugged off the compliment.


    ¡°I should prepare something for us to eat.¡± Aalis began to chop several carrots, potatoes, turnips, an onion and put them in her pot with a scattering of seasoning. ¡°I ought to have brought water from the river.¡± She lamented.


    ¡°There is a small stream nearby.¡± Suvau stood, waving Aalis down. ¡°Allow me.¡±


    Judd could see Aalis¡¯ expression was ambiguous. On one hand, there was an uneasiness about her when she was with him, probably owing to the fear of his coloured skin. On the other, there was an engendered trust after he saved her life. And he wasn¡¯t the only one aware of it. Aalis was both reassured and unsettled by his presence and she knew it.


    ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± He glanced up. Aalis was looking at him. ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Was there some bread leftover from last night?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡± He got up and found the loaf. ¡°It¡¯s quite stale.¡±


    ¡°We will toast it.¡±


    ¡°Ah, turning its crunchiness into intended texture.¡±


    Aalis giggled, brushing her dreadlocks away. ¡°Have you been having more eloquence lessons from Giordi?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Every time I opened my mouth, he corrects me. I¡¯ve started to wish he would sing more.¡±


    ¡°Giordi has a lovely voice.¡±


    ¡°Pity it nags.¡± Judd watched as Aalis grew frustrated by her locks getting in the way and tied them into a knot at the nape of her neck. ¡°Why dreadlocks?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Why not have¡­¡±


    ¡°Normal hair?¡± Aalis raised an eyebrow at him.


    ¡°Uh¡­yeah?¡± Judd cringed and was relieved to see she wasn¡¯t insulted as she worked.


    ¡°Several years ago¡­actually it would be five now¡­I fell into a terrible fever. I was delirious for days and when I woke, my hair had become quite tangled and matted¡­so I bound it into intended strands and¡­¡± She shrugged, gesturing to it.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t shave your head and start again.¡±


    ¡°Somehow I think that would have engendered more interest than my dreadlocks.¡± Aalis pointed out as Suvau returned with the water for the pot.


    ¡°True¡­after all, how many women ever cut off their hair?¡±


    Aalis paused with a smile on her face. ¡°I can think of one¡­¡±


    Before Judd could ask, Suvau looked around. ¡°Where is your cleric?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Judd jerked his head, ¡°he¡¯s camping by that tree.¡± Suvau looked at the small lump that was Caste Undern, huddled by a tree. Judd felt bad for the guilt in Suvau¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± He insisted.


    ¡°I am the one who makes him uncomfortable.¡± Suvau returned, sitting against the wagon, his long legs nearly reaching the fire.


    ¡°I think the mandates of the Order of the Grail are what make Caste uncomfortable.¡± Judd argued.


    ¡°He is actually quite sweet.¡± Aalis added.


    Judd was surprised. ¡°Sweet?¡±


    ¡°He is, in his own way.¡±


    Judd shook his head, the notion of Caste¡¯s sweetness never occurring to him before.


    ¡°And you, Judd LaMogre?¡± Suvau asked. ¡°What do you think of me?¡± Judd lifted his eyes and met Suvau¡¯s dark gaze which was simply starting to register as his expression and not indicative of imminent attack. ¡°I have asked and willingly await an honest answer.¡±


    Judd cleared his throat. ¡°Well¡­I think¡­I would have let the werewolf kill you.¡± He swallowed. ¡°Is that¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°It is as I expected.¡± Suvau tilted his head. ¡°Are my people so maligned in Astaril? Are we mocked in the streets?¡±


    ¡°There are none of your people there.¡± Judd explained. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, your people only exist in Fort Omra.¡±


    ¡°Tolerated is perhaps a better description. If we did not earn our place, we would not be so welcomed.¡±


    When the vegetables and seasoning had turned the water in the pot into soup, Aalis called everyone to the campfire to eat. Giordi and Verne arrived with the former boasting about being owed a drink to which the latter rolled his eyes. Aalis divided the soup amongst the six of them, noting that it didn¡¯t go as far as when there were just five.


    ¡°Why do we have one left over?¡± Giordi asked, eyeing the sixth bowl.


    Aalis paused then sighed. ¡°Oh¡­Caste.¡±


    She picked it up. Judd put his arm out to stop her. ¡°He can come get it himself.¡±


    ¡°It is no trouble.¡± She insisted and left the immediate circle of light from the fire to where Caste was nestled between the roots of a tree, peering at a book, the pages mere inches from his nose. ¡°If you were closer to the fire,¡± he jumped at her presence, ¡°you would not need to squint so.¡± Caste pretended not to hear her, bringing his book even closer. ¡°Caste,¡± Aalis squatted down, ¡°you are going to freeze out here.¡±


    ¡°I will not sit at that fire.¡± Caste grumbled.


    ¡°Because of Suvau?¡± A muscle tweaked in his jaw. Aalis studied him. ¡°Caste, he is not a bad man. He is just a man.¡±


    ¡°That is debatable.¡±


    ¡°Not out here, not in the middle of nowhere.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Caste snapped at her, ¡°it is precisely because I am out here, in the middle of nowhere, that I must adhere to the letter of the law of the Order of the Grail! I am bound to the dictates of my profession and the authority I have been entrusted with! I cannot go¡­bending the rules to suit my own agenda.¡±


    Aalis was surprised with the vehemence that Caste spoke. But even more than that, she was troubled by the fear and grief in his eyes. He had only been this uncomfortable when she had first joined Judd on his journey and even then, just for the first week or so. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t even been truly at ease around her but the on edge manner had dimmed. With the presence of Suvau in their midst, he had reverted and even surpassed his previous terror and rigidity of adherence to the letter of his law.


    ¡°I will not ask you to betray the dictates of your conscience,¡± she murmured and stood up, ¡°but I do not want you to become ill so far from the warmth of the fire. Caste¡­I am worried about you.¡± In more ways than just the chill of the night making you sick, she thought.


    Caste couldn¡¯t meet her gaze. Aalis didn¡¯t know if she was getting through to him and was going to leave him to follow the direction of his conscience when he stood, clutching his book and bowl of soup.


    ¡°I¡­I will come closer¡­once I have eaten.¡±

 Fake it until you make it

    Aalis was more than relieved but she knew better than to make a fuss. The air was much cooler so far south. The humid forest, the bug infested mangrove swamp and the sun drenched fields of harvest were left behind in the north. It was not as cool as Quarre had been but then they were much closer to sea level. Suvau warned them that it would only become colder the further south they travelled.


    ¡°It is beautiful country though.¡± He said, spooning the soup into his mouth.


    ¡°Beautiful country? This close to Maul?¡± Verne remarked sceptically. ¡°Aren¡¯t there monsters on every hillock and in every valley?¡±


    ¡°And they¡¯re not the only danger. Across the steppelands roam the nomadic horsemen, fearsome warriors who are not welcoming to strangers. It is not safe to roam without good reason or being able to protect yourself.¡± Suvau admitted. ¡°I am hardly an incompetent warrior should the need arise.¡±


    ¡°What kind of monsters are common where we¡¯re going?¡±


    Suvau considered this. ¡°I have heard reports of unicorns running in herds, of ogres breaking through the earth, having dug their way beneath the wall and a werewolf killed two score of cattle and the men that guarded them before Sir Fereak and his soldiers were able to bring it down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already killed an ogre, I¡¯m pretty sure a unicorn is on the list and a manticore.¡± Judd mused thoughtfully.


    ¡°You sure?¡± Verne looked up from his soup. ¡°I thought manticores were ancient mythology and not a real monster.¡±


    ¡°No¡­not manticore¡­oh, a minotaur!¡±


    ¡°So instead of a lion with a man¡¯s head, you¡¯ll be killing a monster with a bull¡¯s head and legs but torso of a man?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Judd frowned, ¡°why are monsters always a mash of creatures? Almost all of them are a bizarre blend of two or more normal animals.¡±


    ¡°Or a deformity of one.¡±


    ¡°You should ask my daughter about her theory of monsters,¡± Suvau chuckled and his deep voice reverberated with their spines in a warm rumble, ¡°she has quite the inquisitive mind.¡±


    ¡°How old is your daughter?¡±


    ¡°Emeri is almost eighteen winters.¡± Suvau looked at Aalis. ¡°I would like for her to meet you, young healer and host all of you in my home.¡±


    ¡°What will your wife say to that?¡± Judd asked. ¡°I only inquire because my mother always used to berate my father for bringing home unexpected guests.¡±


    ¡°When Yolana hears of how you saved her foolish husband, she will be inclined to kick me out and keep all of you instead.¡± Suvau winked.


    Judd wasn¡¯t sure that was entirely true. ¡°You¡¯re a weaponsmith, is that right?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°An excellent weaponsmith.¡± Suvau nodded without a hint of arrogance.


    ¡°You made a sword for Lord LeMewn?¡±


    ¡°A very fine one, fit for a king. He intended to give it to King Rocheveron as a gift, at least, that is what he said.¡± Suvau shook his head.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis turned to him, ¡°what about that hilt? The one you found in the goblin¡¯s lair in the forest of Fort Faine?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Judd rummaged around in his pack for the weight of the hilt always meant it was somewhere at the bottom. His fingers wrapped around it and he drew the hilt out, showing Suvau. ¡°Spoils of a goblin¡¯s trove¡­a broken hilt.¡±


    Suvau took the hilt and studied it, leaning close to the fire to assess the detail. ¡°This is very old,¡± he squinted, ¡°it even has a crest on it¡­I believe it is ancient Terra. Emeri might be able to read the writing and possibly date it more accurately than I,¡± he held it back to Judd, ¡°but it is at least five hundred years old.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad I¡¯ve hung onto it then.¡± Judd tucked it back into his pack.


    Aalis looked over her shoulder to see Caste gathering his belongings to bring them closer. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the fire only to flinch when Giordi, who had finished his soup, was taking up his lute. Before she could protest, worried the minstrel¡¯s plucking might drive the cleric away, Verne groaned loudly.


    ¡°Oh please, by Andigre¡­¡±


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± He asked Verne who had closed his eyes, his face coursed with pain.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡± Verne shook his head. ¡°Not today, not again¡­¡±


    ¡°What again?¡±


    Judd turned to Giordi. ¡°Your music.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°It makes things¡­tense.¡±


    Giordi raised his eyebrows. ¡°Perchance when you speak of ¡®things¡¯ do you mean our critical cleric?¡±


    ¡°That and the broken plucking wears a little thin¡­¡±


    ¡°It is the nature of a minstrel. This is my art, my livelihood. This is what I do and for many days, I did not have a lute.¡±


    Judd eyed him. ¡°Yes¡­but are you doing it on purpose?¡± He leaned forward to hiss confidentially. ¡°Riling Caste into a state of indignant frenzy?¡±


    Giordi returned the lean. ¡°I suspect, no matter what I played or sang, he would take umbrage to it.¡±


    ¡°That much is true.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°It is my lot in life to offend as often as I entertain.¡±


    ¡°I think that could be a little more on your head than you realise.¡± Judd argued.


    ¡°It would simply give us a reprieve from the bickering,¡± Aalis said gently, ¡°at least, for one night¡­¡±


    Giordi caught her glance towards Caste who had come closer to the fire. He nodded, coming to an understanding.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said in a slightly strained voice but putting the lute down before Caste could see it, ¡°instead, let us work on your deportment, Judd.¡±


    ¡°My what?¡± Judd clutched at his shirt, not entirely sure to what Giordi was referring.


    ¡°Your posture¡­the way you stand.¡± Giordi added.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the way I stand?¡± Judd stood up and shrugged.


    ¡°Nothing when you are in the company of friends,¡± Giordi assured him, ¡°however, when standing before a knight or king, as you may well do when you receive your knighthood, you ought to look the part.¡±


    ¡°Giordi, I¡¯ve been walking all day¡­¡±


    ¡°And Verne bullied me into archery lessons at your insistence. Square your shoulders and straighten your spine or I¡¯ll have Suvau do it for you.¡±


    Judd rolled his eyes at Giordi and smiled at Suvau¡­who cracked his knuckles with a wicked grin.


    ¡°I saved your life.¡± Judd grumbled. Giordi stepped back from Judd then walked around him. Aalis stifled a giggle, sitting with one of Judd¡¯s socks in her hands. He had managed to put a hole in it and she was determined that, by the light of the fire, she would darn it. ¡°The closer you look at me, the less remarkable I will become.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°I¡¯m really rather plain.¡±


    ¡°Oh Judd¡­¡± Aalis berated sadly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not insensible of it,¡± Judd explained, ¡°we had mirrors in Astaril. I know I¡¯m not Giordi handsome,¡± to which the minstrel preened, ¡°or Verne striking,¡± the archer raised an eyebrow, ¡°I don¡¯t have Caste¡¯s colouring,¡± the cleric glanced at Judd before looking away, ¡°or Suvau¡¯s¡­well, let¡¯s face it, I¡¯m nothing like him¡­you are utterly memorable.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­I think.¡±


    ¡°You are not giving yourself enough credit.¡± Giordi stepped back. ¡°Every person has a redeeming feature, something worth noting and¡­¡±


    ¡°Exploiting?¡±


    ¡°Capitalising.¡± Giordi corrected. ¡°You are tall without being leeringly so, you have excellent muscle tone and while you may not be Andigre or Verion handsome, you are not ugly.¡±


    ¡°Far from it.¡± Aalis insisted, her needle and thread drawing the edges of the hole together.


    ¡°Wait¡­I¡¯m far from handsome or ugly?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s getting antsy¡­¡± Verne whispered to Suvau then lifted his voice. ¡°What if you did something with your hair?¡±


    ¡°My hair?¡± Judd pulled at a curly lock. ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°We could try braiding it like Suvau¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    ¡°What about a beard?¡±


    Judd turned to Aalis in astonishment. ¡°Me? With a beard?¡±


    ¡°Before you shaved in Quarre after several days of letting it grow,¡± Aalis looked up, ¡°it was starting to look quite distinctive.¡±


    Judd rubbed his chin, feeling the prickle of growth. ¡°Oh¡­is distinctive¡­good?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth a try.¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°For me, facial hair would only cover my dimples and ruin my boyish charm¡­¡±


    ¡°Give me strength¡­¡± Verne muttered and Caste had to agree.


    ¡°But I think it would work on you.¡±


    ¡°So I can sit down?¡±


    ¡°Nope!¡± Judd moaned as Giordi leaned down to Aalis. ¡°Could I persuade you?¡±


    Aalis stood, brushing her skirt down. ¡°Am I going to be the Lady Gaillot Archard again?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Now Judd, note how I am standing.¡± Giordi gestured. ¡°Not stiffly and not slouching. You want to carry yourself with an air of confidence and not arrogance.¡±


    Judd breathed in deeply, trying to mimic Giordi¡¯s chest thrust.


    ¡°You look like you¡¯re about to burst.¡± Verne yawned and leaned back on his bed roll, arm behind his head.


    Judd let the breath out. ¡°Won¡¯t the¡­¡±


    ¡°Will not.¡±


    He restrained himself from grinding his teeth. ¡°Will not the stance of confidence come when I am confident?¡±


    ¡°Fake it until you make it.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a perfect way to describe your chosen profession.¡± Caste grumbled.


    ¡°I mean, act confident and you will become confident. Become confident and you will start to act it. They compliment each other. Now¡­your left arm needs to rest in the small of your back like so¡­¡± Judd did as Giordi showed. ¡°Then lightly shift your weight onto your left leg, your right gently extended¡­chin up¡­no not that far you gimp¡­¡± Suvau gave a small huffing laugh which Judd ignored. ¡°Meet my eyes but don¡¯t stare as that can be seen as a challenge to authority¡­¡± Giordi stepped back. ¡°You cut quite a dashing figure.¡±


    ¡°In bare feet.¡± Judd mocked.


    ¡°He is right, Judd,¡± Aalis studied him, ¡°you do look more¡­polished than before.¡±


    ¡°Really¡­¡± Judd allowed himself a small preen.


    ¡°Aalis, if you please,¡± Giordi drew her to stand beside Judd, ¡°Judd, when there is a lady to be escorted, have your left arm take the same position except in front and Aalis will slip her arm through the gap¡­more of a gap¡­Judd, she¡¯s not threading a needle¡­there.¡±


    ¡°Why my left?¡± Judd asked. ¡°Why would Aalis not be on my right?¡±


    ¡°Keeps your sword arm free.¡± Giordi chuckled. ¡°Now you bow¡­¡±


    ¡°Not like you,¡± Judd insisted before Giordi could continue, ¡°I don¡¯t think I have the personality for your flourished bows.¡±


    Giordi chuckled. ¡°Very well. We¡¯ll practice a strong bow. Drop your left hand to your side, right hand into a fist, pressed firmly against your chest and remember, the lower the bow, the deeper the respect. Want to insult your host? Shallow bow. Then you straighten, left hand back to rest in the small of your back or in front if you have a lady with you.¡±


    Judd practiced it several times before he didn¡¯t feel like he was going to fall over and relaxed back into his confident stance.


    ¡°I think I can do this.¡± He grinned. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ahem, it is easier than all the eloquence nonsense I have been trying to learn.¡±


    ¡°Well, why don¡¯t we try something a little trickier,¡± the gleam in Giordi¡¯s eyes was downright wicked and Judd¡¯s heart sank as he picked up his lute, ¡°don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to sing.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Teach you how to dance.¡±


    Judd looked at the others then back at Giordi. ¡°Dance?¡±


    ¡°Your lessons in becoming a gentleman include dance instruction.¡±


    ¡°Since when?¡±


    ¡°Since now.¡±


    Judd snorted. ¡°Well, you can pass me on that. I am a good dancer.¡± He looked around indignantly as there was a ripple of laughter around the campfire. ¡°What? I am!¡± The laughing continued. ¡°I can dance the Rundolette, the Farrayon and the Shamble. I can even do the Turnabout as well as a dozen more.¡±


    ¡°Those are group dances.¡± Giordi wiped at his eyes, making Judd want to smite him. ¡°What about between a man and a woman?¡±


    Judd faltered. ¡°Well¡­those kinds of dances¡­they¡¯re not¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Encouraged,¡± he blurted, ¡°at least, amongst those who are not couples it is not encouraged. There needs to be an¡­understanding.¡±


    ¡°Like a wedding.¡± Caste grunted.


    ¡°On the contrary,¡± Giordi tuned his lute, blinking as he listened to the strings hum their individual notes, ¡°couple dancing is becoming more and more popular outside of weddings and it is important to know how lest you offend host and host¡¯s very pretty wife, sister or daughter.¡± Giordi turned to Aalis. ¡°Would you?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Aalis clutched at her skirts.


    ¡°Unless we get Caste to play the role of the maiden.¡± Undern¡¯s snort harumph was dripping with disdain. ¡°If Judd is to learn couple dancing, he must have a partner.¡±


    Giordi was concentrating so hard on fiddling with his lute, he missed Aalis¡¯ expression of panic. Judd, however, was aware of her mortification.


    ¡°Actually Giordi, let¡¯s leave dancing lessons for another night.¡±


    ¡°Now Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°How about a ditty instead?¡± Verne offered bravely, peeking out from beneath his bandana. ¡°After all, no one sings as well as you.¡±


    Giordi studied him. ¡°I suspect you are flattering me to get Judd out of practicing dancing¡­and pride dictates I refuse¡­have you heard the ballad of the ¡®Falling Star¡¯?¡±


    Judd sank onto his bed roll, relieved beyond measure as Giordi started to sing with his lute. Dancing lessons had been dodged, at least for one night and the only person more relieved than he was Aalis. That said, when he caught sight of her expression, returning to her darning with unbreakable focus, Judd couldn¡¯t help but get the feeling that Aalis wasn¡¯t just relieved. Her shoulders dipped and she swallowed and licked her lips. He wondered why, when she had escaped being his partner, she looked as though she wanted to cry.

 Is this…really appropriate?

    Before dawn, Aalis lay on her bed roll, her eyes watching the inky blue of the sky as it began to lighten. In an hour, the sun would be up and everyone, even Giordi after being shaken several times, would rise, pack their belongings and their journey would continue. Aalis turned her head, seeing Judd on his bed roll across the embers that had been their fire. She tapped her teeth and stood up, taking her shawl and wrapping it around her shoulders.


    She crept across the circle of sleeping bodies and put her hand gently on Judd¡¯s shoulder. His eyes immediately flicked open but before he could cry out, she put her finger to his lips for silence then motioned for him to follow. He did so, stepping gingerly over Caste, creeping silently for a short way until they reached another, smaller clearing.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd whispered, ¡°what is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I feel terrible.¡±


    ¡°Are you unwell? What can I get you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she laughed softly then sobered, ¡°I mean, I felt terrible last night¡­refusing to dance with you.¡±


    ¡°I could see it was making you uncomfortable,¡± Judd yawned then apologised, ¡°sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I am sorry.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°Judd, I think you are brave, modest, honest and compassionate and with all those qualities, I think you are knightlier than most knights,¡± he gave a pleased, albeit slightly embarrassed chuckle, ¡°I would not change who you are at your core. However, I do not want to give the knights who mock your middle class rank and your ¡®common¡¯ manners, a foothold to criticise you.¡±


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°And we both know that knights can be cruel and poke fun at unsuspecting individuals just for their own entertainment,¡± she continued hastily, ¡°I would never want you to be without warning or preparation.¡±


    Judd paused. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°I am going to teach you to dance.¡± Judd¡¯s expression froze. ¡°Giordi told you how to stand, left hand in the small of your back?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­yes.¡± Judd did so and Aalis nodded.


    ¡°When you dance, you put your right in the small of your back, then hold your left at my shoulder height, slightly away from your body,¡± he did as he was instructed, ¡°then I take your hand,¡± she took his hand, her palm resting against his, her fingers looped over the top of his hand, ¡°and rather than your thumb sticking up like a flagpole, drop it to the top of my hand in a firm but gentle hold.¡±


    Judd swallowed. He¡¯d been closer to Aalis before but usually when she was being rescued or she was doing the rescuing. He¡¯d even held her in the warm baths of Quarre to revive her from her frozen stupor. However, in the heat of the moment and the excuse of ¡®necessary¡¯ engagement, their closeness had not been so starkly obvious.


    Now, in the delicate light of a new dawn, as flowers began to shiver and open and their pollen was almost visible, sparkles of light drifting around them, Judd was alarmingly aware of how close he was standing to Aalis. And yet it was not close enough.


    ¡°We need to be closer,¡± she said, her face blushing lightly, not unaware of the intimacy of the situation but doing her best to ignore it, ¡°like this.¡±


    Judd felt like he was holding his breath, only taking in the smallest sniffs to keep from passing out. ¡°Is this¡­really appropriate?¡±


    ¡°Despite the closeness of our bodies,¡± she licked her lips, ¡°only our hands are touching.¡± She breathed out a controlled breath. ¡°Are you aware¡­¡±


    Judd was aware of many things at that moment. He was aware of the lightest scattering of freckles on Aalis¡¯ nose, the dark rim of navy around her pale blue eyes and the fullness of her lips. He was also alarmingly aware of his overwhelming attraction and physical reaction to being so close.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°You said you knew how to dance the Turnabout.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­yes, yes I do.¡± Judd tried to swallow but his wretched throat wouldn¡¯t let him. ¡°It¡¯s a group dance¡­I¡¯m forever spinning my partner off for the sake of a new one.¡±


    ¡°In a couple dance, the Turnabout means you keep the same partner.¡± Aalis explained. ¡°Rather than spin me off, stay with me.¡± Judd almost blurted ¡®always¡¯ and was relieved he didn¡¯t. ¡°Shall we begin?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no music.¡±


    ¡°The Turnabout is always set to a three/four rhythm,¡± she explained, ¡°one, two, three. One, two, three¡­turnabout. One, two, three, one, two, three¡­turnabout¡­¡±


    As she counted Judd tried to concentrate on the steps. When dancing in a group, he would normally take his dance partner¡¯s hand and put his own on her waist. It was permissible because it was ever so brief. Here, the only touch he and Aalis were making was his left hand and her right but it was for a great deal longer.


    He stepped forward and nearly bumped into her then tried to step back and yanked her forwards. ¡°Sorry!¡± He gasped.


    ¡°Lead with your hand,¡± Aalis said without resentment, ¡°make sure your hand is leading me.¡±


    Judd stepped forward, gently propelling her backwards then stepped back, drawing her forwards.


    ¡°One, two, three. One, two, three and turnabout¡­¡± He twirled her off as he was accustomed to doing in the group dance but instead of spinning away, Aalis spun back into his presence.


    ¡°Keep going.¡± She urged.


    ¡°Oh¡­one, two, three, one, two three and turnabout¡­¡±


    Judd practiced his standard move over and over until they had a rhythm.


    ¡°Do you know the variations?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes¡­the better the variation, the greater the chance of talking to one of your dance partners afterwards, providing you haven¡¯t landed her on her backside.¡±


    Aalis laughed. ¡°Try the variations.¡±


    Judd swallowed. ¡°Alright¡­one, two, three, one, two, three and¡­¡± On the turnabout he suddenly grasped Aalis about the waist and spun her around. She landed on her feet, a little dizzy. ¡°Sorry!¡±


    ¡°That was good! Mix in more of those variations.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t my partner object?¡±


    ¡°Not so long as long as you take the lead and responsibility for where the lead may go.¡± Aalis let go of his hand. ¡°Right, approach me.¡±


    ¡°Do what?¡±


    ¡°Ask me to dance.¡± She bent and scooped a handful of fronds into her grasp and fanned herself with them. ¡°Go on¡­¡±


    Judd laughed and nodded. He put his left arm into the small of his back and strode towards Aalis. ¡°My Lady,¡± he said, adopting some of Giordi¡¯s dramatic flare now that there was no one else but Aalis watching, ¡°you look remarkably well this evening.¡±


    ¡°You flatter me, Sir LaMogre.¡± She giggled lightly.


    ¡°To say that you are more beautiful than all the stars in the heavens would be flattery,¡± Judd winked, ¡°but only just.¡± Aalis had to stifle a snort. ¡°Too much?¡± He whispered.


    ¡°Oh no, I liked it¡­bold but charming. Have you been paying more attention to Giordi than you have been letting on?¡±


    ¡°Speak not of my minstrel,¡± Judd lamented grandly, ¡°he only has to smile at a lady to have her fall into a faint at his feet. Though I am a knight, I am plain and unremarkable.¡±


    ¡°You give yourself far too little credit, Sir LaMogre,¡± Aalis fanned herself again, ¡°I believe true handsomeness is a result of a pleasant exterior and a kind heart.¡±


    ¡°Who is flattering who, I wonder?¡± Judd asked then cleared his throat. ¡°My Lady, perhaps if you are not otherwise engaged, may I have the pleasure of this dance?¡±


    ¡°I would be delighted.¡± Aalis nodded to his left hand and he offered it to her, slipping his right behind his back. She dipped into a ladylike curtsey, taking up the hem of her gown. She put her fingers into his grasp and he led her three feet onto their forest clearing dance floor. ¡°The Turnabout?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡± Judd chuckled. ¡°And a one, two, three, one, two, three¡­turnabout¡­¡±


    They rehearsed their movements over and over until breathless and beams of sunlight were starting to filter through the trees.


    ¡°And¡­end.¡± Aalis curtseyed deeply as Judd bowed. ¡°You did very well.¡±


    ¡°I told Giordi I knew how to dance,¡± Judd shrugged, ¡°I admit, I would have made a complete fool of myself, dancing with a young lady, if not for your instruction. Thank you, Aalis.¡±


    ¡°It was nothing¡­¡± She taken aback as he took her hand impulsively and kissed the top of it.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He said, his brown eyes fixed on hers.


    Aalis¡¯ was relieved she was still trying to catch her breath from the dancing. It covered up the way her heart had leapt into her throat, causing her to gasp at the strength of the flush it generated across her skin. The world seemed to stall, the air becoming soft and the pollen from the flowers drifted down in slow, lazy circles. For a moment, Judd could have sworn he could hear the grasses tremble as the shafts of light struck them, the leaves on the trees turning to face the sun.


    Everything had slowed¡­time itself gave up its relentless march for just a moment¡­


    ¡°You¡­are welcome.¡± She managed to whisper.


    Judd straightened, his eyes locked onto hers, his hand not yet relinquishing her fingers. She gazed at him, the blue of her eyes becoming a mesmerising blend with purple. Judd¡¯s pupils were dilating with intent yet Aalis¡¯ were retracting, almost retreating from the intensity in his.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± he said softly and her skin prickled with goose bumps, ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you already awake, Judd?¡± Caste yawned, stumbling about with eyes half open, probably looking for somewhere discreet to relieve himself.


    ¡°Yes¡­I am.¡± Judd closed his eyes as Aalis escaped his presence.

 Behold, Fort Omra and the wall of the south

    ¡°Behold,¡± Suvau announced two days later, ¡°Fort Omra and the wall of the south.¡±


    The six travellers stood on the cusp of the rise that signalled the descent into the valley floor that would eventually lead them to the base of the fort and the wall.


    Suvau¡¯s declaration warranted a pause to stare and marvel.


    ¡°That¡¯s one big wall!¡± Verne admitted.


    ¡°That¡¯s one impressive fort!¡± Judd exclaimed.


    ¡°That is very close to Maul¡­¡± Aalis whispered.


    Fort Omra was built in the corner where the wall met the south-eastern mountain range. Unlike the ¡®Hump¡¯ which was smaller and very rarely capped with snow because of the warmer climates in the north, the southern mountain range could be traced as far north as the end of Fort Bastil¡¯s territory with its foothills, climbing steadily higher and higher, reaching their pinnacle near Fort Omra before plummeting in size, taking up almost half of the eastern line of the continent.


    The fort was built upon a plateau that was nearly as high as the wall and despite its already imposing height, had its own towers, walls and parapets as well as a belltower that could be heard ringing from as far away as the travellers were. The plateau¡¯s side, which was almost a sheer drop, was a mottled combination of yellow, white and grey rock. And yet, despite the hardness of the ground, it seemed to be bursting with bright green bushes and trees, hanging greenery and draping foliage. The city of Fort Omra, not content to just be sprawled across the landscape, had climbed part of the way up the wall with three and four storey buildings, towers built against the cliff face, a winding path leading from the village to the main entrance of the fort.


    ¡°That¡¯s one heck of a climb¡­¡± Judd said, feeling weary at the thought of it.


    ¡°The fort or the wall?¡± Verne asked. ¡°I mean¡­I knew it was big¡­¡±


    The wall of the south which kept Maul separated from Terra, was a fearsome sight. At its lowest point it was said to be an impassable thirty feet high but along some stretches of its march across the land the wall had been measured at a staggering fifty feet. Verne felt a degree of apprehension about the wall and the way buildings were built against it.


    ¡°I¡¯d never shake the feeling that it was just waiting to fall on me.¡± He muttered.


    ¡°Those are the stables and the barracks for the soldiers who rotate between fort and ground duty.¡± Suvau explained.


    ¡°Why would the soldiers be on the ground?¡±


    ¡°If they can¡¯t climb over the wall, some monsters tunnel beneath.¡± Suvau pointed to a pillar made up of stones stacked tightly on top of each other. ¡°Those are markers to let us know where monsters have come out before.¡±


    ¡°There¡­are a few of those¡­¡± Judd admitted.


    ¡°And Sir Fereak would reassure us that they have all been stopped.¡±


    ¡°Which his cleric would have attested to.¡± Caste said without any doubt.


    ¡°After Clariet, my absolute faith in the officers of the Order of the Grail has been somewhat shaken¡­¡± Judd admitted, missing Caste¡¯s conflicted expression. Suvau led them down the rise which was one of many, as though the decline to the wall was made out of giant steps. Some of the steps were shallow and easy enough to jump down and others were rather deep. Thankfully there were several paths they could take which divided the steps into large portions and each one was dedicated to a harvest of some kind. ¡°It¡¯s strange, this close to the wall¡­I didn¡¯t think there would be open farmland.¡±


    ¡°How else would everyone eat?¡±


    ¡°What did you think the land this close to the wall would look like?¡± Aalis asked quietly.


    ¡°Nothing like this.¡± Judd shrugged, leading Zeke down a gentle slope, winding their way steadily closer to the city¡¯s entrance. There was a wall around the portion of the city that was on ground level and while it was nothing to be sneered at, compared to the wall of the south, it looked rather lame. The city had a moat which followed the outside of the city wall, a drawbridge spanning its width. When the gates were shut, entry to the city would be impossible for the moat looked deep and the wall was sheer. However, the moat encouraged a great deal of bushes and shrubs to grow, making the exterior of the city picturesque. ¡°At the Festival of Maul, there are always tales of the tainted earth, scarred land and cracks big enough to swallow whole armies. Along with the raging fires of the mount that never sleeps¡­I guess I thought it would be barren and filled with the molten lava of Maul.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m with Judd,¡± Giordi nodded, ¡°this is almost northern Terra-scape.¡±


    ¡°Except for the stone pillars¡­and giant wall¡­¡± Verne reminded him.


    ¡°And see that patch of scalded land?¡± Suvau pointed to a blackened stretch around what appeared to be a newer pillar. ¡°A Cerberus dug its way under the wall and emerged there not a month ago. Sir Fereak and his soldiers had to kill it then scorched the whole field in order to burn its corpse.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°That was only a month ago?¡±


    Suvau nodded. ¡°We need to make haste,¡± he warned, ¡°here, when the gates to the city close, they open for no one.¡±


    ¡°Caste!¡± Judd barked. ¡°Move your feet!¡±


    They hurried down the steps, dodging fields of wheat and corn, of beans and tomatoes, of potatoes, carrots, pumpkins and wound their way through orchards filled to bursting with fruit and vegetables.


    ¡°Suvau?¡± They stopped to see a dark skinned man with a basket on his back looking at him in astonishment. ¡°I thought it was you!¡±


    ¡°Ersha!¡± Suvau clasped his arm. ¡°How is Sheal?¡±


    ¡°Getting bigger every day. Feet are aching. I sent her home early so I¡¯m just picking her quota. She doesn¡¯t need the tallyman on her back as well as the baby on her front.¡±


    ¡°I wondered why you were out so late and so far from the stables.¡±


    Ersha eyed Suvau¡¯s companions. ¡°You know you¡¯re travelling with Terras?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Suvau chuckled. ¡°They saved my life in Quarre.¡±


    ¡°Yolana was right to be worried about you.¡± Ersha shook his head. ¡°She¡¯ll be glad you¡¯re back.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Suvau motioned for him to come forward, ¡°this is Ersha. Ersha, this is Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Er¡­hello.¡± Judd said, offering his hand. Ersha¡¯s expression was a mix of amusement and surprise by the offer.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Suvau gestured to the horses, ¡°I have no way of stabling Quell and Zeke in Omra. Ersha, when not picking apples, works in the stables where the horses are housed for pulling ploughs and helping with the harvest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking they could stay there?¡± Judd asked, turning to Ersha. ¡°Would that be alright?¡±


    ¡°You only need to command it.¡± Ersha said in a resigned tone.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather ask.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°They¡¯re good horses and I¡¯d like to know they¡¯re well taken care of but only if we¡¯re not making difficulties for you.¡±


    Ersha sent Suvau a confused glance. Suvau laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. Judd saw Ersha wince and was relieved that it wasn¡¯t just his white skin that made him vulnerable to Suvau¡¯s strength.


    ¡°I am sure I could find them a stall to share and if they¡¯re able to help with the harvest, they¡¯ll more than earn their keep.¡±


    ¡°Fantastic.¡± Judd nodded then turned to everyone else. ¡°We¡¯re going to need to carry our own packs for this last stretch!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to lend my wagon and my strength.¡± Suvau added, shaking Ersha¡¯s hand. They hastened to make the transition as quick as possible, Quell and Zeke munching happily on apples the last they saw them. ¡°Ersha will take good care of your mounts. He almost prefers horses to humans.¡±


    ¡°Is that why he was so surprised I didn¡¯t just order him about?¡± Judd checked the straps on the wagon to make sure everything was secure.


    ¡°One day in Fort Omra should answer all your questions better than I could.¡±


    As they travelled closer and closer to the city wall, the wall of the south looming over them casting a cold shadow, they saw more workers gathering up their baskets and loads, hastening towards the city gates. Judd could sense their urgency and went to put speed in his stride.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne grasped his arm, ¡°Caste is falling further and further behind.¡±


    Judd looked back and groaned, seeing Caste struggling beneath the weight of his pack. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he put it on the wagon?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a thing about Suvau, if you hadn¡¯t noticed.¡± Verne swallowed. ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s taken me some time to not jump every time he walks behind me and I was raised wild, barefoot and with barely any ethics. Caste¡¯s racism is deeply ingrained. It would take a miracle to dig it out.¡±


    Judd sighed and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll help him.¡± He jogged back to where Caste was wrestling with a gate, trying to get through it, his pack caught on the latch. ¡°Caste!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming!¡± Caste grunted and pulled. Before Judd could reach him or even call out a warning, he tugged too hard and his pack ripped, books and paraphernalia tumbling out. ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Just great¡­¡± Judd whistled for Verne¡¯s attention who called their convoy to a halt. ¡°Let¡¯s get this packed up and on the wagon.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Caste, I don¡¯t have time to argue with you.¡±


    ¡°Then go on without me.¡± Caste collected his belongings together.


    ¡°Look at the sun!¡± Judd snapped. ¡°Caste, it¡¯s setting! When the gates close, they¡¯re closed and monsters are a regular occurrence around here.¡±


    ¡°I just need to balance¡­¡± The books tumbled down again.


    A warning bell rang out and the fields emptied of workers, people pushing past them, hurrying towards the fort. Judd was on the verge of erupting into a furious rage when Suvau strode to them, his long leg length making short work of the distance between them. Without asking for permission, he simply started heaving the books onto his wagon. Caste frenzied into an indignant state, snatching books back and stammering protestations which Suvau simply ignored by putting one hand out towards Caste. Even if Caste had pressed close enough for Suvau to touch him, he still wouldn¡¯t have been able to reach the wagon. Judd cringed at the display as Caste snarled several unpleasantries, a racial hatred exterior covering a great deal of fear.


    ¡°You are not fit to be handling these tomes! Put them down at once!¡±


    Judd said nothing, picking up Caste¡¯s torn pack as the cleric dashed after Suvau, grabbing books off the wagon but unable to carry them all, dropping several in his haste. Judd waved the others on as he tried to help Caste as much as the cleric would let him. The others became one with the steady stream of dark skinned workers carrying baskets and crates and crossed the moat via the drawbridge. Suvau and the others paused before passing through the gates and looked back at them as the guards called out a final warning that the gates would be closed soon.


    ¡°Caste, I swear¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡±


    Judd looked up in dismay to see the gates beginning to close, the bridge starting to rise at the same time. He caught Suvau¡¯s expression and shrugged helplessly. He couldn¡¯t leave Caste outside so it seemed as though he and the cleric would be sleeping outdoors, unprotected in a very dangerous part of Terra. Judd motioned for Suvau to take the others in. Suvau did¡­then beautifully upended his wagon right in the middle of the turning circle of the gates, stopping the bridge. The guards abused and shouted angrily as Suvau apologised, righting his wagon and putting everything back on it as slowly as he dared.


    Judd grabbed Caste by the scruff and, with armfuls of books, made it to the drawbridge which was two feet off the ground. He grasped the chains and heaved himself onto the bridge, turning and grasping Caste¡¯s hand, hauling him up. They half slid down the bridge, Caste scrambling to collect his books and made it to the gates where they were berated by the gate guards who were as light skinned as any who lived in Astaril.


    ¡°Had you been a minute later, you would have been on the wrong side of the gates. Enter and abide by the law of Sir Fereak¡­and don¡¯t be late next time.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. Sorry sir.¡±

 What in Maul is wrong with you?

    After they passed beyond the gates, a pair of horses, not unlike Quell and Zeke used to be, harnessed to pulley system, drew the drawbridge up and the gates closed across it, all of it locking into place with a sense of finality. It left a distinct impression that the guards and soldiers of Fort Omra took their safety and duties seriously.


    Inside the gates, Verne grabbed Caste and dragged him aside. ¡°What in Maul is wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Let go of me.¡± Caste snapped, trying to disentangle his cappa clausa from Verne¡¯s vice grip.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? You nearly got yourself and Judd locked out of the gates if not for Suvau¡¯s quick thinking!¡±


    ¡°I never asked for his help!¡±


    ¡°Before we start tearing strips off each other,¡± Giordi interjected, ¡°could we please find somewhere a little more private first? Then by all means, let the strip tearing continue.¡±


    ¡°I will take you to my home, unless you wish to pay your respects to Sir Fereak?¡± Suvau asked.


    ¡°We should probably do that first.¡± Judd admitted although he was tempted not to. He knew Caste was insistent upon Judd¡¯s introduction to every knight and lord in the hopes that the cleric who assisted them would offer Caste accommodation. He weighed up the spiteful pleasure of forcing Caste into staying a night in Suvau¡¯s home against the uncomfortable manners the cleric would probably produce.


    ¡°This way.¡± Suvau led them from the closed gates up the winding main streets, lined with houses built of yellow, grey and white stone with thatched roofs. The main street of Quarre had been quite wide, allowing for carts of stone cut from the quarry to pass through unhindered until the alternate route was built. Fort Omra¡¯s main street was not so wide and Judd and his companions were part of the throng going about their business between the end of the daylight shift and the blackening of night.


    ¡°My home is up there,¡± Suvau pointed to one of the buildings against the side of the cliff face, ¡°but we will take the elevator to the fort.¡±


    ¡°Elevator?¡±


    Suvau grinned and led the way to what appeared to be a tower dotted with arched windows up its length. At its base it had three open sides except where it was built against the wall of the south. There was a wooden floor and low railings around the interior, the front facing ones open as a gate. Several guards were standing watch.


    ¡°Your face is new to us. Who are you?¡± One demanded of Judd.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre of Astaril,¡± Judd said when Suvau nodded at him to speak, ¡°and my cleric, Caste Undern and my travelling companions.¡±


    ¡°What business do you have in Fort Omra?¡±


    ¡°We have come to pay our respects to Sir Fereak and resupply our provisions.¡±


    The guard eyed all of them, Aalis keeping her head down. Judd licked his lips, feeling nervous.


    ¡°Do you vouch for your companions?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Proceed.¡±


    Suvau gestured for them to enter the tower which was empty apart from themselves and their packs and closed the gates behind them.


    ¡°Hold tight.¡± He warned and before anyone could ask what he meant, the floor shifted beneath their feet and lifted into the air.


    Aalis let out a shriek of terror and Caste whimpered.


    ¡°What¡­what is happening?¡± Judd gasped as the city disappeared behind the tower¡¯s solid walls, bursts of light occurring where there were windows. ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°An elevator. Built for speedy and mass provision and soldier transportation to and from the fort.¡± Suvau chuckled.


    ¡°You might have warned us.¡± Verne grumbled, straightening his shirt.


    ¡°It is over almost before it has begun. Look.¡±


    The elevator stopped with a jolt, the side they had entered from now closed off but the one to the left was an open arch that emptied onto the lower bailey of the fort. Suvau was able to manoeuvre his wagon off the elevator with ease, the entire thing built so that mobile transportation like his wagon was able to take the strain of many supplies from the shoulders of soldiers and workers. Judd stepped off the elevator, feeling a strong degree of relief to be on solid footing.


    ¡°And just like that, you are in Fort Omra.¡±


    The view was obscured because of the walls the predecessors of the fort felt were necessary despite the height at which the plateau it was built upon stood. The lower bailey was a large space with covered walkways that were lined with arches. The ground was not dirt nor was it paved. Rather it was covered with pale yellow gravel, finer than pebbles but coarser than beach sand and it crunched underfoot. Suvau motioned for them to head further in, past the guards who were going about their drills.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised we¡¯ve been allowed to just walk in.¡± Judd whispered.


    ¡°I am known to the guards,¡± Suvau explained, ¡°I am the weaponsmith¡¯s second and they are aware of who I am and the work I do.¡±


    ¡°You are trusted?¡±


    ¡°As much as can be expected and a little more perhaps than many of my people.¡±


    From the lower bailey they entered the upper where the keep, a castle no less, was built up against and in some parts, into the mountain the plateau was a part of. There were sloped rooftops of tiles, large stretches on the bigger buildings and pointed peaks on the towers and the windows were all narrow slits anywhere above the wall line. The mountain loomed above and further south and if Judd tried to see the pinnacle from so close, he would have fallen over backwards.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°There is the main entrance.¡± Suvau pointed and they approached it.


    Two guards eyed their advance, dressed in armour that had been well looked after, even surviving the skirmishes that had left several dents and scratches that had been unable to be polished or battered out. On their right arm they bore dark green fabric sewn with the insignia of Sir Fereak which was the memorable plateau with Fort Omra atop it.


    ¡°Suvau, who is this stranger you have brought to the keep?¡± The first guard asked. Judd noted it was the first time someone had spoken to Suvau even though he was obviously known in Fort Omra.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, a knight in training who has come with his companions to pay his respects to Sir Fereak.¡±


    ¡°Sir Fereak is not here.¡± The guard explained. ¡°He has taken a regiment of soldiers west on a patrol.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s torn that, then.¡± Judd sighed, almost hearing Caste¡¯s internal groan of despair.


    ¡°What about Sir Fereak¡¯s cleric?¡± Caste pushed forward. ¡°Cleric¡­¡±


    ¡°Severo?¡±


    ¡°Yes, him.¡±


    The guard barely hid his snort. ¡°Oh yes¡­he¡¯s always in.¡±


    ¡°Well, he¡¯ll do.¡±


    The guards allowed them into the foyer where there were several sets of staircases leading to various parts of the keep. The fort was made of stone but the interior supports, doorframes and staircases were made of dark woods, similar to the manor house in Quarre but without large windows and elegant drapes to soften and lighten the mood. There were also very few finishing touches. There was no carved detail, no ornate banisters or grand chandeliers. It was rustic and solid, smooth from wear and not from polish or care. The windows were so small that they didn¡¯t warrant curtains, nor were there any carpets or tapestries in the foyer.


    It was spartan and practical as though it was always ready for an attack.


    The steward was quick to appear and upon learning their business, scurried up the stairs to locate the cleric. Judd caught sight of Aalis, clutching tightly to her hood.


    ¡°Fall back behind Suvau.¡± He whispered and she nodded, her small frame dwarfed by the giant weaponsmith.


    Cleric Severo took a long time to appear and when he did, Judd noticed two things about him. One was that, out of all the clerics they had seen, he was the oldest with grizzled grey hair and skin mottled with age spots. The other was that he reeked of wine, as though every pore of him was saturated in it. He clutched the banister lest he tumble headfirst down the stairs.


    ¡°I hope there is a good reason for disturbing my studies.¡± He grumbled.


    ¡°Cleric Severo,¡± the steward, who had accompanied the elderly man, possibly to make sure he didn¡¯t get lost on the way, ¡°this is Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Cleric Severo peered at him then fumbled about his person. ¡°Where are my spectacles¡­ah!¡±


    He drew the lorgnettes out from his sleeve and used the handle to hold the magnified lenses up to his eyes. ¡°Judd who?¡±


    Judd wondered if he needed an ear trumpet as well.


    ¡°LaMogre.¡± The steward repeated.


    ¡°And who is he?¡±


    ¡°I am from Astaril, Cleric Severo,¡± Judd explained, ¡°I am on a quest to gain my knighthood.¡±


    ¡°One of Rylan¡¯s follies?¡± Judd tried not to grind his teeth. Severo mightn¡¯t have been able to hear it but the steward would. ¡°Well, if you¡¯ve made it this far south, I am almost certain Sir Fereak would wish to meet with you but he¡¯s not here. He¡¯ll be back¡­¡± Severo turned to the steward. ¡°When¡­when would he be back?¡±


    ¡°Not tomorrow, possibly the next day.¡± The steward said.


    ¡°Two days at least.¡± Severo repeated loudly though they had all heard the steward. ¡°If he wants to speak with you, I¡¯ll send word to¡­wherever you are¡­huh¡­where are you staying?¡±


    ¡°Well, we have been offered accommodation in the house of your weaponsmith, Suvau but¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s worked out perfectly then!¡± Severo announced, waving his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll send word there.¡±


    Judd looked at Caste and shrugged.


    Caste swallowed and stepped forward, separating himself from the others. ¡°Cleric Severo,¡± he announced then when he saw the elderly man was still leaving he increased in volume, ¡°Cleric Severo!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s shouting?¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± Caste bowed, ¡°I am Cleric Caste of the Order of the Grail.¡±


    ¡°Well, in those robes you would be.¡± Severo¡¯s tone was a little condescending.


    ¡°I hoped we might discuss some of the latest theories that have been approved by Bishop Peele. I have my own books as well to share and have heard that the library of Fort Omra contains some of the oldest documents in Terra history.¡±


    ¡°What a wonderful idea,¡± Severo nodded, nearly toppling sideways with the force of the motion, ¡°we must have supper sometime¡­come back tomorrow and we¡¯ll sort¡­some¡­¡±


    He teetered away, taking the stairs one painfully slow step at a time.


    Judd swallowed. ¡°I think our audience is at an end. Sorry, Caste.¡±


    Caste¡¯s shoulders slumped and he turned and followed them out. Judd felt his sleeve grabbed and paused as Verne leaned close to whisper. ¡°Not that I want to encourage his behaviour¡­but perhaps we ought to pay for Caste to stay in a tavern?¡±


    ¡°I think all the taverns would be served by those Caste would prefer not to have anything to do with.¡± Judd replied softly. ¡°He¡¯ll just have to knuckle down. Suvau¡¯s not a bad man. Neither¡¯s Caste. They¡¯re just¡­¡±


    ¡°Very different.¡±


    ¡°Oh so much so.¡±


    They left the foyer, the upper and lower bailey, heading for the elevator but took the gates to the right of it, down the decline that would make its way into the village portion of the fort. There were steps as well as slopes. Judd marvelled that Suvau was able to hang onto his wagon so well.


    ¡°This is quite a sharp decline.¡± He called.


    ¡°My home is just there,¡± Suvau promised, ¡°otherwise even I would not like to wheel this contraption all the way to the bottom.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s home was the top storey of a three storey building but because of the cliff face and the way they were going down, not up, they reached the front door without taking a single step up to it. There was a small nook behind the third storey of the building, overgrown with greenery, giving the illusion they were nestled in the countryside somewhere and not perched on a cliff. They unpacked the wagon and he tipped it up onto its end, pushing it past the door so it wasn¡¯t in the way. Then he opened the door and went inside.


    They were immediately within a kitchen where a benchtop started just shy of the door striking it, running along the side wall and then across the front wall which faced away from the cliff. On their right was a large wood cabinet and shelves for typical kitchen oddments and taking up a substantial portion of the floor space was a large table with long pews for chairs down the sides and two chairs at either end. A woman with skin several shades lighter than Suvau¡¯s and hair, which fell in a single, long sheet of black, was at the window, her back to the door, chopping vegetables.


    At least, she was. Upon their entrance, she had stopped.


    Suvau put his hand out to pause their entrance. ¡°Yolana¡­¡±


    She turned, her eyes rimmed red and her cheeks streaked with tears. She strode up to Suvau and slapped him as hard as she could. Suvau took it without reserve.


    ¡°I have been sick with worry!¡± She blurted. ¡°Two weeks, you said! Two weeks at the most and yet you have been gone over three and you promised me! You promised¡­¡±


    ¡°I promised I would always come home to you.¡± Suvau said gently but firmly.


    Yolana stifled a sob, backing away from him. ¡°You think you can get out of this¡­you think I would welcome you back after what you put me through¡­¡±


    Suvau took her face in his hands and kissed her soundly and without consideration to those who might be watching, blushing in their embarrassment. Yolana only resisted for a moment before she slid her arms up around his neck, his arms circling her waist until there wasn¡¯t even room for air between them.


    Judd wanted to say or do something and was thinking about ordering a retreat to let the rather passionate couple reconnect when a voice said,


    ¡°Please excuse my parents. They are notoriously tactile and still act like adolescents in their passion for each other.¡± A young woman stood on the single step that led out of the kitchen into the rest of the house. Her shoulder blade length hair was in numerous braids, just shy of black and each braid was adorned with metal beads that made a light tinkle when they clashed together. Her eyes were bright and intelligent and she smiled at them with full lips, wearing a simple gown over her slight form, a leather apron tied around her waist. ¡°My name is Emeri. Welcome to our home.¡±

 Here in Quarre, Terras never mind being an imposition

    After Suvau and Yolana had disentangled themselves from each other, Yolana invited everyone to sit and have some refreshments. As they drank deeply of the cider, Suvau told his wife and daughter what had happened in Quarre.


    ¡°Did I not tell you¡­¡± Yolana huffed.


    ¡°Yes, many times.¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°You may lord it over me for years for the extent of my foolishness deserves it.¡±


    Yolana put her hands on her hips. She was not as tall as Suvau though Judd wondered if there was anyone who was and she was slender like a willow. There was a natural beauty to her face, symmetry and loveliness that was only enhanced by the joy in her eyes when she finally let go of her anger.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, turning to Judd and the others, even Caste who was perched on the potato box against the wall, unwilling to join them at the table, ¡°for saving my husband.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just glad we were in Quarre at the right time.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°Are you really from Astaril?¡± Emeri asked eagerly.


    ¡°I am and so is Caste.¡± Judd gestured to the others. ¡°Aalis is from a northern village, Verne was with a band of maligned farmers in the forest and we picked Giordi up at Fort Bastil.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re really going to become a knight?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the dream.¡± Judd nodded.


    Emeri went to ask another question when Yolana held her hand up. ¡°Please excuse the inquisitiveness of my daughter. She loves to learn.¡± Yolana turned to Emeri. ¡°There will be plenty of time for questions later. I think we should prepare beds for our guests.¡±


    ¡°As long as we are not an imposition.¡± Aalis said, speaking for the since arriving.


    ¡°Here in Quarre, Terras never mind being an imposition. It is up to our people,¡± Yolana indicated to herself, Emeri and Suvau, ¡°to always accommodate you.¡±


    ¡°Yolana,¡± Judd stood and bowed with the same manner that Giordi had taught him for addressing a lady of rank, ¡°we would be honoured if we could stay with you and your family. However, we would not wish to be an imposition and will seek other accommodations rather than inconvenience you.¡±


    Yolana¡¯s mouth fell open at his eloquent announcement. Judd stood and put his left hand in the small of his back in a relaxed but formal resting pose.


    ¡°Well¡­well¡­I¡­¡± She put her hand to her cheek. ¡°I would never cast out those who saved my husband. You are more than welcome to stay. Emeri, would you assist me in making their rooms ready?¡±


    She hastened out of the kitchen, Emeri following. Suvau got up, went to the door then turned to Judd and chuckled. ¡°Bravo.¡±


    ¡°Well done, LaMogre.¡± Giordi clapped. ¡°That was beautifully phrased and knightly stated.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to practice on Yolana,¡± Judd insisted, ¡°but I thought the best way to show a lady that I intend on treating her as such, is to simply do just that.¡±


    ¡°Like I said,¡± Suvau stood up, taking his pack in his hand, ¡°she¡¯d kick me out and keep you all if she had to.¡±


    ¡°Suvau!¡±


    ¡°Coming.¡± He winked. ¡°Bring your packs through. We¡¯ll sort supper once we have the kitchen cleared.¡±


    Though the kitchen table was large, with seven of them around it, it became quite crowded yet not in a compressed way. There were many laughs, good food and fine company that made the meal quite the celebration. No one pointed out that Caste remained on his box seat, keeping his distance. It would only spoil the mood.


    Judd leaned back and put his hands on his stomach. ¡°Yolana, I can¡¯t understand why Suvau left you¡­no matter the motivation, your cooking is far too fine to forgo.¡±


    ¡°You are quite the charmer, Judd LaMogre.¡± Yolana batted the compliment aside but with a smile to show she was still flattered by it. ¡°Would you care for some more?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t fit into my armour!¡± Judd laughed.


    ¡°I will.¡± Verne nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve been on rations of late and I am loving second and third helpings.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to get podgy¡­¡± Giordi drank from his mug.


    ¡°You will if you keep on at that cider.¡± Suvau warned.


    ¡°Suvau,¡± Judd turned to their host as he stood, collecting their dishes, ¡°why did you go to Quarre?¡±


    ¡°Because Lord LeMewn, upon visiting Fort Omra, commissioned me to make a sword for him.¡± Suvau explained.


    ¡°You knew that.¡± Verne swiped his bread through the juices on his plate.


    ¡°Yes but¡­I figured it was to provide a better life for you and your family.¡± Judd looked around. ¡°Am I missing something? You have a nice home, plenty of food¡­I half expected you to be whipped daily.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°We may not endure physical abuse,¡± Suvau sighed deeply, ¡°but my people are threatened with upheaval every day.¡±


    ¡°Upheaval?¡± Aalis tried to take plates to the washing basin but Emeri scooped them out of her hands and waved her back down.


    ¡°People of our skin colour are¡­well¡­¡± Yolana looked at Suvau sadly. ¡°We cannot deny the Terras.¡±


    ¡°Like how Ersha was surprised that I asked if he could look after Quell and Zeke?¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°So¡­a Terra asks it¡­¡±


    ¡°No, not ask. Just states.¡± Suvau shook his head. ¡°Everything, even this house and my position as a weaponsmith, hangs constantly in the balance. Nothing is ours. We are responsible for it but we have no authority over it.¡±


    The table was quietly contemplative for a moment.


    ¡°That is an exhausting way to live,¡± Aalis whispered, ¡°constantly waiting for something bad to happen.¡±


    ¡°Ultimately, the man that I work under, Ermo Kenet, is very aware that I am well respected and liked by the guards,¡± Suvau sighed deeply, ¡°to the point of becoming jealous.¡±


    ¡°Kenet takes the credit for most of Suvau¡¯s work,¡± Yolana explained, she and Emeri preparing bread that would rise overnight and be ready for baking the next morning, the white flour smudged across their dark cheeks, ¡°Sir Fereak has no idea that Suvau is the real reason for Fort Omra¡¯s innovations¡­¡±


    ¡°Yolana¡­¡± Suvau urged gently and Yolana bit back her frustrations, pounding the dough instead. ¡°The guards know I am good at what I do,¡± he returned to speaking with his guests, ¡°and they know Kenet takes the credit. The ones of any integrity have been known to be protective of me and my family.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Giordi asked and received several glares. ¡°I shall phrase that better. Why when it¡¯s clear that the disgust at your people runs deep?¡±


    ¡°Because without my father, Fort Omra¡¯s soldiers would not be so well protected or armed.¡± Emeri declared brightly.


    ¡°Out here, steel decides strength¡­and my steel is unparalleled.¡± Suvau said with a touch of pride and not without warrant, Judd mused.


    ¡°But others aren¡¯t so fortunate?¡±


    ¡°Certainly not. I know of whole families that have been kicked out of their homes with barely an hour¡¯s notice because their dwelling has been requisitioned for Fort Omra¡¯s soldiers and purposes.¡±


    ¡°My uncle, Oska, was taken by Sir Fereak a year ago and all we were told was that he was punished for his laziness as a warning to the rest of us.¡± Emeri said sadly. ¡°We never saw him again.¡±


    ¡°To defy them is to be whipped within an inch of your life,¡± Yolana shivered, ¡°any who have stood their ground have died from the punishment.¡±


    ¡°Even when it isn¡¯t about obeying the Terras, we are still subjugated. Protection always goes to the Terras first and the best food always goes to the soldiers and guards¡­¡±


    ¡°Who are all Terras?¡± Suvau nodded. Judd shook his head. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry Suvau.¡±


    ¡°The only way to protect your family in Fort Omra is to become irreplaceable.¡± Yolana murmured.


    ¡°Accepting Lord LeMewn¡¯s commission offer was a way for Kenet to get rid of me and for LeMewn to have a criminal to sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°You think they were in it together?¡±


    Suvau sighed. ¡°I¡­rather suspect so¡­and in my desperation, I did not see their scheme until it was too late.¡±


    Yolana worked her dough with strong hands. Emeri¡¯s were not quite as strong as her mother¡¯s but she gave the dough a good pummelling, breaking off handfuls and moulding it into rolls.


    ¡°I see now why you were so upset about Suvau leaving¡­it was a risk.¡± Aalis admitted.


    ¡°Were you hoping to impress Sir Fereak when Lord LeMewn boasted of your skills?¡±


    ¡°Actually I hoped to relocate my entire family to Quarre.¡± Emeri gave a frustrated huff that caught Giordi¡¯s attention. He then saw Yolana¡¯s strained expression and felt his stomach churn. He looked at Aalis and made eye contact which, to his astonishment, she understood.


    ¡°Emeri, would you mind showing me to where I will be sleeping?¡± Aalis asked. ¡°I am quite tired.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you will be in my room.¡± Emeri wiped her hands free and led Aalis into the house.


    Giordi caught Yolana¡¯s expression, fear nakedly flashing across her lovely features.


    ¡°Terras can take what they want¡­in all things?¡±


    She looked at him and trembled.


    ¡°Surely not in all things.¡± Judd chuckled then caught sight of Suvau¡¯s thunderous expression, waves of trembling horror washing over him. ¡°No¡­no that is¡­that¡¯s wrong. It¡¯s¡­unthinkable!¡±


    ¡°Ermo Kenet despises my people but he has a son who is a soldier, Jerom,¡± Suvau¡¯s jaw was as tight as one of Verne¡¯s drawstrings in battle, ¡°and he has been known to take¡­¡±


    ¡°Emeri was too young before,¡± Yolana blurted, licking her lips, pressing them together to stomp the tremor of emotion, ¡°but she¡¯s growing up and Ermo¡¯s grip on his son is becoming weak¡­¡±


    Verne swore softly and shook his head. Judd¡¯s hand tightened into a fist. ¡°I¡¯ll kill him.¡±


    ¡°No, should he touch my daughter, I¡¯ll kill him.¡± Suvau promised. ¡°But the sad truth is, for all my strength, I cannot protect Emeri here and I hoped to take her away, to give her a better future. She is as lovely and as smart as her mother¡­¡±


    ¡°And as stubborn and brilliant as her father.¡± Yolana smiled at him.


    They shared a loving look, the tension of Suvau¡¯s long absence drifting away.


    Suvau cleared his throat and banged his hands on the table, standing up. ¡°It is gloomy talk and as yet, nothing has happened and nothing will happen tonight.¡±


    ¡°Would you show our guests to their rooms?¡± Yolana asked. ¡°I apologise that you must share.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve made do in a single tavern room before.¡± Judd assured her, following Suvau up the single step into a wide corridor with arched windows that faced the city while there were doors leading to rooms pressed against the cliff face. ¡°We¡¯re not putting someone out of their bed, are we?¡±


    ¡°Worry not, Judd LaMogre. I take good care of my guests.¡± Suvau said firmly. ¡°Judd, you are in here,¡± he rapped on the second door, ¡°Verne, Giordi and Caste, you are in here.¡±


    Judd opened the door to his allocated room, yawning, the good meal getting to him.


    ¡°Judd?¡±


    He opened his eyes, astonished to find Aalis standing in the room. She had removed her outer wear and was in her much lighter underdress. Judd barely knew where to look as she lunged for her shawl, swinging it around herself and clutching at it tightly at the front.


    ¡°I¡­I¡­I¡­¡±


    ¡°What are you doing in here?¡± Aalis gasped.


    ¡°Suvau said this was my room¡­¡±


    ¡°This is Emeri¡¯s room.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    There was a single bed beneath a slanted roof that was higher at the back than the front, a chest of drawers where three books were stacked, a lamp that was lit, hooks for several dresses to hang and a couple pairs of shoes lined up along the wall.


    ¡°Why would Suvau put you in Emeri¡¯s room?¡±


    ¡°Yolana did say we needed to share¡­¡± Aalis flushed hot and scarlet. Judd cleared his throat. ¡°Oh¡­Oh that¡¯s what¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± She asked, holding onto her shawl around herself like armour.


    He closed his eyes. ¡°I think Suvau has assumed¡­that you¡­and I¡­are¡­¡± Aalis stared at him, either unwilling or unable to come to the revelation as he had. ¡°That we share a bed¡­¡± The word bed was practically a rasped whisper. Aalis¡¯ knuckles went white on her cloak. ¡°I¡­I¡¯ll just go sleep in the room with the others,¡± he blundered, reaching back blindly to grab the door handle and push it open, ¡°sorry. Sorry, Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± he looked up, her eyes downcast, ¡°could you¡­ask Verne to come here? To stay in here?¡±


    Judd¡¯s heart sank even as he nodded and closed the door.

 I’d happily lie before the bishop and the entirety of the Order of the Grail to keep you safe

    Aalis paced the small room, wringing her fingers together, feeling wretched then relieved then wretched because she was relieved.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± She looked up and saw Verne peeking in. ¡°Judd said you wanted me to sleep in here?¡±


    ¡°I¡­uh, thought, you might like a break¡­from the men.¡± Aalis whispered, hating herself.


    Verne shut the door behind her then turned back to Aalis. ¡°Yeah¡­but they think I¡¯m one of them.¡±


    ¡°I know¡­¡±


    ¡°So you know what he¡¯s going to think, don¡¯t you? What he and the others are already thinking?¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes. ¡°I¡­I know¡­¡±


    Verne studied her. ¡°Why do I feel like this doesn¡¯t have as much to do with my needing some ¡®girl¡¯ time,¡± she motioned like Caste, ¡°as you trying to distance yourself from Judd?¡± Aalis sank onto the bed, her face covered with her hands. ¡°You like him, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Aalis looked up. ¡°Verne, I cannot share a room with him¡­not alone. Not when the implications are that he and I¡­¡±


    ¡°Instead it¡¯s you and I?¡± Verne folded her arms. ¡°If you¡¯re looking at preserving a degree of innocence, you¡¯ve only swapped one male for another.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, I know.¡± Aalis groaned. She winced. ¡°Was he¡­hurt?¡±


    Verne sighed and leaned against the wall. ¡°He wasn¡¯t unhurt¡­¡± She studied Aalis. ¡°What¡¯s going on between you two? He likes you, a lot actually and most of the time you seem to feel the same way.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Aalis stood up and started to pace again.


    ¡°So¡­what¡¯s the problem? If you want to share the room with him, I¡¯ll get out of your way. I¡¯m okay sleeping in the room with the guys. I did it for most of my childhood.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no¡­I cannot. Please Verne¡­¡± Aalis grabbed her hand and held it tightly. ¡°Please¡­¡±


    Verne shook her head. ¡°Alright,¡± she relented and Aalis sagged in relief, ¡°I can¡¯t really demand you come clean when I¡¯m a mess of secrets myself. But you¡¯re the one who said it only gets harder the longer you lie.¡±


    Aalis nodded. ¡°I just need a little time to work out what to do. Please, Verne¡­¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Verne nodded.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    They both jolted when there was a knock on the door.


    Verne looked at Aalis.


    Aalis looked at Verne.


    Neither of them spoke.


    ¡°Aalis? Verne? Are you awake?¡±


    ¡°Emeri?¡± Verne opened the door and the daughter of Suvau and Yolana slipped inside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to ask but¡­could I sleep in here with you?¡± She bit her bottom lip. ¡°My parents are¡­making up for lost time.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Honestly, you would think I was the adult and they were the adolescents.¡±


    Verne chuckled but Aalis was concerned. ¡°Well¡­it is Verne and I in this room¡­¡±


    ¡°All girls together, then.¡±


    Verne¡¯s chuckle fell from her face as her mouth dropped open.


    Aalis stammered. ¡°Verne¡­Verne is not¡­¡±


    ¡°You needn¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell anyone she¡¯s a woman.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°You¡­know?¡± Emeri nodded. ¡°How?¡±


    Emeri sat on a crate. ¡°When you¡¯re in my position, dark skinned and of the female variety yet have aspirations of a white male¡¯s accessibility to learning and knowledge, you tend to look at people as they could be and not as they are.¡± She gestured to Verne. ¡°You might dress like a male and some of your manners are habitually male but there are signs that you are not.¡±


    Verne looked at Aalis who shrugged helplessly. ¡°Perhaps you could point those out to me,¡± Verne squatted and met Emeri¡¯s gaze, ¡°so I can refine my disguise.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Emeri smiled then turned to Aalis. ¡°We also need to hide those dreadlocks of yours more effectively. Cleric Severo is too old to notice but the soldiers around here are almost paranoid about witches. There are areas of tainted water this close to Maul. Sir Fereak has no mercy regarding tainted women.¡±


    ¡°Thank you Emeri.¡± Aalis swallowed. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re not afraid of me?¡±


    ¡°You saved my father,¡± Emeri shook her head, her beads clattering gently, ¡°I¡¯d happily lie before the bishop and the entirety of the Order of the Grail to keep you safe.¡±


    Verne took some of the blankets. ¡°Don¡¯t let Caste hear you say that.¡±


    ¡°The miserable soul who acts like one touch will contaminate him?¡± Emeri stood up and unpacked some linen from the crate. ¡°I would not want his blood pressure.¡±


    Verne chuckled. ¡°I like her.¡±


    Aalis had to agree.


    Judd had watched Verne go into the room with Aalis from the doorway of the room where Giordi and Caste were waiting, his heart sinking into his boots. He heaved his pack into the room and closed the door, unable to muster any kind of fa?ade of nonchalance.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Judd.¡± Giordi said, immediately knowing what Judd was miserable about.


    ¡°I just¡­don¡¯t¡­get it.¡± Judd muttered. ¡°I thought she¡­and I¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too.¡± Giordi insisted as Judd slumped to the floor. ¡°Anyone who sees you two together would have thought the same.¡±


    ¡°Then why¡­¡± Judd closed his eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting her to welcome me into her room. I¡¯d rather sleep outside in the corridor than ever put pressure on her. I¡¯m alright with that. But asking Verne in¡­what am I missing?¡± He looked up. Giordi and Caste were both quiet. ¡°No, really, I¡¯m asking you what is it I¡¯m missing? Am I blind to something? Have I misread something about the way she is with me?¡±


    There was silence from the other two. Judd pulled his boots off, seeing the sock Aalis had darned for him and didn¡¯t know whether to become angry or sad.


    ¡°Has it occurred to you that perhaps Aalis is doing the right thing?¡±


    Judd frowned and looked at Caste who was smoothing the pages of his books that had become wrinkled in the chaos of trying to get through the gates of Fort Omra.


    ¡°The right thing?¡±


    Caste nodded. ¡°She¡¯s a witch and you want to be a knight. Travelling with you could be enough to stain your reputation, let alone if you were sharing a bed.¡±


    ¡°Caste, Aalis is not a witch! She¡¯s never touched tainted water!¡±


    ¡°So she says.¡±


    ¡°And yet she claims to be a witch?¡±


    Caste looked at Judd. ¡°Which only makes you wonder what else she is hiding.¡±


    ¡°Hiding? Aalis isn¡¯t hiding anything.¡± Caste¡¯s green eyes met Judd¡¯s and the former fisherman felt doubt. ¡°She¡­she isn¡¯t.¡± Judd looked at Giordi who shrugged. ¡°Not you too.¡±


    ¡°Judd, you know she hasn¡¯t told us everything,¡± Giordi looked at Caste dryly, ¡°and with good reason one may argue.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­alright I admit she¡¯s tight lipped about her past¡­but what if it¡¯s been traumatic? What if some hateful person dunked her in tainted water as a baby?¡± Judd demanded. ¡°What if she¡¯s hiding from something or someone?¡±


    ¡°What if she is simply too different to fit in with the Order of the Grail¡¯s ¡®mould¡¯ for the socially acceptable female?¡± Giordi raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t write it.¡± Caste argued.


    ¡°But you adhere to it.¡±


    ¡°All of Astaril adheres to it.¡± Caste snapped back. ¡°Only those who think themselves ¡®above¡¯ the rules laid out by men smarter than they do otherwise.¡±


    Judd stood up. ¡°I suppose you condone what we were told about how the dark skinned people must obey the Terras?¡±


    ¡°They are defined as a lower class of people,¡± Caste explained, holding onto his books, ¡°they¡¯re not the same as us.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s how you justify rape?¡±


    Caste went pale, his freckles standing out. Giordi had spoken bluntly and without restraint.


    Caste swallowed. ¡°It¡­it has never been¡­addressed.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®addressed¡¯?¡± Judd demanded.


    Caste licked his lips. ¡°The people of Maul are categorized as lower beings, a subservient class¡­and with that comes certain¡­stigma about relations.¡±


    ¡°Which is why marriage between a Terra and a Maul would never be condoned.¡±


    ¡°Certainly not,¡± Caste nodded, ¡°it is unfathomable to me how someone could force another¡­but especially with the people of Maul. Only those without respect for the mandates of the Order could justify it¡­¡±


    ¡°Answer me this,¡± Giordi lay down on his side, propped up by his elbow, ¡°if this Jerom Kenet treated a Terra like this¡­what would the legal ramifications be?¡±


    ¡°He would be whipped and put in the stocks.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how he justifies it,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°because the people of Maul have no way to fight back. No recourse.¡±


    ¡°In a very small way, the stigma that surrounds the people of Maul have kept them safe.¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s wrong. All of it.¡± He was still reeling from Aalis and Verne sharing a room so his grief was helping fuel his anger.


    ¡°You cannot right all the wrongs in this world,¡± Giordi warned Judd, lying down, ¡°at least, not tonight.¡±


    Judd sighed and rolled out his mat. He lay on it, one arm hooked beneath his head. Sleep would not come as he wrestled with anger and indignation at the treatment of Suvau and his people then felt his chest ache when he thought of Verne and Aalis.

 A day in Fort Omra

    Yolana made a large pot of porridge for them the next day, sweetened with honey and with milk in a jug with a crackled patina to pour over it.


    ¡°Oats are plentiful,¡± she urged, untying her apron, ¡°eat up.¡±


    Suvau had already eaten his breakfast and was sorting through his toolbox. ¡°Ermo Kenet is going to be surprised when I arrive for work today. I shouldn¡¯t be surprised if he¡¯s already tried to give my station away.¡±


    ¡°What will the rest of you do?¡±


    Judd looked around, actively avoiding Aalis and Verne¡¯s gaze. ¡°Well¡­I¡¯m waiting for Sir Fereak to return to introduce myself¡­if he even wants to meet me.¡±


    ¡°I thought I would take my lute down to the city proper and see if I can¡¯t earn a little coin.¡± Giordi beamed. ¡°Verne, you¡¯re coming with me.¡±


    ¡°Why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Because you owe me a drink.¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes. ¡°Lucky shot¡­¡± He muttered.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Yolana turned to the young woman.


    ¡°Well¡­I am a healer and would offer my services to anyone who needed it¡­but¡­¡±


    ¡°Mother,¡± Emeri stood, ¡°where is your wedding veil?¡±


    ¡°My veil? Hanging from the hook in my room¡­why?¡± Emeri didn¡¯t explain, only darted off to recover the band of dried flowers with organza stitched to it.


    ¡°Aalis, just let me try this on you¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I could not possibly wear your wedding veil¡­¡± Aalis gasped.


    ¡°It¡¯s the best way I know to cover your dreadlocks.¡±


    ¡°I will wear my hood.¡±


    ¡°That would only make the guards more suspicious.¡± Yolana warned. ¡°Emeri is right, the veil would obscure your hair.¡±


    Aalis sighed and allowed Emeri to plait her dreadlocks so that they were shorter then slipped the band¡¯s ends behind her ears, the arc of it going across the hairline of her forehead. Emeri tied the ribbon underneath the plait so that it was secure and stood back.


    ¡°There, that looks quite pretty.¡±


    ¡°Almost spring festival worthy.¡± Yolana nodded.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Aalis wanted to fiddle with it but kept her hands down. She turned to the others. ¡°Is it¡­alright?¡±


    Judd¡¯s throat was tight. He thought Aalis looked lovely¡­like a bride.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He said roughly, trying to cover his awkwardness.


    ¡°Emeri,¡± Suvau clicked his fingers, ¡°Judd has a sword hilt that is quite old. I thought you could look at it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d love to.¡± Emeri smiled as Judd retrieved it for her. ¡°Oh¡­it¡¯s beautiful! And in such good condition! Wherever did you find this?¡±


    ¡°Goblin cave.¡±


    ¡°That explains it,¡± Emeri shook her head, ¡°goblins are like bower birds. They pick up anything shiny, even a broken blade.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s hardly gleaming.¡±


    ¡°It just needs a little care and attention, without losing the detail.¡± Emeri opened a drawer and took out a piece of paper so thin it could be seen through. ¡°If I do a rubbing, you can keep the hilt with you.¡±


    ¡°Which means you can bring it to the forge with me.¡± Suvau clapped his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve had an idea for what to do with your ancient hilt.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s everyone sorted.¡± Yolana brushed her hands off.


    ¡°Er, not really,¡± Verne looked at Caste pointedly, ¡°what are you going to do today?¡±


    ¡°I shall visit Cleric Severo.¡± Caste said, acting like he¡¯d been put on the spot in a clandestine situation.


    Yolana and Emeri shared a glance then looked out the window.


    ¡°Cleric Severo isn¡¯t an early riser¡­¡± Yolana warned.


    Caste lifted his chin imperiously. ¡°I shall wait in the foyer with a book until he is able to see me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better take two books,¡± Emeri shook her head, smiling, ¡°I wager he won¡¯t be able to see you until after midday.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­perhaps I could ask to wait in the library. I am a cleric, after all and the guards should allow me to enter even without Severo¡¯s permission.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, if you need directions to the library, Emeri¡­¡± Yolana began but Caste held up his hand.


    ¡°I am quite capable of finding my way and shall wait for Cleric Severo there,¡± he put his hand down, standing, declining the bread roll Emeri offered him, ¡°after which, I am sure I will not be requiring accommodation.¡±


    Judd sighed and shook his head.


    Suvau winked at him and Judd wondered just what it was he was thinking.


    ¡°Come on then, the day is wasting away.¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    Verne helped Aalis carry her pack down to the city, taking the slopes and steps carefully until they were on the relatively flat ground of the village.


    ¡°You sure this is safe?¡± Verne asked as Aalis heaved her pack onto her back.


    ¡°Yolana told me where Sheal and Ersha live. I think I can help with her aching feet and if word begins to spread, maybe others will come for help.¡± Aalis leaned close. ¡°The people of Maul will not betray me to the Terras.¡± She looked at Giordi. ¡°Try not to break any hearts, Giordi.¡±


    He gave a jaunty salute and headed towards the markets. Verne followed Aalis through the winding streets, ducking beneath clothes lines and, after asking for directions once, found themselves at the end of an alley where there were three home.


    ¡°Yolana said it was the door in the middle.¡± Aalis said and knocked.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re friends of Yolana.¡± Aalis called back and the door opened to show a pregnant woman with a single thick plait of black hair hanging over her shoulder.


    ¡°You are friends¡­with Yolana?¡± She looked at them suspiciously.


    ¡°Your husband, Ersha, was kind enough to look after our horses.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Sheal gasped, ¡°you are the Terras that he spoke of yesterday. You came with Suvau. Please, come in.¡± Their home was modest with a dirt floor, thatched roof and only one room. Sheal fussed around them, apologising for the clothes she had been washing in a tub.


    ¡°Please, do not make yourself uneasy,¡± Aalis put her hand on her arm, ¡°we are here to help you.¡±


    Sheal turned to her. ¡°Help me?¡±


    ¡°Ersha said your feet were aching.¡± Aalis removed her pack and handed it to Verne. ¡°My name is Aalis and I am a healer. May I inspect your feet?¡±


    Sheal licked her lips and nodded. Verne suspected that Sheal wouldn¡¯t dare refuse her even if she wanted to. She sat on a chair and Aalis knelt on the floor and took one of her feet in her hands. She pressed her fingers into the muscles, massaging them.


    ¡°Verne, could you finish that washing and see about some relatively hot water?¡±


    Verne did as he was bid as Aalis prepared a salt blend. Sheal watched them nervously.


    ¡°Is this your first child?¡± Aalis asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you excited?¡±


    Sheal licked her lips. ¡°Well¡­actually¡­Ersha and I never wanted to become pregnant.¡±


    Aalis turned to her. ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Fort Omra is not the safest of places to live¡­for my people.¡± She looked away, scared she had been too honest.


    ¡°I can only imagine.¡± Aalis sighed. ¡°For that I am sorry. May I feel your belly?¡± She put her hands on the swollen abdomen and closed her eyes. ¡°You are rather large¡­but only about four months pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sheal blinked, surprised, ¡°my mother worked up until she was in labour and all my sisters were the same. But I can barely stand on my feet.¡±


    ¡°Yolana said as much,¡± Aalis¡¯ hands jumped off Sheal¡¯s belly, ¡°he is quite active.¡±


    ¡°He? You think it is a boy?¡±


    Verne saw Aalis¡¯ expression stiffen. ¡°I¡­just a slip of the tongue. I would not know, really¡­¡± Aalis stood up and out of the way of the tub of water, sprinkling the salt mix in. ¡°Slide your feet in slowly so they adjust,¡± Sheal did as she was told and Aalis put her hands back on her belly, gently pressing, ¡°I think I know why you ache, Sheal¡­¡± She said, tilting her head as though listening to something the others could not hear. ¡°You are carrying twins.¡±


    ¡°Twins?¡± Sheal gasped. ¡°Two babies?¡±


    ¡°You are very big for not far along.¡± Aalis looked up. ¡°I can feel two separate movements.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­I thought¡­¡± Sheal shivered. ¡°I thought I was going mad. It was as though there was a tug of war inside of me at times.¡±


    ¡°They are jostling for space and making you very uncomfortable.¡± Aalis stood up. ¡°When you can, sleep on your side with a cushion between your knees. I will give you something to help you rest and soaking your feet every day will alleviate some of the ache.¡±


    ¡°Truly?¡± Sheal closed her eyes. ¡°I have felt like such a burden. Ersha is out there doing the work of both of us and I am just sitting here¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing plenty on your own.¡± Verne assured her.


    ¡°It is not enough, not in the eyes of the tallyman.¡±


    Verne frowned and put his hand on Aalis¡¯ shoulder. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go pick Sheal¡¯s quota? At least that¡¯s one day they don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡±


    Aalis nodded. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you, Verne.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask it.¡± Sheal gasped in horror.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t. I offered.¡± Verne looked at Aalis. ¡°Will you be alright?¡±


    Aalis assured him she would be fine.


    Verne got directions to the stables where he found Ersha who was able to direct Verne to where Sheal would have been assigned to pick apples. Verne worked quickly, bringing in several bushels to the tallyman, citing them as Sheal¡¯s. The tallyman didn¡¯t seem worried that Verne was doing the work for Sheal. Verne wondered if the Terra was only motivated by reaching the necessary quota handed out by Fort Omra rather than who brought the bushels in.


    Though it was very cool, Verne worked up a sweat and wiped at his brow, catching sight of Fort Omra above.


    ¡°I wonder how everyone else is going today?¡±


    Judd flinched at the heat of the Fort Omra forge which was famous throughout Terra as the largest, if not the hottest. It was deep in the bowels of the keep where the walls were no longer blocks of stone, but just stone, the forge carved into the very mountain itself.


    Judd fanned himself as Suvau led him into the main workshop where a dozen men were already working, shining from the sweat and hammering with their tools. Metal on metal resounded constantly through the workshop but the cave walls seemed to absorb the sound.


    ¡°Are all the weapons of Fort Omra made here?¡±


    ¡°All and we also make swords and weapons for the other forts through commission.¡± Suvau explained, leading Judd into the natural cave, past the workbenches that appeared to be allocated to specific blacksmiths. Judd noticed that the majority of the blacksmiths were men of Maul. They greeted Suvau enthusiastically, shaking his hand or nodding when their hands were clutching tools.


    It was clear that Suvau was well respected. Even the Terra blacksmiths greeted Suvau politely. Despite several odd looks at Judd, who was clearly not one of them, they said nothing and Judd marvelled at the authority that Suvau possessed in his line of work.


    ¡°Not that I¡¯m doubting the reputation of Fort Omra,¡± Judd swiped at the sweat on his brow, ¡°but what makes this forge so much better than all the rest?¡±


    Suvau gestured for him to follow to the back of the cavern where the fires of the forge burned brightly inside a natural basin.


    ¡°This is the reason¡­our forge burns hotter than any other flame in Terra.¡±


    Judd could well believe it. The heat was intense. ¡°How do you get it so hot? Where are the bellows?¡± And with that statement, Judd had exhausted his knowledge of blacksmith work.


    ¡°No need,¡± Suvau pointed, ¡°we do not have fire¡­that red glow¡­is lava.¡±


    Judd froze on the spot, staring at the basin. As he gaped, several of the blacksmiths approached the basin and, using various degrees of nearness and a variety of tongs, they used the heat from the lava to soften the metal they were working on, hastening to their tables to beat it with hammers. Large tubs of water steamed mightily as they thrust their malleable pieces into the water, cooling their projects, solidifying their shape with extreme measures.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s insane!¡±


    ¡°And yet, extremely effective.¡± Suvau winked. ¡°The lava flow was discovered many years ago when the fort was being extended and this cavern was broken into. It¡¯s a single stream which we think comes from deep within the veins of the mountain.¡±


    ¡°All the way from the mountain of Maul?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s very possible.¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°See there,¡± he showed Judd a place at the back of the cave where a waterfall was running, ¡°that comes from the tops of the mountains and it is frigid, probably melted snow. We take what we need from it and have extremes of hot and cold at our fingertips.¡±


    Judd marvelled and was a little scared. ¡°That¡¯s¡­as brilliant as it is terrifying.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the first rule of bring a blacksmith.¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°Respect your tools. Come.¡±


    Suvau showed him a large workbench behind which tools hung from hooks driven into the rockface. Nearby was a crate of scrolls. Suvau rummaged through them and drew several out, lying them on the table.


    ¡°Now, Judd LaMogre,¡± Suvau grinned, his teeth startling and his eagerness, unmasked, ¡°let¡¯s talk about that hilt of yours.¡±

 You’d better sit down before you fall down

    Caste was as furious as a forge fire. He had requested, several times and been denied to speak with Cleric Severo and doubted his greetings were even getting through to the elderly officer of the Order of the Grail. Then, when he decided to forgo protocol and simply take himself to the library, the steward refused to show him the way or allow him entry.


    ¡°Only Cleric Severo and those he deems worthy are permitted within the library.¡±


    ¡°I am a cleric of the Order of the Grail, the same ¡®worthiness¡¯ as Cleric Severo! What more must I be?¡± Caste demanded yet to no avail.


    So, with his stomach rumbling as angrily as his temper, he left the foyer of the fort, crossing the bailey, not even sure where he would go. He was muttering so furiously to himself that he failed to hear his name called twice and jumped out of his skin when his arm was grasped.


    ¡°Cleric Caste!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to yell!¡± He yelped in response, pulling away instinctively from the hand of Emeri who let go and stood meekly. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You have, as my mother would say, a face like thunder.¡±


    ¡°Thunder is a noise.¡±


    ¡°An angry noise.¡±


    ¡°What is it you want?¡± Caste demanded.


    ¡°You seem upset.¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m upset! I¡¯ve been waiting all morning to speak with Cleric Severo who refuses to grant me an audience and now I¡¯m denied entry to the library!¡± Caste was so livid that only in the deepest recesses did he recall that he didn¡¯t want to talk to Maul people. He was in dire need to vent. ¡°The only positive attribute of this knighthood quest of LaMogre¡¯s is that I might be able to view the ancient libraries of Terra.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you want?¡± Emeri grabbed his hand. ¡°Come with me!¡±


    Caste yanked his hand out of hers and wiped it on his pants. ¡°No thank you!¡±


    Emeri sighed dramatically. ¡°Well¡­you did say you wanted to see the library.¡±


    He folded his arms. ¡°And I suppose you know where it is?¡±


    Emeri raised her eyebrows. ¡°I do work in the fort¡­I have some¡­inkling as to where the library is.¡±


    Caste was sorely tempted to follow Emeri as she walked to the servant¡¯s entrance of the fort and looked back at him with a smile on her face and a question in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve not¡­been given permission¡­¡± He faltered, his ingrained sense of adherence to the law reminding him that just because he was angry, didn¡¯t mean he could do what he liked.


    ¡°Cleric Severo has a servant that you can ask.¡±


    Caste couldn¡¯t restrain himself any further and darted after her, cringing at the servant¡¯s entrance, glancing around to make sure no one was looking and slipped inside. Emeri led him through the narrow corridor, around a corner and down a flight of stairs only to go up another in a labyrinth of servant¡¯s passages that allowed them to access most of the fort without being seen.


    ¡°It¡¯s dark¡­¡± Caste muttered, needing to stick quite close to Emeri who knew her way instinctively.


    ¡°Just through here.¡± She assured him, leaving the servant¡¯s passage, emerging at the end of another narrow corridor, the door obscured by a very old tapestry. ¡°These double doors are the library¡¯s only entrance.¡± She explained, putting her hands on them and giving a push, the doors swinging open.


    Caste craned his neck to see around her then gaped as she stepped aside.


    The tales of Fort Omra¡¯s extensive library had not been exaggerated. It was two stories high with stone pillars throughout to hold up the slanted, thatched roof. The walls were stone blocks but were almost entirely obscured behind the multitude of shelves that were lined with hundreds, possibly thousands of books, parchments, tapestries and wall hangings. Rugs lay on the floor, concealing the unevenness of the floor paving and keeping some of the chill away. Tables were arranged across the floor, some as podiums displaying certain volumes and others were worktops. There were chairs as well, chaise lounges and wingbacks, highbacked dining chairs and stools, all a little worn and threadbare yet Caste couldn¡¯t see any dust on them.


    Emeri closed the doors behind as he walked forward in a daze.


    ¡°This is¡­marvellous¡­¡± He breathed. ¡°So many books¡­some of which are only found here.¡±


    ¡°This is the newer area where books purchased in the last century are kept,¡± Emeri explained, showing Caste the right side, ¡°in the middle are the older volumes, the tapestries and the wall hangings that have historical significance and on the far left are the parchments, the animal skin documents¡­¡±


    Caste was understandably drawn towards the left, a large wooden rack with crisscrossed struts, forming square holes not unlike a wine rack. But instead of holding wine, the rack held rolled parchments at the top and round tubes with leather ends at the bottom. It was eight feet high and just as wide, containing dozens of priceless, one of a kind parchments.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°This is¡­¡± He breathed, his fingers trembling over the frayed and distressed ends of the parchments, not daring to touch.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Emeri nodded.


    ¡°You have no idea.¡± Caste rebuked gently. ¡°Contained within these scrolls are some parchments that predate those in Astaril¡­there is knowledge here that cannot be found anywhere else.¡± He sighed, seeing the exposed animal skin and parchments that were deteriorating. ¡°They ought to be better preserved.¡±


    ¡°That is happening, albeit slowly.¡± Emeri explained, coming close. ¡°These tubes at the bottom contain some of the oldest documents in the library. They are made of metal, lined with leather and the caps at both ends are sealed with bees wax.¡±


    ¡°I do hope they are being replicated first.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°That is happening here.¡± Emeri tapped him to turn around where a slanted workspace was laid out. There were tools lined along the lip at the bottom and pinned around the edges, so as not to damage the document itself, was a very old parchment, wrinkled and faded, its edges split and distressed. Next to it was a much newer piece of parchment where the writing was being copied, one painstaking stroke at a time.


    Caste peered close to the copying process. ¡°I must congratulate Cleric Severo on his very steady hand. It is a discipline that even age has not been able to take.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not Cleric Severo¡¯s work. That¡¯s his servant¡¯s.¡±


    Caste looked at Emeri in astonishment. ¡°Truly?¡± She nodded. ¡°Well, he has a talented scribe working for him. The attention to detail is very fine.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Caste blinked, the air evaporating from his lungs. He straightened his body slowly and turned to Emeri who just smiled at him. He was speechless which Emeri took advantage of. ¡°It¡¯s not been an easy task to transcribe the ancient works, especially when the writing is so faded. I was feeling a headache starting to threaten from constantly squinting so I went outside to clear my head before coming back in. That¡¯s when I bumped into you.¡± Emeri sighed at Caste¡¯s stare. ¡°Say something¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡­are Cleric Severo¡¯s¡­servant?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡±


    ¡°I assure you it is. It¡¯s not probable but¡­¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Caste walked away then turned to face her, ¡°it¡¯s not¡­it¡¯s not permissible!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­¡± He flailed his hands at her.


    Emeri looked herself over. ¡°Because I am female or because I am Maul?¡±


    ¡°Both!¡± Caste exclaimed then lunged forward as she went to sit at the stool. ¡°These documents,¡± he insisted, ¡°are the foundation of Astaril¡¯s history! They are priceless but even more than that, they are pure!¡±


    ¡°Pure!¡± Emeri laughed.


    ¡°Yes, pure!¡± Caste erupted. ¡°You have no right to touch them!¡± She suddenly grabbed his face and rubbed her hands over his skin, showing her palms to him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t rub off.¡± Emeri winked and Caste frantically wiped his face. ¡°Now, I have work to do. Amuse yourself but don¡¯t touch anything in that rack without telling me.¡±


    Caste blustered and fumed, furious and speechless which only made his dithering all the more frustrating. ¡°How can Cleric Severo permit you to do this?¡± He eventually wretched out of his strangled throat. ¡°You¡­you have to be operating without his permission!¡±


    ¡°Cleric Severo hasn¡¯t been down here in months, possibly years now.¡± Emeri stood with the ink well and went to a table where small bottles rested, a mortar and pestle stained from plenty of use. With a pair of scales she measured out grains against a tiny weight then put them in the mortar. She pounded them firmly with the pestle, tapping the powder into the ink well, mixing it thoroughly with water from a sealed bottle. ¡°He says the dust plays havoc on his allergies.¡± Caste spluttered as she returned to the worktop and set the inkwell in its little metal brace. ¡°He was all too eager for me to take over as the librarian.¡±


    ¡°Take over?¡± Caste gasped. ¡°You operate with autonomy?¡±


    Emeri rolled her eyes. ¡°Of course not. But I am allowed a rather large degree of independence, especially when I make sure he signs off on all my transcribing work.¡± She paused and put her brush down. ¡°Actually, you would do me a remarkable favour while you are here if you would verify the accuracy of my transcriptions.¡±


    Caste gulped like a fish out in the air.


    ¡°Cleric Severo signs off on them¡­but I am becoming increasingly concerned that his age causes him to drop off while comparing them¡­that or the wine he drinks constantly¡­¡± She sighed. ¡°I would hate to think a discrepancy in my transcription might lead to some erroneous interpretation hundreds of years from now.¡± She saw Caste pulling at his collar. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Stop talking like that!¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Like you¡¯re a cleric or deacon! You¡¯re speaking as though you have been educated!¡±


    ¡°I have been.¡± Emeri tied her braids into a knot in the same way that Aalis was inclined to. ¡°Look around you, Cleric Caste¡­I am surrounded by education.¡±


    ¡°But¡­you are not permitted to read!¡±


    ¡°No one forbid it and there¡¯s no way to transcribe these parchments if I couldn¡¯t read so, even if only subconsciously, Cleric Severo must know I can read.¡±


    Caste felt weak at the knees. ¡°You¡­you could merely be copying the brushstrokes¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s like meowing at a cat¡­of course I sound like a cat but I bet the cat is going, what did she say?¡± Emeri giggled then sobered at Caste¡¯s expression. ¡°You¡¯d better sit down before you fall down.¡±


    He stumbled onto a stool, feeling hot and sick. ¡°You¡­this¡­can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± He blinked and looked at her. Emeri dug into the pocket of her apron and drew her roll out. ¡°Here¡­¡±


    He took the roll numbly, its scent making his stomach growl like an orthros. Without thinking about where it came from or his sensibilities, Caste bit into it, feeling waves of light-headedness roll over him. Emeri poured him a little wine and handed it to him. He watched as she sat down on her stool, dipping her quill into the ink and, studying the text at length, raised the tip to the parchment¡­and stalled. Caste stared at her as she faltered then sighed and put it down.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do it.¡± He said with an element of triumph, thinking that she had been caught out in her lies.


    ¡°Not with you watching,¡± Emeri admitted, ¡°I¡¯ve never had an audience before. No one comes here. Fort Omra is all about weapons and armour and battle tactics, guards and soldiers¡­I am very much alone in this library.¡±


    ¡°Lonely?¡± He found himself asking.


    ¡°No,¡± she shook her head, looking thoughtful, ¡°not lonely¡­after all, I have all these words to keep me company and plenty of work to do¡­but I have never had a visitor¡­certainly not one who was as giddy entering the library as a young man having his first drink.¡±


    Caste sat up. ¡°I was not!¡±


    ¡°You were. For a moment I thought you were going to start skipping about and clapping your hands.¡± Emeri giggled.


    ¡°I was just¡­overwhelmed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡± Emeri admitted. ¡°This library could use some admiration.¡± She leaned back and gazed around the room that was so familiar to her. ¡°She¡¯s not the belle of the ball¡­but she has an ageless grace about her, rather like an elderly queen who has several generations to watch over¡­¡±


    Caste looked around the large space, saturated with knowledge and forgotten heritage. ¡°Regardless of her age,¡± he said quietly, ¡°she needs to be treated with respect.¡±


    Emeri looked at him and nodded.

 Have you no sense of decency?

    Emeri had given Caste his own workspace. Caste might have objected more strenuously to Emeri giving him anything in a room where, by rights, he ought to be the authority, except it was done so with the benefit of both of them in mind. Emeri wanted Caste to critique her transcription work of the early animal skin parchments and Caste wanted to get his hands on the parchments to study what he had only been told about in hushed whispers.


    The library of Fort Omra.


    While not the oldest fort along the wall, its library was the most protected. All the other forts had suffered fires and destruction from monster attacks, precious manuscripts lost over the years but Fort Omra¡¯s library was intact and had been so since its construct.


    ¡°It¡¯s any wonder these were not moved to the library of Astaril.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°I do not believe they would survive the journey.¡± Emeri explained from her desk.


    ¡°Then there should have been clerics sent to do the work you are now attempting.¡± And succeeding at, Caste was pained to admit to himself. He hadn¡¯t found an error yet though he studied the manuscripts at length, searching for one before conceding to defeat.


    ¡°I asked Cleric Severo about that in the beginning,¡± Emeri pushed a loose braid out of the way, ¡°he seemed to imply there was no point.¡±


    ¡°No point?¡± Caste looked up. ¡°There is a wealth of historical knowledge here! There is no way a cleric of the order would say such a thing. You must have misheard.¡± Emeri nodded but Caste suspected she was only mocking him. He leaned closer, a little thrill running through him. ¡°You have made a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Emeri hopped down from her stool and hurried over. ¡°I did not think my work could be without error.¡±


    Caste pointed out the line. ¡°Here it reads, ¡®the mountain was dowsed with the falling star¡¯, but the original is unclear.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve made a notation for that,¡± Emeri pointed at the little red star marked at the start and stop of the questionable line, ¡°this mark should lead the reader down to the bottom of the parchment where I¡¯ve made the note, ¡®the original line was lost due to damage and what reads in its place has been pieced together as carefully as possible but allows for the possibility of discrepancy¡¯.¡±


    Caste swallowed. ¡°Oh¡­¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Well¡­then, this one appears to be correct.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll prepare the wax for the seal.¡±


    In order to compare the new copy from the decrepit original, Caste had to break the wax seal on the tubes and handle the manuscripts with great care. When putting them back into the tube, Emeri heated more wax over a flame, in the middle of the room away from any of the books and brought it over in a ladle.


    Even Caste couldn¡¯t fault Emeri¡¯s attention to detail.


    ¡°Could you sign your name on the manuscripts you approve of?¡±


    Caste did so, knowing that the ones he¡¯d sighted had been accurately transcribed.


    He watched as Emeri put the tubes back onto the racks, patting the end of them. She turned and saw his frown.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°Making sure I put them to bed properly?¡± She teased and Caste rolled his eyes. ¡°Now,¡± she took a piece of thin paper from her pocket, ¡°for that hilt¡­I¡¯m going to need a reference volume for crests and another on ancient Terra translation¡­¡± She walked down the wall, studying the spines of the books that still had them, clucking her tongue. ¡°Oh of course¡­way up there.¡± She sighed and fetched a ladder that rolled across the shelves on railings, the base set upon with two horizontal wheels.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Caste demanded.


    ¡°A way to reach the top shelves.¡± She announced. ¡°Father came up with the idea.¡± She lined it to where she needed it to be and clambered up the ladder, her black boots showing at the hem of her skirt, a thin petticoat peeking out now and then. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Caste darted forward and grabbed the ladder as it wobbled. ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°Your father should have made it sturdier.¡± He groused as she poked and prodded the volumes.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the fault of the ladder or my father, it¡¯s the uneven state of the floor!¡± Caste could hardly deny that. He remained where he was as Emeri began to pull volume after book from the shelf. ¡°Can you catch?¡± She called and started dropping books on him. Caste ran around, catching them as they fell.


    ¡°Could you be a little more respectful?¡± He demanded then his mouth firmed in an unimpressed line as she slid down the polished rails of the ladder and landed on the floor with a smile.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t stop frowning, I¡¯ll have my father tip you upside down and turn it into a smile.¡±


    Caste shivered, knowing full well that the impressive height and strength of Suvau could do exactly as Emeri threatened. He followed her to a coffee table where she laid the books then spread the paper rubbing she¡¯d made of the hilt and smoothed it out.


    ¡°This hilt has to be over five hundred years old¡­¡±


    ¡°Naturally,¡± Caste said with a superior thrust to his chin, ¡°after all, it has no embossed year on its crest and all swords made after the bicentenary of the wall¡¯s construct must be before that time.¡±


    ¡°Someone knows his weapons.¡±


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± Caste folded his arms, ¡°being able to recognise and identify crests is a basic cleric qualification. How do you know about crests?¡±


    She looked at him dryly with an eyebrow raised. ¡°My father is a weaponsmith¡­¡±


    Caste¡¯s arms dropped at the rather obvious answer. ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t much I don¡¯t know about weapons,¡± Emeri winked as Caste, ¡°father even made me my own dagger,¡± she drew her skirt up and though it was only high enough to show a little calf, Caste turned away, mortified, ¡°see?¡±


    ¡°Have you no sense of decency?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a laugh! You deny my people the rights to education and social instruction but hold us accountable to your standards!¡± Emeri laid her dagger on the table, drawn from a hiding place beneath her skirts. ¡°Father said it wasn¡¯t much better than a toothpick but it would make an attacker think twice.¡±


    Caste glanced at the blade then at Emeri who seemed utterly at ease about the notion of being armed. He wondered if she truly had no concept of the danger she was in from being forced by Jerom, son of Ermo Kenet. Suvau didn¡¯t want to scare his daughter but he had made sure she was able, in a small way, to defend herself. However, should she even threaten Jerom, she¡¯d be whipped for her insolence.


    ¡°Caste? Caste!¡±


    ¡°Sorry!¡± He blurted.


    ¡°Lost in your thoughts?¡± Emeri asked and he shrugged, unable to come up with an answer. ¡°Look, see these markings?¡± She held the paper out and Caste squinted at it. ¡°Sorry, the light in here is terrible.¡±


    ¡°You need better lamps.¡± He said, taking one off a hook and bringing it over.


    ¡°I inquired about that with Cleric Severo.¡±


    ¡°His reply?¡±


    ¡°He suggested open flame torches for they cast a far brighter glow¡­¡±


    Caste stared at Emeri. ¡°In a library?¡±


    ¡°Now you know why I squint.¡± Emeri explained. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can risk an open flame in here. Even the one I use to melt the wax for the seals is small and contained. Everything takes twice as long but at least there¡¯s minimal danger.¡± She sighed. ¡°Even so¡­should the mountain of Maul decide to throw a fireball at Fort Omra, the roof would do little to protect it.¡±


    Caste looked upwards, seeing the thatch that was dry and old and would be at the mercy of the smallest spark.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have a word with Cleric Severo about the need to protect these works¡­if I ever get the chance to meet with him.¡± He was surprised at the pleasure in Emeri¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She said with a warm smile.


    ¡°I¡­I¡¯m not doing it for you! I¡¯m trying to protect these books!¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± She giggled. ¡°Now¡­symbols¡­symbols¡­predating the bicentenary¡­¡±

 I could be ensconced in there a month and still not be satisfied

    Dinner at Suvau and Yolana¡¯s abode that evening consisted of a very hearty chicken and vegetable stew. The smell wafted through the house, causing everyone to come to the table early as Aalis, Yolana and Emeri cooked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t recall a time when there was so much food in our cupboards.¡± Yolana shook her head, marvelling at the crates, scorched with the names of various vegetables, bursting to overflowing with the same. ¡°Perhaps on the day of our wedding¡­¡±


    ¡°Our kitchen was smaller. We lived in the village proper then.¡± Suvau lifted a box of potatoes over their heads, putting it on the crate where Caste preferred to sit the night before.


    ¡°I am surprised the Terras allow you to marry at all.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°I thought it would be a way to lower your morale by refusing it.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes but the more of us there are, the less the Terras have to do for themselves.¡± Yolana winked.


    Aalis frowned. ¡°I do not understand.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say,¡± Suvau leaned on the table, ¡°nine months after a wedding, there are an awful lot of babies born and it¡¯s not just the married couple with the new addition to their family.¡± He smiled warmly at Yolana and slid his arm around her waist. ¡°Do you remember Ersha and Sheal¡¯s wedding?¡±


    ¡°How could I forget?¡±


    Aalis blushed and looked at Emeri who giggled and shook her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s any wonder I don¡¯t have a score of siblings.¡± She laughed. ¡°Supper is ready!¡±


    The mood was merry around the table despite the close quarters as they talked about their day. Caste was unable to find a corner to hide in but he was allowed to sit on one of the end chairs, pushed back a fraction from the table, creating a distance bubble around himself, his reluctance to interact reinforced by him holding a book up to his nose.


    ¡°The forge is amazing!¡± Judd announced. ¡°How they have utilised the open lava flow for smelting and weapons craft¡­¡±


    ¡°Sounds a little unstable to me.¡± Giordi admitted. ¡°What if the lava gets a little enthusiastic?¡±


    ¡°The water flow we have in the forge can be diverted, from as far away as the door and the door has a stone cover, reinforced with metal, in case of an emergency.¡± Suvau assured them.


    Giordi tilted his head, conceding to the care taken with the dangerous forge.


    ¡°See what Suvau wants to do with the hilt.¡± Judd unrolled several pieces of parchment, each with detailed drawings of different sword shapes and lengths with measurements written down the sides. ¡°He says I can pick out of any of these designs.¡±


    Verne and Judd leaned over the designs. ¡°All of these you can do?¡± Verne asked, impressed.


    ¡°All of them.¡±


    Verne turned to Judd. ¡°How are you going to choose?¡±


    ¡°I figure I¡¯ve got a hefty sword that has a double edged blade so this one ought to be single edged and lighter.¡±


    ¡°Do not forget the lesson you learnt with Dalain¡¯s loss at Fort Bastil.¡± Aalis warned. ¡°His sword was light weight. He was faster with it but it broke against your shield and armour.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to use a blended metal, one of my own secret formula, that will be as strong as the sword he has now but half the weight.¡± Suvau promised. ¡°I¡¯ve already put Judd through the motions of a custom make.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been weighed, my measurements have been recorded and my strike force has been noted.¡± Judd laughed. ¡°I learned more about myself in one hour at the forge than anywhere else in Terra.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s father¡¯s thoroughness to a custom build that makes him irreplaceable.¡± Emeri said proudly.


    ¡°And these designs are the ones that will work best with that blend and Judd¡¯s needs.¡±


    ¡°Really? On the table?¡± Yolana rebuked and Judd scooped the pages away carefully so she could put bowls of stew down in front of them.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that weaponsmith in Fort Faine say it wasn¡¯t much better than a paperweight?¡± Caste reminded Judd from behind his book.


    ¡°That is a lazy weaponsmith attitude,¡± Suvau explained, ¡°more like a blacksmith pretending to be a weaponsmith.¡±


    ¡°And when it comes to swords, no one is better than Suvau.¡± Yolana winked. ¡°He said so himself.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a boast.¡± Suvau chuckled deeply and Aalis was sure he made the floor rumble. ¡°Swords are made out of a single forged piece these days. There¡¯s no welding, no joins that might snap, just simple, strong blades with the hilt a part of the design. However, your hilt,¡± he looked at Judd, ¡°was made separately and the blade inserted into it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how Suvau knew it was over five hundred years old.¡± Judd explained to everyone who were already devouring the stew as he talked. ¡°He says he can remove the broken blade from the interior of the hilt and forge a new one to fit.¡±


    ¡°Without damaging the hilt in the process?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll get a little jarred as I ensure the blade becomes properly fixed but that portion of the hilt is plain. The crest is higher on the hilt so we won¡¯t lose that detail.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of detail,¡± Emeri took the piece of paper from her apron pocket, ¡°Caste and I were able to identify some of the markings on the crest.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you found the library then?¡± Yolana winked at the cleric.


    ¡°You might have said¡­¡± Caste murmured, closing his book and taking up his stew.


    ¡°We did try¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Emeri waved her hands to bring the attention back to the topic, ¡°the sword had to predate the bicentenary of the building of the wall of the south.¡±


    ¡°That much was obvious.¡± Caste confirmed.


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Emeri batted back his mordancy with ease, ¡°all crests since then had a year embossed into them but this one doesn¡¯t. However, where the year would normally be at the centre of the crest, there is a much stronger indentation than anything else on it, of a star,¡± she pointed at Caste¡¯s pendant which he always wore, the four pointed start inside a circle, ¡°that star.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s a sword made after the founding of the city of Astaril,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°that symbol didn¡¯t exist before the wall was built and Sir Andigre became King Andigre.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Emeri nodded. ¡°But, and this is where it becomes really interesting,¡± she traced the line of marks around the crest¡¯s outer circle, ¡°these markings are ancient Terra.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­before Astaril¡¯s foundation?¡±


    She nodded. Judd looked at Caste who shrugged.


    ¡°Her reasoning is sound¡­up until this point.¡±


    ¡°This is where we began to disagree,¡± Emeri admitted, ¡°ancient Terra is hard to translate as there was no universal language back then. All the clans spoke their own dialects and half of them didn¡¯t even utilise the written word.¡±


    ¡°So you have two different interpretations of the writing?¡± Aalis looked between them.


    ¡°I think,¡± Caste eyed Emeri, ¡°and there¡¯s more than a fair chance that I¡¯m right, that it says, ¡®Omni alvi clavis¡¯, which, translated literally, means, ¡®all things cleared key¡¯ or the key blade that clears all things.¡±


    He met all of their gazes, Giordi looking confused. ¡°Does that really make sense?¡±


    ¡°One old hilt I saw had, ¡®Ugly Ogre Eater¡¯, embossed on it.¡± Suvau shook his head. ¡°I think the weaponsmith was having a go at the person who ordered it¡­or he didn¡¯t know what he was embossing.¡±


    ¡°They were primitive back then.¡± Caste argued. ¡°Their crests usually meant more to the wielder than it did to anyone else.¡±


    ¡°So whoever wielded the blade in the hilt knew what ¡®key blade that clears all things¡¯, means?¡± Judd asked and Caste nodded. He paused. ¡°Not that I¡¯m doubting you but Emeri, you don¡¯t think that¡¯s right?¡±


    ¡°I think what Caste has interpreted has merit,¡± Emeri insisted, ¡°however, I¡¯ve been transcribing a great deal of ancient Terra text. Omni and omega are common translation errors and I think that this,¡± she tapped to a small indentation mark from her rubbing, ¡°turns clavis, which is key, into auctoritas, which means authority.¡±


    ¡°Emeri believes the crest actually reads, ¡®Omega clear authority¡¯.¡± Caste¡¯s voice was as dry as a bone in the desert. He caught sight of Suvau¡¯s glower and lowered his eyes, submitting to a father¡¯s silent warning.


    Emeri shrugged. ¡°The truth is we may never really know what it says but because of the ancient Terra on the hilt, I think that it was made prior to the founding of Astaril when language was formed into one dialect by the Order of the Grail and the star was embossed on it afterwards, hence it being a deeper mark.¡±


    They considered this for a time.


    ¡°Who do you think the sword belonged to?¡± Judd asked quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only seen it¡¯s like once before,¡± Caste said surprisingly, ¡°and that is the sword of Sir Verion.¡±


    Judd glared at him. ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to mention that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never had a good look at it before.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Suvau folded his arms, ¡°you¡¯ve seen the legendary sword of one of the Four Spire knights?¡±


    ¡°It was preserved in the house of the Order of the Grail, Bishop Peele¡¯s most prized artefact¡­until Sir Rylan petitioned King Rocheveron that it belonged at the fort named after the knight.¡± Caste grumbled then shook his head. ¡°The hilt bears some resemblance to that blade.¡±


    Judd drew the hilt out of his pocket and gazed at it, his eyes gleaming. ¡°So¡­this might have been a knight¡¯s blade? As in, one of the Four Spire knights?¡±


    ¡°Highly doubtful. Don¡¯t forget that after the Four Spire knights perished in the building of the wall, King Andigre knighted other men who had swords made right on the cusp of Astaril¡¯s founding. It¡¯s possible they just used old swords with new embossing, a lot like your current sword was just one of the discarded blades given to a rookie knight in training.¡±


    ¡°Yes but still¡­imagine that I might be holding the hilt of a knight of old¡­¡± Judd¡¯s eyes sparkled with the same joy as he¡¯d felt the day he¡¯d set out from Astaril. ¡°That¡¯s really quite remarkable.¡±


    Aalis smiled warmly at him. He put the hilt away then caught her eyes. She blinked and turned away, busying herself in the kitchen.


    ¡°I meant to ask,¡± Verne blurted, seeing the awkward exchange between them, ¡°what did Ermo Kenet say upon your return from Quarre?¡±


    ¡°As fortune would have it, he was asked to join Sir Fereak on his patrol,¡± Suvau stood, taking bowls with him, ¡°they and are due back tomorrow. I will be deeply interested to see the look on his face.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to meet Sir Fereak, if he has the time.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°I could use some help in the orchard,¡± Verne looked at Giordi pointedly who sighed, ¡°you can sing in the afternoon but in the morning, you¡¯re going to help Sheal and Ersha.¡±


    ¡°Sheal offered her home to me again for those who need healing.¡± Aalis wiped her hands on her skirt. ¡°I suppose you will be ensconced in the library once more?¡± She teased Caste.


    ¡°I could be ensconced in there a month and still not be satisfied.¡± Caste retorted.


    Suvau laughed heartily and Caste looked at him in astonishment, racking his brains to think if he¡¯d said something amusing.


    ¡°And here I thought Emeri was the only one with an all consuming passion for that dusty archive.¡±


    ¡°We thought Caste was the only one.¡±


    ¡°Good grief¡­they¡¯re multiplying!¡±


    ¡°We are not!¡± Caste erupted, then became miffed as everyone burst out laughing.

 Well, I’m hardly the legendary knight I thought I would be

    Verne enjoyed peeling off the clothes she wore constantly. Because of her intent to obscure her gender, there were some things she never removed unless she was alone. Travelling in a group and camping together did not offer many opportunities. She appreciated Aalis¡¯ discretion and the chance to change her clothing fully in the room she and Aalis shared openly and Emeri, secretly.


    ¡°I might want everyone to think I¡¯m male¡­doesn¡¯t mean I want to smell like one.¡± She commented to Aalis who was writing some notations on a slate. ¡°There are some extremes even I won¡¯t go to.¡± She sighed, feeling the length of her hair as she combed it, the ends reaching her shoulder blades. ¡°It hasn¡¯t been this long in ages¡­¡±


    ¡°No one notices its length.¡± Aalis reassured her. ¡°A strong change like cutting it might engender unwarranted attention.¡±


    ¡°Knock, knock¡­¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Emeri slipped inside and closed the door. ¡°No one saw me.¡± She promised them then sat cross legged on the bed, watching Aalis make notes. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Working out how much of everything I have left.¡± Aalis sighed. ¡°I am running low on some supplies.¡±


    ¡°Can I see?¡± Emeri took the slate and studied it. ¡°I know a place you can get most of these but it would take the better part of a day to go there and back.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯d probably be worth it.¡± Verne urged Aalis.


    ¡°Could we go there the day after tomorrow?¡±


    Emeri nodded. ¡°That works for me. And you won¡¯t need Judd or any of the others. There are no monsters along the path. Just us three will be able to handle it. We¡¯ll call it a girl¡¯s day out.¡±


    ¡°Just not when we are around the men.¡± Aalis stood. ¡°I think I left some of my herbs in the kitchen. I will not be long.¡±


    Aalis closed Emeri¡¯s bedroom door behind her and went to the kitchen with her slate and piece of chalk. She paused on the threshold when she saw Judd sitting at the table, his head in his hands as he stared at the papers before him. Everyone else had repaired to their bedrooms. She hadn¡¯t thought anyone would still be up. She didn¡¯t know if she could face him alone after how she had jilted him for Verne. Uncertainty made her hesitate, wondering if she could sneak away without him noticing but the wretched step creaked beneath her slight weight and Judd glanced up from the parchments on the table, blinking to refocus in the dim light.


    ¡°Aalis? Something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No. Just¡­making sure I have enough herbs for tomorrow¡¯s clinic¡­but I do not wish to disturb you.¡±


    ¡°No, no, you¡¯re not disturbing me.¡± Judd rubbed his face and leaned back.


    Aalis felt timid and shy, poking around the kitchen for her lost pouches.


    ¡°I thought everyone was in bed.¡± She said quietly.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°I probably ought to be so but I just haven¡¯t been able to decide on a blade for the hilt.¡± He sighed and put his elbows on the table, face in his hands, gazing at the designs.


    Aalis was going to escape with or without the pouches but she saw the furrows in his forehead. She wanted to smooth them out but restrained herself. Instead she took the lamp from the hook on the wall and brought it to the table so that it¡¯s glow was stronger across the designs.


    ¡°You should not work in half light.¡± She warned. ¡°You will hurt your eyes.¡±


    ¡°It became dim without me realising it.¡± Judd patted his cheeks to try to wake himself up and cleared his throat. ¡°I almost wish Suvau wasn¡¯t as good at his work as he is. I think my problem is there are several really wonderful designs and I can¡¯t choose.¡±


    Aalis gazed at him kindly, her heart aching for him. She set her slate aside and sat down opposite him. ¡°You seem to have narrowed it down.¡± She pointed out.


    ¡°To these three designs.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°This one I like because the hilt fits into the sword sheath, making it seems like part of the design but then you pull it out.¡± Aalis studied the sketched hilt end fitting into the sheath. Judd jabbed the next one. ¡°This blade is the simplest, straight and true but this one has that concave curve out to a point after the hilt then a bit of slope to the tip¡­¡± He sighed and shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t decide. I¡¯ve dreamed about my own custom sword since I was a boy¡­but now¡­¡±


    ¡°You are worried that your dreams might seem a little out of line with real life?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­if I asked Suvau to make me a sword like the one I made myself out of wood when I was a boy, it¡¯d be too heavy to handle.¡± Judd laughed. ¡°When it was wood I could swing it around and quite terrifyingly as well¡­but a metal blade¡­¡±


    Aalis tilted her head, seeing sorrow on his features. ¡°You are feeling your childhood being stripped away¡­one illusion at a time.¡± She murmured.


    Judd lifted his head. ¡°Well¡­yes I suppose. But not in a bad way. I mean, I am still here and I am well on my way to becoming a knight and that¡¯s been the biggest dream¡­but I can see how foolish I was setting out the way I did, poorly equipped and so very ignorant.¡± He folded his arms. ¡°No wonder Caste resented the Maul out of me in the beginning.¡±


    ¡°I do not think he does anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s got other things to resent now.¡± Judd shrugged. ¡°I thought Sir Rylan¡¯s knighthood quest offer was one of the most generous and brilliant opportunities in all of Terramaul. But after hearing how other questers have died or failed¡­¡±


    ¡°You have not failed.¡± Aalis¡¯ instinctively reached out and put her hand over arm.


    ¡°If not for you and for Caste, for Verne¡­even for Giordi and now Suvau¡­¡± Judd protested lightly. ¡°I might well have become a cautionary tale for those being foolish enough to challenge the sphere in which I had been born.¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°You do not think yourself worthy¡­¡± She said softly and Judd¡¯s eyes closed.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m hardly the legendary knight I thought I would be.¡± Judd opened his hands then rubbed them together, grimacing. ¡°I swear I still smell of fish¡­¡±


    ¡°I like fish.¡± Aalis insisted.


    He chuckled softly. ¡°You always do that.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You never let me feel like my past is a shameful thing. You always encourage me, seeing me as I could be, not forsaking what I was but building on what I will become.¡± He looked up and Aalis¡¯ heart trembled at the warmth in his eyes which caused a bloom of heat in her cheeks. Judd swallowed. ¡°It¡¯s why I value our friendship, Aalis¡­so much. No matter what else happens¡­you are a dear friend.¡±


    Aalis pressed her lips together, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes and nodded. ¡°You are my friend also, Judd LaMogre.¡± She blinked rapidly, dispersing the sheen over her eyes and cleared her throat. ¡°Do you know¡­the three elements you admired about the blade designs¡­they are not exclusive of each other.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± she waved her hand over them, ¡°they could all exist in one sword. A blade with one straight edge, one detailed with a sheath designed to embrace the hilt¡­it could be a single weapon.¡± Judd sat up straight, eyes wide, staring at the designs. ¡°I am not a weaponsmith so I would consult Suvau first¡­¡±


    ¡°I shall¡­because that could be the answer I was looking for.¡± He beamed at her. ¡°Thank you, Aalis.¡±

 In my opinion, men rise to the expectation of their weapons

    By midday Sir Fereak had returned to Fort Omra. Word arrived in the forge while Suvau was sketching the new design Judd had suggested for the blade onto thin parchment. Suvau rolled the design and tucked it into the hollow leg of his table. He winked at Judd and gestured for him to be silent before taking up the custom sword he had made for Lord LeMewn which his wife had insisted be returned to him.


    When they were walking through the fort, Suvau leaned down.


    ¡°Kenet has been known to ¡®check¡¯ my work at times¡­¡±


    ¡°You think he¡¯s trying to steal your designs?¡±


    ¡°Or alter the measurements I have taken to ruin a custom make.¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°Now that he¡¯s back in the fort, I¡¯d like to be a little extra careful with your design. Where is that library? I always get lost¡­I think it¡¯s this way.¡±


    Judd followed Suvau hastily. ¡°The design for the sword¡­is it asking too much?¡±


    ¡°I like the challenge and it will certainly be a unique blade.¡± Suvau assured him. ¡°I would have given you this,¡± he tapped the custom sword that was wrapped in its leather pouch, ¡°but it wouldn¡¯t suit your weight, height or personality. Lord LeMewn wanted to dazzle the king with a ¡®pretty¡¯ sword.¡±


    They collected Caste from the library and went to the foyer of the fort, asking to speak with Sir Fereak.


    No one who had ever become a knight had been small and weedy. It just wasn¡¯t the occupation for small and weedy men. However, Sir Fereak was a rather impressive height and build. Though not a particularly aged man, approaching forty but not there yet, the trials of being in charge of a wall fort had turned his hair dark grey. It was pushed back from his face, showing the lines around his eyes, one of which had been rendered blind by an unfortunate monster attack.


    Sitting off to one side was another man, heavy set with dark brown hair tied in a knot at the back of his head, the sharpness of the hairline adding to his frown. Judd couldn¡¯t tell if it was his resting face or if it was their presence that put him in a foul mood. His eyebrows were thick also and almost looked to be pushing his eyes into a constant squint.


    The steward ushered Judd, Suvau and Caste into the chamber where Sir Fereak was speaking with another of his soldiers, his hand on his arm, their heads close together as though sharing a secret. Respectfully the steward kept his distance and the visitors remained behind him, trying not to listen though a few words did reach their ears.


    ¡°¡­after supper¡­before the midnight shift.¡±


    The soldier nodded, half bowing as he left and Sir Fereak turned to a metal jug, pouring water into the matching bowl, splashing water on his face, sweaty from days on patrol.


    ¡°Sir Fereak, I present Judd LaMogre to you, champion of Fort Bastil¡¯s fighting tournament.¡±


    ¡°Sir Fereak,¡± Judd bowed, ¡°thank you for granting me an audience so soon after your return from patrol.¡±


    ¡°Think nothing of it LaMogre,¡± Fereak tossed the towel aside, ¡°the mount of Maul never stops so neither do we.¡±


    ¡°May I introduce my cleric, Caste Undern?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a spindly little one,¡± Sir Fereak chuckled, ¡°thank Astaril for things like the Order of the Grail as I doubt you¡¯d be any use elsewhere.¡± Caste gave a small smile, acknowledging Sir Fereak¡¯s humour without laughing. ¡°So¡­you¡¯re LaMogre¡­killer of the giant spider of Fort Sol,¡± Sir Fereak sat on a chair and gestured for Judd to do the same, his one good eye appraising him closely, ¡°I thought you¡¯d be taller¡­but then reports of monster kills often exaggerate details, of both the killer and the monster.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre has always been this height,¡± Caste said hastily, ¡°however, I fail to see how the reports of the spider¡¯s size could have been exaggerated.¡±


    ¡°It was big enough.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you heard of it so quickly. It¡¯s a long step from here to Fort Sol.¡±


    ¡°Egrette sent word through the wall. One messenger to the next and so on. We met with one on patrol and he told us what you had done.¡± Sir Fereak leaned to the side, comfortable and casual, still travel stained and yet knightly. ¡°What brings you to Fort Omra? Another monster on your list? Seeking the thrills of the wall?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I need a custom sword forged.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll do no better than Fort Omra¡¯s forge, eh Kenet?¡± Sir Fereak twisted to look over his shoulder at man with the dark frown who had been quietly brooding since their arrival. ¡°Best in all of Terra.¡±


    ¡°Indeed¡­to those who can pay.¡± Kenet said with a bite in his voice. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how many come to Fort Omra thinking they can wheedle their way into a free sword.¡±


    ¡°I have the payment for LaMogre¡¯s sword,¡± Suvau announced suddenly, ¡°it has all been arranged.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes¡­Suvau, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Sir Fereak squinted at Suvau who bowed.


    ¡°You were supposed to be in Quarre, trading with Lord LeMewn.¡± Kenet said sharply. ¡°He ordered a custom sword from Fort Omra¡­¡±


    Judd could feel the tension, the history between the two men, build in the room.


    ¡°Unfortunately Lord LeMewn only ordered the sword so that he could lure me to Quarre.¡±


    ¡°You defame a lord of Astaril?¡±


    ¡°Suvau speaks the truth.¡± Caste explained quickly. ¡°Lord LeMewn had no intention of paying for the sword.¡±


    ¡°And you insisted he could be trusted.¡± Sir Fereak grasped a goblet of wine and tipped it down his throat. Kenet¡¯s jaw twitched.


    ¡°I did not think it wise to call into question the integrity of a man so closely connected to the throne.¡± Kenet excused then glared at Suvau. ¡°Where is the sword?¡±


    ¡°I have it here.¡± Suvau presented it to Sir Fereak who drew back the leather pouch flaps to whistle as the sword was exposed to the light. He grasped the hilt and held it up, the elegant sword polished beautifully, a seam of delicate gold in a swirling pattern up its length.


    ¡°Though not my style, this is a very fine sword.¡± Sir Fereak inspected it with the eye of one who had seen many swords in his day. ¡°You made this, Suvau?¡±


    Suvau nodded as Kenet blurted. ¡°Under my supervision.¡±


    ¡°Naturally.¡± Judd wanted to grind his teeth as Fereak held it out to Suvau. ¡°Still, even under supervision, that is an excellent blade.¡±


    ¡°As it was a commissioned blade that was never paid for, I return it to you, Sir Fereak.¡± Suvau bowed and left the sword in Fereak¡¯s possession.


    ¡°Well¡­I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll have much use for it¡­although it¡¯d make a fine gift to Sir Rylan in honour of his ascent to the throne if King Rocheveron cannot produce another heir.¡± Fereak nodded. ¡°You¡¯re a valuable addition to the forge, Suvau. I take it Lord LeMewn thought he could get away with not paying for the sword because he was thinly connected to the king?¡±


    ¡°He had Suvau charged with a false crime and imprisoned.¡± Caste explained. ¡°If not for Judd LaMogre¡¯s intervention, amongst other factors, Suvau would have been executed.¡±


    ¡°But what of the werewolf?¡±


    Everyone looked at Kenet. Judd¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you know of the werewolf?¡±


    Ermo Kenet stammered for a brief moment. ¡°Lord LeMewn¡­he said something about a werewolf.¡±


    ¡°I killed it.¡± Judd said.


    ¡°You?¡± He nodded.


    ¡°A giant spider, a werewolf¡­and you¡¯re Fort Bastil¡¯s champion¡­¡± Sir Fereak stood up. ¡°I think we could stand to trade some monster stories, don¡¯t you? Come for supper this evening, an hour before sunset. You¡¯ve earned the chance to witness the wall and see what it is we are dealing with. Bring your cleric.¡±


    ¡°May my archer and minstrel accompany us?¡±


    ¡°By all means. The more the merrier.¡±


    With that they were dismissed and escaped the room. Judd peered over his shoulder to make sure they couldn¡¯t be seen or heard. ¡°I did wonder if you were being a touch paranoid about Ermo Kenet. I stand corrected. He has it in for you.¡±


    ¡°LeMewn¡¯s scheme was supposed to discredit me and get me killed.¡± Suvau replied softly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t work out quite the way Kenet had in mind.¡± Judd chuckled then paused. ¡°Suvau¡­I don¡¯t have the coin to pay for this sword.¡±


    ¡°You have the coin Lady LeMewn gave me in compensation.¡±


    Caste looked at Judd who spluttered. ¡°That¡¯s yours!¡±


    ¡°And you saved my life.¡± Suvau held up his hand to stop Judd¡¯s protestation. ¡°In my world, Judd LaMogre, gold matters little. No amount of coin will change my people¡¯s lot or protect my daughter from the lustful schemes of Terras without ethics or morals. A good man deserves the best sword.¡±


    Judd sighed and folded his arms. ¡°I thought a good man ought to deserve a good sword, not the best.¡±


    ¡°In my opinion, men rise to the expectation of their weapons.¡± Suvau winked. ¡°Come, we have work to do.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ll be going back to the library, Caste?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Have fun.¡±

 We of the Order of the Grail have our ways…

    ¡°No, no, no! You are absolutely, entirely and utterly incorrect!¡± Caste raged not twenty minutes later. He was arguing heatedly with Emeri who was not only holding her own, she looked as though she was enjoying it.


    ¡°I really think I am not.¡± She retorted, gesturing to the tapestry. ¡°This predates Himal¡¯s doctorate on which all of the Order of the Grail¡¯s assumptions¡­¡±


    ¡°Assumptions!¡±


    ¡°Yes, assumptions,¡± Emeri continued, not bothered by Caste¡¯s interjection, ¡°that the mount of Maul is a naturally occurring phenomenon.¡±


    Caste stuck his hands through his hair, the red strands sticking up, as wild as the discussion they were having. ¡°How could it be anything but a naturally occurring phenomenon? It¡¯s a mountain! That spews out monsters!¡±


    ¡°Yes but has it always been that way?¡± Emeri argued. ¡°Consider that monsters have always been superior in strength to humans and their very nature demands that they feed on our flesh. How is it possible that humans survived at all to the point of developing clans, let alone the knowledge and manpower to build the wall? Surely if what the Order of the Grail maintains as truth were the case, monsters would have become the dominant species, consuming all humans then dying out themselves when there was no one left to eat!¡±


    ¡°Obviously they restrained themselves, roaming the south of Terramaul until¡­¡±


    ¡°Until when?¡± Emeri folded her arms. ¡°Until they ran out of food sources?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­yes.¡±


    ¡°Human food sources¡­as in¡­my people? The people of Maul?¡± Caste floundered for a moment. ¡°Even I will agree with the Order that monsters don¡¯t eat livestock or wild animals. They¡¯ll kill them but not eat. Clearly they had to be eating something¡­or someone.¡± She leaned against a pillar. ¡°Which leads to a rather interesting conflict of theologies. Either the Order is wrong about the mount being a naturally occurring phenomenon¡­or they are wrong about my people being aberrations of humanity. Because, if my people existed in the south of Terramaul as legitimate humans, it was they that died first when the monsters began to infest our world.¡± Emeri put her hands on her slender hips. She was ready to keep arguing but saw the stricken expression in Caste¡¯s eyes, covered by indignation and stubbornness. She paused and dropped her hands, breathing out. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to call into question the doctrine of the Order of the Grail¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh really?¡± He snapped which she ignored graciously.


    ¡°But it seems to me that there have been a number of assumptions made about the nature of Terra, Maul and the human race that don¡¯t line up with the manuscripts in this library.¡±


    Caste folded his arms and eyed her dryly. ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°This tapestry,¡± Emeri explained, taking him to the pillar where a tapestry depicting the mountain of Maul stitched against dyed red fabric with black stick figures below and a lighter outline of mountains in the background, ¡°has always been seen as the view from the wall.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that would seem to be accurate.¡± Caste said from between gritted teeth.


    ¡°And I would have agreed,¡± Emeri said gently, taking his elbow and propelling him to a table where she had a map laid out, ¡°until you look at this map. Now, see the way the range behind the mountain of Maul is depicted?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you were standing on the north side of that range, the mountains would be on the left of the mount of Maul.¡± She ran her finger just above the line on the map. ¡°However, if you look at the tapestry again,¡± she turned around, Caste with her, to look at the tapestry, ¡°you see that the mountain range is on the right.¡± She faced Caste with bright eyes and expectation in her expression while he was less than receptive. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? If the tapestry had been made by those in the north, they would have put the mountains on the left. Even if you hung off the eastern edge of the continent, the mount of Maul would never have mountains to the right of it. It¡¯s a geographical impossibility.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Caste listened with a furrow on his brow.


    ¡°But if the tapestry is accurate, and there is no reason to believe that it is not, then it was made by humans who lived south of the mount of Maul¡­my people¡­¡±


    He still said nothing. Emeri sighed and moved away. She suspected she had pushed him too far with her theories. She hadn¡¯t meant to overwhelm or insult him. It was just so pleasant to be able to share her thoughts with someone. Being educated, even if only by books, set her apart from her people. If she didn¡¯t open her mouth, she blended in with the background, both in the village and in the fort but the moment she did, Emeri could feel a yawning gap between herself and others. It wasn¡¯t as if her own people were unkind or distant but Emeri yearned to debate and share ideas.


    Terras wouldn¡¯t let her.


    Her own people wouldn¡¯t understand her.


    No wonder she spent so much time in the library.


    She went to her desk and picked up her inkwell. She needed to make up more ink so she worked quietly as she usually did, grinding the mix until it was a powder then adding purified water. Thankfully there had been a book on the grinding and mixing of inks in the library and what with her ability to collect minerals from the mountains, Emeri never needed to beg Cleric Severo for ink. Parchment was not so easy to come by and soon she would need to ask him to request more brought in.


    Cleric Severo resented any request that made him exert even the smallest effort. Emeri returned to her stood and sat down on her stool, sitting the ink well in its holder and dipped the brush into the mix.


    ¡°What if the tapestry is not as old as you think it is?¡± Caste¡¯s voice floated to her through the deadened atmosphere of the library where the books seemed to soak all excess sound. Emeri glanced up. Caste was gazing at the offensive wall hanging, glaring at it to be precise. ¡°Surely something that old would have fallen into dust by now.¡±


    ¡°That might have been the case except this tapestry was in a sealed chest, found in the foundations of the fort itself.¡± Emeri put the brush down.


    ¡°Even in a chest, I¡¯m surprised it lasted a hundred years, let alone as many as you think it may have done.¡±


    Emeri licked her lips. ¡°It was not the only item in the chest. There were documents too, manuscripts¡­all old and very precious.¡±


    Caste turned to her, intrigued by the notion of such unique manuscripts. ¡°What happened to them?¡±


    ¡°I do not know.¡± Emeri sighed. ¡°I never saw them. Cleric Severo was drinking heavily one night and rambled about the chest and its contents. He couldn¡¯t be persuaded to tell me where they were while he was soaked and when he sobered up, he was less than¡­receptive to my enquires.¡± She picked up the brush again, gazing at the work in front of her. ¡°There is, I suppose, no way to really know when the chest was put into the foundations¡­certainly not who¡­¡±


    Caste let her work, mulling over the options in his mind. The manuscripts might not be as confirming to the doctrine of the Order of the Grail as he would prefer¡­but Caste¡¯s intrigue was piqued and when it came to archives and documentation, he was a master at working out how to work it out.


    ¡°Perhaps we might never know without a doubt who hid the contents of the chest,¡± he admitted, glancing briefly in Emeri¡¯s direction, ¡°however¡­we could narrow it down¡­¡±


    Emeri¡¯s head lifted, her dark brown eyes bright with hope. ¡°How?¡±


    Caste smiled smugly. ¡°We of the Order of the Grail have our ways¡­¡±


    Emeri raised her eyebrows. ¡°Care to share those ways?¡±


    Needing to claw back some ground from the rather clever Maul woman who had caught Caste completely off guard, the young cleric decided to include her in the process, just so she would be able to comprehend his brilliance.


    ¡°You have fort records in the library?¡±


    ¡°Not the current ones. They are with Cleric Severo.¡±


    ¡°But all the past records?¡±


    Emeri nodded and stood up, leading Caste to a dark and somewhat forgotten corner of the library. ¡°These are all the records of the fort,¡± she explained, ¡°but I do not understand¡­¡±


    ¡°You said the chest was sealed in the foundations of Fort Omra?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then there should be a notation in one of these volumes about the work done regarding the foundations which would be signed off by the cleric assigned to the fort at the time.¡± Caste was rewarded with surprise and pleasure in Emeri¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Oh! That¡¯s brilliant¡­and if we line up the cleric with the knight who presided over Fort Omra¡­¡±


    ¡°We will have an idea of at least the bare minimum age that the tapestry is.¡± Caste preened a little then let out a gasp of air as Emeri thrust one of the volumes at him, taking up one in her own arms.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to it!¡±

 That’s ancient dust and archival ink, I’ll have you know

    ¡°How is this?¡± Suvau called to Judd who had decided not to hover over the weaponsmith¡¯s shoulder while he was designing the sword. The young man eagerly leaned over the table as Suvau turned the design towards him. It was a handsome blade. The upper edge was straight but the lower edge, which was the sharpened edge, had an elegant curve and several crescent details to it.


    ¡°That¡¯s brilliant Suvau!¡±


    ¡°What you envisioned?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd looked up, ¡°it¡¯s better.¡±


    Suvau chuckled then pointed to the second half of the sketches. ¡°See here, the sheath? It will have a detailed opening so that the hilt, when the sword is sheathed, will look like part of the entire design.¡±


    ¡°And you can really do this?¡±


    ¡°I am looking forward to it.¡± Suvau cracked his knuckles. ¡°The leather of the sheath will be crafted by an artisan in the village but I will make the top that it will be set into. It¡¯s too late in the day to be starting the metal process or I¡¯d be up half the night. We¡¯ll begin tomorrow.¡± He rolled up the sketch. ¡°Let¡¯s go have a word with the leather craftsman and start making a sword worthy of LaMogre.¡±


    Caste had to admit there was a reason while the archives of the fort records were dusty and neglected. They were some of the most boring tomes he had ever read. Notations on the day to day living, the construction work, the expenses of the weapons, the uniforms of the soldiers and the armour they wore. It was all very dry. The only time there was anything of real interest was when a cleric wrote about the damage monster attacks had made on the fort.


    He rubbed his eyes, feeling them sting and blinked several times to refocus before returning to the archives which were becoming fainter with every generation of cleric they passed, going further and further into the past. He tried to stifle a yawn, failed but covered it by pretending to clear his throat.


    ¡°I know. Better than a sleeping tonic.¡±


    He grimaced, knowing his subterfuge had been less than successful.


    Emeri yawned openly and shook her head, the beads in her hair tinkling lightly.


    ¡°Perhaps we should give up for the day. I feel like I am having mini sleeps every time I close my eyes.¡± She admitted.


    Caste didn¡¯t want to admit he was feeling the same way. Every time he yawned, he had to reread that which had caused him to yawn in the first place. He was starting to think he¡¯d never escape the page he was on.


    ¡°Just a little longer¡­¡±


    ¡°I tell myself that and end up awake most of the night.¡± Caste smiled and nodded then paused, surprised that he should have something in common with the girl from Maul. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°If you must.¡± He replied tersely.


    ¡°What are those dots on your face?¡±


    Caste looked up. ¡°Dots?¡±


    Emeri nodded then danced her fingers above her nose and pointed at him. ¡°Dots.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not dots. They¡¯re freckles.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± she tilted her head, ¡°are they¡­common among Terras?¡±


    ¡°I am hardly common.¡± Caste straightened his shoulders and forced himself to sit upright, having slumped over the course of the afternoon. But within a few minutes, he was sagging again. He felt another yawn, a monster sized one, threatening and had to do something. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± He looked up, willing himself not to give away his weariness.


    ¡°They¡¯re not something I have seen on any of the Terras in the fort.¡± Emeri explained. ¡°Not that I see the soldiers up close and they are almost always in armour¡­but my mother serves Lady Fereak and occasionally I have seen her¡­and she does not have freckles.¡±


    Caste blinked. ¡°Does she have hair the colour of mine?¡±


    ¡°No. It is brown¡­ash brown.¡± Emeri put her finger where she had been reading and studied Caste. ¡°It has something to do with your hair colour?¡±


    ¡°It is more common with my hair colour.¡±


    ¡°I thought you were hardly common?¡± Emeri raised her eyebrows and Caste grunted in his throat. ¡°It must be nice to have variation of colour in your features.¡±


    ¡°If you say so¡­¡± Caste went to dismiss her comment brusquely yet found himself puzzled by it. ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well¡­I am quite brown.¡± Emeri laughed. ¡°Brown skin, brown eyes, dark brown hair¡­I am not complaining but it must be nice to have that copper red hair, those freckles¡­those green eyes¡­¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°I suppose freckles on you would just fade into the background.¡± Caste remarked without thinking about it.


    ¡°Yes, of course¡­¡± Emeri sighed and looked down at her archive.


    Caste paused for a moment, hearing a little sorrow in her voice. He hadn¡¯t meant to be cruel. It had seemed a perfectly obvious statement. Yet he couldn¡¯t help but noticed a deflation in Emeri¡¯s manner. Even her weariness at reading the dry archives hadn¡¯t produced the downturn of her lips or the way she swallowed tightly and he was suddenly confronted with the notion that he might have wounded her. If it had been anyone else, he could have confirmed this by noticing a redness in their features but on Emeri, it was not noticeable.


    ¡°At least when you blush, it isn¡¯t so obvious.¡± He blurted and she lifted her head, surprised. ¡°When I am embarrassed, my freckled skin goes as red as lava. Then I¡¯m just all¡­red.¡±


    ¡°I had not thought about it like that,¡± Emeri pursed her lips, ¡°but it must be lovely to have all those colours. I imagine Astaril would look like a beautiful tapestry of blonde, brunettes, red heads and black, silvery grey and white...¡±


    ¡°Colour only serves to isolate.¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯re being facetious.¡± Emeri retorted.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious.¡± Caste insisted. ¡°My hair has brought me nothing but mockery.¡±


    ¡°Oh you poor creature.¡±


    ¡°And when I debate, I go bright red and give away any and all nervousness.¡±


    ¡°I feel so sorry for you!¡±


    ¡°People used to make cat calls at me for my green eyes.¡±


    ¡°Insensitive souls.¡±


    ¡°And as for my freckles¡­when I was a novitiate in the cleric program, one of my peers decided to join them together with lines while I slept.¡±


    ¡°And yet you are not bitter at all.¡± Emeri laughed and Caste folded his arms.


    ¡°At least when you smile, your teeth are brilliant white, the whites of your eyes too¡­it¡¯s the contrast that draws the distinction.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Emeri exhaled, ¡°it draws a line between Terra and Maul that not even the destruction of the wall could rectify.¡±


    Caste was caught off guard by the comment, believing them to be debating yet coming to a startling conclusion that they were actually arguing the same point.


    When had that happened?


    He forced his eyes down and turned the page, starting to wish he¡¯d never suggested they find the wretched entry. The sun had not sunk in the sky another inch before he was reward with its discovery.


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Emeri darted over to him, sitting on the arm of the chair, leaning to read the entry. ¡°¡­foundations in the northern corner of Fort Omra suffered flooding due to heavy rainfall that was unable to be diverted. The decision was made to seal the northern basement to keep the fort from suffering from unjust foundations¡­¡± She paused. ¡°Does that not strike you as an odd way of phrasing it?¡±


    ¡°Never mind that,¡± Caste said impatiently, ¡°the name next to the entry is Cleric Iliet.¡± He picked up the register of clerical names and ran his fingers down the list. ¡°Iliet¡­Iliet¡­here he is. He was the cleric of Fort Omra at the end of Sir Garon¡¯s commission, the entirety of Sir Shien¡¯s and Sir Olavia¡¯s first two years before dying in his sleep.¡±


    ¡°He was cleric of Fort Omra for at least thirty years then.¡± Emeri mused.


    ¡°Judging by the entries, I would say that the flooding occurred in Olavia¡¯s appointment to Fort Omra.¡± Caste tapped his teeth together. ¡°There aren¡¯t many entries after this entry in the archives with Cleric Iliet¡¯s name on it¡­unless there wasn¡¯t much to note.¡±


    ¡°Given how often Fort Omra is attacked, there ought to be plenty of notifications¡­or at least more entries about the state of the repairs.¡± Emeri flicked the pages across, shaking her head, her beads jingling again. Caste batted one out of his line of sight. ¡°I think your estimation is accurate about the minimum age of the chest.¡± Emeri stood up, brushing her skirts down. ¡°I must say I¡¯m impressed.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Caste said with a hint of a hook.


    She looked at him and put her hands on her hips, emphasising her small waist without meaning to. ¡°Yes, very.¡± She said airily and turned with a flounce and a giggle.


    Caste found himself chuckling, sliding the archives back onto the shelves. ¡°When I sup with Sir Fereak and Cleric Severo, I¡¯ll ask about the chest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to time it just right between Cleric Severo becoming lucid and Cleric Severo becoming slurred.¡±


    ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t malign a cleric of the Order of the Grail like that.¡± He warned her without heat as he picked up a book.


    ¡°I¡¯m not meaning to be critical,¡± Emeri put the lid tightly on her ink well for she knew she would not be returning the following day and didn¡¯t want it to dry out, ¡°only warning you that there is a small window in which to be able to access the knowledge of Cleric Severo¡¯s mind.¡±


    Caste nodded, knowing that she was probably right. ¡°I¡¯m going to go straight to supper. Sir Fereak said to come an hour before sunset.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the best time to view the wall and the land to the south.¡± Emeri agreed. ¡°Will you be able to find your way? I can take you if you want. I¡¯ll only be a few minutes¡­¡±


    ¡°I know the way now.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy.¡±


    Caste tucked the book beneath his arm and headed for the library doors. From there he began to make his way to the foyer, his mind chewing over all the things he had learned in the library in his debates and discoveries. He had known that Fort Omra¡¯s library would be enticing. He hadn¡¯t realised it would be quite so thrilling in its hidden mysteries. Not much was undiscovered in the library in Astaril that was under the directorship of the Order of the Grail and Caste had read most of what it contained.


    New manuscripts, parchments and even tapestries were something of a rarity and a pleasure.


    As he walked, his foot caught an uneven paving stone. Caste gasped and grabbed his foot, dropping his book. He swore softly and, forgoing his smarting toe, picked the book up and dusted it off, apologising softly.


    ¡°Emeri would notice if I tore a page¡­Maul, even I would have trouble sleeping if I did so.¡± He muttered, glancing back towards the library. As he did so, he saw a shift in the shadows, a figure having moved out then, realising it might be seen, darted back again. Caste blinked, shook his head and continued to walk to the foyer¡­


    ¡­then paused.


    He felt a strange nibble at his conscience. A warning in his mind that things that lurked in shadows were rarely to be trusted. Caste swallowed, feeling a tremor of fear as he turned back towards the library, pretending to be engrossed by the book as he passed the place where the person was hiding. As he neared the doors, Emeri emerged, closing them behind her. She looked up, surprised by his presence.


    ¡°Did you forget something, Cleric Caste?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I thought I might change before supper,¡± Caste heard himself say, ¡°I feel like I smell of dust and ink.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ancient dust and archival ink, I¡¯ll have you know.¡± Emeri smiled. ¡°You¡¯d better stick with me or you¡¯ll get lost in the servant¡¯s passages.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Caste nodded, following her to the concealed doorway behind the tapestry. He didn¡¯t want to glance back in case he gave away his ruse but couldn¡¯t help his eyes flickering towards the place where the shadows consumed their resident just before he slid behind the tapestry and followed Emeri out of the fort.

 It’s not conclusive…but she does seem to get a bit antsy right before another assault

    Judd, Verne and Giordi followed the steward who had met them in the foyer of the fort through several passages, arriving in a room that was part armoury, part cloakroom. Sir Fereak was there, giving instruction to several of his soldiers and looked up at their approach.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here in good time¡­with no cleric?¡±


    ¡°Cleric Caste wanted to repair his appearance before supper.¡± Judd explained, having caught Caste¡¯s reason as they were leaving Suvau¡¯s home. ¡°Sir Fereak, this is Verne Sachon, an archer of tried and true skill,¡± Fereak clasped Verne¡¯s hand, ¡°and this is Giordi Gavoli, a minstrel.¡±


    ¡°Oh good, we¡¯ll have a tune later. That¡¯ll cheer her ladyship up.¡± Fereak said dryly. ¡°Before we leave this place, put on a cape.¡± Judd and the others chose a cloak each from the array hanging from the hooks. They smelt like sweaty soldier. Judd tried not to grimace. ¡°You¡¯ll be glad of it on the wall,¡± Sir Fereak insisted, ¡°you can feel the chill of the south, especially with the sun¡¯s diminishing light and the changing of the seasons. Come.¡±


    Sir Fereak led them through the armoury/cloakroom to an iron braced wooden door at the end. He opened it and Judd was hard pressed not to gasp at the icy flurry that smacked him in the face. Suddenly the slightly smelly cloak was pulled tightly around himself as he followed Sir Fereak up a set of stairs that had a very small amount of shelter before becoming exposed to an expanse of sky. They climbed the stairs to the landing where a soldier greeted Sir Fereak. To the left was an arrow¡¯s flight of wall before it met with the side of the mountain Fort Omra was built against. To the right was the rest of the wall and in front, was Maul.


    Judd¡¯s jaw dropped and he darted forward to the edge of the wall. There was a three foot high barrier to keep anyone from toppling over into the south with higher portions built along the wall for protection against attacks. Judd gazed at the expanse of Maul, his soul chilled by more than the drop in temperature.


    ¡°Quite the sight, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sir Fereak said from behind him.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡±


    Desolate. Barren. Decaying. Burned.


    Fort Verion was closer to the mount of Maul than any other fort in Terra. However, Fort Omra was a near runner up. Judd could just make the sides of the mountain, obscured by a haze of rising heat and smoke. Other mountains ended in a peak but the mount of Maul was cut off as though someone had taken an axe to it. It was from the severed head of the mount that the smoke billowed, crackles of red sparking in the dark clouds that filled the air with a constant gloom.


    The southern mountain range that protected the eastern side of Terra from most monster incursions reached its grandest heights about where Fort Omra was built. On both the north and south sides, the mountains reduced in height, becoming smaller, less jagged and eventually became hills and gentle slopes. However, the mount of Maul was well in the south, a single large mountain with the southern hills of the range cowering around its base, almost ducking their heads as if to avoid it.


    The land beyond the mount was impossible to make out but if what Judd could see from between the mount and the wall was an indicator, there wasn¡¯t much to behold. The land was dead and grey, lifeless like a corpse. There were some brittle remains of trees, scorched black and twisted, sticking out of the earth and Judd but wondered just how long it had been since a single leaf or blossom had bloomed on their branches.


    The land was cracked and blistered, like clay that had formed a surface after a storm, dry and brittle, curling up at the edges, creating chasms and dangerous places to fall¡­or for things to hide in.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought Maul would look like¡­¡± Judd admitted quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never forget the first time I saw it.¡± Sir Fereak shook his head. ¡°You suddenly realise just what Terra would look like should the wall fail.¡± Judd¡¯s skin prickled painfully. Sir Fereak pointed to the mountain. ¡°She¡¯s smoking heavily tonight. Must be brewing another legion of monsters.¡±


    ¡°Truly?¡±


    Fereak shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not conclusive¡­but she does seem to get a bit antsy right before another assault.¡±


    ¡°She?¡±


    ¡°Because the mountain gives birth to the monsters.¡±


    ¡°Where do they come from?¡±


    ¡°See those cracks in the ground?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°Some of those go deep into the bowels of the mountain. It¡¯s out of those that the monsters emerge.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of cracks.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes they fill with molten rock and it looks as though the mountain is bleeding but most of the time, they are the passages the monsters come from.¡± Sir Fereak clapped his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder and gestured to a trebuchet that took up most of the width of the wall. In order to pass it, one had to clamber around it. ¡°We¡¯ve used this beauty to try to block some of the passages but the monsters just dig their way through or around them.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Hey Verne,¡± Judd called to the archer who was still taking in the sight south of the wall, ¡°did you see this?¡±


    ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Verne¡¯s eyes widened and he approached the trebuchet in awe. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic.¡±


    Judd chuckled and looked at Sir Fereak. ¡°Any chance someone could show Verne how it works?¡±


    ¡°Rone!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir?¡±


    ¡°Give the archer a tour of the trebuchet.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡±


    Judd stifled a laugh at Verne¡¯s giddy excitement. A peel of thunder rolled overhead. It seemed the grey clouds were not just mountainous billows but held a storm within their grasp, one it was now threatening them with.


    ¡°Damn rain¡­¡± Sir Fereak muttered. ¡°Still, if it¡¯s raining, it isn¡¯t snowing.¡±


    ¡°Snow¡­¡± Judd breathed with wistful awe. He had only ever heard of snow. It sounded beautiful.


    ¡°Judd, this thing is brilliant!¡± Verne declared, redirecting Judd¡¯s attention back to the trebuchet.


    ¡°It can be turned in any direction required,¡± Sir Fereak bragged, ¡°most of the time we have it aimed at the south but now and again¡­¡±


    ¡°We saw the stone pillars marking monster breakthroughs on the north side of the wall.¡± Judd nodded.


    They moved to stand on the north side, able to see into the cultivated land beyond the protective wall of Fort Omra¡¯s village.


    ¡°Sometimes the monsters dig so deep and long, they find their way onto our side of the wall.¡± Sir Fereak shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s what we¡¯re here for, essentially. Nothing can get over the wall. There hasn¡¯t been a large enough monster to do so in a long time.¡±


    ¡°What about giants or dragons?¡± Giordi asked, rubbing his hands and blowing into them.


    ¡°You¡¯d have to check the archives but I don¡¯t think any of those have been seen in at least two hundred years.¡± Sir Fereak shrugged. ¡°Dragons would be a problem but even a giant would struggle to get over this.¡± He patted the wall.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised it¡¯s so tall. I thought it was built to thirty feet, or thereabouts.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just the minimum limit that was put on the wall¡¯s height. Here you can see, it is at least fifty feet.¡±


    ¡°And wider than I thought.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°I mean¡­you could fit a feasting table along here with room for chairs on either side.¡±


    Sir Fereak laughed. ¡°Now there¡¯s a morbid thought. Feasting inside the wall.¡±


    ¡°Inside the wall?¡±


    ¡°A great deal of it is hollow.¡±


    Judd pushed his hand through his hair. ¡°Hollow?¡±


    ¡°Ah, here is your cleric,¡± Sir Fereak waved Caste forward, nearly drowning in a fur lined cape that was made for a solider at least a foot taller than him and probably twice as strong, ¡°he¡¯ll be able to explain it better than I.¡±


    Judd let Caste¡¯s green eyes grow wide at the sight of the south and the smoking mountain before asking him the question about why the wall was hollow.


    ¡°Oh¡­well¡­it¡¯s really quite simple,¡± Caste trembled, tearing his eyes away from the mount of Maul as Sir Fereak led them for a stroll along the wall, bypassing the trebuchet where Verne was speaking almost animatedly with Rone about how it worked, ¡°when the wall was first constructed, it was a single layer of stone, thirty feet high with wooden beams bracing it on the northern side. Against a single minotaur it would hold but if the mount of Maul released a dozen of the monsters, they could smash their way through. So while the original wall was maintained, a secondary wall was constructed behind it. And because it was done without constant imminent threat, it could be built much more strongly and with the wooden beams bracing it on the inside.¡±


    ¡°So the wall is hollow all the way through?¡± Giordi breathed.


    ¡°For the most part which allowed for messengers to travel within the wall rather than outside of it, exposed to possible monster attacks.¡± Caste looked up and Judd knew what he had felt, the first touches of rain and it wasn¡¯t the big, heavy drops of the north, still infused with warmth. These were nasty, spiteful, biting drops that made you wonder if your skin had been gashed.


    ¡°I know of several areas where parts of the wall have caved and it was simpler to reconstruct it without dealing with the cave in.¡± Sir Fereak admitted. ¡°So you can¡¯t travel the entire length of the wall on the inside of it but it can be accessed on the north side through barred and bolted doors. Fort Omra has no need to utilise the hollow portions of the wall but I know Fort Verion and Mavour use some of the interior of the wall for siege and armoury storage.¡±


    They were able to walk along the wall, four abreast, even allowing for space to dodge the soldiers who remained on guard, watching the mount of Maul and keeping a sharp eye on the giant cracks in the earth.


    Judd adjusted his cloak, the rain no longer dropping in sporadic gusts but coming down in an earnest drizzle, bringing another degree of chill he thought was impossible to reach. ¡°I wonder if Andigre ever imagined that we would be walking on top of a wall that he helped defend hundreds of years after his reign?¡±


    ¡°Doubtful when it was only one block deep.¡± Caste snorted and Judd eyed him darkly.


    ¡°I imagine turning the wall into a rampart to allow soldiers to patrol the entire length was an afterthought once the wall was built as wide as this.¡± Giordi waved his hand to the wooden boards they stomped on. ¡°What are those?¡±


    Judd turned to see what Giordi was pointing at. There were long black cords travelling down from the wall to the ground on the northern side.


    ¡°Ah, the death drop.¡± Sir Fereak winked. ¡°The test of a soldier¡¯s metal.¡±


    Judd¡¯s spine trembled. ¡°How so?¡± He asked despite himself.


    ¡°When monsters tunnel beneath the wall and emerge on the north side, we need to get down as quickly as possible.¡± Judd peered over the side of the wall, sure his heart had gone into hiding in his boot as he saw just how high they were. Sir Fereak held up a metal pincer contraption with a hand grip. ¡°Anyone who wants to be a soldier in my fort must take one of these, hook this portion over the cord,¡± he did so, still holding firmly to the grip, ¡°and drop from the edge of the wall.¡±


    Judd, Giordi and Caste all gulped at the same time.


    ¡°The pincer grips the cord and slows your descent to something slightly less than fatal speeds until you reach the ground where the cord is tethered so you will survive¡­as long as you don¡¯t let go.¡±


    Sir Fereak chuckled at their expressions and put the pincer grip back in the chest, closing the lid against the rain that was falling and could no longer be denied. The soldiers along the wall who had the regrettable task of sentry duty during the night, even while it was raining, hunkered down for the long watch. Sir Fereak ushered Judd and company back towards the fort.


    ¡°Have¡­has anyone died from this efficient yet terrifying drop?¡± Giordi asked what they were all thinking.


    ¡°Not anyone who held on tightly to the grip,¡± Sir Fereak slapped Judd¡¯s shoulder, ¡°but there have been a few broken legs on the landing¡­come, let¡¯s eat!¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes let¡¯s¡­¡± Caste muttered, stumbling from the weight of his cape.


    Giordi gave him a push in the right direction then looked at the trebuchet. ¡°Verne Sachon! It¡¯s getting too dark out to play! Come on!¡±


    ¡°I was not playing!¡±

 I prefer to preserve people, not books that do no one any good

    They stomped the rain from their boots and shook the cloaks free of the droplets. The unnamed soldier Judd had seen before was waiting for them and took Sir Fereak¡¯s cloak for him.


    ¡°Thank you, Wil.¡±


    ¡°Weather taken a turn for the worse, sir?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Fereak looked at the others. ¡°This is Captain Heim, a Fort Bastil champion like yourself, LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations.¡± Judd shook his hand, Heim¡¯s smile a little too¡­pleasant for his tastes. He also wished he wouldn¡¯t hold his hand for so long but eventually he relinquished his grasp and Judd found himself hard pressed not to wipe his palm on his trousers. ¡°How long ago did you fight at Bastil?¡±


    ¡°So long ago my name will be all but forgot except in Fort Bastil¡¯s archives,¡± Heim lamented, ¡°I¡¯m not as young as I used to be¡­¡±


    ¡°What you have lost from your youth you have gained in technique and stamina.¡± Sir Fereak said firmly.


    ¡°Ahem¡­¡± They turned and saw Ermo Kenet in the doorway.


    Sir Fereak eyed Kenet. ¡°If you¡¯re here, then I suspect I am late.¡±


    ¡°Her Ladyship has been asking after you.¡± Kenet said with a wry grin.


    ¡°Then she is expecting us.¡± Sir Fereak jerked his head to Judd. ¡°Come along then. Time to meet the wife.¡±


    Lady Alonin Fereak was waiting for them in the feasting hall with a disdainful expression so deeply engraved on her features, Judd wondered if it had been there from the moment she was born, unimpressed at the thought of needing to ¡®socialise¡¯ with the outside world. She was a lovely woman to behold with rose ash hair in a sweeping, elegant braid over one shoulder, her gown the softest shade of mustard velvet with cream silk sleeves and gathered in her skirt.


    ¡°My dear, we have company for supper tonight.¡± Sir Fereak said without baulking at her demeanour. No doubt he was used to it.


    ¡°You see fit to entertain more riff raff at our table or has someone deigned to travel from Astaril to grace us with their presence?¡±


    ¡°Lady Alonin Fereak, allow me to introduce you to our guests.¡±


    ¡°You may as I cannot stop you.¡± She retorted lightly, batting back his words with a practiced air of polite disgust.


    ¡°This is Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Not sir or lord? A commoner?¡± She beheld Judd critically with an arched eyebrow.


    ¡°One cannot be completely common when undertaking Sir Rylan¡¯s knighthood quest.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­middle class common.¡± She lifted her chin.


    Judd could see that Sir Fereak was almost enjoying his wife¡¯s behaviour. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, throwing himself into the flourishes Giordi displayed that he usually avoided.


    ¡°Lady Fereak, I can see that my presence offends you. If you ask it of me, I will leave your presence for I would never wish to grieve a noblewoman.¡±


    He kept his eyes down, wondering if he¡¯d said the right thing.


    ¡°Well¡­since you are here¡­you might as well stay.¡±


    ¡°Your ladyship is most gracious.¡± Judd straightened his body. ¡°Sir Fereak, may I have the honour of kissing your lady¡¯s hand?¡±


    ¡°Go right ahead.¡± Sir Fereak scoffed a little but Judd saw a glimmer of surprise and pleasure in his wife¡¯s eyes. She offered him her hand and Judd brushed his lips lightly across the top of her skin before looking up, meeting her gaze.


    ¡°Charmed, Lady Fereak.¡±


    She withdrew her hand and he stepped back. ¡°Manners befitting a nobleman¡­how intriguing¡­and you are?¡±


    Judd had to firm his mouth into a line to stop from grinning as Lady Fereak noticed Giordi standing behind him. ¡°This is my cleric, Caste Undern, my archer, Verne Sachon and my minstrel, Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    ¡°A minstrel? Perhaps we might make a little music later, minstrel?¡±


    Giordi smiled, his dimples deepening in his cheeks.


    ¡°Come along then¡­I thought we were late.¡± Sir Fereak waved them to the table. He had Ermo Kenet on his right and offered for Judd to sit on his left. Judd might have refused as he thought that was the place a wife ought to sit but Lady Fereak sat at the other end of the table. Thankfully it was not a long table but the yawning distance between herself and her husband was keenly felt.


    Supper was fast in appearing and Judd was relieved it wasn¡¯t as pretty as the meal served at the LeMewn table. He could see how differently the two households were run. Lord LeMewn had not been a knight but a nobleman only and he had endeavoured to replicate an element of Astaril in his manor house in Quarre. However, in Fort Omra, where monsters were a regular occurrence, there was a mighty forge in the depths of the fort and mount of Maul was within sight from the ramparts, such delicate morsels and swift servings would have only looked out of place. Rather than receive their meals by servants, the feasting table was laden with roast meats, vegetables, steaming flagons of mead and a platter of fruit to which they helped themselves.


    Lady Fereak was the only one served by a servant and Judd noticed it was Yolana who winked at him then stepped back to wait until she was needed.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°I must say I was surprised to see that you had defeated Royce Colton at Fort Bastil.¡± Sir Fereak said to Judd as meat was sliced from the bone. ¡°That man was a brute.¡±


    ¡°You knew Royce Colton?¡±


    ¡°He was one of the soldiers Kenet invested a great deal of time in, sending him off to Bastil to gain some recognition before joining the ranks of Fort Omra¡¯s military.¡±


    ¡°Not unlike your Captain Heim¡­¡± Lady Fereak said in a voice that made Judd think she was looking for somewhere to stick a knife in.


    ¡°Unlike Royce Colton, Heim was victorious¡­and Colton never did return¡­¡±


    Judd caught sight of Ermo¡¯s sharp gaze. ¡°I apologise¡­¡±


    ¡°He clearly wasn¡¯t as good as he made himself out to be.¡± Ermo¡¯s tone was dismissive but Judd couldn¡¯t help but notice a muscle tweaking in his jaw that belied his annoyance. ¡°I mean, if a middle class rookie could defeat him¡­¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t an easy man to best.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°He hit like a minotaur¡­not that I¡¯ve actually fought one.¡±


    ¡°I take it a minotaur is on your list?¡±


    ¡°The last monster in fact.¡±


    ¡°What is on there that you¡¯ve killed?¡±


    Judd glanced at Lady Fereak who was watching their interactions with a sour expression. ¡°I would not wish to offend or alarm your wife with tales of monsters¡­¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gotten used to it, haven¡¯t you dearest?¡± Sir Fereak said with a tease in his tone.


    ¡°Amongst other things, husband.¡± She took up her wine, her lips curled in disdain. ¡°Living in Fort Omra has been quite the education¡­¡±


    Sir Fereak chuckled and shook his head. ¡°If you do become a knight, Judd LaMogre, whatever you do, don¡¯t be cajoled into marrying a noble woman because that¡¯s what¡¯s expected. There¡¯s only disappointment on both sides.¡± Judd didn¡¯t know what to say to that and was relieved at the tardy appearance of Cleric Severo at that moment. ¡°Sit Severo and have a drink.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir Fereak.¡±


    Cleric Severo sat opposite Caste, Yolana immediately darting forward to fill his goblet with wine. Caste watched his shaking hand, knuckles thick with arthritis and too much indulgence, grasp the goblet as best he could.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been admiring your library since I arrived, Cleric Severo.¡± Caste initiated conversation immediately, concerned that the window Emeri told him about in communicating with Severo had already closed. ¡°It¡¯s a trove of archives and historical gems.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dusty in there,¡± Severo muttered, ¡°dust makes me sneeze¡­not good for my sinuses.¡±


    Caste cleared his throat softly. ¡°Perhaps¡­there would be less dust if it were better sealed? A tiled roof, perhaps, instead of thatch? Less likely to catch fire as well.¡±


    ¡°Hark your cleric,¡± Kenet snorted, ¡°a tiled roof? He¡¯ll be wanting new floor coverings and more shelves next.¡±


    ¡°Cleric Caste¡¯s first love is the preservation of Terra¡¯s history.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°I prefer to preserve people, not books that do no one any good.¡± Sir Fereak said firmly. ¡°Fort Omra has a hard enough time maintaining enough land for crops and metal for swords than to start flinging coin at a room no one goes into.¡±


    Caste¡¯s jaw tightened. He waited until Fereak, Kenet and Judd had started up their own conversation before leaning towards Severo. ¡°I was speaking with your,¡± Caste wanted to say librarian but he suspected that Severo wouldn¡¯t know who he was talking about, ¡°servant in the library¡­about a tapestry hanging in there.¡±


    ¡°Tapestry?¡± Severo looked up, eyes bloodshot and glassy.


    ¡°Of the mount of Maul¡­possibly from the south?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been listening to her fatuous prattle about the south being occupied by humans.¡± Severo grunted, slopping wine down the front of his cappa clausa. He flicked it and Caste felt some drops land on his face, wiping them away with growing disgust. ¡°Pay her no mind.¡±


    ¡°What about the other manuscripts?¡± Caste leaned down, trying to catch Severo¡¯s eye. ¡°The ones that were in the chest with the tapestry?¡±


    ¡°Back where they belong¡­¡± Severo waved his hand clumsily.


    ¡°Belong?¡± Caste could see Severo¡¯s grip on coherent speak was slipping. Caste arched forward. ¡°Some of your manuscripts are completely unique and have not been copied so that they can be preserved in the library of Astaril¡­¡± Severo shrugged and mumbled something Caste couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°If I could see these manuscripts, I could transcribe them and take them to the Order of the Grail¡­¡±


    ¡°Drowned¡­drown, drown¡­¡± Severo¡¯s head slumped onto his chest.


    ¡°Cleric Severo?¡± Caste strained to hear him as he mumbled.


    ¡°¡­unjust¡­foundations¡­¡±


    ¡°Cleric Severo?¡± Caste frowned when he heard the old man snore.


    ¡°That is all you will pry from him tonight.¡± Caste turned to Lady Fereak who sipped daintily from a feminine sized goblet. ¡°He would be dead months ago if not for his love of wine¡­¡± Caste wondered if that was frighteningly true and sighed, sitting back in his chair. ¡°Giordi Gavoli, was it?¡± Giordi bowed as deeply as his seated position would allow. ¡°Pray, do you know the songs surrounding Sir Omra?¡±


    ¡°I have been availed of their lyrical lasciviousness.¡± Giordi smiled. ¡°The reputation of all the other knights surrounding Andigre, including the man himself, are quite subdued but Sir Omra¡¯s reputation was that of a deeply passionate knight.¡±


    ¡°I have many of his exploits committed to memory,¡± Lady Fereak picked a strawberry from the fruit platter, ¡°the taste of her lips¡­¡±


    ¡°The taste of her lips,


    Succulent¡­divine.


    The velvet of her tongue,


    Her swanlike neckline.


    Her cheeks frosted,


    With blush and with tears


    Her limpid eyes


    Her tender ears.


    The curves of her shoulders,


    The curves of her waist,


    The curves of her bosom¡­¡±


    ¡°That is quite enough of that, thank you!¡± Caste blurted, shattering the heady mood that had developed. Giordi¡¯s warm voice had captured their attention but his rather evocative words had arrested them completely.


    Judd swallowed and tugged on his collar as Kenet huffed.


    ¡°Clerics¡­eunuchs the lot of them.¡±


    Caste¡¯s face flushed hot and he looked down at his plate.


    ¡°If we have offended you, Sir Fereak¡­¡± Judd blurted.


    ¡°Not at all. This fort was built in Sir Omra¡¯s memory and he was no stranger to erotic diversion.¡±


    ¡°What a shame the same could not be said of its current master.¡± Lady Fereak said, not looking at her husband as she pried a snail from its shell.


    ¡°Ah yes, I am indeed a disappointment to you,¡± Sir Fereak shook his head, ¡°if only you had not been so hasty in your determination to marry a knight you might have realised not I, nor any other knight, lives up to any reputation laid down by our forefathers.¡±


    Judd was starting to wonder if there was a table in any fort or manor house that he would feel comfortable at. Sir and Lady Fereak seemed to be determined to tear strips off each other without care as to who they were making squirm.


    ¡°I have had a thought regarding Sir Omra¡¯s reputation with the ladies.¡± Giordi said as though the mood was not thick with tension. ¡°The stories about his conquests are quite numerous and graphic¡­to the point where I do wonder if he was a confirmed bachelor or was in love with a single woman.¡±


    ¡°Then why not say as much?¡± Caste grunted, unable to look anyone in the eye.


    ¡°Maybe she was married. Maybe it was Grail and Sir Omra would not dream of crossing Sir Andigre?¡± Giordi paused and smiled warmly. ¡°Maybe there was just one woman and Sir Omra¡¯s stories of passion and regard were for her and her alone? After all, just because the passion in most marriages fade, does not mean they all do.¡±


    ¡°A minstrel and a philosopher¡­how intriguing¡­¡±


    Judd wondered if Giordi could hear the hook Lady Fereak was dangling in front of him.


    Then he kicked himself.


    Of course Giordi would recognise it.


    When it came to women, there wasn¡¯t much he missed.

 I’m not a child. I can find my own way

    Emeri was sitting at the table reading when Caste returned from the fort. The thunder had not lied when it said a storm was approaching. It was pouring in earnest and the drops pounded the roof of Suvau and Yolana¡¯s home. Caste¡¯s shoulders and hair were soaked and he wiped his boots before entering the kitchen, shutting the weather out with finality.


    She looked up and smiled. ¡°How was supper?¡±


    ¡°Very amusing.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°Oh dear¡­not one of Sir and Lady Fereak¡¯s better nights?¡±


    ¡°I have no basis for comparison¡­but I would say not.¡± Caste sighed. ¡°Why did they even get married? They can¡¯t stand each other.¡±


    Emeri closed her book. ¡°Lady Alonin was enamoured by the notion of marrying a knight and Sir Fereak could only pick from noblewomen, of which she was one.¡±


    ¡°I can understand Lady Alonin marrying, moving to Fort Omra and becoming disillusioned with her surroundings,¡± Caste admitted and sat down opposite Emeri, ¡°but Sir Fereak didn¡¯t have to marry. Many knights remain unmarried, preferring their duties to the pursuits of the flesh.¡± He looked up in surprise at Emeri¡¯s chortle. ¡°What did I say?¡±


    ¡°Pursuits of the flesh?¡± Emeri laughed. ¡°Oh¡­oh dear¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a tactful description!¡±


    ¡°Caste, do you really think knights are unaccustomed to ¡®pursuits of the flesh¡¯?¡±


    Caste could feel a rush of redness threatening. He swallowed and tried to calm himself down, willing it to retreat. ¡°Of course not¡­but pursuits of the flesh often lead to children¡­a family¡­most knights are too busy with soldiers and safety to indulge in carnal desires¡­oh stop laughing.¡±


    ¡°Pursuits of the flesh and carnal desires¡­¡± Emeri licked her lips and shook her head. ¡°Perhaps if Sir Fereak lived further north he might have a lover, one he could pick from whatever category of class he liked. He could even take a servant for a tumble and no one would care,¡± Caste gritted his teeth, the blush blooming, ¡°but Fort Omra has a reputation as strong as the knight it was named after and there is an expectation that the knight in charge of it must embody its namesake with many¡­tumbles.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like there¡¯s much tumbling going on between husband and wife.¡± Caste muttered. ¡°Lady Fereak seemed to imply that Sir Fereak didn¡¯t like her¡­even on that level.¡±


    Emeri sighed. ¡°I¡­I do not know for certain¡­but I think Sir Fereak prefers the company of his soldiers to that of his wife.¡±


    ¡°Is that so unsurprising for a knight? Men drinking, belching, sword fighting and grunting together?¡± Caste saw Emeri¡¯s expression. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When I say, prefers the company of men¡­I mean¡­prefers the intimate company¡­¡±


    Caste¡¯s restrained blush flooded his body without mercy, even streaking down his arms. ¡°Oh¡­¡± He tried to swallow, failed and tried again. ¡°So¡­he married Lady Alonin as a pretence¡­to protect his reputation?¡±


    Emeri shook her head, her beads jingling. ¡°I don¡¯t know and I may be wrong¡­but Lady Alonin would not be the first noblewoman to marry a knight and have all her childhood dreams dashed because her husband didn¡¯t live up to her expectations.¡± She put the bowl of dough she¡¯d kneaded earlier on the table and removed the cloth cover, peering in to see how it was rising. ¡°Did you ask Cleric Severo about the chest?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d already been drinking heavily before he¡¯d arrived at the table.¡± Caste stood up, shoulders bent. ¡°I didn¡¯t get much out of him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I truly am.¡± Emeri tied the cloth back on the bowl. ¡°You will have the library to yourself tomorrow. I am taking Aalis and Verne to a place where Aalis can replenish her supply of medicinal herbs. Do you want me to show you the way to the library before I leave?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a child. I can find my own way.¡± Caste retorted.


    Verne and Giordi left the dining table not twenty minutes after Caste had excused himself. The only person he had deemed of worthy talking to was snoring soundly on his chest, making gurgling noises as he did so, saturated through to the bone with wine. Once Lady Fereak had left, Caste was quick to leave as well. Verne and Giordi had eaten and drunk their fill before escaping.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°If Judd¡¯s not careful, he¡¯ll have a hangover tomorrow from that wine.¡± Giordi yawned as he and Verne made their way to the foyer. Verne said nothing, feeling achy and tired. ¡°What was the trebuchet like?¡±


    ¡°Very interesting and oddly simple once you know how it works.¡± Verne yawned. ¡°Oh look what you¡¯ve started!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you were the first to yawn in there!¡±


    ¡°No, Severo was.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah¡­poor old soak¡­he¡¯s so well preserved that when he¡¯s buried, they¡¯ll be able to dig him up in a hundred years and he¡¯ll not look a day older.¡±


    ¡°How will they be able to tell? He looks well over a hundred already.¡±


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli?¡± They paused and turned, the steward approaching them. ¡°Lady Fereak wishes to speak with you.¡±


    ¡°I thought she might.¡± Giordi said with insufferable confidence.


    ¡°Please, this way.¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes and went to leave but felt Giordi grasp his arm. ¡°Follow¡­quietly.¡± Giordi hissed and before Verne could ask why, he was already hastening after the steward.


    Verne groaned and did as he was bid, keeping Giordi in his sights as he went up the stairs, along the landing and into a wing of the fort that had been decorated with a woman¡¯s flair, attempting to capture the essence of nobility that she had been wrested from. Verne slipped into a nook and waited for the steward to pass him by as Giordi stood in front of a pair of doors and knocked.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Verne crept forward, keeping to the wall on the door side of the passage. He noticed that Giordi had not closed the door the entire way. All Verne could hear were voices and he listened carefully.


    ¡°Lady Fereak, how may I be of service?¡±


    ¡°Strange that you should put it like that¡­¡±


    ¡°I shall rephrase. You wished to speak with me?¡±


    ¡°I have a gift for you.¡±


    ¡°For me, Lady Fereak? That is unwarranted but very kind of you. A book?¡±


    ¡°A collection of the poems of Sir Omra that became the songs to tell of his more¡­amorous deeds.¡±


    ¡°I could not possibly accept such a precious volume, Lady Fereak, after hearing that it is one of your favourite tomes.¡±


    ¡°Will you not at least indulge me¡­in reading the entirety of the poem that you were cut off from at the table? You have such a smooth¡­strong¡­passionate voice.¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes, wondering why in Maul he was there.


    ¡°Alas, I only indulged in such a risqu¨¦ reading in company. I could not do so in the chambers of a lady.¡±


    ¡°What if a lady wishes it?¡±


    ¡°Then she must ask her husband to read to her.¡±


    Lady Fereak laughed and it smacked of a bitter tone. ¡°My husband¡­he would rather play with his soldiers than his wife. He has never shown much¡­inclination for me¡­not since we were married. I loved him desperately¡­and yet the moment he had performed the barest of consecrations following our wedding, he all but abandoned me.¡±


    Her voice was broken, pleading¡­


    ¡°I am sorry, Your Ladyship.¡±


    ¡°I am doomed to live out my days in a fort surrounded by subservient Mauls and uncouth and brash soldiers¡­married to a man who, upon seeing his naked wife in his bedchamber, insisted I cover myself up for fear of a cold¡­tell me, am I truly that repulsive?¡±


    Verne heard a swish of fabric.


    ¡°Your Ladyship, whatever lack there is between yourself and your husband, it is not because of you. You are lovely.¡±


    ¡°Yet you cover me as he did!¡±


    ¡°Your loveliness is not mine to behold.¡±


    ¡°You are a minstrel! You are driven by passionate embrace, by intimacy and heat¡­will you not indulge me?¡±


    Verne held his breath.


    ¡°Whatever else I am, I would never bed another man¡¯s wife.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not even my husband! Not in deed, just in word!¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­but it is your word that you must hold fast to, My Lady¡­¡±


    There was a loud thump. Verne jumped back from the wall, something having hit the door.


    ¡°Get out! Get out of my chambers! If you will not heed a Lady¡¯s desperate plea, then get out!¡±


    Giordi appeared through the doors, shutting them behind him. He caught sight of Verne and breathed out, rolling his eyes. He motioned for silence and they hurried through the fort, back to the foyer and out of the doors.


    ¡°You took a big risk going to her when it was obvious what she wanted.¡± Verne accused when they were outside of the fort walls, skidding down the slope towards Suvau and Yolana¡¯s home.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­but then I think the bigger risk would have to not have gone and have her rage and cast dispersions on all of us, affecting Judd¡¯s reputation. After all, she can hardly go to Sir Fereak now and claim that I tried to seduce her.¡±


    ¡°She could, you know.¡±


    ¡°Not with you as a witness. Besides, I doubt I¡¯m the first she tried this with.¡±


    Verne frowned. ¡°Are you sure? She sounded sincere¡­even heartbroken.¡±


    ¡°I have no doubt she is.¡± Giordi shook his head, his golden curls sagging in the rain. ¡°Yet her primary motivation was to flirt outrageously with me at the table out of spite for her husband¡­the culmination of which would have been a passionate tumble in her chambers.¡±


    Verne had to concentrate on not slipping, the slope becoming downright treacherous. It was with relief they made it to the front door. ¡°You could have, you know.¡± Verne said softly as Giordi opened the door. ¡°I doubt Sir Fereak would have cared¡­he might have thanked you the way he was acting.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Giordi picked up a cloth and ruffled his curls until they sprung back to life, ¡°but even through all my flirting and womanising¡­the one woman who is completely off limits is a married one.¡± He tossed the cloth to Verne and waved goodnight. ¡°Even I have my integrity.¡±


    Verne was left standing in the kitchen holding the cloth, a furrow upon her face. ¡°That¡¯s what surprises me¡­¡±

 I’m sure he’ll be enjoying his solitary day in the library

    ¡°Are you alright back there?¡± Emeri called to Aalis and Verne who were following her through a network caves, joined by tunnels that wound their way up and across the mountain Fort Omra was built against. The going might have been precarious had it not been for metal rings hammered into the walls with rope rails up the steepest parts.


    ¡°I¡¯m great,¡± Verne put her lantern down and offered her hand to Aalis who handed her pack so she could clamber up onto a ledge, ¡°Aalis?¡±


    ¡°I am actually enjoying this.¡± Aalis laughed, pulling herself up. She took her pack back.


    ¡°There¡¯s next to nothing in that.¡± Verne remarked, picking up her lantern.


    ¡°I know. I wanted it empty so I could fill it with as much as I could carry.¡± Aalis clung to the rope rails, breathing heavily.


    ¡°Need us to stop?¡±


    ¡°I will be fine.¡± She insisted.


    ¡°I know it¡¯s a slog,¡± Emeri peered down at them from higher up, holding a lantern so their path was illuminated, ¡°but we are past the worst bit.¡±


    ¡°It is not bad,¡± Aalis reassured them, ¡°I am not sure I am as fit as either of you.¡±


    Verne helped Aalis up to where Emeri waited for them with her lantern. She had been leading them steadily and confidently since they¡¯d set out. The entrance to the mountain tunnel network was accessed at the very back of the fort where an old wooden door had rotted away and been discarded.


    ¡°I think the fort¡¯s original builders thought this could be used as an escape in case of a monster siege.¡± Emeri explained. ¡°Not that it goes anywhere you can get down from¡­unless you drag a sledge all the way with you.¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be impossible,¡± Verne turned sideways and slid through the narrowest part of the passage, ¡°but I wouldn¡¯t like to try it unless I had to.¡±


    ¡°Take care up ahead. There are pools of tainted water.¡±


    They smelt the taint before they saw it. There was a cavern, large and pot marked with craters ranging in size from a dinner plate to one Verne could curl up inside and not protrude out of the top of. Most were empty but a series of them, joined by underground trickles, were full of water that shimmered with an iridescent green shine. Even around the edges, when the taint had overflowed, were smears of an oily residue. Making their path just that little bit more difficult was the presence of stalagmites and stalactites.


    ¡°Such a shame it is so odorous,¡± Aalis clapped a handkerchief over her nose, ¡°it really is the prettiest sheen.¡±


    ¡°Be sure to keep your lanterns out of it.¡± Emeri warned. ¡°A stray spark could set the taint alight.¡±


    ¡°Set fire¡­to water?¡± Aalis was intrigued.


    ¡°I have read a report of a pool of taint burning for weeks. There was no smoke but the flames were blue and green and nothing could douse it until the flames had consumed every drop of taint.¡±


    ¡°Why does it smell like rotten eggs?¡± Verne¡¯s eyes watered.


    ¡°I think it is the smell of sulphur,¡± Emeri explained, leading them around the pools, ¡°which leads me to think that taint is a byproduct of the mount of Maul.¡±


    ¡°How do you figure that?¡± Verne asked, clambering past the foul pools as quickly as she could.


    ¡°The mount of Maul is a volcano.¡±


    ¡°A volcano?¡±


    ¡°A mountain that had its foundations so deep in the ground that they connect with the molten core of the world.¡±


    Aalis and Verne stopped and stared at Emeri. She saw their concern.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry¡­it¡¯s not like the world is leaking or anything¡­well¡­I suppose it is in a way¡­¡±


    ¡°Care to get to the ¡®don¡¯t worry¡¯ part?¡± Verne asked tersely.


    ¡°Any lava, molten rock, that comes out of the mount of Maul, escapes through the cracks in the ground, like blood coming up through skin that had split when experiencing prolonged dryness. It pools, steams, cools and goes hard.¡±


    ¡°How does this relate to the taint?¡± Aalis asked, relieved to be out of the tainted pool cave. They were still heading upwards but the slope was less taxing and the air was cleaner.


    ¡°On the days the mount of Maul bleeds lava, the air reeks of rotten eggs¡­it¡¯s the smell of sulphur, just like the taint. It¡¯s not much further.¡±


    ¡°Is it me or is it getting warmer?¡± Verne flapped her hand against her face.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°I thought that too.¡±


    ¡°Geothermal pockets.¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯re making stuff up.¡± Verne teased.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious. Heated air and earth from that molten core I told you about, sometimes create warmth where it ought to be becoming cooler.¡±


    Verne looked at Aalis and winked. ¡°I thought we left Caste behind.¡±


    ¡°Oh sorry,¡± Emeri paused and turned back to them, ¡°was I lecturing?¡±


    ¡°No, it is interesting.¡±


    Emeri sighed. ¡°I have been told I¡¯m very¡­preachy¡­I don¡¯t mean to be. I just find knowledge to be fascinating. I mean, who knew there was a word to describe the heat generated by the core of the earth? Geothermal¡­what a fantastic word!¡±


    Verne laughed outright. ¡°You and Caste must have some interesting discussions!¡±


    ¡°Debates more like it.¡± Emeri giggled. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be enjoying his solitary day in the library.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing in here, Giordi?¡± Caste demanded, aghast and infuriated that the minstrel had appeared in the library.


    Giordi was wandering around the pillars, browsing at the shelves with passing interest, enjoying Caste¡¯s reaction more than the books that lined the walls.


    ¡°Judd and Suvau are forging a new sword, Aalis and Emeri are off up the mountain with Verne to protect them¡­I was at a loose end.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you serenade doe eyed virgins in the village then? It¡¯s what you normally do.¡± Caste muttered as he removed a large leather wallet from a deep set of shelves. He carried them over to the desk he was using during his time in Fort Omra and tried not to drop them heavily. He opened the wallet and leafed carefully through the parchments laid loosely inside. They were filled with diagrams and drawings, measurements sketched in and each document marked with a date and a cleric¡¯s signature. He turned them over and over, looking for one in particular.


    ¡°Schematics?¡± Giordi said, surprising Caste, as he leaned over his shoulder. ¡°Of Fort Omra?¡±


    ¡°Yes if you must know.¡± Caste grumbled.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°The foundations¡­or at least the way to access the foundations.¡± Caste clucked his tongue, his eyes darting over the drawings, seeking specific notations that would tell him he¡¯d found what he was looking for.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you can see anything on these faint sketches.¡± Giordi dove into his pocket and found the apple he¡¯d grabbed from the kitchen.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t received my level of training¡­ah¡­this looks promising.¡± Caste paused, his finger lightly tracing the lines on the parchment. ¡°Ground floor¡­foundations¡­basement.¡±


    ¡°Is that a hatch?¡± Giordi leaned in close to peer at the schematic, chewing in Caste¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Just like the one in Fort Sol,¡± Caste stood up straight, ¡°only this one accesses the foundations beneath Fort Omra.¡±


    Giordi turned a chair around and straddled it, crunching loudly. ¡°Why are you looking at the foundations of the fort?¡± He asked with his mouth full. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine there¡¯d be anything worth finding in a basement.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something Cleric Severo said last night.¡± Caste rolled up the parchment he needed, making sure the others were secure inside their leather wallet.


    ¡°Did he say anything that wasn¡¯t a drunken ramble?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I intend to find out.¡± Caste mused. ¡°Drowned¡­¡±


    ¡°Drowned?¡± Giordi looked up from his apple. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s one way to describe Severo¡¯s libation saturation.¡±


    Caste decided not to lose another layer of tooth by grinding them at the infuriating minstrel. He put the wallet away and clutched the single parchment he¡¯d taken.


    ¡°Out, come on¡­out!¡±


    ¡°Why out?¡±


    ¡°Because you are not supposed to be in here without a representative of the Order of the Grail supervising.¡±


    Giordi munched on his apple. ¡°Seems a bit pretentious. Shouldn¡¯t everyone be able to access the books in a library?¡±


    Caste turned and stared at him in horror. ¡°And mess up the order? Borrow without returning? Smear them with their dirty fingers?¡±


    ¡°Right¡­my mistake.¡± Giordi chuckled and began to follow Caste as he hastened down the corridor. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Why are you following me if you don¡¯t know where I¡¯m going?¡± Caste retorted.


    Giordi eyed him with a strange seriousness in his gaze. ¡°This fort seems to be the sort of place that someone on their own could be quite vulnerable and maligned.¡±


    Caste folded his arms. ¡°Are you saying I need protection? As a cleric, I am almost entirely above reproach.¡±


    ¡°Then you can be my witness.¡±


    Caste rolled his eyes. ¡°Generally you don¡¯t want the witness to be honest about the true going ons at the scene of the crime.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re certain.¡± Giordi bowed, turned and left.


    Caste huffed, hastening through the fort, following his map as best he could, hopefully heading in a northerly direction. He could almost see the different layers of the fort coming together, the oldest parts in the deepest levels in the most northern corner. He had taken a lamp from a hook, sensing that where he was going, there wouldn¡¯t have been lamps lit for quite some time. It was with a small degree of satisfaction and no little trepidation when he realised he was right.


    The schematics led him to a storage room where the boxes and barrels that were scattered through it had probably been forgotten since before Sir Fereak¡¯s predecessor, ten times removed. Caste kicked lightly across the pavers, feet scuffing through the gathered dirt and disintegrating wood of rotten barrels.


    ¡°There¡¯s definitely been water in here, enough to rot these barrels and grow this mould.¡± Caste murmured, choosing the least dilapidated box to lay the parchment on and rested the lamp next to it. ¡°So¡­the hatch must be down here somewhere¡­¡±


    Physical exertion was one of Caste¡¯s least favourite past times however, he was feeling motivated. He pushed the boxes out of the way, scraping the ground with his booted feet until he uncovered wood panels on the ground instead of paving.


    ¡°There you are.¡± He brushed his hands off, shuddering at the thought of how filthy they were. ¡°I¡¯ll bathe later.¡± He told himself then paused. ¡°Where is the ring? There should be a handle of some kind¡­¡± But try as he might, he couldn¡¯t find one. Caste removed his cappa clausa and knelt, taking a piece of wood and scraping around the edge of the hatch. Over and over he scraped until the line of the hatch was deep and clear. When he¡¯d found the hinges, Caste retrieved a piece of metal that once went around a barrel that had fallen apart. He worked the edge into the gap opposite the hinges and jammed it into the wood. Using a crate as leverage he pushed hard on the metal.


    His efforts were rewarded as he felt the hatch give.


    ¡°Ha ha!¡± He crowed then hoped no one had heard him. He adjusted the angle of the metal lever and pushed again, feeling yet more movement. It took several goes but Caste would have suffered all the sweat, grime and mildew for the sight of the open basement. He picked up his lamp and peered at the dark hole.


    It was entirely unappealing.


    ¡°Come on Caste,¡± he urged himself, ¡°there could be lost manuscripts down here¡­¡±


    He breathed in several times, over and over before inching down the steps, going deeper and deeper into the darkness of the foundations of the fort.

 I don’t feel so lonely when we’re arguing

    ¡°Do you mind my being here?¡± Judd asked Suvau as he wrapped a leather apron around himself, checking over his tools. ¡°I mean, is my presence going to inhibit you?¡±


    ¡°My only condition of your being here is that you don¡¯t question me about my methods halfway through.¡± Suvau warned. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯ll look like a hot mess until it takes shape.¡±


    Judd nodded and glanced at the table. The hilt rested on the work surface, the remains of the metal blade that had been embedded in it removed. There was a cleaned and reinforced gap where the new blade would slide into. Judd traced the crest on the hilt, feeling the light ridges of words and symbols that might have been completely lost to the ravages of time if not for his chance encounter with it in the goblin cave.


    Nearby was the mould that the molten metal would be poured into that would give the blade its basic shape. It was not a particularly polished mould but as Suvau had said, it was just enough to give the blade the beginning of its unique character. The rest would be up to him as a weaponsmith to hammer and shape it into the envisioned end result.


    Suvau began by melting the metal which was his secret combination over the lava flow. Judd sat against the wall, fascinated as Suvau peered into the blend, his dark brown eyes scouring it with a critical gaze.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Whispered Judd, careful about breaking Suvau¡¯s concentration.


    ¡°I am heating the metal, removing any dross,¡± he used metal tongs to scrape the surface of the molten metal, discarding that which he removed, ¡°until it becomes pure.¡±


    Judd watched with wide eyes. Suvau had a confident ease yet alertness about his work that was awe inspiring.


    ¡°How do you know when it¡¯s pure?¡± Judd breathed.


    Suvau smiled, his eyes on the melted metal. ¡°When I can see my reflection looking back at me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not serious?¡± Verne exclaimed at Emeri¡¯s statement.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± The young dark skinned daughter of Suvau and Yolana asked, surprised.


    Verne looked at Aalis then back at Emeri. ¡°Because¡­he¡¯s pedantic and exacting¡­and knows everything¡­¡±


    Emeri laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not saying he¡¯s none of those things¡­but it¡¯s just so refreshing to have someone to talk to about ideas, theories, theologies¡­¡±


    They had emerged from the network of tunnels from a cave into a chasm that was leading them up and out. The sky had opened above their heads, the storm clouds rolling away with a very brisk breeze that they were yet to feel, surrounded by walls of stone.


    ¡°It¡¯s just up ahead.¡± Emeri said, pointing then waved her hand towards the ground. ¡°That moss is excellent for drawing poison from wounds.¡±


    ¡°Given our poisonous experiences so far, I¡¯d say we need as much of that as we can carry.¡± Verne muttered, kneeling.


    ¡°Here,¡± Aalis took a small box from her pack and handed it to Verne, ¡°it will retain more of its healing properties if its kept alive.¡± She used a small blade to pry several pieces of stone from the ground, taking the moss growing on it with the chunks. Verne opened the lid and she deposited them inside.


    Satisfied with her harvest they continued.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying Caste is painful to be around,¡± Verne returned them to the previous topic, ¡°but he can be so¡­¡± she mimicked strangling him. ¡°He¡¯s not the biggest fan of your people for a start.¡±


    ¡°There are not many who are outside of our own people that are.¡± Emeri replied. ¡°I can hardly blame him for believing what he¡¯s been told with no reason to challenge it.¡±


    Verne shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re more forgiving than I would be in your situation.¡±


    ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s just nice to have someone to debate with on a deeper level.¡± Emeri sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t feel so lonely when we¡¯re arguing. Oh¡­feel that?¡± She lifted her hands to the sky. ¡°Snow!¡± Aalis and Verne paused, the tiniest white snowflakes drifting down. ¡°Probably just a small shower but so pretty.¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    They followed the chasm as it shallowed, ending between the two clefts of rock, revealing a valley formed from the cleavage of three mountain sides. And taking up a large portion of the valley was a lake of clean, clear water.


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Aalis breathed.


    ¡°Wow.¡± Verne gasped. ¡°That¡¯s quite beautiful.¡±


    The water was so clear in the lake that its bed, which was made up of small round pebbles, could be seen at any depth. The land around the lake was green and lush and there were trees that looked like they belonged in a forest, not on the slopes of mountains that were covered in snow.


    Aalis approached one of the trees, marvelling at it. ¡°This should not be able to grow here,¡± she shook her head, ¡°it is simply not possible¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of the geothermal pockets I was telling you about. I think there¡¯s a very strong one beneath the lake which is why the water doesn¡¯t freeze.¡± Emeri removed her pack and set it down, removing her shoes and tucking her skirts up. ¡°I¡¯ve researched the plants in this lake and compared them to books in the library. They usually only grow further north in warmer climates but they¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Hang on,¡± Verne grasped Emeri¡¯s arm, ¡°the water¡­what if it¡¯s tainted?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t smell like sulphur, there are plants growing in it and look,¡± Emeri took her arm and drew her closer to the lake, ¡°see that movement?¡±


    ¡°Are those¡­fish?¡± Emeri nodded. ¡°How are there fish in a lake in the mountains?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Emeri laughed. ¡°But there are! How fantastic is that?!¡±


    Verne looked at Aalis and saw she was doing the same as Emeri, hiking her skirts up and removing her shoes and stockings.


    ¡°Oh well¡­if there are no men to berate us for showing off our ankles¡­¡± Verne snorted and followed suit.


    Aalis approached the lake, Emeri already wading through it, gathering handfuls of long dark purple strands, plucking them from between the stones where they grew. Aalis dipped her toes in and sighed.


    ¡°It is warm¡­not hot but oh so warm¡­¡±


    ¡°Warm enough to swim?¡± Verne asked, wading in. ¡°Huh¡­definitely warm enough.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Aalis looked at her. ¡°We do not know when you might have the freedom to do so. Strip off your outer layers and swim.¡±


    Verne bit her bottom lip and beamed. ¡°You know what? I just might do that.¡±


    She yanked off her tunic and trousers, a bandeau around her bust to help disguise it and a pair of braies that acted like shorts remaining. She even removed her bandana and returned to the lake. Aalis watched enviously as Verne sloshed in where it was deeper then dove into the water, her strong arms propelling her across the lake.


    ¡°One day,¡± she vowed softly, ¡°I am going to learn how to swim.¡± Then she was distracted by the sight of waterlilies drifting across the surface.


    The foundations of the northern corner of the fort had been sealed for good reason. When it rained, water leeched in from poor seals and possibly underground sources. After a brief reconnaissance Caste had returned to the room above to remove his shoes and socks, leaving them near his cappa clausa and hiked his tunic up to his knees, gazing at the black water that was only a few steps down, in shaking terror.


    He wouldn¡¯t have been brave enough at all to bother if it hadn¡¯t been for the sight of something on a ledge on the other side of the basement that could well be a box.


    The water wasn¡¯t tainted and even if it was, it had only ever affected women.


    However, Caste was relieved he couldn¡¯t detect the taint and decided it was still worth the risk at securing what could be lost manuscripts.


    He slid his foot into the water and gasped at the icy bite on his toes. He cringed and kept going until he found the floor, the water halfway up his calves. The water wasn¡¯t that deep but he could hear more trickling into the basement. Caste forced his other foot in and picked up the lamp. With painstaking progress he crossed the basement floor, whimpering and scrunching his eyes shut at every unidentifiable squelch and lump he came blindly across. Every image of every slimy monster of Maul and of eels and leeches returned to him and he cursed his brilliant memory, wishing he could forget them all.


    Now and again he¡¯d glance over his shoulder, reassuring himself that he could still see the open hatch. Not that there was much light beyond it now, the lamp with him but he could still make out its edges in the ceiling.


    The basement took a dip for the deeper side, going down a step and Caste yelped, the water up to his knees and lapping at the hem of his tunic. It was bitterly cold.


    ¡°I can do this. I can do this. I can do this¡­¡± He shuddered, reaching the halfway point, the ledge coming into view and to his relief, there was a chest tucked up on it, out of reach of everything but the most excessive of deluges.


    Another step down brought the water up to Caste¡¯s thighs and he squirmed and whimpered, starting to wish he¡¯d forgone his pride and invited Giordi along. Even his irritating chatter would have been welcome in the grim and the dark.


    Finally he reached the far side of the basement and to Caste¡¯s dismay, he was now too low to be able to reach the ledge. There were pillars littered throughout the basement and there was one quite close to the ledge. Caste glanced back, making sure the hatch was still open then grasped the wall and tried to find any kind of grip with his toes on the pillar. He found one and after several goes, managed to be able to push himself up, reaching out with every sinew pulled tight, his fingertips grazing the box.


    ¡°If this is just a collection of laundry lists¡­¡± Caste grunted, managing to knock the chest forwards a little, able to get a pinch grip on the corner, taking a risk and dragging it towards himself. It half slid off the ledge and Caste dropped what he was carrying, opening his arms, feeling the chest crash into them.


    He was faced with two warring revelations in that moment.


    He had possession of a cleric¡¯s greatest treasure¡­


    ¡­and he had dropped his lamp, the light immediately doused in the opaque water.


    Caste forwent any attempt to recover it, turning and trying to run through the water, clutching at the chest¡­


    ¡­only to see the faint outline of the open hatch become smaller and smaller¡­until it closed, sealing him in.

 It burns! Make it stop! By Terra, make it stop!

    The blade had taken shape.


    Suvau had been right to warn Judd not to interfere and out of respect, Judd had kept his mouth shut, even when he was sure Suvau had been going to beat the metal into pieces. It had glowed red and white and red again, screaming with a vaporous holler as it was dunked in the barrel of water then put through the process again and again until Suvau had drawn it out and eyed it critically.


    ¡°It¡¯s a fine piece of metal,¡± he announced and looked at Judd, ¡°now I¡¯m going to turn it into a blade.¡±


    With the basic shape already formed by the mould, Suvau only needed to define it, sharpening the curved edge, leaving the straight edge dull. But for that, it needed to be joined to the hilt. He lined the base of the blade with the hilt, gauging the gap it needed to fit into.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to alter the hilt,¡± he promised Judd, ¡°but I am going to slightly widen that gap.¡±


    He heated a metal rod and picked up the hilt, running the rod along the edge of the gap, inserting it and making the insides more malleable.


    Verne sat on the shore of the lake, shoeless, sockless and bandana-less. She leaned back on her elbows, comfortable and serene¡­until Emeri landed a crown of flowers on her head.


    ¡°Really?¡± Verne blew upwards, knocking some of the petals off.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever made a daisy chain before?¡±


    ¡°What, and risk the mockery of my brothers at how pretty I was?¡± Verne retorted and caught the bread roll Emeri pulled from her pack. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Aalis watched their interactions, still picking plants from the lake. She was sure she had far too many but Emeri had been right when she said the trip would help Aalis resupply her healing kit.


    She stood and wiped at her forehead, still amazed at how warm it was when surrounded by snow. She was really feeling the heat. Her handkerchief was dunked in the water and she dabbed her neck and forehead, wondering why she was feeling hotter and not cooler.


    ¡°Emeri,¡± Aalis called, ¡°these geothermal pockets¡­can they suddenly become very hot?¡±


    ¡°I suppose so¡­but I have never noticed any great change here.¡± Emeri admitted.


    Aalis wiped at the sweat again, feeling clammy and a little sick.


    ¡°That¡¯s widened the gap enough for the blade¡¯s base,¡± Suvau declared and slid the blade into the hilt, ¡°now, for a little tender, loving pressure¡­¡±


    Judd sat up, enthralled at the sight of the blade coming together. Suvau reheated the rod and, as he applied a seal of metal around the blade¡¯s base, he struck the hilt firmly with the hammer, avoiding the crest.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Aalis winced, a sudden pain in her head, a flash of bright light and it was gone again. She closed her eyes and paused, puzzled and concerned. There were several more pangs and she began moving towards Verne, dizzy and becoming frightened.


    ¡°Maybe¡­I just need to rest¡­¡±


    Suvau lifted the hammer again and struck the hilt, working his way across its length until he was sure the blade was secure.


    ¡°Now for the refining process.¡± He grinned, his teeth bright white against his sweaty, dark skinned face, his eyes shining with the pleasure of forging a new weapon. ¡°With a handle, this is a much easier process.¡±


    He grasped the hilt and thrust the blade into the heat.


    Verne and Emeri were shocked out of their reverie by Aalis¡¯ screams. Verne spun around as she stood up, seeing the dreadlocked healer holding her head and screaming without reserve, her voice echoing loudly off the sides of the mountain.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± She cried, sprinting towards her. ¡°Aalis!¡±


    ¡°It burns!¡± Aalis screeched. ¡°By Terra it burns! I am on fire! I am on fire!¡±


    She screamed, throwing herself onto the ground, rolling into the lake, her body thrashing with violence. Verne grabbed her, struck by her flailing arms but refusing to let go.


    ¡°Aalis! Can you hear me? Aalis!¡±


    Aalis only screamed over and over and over, convulsing like she was possessed, every pore of her body tearing itself apart in pain that Verne could not begin to comprehend.


    ¡°Aalis!¡±


    ¡°It burns! Make it stop! By Terra, make it stop!¡±


    ¡°One last thrust into the fires,¡± Suvau announced, dancing the sword lightly into the heat of the forge, ¡°to allow my mark to be embossed on its blade,¡± he used a metal stamp with a wooden handle to press into the base of the blade, ¡°and now to seal it in place.¡±


    Judd watched, holding his breath in anticipation as Suvau dunked the sword in its entirety, hilt and all, into the icy flow that came from the snowy peaks of the mountains. After a moment he drew it out and held it aloft. He turned to Judd and winked.


    ¡°All we need do now is sharpen it.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ body gave a final, spine breaking convulse, her fingers clawing at the ground, her screams joined by echoes from the peaks before she slumped, crumpled even, into the edge of the lake¡­lifeless and still. Verne and Emeri stared in horror, unable to comprehend what had just happened, let alone what to do next.


    ¡°Is she¡­¡± Emeri couldn¡¯t even voice her fears.


    Verne forced herself forward and leaned over, drawing back dreadlocks and pressing her fingers against Aalis¡¯ neck. She held there for a long time, shivering as her own shock set in.


    And then, the lightest of pulses ricocheted off her fingertips.


    ¡°She¡¯s alive¡­¡± Verne croaked, nearly fainting in relief. ¡°She still has a heartbeat. Aalis?¡± Verne turned her face, barely a shade up from death with faint blue lines beneath her skin receding. ¡°Aalis?¡± Verne shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s not waking up.¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Emeri asked, frightened and out of her depth.


    Verne licked her lips, looking to the chasm that they¡¯d come out of.


    ¡°We need to get her to Fort Omra but I don¡¯t think the both of us can carry her all that way.¡± Emeri whimpered, unable to tear her eyes off Aalis¡¯ deathly form. Verne stood up, standing between Emeri and Aalis. ¡°Emeri, listen to me,¡± she grasped the young girl¡¯s shoulders and gave her a shake, forcing her to meet her gaze, ¡°you have to run to Fort Omra. Tell Judd what happened and lead them back here. Understand?¡± Emeri nodded, trembling. ¡°Go¡­as fast as you can!¡± Emeri hesitated, still half in shock. Verne gave her a push. ¡°Go!¡±


    Emeri turned and fled, sprinting to the chasm and disappearing from sight.


    Verne closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her face, all strength evaporating now that she was alone. She sank to her knees and gently drew Aalis out of the edge of the lake, lying her on the grass.


    ¡°Aalis¡­don¡¯t die on me, alright?¡± Verne ordered weakly. ¡°You have to live¡­you just have to.¡±

 Though I’ve never met the man, he bears his father’s resemblance uncannily

    Caste had never known such darkness. He was not just surrounded by it. He could feel the bleak blackness soaking into his soul, drowning him in terror. He was frozen to the spot, chest clutched in his arms, waist deep in water that was continuing to rise as all the run off of the storm found its way into the basement¡­


    ¡­alone¡­abandoned¡­


    ¡­trapped.


    He was so frozen in fear that he couldn¡¯t even muster a scream or move.


    He¡¯d been buried alive in a watery grave¡­


    He couldn¡¯t work out where he was or where the hatch had been.


    No one knew he was there.


    No one would come looking for him.


    ¡°Come on, Caste,¡± he squeaked brokenly, ¡°walk¡­¡±


    Lifting his foot was like lifting a mountain, each step painful and terrifying in its blind advance.


    He was shaking, the cold infiltrating his body, turning his bones to ice. He couldn¡¯t even feel his toes anymore. He could have been walking on lava or broken glass and he wouldn¡¯t have been able to tell.


    Minutes passed like hours.


    He was going to die here.


    Suddenly a faint line of light appeared, growing larger and wider until it was a rectangular shape on the other side of the basement ceiling.


    Caste¡¯s breath stalled.


    Was it some cruel delusion of his addled mind?


    ¡°Caste? Are you there? Caste!¡±


    He whimpered and sloshed his way forward, desperation forgoing all care as to where he was stepping. He nearly tripped up the steps that would lead him out.


    Peering down from the open hatch was the cherub beautified face of Giordi Gavoli. He reached out his hand. ¡°Come on, Caste! Let¡¯s get you out of there!¡±


    Caste grabbed his hand and was half pulled up as he clambered clumsily, his legs numb and his feet felt like they weren¡¯t even there. Giordi hauled him onto the floor of the storeroom, shutting the hatch behind him. Caste was almost insensible, shaking violently, unable to stand on his frozen legs.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to get you warm. Come on.¡±


    Giordi half dragged Caste through the fort. The steward, probably alerted by a servant, ran towards them, asking if he could be of any assistance.


    ¡°Fire and liquor¡­now!¡±


    The steward didn¡¯t stop to think or argue. He spun around, gesturing for Giordi to follow him, heading for rooms that Caste didn¡¯t recognise. He would have protested or asked but every time his toes struck something, he was hard pressed not to screech in agony.


    ¡°Cleric Severo always has a fire going and plenty of liquor. He will be asleep. You won¡¯t disturb him.¡± The steward explained. ¡°In here!¡± The steward opened the doors. Without thinking about the rudeness of not knocking, Giordi barged into the rooms that were almost blisteringly warm as a fire roared in the hearth. He heaved Caste into a chair was close to the fire.


    ¡°We need hot water in a pan for his feet. Hurry!¡±


    Giordi wrestled the chest out of Caste¡¯s arms, not caring two hoots about what it represented even though it was clear Caste had risked his life for it though he mightn¡¯t have realised just how precarious its retrieval would be. He manhandled Caste without a drop of mercy or decency, pushing him forward and yanking his tunic over his head, finding the blasted toggle that tightened the neck under the layers until he was able to strip Caste out of anything that was wet. The skinny little cleric sat shivering in his undergarments, every freckle standing out starkly against the pallor of his frosted complexion.


    Giordi wrapped a blanket around Caste then darted to the sideboard where an array of liquors stood reflecting the dancing light of the flames. He grabbed one and brought it and a glass to the cleric.


    ¡°I hope you haven¡¯t taken a vow of abstinence.¡± Giordi poured a small glassful and grabbed Caste¡¯s head. ¡°Too bad!¡±


    He tipped the shot down his throat, Caste spluttering and coughing, wheezing as the strong brew could be felt going all the way down. Giordi managed to get another one down him before Caste began to comprehend enough to protest.


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t need¡­anymore.¡± He stammered.


    The steward arrived with two servants following, a basin in one hands and a jug of hot water in the other.


    ¡°Will Severo mind the wet spot on the floor and the missing liquor?¡± Giordi asked as the servants set the basin down at Caste¡¯s feet and poured the water into the basin.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°I shall inform him personally of what has happened.¡± The steward promised before ushering the servants out.


    Giordi grabbed Caste¡¯s feet and dunked them in.


    ¡°It¡¯s too hot!¡±


    ¡°Caste, I¡¯m trying to keep you from getting frostbite!¡±


    Tears streamed down Caste¡¯s face as he tried to keep his feet in the basin. His body was going through every variation of shock and now he was shivering so hard his teeth were clattering. Giordi knelt and rubbed his legs, trying to get the blood flow back into them.


    ¡°What¡­why¡­¡±


    ¡°I followed you.¡± Giordi said, already knowing the questions. ¡°I told you, this fort isn¡¯t kind to vulnerable individuals. But¡­I did get a little lost on my way and when I finally figured out where you were¡­¡±


    ¡°You shut the hatch?¡± Caste whimpered.


    Giordi looked up, hurt in his expression. ¡°We may have our differences, Caste, but I am not the kind of person to do that to another.¡± Caste¡¯s bottom lip quivered, tears falling down his cheeks. Giordi handed him a handkerchief. ¡°When I got to the storeroom you were already down in the basement¡­but there was someone else in the room.¡± Caste¡¯s teeth chattering prevented him from asking who for a few minutes until he was able to bring his teeth under control. ¡°Though I¡¯ve never met the man, he bears his father¡¯s resemblance uncannily. It was Jerom Kenet.¡± Giordi closed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°I think he followed you to the storeroom and when he saw an opportunity¡­¡±


    ¡°Jerom Kenet?¡± Caste rasped painfully. ¡°Why¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t stop him to ask. I hid, waiting for him to leave so that he couldn¡¯t trap both of us in there. I¡¯m sorry, I would have opened the hatch sooner¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Tears flowed anew down Caste¡¯s face, his eyes red and filled with gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Giordi chuckled, ruffling Caste¡¯s red hair. ¡°No thanks necessary, Caste.¡±


    Suvau put the finishing touches on the blade, sharpening the curved edge until it was proven against a cow bone, a tree branch and even cut through the body of a pig in the kitchens where they were preparing to roast it.


    ¡°Sorry!¡± Judd chuckled at the incensed expression on the cook¡¯s face as he and Suvau escaped back to the forge. ¡°I take it you¡¯re not well liked in there?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a blade for cutting heads off monsters,¡± Suvau insisted, ¡°it needs to be proven to do that or else you cannot trust it in battle.¡± He watched Judd grasp the hilt, testing its weight and nimbleness. ¡°How does it feel?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a little scared to wield it,¡± Judd admitted, ¡°it¡¯s so light compared to my other sword.¡±


    ¡°I promise it¡¯s just as strong.¡± Suvau assured him, gathering the materials to take to the leather craftsman in the village. ¡°The sheath should be ready for a fitting by now. Let¡¯s head down.¡±


    The leather worker made some adjustments on the sheath, wanting to make sure the curve of the blade was accommodated and took the metal piece that would be made the top of the sheath which the hilt of the sword fit perfectly into. He promised it would be ready the following day.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ve earned an early knock off today.¡± Suvau remarked as they climbed the slope, coming close to his house. He watched Judd swipe the sword through the air. ¡°You be careful with that. Without a sheath, it¡¯s damn dangerous.¡±


    ¡°I know, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Judd laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, ¡°it¡¯s just¡­all my childhood dreams of the grandeur of becoming a knight have been whittled away on this quest. But I feel like I got one of them back today. Thanks, Suvau.¡±


    ¡°A custom blade in the hand of a man who is as kind as he is brave? It was my pleasure, Judd LaMogre.¡± Suvau¡¯s big hand pushed open the door to his home, revealing the kitchen draped with sodden clothing that were dripping onto the floor. Caste lifted his bleary eyes, a hot drink in his hands, a blanket around his shoulders. Giordi was just mopping up some of the puddles. ¡°What¡­happened here?¡±


    ¡°Get caught in a sudden downpour, Caste?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°If by sudden downpour, you mean attempted murder.¡± Giordi muttered.


    ¡°Say again?¡± Judd put the sword on the table, looking between the two of them.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know it was attempted murder,¡± Caste shivered, ¡°he might have just been trying to scare me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Judd was stunned. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Suvau couldn¡¯t fathom why Caste looked like a drowned rat. ¡°By throwing a bucket of water over you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Giordi flung the cloth aside, ¡°that bastard, Jerom Kenet, trapped Caste in the northern basement which was flooding from all the rain we¡¯ve had.¡±


    Judd¡¯s body went cold. He stared at Caste in horror. ¡°Wha¡­why?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve yet to ask him.¡± Giordi rapped on the table and pointed at Caste who dutifully drank the warm milk. ¡°I thought it was more important to keep Caste from freezing to death or losing limbs to frostbite than to immediately seek out justice.¡±


    Judd shook his head and looked at Suvau¡¯s whose expression was like thunder.


    ¡°What possible motivation could he have had to harm Caste?¡±


    ¡°I can think of one.¡± Suvau muttered.


    Giordi closed his eyes. ¡°Of course¡­Emeri.¡±


    ¡°Emeri?¡±


    ¡°Your cleric has been a constant presence in the library since Sir Fereak returned from his patrol, of which Jerom Kenet was one of the assigned soldiers,¡± Suvau¡¯s jaw tightened, ¡°he either sees Caste as a threat or an obstacle.¡±


    ¡°He had to be near the library to be able to follow Caste to the northern corner of the fort.¡± Giordi agreed. ¡°Skulking in the darkness. Have you seen him there before, Caste?¡±


    Caste shook his head even as he recalled the figure in the shadows only last night.


    ¡°It seems a ridiculous risk to take,¡± Judd murmured, ¡°attempted murder of a cleric, no less! Is Jerom Kenet out of his mind?¡±


    ¡°He has no restraint upon his impulses,¡± Suvau¡¯s knuckles cracked, ¡°he probably saw the opportunity and didn¡¯t think anything of the consequences.¡±


    Judd pushed his hands through his hair. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it then¡­we¡¯ve got to do something about this. Your family can¡¯t stay here.¡±


    ¡°You think we can just leave at will?¡± Suvau demanded. ¡°You think I wouldn¡¯t if I could? The only reason I was in Quarre was because Ermo gave permission for me to go. I thought if Lord LeMewn was happy with my work, he might arrange for my transfer, with my family, to Quarre in trade for something with Sir Fereak¡­¡±


    ¡°I take it if you just left, they¡¯d chase you down?¡± Giordi asked.


    ¡°With the same fury they would use upon monster incursions,¡± Suvau sighed, ¡°even if we got away, it¡¯s my people who would suffer.¡±


    Judd ground his teeth. ¡°I¡­I could appeal to Sir Fereak¡­¡± He looked at his sword sadly. ¡°If we hadn¡¯t used most of the gold Lady LeMewn gave you on my sword, I could have bought you from Sir Fereak¡­¡±


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been enough for all of us,¡± Suvau said sadly, ¡°but I could have let Emeri go if it meant her safety.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s much safer with us. You know we¡¯re monster hunters.¡± Judd growled, frustrated. ¡°Think, LaMogre, think¡­¡±


    ¡°What if we¡­¡±


    But Giordi¡¯s thought was never realised when the door to the house was flung open and Emeri darted into the kitchen, throwing herself at her father.


    ¡°Emeri? What¡¯s wrong? Did he hurt you?¡± Suvau was on tenterhooks.


    ¡°Father, it¡¯s Aalis,¡± Emeri¡¯s face was grief stricken, ¡°she had this terrible fit up at the high lake¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Judd stepped forward. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s still up there with Verne,¡± Emeri grasped her father¡¯s arm, ¡°she¡¯s barely breathing¡­¡±


    ¡°Show us the way.¡± Suvau ordered and Judd was right behind him.

 What if this is somehow my fault?

    It took nearly three hours to get Aalis down from the high lake. Suvau and Judd had to manoeuvre her body through the chasm, down the tunnels, into the cave of tainted water pools and naturally formed pillars and finally, the hardest stretch of them all, getting her through the steep descent. They took turns, passing her, Verne darting around, helping where he could with Emeri leading the way.


    Giordi and Caste remained at the house, Caste still bearing the effects of shock and strong liquor had needed sleep and Giordi was unwilling to leave him.


    Aalis¡¯ body lay in Emeri¡¯s bed, silent and still. She hadn¡¯t made a sound, not a groan or murmur, the entire way down. Yolana shoed all the men out and closed the door behind them. Dazed and exhausted, they gathered in the kitchen, Verne looked over his shoulder. Judd grabbed him.


    ¡°What happened, Verne? What in Maul happened up there?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know? How could you not know?¡±


    ¡°LaMogre,¡± Suvau put his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder to stop his rant, ¡°look at Verne¡¯s face.¡±


    Judd¡¯s berating was silenced when he saw the stricken expression on the archer¡¯s face. Judd had to remind himself that, while he cared deeply for Aalis, it was Verne who was her partner, very possibly her lover. He closed his eyes and groaned.


    ¡°Verne, I¡¯m sorry¡­what you must have gone through¡­¡±


    ¡°She just started screaming,¡± Verne sank onto a chair, ¡°screaming¡­like she was being burned alive¡­¡± He leaned forward, elbows on the table, hands over his ears, shaking. ¡°I can still hear it¡­¡±


    Suvau opened a cupboard and took a bottle of liquor out. He poured Verne a glass and pushed it in front of him. Yolana and Emeri took their time examining Aalis so Suvau took charge of the cooking that evening. Rashers of bacon, eggs fried, slabs of toasted bread, tomatoes and onion cooked and sprinkled with pepper. Though the meal was hearty and delicious, the mood was sombre. They ate consistently but slowly and silently.


    Emeri appeared at the threshold of the kitchen, swaying on her feet. Giordi stood up and ushered her forward to sit.


    ¡°Any change?¡± Judd asked as Verne raised his head.


    ¡°Mother confirmed there¡¯s a heartbeat and she¡¯s breathing¡­but she¡¯s still unconscious. There¡¯s no bite mark or injury that we can see¡­¡± Food was pushed in front of her and she tried to eat, the food sticking in her throat. ¡°What¡­what if it was¡­something in the lake? One of the plants we gathered?¡± Tears fell down her face, dropping onto her plate. ¡°What if this is somehow my fault?¡±


    Suvau held his daughter as she wept.


    Caste, who was the most awake out of all of them owing to his nap, worked his clever mind. ¡°We could figure it out. Did you bring her pack back with you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s there.¡± Judd pointed to a hook.


    Caste stood and gingerly peered inside. ¡°If everything she gathered is in this pack, we can cross reference it with botanical archives and see if there are any recorded reactions like this before.¡± He stood and, taking the chest he¡¯d recovered from the basement, reached for the pack. ¡°I¡¯ll start looking into it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help.¡± Emeri took the pack from him.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t think¡­¡± Caste said, seeing the shadows beneath her eyes, visible even on her deep, warm skin.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a fool and I know where the botanical archives are.¡± Emeri protested sharply, slinging the pack onto her back, heading for the door.


    ¡°Make sure you wear gloves when handling those plants!¡± Judd barked.


    Emeri and Caste both gave him withering looks.


    ¡°We know.¡± They retorted and headed to the library.


    Verne closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face. ¡°I¡¯m going to sit with her.¡± He said, rising wearily and leaving the kitchen.


    Using gloves Caste and Emeri laid the plants collected from the high lake onto a table, making sure they didn¡¯t touch them or let the plants touch each other. Emeri found the botanical archives and they¡¯d set the books on the table on the other side to the plants so they could match their leaf and floral colouring. Emeri¡¯s intensity was fearsome as she frantically searched. Caste let her go. She clearly needed to be able to do something to help Aalis. Caste doubted there was any correlation between the plants picked and Aalis¡¯ condition but he wasn¡¯t about to tell Emeri that. Aalis had an extensive knowledge of plants and would have known if something was so poisonous as to induce fitting, painful spasms and a coma. However, there was a small possibility that he was wrong and there might have been a previously unidentified plant in the lake that had done this¡­whether or not it had been collected so they could identify it though¡­Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Caste rubbed his eyes, feeling them burn with gritty tension from constantly peering at tiny writing and comparing every little detail of the plants to make sure they were correctly identified.


    He sighed, shaking his head, marvelling at the extent that researchers, herbalists and physicians had contributed to the botanical archives.


    ¡°How Aalis knows all this without excessive education is beyond me.¡± He murmured, marking the final of the plants as harmless. ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s that¡­Emeri?¡± He turned and saw her curled up in a chair, eyes closed, still clutching a book in her hands even while fast asleep.


    Caste found himself smiling and shaking his head. He spied a blanket on a footstool and picked it up, spreading it over Emeri¡¯s sleeping form, gently easing the book out of her grasp. He closed it and set it aside.


    ¡°Well¡­so long as I am here¡­¡± He turned to the chest he¡¯d rescued from the basement. He hadn¡¯t told Emeri about it, knowing that even she, a bibliophile, would not appreciate its contents when Aalis¡¯ life was in jeopardy. The chest had been of excellent make in the beginning but the lock, which Caste did not have a key for, had happily rusted and only required a tug to snap it. He eased the lid up, his eyes glowing at the presence of several manuscripts and parchments within. With ginger care he lifted them out and set them aside, seeing that the box, while of excellent make on the outside, had been fortified and waterproofed on the inside to the point of paranoia.


    Caste sat cross legged on a rug, two lamps nearby with a happy golden glow about them and began to study the parchments. They were extremely old, most made out of animal skin and would have perished to decay before Caste¡¯s grandfather¡¯s grandfather had been born if not for the care taken with their storage.


    So while there was a piece of parchment, yellowed from age, amongst the precious contents of the chest, it immediately stood out as younger than the rest of its companions.


    Caste reached for it, uncurling it gingerly, his green eyes darting over the words.


    It was a letter, addressed to the finder of the chest.


    ¡°What were you doing in my chambers, drenched as though you had been wading and shivering from the cold?¡± He looked up, astonished to see Cleric Severo standing in the doorway, leaning might have actually been a better description. The wine sodden cleric staggered in, red faced, bleary eyed, blinking frantically to focus on the parchment in Caste¡¯s hands. His jaw wobbled as though he was talking to himself, trying to convince himself that what Caste held wasn¡¯t what he thought. ¡°Where¡­did you get that?¡±


    Caste stumbled to his feet, clutching the letter. Cleric Severo then saw the chest.


    ¡°That¡­that is¡­blasphemy!¡±


    ¡°Keep your voice down.¡± Caste snapped, eyes darting to Emeri who shifted in her sleep.


    Cleric Severo, in a shift of energy and dexterity Caste didn¡¯t think he was capable of, darted forward, snatching the letter out of Caste¡¯s hand.


    ¡°This,¡± Cleric Severo shook his head, ¡°this is¡­an abomination! A rogue cleric!¡±


    Caste gasped and ran after the elderly cleric who stumbled out of the library. It was easy enough to catch up with him just outside the library, it was not so easy to circumvent his girth to grab it back. But Caste persisted and tore it from Severo¡¯s hand, putting it behind himself. Cleric Severo puffed angrily, his thickened fingers making clutching motions in the air.


    ¡°I demand you give it back to me!¡±


    ¡°This is a letter written by Cleric Iliet! As such, it is part of Astaril history!¡± Caste refused.


    ¡°He was insane! His mind had gone. He was out of his wits!¡±


    ¡°By preserving documents that the Order he served demanded that he destroy?¡± Caste was aghast. ¡°Cleric Iliet did as he should have done!¡±


    ¡°Cleric Iliet¡¯s actions and his theories are treasonous!¡±


    ¡°If not for Iliet¡¯s bravery, the library at Astaril would be forever missing these precious accounts of Maul before the wall was constructed! Bishop Peele will be the one to decide their fate, not some knight and a king who was known to be a brutal one.¡±


    Cleric Severo snorted. ¡°Oh little cleric¡­you think the Order of the Grail cares about manuscripts that contradict some of its foundational doctrines?¡±


    Caste stared at Severo. ¡°You¡¯ve read them¡­ haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I acted as you did when the chest was discovered, thinking I¡¯d found a way to be forever marked in the accounts of Astaril when I revealed the lost knowledge¡­¡± Severo shook his head, his whole body shaking with the motion. ¡°I copied everything, including the letter from cleric Iliet and sent it to Bishop Peele, eager to hear his response.¡± Severo closed his eyes. ¡°Never has a massive of mine been so speedily answered.¡±


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Caste asked.


    ¡°In order to protect the foundations of the Order of the Grail and the doctrines which govern our world¡­burn it all.¡± Caste¡¯s jaw dropped as the blood emptied out of his face. Severo gave a small, mocking laugh. ¡°You see now why I stopped caring¡­stopped bothering¡­and started drinking¡­because when I drink, I forget.¡± He looked blearily at Caste, his expression wreathed in sorrow. ¡°Keep the damn letter¡­it will do you no better than it did me.¡±


    Caste watched him waddle away, his shoulders bowed with surrender.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you burn it?¡± He called softly.


    Cleric Severo looked back without meeting his gaze. ¡°Whatever sodden, aged and useless excuse of a man that barely stands before you¡­I am still a cleric of the Order of the Grail, a protector of the knowledge of all that has gone before¡­and could not burn it no matter the heresy contained within.¡±


    Caste closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them, Severo was gone. Caste returned to the library, the letter trembling in his grasp. Somewhat frightened of delving any further, he packed the documents away and sank into a chair, his head in his hands.

 I don’t have the energy for this right now…

    Judd stood in the doorway to Emeri¡¯s room, Aalis softly highlighted in the light of a low burning lantern. Only the barest rise and fall of her chest, the faintest pulse in her veins, could convince anyone she was still alive. Her skin was the palest shade he¡¯d ever seen, the shadows beneath her eyes deep enough for all sorts of monsters to hide in and she was completely still.


    Verne had fallen asleep sitting next to her, his head rested by one of her hands. Judd slipped into the room and sat on the other side of the bed. He touched the end of one of her dreadlocks, surprised at how soft and flexible it was. It was such an unusual shade of silvery white, adding to Aalis¡¯ overall ethereal appearance at times. There was always a touch of lavender or pale blue about her countenance. A brush of it across her eyelids, at the edge of her hairline¡­even in the shadows of her dreadlocks like the underside of clouds. The tops were pure white but beneath, there were shadows in the hues of purples and blues.


    Judd rubbed his face, weary from worry.


    ¡°Have you slept at all?¡±


    He lifted his gaze and saw Verne¡¯s strong blue eyes on him.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Judd murmured, ¡°you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Verne rubbed his neck. ¡°Every time I start to drift off¡­I hear her screaming¡­¡± His jaw trembled.


    For all of Judd¡¯s disappointment that Aalis had not chosen him over the archer, he couldn¡¯t rejoice in Verne¡¯s dismay. ¡°She¡¯s going to be alright, Verne.¡± He promised with conviction. ¡°You¡¯re not going to lose her.¡±


    Verne closed his eyes and gave a silent, sad laugh, shaking his head. ¡°Oh Judd¡­you don¡¯t know¡­you don¡¯t realise¡­¡±


    Judd frowned. ¡°Realise what?¡±


    Verne scrunched his eyes shut. ¡°She¡¯s not¡­I¡¯m not¡­¡± He pressed his hands to his temples and groaned. ¡°I don¡¯t have the energy for this right now¡­¡±


    ¡°Sleep, Verne,¡± Judd urged, ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch.¡± He nodded strongly at the archer who sighed and relented, retreating to his bedroll and closing his eyes.


    Judd licked his lips and touched Aalis¡¯ forehead, silently entreating her to wake.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    In the hour before dawn, where the air was coolest and the sky lightening ever so slowly from almost black to a deep indigo, the stars almost brighter before they were obscured by the light of the sun, Aalis¡¯ eyes opened. They were almost colourless but rimmed with a dark line of purple that seemed to be leeching into the clear irises, staining them lavender.


    She sat up and looked to her left, seeing Judd asleep, his head slumped on his chest.


    She looked to the right and saw Verne asleep on his bedroll, frowning in his sleep.


    Like a spirit, Aalis slid off the bed and padded silently from the room, to the corridor and into the kitchen. She glanced around herself, dazed and confused, as though she had never seen the room before. Quietly she reached for a cloak hanging from a peg, her hand grasping it. She paused, focused on her fingernails. They were darkening to green, from the smallest on the left where it was almost black to her thumb which was her normal skin hue.


    Aalis stared at the nails, something clanging in her mind like a warning but from such a great distance that it was as though she couldn¡¯t work out where it was coming from.


    She drew the cloak around her shoulders, put the hood up and left the house.


    She walked numbly, propelled by the slope of the road to head downwards, eventually reaching the village and, because everyone else was going that way, joining the throngs of Maul people who were at the city gates as they opened at the start of a new day. Aalis was pressed into the crowd, her hood disguising her pale skin and the guards paid her no attention.


    She crossed the bridge over the moat, the throngs of dark skinned people peeling off, heading to their areas of planting and harvest, Aalis walking slowly but consistently, through the fields.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± The name was a dull thud against her head like her ears were full of cotton. She continued walking. ¡°Aalis?¡± A hand touched her arm and she was compelled to turn.


    A dark skinned man stared at her, surprised and a little concerned. ¡°Aalis? Do you know me? Ersha? Sheal¡¯s husband?¡±


    Aalis swayed on her feet, her eyes unable to focus on his face. Without answering or even looking like she had comprehended his words, she pulled out of his grip. She walked the slopes of the fields outside of Fort Omra, the ground covered in frost that nipped at her feet though she didn¡¯t feel it. Dawn was breaking and the world was alive with anticipation that the long night was over. Aalis could hear the grass quivering, shaking off the blanket of frost and the leaves that began to unfurl to capture as much sun as they could. She could even feel the atmosphere sharpen, almost as if ice was cracking off the very air around her as she breathed out breaths of white mist.


    Then she stopped.


    Her breathing stalled, the white fog expelled from her lungs fading away.


    Slowly she turned and faced the wall, its enormous bulk almost black in the sharpness of the morning light, looming over her with an intimidating leer.


    ¡°It comes¡­¡± Aalis whispered.


    Only a few seconds later, Fort Omra¡¯s alarm began to sound.

 Oh, well maybe the first thing you should do is…NOT CUT OFF ITS HEADS!

    Judd half fell in his haste to rise as the bell resounded loudly. He couldn¡¯t work out where he was or why he was sitting up to sleep. Frozen like a momentary statue in panic, his eyes caught Verne¡¯s who looked at him¡­then they both looked at the empty bed. Judd swore and bolted out of the room, Verne following, nearly running into Suvau who was in the kitchen with Yolana, hastily dressed.


    ¡°She¡¯s gone!¡± Judd blurted.


    ¡°Gone?¡± Suvau gaped then they were silent as the bell sounded again. ¡°Monster attack¡­¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Verne demanded of Judd who paused, swallowing.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Giordi appeared in the doorway.


    ¡°Giordi, go down to the village. See if you can find Aalis!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gone?¡± Giordi rolled his eyes, pulling on his boots as he stumbled towards the door. ¡°Of course she¡¯s gone. Why ask, you stupid minstrel!¡±


    ¡°Be careful! Monsters are attacking and we don¡¯t know if they¡¯ve breached the walls!¡± Judd yelled after him.


    ¡°If we go to the wall, we¡¯ll find out where the monsters are and have a better view.¡± Suvau opened the door. ¡°Follow me and don¡¯t forget your sword!¡±


    ¡°Yolana, stay here and if she comes back¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep her safe.¡± Yolana promised. ¡°Go!¡±


    Judd and Verne sprinted after Suvau whose long stride carried him further and faster than they could match, up to the gates of the fort even as the clamour from below told them the villagers were surging back towards the gates. Soldiers were yelling at people to run and Judd spared a brief glance down, watching as the soldiers, regardless whether anyone was still outside the village gates, closed them tightly. He couldn¡¯t pick Giordi or Aalis from the seething masses as they darted for their homes.


    ¡°Judd, come on!¡±


    Judd followed Suvau across the fort to the wing that acted as a barracks for the soldiers who were scrambling to be ready. As they ran they heard their names called.


    ¡°Caste, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Emeri and I were in the library.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better come with us.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We need another pair of eyes,¡± Judd explained as they ran through the armoury for the door at the end, following the soldiers who were taking the steps two by two, darting to the top of the wall, ¡°Aalis took off while we were asleep.¡±


    ¡°She could be anywhere!¡±


    ¡°We know!¡±


    Judd clambered to the top of the wall and gasped in horror at the sight of the mount of Maul, crackling with a rage that didn¡¯t seem possible for a mountain. He spied Sir Fereak barking orders to his soldiers, the entirety of Fort Omra¡¯s troops lining the wall.


    ¡°Sir Fereak!¡±


    ¡°LaMogre¡­you shouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Sir Fereak snapped at him. ¡°Regardless of your previous victories¡­we have a situation! Heim! Get the archers up here now!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡±


    Judd turned to Verne and Suvau and gestured at them to search the ground on the north side of the wall. Then he returned to Sir Fereak.


    ¡°I offer my blade, sir and my cleric¡¯s wisdom.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing what?¡± Caste¡¯s protestation was lost in a groan that shook the earth. Soldiers shouted and pointed. Judd grasped the wall and leaned, looking at the cracked earth of Maul. It was splintering anew, cracks forming and others collapsing entirely.


    Sir Fereak swore. ¡°The mountain has given birth to something and by the looks of it, it¡¯s bigger than a goblin horde¡­¡±


    Caste pinched Judd¡¯s arm. ¡°I really think that I should go elsewhere¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd, I found her!¡± Verne dragged Judd to the other side of the wall and pointed. ¡°There!¡±


    Judd¡¯s eyes narrowed, spying Aalis standing in the deserted fields. She wasn¡¯t doing anything. Not running or walking or hiding. Just standing, staring at the wall¡­or perhaps staring at what was beyond it.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s been knocked senseless by what happened at the lake?¡±


    Judd groaned. ¡°She¡¯s out in the open and they¡¯ve shut the village gates.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­but at least the monster is on the south side of the wall.¡±


    ¡°Monster sighted!¡±


    Judd ran back to the other side, Verne and Suvau darting with him. They pressed between the shoulders of the soldiers, seeing the earth convulse as something large tunnelled beneath it, surging upwards, shaking apart then settling as whatever it was continued towards the wall.


    ¡°A lot bigger than a goblin horde¡­¡± Judd¡¯s spine trembled. ¡°Will it tunnel beneath the wall?¡±


    ¡°Archers, take positions!¡± Sir Fereak bellowed. ¡°Make space for the archers!¡±


    Judd got out of Verne¡¯s way who had grabbed his bow and arrows before leaving the house. Already an arrow was nestled in the cradle, his fingers cupping the shaft tightly, drawing the bowstring back tightly. Blue eyes, sharp and focussed, followed the tunnelling earth¡­


    ¡­until it disappeared.


    Captain Heim began to swear mightily. ¡°It¡¯s tunnelling under the wall. To the north side!¡±


    Judd went to run but Verne grabbed his arm and kept him to the south side.


    ¡°Verne?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s tunnelling under¡­¡± Verne¡¯s blue eyes stayed on the ground.


    Even through the enormity of stone between himself and the ground, Judd could feel the ground trembling. He and Verne leaned over, seeing the loose stones dance about, lost arrows scattering¡­


    Judd grasped the hilt of his sword, his stomach twisting into knots¡­


    And for a long, terrifying moment, the world was alarmingly still¡­


    ¡­then the ground erupted on the south side of the wall and a black serpent shot into the air, a blue forked tongue hissing out of its head which was the size of the giant blocks of stone cut from the quarry at Quarre.


    ¡°Snake!¡± Judd cried, stumbling backwards. ¡°Big snake!¡±


    ¡°Big!¡± Caste screeched as they leapt aside, the serpent¡¯s head darting towards them, fangs as long as Judd¡¯s new sword narrowly missing impaling them, grabbing a soldier who wasn¡¯t fast enough on his feet. He was flung into the air, his body crumpling on the Maul side of the wall, lifeless and irretrievable.


    Judd couldn¡¯t take his eyes from it for a moment knowing that it could easily have been him.


    ¡°Get down!¡± Suvau roared as the serpent darted forward for its next victim.


    Judd rolled out of the way, turned and brought his sword down.


    It wasn¡¯t long enough to completely sever the serpent¡¯s head but it was at least three quarters of the way through. Green blood gushed from it as it thrashed and spasmed, tipping back over the wall and falling to the ground. Judd, splattered with green, lunged for the wall and leaned over, seeing the serpent neck sink into the earth, its dismembered head, torn completely from its body in its frantic flight, rolled down the slope and fell into a crevice.


    Judd gave a little laugh, trying to cover the nausea he was feeling.


    ¡°Well done, LaMogre¡­¡± Sir Fereak said, putting his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder as his soldiers reapproached the south side of the wall. ¡°For a moment I thought we had a real¡­¡±


    The earth split open again with a mighty roar and this time, not one but two heads appeared on long necks, slightly smaller than the first but no less swift in their attack and enraged at Judd¡¯s initial success. One of the heads lunged for Judd who flung himself to the ground.


    ¡°Fereak!¡± He cried, realising too late that the knight had been standing next to him and had missed the imminent attack because of his blinded eye.


    Captain Heim threw himself at Sir Fereak, knocking him out of the way. He screamed as the teeth of the serpent sank deep into his body, piercing his armour as if it wasn¡¯t hardened steel. Judd scrambled frantically, lunging for him but Heim was dragged off the wall, still screaming and kicking. The head threw him up into the air, its fangs opened wide but the second head beat it to it, Heim¡¯s howls of terror and pain silenced. The first head hissed and grabbed Heim¡¯s legs. There was a terrible moment where they fought each other before the body was torn apart.


    ¡°Wil Heim!¡± Sir Fereak¡¯s howl was agonised and terrible.


    ¡°Sir! What do we do?!¡± The soldiers cried but Fereak was unable to answer, watching the serpent devour the body of his captain.


    Judd kept his eyes on one head, dodging and ducking, trying to keep out of its way.


    ¡°Look out!¡± Suvau grabbed Judd and pushed him down as the second head, which Judd hadn¡¯t seen coming, nearly bit him in two. Suvau launched himself upright and, using a discarded sword from a fallen soldier, brought the blade up, severing the head.


    The serpent threw itself backwards, the single head remaining screeching abominations of Maul in fury over its severed counterpart, convulsed and then to their horror, two heads, slightly smaller again than the previous ones, erupted from the bloody green stump, snarling and snapping and ready to make the humans pay for its predecessor¡¯s demise.


    Judd cowered against the edge of the wall. The serpent¡¯s heads continued to dart and snap at the soldiers who were either running or attempting to drive the serpent back. Sir Fereak was giving orders, trying to rally the soldiers back into formation but he was shaken and pale.


    ¡°What in Maul is it?!¡±


    ¡°Know your monsters!¡± Caste roared. ¡°It¡¯s a hydra!¡±


    ¡°Hydra?¡± Judd pushed his hands through his hair. ¡°I only know about the monsters I¡¯m supposed to kill. I don¡¯t know anything about hydras or how to kill them!¡±


    ¡°Oh, well maybe the first thing you should do is¡­NOT CUT OFF ITS HEADS!¡± Caste brandished his usually calm, cleric fists at Judd. ¡°For every one you cut off, two grow back!¡± They heard a terrible squelching sound and saw a partially severed head dangling near the trebuchet. With fiendish coldness, the hydra, using its own fangs, tore the head from its body, allowing two new heads to appear. ¡°You see!¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the lecture, Caste,¡± Verne groused, ¡°but how in Maul do we kill it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to cut its heart out which would have been easier when there was only one head!¡±


    The wall shuddered and Judd, Suvau, Caste and Verne clung to the stone as two huge foreclaws grasped the top of the rampart, dragging the body of the hydra up onto the wall.


    ¡°Now!¡± Verne hissed as the black body of the hydra was draped over the two edges of the wall.


    Judd scrambled beneath and tried to stab upwards but he couldn¡¯t get his sword out in such a small space and was tumbled over and over like his first dunking under a brutal wave at the beach, colliding with the north side of the ramparts, the hydra hauling itself over the wall and dropping onto the fields on the other side.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Judd sword. ¡°I was so close!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s heading straight for where Aalis was!¡± Verne gasped.


    Judd closed his eyes for a brief second. ¡°Aalis¡­tell me you¡¯ve run.¡±

 Well…maybe you’ll get bonus points

    Aalis stood on the grass where darkened footsteps against the still frosted grass told of where she had come from yet hadn¡¯t moved since the ringing of the bell. She heard the cries of the soldiers, the yells of fright and the mad clang of metal before the black serpent heads appeared over the top of the wall. She looked up at it, its yellow eyes darting across the landscape of fields, paddocks and extensive harvest¡­


    ¡­before locking onto her.


    Multiple heads hissed at her in unison, their jaws quivering as their fangs were exposed, forked tongues whipping through the air. It clambered over the wall, its long serpent body given two foreclaws that it used to claw and grab while the rest of it slithered into an extended long tail with a rattle at the end. It fell from the wall, pooling into a slump before rising out of its tangle of body, clambering forward, heading straight for her.


    Despite the fact that the hydra was on the north side of the wall, Fereak was not ordering his soldiers to follow. Instead he ran to the trebuchet and began to order it to turn towards the north.


    ¡°Turn, damn it! Get it northside! Archers! Continue to fire and slow its advance! If it makes the outer marker, it¡¯ll be beyond our reach!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to fire the trebuchet?¡± Judd cried, running towards him.


    ¡°And send it back to Maul where it belongs¡­¡± Fereak¡¯s countenance was dark and grim.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do that! There are people down there!¡±


    ¡°And if I don¡¯t, that thing will rampage through the north!¡±


    ¡°Send your soldiers! Send me!¡± Judd yelled.


    ¡°And what, pray tell, would you do down there?¡± Sir Fereak snapped at him. ¡°Look at the size of it! A legion of soldiers would have no hope against it! With it on the ground and moving away from the wall, we can use the trebuchet on it.¡±


    Judd pushed his hands through his hair. He turned to Caste. ¡°Give me some options, Caste,¡± he begged, ¡°how do I get close enough to stab it in the heart?¡±


    ¡°Blind it.¡± Caste advised. ¡°Take out its sight without removing a head.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Right¡­that¡¯s good. I can do that.¡±


    ¡°How are you going to get down there before they load and turn the trebuchet?¡± Verne asked.


    Judd cringed and pointed to the black cords running from the wall to the ground.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± Caste exclaimed. ¡°They will have lost integrity from the battering of the hydra! They could snap!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the fastest way down.¡± Judd picked up a pincer grip, picked a cord and sat on the edge of the wall. His stomach lurched and his vision blurred, blood thundering between his ears.


    ¡°You¡¯re really going to do the death drop?¡± Sir Fereak jogged over to them.


    ¡°If I do¡­will you give me time to kill that thing?¡± Judd asked.


    Fereak closed his eyes and winced. ¡°Fine¡­but while you¡¯re bearing a sword without a sheath, you¡¯ll only be able to hold on with one hand.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°When you reach the bottom, drop and roll. If you stiffen your legs, you¡¯ll snap them like twigs.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming too.¡± Verne announced, swinging his long legs over the wall, gripping a pincer in his hands, his bow hooked over his shoulder.


    ¡°As am I.¡± Suvau added, setting up on the other side of Judd.


    ¡°Caste?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not getting me on that!¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd looked over his shoulder, ¡°Giordi was in the village¡­let him know Aalis is outside the gates.¡±


    Caste nodded, or trembled, it was hard to tell.


    Judd couldn¡¯t spend another moment in hesitation¡­or in even looking. He simply turned and slid off the edge of the wall, a yell of terror escaping his lips as he dropped like a stone for a terrible, gut wrenching second before the pincer grip caught the cord and he plummeted towards the ground on an angle, going faster and faster, heading vaguely near the hydra¡¯s back half. His yell was more like a scream as he hurtled through the air, his right arm muscles bulging as they clung to the pincer, his sword braced in his left hand.


    It was only a few seconds to drop from the height of the wall, diagonally to the ground but it was long enough for Judd to question the meaning of his life. Thankfully such musings disappeared when he let go of the pincer and did his best to roll, flinging his sword sideways so he didn¡¯t impale himself on it. His ankle was smarting and he was pretty sure his bladder was empty but Judd scrambled for his sword and, upon finding it, advanced on the hydra.


    But as fast as he ran, he couldn¡¯t reach Aalis before the hydra did.


    Aalis stared at it, still swaying on her feet, the hydra¡¯s heads biting at each other in their eagerness to get close, the distance between them closing within seconds. Fiendish yellow eyes fixed on her, black tongues darted in and out and the tail shimmied, the rattle echoing off the walls. The largest of the heads, the second one that had appeared and not been cut off, snarled into dominance and the other heads hissed and retreated, letting the alpha head rear above Aalis, braced on its tail, its foreclaws swiping the air in anticipation.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    She could hear her name being called as the hydra readied itself to strike. A hand grabbed her and tried to pull but she was immovable, like a statue.


    ¡°Aalis, run!¡± Ersha cried, trying to drag her. ¡°Run!¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t see Aalis, his view completely dominated by the hydra¡¯s blue/black bulk. So he turned and slashed at the hydra¡¯s body, gouging deep into its hide, splintering scales and splattering green blood across the ground.


    The hydra howled and twisted, heads snapping towards the attacker, its left foreclaw coming down towards Aalis in a lopsided fall, big enough to squash her like a bug and drive her into a shallow grave.


    ¡°Look out!¡± Ersha screeched, cowering as light was blocked out, the foreclaw plummeting towards them.


    Aalis stared at the rough underfoot of the foreclaw coming down on her¡­


    ¡­and reached up her hand.


    Ersha was curled on his side, his mind grieving for his twins that would grow up without a father¡­when he realised he wasn¡¯t dead.


    Stunned, he peered out from behind his hands and saw Aalis standing nearby, her hand raised towards the hydra¡¯s foreclaw. The hydra had seized, convulsing in strange trembles, back and forth, jittering and hissing, its foreclaw frozen only inches from Aalis¡¯ hand. The heads screeched and jerked, almost as if they were trying to get away from the young, defenceless woman.


    Ersha¡¯s wide eyes stared at her, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. The air was full of energy, a strange pull washing over him towards Aalis. He looked at the ground and gasped, the colour leeching out of the grass and bushes, the shrubs curling up and dying and trees splintering as they cracked into blackened, leafless husks. The ground around Ersha was drying as well. He touched some of the fronds and they turned to dust. He lifted his eyes to Aalis, her hair shimmering with a pearlescent lustre and her fingernails, a darkened green.


    He gasped then yelped, scrambling backwards, further and further from Aalis who held the hydra in her small, insignificant grasp.


    At the back of the hydra, Judd couldn¡¯t tell what was going on but the hydra had stalled in its attack and Judd wasn¡¯t about to start questioning why.


    ¡°Verne!¡± He shouted, unable to see the archer but hoping he was nearby. ¡°Shoot the eyes!¡±


    ¡°Judd!¡± Suvau had managed to land on the hydra¡¯s back, sprinting up its long spine towards its heads. ¡°Get ready!¡± He grabbed two of the heads with his hands and dragged them down with his weight. Judd slashed against their faces and they lurched back, thrashing blindly. ¡°I¡¯ll work on the eyes! You get to the front!¡±


    Judd nodded and leapt over a low stone wall, weaving his way through the trees that hadn¡¯t been crushed beneath the hydra¡¯s body. He dodged snapping fangs and hissing jaws, the unblinded heads doing their best to bite him in two. He ducked under the hydra¡¯s raised right foreclaw which seemed to be swiping through the air at an invisible enemy and saw Aalis just standing in a patch of land that looked as though it had been scorched with fire. She was unharmed, reaching up to the hydra which was in a state of inexplicable spasm. Its foreclaw could not come down on her.


    Judd looked at where the chest of the hydra was, further away from Aalis than he could lunge.


    ¡°Suvau!¡± He yelled. ¡°Verne! Get Aalis out of here!¡±


    He had to trust them to do so, running towards the underbelly of the hydra, heads ducking down to snap at him, twisting to follow him as he hurtled towards its chest, sword raised, mouth filled with a ferocious bellow.


    He plunged his sword into the soft underbelly as far up to the hilt as he could. The hydra howled and writhed, still unable to move its left foreclaw, anchored in place. Judd yanked his sword out and stabbed again and again.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your bloody heart you wretched monster?!¡± He roared, thrusting over and over, covered in green blood as he made a complete hash of the hydra, scales flying and entrails sloping out over his feet.


    Suddenly it let out an almighty scream and its spasm that had kept it somewhat rigid was broken. Judd looked up as the hydra flailed its heads about, gnashing their fangs and shrieking in agony. Its body began to roll forward and Judd yelped, about to be crushed and unable to move in the sludge of innards.


    ¡°Got you!¡± Suvau lunged at him, knocking him sideways and out of the path of body of the hydra as it slumped.


    Judd scrambled backwards from its enormous bulk as it thrashed and convulsed, its death throes something terrible to behold. Its tail rattled wildly, smashing against the wall and knocking trees over while its heads hissed, almost tying themselves into knots in agony. Judd clung to his slick sword, coated completely in green blood, staring in shock as the serpent gave a final shuddering spasm then slumped onto the ground, its heads dropping to the earth as if it had been a marionette and someone had cut its strings.


    Somewhere overhead, soldiers were cheering and applauding.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, monster killer.¡± Suvau chuckled deeply, his voice resonating in the silence. Judd looked at him, somewhat dazed. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose there¡¯s a hydra on this monster kill list?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­maybe you¡¯ll get bonus points.¡±


    Judd managed to laugh then shuddered, realising just how covered in monster blood he was and that there were entrails caught over his boots which he kicked off with a shudder. ¡°When they tell you about knights and their monster kills¡­they never mention the mess.¡±


    ¡°Given the state you¡¯re in, I¡¯m not surprised.¡±


    Judd wiped his face.


    ¡°Judd?¡± He looked up and nearly wept in relief. Aalis came stumbling towards him, unharmed, her expression frightened and desperate. ¡°What¡­happened to you?¡±


    Judd turned to Verne, who had managed to get her out of the battlefield, shrugged. ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember a thing from the lake to here. It¡¯s like she was sleepwalking.¡±


    Judd closed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m just so relieved you¡¯re safe.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get you back inside and cleaned up before someone mistakes you for a monster.¡± Verne held out his hand and pulled Judd to his feet.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope they¡¯ll open the gates for us.¡±


    ¡°They should do,¡± Suvau nodded, ¡°the monster is dead.¡±


    They headed towards the gate but had not gone more than a dozen yards when the warning bell began to ring out. They all turned and looked up.


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± Suvau frowned. ¡°Whistling?¡±


    ¡°No, not whistling¡­¡± Verne¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Projectile!¡±


    ¡°Project¡­what?!¡±


    A chunk of burning red rock was hurled over the wall from the south, screaming in its descent, crashing into an orchard, the trees immediately turning into giant candles.


    ¡°The mountain! It¡¯s lost its mind!¡±


    ¡°To the fort!¡± Suvau ordered and they bolted as more and more lava bombs were flung over the wall, striking fields, buildings and, fortuitously, the gates into the village. They were torn from their hinges. The people of Maul who had been so unfortunate as to be shut out when the soldiers had closed the gates, grabbed buckets and baskets, throwing water from the moat onto the flames until they could pass through. Aalis whimpered at the flames that snapped at the hem of her gown. Judd scooped her into his arms and lifted her over, his hand naturally finding hers as they sprinted into the village proper, more flaming projectiles striking buildings, the mountain, soaring overhead to burn yet more harvest and even hitting the fort itself. ¡°Yolana!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get up there!¡± Judd cried and they sprinted for the slope, Giordi joining them from the throngs of terrified people, Terras and Mauls alike.


    ¡°Glad you found Aalis! I didn¡¯t even get out of the damn gates before they closed.¡±


    ¡°Did Caste come down here?¡±


    ¡°Caste? No. Why?¡±


    ¡°I sent him down from the wall.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°I hope he isn¡¯t cowering in a corner somewhere. Whoa!¡±


    An angry red meteor screamed overhead, striking the slope behind them.


    ¡°That was too close.¡± Verne shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ve got to get closer to the wall!¡±


    ¡°Not without Yolana!¡± Suvau vowed and forced his legs to run faster, taking the turn towards his home. ¡°Yolana!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She flew out of the doorway into his arms. Her eyes darted over their company. ¡°Where is Emeri?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She came down from the fort when the bell sounded but when I turned around she was gone¡­¡± Yolana¡¯s eyes were almost wild. ¡°Suvau¡­where is she?¡±


    Giordi pushed hooked hands through his cherub curls. ¡°And where in Maul is Caste?¡±

 How dare you deny me what is rightfully mine!

    Caste had been unable to tear his eyes away as Judd, Verne and Suvau dropped from the wall. He¡¯d leaned over the edge, watching their bodies fly through the air, his stomach lurching before they each made landfall, tumbling and rolling in the earth.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be damned¡­he made it!¡± Sir Fereak shook his head. ¡°No matter his humble origins, you¡¯ve got to give him credit for his bravery.¡±


    ¡°Or stupidity.¡± Caste¡¯s spine had gone into hiding.


    ¡°Ready the trebuchet!¡±


    Caste looked up. ¡°You promised Judd he would have time!¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯ll have all I can give but I am charged with the defence of this wall and by Sir Omra and all those knights who followed after him, I will do my duty.¡± Sir Fereak barked. ¡°Get out of here, cleric. There¡¯s nothing more you can do.¡±


    Caste couldn¡¯t argue with that, scampering from the top of the wall to the stairs, fleeing through the armoury and the barracks of the fort until he was in the lower bailey. He took to the slope that would lead him down to the village and was nearing the bottom when an enormous shout echoed from the soldiers and he could hear cheering. Caste clambered up the side of a house, using crates to balance and arched his neck, peering out over the wall of the village. The hydra¡¯s body was slumped on the ground, unmoving and, judging by the shouts of the soldiers, dead.


    He stared, stunned and more than a little confused.


    How had a barely middle class born son of a fisherman been able to slay a hydra?


    Caste¡¯s mind, which liked a conundrum above almost all else, was mulling over it when something screamed overhead and crashed into the ground.


    ¡°Meteors from the mountain! Run!¡±


    ¡°Meteors?¡± Caste looked up, seeing more and more flaming rocks hurtle over the wall, striking village, farmland and mountain. One destroyed a building near him, the force of it knocking Caste backwards. He gasped for air from his evacuated lungs and sat up, the building already burning, chewing its way through wooden structures, beams and the thatch of the roof. ¡°Thatch¡­the library!¡±


    Without any thought, just pure instinct, he turned and sprinted up the slope.


    Not the burning in his legs or tightening of his lungs could stop his frantic ascent, running across the lower and upper bailey, taking the servant¡¯s entrance and following it without care for the darkness, fighting with the tapestry to emerge on the other side. The doors to the library were open and he darted for them, stopping when he heard voices.


    ¡°¡­you dare touch me!¡±


    ¡°You think you have the right to deny me? You are a servant! A slave! You must submit to my will! Stop struggling!¡±


    ¡°I will not let you have me! You have no right at all!¡±


    ¡°I have every right and I will take it. All of it, until you¡¯re good for no one you good for nothing but this, wench! Argh!¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Caste flinched at the sound of pain, suspecting that Emeri had just landed a blow in a rather sensitive position. He inched forward, seeing Emeri putting a chair between herself and the man who was bent over, his dark hair tied back from his face. Though Caste had not laid eyes on him before, he had no doubt that this was Jerom, Ermo Kenet¡¯s son.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for that¡­after I¡¯ve broken you!¡±


    ¡°All you¡¯re going to get out of me is the satisfaction of a whipping!¡± Emeri cried, unable to reach the door as Jerom kept her cornered. ¡°I swear, I would rather die than give myself to you!¡±


    ¡°How noble! You really think you¡¯re the same as us? Able to reason and argue? You¡¯re a bit of flesh that I can do with what I like¡­and if you don¡¯t, then I swear it¡¯s not you who will suffer.¡±


    Caste blinked, his chest tight and his throat closing over.


    Emeri trembled mightily. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean, I will bring charge against you father and mother¡­and I will make you watch as they are both whipped until there¡¯s no skin left on their backs!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t! They¡¯ve never done anything in defiance! They¡¯re innocent!¡±


    ¡°What would their word count against mine? I swear, unless you allow me to do whatever I want with you and to you, I will bleed your parents until their screams can be heard by everyone in Fort Omra!¡±


    Emeri¡¯s eyes lowered and closed, her shoulders bowed in defeat. Caste silently yelled at her that Suvau and Yolana would take any beating to ensure their daughter¡¯s safety but knew Emeri had already thought of it and dismissed it. She would not allow it to happen.


    ¡°Very well¡­¡±


    Jerom chuckled and advanced on her. ¡°I knew you¡¯d see it my way¡­now¡­stand still.¡±


    Caste closed his eyes, his fingers scrunching tightly into fists. He could hear the tear of fabric, whimpers Emeri could not suppress and the creak of furniture as Jerom pressed her against something hard and unyielding.


    ¡°Not a word, you hear¡­ you will be silent and you will submit!¡±


    Emeri sobbed and Jerom¡¯s hand slapped her across the cheek, causing Caste¡¯s eyes to fly open. He charged into the library, throwing a chair out of the way and thrust himself between Jerom and Emeri, the latter scrambling back from where she had been cast across a table. Caste pushed Jerom back and stood in front of Emeri.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this!¡± He snapped. ¡°I won¡¯t let you!¡±


    Jerom¡¯s eyes blazed with a dark, soulless light and he drew himself up to his full height, standing over Caste, taller by a head and a half. ¡°You pathetic cleric! How dare you deny me what is rightfully mine!¡±


    ¡°Not yours, not now, not ever!¡± Caste was shaking, his body flushing hot and cold, every memory of being bullied and intimidated returning to him with overwhelming clarity.


    Jerom looked at him¡­and sniggered. ¡°You¡¯re all red and trembling¡­you¡¯re afraid¡­go back to your books, cleric and leave being a man to those who still have what it takes to bed a girl.¡± Everything in Caste screamed at him to run and hide and perhaps if he was not frozen to the spot in terror, he would have done so but he was unable to move even as Jerom shoved him, reaching for Emeri. ¡°I¡¯ll let you watch if you like and you can write it all down in detail in your little books¡­¡±


    Caste grasped Jerom¡¯s arm. ¡°No¡­¡± He cried weakly, pushing through almost physical walls of terror.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± Jerom flung Caste aside and he struck a pillar, dropping to the floor, a gash on his forehead and blood running into his eyes. ¡°Pathetic.¡± Jerom mocked then howled as Emeri rammed her little blade deep into Jerom¡¯s right shoulder. He twisted, swinging wide and she was knocked back, Jerom clutching at his shoulder. Emeri darted to Caste¡¯s side, kneeling by him as Jerom¡¯s fingers found the blade and pulled it out. He held it in his hands, coated in blood and a terrible smile woke on his repulsive features. ¡°Attacking a solider¡­you¡¯re going to pay the price for denying me!¡±


    Caste watched Jerom storm out of the library, his vision blurry and despite trying, he couldn¡¯t get to his feet.


    ¡°Caste¡­speak to me! Caste!¡± Emeri¡¯s features danced in front of his eyes. ¡°What do I do?¡±


    Caste couldn¡¯t focus. He pushed at her weakly. ¡°Get away from me.¡± He grunted desperately, trying to get her to run.


    Emeri stepped back, clutching at her dress. She opened her mouth as if to speak then darted from the room. Caste scrunched his eyes shut, breathing in and out and tried to rise before falling back down.


    ¡°Mustn¡¯t fall asleep¡­¡± He groaned. ¡°Must stay awake¡­¡± His head was slipping lower and lower onto his chest¡­

 If youre going to punish anyone, punish me!

    ¡°Caste!¡± He gave a small jolt, trying to force eyes open that felt like they were welded shut. ¡°Oh Caste¡­what did he do to you?¡±


    ¡°Emeri¡­go away¡­¡± He flailed his arm uselessly.


    ¡°Stop being an arse, Caste and let Aalis treat you!¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡± The fuzzy blobs in front of him blurred in and out of focus. ¡°Wha¡­¡±


    ¡°He has a concussion¡­he is fortunate the blow did not kill him. Caste, can you hear me?¡±


    He mumbled incoherently in response. Something cool was pressed against his forehead and immediately the pressure inside his skull lifted. Caste opened his eyes properly, gasping at the sudden relief. Aalis, who had been leaning forward with her fingers touching his face, sat back and lifted his chin, gazing into his eyes.


    ¡°That is better. I am going to apply a poultice to the wound and salve to the bruises on your shoulder and arm. I just need to prepare them.¡±


    Caste blinked, still a little confused but no longer wrapped in a fog. He looked up and saw Judd, Verne and Giordi standing over him.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we want to know.¡± Judd said darkly.


    ¡°Emeri arrived at the house, frantic and terrified.¡± Verne¡¯s jaw was as tight as his bowstring could be.


    ¡°Emeri,¡± Caste¡¯s memories returned and he tried to rise again but Judd pushed him down, ¡°is she hurt?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis bit her lips to keep them from trembling, ¡°but she would have been¡­if not for you.¡±


    ¡°Emeri told us you stopped Jerom.¡± Judd looked at the others. ¡°Maybe one of us should make sure Suvau isn¡¯t taking matters into his own hands?¡±


    ¡°Not a bad notion, given his thunderous expression when we left.¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Caste closed his eyes, the aftershock of fear washing over him. ¡°What was I thinking?¡± He put his hand to his face, quaking as the enormity of what had happened finally sunk in.


    ¡°You saved a young woman from being defiled.¡± Aalis insisted, grinding some herbs into a paste with a little water. ¡°It was very brave.¡±


    ¡°Knightly, even.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°Stupid¡­so stupid¡­¡± Caste groaned.


    ¡°How can you say that?¡± Verne demanded.


    Caste could only see the bloody dagger, proof of Emeri¡¯s assault on Jerom, in his mind. He wasn¡¯t thinking about how he had protected Emeri. She had protected him¡­and there would be serious ramifications.


    ¡°I have to get up¡­¡± Caste muttered, clutching the pillar, forcing himself to his feet.


    ¡°Caste, I really think¡­¡±


    ¡°Up!¡± He snapped, dragging himself upright. He stood, panting, trying to keep the world from spinning and took a step then another, stumbling towards the doors.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Go with him.¡± Aalis said to Judd.


    ¡°I will. You,¡± he looked at Verne, ¡°stay here while Aalis finishes preparing her remedies and packs up¡­and don¡¯t leave her for a second.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Verne nodded.


    Judd ran out of the room, catching up with Caste easily as he clung to the wall. ¡°Here,¡± Judd offered his arm, ¡°if you insist on walking at least lean on me and I¡¯ll keep you upright.¡± Caste sagged against Judd, hardly a heavy weight and the young man helped the cleric walk. ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Sir Fereak¡­must¡­circumvent¡­¡± Caste scrunched his eyes shut. ¡°Words¡­where are my words?¡±


    ¡°You were knocked out. The words will return¡­and at the very least if you¡¯ve lost some of your brilliant mental capacity, you won¡¯t make the rest of us look so foolish.¡±


    Caste gave a laugh like he was tipsy and looked at Judd¡­then frowned. ¡°Why are you green?¡±


    Judd grimaced, knowing he had congealed monster blood in his hair though he¡¯d tried to wipe as much off as possible. ¡°Hydra blood.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    They staggered through the fort, Judd not even sure if Caste really knew where he was going, when they heard Giordi yelling their names. They turned to see the minstrel sprinting towards them.


    ¡°Judd, come quick. Jerom has arrested Emeri, saying she assaulted him.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s¡­¡± Judd paused and looked at Caste. ¡°Where¡¯s Suvau?¡±


    ¡°Shackled and Yolana is bound as well. You¡¯ve got to come!¡±


    Giordi led them through the fort, through the upper bailey to the larger, lower bailey where soldiers who were not occupied with putting out fires were gathering. The mount of Maul had grown weary of flinging lava bombs at Fort Omra but the damage had been done and it was extensive. However, now that the immediate danger was passed, Jerom had wasted no time in gathering a crowd of witnesses and not content with the assembly of soldiers, his father had marched half of the village up the slope, crowding them at the back so that they could watch Fort Omra justice be done.


    Judd let Caste sink onto a barrel to the side, the sight of Emeri on her knees in the pale yellow gravel before Sir Fereak tearing at his soul. Nearby, rumpled from the violent awakening, Lady Alonin stood with her arms folded, her expression unreadable. Shackled, though Judd wondered if they would be able to contain him, Suvau was held on the far side, sinews straining and there was no doubt, if he managed to get his hands on Jerom, he¡¯d snap his neck without hesitation. Yolana was by his side, her face stained with tears and ash.


    ¡°What is this matter you¡¯ve brought before me?¡± Sir Fereak demanded in an unimpressed voice. ¡°Fort Omra has suffered a crippling monster attack and you drag this Maul for judgement?¡±


    Emeri bowed her head, weeping.


    ¡°My lord, Sir Fereak,¡± Jerom said loudly, his shoulder wound being bound by a servant, his self righteous indignation overpowering his need for medical attention, ¡°this Maul slave must be punished! Not only has she acted as if she is one of us,¡± Jerom gestured to Sir Fereak and his resigned lady, ¡°but she attacked me!¡±


    ¡°This girl attacked a seasoned soldier?¡± Sir Fereak''s boots were smoking from stamping out fires, he was smudged with soot and his veins were still pumping with adrenalin from the assault. ¡°Kenet, are you out of your mind?¡±


    ¡°She bore a blade¡­armed as not one of her people is permitted to be.¡± Jerom held the bloodied dagger out. The bright red had dulled to a darkened, crusty coating as he placed it in Sir Fereak¡¯s hand. ¡°She drove it into my shoulder during the distraction of the attack.¡±


    Sir Fereak looked at the blade then turned to Emeri. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. He strode across the gravel, grabbed her chin and forced her eyes up. ¡°Answer me!¡±


    ¡°Leave her alone!¡± Suvau roared, pulling at the chains. It took four men to hold him back. ¡°I gave her the blade! To protect her! If you¡¯re going to punish anyone, punish me!¡±


    ¡°No father!¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± Sir Fereak snapped at her and Emeri cowered in the sandy grit once more. He turned to Suvau. ¡°There is more than enough punishment to go around. You committed an act of defiance by giving this weapon to your child¡­and she used it against one of my own who fights to keep this land safe! You will both be whipped!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Yolana screamed as Emeri was grabbed by two guards, her outer gown torn from her. Suvau lunged forward, dragging the guards with him. Four more leapt onto him, punching and kicking him even as he bellowed curses at them. Ermo Kenet watched the proceedings, a satisfied look in his eyes that he would finally be rid of Suvau.


    ¡°You will not lay a hand on my daughter!¡±


    Emeri shivered, cold and fear huddling her over as Jerom looked at Sir Fereak who nodded. Jerom held out his hand and a whip was placed into it. He flexed the leather and it strained within his grasp.

 The mount of Maul never stops so neither do we!

    ¡°Sir Fereak, wait,¡± Caste stumbled upright and forwards, ¡°please, sir¡­¡± Judd caught him before he fell sideways.


    ¡°Cleric, this does not concern you.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Judd held him up, ¡°before you exact this judgement, ask Cleric Caste how he came to be injured.¡±


    Sir Fereak frowned and looked at Caste, taking in his wounded appearance. ¡°In the hydra attack, naturally.¡±


    ¡°No sir,¡± Caste shook his head, ¡°he,¡± he pointed off to the side and Judd had to adjust his aim to Jerom, ¡°assaulted me.¡±


    A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd of witnesses. Jerom was not at all dismayed. ¡°You,¡± he said, almost threatening Caste with the whip, ¡°interfered in my business.¡±


    ¡°Business¡­is that what you call rape?¡±


    Lady Alonin¡¯s gasp was heard above all other exclamations. Sir Fereak paused then shook his head. ¡°You speak of what you do not know. The people of Maul are a subspecies¡­they serve us and must do so without defiance.¡±


    ¡°Husband!¡± Alonin hissed so sharp Judd was surprised she didn¡¯t draw blood across Fereak¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°Hold your tongue woman.¡± He snarled at her savagely. ¡°Terras are superior and Mauls must submit in all things or order will not be maintained.¡±


    Fereak¡¯s words were as hard as a hammer and Jerom preened with a triumphant pride. Caste pushed off Judd, forcing himself to stand upright and steady.


    ¡°Sir Fereak, you misunderstand my reasons. I did not interfere with Jerom Kenet¡¯s ¡®business¡¯ with this Maul out of a misguided elevation of her position,¡± he blinked, trying to arrange his thoughts, ¡°I did so to prevent contamination.¡±


    Sir Fereak frowned while Jerom huffed in mockery. ¡°What contamination?¡±


    ¡°The contamination that comes from having intimate relations with the people of Maul,¡± Caste said with a touch of his old superiority, ¡°it is documented in the archives of the Order of the Grail that such liaisons are detrimental to the,¡± he allowed his eye to drop to Sir Fereak¡¯s groin pointedly before lifting them back up again, ¡°inner workings of a Terra¡¯s manhood.¡± Caste could almost feel the recoil, the cringing away from the people of Maul. ¡°Bishop Peele himself stated that anyone who indulges in such filthy and despicable behaviour is no better than an animal¡­for they cannot help themselves even if it is to their own demise. He says any who debase themselves in such a manner are cast out of all good society¡­and all those associated with them.¡± He shook his head, leaning inevitably towards Giordi¡¯s flair for storytelling. ¡°There are accounts of festering sores, shrinkage¡­one poor fellow had to have it completely removed¡­¡±


    He might have pushed it too far but all the Terra men were hard pressed not to clutch at themselves as if their hands could be any protection against the imagery Caste was sowing into their minds.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s enough.¡± Sir Fereak held up his hand.


    Jerom looked between Fereak and Caste. ¡°My lord,¡± he urged when the silence stretched on, ¡°you are not going to give weight to this ferrety cleric¡¯s lies? He just wishes to have her all to himself!¡± Jerom turned on Caste. ¡°I saw the way she flirted with you and how you were desperate to make the two backed beast with her! For all your monastic existence, you possess the same need as any other man though whether you have the tackle to perform!¡±


    Caste lifted his chin and snorted. ¡°Nothing could compel me to touch¡­that,¡± he didn¡¯t even look at Emeri, waving his hand disdainfully in her direction, ¡°it would contradict the fundamental foundations of Astaril lore, ethics and morality.¡±Stolen novel; please report.


    Sir Fereak sighed and closed his eyes. ¡°I hear your words, cleric¡­but the truth of the matter is that we are far from Astaril and here, in the south, we must make our own law as we keep all of Terra safe. There must be¡­compromises. And any outbreak of defiance could turn into a blaze, preventing us from fulfilling our duty. I am responsible for what goes on in Fort Omra. Not King Rocheveron, not Bishop Peele¡­me. I must deal out justice as I see fit.¡±


    Caste swallowed, wondering what more he could say.


    ¡°I do not wish to interfere, Sir Fereak,¡± Judd said, almost putting up his hand like he was a child but forcing it down before he was utterly foolish in his manner, ¡°but what of the justice for Caste, a cleric of the Order of the Grail, who was assaulted by one of your own.¡± Jerom¡¯s smile suddenly vanished. Judd held Sir Fereak¡¯s gaze whose expression was deathly serious. ¡°It is a grievous matter for anyone to attack even the lowliest officer of the Order, let alone by a soldier whose conduct would be recorded in both Fort Omra¡¯s and in Cleric Caste¡¯s accounts of my knighthood quest. Should this reach the ears of Bishop Peele, or higher still, the King¡­repercussions would be felt.¡± Judd stepped closer to Sir Fereak and spoke in confidence. ¡°You may operate with almost complete autonomy¡­but I would not wish to lose you as knight of Fort Omra, protector of the north, because of a single soldier¡¯s inability to curb his carnal appetite.¡±


    Judd stepped back to where Caste stood. The entire crowd was silent and all eyes were on Sir Fereak. His mouth was turned down and for a moment his one good eye rested on Ermo Kenet. The man swallowed and took a half step back, distancing himself from his son.


    Jerom was looking paler every second, feeling his support and imminent triumph begin to wane. ¡°I¡­I demand a second clerical witness.¡± He stammered. ¡°Cleric Severo will rule in my favour.¡±


    ¡°Severo is dead.¡± Sir Fereak said with stark finality as he looked at Jerom. ¡°You will hold your tongue.¡± He frowned and sighed, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. ¡°The wall is fractured, there are fires in the village and fort, half of the harvest is gone¡­my captain is dead¡­and you couldn¡¯t keep it in your pants for one damn minute¡­¡± Sir Fereak shook his head. ¡°Nevertheless, this insubordination must be addressed¡­on both accounts¡­¡±


    ¡°Sir Fereak,¡± Giordi bowed and stepped forward, ¡°if I may, I have a solution.¡±


    ¡°What would a minstrel know of such matters?¡±


    ¡°Not a lot¡­but I do have a habit of being¡­creative.¡± Giordi admitted. ¡°You wish to balance the punishment of the insubordination against the possible reprisals of an assault on an officer of the Grail.¡± Sir Fereak blinked, surprised at Giordi¡¯s eloquence and comprehension. ¡°Remove the offending family from your purview. The insubordination will be addressed and Cleric Caste¡¯s account of the incident will be¡­softened.¡±


    Sir Fereak¡¯s gaze narrowed. ¡°And just how would I remove them?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take them on.¡± Judd offered, bowing. ¡°They will be my servants and, unless you have another hydra for me to kill¡­I won¡¯t bring them back.¡±


    A great many people held their breaths as Sir Fereak considered the options. ¡°Very well,¡± he huffed, ¡°the three offending Mauls will be removed from Fort Omra by sunset today, in the care of Judd LaMogre, hydra slayer.¡± Jerom Kenet spluttered into life yet didn¡¯t get a single word out before Sir Fereak turned to him with deadly intent. ¡°Never again¡­or I¡¯ll throw you over the wall myself.¡± His words, though hushed, were heard by all. Sir Fereak looked around. ¡°Get back to your work! The mount of Maul never stops so neither do we!¡±


    The guards unlocked Suvau¡¯s shackles. Judd held his breath as his dark gaze bored holes in Jerom who scuttled past him, back to the barracks. Suvau and Yolana dashed forward and wrapped their arms around Emeri.


    ¡°Thank you, Judd LaMogre,¡± Sir Fereak said, holding out his hand for Judd to clasp, ¡°you were a diplomatic solution to a potential crisis.¡± He turned to Giordi. ¡°You sure you¡¯re not a cleric?¡±


    ¡°The robes don¡¯t suit me.¡± Giordi¡¯s cheeky grin was hard to repress.


    ¡°Your injury¡­do you need a physician?¡±


    ¡°We have a healer in our company.¡± Caste paused. ¡°Sir Fereak¡­Cleric Severo¡­¡±


    The knight folded his arms and shook his head. ¡°A bad business¡­I thought he¡¯d drink himself into his grave but it seems he couldn¡¯t do that fast enough.¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    Fereak moved closer, his tone becoming quiet and confidential. ¡°He hung himself. My steward informed me just before Jerom kicked up this fuss.¡± Sir Fereak looked at Judd. ¡°Well¡­hydra slayer and death drop survivor¡­I would have gladly offered you a position in my regiment, even one of authority although it will be difficult for anyone to fill Heim¡¯s role¡­but you have other places to go.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir but thank you for the offer.¡± Judd bowed and walked with the others towards the gates, taking Suvau, Yolana and Emeri with them.


    ¡°LaMogre,¡± he turned back to Sir Fereak whose one good eye was grim, ¡°by sunset.¡±


    Judd nodded, understanding he had been both praised and warned.

 Damn brave thing you did, Caste

    Suvau watched from the doorway as Yolana frantically bundled clothing out of the chests in their room, her mad packing a symptom of her distressed soul. Without a word he grasped her hand. She yanked back from him, shaking her head but he pulled her into his embrace and she sobbed against his chest.


    ¡°I nearly lost both of you¡­¡± She wept.


    ¡°Forgive me, my love,¡± he whispered, ¡°forgive me.¡±


    Caste was passing by the door when he heard Suvau¡¯s words. He lowered his gaze and went to the room he, Judd and Giordi had shared. The other two were in there, stuffing clothes into their packs, wanting to get their own belongings out of the way so they could help Suvau.


    ¡°Damn brave thing you did, Caste,¡± Judd said as he picked his way across the cluttered floor and began to tuck books into his pack, ¡°standing up for Emeri.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t feel brave.¡± Caste winced, touching his forehead where there was swelling and bruising.


    ¡°You ought to let Aalis have another look at that.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the time.¡± Caste grunted, packing then paused. ¡°I need to get something from the library.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going on your own.¡± Judd ordered. ¡°Give me a minute and I¡¯ll come with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be in the kitchen.¡± Caste heaved his pack onto his shoulder and hauled it to the kitchen. Aalis was in there, taking cooking pans and dishes from the cupboards, laying them onto the table.


    ¡°How is your head?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Aches.¡± He said honestly.


    ¡°Can I see?¡± Aalis pushed back his red fringe and peered at the gash. ¡°Thankfully it was not any more serious than a concussion and some blood.¡± She took out the paste she had made earlier and, using a small paddle, applied it as gently as she could. Caste winced and withdrew. ¡°Sorry, I know it stings¡­¡±


    ¡°Your hand¡­¡±


    Aalis looked down at her fingers that had captured his attention. The nails on her left hand were darkening to green. She yanked her hand behind her back and looked at Caste, suddenly terrified.


    Caste gazed at her, equally frightened.


    ¡°Aalis, do you need any help¡­¡± Verne paused on the threshold, seeing Aalis turn away from the cleric. ¡°Are you two¡­alright?¡±


    Aalis leaned on the counter, trembling.


    ¡°We¡¯re fine.¡± Caste said in a hollow voice.


    Neither Aalis or Verne were convinced.


    With all of them rallying together, they had any personal belongings packed up in the house well before sunset. Suvau¡¯s sledge was piled with the contents of their life, their bodies cloaked in travelling capes as they took to the slope that led them to the village. The people of Maul gathered to watch them go. They had been working to scrape the damage from their homes and businesses but they paused to form a kind of guard of honour to see Suvau, Yolana and Emeri out of Fort Omra.Stolen novel; please report.


    Emeri¡¯s face was downcast, ensconced between her father and mother as they walked stoically, Suvau shaking hands with numerous people and Yolana, embracing those she could. They were a well liked and respected family and their presence would be grievously missed in Fort Omra. Some even offered their hands to Judd who shook them but he noticed, for the most part, they were avoided.


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell if we did more damage than good.¡± He whispered to Verne.


    ¡°Caste¡¯s speech about Maul contamination was pretty damning,¡± Verne whispered in return, glancing around, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for someone to start the vegetable throwing frenzy.¡±


    ¡°Surely they must know,¡± Judd frowned, ¡°Caste only said all that stuff to frighten the Terras enough that they would stop abusing the Mauls like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Verne lowered his head. ¡°I do wonder just how serious he was¡­¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t deny he thought the same thing. Caste was surrounded by them, his shorter height helping hide him but his dark red cappa clausa was somewhat distinctive. Judd and Verne, in an unspoken agreement, closed in on either side of the cleric as they reached the gates. There wasn¡¯t much left of them. Just charred beams and twisted metal. The soldiers stationed there, now needing to do the job of allowing passage to and from without the gates in place, saluted Judd as he left.


    ¡°Hail the hydra slayer.¡± He heard one of them declare.


    On the other side of the gates, crossing the bridge over the moat, they made their way to the stables. Thankfully they were undamaged and Quell and Zeke, though understandably shaken by the tumultuous start to the day, were placid enough in temperament not to baulk when their owners collected them. Ersha helped strap their packs on, pulling the belts tight.


    ¡°Take care of Sheal now,¡± Aalis said warmly, ¡°and your babies¡­¡± Her words faded as Ersha took a step back from her, fear in his eyes. Aalis stared at him then saw his eyes drop to her left hand. Aalis bit her bottom lip and turned away, wondering just how many people had seen the change in her nails. She busied herself with pretending to adjust the packs on Zeke¡¯s back, her eyes stinging, old fears nipping at her mind.


    ¡°Miss¡­¡± She heard him say softly and peered at him fearfully.


    Ersha held out an old pair of leather gloves. He wouldn¡¯t get any closer than to lay them in her outstretch palm, withdrawing immediately. Aalis nodded.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She breathed, pulling them on, covering her hands.


    ¡°Are we ready?¡± Judd asked as Zeke was led out to join Quell who harnessed to Suvau¡¯s sledge.


    Suvau looked at Yolana and Emeri and smiled reassuringly. ¡°Ready.¡± He nodded.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s head out.¡±


    They wound their way up the slope, heading north and away from the wall. It took an hour before they were at the edge of Fort Omra land but when Judd sensed they were at the threshold, he turned and beheld it. The giant wall against a backdrop of grey, the scorched fields and broken village, the body of the hydra with its many heads and finally the fort on the plateau shelf of the mountain.


    ¡°Saying goodbye?¡± Suvau asked.


    ¡°You have more reason to than I.¡± Judd replied softly.


    ¡°Judd, if not for you and your companions, my beloved daughter would have been grievously violated and I would be dead after breaking Jerom¡¯s neck.¡± Suvau put his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Thanks to you, I am leaving that place with all that I care about in the world.¡±


    ¡°Where will you go?¡±


    Suvau blinked. ¡°Go?¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°You can go wherever you want now.¡±


    ¡°The terms of my release are to be your servant.¡±


    Judd snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t really think I¡¯m going to hold you to that?¡± He was surprised when Suvau clapped both his hands on Judd¡¯s shoulders and looked down into his brown eyes, deadly serious.


    ¡°I¡¯m holding me to that.¡± He said so deeply Judd¡¯s spine quaked. ¡°Where you go, I go. I make this vow, to see you knighted¡­so that you can go on doing good in this world.¡±


    Judd closed his eyes and ran his hand through his brown curls. ¡°I just wish I could change it for the better¡­all of it¡­¡±


    ¡°You did, you changed our world.¡± Suvau gestured to his family who spoke with Aalis and Giordi, safe and away from the threat of retribution. ¡°Never belittle your compassion, LaMogre¡­it is a trait too little seen in this world.¡±


    Judd nodded and cleared his throat, squaring his shoulders. ¡°Right¡­well¡­what was next on the list, Caste?¡±


    ¡°A unicorn.¡±


    ¡°Any ideas?¡± Judd looked at Suvau.


    ¡°Roaming nomads who are wild horse capturers and tamers visit Fort Omra sporadically to sell their mounts¡­and they¡¯ve told stories of unicorns to the northeast, through the foothills of the range known as the steppelands.¡±


    ¡°Then northeast it is!¡±

 She is holding what happened tightly in her heart…

    Suvau barely avoided being cloven in two as an enormous sword hammered on his shield, the blows strong enough to knock him back but he dug his heels in, refusing to move. He allowed the battering to continue for a moment until he¡¯d caught his breath then suddenly thrust forward, throwing his attacker off his body, heaving his mace through the air, bringing it down on the other man¡¯s shield. It shattered into splinters and the man, with dark blonde dreadlocks in a knot on his head, slumped to his knee, defeated.


    Suvau, breathing heavily, tilted his head back and let out a bellow and almost glared at the overseer of the match, a heavy set gentleman with black fur around his shoulders and a mane of brown and grey dreadlocks around his tanned face.


    Slowly he clapped, shaking his head.


    Suvau threw the mace and shield aside.


    The man said something incomprehensible.


    ¡°You will not be so fortunate one of these days.¡± Caste announced from the sidelines.


    Suvau chuckled. ¡°One of these days¡­¡± He turned to his opponent and offered his hand, pulling him to his feet and slapped his arm. ¡°Good match.¡±


    ¡°Good match.¡± The young man returned in a thick accent.


    Suvau blew out and walked out of the fighting space, rolling his shoulder, to where Judd, Verne, Caste and Giordi were waiting for him.


    ¡°Good match.¡± Giordi mimicked.


    ¡°One of these days you¡¯re going to seriously hurt one of your challengers and then we¡¯ll see just how fearsome these nomads can be.¡± Judd laughed.


    ¡°If they challenge me, then it¡¯s their own fault.¡± Suvau returned. ¡°Yolana didn¡¯t see the match, did she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s helping Emeri at the stream, washing clothes.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Suvau used his tunic to wipe his face, ¡°I might duck downstream and scrape off some of this sweat or else I¡¯ll get another lecture about how I¡¯m not as young as I used to be.¡±


    ¡°Why not use the washing barrel?¡± Verne pointed at the large barrels of water where the nomads went to wash their faces. They all paused and stared at the man who had climbed into one of the barrels, the height of it just reaching the line of his hips, his hands scrubbing at his body. ¡°Oh¡­right¡­¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Caste moaned. ¡°I think I prefer goblin urine.¡±


    Judd was inclined to agree, shuddering. Suvau winked and headed off to the stream.


    Caste hovered nearby.


    ¡°I can almost hear you thinking, Caste. What is it?¡±


    ¡°I was just wondering¡­how long are we going to be camping with these¡­nomads?¡±


    ¡°And for a moment I thought you were going to call them savages.¡± Verne muttered, pulling a fur around his body. The air was going icy as evening fell and on the steppelands, the wind was as lazy as it was cold with very few landmasses to halt it. It was endless, rolling hills and plains, dry earth, rocky ground and grass that rattled rather than whispered when shivering in the wind.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Caste retorted, looking around fearfully at the nomads who milled about the campsite, going about their usual duties.


    ¡°Because you don¡¯t think they are?¡± Judd raised an eyebrow as it was not the impression Caste had given them.


    ¡°Because I think more of them speak the cultured language of Astaril than they make out.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°They need to know enough to communicate when taking their horses to forts to sell.¡± Giordi admitted. ¡°They¡¯re probably used to the insults by now.¡± He clapped his hand on Caste¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come on. The chief will want a melody at dinner and you¡¯re my interpreter.¡±


    Caste moaned, half dragged along. ¡°More mead and meat¡­¡±


    ¡°I like it.¡± Judd chuckled, joining them with Verne falling into step. ¡°I don¡¯t speak their language, I don¡¯t know half of what¡¯s going on and honestly, I¡¯ve probably been threatened and betrothed several times at these evening meals¡­but I¡¯m more comfortable with the nomads than I ever was at a knight¡¯s table.¡±


    ¡°And you don¡¯t have to dress for supper. Just turn up, half naked and no one bats an eye.¡± Verne laughed.


    ¡°I think that says more about the rest of you than it does about them.¡± Caste groused, following them towards chief¡¯s tent where the food was being prepared. ¡°I don¡¯t want another hangover!¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t drink!¡±


    ¡°I have to drink to swallow the food!¡±


    Judd closed his eyes, chuckling to himself. When he opened them he spied Aalis walking across the campsite. In the softening light as the sun set, sending streaks of gold glancing off the underside of the clouds, her dreadlocks were almost gilded and her complexion, soft and warm. She had somewhere to go so didn¡¯t see Judd¡¯s warm smile which happened whenever he did see her. Giordi saw it and wiggled his eyebrows. Judd sighed and shook his head, following the line of men heading for the main tent.


    Aalis approached a smaller tent. All the fabric was heavily embroidered, thickening the material to keep out the howling winds of the steppelands. The flaps that provided access had toggles to keep the cold air out. Aalis undid two then made sure to fasten them again before turning around to see a mother sitting by her son¡¯s side, dabbing his forehead. The boy was only about seven years old with a mop of tangled blond hair and a pained expression. He was sitting up, dozing, his right arm resting in a sling across his chest.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Aalis asked, speaking slowly.


    The mother, wearing a shawl draped over her hair and robes of dark red, listened carefully, her eyes highlighted with dark kohl, causing the dusky blue of them to appear even deeper than without.


    ¡°He¡­warm,¡± she paused, frowning, ¡°small.¡±


    ¡°The fever is lessening.¡± Aalis nodded, kneeling by his side. ¡°May I?¡±


    The mother nodded and Aalis took off her right glove and laid it across his forehead. She closed her eyes then sat back and smiled.


    ¡°Fever is low.¡± She nodded encouragingly at the mother. ¡°Good boy.¡± The mother was relieved and looked at her son lovingly. He opened his eyes. Aalis wiggled her fingers at him and he did the same back. Aalis took his hand and gently felt up the length of his arm. ¡°It is setting well.¡± She mused. ¡°Next round moon¡­good.¡± She looked at the boy. ¡°No play until round moon.¡±


    He nodded and Aalis didn¡¯t doubt that he would be watching the fullness of the moon increase every night, counting down until he could play again. She smiled reassuringly at the mother whose name, as far as Aalis could make out, was Nieves. There was a significant language barrier between the primary of Astaril¡¯s inhabitants and the nomads who had resisted all attempts to ¡®civilise¡¯ them. Because they never ventured further north than Quarre and even then, only if they had to, the kings of Astaril let them be.


    Nieves grasped Aalis¡¯ hand before she could rise and pressed it to her forehead. Aalis allowed her to do so, knowing that she was showing her gratitude then left the tent. Outside the air was crisp and icy. She shivered, heading towards the tent she and the others had been allowed to stay in. Yolana was just hanging some washing on a line and Aalis hurried to help her.


    ¡°My fingers are like ice.¡± She shivered. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the clothes ended up frozen before they had a chance to dry.¡±


    Aalis agreed. There was no mercy in the chill in the air. Winter was bearing down upon them and in the steppelands, it was as hard as the ground it frosted.


    ¡°I thought Emeri was helping you.¡± Aalis pegged a shirt on the line.


    ¡°I sent her inside.¡± Yolana explained.


    ¡°Is she unwell?¡±


    Yolana sighed and closed her eyes. ¡°She¡­she will not speak with me. She is holding what happened tightly in her heart. Suvau and I are frightened of leaving her alone but I am aware that we are probably smothering her by always being by her side¡­¡±


    ¡°You sent her into the tent, knowing she would be safe in there and have some space.¡± Aalis bit her bottom lip. ¡°Yolana¡­Caste is certain Jerom did not have his way with Emeri.¡±


    ¡°But with the concussion he suffered¡­I have seen the doubt in his eyes.¡± Yolana admitted.


    Aalis had as well but hadn¡¯t wanted to confess to it. The blow to Caste¡¯s head had made his recollection of the event as blurred as his vision had been. They finished pegging the clothes on the line and headed for the tent flap. Aalis, worrying her bottom lip, grasped Yolana¡¯s arm before she could enter.


    ¡°What if I spoke with her?¡±


    ¡°Would you?¡± Yolana¡¯s warm, dark skinned complexion was drawn and worried. ¡°I would welcome any confirmation just to know¡­I keep imagining the worst¡­¡±


    Aalis took her hand and squeezed it, nodding. ¡°We are due in Nieves¡¯ tent soon for the evening meal. I will see if Emeri and I cannot slip away early and talk in our tent before the men come back.¡±


    Yolana gave a weak laugh. ¡°Even if they were in the tent with you, there is a good chance they¡¯d be too inebriated to hear a word you said.¡±

 You’re making a mistake, Judd LaMogre…

    Around the table in the chieftain¡¯s tent, there was a loud roar as one of the nomads told a story of conquest and bravery, dramatically reciting the tale with Giordi¡¯s flair yet utterly incomprehensible to the five guests. However, there was no mistaking his big climax and Judd, Suvau, Verne and Giordi all cheered and clapped at the end and banged on the table loudly.


    Verne leaned towards Judd as the clamour continued. ¡°Have you any idea what he just said?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Judd wiped tears out of his eyes. ¡°But I had to give him points for his recitation! My word he can tell a tale that no one understands.¡±


    Verne lost it laughing, half doubled over and Judd slapped his leg, trying to catch his breath.


    ¡°Oh no, not more food!¡±


    Another roast boar appeared and in a dangerous flurry of blades, it was each man to himself as the feasters cut into its hide. The best part of the boar was saved for the chief whose name was so difficult to pronounce that Judd had taken to calling him Bear, as that was what he reminded him of in his black fur with his dark eyes. He was served by young boys as was their tradition. It was like a squire would be to a knight, in service to a warrior to learn the trade. There were no women in the feasting tent of the chief. From what Judd understood, they were all in the chieftain¡¯s wife¡¯s tent.


    Given how rowdy the men could become, Judd was relieved Aalis was not present to hear their chaos and coarseness. There was much belching, breaking of wind and drinking going on yet the atmosphere was relaxed, even with the imminent threat of violence.


    A small fight broke out between two men who were after the same piece of the boar. There was a swift and probably profane exchange of words before they banged heads together, blood pouring out of one man¡¯s nose while the other staggered back, dazed. Judd couldn¡¯t work out the exact details of the challenge but it seemed bloodied nose was the winner and dazed returned to his seat, the incident over. Chief Bear hadn¡¯t even blinked at the exchange, drinking from his stein.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m seeing double.¡± Verne shook his head, cringing. ¡°Any more of that ale and I¡¯ll not be able to tell which side is up.¡±


    ¡°Lightweight.¡± Suvau chuckled, downing the remains of his stein and banging it on the table.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright for you¡­you¡¯re twice the size of me!¡± Verne muttered.


    ¡°How are you going, Giordi?¡± Judd very nearly had to shout over the clamour and frivolity.


    ¡°I¡¯m still here,¡± Giordi blinked, shaking his head, ¡°I think I am¡­anyway¡­huh?¡±


    Judd laughed again. ¡°Thank goodness for Aalis¡¯ remedies for hangovers or we¡¯d wake up in three days¡¯ time and find the nomads had moved on!¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness for Aalis being able to save Bear¡¯s son¡¯s life!¡± Verne retorted. ¡°If not for her, I think they would have gutted us for trespassing on their territory!¡±


    ¡°Hey, who pulled that poor kid from the crevice?¡± Judd argued. ¡°I helped!¡±


    ¡°And who heard his cry for help? We¡¯d never have found him if not for me!¡± Verne gestured wildly. ¡°Suvau held your legs so you didn¡¯t fall in and then pulled you out¡­Giordi was useless, probably writing a song about it¡­¡±


    ¡°I was supervising!¡±


    Judd banged his stein down. ¡°Seems to be like you¡¯re challenging my authority Verne!¡±


    ¡°Seems to what? To be? What are you? Drunk?¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Judd swallowed and blinked. ¡°I challenge you.¡±


    ¡°For what, you pretentious son of a fisherman?¡±


    ¡°Aalis!¡±


    Verne grabbed his tunic and glared close into Judd¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake, Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see! Whoever wins, gets Aalis!¡±


    ¡°Fine!¡± Verne attempted to stand up, slipped sideways and crashed against another nomad who pushed him off with a roar. Judd pointed at him, laughing his head off before he nearly toppled over himself. Suvau had to pull him down, Verne waving a hand weakly at him.


    ¡°I win! I win!¡±


    ¡°Would you please conduct yourselves with a little more refinement!¡± Caste snarled, his elbows in, his head down, his meal barely touched. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m dining with barbarians. You¡¯re supposed to be on your way to becoming a knight!¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯d prefer the life of a barbarian.¡± Judd leaned on the table, the rush of adrenalin leaving him and he could feel his energy flagging. ¡°Although¡­I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve got the stamina for it.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Little cleric,¡± Suvau said softly, ¡°take a look at the tapestry behind Chief Bear¡¯s throne.¡±


    ¡°That means I have to look in his direction.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°So?¡± Giordi shrugged.


    ¡°Don¡¯t alphas interpret that as a sign of challenge of authority?¡± Caste jumped out of his skin as Suvau, Judd, Giordi and even the inebriated and struggling to rise Verne roared with laughter. ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, little cleric,¡± Suvau¡¯s tone caused the very ground to rumble, ¡°no one could mistake your gaze as a challenge.¡±


    Caste grumbled something about he could if he wanted then leaned to the side. ¡°I can see it¡¯s a tapestry¡­a big tapestry¡­dark red to orange dye, black detail¡­spikes or leaves¡­maybe a bull? I can¡¯t really tell from here.¡±


    ¡°Well, from my height,¡± Suvau craned his neck, ¡°I can see the head of a bull with the horns and even a gold ring through its nose but it¡¯s on the body of a man¡­¡±


    Judd sat up. ¡°A minotaur?¡± They all looked at Chief Bear. ¡°You think he¡¯s killed a minotaur?¡±


    ¡°The tapestry is old¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes but even if it was his father or someone else in the clan, he might know where to find another!¡±


    Then the inevitable happened. With all the attention on the tapestry behind the chief¡¯s head, the chieftain thought they were looking at him. He grunted roughly and they all froze.


    ¡°Not a challenge,¡± Caste threw his eyes down to his toes and held firm, ¡°not a challenge.¡± He whispered urgently.


    The chief spoke bluntly in his rough burr. Judd frowned, trying to concentrate as if that would do him any good. He turned to Caste who refused to look up.


    ¡°Help me out here, Caste.¡±


    ¡°He wants to know why you¡¯re looking at him¡­probably.¡± Caste growled.


    ¡°Oh¡­the tapestry,¡± Judd pointed, trying to indicate around the chieftain¡¯s head to the wall hanging, ¡°the minotaur.¡± Chief Bear glowered at him. Judd got desperate and made the shape of horns on his head. ¡°Bull,¡± he grunted then drew a ring through his nose, putting his hand back to his head, ¡°grrrr¡­bull¡­¡±


    ¡°Bull?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°but bull,¡± he drew a line across his shoulders and indicated upwards, ¡°man,¡± he pointed at Suvau then gestured downwards, ¡°minotaur.¡±


    ¡°Asterion.¡±


    Judd froze. ¡°Asterion?¡± He turned to Caste. ¡°Asterion?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking.¡± Caste scrunched his face tight. ¡°From the original ancient Terra account¡­yes, Asterion!¡±


    ¡°Asterion!¡± Judd nodded wildly at Chief Bear. ¡°Minotaur. Asterion.¡±


    ¡°Asterion.¡± Chief Bear nodded.


    ¡°Where?¡± Judd pretended to look around. ¡°Where asterion?¡±


    ¡°Thither asterion?¡± Caste translated.


    ¡°Nay, nay.¡± Chief Bear shook his head. ¡°Asterion aerion ni anige.¡±


    ¡°Aerion ni anige¡­¡± Caste looked at Judd. ¡°Loosely translated¡­there are none.¡± Chief Bear gestured to the tapestry and grumbled a short story, Caste squinting as if it would be any aid in understanding. ¡°There were minotaur¡­lots of minotaur¡­but none since his father¡¯s¡­great grandfather¡­Gese?¡±


    ¡°Gese.¡±


    ¡°So none for about two hundred years.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°Great¡­¡±


    The stilted conversation changed in tone with the chief seeming to stop his story and asked a question instead. Judd blinked, unsure and uncertain. He whispered his cleric¡¯s name.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m translating most of this based on the vaguest understanding of the pronunciation of ancient Terra.¡± Caste grumbled.


    The chief spoke again and they sensed an increase in urgency.


    ¡°Translate faster.¡± Judd hissed. Caste was mouthing words to himself, attempting to work it out.


    ¡°I think he wants you to entertain him.¡±


    ¡°Entertain?¡± Judd frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s either that or a duel¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh good grief¡­¡±


    The chief spoke again and Caste turned to Judd. ¡°Entertain. Something about¡­a story.¡±


    Judd twisted and looked at the minstrel. ¡°Giordi!¡±


    ¡°Oh joy¡­drunken singing.¡± Caste moaned as Giordi stood up.


    ¡°My minstrel will entertain.¡± Judd spoke loudly and slowly.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of speaking like that? I¡¯m the one he understands.¡± Caste snapped and attempted to communicate with the chief.


    Chief Bear nodded, his black beard almost part of the black fur around his shoulders. He waved his hand at Giordi who had, fortuitously, brought his lute. Giordi quickly tuned it, tapping his teeth.


    ¡°Hurry up¡­sing something, anything!¡± Judd urged, feeling Bear¡¯s gaze like an anvil on his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to think of something appropriate.¡±


    ¡°What does it matter? They won¡¯t understand it anyway.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­then we need a rowdy drinking song.¡± Giordi snapped his fingers. ¡°I know a good one.¡±


    He began strumming on his lute, the consistent melody gathering attention until all eyes were on him. Judd marvelled at his ability not to flinch under so much pressure for the gaze of the nomads seemed heavier than the eyes of ¡®civilised¡¯ Terras, probably owing to their answer to any problem being violence.


    ¡°Fill my flagon full of mead,


    Don¡¯t you shilly shally


    I¡¯ve a long ride on my aged stead,


    Who was once a filly fally.


    Up to the rim of my chipped stein,


    Don¡¯t you dissy dassy


    My wife¡¯s awaiting, I must be on time


    She was once a handsome lassie.


    Fill my goblet to the brim,


    Don¡¯t let the ale be leakin¡¯


    Love to stay but the light¡¯s getting¡¯ dim


    And dawn will soon be breakin¡¯.


    Let my chalice be overflowing!


    Don¡¯t ask me to see me coin


    I swear my ship is coming soon,


    Look for it past the groyne!¡±


    There were ample more verses but the nomads had joined in with such vigour and stein pounding and clapping out of tune, Giordi could hardly be heard by the fourth verse. Still it looked as though Chief Bear was appeased and Giordi sat down, refreshing his throat with another gulp of ale.


    ¡°It had to be a drinking song, didn¡¯t it?¡± Caste remarked irritably.


    ¡°Somehow I don¡¯t think the emphatic aria of the waterlily would be so well received.¡± Giordi chuckled.


    ¡°You did well.¡± Judd yawned. ¡°I wonder if the girls know what they¡¯re missing?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve seen what state we¡¯re in when Suvau drags us back each night,¡± Verne had managed to right himself and was leaning on the table, ¡°I suspect they know.¡±

 It was a long time ago…another life, really

    The clamour in Nieves¡¯ tent was certainly not as loud or raucous as the chief¡¯s tent but there was no denying it was just as festive. Nieves was the softly spoken wife of the chieftain who looked after the women and children, at least until the boys were old enough to serve the men in the chief¡¯s tent. But Nieves was not without a sense of humour and now that her son was well and truly on the mend, she welcomed the friendly, chattering atmosphere which did not discriminate at all.


    Even if Aalis had not impressed the nomads with her healing abilities, dreadlocks were seen on almost all the nomads. Yolana and Emeri¡¯s skin set them apart but in appearance only. The nomads were very welcoming once the initial awkwardness and threats of first contact had been circumvented.


    Nothing endeared one to another than by the timely rescue and healing of the chief¡¯s son.


    The tent was warm and well sealed against the cold winds of the steppelands. The nomads had generations of practice and skill at making their lifestyle as comfortable as possible even when it was only ever a temporary residence. Aalis reclined on furs, taking some of the meat, cheese and wild berries she was offered. She, Yolana and Emeri sat together, not out of fear but mostly because it was almost impossible to communicate outside of the most basic of instructions. Even still, the nomads were eager to talk, gesturing and sounding out the difficult words that were so different from their usual language. Aalis was determined to make the same effort and Emeri was an invaluable asset which was proven two hours into the meal when an older woman with a tangle of brown dreadlocks and a craggy face, began to chatter and point at Aalis then spoke to Nieves then back at Aalis.


    Before Aalis could ask, Emeri leaned forward. ¡°She¡¯s telling you about her son¡­no¡­sunu?¡±


    The old woman shook her head. ¡°Sunasunu.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­sunasunu¡­her grandson.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­what about him?¡±


    Emeri concentrated hard as the old woman garbled away and Nieves spoke firmly and quietly then they both looked at Aalis.


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve just been propositioned.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Emeri smiled. ¡°She wants you to be her grandson¡¯s bride.¡± The old woman pointed to Aalis¡¯ hair. ¡°I think she wants greatgrandchildren with your hued hair.¡±


    Aalis flushed brightly. ¡°Oh¡­but¡­it did not start out this colour. It is not something that I would pass on¡­I think.¡±


    Emeri fumbled over the words, doing her best with the most rudimentary of basics. The older woman struck her chest strongly and then indicated high above her head.


    ¡°She¡¯s saying he is strong and tall,¡± Emeri blushed at the next gesture, ¡°oh¡­and he is well¡­endowed¡­¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes. ¡°I do not doubt her grandson¡¯s appeal,¡± she swallowed and shifted forward to hold the grandmother¡¯s eye, ¡°thank you,¡± she said firmly then put her hand over her chest, ¡°but my heart¡­is not free.¡± She put her other hand over the top of the first and shook her head.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The grandmother made a chittering noise and Nieves spoke to her. The grandmother nodded and settled back.


    Aalis breathed out in relief. ¡°I thought I was going to be a forced bride for a moment.¡±


    ¡°For all their bluntness and stubbornness¡­they won¡¯t force the issue.¡± Yolana remarked. ¡°It is quite the rare quality.¡±


    ¡°Refreshing.¡± Aalis agreed then yawned. ¡°Oh, I am sorry,¡± she covered her mouth and looked apologetically at Nieves who smiled graciously, ¡°fresh air, good food, plenty of wine¡­I am done in.¡±


    ¡°I will walk you back to our tent.¡± Emeri stood up. They both thanked Nieves for the meal and, wrapping furs around their shoulders, ducked out of the tent, making sure it was sealed behind them. They crossed the campsite of the nomads which was deserted. They slipped into their tent. While not as warm as Nieves¡¯s tent where all the bodies provided plenty of heat, it was pegged tightly to the ground and all the edges were sealed with rolls of furs that then stretched out across the floor. There was a curtain able to be raised or dropped, allowing for some separation. Suvau and Yolana had been encouraged to take the smaller portion of the tent while the others grouped together in the larger space.


    Aalis removed her boots, shaking her head. ¡°I was admiring Nieves¡¯ boots a little too enviously. Mine do not feel like they keep out any of the chill.¡±


    ¡°I thought the same thing. I think they are lined with fur all the way through.¡± Emeri sat cross legged on her bedroll and sighed. ¡°Thank you, Aalis.¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°For letting my mother have some time off from being her daughter¡¯s keeper.¡±


    Aalis studied Emeri. ¡°You know then?¡±


    ¡°What? That my father and mother have an agreement to never let me be on my own ever again?¡± Emeri wrapped her arms about herself, her little braids shaking as she shook her head. ¡°I feel as though I am suffocating¡­¡±


    Aalis licked her bottom lip. ¡°They are worried about you.¡±


    ¡°I know¡­and if I was brave I¡¯d tell them to leave me alone and not moddy coddle me as though I were a child¡­¡± Emeri closed her eyes and put her cheek on her knees. ¡°But when I am on my own¡­¡±


    Aalis sighed. ¡°Emeri, I am going to ask you this once and once only and whatever the answer is, I will accept it¡­¡±


    ¡°He did not have his way with me.¡± Emeri¡¯s words were small and quiet, falling flatly to the floor, not even reaching the sides of the tent. She sniffed. ¡°I suppose¡­you think I am stupid for being so¡­traumatised when nothing actually happened¡­I mean, other women have survived terrible abuse and here I am, rescued and unscathed¡­¡± She looked up, haunted and teary. ¡°What is wrong with me, Aalis?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Aalis said softly yet without any room for doubt.


    Emeri shook her head. ¡°Then¡­¡±


    ¡°You are surviving, one terrible day at a time,¡± Aalis swallowed and closed her eyes, ¡°I know it does not feel like it. I know that every waking moment keeps the horror of what happened¡­what could have happened, closer than a shadow...but you do not say anything because admitting the hurt you bear would be to acknowledge it¡­¡±


    ¡°If I close my eyes¡­maybe it will go away.¡± Emeri whispered.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Aalis put her hand over Emeri¡¯s. ¡°But I promise you, Emeri, that these awful days will not last. You will move beyond them and one day, you will be surprised just how long it has been since you imagined the face of your attacker¡­the terror of the moment¡­¡± She caught Emeri¡¯s gaze and was surprised at the sudden and alarming comprehension.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Emeri breathed, ¡°did someone hurt you?¡±


    Unbidden and unexpected, tears trickled down Aalis¡¯ face. She looked aside, wiping at the tears as if she could somehow disguise their presence. Emeri pressed a handkerchief into Aalis¡¯ hand.


    Aalis gave a small, broken laugh and dried her cheeks. ¡°It was a long time ago¡­another life, really. And there have been so many good days since. I promise it will be the same for you.¡±


    Emeri smiled, her countenance brightening while remaining empathetic. ¡°I look forward to those days.¡±

 No, no, I could not possibly…

    ¡°Drink it¡­all of it!¡± Aalis threatened with her hands on her hips as Judd, Verne, Giordi and Caste all held their noses and gulped down her hangover cure. ¡°After which, you are all to march the stream and dunk yourselves in!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m awake, I swear!¡± Judd winced, trying to put on a brave face.


    ¡°You stink!¡± Aalis turned to Suvau. ¡°If they do not wash themselves, make them.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°Hang on, how come Suvau isn¡¯t in trouble?¡± Giordi demanded. ¡°He drank as much as the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°At least he was sober enough to drag all three of you back to the tent. Caste was the only one with any kind of restraint and even he could do with a bath.¡±


    ¡°Have you any idea how cold that water is?¡± Caste lamented.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Yolana ducked her head, bringing the frosted but mostly dry washing into the tent, ¡°tomorrow you can spend an hour knee deep in it, washing everyone¡¯s clothes.¡±


    Immediately they all bowed their heads, muttered something about being sorry and hurried out of the tent. Aalis turned to Yolana and laughed.


    ¡°Men, not much better than boys.¡± She sighed and looked around. ¡°Where is Emeri?¡±


    ¡°She is fine.¡± Yolana opened her mouth when Aalis put her hand on her arm. ¡°She is fine.¡±


    Yolana nodded, breathing out a deep sigh. ¡°Thank you.¡± She whispered.


    ¡°I must return to Nieves and her son. I want to make sure the fever did not return during the night.¡± Aalis picked up her pack. ¡°The diet of the nomads, while hearty, lacks when it comes to vegetables and fruits. There are essential vitamins in ruffage that the nomads are not ingesting which would help against fevers and boost their immune system.¡±


    ¡°If you ask me, their ale keeps them healthy. What fever could outlast such fearsome drinking?¡±


    Aalis nodded and headed out of the tent. In the light of a new day, the boundary of the nomad¡¯s campsite could be seen. It was a palisade, a fence made out of crisscrossed tree trunks, cut into points and driven into the ground. There were two sections that could be detached and removed, providing access in and out but unless you knew where they were, they looked like part of the palisade. Aalis had been told there were at least a dozen of the fenced campsites across the steppelands, even to the edge of nomadic territory. For while the tents, the furs and tapestries, the lines and beams of their homes could be packed up and moved within a few hours, the campsites were permanent fixtures. The nomads travelled from campsite to campsite, wherever their quarry took them.


    And their quarry was horses.


    Every single nomad rode. Even children trotted about on ponies with shaggy manes and mottled coats. From the moment they were born, babies were in their mother¡¯s arms or snuggled in swathes on their backs but always travelled by horse. Even in the womb they were jostled about by the rhythm, more comfortable in the presence of a horse than they were anywhere else. When they could sit up, they began to learn how to grip and ride, to hold themselves across the breadth of a horse¡¯s back until it was second nature.


    Even now a scouting party of nomads was leaving the campsite, a half dozen horses with their riders, heading out to survey the landscape. Not only were they to look out for monsters but they were also hunting for signs of the untamed horses that ran, bred and dominated the steppelands.


    Aalis stepped back, making sure she was out of the way as the scouting party left the campsite, riding horses with leather reins and custom made saddles that looked nothing like a knight¡¯s cumbersome kit. The nomads did not require a saddle to remain upright or steady on the back of their mounts. They were for decoration and comfort but if the need arose, each and every one of them could ride bareback in a moment¡¯s notice.


    She continued her way to Nieves¡¯s tent, ducking inside to check on her patient. She need not have worried. The little boy was sitting up, slurping soup straight from a bowl. A young woman, possibly Nieves¡¯s older sister, stood at Aalis¡¯ arrival and nodded respectfully. Everyone knew the silver dreadlocked healer by now and Aalis was relieved that most communication need not to be spoken.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Caste and Emeri, both with an understanding of ancient Terra, had been able to pick up something of the language and translate it as best they could. If pressed, Aalis thought Caste would have to admit that Emeri was even better than he when it came to adapting to the language¡­but only if pressed.


    She frowned as she checked her ground herbs, her mind fixed on the red headed cleric.


    He hadn¡¯t said anything about the green nails on her left hand.


    He hadn¡¯t accused her of anything but he was certainly acting distant¡­


    ¡­yet Aalis wondered if it was not just because of her.


    Whatever ease and friendliness he had developed while in the house of Suvau and Yolana, despite their dark skinned colouring causing deeply embedded racism to surface, disappeared during the monster attack. This puzzled Aalis. Caste had saved Emeri from Jerom¡¯s lustful advance, even to the point of becoming quite badly injured. He had also defended her in front of the entirety of Fort Omra¡¯s military and civilian population, including Sir Fereak and Lady Alonin.


    Yet Caste now avoided Emeri, Suvau and Yolana, reducing his interactions to the barest of essentials.


    What had happened to Caste?


    A hand touched hers and Aalis looked up, having become lost in her thoughts. The older sister pointed to Aalis¡¯ left and she turned to see Nieves smiling at her, gesturing for her to come. Aalis stood and followed her into the private chambers of the chieftain¡¯s wife. Laying on her bed was a gown in a similarly traditional style of the nomads yet more elaborate. It was ivory in colour, the bodice stitched in dark grey, words in ancient Terra and beaded detail, a thin, braided strap that joined one side to the other that looped around the back of the neck. The line of the bodice was decorated with a series of tassels and beads, over the top of layer upon layer of beautifully stitched fabric in differing patterns but similar colouring, cascading down to the hem at the bottom. There were sleeves attached, linked to the line of the bodice near the top of the bustline with more braided ivory, around the upper arms and joined at the back. With more tassels and beads they were attached to even more layers of fabric for the sleeves. Sitting on the floor was a pair of boots that matched the style of the outfit, lined with fur.


    ¡°It is lovely.¡± Aalis gushed sincerely, hoping her appreciation of the beautiful garment was understood even if the words were not. Nieves nodded and gestured to it. Aalis hesitated. ¡°I do not understand.¡± Nieves frowned then pointed at the dress then at Aalis. Aalis gasped. ¡°No, no, I could not possibly¡­¡±


    Nieves put her hand against Aalis¡¯ lips, stopping the refusal. Her eyes, slate blue with deathly seriousness in them, gazed at the young healer.


    ¡°My¡­son¡­live.¡± She said in a deep voice.


    Aalis bit back her protestations, recognising the deep love a mother had for her son. ¡°I understand.¡± She looked at the gown in trepidation. ¡°I¡­do not know¡­how¡­¡±


    Nieves smiled. ¡°Show. Show.¡±


    Judd dunked his head into the water of the stream then flicked it out, letting the water trickle down his body, unable to keep from grimacing. To say what it felt like would have been redundant. It felt like exactly what it was. Ice water down his neck. He peered at Suvau who stood over them, arms folded, watching them washing themselves.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to regret bringing you with me.¡± He muttered in jest¡­but only just.


    ¡°You¡¯ll thank me later when you don¡¯t reek of ale. Go on.¡± Suvau chuckled.


    Judd knelt again and thrashed his head in the water then stood up, raking his hands through his curls. They all suffered the same brutal ice water treatment. Verne hissed sharply, Giordi hollered and not with any of his usual eloquence while Caste¡¯s teeth chattered so hard, he couldn¡¯t form a single complaint.


    ¡°Come on then,¡± Suvau barked, ¡°back to the tent to get changed. Move!¡±


    They jogged to the campsite which was not far away, dodging the riders who were coming back from their morning patrol and slipped inside the gate before it closed. Inside their tent there was no attempt at modesty as they all flung off their damp clothes, scrambling for their dry and, by comparison, warm garments. Judd¡¯s fingers shook as he did up the ties of his trousers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never drink again¡­¡± He vowed, shivering.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you said yesterday,¡± Verne said from behind the partition, ¡°and the day before¡­and the day before that.¡±


    ¡°I know¡­but this time I mean it.¡± Judd breathed out a deep sigh now that he was dressed. He sat down and put his boots back on with dry socks. ¡°She¡¯s fortunate I do not end up with pneumonia.¡±


    ¡°If you did, she¡¯d cure you.¡±


    ¡°As long as my throat as not suffered,¡± Giordi lamented, ¡°my voice is my provider!¡±


    ¡°I thought your cherub curls brought in more than your singing and playing.¡± Caste muttered, heaving a cloak around his shoulders.


    ¡°True,¡± Giordi sighed, ¡°many minstrels have gotten by with a lot less talent.¡± Verne looked at Judd with a raised eyebrow. They were both surprised by Giordi¡¯s oddly melancholic statement. He was not just acting sad. He seemed genuinely downcast. Before they could comment on it, Giordi shook it off and turned to Verne. ¡°Well¡­come on then.¡±


    ¡°Come on what?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t I overdue for an archery session?¡±


    Verne nodded. ¡°You are indeed.¡± They picked up their bows and arrows and headed outside.


    ¡°What will you do today, Judd LaMogre?¡± Suvau asked.


    ¡°Well, as much as I am enjoying the company of the nomads, it doesn¡¯t seem to have brought us any closer to finding a unicorn.¡± Judd looked at Caste. ¡°We need to talk to Mavrish again.¡±


    ¡°Oh not the horse wrangler¡­¡± Caste moaned. ¡°I swear he understands everything I say yet insists on acting like he doesn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s his way of keeping trade secrets to himself.¡± Suvau patted him on the shoulder, nearly knocking Caste off his feet.


    ¡°If we don¡¯t have any luck today, we might have to farewell the nomads tomorrow and strike out on our own.¡± Judd promised. ¡°Come on, Caste. I can¡¯t do this without you.¡±


    Caste gritted his teeth and stomped after him. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t kill you to say that more.¡±

 I don’t know anything

    Mavrish was a scarred man with a wooden foot strapped to his right leg. From the little they had been able to wrangle out of him, it sounded as though his foot had been caught in a trap laid out by Terra¡¯s, probably aiming to snare a deer but it caught him instead. His foot had developed an infection and had to be removed but you wouldn¡¯t know it to look at him. Even his limp was concealed as he strode around the breaking circle, the space set aside for newly captured mounts to be broken in. He barked orders at the youth on the horse¡¯s back, a golden brown stallion that was furious at being ridden. It bucked and wove, danced and kicked, reared and even flung itself onto its back, the young rider scurrying away to the safety of the fence even as the horse thundered towards it, whinnied indignantly.


    Judd didn¡¯t need an extensive understanding of nomadic language to know that Mavrish was not impressed. He swore at the youth, striding across the breaking circle. The horse turned and glared at Mavrish, angry and violent. It pawed the earth, splintering rock with its hoof as Mavrish stood his ground. The horse bolted towards him, thundering across the circle in the blink of an eye. Mavrish didn¡¯t move and those watching could not turn away, sure he was about to be crushed.


    The horse skidded to a halt in front of Mavrish and reared, flailing its forelegs through the air, each blow able to crack Mavrish¡¯s skull if they connected. Then they struck the ground and the horse whinnied and pawed, huffing furiously at the horse breaker who did not move.


    Judd thought he saw Mavrish speak, his lips moving but the words so soft he couldn¡¯t make them out.


    ¡°Any chance you can read his lips?¡±


    ¡°I can barely understand them when I can hear them.¡± Caste retorted.


    Mavrish took a step towards the horse who stepped backwards. Mavrish moved again and the horse backed up until it was against the fence. Then, after a flare of its nostrils and a final protest, it lowered its head in submission. Mavrish grabbed a handful of its mane and heaved himself onto its back. The horse stood still. Mavrish urged it forward, able to control it with a press of his legs or a light tug on its mane. Finally, after a lap, Mavrish dismounted and faced the horse. He rubbed its muzzle and tutted kindly to it. The horse bobbed its head and he chuckled, slapping neck gently. He looked at the youth who had recovered from nearly being crushed in the death roll. He said something scathing and the young man nodded.


    ¡°And I hope we all learned that lesson.¡± Judd whispered.


    ¡°What lesson was that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint Mavrish.¡± Judd straightened. ¡°Here he comes. Mavrish!¡± The man waved his hand, shaking his head at them, muttering something. Judd jogged beside him, unwilling to let him go. ¡°Sir, please¡­we just want to know where the unicorns are. The unicorns!¡± Mavrish ignored him and Judd looked at Caste. ¡°Do they have another name in ancient Terra like how minotaur was known as asterion?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    ¡°Emeri would know.¡± Suvau said and Caste¡¯s expression became stricken. ¡°You ought to ask her.¡±


    ¡°Go on, Caste,¡± Judd urged, ¡°the sooner we know where the unicorns are, the sooner we can leave.¡± Caste held his ground, reluctant and resistant. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to mime a unicorn again! I swear they¡¯ve nicknamed me the ¡®horny Terra¡¯ from my first attempt to get through to them.¡±


    Caste pulled a face, turned and stomped off, muttering in ancient Terra.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Emeri was not at the tent but Yolana said she had gone with some of the younger women to collect food from the corralled animals. All Caste had to do was follow his nose as cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and one cantankerous goat were unavoidably smelly when contained together. Emeri was talking with the young women, holding her apron out, probably balancing eggs she had collected while the other girls held squawking chickens and pails of milk that would probably be turned into curds and whey, buttermilk and cheese, heavily salted to keep from spoiling.


    Emeri expression was bright and she was smiling until she caught sight of Caste hovering near the edge corral. Immediately her smile dropped and he took a step back in apprehension. One of the young women whispered to her friend and they giggled, Emeri¡¯s jaw tightening at the remark though Caste could not hear what they said let alone translate it.


    ¡°Did you want something?¡± She asked, unable to avoid him but not stopping to talk.


    ¡°Not if you¡¯re occupied¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know a woman¡¯s work is never done.¡± Emeri retorted bitterly. ¡°They prepare the meals, they tend the livestock, they give birth and raise the children, they do the weaving, the cloth making, bring in the harvest and still need to have the energy for their husband at night should he demand it. Oh, no¡­there¡¯s no need¡­he¡¯s not staying¡­¡±


    One of her companions held out a basket and quickly unloaded the eggs into it with a saucy wink to the young Maul girl. Emeri sighed as they left her and Caste alone. Caste rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he¡¯d drunk himself into a stupor the night before that Aalis wouldn¡¯t have been able to cure.


    ¡°Well?¡± She demanded tersely.


    ¡°Judd¡­he sent me to ask about the translation of a word.¡± Caste said dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s not important¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the word?¡±


    ¡°Unicorn.¡± Caste shook his head. ¡°Judd thought maybe the reason we¡¯re not getting anywhere with where unicorns might roam on the steppelands is that we¡¯re using the wrong word.¡±


    Emeri put her hands on her hips. ¡°Are you not an officer of the Order? Isn¡¯t ancient Terra second nature to you?¡± She strode away and Caste had to jog to keep up.


    ¡°I know how to read it with help but you have had more recent exposure to it.¡± He had to dart around in front of her to stop her flight. Emeri put her arms around her body like a shield. He stepped back. ¡°You¡­know your ancient Terra. I know you do.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know anything.¡±


    Caste was stunned. Where had the knowledgeable, even incandescent librarian gone that had challenged every assumption, theory and doctrine he had declared? Emeri was acting like an uneducated daughter of a commoner rather than the educated young woman she had shone as when she stood amongst her books, her tapestries and manuscripts.


    ¡°But¡­in the library¡­all your translations¡­¡±


    ¡°And I had to leave it all behind!¡±


    He recoiled from her snap, as sharp as a slap upon his skin. Her brown eyes glistened, exposing the grief she kept hidden. Caste stared at her, shocked, stunned¡­unable to see that she was exactly the same. They both turned away from each other, wrestling internally with hurt neither could understand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to leave your library,¡± he offered gingerly, frightened of another verbal slap, ¡°if it¡¯s any consolation, you won¡¯t easily forget all the precious stories and accounts¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± she shook her head, ¡°I have left everything behind in that library that happened to me,¡± she looked at him, her gaze guarded and frightened, ¡°everything¡­¡±


    Caste swallowed and nodded, stepping back and allowing her to flee his presence. His nails bit his palms and he had to force his fingers to relax before he drew blood. Without being able to think of a thing to say or do, he wandered through the campsite to find Judd.


    He found him leaning against a barrel with a frustrated expression on his face.


    ¡°Judging by your expression, you had about as much luck as I.¡± Judd muttered.


    ¡°My luck soured the moment I was nominated to be your cleric.¡± Caste returned bitterly.


    ¡°What¡¯s eating you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Caste hugged himself, sick and tired of the cold and the savage conditions and translating ancient Terra that had morphed over the years into a slurred incomprehensible version of its noble self. ¡°I wish I was back in Astaril.¡±


    Judd huffed, frustrated. The clouds were thickening. Either rain or snow was on its way. The air was sharpening, the taste of lightening on the tip of his tongue and the heavy oppression of thunder overhead.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the tent.¡± He muttered, standing straight and striding in its direction.

 Judd, open your bloody eyes!

    He was hampered by groups of nomads, gathering and talking, whispering and pointing. Judd had to go around them, not knowing the words for ¡®excuse me¡¯ and not daring to offend any of them. He skirted the back of the gathering, puzzled.


    ¡°Something we don¡¯t know about?¡± He asked Caste.


    ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°Psst, Judd!¡± Giordi gestured for him to come closer. ¡°You¡¯ve got to see this!¡±


    Judd jogged to where Giordi was standing. ¡°Is that¡­Aalis?¡±


    She was dressed in an ivory gown with layers and layers of skirt so that every time she took a step, the hems rippled and surged, providing a peek at the boots beneath. There was embroidery on many of the layers and on the bodice, her little waist cinched with a dark grey, plaited belt with a gold circular buckle holding it in place. The buckle looked like it had the depiction of a rider on a horse engraved into its fa?ade. The sleeves of the gown were many layers as well yet for all the elaborate layers, Aalis would have been freezing if not for the dark grey and ivory fur mantle wrapped around her shoulders, longer on one side than the other and held in place with a chain across her chest. She had a shawl over her dreadlocks in slate grey which had been arranged around her neck, almost as part of the gown itself, ivory tassels along its hems, providing a fringe for her lavender eyes to peek out from underneath, lined with kohl like the nomadic women liked to do.


    She was standing with Nieves, the chieftain¡¯s wife, thanking her though it was clear she felt awkward and exposed. It was unavoidable really. The presence of one so elegantly attired had drawn the attention of the entire clan. She clutched at the mantle with one hand, picking up her hem with the other, crossing the empty space that no one had dared enter¡­


    ¡­until Judd found himself drifting close to her, bedazzled and amazed.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis stammered, ¡°Nieves¡­she wanted to give me a gift¡­as a thank you for saving her son.¡± She swallowed, trembling. ¡°It seems sons are held in high regard¡­and the boy is Chief Bear¡¯s only one.¡± Judd gaped at her. Aalis licked her lips. ¡°Say something¡­¡± She urged in a desperate whisper.


    ¡°Beautiful.¡± He blurted quite loudly. ¡°You¡­you look¡­beautiful.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ eyes darted about. ¡°Everyone is staring at me¡­¡±


    Judd blinked, suddenly recalling just how uncomfortable Aalis was with attention. ¡°Allow me,¡± he said valiantly, sliding up beside her, offering his arm, ¡°to walk you to your door.¡±


    She gave a small, nervous smile and clung tightly to him, crossing the campsite to where Yolana and Emeri were waiting with delighted smiles. Judd let Aalis go once she was in their company and they escorted her to the tent where she disappeared hastily inside.


    From a ways behind him, Giordi chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Enamoured¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confused.¡± Suvau remarked from nearby. ¡°When I first observed them together, I thought Aalis and Judd were obvious.¡±


    ¡°Obviously.¡±


    ¡°But in our home, it was Aalis and Verne who shared a room.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°True.¡±


    ¡°Yet now¡­¡± Suvau looked at Giordi quizzically. ¡°Am I missing something?¡±


    ¡°So many things yet nothing I can say.¡± Giordi smacked his arm as Judd approached. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Suvau, you¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s confused.¡± He waved his hand in front of Judd¡¯s face. ¡°Hey! Terra to LaMogre!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Judd cleared his throat. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Could you be any more smitten?¡±


    Judd grimaced. ¡°I know, I know¡­argh¡­what¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    Suvau looked at Giordi who shrugged in return then paused. ¡°Don¡¯t look now, Suvau, but that young man over there appears to be getting up the nomad courage to challenge you.¡±


    Suvau sighed and glanced in the nomad¡¯s direction. He was a striking young man with tawny brown/black dreadlocks and piercing eyes. He was staring at them intently, an older woman, possibly his grandmother, chattering in his ear, pointing at their small huddle.


    Suvau frowned, following the direction of the woman¡¯s finger. ¡°I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s me¡­¡±


    The young man took the reins of a dark brown stallion with shaggy black mane and tail and led it across the space between them, his object becoming obvious even though his target was oblivious right up until the young man stopped in front of him and struck his chest, speaking sharply at Judd.


    ¡°Uh¡­what?¡± Judd looked around for Caste who was nowhere to be found. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± The man repeated what he¡¯d said, pointing at the tent then at himself, thrusting the reins into Judd¡¯s hand. ¡°Are you giving me a horse?¡± Judd eyed the grim mount that reminded him of Suvau¡¯s glare. ¡°It¡¯s too much. Thank you¡­but I couldn¡¯t possibly¡­¡±


    ¡°You might offend him.¡± Giordi ground out from between his gritted teeth.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything to warrant this.¡± Judd returned snappily. ¡°Where the Maul is Caste?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Caste appeared and Judd nearly pounced on him. ¡°What¡¯s with the horse?¡±


    ¡°This fellow is trying to give me this horse.¡± Judd explained. ¡°He keeps pointing at the tent¡­and now he¡¯s jiggling his dreadlocks and pointing at the tent again¡­¡±


    Caste sighed and asked in broken ancient Terra for the young man to repeat himself. He did so and even Judd could tell he was becoming more and more insistent.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Well?¡± Judd asked, Caste grimacing. ¡°What¡¯s this all about?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­an exchange.¡± Caste cleared his throat. ¡°He wants Aalis to be his bride.¡± Judd, Suvau and Giordi¡¯s jaws all flopped open. ¡°He seems to be under the impression that you¡¯re the man to ask¡­¡±


    Judd looked at the man, then at Caste, back at the man, stammering and blundering. ¡°But¡­he¡­she¡­no¡­¡±


    ¡°No?¡± The young man repeated, confused but slightly irritated.


    ¡°Nay,¡± Caste shook his head, ¡°Aalis naeshaewon eower faemne.¡±


    The young man looked back at his grandmother who waved her gnarled hands at him, chittering. He turned to Judd and spoke again.


    ¡°It seems his grandmother already asked Aalis and she said she was taken.¡±


    ¡°Taken?¡±


    Caste spoke rapidly to himself, muttering quickly. ¡°I think this might have been one of those ¡®lost in translation¡¯ crisis I¡¯ve been worried about. When Aalis said she was ¡®taken¡¯, his grandmother thinks that you¡¯re the one to give her away.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s not mine.¡±


    ¡°Hush,¡± Suvau muttered softly, ¡°if he understands that he might think he can take her without permission.¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­I have to¡­¡± Judd closed his eyes. ¡°Where¡¯s bloody Verne¡­I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said to the young man, ¡°Aalis nay you. Aalis gese Judd.¡± His expression firmed and he called over his grandmother, handing her the reins. By the way he did not back down, Judd suspected the ordeal was far from over. The young man struck his chest, speaking gruffly then turned around to get the approval of the nomads who had gathered to watch the drama.


    ¡°What is he doing?¡± Judd demanded.


    ¡°Challenging you.¡± Suvau said with great authority. ¡°After four days of it, I know a challenge when I hear one.¡±


    ¡°Me¡­fight him?¡±


    ¡°For Aalis.¡± Caste beamed with irritating superiority. ¡°Bet you¡¯re wishing we left when I said to.¡±


    ¡°Not helpful.¡± Judd looked at Suvau. ¡°Any chance he¡¯s a pudding sack?¡±


    ¡°Nomads don¡¯t do pudding sacks. Even the ale soaked nomads are fearsome in the ring.¡± Suvau put his hand heavily on Judd¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to be a fist fight. Keep your guard up, watch his eyes, not his hands and don¡¯t drop.¡±


    Judd groaned and closed his eyes. ¡°Guard up, watch his eyes¡­don¡¯t drop. Guard up, watch eyes, don¡¯t drop.¡±


    ¡°Judd, open your bloody eyes!¡±

 Maybe the reality of her situation is starting to sink in?

    Aalis nearly toppled over, relieved to be beyond the sight of the nomad clan. She put one hand on the central pillar that held the tent up and the other on her chest, her heart fluttering madly.


    ¡°I do not wish to sound ungrateful,¡± she leaned over, trying to catch her breath, ¡°but I wish Nieves had found something plainer and less¡­¡±


    ¡°Bridal?¡± Yolana teased gently. ¡°Come, sit before you fall down.¡±


    Aalis was led to a stool where she sank. ¡°I should be better at this. I should not go to pieces just because a few pairs of eyes are on me.¡±


    ¡°More than a few.¡± Emeri corrected.


    ¡°And plenty of them with hunger in their gaze.¡± Yolana added then stepped back. ¡°It is a beautiful gown. See the layers, Emeri?¡±


    ¡°I see them.¡± Emeri smiled sadly. ¡°It is the most beautiful dress I¡¯ve ever seen¡­even compared to Lady Fereak¡¯s wardrobe.¡±


    No one could miss the yearning wistfulness in Emeri¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Do you want it?¡± Aalis asked sincerely.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t. It was a gift.¡±


    ¡°I feel so awkward.¡±


    ¡°I cannot understand why.¡± Yolana said brusquely. ¡°You look stunning in it, Aalis. That kohl around your eyes has lent your face some dramatic flare, the gown is almost seductive without being risqu¨¦ and the shawl can be draped around your face, hiding your dreadlocks. Not only do you look like a nomad bride, you are also heavily disguised in it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Emeri nodded, ¡°no one would see you as anything other than a nomad.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Aalis licked her lips, ¡°I suppose it would be a way of disguising myself if we went anywhere populated and civilised¡­but I still felt a fool in it.¡±


    Yolana folded her arms, her dark brown gaze assessing Aalis¡¯ words. ¡°You are a beautiful young woman wearing a beautiful dress and are admired, even desired¡­yet you feel unworthy?¡±


    ¡°Not so much unworthy¡­¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°More¡­that I feel as though I am pretending in it. I am not the ravishing bride the outfit makes me out to be. Nor do I wish to be.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Emeri gushed. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be wonderful to be so desired and not just by monsters?¡±


    ¡°Emeri?¡± Aalis asked gently.


    Yolana¡¯s daughter looked aside. ¡°I¡¯m just saying it would be nice to be loved¡­you¡¯ve got half the village falling over themselves for you, let alone the almost knight Judd LaMogre¡­at least you have the chance to be loved.¡±


    ¡°Emeri!¡± Yolana exclaimed.


    Emeri started and looked between them, horror ghosting her features. ¡°I¡­I¡­¡± She darted for the tent flap and escaped outside.


    Yolana turned to Aalis, mortified. ¡°I am so sorry about Emeri¡­I don¡¯t know what has gotten into her.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Maybe the reality of her situation is starting to sink in?¡± Aalis undid the mantle, the heavy, warm fur sliding off her shoulders, showing just how much bare skin was visible without it. She would never dare to remove it in male company. Her shoulders and upper arms were uncovered and to her mortification, the nomad women did not wear undergarments like Aalis did. The dress was not explicit but it was very kind to curves and valleys.


    ¡°The reality?¡±


    ¡°A Maul girl, separated from her own people and shunned by Terras,¡± Aalis folded the mantle carefully, ¡°her chances at being in love have slimmed dramatically.¡±


    ¡°And she no longer has her library to comfort her.¡± Yolana sighed. ¡°I see what you are saying.¡±


    Before they had a chance to talk it through, Emeri burst into the tent. ¡°You might want to start preparing some salves for bruises.¡±


    ¡°Who challenged Suvau this time?¡± Yolana¡¯s hands went straight onto her hips.


    ¡°It¡¯s not father¡­it¡¯s Judd.¡±


    By the time the challenge was over, Aalis had changed into her normal clothing which was a relief as she would not have dared to wear the beautiful nomad gown near a man whose nose was bleeding, whose lip was split and who would probably have a black eye before long. She sat cross legged next to him, muttering incomprehensibly in a frustrated tone as she pounded herbs into a paste that she could apply to the scrapes and bruises he¡¯d received.


    Suvau and Giordi had hauled Judd into the tent and, seeing Aalis¡¯ furious expression, made a quick withdrawal along with Yolana and Emeri. Judd winced as Aalis cleaned the blood from his face and dabbed the salve around his eye, gently smearing it against the tender skin.


    ¡°In my defence, I didn¡¯t start it.¡±


    ¡°Hush.¡± Aalis said none too kindly, her lavender eyes quite flinty, like the colour of the storm clouds outside, brewing a downpour of steppeland proportions. Judd would have liked to have looked elsewhere but Aalis was in his face, applying the cooling salve to his split lip.


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop talking.¡± He sighed and closed his eyes. ¡°What about your chest or arms?¡±


    ¡°He got in a couple of blows,¡± Judd cringed, ¡°just a couple, thank Astaril, or I¡¯d be giving you away¡­¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Aalis glowered at him. ¡°Show me the bruises on your chest. Now.¡± She barked as he went to argue. Judd needed help getting the tunic off, telling himself that the embarrassment was all in his own mind. When Aalis was a healer, she didn¡¯t see a naked or half dressed body as something to be mortified about. Judd didn¡¯t have the same discipline. It was hard not to smell her hair or turn her tender healing applications into something more romantic and sensual in his mind. He cursed his inability to just let her go and wished he could work out why he felt torn when he was around her. Somehow he was both repellent to her yet attractive and his heart ached for some kind of resolution on the matter.


    ¡°I cannot believe you of all people got into a sparring match.¡±


    ¡°Me of all people?¡± Judd tried not to shiver in delight as she smeared the paste across his ribs. ¡°Why am I held to a higher standard than others? Suvau didn¡¯t get ticked off like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Suvau did not return half dazed, bruised and bleeding.¡± Aalis retorted. ¡°You are supposed to be a knight!¡±


    ¡°Not yet¡­I¡¯m working on it.¡± Judd shied away from her touch, unable to stand it anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He stood up, reaching for his tunic. ¡°Aalis¡­just let it go.¡±


    ¡°You asked me to accompany you on this quest so I could keep you from dying.¡± Her hands went onto her waist and she eyed him fiercely. ¡°Do not stop me from doing my job.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to die from a couple of bruises.¡± He pulled his tunic on and tied the belt around his waist. ¡°Really, I¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯re a better healer than this clan¡¯s physician,¡± Judd paused, ¡°I bet he was wishing you were attending him and not me.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­uh¡­I just¡­he¡¯s an elderly man¡­and you¡¯re lovely.¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°Judd, are you concussed? What are you talking about?¡±


    Judd realised she¡¯d missed his statement. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just addled in the head.¡± He excused. He didn¡¯t remember much after the match, dizzy and his head had been ringing but he remembered just how firmly he¡¯d told the others that he didn¡¯t want Aalis to know why the young man had challenged him. Aalis didn¡¯t need the guilt and Judd felt bad that he had inadvertently come between Aalis and Verne.


    Whatever his feelings were, he was not about to muscle his way between them. He picked up his cloak and tied it around his neck.


    ¡°Did you at least win?¡± Aalis asked.


    ¡°I did.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s something.¡±


    Judd left the tent, wondering if Aalis would ever know just how close she came to being a nomad bride.

 Veshelt havak

    After the obligatory attendance of the evening feast, the cobbled together companions all found themselves seeking an early night, driven hastily inside by the rain that had been released once lightening had torn the clouds asunder. Judd was sore, Caste was moody, Aalis was wary and everyone else agreed that the less drinking, the better, at least for one night.


    In a tent shared by eight people, there was endless breathing and snoring noises. Out of necessity they had all become accustomed to the sounds of others in the night. The rain struck the cloth of the tent, treated to repel downpours of everything but the heaviest kind. Aalis and Emeri had a place close together, as far away from the men who, without meaning to be so, were unavoidably smelly and loud. Aalis was curled up on her side when she heard Emeri sigh deeply. She twisted and saw the young woman¡¯s eyes were open and staring at the ceiling of the tent.


    ¡°Cannot sleep?¡± She whispered. Emeri shook her head. Aalis was distressed to see a tear escape her eye, wiping it away. ¡°Emeri?¡±


    ¡°It is nothing.¡± She shook her head, swallowing to repress the emotion.


    Aalis wrestled between wanting to reach out to the girl and also wanting to respect her boundaries.


    ¡°Is it about what you said today?¡± Aalis breathed, Emeri¡¯s jaw tightening in silent and subconscious confirmation. ¡°About falling in love?¡±


    ¡°It does no good to dwell¡­¡± Emeri refused to elaborate, rolling onto her side. Aalis¡¯ heart ached for the girl, not affronted by her back but seeing it for what it was.


    Emeri protecting herself.


    Aalis sighed and rolled back into her original position, her upper hand resting naturally on the furs covering the ground they slept on. She closed her eyes and felt, as she always could, the hum of the earth. She could feel the heaviness in the air, the moisture all around, soaking into the ground and the trickles across rock and natural crevice, finding its way into streams and catchments. She allowed herself to drift with the flow, finding it an effective way to lull herself to sleep. Onwards she roamed, nudged by the natural contours of the land until she felt a heavy tread.


    Her brow furrowed and her drifting paused. She held fast, concentrating.


    There was another heavy blow, not quite metal on rock but a splintering sharpness, dulled by the rain to normal ears but striking Aalis¡¯ mind like it was right next to her.


    A word¡­two words were spoken¡­


    Gone was her peaceful drift into sleep. She was awake, trying to make out what was being said. ¡°Veshelt havak?¡± She mouthed, opening her eyes. ¡°Veshelt havak?¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Emeri peered at her. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°What is veshelt havak?¡±


    Emeri shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She shrugged. ¡°It sounds like ancient Terra but I¡¯ve not heard it before.¡±


    Aalis tapped her teeth and scrambled across the furs to where Caste was sleeping, curled up in a ball. ¡°Caste,¡± she shook him, ¡°Caste!¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± He opened one eye blearily. ¡°What is it?¡± He mumbled.


    ¡°Veshelt havak.¡± Aalis whispered. ¡°What does it mean?¡±


    Caste grimaced and shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡±


    ¡°In ancient Terra, I mean.¡±


    ¡°Even then,¡± he muttered, ¡°it¡¯s a clan war cry.¡±


    ¡°War cry?¡± He nodded. Aalis¡¯ blood turned to ice. ¡°You mean something shouted before going into battle?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­what¡­¡± Caste jolted upright when a loud, low horn filled the air. Immediately awake and concerned he looked at Aalis. ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡±


    Only seconds later the stampede charged into the palisade around the campsite. The crisscrossed trunks might have taken out several of the charging creatures but in the end, they were no match for the brutality and self sacrifice of the assailants.


    By the time Judd scrambled out of the tent, only taking the time to buckle his breastplate over his nightshirt and tug his boots up over his trousers, bedlam had broken out. The palisade that was supposed to keep intruders away contained the violence. There were horses everywhere, whinnies of fury and flying hooves that could cave a man¡¯s skull in without a second thought. The nomads were springing into action, no amount of ale preventing them from defending their families even if their swords waved about a little too freely. The rain poured down, causing every detail to blur and the ground became treacherous and slippery. Judd sprinted for one of the horses, still unable to make out the humans on the backs of them. It was too chaotic to know for certain and he was frightened of killing or even injuring one of his nomad allies.


    The horse, a black stallion, sensed his approach. Judd stood in the mud, still not sure what he was seeing. There wasn¡¯t anyone on its back¡­was it just a stray out of the paddock?


    The horse lowered its head and something glimmered with the deadliness of a rapier.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s a¡­¡±


    It charged at him, thundering across the short expanse and Judd barely flung himself out of its path, the horn piercing the air, catching his arm, slicing skin, blood soaking into his shirt. Judd staggered backwards, holding his sword out as the unicorn reared, turning on its hooves, charging him again. It was furious and deadly, its eyes glittering with an insane lust for blood. Judd had to time it just right, dodging the charge, bringing his sword up. The unicorn screamed murder, its horn cut from its forehead. Judd was so relieved he¡¯d taken away its deadly weapon that he didn¡¯t stop to consider that horses were well armed even before the mount of Maul had adorned them so. It bucked, its hooves catching Judd in the chest and he went flying into a tent, becoming tangled with the ropes and fabric.


    There were over a dozen unicorns charging about the campsite, the nomads unable to get close as they reared, bucked and charged. If dehorned, their thick, hard teeth clamped down on shoulders and arms, tearing and biting, blood thirsty like no mount of Terra should ever have been.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Giordi cried, the clamour overriding any common sense he had.


    The scream of unicorns was almost enough to pierce eardrums.


    ¡°Drag the wounded from the danger of their hooves!¡± Verne yelled, sighting down an arrow and letting it fly. It caught a unicorn in the neck, passing straight through but rather than be dissuaded, it turned and glowered at him, pawed at the ground and charged. Verne, so busy grabbing another arrow that he didn¡¯t think to get out of the way, was knocked sideways by Giordi. The unicorn skidded in the mud, raised itself up on its hind legs, flailing its hooves, ready to bring them down.


    Verne sat up and fired another arrow into its throat but even that couldn¡¯t stop it. Giordi let out a yell of fright as the hooves came down upon them but before they could crush their bodies, Suvau slammed the full force of his body weight into the unicorn, shifting it sideways so that it collapsed to the ground, kicking spasmodically before becoming still.


    ¡°On your feet,¡± Suvau barked, not wasting time on pleasantries, ¡°there are plenty more!¡±


    Verne and Giordi grasped his outstretched hands and stood up, returning to the fray.


    Yolana, Emeri and Aalis watched from the flap of the tent after being told rather harshly not to stick their noses outside.


    ¡°I can¡¯t determine who is who!¡± Emeri cried.


    It was a mess, a dangerous, deadly, frantic mess.


    Aalis twisted her dreadlocks in her hands, her mind echoing with the sound of someone ordering the attack. She put her hands to the sides of her head and scrunched her eyes shut.


    ¡°Where are you? Who are you? Why¡­ugh¡­¡± Her head pounded relentlessly. She didn¡¯t know what had happened to her after she¡¯d blacked out at the mountain lake. But she remembered the terrible lead up to it, the assault on her mind, the way her senses were overwhelmed as though they were able to be hit with hammers and cut with swords...just like now¡­it was happening again. She was being consumed by it.


    ¡°Omnes interficere!¡±


    Aalis¡¯s head lifted, her eyes opening.


    ¡°Kill them all¡­¡± She gasped, the words like a dash of cold water on her face.


    She saw a young man with tawny dreadlocks driving his blade through a unicorn. But bearing down on him, its head lowered and its horn aimed directly at his chest, was another unicorn.


    ¡°Run!¡± Aalis screamed, already sprinting from the tent, her bare feet slipping in the mud.


    The young man didn¡¯t even have the chance to respond. His body was impaled upon the horn and to Aalis¡¯ horror the unicorn immediately reared, tossing its head in a grotesque victory dance, the poor man¡¯s body held aloft. Aalis didn¡¯t think. She didn¡¯t reason. She simply ran up to the unicorn who caught sight of her coming, eyes wild with an unnatural lust for blood.


    It screamed at her¡­which was the worst thing it could have done.


    Aalis planted her feet, raised her hands and screamed back at it.


    And the world¡­stopped. The unicorn was frozen in its rear, eyes wide, glaring at her, its nostrils flared and its teeth, barred. Aalis¡¯ eyes were dark red as though they had filled with blood. She couldn¡¯t breathe. She couldn¡¯t think. She held its gaze and for a moment, a terrifying moment, the unicorn seemed to recognise her...


    ¡°Aalis, look out!¡± Judd ran forward and thrust his sword into the unicorn¡¯s chest, heaving sideways, causing the beast to topple, the body of the young man flung aside as the unicorn¡¯s horn snapped off.


    Aalis sprinted to the fallen nomad, the terrible, hard twisted horn sticking out of his chest, coated with his blood.


    ¡°No¡­no, no, no, no, no¡­¡± She whimpered. ¡°I¡­I will fix this. I swear I will fix this!¡±


    He gulped incoherently and grasped her hand, his eyes not filled with tears but regret. One hand reached up to touch her cheek, blood smeared across her pale skin. Aalis put her hand over his and tried her best to smile. She was sure she looked maniacal, attempting to smile in the midst of battle, her eyebrows and forehead grieving and her lips resisting the smile. But it seemed it was enough for him to know she was trying. He smiled back at her then coughed and spasmed, blood splattering out of his mouth.


    ¡°Please¡­just hold on¡­¡± Aalis tore off part of her dress to dab at his face, already seeing the light in his eyes go out. ¡°No¡­no¡­no!¡±


    ¡°Aalis, you¡¯ve got to get out of here!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Aalis wept, her hands clutching at the body of the lifeless nomad. ¡°I cannot just leave him!¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t ask again. He grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder. She kicked and screamed, beating at his back but he didn¡¯t stop until he reached their tent, putting her down and shoving her inside. He held up a warning finger to Yolana.


    ¡°She is not to leave!¡± He didn¡¯t wait to hear what Yolana or even Aalis had to say about that, plunging back into the fray.


    There came the sound, a voice shouting and the unicorns that had torn apart the nomad camp, turned like soldiers hearing the call to retreat and began to thunder towards the break in the fence.


    Verne followed them, making every arrow count, hitting the unicorns from behind, striking them down even as they fled. And not just the unicorns. The paddocks for the nomad¡¯s horses had been broken and many of them, frenzied and hearing the call of the wild, were galloping out of the campsite, making Verne¡¯s aim all that more important.


    Suvau grabbed one of the felled tree trunks, using it to try to block the gap in the palisade to stop any more horses from escaping. He was going back for another when a flash of lightening lit the steppelands with an almighty brilliance that outlined every blade of grass, rock, crevice and mound. And for a split second, Suvau caught sight of a figure on a hillock some ways away, astride a horse in a very familiar pose, an arrow in the cradle of a bow.


    The lightening was so bright that for a moment, Suvau was temporarily blinded yet he was already flinging himself towards Verne who hadn¡¯t seen the archer. Suvau couldn¡¯t reach Verne in time but he was able to throw himself in the path of the ugly black arrow.


    Verne cried out as Suvau crashed to the ground at his feet, crumpled and broken, a thick arrow protruding from his right shoulder.


    ¡°Suvau!¡± Verne reached out to touch it but withdrew. ¡°Giordi! Help me!¡±


    Even between them they struggled to lift Suvau. He tried to help himself but staggered badly, falling it his knees. ¡°It burns¡­¡± He moaned. ¡°Maul, it burns!¡±


    ¡°It might have been tipped with poison.¡±


    ¡°We need Aalis!¡±

 I’m not on this journey just to fulfill a quest to be knighted

    In the frosted weak light of a new day, the damage to the nomad camp was damning.


    A large chunk of the palisade was missing, the tree trunks broken and scattered, leaving the campsite vulnerable to even the most paltry of attacks. Half of the nomad¡¯s horses were gone, mostly the newest horses captured in the past year that had not yet fully become loyal to the clan. Even Quell and Zeke were gone, following the charge of the unicorns and the herd mentality. Tents were torn, sagging or completely collapsed. The livestock had fled for their lives and only half had been recovered.


    And then there were the deaths.


    Four nomads had lost their lives, including the young man that had challenged Judd only hours earlier before being impaled upon a unicorn¡¯s horn. Another of the deaths was an elderly nomad who had been trampled when the unicorns had charged through the camp. The other two were warriors who had stood their ground defending those who could not.


    The number of wounded was much greater. Broken limbs, cracked ribs and impaled bodies were the worst injuries and kept Aalis and the nomad¡¯s healer busy trying to keep them alive before the death toll rose even higher. Aalis¡¯ expression was grim determination. Judd wasn¡¯t sure if she was angry with him, thus ignoring him, or if she was simply so focussed on relieving the suffering of those wounded that she didn¡¯t see anything other than the next patient. He didn¡¯t fancy on finding out.


    Seven unicorns had been killed by nomads, three more impaled on the palisade as they had charged with reckless abandon. Their bodies were being dragged to a space outside the campsite where they could be burned. All their horns had been removed, either in the attack or afterwards. Without their horns, they appeared to be normal horses. Judd found himself thinking back to when Aalis had grieved over the orthros, about the life of the dog that had been perverted by Maul to create the monstrosity.


    He took a moment to pause, looking down at his hand as it gripped the horn of the unicorn he¡¯d slain. The end had snapped off about a finger¡¯s width from the tip. Judd had the deep scratch in his armour to thank for his survival. If not for his breastplate, he would have been impaled like that poor soul that he had to drag Aalis from.


    He noticed that the nomad men did not weep, their grief buried in their actions as they tried to mend what had been broken.


    But the wailing of the women¡­of the elderly grandmother who had knelt by her grandson and howled wordlessly¡­


    It hurt more than any wound Judd had ever had before. She was silent now, taken into care by others, possibly those in her immediate family.


    Judd¡¯s grasp tightened on the horn, cold and hard. It was any wonder it did not crumple from his fury. He went to the tent he shared with the others, breath like fog and ducked inside.


    Yolana caught sight of him and put her finger to her lips. Judd nodded as she slipped behind the curtain then reappeared, motioning for him into the furthest corner from the partition.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Judd whispered.


    ¡°Sleeping.¡± Yolana said firmly. ¡°The wound was bad enough on its own but the poison made Suvau very ill and weakened him. If not for Aalis drawing the poison out of his body, I do not believe he would have survived.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had a similar experience.¡± Judd recalled the bite of the vicious plant in the mangrove swamp. ¡°Will he be alright?¡±


    ¡°Aalis believes he will make a full recovery.¡± Yolana put her hand on his arm. ¡°Judd, have you eaten or slept?¡±


    ¡°How can I eat and sleep after something like that?¡± He asked hoarsely. ¡°Those unicorns killed themselves, charging into the fence, stormed the campsite, killing and maiming¡­then left just like that!¡± He snapped his fingers then caught Yolana¡¯s concerned glance at where Suvau slept and lowered his hand, returning to a whisper. ¡°It was so pointlessly¡­needlessly¡­violent and wrong.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve witnessed some terrible things by the monsters of Maul¡­but how they did this¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis thinks they had help.¡± Yolana explained, going to a table where bloodied bandages rested and a bowl of stained water. She picked up a thick, black arrow. ¡°Suvau was struck with an arrow.¡±


    ¡°There was an archer out there taking advantage of the unicorn¡¯s attack?¡±


    Yolana nodded and held it out. ¡°Judd, look at the arrowhead.¡±


    Judd did so, his stomach churning. ¡°That¡¯s the tip of a unicorn¡¯s horn.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So¡­not just taking advantage¡­but in league with them?¡±


    Yolana shrugged helplessly. ¡°This is not something I know. But Aalis believes the toxin is a natural occurrence in the horn. Once it enters the blood stream¡­¡±


    ¡°I was caught by a unicorn horn,¡± Judd looked at the bandage on his arm Caste had tied for Aalis had been focussed on Suvau, ¡°I didn¡¯t experience anything like what Suvau did.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you have a natural immunity?¡±


    Judd thought again about the pain and recovery in the mangrove swamp. Perhaps he didn¡¯t have a natural immunity but rather, a reinforced one born from previous experience. He thanked Yolana for the update and went outside. Sunlight was making a weak attempt to glow yellow but the sky was a mottled patina of grey clouds and the wind was bitter, scattering any heat that made it through. Verne, who had been helping clear the broken fence trunks, caught sight of him and immediately approached.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°How is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s going to survive.¡± Judd said and Verne shivered. ¡°These nomads won¡¯t if we can¡¯t fill that gap in the palisade¡­¡±


    Verne looked at the gap then eyed Judd darkly. ¡°Didn¡¯t do them much good last night. What the Maul is wrong with those unicorns? They impaled themselves just to tear it down! Who does that?¡±


    ¡°The unicorns weren¡¯t acting alone. We think there was another with them, possibly human.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s who hit Suvau?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Judd frowned and pointed. ¡°What¡¯s going on over there?¡±


    Chief Bear, who had not thought it beneath himself to lend his strength to the clean up, had called a gathering to his tent. Judd caught Caste¡¯s eye and jerked his head at him to follow. The cleric had been studying the corpses of the unicorns, making extensive notes about the monsters but he curbed his curiosity, rolling his writing supplies into their leather wrap and hurried to join them.


    Inside the tent the mood was tense. Usually the tent of the chief was for men only but today there were women also. Judd likened it to a war council or public announcement. All were encouraged to attend. Judd spied Giordi. He, Verne and Caste slipped around the back of the crowd to where the minstrel was.


    ¡°Any idea what¡¯s going on?¡± Judd asked softly.


    ¡°Chief Bear made an announcement and grunted¡­everyone seemed to know what it meant.¡± Giordi shrugged. ¡°Everyone but me, of course.¡±


    Chief Bear looked at the nomads who gathered, a much smaller gathering than those that had been around his feasting table in the past few nights. Some were on crutches, others were bound with bandages yet all, wounded and well, listened as Chief Bear grunted and gruffed.


    ¡°He¡¯s saying that the attack¡­cannot go¡­it has to be dealt with¡­¡± Caste translated as quickly as he could. ¡°He¡¯s calling for able bodied warriors to track down the unicorns.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Judd immediately began to move forward as the nomads volunteered by striking their chests, ¡°that¡¯s simple.¡±


    ¡°Judd!¡± Caste hissed but he¡¯d slipped away from the cleric before he could be grabbed. Chief Bear saw Judd¡¯s approach, his dark eyes serious and grim. Judd struck his chest. Chief Bear shook his head but Judd would not be denied. He struck his chest again. Chief Bear grunted and waved him back.


    ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Judd said and Chief Bear glowered at him. ¡°I am allowed to go.¡±


    Chief Bear shook his head and muttered.


    ¡°He¡¯s saying you¡¯re a guest, not a nomad.¡± Caste called. ¡°Judd, listen to him! He¡¯s saying you¡¯ve got no right¡­¡±


    ¡°I have every right!¡± Judd bellowed, startling the nomads and getting Chief Bear¡¯s attention. He pointed out of the tent. ¡°My friend was nearly killed! My horses are gone! These good people were attacked for no reason! I will not stand by and let this happen again.¡± He stood in front of the chief and held firm. Chief Bear¡¯s gaze was hard to hold. It was unyielding. He spoke again, this time softly. Judd scrunched his eyes and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­Caste?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s saying you don¡¯t have a mount. They¡¯re going after the unicorns on horseback. There are only a few horses left and they all belong to someone.¡±


    Judd¡¯s shoulders dropped. He couldn¡¯t argue with logic and he couldn¡¯t take the place of a nomad who had a right to go. Then there was a soft shuffling and the crowd parted, allowing the elderly grandmother who had lost her grandson to come to the front. She spoke briefly, her gnarled fingers pointing at Judd.


    Chief Bear sighed and nodded. ¡°Gese.¡±


    That¡¯s all Judd needed to hear. He turned to the grandmother who grasped his hand and drew him out of the tent, across the muddy and blood splattered ground to where the dark brown bay stallion was tethered. In the attack it had been missed as it was not with the other horses. She chittered at him and, taking the reins, put them in Judd¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°Your grandson¡¯s mount?¡± Judd realised softly. Though she didn¡¯t understand, she nodded, recognising the tone. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Xenon.¡± She croaked.


    ¡°Xenon?¡± Judd asked then turned to the stallion. ¡°Xenon.¡±


    She nodded again, her aged features broken with grief. She walked away, half bent over with age and Judd¡¯s heart sank. He looked at the stallion that eyed him suspiciously as if to say, you don¡¯t have the right to ride me.


    ¡°Listen, we¡¯re going to be spending a lot of time together,¡± Judd said with more confidence than he felt, ¡°so we¡¯re going to have to get along¡­and you¡¯re going to need to learn to understand what I¡¯m saying¡­cause I don¡¯t speak ancient Terra.¡± Xenon huffed at him, its black mane in its eyes. Judd combed it back, noting just how intelligent its gaze was. ¡°I¡¯ll be back for you.¡± He promised, making sure it was securely tethered. ¡°I¡¯ll pack light, I promise.¡±


    He hurried to his tent and Caste, having squeezed out of the war council, sprinted towards him. ¡°Judd¡­Judd! What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m joining the war party.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s¡­there¡¯s no need!¡±


    ¡°No need?!¡± Judd turned on him and Caste skidded to a stop, Verne and Giordi coming up from behind, looking at Judd warily. ¡°Look around you, Caste. There is every need!¡±


    Caste swallowed, licking his lips. ¡°What I meant was, you have your unicorn horn as evidence and the monster mark has been made on your quest list. There¡¯s no need to put yourself in anymore danger over this.¡±


    Judd¡¯s forehead tightened and he shook his head, eyes closed. ¡°Oh Caste¡­do you really think I want to be a knight so I can have the title and then look the other way when things go bad?¡± Caste floundered as Judd looked at him sadly. ¡°Knights aren¡¯t just there to make themselves look good or to have knightly authority. They have a responsibility to protect those in their purview. These people,¡± he gestured around himself, ¡°are citizens of Terra, whether the Order approves of their way of life or not. And they have been gracious and hospitable, even more so than most knights in forts or lords in manors we¡¯ve encountered.¡± He paused. ¡°I¡¯m not on this journey just to fulfill a quest to be knighted. I am on a journey to become a knight in word, deed and heart.¡±


    Caste was speechless and sober. Judd couldn¡¯t blame him for his attitude. The poor officer of the Grail had endured much more than he¡¯d ever wanted since being lumbered as Judd¡¯s cleric. He only saw things in percentages, averages, columns of pluses and minuses.


    Judd couldn¡¯t live like that.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the language.¡± Caste protested softly, all heat gone from his protestation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get by.¡± Judd said, putting his hand on Caste¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t have to come, Caste. This is well beyond anything you were expected to do. I can do this on my own.¡±


    He walked away but only made it three steps when Verne fell into stride with him. ¡°I¡¯m going too.¡± He looked over his shoulder at the stallion. ¡°Think it can carry both of us?¡±


    ¡°If I leave most of my armour behind except the breastplate and we skip breakfast¡­¡± Judd paused. ¡°You don¡¯t have to come either, Verne.¡±


    ¡°If Suvau hadn¡¯t gotten in the way, that black arrow would have been sticking out of my head.¡± Verne¡¯s rage was barely contained. Judd had rarely seen so much emotion on the stoic archer¡¯s face. ¡°I owe that bastard archer an arrow in return.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I think we¡¯d best hurry. We don¡¯t want to get left behind.¡± They jogged to the tent. ¡°By the way, can you ride?¡±


    ¡°I can get by. You?¡±


    ¡°Same¡­this is going to be interesting¡­¡±

 A man in league with Maul…is that even possible?

    Interesting turned out to be the wrong word. Judd and Verne couldn¡¯t contain their agony, groaning into their bedrolls that evening, their backsides aching in ways they had no right to. The nomads had left within the hour of the chief¡¯s call to war and had barely paused for hours except to track the unicorns. While the steppelands were not the most malleable of landscapes, hard and the grasses covering it, wild and wispy, the tracks of a herd of unicorns and stolen horses was impossible not to follow. There were some splatters of green blood, telling of wounded unicorns and the crescent shapes in any ground soft enough to display the track. And because their quarry had nearly twelve hours headway on them, the nomads didn¡¯t stop riding until it was too difficult to make out the tracks in the fading light.


    The nomads rode with saddles but they relied on their legs and balance to keep themselves upright. More than once on the journey had Judd and/or Verne nearly slipped from the back of the stallion who, living up to its reputation, was not content to be relegated to the back of the herd. Xenon was feisty and eager, wanting to charge to the front. Judd was grateful to Mavrish who was astride his own horse, a greying stallion with a mottled back half. He rode beside Judd and Verne, sensing that they were at the extreme edge of their abilities. He wasn¡¯t friendly with them but one grunt from Mavrish to Xenon and it would curb its enthusiasm¡­until it thought the horse tamer wasn¡¯t looking.


    Judd lay on his front, unable to roll onto his side or his back.


    ¡°I may never sit down again.¡± He moaned to Verne who was likewise sprawled on his bedroll.


    ¡°I feel like there are two metal rods sticking up through my backside.¡± Verne muttered. ¡°I thought riding a horse was meant to be noble and elegant¡­not bloody excruciating. Can¡¯t you stop it from charging ahead? I nearly fell off a half dozen times!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try to control it.¡± Judd retorted. ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t give for some of Aalis¡¯ remedies.¡±


    ¡°And have her rub them on your rump?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Judd sat up then nearly screeched with pain.


    Verne laughed and then winced. ¡°Down, boy¡­¡±


    One of the nomads approached, saying something neither of them understood then made it obvious by tossing them pieces of dried meat.


    ¡°Dinner is served.¡± Judd bit into the meat, trying to tear it with his teeth.


    The nomads were sprawled on a small incline, their horses tethered to stakes driven into the ground. Judd would¡¯ve sworn his mount was giving him unimpressed glares as it supped on the grass. Night had fallen and while it was freezing, there was no rain. The air was so crisp it felt like it might shatter like glass. The stars were dazzling overhead, more numerous in number than Caste¡¯s freckles.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne yawned, ¡°what do you think it was, with the unicorns?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?


    ¡°Was it a man or was it a monster?¡±


    ¡°When Suvau was coherent for all of five minutes, he swore it was a man astride a horse.¡±


    Verne chewed meat over and over, turning it into pulp that he could actually swallow. ¡°A man in league with Maul¡­is that even possible?¡±


    Judd mulled this over. ¡°If it had been anyone else, I might have questioned what they¡¯d seen as possibly hysteria induced¡­but this is Suvau we¡¯re talking about so if he said he saw a man astride a horse, firing an arrow at you, tipped with a unicorn¡¯s horn¡­¡±


    Verne forwent the rest of his dried meat, still working on his first mouthful. ¡°I thought monsters were insatiable for human flesh¡­why aren¡¯t the unicorns turning on him?¡±


    ¡°There must be a reason.¡± Judd yawned. ¡°One I suppose we will discover if we ever catch up with the herd. Not that I doubt the nomad¡¯s determination¡­I¡¯m just hoping my boor battered rump survives it.¡±


    Suvau had been given strict instructions not to sit up or exert himself¡­so he only attempted to do so when Yolana wasn¡¯t looking. While the wound was bad, it wasn¡¯t life threatening now that the possibility of infection had been dealt with following Aalis¡¯ very competent administrations. The arrow hadn¡¯t passed all the way through his body or even struck anything important. His right arm had been almost impossible to move for the first two days yet he hadn¡¯t lost control of any of his fingers and Aalis assured him that as the wound healed, he would regain almost all that he had lost to the point that the lack would be unable to be perceived.


    Suvau was already wishing he was there. As glad as he was to have saved Verne¡¯s life, he was not one to lay about and convalesce. But Yolana knew his disposition and she was not a woman to be toyed with. If he had any illusions about possible compromise, they were dashed when she entered the tent, her dark eyes immediately turning flinty at his upright position.


    ¡°Suvau¡­¡±


    ¡°I can handle sitting up.¡± Suvau protested. ¡°Truly, I can. I didn¡¯t use my right,¡± not that it could have pushed him upright without obscene pain, ¡°and I am tired of lying on my back.¡±


    Her jaw was tight and she didn¡¯t say anything else. Suvau was surprised at the amount of anger he seemed to feel radiating from her as she walked about the tent. She wasn¡¯t just concerned about him. There was a definite stomp to her step and she was not delicate with the chores she completed. Suvau knew the signs. He¡¯d seen them before and much like before, he struggled to comprehend just what it was he had done to make her angry.


    ¡°Yolana¡­what is it?¡± He asked. She shook her head with her back to him. ¡°Yolana, please¡­what have I done to anger you so?¡±


    She tilted her head back and gave a mocking laugh. ¡°Oh Suvau¡­for a brilliant mind you can be such a fool.¡±


    ¡°True enough.¡± Suvau admitted and she looked at him, his heart aching at the sorrow in her expression. ¡°Yolana,¡± he reached out his left arm towards her, ¡°please¡­tell me.¡±


    She licked her lips and he could see the deep well of emotion was bubbling to the surface. ¡°You think a wife can see her husband, bleeding, broken¡­clawing at the wound because of the way it burns¡­and not become upset?¡±


    Suvau closed his eyes. ¡°I am sorry my actions caused you to be distressed, my love,¡± he murmured, ¡°I could not reach Verne in time¡­¡±


    ¡°I am not angry that you saved her life,¡± Yolana snapped, ¡°I am angry that you ordered me to stay behind!¡±


    Suvau blinked, astonished. ¡°You¡¯re angry because I insisted on your safety?!¡± Yolana folded her arms. ¡°Yolana, as intimidating as you are in the kitchen, you have no fighting experience! You could have been killed!¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Says the man who was pierced with an arrow!¡±


    Suvau was growing frustrated. ¡°What would you have had me do, Yolana? Cower in the tent while the nomads and our friends were slaughtered?¡±


    ¡°Like you ordered me to do!¡± Yolana¡¯s hands went to her hips. ¡°You could have died!¡±


    ¡°At least Emeri would still have you!¡± Suvau returned and Yolana stepped back, her hand over her breast. Suvau paused and breathed. ¡°Yolana,¡± he said softly, ¡°I went out there knowing that if I fell, Emeri would still have her mother.¡±


    ¡°You think she only needs me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Suvau shook his head, ¡°but given the choice, I would not let her become an orphan.¡± Tears began to stream down Yolana¡¯s face. Suvau reached out again and this time she slid her fingers into his palm. ¡°My love, oh my love¡­I would not leave you willingly.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Yolana knelt beside him, ¡°but three times in barely a month I thought I had lost you¡­¡± Suvau silenced her fears by kissing her. And the kiss deepened with purpose. Yolana drew back. ¡°You,¡± she admonished softly and without true heat, her breath quickening, ¡°are supposed to be resting.¡±


    ¡°I swear I will not leave my bed¡­¡± Suvau¡¯s eyes were burning with intent. Yolana only hesitated a moment before kissing him again, their arms and hands clutching at each other. Recovery took a backseat to the need a husband had for his wife and his wife¡¯s desperation to be as close to him as possible.


    They forgot that the tent was not exactly private but then their daughter was no stranger to their love for each other. Emeri hadn¡¯t stepped one foot inside the tent when she¡¯d recognised the sounds of her parent¡¯s intimacy. She immediately backed out and made sure the flap of the tent was securely closed then found a place to sit, far enough that she couldn¡¯t hear anything and close enough to keep watch which turned out to be fortuitous as Caste arrived only minutes later.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go in there,¡± Emeri warned. Caste jumped, not having noticed her sitting off to the side. He drew back from the tent, eyes down and awkward. ¡°What is it you wanted?¡± She asked. Caste stammered and faltered. Emeri¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°What? Can¡¯t look at me now? Will my Maul gaze stain your soul?¡± Caste¡¯s head lifted and she caught a brief glimpse of shame and turned away. ¡°What are you after?¡±


    ¡°I was looking for Aalis.¡± Caste said so softly she had to strain to hear it.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s checking on her patients.¡± Emeri stood up. ¡°Take my place here and I¡¯ll go look for her.¡±


    Caste nodded and let her go by without another word.


    Emeri huffed, clenching and unclenching her hands as she strode across the nomad campsite. Without many of their warriors in the camp, it was a great deal quieter than normal. The children were starting to venture out to play again but she could see that the violent invasion of their home had deeply unsettled them. Emeri dodged around a game of pigskin, kicking the saggy ball out of her way and the children darted after it. She checked in Nieves¡¯ tent and another tent where she knew some of the injured were convalescing but there was no Aalis. However, one of the nomads recognised what Emeri was asking and pointed her in the direction Aalis had gone.


    Emeri traced Aalis to a quiet corner of the nomad¡¯s campsite where she found Aalis on her knees, vomiting.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± She exclaimed, darting forward.


    ¡°Please,¡± Aalis held out her hand and Emeri stopped, ¡°stay back.¡±


    Emeri did so, fidgeting with nervousness and concern. Aalis took several deep, shuddering breaths, clutching a post of the fence to help her to rise. She kicked dirt over the pool of vomit and wiped at her mouth.


    ¡°Aalis¡­are you ill?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis turned to her and Emeri was immediately concerned about the sallow tint of her skin, ¡°just tired.¡±


    ¡°Have you slept?¡±


    ¡°Here and there.¡± Aalis shook her head, her dreadlocks looking more wild than ever. ¡°There were so many wounded¡­¡±


    ¡°Killing yourself is not a good way to seek revenge.¡± Emeri said sternly. ¡°You need to rest.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Aalis promised then sighed, ¡°but first¡­were you looking for me?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Emeri closed her eyes, ¡°Caste was looking for you but I¡¯m sure it can wait.¡±


    ¡°No¡­he does not do trivial.¡± Aalis took her water pouch and gulped the final mouthful down, washing the vile taste from her mouth. ¡°Where was he?¡±


    ¡°Playing guard out the front of the tent.¡± Emeri caught Aalis¡¯ questioning look as they began to cross the campsite. ¡°I think my father is feeling better...¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Aalis blushed, ¡°well¡­it is nice to know that they love each other.¡± She saw Emeri¡¯s grimace. ¡°You do not approve?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Emeri insisted. ¡°My parents have always been very tactile and deeply committed to each other¡­I guess¡­I just never thought anyone would ever think of me that way.¡± She shuddered. ¡°Not in a way I would welcome¡­and now I¡¯m all on my own¡­¡±


    ¡°No man is better than the wrong man.¡± Aalis assured her.


    ¡°I suppose.¡±


    ¡°And while I know it feels like nothing will change¡­at least for now you are with people who care about you.¡±


    Emeri caught sight of Caste. He had abandoned his post and was coming towards them, his eyes darting away from Emeri and she found herself wanting to grind her teeth.


    ¡°Or barely tolerate¡­excuse me.¡±


    Aalis watched her go, perhaps storm off would be a better description, concerned and confused. She turned to ask Caste what he wanted when he caught sight of him gazing at the fleeing back of Emeri with a great deal of guilt on his face. Aalis looked between them, biting her bottom lip.


    ¡°Caste,¡± she said softly and he turned to her, ¡°Emeri said you were looking for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°I just wanted to know¡­or ask¡­how long should we be waiting here for?¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°Until Judd and Verne return.¡±


    ¡°What if they don¡¯t? What if they¡¯re dead?¡± Caste wrung his hands nervously. ¡°We¡¯ve been with these people for a week¡­how long until we give up?¡±


    Aalis felt angry at the question and went to snap when she paused. Caste was clutching the pendant of Astaril, the four pointed star in the circle that was the symbol of the Order of the Grail. His knuckles were white and he was oozing fear. Not disdain or impatience. Fear.


    ¡°I am worried about them too,¡± she offered gently and his green eyes fluttered briefly to hers then looked away, ¡°it is highly unlikely that all the nomads and Judd and Verne would be killed in the offensive attack. We will wait until Suvau is able to travel and if they have not returned¡­we will decide on a course of action then. Will that suffice?¡±


    Caste nodded, turned and left. Aalis watched him go, worried about the little cleric who was quite the fish out of water. She imagined that he hadn¡¯t felt safe since he¡¯d left Astaril.


    Her water pouch was empty so she left the campsite and walked to the stream. The gate had been destroyed in the unicorn attack but the nomads who remained behind had done their best to construct a temporary one. Because they were still reeling from the ferocity of the monsters, which was rather alarming as the nomads were not strangers to Maul¡¯s mad creations, the gate remained shut however it was easy enough for a single person to squeeze past it. Aalis strode to the stream and filled her water pouch, closing it tightly. She stood up and saw Giordi standing on a piece of flat land, bow in his hands, firing arrow after arrow at a target on a tree. When he had exhausted all his arrows he collected them, returned to his place, took three steps back and continued to aim for the target.


    Aalis approached him quietly, surprised at the intensity on his face. For the blonde haired, cherub countenanced minstrel, such grim determination was almost alarming.


    ¡°Verne would be impressed that you are practicing without being bullied into it.¡± She remarked.


    Giordi gave a small smile. ¡°Well¡­every bullseye I get, he¡¯s supposed to have a drink with me.¡±


    Aalis blinked, watching Giordi fire. ¡°Perhaps if Verne was here I would believe you. But he is not here to hold you accountable¡­¡±


    Giordi sighed and lowered his arms. ¡°Judd was right.¡±


    ¡°Judd?¡± He nodded. ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°That I¡¯m useless.¡±


    Aalis huffed and put her hands on her hips. ¡°Judd never said you were useless.¡±


    ¡°He said I did not pull my weight.¡±


    ¡°In a battle! He was concerned that if you were to continue to follow him around, you would be put in danger and unable to defend yourself.¡±


    ¡°Which is exactly what happened three nights ago!¡± Giordi exclaimed and Aalis was taken aback. ¡°Those unicorns attacked and what did Judd, Verne and Suvau do? They buckled on their armour and leapt into the fray! Maul, even you ran into battle! What did I do?¡± Giordi took another arrow and aimed. ¡°Nothing of consequence.¡±


    ¡°You saved Verne¡¯s life! He said you knocked him out of the way from being impaled!¡±


    ¡°My actions didn¡¯t save us. If not for Suvau, we¡¯d both be dead.¡±


    Aalis studied Giordi, surprised and more than a little stunned by his lament. Giordi continued to fire the arrows until they were spent. She reached out to grasp his arm before he could stride away and collect them.


    ¡°Giordi¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t heal everyone, Aalis,¡± he said, shaking off her grip, ¡°especially not from the revelation of their own uselessness.¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes. The vision of his body, broken and dead, run through with a sword after his shield was broken and shattered on the ground beside him, returned to her.


    What were they being inexplicably prepared for?


    Just what was it they were being driven towards?

 Kentaurus

    Judd and Verne crawled forwards, keeping their bodies as low to the ground as they could manage. All pride and grace was gone as they crept towards the lip of the rise to peer over into the gully along with a half dozen of the nomads. They had been summoned to come to the front of the riders, to dismount and view what had been seen by the scout.


    Judd¡¯s brown eyes took in the sight of the gully. There were a dozen horses or more gathered in the shallow ravine that was all but hidden from view. It was only because they had been following the tracks that the scout had discovered the gully at all.


    ¡°Those are the nomad¡¯s horses¡­¡± Judd breathed.


    ¡°Not just theirs,¡± Verne nudged him, ¡°look¡­there¡¯s Quell¡­and Zeke.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re alright.¡± Judd closed his eyes, relieved. ¡°I¡¯d hate to think I¡¯d rescued them from Fort Bastil only to be impaled by a unicorn¡­where are the unicorns?¡±


    One of the nomads made a finger signal and pointed. Judd leaned forward as far as he dared. The unicorns were guarding the entrance to the gully just around a slight bend.


    ¡°They¡¯ve herded them into this gully¡­why?¡± Verne frowned. ¡°And where is the monster on his horse that I owe?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see anything other than unicorns and horses.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m curious¡­the unicorns are guarding where the horses were herded¡­so what¡¯s that way?¡± He pointed in the opposite direction.


    ¡°Shall we go look?¡±


    They shuffled back and crept away from the scouts who were returning to report to Chief Bear who waited with Mavrish and the other, not so nimble anymore, nomads. They were hidden beyond a rocky outcrop, of which there were plenty so far east. In fact, Judd could taste the salt in the air and knew that the sea was close. However, from the way the land, which was the northern end of the eastern mountain range, was rising, he suspected that in order to reach the ocean, one would have to leap from cliffs to the thrashing surf below.


    Judd and Verne followed the gully as closely as they dared, keeping out of sight of the unicorns at the other end. The gully wound through the steppelands, heading into a crevice between two hills.


    ¡°I think there¡¯s a cave¡­¡± Verne murmured.


    They both hunkered down and crawled forward again, right to the lip of the gully and peered over. It was a cave that looked as though it led deep into the hillside, still heading east.


    ¡°Ugh¡­what¡¯s that smell?¡± Judd felt his throat burn and stomach heave.


    ¡°Sulphur,¡± Verne guessed, ¡°and from the sheen of that trinkle coming out of the cave. I think it¡¯s coming from tainted water.¡±


    Judd could see the luminous little stream flowing slowly out of the cave. Nothing grew at the edges of the stream. The only strands of grass that dared to grow were at the very edges of the gully.


    He opened his mouth to speak but ended up with a mouthful of dirt when Verne pushed him down. He signalled furiously at Judd to stay low. Judd held his breath then heard the sound of hooves on the loose slate that was everywhere. It cracked and crunched beneath the weight of the horse¡­then they heard someone speak, guttural and strange.


    Judd looked at Verne then they both craned their necks to look over the edge.


    A man¡¯s naked torso came into view, topped with a head of wild silvery grey hair tied in knots away from his angular face. He had growth on his chin and cheeks, a rugged and handsome demeanour with eyes as silver as his hair.


    Verne¡¯s mouth turned down and Judd saw him reach for his dagger, his bow and quiver left back with the nomads. Judd grasped his hand and shook his head at him to stop. Verne was only just restrained but Judd needed to know more about what was going on.


    A powerful whinny echoed from the cave and a horse, no a unicorn, emerged from the darkness, tossing its dappled head, a gleaming white horn adorning its forehead. It snapped instinctively at the man who slapped its muzzle. The unicorn retreated slightly and lowered its head.


    ¡°Establishing dominance.¡± Verne whispered.


    The unicorn was ordered down the gully but the man spoke again and two unicorns appeared, herding a single horse up the gully towards the cave. It was resisting but the unicorns were merciless, nipping at its rump with their teeth and jabbing it with their horns. In the end, the horse had no where to go but into the cave. The unicorns escorted it inside then appeared a minute later but without the horse. The man grunted something unintelligible then turned and Judd¡¯s spine trembled and Verne gasped. The man¡¯s silver eyes darted to the edge of the gully, Judd and Verne driving themselves into the hard ground.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    For a long time there was only tense silence¡­


    ¡­until Judd couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and signalled to Verne that they had to retreat. When they were as far away as they dared to be, they stood and sprinted back to the nomads.


    ¡°Did you see it?¡± Verne called softly between pants.


    ¡°I saw it!¡± Judd blurted. ¡°We¡¯ve got to warn the nomads!¡±


    Thankfully Chief Bear was still deciding a plan of attack when Judd and Verne arrived, sweaty, breathless and frightened.


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­don¡¯t¡­¡± Judd leaned into the stitch in his side. ¡°Centaur! Do you understand? Centaur?¡± Chief Bear eyed them humourlessly. Judd groaned. ¡°Wish I¡¯d brought Caste!¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± Verne grabbed an arrow and drew a horse without a head on the ground, ¡°horse body, man¡¯s torso.¡±


    Chief Bear studied the drawing.


    ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s leading the unicorns.¡± Judd pointed at the drawing then towards the gully. ¡°Centaur.¡±


    ¡°Kentaurus.¡± Mavrish said from behind Chief Bear. Judd looked at him and his expression was grim.


    ¡°Kentaurus?¡±


    ¡°Nay,¡± Chief Bear shook his head, ¡°nay¡­¡±


    ¡°Gese.¡± Judd responded with probably his only word of ancient Terra that he knew. ¡°Kentaurus but there¡¯s more. Verne¡­can you draw the gully?¡± Verne sketched it out on the ground, the nomads gathering around. Verne drew the cave at the end. ¡°Horse goes in,¡± Judd pronounced slowly, ¡°unicorn comes out. Here,¡± he jabbed at the cave, ¡°Maul makes unicorns.¡± Chief Bear frowned¡­but that did seem to be his resting face. ¡°If we don¡¯t stop this,¡± Judd put a cross through the cave, ¡°more unicorns. More death.¡±


    The nomads spoke gruffly to each other. Chief Bear said nothing, remaining stern and quiet. Judd looked at Verne who shrugged helplessly. The language barrier was more than a little frustrating.


    ¡°I think they¡¯re more concerned about taking back their mounts.¡± Verne admitted. ¡°They¡¯re not here to stop Maul.¡±


    Judd swallowed and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­that¡¯s kind of what I¡¯m meant to do.¡±


    ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°Chief Bear,¡± Judd cleared his throat and the heavy set chief eyed him with his dark gaze, ¡°you kill the unicorns and rescue the horses. Verne and I will go to the cave.¡±


    ¡°And kill that centaur.¡± Verne¡¯s tone was dark.


    Judd nodded. ¡°Kentaurus and cave.¡± He pointed at himself then at Chief Bear and the nomads. ¡°Horses and unicorns. Gese?¡±


    For a brief, possibly even imagined, moment, Judd thought he saw a small smile on the Chief¡¯s face before he covered up his approval with a nod.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Judd turned to Verne. ¡°Grab your gear.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just going to march in there?¡± Verne demanded as they hastened to where the stallion, Xenon, was tethered. It had stopped looking at them with a unicorn¡¯s disgust after four days of travel winding their way across the steppelands. Mavrish had been instrumental in getting the feisty mount to be respectful but more importantly, he had quite literally whipped Judd into shape, Mavrish smacking him with a willow switch, adjusting his posture and the way he gave commands. Verne had graciously allowed Judd to experience the full force of Mavrish¡¯s merciless tutorage but even with bare minimal exposure, after four days, he and Judd were far better riders than they had been.


    Xenon watched as they strapped their equipment and weapons on their bodies. Judd saw its flank tremble and wondered if the magnificent stallion could sense the anticipation of battle in the air.


    ¡°Not shy of a skirmish, are you?¡± He chuckled, rubbing its neck. ¡°Sorry fella, but I don¡¯t want you anywhere near that cave.¡± The stallion blinked and Judd shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not going to happen because I¡¯m not risking you turning into a unicorn. You¡¯ll come after me.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Verne looked up, sliding his bow over his head, ¡°riding Xenon to the gully makes sense. At the very least, we won¡¯t arrive out of breath and exhausted.¡±


    Judd grimaced. ¡°Fine¡­to the gully but no further.¡±


    Dusk had fallen and the shadows were long. Judd and Verne mounted Xenon as the nomads settled in to wait until the dark of night. Judd didn¡¯t want to risk getting lost in the half light so they took a roundabout route to the gully, keeping as far away from its mouth as possible, coming up towards the cave from almost the opposite direction. There was a half moon which might have provided adequate light except for the clouds. Judd and Verne dismounted Xenon and crawled towards the gully again on their stomachs.


    ¡°I know we¡¯re close.¡± Judd gagged. ¡°Oh that smell¡­¡±


    They reached the lip and looked down. There was no sign of the unicorns or the centaur however, there was a curve in the gully leading up to the cave which presented a corner they could not see around.


    ¡°Are we going to slide down?¡± Verne asked quietly. ¡°That¡¯s not going to be silent¡­¡±


    ¡°I think we¡¯ll have to risk it.¡± Judd whispered. ¡°Ready?¡± Verne nodded.


    They both twisted so that their feet faced the gulley and wiggled to the edge, feeling their legs drop as they shifted out further. Judd grasped the tenacious wild grass at the edge of the gully and willed it to continue to hold as he tried desperately to feel for a foothold. Unfortunately it was then that the grass gave way and Judd slipped and crashed onto the gully floor. He was up in an instant, holding his breath.


    Verne looked over his shoulder, still clutching the edge as they waited.


    Nothing.


    Judd closed his eyes and breathed.


    Verne was a bit more nimble in his descent, landing deftly and silently.


    ¡°Show off.¡± Judd grinned. ¡°Now we just need to¡­what¡¯s he doing here?¡±


    Verne looked up and they saw Xenon, lightly outlined in moonlight at the edge of the gully, looking down at them.


    ¡°I thought you tied him up.¡±


    ¡°I thought you did.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°Shoo! Go away!¡±


    Xenon huffed as if Judd¡¯s pantomime was insulting¡­and as if to prove to Judd that Xenon could do whatever the Maul he liked, he put his front legs over the lip of the gully, found the decline and managed to come skidding down in a massive shower of slate and grass.


    Judd slapped his forehead while Verne shook his head. ¡°Subtle.¡±


    ¡°Come on,¡± Judd grasped Xenon¡¯s halter, ¡°before that centaur comes to see what the noise is about.¡±

 Raske danke

    They headed to the mouth of the cave, Xenon following willingly, seemingly unconcerned about going into a dark, dangerous place.


    ¡°Keep out of the taint.¡± Verne warned as they stepped beyond the light that the moon gave.


    ¡°According to the Order, it only affects women.¡± Judd remarked.


    Verne cleared his throat. ¡°Oh¡­yes¡­well¡­just in case.¡±


    They travelled along the tunnel, following it quietly, keeping out of the stream of taint. It would have been pitch black if not for seams of fluorescent mineral that gave the barest of glows.


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s natural?¡± Verne asked, peering at the blue/green glow.


    ¡°I think I would check first before touching it.¡± Judd whispered. ¡°We need to keep moving. Chief Bear will be leading the attack on the unicorns soon. Watch your head, Xenon¡­it gets a little low here.¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­up ahead¡­what¡¯s that glow?¡±


    Judd frowned. ¡°Never mind the glow¡­what¡¯s that sound?¡±


    Verne clapped his hand over his mouth. ¡°Forget the sound¡­what¡¯s that stench?¡±


    ¡°A combination of blood and seawater.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°that¡¯s a smell I¡¯ll never forget.¡±


    They crept forward, leaving Xenon behind with a stern warning to stay, to where the tunnel opened into a cave that appeared to be a roughly circular shape with a slope leading down from the tunnel to the floor. Stalagmites and stalactites formed pillars all the way around the centre where there was a pool of sea water, fed from a tunnel that led even further east out of the cave. At its very end there was light and the sound of waves crashing. The edge of the pool, a natural rocky lip, was stained with blood upon blood upon blood and at the bottom of its deep embrace were the discarded bodies of narwals, each one dehorned. The horns were scattered around the pool¡¯s edge, glistening, sharp and long.


    Between the natural pillars were bubbles large enough to encompass a horse which seemed to be exactly what they were designed to hold. They were semi opaque, glowing with a red/pink light except for where the body of a horse could be seen inside. Some of the bubbles had horses without horns and others had horses with horns.


    Judd and Verne could hear a horse kicking and screaming against its unicorn captors that had driven it into the cave, all the way to the bottom. They scrambled forwards to see a mare fighting tendrils that came out of one of the bubbles, wrapping around the horse, sucking it into the bubble. Once inside, the bubble became unbreakable though they saw that the mare bucked and reared, twisted and fought, writhing and then¡­


    ¡°Is it dead?¡± Verne whispered, the body of the horse becoming still.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s ready to be bonded with one of those narwhal horns.¡±


    ¡°Narwhal?¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen one, stuffed and preserved with the horn sticking straight out of its face. They¡¯re extremely rare up north but down south where its colder¡­hide!¡±


    They darted up the ramp and into a shallow crevice as the unicorns, that had forced the mare into the bubble, closed in on their position, heading for the tunnel. Judd and Verne held still and quiet as the brutal beasts passed so close by they could have been skewered with their horns where they stool. Judd breathed out when they moved on through the tunnel.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne shook him, whispering urgently, ¡°what in Maul is that?¡±


    Judd looked up, his spine curling up like a leaf withering.


    In the ceiling of the cave, obscured from direct sight by the natural pillars, was an eyeball staring at the bubbles of red and pink, set into a socket of the same hue with little tendrils clinging tightly to the stony surface like a permanent guard.


    ¡°It looks like¡­¡±


    ¡°The mangrove swamp¡­the thing that grabbed Aalis.¡± Judd nodded.


    Verne shivered. ¡°Can it hear us?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­it just looks like a giant eye¡­¡±


    Verne looked at him. ¡°What is this place?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s how Maul makes unicorns.¡± Judd shuddered.


    ¡°Makes them?¡±


    ¡°Mashes horses together with narwhals to make unicorns¡­infused with Maul blood and with an insatiable need for human flesh.¡± The bile in his throat was burning. Judd desperately wanted to spit it out.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­insane!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to argue¡­what¡¯s that?¡±


    They both turned to the tunnel where the sounds of screaming and whinnies were echoing along its length.


    ¡°No!¡± Verne¡¯s skin prickled cold. ¡°Xenon!¡±


    ¡°Stay back!¡± Judd grabbed Verne and yanked him back as Xenon was driven into the cave, teeth barred and seething at his captors, one of whom was bleeding green from several wounds and the other had its horn broken off. Despite Xenon¡¯s fury and might, he couldn¡¯t match two unicorns who ganged up on him, driving him further and further down.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne was desperate, ¡°they¡¯re going to make him a unicorn!¡±


    ¡°I know¡­I know¡­¡± Judd pushed his hands through his hair. ¡°It¡¯s not enough to simply rescue Xenon. With this place operating in the north, beyond the wall¡­we have to destroy it.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea.¡± Judd admitted and they both flinched at Xenon¡¯s scream.


    Verne stepped out of the nook. ¡°What if I hit that big eye with an arrow?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s enough to kill it.¡± Judd frowned. ¡°Is it¡­weeping?¡±


    The big eye closed tightly, a line of liquid forming along the seam where the lids met. It pooled together, trickling along to the corner where it joined a small stream that dribbled down the decline, past their location and out through the tunnel.


    ¡°Taint?¡± Judd whispered. ¡°It¡¯s crying¡­taint?¡±


    Verne shook his head. ¡°Emeri said that taint was very likely a by product of the mountain of Maul when it churns out monsters¡­and it stinks because it¡¯s got something to do with the volcano.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no volcano here.¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°No, but the rivers of lava do run through this mountain range. They run past Fort Omra and heat the mountain lake¡­¡± Verne¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh! Oh!¡± He grabbed Judd. ¡°I know how to destroy this place!¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Taint is flammable!¡± Verne pointed at the opalescent trickle at their feet. ¡°Set it alight and it¡¯ll burn this place out.¡±


    Judd was going to argue when they heard Xenon whinny, his furious but defeated cry echoing across the cave.


    ¡°Arrow.¡± He ordered Verne who thrust one at him. ¡°Get ready to run!¡±


    ¡°Ready.¡±


    Judd knelt and using the metal arrowhead against his sword, scraped sparks into life. He wasn¡¯t sure it would work. Surely water couldn¡¯t burn¡­


    ¡­yet apparently, taint could. It flared into a blue green flame and flew out both ways, following the line of taint, one out of the cave and the other, tearing up the incline, up the wall, ripping across the eyeball. It trembled and shuddered, its pupil turning into a tiny sliver. Though it had no voice, Judd could hear its roar of rage.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    They bolted to the incline, the unicorns already galloping up it, one with its head lowered, its horn heading straight for Judd. Verne fired into its ankle and it tumbled over into the alight taint, the second dehorned unicorn tripping over the body of its comrade and they became a tangle of broken legs, their teeth still snapping and biting at them.


    ¡°Go, go!¡± Judd bellowed and they leapt past the unicorns who were now on fire, their bodies caught in the blaze. The flames were chewing through the eyeball in the ceiling, streaking down the stalagmites and stalactites, ripping across the bubbles where the bodies of the horses lay. One exploded and Judd and Verne were thrown sideways, scraping at the contents that had been sprayed all over them. Judd turned back and saw the limp lifeless body of the horse on the ground. He whispered an apology to it as more and more of the bubbles exploded, the entire cave on fire and turning into an oven.


    ¡°Judd, come on!¡± Verne cried, having mounted Xenon who had torn up the incline as fast as his powerful legs could propel him. Judd grabbed Verne¡¯s hand and was hauled up as best he could, Xenon already galloping along the tunnel, dodging the streak of fire as the taint stream burned. Xenon leapt from side to side, keeping as far from it as possible. Judd and Verne¡¯s only job was to hang on for dear life as the stallion burst out of the cave, the flammable taint still burning but now there was so much more room to avoid it.


    Xenon continued to run, slowing to a canter, his chest huffing frantically. Judd could feel the tension in him, the adrenalin streaking through his veins.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of this gully.¡± He said and Verne nodded, urging Xenon to keep moving.


    ¡°This is where we saw the horses before!¡±


    ¡°The nomads might have already killed the unicorns and reclaimed the horses. We keep following the gully!¡±


    They travelled along it as the sides became lower and then shallow until they emerged from the gully onto the steppelands where the landscape was bathed in broken moonlight.


    ¡°Judd, look.¡± Verne pointed to where they¡¯d come from.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to see what Verne was pointing at. There was a bright light from the cave entrance at the far end of the gully. There wasn¡¯t any smoke but it glowed more brightly than the moon¡¯s weak light.


    ¡°That should do it.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Brilliant Verne, just brilliant.¡± Verne sighed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get to kill that centaur¡­or at least give it my pointed regards.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure the nomads made it pay for its actions.¡± Judd twisted. ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°I think they¡¯re nearby.¡± Verne paused. ¡°I can hear one of them talking.¡± He frowned. ¡°What¡¯s veshelt havak?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±


    Xenon reared, throwing Judd off with the unexpecting motion, his body tumbling into a bush. Verne clung on for dear life, a large sword coming down where they had been only a split second before Xenon had reared. The centaur bellowed and reared, forelegs flailing about and Xenon leapt into a gallop, out of the path of the centaur¡¯s deadly weapon. Judd yanked himself free of the bush and clambered to the top of a rise. The centaur was chasing Verne on Xenon across the steppelands. The mash up of man and horse had sheathed its sword and drew forth its bow. Several arrows came alarmingly close to hitting both Verne and Xenon.


    ¡°Verne!¡± Judd cried as loudly as he could. ¡°The gully!¡±


    Whether or not Verne heard or the quick thinking archer had the same idea, Xenon immediately twisted out of the path of the centaur and galloped towards the gully, flinging stones with his large hooves. Judd ran along the gully until the sides were at head height. The centaur swore in ancient Terra and thundered after Verne and Xenon. The archer and the stallion passed Judd, the centaur close behind. Judd didn¡¯t give himself a chance to doubt, sprinting along the edge and flinging himself onto the centaur¡¯s back.


    Instantly the man swatted and batted at him but it was impossible for him to reach Judd effectively from behind. Judd ducked the man¡¯s blinded blows, scattering his arrows and throwing his sword from its sheath. Realising he¡¯d been disarmed, the centaur went frantic, bucking and rearing, trying to fling Judd from his back. But Judd had endured days of Mavrish whipping him into shape and he was not about to let go to be trampled now. He grasped the centaur tightly around the waist even as he tried to unclench Judd¡¯s hands. Eventually he gave up trying to throw Judd off, galloping through the gully, kicking up stones and slate, swearing vilely. Judd didn¡¯t understand exactly what he was saying but the meaning was clear.


    ¡°You can curse me all you want,¡± Judd yelled, ¡°but I am not letting go!¡±


    He was dizzy, sick and his legs were weakening as the centaur galloped out of the gully onto the steppelands, throwing itself about. Judd might have been worried it would drop and roll, crushing him in the process but the centaur, because of the way it had been mashed together, couldn¡¯t do so. It would be a battle won by attrition and despite the memory of Mavrish, grunting ferociously at him to hold with his knees, Judd¡¯s strength was failing and the centaur was only becoming more and more enraged, dancing about on its rear legs, kicking and bucking, knocking Judd¡¯s head against his back.


    In one of the frantic, momentary glimpses Judd had of the world during a brief moment when he dared to open his eyes, he realised they had left the flat plains and were on the edge of a severe drop, a devastatingly dangerous decline of slippery slate fragments.


    ¡°Verne!¡± Judd yelled, praying the archer had followed them. ¡°Now!¡±


    Verne was glad that Xenon was not afraid of battle and had eagerly followed the centaur, Xenon¡¯s nostrils flaring and his ears bent back in savage determination. Verne caught sight of the centaur on the cusp of the, as good as, cliff, Judd still clinging onto him. He heard Judd cry his name, the drawstring already pulled tight and the arrow tip aimed at the centaur¡¯s chest. Judd flung himself from the back of the centaur, clearing all obstacles and Verne fired. The centaur, immediately sensing his unwelcomed visitor had finally let go, twisted into a rear then spasmed as Verne¡¯s arrow struck his chest. His silver eyes blazed and Verne felt rather than heard his vow of vengeance but didn¡¯t pause in sending another two arrows in the same direction, all striking the centaur. The man/horse teetered on its hind legs, one hoof slipping¡­then the beast fell from sight with a howl that became a scream before it ended abruptly.


    Verne dropped his arm and swung off Xenon, sprinting for the cusp of the ravine.


    ¡°Judd!¡± He yelled, the young man nowhere to be seen. ¡°Judd!¡±


    The body of the centaur was easy enough to see, crumpled at the bottom of the decline, the slate that had been caught in its violent fall gathered around it. Its legs were broken and it lay still.


    ¡°Judd!¡± Verne cried again, unable to see him.


    Judd heard his name being called and opened his eyes, double vision tormenting his already agitated stomach. He¡¯d hit the edge of the cliff when he¡¯d thrown himself clear of the centaur and the slate had slipped away beneath him, sliding him down to the bottom of the ravine, banging him about for good measure until he¡¯d come to a stop and felt the overwhelming blanket of unconsciousness wrap him in its embrace. He fought it, opening his eyes again and saw the body of a horse nearby, the back of a man also facing him. Though he was shaky and nauseated, Judd could see the man¡¯s chest was still moving, panting sharply as though in pain. Judd used his sword to force himself to his feet, his breastplate scratched from the rough landing and stumbled around to face the centaur. He lifted his sword up, ready to smite him according to the method of the knights of old¡­


    ¡­then paused.


    The centaur was holding onto something around his neck. His eyes were closed and his teeth barred, panting in hissing breaths through the pain. Something about it, the connection with his own pain and the monster¡¯s, stopped Judd from landing a killing blow. He fell to his knee, out of reach but still nearby, his mind returning to the terrible cave and its inhuman monster making factory.


    ¡°Who were you?¡± Judd whispered. ¡°Who were you before Maul did this to you?¡± Judd wiped the blood out of his eyes from a cut on his forehead.


    The centaur¡¯s eyes opened and instead of silver, they were grey and soft, in pain but intelligent.


    ¡°Danke.¡± The centaur said.


    ¡°Danke?¡± Judd asked.


    The centaur yanked on the cord around his neck, freeing what it was he¡¯d been clutching and held it out. Judd could hear Verne shouting his name, possibly to warn him but he inched close enough to offer his left hand, his right still on his sword. The centaur put the object into his palm, his fingers wrapped around Judd¡¯s.


    ¡°Raske danke.¡± He said with a sad yet relieved smile. Judd opened his mouth, not sure what he could say in reply as the centaur let his hand slip from Judd¡¯s, his eyes rolling into the back of his head and slumping onto the ground.


    Judd stared at him, his jaw trembling, his heart wrung out like a damp cloth. He heard his name called urgently over and over, the sound of slate scattering nearby and felt his shoulder grasped.


    ¡°Judd, can you hear me?¡± Verne forced him to meet his gaze. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Judd swallowed, his fingers curling around the centaur¡¯s gift. ¡°I¡­I¡¯ll live.¡±

 When they are ready to tell us, they will

    When the war party returned to the nomad campsite, everyone gathered at the gate, removing the barricade so that the triumph warriors could ride their mounts, bringing in as many of their horses that they could reclaim. Aalis darted about, trying to see through the lines of nomads who were welcoming home their fathers, brothers, husbands, sons and grandsons. She caught sight of Judd and Verne walking the stallion they had ridden into the campsite. She gasped and pushed through the crowd, ready to greet them¡­but when she saw the solemn expressions on their faces, she paused.


    Judd walked the stallion towards the grandmother of the young man who had fallen in the attack. She gazed at him with her weak blue eyes, a sad smile on her face.


    Judd paused in front of her, his straight spine and greater height causing him to tower over the little old lady bent with age. He dropped to his knees in front of her and spoke briefly, his soft words lost to the steppeland breeze. The grandmother touched his face with her fingers then took his hand and pressed it to her forehead. Aalis¡¯ throat closed over as Judd rose and handed the reins of the stallion to her.


    The old woman shook her head and pressed them back into his grasp. Judd tried to protest but she put her finger to her lips and patted his cheek before walking away. Judd turned and looked at Verne who shrugged weakly. Their countenance and even their very posture was so different to the rest of the nomads. The nomads had returned triumphant but Judd and Verne looked troubled and weary. Judd caught sight of Aalis and wandered over to her.


    ¡°How is Suvau?¡±


    ¡°Recovering well.¡± She nodded then opened her mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± He said before she could ask. ¡°So is Verne.¡±


    ¡°You look so tired.¡± Aalis admitted, thinking it was not just physical weariness but an exhaustion of soul that seemed to exude from the both of them. ¡°I will make you something to eat.¡±


    ¡°While you¡¯re doing that¡­I need my cleric.¡± Judd glanced around then saw him standing nearby. ¡°Caste¡­I need¡­there are things we saw that need to be known.¡±


    Caste nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare my quills and ink.¡±


    ¡°You can have the tent to yourselves.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°Just let us know when you are ready for company.¡±


    Judd nodded, his hand heavy on her shoulder before he walked towards the tent. Giordi came forward and took the reins of the stallion. He watched Judd and Verne go into the tent then turned to Aalis.


    ¡°Any idea what happened?¡±


    ¡°None.¡± Aalis sighed. ¡°When they are ready to tell us, they will.¡±


    Caste lifted his quill from his book, tipping a little of the setting powder on the ink and huffing it off. He looked expectantly at Judd and Verne who sat in front of him. They held bowls of half eaten stew, each having taken turns in relaying what they had seen and what they had done.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Caste asked after the silence had become long and strained.


    ¡°That¡¯s all about the cave and the unicorn¡­factory.¡± Verne shuddered. ¡°I hope¡­I hope the nightmares recede.¡±


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°Trapped in one of those bubbles¡­unable to get out¡­¡±


    Verne swallowed hard. ¡°It was so¡­have you heard anything like it before, Caste?¡±


    Caste frowned. ¡°No.¡±


    Judd and Verne stared at him, stunned. ¡°No?¡± Caste shook his head. ¡°Not¡­not once?¡±


    Caste shrugged. ¡°No, not once¡­at least, not from any account I¡¯ve ever read¡­and I¡¯ve read a lot of historical archives.¡± He paused. ¡°There were numerous accounts in Fort Omra that I did not get to read¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you think Emeri might know something?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. Apart from Fort Verion, Fort Omra is the closest settlement to the mount of Maul and might have recorded something like what you¡¯re telling me.¡±


    Verne looked at Judd. ¡°Perhaps we could do with some company?¡± Verne urged and Judd nodded. He stood up and felt to the tent flap, speaking with someone beyond it. He came back and picked up his bowl. ¡°Giordi is going to round everyone up.¡±


    They scraped their bowls clean before Aalis could arrive and give them stern looks for not eating all their supper. Suvau and Yolana entered as well, Suvau¡¯s arm in a sling but he insisted it was just for sympathy.


    ¡°A few more days and all that will remain is a half decent scar.¡±


    Aalis raised her eyebrows at that but said nothing.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°So,¡± Giordi folded his arms, ¡°are you going to tell us what happened out there?¡±


    ¡°Maybe Caste could just read it.¡± Judd looked at the cleric. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I have the heart to go through it again.¡±


    Caste did so and the listeners were silent and rapt, absorbing every word he said. Aalis paled at the description of the cave. Yolana put her hand over her mouth, feeling ill. Giordi shook his head and sighed deeply, grief etched onto his handsome features.


    ¡°Those poor horses¡­¡± He said softly. ¡°I¡­always assumed that¡­the monsters were¡­just monsters. Not taken from our own lands and turned into¡­¡±


    ¡°I had my theories,¡± Emeri bit her bottom lip, ¡°but I hoped I was wrong.¡±


    Judd looked at Aalis, disturbed by the shadows that looked like bruises beneath her eyes. ¡°You knew, didn¡¯t you? When you mourned the orthros¡­not what it was but what it had been.¡±


    Aalis shook her head, her dreadlocks shifting like a waterfall. ¡°I only suspected¡­but when you look at the monsters of Maul, they are primarily beasts of this world cobbled together in terrible and painful ways.¡±


    ¡°A cockatrice is just a snake and a chicken.¡± Giordi surmised. ¡°Unicorns are horses and narwals.¡±


    ¡°Animals abducted from the north to forge those creatures¡­¡± Verne murmured.


    ¡°It raises a rather disturbing thought.¡± Judd swallowed. ¡°What of the werewolf? What of the centaur? Part human, part beast?¡± He turned to Emeri. ¡°Were there any accounts in Fort Omra of anything like this?¡±


    ¡°Not like the cave you saw,¡± Emeri pursed her lips, ¡°but there have been sightings of long tendrils, like what you described in the cave, snaking out from the chasms and clefts of rock to the south of the wall, grabbing the soldiers that fell¡­even though they must have been dead.¡±


    ¡°What did you make of that?¡±


    ¡°Cleric Severo thought it was just the mount of Maul grabbing snacks.¡± Emeri shuddered. ¡°But now I wonder¡­if those poor souls were being spliced with other creatures to create the human/beast monsters of Maul¡­¡±


    Judd pushed away his bowl. ¡°I wish I hadn¡¯t eaten.¡±


    ¡°Judd, what about what the centaur said?¡± Verne reminded him.


    ¡°He spoke?¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°He said ¡®raske danke¡¯.¡±


    Caste paused. ¡°Well¡­danke is obvious.¡±


    ¡°And to those without a higher education?¡± Judd asked with a slight bite.


    ¡°Thank you. Danke means thank you,¡± Caste shrugged, ¡°but as to ¡®raske¡¯¡­¡±


    ¡°It means, ¡®with all that I am¡¯,¡± Emeri said softly and Judd turned to her, ¡°it is deep gratitude¡­even to the point of owing a life debt.¡±


    Judd looked at Verne, confused. ¡°He¡­thanked me? For killing him?¡±


    ¡°What about the gift?¡±


    ¡°Gift?¡± Caste sat up. ¡°What gift?¡±


    ¡°This.¡± Judd drew the pendant out of his pocket. ¡°The centaur gave it to me before he died.¡± Judd pulled on the leather tie and began to unravel the binding until a rich red cylinder tumbled out onto the rug, gleaming softly in the light.


    Everyone leaned forward, Caste eyeing it suspiciously. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Not sure¡­but I¡¯ve seen its like before.¡± Judd dug around in his pack and found the sapphire cylinder and laid it next to the red one. ¡°I took this from the werewolf in Quarre.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re touching it with your hands!¡± Caste was horrified.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a gemstone.¡± Judd insisted but Caste was not convinced. ¡°Carved into this cylindrical shape¡­¡±


    ¡°But by no means that I can fathom,¡± Suvau spoke for the first time, his good arm around Yolana, ¡°there are no groove marks of tools and no gem forms in so unnatural a state.¡±


    ¡°Ever seen anything like this?¡± Judd asked Caste.


    ¡°Never.¡± Caste turned to Emeri. ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She didn¡¯t take her eyes off them. ¡°They¡¯re so lovely and simple¡­¡± She gingerly picked the sapphire one up even as Caste spluttered lightly in protest. ¡°On both the werewolf and the centaur?¡±


    Judd nodded.


    ¡°Both are monsters of Maul with very distinct human traits.¡± Verne pointed out. ¡°Could they have something to do with the transformation? Or control?¡±


    ¡°Seems strange that no other monster has them and there¡¯s been no record of them in either the Order¡¯s archives or Fort Omra¡¯s library.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget,¡± Giordi took the sapphire one from Emeri as she picked up the ruby cylinder, ¡°that the monsters wearing these were smarter. The werewolf entered into contract with Lord LeMewn and that centaur was organising the unicorns to round up more horses to be turned into more unicorns. They weren¡¯t mindless, human flesh aggressors like the cockatrice or the orthros or even that giant spider.¡±


    ¡°You think these cylinders had something to do¡­¡±


    Aalis listened with half an ear to Emeri¡¯s musings as she held her hand out for the sapphire cylinder. The moment its cool touch was felt on her hand, she was thrown headfirst into a memory¡­


    ¡°¡­never take this off, do you understand?¡± The woman speaking stepped back, coming into focus. She was fair like milk with white hair loose over her shoulders and lavender eyes. She was dressed in a tunic of the old world and lying across her breast on a silver chain was the star of Astaril.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Aalis almost felt herself say, gazing out of the eyes of the one the woman was speaking to.


    ¡°No matter what happens to your physical body, you will never die.¡±


    ¡°Truly, I will be immortal?¡±


    The woman shook her head, her white hair rippling in an almost unnatural manner, flowing like silk. ¡°Not immortal but eternal. As long as this remains intact, you will never die.¡±


    Whoever the woman was speaking to, whoever it was Aalis was in the body of, bowed, their vision blurring to face the ground before lifting again to focus on the woman.


    ¡°I am in your debt, Gairil Palaidin.¡±


    ¡°No, Sir Mavour,¡± she said firmly, ¡°it is I who owe you and all those who have fallen for all of this¡­is my fault.¡±


    ¡°Together, we will not let Terramaul fall.¡±


    ¡°¡­with controlling their human minds?¡±


    Aalis blinked and looked around, half expecting everyone to ask her how she was or what had happened but they were all looking at Emeri who had asked the question.


    ¡°It is just a theory.¡± Giordi shrugged, holding the ruby red cylinder to Aalis, still looking at Emeri.


    Aalis¡¯ hand recoiled, dropping the sapphire cylinder in her hand and allowing the red to fall to the rug.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± She gasped, half to everyone around her and half to the cylinders.


    Judd scooped them into his hand then saw her expression. ¡°Aalis¡­are you well?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± She licked her lips. ¡°I am well.¡±


    He frowned, unconvinced. ¡°You look as though you could use your own medicinal brew. Are you looking after yourself? Getting enough sleep?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not on both counts.¡± Emeri stated firmly then caught Aalis¡¯ eye. ¡°You have been running yourself ragged looking after the nomads and my father.¡±


    ¡°I had to do something¡­¡± Aalis could hear the words of Gairil Palaidin in her mind, claiming responsibility for the state of Terramaul.


    It didn¡¯t help that looking at the captured memory of the woman who had bestowed the strange gem upon Sir Mavour was like looking into a mirror.

 Fine…but if you’re discovered, I’ll disavow any prior knowledge

    With the recovery of most of the nomad¡¯s horses, the clan was ready to move within a day. Judd and his companions struggled to match the speed at which the nomads could disassemble their homes, turning the campsite into a barren patch of land surrounded by a palisade. Thankfully Quell and Zeke had avoided being turned into unicorns and were happy to be back with their Fort Bastil liberators. Despite their initial flight when the unicorns attacked, Judd suspected the formerly fort bound horses had been overwhelmed and dismayed at so much freedom. They gave no sign that they yearned to run free again, keeping close to Giordi and Verne even when not required. They might have hovered a little more closely to Judd also but Xenon¡¯s presence was a formidable one. The stallion was taller than the fort horses that looked little more than ponies in comparison. Xenon seemed to have bonded with Judd.


    ¡°Either that or he¡¯s just waiting for an opportune moment to buck me off.¡± Judd admitted to Verne who chuckled, buckling a pack onto Zeke. ¡°Think he¡¯ll let me load him up with a pack or two?¡±


    ¡°Only if you want to see how far he¡¯ll throw them.¡± Verne shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to ride him, Judd.¡±


    ¡°While you all walk?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s your stallion¡­and you need the practice.¡± Verne put his hands on his hips. ¡°Or are you avoiding Mavrish as much as you¡¯re avoiding a sore backside?¡±


    Judd grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s definitely a combination.¡±


    The nomads, Judd and his companions travelled west, leaving the eastern steppelands behind before dropping further south into the prairies that covered the land in front of Fort Mavour and Fort Verion. The giant forts and enormous wall were mere specks on the horizon, only visible on a clear day at the top of a rise but they were enough of a warning that they were heading further south, into land that had never been settled permanently. Not even the hardy shepherds they¡¯d run into weeks and weeks earlier would dare venture so far south. The only ones willing to reside in the prairie expanse where there was no fortification or wall apart from the sharpened tree trunks of a palisade fence, were nomads.


    And while the eastern nomads who had taken Judd and his companions into their company so warmly after Aalis had been instrumental in healing Chief Bear¡¯s son, were weather beaten and tough, the western nomads were downright stoic and grim.


    At the gate that would lead them through the palisade into the campsite, Judd watched as Chief Bear spoke sternly with the gate keepers then gestured for Judd to come forward.


    Judd did so and stood next to Chief Bear, whose name was still out of his ability to pronounce, as he dealt gruffly with the nomadic guards. They eyed Judd with a great deal of suspicion. Judd wanted to shift away, sensing that he was somehow causing problems for the eastern nomad clan by simply being there but Chief Bear gave him a look that rooted him to the ground like a statue.


    Finally the guards, after conferring with someone inside, allowed the eastern nomads to enter. Judd stepped to the side and allowed Chief Bear to lead his people into the safety of the palisade, trusting that they would know where they were to set up their tents and what space they were allowed to use. This western palisade was not only twice as large as the one they¡¯d stayed in, in the east but the tree trunks were bigger and Judd saw that many of them were tipped with metal, possibly silver.


    ¡°This clan does not mess around when it comes to their fortifications¡­¡± He swallowed then gestured for the others in his party to ground around him. ¡°Let¡¯s let the professionals do what they do best. I¡¯d rather keep out of everyone¡¯s way and just take any space left.¡±


    ¡°What was the hold up at the gate?¡± Suvau asked. ¡°Was it the colour of my skin?¡±


    ¡°Actually I think anyone not a nomad is held under suspicion.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°I suspect Chief Bear had to vouch for us¡­which means we are to be on our best behaviour.¡±


    Giordi gave a small huff. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    ¡°You do have a reputation¡­¡± Verne said sharply.


    ¡°As far as I recall, I¡¯ve never been a guest of a nomadic clan before.¡± Giordi insisted then brightened. ¡°Have no fear, I will win these nomads over¡­¡±


    ¡°Giordi¡­¡±


    ¡°With music,¡± he finished pointedly, ¡°after all, one who does not appreciate music has no soul.¡±


    ¡°Why is everyone looking at me?¡± Caste demanded. ¡°I appreciate good music.¡±


    Before the tempers could descend into an argument, one of the eastern nomads jogged towards them and spoke briefly, pointing.


    ¡°We have been allocated a place to set up.¡± Emeri interjected. ¡°Perhaps we should save this debate for another time?¡±


    With help from the nomads, Judd and company were able to erect their tent, pegging it down and laying the floor with rugs, overlapping them so that the hard, barren ground was covered. Outside the tent, Suvau put his impressive muscles to work, hammering the pegs deep into the ground. Judd kept a look out for Aalis and Yolana who would probably tell Suvau off for overworking his arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks,¡± he had insisted, ¡°I need to start conditioning it again.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°Fine¡­but if you¡¯re discovered, I¡¯ll disavow any prior knowledge.¡±


    Suvau laughed and hammered the peg further into the ground.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Judd put his hand out onto one of the sharpened tree trunks that formed the palisade and took in the view beyond. Endless plains of grass, shifting constantly in the ever present breeze that only varied in its sharpness from icy to chilly. The hills rolled with gentle slopes and the grasses made it almost impossible to discern the top of one hill to the next. They all blended into a sea of grass with little to no cover.


    Judd whistled. ¡°It¡¯s so lonely out there¡­not a scrap of life¡­¡±


    ¡°So why the palisade?¡± Suvau asked, burying the tent peg so far into the ground Judd wondered if they would ever get it out again.


    ¡°That¡¯s what worries me.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°So far south¡­we saw just how big the monsters can get when Maul released that hydra¡­¡±


    ¡°There are two forts south of us,¡± Suvau put the hammer down, ¡°and the most fortified portion of the wall in between. Whatever gets through that¡­¡±


    ¡°Must either be sneaky or tough.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°Unless they¡¯re like that cave that made unicorns out of horses and narwals and are produced north of the wall.¡± He peered at the landscape. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to see where anything could be hiding. It all looks like one flat plain but I know just how treacherously valleys can hide beneath a shifting fa?ade.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d been this far south except for Fort Omra.¡± Suvau wiped his brow.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen it in the ocean,¡± Judd explained, ¡°big dips between waves, large enough to swallow entire boats¡­yet it looked just like that.¡±


    ¡°Judd?¡± Aalis appeared around the corner of the tent, Suvau tipping the hammer towards Judd who caught it. Aalis¡¯ eyes narrowed for a brief moment. ¡°Chief Bear is asking for you.¡±


    ¡°On our way.¡± Judd said, trying to lift the hammer over his shoulder and nearly falling backwards.


    Aalis rolled her eyes and walked off. Judd looked at Suvau who shook his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna hear about that later, aren¡¯t I?¡± He muttered.


    ¡°Better you than me.¡±


    ¡°Wait until she tells Yolana.¡±


    Suvau cringed. ¡°Ugh¡­¡±


    Chief Bear was studying their tent at the front. Judd wondered if their abode was up to nomad scratch. He knew they¡¯d taken twice as long as the eastern clan to erect it and hoped he wasn¡¯t embarrassing the stoic chief with their incompetence.


    Caste hovered near the chief, his bright red hair the source of much amusement by the nomads. He had to keep batting their hands away from it.


    ¡°You¡¯d think they¡¯d never seen a red head before.¡± He grouched.


    ¡°They¡¯re patting your head, not beheading you.¡± Judd reminded him, ¡°Chief Bear, you wanted to see us?¡±


    Chief Bear had become accustomed to the translation time and spoke to Judd after Caste had relayed what Judd had said. He grunted in his usual manner and Caste cleared his throat.


    ¡°Chief¡­Viskalt?¡± Chief Bear nodded. ¡°Chief Viskalt who is in charge of this clan deigns to meet you. It seems Chief Bear spoke of your deeds regarding the unicorn attack and wishes to make your acquaintance.¡±


    Judd saw Caste¡¯s pained expression. ¡°Caste?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­getting the impression that Chief Bear has gone out on a bit of a limb with Chief Viskalt¡­which means elk, by the way, in allowing us into his clan.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯d better not be tardy.¡± Judd straightened his tunic and pulled his cloak around his shoulders properly. ¡°Where¡¯s Verne?¡±


    ¡°Keeping an eye on Giordi,¡± Caste said none too pleasantly, ¡°it seems the minstrel¡¯s curly blond locks are equally as fascinating as mine.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like Verne to meet Chief Vis¡­vis¡­Chief Elk,¡± Judd muttered then straightened, ¡°we¡¯ll just have to trust that Giordi won¡¯t get into trouble.¡±


    They followed Chief Bear across the campsite towards the meeting hall. There was a large main bonfire in the middle of the camp, surrounded by stone pillars. Judd marvelled at the size of them, wondering how they could have been set in place, let along dragged from wherever they¡¯d been carved. The closest quarry was Quarre and Judd suspected the stone pillars had been arranged in the prairie long before Quarre had been settled. The stone pillars also trailed up the large natural steps towards the meeting house, each one an irregular shape yet cut from the same soft grey stone, their bases lightly covered in moss. Each of the pillars had holes cut through them, some round and some oval with symbols carved down their length. What story or laws they told Judd couldn¡¯t discern but he liked their elegant and timeless presence that would outlast all of them.


    It was a simple matter to work out where Verne would be as Giordi, as he was prone to do, had drawn a crowd near the main campfire. Verne was standing nearby, arms folded with an unimpressed expression on his face. He caught sight of Judd¡¯s wave and left his post, falling into step.


    ¡°That didn¡¯t take Giordi long.¡± Judd remarked.


    ¡°Blond curls seem to work better than actual merit or deeds.¡± Verne agreed bitterly.


    ¡°Not to mention flirting transcends language barriers.¡± To this Verne only huffed in agreement.


    They left Giordi behind to entertain his adorning fans, his lute already beginning to pluck out a melody and arrived at the meeting hall. Unlike Chief Bear¡¯s tent that could be disassembled and moved, Chief Elk¡¯s meeting hall was an actual structure with a floor of stone, pillars of bound tree trunks and an A-frame roof with a large hole in the middle of it, a woven chimney suspended from it over the fireplace. There were nomad guards at the front, each glaring at Judd and his companions but at a word from Chief Bear, they stood down and allowed them to pass through.


    Chief Elk awaited them.


    Judd was more than a little surprised by his appearance. Chief Bear was burly and barrel chested, wearing heavy black furs and had dark, glittering eyes. Chief Elk was tall, dressed in silver and grey, his eyes were grey as well but they did not glitter with life. They were stern and as cold as the breeze that caused the flames to flicker in the fireplace. Judd would never have described Chief Bear as friendly but compared to the steely demeanour of Chief Elk, Chief Bear was downright cuddly.


    They spoke briefly before Chief Bear gestured to Judd. Feeling the need to respect Chief Elk¡¯s position, Judd bowed deeply, hoping the others were following his cue. When he lifted himself up, he saw a faint glimmer of respect in Chief Elk¡¯s eyes¡­although it could possibly have been amusement.


    Given how grim Chief Elk was, Judd would take either response.


    Chief Bear continued to speak with Chief Elk listening.


    ¡°He¡¯s telling him about the unicorns, about the centaur and the cave.¡± Caste whispered as loudly as he dared.


    Judd and the others waited patiently for Chief Bear to finish the tale, however, it never happened. Chief Elk¡¯s attention was fractured when a young man arrived, similarly dressed to Chief Elk although without the grand adornments and so Judd guessed that he might be the chief¡¯s son. Chief Bear immediately paused as Elk gestured for his son to step forward, their shoulders touching as the young man relayed a message. Judd saw Chief Elk¡¯s eyes sharpen like no other gaze before. He could even leave Aalis¡¯ scathing glare in the dust by the way his countenance went from mirthless to downright deadly.


    Without a word to anyone, Chief Elk strode out of the meeting hall, his robes flowing behind him, edged with fur. Judd looked at Chief Bear who, for once, was unguardedly surprised.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°Your guess is as good as mine.¡± Caste protested. ¡°He didn¡¯t say, did he?¡±


    Curiosity drove them to the end of the meeting hall, trying to see where Chief Elk had gone. For a minute they couldn¡¯t make out anything for all the fleeing bodies of the female nomads who were scattering across the campsite. When the cloud of frightened young women dissipated, Judd saw Chief Elk striding towards them, his face as dark as thunder. Behind him, being dragged by Chief Elk¡¯s son and another nomad guard, was Giordi.

 The foolishness of my life finally caught up with me

    ¡°Wait,¡± Caste ordered sharply before Judd could say or do anything, ¡°just¡­wait.¡±


    Giordi was hauled into the meeting hall and thrown at the feet of Chief Elk who sat down on his throne, made from carved wood and elk antlers. Their twisted and pointed tips screamed danger while their resident sat silent, as kind and as welcoming as a block of ice.


    ¡°Not a word.¡± Caste reiterated, sensing Judd¡¯s urge to intervene.


    Chief Elk glowered at Giordi who looked up at him fearfully.


    ¡°Gavoli.¡± Giordi¡¯s ruddy good looks paled to parchment white and he swallowed. Elk leaned forward ever so slightly and Giordi recoiled. ¡°Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    His accent was thick and hard but there was no mistaking Giordi¡¯s name.


    Giordi didn¡¯t answer. He just lowered his head, bowing in acquiesce.


    Elk¡¯s son approached and Elk waved his hand at him. The son disappeared behind the throne into another area which Judd guessed were the chief¡¯s chambers. There was a long silence, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire. Judd glanced at Chief Bear whose expression was grim.


    Long moments later, Elk¡¯s son reappeared and stood to the side.


    A soft shuffling approached the throne from behind. A young woman, younger than Elk¡¯s son, possibly younger than Emeri even, stepped into view. Her pale grey eyes were downcast, her ashen brown hair braided back from her face, clutching a cloak around her body.


    ¡°Revna,¡± Chief Elk spoke softly yet coolly to the young woman, ¡°Giordi Gavoli¡­¡±


    Judd watched their interactions, the girl trembling mightily, locks of her ashen hair escaping her braid, falling forward from her hood to frame her face or perhaps, to hide behind.


    ¡°Caste,¡± he whispered, ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Caste licked his lips, frowning. ¡°He¡­he¡¯s saying¡­Giordi broke trust with the clan¡­when he was last here.¡±


    ¡°But Giordi said he¡¯d never been here before.¡± Verne said softly.


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine someone like Gavoli keeping an accurate account.¡± Caste muttered. ¡°Chief Elk¡­says¡­Giordi must be punished.¡±


    ¡°Like Maul¡­¡± Judd went to step forward but Chief Bear¡¯s outstretched arm stopped him. He looked at the heavy set chief who shook his head at Judd then moved forward himself. Chief Bear waited until there was a pause in the conversation before addressing Chief Elk.


    ¡°Bear is advocating on behalf of Giordi because of what you did for the clan¡­¡± Caste interpreted.


    ¡°Why is he advocating? What is he saying Giordi has done?¡± Judd hissed then huffed in frustration as Caste waved his hand at Judd to silence him, trying to concentrate.


    The chiefs¡¯ conversation was becoming a little heated. Well, Chief Bear was becoming heated while Chief Elk was rigid and hard. The young woman beside the throne cringed away from the argument, unable to look at Giordi on the floor.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°Giordi has crossed Chief Elk¡­Chief Bear has no say in the matter.¡± Caste explained as Elk snapped sharply at Chief Bear who closed his mouth and stepped back. ¡°Actually I think Bear might approve of Elk¡¯s actions¡­¡±


    ¡°What has Elk accused Giordi of?¡±


    The son of Chief Elk grasped Revna and pulled her forward, her hands slipping on her cloak, her bulging abdomen exposed beneath her silky tunic. The son then knelt and forced Giordi¡¯s eyes upwards to look at Revna, guilt and shame flashing across both of their expressions. Giordi¡¯s face dropped and Revna pulled out of her brother¡¯s grasp, hastily covering herself back up.


    ¡°It seems our minstrel¡¯s ¡®flirtations¡¯ have not been so innocent.¡± Caste flinched at Chief Elk¡¯s hard tone. Judd saw the conflict on the cleric¡¯s face.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡­he¡­¡± Caste cringed and shook his head.


    ¡°What is he saying, Caste?¡± Verne insisted as Chief Elk spoke so sharply, they were surprised Giordi was not cut into ribbons.


    Caste closed his eyes and concentrated. ¡°He¡¯s giving Giordi the option of marrying the girl or being whipped.¡±


    ¡°Marry?¡± Verne looked at Giordi who remained kneeling with his face down. ¡°But¡­¡±


    Chief Elk suddenly took a dislike to the amount of observers in the meeting hall. He waved his hand and the guards began to drive them out. Judd, Suvau, Verne and Caste stood in view of the meeting hall but far enough away that the guards did not take umbrage to their position. Chief Bear returned to his people, probably to warn them about Giordi¡¯s reputation and Judd cringed, knowing that Bear had vouched for his companions.


    ¡°This is¡­¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Caste folded his arms, ¡°do not say it¡¯s ridiculous or unbelievable or unthinkable. We all know Gavoli¡¯s disposition. You can¡¯t bed every girl wherever you go and not have the consequences of the actions eventually catch up with you.¡±


    ¡°I know he¡¯s popular with the ladies,¡± Suvau shook his head, ¡°and I have not been travelling with you for that long¡­but Giordi never struck me as one who would seduce a girl just to sleep with her.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not acted like a monk, that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    Judd was surprised by Caste¡¯s venom. ¡°What is it? What did we miss in there? Out with it, Caste.¡± Caste flinched. ¡°You heard something more than what you relayed. What is it?¡±


    Caste clutched at the edge of his cappa clausa. ¡°I¡­I got the impression from the son¡­it seems that the girl, Revna¡­might have been¡­forced.¡±


    Verne¡¯s expression was horrified. ¡°No¡­he couldn¡¯t. He wouldn¡¯t. I know Giordi¡¯s a downright flirt but that¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t accuse me,¡± Caste stepped back, ¡°I¡¯m just relaying what I heard¡­what I think I heard¡­¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, how could Elk possibly allow Giordi to wed his daughter?¡±


    ¡°Maybe the son knew something the father did not?¡±


    ¡°Revna was trembling like she was frightened.¡±


    ¡°If Elk was your father, you¡¯d be frightened too.¡±


    Judd held his hand up for their agitated chatter to diminish. ¡°We wait¡­and talk to Giordi¡­and hear his side of things.¡±


    ¡°What side?¡± Caste exclaimed then recoiled from Judd¡¯s expression.


    ¡°We wait,¡± Judd eyed him darkly, ¡°and hear his side.¡±


    Caste bit back his protestations. Verne offered to stand watch while Judd and the others returned to their tent, letting Yolana, Aalis and Emeri know what had happened.


    ¡°I cannot believe it.¡± Aalis said weakly. ¡°That Giordi¡­¡±


    ¡°I cannot believe Revna would have to wed someone like that.¡± Emeri¡¯s tone was pained. Yolana put her hand on her shoulder. ¡°That poor girl¡­¡±


    Supper was eaten in silence. No one could think or speak about anything other than their incarcerated comrade and as the topic only went round and round in circles, they let it drop entirely, a silent agreement not to say what any of them were thinking.


    As they were preparing their beds for the night, the flap in the tent opened.


    ¡°Guards are bringing Giordi to us.¡± Verne announced. Everyone stood up in expectation. Verne held the flap open and let Giordi into the tent before dropping it back into place.


    Giordi stood in front of them all, staring at the floor. He was not bruised or battered. It seemed Chief Elk had been restrained enough not to beat the daylights out of him.


    No one knew what to say.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Giordi cleared his throat. ¡°It seems I won¡¯t be able to follow you to the end of your knighthood quest after all, Judd. My journey ends here.¡±


    ¡°With marriage.¡± Giordi swallowed. Judd folded his arms. ¡°Gavoli¡­what is going on?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? The foolishness of my life finally caught up with me.¡±

 Seriously…hate me a little…

    Judd¡¯s jaw was tight. He wanted to tear strips off the minstrel for dragging himself and his companions into the grimy light of Giordi¡¯s conduct, staining Chief Bear who had vouched so strongly for them. He was so angry that he couldn¡¯t begin to fathom where to start without exploding into fury.


    ¡°Giordi,¡± Aalis¡¯ voice was soft and calm, ¡°when we arrived, you said you had never been here before¡­were you lying?¡±


    Giordi¡¯s shoulders bowed. ¡°What does it matter?¡±


    ¡°It matters to us.¡± Aalis insisted.


    ¡°I should have said, why would you believe me?¡± Giordi closed his eyes, all confidence and charm gone as he stood before them like a beaten prisoner.


    ¡°We are prepared to listen to your side.¡± Judd ground out from between his teeth. ¡°You owe us that much.¡±


    Giordi sighed and nodded, sinking to the rugs. The others did the same, their eyes never leaving him.


    ¡°As I have said before, I left home with my uncle¡¯s lute, a handful of songs in my repertoire and a hole in my pocket. I had such dreams that I would become a celebrated minstrel and for a while I did quite well¡­at least, I thought I did well. I travelled about the north of Terra with vague success but was told that it was to the south that true fortune and acclaim was just waiting for a talented minstrel like myself.¡± Giordi gave a half, sad smile. ¡°I should have realised there was as much truth in that statement as there is in the lyrics to my songs.¡±


    He swallowed. ¡°I became so poor and desperate I knew all the pigsties in the town I found myself adrift in, not far from where we caught the ferry to Keenstone Isle. I¡¯d eat whatever I could stomach from the troughs before the pigs could get at it.¡± He shook his head. ¡°One pigsty¡­the owners caught me stuffing my face. I thought they¡¯d throw rocks at me but they took sympathy on my pathetic state and gave me a job. Nothing illustrious. Just cleaning tables, washing dishes¡­playing my lute when I had a rare break in my chores. Lots of travellers passed this tavern on the main road from the south to the north, all the way to Astaril.


    One traveller, accompanied by a score of soldiers, stopped at the tavern and heard me play. He started talking to me, praising my talents and saying he wished he was as clever as I.¡± Giordi closed his eyes. ¡°We traded songs and stories¡­he was the son of a knight, being sent to Astaril to live with his uncle. Apparently his father did not approve of him.¡± Giordi huffed. ¡°I was too willing to see him as the misunderstood son of a cruel parent than the spoiled brat he was. He begged to learn how to play the lute and even offered for me to travel with him in order to do so. The tavern owners warned me to steer clear but of course, I knew better. We travelled in a carriage, talking, laughing¡­and outside of Astaril, he made me an offer¡­¡±


    Giordi stopped talking, his shoulders bent with the weight of the memory.


    ¡°What was the offer, Giordi?¡± Suvau urged in his deep way.


    ¡°To swap places with him. To look at us, we weren¡¯t dissimilar which was probably why he honed in on me in the first place. To a distant uncle, someone he¡¯d never met before in a city where he was known only by name, I was perfect. I would become Haern and he would be Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    ¡°And you agreed?¡± Caste was horrified.


    ¡°I welcomed it.¡± Giordi admitted. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see past a warm bed and a full belly. He taught me all the essentials of being him and I had shown him how to play the lute. So we traded lives and I went to live with Bancroft in Astaril, a distant and disapproving uncle who was determined to refine his wild nephew and Haern left under the guise of being Giordi Gavoli.¡±Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    He cringed in the silence, feeling their disapproving and judgemental glares.


    ¡°Bancroft wasn¡¯t a bad sort and I was so determined not to make waves and expose myself that I deeply impressed him with my behaviour and attention to my studies. And once I got over my initial terror of being discovered, I loved every minute of it. The fine clothes, the good food¡­the manners, the comportment...I began to think maybe I could stay in that life forever,¡± Giordi shook his head, ¡°but about six months after we switched places, Haern turned up in the middle of the night. Without a word of explanation he tossed me out of the house with my lute and when I tried to return, I found there were guards in place who had been given specific orders not only to keep me away, but to drive me out of Astaril. Goodness knows how he explained it all to his uncle. It might have all been fudged over to attempt to save face. I honestly don¡¯t know. That life was cut off from me. So I left, confused and betrayed. I still had my lute so I decided, after feeling sorry for myself, that I would do as I originally intended and be a minstrel¡­however, as I travelled throughout Terra, I began to realise just how foolish I had been.¡± Giordi licked his lips. ¡°It seems that Haern had not wasted a single second. From the moment he left me, he began to bed every willing female, using the guise as a minstrel to move from town to town when the attention began to sour. All over Terra, he used the name of Giordi Gavoli to seduce and purposefully deflower young women¡­¡±


    Giordi¡¯s heart was very heavy in his chest. He had steeled himself away from receiving any kind of sympathy or kindness. He did not deserve it. He probably wouldn¡¯t receive it if it was given.


    ¡°The truth is¡­I¡¯ve been waiting for something like this to happen¡­a reckoning of my foolish choice and his reckless and vile behaviour. I never imagined even with all of his charm, that Haern would have wormed his way into the graces of these nomads. Strangely enough, I thought I¡¯d be safe here from the repercussions of his actions¡­yet it seems that here I will stay forever.¡±


    How he hated himself. Every word, every truth¡­the foolishness of his existence laid bare before those he claimed to be friends. All for a hot meal and a warm bed¡­truly, he was as shallow as he was foolish.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Giordi looked up timidly at Yolana, ¡°this young woman, Revna¡­surely she must realise you are not the same man.¡±


    ¡°I think Haern¡¯s usual ¡®tricks¡¯ did not work with Revna¡­he may well have forced himself upon her as I suspect I am being accused of.¡± Giordi shuddered.


    ¡°Still,¡± Suvau argued, ¡°she must know.¡±


    ¡°If she does, she has not said.¡± Giordi looked at Judd who was staring at the ground, his brow in a deep furrow. ¡°Say something Judd¡­please¡­anything. I don¡¯t care if you condemn me or berate me or throw me out¡­could you just say something?¡±


    Judd stood up, hands into fists and turned his back. Giordi closed his eyes, feeling the sting of being disowned.


    ¡°Haern¡­¡± Caste said softly. ¡°Bancroft¡­the son of a knight¡­¡±


    ¡°Egrette¡¯s son.¡± Judd tilted his head back, speaking for the first time. ¡°Sir Egrette asked me to visit his wayward son if I ever found myself back in Astaril¡­¡± He turned to Giordi who eyed Judd fearfully. ¡°That¡­bastard that joked about not knowing where to put Aalis, in the kitchen or the bedroom, raised a son just like him¡­who did this¡­¡±


    ¡°No Judd,¡± Giordi stood up, rapping his fist on his chest, ¡°I did this. This¡­is my fault. If I hadn¡¯t given Haern my name, my occupation¡­he would have been under his uncle¡¯s thumb in Astaril. I didn¡¯t sleep with Revna¡­but I am responsible for her condition.¡± He closed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s time I paid my dues.¡±


    ¡°So¡­that¡¯s it?¡± Verne argued. ¡°That¡¯s¡­you¡¯re just going to stay here, forever?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the deal.¡±


    ¡°That or being punished according to this clan¡¯s nomadic law.¡± Caste added.


    Giordi paled. ¡°I¡­I really¡­don¡¯t like¡­pain.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to get married because you¡¯re a coward? Making another bad decision to cover the first bad decision?¡±


    ¡°Verne!¡± Judd barked and Verne clamped his lips shut. Judd breathed in and out slowly. ¡°Giordi,¡± he said quietly, ¡°if you choose to do this¡­we¡¯ll support you.¡±


    Giordi¡¯s jaw quivered. He turned aside. ¡°I think I¡¯d prefer for you to hate me¡­it¡¯d make it so much easier when you leave me behind.¡± Tears trickled down his face when Judd clapped a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Seriously¡­hate me a little¡­¡±

 Oddly enough, your disapproval is somewhat reassuring

    Giordi was permitted to sleep in the tent with the others that night, nomad guards keeping watching outside all night long. In the morning he was summoned to the meeting hall. He begged for Caste to come with him as interpreter.


    ¡°I know I¡¯ll learn the language eventually but I¡¯d like to avoid insulting my father in law to be.¡± Giordi said lightly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how you can joke when the situation is so serious.¡± Caste grumbled, following him across the frost covered ground to the meeting hall.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t laugh, I¡¯d weep¡­and feeling sorry for myself got me into this situation in the first place.¡± Giordi remarked. ¡°It¡¯s time I started making better decisions.¡±


    ¡°Marrying a complete stranger for someone else¡¯s crime is a better decision?¡± Caste demanded.


    ¡°If I marry Revna, then at least, in some way, I¡¯ll be doing something good. Her child will have a father,¡± Giordi shook his head, ¡°and I vow to raise it better than the man who begat it.¡±


    Caste clucked his tongue. ¡°I still think this reeks of yet another bad decision.¡±


    ¡°Oddly enough, your disapproval is somewhat reassuring.¡± Giordi chuckled then sobered up, seeing the guards glare at him. ¡°Shall we?¡±


    Judd sharpened his sword as Verne paced endlessly in front of the tent. He tried not to be irritated by it but eventually he snapped, ¡°would you stop?¡±


    ¡°Stop what?¡± Verne demanded.


    ¡°Pacing.¡±


    Verne huffed and sat down near Judd. He lasted about two minutes before he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to fire some arrows.¡±


    ¡°Into what?¡±


    ¡°Whatever annoys me the most.¡± Verne said darkly, storming off.


    Judd rolled his eyes and went back to sharpening his sword.


    ¡°You might want to spend more time getting your best clothes ready.¡± Judd looked up at Caste whose red hair was vibrant against the cool blue sky. ¡°You¡¯ve got a wedding to attend.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am aware.¡± Caste¡¯s shadow didn¡¯t shift from him. Judd frowned and met Caste¡¯s gaze. ¡°What don¡¯t I know?¡±


    ¡°The wedding is today.¡±


    Judd jolted and stood up, his sword falling to the ground. ¡°Today?¡± Caste nodded. ¡°As in today, today?¡± He nodded again. ¡°But¡­that¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°If you say insane, I will point out that from the very first step on this impossible and ridiculous journey, insane has been the theme.¡± Caste warned sharply.


    Judd could hardly say anything to refute that. There were times he agreed with the critical cleric that insane was the perfect way to describe the situations they found themselves in.


    ¡°Does it seem hasty? I mean, I don¡¯t know much about nomads and their way of life¡­but it seems¡­hasty.¡±


    ¡°Given how far along Revna is towards having her baby, haste is the only option.¡±


    Judd studied Caste¡¯s expression, curious. ¡°What¡¯s your opinion on the matter?¡±


    Caste shrugged. ¡°Why would you care?¡±


    ¡°I asked, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Caste folded his arms. ¡°You can¡¯t live his lifestyle and not have it come back to haunt you. Jilted females and angry fathers make for powerful ghosts. Quite frankly, he¡¯s getting out of it easily enough.¡±


    ¡°Easily enough?¡± Judd exclaimed. ¡°He¡¯s marrying a girl he doesn¡¯t even know and will spend the rest of his life as a nomad amongst a people whose language he can¡¯t even understand! How is that easy enough?¡±


    ¡°Given the alternative¡­¡±


    ¡°Being whipped would be highly unpleasant but¡­¡± Judd saw Caste shake his head. ¡°It¡¯s not a whipping?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not just a whipping.¡± Caste leaned down. ¡°I had a word with Chief Bear before coming here. Do you recall that post outside the palisade?¡±


    Judd frowned. ¡°I remember thinking it was odd, a single post sitting out in the middle of the plains.¡±


    It had been impossible not to see the lone post, buried deep into a flat portion of the prairie with a metal ring fixed to the top. Judd figured it was a place to tether horses and hadn¡¯t thought any more about it.


    ¡°That¡¯s where the condemned are sent to spend a single night.¡± Caste explained. ¡°They are whipped until they reek of blood then they¡¯re taken to the post and shackled to it.¡±


    Judd stared at him. ¡°But there are monsters out there¡­¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°And if the nomad survives the night he or she is welcomed back into the clan with no recriminations for their transgression.¡± Caste paused. ¡°It bears a striking resemblance to Lord LeMewn¡¯s punishment policy.¡±


    ¡°I rather doubt Chief Elk has a werewolf in his pocket or any other monster for that matter.¡±


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t need to, not this close to the wall.¡± Caste nodded. ¡°So, faced with becoming a monster¡¯s next meal or marrying any girl, regardless whether or not you know her¡­¡±


    ¡°I see your point.¡± Judd sighed and stood up. ¡°I¡¯d better get ready then.¡± He paused at the entrance to the tent. ¡°I¡¯ll be sad not to have Giordi with us. I suppose you¡¯re inwardly rejoicing.¡±


    ¡°I may not approve of the minstrel and we certainly have differences of opinions, lifestyle and manners in which to engage the opposite sex,¡± Caste said sternly, ¡°but I would never have wished that punishment on him¡­and I feel that this option is, as he said, his way of paying his dues.¡±


    Judd turned to Caste. ¡°In all of this¡­has anyone asked the young woman, Revna, if this is what she wants?¡±


    Caste shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve not seen her since Giordi was accused.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to wonder,¡± Caste raised an eyebrow as Judd frowned, ¡°as similar as Haern and Giordi must have looked, surely Revna would know the difference. Others could be persuaded to have forgotten but Revna? And if that¡¯s the case, why is she allowing her father to force Giordi to marry her?¡±


    Caste shook his head. ¡°Your guess is as good as mine.¡±


    Giordi had been handed clothing and left to dress. He was alone in a tent yet he knew that there were guards outside and on all four sides. Chief Elk was taking no chances. Giordi suspected that the guards were not only there to keep him in but to keep others out who might exact vengeance. Revna¡¯s brother¡¯s eyes were as cold as his father¡¯s and his name, Sten, sounded like stone and that was appropriate as well. Giordi dressed as well as he could in the unfamiliar clothing. Without a looking glass, he could only guess when he had everything on correctly.


    ¡°Caste,¡± he muttered, ¡°where are you?¡±


    He had sent the cleric to his tent to retrieve some of his belongings but now he wished Caste was there to tell him how ridiculous he looked.


    ¡°From silks and flocked velvet, crystal goblets and Astaril¡¯s finest gourmet offerings¡­to nomadic furs, drinking horns and half raw meat¡­¡± Giordi shook his head. ¡°Still¡­if I just knew I was wearing this correctly¡­Caste, is that you?¡±


    The tent opened the most minimum crack and a body slid through, closing it hastily behind them. Giordi stared at his visitor, unfamiliar to him until they pushed back their hood and looked at him with wide, pale grey eyes.


    ¡°Revna?¡±


    She clutched at her cloak as she timidly approached, glancing at him fearfully as though afraid to meet his gaze. Giordi remained completely still, hands by his side, a thousand thoughts running through his mind. How should he act in the presence of someone who thought he¡¯d raped her? Should he act ashamed or arrogant? Was his natural reaction of guilt appropriate or should he convey confidence and calm even as his hands desperately wanted to wring his tunic into a creased, crushed display.


    Revna¡¯s gaze finally held fast, her fear diminishing slightly. She closed her eyes and looked away.


    ¡°You are not him.¡±


    Giordi blinked, as stunned by her words as he was by the enormity of her confession.


    ¡°You¡­know?¡± She nodded. Giordi nearly doubled over in relief. ¡°You know¡­it wasn¡¯t me! Oh!¡± He pushed his hands through his golden curls and laughed. ¡°You know!¡± He realised he was joyfully exclaiming even as Revna appeared to be crumpling into despair. ¡°Sorry¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He gestured to the covered stumps that acted as chairs and Revna sat down, taking the weight of her swollen belly from her feet. ¡°If¡­if you know, you can tell your father¡­Revna, we can go to him together and tell him¡­¡± Giordi stopped as tears streamed down her face. ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    She continued to sob, her thin shoulders bent beneath the weight of her grief.


    ¡°Patras¡­my father¡­I told him¡­Giordi Gavoli¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know,¡± Giordi assured her, ¡°you told him that Giordi Gavoli forced you¡­¡± Revna put her hands over her face and wept. Giordi stared at her bowed head, revelation dawning. ¡°But he didn¡¯t¡­did he?¡± She couldn¡¯t speak. She could only shake her head. ¡°Why did you tell him¡­¡±


    ¡°Patras¡­so strict¡­so cold,¡± Revna licked her lips and looked up, her eyes rimmed with red, the pale grey of her irises shimmering, ¡°if he know¡­that I¡­¡±


    ¡°That you gave yourself willingly¡­you would be punished.¡± Giordi breathed.


    ¡°He would beat me for defying him.¡± Revna closed her eyes. ¡°I did not listen. I thought he was cruel¡­and Giordi said he take me away¡­¡±


    ¡°But after he got what he wanted¡­he ran off and left you.¡± Revna nodded. ¡°You blamed Giordi entirely, to save yourself from your father¡¯s wrath¡­thinking you would never hear my name again.¡±


    ¡°Why you here?¡± Revna begged. ¡°Why you come? Patras¡­¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m not the one.¡± Giordi stood up and began to pace. ¡°But¡­but if we go to him together and tell him¡­if we explain¡­¡±


    Revna threw herself at his feet. ¡°Please¡­he will whip me for my lies!¡±


    Giordi gazed at her, wrestling with the slim crack of freedom he had been offered with the announcement that he was not the man who had forced Chief Elk¡¯s daughter. He could escape this nomadic prison of a life with a woman he only knew the name of, becoming a father within a matter of weeks¡­


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t want this life¡­¡± He admitted then cringed at how selfish his words sounded when, at his feet, was a young woman who would wear the consequences of, not just Haern¡¯s actions but his own for the rest of her life. Revna said nothing, weeping onto his fur lined boots, her tears marking the soft leather as she knelt, one arm cradling her belly and unborn child, the other reaching out to hover above Giordi¡¯s boot, unwilling to touch it as if she didn¡¯t dare.


    Giordi closed his eyes and sighed deeply. He wasn¡¯t noble or brave or even very clever if he was brutally honest with himself. His good looks and marginal musical ability had gotten him out of trouble as easily as it had gotten him into it and he had traded on that ability for a long time.


    Perhaps it was time he grew up?


    He took Revna¡¯s quivering hand and helped her to rise, her face tear stained and frightened. Giordi brushed her cheeks clear of her tears, tucking strands of her ashen hair back from her face.


    ¡°Revna¡­will you marry me?¡±


    She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze and Giordi nearly sobbed at the unguarded glimmer of hope that sparked in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡­owe nothing¡­¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who did this to you,¡± Giordi¡¯s hand stroked the air above Revna¡¯s belly, ¡°but I am responsible.¡± She stared at him, still uncertain and unwilling to cling onto the possibility that she might be saved. ¡°I would like to look after you and this precious babe.¡±


    ¡°You¡­stay here?¡±


    Giordi nodded. ¡°I stay here.¡±


    Revna clutched at his hands, kissing the tops of them. Giordi¡¯s heart melted with compassion as she dotted his fingers with her tears of gratitude which, only moments before, were tears of fear.


    ¡°Giordi, I couldn¡¯t find your¡­uh¡­¡± Caste held fast at the entrance to the tent. ¡°Am I interrupting?¡±


    Revna shook her head and darted away, fleeing the tent without a backwards glance. Caste looked at Giordi.


    ¡°Care to explain?¡±


    ¡°She knows I¡¯m not the one.¡±


    ¡°She knows?¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°But¡­that means¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m staying, Caste,¡± the cleric stared at Giordi in surprise, ¡°I¡¯m staying.¡±


    ¡°But¡­why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the right thing to do.¡±

 You hold more secrets to yourself than anyone

    The shadows were growing long when a single, low note summoned all of the nomads, eastern and western alike as well as their guests to the main campfire. The clouds had gathered and a light shower of snow drifted down, endlessly caught in the breeze so that the flakes danced above their heads. Everyone wore their coats, cloaks and wraps, their toes curling inside their boots, their faces feeling the nip of the frigid air even as they pressed their gloved hands deep into their pockets.


    Aalis wore the fur mantle she had been gifted as well as the boots, opting for her thickest gown with two layers beneath to stave off the chill. She walked between Judd and Verne, both of whom were silent. Yet if she was pressed, she would have said that their silences were different to each other. Judd was grim, resolute in what was about to happen but Verne appeared agitated, seething beneath a very thin veneer of calm.


    Emeri held close to her parents, Revna¡¯s situation an unpleasant reminder of what could have happened to her had Caste not intervened. As if recalling that moment, Emeri¡¯s dark eyes glanced across and over the crowds, finally spying Caste near the bottom of the natural steps. He was dressed as he always was, in his tunic and cappa clausa but, surprisingly, he had chosen to wear the best version of his Grail uniform and Emeri had even spied him polishing the four pointed star pendant. The heat of the fire didn¡¯t reach Caste where he was so he wrung his hands together, trying to keep them warm.


    He looked around the gathering bodies of the nomads, a sea of greys, browns and cream and for a moment they alighted on Emeri. He quickly shifted his gaze and found Judd instead. He jerked his head and Judd nodded, skirting the edge of the gathering, coming up behind Caste as closely as he dared.


    ¡°Caste?¡±


    ¡°She knows.¡± Caste whispered.


    ¡°She knows?¡±


    ¡°Elk¡¯s daughter. She knows Giordi isn¡¯t the one and told him as much.¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯s still marrying her?¡± Caste nodded. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He feels responsible for her situation and quite frankly, I agree with him.¡± Caste frowned. ¡°It¡¯s possibly the first time I¡¯ve ever agreed with him. Ironic isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Ironic?¡±


    ¡°We finally agree¡­and I¡¯m serving as his translator/best man.¡±


    The crowd stiffened as Chief Elk appeared with Revna on one side of him and Giordi in full nomadic groom apparel on the other. Glowering at Giordi with hate filled eyes was Sten in the stance of a guard just itching for something to go wrong so he could unleash his fury.


    But Giordi was the dutiful groom and, with Caste translating quietly and as fast as he could, Giordi managed to get through the ceremony with the correct responses. Revna¡¯s face was almost entirely covered, only her eyes visible through her veil and shawl, in a gown that rivalled Aalis¡¯ gifted outfit. Judd had slipped back to where his companions stood, watching the proceedings. The wedding ceremony was not complicated, over in a matter of minutes. At the end, Chief Elk made a proclamation that went over Judd¡¯s head. He turned to Emeri.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± He whispered.


    ¡°All past transgressions are resolved in this marriage. Giordi Gavoli is one of us.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Immediately the crowd began to disperse as Giordi and Revna went back up the steps side by side. Chief Elk only watched them go, his expression unreadable but Sten followed them, probably making sure that Giordi didn¡¯t leg it the moment he could.


    ¡°And that¡¯s that.¡± Verne shook his head and walked off.


    ¡°What¡¯s his problem?¡± Judd wondered.


    ¡°I will ask¡­¡± Aalis hurried after Verne who disappeared into their tent. She found her friend stuffing clothes into her pack without any care, cramming everything in. ¡°Verne?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What is wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Aalis shook her head. ¡°No, Verne, you cannot lie to me.¡±


    Verne tipped her head back and laughed mockingly. ¡°Please¡­you of all people don¡¯t get to call me a liar.¡± Aalis¡¯ lips fell open into a small, silent gasp at the coldness in Verne¡¯s voice. ¡°You hold more secrets to yourself than anyone. Why you talk like an upper class Astaril resident but you were raised a witch? How you held off the sirens in the channel and how you survived the hydra? You¡¯ve got more to hide than I.¡±


    ¡°I do not know what you mean¡­¡± Aalis trembled.


    Verne looked at her, her blue eyes chilly and hard. ¡°Yet another lie.¡± She stood up and walked past her. ¡°I¡¯m sick of it. I¡¯m sick of all of it¡­¡±


    Giordi could feel Sten¡¯s eyes drilling into the back of his head as he and Revna entered what he guessed was the ¡®wedding night¡¯ tent. Giordi pulled the flap aside and allowed Revna in first, ducking his head and closing the flap behind him, shutting out the chill, both in the air and in the people.


    ¡°Well,¡± Giordi cleared his throat, rubbing his hands together, ¡°not quite the wedding I envisioned for myself but one could not have asked for a more beautiful bride.¡± He caught sight of Revna¡¯s frightened expression and sighed, dropping his shoulders and shedding his act of confident indifference. ¡°Sorry¡­old habits.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°You just¡­you sound like him for a moment.¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Giordi shuddered. ¡°I apologise.¡±


    Revna clutched her hands together.


    Giordi shifted on his feet.


    They didn¡¯t meet each other¡¯s gaze yet somehow they were both drawn to look at the arranged furs and blankets lay, warmed by coals in metal pans tucked beneath the layers. Giordi wondered what Revna was thinking and instinctively glanced at her, finding she had done the same. She turned away immediately, her veil quivering as her shoulders shook. Giordi cleared his throat.


    ¡°Revna¡­I¡­¡±


    She faced him, every sinew and muscle tight, willing herself not to shake. Giordi watched as she drew her shawl and veil away, revealing her ashen hair braided into several strands. Her pale grey eyes closed as she pulled at the ties of her mantle, the heavy outer layer slipping from her body, revealing the bridal gown she wore, heavily pregnant yet elegant.


    Her fingers began to loosen the laces on her dress, the bodice beginning to slip. Giordi, realising what she was doing a little too late, watched the dress fall to the ground. Revna trembled in front of him for a long, awkward moment. Suddenly regaining his senses, Giordi darted forward and scooped up her mantle, wrapping it around her shoulders and as much of her frontage as he could manage.


    ¡°This is not necessary¡­¡± He blurted.


    Revna¡¯s shoulders bowed. ¡°I repulse you.¡±


    ¡°What? No!¡± Giordi exclaimed then, at the sight of her frightened expression, lowered his tone, grasping her hands, drawing her to the bed so she could sit. ¡°No,¡± he said softly, ¡°it is not that you repulse me¡­but I would never sleep with a woman who did not want me in return.¡± He laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Truth be told, I¡¯m not as brilliant with women as I make out. Not until Haern and I switched places and I learned how to be a gentleman¡­mingling manners with good looks and even then¡­¡± He saw that his rapid speech was confusing her and he forced himself to slow down. ¡°You¡¯re lovely¡­but you¡¯re not in love with me.¡± He gave her hands a squeeze then drew back. ¡°You sleep here and I¡¯ll¡­¡± He looked around and tried to find somewhere else he could curl up and keep warm. Even with the insulated tent walls, he could sense the nip of winter¡¯s early bite trying to come in.


    ¡°Sleep here, Giordi,¡± Revna insisted, drawing a blanket about her body, ¡°in love we not¡­but keep each warm.¡±


    He smiled at her bravery. Without a word he drew his boots off and his outer layers. Revna lay on the bed with her back to the centre and Giordi lay in the opposite direction. It was awkward and unfamiliar but at least they were warm and eventually sleep came to both.

 He made a decision and I think we ought to respect it

    When Judd emerged from the tent the next morning, he stretched and yawned, pulling against the tautness in his body. He had fallen asleep relatively easily but, possibly owing to the tension of the day before it, he hadn¡¯t slept deeply and woken at every little bump, howl and grunt in the night.


    He was quite relieved when day came and he could escape his restless bed.


    Outside, a low fog lay across the camp of the nomads. The tree trunks of the palisade were lightly veiled and the nomads looked like ghosts, drifting here and there, their feet obscured by the low density fog. Judd yawned again, stretching his arms and neck then caught sight of Chief Bear speaking with Caste. This was rather surprising. Apart from being a translator when required, Caste had avoided the nomads. According to the Order of the Grail, their lifestyle was not in line with the ordinances outlined in the Grail¡¯s doctrine. Because they only interacted when trading horses for supplies, they were allowed to exist at the very limit of the Order¡¯s tolerance. As such, a rule abiding officer of the Grail such as Caste, kept his distance unless absolutely necessary.


    So when Caste finished speaking with Chief Bear and walked over to the tent, trying to wrap himself as tightly as he could in his cape, his face almost hidden in his hood, Judd could only think of one question.


    ¡°What did Bear want?¡±


    Caste had to push the line of his hood up to see Judd, unaware of his presence until he spoke as his eyes had been focussed on the ground.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t want anything.¡±


    Judd was taken aback. ¡°You were speaking with him.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I have my reasons.¡±


    Judd blinked, stunned by Caste¡¯s obtuseness. He turned on his heel and followed him into the tent that felt a great deal warmer than the outside air.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Judd grabbed his arm, ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Caste paused, looking guilty. The others in the tent, Aalis, Verne, Suvau, Yolana and Emeri, turned towards them, unable to avoid hearing the question.


    ¡°I wanted to explain things to Chief Bear.¡±


    ¡°Explain things?¡± Verne lifted his chin angrily. ¡°Oh¡­you mean you distanced yourself from any association with the womanising minstrel?¡±


    Caste swallowed and turned aside. ¡°What does it matter?¡±


    ¡°Caste,¡± Aalis stood up, ¡°did you really?¡±


    ¡°No of course not.¡± Caste erupted suddenly. ¡°Why does everyone think the worst about me?¡± He caught sight of all their surprised expressions. ¡°Chief Bear had vouched for us and it turned out that one of our party was the villain who seduced and deflowered Chief Elk¡¯s daughter.¡± He folded his arms, still not meeting their gaze. ¡°I felt that Bear needed to know the truth about Giordi¡­because it reflected poorly on him¡­and Judd was also maligned in the reputation of his minstrel.¡±


    ¡°You wiped your hands of Giordi,¡± Suvau said, astonished, ¡°after he saved your life?¡±


    ¡°Saved your life?¡± Aalis held up her hand. ¡°When? How? At Fort Sol?¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°At Fort Omra. Caste had gone into the flooded foundations looking for something and that piece of work Jerom closed the hatch, trapping him inside while the room filled with water.¡±


    Emeri¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°You never told me that!¡± She exclaimed and Caste flinched.


    ¡°Aalis was unconscious, we were researching poisonous plants, the hydra attacked, the fort was on fire, you and your family were on trial and then you were exiled from the fort¡­when was I supposed to say?¡± He recoiled defensively.


    ¡°You¡¯ve had nearly a month since!¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even talk to me!¡±


    Emeri blinked and turned away. Caste gaped, surprised by his own reaction, did the same.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Judd looked around at his companions, once so close now fractured and divided.


    He caught Aalis¡¯ gaze and saw she was seeking strength.


    ¡°What we need to decide,¡± Judd said slowly, ¡°is what to do next.¡± He met each of their gazes as calmly as he dared though he was churning with uncertainty inside. ¡°Giordi is one of the nomads now. He said it himself, his journey with us ends here¡­¡±


    ¡°We are going to leave him?¡± Aalis asked gently.


    ¡°He made a decision and I think we ought to respect it.¡± Judd said even though he was still wrestling with the concept himself. He¡¯d gotten used to the flamboyant minstrel with the cheeky air and the positive attitude.


    ¡°Ultimately, this journey was never about Giordi,¡± Suvau said surprisingly and they turned to him, ¡°it was about Judd LaMogre pursuing his dream of a knighthood. I swore I would see you knighted so where are we on that journey?¡±


    Judd breathed out, nodding, the fog around his purpose lifting with Suvau¡¯s firm words. ¡°I think, after killing a unicorn and collecting its horn, there¡¯s not much left on the monster list.¡±


    ¡°All that will remain is the witch,¡± Caste swallowed, deliberately avoiding Aalis¡¯ eyes, ¡°and the minotaur.¡±


    ¡°Witch?¡± Yolana said fearfully.


    ¡°It¡¯s the minotaur we need to concentrate on.¡± Judd said firmly. ¡°That¡¯s the last monster on the list and it¡¯s also the one right at the bottom. I think it¡¯ll be the toughest to kill.¡±


    ¡°And to find,¡± Caste admitted, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of any minotaur for many years. They used to roam the steppelands and prairies but the accounts of sightings have been few and far between.¡±


    ¡°I suppose, because they¡¯re larger than most other monsters, the knights manning the forts and maintaining the integrity of the wall would stop them before they got too far.¡± Judd tapped his teeth.


    Aalis watched him closely, seeing the wheels of his mind turning.


    ¡°Will we stay or shall we go?¡± She asked gently.


    ¡°I think,¡± he concentrated, ¡°I think we¡¯ll stay¡­at least for a few days. I don¡¯t know where else we could go that we¡¯d be more likely to run into a minotaur unless we approach either Fort Verion or Mavour.¡± Aalis worried her bottom lip but said nothing, her heart hiding deep inside her chest. Judd lifted his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll check with Chief Bear that we¡¯re not imposing and if it¡¯s alright with him, we¡¯ll stay for a few more days.¡±


    ¡°Good plan.¡± Suvau nodded.


    It wasn¡¯t the most brilliant of plans but Judd could sense that his friends were more settled. He did as he promised and sought out Chief Bear who, with Caste¡¯s help translating, was happy enough to allow them to stay. As he spoke to the heavyset chief, Judd couldn¡¯t help but notice that the disappointment Bear had displayed after Giordi¡¯s exposure had lessened somewhat. He could only guess that it had something to do with Caste speaking to him earlier. Though Verne had accused Caste of ¡®washing his hands¡¯ of the whole party, Judd wondered if Caste had done Giordi, and indeed all of them, a tremendous favour in the hearts of the eastern nomads. Chief Bear would not interfere with Chief Elk¡¯s command but at least his faith in Judd and his companions had not been misplaced.


    For that, Judd was very grateful. He had liked staying with the eastern nomads. The drinking was fierce and the language barrier was a problem but they had been hospitable and generous, even more so than Order approved Terras.


    The fog had lifted by the time they were done speaking.


    ¡°I suppose you want me to stay with you?¡± Caste asked as Chief Bear left their presence.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind it. I need to find out if any of the western nomads have seen a minotaur more recently than the Order¡¯s records.¡± Judd rubbed his hands together. ¡°It¡¯s so cold¡­it never gets this cold up north. Is that Giordi?¡±


    The minstrel was coming down the steps of the incline into the main camp. He smiled at Judd and circled the stone pillars, striding towards them.


    ¡°Well met, merry folk.¡± He said brightly.


    ¡°Ah¡­well met¡­I guess.¡± Judd eyed him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­you got married yesterday¡­aren¡¯t you supposed to be¡­¡± Judd cleared his throat.


    ¡°What he means is¡­¡± Giordi said to Caste.


    ¡°I know what he means!¡± Caste groused and stormed off, muttering something about incorrigible minstrels.


    Giordi chuckled then rubbed his hands together. ¡°I shall miss riling him up, I really will.¡±


    ¡°For someone accused of someone else¡¯s indiscretion and forced to live out his life as a nomad when you prefer silks, velvet and fine dining, you¡¯re awfully chipper.¡± Judd remarked then frowned. ¡°Is that because you¡­¡±


    ¡°Enjoyed the sanctity of the bedroom?¡± Giordi asked acutely then shook his head. ¡°I slept in the same bed as my wife but I did not sleep with my wife.¡± They walked around the stone pillars slowly, Giordi trailing his hands on the cold fa?ade of the ancient structures.


    ¡°How does Revna feel about all this?¡±


    ¡°As awkward as I¡­and as guilty.¡± Giordi sighed then leaned towards Judd, his pleasant tone deepening into a whisper. ¡°Haern did not force her. When Revna discovered she was pregnant she told her father that he did because Chief Elk had warned her not to be swayed by Haern¡¯s seductions. She¡¯s terrified of him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s pretty intimidating,¡± Judd admitted, ¡°and he¡¯s your father in law.¡±


    ¡°Not the kind of father in law I ever envisioned,¡± Giordi leaned against the stone pillar and folded his arms, ¡°not the kind of life I envisioned for myself either.¡±


    Judd¡¯s brow furrowed as he studied Giordi¡¯s expression. ¡°I cannot fathom how at ease you are with all of this.¡±


    ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s a mask of calm over a sea of panic.¡± Giordi shrugged. ¡°While you¡¯re here, I can pretend for a while that it¡¯s just all a weird dream. When you go¡­when do you go?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re staying for a few days. I need to find a minotaur and this is a good place to start looking.¡± Judd looked around. ¡°I won¡¯t find one in the campsite, though.¡±


    ¡°Come with me and we¡¯ll ask Sten.¡±


    ¡°Revna¡¯s brother?¡± Giordi nodded as Judd fell into step beside him. ¡°Pretty sure he hates you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re coming with me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve suddenly become fluent in ancient Terra?¡±


    ¡°These nomads have more exposure to civilisation. They hide it but they understand much more of what we say than we realise.¡±

 I get the feeling this is a rite of passage…

    Sten and a number of young male nomads were in the meeting hall. They were gambling in a game that neither Judd nor Giordi understood. The mood was comfortable and cheerful until they caught sight of Giordi and Judd approaching them. Their faces darkened into angry hues and Judd would have sworn he¡¯d seen one of them reach for a hidden blade, ready to exact justice.


    ¡°Sten,¡± Giordi said brightly and Judd had to admire the downright ludicrous front he was able to maintain in the face of deadly animosity, ¡°in your travels, have you ever seen a minotaur?¡±


    Sten stood up and his cronies stood with him. Giordi raised his eyebrows and Judd¡¯s hand grasped the hilt of his sword.


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli,¡± Sten spoke mockingly, ¡°seek minotaur?¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre seek minotaur,¡± Giordi gestured to his friend, ¡°vouchsafe of Chief Bear.¡±


    Sten stepped forward, his mouth hardening into a dark line.


    ¡°Chief Arkouda nay exousia.¡±


    He stood over Giordi, taller and brimming with barely restrained fury.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask patras what he thinks?¡± Giordi said as lightly as he could but Judd could hear the tremor of nerves in his usually steady voice.


    Sten¡¯s eyes were like blades beneath his heavy brows but he stepped back, hearing the thinly veiled threat in Giordi¡¯s voice. He turned and spoke to his comrades so quickly that Judd and Giordi couldn¡¯t begin to unravel the ancient Terra. Sten¡¯s friends laughed and nodded, leaving the meeting hall. Sten looked back at Giordi.


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli ride with us.¡±


    ¡°Oh that¡¯s not necessary¡­¡± Giordi stopped when Sten leaned forward and nearly spat through his gritted teeth.


    ¡°You ride with us.¡±


    Judd held fast, watching the stand off, holding his breath. Sten waited until Giordi blinked, unable to keep Sten¡¯s gaze any longer. The brother of Revna made a mocking snort and strode off.


    ¡°Apparently¡­I¡¯m riding with them.¡± Giordi shuddered.


    ¡°This is ridiculous.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°They¡¯re going to get you away from this campsite and beat you to a pulp.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I¡¯m not going anywhere without a mount. I wonder if I might borrow Quell or Zeke?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d make a better impression on Xenon.¡±


    Giordi shook his head. ¡°I can ride but the less tempestuous mount I choose, the more competent I will look.¡± He paused. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me, right?¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t dare leave you alone with those thugs. I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re heading out straight away. I¡¯ll get Xenon and Quell saddled.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll let the wife know.¡± Giordi cleared his throat and went back to the tent he¡¯d slept in the night before. Revna was not there. He found her with other women, all of whom were married. It seemed Revna¡¯s wedding had allowed her into their midst, permanently wearing her veil across the bottom half of her face. She was grinding grain in a dish, working the wheel backwards and forwards, struggling with the weight of it but not once complaining. ¡°Revna?¡±


    She looked up and caught his eye. After speaking briefly with someone who could take her place she stood up and went to him.


    ¡°You want¡­bed?¡± She asked softly.


    ¡°What? No!¡± Giordi exclaimed then cursed his inability to keep his voice down as all the married woman looked at both of them. ¡°Why would you ask that?¡± He whispered urgently.


    ¡°When husband call, it for bed.¡± She explained as best she could.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for that.¡± Giordi insisted, taking her elbow and leading her aside. ¡°I just wanted to let you know I¡¯m riding out with Judd.¡±


    There was a flicker of fear in her eyes that Giordi couldn¡¯t quite understand.


    ¡°Be safe.¡± She said, turning away and fleeing back to her grinding.


    Giordi shook his head then hurried to the tent where Judd had saddled both mounts.


    ¡°Sten and company are already outside the palisade.¡± Judd warned, mounting Xenon, feeling him tremble with anticipation.


    ¡°Oh¡­I just need to grab something¡­¡± Giordi ducked into the tent and began to rummage through everyone¡¯s pack. ¡°Where is it¡­ah!¡± He grabbed Verne¡¯s second bow and quiver of arrows.


    ¡°Just what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Verne demanded from behind. Giordi glanced at him, slinging the bow over his head and arm.


    ¡°Arming myself,¡± Giordi belted the quiver around his waist, ¡°and not just against the monsters.¡± He caught Verne¡¯s furious glare. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it back¡­I promise.¡±


    ¡°Just keep it.¡± Verne muttered and left the tent.


    Giordi made a note to corner the moody archer at some point and, after copious amounts of nomadic ale, pry out what was eating him. But he couldn¡¯t spare the time at that moment, leaving the tent and mounting Quell. The horse that had been one half of the equine gate system of Fort Bastil was not as large as Judd¡¯s stallion but she was no slouch either. The only reason she hadn¡¯t been made a mount for a soldier was because of her and Zeke¡¯s mottled coats. After all the travelling she had done since Fort Bastil, Quell¡¯s strength and stamina had increased greatly. She was naturally intimidated by Xenon but had formed a bond with the robust stallion on the journey from the east to the west and trusted him to be a protector and to take the lead.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    So when Judd nudged Xenon out of the palisade, Quell eagerly followed.


    Sten and five of his friends were waiting for them. There were several mocking looks at Quell but they held their tongues and began to ride away, expecting Judd and Giordi to follow. Judd, atop Xenon, had a fine view of the prairies and of the top of Giordi¡¯s head. The blond curls bounced around, shinning like burnished gold in the dull grey light. Giordi hadn¡¯t lied about being able to ride. Judd was inordinately jealous that he managed to go from a walk to a trot to a canter without being completely bounced out of his saddle. It had taken three days and an excruciating backside for Judd to master the treacherous trot.


    Aware that Xenon¡¯s stride would fast outpace Quell¡¯s, Judd held the stallion back much to his frustration, not wanting to let Giordi out of his sight. They followed the impatient nomads across the prairies, leaving the palisade and nomad camp behind. It was a little alarming that, in a place which seemed to be so flat, they lost sight of it almost immediately. Judd was relieved he would be able to follow the nomads back to the campsite¡­but only if he could keep up with them in the first place.


    As if sensing his concern, Giordi spoke. ¡°Give Xenon his head. He¡¯s got energy to burn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m riding out to keep an eye on you.¡± Judd retorted.


    ¡°You can¡¯t babysit me for the rest of my life. You¡¯ve got places to go, monsters to kill, remember?¡±


    Judd sighed, knowing it was true. He urged Xenon into a canter, riding rings around Giordi. He was unwilling to lose sight of the minstrel, now nomad, in case Sten and his friends exacted their own form of justice beyond Chief Elk¡¯s line of sight.


    The nomads rode for quite some time then paused in a slight valley. Judd and Giordi approached, Judd concerned that they were setting up an ambush. Sten looked at them. Though Judd couldn¡¯t be certain, he thought that the son of Chief Elk was a little put out that Giordi had, not only kept up with them, but hadn¡¯t been bounced and jarred by the journey.


    ¡°See there.¡± Sten pointed to the lip of a rise. Judd and Giordi rode cautiously to the edge and peered over. In the long stretch of plain below was a herd of shaggy beasts, none as tall as Xenon but each weighing possibly twice as much. They had stumpy snouts and ears on the sides of their heads, allowing long horns to sweep up from the top of their skulls.


    ¡°Monsters?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°No¡­but I get the feeling minotaur might have been based off them.¡± Giordi clucked his tongue. ¡°I can¡¯t recall what they¡¯re called but I wager they¡¯re not easy to take down¡­especially with those horns.¡±


    They turned back to the others and saw they were readying their weapons. Judd clutched his sword as Sten smiled unpleasantly at them.


    ¡°Giordi Gavoli¡­¡±


    Giordi¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You want me to¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t bring down one of those things!¡±


    ¡°You one of us,¡± Sten smacked his chest and his friends did the same, ¡°or not one of us.¡±


    Judd looked at the minstrel. ¡°I get the feeling this is a rite of passage¡­¡±


    ¡°I thought marrying the chief¡¯s daughter was enough¡­¡± Giordi hissed.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing not so much, not for these young men.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°You¡¯re not armed for close combat. Stay on the rise and use your bow and arrows. I¡¯ll try to separate a smaller beast from the herd and drive it towards you.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea how you¡¯re going to do that?¡±


    ¡°None whatsoever.¡± Judd shrugged. ¡°Look, while you¡¯re up here, the others can¡¯t ambush you. Watch your back.¡±


    Giordi nodded as Judd, Sten and the other nomads cantered along the valley, heading downwind of the beasts. He counted to make sure all of the nomads went with Judd. Then it occurred to him that all the nomads went with Judd.


    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t beat him up just to spite me¡­would they?¡± Giordi suddenly feared. ¡°Chief Bear would chew them to pieces¡­but not before Aalis unleashed her fury. Still¡­would they dare?¡± He urged Quell back up to the top of the rise, seeing that the beasts had veered off slightly and were no longer moving directly towards him. He drew an arrow out of the quiver and readied it, his hands shaking. ¡°I¡¯m not an archer. I¡¯m not a warrior¡­I¡¯m only a nomad by a ridiculous set of circumstances conceived of by a universe with a cruel sense of humour¡­What in Maul am I doing here?¡±


    Then he saw the nomads galloping down the farthest slope towards the beasts, Xenon striding ahead of all of them with Judd managing to keep his seat and look the part. It was astonishing that only a few weeks ago, Judd wouldn¡¯t have been able to ride a pony and yet here he was, maintaining pace and even outstripping the nomads on a tempestuous stallion.


    Giordi¡¯s jaw firmed. ¡°Man up, Gavoli,¡± he said sharply to himself, ¡°Judd LaMogre is out there being a better friend than you deserve. You can do this.¡±


    Xenon outpaced all the other mounts, cutting off the herd¡¯s direction. Giordi was deeply impressed that, with so little intimidation, the beasts were already baying, turning their heads and coming towards Giordi¡¯s position. For someone who couldn¡¯t even say what the beasts were called, Judd was doing a remarkable job of herding them. Giordi could even see the surprise in his eyes that it was working so well. He urged Xenon to keep pace with the herd, thundering alongside it, turning the herd so that it would pass by Giordi which would allow the novice archer to let a few arrows fly.


    The baying of the beasts was a cacophony of fury and fear and their hooves crushed the ground beneath them. Giordi raised his bow and sighted down the arrow shaft. He had seen a smaller beast near the back, possibly an adolescent and hopefully, easier to kill. The horns would not be as impressive as a full grown bull but Giordi figured it was a decent compromise. His blue eyes darted along the arrow shaft, waiting for his prey to come into view¡­


    ¡­when he saw another pair of eyes with the same expression.


    A pair of yellow eyes in a shroud of pale gold that were following Xenon and Judd with a hungry appetite, fangs appearing in a mouth that trembled with anticipation.


    ¡°Judd!¡± Giordi yelled. ¡°Judd!¡±


    But Judd couldn¡¯t hear him over the roar of the herd and the howls of delight of the nomads as they began to lay into one of the beasts, toppling it. Judd was oblivious to the fact that while he was hunting, something was hunting him.


    Giordi kicked his heels deep into Quell, yelling an apology to the mare as she leapt into a gallop, streaking down the slope as fast as her mottled legs could carry her. He ignored the herd that was thundering past him or the mockery of the nomads. He waved frantically, trying to get Judd¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Judd! Behind you!¡±


    Judd finally looked up, confusion on his face when he saw Giordi riding towards him. He began to mouth ¡®what¡¯ when he realised Giordi was pointing at something behind him.


    Even as he started to turn to look, a wild scream tore through the air. The beasts became even more frantic, scattering as fear surged through their ranks. Not even Xenon could not restrain himself from a violent rear that threw the unsuspecting Judd off his back as the giant wild cat burst from the long grasses, its lightning fast forearms and powerful back legs no more than a blur, its jaw wide in anticipation.


    Giordi fired an arrow at it which missed. He urged Quell forward towards the wild cat that was bearing down on Judd so fast Giordi didn¡¯t dare to blink. He fired another arrow and another even as the cat leapt towards Judd who threw himself out of its way, thrusting madly with his sword yet hitting nothing but air. The cat landed in a tangle of its own limbs yet launched immediately out of its sprawl like a restrained coil let loose. It charged at Judd, huge claws as big as his head, swiping at him yet knocked sideways when one of Giordi¡¯s arrows finally hit home.


    The cat landed on the grass and twisted, hissing at Giordi who sat astride Quell. The poor horse suddenly realised the enormity of the danger it was in and was shaking harder than Giordi was. The giant cat¡¯s jaw quivered, huge fangs dripping with anticipatory saliva and Giordi had a terrible blackout moment when he suddenly wondered what he would taste like.


    ¡°Gavoli!¡±


    Giordi blinked and let loose the arrow in his bow and then another and another, the wild cat dodging and weaving before going into a single, long leap, jaws aimed directly for his throat.


    Giordi drew back on his bow and fired.

 Anyone would think they think I have no self control

    Aalis paced back and forth near the gate of the palisade. Verne had told her that Judd and Giordi had gone out with some of the younger nomad men on horseback not long after the fog had lifted. It was now well past midday and the fears Aalis had been ignoring all morning were mounting a comeback. She had run out of reasons to argue them away.


    The prairie was alarmingly empty beyond the palisade.


    She wrung her hands together, unable to keep still.


    ¡°Come back¡­please come back¡­¡±


    As she paced, she caught sight of another hovering near the gate, clutching at the cape that barely encompassed her expanding form. Revna¡¯s pale grey eyes were doing the same as Aalis¡¯ lavender ones, scouring the landscape for any sign of life. Aalis, sensing a soul in similar distress, approached her.


    ¡°They should not be much longer.¡± She said even though she was not at all convinced. The young woman nodded, equally as unconvinced. Aalis gazed at her sympathetically. She was so young and so vulnerable, taken in by a man whose honey dipped words were all too familiar. ¡°Revna?¡± She looked up at the sound of her name. ¡°I am Aalis. Giordi¡¯s friend.¡±


    Revna studied her for a moment. ¡°You¡­your hair¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Aalis smiled and tugged on a dreadlock, ¡°I look like a nomad but I come from far up north.¡±


    Revna shivered. ¡°You travel?¡±


    ¡°With Judd and Caste, Verne, Suvau¡­¡±


    ¡°Giordi?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Aalis cleared her throat. ¡°Your baby,¡± Revna recoiled, wrapping her arms around her abdomen, ¡°close?¡±


    Revna gave a semi confident nod. ¡°I¡­think. First time.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    They ran out of things to say, each consumed by their own thoughts and unable to think of anything to chat about. Revna let out a small, frightened sob.


    ¡°He no come back.¡±


    Aalis gasped. ¡°He will. They both will.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Revna¡¯s will power broke down and she clapped her hand over her mouth, ¡°he goes. He runs.¡±


    She retreated from the gate. Aalis wanted to go after her but realised as she did so, Revna would run and risk tripping and injuring her baby. She let her go then stamped her foot and looked out at the empty landscape.


    ¡°Where are they?¡±


    An hour later the nomads, Judd and Giordi finally returned to the campsite. They were all on foot, two of the nomad¡¯s horses dragging makeshift sledges from their saddles and reins which carried two large shaggy beasts on them.  Quell was in high spirits and snorted happily when she saw Zeke as though she had exciting news to convey over the water trough.


    Xenon walked more slowly with a large, covered mass draped over his back.


    Aalis broke through the crowd of nomads who gathered at their return.


    Judd caught her gaze and smiled.


    She put her hands on her hips. ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Rite of passage,¡± Aalis pointed at him, ¡°no, not me. Giordi. It seems Sten wanted to prove that Giordi was not man enough to be a nomad so he took him on a long ride and then on a hunt.¡±


    ¡°Giordi?¡± Aalis turned to the blond headed minstrel who looked a little shocked with several scratches and torn clothing. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I am fine.¡± Giordi looked at Judd. ¡°I think we should probably head to the meeting hall. I have a gift for my father in law.¡±


    News travelled fast and it was quite the crowd that gathered in the meeting hall. Chief Elk stood by his throne and listened stoically as he was told of his son and company¡¯s kills that had already been taken away to be skinned, cut down and salted. When the tale was over, Caste let Judd and Giordi know they could step forward. Thankfully the meeting hall was large enough that Xenon was able to be led inside and he stood dutifully with them.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Chief Viskalt,¡± Caste announced and proceeded to speak in ancient Terra, relaying what Giordi had to say, ending in, ¡°present you with this trophy.¡±


    Judd and Giordi stood on either side of the lump on Xenon¡¯s back, took hold of the covering and pulled it off, the enormous body of the wild cat falling to the ground with a heavy thud befitting its considerable size. Chief Viskalt¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of its jaws, opened in a frozen howl of fury, an arrow fired through its mouth, the tip of it buried in its brain.


    Chief Elk lifted his silvery gaze with difficulty and looked between them, ending on Judd. ¡°You,¡± he said sternly, ¡°do this.¡±


    ¡°No sir,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°Giordi Gavoli,¡± he mimed using a bow then tapped the arrow in the jaws of the cat, ¡°did this.¡±


    What went through the chief¡¯s mind was a mystery Judd couldn¡¯t begin to comprehend. Even he who had lived through the near death adventure was still struggling to comprehend it. Eventually Chief Elk breathed in and out, squaring his shoulders.


    ¡°Revna.¡± he called and she appeared, probably waiting to be summoned in the shadows. He spoke to her and she nodded. She knelt with difficulty and, using a small blade, cut into the body of the wild cat, finding bright red blood. She dipped her finger in it and stood in front of Giordi. He leaned down so that she could reach him, drawing a red line on both of his cheeks before stepping back.


    Chief Viskalt lifted his chin. ¡°Giordi Liontari.¡±


    ¡°Patras!¡± Sten blurted indignantly.


    ¡°Skaste!¡± Elk snapped and Sten immediately stepped down though it was clear he was seething beneath his fa?ade of obedience. ¡°Revna.¡±


    ¡°Gese, patras.¡± Revna looked pointedly at Giordi who took the hint and followed her out of the meeting hall.


    It seemed they were dismissed. Judd led Xenon out of the meeting hall and was immediately surrounded by his companions.


    ¡°You¡¯re not seriously telling us that Giordi Gavoli, master womaniser and useless archer, brought down that wild cat?¡± Verne demanded.


    ¡°You gave him the credit to increase his standing in the nomadic community¡­right?¡± Caste insisted.


    ¡°I swear to you, Giordi killed that beast.¡± Judd let Xenon shake himself free of the memory of the wild cat that he had to suffer to carry. Xenon¡¯s pride was a bit battered after he had run from the field of battle while Quell had galloped towards a predator. Never mind that she¡¯d never seen a giant wild cat before. It was a foregone conclusion that anything with big teeth that smelt of blood ought to be avoided. Yet she had accompanied Giordi, ignorant or otherwise, while Xenon had bolted. He had returned somewhat sheepishly and with no little terror, allowed the nomads to heave the body of the wild cat onto his broad back, having to smell the scent of a predator the entire walk back to the campsite.


    ¡°He killed it?¡±


    ¡°I was helping herd those big shaggy bull beasts and had no idea I was being hunted until Giordi came charging towards me on Quell,¡± Judd opened the gate to the paddock and unhooked Xenon¡¯s reins, closing the gate behind him, ¡°firing arrows left, right and centre.¡± He snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t know how many of them actually hit but the one that mattered killed it outright.¡± Judd scratched Quell¡¯s nose. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a brave horse¡­braver than my stallion¡­¡± He glared at Xenon who lowered his head in shame. Quell sensed the stallion¡¯s humiliation and nuzzled him gently. He huffed grumpily and flicked his tail.


    ¡°Giordi almost looks like he was in a fist/claw fight with the cat.¡±


    ¡°His scratches?¡± Judd laughed. ¡°That happened because Giordi shot it as it was leaping at him. So it landed on top of him and he got scratched trying to claw his way out from beneath it.¡± He chuckled at the memory then jumped out of his skin as Aalis slapped his arm. ¡°Ow! What?¡±


    ¡°You had us all worried to death!¡± She exclaimed. ¡°Only Verne knew you had gone and we did not know where or for how long¡­¡±


    Judd rubbed his arm, seeing everyone¡¯s amused expressions at Aalis¡¯ ire. ¡°Uh¡­sorry? I couldn¡¯t let him go on his own. Chief Viskalt¡¯s son was just looking for a chance to exact some revenge.¡±


    ¡°Which a brother should be allowed to do when his sister is forced to marry her rapist.¡± Verne argued.


    ¡°Sten¡¯s father exacted punishment on both his daughter and Giordi with this marriage,¡± Suvau replied, ¡°Revna defied her father and wound up with child and Giordi was the one who supposedly did this to her. That is what Chief Viskalt is punishing and whether or not we agree,¡± he said in a warning tone as everyone looked set to argue, ¡°this is his clan and it is his rule. According to Elk¡¯s command, Giordi is one of them now that he¡¯s married to Revna.¡±


    ¡°Which means Sten is either going to have to swallow his pride or he¡¯ll work out another way to avenge himself on Giordi.¡± Yolana concluded.


    Judd could feel their freshly mended seams beginning to pull as each of them wrestled with the situation from their own point of view.


    ¡°I said we¡¯d stay a few days and to that I hold.¡± Judd announced strongly, pulling the threads of his company back together. ¡°Besides¡­I have a feeling we¡¯re going to be treated to a feast tonight.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess, roasted unidentified shaggy beast is on the menu?¡± Caste lamented.


    ¡°Just wash it down with ale.¡±


    Yolana shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m quite glad women are not generally invited to these feasts.¡±


    ¡°I think I shall make up more of my hangover cure.¡± Aalis mused as she, Yolana and Emeri walked away.


    Judd, Verne, Caste and Suvau watched them go.


    ¡°Anyone would think they think I have no self control.¡± Judd chuckled wryly.


    ¡°Anyone who had seen you at a nomad feast would know it to be a fact.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°Hey!¡±

 You’re a cruel wife

    Giordi was ordered to strip to his trousers, showing off a couple of bruises and some mighty fine scratches. He sat on a stool, waiting for Revna to return which she did after several minutes with a salve that didn¡¯t smell as nice as the one Aalis used on cuts and scratches but Giordi kept his opinion to himself. Only now that she was in the tent with him alone did she remove the veil around her face and even push back the hood so that her ashen braid could rest comfortably over her shoulder.


    Revna grimaced, trying to sit down and apply the salve, her large size making it difficult for her to work around.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Giordi said, taking the pot.


    ¡°I do it.¡± Revna insisted. ¡°Patras said¡­¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯ll be just one more thing we won¡¯t tell him.¡± Giordi dabbed his fingers into the pot and smeared the salve on his skin.


    ¡°You think I am coward.¡±


    He paused and looked at Revna who bowed her head.


    ¡°A coward?¡±


    ¡°To not tell patras truth.¡±


    Giordi sighed and put the pot down. ¡°Revna¡­your father is¡­terrifying. You made a mistake. You ought to feel you can tell him the truth and not be punished for it.¡± He leaned forward and pushed his hands through his curls. ¡°I¡¯m the coward. If I¡¯d been able to handle pain I would have chosen to be whipped¡­then you wouldn¡¯t be married to me.¡±


    She looked up at him, her grey eyes soft and sad. ¡°We not married.¡±


    Giordi faltered. ¡°Uh¡­yes we are. There was a wedding¡­¡± She shook her head, her ashen braid falling down her back. ¡°What do I not know?¡±


    ¡°Married¡­is¡­¡± She stammered then gestured to the bed.


    Giordi¡¯s face blushed. ¡°Oh! But then¡­because we did, or at least your father thinks we did months and months ago¡­he considers us already married.¡±


    ¡°It is a serious thing, for my people, to be like that.¡± Revna explained, picking up the salve and applying it.


    ¡°More serious than I ever thought it.¡± Giordi admitted. ¡°Revna, why are you being punished if I supposedly forced you?¡±


    Revna licked her lips. ¡°I¡­defy patras. He know I¡­like Giordi. Sten tell him I¡­¡±


    ¡°Flirt?¡±


    Revna¡¯s cheeks reddened into a bright shade of crimson. ¡°I tell patras I was forced¡­but patras say I¡­encouraged it.¡±


    ¡°Your father says it¡¯s your fault?¡±


    ¡°He say I¡­display myself.¡± Revna shook her head. ¡°He not wrong. I¡­wanted¡­more.¡± Her shoulders bowed and she sighed. ¡°I was fool.¡±


    Giordi sighed, wishing he had the words to reassure her. ¡°We both acted foolishly,¡± he admitted, ¡°but it was Haern who fooled us.¡± He swiped his fingers through the salve and reached over to his back, trying to rub it in to a wound he couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Revna¡­am I getting close?¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± she stood up and looked at his back, ¡°no. I do.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Giordi tensed. ¡°You can¡¯t miss it. It¡¯s a bad wound. It probably requires stitches.¡±


    ¡°It little scratch.¡±


    He frowned. ¡°No it¡¯s a huge scrape. It¡¯s at least a big, nasty scratch.¡±


    Revna held her thumb and finger out indicating not even the length of Giordi¡¯s little finger. ¡°This little.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s a bad¡­ow!¡± He jumped out of his skin. ¡°Stings! Ow!¡± He twisted to glare at her. ¡°You¡¯re laughing!¡± Revna covered her mouth with her free hand. ¡°It hurts!¡± She couldn¡¯t stop giggling and it occurred to Giordi that it was the first time he¡¯d seen anything on her face other than shame. He chuckled and shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re a cruel wife, Revna, torturing your husband like that.¡±


    She laughed, rubbing the salve between her fingers to warm it up before applying it to his skin. She gasped loudly and he jumped up, alarmed as she clutched her belly.


    ¡°What? What is it?¡± He froze in a ridiculous pose as if something was about to erupt out of her body and start strangling him.


    ¡°The babe¡­it moved.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Giordi eyed her rather swollen belly that was tightly draped in a gown probably not used to accommodating such generous portions.


    ¡°It was quiet¡­still¡­but now¡­¡± She gasped again and Giordi gulped, seeing the cloth shiver as the child within her shifted.


    ¡°Oh¡­does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she winced, ¡°uncomfortable.¡±


    He grasped her hand and led her to the bed where she could sit and lean back. He stared at her belly, still confounded at the notion that a baby could exist inside a woman.


    ¡°You feel?¡± Revna held out her hand.


    ¡°Um¡­well, I¡­¡± She took his hand and placed it on her belly. Giordi found himself holding his breath and for a moment he wondered if the baby had decided to resent him too when it moved and Giordi¡¯s hand could almost feel its elbow or knee sticking into his palm. He jumped back and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt that before!¡±


    ¡°Big roll,¡± Revna sighed wearily, ¡°so tight¡­¡± She sighed as the evening meal horn resounded and tried to sit up.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here?¡± Giordi suggested, pulling his tunic over his torso.


    ¡°Married woman¡­expected.¡± Revna grunted and pushed herself up onto her feet. Giordi put his hands out, not holding her but prepared to catch her if she fell. ¡°I go.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Giordi blurted, ¡°what if a husband wants his wife? You know,¡± he jerked his head towards the bed, ¡°like you said before.¡± Revna gazed at him fearfully. Giordi waved his hands. ¡°No. No, no¡­I mean¡­if I want you here¡­you can stay and rest.¡±


    Revna shook her head. ¡°Feast for you¡­your honour¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make an appearance,¡± Giordi insisted, ¡°but if anyone comes looking for you, tell them I want you here.¡±


    Revna smiled gratefully. ¡°I¡­thank you.¡± She watched Giordi attempt to wrap his nomad mantle around his shoulders. ¡°Here,¡± she offered, taking both ends, draping the mantle over his shoulders, clasping it together so that it wasn¡¯t tempted to fall, ¡°there¡­now you look like my people.¡±


    ¡°If only that were true.¡± Giordi tugged on his boots as he headed to the flap in the tent. ¡°I won¡¯t be late but don¡¯t wait up. Get some rest.¡±


    Three hours later Giordi stumbled out of the meeting hall that became the feasting hall in the evenings. It was pitch black, there was frost in the air that nipped at any exposed piece of skin and Giordi was struggling to stand upright.


    ¡°You be able to find your way home?¡± Judd slurred then tried to clear his throat as if doing so would sober him up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Giordi chuckled, ¡°you don¡¯t need to coddle me. Suvau!¡± The big, dark skinned man looked at Giordi with a slightly glazed but not saturated expression. ¡°Make sure these light weights get home safely.¡± Giordi waved them off and started to stumble in the direction of his tent. He sang drunkenly to himself a song of unidentifiable melody and the lyrics were a blurred mess. Even the cold night air wasn¡¯t enough to slap away his happy stupor as he approached the tent. Suddenly he tripped, falling flat on his face, getting partially tangled in the tent ropes, feeling several heavy blows to his torso when there was a sharp intake of air accompanied with what Giordi was sure was a nomadic expletive then nothing for a moment. He struggled to his feet when someone grabbed his belt and hauled him up with strength only one man possessed.


    ¡°Suvau?¡± Giordi peered at him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Getting the light weights home safely.¡± Suvau said sternly, pulling the flap aside and pushing him inside. ¡°Get some sleep.¡±


    Giordi flopped onto the edge of the bed, pulling his boots off then fell back into the embrace of furs and blankets. Revna stirred slightly and he hushed her a little too dramatically before putting his hand on his forehead and groaning.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to have a headache tomorrow¡­¡± He lamented then promptly fell asleep.

 Revna, where are you going?!

    It was with great reluctance that Giordi opened his eyes, feeling as though he had been painted on the bed and couldn¡¯t separate himself from the warm cocoon he was embraced within. He resisted for as long as he could but the sounds of the nomad camp in full daylight could not be ignored.


    His eyes felt like he¡¯d rubbed grit mixed with lemon juice into them and his breath smelt like a donkey¡¯s yawn. He flopped one arm over the edge of the bed, hoping that the cool air would wake him up. It only served to make the rest of him even more reluctant to emerge from his bed.


    ¡°You drink this.¡± Revna offered him a wooden mug.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Giordi asked, half afraid it would be more ale and half hoping it would be to send him back to sleep.


    ¡°Goat milk.¡±


    ¡°Ugh,¡± Giordi held his nose and drank it, shuddering and flapping his lips as if doing so would make the pungent, strongly flavoured libation go down any easier, ¡°I¡¯m awake now!¡±


    Revna was picking clothes up that had become strewn across the tent. She smiled at him as he tried to sit up, leaning over with his elbows on his knees, nursing his head.


    ¡°Flavour¡­no¡­herb in milk¡­help head.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they should start putting it in the ale as a preventative measure.¡± Giordi grumbled. They both looked at his stomach as it rumbled angrily.


    ¡°Hungry?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t eat much.¡± Giordi admitted. ¡°Roast shaggy beast was a little too strong for me.¡± Not to mention it was underdone. Even the thought of it made his throat spasm. Unfortunately that meant he had been drinking on an almost empty stomach. It was any wonder he¡¯d made it back to the correct tent. Giordi tried to stand up then hissed sharply and grabbed his chest. ¡°Ow¡­oh¡­that hurts.¡±


    ¡°More scratch?¡± Revna asked wryly.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel like a scratch.¡± Giordi lamented and tried to lift his tunic. Revna had to help him as he couldn¡¯t get his arms above his head. She gasped and Giordi looked down. His abdomen and chest were bruised, dark purple, red and black patches mottling his usually pristine skin.


    ¡°How¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Revna lightly touched one of the bruises and Giordi grimaced, ¡°was I in a punch up last night and don¡¯t remember?¡±


    ¡°Boot marks,¡± Revna looked at him, her grey eyes troubled, ¡°someone kick you?¡±


    ¡°I honestly can¡¯t recall¡­¡± Giordi winced. ¡°It might have been a friendly sparring match? I wonder if I got any blows in.¡±


    Revna stepped back, worrying her bottom lip. She picked up his blue tunic. ¡°Here, cover¡­¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± He slipped it on, trying to keep from crying out, the bruises restricting his movements. ¡°Oh¡­that bow.¡±


    Revna looked where he was pointing and picked the bow up. ¡°This?¡±


    ¡°Yes. And there was a quiver,¡± Giordi gritted his teeth as he stood up, ¡°ah, there it is.¡± He slung the quiver over his shoulder and took the bow. ¡°I should return these to Verne. I know he said I could keep them but he¡¯s barely speaking to me and I¡¯d rather not have that as our final memory.¡±


    ¡°I make food when you come back?¡±


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s not raw meat.¡± Giordi begged.


    ¡°Promise.¡± Revna assured him then watched him go, stiff and sore. The bruises bothered her. They hadn¡¯t been there when she¡¯d treated his scratches from the wild cat. It had happened at the feast or afterwards. She hoped rather than believed they were a result of a friendly fist fight. Giordi was a little too¡­delicate and uninclined towards violence to be goaded into something so coarse and common amongst her people.


    She sighed and turned her back from the tent flap, directing her mind to the preparation of food for her husband. She ought to have had it made before he woke but her back had ached terribly all night and Giordi, once he returned from the feast, snored. Revna had slept in far later than she ought to have.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    She felt the weight of inadequacy fall heavily on her shoulders. Revna never quite felt as though she was enough of a nomad for her father¡¯s liking. The other women were bolder, braver and without apology. They were proudly nomadic and lived the life to its fullest. Revna had always looked at the horizon and wished to escape to it, feeling enclosed by her life and her father¡¯s tight rein on the clan. Perhaps if she hadn¡¯t been so discontent, she would not have been so easily swayed by Giordi¡¯s imposter. Revna felt the burn of shame once again as she recalled how she had lied to her father and Sten about feeling unwell, sneaking out to meet Haern and allowing him to have her.


    She had foolishly believed him when he said he would take her away from the clan and show her the world of Terra. Revna had wanted to see so much more and Haern had promised her everything.


    Revna swallowed the lump in her throat. She should have realised that her father was not just being strict out of blind cruelty. He knew the minds of young men, especially those not of the clan.


    None of them would dare touch Revna but Giordi, Haern as he was, was bold, charming and unafraid of her father. How she had welcomed his attention and hoped, by giving him what he wanted, that he would understand that they were married, bonded permanently together.


    Yet he had vanished on a hunt, taking his belongings with him and striking out for the horizon¡­


    ¡­and Revna had grieved for her loss.


    When she finally began to scrape the pieces of her heart together, she realised she was with child. There was no hiding her deflowering once it was discovered. Revna had stood before her furious father who raged like she had never seen him berate before. She had said nothing, terrified beyond all measure.


    And then, her father asked if she had been forced.


    It seemed so simple, so easy a lie that would deflect some of the blame.


    Yes, Revna had lied, she had been forced.


    She wasn¡¯t sure Sten believed her but then, he¡¯d always hated the Terras that they traded with. He despised their ways and looked down on them. He had been the one to tell her father she was flirting with the minstrel. Not because he was kind but because he hated that one of those Terras had been allowed into their camp and was welcome at their table.


    Her father took her at her word yet even then, she felt the blame that she had allowed it to happen to her. And all the women talked about it, whispering as Revna passed by in the camp. She was soiled and used. No nomad would have her now. Not when she was tethered to a Terra. She was shunned in her own camp. Not even the young women who had claimed to be her friends had anything to do with her now, kept away by their cautious mothers and fathers.


    It had been an extraordinary shock when she was dragged before her father, told that Giordi Gavoli had the gall to revisit their clan. Revna had not been able to fathom just who it was that knelt before her father. Though similar, Revna had the imposter¡¯s countenance engraved on her heart and she knew it was not he. Yet when he looked up at her, seeing her swollen belly, there was guilt in his eyes as though he was responsible.


    They recognised the shame in each other¡¯s expression and were now bound together because of a single man¡¯s cruel deception.


    Giordi Gavoli was handsome and kind but in a sea of nomadic grey, brown and cream, he was gold and white, blue and bright.


    He didn¡¯t belong there.


    Yet there he would stay.


    Revna closed her eyes and shivered.


    ¡°If only I had not¡­¡± She swallowed and shook her head. ¡°Enough now. You are wife. You must look after husband.¡± She breathed out and lifted the cloth over the grain she had ground. As she did so, a single arrow tumbled free, caught on a thread. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Revna picked it up then struggled to her feet. It was one of the arrows from the quiver that Giordi was returning.


    Revna swept her shawl over her head and shoulders and across her face as a makeshift veil, hastening out of the tent, grasping the arrow in her hand. She went down the natural steps in the hillside, shivering in the chill. Soon her father would move their camp north to the winter settlement. In a few weeks, it would be too cold to remain where they were.


    She skirted the stone pillars, heading directly for the eastern clan¡¯s tents, knowing which one was the Terra¡¯s. She drew the flap aside and peered in, catching the attention of Giordi¡¯s companions.


    ¡°Revna?¡± The white dreadlocked young woman approached her. ¡°Can we help you?¡±


    Revna held out the arrow. ¡°Missing arrow. Giordi¡­he¡­return to¡­Verne?¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Revna turned and saw the raven haired archer coming into the tent alone. ¡°Someone wanted me?¡±


    ¡°Revna was looking for you.¡±


    Verne looked at Revna with startling blue eyes that seemed to convey a certain animosity she could not comprehend. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Arrow,¡± she blurted, holding it out to him, ¡°Giordi want return arrow¡­I find.¡±


    Verne took it, confused. ¡°I told him to keep them. Why return just the one?¡±


    Now Revna was confused. ¡°No, Giordi return all arrow.¡±


    ¡°No, Giordi not return any arrow.¡±


    Revna looked around, troubled. ¡°He come. Just now. He come. Return arrow and,¡± she mimed the word for ¡®bow¡¯, at the very limit of her understanding of their language.


    ¡°Revna,¡± Aalis said gently, ¡°Giordi has not been here this morning.¡±


    ¡°No come?¡±


    Aalis shook her head. Verne folded his arms. ¡°Then where in Maul is he?¡±


    Suvau swore. Yolana huffed at him. ¡°Language!¡±


    ¡°I was afraid of this. Giordi nearly got beaten to a pulp last night between the meeting hall and your tent.¡± He said to Revna. ¡°I saw some of the younger nomad lads leaving just after us and didn¡¯t like the way they skulked.¡±


    ¡°Giordi bruised,¡± Revna gasped, gesturing to her chest, ¡°today.¡±


    ¡°They got in a few kicks before I interrupted them.¡± Suvau looked at all of them. ¡°Chances are, they¡¯re trying to finish the job.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to find him and quickly!¡±


    ¡°Someone get Judd!¡±


    ¡°Revna, where are you going?!¡±

 Did the word ‘fine’ just now seem to mean more than it usually does?

    Revna had turned and fled the tent, running as fast as her oversized body would allow. She knew Sten. She had grown up with him, knew his favourite places to be with his friends, places to hide from their father¡¯s keen gaze. If Sten had been unable to humiliate or harm Giordi outside the palisade, then Revna alone knew the places that Sten would risk doing so within.


    She ducked around the tents, avoiding the ropes and pegs, batting her way through the damp clothes that were so cold it was impossible to tell if they were dry to a corner that looked completely cut off yet Revna knew there was a way to squeeze around it.


    As she did so, she found Giordi, gagged from being able to cry out and struggling against the grip of one of Sten¡¯s friends while her brother cracked his knuckles, ready to start laying into her husband.


    ¡°Sten, stop!¡± She cried, forcing herself into the tiny corner.


    ¡°Stay away, Revna!¡± Sten snapped. ¡°He will get what he deserves!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Revna grabbed his arm and he threw her backwards to land on the unyielding ground, pain tearing through her body like she had been struck by lightning.


    ¡°Revna!¡±


    Sten¡¯s friend had released Giordi, fleeing the scene. Giordi didn¡¯t pay Sten any attention, tearing the gag from his mouth as he dashed towards Revna who was clutching at her belly. It wasn¡¯t hard to see what was paining her. There was blood mixed with fluid staining her tunic. Giordi stood over her, feeling panicked.


    ¡°What do I do? What do I do?¡±


    ¡°Giordi?! Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Emeri?!¡± Giordi nearly fainted in relief. He leaned out of the tiny pocket of space and saw Emeri¡¯s eyes lock onto him. ¡°Emeri, get Aalis and bring her to my tent! Hurry!¡±


    He went back to Revna who was panting and sobbing. ¡°We¡¯ve got to get you out of here.¡± He helped her up and she cried out. ¡°Lean on me, Revna. I¡¯ll take your weight. Come on, over this rope¡­watch the peg. That¡¯s it, around this tent¡­then we¡¯re going to go up here¡­don¡¯t trip¡­¡±


    They had to stop numerous times for Revna to clutch at her belly and groan mightily. Giordi stood by, useless and frightened, waiting for the pain to pass so that they could continue. Revna¡¯s movements were so slow that by the time they reached the tent, Aalis was already there with Emeri. Numerous nomads had gathered, curious by the commotion but none ventured close or offered to help. Aalis pulled the tent flaps apart, allowing Revna to stumble into the tent, clutching at her belly, speaking in ancient Terra.


    ¡°I know it hurts,¡± Aalis said, guessing what she was saying, ¡°I think the fall has pushed you into premature labour. Emeri? Emeri!¡± The young woman looked at Aalis, her eyes wide and frightened. ¡°I need your mother and as much boiled water and as many clean cloths you can find.¡± Emeri nodded and darted away. ¡°Get her to the bed, Giordi.¡± Aalis ordered and Revna cried out.


    The tent flaps were pushed aside with grand authority and a nomad woman, at least three times Revna¡¯s age or more, strode into the space, immediately barking angrily at them in ancient Terra. Giordi felt Revna¡¯s tremble as she clamped her lips shut, beads of sweat trickling down her face. He could sense her recoiling from the woman and her sharpness.


    ¡°Who is she?¡± Giordi demanded softly.


    ¡°Midwife,¡± Revna was unable to keep her moan silent which incurred another rebuke from the woman, ¡°she tell me¡­be silent.¡±


    ¡°Silent?!¡± Giordi exclaimed.


    ¡°Nomad women¡­silent in birth¡­¡± Revna¡¯s clamped her teeth down so hard to keep her agony silent that her jaw was ready to snap.


    Giordi looked up in shock as the nomad midwife started harassing him, telling him off. She kept pointing at him and at the flap of the tent. When Giordi realised what she meant he shook his head.


    ¡°You want me to leave?¡± Revna¡¯s grip tightened on him. ¡°No.¡± The midwife threatened him with a bony finger. ¡°You can point at me all you want. I¡¯m not leaving!¡± Revna cried out, her body spasming and the midwife lunged forward and slapped her into silence. Giordi immediately stepped forward in front of Revna. ¡°Get out!¡± He snapped. She argued fruitlessly for he would not budge. ¡°I said out!¡±


    She left, probably cursing him with every syllable she uttered.


    ¡°She right,¡± Revna sobbed, ¡°I poor mother¡­¡±


    ¡°You listen to me,¡± Giordi grasped her shoulders, ¡°if you¡¯ve got to scream to get through this, you scream. Don¡¯t you let that old hag tell you that what you¡¯re going through should be endured alone and in silence.¡±


    ¡°Forgive the lack of propriety, Revna.¡± Aalis tore at her clothes and removed her leggings and all clothes except her tunic. ¡°Giordi, sit on the edge of the bed.¡± Aalis ordered and he did so. ¡°Spread your legs and let Revna sit in your lap.¡±


    Giordi took Revna¡¯s weight, becoming a chair for her to recline on. He could feel every twinge of her body, the way she arched her back and gripped his hands. Yolana appeared in the tent, Emeri following, her arms full of cloth. Aalis looked at her, relieved and took the bowl of water from her.


    ¡°I have never delivered a baby on my own before.¡± Aalis admitted.


    ¡°I¡¯ve delivered several.¡± Yolana pushed up her sleeves and knelt, lifting Revna¡¯s tunic. ¡°It is too early to push, Revna. You must wait.¡±


    Revna¡¯s response was wordless but the scream was filled with pain and panic. Aalis put her right hand on Revna¡¯s belly, closing her eyes and concentrating.


    ¡°We have time,¡± Aalis looked at Yolana, ¡°but not much.¡±


    Yolana grasped Aalis arm and drew her aside. ¡°If she pushes now, Revna will die.¡±


    ¡°I fear if she does not, both will die.¡± Aalis confessed.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Yolana¡¯s face grew grim. ¡°I can get her through labour if we can just delay it a little.¡±


    ¡°I will help her recover.¡± Aalis nodded.


    They returned to Revna who leaned back on Giordi, her legs spread, her belly spasming. Yolana spread cloths beneath her and set the bowl of water nearby. She wiped at Revna¡¯s legs.


    ¡°You can push, Revna¡­but do so as gently as you can.¡± Yolana warned.


    Revna whimpered and sobbed.


    ¡°Giordi,¡± Aalis whispered, ¡°talk to her.¡±


    ¡°What do I say?¡± Giordi cringed as Revna howled.


    ¡°Anything! You are a minstrel! Sing!¡±


    Giordi¡¯s mind was blank. A thousand songs and a hundred melodies simply deserted him. All he could recall was the song his mother had sung to him when he was bouncing on his bed, determined not to go to sleep. His mother would sit him down with a cup of milk and sing the song to him. It might not have put him to sleep but by the time it ended, he was calm and relaxed, his milk was empty and without fail, he would nod off soon after.


    ¡°Sleep, sleep my little child


    The sun is down, the moon is up


    Sleep, sleep my little child, sleep.


    Sleep, sleep my little child


    Your bed is calling out to you


    Sleep, sleep my little child, sleep.


    You¡¯ve had some fun today,


    There have been games and play,


    But now it¡¯s time to go to sleep


    And dream the night away.


    Sleep, sleep my little child


    The sun is down, the moon is up


    Sleep, sleep my little child, sleep.¡±


    Giordi¡¯s eyes were full of self doubt and questions but Aalis smiled at him and nodded. Revna¡¯s panic had lessened during the melody and Giordi suddenly recalled another gentle song then another and another. He lost track of time, holding onto Revna as she whimpered, sweat pouring down her face as she tried to heed Yolana and Aalis¡¯ encouragement.


    Aalis felt Revna¡¯s belly and looked at Yolana. ¡°It must be now.¡± She warned softly. Revna was panting and missed the whispered warning but Giordi heard it and caught Aalis¡¯ eye.


    Something was wrong.


    ¡°It is time to push, Revna,¡± Yolana urged, ¡°when those contractions come, bear down.¡±


    ¡°You can do this, Revna,¡± Giordi told her as her grip on his hands tightened to blood restricting grasps, ¡°that¡¯s right, you can push. Push, Revna! You can do it!¡±


    She tilted her head back and howled.


    ¡°Giordi, lift her up!¡±


    Giordi tried to stand, his arms beneath her armpits, holding Revna against his body. Her legs were bent, half squatting with Yolana braced beneath.


    ¡°Revna, you have to push!¡±


    ¡°Pain¡­¡± Revna sobbed. ¡°So¡­much¡­pain¡­¡±


    Giordi wanted to close his ears like he could close his eyes. He couldn¡¯t listen to this. It was agony as Revna screeched and arched backwards as though trying to escape her own body.


    ¡°Revna, push!¡±


    ¡°I cannot!¡±


    ¡°Revna,¡± Aalis stood up, ¡°if you do not push, this baby will die. Do you understand?¡±


    Revna shook mightily and Giordi could feel that some of it was pain but most of it was fear.


    ¡°Revna,¡± he whispered, ¡°it won¡¯t last forever. And when it¡¯s over, I swear I will look after you and the baby. Please¡­you can do this.¡±


    Revna closed her eyes and nodded then nearly crushed his hands as her hips flexed, her abdomen contracted and she threw her head back, braced herself and howled.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Yolana cried. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡±


    Revna collapsed. Giordi threw himself backwards, taking her with him, landing on the bed, holding onto her body as she panted and sobbed.


    She mumbled something that Giordi didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°You did it,¡± he cooed gently, stroking her damp ashen hair back from her face, ¡°you did it, Revna.¡± Yolana knelt at the end of the bed, the bloody red babe in her hands. Giordi frowned at the silence. ¡°It isn¡¯t crying¡­why isn¡¯t it crying?¡±


    Yolana wouldn¡¯t meet his or Revna¡¯s gaze. She looked down at the baby, tears streaking down her face. ¡°I think the baby came too soon¡­I¡¯m¡­so sorry¡­¡± She sobbed.


    ¡°No¡­¡± Giordi breathed as Revna turned her face to his neck, wailing softly.


    ¡°I failed¡­punished¡­my baby¡­¡±


    ¡°Give it to me.¡± Aalis said, her tone grim and terrible.


    Yolana swallowed and handed it to Aalis who knelt by Yolana¡¯s side. She held the lifeless babe in her gloved left hand, closed her eyes and put her right thumb on the thin little chest and her fingers on its forehead. There was no sound, no movement¡­no breath in the tent. Enthralled and terrified, they stared at Aalis whose brow flickered lightly. She gave a sudden gasp, her eyes tearing open, her irises blazing with a dark blue light and she slipped sideways. Yolana scooped the baby out of her arms as Aalis collapsed on the floor of the tent and didn¡¯t move.


    But before anyone could ask if she was alright, the baby filled its lungs and let out a glorious squall, tiny red fists shaking as it cried long and loud. Despite the pain she must have been in, Revna tried to rise, Giordi helping her to sit up a little and she gazed at the newborn, still smeared with red, a stringy red cord connecting it to its mother from its belly.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, little one,¡± Yolana wept though she smiled, gently wrapping the baby in a blanket, ¡°let the world know you have arrived.¡± She lifted the baby to Revna who held her arms out, trembling. The baby blinked, its blue eyes peering up at Revna as she gently moved some of the cloth from its face. ¡°It¡¯s a boy, Revna. A son.¡±


    Giordi suddenly realised his cheeks were covered with tears, turning the world into a salty blur.


    ¡°I will cut the cord,¡± Yolana said, tying a thin piece of leather around the cord close to the baby¡¯s belly then used a blade to separate it from the bloody discharge that had followed the baby¡¯s entrance to the world, ¡°there. Giordi, could you help Revna back onto the bed?¡±


    Giordi nodded numbly, climbing out from behind Revna, using furs and cushions to prop her up. He saw Aalis trying to claw her way back to standing and helped her upright. She nearly fell again immediately but forced herself to drop to her knees, addressing Revna¡¯s bruised and torn body with tender care.


    ¡°You will be sore,¡± she said in a ghost of a voice, tremulous and weak, ¡°but it will heal.¡±


    ¡°Sore? Look at her,¡± Giordi whispered, ¡°she feels nothing.¡±


    Revna was utterly enraptured by the face of her child, speaking gently to it and the baby blinked at her, blue eyes focussing on her grey ones.


    Yolana squeezed Giordi¡¯s hand. ¡°You did brilliantly, Giordi.¡±


    ¡°I felt so useless.¡± He confessed.


    ¡°I think Revna would argue that.¡± Yolana smiled then turned, seeing Emeri standing in the tent by the entrance. Horror flooded Yolana, realising her young daughter had witnessed the entire event. From the panic and the pain to the distress and the sorrow to this very moment. ¡°Emeri¡­¡±


    Emeri fled the tent. Yolana stood up and chased her out. ¡°Emeri!¡± She caught up with her at the campfire, leaning against one of the stone pillars. ¡°Emeri?¡± Her daughter was weeping. Yolana embraced her. ¡°My darling¡­¡± All of Emeri¡¯s shock, fright and joy culminated in a wordless cry and she hung onto her mother. ¡°Everything is alright now. Hush my darling.¡±


    ¡°Yolana?¡± Suvau approached with Judd, Verne and Caste in tow. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Revna gave birth to a beautiful little boy.¡± Yolana summarised simply.


    ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± Verne asked tightly.


    ¡°It was not without drama,¡± Yolana admitted, ¡°but it is done now.¡± Emeri pulled away from her and left the crowd. Suvau watched her go then turned to his wife. ¡°The life she knew of in books just became much more real.¡± She held up her hand before Suvau¡¯s next question. ¡°She will be fine.¡±


    ¡°And you?¡± Suvau asked, taking her hand and drawing her close. ¡°You are covered in blood.¡±


    Yolana looked down, having forgotten about her appearance. ¡°I should change.¡±


    ¡°How is Aalis?¡± Judd asked, unable to keep from inquiring any longer.


    ¡°Aalis is¡­¡±


    Judd frowned at Yolana¡¯s pause and the distant, somewhat disturbed look in her eyes.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°She is fine.¡±


    Judd and Verne watched Suvau escort his wife back to the tent.


    ¡°Did the word ¡®fine¡¯ just now seem to mean more than it usually does?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Or less¡­¡± Judd glanced towards Giordi¡¯s tent, obscured by other tents. ¡°I imagine when she¡¯s ready, she¡¯ll come down.¡±

 Figures…

    Aalis had recovered somewhat from her collapse. She cleaned the unavoidable mess of birth while Revna was adoringly distracted by her baby. Giordi helped Aalis as best he could. She noticed he was very quiet and subdued. ¡°Giordi?¡± She asked softly. ¡°Are you well?¡±


    ¡°Revna¡¯s situation,¡± he glanced at her then back at Aalis, ¡°could have just as easily been caused by myself. It never occurred to me that the consequences of my ¡®harmless¡¯ fun would be so dire.¡± His blue eyes were troubled. ¡°Being here, enduring this with Revna¡­I¡¯ve been such a selfish ass.¡± Aalis touched his arm and he smiled sadly. ¡°It¡¯s a hard lesson¡­one that was well overdue.¡± He breathed in deeply. ¡°Would it be alright if I went outside for some fresh air? I¡­need to breathe.¡±


    Aalis nodded. ¡°Of course. I will look after Revna.¡±


    Giordi gave Aalis a grateful look before escaping the confines of the tent. He walked away from it, taking several big, shuddering breaths. Like he was undergoing shock, his body quaked and he felt ill. Though he had told Revna that all would be well, Giordi had spoken out of hope and not out of what he felt would be the reality. He grasped a post and almost doubled over, trying to stop the world from swimming. When the dizziness ebbed he heard footsteps approaching and boots appeared in his downcast sight.


    Giordi looked up and sighed. ¡°Figures¡­¡±


    The nomads were starting to build the main campfire, preparing for the night. The shadows were starting to lengthen, the days shortening as the season of winter began to frost everything with its chilly blanket. Caste watched them work, leaving the tent for Yolana to bathe in private. His fingers grasped the metal pendant of the Order of the Grail, the four points in the circle was familiar and reassuring. It was cool in his grasp and gave him something firm to hold onto. And not just the physical object. Out here, in the wilds, in the company of nomads no less, Caste felt the tug of the tide dragging him away from the Order¡¯s statutes. It would be a simple thing to throw it all away. Well¡­perhaps not simple but he could see how ones like Clariet and Severo had lost their way, going where the tide pushed or pulled them¡­sometimes drowning in their confusion.


    Caste could not let that happen to him.


    He couldn¡¯t lose focus or faith.


    He had to let go of the pendant, his hands clutching each other from the safety of his generous sleeves, escaping the chill.


    ¡°It is so cold.¡± He started and looked to the side to see Emeri standing near him. Not close enough to be considered next to but certainly closer than she had been of late. She pulled her shawl tighter around herself, eyes on the building of the fire. ¡°Fort Omra was further south¡­but here on the prairie¡­it seems unguarded from winter¡¯s chill.¡±


    Caste swallowed, not quite sure what to say. He¡¯d slandered her people to the absolute extreme of any theory he had ever heard tossed around the Order of the Grail. Ones like Jerom or Fereak saw nothing wrong in abusing their positions of power. Caste had to make intimate association with Emeri¡¯s people as damning as possible so that they would avoid them, even if only out of self preservation and not of respect.


    She hated him for what he had said. That he understood and did not blame.


    But it was the strange lack that unsettled Caste the most since leaving Fort Omra. He hadn¡¯t realised just how alone he was, conditioned that it was how it was meant to be. He never recognised the yawning gap of loneliness before that now nipped at him with the absence of Emeri¡¯s bright and engaging self. He didn¡¯t want to become used to it. He didn¡¯t want to feel the grief of loss. It was too painful.


    Emeri bit her bottom lip.


    ¡°That could have been me¡­up there,¡± she said, still not looking at him, ¡°in eight months¡­¡± Caste winced at the memory, Jerom¡¯s ugly face and Emeri¡¯s whimpering terror. She swallowed. ¡°I don¡¯t think I ever said thank you for stopping him¡­¡± Caste closed his eyes, his insides feeling like they were two wrestling wild cats. ¡°Thank you, Caste.¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what to say. He couldn¡¯t think of anything and the silence was expanding to the point where she might have thought he was ignoring her. That terrible day was etched in his mind, traumatic and cruel¡­and some of the cruelty had been his. He had just made up his mind to blurt out that he was sorry and turned towards where she had been standing only to find she was gone.


    Caste grunted, annoyed with himself and partly relieved.


    He wasn¡¯t sure where his apology would go or how it would end.


    The shadows grew longer, the wood lit from the coals that had slumbered beneath the ashes of the fire of the night before and red, bloody chunks of meat were skewered onto spits and put over the flames.


    The evening meal was well on its way to being cooked when Caste noticed a large crowd descending from the meeting hall, Chief Elk¡¯s son leading the way with Elk himself following. And between them, his hands bound with rope, was Giordi.


    ¡°Not again¡­¡± Caste exclaimed and sprinted to the tent, finding Judd, Verne and Suvau standing outside. ¡°Giordi¡¯s in trouble again!¡±


    ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°No idea.¡±


    They ran back to the campfire where Elk was speaking sternly, the nomads gathering at the sounding of the horn. Caste marvelled that the nomads seemed to know exactly what each note of the horn meant. Giordi probably could tell the different notes apart but all Caste could hear was one long blast and simply followed where everyone else was going.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Caste edged around the pillars, Judd, Verne and Suvau coming with him.


    Chief Elk¡¯s words sounded like a declaration, not a trial. Giordi was on his knees but unlike his previous berating in front of the chief, his expression was not full of shame but anger.


    ¡°What¡¯s he saying?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Elk¡¯s son, Sten, is accusing Giordi of attacking Revna.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Judd exclaimed then lowered his voice at a glare from Chief Bear. ¡°That¡¯s preposterous! It was Sten who knocked her over when she went to protect him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only telling you what I¡¯m hearing.¡± Caste reminded Judd who clamped his protestations back behind his teeth.


    ¡°What does Revna say?¡±


    ¡°Apparently she¡¯s weakened and indisposed because of her Terra interfered birth,¡± Caste shook his head, ¡°and cannot be questioned.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s Sten¡¯s word against Giordi¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got a witness.¡±


    ¡°One of the other cowards that was with Sten last night, kicking Giordi before I arrived no doubt.¡± Suvau grunted.


    ¡°Chief Elk is reminding his people that nomad harming nomad is against clan law,¡± Caste swallowed, ¡°Giordi is condemned to be whipped and tied to the post outside the palisade.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough¡­¡± Judd¡¯s mouth turned down and he went to stride forward. He nearly lashed out at Caste who grabbed his arm. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°Judd, you can¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°I refuse to watch this farce of justice be outworked!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking about Terra justice!¡± Caste was dragged along with him, his heels digging in yet doing little to slow Judd down. ¡°That doesn¡¯t exist here! You have no authority. Neither does the Order!¡±


    Suvau¡¯s big hand clamped on Judd¡¯s shoulder and stopped his advance. ¡°Your cleric is right, Judd.¡±


    Caste breathed out, relieved Judd had been stopped.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me I have to stand by and watch Giordi suffer a punishment that he doesn¡¯t deserve?¡±


    ¡°You chose to accept nomadic hospitality! This is part of it, being accountable to their laws!¡±


    ¡°Chief Elk wouldn¡¯t do this if he knew the truth!¡±


    ¡°We weren¡¯t there! Our witness has no power!¡±


    ¡°Uh, you might want to lower your voices¡­¡± Verne remarked and they both looked at Chief Elk who was glaring at them. Judd and Caste suddenly realised they¡¯d been speaking much more loudly than intended, stealing attention away from Elk.


    Caste lowered his head subserviently while Judd had to press his lips together to not start ranting again. Chief Elk lifted his chin and continued to speak, handing Sten a whip. His son took it with a gleeful expression and Judd doubted there would be any skin on Giordi¡¯s back by the time Sten was through.


    ¡°Stamat!¡±


    Everyone, including Chief Elk and his son, turned at the loud cry. Revna was halfway down the incline, taking each step slowly and carefully. Aalis walked beside her, holding her newborn son. Revna wobbled slightly, the euphoria of giving birth and embracing her son fading enough for her to realise just how sore and battered she was. Yet she made every step count, keeping her gaze on her father.


    ¡°Look at Sten¡¯s face,¡± Verne whispered, ¡°he¡¯s soiling himself.¡±


    ¡°I wonder what the punishment is for false accusation and false witness?¡± Judd muttered while Caste breathed out in relief.


    Revna walked up to her father and spoke to him softly. Judd looked at Caste who shrugged, unable to hear what was being said. Chief Elk replied to his daughter. She smiled and gestured to Aalis who held her son out to his grandfather for inspection. Elk seemed somewhat surprised and remarked again to Revna. She spoke to Aalis who stepped back and Revna drew her father aside. Quietly they spoke, Revna indicating to Giordi.


    ¡°Does this seem a tad more involved than a simple, your son and my brother is a liar?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°I was just thinking that.¡± Verne admitted.


    Chief Elk¡¯s expression darkened and his hands tightened.


    ¡°Uh¡­this isn¡¯t going how I thought it would¡­¡±


    Chief Elk¡¯s words, though unable to be heard, were clearly hard and sharp. Revna did not shy away from them. Giordi exclaimed something, picking up part of their conversation but she shook her head at him then knelt in front of Chief Elk, her head lowered.


    Whispers of confusion and doubt rippled around the nomads.


    ¡°I think she might have just told Elk the truth,¡± Caste gasped, ¡°and not just about the attack¡­about Giordi and everything.¡±


    Judd suspected that Elk¡¯s anger was not an easy thing to ignite yet as he watched, the grey and white chief raised his hand to strike his daughter. Giordi ripped his rope bonds out of Sten¡¯s hands and lunged in front of Revna. He caught the blow on his shoulder, stumbling.


    Chief Elk snarled at him and Giordi held up his hands, speaking slowly.


    ¡°Why is Elk angry at him?¡± Judd demanded. ¡°Giordi is innocent!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Elk appreciates being lied to.¡±


    Chief Elk glowered at Giordi, his words hard and cold like the ground and air, frosted and without mercy. He looked between Revna and Giordi and seemed to be delivering an ultimatum. Giordi put his arm out to stop Revna and nodded. Revna protested but Giordi shook his head and pointed at the baby. Revna sobbed and pleaded with her father but he refused to entertain her, taking the rope that still bound Giordi¡¯s hands, snatching the whip from the cowering Sten and leading the minstrel through the crowd of onlookers.


    ¡°Caste, we¡¯ve got to find out what¡¯s going on.¡± Judd hissed as they were closed off from following, the nomads gathering tightly to watch what was happening.


    ¡°How do you suppose I do that?¡±


    ¡°Go speak to Revna. Verne¡­¡± Judd turned to the archer but he was already sprinting to the gate, taking the long way around but going so fast he reached the gate as Chief Elk pulled Giordi through it. Judd lost sight of them, pushing and shoving, finally expelled from the crowd and had to wait for Verne to find him. ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°All he said was, don¡¯t let Revna hear me scream.¡± Verne¡¯s face was like milk. ¡°Judd, Elk¡¯s going to whip him, tie him to that post and leave him out there all night.¡±


    Judd raked his hands through his hair. ¡°Caste¡­where in Maul is Caste?¡±


    They fought through the nomads gathering at the palisade as Chief Elk led Giordi to the post. Caste was just coming back from speaking with Revna who was weeping onto Aalis¡¯ shoulder.


    ¡°Revna said, after giving birth, she realised she wasn¡¯t afraid of her father anymore. And when she realised that Giordi would be a target all his life as a nomad by her brother, she told Elk the truth.¡± Caste wheezed, the frantic dash across the campsite emptying his lungs. ¡°Elk was furious and was going to punish her but Giordi intervened. Elk said that someone had to be punished for defying his law.¡±


    ¡°Did he think to look at his own son?¡±


    ¡°Elk¡¯s anger has always been stretched between Giordi and Revna.¡± Suvau shook his head. ¡°It had to be one of them that bore the punishment.¡±


    ¡°Giordi made a promise to look after Revna. This is his way of doing it.¡± Caste looked at the orange sun that was sinking below the horizon. ¡°Judd, the nights are long here and Giordi is going to smell of blood. The likelihood that he will survive¡­¡±


    Judd closed his eyes, willing himself to be still and calm.


    ¡°Suvau, can you have Yolana and Emeri watch over Revna?¡± He asked quietly and without waiting for a response he continued. ¡°Please make sure they do as Giordi asked, that Revna can¡¯t hear what¡¯s happening.¡± He looked at Caste. ¡°You and I need to talk to Bear before the gate closes.¡±

 I thought I was going to die alone…

    Giordi¡¯s bravery had all but ebbed by the time he reached the gate. He had taken Revna¡¯s place in punishment out of instinct, believing it was what he owed her. Now, with hands tied together and being led onto the prairie out of the safety of the palisade, he could feel his knees quaking.


    He wasn¡¯t brave.


    He wasn¡¯t noble¡­normally.


    This act of self sacrifice was entirely out of character for him.


    And when he caught sight of the post, his knees failed him altogether, his body sagging into a pile, his breathing becoming so rapid he thought he might do the unthinkable and faint.


    A hand grasped his tunic and lifted him up, the silver eyes of Chief Elk like steel into his soul. ¡°If you are going to salvage my daughter¡¯s honour,¡± he ordered, ¡°you do so on your feet.¡±


    Giordi somehow managed to stumble after him, realising that Elk was not dragging him to the post. The rope hung slackly between them. Elk walked to the post, whip in his hand and turned to Giordi.


    The minstrel was shaking violently, looking at the post and imagining how many souls had been bound to it in the past that had not survived. There was a metal ring which Chief Elk tied the rope to, pulling it tight so that Giordi had no choice but to stand with his arms stretched high. All he could see was the post, the vertical grain of wood and out of the corner of his eye, the sunset.


    ¡°By Terra¡­by Maul¡­by all the stars in the sky over beloved Astaril¡­¡± Giordi whimpered.


    ¡°For Revna¡­¡±


    Giordi¡¯s body jolted as the whip ends, tipped with pieces of sharpened bone, struck his back. The violence of the blow came a split second before the inevitable and undeniable pain. Giordi cried out, pressing his face to the post, trying to silence his agony. Then there was a second blow and a third and a fourth, Giordi¡¯s body screaming in pain to which he could only howl, unable not to. He couldn¡¯t be noble and keep silent. He couldn¡¯t keep it in. He sent out a brief, silent prayer that Revna could not hear what he was going through when the whip struck him again and again and again. Giordi¡¯s screams barely paused, one blending into the next just like the blows of the whip. There was no end, only pain and its voice.


    Giordi sobbed, pulling at the rope, his head down, his chest heaving in sorrow that tried to snap him in two. He hadn¡¯t even noticed that the whipping had stopped. The rope holding him up slackened and he fell to his knees, still bound to the post but no longer forced to stand. Giordi creaked and groaned, his body shaking.


    Chief Elk knelt beside him. ¡°Thank you.¡± He whispered then left.


    Giordi was alone.


    The sun was sinking rapidly now as if wanting to escape the day as much as he did. But when it was gone, he would still be there. He could already hear the howls of creatures in the shadows, just waiting for darkness to fall in its entirety before coming for him. His back, which had been just one, hot scorching, searing terrible agony, was now lines of pain and coldness. Blood was no doubt covering his back, splatters of it over his arms. It was as though he was pierced with dozens of splinters of glass.


    Giordi had never known anything like it.


    ¡°Revna is safe. The baby is safe.¡± He chanted to himself. ¡°Revna is safe. The baby is safe. I¡¯m going to die but at least they¡¯re safe.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    No doubt everyone was staring at him, bloodied and broken, from the safety of the palisade. Giordi knew he must have made a pathetic spectacle.


    But he couldn¡¯t be brave or bold or noble.


    His life had rarely had any meaning.


    Perhaps his death would finally make his life worth something.


    He shivered, his body convulsing in shock and from the cold and then the pain would return in force from its constant hum of agony.


    Somewhere, behind the thunderous noise that was the clamour of his mind, he thought he heard footsteps and the light scrape of metal. Giordi knew he must be imagining it but when the steps came closer and stopped nearby, he couldn¡¯t help but peer up at the figure, darkly shaded in the fading light.


    ¡°Judd?¡± He croaked through a raw throat. ¡°What¡­are you¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to stand watch.¡± Giordi¡¯s mind was cloudy and struggled to understand. ¡°I spoke with Chief Bear about nomad law. I¡¯m not permitted to sever the bonds until dawn but, as it turns out, there¡¯s no law against someone standing out here in defence of the condemned.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi whispered, ¡°they¡¯ll close the gate...you¡¯ll be out here all night. You can¡¯t¡­¡±


    Judd turned and looked at Giordi, compassion and admiration in his eyes. ¡°And I can¡¯t let your sacrifice go undefended.¡±


    Tears emptied out of Giordi¡¯s eyes, streaming down his face. ¡°I thought I was going to die alone¡­¡± He sobbed.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to die.¡± Suvau¡¯s deep, rich voice reached Giordi and he twisted and saw the dark skinned man with a mace in one hand and shield in the other.


    ¡°And you¡¯re certainly not alone.¡± Verne added, bow in hand, setting two quivers of arrows down near the post.


    Giordi wanted to be brave and to tell them to return to the safety of the palisade but he couldn¡¯t muster the selflessness to do so. He didn¡¯t want to be alone. He didn¡¯t want to listen to the terrors of the night as they began to swarm, each of them eager to consume him.


    ¡°There goes the sun.¡±


    Giordi lifted his head and saw the last drop of gold soak into the horizon, the sky¡¯s inevitable march towards the black of night becoming a sprint. The gate of the palisade closed, the metal latch clanging with a condemning clatter.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk strategy,¡± Judd announced and the three mobile defenders turned to each other to convene, ¡°I want two of us awake at all times, guarding Giordi. While we can, one of us should sleep.¡±


    ¡°I can usually fall asleep anywhere.¡± Verne offered, removing the heavy cape from his shoulders, draping it as gently as he could around Giordi to keep him from freezing to death. He winced as Giordi whimpered, shivering mightily.


    ¡°Suvau and I will take the first shift then.¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Giordi asked with the smallest drop of mirth in his tone, his teeth clattering together like horse hooves on cobblestones.


    ¡°Your job is to not die.¡±


    Giordi had been resigned that his life would end before midnight. With Judd, Verne and Suvau standing watch, he decided he had just enough nobility in him to not die. He wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint them or make their sacrifice to be in vain.


    Aalis¡¯ breath was like fog and she stood as a statue at the palisade, staring at the post. She couldn¡¯t see the four men anymore. Night had lowered a veil, drowning them in darkness. But she knew they were there and from the shouts and cries she could hear, the monsters knew it too. Judd, Verne and Suvau defended vulnerable and beaten Giordi and would do so all night long.


    She scrunched her face tight and gritted her teeth. ¡°Why would he not let me go with him?¡±


    Judd had emerged from the tent, buckling his armour on and clutching his helm, striding for the gate when he¡¯d seen Aalis running to join him. The look he¡¯d given her was as unrelenting as Elk¡¯s glare. She had stopped running as he shook his head at her then continued out of the gate, Suvau and Verne following.


    Aalis stepped back from the palisade, folding her arms. ¡°I should be out there.¡±


    ¡°You would be no use out there.¡± Aalis started and looked at Caste who stood by her side. How long he¡¯d been there for she couldn¡¯t say. She opened her mouth to protest when he continued. ¡°That was not accurate. What I meant to say is, you are of better use in here.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± She demanded.


    ¡°If Giordi survives the night, and knowing Judd¡¯s stubbornness, Verne¡¯s skill and Suvau¡¯s strength as we do, his chances are better than most, he will need a healer. All the swords, arrows and shields in the world won¡¯t save him if and when he develops an infection.¡±


    Aalis¡¯s jaw fell open, Caste¡¯s words stunning her.


    ¡°You are right of course.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I could be making better use of my time¡­thank you, Caste.¡± She went to walk away then paused, looking back at him. ¡°What will you do?¡±


    Caste shrugged. ¡°Count down the hours then minutes until daybreak.¡±


    ¡°You will not sleep?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure I could.¡±

 I suppose, in a way, we are not so different

    When Caste said it, he¡¯d meant it and for several hours, he¡¯d kept watch at the gate though he could see nothing. Sometimes he heard the sounds of battle and other times it was silent and eerie. He started out standing then sat down, huddled beneath blankets and furs that Aalis brought to him. Then he began to slump sideways, jolted awake when Judd¡¯s cry to look out reached him or Suvau¡¯s angry bellow broke through his wave of sleep. Finally his heavy eyes and even heavier head could not resist the downward pull any longer and he sagged into sleep, missing the last few waves of monsters that made desperate attacks in the hour before dawn.


    When Caste woke up, he wondered if he was dreaming. He was in the clouds, almost warmly embraced by the soft whiteness. It was mystical and charming.


    He twisted to look around and saw Chief Elk striding through the clouds, suddenly realising that he was not in the sky but on the ground, completely surrounded and obscured by a heavy fog.


    Elk stood at the gate, his silvery eyes watching the horizon. Caste stood, teeth chattering when he realised just how cold it was. They both turned to the east where tender new light was beginning to glimmer, glancing off the top of the fog, causing it to shine in pastel hues.


    ¡°Dawn,¡± Caste breathed, ¡°it¡¯s over.¡±


    Chief Elk lifted the latch on the gate, Caste scrambling out of the way as the chieftain drew it open by himself. He and Caste stood in the large gap in the palisade, staring into the fog.


    Caste trembled. ¡°Come on¡­come on¡­where are you?¡±


    Chief Elk¡¯s eyes also grazed the fog, attempting to pierce its opaque depths.


    Caste didn¡¯t know who spied them first. He only knew he nearly fainted at the sight of three silhouettes coming towards the camp. They came close enough that the fog had to give up its thick veil and Judd, Suvau carrying Giordi and Verne staggered into view. Giordi was barely conscious, draped over Suvau¡¯s shoulder, his head rolling around limply, his tunic tattered and sticking to his skin with dried blood. Judd had been well protected with his armour but Caste noticed several scratches in breast plate and vambraces that hadn¡¯t been there before. Suvau¡¯s shield was battered and he¡¯d left his mace behind, probably embedded in a monster¡¯s hide. Verne¡¯s quivers were empty and his bowstring had snapped. He was limping, using his bow to help him walk.


    Judd saw Chief Elk and nodded to him then caught sight of Caste.


    ¡°Up all night, Caste?¡± Judd¡¯s smile was weak and weary but entirely sincere. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you cared.¡±


    ¡°Aalis is waiting for you.¡± He blurted in return.


    Aalis had prepared a low table in their tent. Caste ran ahead to let her know Giordi was on his way and found her already awake and preparing her supplies. Her face paled at the sight of Giordi¡¯s bloodied form and she became concerned about the way he was shaking, his skin tinged with yellow. Aalis put her hand on his forehead, prying an eye open.


    ¡°He is suffering a fever.¡± She diagnosed. ¡°On the table Suvau,¡± she instructed, ¡°as gently as you can.¡±


    With Judd¡¯s help, Suvau heaved Giordi from his shoulder, Giordi whimpering in delirium. Aalis worked quickly, cringing as she pulled the tunic fabric out of the dried blood, Giordi twitching and groaning. His back was a mess of score marks, gashes and covered in blood. She soaked a cloth in salted boiled water, wrung it out and laid it on his back. Giordi¡¯s hands flailed about in instinctual defence.


    ¡°I am sorry.¡± Aalis whispered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologise.¡± Judd ordered. ¡°Do what you do, Aalis. We¡¯ll hold him down.¡±


    The cleaning of Giordi¡¯s back was agonising and time consuming. By the time she had soaked off all the dried blood, able to see the damage properly, Giordi was partly awake and weeping.


    ¡°Verne, can you see if he will drink this?¡± Aalis asked, handing Verne a cup of goat¡¯s milk. ¡°There is a strong anaesthetic in it.¡± She caught sight of Verne¡¯s face and was stunned by the stricken expression in the archer¡¯s usually cool and composed eyes. Verne grasped the cup and turned away.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis pulled the weary warrior aside, ¡°did something bite him?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Judd admitted, ¡°we could see next to nothing. There were flappy things and scurrying things and growling things¡­and Giordi was either unconscious or crying from the pain. Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I think there is monster toxin in his blood.¡± Aalis whispered.


    ¡°You can fix that, can¡¯t you?¡± Judd asked.


    Aalis worried her lip. ¡°I¡­I can try. But I need you all to leave.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Please, just leave and get some rest.¡± Aalis insisted. Verne walked past her.


    ¡°He managed about half.¡± He said hollowly.


    Aalis watched him go, distracted for a moment then shook her head, reminding herself of who her patient was. Caste went to leave as well.


    ¡°No Caste, you stay.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± The cleric faltered. ¡°But I¡­have no healing skill. I mean, I know basic theory but I¡­¡±


    ¡°Giordi saved your life once. It is time you did the same for him.¡± Aalis said firmly and Caste¡¯s jaw clamped shut. She pointed to her medicinal line up. ¡°We have cleansed the wounds. You will need to apply salve into each of the cuts then stitch the edges of the deeper wounds together before binding his upper torso in these bandages.¡±


    Caste stammered and blundered. ¡°But¡­but¡­what about you? And why me? There must be other more qualified people like Yolana!¡±


    Aalis sighed and pulled off her left glove. ¡°I think you and I are past certain secrets.¡± She held up her hand, her nails blackened and split. Caste swallowed, unable to tear his gaze away. Aalis licked her lips and put her hand onto Giordi¡¯s back. He grimaced in his stupor. Aalis closed her eyes and breathed in and out, her brow furrowing, her fingers stretching across the freshly weeping wounds.


    Caste watched as her fingers became smeared with blood, his skin prickling like there was a violent, lightning heavy, storm in the air. Then Aalis jolted, her body becoming taut, her fingers splayed as far as sinew and muscle would allow. She breathed in sharply, her eyes still closed, sweat beading up on her forehead. Giordi¡¯s body spasmed, his fingers flexed and curled as he writhed. He let out a deep groan which mirrored Aalis¡¯ moan, blood trickling out of her nose and her skin became sallow and almost translucent.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Caste was just about to risk her ire and run for help when she convulsed, crumpling into a heap on the rug covered ground. Caste peered over the table and the body of the minstrel, going up on tip toe so he could see Aalis. She looked up at him through her tousled white dreadlocks, her irises as green as monster blood and the white of her eyes had turned yellow. He recoiled from her appearance, horrified and filled with terror.


    Aalis covered her mouth with her hand marred by blackened and blistered nails, grabbed a nearby bowl and vomited over and over into it. Caste was too shocked to know what to do until she finished emptying her body. Aalis wiped her mouth and looked up again, the yellow gone out of her eyes and the dark green irises lightening every second.


    ¡°Caste,¡± she forced out of her ragged throat, ¡°the toxin and infection are gone¡­please, treat Giordi.¡±


    Protestation seemed pointless and argument, only delaying the inevitable. Caste took up the pot of salve and spread it into each of the wounds. Giordi was unaware and lay still for which he was very grateful, even more so when he took up the needle and black thread, sighting three larger wounds that needed to be stitched. Caste had always possessed a methodical approach to anything and it did not fail him now as he sewed the wounds closed with painstaking perfectionism. Aalis was able to stand up, leaning heavily on the table and supervised. She had only praise for his work then helped him to bind Giordi¡¯s torso.


    ¡°It is done.¡± Aalis stepped back, picking up her glove and sliding it onto her hand, covering her blackened nails. When she lifted her gaze, she saw Caste looking away.


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°I want to see Judd complete his knighthood quest,¡± Aalis blurted desperately, pleadingly, ¡°that is all I ask, Caste. After that¡­¡± Caste didn¡¯t look at her. He only nodded. ¡°Please watch him while I let the others know.¡±


    Aalis escaped the tent, the fresh air a welcomed reprieve from the nausea that had been coming in waves. She breathed in and out, in and out, studiously calming her body and refreshing her mind. Giordi¡¯s treatment had been at the very brink of her abilities and after the incident with Revna¡¯s baby¡­


    Aalis put her hand out to steady herself against a stone pillar.


    She had felt strength leave her as she joined with the lifeless body. Her heartbeat had merged with the baby¡¯s and for a moment, she had felt herself dying, drawn down by the despair and the abyss of death. But her heart was strong and it had pulsed warmly, the baby¡¯s heart suddenly lurching into life, rapidly beating and Aalis had been overwhelmed by it.


    ¡°So close,¡± she whispered, ¡°I came so close¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Yolana called gently. ¡°Are you well?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Aalis nodded, straightening her body, willing herself to be strong. She turned to Yolana whose dark eyes showed she was unconvinced. ¡°Giordi is out of danger. Caste is sitting with him.¡± She sniffed, emotion bubbling beneath the surface that she swallowed down. ¡°How is Revna and the baby?¡±


    ¡°They are very well although Revna was fretting over Giordi¡¯s fate. I was able to tell her that Suvau, Judd and Verne were standing with him which eased her mind a little. Emeri is still with her.¡±


    ¡°Where are Judd, Verne and Suvau?¡±


    ¡°Chief Elk insisted on their dining in his chambers and even said they could sleep there.¡±


    ¡°Elk did that?¡± Aalis couldn¡¯t contain her surprise.


    ¡°I am not sure how much sleep he got last night either.¡± Yolana looked to the tent. ¡°I was going to get Suvau and Judd some fresh clothes.¡±


    ¡°Not Verne?¡±


    ¡°He ate then left.¡± Yolana shook her head. ¡°If he is not in our tent then¡­¡±


    Even if Aalis had not been worried about the archer, she could not have missed Yolana¡¯s concern.


    ¡°I will look for him.¡± Aalis assured her, turning away before Yolana could protest. However, despite Aalis¡¯ determination to find the archer, the western nomad campsite was large and a labyrinth of tents and buildings. In the end she knelt behind a tent and pressed her fingers to the ground. She could feel the footsteps of the nomads, hear their words like a streaked canvas in her mind and the snores of possibly her companions as they gave in to the sleep they had denied all night long. Finally she felt a well of grief and despair and followed its trail of sorrow, around the palisade perimeter to where their horses were stabled.


    There was the smell of horse, the scent of straw and sweat as Aalis shifted past the rows of horses tethered to the middle post. At the far end of the stables, in the enclosed portion of the building, were bales of hay. Aalis moved down towards the end, feeling the atmosphere change, becoming heavy and soaked with tears. She caught sight of a slender boot and put her hand on the bales, peering around.


    Verne was sitting with her back against the bales, her sobs silent and her tunic damp. She had removed her bandana, her head tilted back, resting on the hay, her black hair draining all the colour from her face.


    ¡°Verne¡­¡± She closed her eyes and turned her face aside, scrunching her bandana in her hand. Aalis edged around the bales and sank down onto the bed of loose straw opposite Verne, feeling her eyes sting with empathetic tears. ¡°He will live. I treated the infection and removed the monster toxin.¡± Verne sniffed and pressed her bandana to her face. Aalis rested her hand on her foot. ¡°Truly, Giordi will survive.¡±


    Verne nodded then swallowed and looked at Aalis ruefully. ¡°I haven¡¯t cried in years¡­was told it was a ¡®girlie¡¯ thing to do¡­so I vowed never to do it again¡­¡± She scrunched her eyes shut and shook her head. ¡°Typical¡­it was men who mocked my tears and now I¡¯m crying over one¡­¡±


    Aalis blinked, feeling her own tears escape her eyes. ¡°Verne¡­are you in love with Giordi?¡±


    Verne gave a mocking laugh. ¡°How can I be? I¡¯m Verne! I¡¯m his friend and fellow archer¡­not to mention he thinks I¡¯m male!¡±


    ¡°I was not asking what Giordi would think.¡± Aalis urged gently. ¡°I am asking what Vernice feels.¡±


    Verne shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­I just can¡¯t¡­¡± She pursed her lips together. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­because he¡¯s married.¡± She grunted, angry at her emotion. ¡°It¡¯s so stupid. I didn¡¯t know how I felt¡­not until he was accused by Elk and then I got so angry. Angry at him, angry at myself¡­angry at losing something I had no right to claim.¡± She paused, breathing rapidly through her anger. ¡°I wish he was an adulterer. I wish he was a brute and a fiend. But every choice he made, every kind, noble thing he did¡­¡±


    ¡°You realised the reason you were angry¡­was because you were in love with him.¡±


    ¡°And I realised it too late.¡± Verne wiped at her tears. ¡°To watch him being whipped¡­Aalis, I¡¯ve never felt agony like that in my soul before. Why? Why do people fall in love? It¡¯s torture!¡±


    Aalis smiled and nodded. ¡°It certainly can be.¡± She shifted around to sit beside Verne. The taller woman leaned down and rested her cheek on Aalis¡¯ head. ¡°Verne, it is possible that Giordi, upon taking the original punishment, is no longer married to Revna.¡±


    ¡°How can it be undone like that?¡± Verne said bitterly.


    ¡°I have been speaking with the nomads with Emeri¡¯s help. It is a law of their culture that to be intimate with a man is to be bonded with him.¡±


    ¡°Giordi has spent two nights with her.¡±


    ¡°But he was not intimate with her.¡± Aalis blushed. ¡°Revna told me as much, after she gave birth to her son, Mali. She wanted to set Giordi free of his responsibility.¡±


    Verne sat up and looked at Aalis. ¡°Giordi is no longer married?¡±


    ¡°According to tribal law, especially as he did not sleep with Revna.¡± Aalis nodded. ¡°Unless he chooses to stay here, which I cannot see happening, Giordi will continue with us on our quest.¡±


    Verne gave a small gasp, wringing her bandana tightly. ¡°But,¡± she licked her lips, ¡°what about Revna?¡±


    ¡°I think Chief Elk¡¯s ire has been satisfied now that the lies are exposed. I do not think he is as callous as he makes out. Little Mali will win him over soon enough and Revna has discovered inner strength she didn¡¯t know she was capable of.¡± Aalis smiled warmly. ¡°She¡¯s much stronger and braver than she appears¡­Giordi too.¡±


    Verne wiped her nose on her hand and sighed. ¡°Even if all you say is true¡­Giordi and I¡­¡±


    ¡°You could tell him the truth¡­¡±


    ¡°And watch him recoil?¡±


    ¡°Verne!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Verne sighed, ¡°let¡¯s face it, even being of Giordi¡¯s preferred romantic gender, I am still not his type.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Too tall, flat chested¡­barely a drop of femininity¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°And I am unkind to good friends¡­and call them liars.¡±


    ¡°Verne¡­¡± Aalis hushed firmly, feeling her own body sag with exhaustion. ¡°You were right. I called you a liar when I am veiled by lies¡­¡±


    ¡°You are surviving by keeping yourself distant.¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes, feeling the straw prickle her back. ¡°I suppose, in a way, we are not so different.¡± She swallowed. ¡°What will you do? Will you tell Giordi?¡±


    Verne shook her head. ¡°I honestly think I would lose him. At least as Verne, I still get to spend time with him.¡±


    Aalis twisted in the straw, staring at Verne incredulously. ¡°What about your heart?¡± She demanded.


    ¡°It¡¯ll survive. I always have.¡±

 Cowering, terrified…half fainting…a pathetic sight

    Giordi could do nothing for days, dozing in between fits of agony and the unavoidable moments where he had to rise. The unfortunate side effect of drinking goats¡¯ milk with the strong anaesthetic in it was that, eventually, he had to relieve himself. For the first two days he was in too much pain for pride to be any kind of a factor. Judd and Suvau had helped him to stand, all modesty flung far away and his pride, a distant memory. However, eventually he began to try to stand on his own. This was only accomplished with screeches and every expletive he could think of as the broken skin pulled and pained. Between these brief, blinding and exhausting moments, he remained on the table and slept.


    When he opened his eyes, he would usually spy someone sitting with him. Caste would be nearby, reading but looking up occasionally. Judd and Suvau also kept him company and even Verne was there once or twice, pretending to doze but Giordi suspected it was a ruse. Whatever he had done to offend and infuriate the mellow archer seemed to be at an end.


    Then there was the day, three days after that torturous night, that Giordi opened his eyes and saw Revna nursing her son. Giordi took a moment to just gaze at her, admiring the calmness about her where there had once been so much guilt, fear and shame. She looked at Mali¡¯s face lovingly, his little hand waving in the air. Revna caught his tiny fingers and kissed them, letting them wrap around her thumb.


    She looked so beautiful when she was at peace. When Mali had his fill, Revna tucked her tunic back around her body and rocked her son to sleep, glancing up. She went to gasp but Giordi put his finger to his lips and she smiled and nodded.


    ¡°How are you?¡± He asked in a rough whisper, his lungs squashed and his throat still ruined from the screaming.


    ¡°We are well.¡± Revna held little Mali out so Giordi could see his sleeping countenance.


    ¡°Handsome boy.¡± Giordi grimaced, the anaesthetic wearing off.


    ¡°Need¡­¡± Revna held the milk up.


    Giordi shook his head. ¡°The more I drink, the more I need to pee¡­and I hate standing up.¡± He flinched, spasms of pain revisiting him, reminding the minstrel of the wounds he could not see. Revna¡¯s fingers gently stroked his forehead, brushing away the frown, sliding through his curls. Giordi relaxed into the attention, his body sinking into the furs he was lying on. ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± He murmured, fighting waves of exhaustion.


    ¡°What you did for me¡­for us...¡± Revna played with his limp golden curls. ¡°I cannot¡­¡±


    ¡°I told you I would look after you.¡± Giordi¡¯s eyes were growing heavy again. ¡°I¡¯m your husband.¡±


    ¡°No longer,¡± Revna smiled almost sadly, ¡°you are free.¡±


    Giordi winced as he tried to sit up, trying to prop himself on one elbow. He eyed Revna as sharply as his befuddled senses would allow.


    ¡°What about you?¡± He asked. ¡°I can¡¯t leave you unprotected.¡±


    Revna continued her attention to his hair and it was all Giordi could do not to slump back onto the table and fall asleep.


    ¡°Patras and I spoke. He said things¡­he sorry¡­¡± Revna shook her head. ¡°I never hear him say sorry before. Never wrong. Never¡­¡±


    ¡°He thanked me for what I did.¡± Giordi gave a single laugh of derision. ¡°Cowering, terrified¡­half fainting¡­a pathetic sight.¡±


    ¡°Patras say you nomad,¡± Revna pointed to Giordi¡¯s chest, ¡°here.¡± She returned to stroking his hair and Giordi gave in and put his head on the cushion. ¡°I no afraid to stay. But Giordi must go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll visit¡­¡± Giordi murmured, his eyes closing as sleep overwhelmed him.


    ¡°Always welcome, Giordi Liontari.¡±


    Verne traded some of the rabbits she¡¯d killed for a pair of nomad boots. Her usual slim footwear was much thinner, allowing her to feel the ground almost as if she were barefoot but they were not adequate against the frost and the bite of winter. Once she slid her feet into the fur lined boots, she sighed, immediately feeling warmer.


    ¡°Warm toes, warm all over.¡± She quoted, standing and stomping her feet, taking care of her injured leg. Something had swiped at her in the dark, cutting her calf and causing her to limp but it was already healing. Soon the only reminder of it would be a light scar. ¡°That¡¯s so much better.¡± She slid her coat on, wrapping a scarf around her neck and checked to make sure the bandana was in place. She had taken to tying back her lengthening hair, leaving several shards of black to frame her face. The bandana was part of her expression, giving her the more heavy set look of a grim male rather than expose her fine boned features and hiding her surprisingly delicate arched eyebrows that were decidedly feminine.


    Once reassured that her femininity was effectively concealed, Verne headed for the meeting hall where she knew Judd had gone earlier. She was pulling on gloves when she heard Aalis speak encouragingly and Giordi chuckled in return. Aalis was walking with him as he ventured out from the tent, still struggling to stand upright.


    ¡°You need a cane, old man.¡± Verne remarked, falling into the distant and aloof persona that had protected her for so long from any persistent and inquiring questions.


    ¡°A few more days and Giordi will be able to travel.¡± Aalis assured her.


    ¡°Good because in a few days, I suspect the nomads will be gone and we¡¯ll be here on our own.¡± Verne nodded.


    The nomads had been preparing to shift their camp northward. Several structures and tents were already dismantled and there was a sense of anticipation as the nomads hurried about, each knowing what they had to do to be ready.


    ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Giordi asked, wincing.


    ¡°To the meeting hall.¡±


    ¡°Race you.¡±


    ¡°Very amusing.¡± Aalis said dryly then looked at Verne. ¡°What is up there?¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Judd is having a word with Chief Elk with Caste. He¡¯s trying to find out when the last time a minotaur was sighted.¡± Verne waved goodbye, escaping Giordi¡¯s presence with relief.


    A heart in love was a vulnerable and fragile thing. Verne already hated it that Aalis looked at her with sympathy and understanding. She couldn¡¯t imagine what it would be like if others, especially Giordi, knew the truth. Safer to remain Verne the enigmatic archer than attempt to be what she really was.


    ¡°Whatever the Maul I am¡­¡± Verne muttered and stomped up the incline to the meeting hall. The breeze was frigid and he was eager to get inside as quickly as possible. When he arrived, he found Judd, Suvau, Caste and Chief Elk looking over a map, frustration the tone of their conversation.


    Suvau caught sight of Verne and waved him over.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound promising.¡± Verne remarked quietly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Suvau admitted. ¡°If Caste is interpreting Elk correctly, minotaur have not been seen for at least three generations.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a problem.¡±


    ¡°A rather large one.¡± Suvau sighed.


    Though it was out of his control, Chief Elk did seem grieved that he was unable to help Judd. Whatever offense and distrust there had been because of Giordi¡¯s doppelganger had disappeared overnight¡­the night Giordi took the punishment which restored Revna¡¯s honour and set Giordi free. The nomad¡¯s opinion of the outsiders had swelled considerably when Judd, Verne and Suvau had chosen to risk everything to defend Giordi¡­and their reputation had burgeoned out of all proportion when they had returned to the palisade, triumphant.


    Not even Sten dared to cross them. In fact, he¡¯d made himself very scarce¡­especially once the nomads began to count and burn the bodies of the monsters and beasts that had sieged the whipping post.


    Unfortunately, despite the pile of carcases, there wasn¡¯t a minotaur among them.


    Judd and Elk talked with Caste between them at length, Judd trying to curb his disappointment and reassure Elk that he would work out where to find a minotaur himself. There was another brief spat of conversation where Caste listened intently and relayed the information to Judd.


    ¡°Two more days?¡± Judd asked and Elk nodded then indicated for Caste to display the map again, pointing to a place on it. ¡°You¡¯ll be moving further north in two days.¡± Elk spoke softly and Verne heard Giordi¡¯s name mentioned. Judd held up his hands. ¡°Even if Giordi is not able to travel, you need to take your people north where it is warmer.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°We can stay in the palisade if we need to.¡± He clasped Elk¡¯s arm and walked away with Caste, seeing Verne and Suvau standing together. ¡°So, heard the news?¡±


    ¡°No minotaur and the nomads will be leaving soon.¡± Verne concluded.


    ¡°That¡¯s about the size of it.¡± Judd huffed, striding out of the meeting hall.


    ¡°Does it have to be a minotaur?¡± Verne asked, jogging after him. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you substitute something else in its place?¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­a hydra?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get evidence or could verify the blood of the hydra on the monster quest list.¡± Caste protested.


    ¡°Pretty sure the legend of Judd LaMogre killing a hydra would have reached Astaril by now, even from as far south as Fort Omra.¡± Verne argued.


    ¡°Even so, it¡¯s not a minotaur.¡± Judd stopped walking and growled in frustration. ¡°Why? Why put a minotaur on the list if there aren¡¯t any?¡±


    Suvau folded his arms. ¡°Is it possible this, Sir Rylan, made the quest an impossible one?¡±


    Judd turned to him. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t actually want any young middle class men to achieve knighthood.¡±


    Judd frowned. ¡°But that would mean he sent us all out to die and Sir Rylan is an honourable knight.¡±


    ¡°Like Egrette or Fereak?¡± Verne said in disgust.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying he¡¯s perfect but¡­¡± Judd looked at Caste. ¡°Back me up here?¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan has an unblemished reputation.¡± Caste nodded. ¡°His conduct is without fault. The list of monsters was also a collaborative quest list between Sir Rylan, his deacon and Bishop Peele who literally wrote the book on the monsters of Maul. They felt a minotaur on the list was an excellent, albeit dangerous, monster for an aspiring knight to kill. It¡¯s also one that Sir Rylan has killed before so it puts you in the same league as he if you can kill one.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s it then!¡± Verne started. ¡°If Sir Rylan killed one then he must know where they are.¡±


    ¡°We all know where they are.¡±


    Judd, Verne and Suvau all turned and looked at Caste. The red headed cleric saw their looks, even glares and stepped back.


    ¡°What?¡± Judd demanded.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious where minotaur roam.¡± Caste said as though it was common knowledge. Judd and Verne looked at each other then back at Caste, Verne¡¯s hands on his hips while Judd folded his arms.


    ¡°Care to share?¡±


    Caste gulped. ¡°South of the wall.¡±


    Judd¡¯s arms dropped and Verne turned his head and growled softly. ¡°Well of course they¡¯re there!¡± Verne flung his arms up. ¡°That¡¯s where they come from!¡±


    ¡°And as such, as a knight of the wall, in order to prove his love for Princess Genovieve, Sir Rylan could have gone over the wall, killed three minotaur and dragged their heads before King Rocheveron¡­¡± Judd grasped his head through his brown curls, hunched over and grunted angrily. He tilted his head back and breathed heavily, knowing it was no one¡¯s fault but so frustrated that he was so close and yet so far. He turned back to the other three. ¡°So¡­that¡¯s it? This is where my quest ends? One monster shy of knighthood?¡±


    Verne and Caste looked at him helplessly, unable to muster an answer.


    Suvau, however, looked down at the ground, his strong arms folded. ¡°I know of one place where minotaur exist.¡±


    Judd gasped, Verne and Caste looking at each other then they all stared at Suvau.


    ¡°Where?¡± Verne blurted when the silence became drawn out and Judd was nearly bursting in anticipation.


    Suvau lifted his head, his brow furrowed. ¡°Fort Mavour.¡±


    ¡°At a fort?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°I heard about it by accident. Some of the soldiers, being fitted for their armour at Fort Omra, were talking about watching a match at Fort Mavour. It seems Sir Donimede has an arena where men don¡¯t just fight other men but can be pitted against monsters of Maul.¡±


    Caste was more than a little horrified and spluttered indignantly.


    However, before he could speak, Verne asked, ¡°Minotaur?¡±


    ¡°The soldiers were laughing about one brave but rather foolish soul nearly being cloven in two by one. They had been part of Sir Fereak¡¯s entourage when he visited Sir Donimede and were invited to watch the fight. There¡¯s quite a list of monsters to choose from but don¡¯t ask me how Donimede is able to manage it.¡± Suvau shrugged.


    Judd paused, something not ringing true about what Suvau was saying. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you mentioned this before?¡± He asked. ¡°You knew we¡¯ve been looking for a minotaur for weeks¡­¡±


    ¡°I hoped we wouldn¡¯t have to go to Mavour.¡± Suvau admitted.


    ¡°Why not, Suvau?¡±


    The big man looked to the side, his expression pained. ¡°Omra is not the only place people of my skin type reside. I know my kin also exist in Fort Mavour, traded like cattle between Sir Fereak and Sir Donimede¡­and not one has ever returned¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°As bad as Omra was, I suspect Mavour is a great deal worse.¡±


    Judd gazed at Suvau, his heart twisting. ¡°Suvau, I would never ask you to endanger yourself or your family.¡± He said gently but firmly. ¡°I may have no choice but to go to Fort Mavour but I would not ever ask you to go there too.¡±


    ¡°I swore I would see your knighthood fulfilled,¡± Suvau¡¯s height was an intimidating thing to stand up to but Judd held his ground before Suvau sighed and stepped back, ¡°however, Yolana and Emeri¡­¡±


    ¡°What if they left with the nomads?¡± Verne asked suddenly. ¡°I¡¯m sure Elk would be happy for them to travel to the northern camping grounds and perhaps continue to help Revna with Mali.¡±


    Suvau brightened at the suggestion. ¡°I think that could work.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t really because you¡¯d still be going to Fort Mavour.¡± Judd argued.


    ¡°Technically Suvau is yours,¡± Caste interjected, ¡°I mean, they¡¯re all yours but if Suvau goes with us, you can keep him safe¡­safer than he would otherwise be.¡±


    Judd huffed sternly, brow furrowed and mouth turned down. ¡°I hate the idea that I would be ¡®owning¡¯ you.¡± He grunted.


    ¡°It would be much safer for Suvau if you could at least try.¡± Caste argued.


    ¡°Allow me to do this, Judd LaMogre,¡± Suvau urged, ¡°if my wife and daughter are safe and they know I am in your ¡®care¡¯, then I want to accompany you.¡±


    Judd clucked his tongue and sighed. ¡°Well¡­I suppose I agree¡­but you¡¯re the one who has to convince Yolana.¡±


    ¡°Good luck with that.¡± Verne snorted.

 Come now, false humility does not become a potential knight

    Five days later, Judd and his companions reached the top of the final rise and beheld the behemoth fort that was Mavour. Only in size and grandness was it surpassed by Fort Verion. That alone boggled the minds of those who looked at the fort which was the size of a city.


    Judd didn¡¯t think anything could dwarf the wall yet Fort Mavour gave it an excellent run for its reputation. There were fields outside of the fort walls where civilians worked but were guarded by patrols of soldiers on horses whose grim expressions showed they took their work seriously. However, there were no stables, no houses or buildings of any kind outside the walls of Fort Mavour, unlike Fort Omra. And, unlike Fort Omra, the wall around the city was twenty feet high, not far short of the original height of the wall when it was first built. Everything, the village, the stables, the residents of the civilians were all contained within the fort¡¯s outer walls.


    Judd rode Xenon ahead of his party. He resented and resisted the superiority he displayed but everyone insisted it was necessary.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to protect everyone, especially Suvau, you have to have the composure and authority of a knight.¡± Caste had argued.


    This meant that, rather than arriving at the turn of dusk the day before, they had chosen to camp out of sight of Fort Mavour to discuss and prepare their party.


    Judd wore his armour and was girded with both swords. Aalis had tousled his hair and promised his unshaven chin was giving him a roguish and dangerous air.


    ¡°I think I would have accepted, mildly good looking, as a compliment.¡± He murmured, feeling embarrassed at the attention.


    ¡°I¡¯m with Aalis on this,¡± Giordi had said, leaning against Zeke, ¡°you are really starting to cut a knightly figure.¡±


    ¡°I hate that knightliness seems to go hand in hand with arrogance¡­¡± Judd groused.


    ¡°Those who know and love you know that you are not arrogant.¡± Aalis reassured him.


    Judd chose to fuss over his appearance rather than allow himself to look at Aalis hopefully at the word ¡®love¡¯. He knew she meant it generally, no matter what he might wish for.


    Judd was not the only one who had to adjust his appearance. Aalis wore her nomad outfit which was a wordless explanation as to why she had dreadlocks and to help with her fear of crowded places she wore the shawl over her head and veil across her face, lining her eyes with kohl like the women of the clans were known to do.


    Suvau removed his boots and made sure his tunic and trousers were the worst of all his clothing. Several packs had been bound together to form a large and intimidating weight for him to carry on his shoulders and he walked at the back of the group, head down, trying to suppress the smile at their dramatic antics.


    ¡°Suvau, would you stop looking so pleased at being a slave?¡±


    ¡°I will do my best to look downtrodden and hopeless.¡± He promised with a wry grin.


    ¡°And do not speak unless you¡¯re spoken to.¡± Giordi reminded him.


    ¡°That goes for all of us,¡± Caste looked at the minstrel, ¡°you¡¯re going to have to walk soon.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a servant. I¡¯m a minstrel.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying you have to change your appearance but Judd¡¯s first impression on Fort Mavour will be in contrast to the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Verne nodded, ¡°the more subservient that we look, the grander he does.¡±


    Judd closed his eyes and groaned. ¡°I really wish there was a better way to find a minotaur.¡±


    Just before they headed over the rise to Fort Mavour, Giordi dismounted Zeke with Suvau¡¯s assistance. While he was a great deal improved, Giordi¡¯s mobility was temporarily decreased. Caste had remarked that at least they could keep an eye on him now because he couldn¡¯t run off.


    ¡°As true as that might have been in the past, little cleric,¡± Giordi said with a touch of his old bravado, ¡°I won¡¯t be engaging in any womanising¡­unless she comes to me.¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes and strode on ahead.


    Their party garnered plenty of attention, the workers in the fields looking up at them curiously and the soldiers whispered to each other but until they reached the gates of Fort Mavour, no one questioned their approach. However, Judd saw archers and lookouts on the two towers on either side of the gates and three soldiers approached, two already with their hands on their swords while the first, probably the captain of the guard with impressive ginger red sideburns, stood without fear in front of Xenon¡¯s tempestuous tossing head.


    ¡°State your name and business in Fort Mavour.¡±


    ¡°I am Judd LaMogre,¡± Judd said as proudly as he could muster, ¡°I am from Astaril and have come to pay my respects to Sir Donimede.¡±


    ¡°LaMogre?¡± The captain turned and looked at one of the soldiers behind him. ¡°Sir Egrette¡¯s report, sir¡­¡±


    ¡°From Keenstone Isle?¡± The captain asked and the soldier nodded. He turned back to Judd. ¡°Are you the same Judd LaMogre who slayed the monster plaguing Fort Sol?¡±


    ¡°I killed both giant spider and an orthros.¡± Judd replied, sensing the captain¡¯s test.


    ¡°By all means, Judd LaMogre,¡± the captain led the party through the gates, ¡°I¡¯ll have Sir Donimede made aware of your presence and my guards will escort you to the upper bailey.¡± He paused, studying Judd¡¯s companions. ¡°You travel with interesting company, Judd LaMogre¡­a nomad and a Maul¡­unbound at that.¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t protect me if his hands or feet are bound.¡± Judd replied firmly.


    ¡°Very good, sir.¡± The captain bowed then gestured for the guards to come forward. ¡°Lieutenants Arsch and Kipre will show you the way.¡±


    ¡°Please, follow us.¡± Arsch nodded sharply, almost bowing and he and Kipre walked ahead of Judd. He had been told to stay on the horse which was common practice for knights and men of rank. Arsch and Kipre seemed to be expecting him to do so and spoke to him respectfully. ¡°Is it true, sir, that you killed a spider as big as an ogre?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t as big as an ogre,¡± Judd protested then heard Giordi clear his throat, ¡°at least, its body was not. If you include the span of its legs then yes, it was as big as the ogre I killed up in the north of Terra.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve killed an ogre too?¡± Kipre gushed. ¡°They¡¯re bull-headed monsters. Sometimes they just ram the wall over and over until they¡¯ve bashed their brains out and turned the stone green.¡±


    Atop Xenon, Judd had a clear view of the city at Fort Mavour¡¯s base. He had to duck to avoid some of the lines strung between the two lines of buildings he was being led down. There were many people in Fort Mavour carrying baskets, boxes, sacks, herding animals, selling wares and soon Judd realised that the main thoroughfare was actually a marketplace, a bustling hive of suffocating bodies, each with their own agenda and business. Thankfully, inside the walls of Fort Mavour, the frigid wind was thwarted but the air was still cold. This far south, Judd wondered if it was not always this way.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Make way, make way for Judd LaMogre!¡± Kipre cried out and the people dutifully shifted to the sides of the road, well trained to recognise the voice of authority when it came to soldiers.


    With Kipre¡¯s declaration, Judd felt all eyes on him. He took a deep breath to fill out his armour and kept his chin high. He could hear men and women whispering, asking who he was while others gossiped, assumed and made up downright lies.


    ¡°Whoa,¡± he heard a young boy gasp, ¡°it¡¯s Judd LaMogre!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± His friend with the wooden sword asked.


    ¡°LaMogre¡­he killed a hydra! Father said so! At Fort Omra.¡±


    ¡°Your father¡¯s full of cow dung.¡± His friend mocked. ¡°There aren¡¯t any hydra in the north.¡±


    ¡°Cleric Caste!¡± Judd suddenly called, drawing Xenon to a halt. Caste scurried forward, sensing a disaster. ¡°Could you please furnish these young gentlemen,¡± he said as he looked at the boys, stunned at being addressed by a man on a fine stallion, ¡°with the truth about the hydra at Fort Omra?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Judd LaMogre,¡± Caste cleared his throat, ¡°over a month ago, a hydra emerged from the chasms of Maul, climbed over the wall at Fort Omra and was going to advance northwards if not for Judd LaMogre gouging at its chest and cutting its heart to ribbons.¡±


    The jaws of both boys dropped open.


    ¡°And as a cleric of the Order of the Grail,¡± Judd added firmly, ¡°Caste Undern¡¯s word is infallible.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± The boys saluted him.


    Judd nodded and smiled, urging Xenon forwards to re-join Arsch and Kipre who had watched the interaction with interest.


    ¡°I think you might be drawing a crowd.¡± Arsch nodded and Judd swivelled to see the civilians of Fort Mavour gathering behind him. Judd trembled and hoped it wasn¡¯t noticeable. Thankfully Xenon tossed his head, possibly sensing his master¡¯s unease and Judd could concentrate on soothing him, calming himself at the same time.


    The claustrophobic cluster of the marketplace opened into the lower bailey, accessed by another gate which was a metal monstrosity. At the back of the lower bailey were archways and large windows. A young lad, probably a squire, approached, looking at Xenon somewhat fearfully.


    ¡°Luik will take charge of your mounts,¡± Arsch explained, ¡°as we ascend to the upper bailey.¡±


    Judd slid his left foot out of the stirrup, swung his right leg over and dropped as lightly as he could. His armour was capable of nimble movements but he knew from previous experience that if did not extricate himself from the left stirrup before dismounting, he ended up hopping around on his right, trying to get his foot out.


    ¡°Here you go, lad.¡± He offered the reins to Luik. ¡°Don¡¯t let him intimidate you. He¡¯s a pushover.¡± Xenon glowered at him and Judd put his hands on his hips. ¡°Do you want me to start spreading rumours how you abandoned me to that wild cat?¡± Xenon huffed and hung his head. Judd would have sworn the stallion understood every word he said.


    ¡°Did you really kill a wild cat?¡± Luik asked in awe.


    ¡°No, actually, I didn¡¯t,¡± Judd leaned down and winked, ¡°my minstrel did.¡±


    Luik¡¯s eyes went from round to bulging as he looked at Giordi. ¡°Could you make sure Quell and Zeke are also fed and watered?¡± Giordi asked, unhooking the reins as everyone removed their packs from their backs. ¡°They¡¯ll follow wherever Xenon goes.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Luik nodded and walked Xenon into the stables, Quell and Zeke following dutifully.


    Arsch chuckled. ¡°This way.¡± He started leading Judd to the base of the steps then paused and turned. ¡°Your entourage can wait here.¡±


    ¡°I would appreciate it if my entourage accompanied me.¡± Judd replied firmly. ¡°I¡¯d consider it a favour.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Arsch bowed and he and Kipre took to the steps.


    Judd wished desperately that he could look behind and get either an encouraging nod or approving smile from any of his party but Giordi had been very clear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at us for approval. You are your own master and we exist in your wake.¡±


    So Judd strode up the steps without a backward glance. Fort Mavour¡¯s upper bailey was not just the courtyard that was closer to the fort itself. It really was ¡®upper¡¯, reached by two flights of stairs that were wide enough for six to walk abreast on the first flight and four on the second. There were no handholds or railings so by the time Judd was close to the top of the second flight, he was tempted to hug closely to the wall. Fort Mavour loomed over him, dozens of small arched windows, the kind most monsters could not squeeze through, gazed onto the marketplace and the fields beyond the wall that he was now higher than.


    Rather than a gate into the fort, there was a set of doors which were already open and a rather rangy knight approached him dressed entirely in black. Though he was not in armour, he did wear a sword on the belt that was cinched around his waist. His hair was black but unlike Verne¡¯s it didn¡¯t gleam with health. Probably helping to hide this fact, the knight had it tied back from his angular face which was clean shaven, a first amongst the knights Judd had seen.


    Behind him was an older man, immediately identifiable as an officer of the Order of the Grail by his cappa clausa. He leaned on his cane but it seemed to be an affectation rather than a need and he pushed his spectacles up his nose, perusing Judd and his company. To Judd¡¯s surprise, he was not the only cleric stationed at Fort Mavour as a much younger man with a decidedly handsome face stood just behind the older cleric.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre?¡± The knight asked.


    ¡°I am. You must be Sir Cantor Donimede,¡± Judd immediately gave a strong bow, ¡°thank you for being so gracious as to meet me in person.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been hearing a great deal about you.¡± Sir Donimede nodded. ¡°Your deeds are becoming quite the talk of the soldier¡¯s mess. My guards are gossiping about you like old women and nobility¡­isn¡¯t that right, Arsch?¡± The lieutenant cleared his throat and looked aside. ¡°You are proof that competence does not have to come from nobility¡­a terrifying thought to the overweight, out of shape buffoons in Astaril.¡± Sir Donimede¡¯s eyes glanced behind Judd and he sensed the invitation to introduce his entourage.


    ¡°Allow me to introduce my cleric, Caste Undern.¡± Judd gestured for Caste to step forward.


    ¡°My deacon who will be promoted to archdeacon upon his return to Astaril,¡± the elderly man puffed himself up, quite pleased and Donimede almost rolled his eyes, ¡°Augrum Alast and his prot¨¦g¨¦, Cleric Rodel.¡±


    ¡°Welcome to Fort Mavour, Judd LaMogre.¡± Augrum nodded. ¡°You as well, Cleric Undern.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Caste bowed and stepped back.


    ¡°When you set out from Astaril, I believe you were only furnished with a cleric,¡± Sir Donimede remarked, ¡°yet you travel with a larger than expected entourage¡­¡±


    ¡°There is my archer, Verne Sachon,¡± Judd announced, ¡°and my minstrel, Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    ¡°Well met, gentlemen,¡± Sir Donimede lifted his chin, ¡°understandable, even commendable companions for a knight¡­but a nomad?¡± Judd was able to turn to look at Aalis as Donimede walked towards her, looking down at the top of her head. ¡°Your cleric should have warned you about endangering your knighthood, either before or afterwards, by becoming entangled with someone of the lower classes, especially a nomad,¡± Sir Donimede clutched Aalis¡¯ chin and forced her face up so he could study it, ¡°no matter how lovely they appear.¡±


    ¡°We are not entangled.¡± Judd protested, on the edge of his control as Aalis¡¯ eyes were filled with fear. Donimede studied her for a moment, unable to see past the veil and not worrying the slightest about her dreadlocks. He turned to Judd, somewhat sceptical.


    ¡°She is dressed as a bride.¡± He pointed out.


    ¡°It was a gift.¡±


    ¡°Judging by the make of her outfit, the chief¡¯s daughter no less,¡± Sir Donimede turned to Judd, letting go of Aalis so that she could step back and lower her head once more, ¡°how did you manage that? Those nomads are impossible to impress.¡±


    ¡°I killed several unicorns and my archer and I took down a centaur.¡± Judd explained but Sir Donimede was less than convinced. Judd fumbled for an explanation that would appease him. ¡°And¡­my party was instrumental in saving the chief¡¯s son.¡±


    ¡°Well, that explains it.¡± Sir Donimede nodded and Judd let out the tension filled breath he was holding. ¡°A son¡¯s worth is incalculable.¡± He looked at Suvau who kept his head down. ¡°I must say¡­your Maul is a fine specimen.¡± He walked around Suvau, clucking in appreciation. ¡°Quite the brute really but he seems docile enough. Probably about as smart as an ogre.¡± Judd¡¯s hands clenched and he had to relax his fingers. ¡°I pay good coin for Fereak¡¯s best only to find he¡¯s been holding out on me. However did you manage to secure him from Fort Omra?¡±


    ¡°It was a trade.¡±


    ¡°Trade?¡±


    ¡°A hydra kill for a Maul.¡±


    Sir Donimede¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°So you¡¯re the one¡­well, Judd LaMogre, perhaps you will dine with me this evening?¡±


    ¡°As long as I¡¯m not an inconvenience.¡± Judd blurted, suddenly desperate to be anywhere other than at the same table as Sir Donimede.


    ¡°Come now, false humility does not become a potential knight.¡± Sir Donimede slapped him on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve already given orders for a room to be made up for you. Your entourage may sleep in the room next to it. Your Maul will have to be housed with the others of his ilk.¡±


    ¡°My Maul is to stay with me¡­¡± Judd said firmly and a flicker of irritation coursed across Sir Donimede¡¯s face.


    ¡°Master,¡± Suvau said as dully as he could, ¡°I go with my kind.¡±


    Judd sighed and nodded. ¡°Very well.¡±


    ¡°Kipre, take LaMogre¡¯s Maul to the others.¡± Judd¡¯s heart sank in his chest, hearing Suvau lumber away as mindlessly as he could. Cantor Donimede waved to the doors of the fort. ¡°Shall we?¡±

 But the sooner I fall out of love with Aalis, the better

    The door closed behind Aalis and she made sure the bar was in place before turning and sagging against it.


    ¡°You¡¯d better sit down before you fall down.¡± Verne chuckled, rapping a wooden high back chair that sat near the fireplace.


    ¡°I think Giordi needs the chair more than I.¡± Aalis turned to the minstrel who was eyeing the chair painfully.


    ¡°I thought I was getting so much better but those steps¡­¡± Giordi winced. ¡°Not sure if I want to sit on that. I¡¯ll sit on a bed.¡±


    There were three beds down the length of the room with the fireplace facing the middle bed from the opposite wall. It was narrow, Verne able to reach from the end bedpost to the far wall with his arms outstretched. However, what it lacked in width it made up for with real beds with mattresses, sheets, blankets and to Giordi¡¯s amusing delight, pillows.


    ¡°Glorious civilisation!¡± He declared, picking up a pillow and cuddling it as he sat on the mattress.


    ¡°The nomads were perfectly civilised,¡± Verne argued, ¡°and decidedly more welcoming than certain Terras I could mention.¡±


    ¡°Sit on this mattress and tell me you miss sleeping on furs on the hard ground.¡± Giordi retorted. ¡°I swear it¡¯s stuffed with feathers¡­I might be able to sleep on my back at last.¡±


    ¡°Oh good¡­you¡¯ll be snoring all night long.¡± Verne turned to Aalis. ¡°You want the bed closest to the fire?¡±


    ¡°I think Giordi has already snagged that one.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll move if he needs to.¡± Verne muttered.


    ¡°Oh¡­no, well, I mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± they looked up in surprise to see Judd at a door that was next to the fireplace, ¡°how are the accommodations?¡±


    ¡°Fine¡­what are you doing there?¡± Verne snorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that was a door. It looks like a panel of wall¡­¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s so my ¡®servants¡¯ can assist me whenever I call.¡± Judd opened it wide on its centre hinge and showed them his room. It was immediately obvious it was larger and more luxurious than theirs, down to the large four poster bed with drapes that dominated the room, the grander fireplace which was already lit and blazing and a window big enough for a seat beneath it with big, reinforced shutters on the inside.


    ¡°You have a window.¡± Aalis said wistfully.


    ¡°We¡¯re on the Maul side of the fort,¡± Verne noted, ¡°I don¡¯t think windows are a good idea.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in your mattress?¡± Giordi asked and made a beeline for the bed.


    Judd looked at Verne and Aalis.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡±


    Giordi sank onto the bed. ¡°Oh¡­oh yeah¡­duck down for sure¡­sublime sweet softness¡­you¡¯ll sleep well here, Judd.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I thought it might be prudent to offer this room to Aalis and Verne,¡± Judd looked at the two of them, ¡°at least to sleep in. I don¡¯t really need all this space.¡±


    Verne folded his arms. ¡°Uh¡­you sure?¡±


    ¡°Well, you know¡­¡±


    ¡°If they don¡¯t take it, I will!¡± Giordi declared.


    Judd chuckled then looked at Aalis who pressed her lips together, her cheeks dusting with pink. ¡°Thank you, Judd.¡±


    He nodded and smiled. Aalis and Verne relocated their packs to the main bedchamber while Judd picked up his swag and moved it into the servant¡¯s chamber. Giordi followed him, closing the door behind and watched as Judd unpacked his belongings.


    ¡°That was very noble what you did just there.¡± Giordi commented.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t feel noble,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°felt like tearing out my insides¡­but the sooner I fall out of love with Aalis, the better.¡±


    Giordi studied Judd. ¡°Are you?¡±


    ¡°Am I what?¡±


    ¡°In love with Aalis?¡±


    Judd smiled ruefully. ¡°How would I know, really? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve ever been in love before to recognise it.¡±


    ¡°Judd, you jumped from a fifty foot wall to rescue her from a hydra! You pulled her out of a unicorn stampede, stormed a pack of wolves to save her and you¡¯re still wondering?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Judd sank onto a bed, holding his tunic in his hands, staring at the weave as if it might contain the answers to the questions he didn¡¯t dare ask.


    ¡°I suppose¡­if I admit it¡­then it becomes real¡­and I have to face the fact that she doesn¡¯t love me.¡± Judd huffed and stood up, catching Giordi¡¯s expression and growing concerned. ¡°Giordi, what is it?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­um¡­just¡­aching. You know, from my noble act of self sacrifice.¡± Giordi said light heartedly. ¡°So, are we dressing for dinner?¡±


    The moment Suvau was out of sight of Judd, Donimede¡¯s men bound his hands. He didn¡¯t resist, allowing them to march him to a set of stairs that led down, down, down¡­into the bowels of the fort. If not for the presence of lamps, Suvau doubted he would be able to see his hands in front of his face. He was not a superstitious person but the lower he went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became until a malicious presence seemed to inhabit the very walls of Fort Mavour.


    At the entrance to the dungeon came into view, a man who would give Suvau a run for his coin in a fist fight, grunted at him. It looked as though someone had taken a dislike to him with a nose that had endured many breaks and healed crooked, a permanently squinting eye and scars across his body where his leather harness and trousers did not obscure.


    ¡°Easy Jole,¡± a much smaller man stepped out from behind him and the big man shifted backwards, ¡°let¡¯s see the latest acquisition.¡± He walked around Suvau with an appraising eye, his pale hair braided into many strands and tied in a top knot. He tutted and muttered to himself. ¡°Fereak has outdone himself this time¡­I wasn¡¯t aware he was here.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t one of Fereak¡¯s Mauls.¡± Suvau¡¯s guard explained. ¡°He accompanied a visitor. Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the name,¡± the man remarked wryly, ¡°well¡­unless he¡¯s particularly brilliant in the Arena, this beauty will be ours. Jole, show our guest where he will be staying.¡±


    Jole moved forward. Suvau could feel the animosity almost glowing from the brute who clamped shackles over Suvau¡¯s wrists. Jole opened the metal gate and the little man grabbed the chain between the shackles and pulled hard on it, taking Suvau down the stairs into a basement that stank of urine, sweat and blood. Suvau followed subserviently, hearing the sounds of shuffling around him. There was a little light from tiny gaps that were so small they couldn¡¯t really be called windows at the top of the walls. As his eyes adjusted he began to see shapes, legs, arms¡­people in the dungeon. The little man marched Suvau to a wall where there was a chain bolted to the stone. The chain was locked onto Suvau¡¯s shackles and he noticed that, while he could sit, he would not be able to lie down.


    ¡°Make sure you watch this one, Jole,¡± the little man mused, ¡°he¡¯s not as dumb as he looks.¡±


    Jole grunted in acknowledgement and followed his master back up the stairs.


    When the gate clanged into place, Suvau lifted his head and looked around.


    ¡°People of Maul, my name is Suvau. I come from Fort Omra.¡±


    ¡°So do we all.¡± Someone said in the darkness, obscured and tired.


    ¡°But it¡¯s here we will die.¡± Someone else added.


    ¡°You¡¯ve all got to die somewhere under Terra oppression¡­here is as good a place as any.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind Palo,¡± said a young lad near Suvau who looked as though he had suffered a broken arm that hadn¡¯t healed straight and was bent at a painful angle, ¡°he¡¯s decided to embrace his fate.¡±


    ¡°Only a fool would deny the inevitable.¡± Palo replied.


    Suvau could hear the weariness in their voices.


    ¡°Wait¡­Suvau?¡± Someone on the far side of the dungeon said softly. ¡°Yolana¡¯s husband?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You know me?¡±


    ¡°I am Oska.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s eyes widened at the mention of his wife¡¯s brother¡¯s name. ¡°Oska!¡± He tried to pull on the chain but couldn¡¯t get far across the dungeon to see the man he knew. Oska did the same and they ended up only a few feet from each other. He was a handsome yet brash man who had sometimes shirked his duties just for a chance to doze in the sunshine in Fort Omra yet his laziness was always offset by his merry attitude and charming smile. ¡°Yolana still lights a candle for you.¡±


    ¡°She was always a better sister to me than I was a brother to her.¡± Oska sighed. ¡°Is she well?¡±


    ¡°She is.¡±


    ¡°And Emeri?¡±


    ¡°Both are well and safe.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Oska exhaled. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be able to protect them unless you were sent here.¡±


    ¡°I suspect my skills as a swordsmith kept me from being chosen.¡± Suvau tried in vain to pull closer but had to resign himself to standing in the filthy straw, conversing across the faint gloom. ¡°You have been gone so long¡­I never imagined you would still be here.¡±


    ¡°They haven¡¯t been able to kill me yet.¡± Oska said lightly. ¡°It¡¯s not for lack of trying.¡±


    Palo snorted in the shadows and muttered something unintelligible.


    ¡°What happens here?¡± Suvau asked, ignoring Palo. ¡°What happens to our people?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re bait.¡±


    ¡°Bait?¡±


    Oska nodded, his face bearing the same beautiful cheek bones as Yolana and his hair hung long and tangled over his shoulders. ¡°Donimede needs to tempt monsters into the pit for the Terra¡¯s to battle. They don¡¯t go for sheep or cows or pigs¡­¡±


    ¡°Human flesh.¡± Suvau breathed.


    ¡°Our flesh. Our blood.¡± Oska shook his head. ¡°How sad it is that we who have been maligned as monsters of Maul are finally proven to be human as the monsters devour us.¡±


    ¡°Devour?¡±


    ¡°It depends on the luck of the Arena.¡± The young lad who was shackled near Suvau spoke again. ¡°Smaller monsters you can sometimes defeat.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s allowed?¡± Suvau asked.


    ¡°The Terras find it entertaining to watch us fight to live just one more day.¡± Palo muttered from his dark corner. ¡°We¡¯d be better off just letting the monsters kill us outright.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why they don¡¯t put you in the Arena anymore.¡± Oska snorted. ¡°Palo wasn¡¯t entertaining enough. But there are those of us who fight, often just trying to protect each other.¡±


    ¡°You? A fighter?¡±


    ¡°I know. Lazy Oska¡­tall, good looking but about as useless as a two legged donkey.¡± Suvau had heard Yolana call Oska exactly that the day before Oska disappeared into Sir Fereak¡¯s clutches. Fereak was probably trying to send a message to the Mauls that laziness was another reason to be deported to Fort Mavour. Yolana had wept for weeks afterwards, regretting her harsh words and mourning her brother that they had all assumed was dead. ¡°I attracted smaller monsters to start with and was able to fend for myself, learning some valuable lessons. Donimede isn¡¯t interested in wasting flesh so he lets Urik, that charming little,¡± Oska spat on the ground, ¡°you met yanking Jole¡¯s chain, rotate us.¡±


    ¡°Some more frequently than others.¡± Palo grumbled.


    ¡°It helps us last longer¡­but sooner or later we all die.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s heart grew heavy even as his fists tightened. ¡°This is worse than I imagined¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯ll love this kick in the groin on top of everything else,¡± Oska said quietly, ¡°because you¡¯re new...chances are you¡¯ll be the next one thrown in.¡±

 My father would welcome my entanglement with a knight

    Judd followed the servant that arrived to inform him that he was due at supper. He wished the others had been invited as well. It seemed that only he was welcome at Donimede¡¯s table and Judd hoped he would be able to hold his own. In the past, when in doubt, he¡¯d deferred to Giordi¡¯s wit and charm or extoled Verne¡¯s archery skill as a means of smoothing over awkward pauses in conversation.


    Now, however, it would be himself, Donimede and¡­


    Judd frowned. Would his wife be present?


    Was he married?


    Judd couldn¡¯t recall. All the facts and information he had memorised about the knights back in Astaril had become blurry out in the real world.


    Perhaps that was for the best.


    The servant opened the door to the dining room where Sir Donimede was waiting for him with a young woman by his side with hazel eyes and rich red hair. Unlike Caste¡¯s, that looked like it was on fire when sunbeams touched it just right, the young woman¡¯s hair was such a deep shade of red, it reminded Judd of dried blood. It was neatly braided and arranged on her head, her dark blue gown edged with gold embroidery.


    There were others in the dining room with Cantor Donimede but Judd made sure to approach the knight first, bowing low.


    ¡°Sir Donimede,¡± he greeted, standing upright and shifting into the casual but alert pose he¡¯d been instructed to maintain, ¡°I hope I am not tardy attending your table.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right on time, LaMogre,¡± Donimede waved to the young woman, ¡°this is my daughter, Willower Donimede.¡±


    ¡°My lady,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°Sir Donimede, may I kiss your daughter¡¯s hand?¡±


    ¡°By all means.¡±


    Willower smiled coyly at Judd and held out her hand, a lace fringing the cuff keeping him from making contact with her skin. He let go and returned to his upright position.


    ¡°A pleasure to meet you, my lady.¡± Judd smiled.


    ¡°Likewise.¡± She simpered warmly.


    ¡°You have the most remarkably shaded hair.¡± Judd complimented. ¡°It¡¯s really quite lovely. Your mother¡¯s influence?¡±


    ¡°My wife, Jocasa, had similarly coloured hair in her youth though it is much faded now.¡± Donimede lamented.


    ¡°Is your wife here?¡± Judd looked around.


    ¡°My mother is confined,¡± Willower explained, ¡°she gave birth only yesterday.¡±


    ¡°A son at last!¡± Donimede chuckled.


    ¡°It must be the season for babies.¡± Judd chuckled then saw Donimede¡¯s puzzled expression. ¡°My nomad recently helped a young woman in the clan through a very difficult birth.¡±


    ¡°Your nomad bride is a healer?¡±


    ¡°Bride?¡± Willower asked with a twinge of a bite to her tone.


    ¡°She was dressed as a bride,¡± Donimede explained, ¡°however, LaMogre insists she was a gift and probably came adorned as such.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Aalis is not my bride.¡± Judd insisted and the furrows in Willower¡¯s brow lifted. ¡°She is a very competent healer and has travelled with me for some time.¡±


    Donimede nodded then turned to his other guests. ¡°Allow me to introduce you to the resident lords and nobility that reside in Fort Mavour.¡±


    Three hours later Judd finally escaped the dining hall.


    He felt as though his brains were turning to mush.


    The nobility that resided at Fort Mavour had peppered Judd with questions about his journey but not about the monsters or the adventures he¡¯d had. Rather, they wanted to know about dining with Sir Fereak and his wife then there was twenty minutes of gossip about Fereak¡¯s interesting habits and Alonin¡¯s removal from all good society in Astaril. Though Judd had not liked Lady Alonin Fereak very much, he would not join in on their mockery of her and the way her hopes had been dashed marrying a knight that did not live up to her expectations.


    When Captain Chael, who had been included in the supper invitation, asked about the orthros and giant spider incident at Fort Sol, which led to Judd mentioning Sir Egrette¡¯s arrival, the gossip switched to Egrette¡¯s incessant womanising and how his son was just like him. There were titters about the amount of illegitimate children and grandchildren Egrette probably had to his name.


    ¡°Not one chamber maid or scullery miss would have escaped unscathed in Fort Callain.¡±


    Judd felt sick.


    Then the conversation turned to Quarre and the death of Lord LeMewn and the gossiping fired up once more, mocking the placement of a lord where a knight should have been and of LeMewn¡¯s desperation to hold onto the connection he had once had to the throne.


    ¡°As if he had any right to boast on that score. He is only the King¡¯s half brother.¡±


    On top of the evening¡¯s claustrophobic clamour, Donimede¡¯s daughter seemed to be intent on making herself available to Judd. From the low cut of her bodice, which he couldn¡¯t help but appreciate as she insisted on pouring his wine herself, leaning down to do so, to the almost sicky sweet scent of seduction that reeked from her as she laughed at things he said, regardless whether or not they were amusing. Thankfully she had to leave about halfway through the meal but her scent lingered long after she was gone.


    Judd had begged to retire for an early night and, after several wrong turns, found his way back to the corridor that led to his room. To his surprise, Verne was sitting on a chair outside, one foot propped up, reading a book.


    ¡°Verne?¡±


    ¡°Ah, Judd,¡± Verne snapped the book shut, ¡°just thought you should know the servants have drawn you a bath.¡±


    ¡°A bath?¡± Judd closed his eyes. ¡°Oh¡­because I might have said, I¡¯m going to need to bathe after this.¡±


    ¡°After supper?¡± Verne stood up. ¡°Was there a food fight?¡±


    Judd chuckled then sighed. ¡°No. Just felt¡­¡± He shuddered. ¡°I need to wash off the evening.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Then you¡¯d better take advantage of it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Verne nodded. ¡°I figured you should enter from the guest door rather than the servant¡¯s entrance.¡±


    Judd paused at the door. ¡°They didn¡¯t make you tote the water, did they?¡±


    ¡°No and I didn¡¯t offer.¡± Verne snorted and closed the servant¡¯s door behind him.


    Judd entered his chambers and saw the bath set in front of the fireplace. It was a curved rectangular metal tub on claw feet, water almost up to the brim and steam coming off it. Judd smiled at the sight of it, thinking how nice it would be to relax in the water.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too long.¡± He mused quietly, heaving his shirt over his head. ¡°Don¡¯t want to keep Verne and Aalis out. Oh¡­robe.¡± He spied the robe hanging near the fireplace with a towel on the chair next to it and a bar of soap on top which he tossed into the water. Even though the room was warm from the robust fire, Judd was quick to clamber into the bath after he¡¯d shed his clothes. He sank into the hot water and sighed happily.


    He had grand intentions of getting out quickly but the water was like a giant, all over embrace that soaked into his pores and made him want to stay there forever. He did manage to motivate himself into finding the soap at the bottom of the tub and lathering his hair into a mass of bubbles. He had to close his eyes to do so splashing lightly in the water so he didn¡¯t hear or see the other person in the room until their hands were buried in his hair. It took a second for him, in his waterlogged, wine sodden relaxed state to comprehend what the touch meant before he twisted in the tub, pulling upright and out of their grip and saw Willower sitting on the edge of the bath, her hands soapy and her cheeks flushed.


    ¡°Willower?¡± He gasped.


    ¡°You said you needed to bathe¡­¡±


    Judd¡¯s eyes widened then he cursed himself for doing so as soap got into them and he hissed at the sting, dunking his head into the water then launched himself out of the bath, keeping his back to Willower. There was nothing he could do about his exposed backside as he lunged blindly for the robe.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean for you to do the bathing!¡± He barked, finally grasping fabric and dragging towards himself, trying to wrap it around his body. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly capable of bathing myself¡­what is wrong with this robe?!¡±


    ¡°It is a curtain.¡±


    Judd finally blinked enough water out of his eyes to see that he had in fact grabbed the curtain rather than the robe. He managed to swap them, able to keep himself relatively covered as he dragged the robe on, the silky fabric clinging to his body a little too closely in some places. He tied the belt like a tourniquet, able to use both hands to scrape his hair out of his face, glaring at Willower.


    ¡°You cannot just come into a man¡¯s bedchamber and act the part of¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She said, standing, allowing her dark red locks to tumble out of their braids into curling tendrils. ¡°Seductress? Temptress?¡±


    Judd backed up as she walked towards him, her hips swaying with exaggerated motion.


    ¡°Your father is going to kill you¡­or me¡­or both!¡±


    Willower laughed and it grated on Judd¡¯s nerves. ¡°My father would welcome my entanglement with a knight.¡±


    ¡°I am not a knight!¡±


    ¡°You are closer than any other.¡± She continued to advance until Judd was backed against the window, the flush in her cheeks blooming down into other generous curves of her body that he was desperate not to stare at yet could look nowhere else. His nostrils filled with the scent of liquor, so strong he wondered if he would become inebriated just from the smell. ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­do you not desire me?¡±


    ¡°I barely know you!¡± Judd squeaked out.


    ¡°You are a man. I am a woman. That is more than enough for me.¡± To his horror she began to pull at the ties of her bodice. Before it could slip away he grasped her shoulders, holding her sleeves in place which kept her dress from falling.


    ¡°Not for me,¡± he said harshly, fright making him angry, ¡°and it ought not to be enough for you.¡± He pushed her back, putting some distance between them. He wished he could throw open the window for his lungs were filled with heat and he was hot and clammy. He strode away from her, grasping the towel and rubbing his hair. When it was finally only damp and not dripping water down his back he tossed it aside and saw Willower still standing where he¡¯d left her. The curls of her hair hung around her face like a hood, veiling her face. Sensing she was battling with pride, refusing to go until she had conquered his resistance, Judd folded his arms. ¡°You need to leave before Sir Donimede finds out about this.¡±


    ¡°He does not care¡­¡± She said softly and he was struck at the change of her tone. It was as though the woman with the husky tone had vanished and a girl was in her place. She didn¡¯t look up at him as she grasped at the ties of her dress and tried to draw them tight as she slid her feet into her slippers which had gone unnoticed beneath the bed. ¡°He cares not for me.¡±


    She kept her face turned away from him, allowing her hair to shroud her expression. Yet it could not hide her hopelessness. Judd blinked, stunned to realise the desperate need to seduce him had been masking a deep well filled with grief.


    ¡°I am sure that is not true¡­¡± He protested weakly.


    Willower gave a small laugh that sounded more like a sob. ¡°I know it to be true. My mother gave him a son. He is finally happy.¡±


    Judd considered briefly whether Willower was a touch selfish and spoiled but her demeanour seemed less pouty and more grievously resigned.


    ¡°He could just be happy,¡± Judd urged gently, ¡°to have another child¡­it doesn¡¯t mean¡­¡±


    ¡°There are only two good things about having daughters,¡± Willower announced abruptly, ¡°they either bind good men to their father or bind their father to great men.¡± She caught sight of Judd¡¯s hurt look then turned away. ¡°Father said that about my sixth sister when she was born,¡± she sank onto a chair, her shoulders sagging, ¡°after I had already failed to win over Sir Rylan¡­then Sir Fereak¡­Sir Egrette¡¯s son, Haern¡­Sir Rylan again after Princess Genovieve¡¯s death¡­¡± Judd closed his eyes and sat on the edge of the bed. The ridges of the flocked bed linen rubbed beneath his fingers. ¡°You were¡­my last chance¡­¡± He heard her sniff and then exhale shakily. ¡°Well¡­at least I cannot disappoint him further¡­¡±


    ¡°Willower¡­I¡¯m¡­sorry.¡± Judd murmured, grieved by her situation. ¡°I¡­you are lovely.¡± She huffed at him and he opened his eyes to see disbelief on her expression. ¡°Really, you are!¡± He was astonished that she couldn¡¯t see it herself.


    ¡°If I was truly lovely¡­we would not be speaking now.¡± She said timidly, her eyes flitting to the bed.


    Judd¡¯s neck became hot. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m in love.¡± He blurted and she turned her hazel eyes to him with wistful want. ¡°I¡¯ve never admitted it out loud before and I feel a right fool doing so now¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it,¡± he looked up at her tentative query, ¡°your nomad bride?¡±


    Judd¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°I¡­she is not my bride nor can we ever be together.¡±


    ¡°Because she is a nomad and you will be a knight?¡±


    Judd put his hand to his face. ¡°Because she is not mine to love.¡±


    Willower licked her lips then, after a brief hesitation, sat next to him. She maintained a safe distance but he could feel her presence yet she did not press any advantage.


    ¡°I am sorry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel sorry for me,¡± Judd chuckled limply, ¡°I¡¯m just a bit pathetic¡­¡±


    ¡°Is it pathetic to yearn for love?¡± Willower asked.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I¡­¡±


    ¡°I will let you in on a terrible secret,¡± Willower swallowed, ¡°I would happily be married to a man who loved another¡­just to be called a wife.¡± She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. ¡°Now you know what it means to be truly pathetic.¡±


    Judd sat up and twisted to turn towards her. ¡°No, I won¡¯t accept that. You are not pathetic and you shouldn¡¯t have to win a man¡¯s attention¡­or even just get him to marry you to secure your father¡¯s approval.¡± Willower smiled weakly at him but it was sincere and for a moment, she glowed with inner beauty that made her quite lovely to behold.


    ¡°You are quite kind, Judd LaMogre. I am sorry I came on so¡­¡±


    ¡°Strong?¡±


    She tousled her dark red hair and sighed. ¡°I suppose I was desperate. He is not yet a knight but he may yet become one. Perhaps he will see some value in you if you only press your advantage.¡±


    Judd¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Did your father really say that?¡± Willower nodded. Judd swallowed. ¡°Well¡­not that I want to play into this farce but¡­do you think your father would relent a little if, for the time I was in Fort Mavour¡­we¡­I don¡¯t know¡­¡±


    ¡°Courted?¡±


    Judd winced. ¡°Courted is a little strong¡­perhaps¡­stepped out together?¡± He pulled a face. ¡°It would only be for as long as I was here and only for your father¡¯s benefit and not because¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Willower said in an enthusiastic gasp which had Judd recoiling, ¡°oh, I apologise¡­I mean,¡± she breathed in deeply and calmed herself, ¡°I accept your proposal of the fa?ade of stepping out together.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°Well¡­that¡¯s settled. Although, if that¡¯s the case, perhaps you ought to¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Willower¡¯s hazel eyes became round and she stood up, ¡°yes, of course, you are right. I will¡­¡± She paused. ¡°Could you just tie the top of my bodice so that it does not look like I tried to seduce you?¡±


    Judd indicated for her to turn around and she did. He quickly pulled the laces tighter and tied a quick bow. ¡°That should get you back to your chambers.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It was nothing.¡± Judd was surprised by Willower¡¯s light kiss on his rough cheek, leaving behind the scent of liquor from her lips.


    ¡°Truly, thank you.¡± Her weak smile from before became bold and bright. Judd was mesmerised by the change a little hope had invoked in her but before anything could come of it, she hurried to the door and slipped out of it without a backward glance.


    Judd breathed out and flopped onto the bed¡­then groaned.


    ¡°Now the linen will be wet!¡±

 If he wasn’t an officer of the Grail…what else was there for him to be?

    ¡°I apologise that you must share this chamber with me,¡± Cleric Rodel said, removing books and scrolls from the second bed in the servant¡¯s rooms adjoining Deacon Alast¡¯s chambers, ¡°and for the state it is in.¡± Caste allowed him to apologise, carefully stacking and arranging the clutter that Rodel was sweeping off the bed in haste. ¡°When I first came to Fort Mavour some months ago, Deacon Alast said there was little to no chance I would need to share so I started to spread out.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind the spread,¡± Caste said tersely, picking up a discarded book by the spine, allowing the pages to hang straight before closing it properly, ¡°but I wish you would take greater care with these books.¡±


    ¡°I apologise again.¡± Rodel sighed. ¡°It was the other thing I was told when I arrived. Nothing in Fort Mavour lasts forever. So close to the mount of Maul there have been countless fires and entire libraries of books turned to ash¡­¡±


    ¡°Which only means you must look after the ones in your care with greater¡­¡± Caste floundered.


    Rodel eyed him. ¡°Care?¡±


    ¡°Treatment.¡± Caste retorted.


    Rodel gave a small laugh but to Caste¡¯s relief, he did start treating the books and scrolls more carefully. Rodel was older than Caste with a head of ash blond hair and a slightly pinched expression in his eyes which were a faded shade of blue/grey, like the perpetual hue of the skies of the south. Caste suspected the squint was because he was meant to wear spectacles but they lay on the small chest of drawers by his bed and from the light sheen of dust on them, had not been worn in some time.


    ¡°I remember you,¡± Caste turned to Rodel, surprised, ¡°from when we were novitiates in the Order of the Grail.¡±


    Caste thought frantically but when it came to people, his lack of recall, especially within the Order of the Grail of his peers was sorely lacking.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­I don¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t surprise me.¡± Rodel admitted, pulling his outer robes off and hanging them dutifully from a hook. Caste wondered if, previously, Rodel had just dumped the cloak on the ground and wasn¡¯t willing to do so in his presence. ¡°You are younger than I yet you had a cyclops¡¯ one eyed focus that advanced you faster than those your age. I said hello several times in the dining hall but you made it clear your only interest was for your books.¡±


    Caste cringed. ¡°I¡­you are not the only one I ignored.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I realised and never took offence.¡± Rodel sat on his bed and kicked his boots off. Caste did the same.


    ¡°If we were novitiate peers, how did you escape being commissioned to following a middle class knight quester around?¡±


    ¡°Actually¡­I was one of the first.¡±


    ¡°You were?¡±


    Rodel nodded. ¡°I was assigned to Jovan Acronimer but he lasted about three weeks before giving up after a rather close call with a cockatrice. He returned to Astaril, fully convinced that he never should have attempted to grasp at something that was only ever offered to noble families.¡± He sighed then looked at Caste with admiration and some concern. ¡°That Judd LaMogre survived this long¡­you must have been a better advisor to him than I was to Jovan.¡±


    Rodel¡¯s remark caused all the times Caste had ¡®advised¡¯ Judd to return and he recalled how many of those times he had rejected and ridiculed him.


    ¡°Or Judd is simply more stubborn.¡± Caste muttered, lying on his bed, drawing the covers up over himself. Everything about Fort Mavour was cold. The stone, the air¡­even the bedlinen struggled to keep away the chill.


    Or perhaps the chill had been present in his chest since seeing Aalis¡¯ hands and witnessing her powers that could only be attributed to a witch.


    So¡­she was a witch.


    Witches were condemned by the Order of the Grail.


    Caste was an officer of the Order of the Grail.


    He had a duty, an obligation, to report, condemn and even witness her execution.


    Yet, despite his usually detached demeanour to relationships, Caste knew he couldn¡¯t personally condemn Aalis. Not after all she had done and how many times she had saved him and the others in Judd¡¯s party. It rankled with Caste that the Order would condemn a woman who actively worked against the powers that she was falsely aligned with. Yet he knew such concerns would be a whisper amidst the shout of condemnation.


    Perhaps if he was the Bishop, he could put in place measures to give the women who were tainted by the waters of the south a chance to be heard or prove their innocence¡­but as a lowly cleric his words were a matter of infallible observation, not transformation. He was charged with observing and recording. He had no power to change anything.


    Caste rolled over and faced the wall, wrestling with what he had taught was truth and what he knew to be true.


    When had it all become so grey?


    He had known, with absolute certainty, what was true when he¡¯d left Astaril.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Now the lines were blurred and Caste felt a little like he was on shifting sand, unable to find his footing. He shook his head and scrunched his eyes shut.


    ¡°No,¡± he vowed soundlessly, ¡°I will not falter. I will remain a cleric of the Order of the Grail.¡±


    Because, if Caste was brutally honest with himself, if he wasn¡¯t an officer of the Grail¡­what else was there for him to be?


    Aalis knew she had to keep a low profile while at Fort Mavour and continued to dress as a nomad even when alone in the chambers originally assigned to Judd. He had been summoned by Sir Donimede for a tour of the fort while Giordi insisted on returning to Mavour markets to ply his minstrel trade. He had asked Verne to go with him, concerned he might not be able to climb the steps back to the fort on his own.


    Aalis pulled the bedding straight on all the beds and tidied, thinking of the quandary that was Verne and Giordi. Verne was sure that Giordi would reject her if he knew she was really a woman and in love with him. Aalis wasn¡¯t sure that was true however, in matters of the heart, she knew she was hardly the best person to make any kind of judgement.


    Goodness knows she had been wrong before.


    She was resolved to spend her days reading and acting the part of servant to Judd. So when there was a knock on the door, she answered it, making sure her nomad veil was draped over her hair.


    A young woman, probably no older than Aalis with hair the colour of blood braided over one shoulder, stood across the threshold.


    ¡°You seek LaMogre?¡± Aalis asked, trying to adopt the manner of speech of the nomads.


    ¡°Actually, I am looking for you.¡± The woman explained. ¡°I am Endolin, second eldest daughter of Sir Donimede and Lady Jocasa.¡± Aalis¡¯ heart immediately began to pulse with a frantic beat. ¡°You are a healer?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Aalis said tightly.


    Endolin licked her lips, more colour in her warm tones than there was in Aalis¡¯ cold complexion.


    ¡°My mother wishes to consult you.¡±


    An audience with the wife of the knight who killed witches was not what Aalis wanted but she reasoned very quickly that to refuse the wife would only draw more attention. As she left the chambers and followed Endolin along the stone passages and up the stairs to the chambers of Lady Jocasa, Aalis reminded herself that she was a nomad healer, nothing more. As long as she kept the glove on her left hand, all evidence of her tainted body would remain concealed.


    Endolin opened the door to Lady Jocasa¡¯s chambers and Aalis stepped inside, seeing a room ten times more opulent than Judd¡¯s chamber, warm and inviting with a large fourposter bed dominating the room. Reclining in the bed was Lady Jocasa. Her hair was a faded shade of Endolin¡¯s and her eyes were wide, fringed with dark eyelashes.


    ¡°Mother, the nomad healer¡­¡± Endolin paused and looked at Aalis.


    ¡°Aalis.¡±


    ¡°Come closer.¡±


    Aalis did so, shifting around to the side of the bed, standing still as Lady Jocasa¡¯s hazel eyes studied her. Aalis couldn¡¯t fathom why the lady of the fort had wanted to see her. Surely, she must have her own physician on call and access to the knowledge of the Order of the Grail through Deacon Alast.


    ¡°Remove your veil.¡±


    Aalis did so, letting it drop around her shoulders.


    Lady Jocasa lifted her chin.


    ¡°You are young to be called a healer.¡± Aalis swallowed, not sure if she ought to respond. ¡°I am not sure about this, Endolin, whatever Willower might have boasted about a nomad¡­¡±


    ¡°Mother, please¡­¡±


    Aalis blinked, hearing fear and desperation in Endolin¡¯s voice.


    Lady Jocasa glanced aside and licked her lips. Aalis saw a tremor of fear course across her shoulders, her velvet gown lightly shifting, betraying her emotion.


    ¡°Have you any experience with childbirth, healer?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And you have seen my husband, Sir Donimede?¡±


    Aalis¡¯ heart went into hiding as she recalled the moment he¡¯d grabbed her face and forced her to look into his eyes.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Endolin¡­¡±


    The second eldest daughter went to a door and opened it, speaking to someone behind. A buxom woman appeared, holding a babe in her arms. She had raven locks braided in thick strands down her back and her grey eyes were as wide as saucers as they locked onto Aalis.


    ¡°This is Shivo, my wetnurse.¡± Jocasa introduced.


    Aalis nodded, knowing that many great houses employed wetnurses to tend to newborns to feed them. Sometimes the lady of the house was unable to do so but more often than not, it was because feeding a babe extended a mother¡¯s confinement. Aalis suspected Sir Donimede was not a patient man.


    ¡°Your son?¡± Aalis asked.


    Jocasa nodded, waving Shivo to come closer. Shivo eased back the wrapping to expose the face of a sleeping baby, no more than a few days old. She was surprised at the blackness of his hair. Though he didn¡¯t have a great deal, it was very black.


    ¡°Ramon.¡±


    Aalis peered at the baby, seeing a black smudge on the baby¡¯s scalp that looked like a fingerprint. With her right hand she touched the smudge, concerned that it might be a bruise, a sign of maltreatment but the smudge came off onto her finger. She smelt it and turned to Jocasa who was staring at her like a wild animal in the sights of an archer.


    ¡°You colour his hair?¡±


    Endolin rolled her eyes. ¡°I told you it would not work.¡±


    Aalis looked at Endolin, at the baby and then at Jocasa. ¡°This is not your baby.¡±


    ¡°I gave him a son¡­¡± Jocasa blurted then held her tongue.


    Aalis closed her eyes. ¡°It is not Sir Donimede¡¯s baby.¡± She paused, confused. ¡°Were you with child?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Endolin said in a sharp voice.


    ¡°Endolin¡­¡±


    ¡°This is never going to work, mother,¡± Endolin said forcefully, ¡°father is never going to believe that is his son. He was born as fair as a baby chick!¡±


    ¡°By Astaril¡­¡± Jocasa put her hand over her mouth and trembled. Aalis moved back to the bed and sat on the edge.


    ¡°Lady Jocasa¡­where is your baby?¡±


    Jocasa opened her mouth but no words emerged. Instead, as if summoned by Aalis¡¯ inquiry, a plaintive cry reached her ears. Aalis looked back to the room Shivo had emerged from. No one moved to address the cry. Aalis looked at the wetnurse whose eyes were wide with horror, Jocasa was filled with shame and Endolin was struggling to contain her scorn. Aalis couldn¡¯t ignore the cries which sounded weak and desperate. She ran into the room and found a cradle where Ramon had lain. It was empty. But there was a tapestry behind where the cry was coming from. Aalis dragged it aside to see a baby in a plain box, as cold as the air around it. She scooped it up, immediately pressing it against her body to share her warmth. Its cries, which had been weak, increased in strength, as if sensing its salvation was at hand.


    She emerged from the wetnurse¡¯s room, her eyes dark and serious. Lady Jocasa, though being in her rights to maintain a haughty, superior demeanour, wouldn¡¯t meet Aalis¡¯ eyes. The young healer turned to the wetnurse.


    ¡°Give that baby to Endolin,¡± she said without room for argument in her voice, ¡°and feed this child.¡± Shivo looked at Jocasa hesitantly. ¡°Do not look at her,¡± Aalis ordered, brimming with fury, ¡°look at me and feed this babe!¡±


    ¡°What if it taints me?¡± Shivo blurted, Endolin removing the first baby from her arms.


    ¡°It is a child, not a monster.¡± Aalis thrust the babe into Endolin¡¯s arms then stood over her as she sat, opened her bodice and the squalling infant¡¯s lips locked onto a very full breast. It struggled for a moment then Shivo gasped as the baby suckled strongly, filling its belly with enthusiasm.


    Aalis watched and waited until she was sure the babe would not be neglected, stroking the top of its head then turned to Lady Jocasa.


    ¡°How is it you gave birth to a child of Maul?¡±

 What do you know of the demands of the heart?

    Fort Mavour was impressive in its size and structure. Thankfully Sir Donimede took these as compliments for Judd struggled to come up with other positive virtues. As a fortified construct designed to fend off monster attacks, there was no doubt it did its job. There were two trebuchets on the wall whereas Fort Omra only boasted one and the top of the fort was higher than the wall, an expanse of rooftop providing plenty of space to sight any monster advance well before it reached the range of the trebuchets. Beneath the roof was a soldier barracks where Fort Mavour¡¯s troops were rotated from wall top duty. Judd noticed that there were more rooms, barracks, stables and armouries dedicated to monster hunting than there was to residence and general living. While this focus towards militarisation made sense in one of the most sieged forts in all of Terra, it meant that there was little aesthetic or cultural beauty to be seen. Any statues that dotted the slab sided and rigid landscape of the fort were warriors in fearsome poses killing all manner of beasts.


    Judd noted the one dedicated to burning witches and vowed to make sure Aalis never saw it.


    The view from the top of the fort was damning. The mount of Maul could not be unseen. It dominated the left side of the panorama and when Judd turned to enjoy the view of the north, he could almost feel its burning gaze searing the back of his head. In the expanse to the right of the mount, was endless broken, dead earth.


    ¡°Other forts in Terra might boast that they are the mightiest with the strongest fighting force,¡± Sir Donimede chortled with his hands on his hips, ¡°but Fort Mavour could best all of them¡­save for Fort Verion.¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan¡¯s fort.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°Naturally,¡± Donimede gestured for Judd to follow and they descended into the fort, out of the icy winds and biting air, ¡°and this is only because of all the funds Rylan received upon marrying Genovieve. King Rocheveron poured much gold into Fort Verion. Who can compete with that kind of money?¡±


    ¡°It certainly helps.¡± Judd recalled his rather empty purse. ¡°Sir Donimede, Sir Rylan¡¯s quest is the reason that I am here.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, I thought it must be.¡± Cantor Donimede showed Judd into his sitting room which was spartan and military. Judd didn¡¯t mind his chair but he did think it could have been greatly improved simply with the addition of a cushion. Donimede rang a bell then sat down opposite Judd and the young warrior was suddenly aware of the mounted minotaur¡¯s head on the wall behind him. It was larger than any natural bull he¡¯d ever seen with curved horns that could impale two men with ease. Its lifeless eyes should have been reassuring but Judd found its presence disturbing. ¡°You¡¯ve come to Fort Mavour because of something you are missing from your quest list?¡±


    ¡°A minotaur,¡± Judd nodded, leaning forward, tearing his attention away from the beady black eyes that glared endlessly at him, ¡°I heard there might be an opportunity for me to kill one here¡­¡±


    ¡°Fereak has a big mouth.¡± Donimede remarked and Judd let the misinformation slide. He didn¡¯t want to tell Donimede that he heard about Fort Mavour¡¯s Arena from Suvau. ¡°But he is right, this is the one place in all of Terra you can fight a minotaur.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Judd asked then was distracted as the door to the sitting room opened and Willower appeared with a tray in her hand bearing a large bronze jug and two goblets. She set it down on the table and flicked her braid over her shoulder. Judd immediately stood to his feet and cleared his throat. ¡°Willower¡­I wasn¡¯t expecting¡­¡± He cleared his throat again and forced himself to be calm. ¡°How lovely you look today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She said with a warm smile and curtseyed before him. ¡°Shall I pour you some wine?¡±


    ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    Judd watched as she did so, handing one goblet to her father then turned and gave him his with a subtle wink. He couldn¡¯t suppress the smile before Sir Donimede caught sight of it, Willower leaving quietly.


    ¡°Your daughter is quite lovely.¡± Judd blurted, sure he was meant to say something.


    ¡°And if she doesn¡¯t strike your fancy, I have five others, though only Willower, Endolin and Candela are of child bearing age¡­I think¡­honestly I can¡¯t keep track of them all.¡± Donimede snorted, picking up his goblet. ¡°Thank the stars my wife finally bore a boy!¡± Judd clunked his goblet against Donimede¡¯s and gulped at his wine, hiding his revulsion. ¡°Perhaps, in lieu of being escorted by myself, Willower might show you around the interior of the fort this afternoon?¡±


    Judd was relieved that Donimede had more creativity than he in trying to work out how to ¡®woo¡¯ Willower.


    ¡°If she does not mind a few hours of my company, I would be delighted.¡±


    Aalis sat on one of two opulent chairs in front of the fire than blazed in the large hearth while Jocasa faced her on the other. She had forgone her fa?ade of ¡®illness¡¯ after childbirth, leaving her bed and donning a velvet robe lined with fur around her body. The wetnurse had retreated to the servant¡¯s chamber with the first baby while Aalis held the second whose skin was not as dark as Suvau¡¯s but far darker than a child of a knight¡¯s spouse ought to be yet with Jocasa¡¯s green eyes.


    Endolin had organised tea for them both then escaped the chamber, sensing the topic of conversation would not be for her ears.


    Jocasa poured the tea, busying herself with the preparation. Aalis watched her, wrestling with scorn and judgement. The little boy babe in her arms was content, having filled his belly well and was asleep, his lips pursing as though recalling the taste of milk.


    ¡°The longer you take to speak, the harder it will be.¡± Aalis warned.


    Jocasa stopped stirring the tea and put the spoon down.


    ¡°I¡­have never¡­¡±


    ¡°Forget about dressing yourself in a pitiable light,¡± Aalis cut her off, ¡°and tell me how it is that you became imbued with a child of Maul then neglected it.¡± Her tone was hard. She had to soften it or Jocasa might throw her out and goodness knows what would happen to the baby after that.


    Jocasa licked her lips, pale and drawn. ¡°You are aware of Fort Mavour¡¯s¡­unique pastime?¡±


    ¡°You speak of the Arena?¡± Jocasa nodded. ¡°It is the reason we are here.¡±


    ¡°My husband insists I watch,¡± Jocasa swallowed, ¡°he says it encourages the men to fight with greater vigour when there is a lovely woman in attendance. So, from the very first day of my arrival in Fort Mavour, I was subjected to that¡­bloodbath of violence and death. I had¡­such nightmares¡­¡±


    Aalis¡¯ revulsion dimmed a little. ¡°I can imagine¡­¡± She whispered.


    ¡°That was only in the beginning,¡± Jocasa gave a small, sad huff which might have been a laugh or a sigh, ¡°but after Candela was born, the third girl, Cantor decided I was¡­less useful than he had hoped in being his wife.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I failed to give him a son,¡± Jocasa picked up her tea and stirred it over and over, watching the amber liquid swirl until she put the spoon down and waited for the ripples to soften then end, ¡°and sons are all that matter to Sir Donimede.¡± Her tone was scathing. ¡°His daughters are lovely and as refined as I can produce in this wasteland of culture¡­¡± She breathed in deeply, sucking in her errant emotion. ¡°But it is not enough for him. So I decided to attend the Arena without his invitation, to defy his opinion of me.¡± She closed her eyes and shook her head. ¡°What a foolish notion¡­as if it meant anything to him.¡±


    ¡°You must have known as much, at least on some level in your heart.¡± Aalis gently urged.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jocasa put her undrunk tea down, ¡°it was a year ago that I saw a man in the Arena¡­handsome despite his Maulish appearance and with eyes that burned¡­when he looked at me¡­¡± Jocasa put her hand against her breast. ¡°Cantor¡¯s passion for me faded with every daughter I gave birth to so that now¡­our unions are perfunctory at best, a means to a hope in vain end.¡± Aalis sighed softly. ¡°This man¡¯s look¡­the way he made me feel¡­I wanted to feel like that again.¡± Jocasa lifted her chin with a faint hint of her old superiority. ¡°Judge me all you want¡­¡±


    ¡°I do not judge you.¡± Aalis said firmly.


    Jocasa¡¯s resolve trembled and she turned to face the flames of the fire. They crackled and spit, eating through the logs in the hearth.


    ¡°I¡­came to an arrangement with Urik, the Arena master. He brought this man to my chambers in secret and left us alone.¡±


    ¡°You were not afraid?¡±


    ¡°If he killed or harmed me, his death would be agony,¡± Jocasa explained, ¡°but I promised, if he pleased me¡­he would be spared from the Arena.¡± Aalis wanted to ask what men of Maul were doing in the Arena but now was not the time for such inquiries. She put it aside for the sake of the baby in her arms. ¡°I was so careful,¡± Jocasa insisted, ¡°to make sure there were no consequences of my¡­indulgence¡­but after the birth of Donimede¡¯s sixth daughter¡­after a servant told him I was able to conceive once more he came to me¡­¡± Aalis watched as tears rolled down Jocasa¡¯s cheeks, slipping out of her faded hazel eyes. ¡°No better than a bitch in heat¡­those were his words.¡± Jocasa¡¯s eyes flashed with a dismissive anger that only just hid her hurt. ¡°The moment he was done with me, I told Urik I wanted my Maul to visit and erase the touch of my foul husband¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you discovered you were with child¡­and could not vouch for certainty the paternity.¡± Aalis breathed.


    Jocasa nodded. ¡°There was every chance that the child I carried would be Cantor¡¯s but I could not risk it. I sent Endolin to the marketplace to seek out a woman in the guise of needing a new wetnurse. However, she had to find a woman who was already with child and who might be able to give me a babe that somewhat resembled Cantor¡­son or daughter at that moment was irrelevant for at that moment, it had to have the appropriate skin colour.¡±


    ¡°But she gave birth to a fair haired son and now you are worried your husband will see through your deception?¡± Aalis breathed out heavily. ¡°My lady, you are in a conflict of your own making¡­and I cannot begin to see how you were going to explain a Maul baby at all, regardless if it came from you but to neglect it so¡­¡±


    ¡°You must believe me, I never intended harm upon him.¡± Jocasa blurted, leaning forward in her desperation for Aalis to trust her words. ¡°Shivo had instruction that it was to be tended to just like her own son.¡±


    ¡°After all the nonsense you purport about Mauls being evil and tainted?¡± Aalis exclaimed. ¡°Shivo was terrified of feeding him.¡±


    ¡°And I swear I will make sure that never happens again,¡± Jocasa promised, ¡°but what am I to do? How can I explain the fair hair of Shivo¡¯s babe? All my daughters were born with locks the same hue as mine!¡±


    It was a quandary but not one first and foremost in Aalis¡¯ mind. She was wrestling with the notion of perpetuating a lie, involving herself in the deception. Yet the consequences of Jocasa¡¯s adultery would be damning, not just to herself but to the man she had born a child with, not to mention Endolin, Shivo and her babe and, the most vulnerable, the Maul babe itself.


    ¡°Babes are often born fair,¡± Aalis delved into the extent of her knowledge of babies, ¡°but it can fall out and change colour.¡±


    ¡°What if it does not?¡± Jocasa¡¯s fingers wrung together tightly.


    Aalis considered this. ¡°Are either your parents or Sir Donimede¡¯s, fair?¡±


    ¡°His father was.¡±


    ¡°Wash the babe¡¯s hair and present him to his father and if your husband questions the colour of his hair, simply say that he must resemble Sir Donimede¡¯s father.¡±


    Jocasa¡¯s hazel eyes widened and she stood up. ¡°That¡­that would be perfect! A descendant that aligns with the Donimede crest¡­even Cantor could not find fault with that!¡±


    Aalis was pleased Jocasa was so relieved. She wished she could be equally so yet felt highly uneasy that she was not only perpetuating a lie but now, enforcing it.


    ¡°Lady Jocasa,¡± Aalis said with a warning in her tone as Jocasa seemed to think all her troubles were gone, ¡°what of this baby?¡± Jocasa was giddy and Aalis wanted to slap her. ¡°Even with the problem of the fair hair solved, should this baby be discovered, your infidelity with a man of Maul may yet be exposed!¡±


    Jocasa turned to her, shocked. Aalis was as well, her words as harsh and cold as she could make them.


    ¡°I¡­plan to smuggle him out of Fort Mavour, naturally.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    Jocasa sat on the edge of her chair and eyed Aalis. ¡°I was going to leave that up to you.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    Lady Jocasa nodded. ¡°I would pay you handsomely, of course, for your help¡­and you ought to know that I am not to be refused¡­¡±


    Aalis¡¯ eyes were sad and she gazed at Jocasa for a long time until the haughtiness in her expression ebbed slightly.


    ¡°There was never a need to bribe or threaten me,¡± Aalis said sadly and Jocasa looked ashamed, ¡°I would have done anything to protect this baby.¡±


    Jocasa and Aalis stared at each other, Jocasa looking less like the mature mistress of an illustrious fort and more like a rebuked adolescent that had been caught out. Before she could muster a reply, the door to the chamber opened, Aalis drawing the babe close into her arms, her veil draped over the top to hide it.


    ¡°Mother, I cannot choose between these two gowns¡­¡±


    ¡°Willower,¡± Jocasa¡¯s tone was harsher than she meant in the fright of the confidential conversation becoming exposed, ¡°show some decorum and knock before you enter!¡±


    Willower, as richly hued as her sister, Endolin, yet with fuller curves contained within her bodice of dark teal, stood with two gowns in her hands. She went to speak, to apologise possibly then caught sight of Aalis and clamped her lips shut.


    ¡°I asked the nomad healer here on a personal matter that the fort physician has been unable to shed light on.¡± Lady Jocasa blurted. Aalis wondered if Willower would hear the guilt in her mother¡¯s voice but it seemed she was equally as awkward at finding Aalis in the room. ¡°Why come to me with concerns about gowns?¡±


    Willower licked her lips, her hazel eyes flitting towards Aalis briefly. ¡°I am to give Judd LaMogre a tour of Fort Mavour¡­¡±


    ¡°That is promising,¡± Lady Jocasa perused the dresses, ¡°the yellow would soften your harsher tones but the green would enrich the hue of your hair. Aalis,¡± Jocasa turned to her, ¡°you know of LaMogre¡¯s sensibilities. Which would you choose?¡±


    Aalis¡¯ throat was tight and she could feel dread sucking at her feet and legs. She could only see gowns she would never be able to wear. Willower, with her bold colouring, could wear almost anything. Aalis possessed almost no colour and that which she did, was pale, pastel and drifted between blues, greens and lavender. Yellow would look dirty on her and she would disappear in the green.


    ¡°Both gowns would look lovely on you,¡± she managed to say and not sound half strangled, ¡°however, the yellow does seem more like day wear and the green, something you would wear at a ball.¡±


    ¡°How remarkably insightful of a nomad to notice¡­¡± Lady Jocasa mused then turned to Willower. ¡°I agree with the nomad. The yellow is flattering, even flirtatious without too much intent. Save the deep green for when there is greater understanding.¡±


    Willower nodded and ducked out of the room. Lady Jocasa turned towards her, Aalis dropping her eyes towards the sleeping baby, avoiding her gaze.


    ¡°Very remarkable insight¡­perhaps you are not as nomadic as you appear.¡±


    Aalis lifted her gaze, sensing a paltry attack. ¡°You have more to lose than I.¡± She retorted.


    Jocasa folded her arms and turned her head. ¡°The vultures that call themselves the nobility of Fort Mavour make it impossible to trust anyone. They pounce on any weakness¡­¡±


    ¡°I imagine you must always keep your guard up,¡± Aalis admitted, ¡°but there is no need to threaten me, Lady Jocasa. I want to save this babe and you wish to preserve your reputation,¡± Jocasa sighed and nodded, ¡°however, let me make this plain,¡± Aalis stood up, ¡°if you continue to lie with this man of Maul, you will always run the risk of conceiving another child by him. Adultery aside¡­¡±


    ¡°Adultery!¡± Lady Jocasa scoffed. ¡°What do you know of the demands of the heart? The need to be loved? The desire to be more than just a man¡¯s vile fulfillment? But your virgin blush tells me you know nothing about the ache when the man you loved turns out to be the beast from your nightmares.¡± Aalis¡¯ eyes were wide and she stared at Jocasa, frightened and shocked. Jocasa sank onto her chair once more and pressed her fingers to her face. ¡°Forgive me¡­may you never know such a dark day when you discover just how foolish your dreams of love are¡­¡±


    Aalis couldn¡¯t respond, looking down at the little boy in her arms. She held him warmly, almost tightly, wishing the cracks in her heart would stop paining her when she least expected it.

 On your feet, cleric, or will you cower when the monsters come?

    Caste was rather disappointed to find Rodel¡¯s assessment of the literature at Fort Mavour was not an exaggeration of its¡­sparsity. The only things older than the last siege Maul made on Fort Mavour were things that could not burn and in a library, there was little that could not be consumed by flames. In fact, apart from some random and uninteresting texts that had survived simply by not being in the library at the time of the fires, everything in it was new and even then it was plain that the investment into knowledge was not something Sir Donimede or any of his predecessors for several generations considered worthy.


    ¡°Told you.¡± Rodel remarked as Caste perused the painfully bare shelves with more vacancies than there were books.


    ¡°Would Deacon Alast have any in his chambers?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Rodel said without conviction, ¡°I¡¯m sorry there isn¡¯t enough knowledge here to interest you.¡±


    ¡°I can hardly imagine what you do with all your time.¡± Caste admitted, knowing he would be bored out of his mind within a month.


    ¡°Oh, there are distractions¡­¡±


    Caste looked at him and Rodel glanced away, unwilling to meet his gaze. Caste¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Just how did you end up with this post? A failed knighthood quest would not have reflected well upon your record.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only if I had ambitions of becoming bishop,¡± Rodel shrugged, ¡°which is an office I leave to more intelligent men such as yourself.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Caste preened.


    ¡°Cleric,¡± a guard entered the library without knocking and glared at Rodel, ¡°you¡¯re late.¡±


    ¡°I sent word this morning that I would be unable to attend practice¡­¡±


    ¡°Like I care,¡± the guard snorted, ¡°tell that to sword master Roust yourself.¡±


    Rodel sighed and looked mournfully at Caste. ¡°I apologise. It seems I am required elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Practice?¡±


    ¡°Come and watch and you might begin to understand why I was chosen for this post.¡±


    Caste followed, curious to say the least. Rodel led him through the fort to a long, double storey room where guards were being drilled in their fighting skills. Fort Mavour¡¯s crest was a wild animal snarling, possibly a werewolf. When in armour, the guard¡¯s tunics were covered with metal but in this training hall they practiced without armaments so that their dark blue tunics with the embroidered werewolf head could be seen.


    A burly man with no hair but which he made up for with tattoos of, in Caste¡¯s opinion, tasteless and graphic design, turned and eyed Rodel.


    ¡°You¡¯re late, cleric!¡±


    ¡°Sir, I sent word¡­¡±


    ¡°When you can hold your own, then you can talk to me about skipping a practice.¡± Roust glared at Caste. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    All manner of insults flooded Caste¡¯s mind but he wisely kept his mouth shut. Rodel gave him an apologetic glance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be here for the better part of an hour. Why not sit up there and watch me get pummelled?¡±


    Caste saw a set of stairs that led to a viewing balcony which was recessed from the training room, allowing those who wanted to watch the fighting to do so with a better viewpoint. There were pews to sit on and he took a place somewhere near to where Rodel was preparing himself. Caste had been surprised at Rodel¡¯s unconventional attire when he¡¯d dressed that morning. Rather than his traditional Order of the Grail tunic and cappa clausa, Rodel had donned fitted dark brown trousers, a white shirt with a lace up neck and his cappa clausa over the top. He even wore boots that looked more like what a soldier would wear. Caste had let the observations go unsaid and now he wondered if he was about to receive a demonstration as to why Rodel was not dressed in the custom manner of a cleric.


    He removed his cappa clausa and strapped a padded helmet around his head then stood at the end of a long floor mat that was one of several laid across the lengthy training hall. Caste guessed it to be the designated space for Rodel to practice in.


    To his increasing concern, sword master Roust was Rodel¡¯s opponent and picked up padded staffs, tossing Rodel one.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re late, I¡¯ll be making up for lost time.¡± Roust said darkly. ¡°Defend yourself!¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    To his credit, Rodel did and Caste was deeply impressed at the way he handled himself. Unfortunately, against a superior force, both in skill and in strength, Rodel could only do so for so long before landing on his backside.


    ¡°Up, cleric,¡± Roust grunted, ¡°defend yourself!¡±


    Caste cringed as he watched, reminded of the time that Judd had been humiliated and abused by Dalain Thiery. That had been an out of control, vindictive sword master determined to put an eager, albeit na?ve, young man in what Dalain had deemed was his place. Caste reminded himself that this was different. Despite Roust¡¯s coarseness and merciless demeanour, Caste could see some element of logic and training method in the sword master¡¯s abuse.


    But only just.


    ¡°On your feet, cleric, or will you cower when the monsters come?¡±


    Roust¡¯s remarks glanced off Rodel and Caste wondered if he had become benumbed to the taunts over time or if Rodel was trying so hard not to get knocked on his arse that he couldn¡¯t hear anything at all.


    ¡°¡­through the training room.¡±


    Through the grunting and manly noises, the voice that entered their midst was oddly feminine.


    ¡°Guards, attention for a lady!¡± Roust barked and the fighting in the training room immediately stopped.


    ¡°Sorry for the interruption, gentlemen,¡± Caste turned and saw Judd entering the viewing platform from an upper doorway, a woman with a warmly hued complexion in an elegant yellow gown with her arm linked through his, ¡°please continue.¡±


    Caste was so stunned by the presence of, who he could only guess would be, one of Sir Donimede¡¯s daughters, that he forgot to turn his attention back to Rodel when Roust bellowed something about defending himself.


    ¡°¡­vigorous training by sword master Roust.¡±


    ¡°I thought Chael was captain of the soldiers?¡± Judd asked, their words becoming clearer as they approached Caste, heading for the door behind him.


    ¡°Captain Chael manages the soldiers under my father. Sword master Roust is in charge of the fort guards who protect the family.¡± Willower leaned closer. ¡°There is quite the rivalry between them.¡±


    ¡°I can only imagine.¡± Judd chuckled then caught sight of Caste. ¡°Cleric Undern, may I introduce Willower Donimede. Willower, this is my cleric, Caste Undern.¡±


    ¡°Welcome to Fort Mavour.¡± Willower curtseyed.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Caste blundered.


    ¡°Willower is availing me of all the non-military aspects of the fort.¡± Judd seemed quite at ease with the daughter of Sir Donimede on his arm.


    ¡°And you¡¯re in the training hall because¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a short cut.¡±


    Caste frowned. ¡°Hopefully not to the library¡­¡± He muttered.


    ¡°Would you care to watch sword master Roust drill the guards?¡± Willower asked.


    ¡°I would not wish to subject you to the brutality.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°I do not mind if you are with me.¡± Willower beamed, her pretty face becoming luminous in the presence of gentlemanly attention. Caste felt his jaw drop as they sat nearby, Judd glancing back at him and tapping the underside of his jaw. Caste clamped his jaw shut and turned back to the training hall. Rodel was gazing up at the viewing balcony, his brow furrowed and his concentration, splintered.


    Caste didn¡¯t have the chance to ask what was wrong before Rodel was knocked off his feet, landing on his back, Roust standing over him, glowering at his unworthy opponent.


    ¡°You think your robes and that four star pendant you wear will be any defence against the monsters that constantly swarm this fort? You think they will stop to pay homage to your beloved order?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Rodel muttered, pushing himself upright.


    ¡°No!¡± Roust knocked him down again and Rodel lay on his back, groaning.


    ¡°Bad form!¡±


    Roust and Rodel both stopped and turned to look up at the viewing balcony. In fact, Caste¡¯s outburst managed to bring all those within the training hall to a standstill. Judd turned and stared at him, astonished and a little impressed.


    Caste heard the words. He even believed they were truth.


    He just couldn¡¯t fathom that they had erupted from his mouth.


    Roust kept his padded weapon lowered to Rodel but his eyes glared at Caste.


    ¡°Say that again¡­¡± He dared in a dark voice.


    Caste willed himself not to squeak as he repeated himself. ¡°Bad form.¡± Rodel closed his eyes and groaned silently as Caste continued. ¡°Knocking a trainee to the ground before he has a chance to stand up¡­that goes against the code of the sword master.¡±


    ¡°And what,¡± Roust¡¯s weapon pointed at Caste now and though it was padded and several lengths away from his elevated position, Caste wanted to cower and hide, ¡°would a cleric know about the code of a sword master?¡±


    Caste trembled, knowing he was in deep. ¡°What you know in form, I know in fact. The code of the sword master was written down from the time of antiquity.¡±


    Roust¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You think words are any defence against the foul beasts of Maul?¡±


    ¡°I think,¡± Caste swallowed, ¡°if we lose the integrity that we, as humans, are capable of fostering¡­we are no better than the monsters themselves.¡±


    Roust lifted his chin. ¡°I have a duty to make sure that each and every person within the walls of this fort are capable of defending themselves.¡±


    ¡°And I applaud that,¡± Caste hastened to insist, ¡°but you can beat the will to live out of a person long before you train them how to survive.¡±


    Roust glowered at Caste then, with a curl at the side of his mouth, he gave a small chuckle.


    ¡°Well, well¡­this little cleric has teeth¡­care to test them?¡± Roust waved at Rodel. ¡°I¡¯ll wager you and your fellow officer of the Grail cannot land a blow on me¡­and I¡¯ll even give you my weapon.¡±


    Caste blanched. ¡°Uh¡­both of us?¡±


    Roust chuckled. Caste swallowed then saw Rodel¡¯s shame filled expression. Caste gripped the wooden rail tightly, forcing his legs to move towards the stairs.


    ¡°Um¡­Caste?¡± Judd¡¯s voice was filled with concern as Caste made it down the steps to the training floor, his robes weighing heavily on him. Roust held out his padded staff and Caste reached for it, wondering if he could make a run for it.


    ¡°Better change, little cleric.¡± Roust advised.


    Training in the hall had ceased. No one, not guard or visitor upon the viewing balcony, could recall what they were supposed to be doing. All eyes were on the three of them, two inexperienced and ill trained clerics against a burly sword master with tattoos that made Caste cringe.


    ¡°I am a cleric of the order of the Grail,¡± Caste said quietly and with frightened rigidity, ¡°I wear my robes with pride.¡±


    Roust¡¯s laugh was chilling. ¡°Very well then¡­attack me.¡±

 A Maul with brains as well as brawn…you’re going to need them

    Suvau spent an uncomfortable night in the dungeon after a sparse meal of gruel. Palo complained that there was the same amount of gruel prepared so the more slaves there were, the less there was to go around. The young lad with the awkwardly healed arm, Gustin, was quick to point out if Palo was so intent on dying, why bother eating?


    With his bonds preventing him from lying down, Suvau had to sleep sitting up. This did not bother him too much except that sleeping fitfully made the new day come all the more slowly. Suvau had already made a mental map of the passages he had seen as he¡¯d been marched to the dungeon. He hadn¡¯t come to Fort Mavour out of pure selflessness regarding Judd¡¯s knighthood quest. Suvau had another agenda in mind. He wanted to free his people if there was even the slightest chance to do so. He had determined it was impossible to escape the way he¡¯d been brought in. It led straight out into the bailey and marketplace of Fort Mavour. The moment anyone, servant, soldier or civilian spotted them, it would be over.


    But Suvau knew that Fort Omra, in its foundations, was a labyrinth of passages and escape routes. He hoped that Fort Mavour, built during the same period of time as Omra, would be the same.


    Jole, Urik¡¯s brute, made sure to keep one hand tight on Suvau¡¯s bonds, the other on his neck. Suvau could feel the restrained strength. He did not doubt for a moment that Jole could snap his neck should he resist. Urik walked ahead, leading him to the Arena. Suvau kept his head down, eyes flitting backwards and forwards, continuing to draw a map of the foundations of the fort in his mind.


    He was marched into a space where there were manacles bolted to the wall, hanging limp and empty. However, he could smell dust mixed with blood in the air as if it were a tangible presence. Suvau could see smears of dark, dried red on the stone of both wall and floor, his fury hard to mask. Jole sensed his increasing agitation and his fingers tightened around his neck.


    Urik turned to Suvau, his eyes gleaming. ¡°We have not had fresh meat for quite some time. The monsters may struggle to sniff you out without the scent of blood on your skin,¡± Urik reached for a whip hanging on the wall, ¡°so we will have to let it out a little¡­¡±


    Jole turned him around so that Urik could flay Suvau¡¯s back. The big man refused to give Urik the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain but he couldn¡¯t stop it from appearing on his features. Jole¡¯s expression was impassive, the brute just a mindless thug in Urik¡¯s thrall.


    ¡°There,¡± Urik hung the whip back up, ¡°that should entice a few monsters.¡±


    Suvau swallowed, his brow sweating rather than his tears falling. Urik turned a wheel, a strong metal bar gate rising with every rotation. Cold air greeted Suvau¡¯s face. The brisk breeze slapped Suvau and he realised he was about to go outside, or at least, somewhere exposed to the outside.


    It had to be the Arena or what he¡¯d heard the other slaves calling, ¡®the pit¡¯.


    Jole took him through across two or three stone pavers that ended in a broken edge, uneven grey rock causing him to pick his footing much more carefully. Suvau wanted to look around but was marched down a decline, past a pillar to a semi-flat space. Jole undid Suvau¡¯s bonds and, without any kind of communication, turned and simply left him there.


    Suvau rubbed his wrists and looked around.


    The space he was in was three quarters of a circle, the curved edges ending on the far side of the Arena where there were two more pillars reinforcing an inner portion of wall, a sizeable metal gate separating the Arena from what could only be Maul. The gate had metal spears at the bottom that slid deep into the rock and Suvau suspected holes had been dug out painstakingly so that the gate was sealed top, bottom and sides. Beyond the gate, the ground continued to slope away into a chasm of jagged rock and dead, blackened trees. He couldn¡¯t see far along the chasm because it twisted into a corner and his line of sight was cut off but at the moment, the gate was down so he tore his eyes away from it to look at the Arena itself.


    The gate he had been marched through was one of three and with his builder¡¯s keen eye, he could see that they were not original constructs but rather, additions that were made to keep the monsters out and to allow slaves and warriors in. Apart from the gates, there were no windows and no other doors and the walls were at least fifteen feet high. On top of the walls were balconies that ran around most of the space, supported by the half dozen stone pillars that Suvau noted would provide some cover if required. There was a solid protective railing of more stone at the front of the balconies for those who would watch the match from the pews, or grander chairs for the more illustrious attendees.


    Suvau shivered, pain and cold warring for dominance. He could feel lines of chilled blood trickling down his back like monster tendrils. The ground at his heels became dotted with his blood, staining the stone.


    There was a loud creaking and he turned back to the gate to see it rising. When it was up, in the silence afterwards, Suvau could hear the sound of chittering and scurrying feet.


    ¡°Your blood has drawn a bit of a crowd,¡± Urik¡¯s voice taunted him from above, ¡°however, not a minotaur. Looks like you¡¯ll have to survive the goblins if you¡¯ll be of any use to LaMogre in drawing his required monster out of Maul.¡±


    Suvau ran to the gate and, despite his back protesting, pressed himself against the pillar. Seconds later, the first of the goblins tore through. Suvau let them go by, counting as their twisted little bodies, bulbous heads and grasping hands lurched into the Arena, seeking their prey, the gate falling back into place, sealing them into the Arena. They were foolish monsters, little more than pawns in the Maul invasion and they never thought to look behind them, glancing about the Arena, sniffing the blood that was on the floor, unable to find their prey.


    Suvau smiled and grabbed the goblin closest to him, snapping his neck. He managed to kill three out of the seven beasties before the goblins realised something was wrong. Unfortunately for the fourth goblin, who turned when he realised the smell of blood was actually behind him, Suvau grabbed his legs and swung him around, striking the other goblins, sending them flying before bashing the one in his hands against the pillar. The goblins, now only numbering three, scrambled brokenly to their feet and in blind stupidity, tried to attack Suvau even though each of them suffered shattered limbs.


    The brawl was over quickly and Suvau¡¯s dark gaze lifted from the bodies at his feet to the balcony above where Urik stood, eyes filled with one part admiration to three parts frustration.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°A Maul with brains as well as brawn¡­you¡¯re going to need them. With your heart pumping, the smell of your blood will travel further, bringing larger monsters to the Arena threshold and within. Jole!¡±


    Suvau hurried to put distance between himself and the gate as it began to rise again.


    He had to steady himself and hold some strength in reserve.


    He didn¡¯t know how long his time in the Arena would go for¡­but he suspected Urik would not be happy until monsters drew Suvau¡¯s blood for themselves.


    An hour later, Caste and Rodel made it back to their room, Caste limping and Rodel supporting him. Caste sank onto his bed and groaned, holding his ankle. Rodel stepped back and sighed.


    ¡°Maybe you should have taken LaMogre¡¯s offer to call for his nomad healer.¡±


    Caste had been rather surprised that Judd hadn¡¯t left for the duration of Roust¡¯s ¡®instruction¡¯. He hadn¡¯t been aware the, almost knight, had stayed. He¡¯d been too focussed on attempting to knock Roust off his feet and trying not to be knocked down himself to realise. But when Caste had fallen, clutching his ankle, Judd had stood and called the match off and Roust had, thankfully, conceded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll limp there myself later,¡± Caste insisted, knowing that, should Aalis be exposed as a witch, his own integrity would be stained with foolishness that he had not recognised it, ¡°I¡¯m sure it isn¡¯t as bad as it seems.¡± Although, when it had happened, Caste would have sworn before Bishop Peele that the sword master had broken his ankle. ¡°Is Roust always like that?¡±


    Rodel nodded. ¡°He maintains that all males, not just soldiers and guards, ought to be able to defend themselves when in Fort Mavour. It¡¯s the reason I was chosen to succeed Deacon Alast upon his elevation to the long coveted role of archdeacon.¡± Rodel leaned against the wall of his room and folded his arms. ¡°Out of all the clerics left in the Order of the Grail after most of us were assigned knighthood quests, I was the only one who met the physical standard¡­and I think that¡¯s just because I¡¯d been out in the wilds for a few weeks and not cooped up at a desk or in a library,¡± he caught sight of Caste¡¯s expression, ¡°not that there¡¯s anything wrong with that!¡±


    ¡°That,¡± Caste said tersely, not entirely satisfied with Rodel¡¯s poor concession towards his beloved occupation, ¡°is what is waiting for me back in Astaril and by Andigre, Grail and all the knights, that is where I will live out my days.¡±


    Rodel nodded. ¡°I take it I will be sending any and all accounts of Fort Mavour to Bishop Undern soon.¡±


    ¡°Not for some years,¡± Caste pointed out, rubbing his ankle, ¡°I hope this ridiculous endeavour will not stunt my advancement¡­¡±


    ¡°If LaMogre manages to attain his knighthood, it can only work in your favour.¡± Rodel pointed out. Caste begrudgingly agreed with that. ¡°How many monsters does he have left to kill?¡±


    ¡°Two, a minotaur and a witch.¡± Caste replied.


    ¡°It may take some time but he will face a minotaur here¡­as for a witch¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s already¡­¡± Caste said before sucking the rest of his words back into his mouth before they had a chance to be heard.


    Rodel frowned. ¡°Already what? Do you have a bearing on a witch to be killed?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­taken care of¡­actually it slipped my mind but the witch isn¡¯t on the list¡­at least, not to be killed. I mean, Judd¡¯s killed it¡­essentially.¡±


    Caste wondered if the stammered gibberish he¡¯d just blurted out would awaken Rodel¡¯s suspicions. However Rodel, while handsome, did not seem overly bright or intuitive and he shrugged and lay back on his bed, arms behind his head, one leg bent. Caste willed himself to relax and eyed Rodel¡¯s clothing.


    ¡°That is certainly not traditional officer attire.¡± He observed, hoping to move the conversation elsewhere.


    ¡°Roust insists on my wearing something practical.¡± Rodel snorted then proceeded to mimic the brutish sword master. ¡°Dresses are for women, helpless and defenceless¡­dress like a man!¡±


    ¡°Charming.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°Actually, the clothing is very well tailored and Alast had to approve of its make before I was allowed to wear it. While I would never confess as much to Roust, I prefer this over the tunics and cappa clausa.¡±


    ¡°You still wear the cappa clausa though, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, but it is very liberating to be able to take stairs, mount a horse and fight without worrying where my hem is.¡± Caste didn¡¯t like to admit he¡¯d had the same concerns on occasion. He believed, once back in Astaril and in the heart of the Order of the Grail that such concerns would be a distant thing of the past. Rodel cleared his throat and looked at Caste with his southern sky blue eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting LaMogre to be at the training session.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he was,¡± Caste said then realised how foolish that must have sounded, ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t think he was meant to be. He was taking a short cut through the training hall.¡±


    ¡°With the daughter of Sir Donimede?¡±


    ¡°I think she was his escort.¡±


    Rodel frowned. ¡°Do you think¡­do you suppose they are¡­attached?¡±


    Caste snorted. ¡°After less than a day?¡±


    ¡°Prominent matches have been known to be made in mere moments of time.¡±


    Caste considered this. Judd had always shown a partiality towards Aalis that made Caste very uncomfortable. Not only was she of dubious origins and lifestyle, but Judd was heading fast towards a knighthood which would elevate him from being able to marry anyone he liked of the common variety to a much smaller, yet far more illustrious, eligibility pool. When knighted, Judd would not be permitted to wed or even court someone like Aalis unless it was unofficially such as if Judd married for status and kept Aalis in his abode as his mistress.


    That future rankled with what Caste knew about Judd. He was honourable and had integrity. He would not do that to the woman he married or to Aalis, not that she seemed the kind to entertain such a proposition.


    Caste put his foot back on the floor and tested it, relieved that the initial blinding pain he¡¯d suffered seemed to be the warning of imminent breakage rather than a break itself. He might favour it slightly but he wouldn¡¯t need to limp to protect it.


    ¡°Willower seemed rather taken with LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Miss Donimede, you mean,¡± Caste corrected vaguely, still testing his ankle, his tunic hiked up to his knees, ¡°it is inappropriate for an officer of the Grail to refer to the daughter of a knight by her first name as it implies familiarity,¡± he thought he heard Rodel sigh and looked up at his fellow cleric¡¯s expression, ¡°or attraction?¡±


    ¡°Miss Donimede then. She seemed quite taken with LaMogre.¡±


    Caste could not deny that. ¡°It would be an advantageous match for Judd to make,¡± Caste mused, ¡°at least, before his knighthood. After his knighthood¡­he might be able to do better¡­¡±


    ¡°How can you speak so callously of Willower?¡±


    Caste stared at Rodel whose good natured expression had become furious to the point of violent in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°I¡­speak objectively.¡±


    ¡°You are objectifying her?¡±


    Caste folded his arms. ¡°As a cleric of the Order, you need to be aware of the hierarchy of eligibility and how certain milestones in life can greatly elevate marriageability status. It is part of your duty as cleric, one day without Alast¡¯s oversight, to provide guidance to Sir Donimede in these matters.¡±


    Rodel shook his head. ¡°Donimede has already done so, several times, with his eldest daughter. Rylan, Fereak, Haern and his father, Egrette,¡± Caste cringed at the list of eligible men that Donimede¡¯s daughter had been unable to entice, ¡°Rylan again after Genovieve¡¯s death¡­it¡¯s a cruel game of status snatching that plays with a woman¡¯s heart.¡±


    ¡°I suppose she would be better off marrying for love rather than to secure any foothold for Donimede in the future of Astaril monarchy¡­¡± Caste remarked slyly.


    ¡°Much better off.¡±


    ¡°Imagine if all rules were removed and she could marry¡­anyone!¡±


    ¡°Just imagine!¡±


    ¡°She could choose from an almost endless pool of potential suitors with no stigma attached to herself or her father¡­¡±


    ¡°No stigma at all¡­¡±


    ¡°Why¡­she could even marry a cleric!¡±


    ¡°I would treat her far better than any of the knights treat their wives¡­¡± Rodel¡¯s words faded as Caste¡¯s eyebrows raised and he realised just how blindly and badly he¡¯d blundered. ¡°Oh sh¡­¡±

 Nothing better than a gallop across monster infested countryside to get the blood pumping

    ¡°It¡¯s possible, then, for you to fight a minotaur here?¡± Verne asked as he and Judd watched Giordi warble and play in the marketplace of Fort Mavour. It was just as crowded as when they¡¯d arrived, the throng of residents buying and selling when not out in the fields bringing in the harvest under the watchful gaze of Captain Chael¡¯s soldiers. There was mead being sold by the mugful and meat being roasted on spits, large chunks of it cut off for anyone with the coin to pay. Bread was baked in ovens, fruit and vegetables sold by the crateful and herbs hung from the overhang of the market coverings so that the entire space smelt of a thousand scents, each one making Judd¡¯s stomach rumble even though he¡¯d not long eaten.


    Giordi knew the best place to set up his busking corner was near where there was mead and meat as everyone who purchased either item was always standing in line, listening to him as they waited. And whatever spare coin they had often went into his cap.


    Even now, Judd and Verne held a mug each and watched the coin flow as easily as the mead did.


    ¡°Sir Donimede said, though he couldn¡¯t know for sure which day it would happen, that a minotaur could and would be provided.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    Judd shrugged. ¡°He remained rather tight lipped on the whole thing¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh good, more obscurity and guesswork.¡± Verne muttered then eyed Judd. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone most of the day¡­Donimede kept you hanging around that long without an answer?¡±


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Judd chuckled, ¡°I escaped his presence as soon as possible and enjoyed midday repast with his daughter, Willower.¡±


    ¡°Sir Donimede¡¯s daughter?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°Eligible of age, daughter?¡±


    ¡°Verne¡­¡±


    ¡°But what about¡­¡± Verne caught himself from asking about Aalis and Judd. He had to remind himself that, according to Aalis¡¯ wishes, Judd believed Verne and Aalis were in a relationship and sharing a bed.


    ¡°What about what?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­nothing¡­I forget.¡± Verne shrugged and leaned against a post. ¡°So¡­what was the tour of the fort like?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I thought it was going to be terribly dull, to be honest, but it seems the sword master here, Roust, has made it his mission to make sure every male in Mavour can defend themselves and others¡­including clerics. And we happened to pass through the training hall at just that moment.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Verne laughed, ¡°clerics learning to fight¡­¡±


    ¡°And in the middle of Rodel¡¯s beating, Caste calls out ¡®bad form¡¯ and ends up on the training floor, trying to knock Roust over.¡± Judd and Verne laughed.


    ¡°Oh dear¡­was Caste injured?¡±


    ¡°He insisted he was fine and he knows where Aalis is if he needs her administrations.¡± Judd snorted. ¡°To watch Caste hold a weapon and go down fighting¡­it was both noble and ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°I would have paid good money to see it¡­not that I have any...¡±


    ¡°At least Giordi¡¯s making a killing here.¡± Judd nodded at the minstrel who had drawn a crowd. If it had just been his good looks that drew people to him, Judd might have resented the handsome young man but Giordi¡¯s voice and skill on the lute were exceptional.


    ¡°You¡¯d think these people had never heard music before.¡± Verne¡¯s tone was rather bitter.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible they don¡¯t get a lot of culture in Fort Mavour,¡± Judd explained, ¡°everything is aimed towards a military focus.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense, this far south.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­but it¡¯s quite¡­¡± Judd shrugged. ¡°The only colour in this place was the yellow dress Willower wore and some paintings in the gallery.¡±


    ¡°They have a gallery?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°They can¡¯t be entirely without culture then.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty dusty,¡± Judd admitted and nearly added ¡®neglected¡¯ onto the description as he recalled the spider webs clinging between the chest and arms of armour and draped between frame and wall, ¡°and there are more suits of armour, weapons, mounted monster heads and shields than there are paintings.¡±


    ¡°Mounted monster heads?¡± Verne shuddered. ¡°Some monsters have human heads¡­¡±


    ¡°Not those ones.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Verne turned to him, ¡°I thought monster corpses were meant to be burned.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s another rule that seems to have been bent the further south you go.¡±


    ¡°Sounds broken to me.¡± Verne rolled his eyes as two young women giggled and tossed coins into Giordi¡¯s cap to which he winked. ¡°Maul¡­he¡¯s incorrigible.¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre!¡±


    They turned to see Captain Chael on horseback with Arsch and Kipre riding beside him.


    ¡°Captain,¡± Judd brightened, liking the forthright military man despite his questionably long ginger sideburns, ¡°you look well.¡±


    ¡°Nothing better than a gallop across monster infested countryside to get the blood pumping.¡± Captain Chael chuckled.


    ¡°Sir, perhaps LaMogre would care to join us on patrol?¡± Arsch asked quietly.


    ¡°He has the horse to maintain pace.¡± Kipre added.


    Captain Chael looked at Judd and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Well¡­what say you, LaMogre? Care to keep up with Mavour¡¯s most adoring?¡±


    Arsch and Kipre coughed and spluttered in embarrassment while Judd shook his head.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°I¡¯d like nothing more than to stretch Xenon¡¯s legs but I¡¯m waiting word from Sir Donimede.¡±


    ¡°The Arena?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°Go on the early patrol. The Arena is only ever active in the afternoon and evening.¡±


    Judd looked at Verne who shook his head as if to say, what are you looking at me for.


    ¡°Then I¡¯d be delighted.¡±


    ¡°Looking forward to seeing if you live up to your reputation.¡± Chael urged his horse into a trot while Arsch and Kipre gave jaunty salutes, somewhat pleased with themselves.


    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got a full day tomorrow.¡± Verne turned to Judd. ¡°Patrol in the morning, Arena in the afternoon and supper and flirting in the evening.¡±


    ¡°Another word out of you and I¡¯ll volunteer you to join me.¡±


    Suvau locked his arms in place and would not move, squeezing the life out of the ogre that was the current monster after several bouts against the beasts from Maul. It flailed its arms about, so strong they could shatter Suvau¡¯s arm but they could not get a grasp on him. Finally it¡¯s fighting became writhing then turned into twitching. At long last, its hulking body sagged onto the ground, a gurgling burping from its throat, saliva trickling to the ground into a pool, mixing with a little dust and Suvau¡¯s sweat and blood.


    Suvau had to force himself to let go, falling onto his backside, breathing heavily. He didn¡¯t have the strength the rise. Should Urik order Jole to open the gate again, Suvau knew that the smallest goblin would be able to sink its teeth into his neck and tear out his throat.


    He heard the sound of gears clunking together and closed his eyes, fearing the worst. Yet instead of a monster, he felt a tight fist grab him and haul him to his feet. Jole marched his shaky legs out of the Arena to where Urik was waiting through the first gate. Suvau heard it clang behind him and nearly sagged in relief. It took every ounce of remaining strength he had to stumble after Urik to the dungeon. If Jole had not taken hold of Suvau¡¯s bonds, he might have fallen down the steps and collapsed onto the ground.


    Suvau leaned against the wall, the wounds from his whipping no longer hurting compared to the ache of the rest of his body. He heard Jole¡¯s heavy footstep leave and the door closed, blanketing them in darkness.


    ¡°Suvau,¡± Oska whispered urgently, ¡°Suvau, speak to me. Are you injured? Were you bitten?¡±


    Suvau opened an eye and gave a small smile. ¡°The only injuries I sustained were a knock to the head when an ogre caught me with its arm and threw me into a pillar and Urik¡¯s whipping.¡± He sat up properly and cracked his neck.


    Oska let out a loud breath. ¡°I thought you must have been half dead the way Jole dragged you in.¡±


    Suvau chuckled. ¡°A small deception¡­but only a small one.¡± He put his hand up to his shoulder and pushed back on it hard, feeling bones click into place. He was worried he¡¯d dislocated it but, apart from being tender, it seemed to be more ache than injury.


    ¡°What did you face in there?¡± Gustin asked. ¡°You have been gone for hours!¡±


    ¡°That I believe.¡± Suvau was desperate for a drink of water. ¡°There were goblins¡­several waves of goblins and some orthros¡­and then an ogre.¡±


    Through the hazy gloom he saw one of the Mauls hold a broken bowl against a wall, collecting water that trickled from an overflow somewhere above.


    ¡°Thank the stars it¡¯s raining.¡± Gustin explained. The bowl was passed around the room and given to Suvau so he could swallow it despite the water having a strong mineral flavour that set his teeth on edge. He breathed out and leaned back then winced and leaned forward, his wounds starting to pain him again.


    ¡°How did you survive this?¡± He asked, looking at Oska from across the room. ¡°Was that onslaught just because Urik has taken a dislike to me?¡±


    ¡°We all suffer an¡­initiation to the pit.¡± Oska explained. ¡°It is simply the luck of the draw.¡±


    Palo snorted and Suvau wondered why he seemed to despise Oska so. Still, interpersonal relationships between prisoners were not his primary concern.


    ¡°The pit¡­Arena¡­does anyone know how it was built?¡±


    ¡°Ermaus might know,¡± Gustin turned to an older slave whose skin had lightened a little and whose hair was following suit, ¡°he¡¯s the oldest among the slaves.¡±


    ¡°Only because the Terra¡¯s are too good to shovel their own faeces,¡± Ermaus snorted, ¡°or dig their own graves.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you do around here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we all do¡­when we¡¯re no longer fit for the pit.¡± Suvau studied Ermaus. He was a mess of scars, one eye blinded and sealed shut and he no longer possessed an ear on the same side. Ermaus caught his unavoidable stare. ¡°Cockatrice caught me with its claws. The only way to survive was to sever where the poison was injected.¡± Suvau shuddered. ¡°We all possess scars, memories of battles we have survived¡­but we all start with a whipped back to draw blood and entice the monsters¡­not that you could find my first scars¡­they¡¯re hidden beneath all the others¡­¡± He laughed which turned into a cough that rattled about in his chest with an alarming sound. Ermaus took several moments to regain his breath and lifted his head and gestured to Suvau with the only three fingers remaining on his left hand. ¡°You wanted to know about the pit?¡±


    ¡°How was it built? It doesn¡¯t look entirely constructed but more like¡­salvaged?¡±


    ¡°You have a keen eye.¡± Ermaus rasped. ¡°It opened beneath the wall during an earthquake which created the chasm that leads out into Maul. The fallen rubble blocked the hole in the wall and thankfully the fort and the upper portion of the wall were all built to withstand collapse. While slaves such as myself, bartered from Fereak, cleared the debris, removing the obstacles the monsters could not pass, soldiers fought to keep them back. Donimede saw the value in having a place for soldiers to train against monsters and sword master Roust and Captain Urik agreed.¡± Ermaus had to pause to catch his breath, leaning on his knees. ¡°The wall was reinforced with the rubble and the pillars were built¡­the viewing balconies are just the floors of the stories above that didn¡¯t fall into the pit.¡± He wheezed and shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately it was during the rebuilding that Urik observed that monsters went for Mauls as much as Terras.¡±


    ¡°I suppose he went from Captain Urik to slave master Urik with that gem of a revelation?¡± Suvau muttered angrily.


    ¡°You got it.¡± Ermaus slapped his knee. ¡°That butcher Donimede decided to call it ¡®the Arena¡¯ to make it sound grand. He even boasted that Sir Rylan constructed something similar in Fort Verion.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised Donimede¡¯s cleric let him get away with an unsecured wall.¡±


    ¡°Donimede made sure any entrance or exit from the pit into the interior of the fort was through one of three iron gates. Any monster that kills its opponent cannot escape without the gates being raised from the outside of the pit. The monster is usually killed by archers from the balconies. I imagine Donimede would have argued that it was safer than ever.¡±


    There was a round of snorts and spits at this.


    Suvau¡¯s face creased in contemplation as he visualised the pit. ¡°I thought there were two walls of the south, one built ten feet or so from the other, in order to keep Terra safe. In the pit, there was only one wall.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s there but you wouldn¡¯t have seen it unless you were standing on the threshold of the exterior gate,¡± Ermaus had to breathe several times again and Suvau cringed at the rattle in his lungs, ¡°after the earthquake, the interior wall was rebuilt closer to the exterior, narrowing the gap between them to perhaps a foot wide. The gate that separates Terra from Maul was constructed to closely fit between the walls and drops down into the space like a seal.¡±


    ¡°I suppose monsters only think to devour the vulnerable human in the pit rather than seek a means of infiltrating the wall?¡± Suvau wondered vaguely. ¡°Even then¡­only a foot wide¡­that¡¯s narrow¡­¡±


    Ermaus went to respond but started to cough instead. It was a terrible attack and Suvau thought he might die then and there but eventually he got it under control, gasping for breath. Suvau realised the old man had pushed himself too hard for one evening and let any other questions he had go unanswered. Gruel was served and Suvau devoured it, his stomach cramping for more yet he knew to ask would only invite a beating. In the darkness he rested, his mind trying to work out how the gate between the walls worked.


    ¡°There must be a mechanism to raise and lower it, possibly on the balcony of the pit¡­and if it was raised, would it be possible to squeeze between the two walls?¡± He mused quietly, his words mingling with the dust that seemed to float and never land in the dungeon. All around him he could hear the sounds of his people sleeping or resting as best they could. ¡°If I am put it the pit tomorrow, I must try to look.¡±

 It’s hard to tell time when you don’t care about living anymore

    As the hooves of the horses struck the frosted grass, brittle after a bitterly cold night, small puffs of white erupted into the air in their wake. It was as though the scouting party was being chased by a small, white cloud that clung to their heels, desperately trying to keep up.


    The six riders crossed the fields within Fort Mavour¡¯s boundaries, passing stone monuments used as markers and watch towers with bells hung from their highest point, lookouts keeping a watchful eye for monster incursions.


    Judd had to keep a fairly tight rein on Xenon as the stallion wanted to charge to the front and take the lead. Judd only had to whisper ¡®wild cat¡¯ for the stallion to curb his speed a little. He found the open air of riding, the companionship without the claustrophobia of his soldier riders to be a refreshing change after the stifling air of Fort Mavour. It wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t been hospitable but there wasn¡¯t a single breeze or stirring in the air within the fort. Judd had read a story about a tomb of a lost king and he imagined it would be a little like the atmosphere within Mavour, complete with spiderwebs and dust.


    ¡°LaMogre!¡± He looked over at Captain Chael who waved towards an outcrop of land.


    Judd nodded and changed Xenon¡¯s heading to climb the rise of land, feeling the stallion¡¯s powerful legs dig his hooves into the incline in order to reach the top. Judd remembered Mavrish¡¯s instruction and tightened his grip with his knees and let Xenon choose the path up the hill, the other soldiers and Chael following the tempestuous stallion¡¯s example, clattering onto the flat plateau of the outcrop.


    Judd pulled the scarf down from around his mouth that kept the icy air from freezing his lungs as he rode and whistled at the view. A large stretch of land lay between the outcrop and the endless bulk of the wall of the south. Despite their elevated view, Maul was completely obscured behind the wall and the only way Judd knew where the mount of Maul lay was from the billows of smoke that he was told drifted endlessly from its peak.


    The sun was just starting to flex its muscles, sending warm tendrils over the landscape, causing the frost to splinter and fade from the grass, the leaves and bushes until not an icicle remained.


    ¡°We are at the very corner of Fort Mavour¡¯s boundary.¡± Captain Chael announced. ¡°This outcrop marks where Mavour¡¯s responsibilities end and Verion¡¯s begin.¡±


    ¡°You speak of the forts as though they are people.¡± Judd chuckled, rubbing his hands together.


    Captain Chael shrugged, clad in armour yet Judd noticed it was bulked with layers beneath and a scarf around his neck. ¡°They were once, as were all the forts to the south. Sir Omra, Sir Mavour, Sir Verion and Sir Callain were all knights beneath Andigre.¡±


    ¡°And Fort Sol?¡±


    Arsch and Kipre, along with the two other soldiers that had ridden out with them, snorted in derision. ¡°That¡¯s not a fort¡­it¡¯s a fortified village trying to grasp some of the knights of old glory.¡±


    Judd recalled the fate of the last knight who had been in charge of Fort Sol. ¡°Remember that it was worthy of a knight¡¯s commission,¡± he said with a grieved rebuke in his voice, ¡°and he died defending it.¡±


    The soldiers were suitably chastised. Judd hoped he hadn¡¯t overstepped his bounds but an approving nod from Captain Chael allayed his fears.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised we were able to reach the edge of Fort Mavour¡¯s boundaries so quickly.¡±


    ¡°Your stallion certainly held pace,¡± Chael pointed out, ¡°but Fort Mavour¡¯s territory is spread on either side of the fort.¡±


    ¡°I suppose Fort Omra only has the western side of the wall to defend,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°as the eastern side is impassable mountain.¡±


    ¡°Fort Mavour has also been given more land to defend because the ground does not cultivate the same yields as the land around Fort Omra.¡± Chael explained.


    Despite the cultivation of the land, Judd sensed it was still wild. Civilisation was just a fa?ade, the land hiding and releasing danger whenever it could. As if to remind him of that fact, Judd heard a warning bell sound twice. He twisted in his nomad saddle to the west. A plume of smoke could be seen and if he strained his ears, he could hear shouts of battle.


    ¡°A monster incursion?¡± He asked and saw Chael take a spy glass from the holster on his belt. He held it up to his eye and peered through it.


    ¡°Looks like satyrs or goblins¡­¡± Judd watched as Chael returned his spy glass to his belt, lacking any haste or direction towards the battle.


    ¡°Should we not be lending our aid?¡±


    Rather than explain it himself, Chael gestured for one of the younger soldiers, barely old enough to shave, to respond. ¡°Two rings of the bell call the soldiers closest to the site of battle,¡± he quoted with rigid formality, knowing his captain was testing him, ¡°but should the bell ring forth a clamour, all soldiers must attend.¡± Chael nodded and the young lad breathed out, knowing he¡¯d passed an important test.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Why is this so?¡± Judd inquired. ¡°Not that I doubt your methods but I am puzzled why you would not have all soldiers respond.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a fair question.¡± Chael waved his hand to encompass the landscape towards the wall. ¡°With so much land to maintain, monster attacks are frequent. In fact, the lads in the mess have a wall plaque which they hang a sign after each day there isn¡¯t an incursion.¡±


    ¡°Remember the week the sign read ¡®four days since the last monster attack¡¯?¡± Kipre chuckled.


    ¡°Yeah, it was like a holiday¡­a really weird one.¡± Arsch agreed. ¡°I think it ended that night with an ogre throwing goblins over the wall onto the fort itself.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, that was a bad night¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Chael eyed them and their lips clamped shut, ¡°the rule was, when the alarm bell rings, all scramble to its location. However, there was a particularly bad incursion¡­in an unprotected and unmonitored location on the opposite side of where the initial alarm was raised.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Judd frowned, ¡°after a small incursion brought all soldiers to one location¡­monsters invaded elsewhere?¡± Chael nodded. ¡°Taking advantage of the absence of soldiers?¡± Chael nodded again. Judd eyed him sharply. ¡°That smacks of an intelligence that I didn¡¯t think monsters were capable of before my knighthood quest¡­unless it was a happy coincidence for the forces of Maul¡­¡±


    ¡°I have recorded no less than two dozen times the same trick was attempted to be pulled since,¡± Chael explained, ¡°and when my predecessor found a cushier position within the fort itself, my observations and strategy for dealing with it saw me elevated to the position of captain.¡± Judd was lost in his thoughts, the notion of monster intelligence and organisation starting to become a great concern to him. Chael continued to speak. ¡°I made sure that my soldiers were well trained enough to handle smaller incursions and put lieutenants in charge that knew the penalty for pride and letting anything get out of hand.¡±


    ¡°Very wise¡­¡± Judd mused, still distracted by his internal wrestling.


    ¡°Fort Mavour¡¯s soldiers are rostered and rotated across the land, all the way to the boundaries and I maintain a daily patrol ride to keep an eye on things.¡±


    ¡°Sir, did you see the state of the sky?¡±


    Chael looked up and chuckled. ¡°You¡¯d think these baby faced soldiers had never patrolled through a storm before.¡±


    One of the young soldiers muttered quietly that he hadn¡¯t but was silenced by his friend.


    ¡°We should make haste if we¡¯re to reach Mavour before it hits.¡± Arsch agreed then looked at Judd. ¡°Would LaMogre care for a wager as to who will reach the fort gate first?¡±


    Judd chuckled and rubbed Xenon¡¯s neck. ¡°I doubt I have anything that would interest you.¡±


    ¡°What about¡­if we win, you have to dine in the soldier¡¯s mess tonight?¡±


    ¡°And if I win?¡±


    ¡°You get to regale us with stories from your knighthood quest.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess¡­in the soldier¡¯s mess?¡± The younger soldiers nodded enthusiastically. Judd laughed. ¡°I tell you what, I¡¯ll dine with you in the soldier¡¯s mess tonight regardless who wins so long as my minstrel can regale you instead of me. He¡¯s a far better storyteller.¡±


    Kipre and Arsch looked at each other. ¡°So¡­what about the wager?¡±


    Judd grinned. ¡°Oh that? I don¡¯t need motivation to beat you. Xenon and I will leave you in our snowflake flurry!¡± With that he kicked into Xenon¡¯s flank who was already trembling in anticipation and leapt into canter down the slope then into a joyous gallop with a stride that ripped through the earth of the south, sending clods of it flying as the other soldiers tried desperately to keep up just as the first few icy drops of rain began to fall.


    If the night before was difficult to sleep because he was forced to sit up, Suvau suffered a worse night because of the scored lines from the whip upon his back. He couldn¡¯t lean against the wall and close his eyes. He ended up slumped sideways, the clink of the chains waking him from his shallow slumber every time he moved. Before Urik ordered him to the Arena, Jole served more unappealing gruel. Suvau studied Jole for signs of a weakness, suspecting that any escape would mean the slave driver¡¯s brute would have to be dealt with. Thankfully, though he seemed to have strength on equal footing with Suvau, he did not strike Suvau as particularly clever.


    When Jole left, Suvau slurped down his gruel quickly and accepted more mineral tasting water that was handed around, collected again from the drip in the dungeon.


    ¡°Does anyone know what Jole¡¯s story is?¡± Suvau asked, his words the first spoken for hours. Silence greeted him. ¡°Anyone? Ermaus?¡± But the old man was sleeping and Suvau shook his head when one of the other slaves offered to wake him.


    ¡°I think Jole was one of the first in the pit, before they started using us almost entirely.¡± Gustin shifted, his expression pained, his poorly healed arm a constant source of agony.


    ¡°Donimede let a Terra be used as bait?¡± Suvau was doubtful.


    ¡°Before this happened,¡± Gustin nodded at his arm, ¡°I was waiting outside one of the gates when the captain of the soldiers brought a Terra through and said something about, ¡®earning his innocence¡¯. He went in instead of me that day.¡±


    ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    Gustin swallowed and looked away. ¡°It¡­wasn¡¯t pretty¡­two ogres got through the gate before it could close¡­¡±


    Suvau glanced at the small window in the door, keeping an eye out for Urik¡¯s lurking shadow or Jole¡¯s bulk. He didn¡¯t want them to hear his questions but the passage leading to the dungeon was empty.


    ¡°Earning his innocence¡­possibly a criminal?¡± Suvau thought about this. ¡°Perhaps Jole committed crime and survived the pit, only to become enslaved by Urik.¡±


    ¡°Urik is the brains, Jole is the brute,¡± Oska offered in place of Ermaus¡¯ longstanding wisdom, ¡°between them they make one formidable force.¡±


    ¡°Like you would have any chance against Jole,¡± Palo muttered, ¡°you¡¯d be lucky to survive Urik.¡±


    Suvau frowned, Palo¡¯s words pointing out a nagging concern Suvau had about Oska. For one who had been in the dungeon as long as he had, Suvau noticed a distinct lack of wounds, scars or other evidence of time in the pit.


    ¡°How long have you all been here?¡± He asked casually, wanting to gauge wounds to time spent in Fort Mavour.


    ¡°Before you came, I was the newest,¡± Gustin shook his head at Palo, ¡°I¡¯m Fereak¡¯s apology for sending him,¡± Palo fumed in the corner, refusing to be goaded into conversation, ¡°the month before.¡±


    ¡°Every month?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. It¡¯s hard to tell time when you don¡¯t care about living anymore.¡±


    Suvau did some quick calculations. That meant there would have been up to eleven Mauls, not including his own unexpected arrival, after Oska. There were thirteen Mauls in the dungeon, apart from himself and all of them were marred or injured in some way¡­except Oska.


    Suvau reasoned that there might be wounds on his brother in law that he could not see¡­


    ¡­but deep down he knew he was lying to himself.


    How had Oska survived so long?


    Almost thankfully Jole arrived to take Suvau away. The former weaponsmith would prefer physical danger to the unpleasant suspicions that had started to brew in his mind.

 Willower, are you and this gentleman requiring a chaperone?

    Once Xenon hit full gallop, he was hard to stop. Judd knew that in order to do so, he¡¯d have to hold fast to the reins and draw back firmly for long seconds until Xenon¡¯s tempestuous mind realised he was being told to slow down. However, the gallop from the outcrop to Fort Mavour had done what Judd didn¡¯t think was capable of doing which was to find the bottom of Xenon¡¯s energy. Not his willpower, apparently because he resisted the pull to slow¡­but gave in much more quickly than ever before.


    He dropped to a canter, briefly into a trot before walking and stopping in front of the gates.


    Judd rubbed his neck, feeling the nomadic stallion¡¯s chest heave strongly.


    There was little else to do but wait for the others to catch up¡­


    ¡­and to not look smug when they did.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Kipre crowed as they arrived on horses that were wheezing almost violently. ¡°My mount is one of the fastest in the stables.¡±


    ¡°Next time the nomads try to sell us horses, we¡¯ll be asking for mounts equal to LaMogre¡¯s stallion.¡± Arsch grumbled, signalling to the gatekeeper to open the gates to let them through.


    ¡°This stallion came from the eastern nomad tribe, not the one you would trade with,¡± Judd excused, ¡°and he was the mount of a nomad before he was mine. I imagine the nomads would keep the best mounts for their own people.¡±


    ¡°Did you kill him for it?¡±


    Judd looked at the young soldier, horrified. ¡°Of course not! The young man was killed in the unicorn ambush and when I insisted on accompanying the nomads who were going to hunt down the herd of monsters, Xenon was the only mount I could take and we bonded.¡±


    ¡°Bonded? Like¡­¡±


    ¡°A connection born of experience and time,¡± Judd explained, ¡°I believe the nomads bond with their mounts, rather than own or simply ride whatever is available.¡± He ruffled Xenon¡¯s mane and the stallion tossed his head, enjoying the scratch behind his ear.


    ¡°Wait, go back a step,¡± Kipre leaned forward, ¡°you fought unicorns?¡±


    ¡°Twice.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°I call dibs on that being the first story tonight!¡±


    Captain Chael chuckled and urged his horse beside Judd¡¯s. ¡°Quickly, let¡¯s get inside¡­Xenon might have outrun the rainstorm but it was right on our heels.¡±


    As a man who had been born in Fort Mavour and lived in it his whole life, Chael knew what he was talking about. Only a minute after they¡¯d entered the gates, thunder rolled overhead, crashing like symbols. Judd glanced up, half expecting the sky to have shattered from the force of the storm clouds.


    ¡°Not a fan of storms?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen my fair share on fishing boats,¡± Judd led Xenon walk in the only direction he could, through the marketplace where people were scurrying out of the path of the horses, trying to get home or close up shop before they were soaked through, ¡°and believe me, after surviving a storm on a little dingy, storms don¡¯t bother me anymore.¡± He felt Xenon tremble at the next crash and smile. ¡°If Xenon had wings, I think he¡¯d be up there, kicking the Maul out of those clouds.¡±


    ¡°I would not be surprised.¡± Chael laughed. They made their way through the length of the markets to the lower bailey where guards were quick to open the gates. ¡°I think someone is waiting for you.¡± Chael cleared his throat and jerked his head.


    Judd looked up and saw a head of dark auburn curls scattered loose over a dark red gown with almost brazen orange trim. Willower wore a cloak around her shoulders but the hood was down, the thick fur lined head covering hanging in folds over her back.


    ¡°Miss Donimede,¡± Judd called, removing his boot from the left stirrup and swinging himself off Xenon¡¯s back, ¡°what are you doing outside on such a foul day?¡±


    ¡°I was in the markets and heard that the early patrol was returning. I thought I would wait and walk up with you.¡±


    ¡°That is very kind of you but Xenon¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, LaMogre,¡± Arsch hopped down, ¡°it would be an honour to look after Xenon for you.¡±


    Judd smiled and nodded at him. ¡°I will see you in the soldier¡¯s mess later.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Arsch leaned forward, ¡°should you want to bathe, there is a soldier¡¯s bathhouse in the fort.¡±


    Judd leaned back to him. ¡°Are you saying I smell?¡±


    ¡°Only of horse, sir.¡± Arsch chuckled and ducked away.


    Judd shook his head and turned to Willower, an icy blast fluttering the hem of her gown and flinging her dark red curls recklessly about her face.


    ¡°Allow me,¡± Judd grasped the hood and flicked it over her head, pulling it close around her face, ¡°we should hasten inside before it pours.¡± As if to emphasise his concern, drops began to darken the grey stone steps. ¡°I would offer my arm but apparently I smell of horse.¡±


    ¡°I do not mind at all.¡± Willower insisted, looping her arm quickly through Judd¡¯s, allowing him to take the outside line up the steps. Judd looked at Willower, her cheeks flushed with exertion and her hazel eyes sparkling. His heart panged with concern, worried that their ¡®ruse¡¯ was only being cruel to the eldest daughter of Sir Donimede. ¡°I confess a lie, Judd LaMogre. I was not browsing the stalls of the marketplace at all. I heard you were joining the early patrol and knew what time it tended to return.¡± Willower confided, her face softly fringed by the orange fur of her hood.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Willower,¡± he said softly as they climbed the steps, ¡°please tell me you remember that our ¡®attachment¡¯ is only a pretence¡­¡±


    She stopped and looked at him, clutching at her hood. ¡°Should you propose to me, here and now, Judd LaMogre¡­I would accept,¡± Judd¡¯s expression and indeed his entire body became stricken, ¡°simply to be married, to gain my father¡¯s approval and escape this place,¡± she worried her lips, ¡°but am I in love with you? No.¡± Judd let out the breath he was holding. ¡°I think it would be very easy for me to fall in love with you,¡± she admitted as they continued to climb the stairs, the wind beginning to howl and the rain starting to drop in earnest, ¡°but even if I did, I would never reproach you for not falling in love with me. You have made the direction of your heart clear.¡±


    Judd wasn¡¯t entirely sure if he was happy with her answer but there was no more time to talk as the rain began to sleet down, so sharp and hard it was like someone was throwing small spears made out of icicles. Judd tried to protect Willower as best he could and when they reached the exterior landing before the main doors, decorum be damned, they sprinted for the entrance of the fort, the doorkeeper slamming it shut behind them.


    Willower pushed her hood back and laughed as Judd ruffled his hair, flinging the excess water from it.


    ¡°What?¡± He ran his fingers through it. ¡°Too messy?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± she smiled and gently pulled some of his curls forward again, ¡°in fact, I rather like the tousled look on you.¡±


    Before he could respond they heard the clearing of a throat and sprang apart though they had hardly been engaging in any clandestine behaviour. Sir Donimede stood on the lowest stair, dressed entirely in black with a somewhat smug expression in his eyes. Standing on the step behind him was a woman who could only be Willower¡¯s mother and behind her, with her eyes lowered and a bundle in her arms, was another daughter of Donimede, possibly the second eldest.


    ¡°Willower,¡± Lady Jocasa said in a regal reprimand, ¡°are you requiring a chaperone?¡±


    Judd¡¯s face filled with heat as Willower lowered her head. ¡°No mother.¡±


    Jocasa let the silence grow long and awkward. ¡°You should change before you catch a chill.¡±


    ¡°Yes mother.¡± Willower darted away without another word or even to send Judd a flirtatious backward glance.


    Judd swallowed and stepped forward. ¡°I apologise for any misconduct. We were running to escape the rain, you see, and I¡­¡±


    ¡°I am less concerned than I appear.¡± Jocasa confided with a raise of her eyebrows. ¡°Cantor, will you not introduce us?¡±


    Judd immediately leapt into his charming persona based upon Giordi¡¯s confidence and ease. ¡°Lady Jocasa, I feel I need no introduction as it is clear a woman of your daughter¡¯s beauty could only have you as her mother,¡± Jocasa¡¯s lips curled up a little at the compliment even as Judd stepped back and bowed, ¡°but of course, protocol must take priority.¡±


    Sir Donimede had watched this exchange, equal parts amused to bemused when he shook himself out of his stupor and into the role of husband and knight.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, this is my wife, Lady Jocasa Donimede.¡± As she was standing on the step too far from him, Judd decided not to opt to ask to kiss her hand but instead, gave as deep and sweeping bow as he could muster.


    ¡°Forgive my not greeting you when you arrived,¡± Jocasa¡¯s tone was smooth and rich, like a warm wine, ¡°I was recovering from a long labour.¡±


    ¡°No apology required when bringing a life into the world, my lady.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°Sir Donimede, is this your son?¡±


    Donimede held out his hands. Jocasa took the baby from the younger daughter¡¯s arms and passed it to Donimede who held the baby out proudly for inspection. The red faced babe scrunched its face up, wriggled uncomfortably from all the jostling then settled back down, as fair as Giordi but without the curl.


    ¡°Ramon Donimede.¡± The knight pronounced with grandeur. ¡°By all the stars in the heavens, I have waited so long for a son and now, I have him.¡±


    ¡°He is a handsome child,¡± Judd said automatically, ¡°he is so fair¡­¡±


    ¡°A throw back to my father, Maurist Donimede, a fine man and blonde until the day he died.¡± Donimede explained. ¡°My raven black hair I attribute to my mother. My father, if he was alive, would be filled with pride to know that his progeny, even to the hue of his hair, lives on.¡±


    Judd bit back the urge to point out that Donimede had seven daughters who should have been considered progeny but he knew that the passing of a last name, the continuation of a family line, rested on the sons of the sons of the sons and so forth. He watched Donimede hand the babe back to Jocasa who passed it to her daughter. He thought, for a moment, that there was a knowing look and nod between mother and daughter but Judd could not interpret it before the daughter whisked the baby away and Jocasa came down the stairs to stand on equal footing with Judd.


    ¡°Now that I am recovered enough to be a proper hostess, I hope you will dine with us tonight, Judd LaMogre.¡±


    Judd faltered for a brief second, trying frantically to recall Giordi¡¯s lesson on ¡®declining gracefully¡¯.


    ¡°Lady Jocasa, it grieves me to say that I have already given my word to dine with the soldiers in the mess,¡± he explained with as pained a look as he could give, ¡°it was a matter of pride, a wager between myself and the rest of the patrol.¡±


    ¡°That is a shame,¡± Jocasa lifted her chin and smiled and Judd sensed a touch of desperation, as if she was trying to please him, ¡°however, it affords me the time to properly organise a much grander invitation, a feast worthy of a man who completes his knighthood quest in the Arena of Fort Mavour and under the gaze of Sir Donimede.¡±


    Judd floundered, stunned that she would be so generous.


    ¡°My lady,¡± Sir Donimede protested lightly, ¡°LaMogre has yet to slay his minotaur. It is not even certain that he will.¡±


    ¡°Even though I am not privy to the gossip of the soldiers, I have heard of the victorious exploits of you and your party,¡± Jocasa replied to Judd rather than her husband, ¡°and I know that victory, and knighthood, are simply a matter of time.¡±


    Judd bowed, desperately trying to think of a response. ¡°I only hope I live up to your reputation, Lady Jocasa.¡± He finally replied.


    ¡°Perhaps then, if a minotaur is not forthcoming by tomorrow, you will dine with myself, my husband and my daughter in a more private setting?¡±


    ¡°I promise not to engage in any wagers that would ambush such an invitation.¡± Judd hoped half of what he was saying made sense. At this stage in the conversation, he was just quoting Giordi.


    ¡°Until tomorrow night, then.¡± Lady Jocasa curtseyed and Judd bowed once again, grateful to the formal gesture that allowed him a moment to collect and calm himself. Lady Jocasa retreated up the stairs and Judd wished fervently for something to say to Sir Donimede, his practiced assortment of small talk well and truly exhausted. ¡°Husband,¡± both Judd and Donimede looked up the stairs to see Jocasa on the landing where the stairs split into two directions, as elegant as a marble statue in full, luminous colour, ¡°perhaps you would like to dine in the soldiers mess yourself, tonight?¡±


    She deprived her husband of the opportunity to answer as she turned and swept away. Judd swallowed, wondering what Donimede would say to that. The knight¡¯s expression was unreadable yet Judd was uneasy. He cleared his throat.


    ¡°I should bathe.¡± Judd blurted, wanting to escape. He gave a head nod, hoping to put an end to the conversation.


    ¡°LaMogre,¡± Judd turned, inexplicably expecting an attack, ¡°I¡¯ll see you in the mess.¡±


    Without another word Judd made his final bow, of which he had lost count, and retreated from the cold foyer with restrained haste.

 My words…they were not meant for your ears

    Aalis gingerly peeled back the flaps of Judd¡¯s swag and hunted for something appropriate for him to wear to dinner. He had returned from the early morning patrol ride looking outwardly refreshed yet somehow agitated. Rather than ask him what was wrong, she simply offered to make sure he had clean clothes for supper in the soldier¡¯s mess that evening. As she drew the crumpled clothing from the swag Aalis realised the item would need to be pressed.


    Smoothing out creases in clothing was not a common habit for her, having never required to know how to perform the task before but a simple inquiry with a servant Aalis was able to catch the attention of prompted the delivery of an iron. She had to heat it up by the fireplace which was crackling strongly. As she waited, Aalis decided to see if there was any other clothing in need of salvaging from Judd¡¯s haphazard packing method. She took hold of a shirt sleeve, the body of which seemed to have been wrapped around the bulk of his clothing and as she yanked it out, several small oddments scattered with the force of her motion. Aalis lunged to catch the ones flying through the air, only realising just before her fingers closed around the red object what was about to happen.


    Naturally, it was too late to stop herself or the memory that assaulted her¡­


    ¡°¡­Andigre¡¯s horseman and loyal companion, I bestow upon you this emblem of immortality.¡±


    Aalis immediately recognised the speaker as Gairil Palaidin from her time in the memory before. Though Aalis and Gairil must have been the same height, through the memories of whoever Aalis was in the body of, she was taller than her by a head at least.


    ¡°An emblem of immortality, eh? And here I was told I would never amount to anything.¡± Aalis¡¯ voice was almost melodic, a little like Giordi¡¯s voice when he chose to adopt his charming minstrel persona.


    Gairil looked abashed and turned her head. ¡°My words¡­they were not meant for your ears.¡±


    ¡°Sorceress, you should always assume someone is listening,¡± Aalis leaned down a little to catch her gaze, ¡°even if the words were not specifically for me alone¡­¡±


    She nodded, her eyes soft and blue, so pale her pupil was quite startling.


    ¡°I¡­misjudged you¡­all of you¡­Andigre most of all¡­¡± She sighed. ¡°If only I knew what to say to undo my careless, heartless words.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, if you were truly remorseful, you could ask for forgiveness?¡±


    She shook her head, waves of white hair like silk flowing over her shoulders. ¡°I should not have made the mistake to begin with.¡±


    ¡°We all make mistakes, sorceress. That is what makes us human.¡±


    Gairil lifted her eyes, her irises turning lavender then deepening into a dark purple and Aalis could feel her skin prickle as if there was a lightning storm brewing.


    ¡°Callain¡­¡±


    Aalis blinked, the memory occurring so fast the ruby cylinder had only just left her fingers to fall to the ground with a delicate chime. It lay on the stone, undamaged and innocent.


    Numbly she stood and went to the fireplace, taking up the long handled shovel and brush. Gingerly she scraped the ruby cylinder into the shovel. As carefully as she could she emptied out Judd¡¯s bag and found the other one, sweeping it beside the ruby cylinder. They lay on the black metal curve of the shovel, innocently glinting in the light and Aalis felt a chill run down her spine.


    She didn¡¯t have the chance to try to work out what had happened or even what to do with them when there came a knock on the door. Aalis tucked the shovel beneath the bed and went to the door. Beyond it, the second eldest daughter of Sir Donimede stood holding a beautifully embroidered shawl in cornflower blues, white and purple which was wrapped around a parcel.


    Aalis thought frantically for her name, opening the door wide and welcoming her in, hoping to recall it through the fog of unexpected and unwanted memory she had been bestowed with.


    ¡°Is your master here?¡± She looked around the room.


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis licked her lips, ¡°he heard that the soldiers have a bathhouse and took himself there to bathe.¡±


    ¡°Then my timing is fortuitous.¡± Despite the triumphant words, the young woman¡¯s tone was flat and unimpressed as she held the shawl to Aalis. ¡°Here, for you.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°That is very kind of you.¡± Aalis accepted the parcel.


    ¡°It is not from me,¡± she said brusquely, distancing herself from the gift immediately, ¡°it is from my mother upon proof that the subterfuge of calling a common child the son of a knight has worked. Father now boasts that the child is his.¡± Aalis laid it on the bed and eased the edges of the shawl apart, revealing a leather purse on top of layers of black fur. Aalis lifted the purse, feeling the weight of it and knew there was a considerable sum inside. ¡°It is both a gift and a bribe for your collusion in this sordid affair.¡±


    She turned to leave, heading for the door with an angry stride.


    ¡°Endolin¡­¡± Aalis blurted, the girl¡¯s name returning to her in a heartbeat, half reaching out to her as her hand clasped the door handle.


    She paused, her head lowering and her shoulders, bowing. ¡°I¡­I am not angry at you,¡± she confessed brokenly, ¡°if anything we are kin, unwilling collaborators in a situation our conscience will not let us ignore¡­but demands a heavy penalty.¡± Endolin glanced back at Aalis. ¡°We are tainted by her guilt¡­and my father¡¯s cruelty that drove her to desperation¡­¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Aalis nodded. She could almost feel the ache in Endolin¡¯s chest from her pained expression. ¡°In the light of this baby¡¯s birth, I imagine your innocence of childhood would have felt as though it was torn from you without mercy.¡±


    ¡°I was hardly na?ve.¡± Endolin admitted, still by the door. ¡°Father always reeked of insecurity and now that he is older, it is even worse. It is as though he is clinging to the glory of the past even though it is rotting like overripe fruit. And despite my mother being obviously unhappy in her marriage, she drills us like soldiers that we had to aim for the same.¡± Endolin shook her head. ¡°Never¡­I will never marry.¡±


    ¡°Not all marriages are the same¡­¡±


    ¡°And then for my mother to have clearly allowed a Maul to¡­¡± Endolin shuddered. ¡°And not just once¡­¡±


    Aalis sat in one of the armchairs in front of the fire and gestured for Endolin to do the same. The second eldest daughter perched on the cushion, unable to sink into the chair¡¯s embrace as if she still felt the need to keep her guard up. She seemed preoccupied by the flames, completely still except for the wringing of her fingers.


    ¡°I never thought much of Mauls.¡± She confessed quietly. ¡°Deacon Alast preached on strict separation for fear of contamination and my mother,¡± she tilted her head back and gave a mocking laugh, ¡°she lectured us endlessly on ¡®purity of conduct¡¯¡­¡± Her voice broke and she looked away, swallowing hard. Aalis gazed at her hands clutched in her lap, allowing Endolin to regain her composure. ¡°However, upon seeing that baby¡­he is so small¡­so innocent¡­with no idea that his life hangs in the balance.¡± Endolin turned her hazel eyes that seemed so warm, compared to Aalis¡¯ cool lavender ones. Fear was etched across the second eldest¡¯s forehead, the emotion colouring her pale, causing her freckles to stand out. ¡°If my father were to discover that baby¡­¡±


    ¡°We will save him.¡± Aalis promised.


    Endolin licked her lips, nodding. She sniffed and stood up, brushing her dress down. ¡°There should be more than enough coin in that purse to provide for the babe, to purchase a goat perhaps so that you have a supply of milk or even to hire your own wetnurse for as long as needed¡­¡±


    Aalis had already decided to take the babe to the nomad camp. Yolana would not hesitate to look after the baby and perhaps Revna would be able to act as wetnurse. Regardless of how she intended to look after the baby boy, Aalis would ensure it escaped Fort Mavour.


    She stood and walked Endolin to the door.


    ¡°Thank you for all your help, Endolin.¡± Aalis said warmly.


    Endolin paused and gave a sad smile. ¡°You know you are one of very few people who remember my name. Everyone knows who my sister is, Willower Donimede, unwed despite being introduced to every eligible male that enters Mavour. My father would have a hard time recalling all his daughter¡¯s names, let alone which name goes with which daughter and I only have my mother¡¯s confidence because she needed someone to collude with her.¡±


    ¡°I imagine it is a lonely life.¡± Aalis said softly.


    ¡°If only I could be a cleric,¡± Endolin sighed, ¡°shut away in a room with nothing but books for company¡­if only I was born a boy¡­¡±


    ¡°If you were a boy, your father would have doted upon you every day.¡± Aalis pointed out.


    ¡°Imagine how suffocating that would be?¡± Endolin said dryly then walked away.


    Aalis watched her go then closed the door. She crossed the room and picked up the coin purse. She tipped out the contents and pulled the drawstring as loose as she could. Trembling, which only made the delicacy of the manoeuvre harder to manage, Aalis tipped the two cylinders from the shovel into the purse. She yanked the drawstring as tight as she could, feeling the leather strain beneath her grasp then made sure it was placed deep inside Judd¡¯s swag. The coin she put into her own purse which was hidden inside one half of the pair of boots she was not wearing.


    In order to distract herself from the strange pocket of memory, Aalis turned back to the parcel from Lady Jocasa. When she lifted the shawl up, a small parcel tumbled out. Aalis was delighted to discover a pair of kidskin gloves. The gloves Ersha had given her had helped hide the nails on her left hand for weeks but they were clearly riding gloves, meant for the outdoors. Thankfully it was so cold no one questioned it but inside the fort, Aalis was struggling to find reasons to wear them or keep her fingers hidden. However, the kidskin gloves were a delicate shade of white, thin enough to wear indoors and matched beautifully with her nomad outfit. The shawl was beautiful and in shades that complimented Aalis¡¯ complexion. Aalis also realised that the fabric would be quite useful in concealing the baby if she tied the ends of the shawl around her neck, the baby resting in the sling, supported by one arm while the other held her nomad cowl tight.


    The black fur was the trim on a magnificent cloak and hood, the leather worked until it was as soft as could be and embroidered with a trail of stars as though they were draped over the wearer¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Lady Jocasa is either very grateful or very guilty¡­¡± Aalis breathed, stroking the fabric. She hastened to hang it up before it became wrinkled. Aalis might be game to iron one of Judd¡¯s shirts of sturdier fabric but a delicate thing like the cloak was beyond her skill. She set to task, putting her limited knowledge of pressing garments into practice as she attempted to smooth out the creases in Judd¡¯s dark blue shirt.

 I don’t think my reputation can stand any more of your ‘creativity’

    ¡°In the time of King Rocheveron,


    a young man called Judd LaMogre,


    began his quest, with nothing less,


    Than slaying a fearsome ogre.


    In Fort Faine, two score of goblins,


    poisoned crops, beasts and man


    LaMogre cut down those demonic wretches,


    til not one had legs to stand.


    In mangrove swamps, where witches lurked


    And Maul¡¯s malevolent eye was glaring,


    LaMogre tore apart it¡¯s choking hold,


    blinding it from ever staring.


    Mocked he was, in Fort Bastil,


    who is this unknown fighter?


    Yet Judd LaMogre was crowned champion!


    And gained a talented songwriter.¡±


    Judd looked at Verne and they both shared an eyerolling sigh at Giordi¡¯s singing. Though Judd cringed consistently at the lyrics, hearing all manner of exaggerations in both describing Judd and what he did, the minstrel had the soldier¡¯s mess utterly entranced by his performance. Even sword master Roust and a number of his guards were in attendance, listening and watching as Giordi spun melodic tales that turned Judd from a very average, ungainly and unremarkable sort into a dynamic warrior worthy of a place beside Andigre himself.


    It was all very embarrassing.


    And there was nothing Judd could say or do to get out of it.


    After all, inviting Giordi was his idea.


    He had no idea it would backfire so severely.


    The soldier¡¯s mess resembled a tavern where food was free but ale was bought. Donimede refused to fund the soldier¡¯s drinking habits and given how many soldiers and guards there were in Fort Mavour, Judd couldn¡¯t reproach him on that. Barrels of ale were rolled from the ceiling into a wooden and metal frame, coming down in the centre to rest on a contraption that allowed for the barrels to be hooked up to taps. Around this central and dominant structure of libation liberation was a counter that prevented the soldiers from snatching a free drink or two. Manning the taps were barmaids, hired predominately by the size of their bust and the level of scandal at which they would wear their bodices.


    At one end of the room was a raised platform with a single table where those of ¡®superior¡¯ rank could sit. The table was grand, a hefty construct and the chairs had high backs, spread out and allowing for plenty of elbow room. The lower level was quantity over quality, long tables lined with pews down the sides, soldiers and guards crammed in together, all turned towards whatever was most entertaining at the time. Usually that was the plunging cleavage of the barmaids but tonight, it was the dulcet tones of Giordi Gavoli who sang clear and bright in front of the platform on a half stage where other entertainers had probably stood countless times in the past.


    Even if the men of war had not been inclined towards music, they were interested in brave and heroic deeds and Giordi had captured many of the wild adventures Judd and his companions had been on with upbeat lyrics and, at times, cringing attempts at rhymes.


    After capturing the demise of the ogre, goblins and mangrove swamp monster, Giordi proceeded to sing about the cockatrice, the orthros, the giant spider and the hydra of Fort Omra before he ended his song and bowed with a sorrowful expression on his face.


    ¡°Though there are more monsters who met their match upon LaMogre¡¯s metal, I have not had the time in which to write the verses.¡±


    ¡°Tell us about them instead!¡±


    ¡°Go on! Tell us about the unicorns!¡±


    ¡°No, the slaying of the centaur!¡±


    ¡°Tell us about the giant spider again!¡±


    Judd groaned and shook his head as Giordi, who found eloquent and dramatic improvisation of spontaneous speech a joy to perform, proceeded to tell of all the monsters Judd had slain without singing about them. Judd was at the ale taps, filling his stein and had yet to make his way back through the crammed tables and crowded souls to the balcony to where Roust, Chael and several other soldiers sat.


    ¡°The night was black,¡± Giordi gestured dramatically, ¡°and the only light in the abandoned, desolate fort of Sol was from the bursts of lightning that illuminated every corner¡­yet the giant spider, that had bound Sir Bobellion in its webs as a host for its eggs, hid upon the stained glass window¡­visible only as every one of its eight legs peeled away from the black iron frame, its body as large as an ogre and its legs, able to reach to both sides of this room.¡±


    Giordi¡¯s singing had arrested everyone¡¯s attention so that Judd had been able to get to the ale taps without being waylaid by eager soldiers. But there wasn¡¯t a spare chair available now, every soldier, guard and servant risking rebuke to listen to the minstrel¡¯s tales. Judd stood by a wall, unable to return to the balcony as Giordi spun a tale as elaborate and captivating as the giant spider¡¯s web itself.


    ¡°That monstrous beast, that arachnid most foul, clambered down the wall, its eight eyes seeking out the strongest, bravest and greatest threat to its young¡­¡±


    Judd could stand it no longer. ¡°Who was so overcome by terror of that giant spider that he turned and ran, trying to escape!¡±


    Everyone turned and looked at Judd, some in surprise, others in annoyance and some in downright disdain. ¡°Who are you to spoil this minstrel¡¯s tale?¡± One poor ignorant guard asked and was promptly informed by those in the know. ¡°Wait¡­you¡¯re LaMogre?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid so.¡± Judd shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not as tall as a house, as brawny as a bear or as brave as a lion¡­and I am terrified of spiders,¡± he pointed at Giordi, ¡°which you well know!¡±


    ¡°And what, pray tell, did you do once you escaped the great hall of Fort Sol?¡± Giordi asked, undeterred.


    ¡°You mean, after you saved my life?¡± Judd didn¡¯t have to worry about not being seen anymore so he squeezed his way past chairs and tables, soldiers shifting out of his path so that he could glower at Giordi at a much closer, ear boxing, distance. ¡°I ran out into the rain, onto the roof where that oversized web dweller chased me down.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°Wait, wait¡­¡± One of the soldiers raised his hand. ¡°You went onto the roof of a fort?¡±


    ¡°Yes, to escape the spider.¡± Judd confirmed.


    ¡°It was raining, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Pouring,¡± Giordi looked at Judd, ¡°and you can¡¯t deny that.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Yes, it was pouring rain but that didn¡¯t stop the spider. It launched itself over my head, landing onto the ridgepole of the great hall.¡±


    ¡°You were balanced on the ridgepole?¡±


    Judd paused. ¡°Well¡­yes¡­trying to escape.¡± Suddenly he realised all eyes were on him.


    ¡°How did you kill the spider?¡±


    The soldier¡¯s mess was usually a cacophony of drinking, burping, complaining and flirting with the barmaids but in that moment, you could have heard a sparrow fart.


    Judd blundered momentarily. ¡°I¡­I had cut off two of its legs on one side so when it reared, ready to pounce, I rammed my sword into its gut¡­¡±


    ¡°And was so enraged he drove it off the roof where it landed in the courtyard, the sword still sticking out of its body.¡± Giordi beamed. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, LaMogre¡­you can¡¯t make this stuff up.¡±


    Judd looked around and saw, despite his attempt to belittle his actions, there was more adoration and wonder in the eyes of the soldiers and guards than there had been before.


    His protestation and subsequent confession had not quite gone according to plan.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who saved my life by hitting it with your lute,¡± Judd argued, ¡°and I fell off that roof!¡±


    ¡°And you survived?!¡± A soldier exclaimed while the others gasped and applauded.


    Judd groaned and Giordi laughed.


    ¡°To the slayer of the spider that had Fort Sol in its web!¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s to LaMogre!¡±


    ¡°Huzzah!¡±


    ¡°I give up.¡± Judd groaned, sinking into his chair beside Verne who was not even bothering trying to hide his smirk. ¡°Even cowardice becomes a positive virtue after enough ale.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a refreshing telling of heroics amidst terror.¡± Captain Chael, out of his armour and reclined in his chair, drank from his stein. Arsch and Kipre were also at the table as well as sword master Roust.


    ¡°Unless it¡¯s false modesty¡­¡± Sir Donimede remarked from the end of the table, enjoying a glass of liquor that he¡¯d brought to the mess himself. So far he had not offered to share.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯m damned if I do, damned if I don¡¯t.¡± Judd drained his ale and licked his lips.


    ¡°True enough,¡± Chael nodded, ¡°better off just letting your minstrel tell the tales and grin and bear it.¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s not careful, I¡¯ll break another lute of his,¡± Judd said loudly enough so that Giordi, who was climbing the stairs to join their party, heard him and grinned, ¡°and this time it¡¯ll be on purpose.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to begrudge the men a little light entertainment?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got many songs of comedic content¡­surely my climbing out of a dam, coated in slimy green sludge and trailing leaves like a swamp monster, would make for a more entertaining tale.¡± Judd retorted.


    ¡°When were you covered in dam slime?¡± Giordi frowned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? It was after I killed the werewolf then had to chase down the wolf pack it sent to kill¡­people chained to the well in Quarre.¡± Judd realised all too late that his minstrel had set him up. Arsch and Kipre¡¯s eyes were wide and even battle hardened Chael and stoic Roust put down their ales and stared at him. Giordi smirked from behind his ale and Judd wanted to thump him.


    ¡°The werewolf in Quarre sent wolves into the town?¡± Kipre asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Judd fumbled, trying to figure out how to get out of this story, ¡°she¡­¡±


    ¡°She? The werewolf was female?¡±


    ¡°She was, yes.¡± Judd saw their looks. ¡°I take it you don¡¯t see a lot of female werewolves?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unheard of.¡± Arsch admitted.


    ¡°In the early days of my commission to Fort Mavour,¡± Donimede announced, ¡°werewolves were a considerable problem, keeping crops and cattle numbers low but I made sure that threat was dealt with before the birth of my first child. I admit, their numbers were so plentiful, we never stopped to check their gender. We had other more pressing matters.¡±


    Clearly Arsch and Kipre had other things on their mind other than the ¡®pressing matters¡¯. ¡°What did she look like?¡±


    Judd felt rather than saw Chael and Roust¡¯s interest and wondered if they had been dying to ask the same question.


    ¡°Hairy.¡± Judd said dryly. ¡°She was dealing dangerously with certain authorities in Quarre,¡± Judd fudged over the specifics, not wanting to start sowing discord and gossip, ¡°and she could summon wolves to do her bidding¡­which didn¡¯t end after I killed her so we had to hightail it back to the township to save the innocents who were chained to the well¡­and I fell into the dam.¡±


    ¡°Pushed,¡± Giordi looked at him pointedly, ¡°you were pushed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, alright, I was pushed.¡±


    ¡°By who?¡± Chael asked.


    Judd shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not important and who did it, died before dawn.¡±


    ¡°But Judd did scale sheer cliffs, in his armour, covered in dam slime and arrived to save my own sorry ass,¡± Giordi jerked his head towards Verne, ¡°Verne¡¯s too.¡±


    The soldiers at the table ogled Judd while the captains studied him with admiration. Judd sighed and glowered at Giordi. ¡°I hate you¡­¡±


    ¡°When are you going to start believing your own integrity, bravery and incredible accomplishments, Judd?¡± Giordi demanded. ¡°You set out to become a knight and every monster slain, every bully knocked down a peg or two and every life saved only proves you more than qualified to become a knight.¡± Giordi leaned back in his chair. ¡°I merely put your deeds to music.¡±


    ¡°About that,¡± Verne spoke up suddenly, ¡°when are you going to tell the person who wrote, ¡®Harvest time and mulberry wine¡¯, that you stole their melody?¡±


    Giordi gnashed his teeth and slumped. ¡°Ah! I was hoping no one would notice.¡± He sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good ear, Verne.¡±


    ¡°Not really. There hasn¡¯t been a day since you joined the party that you haven¡¯t been singing some ditty or other.¡±


    ¡°Yes I know, but to pick up on my pinched melody¡­I shall have to be a bit more creative¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think my reputation can stand any more of your ¡®creativity¡¯.¡± Judd moaned.


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t even sung the ballad of Judd verses the centaur or of when you stayed out all night in defence of a criminal tied to a whipping post on the western prairies?¡±


    Arsch and Kipre¡¯s jaws dropped. ¡°All night? You stayed out all night?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t alone,¡± Judd protested, ¡°and I was in full armour!¡±


    ¡°But still!¡± They both stood up. ¡°We¡¯re going to let the others know.¡±


    Judd sighed and closed his eyes. He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and looked up at Chael.


    ¡°Never begrudge a little hero worship. It¡¯s inspiring.¡±


    ¡°I recall how recruitment numbers swelled when I first arrived in Mavour,¡± Donimede chuckled, ¡°all the young lads wanted to be me and some, I¡¯m told, even lied about their age, just for the chance to meet me. Isn¡¯t that right, Roust?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it is.¡± Roust lifted his stein in a kind of salute.


    Judd did the same, noticing a smell in the air that set his teeth on edge. He couldn¡¯t quite fathom what it was. He shook his head and went back to his ale, draining the stein dry.


    ¡°You¡¯d better take it easy,¡± Chael laughed, ¡°even drinking yourself stupid and ending up in a scandalous tangle with a barmaid will only lift you in the eyes of the soldiers.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly not the kind of reputation I want to cultivate,¡± Judd cringed then shook his head, ¡°but honestly, this tastes like water after drinking with the nomads. I¡¯ve never known anyone to drink like they do¡­and I worked on the docks of Astaril!¡±


    ¡°I cannot fathom how you were allowed into their camps.¡± Chael admitted. ¡°Any dealings we have had with them has been through their palisades. Not once were we allowed inside as we traded.¡±


    ¡°We were extremely fortunate in our dealings with them.¡± Judd insisted, hoping to soften his favour in light of their shunning.


    ¡°You must have been to be given a nomad bride as a gift.¡± Donimede¡¯s tone was slightly scathing.


    Judd held up his hands. ¡°Truly, she is not my bride.¡±


    Donimede nodded and stood up. ¡°I am sure I am not the only one relieved to hear that. Well, gentlemen¡­I have pressing matters of fort business to attend to. Goodnight.¡±


    They rose in respect to watch him leave and sat down again. Immediately the tension in the air, which Judd had only been aware of subconsciously, lessened. Chael and Roust relaxed, the sword master rolling his eyes. ¡°Wretched stink¡­put me right off my drink¡­which wouldn¡¯t happen if Donimede would stop watering down the ale.¡±


    ¡°That smell?¡± Roust nodded. ¡°What was it? I couldn¡¯t work it out.¡± Judd admitted.


    Roust gave a mocking shake of his head. ¡°Hair dye.¡±


    Judd stared at Roust who didn¡¯t have a hair on his head then turned to Chael.


    ¡°Not me!¡± The captain protested, stroking his ginger sideburns. ¡°This is all natural.¡±


    Judd paused, glancing at Verne and Giordi. ¡°Donimede?¡± He asked hesitantly. The captain and sword master nodded. ¡°Hair dye?¡±


    ¡°To keep his hair as black as a raven.¡± Chael shook his head. ¡°If you ask me, he ought to just let himself go grey¡­or at least dye his eyebrows.¡±


    Judd hadn¡¯t taken any notice of Donimede¡¯s eyebrows but it did occur to him that, for his age, the knight did not have a single grey hair on top of his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s why I shave my head,¡± Roust chuckled, ¡°to keep the temptation away to cling to my youth.¡±


    ¡°Instead you just cover it with tattoos that will wrinkle with every year that passes.¡± Chael taunted.


    ¡°Better than covering my face with unnecessary and unsightly sideburns.¡±


    Judd laughed at their banter then looked up to see Arsch and Kipre returning to the table, bringing several soldiers with them.


    ¡°LaMogre, we were wondering if you would tell us about the slaying of the centaur.¡±


    Judd sighed. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long night¡­¡±

 No monsters today means there might be a big one tomorrow

    Suvau stumbled into the dungeon, collapsing to his knees, breathing heavily. He was covered in green monster blood, sweat and dust. The other prisoners stared at him, unable to help because of their chains and even if they had not been bolted to the wall, it was possible their broken wills would have kept them where they were, especially as Urik fumed at Suvau from the top of the steps, on the cusp of the dungeon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think you can fool me with your pretence of exhaustion,¡± he accused, his face shadowed and ugly, ¡°you will continue to be my choice until your will is broken.¡± He looked at Jole who stood passively by his side. ¡°Halve their rations!¡±


    The door slammed shut and the prisoners were, once again, alone.


    ¡°Suvau?¡±


    ¡°Do not be concerned for me,¡± he said, pushing himself up, waving back Gustin¡¯s genuine inquiry, ¡°I am not as broken as I am making myself out to be,¡± he groaned as he knelt on the stone, feeling his body ache and groan, ¡°unfortunately Urik is not a fool and called me out on it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself for his ire,¡± Oska urged, ¡°Urik likes to halve our rations for no better reason other than to watch us suffer.¡±


    ¡°And I swear they never go back to the full amount afterwards.¡± Gustin lamented.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been known to eat snails and any bugs I can when I¡¯m working outside the fort¡¯s walls.¡± Ermaus admitted.


    ¡°If not for this arm,¡± Gustin eyed his useless limb, ¡°I would be assigned to the fields and would probably do the same.¡±


    ¡°If your arm was not so useless, you¡¯d be back in the Arena.¡± Palo snorted in his usual scathing tone. ¡°Urik will not waste a healthy young body¡­unless he is bribed to do so otherwise.¡±


    ¡°Palo, enough,¡± Ermaus grunted gruffly, ¡°we have enough enemies outside to contend with.¡±


    Palo muttered something coarse and turned his back. Suvau stood up and looked around.


    ¡°Huh¡­he forgot to chain me before he left. It¡¯s good to walk around.¡± Suvau immediately approached Gustin and inspected his chains. ¡°While the chains are strong, a little leverage behind the plate bolting them to the wall would easily pull the bolts out of the stone.¡± He walked around the dungeon, noting that all the chains were equally easy to remove.


    That told him two things. One, that no one bothered to inspect their bonds and relied on halved rations to keep the prisoners weak. Two, that Urik was very confident even if someone should escape the dungeon, they would not get far. A point which Oska promptly confirmed.


    ¡°And where would we go, Suvau?¡± Oska asked. ¡°You¡¯ve seen how deep we are in the fort. There¡¯s no way out except through that locked door then the soldier¡¯s mess, the barracks, the upper and lower baileys and even the marketplace. And should we do the impossible and make it outside Fort Mavour, we¡¯d have monsters to contend with.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve had enough practice at killing those with our bare hands.¡± Gustin chuckled.


    ¡°Some of us.¡± Palo grouched.


    ¡°What if we didn¡¯t leave the way we came?¡± Suvau asked.


    Oska eyed him in the hazy darkness. ¡°Where else would we go?¡±


    ¡°Into the pit.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Palo snorted. ¡°Out¡­into Maul? That¡¯s your plan?¡±


    ¡°At least Urik doesn¡¯t ¡®waste¡¯ flesh in the pit,¡± Oska added onto Palo¡¯s protest, ¡°the gate comes down and the monsters are thwarted. But out in Maul¡­¡±


    ¡°I doubt we¡¯d last a day,¡± Gustin sighed, looking at his arm, ¡°some of us even less.¡±


    ¡°You must see reason, Suvau,¡± Oska insisted, ¡°here we are prisoners but at least we are alive.¡±


    Suvau opened his mouth to argue then clamped his lips shut. ¡°Yes, perhaps you are right¡­¡± He stood up and walked over to Ermaus. ¡°Perhaps I can adjust those chains of yours so that you can lie down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll lie down when I¡¯m dead.¡± Ermaus grunted with a wiry grin and let Suvau lean in close to inspect his chains. ¡°You saw the gate,¡± he whispered like a warm breeze through dry grass, ¡°in the pit today?¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t intend to lead them into Maul¡­but into the wall?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my idea.¡± Suvau saw Ermaus shaking his head. ¡°There are doors in the wall that lead out into Terra. We were told as much.¡±


    ¡°Locked from the inside and bolted from the outside.¡± The older man sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve been around. I¡¯ve heard guards and soldiers talk¡­¡±


    ¡°I was a metal worker in Fort Omra,¡± Suvau whispered, ¡°locks I can deal with¡­but the bar on the outside is a problem, that I grant you.¡±


    They heard the door to their dungeon being opened and Suvau hastened back to his position and sank onto the ground, his head resting dejectedly on his chest. Jole doled out the rations which were never plentiful before yet now, Suvau began to wonder if he would have the strength to stand in the Arena with so little in his stomach. However, after Jole left, forgetting once again to chain Suvau to the wall, Oska gestured for Suvau to come close and scraped his ration into Suvau¡¯s bowl.


    ¡°While you¡¯re in the pit, you¡¯re keeping one of us out of it.¡± He said before Suvau could ask.


    ¡°You could still starve to death.¡± Suvau pointed out.


    ¡°I¡¯ll survive.¡± Oska insisted.


    Suvau did so, scraping his bowl clean but the food sat heavy in his gut as something niggled at his consciousness. Why did Oska¡¯s chains appear to be better oiled and maintained than the others? If only the useless in the Arena were permitted to work outside in the fields, and Oska was able bodied, where was he going so often that his chains showed signs of daily use?


    The next day Judd returned from his early morning ride with Captain Chael and the soldier patrol. It had been a sizeable group that had ridden to the border where Fort Mavour¡¯s territory met up with Fort Callain¡¯s to the west. Apparently there had been a surge in volunteers, despite the frostiness of the weather which meant every pound of Xenon¡¯s hooves snapped frozen blades of grass.


    Upon returning to Mavour, Judd immediately took to the soldier¡¯s bath house, sweaty and smelling like horse. The soldiers thought this was marvellous too, able to talk with him about the monsters he had slain on his journey to knighthood. Without Giordi there to recount his adventures, Judd had to relay them himself so his bath was brief but hot and he returned to the servant¡¯s chambers that abutted his own. He dug through his bag, hunting for a clean shirt then found one hanging from his bed.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    He was just struggling to get it on, the cotton sticking to his still slightly damp skin, when he heard his name called then a laugh and hands grasped the fabric, pulling it down. Aalis appeared when his head finally emerged through the hole in the top.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± he blurted, yanking his shirt down, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°I would not have bothered you except you have a visitor.¡± Judd glanced at the door which was closed. Aalis shook her head. ¡°No,¡± she pointed to the main chamber, ¡°you have a visitor¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course.¡± Judd had forgotten that he was expected to be in the master chamber. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He tried to tie the laces at his cuff of his white shirt but in the end decided it was better to be prompt than perfectly dressed¡­


    ¡­a decision he immediately regretted upon seeing Willower waiting on the threshold, dressed in cream and soft buttery gold.


    ¡°Miss Donimede,¡± he cleared his throat, suddenly very aware of the dangling laces from his untied cuffs and how his shirt might still be clinging in certain, inappropriate places, ¡°I was not expecting¡­¡±


    ¡°I apologise if I have interrupted you¡­¡± She said, blushing hard.


    ¡°I should have made sure I was properly dressed first¡­¡±


    ¡°There was no need to answer the door if you were otherwise engaged¡­¡±


    Judd paused, suddenly suspecting that they might be talking about different things. ¡°Willower?¡± She would not meet his gaze. Judd looked down at his haphazard appearance and frowned. ¡°What did you think I was doing?¡±


    She swallowed. ¡°Barely dressed with your nomad bride answering the door¡­¡±


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°Willower¡­Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°Please, I should know better¡­¡± She turned and began to flee.


    ¡°No, wait, listen,¡± Judd chased her down, catching her at the end of the corridor, ¡°please¡­I gave up my bedchamber to Aalis¡­and Verne.¡±


    Willower¡¯s brow furrowed and she licked her lips, trembling. ¡°Aalis and your archer?¡± Judd nodded. ¡°They are¡­¡± He nodded again. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Judd stepped back as she looked up, her hazel eyes shimmering with tears. ¡°I am so¡­embarrassed. You said as much and I believed you and then to find her¡­and you¡­¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t know what to say to ease her embarrassment. While it was clear they both knew their ¡®courtship¡¯ was a farce, Willower¡¯s heart was still in danger. For all her brazen attempts to seduce him upon his first night in the fort, possibly encouraged by liquor stolen from her father, Willower was innocent. But more than that, she was na?ve.


    It was that very reason that Judd knew he could never propose to her.


    Willower lifted her chin, still blushed and a little glassy eyed but able to meet his gaze.


    ¡°My mother asked if I would remind you of her invitation to supper tonight.¡±


    ¡°Given that I snubbed her last night for the soldier¡¯s mess,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°I was not going to forget.¡±


    ¡°I will let her know.¡± Willower paused. ¡°You also ought to be aware that mother sent out invitations the day you arrived, to a feast in your honour.¡±


    ¡°Invitations?¡± Judd blanched. ¡°To whom?¡±


    ¡°Fort Omra, Verion and Callain.¡± Willower said, every fort she named causing Judd¡¯s brown eyes to grow wider. ¡°I do not believe the knights will be able to attend but many of the nobles and their wives¡­and daughters, will be arriving in Fort Mavour. Some have already arrived, forgoing any invitation, in anticipation.¡±


    Judd pushed his hands through his hair, pacing on the spot. ¡°No, no, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Mother wants to honour you,¡± Willower insisted, ¡°and when you live this far south, any reason to host a feast and show off to the other forts is a welcomed one. There is not much society here unless we cultivate it ourselves.¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t even slain a minotaur yet!¡± Judd exclaimed. ¡°What if I don¡¯t? What if I¡¯m a massive failure?¡±


    Willower gazed at him, puzzled and slightly amused. ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­how could you possibly fail?¡±


    He put his hands on his face and yelled into them so his voice was muffled. ¡°Not you too, Willower.¡± He moaned. ¡°Listen to me, I am not this paladin knight that I am being made out to be.¡±


    ¡°You mean, all the monsters you have slain¡­it is all a lie?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­no¡­¡±


    ¡°Are the stories your minstrel tells in the soldier¡¯s mess true?¡±


    ¡°In that they happened, yes,¡± Judd cringed, ¡°however I am decidedly more flawed and clumsy than any of the retellings acknowledge.¡±


    ¡°Then you deserve a feast,¡± Willower smiled, ¡°you can hardly stop it now. Mother has already set the menu and the great hall is being scrubbed clean by a fleet of servants as we speak.¡±


    ¡°I suppose.¡± Judd¡¯s shoulders sagged.


    ¡°And perhaps, if I might be so bold as to claim a dance at the feast¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± He said, possibly a little too bluntly but Willower¡¯s delight dulled any doubt in her mind.


    She farewelled him with another reminder about the supper invitation and Judd wandered back to his chambers and closed the door behind him, leaning against it, wishing they¡¯d never been driven to Fort Mavour because of the need for him to kill a minotaur. He rubbed his face and grunted in frustration, letting the room come back into focus. The first thing he saw was a beautiful cloak and hood, trimmed with fur, hanging from a hook. The embroidery on it was stunning and very elegant, which immediately brought the feast back to mind.


    ¡°Aalis has been shopping.¡± He smiled then sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve got anything grand feast worthy in my swag¡­¡± He knocked on the concealed entrance from the servant¡¯s chambers to his own and peered inside. ¡°You might have told me it was Willower at the door.¡± He admonished Aalis lightly.


    ¡°She did not say,¡± Aalis admitted, ¡°she simply asked if you were available to speak to.¡±


    Judd nodded, deciding it would only become awkward if he told Aalis what Willower suspected them of doing just before she knocked.


    ¡°She said her mother has arranged a grand feast in my honour,¡± he tried not to shudder but couldn¡¯t keep the sarcasm completely out of his tone, ¡°and I don¡¯t think I own anything¡­¡± He gestured to himself.


    ¡°You do have some decent clothing,¡± Aalis pursed her lips, ¡°perhaps not worthy of a feast in the second grandest fort of the south¡­¡±


    ¡°I was wondering, could you look into purchasing me something appropriate? Sword master Roust asked if I would come down to the training hall and I¡¯ve been invited to supper tonight then I¡¯m out riding with the early patrol again tomorrow¡­¡±


    ¡°I am concerned you are going to be too exhausted to fight this minotaur if and when it comes.¡±


    ¡°I am starting to wonder the same thing.¡± Judd sighed.


    Aalis studied him with oblique eyebrows. ¡°I will go to the market and find something for you.¡± She promised, putting her hand on his. ¡°One less thing you need to concern yourself with.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Judd breathed. ¡°This whole place¡­I just wish we were elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Aalis sighed. ¡°I am worried about Suvau. It has been days since we saw him.¡±


    ¡°I saw some of his people in the fields on my patrol ride. It¡¯s probable that he is being put to work digging up vegetables.¡±


    Suvau walked down the steps into the dungeon, feeling oddly refreshed after three hours of sitting in the pit without a single monster incursion. Behind him he could hear Urik berating Jole as if the presence of monsters was somehow the brute¡¯s fault. After Urik had exhausted his vocabulary, but not his frustration, he stormed off and Jole came into the dungeon and hauled Suvau onto his crate, his expression of brokenness barely masking his anger.


    ¡°What does Urik have on you?¡± Suvau asked, feeling a little cocky.


    Jole grunted and pushed him down, locking the manacles around his wrists. Once Suvau could not retaliate, Jole struck Suvau in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. He stormed out of the dungeon and slammed the door shut.


    ¡°Suvau?¡±


    He waved back their concern, feeling his jaw already bruising. ¡°I¡¯m alright,¡± he spat out the dirt he¡¯d inhaled, ¡°I should have seen it coming¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should let one of the monsters strike you¡­just give Urik the satisfaction of seeing you broken.¡± Suvau shook his head, shifting his jaw from side to side, hearing it click back into place. ¡°Is it worth your life just to cling onto your pride?¡±


    ¡°It is more than just that,¡± Suvau argued, ¡°while I am in the pit, the rest of you are spared.¡±


    He could feel the air sucked out of the room and knew his words had stunned them.


    ¡°Suvau,¡± Ermaus offered gently, ¡°we all play a part in looking after each other here. This is not on your shoulders alone. You cannot do this alone. Let us help you.¡± Suvau shook his head. ¡°No monsters today means there might be a big one tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let Urik break me¡­he¡¯ll have to kill me first.¡±


    ¡°Knightly nobility has no place in the pit,¡± someone said flatly, ¡°you¡¯ll die for your ideals.¡±


    Suvau knew this was a distinct possibility, for while he had a very possible way out of the dungeon and fort, it only emptied into the wall. Without help, he doubted they would be able to get through it and on the other side, they would face wild land where monsters roamed almost constantly and soldier patrols were frequent.


    Ermaus was right. Suvau could not do this on his own.

 You’re as predictable as one of Giordi’s awful love ballads

    Aalis donned her veil and nomad clothing to visit the markets. Though her dreadlocks were explained away by being a nomad, she felt safer behind the veil than in full view. She was wary of attending the markets but knew that Verne and Giordi were there and used their familiar company as a place to pause before entering the fray of Fort Mavour¡¯s buying and selling. Giordi was a paramount success as a minstrel and Verne, claiming he¡¯d heard more than enough songs and ditties to last a lifetime, offered to go with Aalis to the tailors, trying to find something appropriate for Judd to wear to the feast.


    ¡°If I have to hear another song about swooning maids and well endowed heroes, I might be tempted to beat him to death with his own lute.¡± Verne complained in response to her query if Verne minded coming.


    ¡°Are you sure you are not just looking for an excuse to go to shopping with me?¡± Aalis teased lightly. Endolin had told her where to find the best tailors in Fort Mavour. She said it was unlikely that something could be made quickly enough for the feast her mother wanted to host for Judd but, perhaps, the tailor might have something ready made that could be adapted.


    ¡°Unlike other¡­women,¡± Verne whispered, ¡°I am not inclined to shop. I find it rather pointless.¡±


    ¡°You would not be so reluctant if you needed clothing.¡± Aalis replied, climbing stairs to the second storey where the sign of a tailor hung.


    ¡°A shirt, trousers and boots are all I need¡­preferably in natural colours. None of this¡­prettiness. Oh, allow me.¡± Verne stepped up and opened the door. When Aalis gave her a look she shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m the valiant male, remember? And don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re a nomad.¡±


    ¡°Something I suspect Lady Jocasa doubts I am.¡± Aalis mused as they entered the store and found a pair of sisters waiting for them. They were a little alarmed by Aalis¡¯ appearance but when she explained that she was attempting to purchase something ¡®knightly¡¯ for a grand feast and heard the jingle of her coin, they nearly fell over themselves to accommodate her.


    ¡°If it was a custom design, nothing would be too difficult to request.¡± The first sister, with her hair wound in a bun on her head and stuck with pins so that she resembled a human pin cushion, insisted.


    ¡°But without time on our side, we turn our attention to previously ordered clothing that was abandoned by unscrupulous clients.¡± The other sister, who wore a skirt made out of patchwork pieces of fabric so that she resembled a living quilt, added.


    ¡°Could we see the ready made clothing?¡± Aalis asked.


    There were several pieces that caught Aalis¡¯ attention. One was a navy tooled leather vest where the panels were held together with plaited leather strands. The hem favoured the right side of the hip while the left had two loops of the leather strands hanging down, reattaching at the back. The shoulders were slightly raised, stitched with more of the plaited leather strands and there were several oversized stitches across the front panel that gave the formal vest a rugged yet stylish flare. Beneath it was a white shirt with a high collar. The sleeves were generous but curtailed at the wrist with beautifully embroidered cuffs.


    ¡°This was a sample piece we created together.¡± Pincushion sister explained. ¡°I wanted a white shirt of stunning crispness and subtle yet elegant embroidery. My sister wanted to create a vest that looked like it could be worn in the wilds yet of such quality that it would hold its own in a more formal setting.¡±


    ¡°I think you have both succeeded.¡± Aalis admired the cut. She turned to the sisters. ¡°This must have been a great deal of work¡­and you did it just for fun?¡±


    ¡°By the stars, no,¡± patchwork sister laughed, ¡°we wanted to showcase our talents to Sir Donimede, hoping he might turn to us for his styling¡­but the man refused to even look.¡±


    Aalis frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I think it was because he heard Laurea decided not to use black leather for the vest.¡± Pincushion sister said with her hands on her hips.


    ¡°Ogre dung, Lenona,¡± Laurea retorted, ¡°it was the moment he heard we were women that he turned his nose up.¡±


    ¡°Either way,¡± Aalis interrupted before the light argument became an all out feud, ¡°it is Sir Donimede¡¯s loss and Judd LaMogre¡¯s gain. I will purchase both vest and shirt for you cannot have one without the other,¡± she turned to Verne as the sisters giggled with pleasure, wrestling with the dummy to remove the clothes, ¡°do you think this will suit Judd? Verne?¡±


    Verne was gazing at a dress on a wooden clothes dummy. It was a gown of stunning blue, the skirt split on the right side all the way up to the hip so that the underskirt, which was white silk with white embroidery on it, could be seen and admired. The same white embroidered silk made the sleeves which came all the way down to the wrist but sweeping blue draping split sleeves gave elegance to a normally plain part of the gown. The neckline was a curved V, light boning throughout the bodice giving shape without crushing either lung or rib.


    Aalis studied the dress but was more interested in Verne¡¯s fascination.


    ¡°Pretty¡­is it not?¡± She asked gently.


    Verne stepped back. ¡°Frills and finery¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Aalis smiled, ¡°that is what a gown is about.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d look fantastic in it.¡± Verne folded her arms and leaned against a stack of fabrics, turning her head aside. ¡°It¡¯s your colour.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    ¡°The blue is too strong. It would look better on you.¡± Verne snorted. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°As if I could wear anything like that.¡±


    Aalis folded her arms, her stubbornness ignited. ¡°That voice that you just used¡­it is not you. It was your brothers and father speaking and they did so out of fear.¡± She moved around in front of Verne who gave her a guarded look. ¡°Verne¡­you cannot be defined by another person. You will always end up coloured by their opinions and prejudices and fears¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh Aalis,¡± Verne sighed, ¡°I already know where your hopeful heart is heading. You¡¯re as predictable as one of Giordi¡¯s awful love ballads. You think, if I don something as elegant as this¡­I¡¯ll suddenly turn into the long lost Princess Genovieve, a paragon of beauty and grace. All I needed was the right gown and the right glamourous occasion and the right handsome stranger and I¡¯ll transform into the woman I was born to be.¡± Verne huffed and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a fantasy.¡±


    ¡°Dreams often start that way,¡± Aalis tilted her head to catch Verne¡¯s eye, ¡°sometimes we just need a little nudge.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well,¡± Verne stood up, ¡°unless you¡¯ve suddenly come into a fortune, you¡¯d be hard pressed to buy Judd formal clothing as well as this dress.¡±


    Aalis opened her lips then clamped them shut. ¡°You are right, of course.¡±


    Verne gave her a triumphant smile and led the way to the front of the store, passing Laurea who was returning to let them know the clothing was ready to transport. Aalis pointed at the gown and Laurea raised her eyebrows. Aalis put her finger to her lips and the pincushion sister nodded. Aalis reached into her purse and pulled out a silver coin. Laurea¡¯s eyes widened as Aalis put it into her hand and whispered quietly to her before moving away. A devious smile curled up on Aalis¡¯ lips, one she was hard pressed to suppress when she joined Verne, paid for the vest and shirt and left the tailors as if all their business had been concluded.


    And, in a way¡­it had been.


    Supper with Sir Donimede and Lady Jocasa also included Willower, Deacon Alast, Clerics Rodel and Caste, Lord and Lady Gemel from Fort Verion, their son, Sevelon who was a young man with an unfortunate break out of spots across his mournful countenance, Lord Hewey and Lady Knell.


    They dined at a large square table where they could sit three a side. Sir Donimede was in the middle of his side with Lady Jocasa on his right and Willower on his left. Judd sat on the side closest to where Willower was, Lord Hewey and Lady Knell on his left. Opposite him were the Gemels taking up one side and facing Donimede¡¯s side were the officers of the Order of the Grail. It was worth noting that Sir Donimede¡¯s chair was the grandest out of all the chairs at the table.


    Tall floor candelabra were arranged around the room to cast light onto their dining experience and a single fireplace, three times as large as the one in Judd¡¯s chambers, kept the room warm. In the middle of the table was a bronze plate with several candles at differing heights and hues arranged on it. The candles had been lit when Judd arrived and he noticed that, as the flames melted the wax, the streams trickled down the candles to create a beautiful marbled effect that filled the bronze pan.


    When he remarked on it, Sir Donimede scoffed lightly. ¡°That is my wife¡¯s doing. She claims the candles and platter form something special.¡±


    ¡°Would you care to explain?¡± Judd turned to Lady Jocasa as servants replenished their wine.


    ¡°The melted wax from the candles form a unique pattern that is unable to be reproduced,¡± Lady Jocasa gestured to the coloured swirls mingling together, ¡°when the bronze pan is filled and I remove the candles, I will carve some grooves into the wax and fill with tiny rivulets of gold and medallions then seal it. It will become the top of a table or perhaps a wall mounted display.¡±


    ¡°That is very creative.¡± Judd was sincere in his praise.


    ¡°It is very expensive.¡± Sir Donimede lamented. ¡°The candles, the bronze platter¡­the gold and medallions¡­all useless afterwards.¡±


    ¡°Each piece is significant and I only set such items out for moments that I would want to capture in wax.¡± Lady Jocasa replied lightly.


    Judd felt cornered. ¡°Lady Jocasa, I hope that you did not go to any expense on my part¡­I am not even a knight yet.¡±


    ¡°I have confidence in you, Judd LaMogre,¡± Lady Jocasa smiled at him so warmly that Judd felt distinctly uncomfortable when her warmness contrasted so spectacularly with Sir Donimede¡¯s coldness, ¡°besides, there are other¡­moments worth capturing and celebrating.¡±


    Judd didn¡¯t know what to say to that and drank from his wine.


    ¡°Sir LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°He is not a knight yet.¡± Cleric Rodel corrected Sevelon Gemel. Caste cleared his throat very softly, trying as subtly as he could to warn Rodel to be cautious about rebuking the higher classes.


    ¡°Apologies, LaMogre,¡± Sevelon leaned forward, ¡°in Fort Verion, I have heard tales of your deeds even at the table of Sir Rylan himself.¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan has heard of me?¡± A thrilling tremor ran down Judd¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Your exploits are new and varied. After you liberated Fort Sol from the giant spider and the orthros, Sir Egrette and his soldiers returned to Fort Callain where tales of your conquest quickly made for new stories told in the soldier¡¯s mess and also from Sir Egrette himself.¡±


    ¡°Soldiers are prone to exaggeration.¡± Cleric Rodel said with a slight bite in his tone.


    ¡°I also heard of Judd LaMogre¡¯s exploits upon his knighthood quest,¡± Lord Hewey added, ¡°I was there on business and when I returned to Fort Verion, I was able to confirm the reports from the soldiers as I was told them by Sir Egrette himself.¡± He looked to Lady Knell. ¡°You have just returned from Fort Omra, have you not?¡±


    ¡°I have, where, I must say, you impressed Sir Fereak.¡± Lady Knell had a somewhat drooping nose which was not helped by the way she tended to look down it from her rather tall height. ¡°A virgin death drop onto an invading hydra¡­I think you will be treated to a parade or two when you return to Astaril.¡±


    ¡°I remember when I received my knighthood, bestowed upon me by King Rocheveron,¡± Sir Donimede spoke up, looking even paler against the black of his clothing and the stark dye of his hair, ¡°it was then that he offered me a boon and of course, I requested a fort. I had my eye on Fort Faine but Mavour¡¯s knight passed and it was in need of a strong hand.¡±


    ¡°A boon, father?¡± Willower asked, curiously.


    ¡°It is a generous gift offered to all those who receive a knighthood,¡± Sir Donimede raised his goblet, ¡°up to half the kingdom¡­not that anyone has ever had the guile to request it.¡±


    ¡°What would you ask for, Judd LaMogre?¡± Willower turned to Judd with wide hazel eyes, the green in them glowing in the candlelight, her lips rosy and moist.


    ¡°Well,¡± Judd¡¯s throat dried out, ¡°I¡­I do not know.¡±


    ¡°Come now,¡± Donimede teased, ¡°surely it is the true reason for your pursuit of a knighthood, the chance to request anything from King Rocheveron?¡±


    ¡°I honestly do not know,¡± Judd admitted then shrugged, ¡°perhaps when I was young, even up until I set out on this quest, I had all manner of requests in mind but now¡­they all seem so¡­¡± He sighed and shook his head. ¡°In the grand scheme of things, now that I have experienced the wilds, the monsters and met so many people¡­all my wishes look petty and vain.¡± He looked down at the wine in his goblet, swirling it around the rim. ¡°I have so much, companions I trust, excellent weapons, clothing, food, a fine stallion and my knighthood is within my reach¡­what more do I need?¡±

 I…I find myself torn between my heart and my duty

    ¡°You might marry.¡± Lady Gemel hinted at and none too subtly and the evening''s conversation continued to flow as abundantly as the wine.


    Judd smiled, making sure not to look to his right at Willower. ¡°I would never want the woman I married to be bonded to me because of the responsibility of fulfilling a boon.¡±


    ¡°Such a commitment is better made in love, is it not?¡± Lady Jocasa pursed her lips, the corner curling into a smile.


    ¡°I¡­I would hope so.¡± Judd swallowed, aware of the pressure in the room that was like the tide, pushing himself and Willower together.


    ¡°Tell me, is it true that you killed a centaur?¡± Sevelon asked eagerly. ¡°I overheard one of the guards speaking of it.¡±


    ¡°I did with the invaluable assistance of my archer, Verne Sachon.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°It was leading a herd of unicorns and rounding up the mounts of the nomads into a gully.¡±


    ¡°You stared down a charging centaur?¡±


    ¡°By Astaril, no,¡± Judd chuckled, ¡°Verne led the centaur into a gully where I was able to leap upon its back. It galloped and bucked and twisted but could not throw me. I clung on knowing that to fall would mean being trampled by its hooves. When we reached the lip of a very sharp and dangerous decline, I called for my archer and threw myself to the side as Verne pierced it with three arrows and it fell to its death.¡±


    ¡°So, really, the archer killed the centaur.¡± Cleric Rodel observed.


    ¡°I maintain that to be the case,¡± Judd agreed, ¡°and asked Cleric Undern to record it as such.¡±


    ¡°I recorded both of your accounts of the centaur slaying.¡± Caste promised.


    ¡°But without your bravery and boldness, the centaur would not have been so foolish as to stand on the edge of a cliff.¡± Sevelon insisted.


    ¡°I just count myself fortunate that I could help bring some form of restoration to the nomads.¡± Judd held up his hands.


    ¡°Was he big? The centaur?¡±


    ¡°I would put him on par with my mount, Xenon and he is just about the largest horse I have ever seen.¡±


    ¡°Forgive my son,¡± Lord Gemel interrupted Sevelon¡¯s questions, ¡°he has high hopes of becoming a knight one day.¡±


    ¡°If only he did not suffer so from his allergies¡­¡± Lady Gemel lamented.


    ¡°Mother¡­¡±


    ¡°I tremble with fear at the thought of your being out in the wilds without enough handkerchiefs.¡±


    Sevelon looked mournful at his mother¡¯s suffocating attention. He was quite the weedy young lad, probably not more than seventeen years of age with big dreams that seemed too large for his narrow shoulders. Judd empathised. He knew what that was like.


    ¡°I can see how that might be a serious consideration,¡± Judd tried not to smile, ¡°however, there are other dangers to keep your mind off your sniffling nose.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Lady Gemel looked at her son sternly, ¡°even the famous Judd LaMogre agrees with me.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Would you stop coddling him?¡± Lord Gemel grunted.


    ¡°How can I do otherwise when you seem to see fit to throw our only son out into the wilds.¡±


    ¡°I insinuated nothing of the sort.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a compromise could be reached?¡± Lady Jocasa said quite loudly in order to be heard over her guest¡¯s, what one assumed was a, frequent bone of contention. ¡°After all, many knights start out as squires in order to learn from the best.¡± Judd saw Sir Donimede sit up to address the request, though whether he would have agreed or refused remained a mystery as Lady Jocasa turned to Judd. ¡°What if Sevelon were to accompany you, Judd LaMogre?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Judd blurted, all eyes turning to him.


    ¡°You do have the experience and the reputation.¡± Willower gushed with bright eyes, her fingers resting gently on Judd¡¯s. ¡°Sevelon could learn so much from you.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I¡­¡± Judd blundered as Sevelon sat up, eyes bright with expectation.


    ¡°But¡­he¡¯s not a knight!¡± They all turned and looked at Cleric Rodel who swallowed, just as surprised as they were by his outburst. ¡°I¡­I mean¡­well¡­¡±


    ¡°What my rash apprentice means to say is,¡± Deacon Alast interjected, ¡°only knights have squires and as yet, though his monster kill record account and experience more than warrant the title, because he is not noble born, the knighting ceremony must be performed by King Rocheveron or, in this unique case, Sir Rylan. It would be inappropriate for LaMogre to have a squire.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­what I meant.¡± Rodel slumped back on his chair, retreating into his personal space until he was barely a presence at the table.


    ¡°However,¡± Judd leaned forward to eye each of the Gemel¡¯s firmly, ¡°I would want you to know that the suggestion and your confidence in me is nothing less than deeply flattering.¡±


    ¡°At least I will be able to watch you in the Arena.¡± Sevelon¡¯s tone was disappointed yet relieved.


    ¡°Is that permitted?¡± Judd looked at his hosts.


    ¡°It is more than permitted,¡± Lady Jocasa waved her hand elegantly, summoning servants who had warm fruit cakes drizzled with whipped cream for dessert, ¡°my husband welcomes all nobility into the Arena. I confess, half of the guests I have invited are coming for the feast. The others come for the excitement of the Arena.¡±


    ¡°I hope I live up to this reputation you are fostering for me.¡± Judd said quietly.


    Willower leaned towards him with tenderness in her eyes. ¡°I am sure you will.¡±


    On the opposite corner from where Judd was sitting, Caste could see just how hard LaMogre was having to work to resist Willower¡¯s mesmerising attention. For all his reluctance, he did seem rather taken with her as her rapt adoration was hard to ignore. There seemed to be a romance blossoming between them. However, Caste was also aware of something else. Someone was grinding their teeth but for the life of him he couldn¡¯t tell if it was coming from Cleric Rodel or Sir Donimede.


    Caste sat up in bed reading. At least he was trying to. He was frustratingly distracted by the emptiness of the other bed in the room. Every time he looked at it he felt a knot of anger form in his chest which he tried to ignore by reading yet found his eyes returning to glare at the bed. Supper had dragged on for quite some time. Deacon Alast¡¯s chin had been slumped onto his chest and he required gentle poking to get him to rouse himself enough to wander back to his chambers.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Caste was also tired but he was more concerned than anything else. When the door to his shared room opened he pretended to be occupied by his reading. Despite the fact that he had been waiting for Rodel to return to the room, Caste now took great pains to ignore him.


    ¡°I thought you would have been asleep by now,¡± Rodel said quietly, slipping his shoes off and hanging his cappa clausa from a hook, ¡°especially after yawning half the evening away.¡±


    ¡°I was waiting for you.¡± Caste said tersely without looking at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the visitor to this fort, you are.¡± Rodel clambered into bed. ¡°I was perfectly capable of getting back to my own room.¡±


    ¡°So if you didn¡¯t get lost from the dining room to here¡­where were you?¡±


    Rodel¡¯s ashen good looks spasmed for a moment and Caste could almost see his mind racing.


    ¡°I¡­wanted to walk off supper. I hate going to bed so full.¡±


    Caste turned the page of his book. ¡°It is hard to walk off supper when you¡¯re standing in a dark alcove, spying on LaMogre and Donimede¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°You were following me?!¡± Rodel sat up with indignation on his face, covering a deep well of panic. ¡°What in Maul were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Caste snorted, ¡°maybe I was thinking¡­stop stalking the eldest daughter of the knight you are assigned to advise!¡± He slapped his book shut. ¡°Are you out of your mind, Rodel?¡± Rodel folded his arms and turned away. ¡°If Donimede ever found out about this¡­this¡­¡±


    ¡°This what, Caste?¡± Rodel retorted, swinging his legs out of the bed to glare at Caste. ¡°Go on¡­name it.¡±


    ¡°Infatuation!¡± Caste waved his hand and Rodel shook his head. ¡°You cannot deny it! You spent the entire evening making snide corrections and ungracious remarks about LaMogre, hoping to devalue him in the eyes of Donimede and his daughter!¡±


    ¡°I am a cleric,¡± Rodel lifted his firm chin haughtily, ¡°it is my responsibility to ensure that truth, not exaggerated lies and half truths, are perpetuated.¡±


    ¡°And following LaMogre as he walked with Miss Donimede?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just good sense!¡± Rodel exclaimed, standing up. ¡°Donimede doesn¡¯t care about his daughter¡¯s reputation! In fact, I think he¡¯d be more than pleased if some scandal did arise that meant Willower was obligated to wed her violator.¡±


    Caste raised an eyebrow at Rodel. ¡°You really see Judd LaMogre as a man who deflowers daughters of knights?¡±


    ¡°I think he is a man and Willower is almost falling over herself because of excessive flagellation of accomplishments perpetuated by a military force in desperate need of new gossip material!¡± Rodel argued and Caste stared at him, stunned by the strength of his argument. ¡°You said it yourself, I need to be aware of eligibility of matches and their repercussions.¡±


    Caste stood up. ¡°You also said that Miss Donimede had been rejected by numerous eligible gentlemen and that it was a cruel game for Sir Donimede to play with his daughter.¡± Rodel groaned and walked away from him, sitting on a chest at the end of his bed. ¡°A match with LaMogre, even one born out of scandal, to which Willower did not seem to be uninclined towards,¡± Caste kept talking quickly, seeing Rodel¡¯s mouth open for him to voice a violent protestation, ¡°would be advantageous for both parties¡­unless you want the eldest daughter of Sir Donimede to remain unwed and miserable?¡±


    The handsome cleric blundered and spluttered, unable to form any kind of coherent argument. He closed his eyes and shook his head with bowed shoulders. ¡°I¡­I find myself torn between my heart and my duty,¡± Rodel whispered, ¡°that she is unhappy grieves me beyond all understanding¡­but to lose her to another¡­¡±


    Caste remained steeled in his spirit, feeling a slight tug of empathy but refused to entertain it. ¡°Rodel, this infatuation with Willower must end or at least be brought under regulation. It will destroy you!¡±


    ¡°Oh Caste¡­¡± Rodel¡¯s tone was hollow, grief rattling around in the cage of his words. ¡°Have you ever been in love?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Caste fumbled, surprised and taken aback by the unexpected question. ¡°That is not the point of this discussion!¡±


    ¡°Just answer me.¡± Rodel begged.


    Caste felt a light tug of a memory but dismissed it. ¡°No, never.¡±


    ¡°Never?¡±


    ¡°I know my duty and am guided by my responsibility.¡±


    Rodel huffed and shook his head. ¡°Then you are a stronger man than I. In truth, the only reasons I was chosen for the role of cleric here was because I was young, fit and strong enough to suffer Roust¡¯s daily humiliation guised as discipline.¡± He leaned forward, clutching his hands together. ¡°As a cleric, I was always mediocre, never being good enough to warrant attention or poor enough to be ejected. At best, I would be relegated to the Order¡¯s archives so to receive an appointment to a fort, to be the cleric of a southern knight¡­I thought I must have done something right at last¡­¡± Caste gazed at him as Rodel sighed, the light of the two candles lit and the low burning fire giving the cleric an almost bronzed glow. ¡°When I arrived, wide eyed and lost, it was Willower who was assigned to teach me the layout of the fort. Alast¡¯s hips couldn¡¯t handle the traipsing up and down the stairs so we spent several days together¡­and there was that glorious moment when she was introduced to me¡­¡± Rodel smiled at the memory, his grey/blue eyes soft and wistful. ¡°All the air deserted my lungs and my heart suddenly felt like it was beating outside of my chest...¡± Rodel looked at Caste. ¡°I swear, not a single moment in all of my clerical history ever compared to that.¡±


    Caste put his fingers to his face. ¡°Please do not try to tell me it was love at first sight.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not,¡± Rodel admitted, ¡°but I was smitten and try as I might, nothing has caused it to lessen. In fact, after six months of being here, I am in a well of love so deep¡­I think I could drown.¡± It was quiet in their room. The only sound was the tumbling of cinders in the hearth, sending soft crackles and sparks into the air. Rodel stood and swept the ash back into its berth then stood staring at the diminishing light of the fire. ¡°You¡­you are the first to work it out,¡± he said softly, ¡°not even Willower pays me one jot of attention especially when there is a knight or knight to be in Mavour. She falls over herself to gain their affection when I would gladly worship at her feet for a taste of her lips.¡±


    Caste¡¯s skin flared hot. ¡°You are a cleric, for Terra¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°Cleric, not eunuch.¡± Rodel retreated to his seat. ¡°I know you kept mostly to yourself but surely you could not have been unaware of page eighty five being passed around by the novitiates, torn from the tome of the ¡®Mechanics of the flesh¡¯?¡± Caste had been more than aware of it. One of the ways he had been mocked by the others in the novitiate program was for them to brag about their dalliances with women. When Caste refused to ask questions or become fascinated by their lewd tales, they had thrust that¡­explicit page in front of him for his ¡®edification¡¯. Caste had not given them the pleasure of cowing to their teasing though it seemed to matter little as they thought his stalwart refusal to engage them was more than deserving of their mockery. ¡°Aren¡¯t you even¡­just a little curious?¡±


    Caste could feel the heat of embarrassment flooding him. Though he hadn¡¯t looked at the page directly, there was no way he couldn¡¯t be aware of its presence or the illustrations on it.


    ¡°I¡­of course there are demands of the flesh, lusts that we can either inflame or suppress,¡± Caste hurried on, ¡°but it also requires wisdom to know what action to take. You are already disdainful of Sir Donimede and critical of his methods. What happens when Alast returns to Astaril to enjoy his retirement and you are exposed to Donimede, day in and out, offering up clerical wisdom with an objective mind? If you cannot serve your position here without prejudice¡­you need to resign it to someone who can.¡±


    ¡°And what happens to me then?¡± Rodel asked sorrowfully. ¡°Unlike you, Caste Undern, my assigned middle class knighthood questor failed and did so miserably. I returned to the Order, sure any good will I had scraped together had dissipated. Then I was assigned here out of necessity but should I resign¡­¡± Rodel shook his head. ¡°I doubt the Order will allow me back¡­and then, what is there left for me? What else can I do? I¡¯m no good for anything else!¡± He looked at Caste with sincerity scrawled across his expression. ¡°At least if I stay in this role¡­I will be near her¡­¡±


    ¡°Until a suitor rejects her, causing her to throw herself on the kind and understanding cleric who is a trusted confidant¡­¡± Caste accused.


    Rodel groaned and stood up, pacing the room. ¡°So¡­so what if we do end up¡­¡±


    ¡°Putting page eighty five into practice?¡± Caste¡¯s tone was scathing.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Rodel retorted, ¡°what does it matter?¡±


    ¡°I cannot believe I am hearing this¡­¡± Caste groaned. ¡°Women dull the senses and confuse the mind! No officer of the Grail who ever allowed himself to be ruled by the lustful demands of the flesh, married or no, ever became an archdeacon, let alone bishop. You would be risking throwing away your career, sacrificing your ambition for the sake of page eighty five!¡±


    Rodel sank onto his bed and looked at him sadly. ¡°Whatever ambitions I had about ever rising in the ranks of the Order, were unmasked as vain and superficial delusions the moment Willower smiled at me.¡± Caste blustered and fumed, stunned by Rodel¡¯s claim. ¡°I was never going to be more than an archival cleric so to be here, assigned to Fort Mavour, apprenticed to Deacon Alast and in service to Sir Donimede¡­it is a generosity of the stars I do not deserve.¡±


    ¡°So you ought to honour it¡­and not get mixed up with Sir Donimede¡¯s daughter.¡±


    Rodel lay on his back, hands behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. ¡°You see things so clearly, black and white with no grey smudges or ink splatters¡­right is right, wrong is wrong¡­there is no room for anyone to make a mistake¡­not even yourself. But that¡¯s not always possible.¡±


    ¡°I would make the effort not to get myself into problematic situations of the grey smudged and splattered kind.¡± Caste pointed out.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this post or for Willower¡¯s eyes to arrest me so and even if I resigned it, I would be left without a job, a home or any practical skills that would make me valuable outside of the role I am in.¡± Rodel turned his head and looked at Caste with his faded blue eyes. ¡°So tell me, Cleric Caste, in your far outreaching vault of experience, knowledge and wisdom, what should I do?¡±

 If I cannot break your body…I will break your spirit

    Suvau scrambled for cover, narrowly missing being torn apart by the oversized claws of a Cerberus. Unlike an orthros, whose two heads always seemed to be battling for dominance, the three headed hound of Maul was a monster of a beast, perfectly united in its determination to rip Suvau apart. Suvau¡¯s only reprieve, and that was a generous description of the blink of an eye breathing room between attack and evade tactics, was when he hid behind a pillar. Though Cerberus had three noses, there was enough sweat, blood and dust in the air of the pit to confuse its olfactory senses.


    Suvau leaned against a pillar, breathing heavily. He wasn¡¯t sure he would be alive to worry about what Urik thought of him. Ermaus¡¯ prediction that something larger might be coming after no monsters had invaded the Arena had been proven true and much sooner than Suvau would have liked. They¡¯d barely eaten their rations for the evening when Jole had come for Suvau, Urik urging him to hasten, barking something about the lookouts on the top of the fort sighting a large monster incursion coming towards the gate. As it turned out, the Cerberus was the only beast to appear, large indeed but hardly the large numbered incursion the slave driver had clearly been hoping for. Urik had even ordered that the gate be left up, hoping for more monsters to come but only the Cerberus bounded through, three heads eager to share Suvau¡¯s flesh.


    Suvau risked a peek around the corner of his pillar and saw the Cerberus sniffing, favouring its left hind leg. A small advantage, especially when Suvau had already had to pop his shoulder back into its socket after wrenching himself out of the monster¡¯s grasp. It wasn¡¯t the same shoulder the unicorn had impaled but Suvau didn¡¯t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Now both his arms were weakened.


    ¡°Urik!¡± Suvau blinked the sweat out of his eyes and glanced up. From his position he could just see Sir Donimede¡¯s head above the line of the balcony and the low wall to keep the spectators, which was only currently Urik, safe from even the tallest monster allowed into the pit. ¡°Where in Maul is the minotaur I ordered? It¡¯s been days!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately monsters aren¡¯t able to be ordered. The more specific you are, the longer it takes and there has been a distinct drought in larger beasts of late¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you making excuses?¡± Donimede¡¯s voice was dangerously furious.


    ¡°No, my lord,¡± Urik grovelled, the first time Suvau had ever heard him cower before anyone, ¡°it¡­it is this Maul you gave me.¡±


    ¡°What about him?¡±


    Suvau ducked out of sight. Thankfully both he and the Cerberus were distracted from the fight by the argument above. Three jaws quivered and three sets of teeth barred themselves, snarling at Urik and Donimede high above.


    ¡°He is the strongest Maul I¡¯ve ever put in the Arena. He refuses to bleed.¡±


    ¡°What has that got to do with it?¡±


    ¡°Other monsters are more sensitive to blood so they come in droves.¡±


    ¡°Then make him bleed! I want that LaMogre gone from Mavour,¡± Donimede paused, ¡°or dead in the Arena¡­in full view of my wife¡¯s,¡± he spat out her title, ¡°illustrious guests that she has invited for him. They are already arriving and all fawning over him as if he were as great a knight as Rylan¡­¡±


    ¡°Sire, was it not Sir Rylan¡¯s wish that those on the knighthood quest be required to come to Mavour to slay a Minotaur? Is it not your position to assess them?¡±


    ¡°Do not tell me my duty, you filthy slaver of flesh!¡± Donimede was more than a little tense. ¡°I want that LaMogre shamed so badly he will desert Mavour in the night like the middle class coward that he is!¡± There was a pause. ¡°If this Maul won¡¯t bleed, end this.¡±


    ¡°He must not return to the other slaves triumphant!¡±


    ¡°Then close the gate and let the monster deal with him!¡±


    Suvau heard the gate falling, forcing his legs to move against their will, running towards the only way out of the pit, into Maul. The Cerberus immediately sensed his motion, whirled about on its back legs and lurched after him, its huge paws launching it across the pit in three giant bounds. Suvau could feel the heat of its breath and the stink of its foulness as he dropped his body into a slide, scraping his legs as he skidded across the ground beneath the gate.


    The Cerberus, with only one thing on its mind, lunged for Suvau, the gate crashing down on its body, impaling on the spikes that held the gate fast into the ground. The Maul hound howled and writhed, unable to free its body, Suvau staggering back from it, seeing the pit from the Maul side of the wall.


    ¡°I suppose you think you¡¯re very clever,¡± Urik¡¯s voice taunted him, the slave driver unseen yet heard with perfectly clarity, ¡°but anyone who made the same mistake as you, seeking sanctuary in the south¡­met a rather unfortunate end¡­¡±


    In the silence that followed the three headed hound¡¯s death throes, Suvau heard a strange snaking noise¡­a slithering¡­as something or many somethings raced towards the gate. Suvau looked around and, seeing that there was no cover, ran back to the gate and climbed the grids of metal, clambering all the way to the top. The snaking sound was suddenly beneath him and he dropped his eyes to see long, red tendrils coming out of the chasm, twisting and curling around the body of the Cerberus. With the strength of a minotaur it tore the body from the gate, dragging the half a corpse, green bloodied and gruesome, across the ground, scraping it back into the chasm and out of sight. One tendril remained, poking about as if sensing something else was there. Suvau held his breath, the translucent tendril even poking through the lower gaps in the gate, finding the back half of the Cerberus. As if it possessed the capacity to reason that the lifeless lump was what it was sensing, the tendril drew back, slinking away into the chasm which was a haze of night and malevolent darkness.


    Finally Suvau allowed himself a moment to breathe. With shaking arms he dropped back down, unable to get into the fort until the gate was raised. If it had just been Urik¡¯s command, Suvau wasn¡¯t sure he would have been let back in but when it lifted and Suvau ducked his head and entered the pit, the gate closing firmly behind him, he saw the knight of Fort Mavour studying him from the balcony.


    ¡°Shackle him to the outer Arena wall.¡± Donimede said at length, turning away. ¡°If you can¡¯t figure out how to break him, don¡¯t let him return to the dungeon until LaMogre leaves or dies.¡±


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    Suvau¡¯s shoulders bowed and it wasn¡¯t a performance. If he was not returned to the dungeon, freeing the other prisoners became that much harder to accomplish. Jole locked him to the shackles that Suvau had been bound with when Urik first whipped him and left him to sit in the darkness. Unlike the shackles in the dungeon, these were far better maintained.


    Suvau wasn¡¯t going anywhere.


    Donimede wanted Judd dead.


    And Suvau¡¯s people were still imprisoned.


    Heavy rain and a violent storm overnight had turned the land around Mavour into a swamp. Not even Captain Chael would ride out in those kinds of conditions, citing that monsters trying to dig their way under the wall would drown in mud before reaching the northern side. To Judd¡¯s barely suppressed delight, the early morning patrol was cancelled. Not even Giordi could muster the enthusiasm to go to the markets.


    ¡°The coin wouldn¡¯t be worth the pain.¡± He declared, half burying himself on his bed, digging down like a mole.


    ¡°How is your back?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°Considering I could barely walk a week ago¡­¡± Giordi clenched his fingers. ¡°I¡¯m desperate to scratch it¡­but Verne keeps ticking me off for doing so¡­¡±


    Verne heard his words, hard to miss when they were directed at him, as he came through the concealed door into the master chamber. He folded his arms.


    ¡°Aalis gave me strict instructions to make sure you didn¡¯t tear at those stitches.¡±


    ¡°Surely they can come out now,¡± Giordi groaned, ¡°where is Aalis?¡±


    ¡°She left with one of the daughters of Donimede.¡±


    Judd looked up sharply. ¡°Willower?¡± Then he blanched at their amused expressions. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­what if I said it was?¡± Verne asked, sinking into a chair.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Giordi pressed on with the interrogation, ¡°I mean, are you disappointed she didn¡¯t call for you¡­or are you worried about what Aalis might be telling her?¡±


    Judd eyed them both. ¡°She wasn¡¯t at the door, was she? It was one of the other daughters.¡± The corner of Verne¡¯s mouth curled up and Giordi chuckled as Judd groaned. ¡°Would you both cut it out?¡± He stood up and began to pace. ¡°It¡¯s hard enough with Sir Donimede glowering at me, constantly being corrected by an overly zealous cleric at supper¡­¡±


    ¡°Caste?¡±


    ¡°No, the other one.¡±


    ¡°Alast?¡±


    ¡°No, the other, other one.¡±


    ¡°Rodel?¡±


    ¡°Him,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve also got sons of lords aspiring to be my squire, even though I¡¯m not yet a knight, soldiers begging to hear stories of my conquests, guards wanting to spar with me as if it¡¯s some kind of badge of honour and the fort is starting to become full to bursting with the nobility from all the southern forts who want to see me fight in the Arena and toast my success at a feast afterwards. On top of all that, I¡¯ve got romantic entanglements that I thought were purely plutonic but seem to be charging headlong into an ¡®understanding¡¯ that¡­¡± He threw up his hands and exclaimed wordlessly.


    Verne and Giordi glanced at each other then back at Judd.


    ¡°So¡­you¡¯re not romantically attached to the eldest daughter of Sir Donimede?¡±


    Judd made a few unintelligible noises.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m convinced.¡± Verne snorted and looked at Giordi and was surprised at the seriousness of his expression.


    ¡°You¡¯d better be careful, Judd,¡± Giordi urged, ¡°you know just how dangerous it can be to mess with the daughter of your host. Learn from my mistakes and save yourself the injury and for her, the heartbreak.¡±


    ¡°There is no messing,¡± Judd promised, ¡°but there is¡­a fa?ade¡­¡±


    ¡°Convincing fa?ade.¡± Verne remarked dryly, arms folded. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the two of you together.¡±


    Judd grimaced. ¡°I know, I know¡­where in Maul is that minotaur?¡±


    Verne didn¡¯t know how to answer that. The elusive monster seemed as far from reach as it had two weeks ago and despite their plush, comfortable surroundings, the companions were split, awkward, frustrated and worried.


    ¡°One does wonder¡­¡±


    Verne and Judd turned to Giordi who was leaning back on his bed, eyes on the ceiling but his mind far away. Judd glanced at Verne and raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What does one wonder?¡±


    ¡°Why do the monsters come to the Arena? There is a lot of wall for them to approach. Why, specifically that part where there is a gate, warriors and an audience?¡±


    Verne opened his mouth then closed it. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Maybe word spread?¡± Judd laughed at the absurdity of his words. ¡°As if monsters tell their friends like noblemen and women gossip¡­¡±


    ¡°As if any survive the Arena in the first place to be able to tell.¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± Judd frowned, ¡°you know¡­I never thought of that¡­¡±


    Verne studied Giordi. ¡°Do you have any theories?¡±


    Giordi shook his head and leaned forward, eyeing both of them. ¡°None I think we want to entertain.¡±


    ¡°They are drawn to the smell of our flesh.¡± Verne murmured. ¡°They come because they can smell us.¡±


    ¡°If that were the case, why did the unicorns not turn on the centaur and take a few tasty bites?¡± Giordi waved his hands, his mind whirling with ideas. ¡°It cannot just be enough that the monsters are interested in our flesh. There has to be something fundamentally different about humans and monsters. Something so unique that even a monster that looks exactly like a human, could not fool another monster.¡±


    Judd gazed at his hands, recalling the times he had fought the monsters of Maul.


    ¡°Blood,¡± he said softly, ¡°they are drawn to the smell of our blood. Not flesh¡­our blood.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Verne breathed, ¡°even that centaur bled dark green and it has that strange smell to it, a little like the taint! It¡¯s the smell of our blood.¡± He turned to Judd. ¡°The monsters are drawn to the scent of blood in the Arena?¡±


    ¡°But there have been no battles, that we know of, fought in there since we arrived,¡± Judd¡¯s spine gave a quiver of fear, ¡°so whose blood would be attracting the monsters?¡±


    Suvau was grateful for the meagre scraping of his rations the night before as it seemed that his separation from the other prisoners in the dungeon meant he didn¡¯t warrant food brought to him. But worst was the thirst. Shackled to the wall, so close to the pit, his darkened corner was illuminated by flashes of lightning that exposed every crack in stone and around the doorway that led into the pit. He could hear the peals of thunder rolling, so loud they caused the foundations to shudder and most torturous of all was the sound of rain. Unlike the dungeon, there were no cracks or rivulets for the water to trickle along. All Suvau could do was sleep fitfully and listen to the cruel sound, so close he could but taste it and yet his throat grew ever more parched.


    Sleep did little to ease the headache that built in intensity like the storm had outside and when he heard noise nearby, the sound of scuffling and the opening of a door, he pried his eyes open, feeling stabs of pain enter his skull. He winced and peered up as Urik entered the corridor. But where Suvau thought he would look at him in frustration, there was a terrible triumph in his eyes.


    ¡°Thought you could best me, did you? That I would not find a way to break you? Well, after Donimede¡¯s¡­inspiring talk I was highly motivated¡­and had an epiphany. If I cannot break your body¡­I will break your spirit.¡±


    Suvau frowned then heard someone grunt, stumbling into the corridor. To his horror, Ermaus scuffed into view, head bowed, hands bound together with Jole behind him.


    ¡°As old as he is,¡± Urik chuckled, ¡°there is still blood in his veins¡­¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Suvau roared, pulling on his shackles. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t answer to the likes of you,¡± Urik spat at his face, ¡°slave!¡±


    Suvau strained against the unrelenting lock of his manacles even as Ermaus tried to speak but Urik clipped him over the back of the head and ordered Jole to drag him into the Arena. The door closed behind them but the small window, while it wouldn¡¯t let Suvau see what was happening, meant he could hear Ermaus scuffling through the dirt and across the barren, uneven rock. There were minutes of almost nothing then Suvau heard Ermaus groaning. He pulled so hard his wrists screamed at him, the metal cutting into his skin then he heard the sound of whip lashes, over and over again.


    ¡°No! Urik! Let him go!¡± Suvau shouted. ¡°Urik! Urik!¡±


    But the whipping did not stop. It went on and on and on¡­

 Donimede is going to try to kill you in the Arena

    Verne ran up the stairs of the fort, around the servants scuttling to and fro with armfuls of linen, platters of food and baskets filled with the oddities that noblemen and women could not live without. The fort was abuzz with activity, bursting at the seams with guests who had streamed in from the other southern forts. Verne slid to the side and avoided two servants carrying a large pot of steaming water between them then had to wait for a troop of guards to come jogging past, talking animatedly.


    Finally Verne made it to the corridor where Judd¡¯s room was at the end and sprinted for the servant¡¯s chambers door. He flung it open and saw Judd inside looking harassed and nervous, attempting to buckle his pauldrons over his shoulders.


    ¡°Judd, the soldier¡¯s mess just scattered like ants in a rainstorm. Is it true?¡±


    Judd nodded, his hands shaking. ¡°Sir Donimede sent word. A minotaur has been sighted in the south, heading towards the Arena.¡±


    Verne took the straps from Judd and buckled them firmly. ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Vambraces, rerebraces and couters.¡± Judd pointed to the bed where they were laid out. ¡°All the things I can¡¯t tie on with one hand.¡±


    ¡°I got this.¡± Verne insisted and began to fit the armour onto Judd¡¯s arms. ¡°You¡¯re shaking.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know¡­¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°Verne, I¡¯m terrified¡­everyone keeps telling me how bad minotaur are¡­I¡¯m not as brave as what everyone thinks I am!¡±


    ¡°For starters, no one¡¯s actually killed a minotaur for several generations except Sir Rylan and he was mad enough to go over the wall to do so.¡± Verne said calmly, almost rigid in his lack of emotion. ¡°So when they talk about how hard minotaur are, they¡¯re just making stuff up. Two, you are brave, especially when it comes to defending people you care about. Three¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s a third point?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Verne moved around to Judd¡¯s left and fixed the straps holding his breastplate to his backplate, ¡°three, you can do this. Not just because people might be in danger and that minotaur are pushovers. You can do this. You¡¯ve faced down goblins and ogres¡­¡±


    ¡°One ogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Unicorns, a werewolf, a hydra for Terra¡¯s sake! You can do this!¡±


    ¡°You should listen to your archer.¡± Giordi added, panting at the threshold. ¡°He speaks the truth¡­even if it means running off and leaving me behind!¡±


    ¡°Who do you think needs more help in this moment?¡± Verne demanded. ¡°Handholding you up the stairs or buckling armour on Judd so that he¡¯s protected?¡±


    Giordi pulled a face then stepped back from Judd. ¡°You look the part, I must say.¡±


    ¡°I wish I felt it too.¡± Judd sat down and tugged on his boots, pulling the straps tight.


    ¡°You¡¯ll cut off the circulation to your foot if you¡¯re not careful.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s funny,¡± Judd¡¯s fingers would not stop shaking, ¡°when I¡¯m in sturdy, tightly strapped boots, I feel like I can take on the world.¡±


    Verne and Giordi glanced at each other. ¡°Oh, well¡­in that case, tie them as tight as you like.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re both coming, aren¡¯t you?¡± Judd looked up.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡± Verne said without hesitation.


    ¡°As long as we can get seats.¡± Giordi glanced at Verne. ¡°Maybe I should follow the stream of lords and ladies to the Arena and make sure we do.¡±


    ¡°The way you¡¯re walking you might get there just as the brawl ends.¡± Verne mocked.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t share a bed with Aalis, I¡¯d short sheet it to teach you a lesson.¡± Giordi retorted and left the room.


    Verne turned and watched as Judd picked up his heavy weight sword, buckling it around his waist. He slid his beautiful, ancient Terra hilted sword into its custom sheath. His hands were trembling.


    ¡°Verne,¡± Judd swallowed, ¡°listen¡­if something should go wrong in the Arena¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°No, really, hear me out.¡± Judd licked his lips. ¡°Make sure Aalis gets out of here and safely back to the nomad camp. Suvau too.¡±


    ¡°Oh for goodness sake¡­¡± Verne¡¯s words were cut off as Judd grabbed his scruff and pulled him close.


    ¡°Listen to me! I¡¯m supposed to protect them and that¡¯s going to be very difficult if I¡¯m dead so promise me!¡±


    Verne faltered. He closed his eyes and sighed. ¡°Judd¡­listen, before you go out there¡­there¡¯s something you need to know about Aalis and me.¡±


    But before he could continue, there was a knock on the door. Arsch and Kipre were waiting, nearly bursting with excitement. ¡°Judd LaMogre,¡± Arsch announced, ¡°we are here to escort you to the Arena.¡±


    ¡°Really? The two of you?¡±


    ¡°We volunteered.¡± Kipre beamed. Judd glanced at Verne who shrugged. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    ¡°I just need my shield¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll carry it,¡± Verne offered, ¡°unofficial shield bearer.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t ask for a better gent in my corner.¡± Judd smiled then breathed out. ¡°Right¡­lead on.¡±


    If Judd had hoped that the walk from his chambers to the Arena would allow him the space to calm his nerves, he was sorely mistaken. Every servant they passed, guest of the fort, soldier and guard all stopped what they were doing, stepped aside and watched him walk by. It would have been deeply humbling and honouring if it wasn¡¯t so nerve racking. He was grateful when their journey took to some stairs going sharply downwards and entered a chamber where there was a reinforced metal gate over a door.


    Waiting in the room which Judd suspected was the holding space before he was allowed into the Arena, was Willower. She was dressed in woodland green with light green inserts. Her cheeks were flushed and her hazel eyes were glassy.


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    ¡°Willower,¡± Judd swallowed, very aware of the others in his company, ¡°what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°You have been summoned to the Arena.¡± She said softly, her voice quivering. ¡°Soon you will face the minotaur¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you really sure you want to be there?¡± Judd urged. ¡°It¡¯s not going to be a pretty sight, certainly not one I thought you should¡­¡±


    ¡°I must be there¡­for you.¡± Willower insisted, fiddling with her hands. ¡°Would you bear my favour as you enter the Arena?¡±


    Judd mouthed the word favour to himself, baffled. Willower held out a satin handkerchief in dark red, the same hue as her hair. Judd recalled the tradition of the knights, carrying the physical favour or token of ladies with whom there was an understanding or, at least, the hope of an understanding.


    ¡°Willower,¡± Judd hesitated, ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±


    Willower grasped his arm and leaned so close her breath touched his cheeks and the scent of lilies and fear filled his nostrils.


    ¡°Please, Judd¡­¡±


    He could hardly refuse the eldest daughter of his host, especially in present company. He accepted the handkerchief she pressed into his hand and to his relief, Willower turned and hastened to the door he¡¯d just entered by, Arsch and Kipre stepping aside then giving Judd cheeky grins before leaving themselves.


    ¡°When the doors open, you will enter.¡± Arsch explained. ¡°Good luck!¡±


    The door closed behind them and Judd looked down at the handkerchief.


    ¡°What was all that about?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Willower¡¯s favour.¡± Judd held it up and they both watched a piece of paper flutter out of its confines. Judd caught it in mid-air and unfolded the tiny missive. It only took a second to read it after which he held it out to Verne who read it aloud.


    ¡°My father is overcome with jealousy towards you. Take care in the Arena. I doubt he intends for it to be a fair fight.¡± Verne looked at Judd. ¡°Donimede is going to try to kill you in the Arena?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what it sounds like.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s his problem with you?¡±


    ¡°Apparently my reputation vastly eclipses his.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°Death or just a humiliating defeat in the Arena would be enough to re-establish his own.¡±


    ¡°As a petty, vindictive rival but not a hero or warrior.¡± Verne snapped. ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    Judd shrugged with a smile that left Verne baffled. ¡°I am going to kill that minotaur and survive the Arena.¡± He unsheathed his sword and felt its perfectly balanced weight in his hand.


    ¡°To shame Donimede?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s got nothing to do with him. It never has.¡± Judd held out his hand for his shield. Verne passed it to him, stunned at the serenity that had suddenly overcome Judd. ¡°This is my knighthood. Not his.¡± Verne frowned then headed for the door. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going back for my bow and quiver.¡± Verne said grimly.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Making sure you have backup.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t your fight, Verne.¡± Judd protested as the archer slipped out of the door.


    Verne looked back through the narrow opening. ¡°If Donimede isn¡¯t going to fight fair, I¡¯m not going to let you die just to salvage his worthless reputation.¡±


    The Arena was crowded with the illustrious guests invited to Fort Mavour by Lady Jocasa taking the prime locations in the central balcony. The seating was staggered so that the elevated chairs at the back would afford an excellent view of the Arena, the gate and the chasm that slunk away into the depths of Maul, but they were recessed from the fighting so that, should a monster manage to climb and make it past the guards who were stationed at every pillar on the balcony, the Maul beast would fall on those seated closest, giving the others a chance to flee. On either side of the central balcony were three smaller viewing stations, forming a generous semi circle of seven balconies around the expansive Arena.


    Soldiers not on duty sat in the outer balconies. The ones that were shirking their duties stood up the back, hoping that Captain Chael who sat at the front of the balcony to the right of Donimede, would not see them. Guards were also part of the crowd, any grievances and competition between them forgotten in the united anticipation of a never to be forgotten battle.


    Giordi managed to find seating in the balcony to the left of the central balcony. It wasn¡¯t at the front but it was only two pews back and afforded a decent view of the Arena. Because the balconies protruded over the Arena, there were portions of it that could not be seen but the main battlefield was almost entirely unobstructed. Banners had been unfurled, decorating the walls and there were servants ushering wine and morsels to the noblemen and women who reclined upon their seats.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t go one hour without stuffing their face with something.¡± Giordi shook his head. ¡°Anyone would think the fight would be exciting enough without drinking it away.¡±


    ¡°Get up, Giordi.¡± Verne barked softly and Giordi did so, surprised that Verne was wearing a cape.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Escorting Judd then went back for my bow and quiver.¡± Verne drew his cape aside, revealing Aalis. ¡°Found our nomadic healer on her way here.¡±


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Giordi hissed, shifting aside so that she could sit, ¡°are you out of your mind? This is not a safe place for you.¡±


    ¡°I will not hide in my room and wait to hear of Judd¡¯s fate.¡± Aalis said, unable to disguise the tremor in her voice. ¡°He might need me.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s got a point,¡± Verne leaned down, ¡°Donimede has it in for Judd. We think he¡¯s going to try to kill him in the Arena.¡±


    ¡°How very knightly of him.¡± Giordi muttered. ¡°I could only securely two seats.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stand,¡± Verne tucked his bow and quiver at Aalis¡¯ feet, ¡°where¡¯s Caste?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s near where Donimede sits.¡±


    ¡°Good. Once the minotaur is down, Caste will need to verify it.¡± Verne paused, going up onto tiptoe to peer into the Arena. ¡°Where is it?¡±


    ¡°Outside the gate. I¡¯ve caught glimpses of it now and then.¡± Giordi caught sight of Aalis¡¯ expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°This place,¡± Aalis breathed, tasting fear on her lips as if they were the morsels the noblemen were devouring and iron and salt in her throat as if the wine being served was blood, ¡°so many have died here.¡±


    Giordi looked at Verne with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Sure¡­lots of monsters, maybe¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Aalis leaned forward, her stomach churning. ¡°Humans¡­people¡­this is where they died¡­¡±


    Verne and Giordi didn¡¯t know what to say to that but in both of their minds, they prayed that Judd would not become one of the casualties of the Arena.


    Caste sat on his rickety chair and tried not to fidget. Rodel was next to him. Deacon Alast was on the other side. Because they were in the central balcony, as befitted their status as officers of the Grail, servants offered them food. Caste grasped a goblet of wine and tipped it down his throat.


    ¡°Another?¡± The servant asked, barely containing his surprise.


    Caste took a second and held tight to the stem.


    ¡°I must say, you¡¯re not inspiring confidence in LaMogre.¡± Rodel remarked.


    ¡°I have confidence.¡± Caste¡¯s voice ended in a squeak and he gulped at his wine. ¡°I have every confidence¡­confidence abounds¡­¡± He caught sight of Rodel glancing behind himself to where Willower Donimede sat next to her mother. She was in a rich, deep green gown and her dark red tresses were loose and winsome over her shoulder. Caste rolled his eyes and turned forward, refusing to indulge or engage with Rodel about his infatuation with the eldest daughter. While Caste never had aspirations to becoming the cleric of a knight in a fort, Rodel¡¯s average track record as a cleric should have meant a life of vague anonymity for him. Instead he was in Mavour, second grandest fort of all Terra, a wall fort nonetheless and by the side of one of Sir Rylan¡¯s favoured knights. If life had thrown Caste such a generous bone, he would not risk losing it with ridiculous notions of romance.


    Caste looked around, reminding himself not to drain his second goblet or else he might wind up so inebriated he wouldn¡¯t be able to witness Judd¡¯s kill, and caught sight of Giordi and Verne sitting to his left in the closest balcony to him. Verne was standing tall, arms folded, expression serious and Giordi was speaking with a hooded attendee. Caste only needed to see the tip of a dreadlock to know that Aalis had thrown aside common sense and her own terror of being discovered to be there today.


    If she was exposed as a witch, Judd¡¯s credibility would be shattered and Caste knew his own would be destroyed along with it.


    ¡°Sir Donimede, Lady Jocasa¡­lords, ladies and revered officers of the Grail,¡± Sir Donimede¡¯s herald announced and the excited chatter in the room dulled to a throb, ¡°loyal soldiers and guards of Fort Mavour and all those here today¡­welcome to a defining moment in Terra¡¯s history!¡± By now the sweet tenor of the speaker resonated throughout the Arena, filling every gap and pore with his cultured and cultivated tone. ¡°We all know of Sir Rylan¡¯s extraordinary and generous offer to the first born sons of middle class Terras¡­yet it seemed that none would take advantage of it. However, waiting in a room down below, is a young man who has travelled the length and breadth of our beautiful country, slaying monsters and defying the odds that his quest would end in failure. He is here today to kill the final monster on his quest for knighthood¡­and so we welcome Judd LaMogre to the Fort Mavour Arena!¡±

 See what your knighthood quest has cost another

    ¡°Ah yes, welcome, LaMogre,¡± Urik folded his arms, his mouth curling into a delighted sneer, ¡°teach Donimede a lesson or two¡­and see what your knighthood quest has cost another.¡± He looked back at Suvau who was kneeling on the ground, his shoulders bent and his hands over his face. ¡°Listen closely, Maul¡­for your master is about to discover the only true value any of your people have to offer.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s face was coated with salt from his tears, his skin dry and his eyes, red and gritty. He could hear the chant, the roar of the crowd, calling forth Judd LaMogre.


    Even if Judd had not been able to hear the herald, the dust falling from the beams and stone above his head as the crowd stomped their feet and called out his name would have told him it was time to finish his quest. He made sure his helmet was firmly fastened, slapped his heavy double-edged sword, clutched his ancient Terra hilted blade and checked the weight of the shield on his left arm. He was ready for whatever faced him and when Donimede tried anything, Judd refused to be shocked or surprised.


    There was nothing he could throw at him that would stop Judd from completing his quest.


    Aalis cringed at the shouts and war cries from the crowd then the soldiers and guards nearly sparked into a frenzy as Judd walked into view from beneath the centre of the balcony. He strode out confidently, his dark brown, curling locks contained by his helmet, his armour fitted well, his shield strapped onto his left arm while his right held his custom sword and thrust it into the air. Tied around his wrist was a dark red handkerchief, a splash of colour against the metal of his armour. Judd turned around on the uneven ground and each of the balconies he looked at shouted and cheered all the louder when he was facing them.


    Then¡­for a moment¡­he froze. His eyes flitted to the base of one of the pillars and his jaw fell open. Aalis could feel the horror as if it was her own as he stepped towards the balcony, arms falling by his side.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Giordi whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t see!¡±


    Aalis couldn¡¯t either but the scent of blood and fear in the Arena and Suvau¡¯s warnings about Fort Mavour suddenly culminated in a terrible revelation. She paled to deathly white and clapped her hand over her mouth, fearing the worst.


    The bloodied, lifeless body of the Maul lay crumpled on the ground. He had been lying there for long enough that his blood had congealed on the stone, a light layer of dust sprinkled over the top of it. Judd stood staring at the Maul, hysterical fear snapping at his reason. He had to repeat over and over that the man he could see was not Suvau.


    But even that brought little comfort.


    ¡°Blood,¡± Judd breathed, staggering backwards, ¡°monsters smell blood¡­¡±


    He looked up at the balcony and felt rather than saw Donimede¡¯s eyes on him. Judd¡¯s resolve was deserting him, his legs were shaking, his hands too and he was in danger of dropping his sword and howling curses at the knight.


    ¡°What¡­has my knighthood¡­cost?¡±


    ¡°Raise the gate!¡±


    The metal gate yawned wide, creaking as it lifted. Judd could hear the heavy footsteps of a monster stomping towards him, deep grunts of effort as the beast reached the Arena, called by the scent of blood.


    However, it wasn¡¯t a monster of Maul that had killed the poor soul that had drawn it to him¡­


    ¡­but it was a monster nonetheless.


    The minotaur huffed hard through a jaw that could bite Judd in half like a twig, one deliberate step at a time yet Judd did not turn towards it, unable to wrench his eyes from the corpse.


    Then slowly, deliberately, he turned towards the minotaur, his mouth turned down.


    ¡°Bring it on!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a minotaur?¡± Giordi gulped.


    ¡°Hold your tongue,¡± Verne said sharply, ¡°do not give any reason for those watching to think we doubt Judd¡¯s ability.¡±


    It was hard not to let their jaws fall open and their knuckles to whiten in a terrified grasp of their seats at the sight of one of the most ferocious monsters to come out of Maul. It was a bull mashed together with a human but whatever remained of the human had been almost wholly and completely consumed by the bull. It stood like a man with its huge hind quarters holding it upright. Its feet were large cloven hooves, crushing stones to powder as it thudded beneath the gate. From the waist down, it was covered in thick, shaggy hair, not unlike the beasts the nomads hunted for food, covering its loins but leaving its chest, which was humanoid, bare. It was built like two Suvaus, muscular and thick yet with a litheness that the ogre Judd had originally fought had not possessed. Its arms and hands were a man¡¯s too but only one who was so powerful it could crush a man¡¯s skull in one fist. Atop the brawny and male torso was the head of the bull, a strong snot with blunt, thick teeth, black lips, a shaggy beard and hair around its dark eyes. Protruding from the sides of its head were white horns, curved up at the ends like a nobleman¡¯s moustache into which he had spent far too much time twirling around his fingers. It stood at eight feet tall and while shorter than some monsters, the minotaur did not barge mindlessly, its knuckles cracking as it stomped into the Arena.


    It knew Judd was there but the minotaur¡¯s eyes flickered to the balcony.


    Verne sword softly. ¡°It knows we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°And here I was hoping it was a dumb animal.¡± Giordi breathed. ¡°All the songs in the world do not give credence to this monster¡¯s might.¡±


    Aalis felt the beast¡¯s eyes rest a split second longer on her than anyone else. Though imperceivable and unnoticeable, she pulled her hood close around her face, frightened someone would wonder what the minotaur was looking at.


    At Judd¡¯s rather jocular war cry, the minotaur¡¯s eyes snapped back to him and a snarl curled at the corner of its lips. Its huge fists clenched and it snorted hair from its snout. As if unable to resist the beast¡¯s instincts, or perhaps knowing just how terrifying a charging bull could be, the minotaur bent down, its eyes locked onto Judd¡­and it charged.


    Going against good sense and reason, Judd ran towards it, kicking his feet out and going into a slide right beneath the minotaur¡¯s belly, so fast, the minotaur only clipped him with a hoof, the clang ringing out in the Arena. Judd darted to his feet and spun around, the crowd beginning to shout his name as the minotaur turned and looked down at the gash on his abdomen. While not a fatal blow, green blood dripped from the wound. The minotaur scraped it into its hand and sniffed it. Its eyes were like javelins, hurtling towards Judd and a growl so deep, it was as though the belly of the world was trembling.


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    The message was clear.


    I will not underestimate you again.


    Urik chuckled, needing to stand on tip toe to see through the window in the door that led to the Arena.


    ¡°First blood goes to your LaMogre¡­well, first monster blood,¡± he smirked over his shoulder, ¡°isn¡¯t it ironic that the man you served who was on his noble quest for knighthood would require the sacrifice of your people to obtain it? Let¡¯s face it,¡± Urik looked back at Suvau, ¡°you might be human¡­but you¡¯re nothing more than bait.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s fists were so tight he thought the sinews in his arms might snap. He rocked on his knees, never minding the pain in his skin after being on the stone floor all night. He could only imagine the broken remains of an old man who had never been able to taste the freedom Suvau had tried to give.


    His stubbornness had pushed Urik into this debased and deplorable act¡­


    ¡­an act which would not be necessary if the knighthood quest had not been proposed and accepted.


    On his knees, Suvau began to realise just who the true enemy was.


    Not for the first time did Judd send a silent thank you to Oster Agress for the gift of his armour. It burst out of him like an instinctual prayer as the minotaur caught him in the chest in a lucky blow when Judd had misjudged the beast¡¯s motion. He struck the wall and dropped to the ground, forcing himself to his feet, knowing the minotaur would already be thundering towards him.


    Unfortunately he couldn¡¯t determine which direction it was coming from as the crowd was stomping and cheering and calling his name. Judd made a split second call and dashed to the left, hearing a crash and the groan of the wall as the minotaur rammed into it, its horns stabbing deep into the stone. It had to wrench itself free with such force that a sizable part of its right horn broke off.


    Judd might have spared the briefest moment of thought to that fragment of horn, imagining that it would make an excellent piece of proof for Caste to collect afterwards to go in the knighthood box.


    Suddenly mallet sized fists were flying at him and he had to drop and roll, scrambling to get out of the way of the hooves of the minotaur as it stomped, missing turning him into pulp by the barest margins. Judd managed to dash behind a pillar and, while no one could see him, smacked himself on the helmet.


    ¡°Kill it first, then collect the trophy!¡± He snapped at himself. ¡°Concentrate!¡±


    Verne had told himself that he would keep an eye on Donimede for the duration of the battle¡­but in the heat of the moment, Verne found that rather difficult to do. While Judd was holding his own and quite well in fact, there had been a couple of very close calls where his skill might be outmatched by the minotaur¡¯s brute strength and speed. Verne wouldn¡¯t have admitted it out loud but was very aware that a misstep, a stumble¡­even a defensive stance when he should have been aggressive, could be the end of Judd and Verne doubted that even his sharp eye and sharper arrows would be enough to save him.


    In the mad craze when no one was paying attention to anything other than the mighty battle below, Verne had taken his bow into his hand, an arrow already caught between his fingers.


    When the crowd shouted in unison and half stood to their feet as Judd managed to cause the minotaur to stumble, clipping its calf as it slammed into the metal gates, Giordi crowed and said,


    ¡°Come on Judd, glory and honour awaits!¡±


    Not sure if he was reminded that there was one person who wouldn¡¯t share Giordi¡¯s sentiment, or if the dark and malevolent thread of animosity of their host irritated his finely honed sense of imminent attack, Verne turned his head to look at Sir Donimede. He was somewhat obscured by the waving handkerchiefs and fists pumping into the air but when the crowd sank back down from their most recent thrill, Verne caught sight of Cantor Donimede¡¯s expression.


    It had just been grim, Verne might have forgiven the knight of being concerned for Judd¡¯s safety or of a dozen other things he ought to be worried about. But the way a nerve tweaked in his lip and how his eyebrows didn¡¯t lift with surprise or wonder as Judd fought both valiantly and skilfully told Verne a very different, a very angry story.


    Verne began to wonder, if Judd did survive the monster in the Arena, if he wouldn¡¯t have to face another monster on the balcony.


    Judd had entered the red haze of battle. He couldn¡¯t hear the crowd anymore. Not their chants, their cheers, their shouts or even the stomping of their feet. Killing something for sport or for a knighthood was no longer in his mind. Whatever the motivation he had when he entered the Arena, or whatever those watching him thought he was doing this for were gone. It was Judd LaMogre against a minotaur and there would be no surrender, no hesitation or compromise. The monster was there to kill him without partiality and Judd had reached the point where he realised that he had to do the same...which propelled Judd into strategy.


    Dust showered from the balcony¡¯s floor onto him as he darted around the pillars, gaining a little headway. He continued the method around each of the pillars, making sure the minotaur could see him until the last pillar where he doubled back, coming up behind the minotaur as it stepped out from beneath the balcony into full view, huffing and panting¡­and bemused that Judd had apparently disappeared.


    It would take it the briefest of seconds to realise that the only place Judd could have disappeared to would be around the pillar again. But just as it began to turn, Judd was already putting one boot on a ledge of broken stone, the next braced against a chunk jutting out from the pillar and leapt onto the minotaur¡¯s back.


    Though Judd mightn¡¯t have been as heavy as a minotaur, in his armour he was no slight weight and the beast staggered forwards, swinging itself around, batting at Judd, trying to get a hold of him. But before it could get a good grip, Judd used his knees and thighs, which were strengthened from riding Xenon the way the nomads did, to push himself up, raised his sword and rammed it down through the back of the minotaur¡¯s neck, into its chest, all the way up to the hilt.


    And then the minotaur, which had been trying to drag Judd off, went absolutely mad. It howled and bellowed, bucking and throwing itself about. Judd¡¯s hands flew off the hilt so he grabbed the minotaur¡¯s remaining horn and held on, sure his bones were snapping from the force of the monster¡¯s death throes of fury. It tossed itself about then finally slammed its back against a wall over and over again. Judd was so winded from the first blow and dazed from where his helmet, while protecting his head, was not the soft cushion he desperately wanted it to be, could not stop the force of the minotaur.


    As if it could somehow reverse the blade¡¯s deep and fatal penetration, the minotaur bashed itself against the wall until it pressed hard against it, spasming violently, its bloody hands raised and its snout howling like a banshee¡­


    ¡­then fell forwards, fully dead before it hit the stone.


    Judd, no longer held against the wall, dropped to his feet and could not stop himself from staggering like a drunk. He put his hand out and pushed himself back upright. He breathed heavily, staring at the minotaur that didn¡¯t even twitch. No, all its twitching had been in the form of trying to embed Judd into the wall until there was no way to tell where he ended and the wall began.


    But now it was silent.


    And not just the minotaur.


    As Judd walked shakily over to the beast, he wondered if the silence meant he¡¯d been rendered deaf from the beating. He leaned down and, grasping his sword, his first two fingers hooked around the hilt so that his hand wouldn¡¯t just slide off from all the blood, dragged the blade out of the minotaur and thrust it into the air.


    And suddenly he wasn¡¯t deaf anymore. The Arena thundered and roared to such an extent that anyone with half a mind to worry might have taken a step back from the front of the balcony, worried it would collapse from the force of the adulation. Thankfully it remained upright as every single person watching stood to their feet and applauded, cheered and screamed their praises, bellowing his name.


    Judd pushed back his helmet, grasping it in his hand, his dark curls plastered over his head in sweat soaked disarray and gazed at the crowd, a little dazed and not fully comprehending what had just happened.


    However, in the cacophony, he began to hear something familiar chanted, over and over and over until all the spectators started to catch on and join in the cry.


    ¡°LaMogre! LaMogre! LaMogre!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s done it,¡± Giordi turned to Aalis whose eyes were about as pale as they could be, ¡°Aalis¡­he¡¯s done it!¡± Aalis nodded and Giordi, swept up in the adoration of the crowd, got to his feet and joined in. ¡°LaMogre! LaMogre!¡±


    Verne heard Giordi and glanced at him, shaking his head at the minstrel¡¯s joyful proclamation. Yet as his head shook, Verne caught sight of Sir Donimede. He was not looking into the Arena but rather, off to the side. His hand was at his chin and his fingers lightly scraped down his unshaven cheek, the slightest gesture along with a shallow nod.


    Verne could not see who or what he was nodding at but when the gate began to rise slowly, the creaking of the gear, the counter weights groaning as they dropped, lifting the metal up and lost in the roar of the crowd, Verne realised what it meant.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to ambush Judd¡­¡± Verne grabbed Giordi and shook him out of his exaltations. ¡°Giordi! Judd needs us¡­now!¡±

 Close the gate! Secure the Arena!

    ¡°LaMogre. LaMogre. LaMogre¡­¡± Urik turned and looked at Suvau who was as tight as a bowstring pulled beyond its limits. ¡°Hear their praise? The adulation of the crowd? All hail Judd LaMogre who only kills monsters in defence of Terras! All hail the knights of Astaril who let the blood of Mauls flow to satisfy their own ambitions!¡± Urik chuckled. ¡°You see¡­your LaMogre is no different to the rest of the knights of Astaril, past or present.¡±


    Suvau was muttering something. Urik was going to lean down to listen when Jole reappeared in the corridor.


    ¡°Is it done?¡± Jole nodded. ¡°Good. Donimede will get what he wanted.¡±


    Suvau continued to mutter and Urik, knowing he was safely shackled, squatted down to listen.


    ¡°¡­ill him¡­Kill him¡­Kill LaMogre¡­Kill LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Kill LaMogre?¡± Urik snorted. ¡°Do you really think I believe¡­¡± His words were cut short when Suvau¡¯s hand grasped his neck and squeezed tightly. Jole stepped forward but Urik waved him back as Suvau stood up, bristling with animosity, a suddenly sharp snap and Urik¡¯s neck would be broken.


    ¡°Let me in there...I will kill him!¡± Suvau let go of Urik, shaking so hard his chains rattled. Urik gasped for air, clutching at his neck but as Jole went to strike Suvau, Urik held up his hand and the brute stopped.


    ¡°I believe you.¡± Urik said through a bruised throat. ¡°Jole¡­let the Maul in to do what the minotaur couldn¡¯t.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s jaw quivered as Jole grasped his bonds and unlocked the shackles. He only had eyes for the door, the Arena beyond and the man whose quest for knighthood had gotten one of Suvau¡¯s people killed.


    Oddly enough, even in the dozens of voices joining together in unison to chant his name, Judd could hear when one did not sound right. It was an off note, a disharmonious ring¡­a dangerous challenge.


    He turned towards it, barely having the time to recognise Suvau before the big man barrelled into him and threw him to the ground in the middle of the Arena. There were shrieks and cries of horror as Suvau began to lay into Judd with his fists yelling at first then letting his anger do the talking.


    He grabbed Judd by the gorget and raised his clenched hand to strike Judd¡¯s unprotected head when they both heard the roar in the chasm beyond the gate, their attention immediately turning towards it.


    The gate was up and there was movement heading towards the Arena.


    ¡°What in Maul¡­¡± Sir Donimede¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Close the gate! Secure the Arena!¡±


    Of course it all happened too slowly to stop the dozen goblins from streaking into the Arena, scrambling over each other in their desperate haste to sink their crooked and sharp teeth into human flesh. Suvau and Judd sprang apart from each other, defending themselves as best they could against the multiple monsters. Judd swung his sword, cutting limbs from bodies and running goblins through while Suvau grabbed their heads and snapped their necks like he would a carrot. But the dozen goblins were just the first wave and when Judd and Suvau looked up, a number of orthros were coming, bounding on their long legs, jaws snarling.


    The spectators were now divided in their cries. Some screamed in fright at the unexpected turn the Arena fight had taken. This was mostly the noblemen and their ladies. The guards roared and cheered, excited that there was another opportunity for Judd LaMogre to cover himself in glory and monster blood while the soldiers shouted orders to scramble and secure the Arena, knowing just how quickly encounters with monsters could get out of hand.


    Judd debated briefly about tossing Suvau his second sword as he could be hard pressed to snap an orthros¡¯ head without the other one sinking its canines deep into his arm. However, before he could make that decision, an orthros yelped loudly and tumbled heads over heels, an arrow sticking out of its eye. Judd finished it off, staggering backwards and risked a glance up. Verne was already sending another arrow flying and Giordi was on the other side of the balcony doing the same.


    ¡°We¡¯ll keep the numbers down!¡± Verne yelled without looking at him. ¡°You kill the rest!¡±


    Judd nodded and turned back even as a terrible roar filled the chasm and poured into the Arena.


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t just one monster!¡± Judd cried.


    The gate to the Arena had begun to drop but it wasn¡¯t fast enough for the two minotaur that were charging up the chasm. The first one grasped the gate and stopped it from dropping as the other minotaur scrambled underneath then ducked beneath. Behind them were four ogres, thundering towards the Arena.


    ¡°Shut the gate!¡± Donimede yelled, an air of panic now in his voice.


    It was too little, too late for while the ogres were trapped in Maul, the Arena, as big as it was, shrunk in size with two minotaur in it.


    And terrifyingly, they made the one Judd killed look like their runty brother.


    The biggest of them, with shaggy black hair and skin the colour of molasses, was ten foot tall with horns so long and sharp, they could impale three men a piece. It was scarred all over, lines of white across its body like the stitches in a rag doll.


    Judd immediately summed it up as an experienced and dangerous monster.


    After all, if it could survive a living dissection, it could survive anything.


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    The other minotaur was not much smaller and they bellowed and howled, smashing their fists together, their tails dragging across the ground.


    Caste had always believed he knew when to run away¡­but apparently he¡¯d forgone that common sense after being in the company of noble, if foolhardy, companions for months on end. Perhaps he had come out onto the other side of his fear and rather than finding courage, he discovered that instead of flight¡­he froze like a statue.


    It was bad enough to see Suvau lay into Judd like a deranged, mindless beast, the unexpected and shocking display stunning all who knew him. But then for goblins to appear through the gate then a pack of orthros¡­and now two more minotaur¡­Caste had no more surprise or shock to give.


    He just stood and stared, rooted to the ground like an oak tree, unable to move or even, apparently, to close his eyes to at least escape the spectacle before him.


    Verne and Giordi provided Judd and Suvau with cover fire when there were multiple targets but now that there were just two minotaur, their effectiveness diminished dramatically. It wasn¡¯t that the minotaur were hard to hit. They were rather impressively large targets but they moved fast and close to Judd and Suvau and it would be all too easy to hit a human instead of a monster. Giordi had already dropped his arm, his small well of experience exhausted and unwilling to risk harming someone. Verne kept an arrow in his bow, blue eyes watching the battle before them without blinking lest he miss the chance to save someone.


    For a moment, a strange peace enveloped the spectators as if the battle was suddenly more captivating than concern for their lives. However, when the largest of the minotaur lined Suvau up and charged at him, the big man only just diving out of the way in time, the monster hit one of the pillars and Caste¡¯s body jolted in fright, hearing wood splinter and stone crack.


    That happy equilibrium that had lulled them all into a false sense of safety disappeared in a heartbeat. Suddenly the noblemen, their wives and any of their progeny were screaming in fear and not in blood lust, scrambling over each other with as much decorum and courtesy as the goblins who had flooded the Arena. The guards, whose responsibility it was to protect the inhabitants of the fort, did their best to evacuate the more illustrious guests from the balcony. No one was concerned with anything other than their own survival and at that moment, they were all convinced the balconies would collapse and they would be dropped into the Arena.


    The jolt was enough to shock Caste out of his stupor. He turned, intending to flee and saw Sir Donimede standing, watching the chaos in the Arena. His wife and daughter were behind him, unable to escape as the doors were still blocked. Willower¡¯s eyes were as wide as could be, her mouth open and her countenance equally so. She was more than frightened for Judd¡¯s wellbeing. Lady Jocasa¡¯s expression might have been taken for upper class control, unwilling to show her fright as her undisciplined daughter was¡­yet there was something alight in her eyes, as though the battle was thrilling to her.


    ¡°Caste!¡± Rodel called to him. ¡°Caste, we need to leave.¡±


    Despite Rodel¡¯s urge for him to retreat to safety, and Caste noticed he was as close to Willower as he could be while saying it, there was nowhere for them to go.


    ¡°What are you doing, you long legged fool?!¡±


    At Giordi¡¯s cry Caste turned and saw Verne had turned a tapestry into a means of dropping into the Arena. Giordi darted to where Verne had disappeared from, slapped his forehead then turned and grabbed two swords from two guards who handed them over willingly. Caste was on his way to stop the minstrel but was too late as Giordi followed Verne into the Arena.


    All that was left was Aalis, gloves hands hooked into her seat, hood still up around her head. When the minotaur roared and there was a cry of pain below, she stood up and darted forward, her hood flying back from her dreadlocks. Without contemplation of the integrity of the balcony, she grasped the railing, leaning down to look into the Arena¡­


    ¡­and Caste¡¯s skin began to prickle.


    Suddenly he knew that he had to stop her, no matter the cost, even risking the balcony¡¯s collapse which would drop them both into the monster riddled battleground. He darted towards her, reaching out to grasp her arm when there was a sudden pulse of energy, like a wave of air and heat after an explosion or collapse. Caste reeled for a moment, shaking his head, trying to work out what had just happened.


    The world was unusually silent. It wasn¡¯t that there was no noise but it was dull, like he had a head cold. Caste opened his mouth to speak¡­when he realised he could see dust particles falling from the ceiling. But not in a cascade. Rather, they drifted, every individual speck able to be counted and catalogued. Caste reached out to touch them, feeling as though his hand was passing through a thick barrier of water and gasped in blinding pain, drawing back, his fingers hurting like he had just thrust them into a forge. They were unharmed but Caste tucked his hand into his armpit, pressing down on them, the sensation lessening with every second yet leaving a very strong, cruel impression.


    He looked over his shoulder and saw Sir Donimede standing with his hand on his sword, his eyes locked onto the Arena¡­but he wasn¡¯t moving. Not that he was frozen in fright or concentration but nothing about him moved¡­not even his chest to breathe or his eyes to flicker. Lady Jocasa and Willower behind him were the same, statues that still possessed life but that which had been frozen.


    Caste heard a murmuring behind him and turned back to Aalis. Her lips were moving as she spoke softly, leaning forward on the balcony. Caste edged towards her, horror filling his soul as he beheld her eyes, which were directed into the Arena, that were dark purple with ripples of blue like strikes of lightning across her irises. Her cheeks were lined with pale blue and purple veins and her soft, silvery grey dreadlocks shifted as though she was in water, her unusual hair almost floating around her head.


    Caste risked a glanced into the Arena. It only occurred to him in that moment that the battle had stopped. It was as though an artist had suddenly screamed ¡®halt¡¯ and painted the scene before him. There was no movement in the Arena despite Verne seized mid-step, sword raised, running towards the smaller of the two minotaur. Giordi was behind him, clutching his sword with both hands but with both feet planted, as though he had yet to pick a target.


    Caste¡¯s eyes followed Verne¡¯s intended motion and saw Judd pinned to the wall by the smaller minotaur¡¯s hand, his legs dangling from the uneven ground of the Arena. Judd was grasping its wrist, unable to remove himself from the minotaur¡¯s vice-like grip, his helmet lost somewhere in the pile of monster bodies. His eyes were wide, locked onto the fist that was aimed for him which would undoubtedly crush his skull into the stone of the wall.


    And yet no one was moving. Except himself and Aalis.


    She continued to murmur then paused as if listening to something. Caste saw one of her hands was curled into a fist¡­but one that was loose as though she was holding onto something that he couldn¡¯t see. She wasn¡¯t looking at the minotaur about to kill Judd so he peered over the edge and saw the larger minotaur, shaggy and black, staring at her. Suvau was about to attack, launching itself at it, caught in midair, hands clutched together to come down on the minotaur and break its arm yet even he was not moving.


    The shaggy black minotaur gazed at Aalis then, to the detriment of Caste¡¯s spine as it quivered like a harp¡¯s strings, it blinked and tilted its head. And in that blink, its black animalistic monster eyes retreated and dark brown eyes with human intelligence, came into being.


    ¡°Please¡­¡± Aalis finished softly.


    The minotaur seemed to consider her request then nodded its large, shaggy, horned head just once.


    Aalis let out a small gasp and the world suddenly began turning again.

 Oh, I see, we’re going to make this look good

    Judd couldn¡¯t free himself no matter how hard he fought the minotaur¡¯s grasp. His vision was blurry but before it had become so, he had seen Verne running towards him with a sword. He knew in his heart it would be too late. Nothing would stop the fist of the minotaur from turning his skull to pulp.


    Then the Arena filled with a roar and the minotaur that held Judd paused, a domination challenge instinct hard to ignore. The minotaur grunted and turned its head, its nostrils flaring and its thick, blunt teeth bared. The larger, shaggy minotaur, who had caught Suvau¡¯s incoming blow and thrown him aside, took up a fighting stance, its muscles bulging as it growled.


    Judd¡¯s minotaur answered the challenge, turning to face the larger minotaur, Judd still in its grasp. The world was going dark as he kicked and squirmed. He couldn¡¯t see what was happening as everything went black¡­then he was dropped from the minotaur¡¯s grip, landing hard yet with enough sense to scramble out of the way of two large monsters battling it out with fists, horns and hooves. Hands grabbed Judd and pulled him upright.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Judd wheezed.


    ¡°That big black minotaur suddenly turned on the other.¡± They ran to the safety of a pillar, which was a relative term when in an enclosed space with two bulls fighting for dominance. ¡°It charged it, slamming it into the wall and dropped you.¡± They peered around the pillar at the minotaur that roared and battered each other, teeth sinking into flesh and hooves kicking powerfully. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t, we would¡¯ve had to scrape you off the wall. Look out!¡±


    The minotaur¡¯s battle tumbled towards them, striking the pillar, causing cracks to run up the stone and more wood in the balcony splintered and creaked. Judd, Verne and Giordi threw themselves out of the path of the furious monsters who were so overcome by their own war, they¡¯d forgotten about the humans. However, that wouldn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t be killed in the process!


    Judd used the brief reprieve to reclaim his sword which he¡¯d dropped when trying to free himself. His helmet would have to be dug out of the mound of monster bodies when the battle was over. When he turned back to the minotaur, the smaller one had regained the upper hand and was charging the larger, its horn piercing its thigh. Shaggy black staggered, bringing down its fist, snapping the horn off, leaving it in his thigh while the smaller minotaur howled, its horn broken almost at its skull.


    ¡°That¡¯s gotta hurt!¡± Giordi cried.


    Shaggy black didn¡¯t waste any time, throwing itself onto the smaller minotaur, putting its arms around its neck and wrenching tight. The smaller minotaur managed to sink its teeth into the larger monster¡¯s forearm but shaggy wouldn¡¯t budge. They rolled and rumbled, crashed into the walls, the gate and the pillars before, finally, the smaller minotaur¡¯s lungs were exhausted, every drop of air in them expelled. Shaggy black held onto it until the quivering stopped, the twitching ceased and the teeth released from their grasp as its head slumped to the side.


    Judd watched as the shaggy black minotaur drew itself upright, horn still through its thigh, bleeding from multiple places. It roared at the body of the dead monster at its hooves, shaking violently.


    ¡°Uh¡­thank you?¡± Judd said right before the minotaur turned and launched itself at him, grabbing his armour and hauling him to the gate, slamming his backplate against it with a loud clang. The ogres on the other side howled in delight then cowered at the minotaur¡¯s bellow, too stupid to realise it couldn¡¯t reach them through the gate.


    Judd wrestled and writhed when he heard something remarkable. He stopped squirming for a moment and looked into the eyes of the minotaur. ¡°Did you just speak?¡±


    The minotaur was breathing rapidly and its beastly snout flexed and curled, attempting to form human words with an animal mouth. ¡°Kill¡­me¡­¡±


    It occurred to Judd that, despite the minotaur throwing him about, he was not actually in pain or injured from it. His armour had protected him and the minotaur¡¯s fist was curled around his breastplate, not his body. Judd¡¯s feet were on the ground and the minotaur loomed over him.


    ¡°Kill you?¡± Judd whispered. The minotaur nodded. ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± it ground out between its gritted blunt teeth, ¡°before¡­I lose¡­myself again¡­¡± Its other hand grasped at the shaggy mane about its neck, clutching at something. ¡°Please¡­¡± He urged.


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    Judd steeled himself and nodded. The shaggy minotaur gave a sigh of relief then stumbled backwards, howling and clutching at itself as if Judd had struck a mighty blow.


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Judd licked his lips, ¡°we¡¯re going to make this look good.¡±


    He advanced on the minotaur and began to attack it. It knocked back some of his blows and even dealt some of his own but Judd could feel that the minotaur was pulling his punches, withholding the full extent of his strength. It didn¡¯t make the beast a pushover and Judd had to fight furiously before the minotaur fell backwards, striking the gate. His head lowered and he looked at Judd and nodded once.


    Judd swallowed, grasped his sword and ran forward, the blade sinking into the minotaur¡¯s chest¡­


    ¡­but he couldn¡¯t push it in the whole way.


    He closed his eyes, knowing he was failing the man within the monster.


    The minotaur cupped his face, his long fingers sinking into Judd¡¯s curls. For those watching, it looked like a skull crushing grasp. For Judd, he felt comfort in it as if to say, it¡¯s alright¡­I¡¯ve got this. The minotaur gave a small, kindly huff then grabbed the blade and thrust it all the way through, piercing his heart and ending his life.


    Judd stepped back, tears streaking down his face, mingling with sweat, blood and dust. The minotaur¡¯s hand went to clutch at his chest again but his fingers slipped away as his head lolled to the side, a deep, shuddering final breath escaping its lungs¡­before his life was finally over.


    The ogres beyond the gate stared as though they couldn¡¯t believe what they were seeing. Judd lifted his eyes and yelled at them. The ogres turned and fled, their flat footed feet carrying them deep into Maul.


    Judd heaved hard, his armour so tight he could barely breathe. He stepped close and forced his aching arm to reach up, brushing his fingers over the minotaur¡¯s eyes, closing them. His hand drifted down to his chest and he eased the shaggy black hair aside to discover a familiar leather wrapped pendant. He snapped the leather thong from around his neck, drawing his sword out of the minotaur¡¯s chest then moved backwards, tucking the pendant into his glove.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± He closed his eyes and turned.


    ¡°Judd, look out!¡±


    His sword was already out in front of him as Suvau began to advance, eyes blazing and fists ready to finish what he started.


    ¡°Hold, Maul!¡± Judd blinked and looked up at the balcony where Sir Donimede stood with a dozen archers with arrows pointed at Suvau and two dozen more soldiers behind them, swords out and ready to defend the fort. ¡°One more step and I will give the order to cut you down.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s mouth turned down and his body was shaking but he stepped back.


    ¡°On your knees.¡± Judd ordered.


    Suvau sank to his knees, his dark gaze on Judd.


    ¡°Well, LaMogre¡­finish him off.¡± Donimede commanded. ¡°He is your Maul.¡±


    Judd licked his lips. ¡°Not anymore.¡± Giordi murmured his name but Verne hushed him. ¡°Keep him, Sir Donimede. Just promise me that when your Arena is repaired, that he is the first Maul sent in.¡±


    ¡°Done!¡±


    Judd sheathed his sword. ¡°Caste Undern!¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± Caste¡¯s shaky voice called back to him. The little cleric hadn¡¯t run. Judd was surprised.


    ¡°Come and collect proof of my minotaur kill for with it,¡± he took a deep breath, ¡°I have fulfilled my knighthood quest.¡±


    And with those words, the Arena rocked with the sound of soldiers cheering. Judd nodded at them then made his way across the uneven ground, past Verne and Giordi, past the monster bodies and blood slicked stone to the door he had entered by. As he did so, Caste appeared, almost as afraid of Judd as he would have been of the monsters. Judd put his bloodied green glove out to stop him and drew the pendant out of its clutches. He held it out and Caste, to his credit, didn¡¯t baulk. He opened his cappa clausa where there was a pocket and allowed Judd to drop it in.


    ¡°When you have proof of the kill, bring it to me.¡± He said hollowly. ¡°We¡­have things to discuss¡­¡± Caste nodded. Without another word, or giving himself a moment to pause, Judd left the room and climbed the stairs, hearing his name shouted endlessly, applause filling the gaps in between.


    Judd felt several slaps on his shoulders as he walked blindly to his chambers. Once he turned into the corridor where his room was, where no one else would be, he began to shed his armour piece by piece. They landed on the ground, first his gloves, the couters, rerebraces and vambraces, the gorget, the pauldrons, the breastplate and backplate, each one clattering onto stone and rug. He yanked at the belt holding the chainmail and tasset in place and they dropped, followed by cuisses and greaves. By the time Judd reached his door, he was only dressed in the soft clothing he always wore beneath his armour apart from his feet. He put his hand against the frame and yanked his sabatons off, throwing them aside. Then he pushed the door open, walked in and closed it behind him.


    The dungeon door opened and all the Maul prisoners looked up as Suvau¡¯s large form filled the lit doorway. Without being told to do so or even pushed to obey, Suvau¡¯s heavy step thudded with finality and he sank onto the crate near his manacles. When his hands were locked into place, a pinching grip grabbed his chin and forced him to meet Urik¡¯s greedy gaze.


    ¡°I told you I would break you and now, you¡¯re mine forever.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s head slumped down when Urik let go and left the dungeon. The door clanged shut and the sound echoed until there was nothing left but silence.


    ¡°Ermaus?¡±


    Suvau shook his head.


    ¡°He¡­when Urik came he was going to take myself or Palo¡­but Ermaus spat in his face. Urik took him instead.¡± Gustin whispered. ¡°It was like¡­he knew¡­¡±


    Suvau lifted his head and looked at the place where Ermaus had been chained for many years of his life. Big, fat tears rolled down his face as his throat closed over. Suvau let them fall, sinking his head into his hands.

 Something terrible happened in that Arena…long before we ever set foot into it

    Aalis, Verne and Giordi sat in the servant¡¯s chambers quietly. Now and again Giordi would prod the logs in the fire, sometimes when it needed it and other times because he needed something to do. Aalis sat on the rug in front of the fire, wiping the monster blood off the armour they had collected in the corridor while Verne laid the cleaned pieces out on one of the beds, making sure that they had the complete suit. Verne had been able to retrieve the helmet before leaving the Arena and set it at the top of the empty armour construct.


    He stepped back from it and cast an eye over the remaining pieces that needed to be cleaned. ¡°That¡¯s all of it.¡± He announced softly.


    Aalis nodded. Giordi glanced at the concealed door. ¡°Do you think one of us should check on Judd?¡±


    ¡°Be my guest.¡± Verne replied softly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Giordi sighed, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know what to say.¡± He frowned. ¡°You don¡¯t¡­Judd wasn¡¯t serious about Donimede keeping Suvau? That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s not right.¡±


    ¡°After Suvau tried to kill him?¡± Verne looked at the minstrel.


    ¡°Someone must have done something to him to make him react like that,¡± Giordi stood up, ¡°you know Suvau! He wouldn¡¯t hurt Judd¡­not¡­¡±


    ¡°Without good reason?¡± Aalis looked up. ¡°Something terrible happened in that Arena¡­long before we ever set foot in it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Verne folded his arms, ¡°and I¡¯m not sure I want to know what.¡±


    They continued to work quietly when there was a light tap on the concealed door before it opened, Judd moving into the room. Monster and human blood were congealed in his hair and there were several bruises starting to form. All three of them set down what they were doing and tried to meet his eyes but he kept them downcast.


    ¡°I just received word that Lady Jocasa intends to hold the grand feast tonight in honour of my victory in the Arena in conclusion of my knighthood.¡± He said in a flat tone.


    Verne peeked a glance at the other two but said nothing.


    Aalis kept her mouth firmly shut.


    Giordi gave a small huff. ¡°Is that¡­appropriate?¡±


    ¡°Appropriate or not, it is happening¡­or else I would be packing my belongings and leaving within the hour.¡± Judd said, his jaw pulled tight. There was deep anger bubbling beneath the surface. ¡°So I will go¡­and I will accept their praise of my actions and tomorrow, we leave for Astaril.¡± He paused and swallowed. ¡°Giordi¡­I think I will need you there tonight.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll need¡­a guiding hand¡­to keep me from saying or doing anything rash.¡±


    Giordi nodded. ¡°Of course, Judd.¡±


    ¡°Aalis, could you ensure our belongings are ready to go with Verne¡¯s help?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want me to come?¡± Verne asked.


    Judd floundered for a moment and the trauma of the Arena started to seep through the cracks of his fragile mask of ambivalence.


    ¡°I doubt you¡¯ve got anything decent to wear,¡± Giordi slapped him on the shoulder, ¡°but I will be by your side, Judd. I promise.¡±


    Judd nodded and turned to go.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis stood up, the cloth stained with blood clutched in her hands, ¡°what about Suvau?¡±


    ¡°What about him?¡± He said with his back to them.


    ¡°He¡­he didn¡¯t mean¡­what happened in there¡­¡±


    ¡°He made his decision,¡± Judd retorted, ¡°and Donimede gave me very little choice. For what Suvau did, I should have killed him in the Arena. Leaving him in Donimede¡¯s despicable hands¡­well, at least he will live.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis reached out tentatively, ¡°you know why¡­you saw it¡­I know you did.¡±


    Verne and Giordi looked at each other, confused. ¡°Saw what?¡±


    Judd swallowed. ¡°Donimede draws monsters to the Arena with the scent of blood¡­human blood¡­Maul blood.¡±


    Verne¡¯s face paled and Giordi¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°No¡­no¡­¡±


    ¡°One of Suvau¡¯s people was slaughtered to draw the minotaur to the Arena,¡± Judd tilted his head back, his voice mocking yet scathing at the same time, ¡°all for the sake of my knighthood¡­¡± Verne whispered a foul word while Giordi pushed his hand through his cherub blond curls. ¡°It¡¯s my fault that man was killed,¡± he continued brokenly, ¡°my ambition¡­ended a human life¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I will not hear that!¡± Aalis cried. ¡°Judd, it was Donimede and the deplorable mentality that those with dark skin are lesser humans than the rest of us, that killed that man.¡± She argued as Judd¡¯s head lowered, his shoulders bowed. ¡°If it was not you, it would have been another warrior, one ignorant of what the true cost of the Arena was! This was not your fault!¡±


    Judd spun around to face her. ¡°I might as well have killed him with my own hands!¡±


    Giordi and Verne jumped as Aalis¡¯ hand struck Judd¡¯s cheek, each of them as stunned as the other at the blow. Judd put his hand up to his face, staring at her in shock.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Aalis blurted, going to touch his face and he recoiled from her, her hand falling by her side, ¡°Judd¡­more Mauls will die in this terrible place if you do not take the sacrifice this man made¡­¡±


    ¡°Murder, you mean.¡± Judd trembled.


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    ¡°If you do not take his murder,¡± Aalis conceded, ¡°and become a knight so that you can expose this terrible practice and start petitioning King Rocheveron for Mauls to be recognised as humans, just like the rest of us,¡± she lifted her hand tremulously and he let her put her fingers over his, ¡°then all of this, not just his death but your knighthood, will be in vain¡­please¡­this world needs knights like you.¡±


    ¡°Oh Aalis,¡± Judd closed his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m not sure I am the kind of knight you want me to be.¡±


    ¡°A knight who grieves for lives lost, no matter the colour of their skin?¡± Aalis said warmly. ¡°Oh yes, Judd LaMogre¡­you are already that kind of knight.¡±


    Judd breathed out and nodded. ¡°I¡­I¡¯ll try to live up to your expectation.¡± He glanced at his blood crusted fingernails and smeared body. ¡°I should bathe¡­then I¡¯ll dress for this blasted feast.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Giordi offered. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the adoring militants away so you can bathe in peace.¡±


    ¡°I will lay out your clothes in here,¡± Aalis offered, gesturing to the bed, ¡°and take care of all the packing.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    It was a universally acknowledged belief that nothing smoothed over a close encounter with death like a grand feast¡­at least, in the minds of noblemen and women. The same souls that had run screaming from the Arena, sure they were about to become the finest and tastiest humans the monsters had ever devoured and had languished in self pity and hysteria in the hours following were remarkably well recovered by the time the feast began. After all, what was the point of transporting meticulously chosen outfits from fort to fort if they couldn¡¯t be seen during a time when they were most fashionable? And what better way to salvage one¡¯s reputation of robust bravery than by having the opportunity to find reason for their behaviour amongst others with equally ludicrous excuses?


    And so it was that the men and women who had faced death from the perch of a high balcony and lived to tell about it, gathered in the grand hall of Fort Mavour. Lady Jocasa had mustered no little effort in decorating the hall with endless festoons of fragrant wreaths with red berries, sheets of silk draped elegantly from wall to chandelier and the tapestries, that had hung in the hall for many, many years had been taken down and beaten to remove the dust of the ages then returned to their place to enforce both elegance and longevity.


    There were tables around the outside of the room, allowing for men and women to sit on either side but leaving plenty of space for dancing in the middle should the mood arise and the orchestra was ready to play. The tables were decked with branches decorated with more red berries, twisted into wreaths that wound their way around large, thick candles, three per wreath, their flames flickering brightly. Alternating as table decoration with the wreaths were candelabra with slimmer yet more numerous candles so that the entire hall was aglow with candlelight.


    Servants, the best looking from the many that Fort Mavour had to offer, circulated amongst the guests, some with trays of goblets already filled with wine and others bearing jugs so that the thirstiest of guests need never run dry for long. The smell of roasting meat was cleverly wafting through the hall, a new wave of stomach gnawing, saliva beckoning aroma bursting out every time a servant opened the door from the hall down to the kitchen where a dozen servants and two cooks no less were working frantically to provide Lady Jocasa with a feast that would satisfy even the fussiest of palettes.


    All noblemen and women and their children were invited and already in attendance, not wanting to miss a single moment of it. A great many higher ranking guards and soldiers were also there, including Captain Chael and sword master Roust. Now that the gate was properly down, there was no need for a military presence in the Arena. The removal and burning of the bodies could wait although Caste had heard two servants gossiping that there had been several attempts to count the amount of monsters Judd had killed and the number had only grown with every retelling.


    The soldiers were looking forward to sampling the opulence Fort Mavour and its protectors, the Donimedes, had to offer. They were dressed appropriately, still in Mavour tunics but the finest and cleanest uniforms they had, their boots polished and their faces, meticulously scrubbed and shaved.


    Into this world did Clerics Caste and Rodel enter. Caste was still pale, his freckles able to be counted with accuracy across his nose and his red hair only highlighting the lack of colour in his skin. Rodel¡¯s handsome face was lightly powdered much to Caste¡¯s chagrin, his ash hair freshly washed and despite he and Caste wearing almost exactly the same thing, Rodel was prone to fiddling with it, smoothing out the non-existent wrinkles.


    ¡°You look fine.¡± Caste said when he thought he couldn¡¯t stand another one of Rodel¡¯s fidgets.


    ¡°There is fine for a cleric on the road and fine for a cleric at a feast.¡± Rodel retorted.


    ¡°Oddly enough, they ought to be the same.¡± Caste grumbled, still on edge despite the three hours that had passed since the chaos in the Arena.


    ¡°And how many grand occasions like this have you attended?¡± Caste opened his mouth but didn¡¯t like the honest answer he would have to admit. Rodel interpreted his silence accurately. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡±


    Rodel swept two goblets off a servant¡¯s tray and handed one to Caste who took it with a dry expression.


    ¡°You¡¯re just hoping a certain daughter of a certain nobleman will certainly notice you tonight.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°Oh, like you aren¡¯t without vice in that area?¡± Rodel walked ahead, leaving Caste staring at him, dumbfounded. Rodel realised he wasn¡¯t there and turned to look at him.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Caste asked, wondering if he talked in his sleep.


    ¡°I saw you try to rescue the nomad from the Arena,¡± Rodel folded his arms across his cappa clausa, his four star pendant, the symbol of Astaril and the mark of the Order of the Grail shining dully against the deep red of his hooded cloak, ¡°don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not smitten.¡± He leaned forward, his blue/grey eyes giving Caste a critically scathing look. ¡°And you had the nerve to tell me I¡¯ve no business falling for a nobleman¡¯s daughter.¡± Caste opened his mouth to argue and protest¡­then realised what it was he had been about to confess in the process and snapped his teeth together, closing his lips over the top. Rodel huffed and stood up straight. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡±


    Caste drank some of his wine, wondering at the ridiculous irony that the world had at times.


    In order to stop Aalis from doing anything ¡®witch-like¡¯ and exposing herself in the Arena, Caste¡¯s actions now looked like he was enamoured and had tried to save her.


    He couldn¡¯t blame Rodel. From what he had seen, there was little other way to interpret it and to Caste¡¯s relief, he had not realised the truth. A dalliance with a nomad would be eyebrow raising but wouldn¡¯t stop Caste from becoming a deacon and then, after a decade of training and dedication, archdeacon and, before he was thirty, Bishop Undern, the youngest ever to hold such a post. However, being aligned with a witch would dash all of Caste¡¯s hopes for the future with even greater devastation than if he had been killed in the Arena. For at least he wouldn¡¯t be alive to regret it for the rest of his long life.


    He followed Rodel to where Sir Donimede, dressed all in black as usual but splendidly so, stood with his wife who was a vision in a dark red robe and the eldest daughter in a gown of opalescent cream fabric which would have cost more than most commoners would make in a lifetime. She was radiant, her blood red hair curled and clustered on her head, a single, thick curling strand draped over her shoulder.


    To Rodel¡¯s credit, he didn¡¯t stammer and blunder as he greeted her along with Sir Donimede and Lady Jocasa yet Caste wondered if everyone was entirely ignorant of Rodel¡¯s affection for Willower. Perhaps it was only because Caste knew of Rodel¡¯s infatuation that it seemed so obvious to him. But if the poor cleric was looking for any kind of hint or encouragement from Willower, he would be sadly disappointed. Willower only had eyes for the double doors leading into the grand hall and every time someone walked past the windows that looked into the hall, their silhouettes making their identities impossible to determine, Willower would hold her breath and gaze at the door.


    Judd LaMogre was yet to appear but when he did, Caste wondered if Rodel would be able to retain his mask of ambivalence.

 It is unfair to judge his conduct towards you when your fa?ade is essentially a lie

    Judd went to shift and got a clip over his head by Giordi. ¡°Hey!¡±


    ¡°Stop moving and let me fix this shirt.¡± Giordi tied the laces at Judd¡¯s wrists then loosened the ones at his throat. ¡°There, that seems to be the right blend.¡± Judd arched his neck and went to tug on his collar. ¡°No touching!¡±


    ¡°Feels too loose.¡± Judd complained.


    ¡°Showing off a little neck, when it¡¯s a handsome neck like yours, isn¡¯t a bad thing.¡± Giordi circled Judd, eyeing off his complete outfit.


    ¡°I have a handsome neck?¡±


    ¡°Not too scrawny and not too thick.¡± Giordi murmured.


    ¡°Oh¡­thank you.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°I wish this evening was over.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t even gone yet.¡±


    ¡°Dancing and eating and drinking after death, murder and more death¡­¡±


    ¡°The only reason they can host something like a feast after a nearly disastrous brawl in the Arena is because they don¡¯t discuss things like that.¡± Giordi stood in front of him. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have any need to start up conversation. Almost everyone will be asking you questions so all you need do is answer and stick to safe subjects.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re a woman, compliment her outfit as I¡¯m sure it¡¯s the real reason she accepted the invitation.¡±


    ¡°And I suppose I talk about the weather with men?¡±


    Giordi snorted. ¡°No. Talk about the graciousness of your host¡­especially if he¡¯s within hearing.¡±


    Judd¡¯s fingers curled up and his jaw tightened. ¡°Graciousness of my host¡­I¡¯d like to show him just how gracious¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Giordi clapped his hands in front of Judd¡¯s face. ¡°Focus, please! If you want to get out of Fort Mavour without offending one of the most popular knights of Terra¡­¡±


    ¡°The most despicable, you mean.¡±


    ¡°That too,¡± Giordi folded his arms, ¡°you¡¯re going to have to be polite and survive this evening. Even though you¡¯ve killed the final monster on your knighthood quest list, you are not yet a knight until you have been ordained so by Sir Rylan or King Rocheveron which means, unless either one of them turn up tonight, Sir Donimede outranks you by a distance as great as the wall is long.¡±


    Judd sighed, his shoulders dropping. ¡°¡­I know.¡±


    ¡°Look on the bright side¡­Willower will be there and if you ever need to escape, ask her to dance,¡± Giordi saw Judd¡¯s expression, ¡°unless you want to escape her too.¡±


    ¡°All of it,¡± Judd tousled his hair with his hands and eyed the looking glass, ¡°I just want to escape every aspect of it right now.¡± He stepped back then turned to Giordi. ¡°Well¡­do I at least look the part?¡±


    ¡°Just one moment,¡± Giordi went to the concealed door and rapped on it, ¡°Aalis, we need your keen eye.¡±


    ¡°Because she¡¯s a woman?¡± Judd asked tersely as Aalis called that she was coming.


    ¡°No, because Aalis has proven she has considerable taste.¡± Giordi winked then ushered Aalis forward. ¡°Judd is ready for the feast.¡±


    Aalis smiled, her eyes brightening.


    ¡°Honest opinion Aalis.¡± Judd warned.


    ¡°Honestly? My opinion is that you look rather handsome.¡±


    Judd felt like retorting that he wasn¡¯t as handsome as an archer but bit that bitter sentiment back in his mouth before it had the released potential to turn the day, which was supposed to be a triumphant and joyful, from bad to worse. He cleared his throat and turned around.


    ¡°You did a wonderful job on the clothing. Thank you.¡± He patted the tooled leather vest. ¡°I like this in particular and the white shirt is elegant but not too flowery or pretty.¡±


    ¡°I hoped that would be the case.¡± Aalis nodded.


    Judd sighed. ¡°Well¡­I suppose I can only delay the inevitable for so long¡­come on Giordi.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m right behind you, Judd LaMogre,¡± Giordi followed him to the door, ¡°have fun packing, Verne!¡±


    Aalis watched them go then closed the door. She turned and went through the door into the master bedroom, making sure to shut that door as well. She glanced at the bulge behind the curtain and put her hands on her hips.


    "You can come out now. They are gone."


    Verne dragged the curtain aside and folded her arms, glaring at Aalis. ¡°I cannot believe you talked me into this.¡± She muttered.


    ¡°Neither can I.¡± Aalis eyed Verne¡¯s outfit. Gone were the slim fitting trousers and leggings, the tunics that helped hide Verne¡¯s more subtle womanly curves and the knee high boots she preferred to wear. Verne was wearing the gown Aalis had purchased from the seamstresses, Laurea and Lenona. They had delivered it to the fort, pressed and prepped for wear and Aalis had hung it up to avoid it creasing.


    Verne was inclined to wear duller colours, muted and subtle but in the gown of blue, her eyes went from lovely to luminous. As she moved, the white silk of the underskirt shifted and rustled softly, the hem moving in gentle, rolling waves. The white sleeves might have looked a little plain and too similar to Verne¡¯s usual shirt preference but the sweeping blue split over sleeves not only dressed it up, it helped disguise one of the aspects of her body she was most self conscious about. Her toned, muscular arms were hidden by the drapes and flowing fabric. Another part of Verne¡¯s anatomy that she lamented was her lack of bust or shape of any kind when it came to her torso.


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    Aalis approached her and slapped her hands away when she tried to grasp it. ¡°Let the boning mould to your shape.¡±


    ¡°What shape?¡± Verne grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m a plank of wood! A masculine plank of wood! I mean, look at me!¡± She stepped back and her eyes dared Aalis to lie to her. ¡°What do I look like? Honestly!¡±


    ¡°You look like Verne in a dress,¡± Aalis admitted and Verne dropped her hands, defeated, ¡°however, the dress is only part of it.¡± She held up the curling tongs.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Verne shook her head, ¡°my stepmother tried that and I looked ridiculous!¡±


    ¡°Your stepmother might have been trying a little too hard,¡± Aalis patted the chair, ¡°let me try this, Verne and if you hate it, you do not have to go to the feast.¡±


    Verne sighed and sank onto the chair. ¡°Why am I doing this?¡±


    ¡°We both know why.¡±


    Verne¡¯s mouth turned down and she pulled a face. ¡°You stay here, Verne¡­you¡¯ve got nothing decent to wear anyway.¡±


    ¡°I was going to say it is because there are so many guests at fort Mavour that no one will notice another and you will be able to make an appearance without being unduly noticed¡­but defying Giordi¡¯s mockery of you will work as well. Now hold still.¡±


    Verne made herself rigid as Aalis applied the curling tongs to her uneven hair. ¡°He just¡­how can you care so much about someone and get so riled up at them at the same time?¡±


    Aalis locked a curling tong into place then picked up another and worked on the other side, shifting left and right to have the hair curled in half the time.


    ¡°I take it what you experienced in the nomad camp has not diminished?¡± She asked gently.


    ¡°Nope.¡± Verne swallowed and went to look down but reminded herself to remain still. ¡°Part of me, a very small part that still believes in fantasy and true love and all that girly dung, hopes I will walk into that hall and dazzle everyone¡­but the larger and much louder part of me is going, they are going to recognise you and expose you and mock you¡­¡±


    ¡°While I am not sure that they will not recognise you, not until I am finished, they will not expose or mock you, not those who care about you.¡±


    ¡°Judd might not but you heard Giordi. He likes to poke fun.¡±


    ¡°That is because he is a male friend being light-hearted with another male friend.¡± Aalis corrected, moving back and forth. ¡°It is unfair to judge his conduct towards you when your fa?ade is essentially a lie.¡±


    Verne tapped her teeth together. ¡°If I wasn¡¯t hooked up to these scalding tongs, I¡¯d storm out right about now.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry, Verne. I did not mean to upset you¡­only encourage you.¡±


    A single black ringlet dangled before Verne¡¯s eyes, an alarming reminder of her childhood and how she seemed to fail every test of womanhood. ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what I was going to say.¡±


    ¡°Did it have anything to do with giving up and bailing out?¡±


    Verne rolled her eyes. ¡°You think you¡¯re very clever, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Giordi walked Judd to the grand hall where the candlelight was dancing across the stained glass windows that looked into the large room. There were carved stone seats set in front of the windows but lower down. Giordi was about to walk into the room when he realised he was alone. He turned and saw Judd sitting on one of the seats.


    ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°Give me a moment.¡±


    Giordi studied the young man who seemed to bearing the entire responsibility of the death of a Maul on his shoulders. Unfortunately neither sense nor reason would talk him out of it. Only time and rear reflection would allow Judd to see the event in a clearer light. At the moment, all he could see was his own culpability and it was trying to crush him.


    Before Giordi reached the point of urging him up and in, Judd slapped his knees and stood up.


    ¡°Right¡­I think I¡¯m ready.¡± Judd lifted his chin and strode towards the open doors. The herald who had announced the bout in the Arena was at the door and he called for quiet before introducing Judd LaMogre, champion of the Arena, slayer of minotaur, goblins and orthros and their guest of honour. Giordi held back a little to allow Judd to shine and slipped into the hall as Judd moved further in, applause and cheers greeting him.


    A surge of eager guests tried to shake Judd¡¯s hand at once and he did his best to greet all of them, thanking them for their kind words. Captain Chael, Arsch and Kipre saluted him with their right hands striking their chest as he walked by while Roust applauded loudly and grunted which Giordi guessed, by the following grunts of the other guards, was a high compliment by the brawny, tattooed sword master.


    Before Judd could be completely swarmed by the other guests, Sir Donimede stepped forward.


    ¡°There he is! The man of the hour who fulfilled his knighthood quest in my Arena¡­step forth Judd LaMogre and be recognised!¡± Giordi noticed that Donimede¡¯s arm went over Judd¡¯s shoulder and he waved to the guests while Judd stood with a quiet confidence and nodded to the crowd several times. ¡°A remarkable spectacle, LaMogre, slayer of monsters.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir Donimede.¡± Judd bowed, shifting out from beneath Donimede¡¯s possessive arm. ¡°I am grateful to you for all you have done.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Donimede nodded, ¡°I am pleased that my Arena served you so well.¡±


    Giordi wondered if Donimede was going to choke on his words.


    ¡°I am incredibly honoured and humbled by this grand feast,¡± Judd turned towards Lady Jocasa who smiled warmly at him, ¡°Lady Jocasa,¡± he bowed to her, ¡°thank you for having faith in me.¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­or should that be Sir Judd LaMogre?¡± Lady Jocasa said in a provocative tone.


    ¡°Alas, despite LaMogre fulfilling all the requirements of his knighthood quest,¡± Sir Donimede joined his wife¡¯s side and Giordi noticed he puffed his chest out a little, ¡°he is not yet a knight.¡±


    ¡°You are a knight, my dear,¡± Lady Jocasa returned lightly, ¡°could you not do the honours? I am sure there can be no objections as it would befit this young man¡¯s remarkable triumph today and witnessed by these illustrious guests.¡±


    Donimede coughed as his daughter grasped his arm. ¡°Father?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ahem¡­I would not want to steal the honour from Sir Rylan, who was the knight who put this all in place.¡± Donimede hastened to excuse, and several guests were unable to contain their groans.


    ¡°Sir Donimede is entirely correct,¡± Judd said surprisingly, ¡°and the proof of my monster kills must be authenticated by an archdeacon or the Bishop himself before I can kneel before Sir Rylan and accept my knighthood. However,¡± he knelt before Lady Jocasa, ¡°tonight, you have made me feel like a knight, Lady Jocasa¡­a privilege I will never forget.¡±


    Giordi folded his arms as half the guests sighed in admiration and the other half applauded. ¡°I have nothing left to teach him.¡±


    Judd stood up. ¡°Sir Donimede, may I take a turn with your lovely daughter?¡±


    ¡°Certainly.¡±


    Giordi couldn¡¯t be sure if Donimede wanted Judd as a son-in-law despite despising him or if he was just eager to make him leave his side. Judd turned to Willower who looked as radiant as a bride, her smile unguarded and her eyes sparkling and bright. Judd held out his arm to her and she slipped hers through it, a ripple of murmured gossip beginning to pulse out from the couple. No doubt by the end of the evening, there would be wagers made as to the colour of the bridesmaid dresses of their wedding and the name of their first born child.


    Giordi drifted around the great hall, casually sampling the delicacies and taking a goblet filled with deep purple wine, sipping its contents, allowing himself to savour the flavour of a wine that Lady Jocasa had deliberately chosen for the evening. Giordi could tell it was excellent quality and wondered just how Donimede would feel when he discovered the cost. As he moved about he kept his eye on Judd, watching as he interacted with lords, ladies, adoring sons and flirtatious daughters, Giordi marvelled at how far he had come. He didn¡¯t have quite the same opulence in clothing or overly polished flair but if anything, it gave Judd a sincerity that was lacking in almost everyone else in the room, especially those of noble birth. He was genuine and polite, the earning of his knighthood going hand in hand with the cost of it, grounding him from any arrogance associated with others of the same calibre and even some not of the same calibre but who thought themselves greater.


    Willower was a beautiful escort, perhaps a little fulsome but her joy was so genuine that any clinginess was put down to her cup of joy running over.


    And it occurred to Giordi that he was not the centre of attention. Giordi had always been the incandescent arrival with golden cherub curls, handsome features, including dimples and winning ways. Yet tonight, Judd, with his perhaps average looks and slightly less polished manners, shone with warm brightness.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come a long way, Judd LaMogre.¡± Giordi mused, sipping his wine. ¡°A long, long way.¡±

 I’d love to hear just how long I’ve been ignorant for

    ¡°I have a bad feeling about this,¡± Verne muttered, ¡°a really, really bad feeling¡­¡±


    ¡°You need a name when you introduce yourself.¡± Aalis said, ignoring Verne¡¯s lament, working consistently. ¡°A good way to give yourself away is to fumble at your name.¡±


    Verne sighed. ¡°I¡¯m guessing Vernice is too close to Verne.¡±


    ¡°Far too close.¡± Aalis mused. ¡°What about¡­Lyla?¡±


    ¡°Liar?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis laughed despite herself, ¡°Lyla.¡±


    Verne shrugged. ¡°It¡¯ll do I guess. Lyla¡­Vagabondia.¡±


    Aalis giggled. ¡°Lyla¡­Borelia.¡±


    ¡°Whose she?¡±


    ¡°Borelia is an old name of nobility in Astaril. There are not too many of them around but the name still bears weight.¡±


    ¡°I do not want to present myself as nobility.¡±


    ¡°It would be one of those names that makes people immediately think of nobility subconsciously. If anyone asks about your family, simply elude to their unhappy demise and that you were raised by a kindly relative on the coast and have just begun to move in society now that you are of age.¡± Aalis reassured her, releasing the last heated tong and coming around in front of Verne. She brandished a soft bristled brush at Verne who cringed. ¡°Close your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Verne groaned but did as she was told. She could feel Aalis lightly brushing her face and imagined just how ridiculous she looked, red cheeked, pink lipped and excessively ¡®pretty¡¯. ¡°So I am Lyla Borelia¡­from where?¡±


    ¡°Say that you have come from Astaril via Quarre and mention Lady LeMewn.¡±


    ¡°Dropping names?¡±


    ¡°Dropping names with authenticity.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°After all, you have dined with Lady LeMewn.¡±


    ¡°When she thought I was male.¡±


    ¡°Makes no difference. And if anyone questions you about her or Quarre or her husband, you will have reasonable answers to give.¡±


    ¡°Without saying that I killed several wolves and watched Suvau stab her husband with a silver blade?¡±


    ¡°Weapons and violence would be in appropriate topics of discussion.¡± Aalis said lightly, her voice travelling around behind Verne. ¡°Now stand up and, without opening your eyes, move over to the mirror.¡±


    Verne reached out and Aalis grasped her hand. ¡°This is ridiculous¡­everyone is going to think I¡¯m a fool!¡±


    ¡°No one knows you!¡± Aalis exclaimed, moving a footstool behind Verne so that she could stand higher than her. ¡°The problem with that party where you were supposed to be presented as a girl was that everyone knew you and you were self conscious. When no one knows you, you have more freedom to really be yourself.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said weapons and violence were off the table?¡± Verne felt Aalis muck about with her hair. ¡°Are you done?¡±


    ¡°Almost¡­now, when I say open, look at your reflection.¡± Aalis fiddled a moment more. ¡°Open!¡±


    Verne opened her eyes, full prepared to despise her appearance. She blinked for a moment, seeing a blur of blue before her until her eyes properly focussed. For a moment she held her breath then her faint whiff of hope betrayed her as it deserted her, shoulders slumping even as Aalis held back Verne¡¯s hair.


    ¡°I told you,¡± Verne said flatly, trying to keep the grief out of her voice, ¡°I look like a man dressing like a girl.¡±


    ¡°Until I do¡­this¡­¡± Aalis released Verne¡¯s hair and it tumbled around her face.


    Verne watched as the black strands, shorter now that they had been curled, turned into a frame, softening the strong lines of her face with a glorious mane of ringlets. Unlike her stepmother, who had tied them up in a big bow, pulling them back from her jaw and cheekbones, Aalis allowed the curls to fall forward a little and suddenly everything, even the subtle dash of colour on Verne¡¯s cheeks and the dab of beeswax on her lips, made sense.


    Aalis held still, watching as Verne peered at the mirror, looking for her male persona in the reflection of the lady.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Verne flicked at the curls, ¡°what did you do?¡±


    ¡°I did not try to turn you into the girl you are not,¡± Aalis said, stepping down from the footstool, ¡°but into the woman you are.¡±


    ¡°But I¡­¡± Verne turned and saw that the boning she had fought with before was giving her slender body a waistline by tapering in and out. However, unlike the hated dress she had worn years before, this gown did not try to accentuate what was not there. ¡°I am still quite¡­flat¡­¡± She gestured to her bust.


    ¡°The best thing you can do is work with your best features and flatter everything else.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°You have remarkably blue eyes and that black hair of yours gives a wonderful contrast. You are tall and slender which causes the gown you wear to move with elegance.¡±


    ¡°Even in these boots?¡± Verne said, kicking her foot out, showing off a pair of her preferred black boots.


    ¡°The gown is long enough that only the toe would peek out before the hem caught up with it.¡±


    ¡°Someone is still bound to notice.¡± Verne argued.


    ¡°Smile and no one will notice your shoes.¡± Aalis laughed.


    Verne looked back at her reflection. She had to admit, she was quite surprised by the result¡­but she wasn¡¯t sure it was enough. ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°Go to the feast and, when people are milling about and talking, do a lap around the room and then leave.¡± Aalis squeezed her hand then clicked her fingers. ¡°Wait!¡± She went to where the black fur was hanging and eased it down.


    ¡°Oh no¡­I couldn¡¯t!¡± Verne protested as Aalis swung it around her shoulders.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Aalis smiled, ¡°the reveal of the gown will be worth it.¡±


    Judd had spent an hour circulating with Willower on his arm. She had introduced him to all the guests, performing her duties as daughter of his host with a practiced air and eager enthusiasm. He caught sight of Giordi now and then but the minstrel seemed to be holding back, keeping out of Judd¡¯s moment.


    When the herald announced that Donimede had something to say, rather than rush to stand by his side, Judd was content to stand with the rest of the guests.


    ¡°Lords and ladies, honoured guests,¡± Sir Donimede bowed, his skin quite stark compared to the unnatural black of his hair, ¡°before the feasting begins, there is something I would like to address.¡± At the seriousness of his voice, all attention was riveted upon him. ¡°You came to Fort Mavour to witness monster slaying in my Arena,¡± Judd breathed to remain calm, ¡°and while all measures are taken to make it a secure endeavour, when it comes to the depravities of Maul, there are some things we cannot predict.¡± Sir Donimede¡¯s eyes glanced over the top of their heads. ¡°However, this time, though it might seem like the danger was from the monsters, ultimately the responsibility rests on just one man.¡±


    Judd tensed, wondering if Donimede was about to denounce him in public.


    Sir Donimede came out from behind his table, his chin high and his pause, painful. ¡°Bring him in.¡±


    They turned to the doors which opened and a brutish man with a crooked nose and permanently squinting eye was marched into the feasting hall, escorted by two heavyset guards and a smaller man with pale hair plaited and tied into a topknot on his head.


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    Judd could feel Willower¡¯s confusion and suspected that Lady Jocasa was also unaware of Donimede¡¯s addition to the feast programme, judging by the way she was glowering at him.


    Sir Donimede sat on the edge of his table and waved them closer. ¡°This is the man, Urik?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir Donimede.¡± Urik bowed.


    Donimede shook his head and tutted. ¡°This is the man who opened the gate of the Arena without authorisation and of his own volition, which allowed swarms of goblins, orthros and two highly dangerous minotaur into the Arena. This man,¡± he pointed at him, ¡°endangered your lives, the lives of all those in Fort Mavour and in the city itself.¡±


    All the guests either glared daggers at the man or shook their heads. Judd¡¯s eyes were hard and his jaw was tight.


    ¡°For such an act of wanton negligence, punishment is to be expected.¡± Many heads nodded. Lady Jocasa might have hissed a protestation but Donimede continued as though she hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°As your host, naturally the responsibility would fall to me¡­but I turn to Judd LaMogre,¡± Judd met his gaze with grim determination, ¡°who is all, but a knight already, to demonstrate his wisdom in this matter.¡± At the word ¡®wisdom¡¯, Donimede¡¯s hand rested on the hilt of his dress sword, an ornate blade for formal occasions. Judd wondered if, for this occasion, Donimede had made sure it was sharpened to a deadly finish.


    Judd stared at Donimede. ¡°Let me make sure I understand you,¡± he said quietly, his voice carrying in the silence for even the servants had stopped to listen, ¡°you are granting me the authority to exact justice on this man?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°And my judgement will stand?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you feel is appropriate to the severity of the crime.¡± Donimede waved his hand.


    Judd eased Willower¡¯s hand from his arm and stepped into the vacant circle around the condemned man. His head was low and his eyes were on the ground. He wasn¡¯t trembling so he either wasn¡¯t afraid or there was little wit left in his mind to realise what he was facing.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°It is Jole.¡± Urik offered. ¡°He will not answer you, LaMogre¡­he is mute.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Judd swallowed and stood in front of him, ¡°Jole¡­look at me.¡± The man failed to lift his head so Judd hardened his tone. ¡°Look at me!¡± Jole raised his head a little, his dim eyes showing deep resentment. Judd stared at him. ¡°Why did you do it? Answer me!¡± Jole¡¯s eyes flickered ever so briefly to Donimede then back to Judd before dropping to the ground. Judd breathed out and stepped back.


    So¡­it was true.


    Judd turned around and looked at the guests, glancing at Sir Donimede and Lady Jocasa.


    ¡°This man made a mistake¡­a costly one that endangered lives and fractured the integrity of the Arena,¡± he said firmly, ¡°and in doing so, it taught us all a valuable lesson. That the monsters of Maul are not to be taken lightly! They are not entertainment. They are the enemy and it serves us well to remind us all¡­to remind me,¡± he put his hand on his chest, ¡°to never become familiar or overconfident.¡± The silence in the hall had become a void as everyone held their breath. ¡°I thank you for that lesson,¡± he said, turning to Jole who lifted his head, astonishment attempting to crack through his grim, stony face, ¡°one that I intend never to forget.¡±


    There was a long, very long, lapse in anything. No one spoke. No one gossiped¡­they were all stunned and silent.


    ¡°But,¡± Donimede blurted, standing up straight, casualness gone in his alarm, ¡°a punishment must be exacted! Anything less than execution¡­¡±


    ¡°He made a mistake,¡± Judd said firmly, ¡°one he will never make again¡­and I know, from the integrity and diligence of Captain Chael and sword master Roust, that not one soldier or guard will ever repeat it. It would be a waste to execute someone who will be the cautionary tale of what not to do.¡± Judd turned his back to Donimede who blustered and fumed almost without restraint and looked at Jole. ¡°Go, now, Jole¡­and think on the mistake you made, why you made it¡­and how you could better serve your master.¡±


    The silence was excruciating as Judd stepped back from Jole and folded his arms and waited.


    Then Willower began to clap, followed by Lady Jocasa and quickly the applause began to build until the hall was filled with praise for his actions. Urik¡¯s eyes flickered briefly to Donimede then he clicked his fingers to the guards and they all left, taking Jole with them. Willower crossed the space to where Judd stood and grasped his hand.


    ¡°That was marvellous! Truly wonderful!¡±


    Judd couldn¡¯t tell any more if Willower was sincere or not.


    ¡°My daughter is right, of course,¡± Lady Jocasa said, descending upon them, the crowd parting to allow her to approach, ¡°for you dealt with it delicately and tactfully, especially in regards to the¡­auspiciousness of the occasion.¡±


    ¡°I would not have wanted bloodshed to mar your elegant evening.¡± Judd insisted. ¡°Forgive me that this happened at all.¡±


    Lady Jocasa smiled at him. ¡°Do not fear, soon to be Sir LaMogre¡­I know where the true blame lies. Willower?¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother?¡±


    ¡°Please assist me in directing the feast.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Willower gave Judd¡¯s arm a brief squeeze before she followed her mother.


    Judd¡¯s mind was in a daze like he¡¯d suffered a delayed concussion from the brawl with the minotaur. He felt someone grasp his arm and draw him aside, Giordi¡¯s face dancing in double before him.


    ¡°Hey,¡± he hissed, ¡°you still with us?¡±


    ¡°That unimaginable bastard¡­¡± Judd fumed.


    ¡°You want to become unimaginably plastered? At once, LaMogre!¡± Giordi grabbed two goblets of wine and thrust one at him. ¡°Keep your voice down.¡±


    ¡°Donimede dragged someone, who was only doing his bidding into this feast his wife organised so that I would be forced to pass judgement and execute him!¡±


    ¡°I realised that.¡± Giordi shook his head. ¡°Bravo for the way you handled it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Judd said after gulping down half his wine. ¡°I don¡¯t remember half of what I said.¡±


    ¡°Something about never forgetting.¡± Giordi chuckled. ¡°Look, you didn¡¯t let the mistake go¡­you turned it into a lesson. Chael and Roust¡­they¡¯re not fools. They would know Donimede set you up. I think half of the guests tonight would know it too.¡±


    ¡°And the other half?¡± Judd swigged more wine.


    ¡°Too drunk to retain any memory of it.¡± Giordi snatched the wine away. ¡°A little will loosen you up but a lot will loosen your fists and tongue.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Yes¡­thank you¡­¡± He pressed his fingers against his eyes and swiped downwards, breathing out as he did so. ¡°Where did Willower go?¡±


    ¡°Why? Missing someone hanging from your arm?¡± Giordi slid his arm through. ¡°I¡¯ll fill in for her.¡±


    ¡°Get off!¡±


    ¡°Oh LaMogre¡­how droll you are!¡±


    Judd laughed and gave Giordi a shove. ¡°You are such an arse¡­thank you for being here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m always here for you, LaMogre. You know that. You¡¯re my muse, my reason for being! My¡­my, my, my¡­¡±


    Judd frowned and turned to Giordi who was looking at the doors. He turned and followed his line of sight as the herald announced the rather late arrival of Lyla Borelia. The black fur of her cloak shrouded her in a plush embrace, the blue of her gown peeking out as she stepped towards the servant who offered to take it for her. She tipped the hood back from her face, black curls framing her face, her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed. She undid the clasp of her cloak and the servant gently removed it, sliding it from her shoulders, revealing a gown just a shade duller than the blue of her eyes. She was tall and slender and as she looked around, lightly biting the bottom of her lip, exposing a degree of nervousness, Judd¡¯s jaw fell open.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s¡­Ver¡­¡±


    ¡°Very nice,¡± Giordi breathed, ¡°very nice indeed.¡±


    Judd looked at him in astonishment. ¡°Are you seeing who I¡¯m seeing?¡±


    ¡°I think the better question would be, are you seeing what I¡¯m seeing?¡± Giordi corrected. ¡°She¡¯s quite lovely.¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°Uh¡­yeah¡­she is. She¡­she is¡­¡± He paused, feeling like he¡¯d been hit in the head again. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and talk to her?¡± Giordi snorted. ¡°Not pretty enough for you?¡±


    ¡°Well, I usually prefer a more curvaceous build,¡± Giordi confessed, possibly being a little too honest for his own good, ¡°but she has a very¡­almost ethereal atmosphere about her. Like she¡¯s a fantasy.¡±


    ¡°Sounds perfect for you.¡± Giordi shrugged. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­¡± Giordi turned his back on the woman and spoke to Judd confidentially. ¡°Ever since that whole, nomad, Revna, baby, whipping post incident¡­my confidence has been a little¡­¡±


    Judd raised an eyebrow. ¡°Bent?¡±


    ¡°Shattered is more like it.¡±


    ¡°You were flirting in the marketplace!¡±


    ¡°With girls who were flirting with me.¡± Giordi looked back at Lyla who had been approached by Lord and Lady Gemel and their son, Sevelon. ¡°Look at her.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, I am.¡± Judd started to wonder if he would have to manually hold his jaw up as he seemed to have lost the ability to close it.


    ¡°She is¡­a lady of class and not lower or middle¡­she¡¯s upper up. The gown, the fur cloak, that willowy elegance¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you worried you won¡¯t be able to seduce her or worried you will?¡± Judd asked, pressing his fingers to his forehead.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to seduce her or anyone,¡± Giordi argued, ¡°I just¡­don¡¯t want to leave a broken heart behind me¡­or be shot down in the process. I mean, look at her.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, still looking.¡± Judd shook his head.


    ¡°She¡¯s so reserved, so poised¡­what could I offer someone like her?¡±


    Judd muttered ¡®unbelievable¡¯ to himself before sighing. ¡°Go and talk to her.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±


    ¡°Just go, already. I¡¯m not sure I can take much more of this.¡± Judd gave him a shove. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I might just¡­step out for some fresh air.¡±


    Giordi clucked his tongue. ¡°Well¡­if you¡¯re sure?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. Go.¡± Judd watched him cross the hall, making a subtle beeline for Lyla Borelia. He knew he ought to be more observant, possibly overcome with curiosity as to how the meeting would go¡­but he was oddly distracted. As the food for the feast began to flow into the hall, the guests shifted towards the platters of roast meats and vegetables, rounds of cheese, large bowls of fruit and rounds of bread that let out the steam they¡¯d been holding onto as hands tore them apart.


    Judd slipped to the door and out into the cooler, dimmer antechamber. He immediately made for the stairs, descending to the right level then taking the familiar path down a corridor to a pair of doors. Judd knocked on the door then, before he heard a response, pushed it open.


    ¡°That was quick, even with your reservations,¡± Aalis¡¯ voice came to him, ¡°I had hoped you would at least do a turn about the¡­Judd?¡±


    ¡°Aalis.¡± He greeted. Aalis had a shirt in her hands, half folded and probably intended for the neat pile she was making to be packed in their swags.


    Aalis swallowed, reaching hastily for her gloves, pulling them on. ¡°You¡­are here?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Judd put his hand on the back of the chair near the fireplace. ¡°I thought you might want some company or help packing, since Verne was dazzling the daylights out of the guests at the feast, looking stunning in her blue dress and black curls.¡±


    Aalis paused then glanced at him shyly. ¡°She¡­is dazzling?¡± She asked softly.


    Judd nodded, walking forward. ¡°Oh yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­¡± Aalis closed her eyes, mouth open to start apologising when Judd held his hand up to silence her.


    ¡°I¡¯d love to hear just how long I¡¯ve been ignorant for.¡±

 I’d throw it all away just to be with you!

    ¡°Well, if you decide to change your mind and would like to tour some of the other forts along the wall, know you will receive a fine welcome and hospitality in Fort Verion.¡± Lady Gemel gushed. ¡°Is that not right, Sevelon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, mother.¡± Sevelon responded like a dutiful, eligible son.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Verne said in much the same tone.


    Both of them sensed that Sevelon¡¯s mother was anticipating an eligible match in the making.


    Both of them were determined that was not going to happen.


    ¡°Lady Knell!¡± Lady Gemel waved her over, the addition of another woman to the party seemed to be the moment Lord Gemel had been waiting for as he bowed and took his leave, grabbing his son¡¯s shoulder and propelling him in the same direction. Lady Knell, with a hooked nose and keen eyes, joined their conversation. ¡°Allow me to introduce Lyla Borelia of Astaril.¡± Lady Gemel leaned towards Verne. ¡°Lady Knell is a veritable fount of social discourse in, not just Astaril but in all the forts as well.¡±


    Verne held her breath as Lady Knell looked thoughtful.


    ¡°Borelia,¡± she mused, ¡°Borelia¡­you are descended from quite a long line of nobility, Lyla.¡± Lady Knell glanced at Lady Gemel. ¡°I was not aware that the Borelias had any living descendants.¡±


    Verne remembered to pause, breathe and not enter into an answer too hastily.


    ¡°Unfortunately my parents met a¡­tragic end,¡± she adopted some of Giordi¡¯s flair of sorrow but lifted her chin as though being brave, ¡°I went to live on the coast with a distant relative and have just received their blessing to enter society.¡±


    ¡°I am so sorry to hear about your parents,¡± Lady Gemel said with practiced empathy¡­and a large dose of falsehood, ¡°they were good friends of ours. I believe your mother attended my wedding although it was quite some time ago, before you were born.¡±


    Verne nodded.


    ¡°That explains why I do not know them specifically,¡± Lady Knell said with a slightly offended tone aimed at Lady Gemel, ¡°I grew up in Fort Callain and only moved to Astaril after my own father, Sir Knell, passed away and Sir Egrette was instated as Callain¡¯s knight. It must have been after the passing of your parents.¡±


    Verne nodded again, not quite sure what to say to all this.


    ¡°Will you join us to partake of the feast, Lyla?¡±


    ¡°I¡­certainly.¡±


    Verne was ensconced between the two ladies and propelled towards the table where there was an array of food to choose from. All of it made her mouth water but as Lady Gemel and Lady Knell loaded their plates, lightly poking fun at each other for the types of food and the amount they were taking, Verne felt a wave of panic overcome her.


    ¡°Nothing taking your fancy?¡±


    ¡°I think I should prefer something lighter¡­like fruit.¡± Verne saw the large, embossed copper bowl overflowing with grapes, cherries and strawberries.


    ¡°Good choice, my dear.¡± Lady Knell sniffed. ¡°It always pays to watch your waistline.¡±


    As Lady Gemel and Lady Knell walked away, Verne was tempted to put her hands on the table, lower her head and groan with frustration. Instead she stood near the fruit bowl, surrounded by people but very much alone. She glanced at the doors, the temptation to flee growing with every passing second. However, Lady Jocasa was stationed by them and while Verne knew she could get away with infiltrating the event with ignorant nobility all desperate to one up each other, the woman who had issued the invitations was another matter.


    Verne plucked several grapes from the bowl and popped one in her mouth then cringed, wondering if there was protocol and etiquette involving grapes that she had just broken.


    ¡°Suffocating¡­corset binding¡­¡± Verne muttered, glaring at the remaining grapes in her hand. ¡°Ultracrepidarians¡­¡±


    ¡°Nice word use.¡±


    Verne turned, the grapes dashing out of her hand at the sound of the voice behind her. Giordi immediately knelt and picked up the unleashed mobile mini bruises. Verne gave the doors another desperate glance before Giordi stood up with an apologetic look on his face.


    ¡°I am sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± he held up his hand, ¡°I apologise¡­I should not have come up behind you like that and frightened you.¡±


    Verne pressed her lips together. ¡°You did not frighten me. I was startled perhaps¡­¡±


    Giordi nodded. ¡°Of course, naturally. I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I am Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    ¡°Lyla Borelia.¡± Verne lied and waited for the look of superior knowledge to dawn on Giordi¡¯s face but it never came.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the name of Borelia before,¡± he said and she wondered if he was about to become as facetious as the ladies who were stuffing their faces at that very moment, ¡°but I never met any of them.¡±


    ¡°I am probably the only one left.¡± Verne hoped her hair was doing a good job of obscuring her face.


    ¡°I am sorry about that too.¡±


    Verne felt awful then. ¡°It is not your fault.¡± She swallowed, turning slightly to try to keep herself out of full view and pretended to peruse the feasting table, Giordi standing by her side to do the same but without encroaching on her personal space. ¡°You¡­are here by invitation, Mr Gavoli?¡±


    ¡°By necessity,¡± Giordi chuckled, his smile causing his dimples to appear, ¡°I am a minstrel, by trade and I have been accompanying Judd LaMogre on his knighthood quest.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Verne couldn¡¯t think of anything else to say.


    ¡°You are from Astaril?¡±


    ¡°By way of Quarre.¡± Verne could hear the speed of her words and willed herself to slow down and remember the lessons that had been drilled into Judd about not using contractions and remaining calm. Not only was her voice slower as she spoke each word deliberately, it was softer due to nervousness.


    ¡°I take it you would have met with Lady LeMewn and her husband?¡±


    ¡°I arrived after his passing.¡± Verne trembled. ¡°So tragic¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Giordi sighed and they continued to look at the food without taking anything.


    Verne couldn¡¯t stand the silence. ¡°I understand LaMogre was in Quarre when Lord LeMewn died.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we were.¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°He¡­well, tragic seems to be the best way to describe it. Tell me, how is Lady LeMewn? When we left, she was very much on her own.¡±


    ¡°She¡­¡± Verne tried to recall what she knew about Lady LeMewn. ¡°She¡­played her harp for me.¡±


    ¡°Truly?¡± Giordi brightened and Verne felt her heart cringe with guilt. ¡°That pleases me to no end. I don¡¯t think she was all that free to do so for a long time. Did you enjoy it?¡±


    Verne paused, remembering the night Lady LeMewn played her harp and how Giordi, with his warm tone had sung with her. The memory caused a light blush to colour her cheeks.


    ¡°I have fond memories of that night.¡± She said softly.


    ¡°You enjoy music?¡±


    ¡°I¡­have a greater appreciation of it in recent months.¡± Verne drew back as another plate of food was delivered to the table.


    ¡°I think we could feel all of Fort Mavour and Maul¡¯s monsters with this feast.¡± Giordi joked lightly. ¡°Oh¡­your grapes¡­¡± He looked at them then refused to put them in her hand. ¡°These¡­they have been on the floor.¡±


    ¡°Oh no¡­¡±


    ¡°I will furnish you with some new ones¡­¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Verne wanted to howl with laughter at the notion. Months of travelling, cooking and eating outdoors meant Verne had consumed some rather questionable things at times but hadn¡¯t baulked at any of it. Here was Giordi, cramming the dirty grapes into his pocket and plucking new ones for her.


    It was ridiculous!


    Giordi handed her a plate with a dozen grapes on it. They rolled around like purple eyeballs, their presence on the plate only emphasising the absence of anything else.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Verne took it and stared at the grapes. She didn¡¯t know how to eat them in company. Giordi had seen Verne eat many times. What if she gave herself away?


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­not a lot.¡± Giordi looked around. ¡°Would you like a peach? A plum? A strawberry?¡±


    ¡°No, no, please¡­¡± Verne blurted. ¡°Do not trouble yourself.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not trouble at all¡­¡± Giordi grimaced. ¡°I mean it¡¯s no trouble yourself¡­I mean¡­¡±


    Verne paused, watching Giordi become flustered. To her astonishment, he seemed as equally nervous as she. Despite the awkwardness of the moment, Verne felt a smile pulling on her lips.


    ¡°The truth is,¡± Verne said and Giordi looked at her, seeing her face directly for the first time since their clumsy conversation had begun, ¡°I¡­do not wish to embarrass myself with eating.¡± She looked around then down at her plate. ¡°I do not know the proper etiquette about certain things¡­and a mistake here¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh yes,¡± Giordi folded his arms and nodded, ¡°nobility can be rather unforgiving.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention pretentious and arrogant¡­complete blatteroons.¡± Verne groused then slapped her hand over her mouth as Giordi laughed. ¡°I should not have said¡­¡±


    ¡°Lyla Borelia, what you might lack in feasting etiquette, you make up for with your delightful vocabulary.¡±


    Verne put her hand down. ¡°It is not appropriate!¡±


    ¡°Thankfully I am the only one who heard and I swear, I¡¯ll never tell.¡± Giordi chuckled then waved her forward. ¡°Now¡­eating at a feast¡­meats you have to tear at it with your teeth¡­¡±


    Verne thought of all the times she had held a chicken or turkey drumstick in her hand and ripped the flesh off the bone.


    ¡°Perhaps not¡­¡±


    ¡°Fruit is fine but anything larger than a grape might dribble when you bite into it¡­¡±


    And wiping at her face with her sleeve would be an instinctual gesture as well as a crime against manners.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Crusty bread?¡±


    ¡°Crumbs¡­¡±


    ¡°A hot potato?¡±


    Verne sighed. ¡°I am not a picky eater. I would eat anything I was served but here¡­¡±


    Giordi snapped his fingers. ¡°I know just the thing. Come.¡± She followed him curiously to a table where several short candles were planted beneath a metal bowl that rested on a stand. There were small pieces of fruit, bread, meat and cheese on platters around it and forks in a pile. Giordi took two and looked at Verne.


    ¡°What is your preference, Lyla Borelia?¡±


    Verne wanted to shrug but held herself still. ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about how you will eat it. Just, want is your favourite thing here?¡± Verne decided to play it safe and chose a strawberry. ¡°Excellent choice.¡± Giordi stabbed it with his fork and dunked it into the bowl¡¯s contents. He drew it out, tapped off the milky brown excess that almost completely covered the royal red heart shaped berry and handed it to her.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Verne asked, bemused.


    ¡°Melted chocolate.¡± Giordi¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°If you¡¯re at a feast and they¡¯re serving this, you know the host is sparing no expense. I¡¯ve only ever had it once before but I¡¯ve never forgotten it. Try it.¡±


    Verne took the fork as Giordi dunked his own morsel into the chocolate. She eyed it tentatively.


    ¡°I just¡­put it in my mouth?¡±


    ¡°Everything here is cut into bite sized pieces. You skewer, dunk and eat. No manners required.¡±


    Verne pursed her lips then put the chocolate covered strawberry into her mouth, trying as delicately as she could to draw it off the long two pronged fork. Then and only then did she allowed herself a moment to taste it¡­and her eyes widened and she looked at Giordi.


    ¡°I know!¡± He ate his own and groaned. ¡°Bliss!¡±


    ¡°Now this I can do.¡± She looked at the rest of the items to dunk. ¡°What shall I eat next?¡±


    Judd poured wine into two goblets, shaking his head. ¡°Since the crossing of the channel?¡± He groaned, taking them to the fireplace where he and Aalis reclined on the rug in front of the warm blaze. ¡°As long as that?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid so.¡± Aalis accepted her wine. ¡°Although I feel it needs to be said, that is only when I realised the truth. Verne was always female.¡±


    ¡°The channel?¡± Judd paused. ¡°Wait¡­to Keenstone Isle or from Keenstone Isle?¡±


    ¡°To, naturally.¡±


    ¡°Why naturally?¡±


    ¡°The sirens attacked the ferry.¡± Aalis raised her eyebrows. ¡°Yourself, Caste and Giordi were all overcome.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s when you and Verne seemed to connect and I thought his illusion was less embarrassing than mine¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh Judd!¡± Aalis put her gloved hand over her lips. ¡°Is that what you thought?¡±


    ¡°Well, what other conclusion could I draw?¡± Judd demanded. ¡°I mean, I was falling over myself to rescue a scantily dressed, rather voluptuous maiden from the waters and the next I know, you and Verne were rather¡­close. I thought his illusion must have been so much more noble than mine.¡±


    Aalis sighed and shook her head, her dreadlocks shifting gently over her shoulders. ¡°Judd¡­while sirens will kill any human they get their hands on¡­it is males that they tempt with their illusions. Males?¡±


    Judd stared at her then groaned and put his head in his hands. ¡°Oh no¡­no, no, no¡­¡±


    ¡°I am afraid so.¡± Aalis watched Judd go through the motions of revelation and felt bad, guilty and amused all at the same time.


    ¡°But¡­she, I mean he¡­pretended that she¡­he had been tempted!¡±


    ¡°Of course she did.¡±


    ¡°But¡­why?!¡±


    ¡°In order to preserve the presumption that she was male.¡±


    Judd scrunched his eyes shut. ¡°I don¡¯t understand why she didn¡¯t tell me or correct my assumption. Am I that unreasonable?¡± Aalis shook her head as he continued. ¡°Unapproachable? Easily fooled?¡±


    ¡°Judd, Verne¡¯s deception and my collusion in it, had nothing to do with you.¡± Aalis put her hand over his and squeezed. ¡°This was about Verne and her childhood and how she thought being female was a terrible mistake¡­¡± Judd lifted his eyes and gazed at her, Aalis¡¯ hand retreating. ¡°She didn¡¯t want the camaraderie between herself and all of you to change.¡±


    Judd held his goblet and looked at the wine. ¡°I guess¡­I suppose I can see why¡­¡± He gave a small laugh. ¡°Just¡­oh¡­when she walked in tonight¡­¡±


    ¡°Was it that obvious that it was Verne?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­if I hadn¡¯t seen that blue dress hanging up in here.¡±


    ¡°But I took care to cover it with the black fur cloak¡­¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t long enough to disguise the lower half and I confess, curiosity got the better of me.¡±


    Aalis grimaced. ¡°Perhaps I should have hung it beneath a curtain¡­¡± She sipped her wine. ¡°So, Verne looked the part?¡±


    ¡°If by part you mean, not like Verne at all, then yes.¡± Judd leaned back against the chair, stretching his legs out in front of the fire. ¡°You should have seen Giordi falling over himself.¡±


    Aalis sat up. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Judd chuckled, ¡°apparently his confidence has been a bit broken of late and he was debating about going up to her¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­that should be interesting.¡± Aalis smiled.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    ¡°I just¡­wonder how they will get along¡­and if Giordi will realise.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll probably be so distracted by his own insecurities that he won¡¯t realise those blue eyes could belong to no one else.¡±


    Aalis studied Judd and put the wine down. ¡°You do not seem angry about all this, Judd.¡±


    ¡°Angry? Why should I be angry?¡±


    Aalis crossed her ankles and sat up, brushing down the layers of her skirt. ¡°We did deceive you and not just in allowing the initial assumption to continue but actively purporting the lie that Verne was male.¡±


    Judd sighed. ¡°I suppose if I thought about it for any length of time and really fixated on the purporting and deceptions¡­there would be ample and justifiable reasons to be frustrated, hurt¡­even angry and offended,¡± Aalis¡¯ eyes dropped down to her hands, ¡°but I find I am mostly¡­relieved.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ brow furrowed and she looked up to see Judd¡¯s brown eyes warm with an intensity that made her heart tremble. ¡°Relieved?¡± She said in a small gasp.


    Judd nodded, his fingers reaching out to wrap themselves around her gloved hands, his body shifting forward on the rug, the warmth from the fire nothing compared to the heat that was building between them.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always felt like there was something there¡­between us,¡± he confessed softly, ¡°but with you and Verne together¡­I was so confused.¡± She whispered his name brokenly which only drew him closer. ¡°Now I know why¡­and the relief is just so¡­freeing.¡± He smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m free to finally tell you¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd, please¡­¡± Aalis stood up hastily.


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Judd got up, half stepping towards her as she backed away from him, ¡°if I don¡¯t say it, I¡¯ll go mad!¡± Aalis closed her eyes and shook her head. ¡°I know you think I am stepping out with Donimede¡¯s daughter¡­but Willower and I¡­it¡¯s an agreement we have just to pretend to be together. It isn¡¯t real. Nothing¡¯s real¡­except for what I feel for you.¡± Aalis tucked her arms around her body. Judd paused to study her, confounded by how wretched she appeared and how his confession had done nothing to alleviate her fear but rather, had compounded it. ¡°Aalis¡­if it is not about Willower¡­what is it?¡±


    Aalis drew back even further, her body trembling. ¡°When I said that my collusion with Verne in hiding her gender had nothing to do with you¡­that was not entirely true.¡± Judd paused, confused. Aalis swallowed. ¡°You see¡­I was aware of the growing¡­attachment between us and felt it would be kinder to sever it with the notion that I was unavailable.¡± She wouldn¡¯t look at him, her soft booted toes pressing together.


    ¡°Kinder?¡± Judd whispered. ¡°How could it be kind?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± she gulped for air, ¡°if¡­if what you felt became more than an inclination¡­¡±


    ¡°It has!¡±


    ¡°Oh no Judd,¡± Aalis moaned, ¡°no¡­please¡­it will be cruel and painful to you when I leave.¡±


    For a moment all that Judd could hear was the crackle of the fire and despite its warmth, his body felt like he was standing on ice.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Aalis nodded.


    ¡°But why?¡±


    ¡°It was the condition upon which I joined you and Caste in the very beginning,¡± Aalis sniffed, ¡°that, once your knighthood requirements were fulfilled, I would be returned to the village where you found me.¡±


    Judd¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°But that was months ago!¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Months and months ago!¡±


    Aalis gave a sad laugh. ¡°Judd, a vow does not become thinner and ineffectual the greater the amount of time passed since it was made. It is a binding promise. You promised me¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know then how I would feel about you now!¡±


    ¡°That is beside the point¡­¡±


    ¡°That is precisely the point!¡± Judd exclaimed. ¡°Aalis, you are so much more to me than a random encounter in the forest, a pretty face and a healer¡­I am in love with you.¡± But where the statement should have been his greatest moment, Judd felt all his hopes slipping away as Aalis shook her head.


    ¡°You cannot be in love with a witch.¡±


    ¡°For the last time, you are not a witch!¡± Judd roared.


    ¡°Then how else will I give you evidence of the slaying of one?¡± Aalis¡¯ voice suddenly rose into a near shriek. ¡°How else, Judd? How do you intend to fulfill this knighthood quest if not for the authenticity of my monster status on Caste¡¯s list?¡±


    ¡°Screw Caste¡¯s list!¡± Judd retorted. ¡°I¡¯d throw it all away just to be with you!¡± Aalis sobbed and put her face in her hands. Judd groaned and pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms around her. ¡°Please¡­please don¡¯t cry. I thought¡­you and I¡­¡± She murmured something and he bent his head down to listen. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°There can be no you and I,¡± his heart seized up into a lead weight in his chest as she lifted her chin and looked him in the eye, her lavender eyes as cold as ice, ¡°there will never be you and I.¡±


    Judd recoiled from the door of love slammed in his face. He stepped back from Aalis who remained stoic and unmoving. Judd turned on his heel and simply walked out of the room.

 Is there anything wrong with appreciating a beautiful woman?

    Lyla Borelia slipped through the doorway, hoisting her skirts up to keep them from getting caught on anything. She spun around, Giordi following her and he did the same, peering through the opening back into the feasting room.


    ¡°Is he following me?¡± She asked breathlessly over his shoulder.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he can work out where you went¡­¡± Giordi chuckled, able to see the man in question looking around with a bemused expression on his ruddy complexion.


    ¡°That is because he was distracted by the new platter of desserts that just came out.¡± Lyla muttered.


    ¡°Give the young man some credit¡­it takes a lot of food to fill that girth.¡± Giordi tapped his teeth, the young man turning on the spot, spying the door. ¡°He¡¯s looking¡­he¡¯s looking¡­he¡¯s coming this way!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Run!¡± They turned and darted down the corridor, around a bend and through a set of doors, turning and closing them, holding their breath and waiting to hear if they had been followed.


    ¡°Is he gone?¡± Lyla whispered.


    ¡°Somehow I doubt he would be willing to part from the dessert table for as long as it would take to find you.¡± Giordi stood up and exhaled.


    ¡°Typical, a man shows interest and yet I am trumped by dessert.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, but it was baked sweet buns filled with custard.¡± Giordi chortled. ¡°Besides, who was it that had to be shooed away from the melted chocolate?¡±


    ¡°That was you!¡± Lyla laughed.


    ¡°Not going by the smear of chocolate on your face.¡±


    Lyla¡¯s complexion flamed red and her hands went up to her cheeks. ¡°Oh no¡­is it bad?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­a flirtatious suitor might pretend he was licking it away and accidentally get your lips instead.¡± Giordi realised he might have taken his joviality a little too far going by the look of mortification on Lyla¡¯s face. She seemed to possess a light hearted sense of humour which Giordi had enjoyed immensely but should have reminded himself that there was a large difference between making merry with his male friends and making merry with a lady. ¡°Here,¡± he tried to repair the damage he had done by taking a handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to her, ¡°this side.¡± He tapped his face then gestured to her.


    Lyla attempted to dab the small streak of chocolate away but only succeeded in smudging it.


    ¡°Gone?¡± Giordi pulled a face and Lyla closed her eyes and hung her head. ¡°Who am I fooling¡­¡±


    ¡°Just¡­allow me?¡± He took it from her hand and gently wiped her cheek clear. ¡°There¡­wow¡­¡± He breathed. ¡°You have the most amazing blue eyes.¡±


    Lyla gave a small laugh, possibly a huff of protestation and stepped back from him. ¡°They are just eyes.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­then they are just about the loveliest eyes I have ever seen.¡±


    Lyla looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a droll look on her face that was vaguely familiar. ¡°Is that really your best line?¡±


    Giordi sighed and shook his head. ¡°No¡­I¡¯ve given up on lines. I only end up tangling my legs in them.¡± Lyla smiled and handed the handkerchief back to him. ¡°Oh, no¡­keep it.¡±


    ¡°I thought ladies were supposed to give men handkerchiefs as tokens of their affection.¡± Lyla remarked, moving away. Giordi followed with his hands in his pockets.


    ¡°Only when we¡¯re going into battle.¡± They walked down the corridor they had entered which was lit with sporadic torches in case guests for the feast became lost in what seemed to be an unused part of the fort. Giordi glanced sideways at Lyla, her black ringlets sitting part way down her neck but allowing some of the elegant length of it to be exposed, the fabric of her neckline resting against the warm hue of her skin. Giordi realised he was staring and coughed, jolting himself out of it. ¡°Were you here for the, almost disastrous, battle in the Arena?¡±


    ¡°I was.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­I didn¡¯t see you there.¡±


    Lyla gave a small shrug. ¡°Perhaps that is because you were valiantly leaping into the Arena to protect Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Valiant¡­I like it.¡± Giordi sighed. ¡°Unfortunately, I am almost anything other than valiant.¡±


    ¡°Noble?¡±


    ¡°I said ¡®almost¡¯ anything.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea where we are going?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re about to rejoin the main corridor.¡± Giordi said with more confidence than he felt and was relieved when his navigation instincts had not led him astray as they entered the antechamber where the doors into the feasting hall were open wide, golden light spilling onto the grey stone. ¡°Shall we?¡± He went to escort Lyla in when he noticed she had her arms about herself, her expression wary. ¡°Miss Borelia?¡±


    ¡°Do I have to?¡± She asked softly.


    ¡°Uh¡­well, no, you don¡¯t have to do anything you don¡¯t want to do,¡± Giordi couldn¡¯t fathom the small huff of derision she made as though his words were amusing and foolish, ¡°but if you are worried about that young man¡¯s advances, I promise to remain by your side.¡±


    ¡°It is not him,¡± Lyla paused, ¡°it is not just him,¡± she sighed, ¡°the whole thing¡­¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Giordi sighed, ¡°after the Arena today¡­it just feels wrong.¡±


    Lyla looked at her hands then tucked them behind her back at his perusal. ¡°Maybe¡­maybe I should just leave¡­¡±


    ¡°What about your cloak?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it.¡± Giordi went to the door and inquired with the servant there who hastened to fetch it. He kept looking back at Lyla who remained in the shadows, half expecting her to disappear. When the servant returned, Giordi took it and held it out to Lyla. ¡°May I?¡±


    She was tall but only just as tall as him. Giordi swung the cloak around her shoulders and she pulled it firmly about herself. ¡°Thank you. It is not mine and I would hate to lose it.¡± She licked her lips. ¡°So¡­¡±


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    ¡°So¡­¡± Giordi cleared his throat. ¡°It was lovely to meet you, Miss Borelia.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, Giordi Gavoli.¡± She curtseyed with what he was interpreting as a mild reluctance before she turned to leave.


    ¡°They have a gallery!¡± Lyla stopped and looked back at him. Giordi pointed like a fool. ¡°With paintings and things¡­if you wanted to take a look?¡±


    Lyla¡¯s face creased into a shy smile. ¡°I would like that.¡±


    Verne was kicking herself. Why oh why had she agreed to go with Giordi to the gallery? She had an out, a way of escaping that infernal feast and the posturing guests and the mindless conversation, not to mention prying herself out of the blue gown yet instead, she was following him through the fort, heading in the direction of the gallery after a waylaid servant was able to give them directions.


    Verne glanced at Giordi who seemed a little disgruntled. ¡°Are you unhappy that I insisted we ask for directions?¡±


    ¡°I knew where we were going.¡± He responded grumpily then brightened. ¡°And here we are!¡± Verne had to try not to laugh as he muttered something about ¡®turn right at the statue of the angelic being¡¯ and opened the doors for her. Verne was expecting a spiderwebbed chamber filled with rusting armour and dusty paintings but it seemed Lady Jocasa had anticipated some of her guests might be of the cultural variety and cleaned it up as best as a frantic dust and sweep could manage.


    There were large statues of scantily clad women reaching overhead, their fingertips touching forming the five archways that broke the gallery into segments. From their fingertips hung chandeliers which were unfortunately unlit however the wall torches were thankfully bright and blazing and able to chase away some of the eternal chilliness of the stone. Down the centre of the gallery were suits of armour, ranging from archaic to as modern as a hundred years before. Between them were stone pews so that visitors could sit and peruse the paintings hanging from the walls in each of the five segments. The paintings and the golden light from the torches were the only colour in the room. Everything else was grey, black or white.


    ¡°Cold.¡± Verne remarked.


    ¡°The cloak isn¡¯t keeping you warm?¡±


    Verne shook her head, feeling the unfamiliar sensation of her neck being battered with her ringlets. ¡°No, I mean the atmosphere in here is cold.¡±


    ¡°I would have to agree with you there.¡± Giordi gasped. ¡°Look, an original Ovali!¡± He admired the painting with a shake of his head though Verne struggled to see what was so fascinating about the smeared canvas. ¡°He was the first to use paint to imply shapes, rather than outline them like drawings.¡±


    ¡°I think it could use a little outline.¡± Verne admitted, tilting her head, trying to work out what it was that the artist had attempted to depict.


    ¡°Perhaps a little.¡± Giordi sighed. ¡°Still¡­only a half dozen of his pieces have survived over the years and I have the pleasure of seeing one in person¡­¡±


    Verne smiled at his enthusiasm and moved on, spying a painting with a great deal more colour in it. It was of a sunset, golds, pinks and purples all streaked across the sky, a few sketchy trees in the foreground but for the rest, just ample sky. Verne folded her arms beneath the cloak, recalling a time when she had stopped and stared at a sunset.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Giordi came up alongside her.


    ¡°Beautiful¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t think so?¡±


    Verne shrugged which was mostly hidden by the fur cloak. ¡°I just wonder how many sunsets the artist missed out on because he was so busy trying to capture one.¡± She turned and looked at the painting directly opposite the sunset.


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I tried to explain to Verne.¡±


    Verne stiffened. ¡°Verne? Who is Verne?¡± She asked, sure Giordi was about to figure her ruse out.


    ¡°Verne Sachon, the archer who joined Judd¡¯s party before I did. Solemn and lacking in appreciation for the beauty of the world.¡±


    Verne swallowed, positive that Giordi knew who she was and was making fun. ¡°Is that really fair?¡±


    ¡°Probably not.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think so?¡±


    ¡°Because Verne wouldn¡¯t look at a sky without seeing a bird in it to shoot down to kill for supper. And I won¡¯t criticise him for it. I mean, let¡¯s face it, that¡¯s a much more practical skill than art appreciation.¡± Giordi ran his hand through his golden curls, dislodging them into charming disarray. ¡°I am sure he thinks I am little more than a few smears on a canvas, like that Ovali back there, than a painting worth hanging.¡± Giordi sighed. ¡°I mean¡­that was a metaphor for¡­¡±


    ¡°I get it.¡± Verne assured him then moved on. ¡°You might be surprised. Maybe this Verne understood more than you give him credit for.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­he¡¯s taught me much more than I¡¯ve ever taught him so if I¡¯ve left him with something of value¡­¡± Giordi whistled. ¡°Look at that.¡±


    Verne rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡±


    The painting was of a naked woman reclined upon a bed of leaves and petals, several of them doing a poor attempt at concealing her curvaceous qualities, her long fair hair in dramatic locks cascading to the ground. Around her were eight men, each fawning over her with gifts in their hands, slack jawed and wide eyed.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite striking.¡±


    Verne sighed, thinking that striking was the right word for it as she felt like Giordi had just smacked her over the back of the head with reality. ¡°You do not think it is a little¡­obscene?¡±


    ¡°I think it makes a statement.¡± Verne rolled her eyes and turned away. ¡°I mean, it is called ¡®The folly of man¡¯.¡±


    Verne turned back. ¡°It is?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She glared at him and Giordi chuckled. ¡°You seem irritated.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I am.¡± Verne retorted. ¡°Look at them, all¡­drooling over her.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything wrong with appreciating a beautiful woman?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s appreciating?¡± Verne could hear her voice changing and had to rein in her emotion, seeing Giordi¡¯s eyebrows raise as though hearing something familiar.


    ¡°Are you,¡± Verne cringed, waiting for the question she would not be able to lie to, ¡°jealous?¡±


    ¡°J¡­jealous?¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°Of¡­a painting? Or of the way you are the ninth fool?¡± She spun on her heel and began to stalk out of the galley.


    ¡°Miss Borelia¡­she is nothing like you!¡±


    Verne turned back to him. ¡°You said she was beautiful!¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Verne gaped at him, dumbfounded. Giordi put his hands up. ¡°Wait, wait¡­I can explain.¡± Verne folded her arms, her mouth turned down and her heart, hard. Giordi breathed in and out and she waited for his polished excuse for his insult. ¡°There are many types of women in the world and every single one of them is different to the others¡­just because you are told you are nothing like another woman, does not mean you are less than she.¡±


    ¡°But you just said¡­¡±


    ¡°Look at her, Lyla,¡± Giordi urged and coaxed Verne back to standing in front of the painting, ¡°just¡­look.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± She grouched through barred teeth, unable to see anything other than the painted woman¡¯s voluptuous curves and how she felt like a washboard in comparison.


    ¡°Look at the way she is smiling at the affections of all these men¡­yes she is beautiful in appearance but the way she is welcoming all these men to her, their gifts and adoration¡­maybe she doesn¡¯t know it. Maybe, for all her curves, hills and valleys¡­¡±


    ¡°Move along¡­¡±


    ¡°Right, maybe, in spite of all these things and a lovely face and hair¡­maybe she needs all these men to make her feel better about herself.¡± Verne blinked and turned to Giordi who gazed at the painting, not with the bug-eyed lust in his eyes that she expected but rather, with sympathy. ¡°When I look at this painting¡­I see a woman who needs to be defined by a man¡­and not just one man but many. And she would forever be worried about not living up to their expectations, becoming obsessed with their opinions rather than finding peace in her own beauty, even one that changes with the progression of time.¡±


    Verne¡¯s heart was twisting into a tight spiral and her throat was closing over. ¡°I¡­had not thought of it like that.¡± She said softly. ¡°I suppose¡­I saw it through my own insecurities.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you are worried that she is considered beautiful and you are not,¡± Giordi turned to Verne, ¡°then I am afraid, Lyla Borelia, you are astonishingly mistaken.¡±


    Verne licked her lips and looked down. ¡°No one has ever said anything like that to me before.¡± She whispered. ¡°Giordi¡­I¡­¡±


    Her words stopped abruptly when they heard music. An orchestral melody filtered into the galley.


    ¡°Great acoustics in here.¡± Giordi chuckled then bowed. ¡°Would you care to take a turn about, Miss Borelia?¡±


    ¡°I am not much of a dancer.¡±


    ¡°There is no one here to mock you and I have been prewarned.¡± Giordi held his hands out. ¡°Shall we?¡±


    Verne uncurled her fingers tentatively, more frightened that Giordi would comment on her ¡®masculine¡¯ grip than of her lack of dancing experience. But Giordi didn¡¯t pay her hand any heed that rested over the top of his own, tucking his right hand into the small of his back. Verne used her left hand to take up some of her excess skirt and, with the slightest fumble at the start, they began to dance. Step after step, turn after turn, around and around they went, moving steadily with the music with only the unmoving eyes in the painted faces of the portraits around them looking on.

 Who are you kissing, Judd LaMogre? For I know it is not me

    Willower hung at the doorway to the feasting hall, her hands able to wring themselves in anxiety now that she was out of full view of the guests inside. She knew her presence by the door would be seen as anxious in of itself but she could no longer reply cordially to inquiries as to the lack of Judd LaMogre¡¯s presence and her smile¡¯s brilliance had diminished with every nod of the head, as though it was to be expected that she would be abandoned.


    So when Willower saw Judd striding towards the feasting hall, crossing the ante chamber in long strides, she couldn¡¯t help herself. She darted towards him, relieved beyond all comprehension.


    ¡°Judd, I was becoming worried,¡± and yet, even the midst of her own anxiety, Willower recognised there was something terribly wrong with LaMogre, ¡°what is it? What is wrong?¡± His skin was pale, his eyes were glassy and there was a tautness about his presence as though he was wound up and ready to strike. He could not be seen in the feasting hall like this. Willower knew her father, who had proved beyond a shadow of any doubt, would take advantage of even the smallest weakness in the man he perceived to be his competition. He would not hesitate to pounce on Judd¡¯s wretched appearance. She grasped his hands and pulled him away from the doors to the stone pew where she drew him down to sit. He sat with his face down, his hands hot beneath her fingers. He wouldn¡¯t even look at her. ¡°Judd¡­please,¡± she put her cool hand on his rough cheek and bade him to lift his chin though his eyes were still cast aside, ¡°what is it? What can I do?¡±


    And then¡­his eyes met hers and the air escaped her lungs at the intensity of his gaze. Before she could even gasp, Judd cupped her face and kissed her passionately. His lips covered hers and his fingers pushed up from her face into her hair, curled so tight they were grasping at her scalp. Willower, with her lonely and love impoverished heart, did not hesitate apart from being momentarily stunned and she threaded her arms around his neck and returned with equal passion.


    It was everything she had ever dreamed of, to be desperately, completely, almost scandalously wanted by a man. She was in his arms, being devoured by his need for her and for a moment, a glorious, fantastical moment, Willower¡¯s greatest wish was fulfilled.


    Yet even as she kissed Judd, Willower sensed something was off. His hands were tight, almost bitingly so and his lips were hard. Even her inexperienced body knew that something wasn¡¯t right. And though it pained her more than she could ever say, when he drew back to inhale sharply, Willower whispered,


    ¡°Who are you kissing, Judd LaMogre? For I know it is not me.¡±


    His brown eyes flickered briefly to her own and for the first time in her life, Willower saw a man weep. Tears filled his eyes and trickled down his cheeks, his hands covering his face, shoulders quaking in pain. Willower could feel offence and hurt in her heart¡­but they were overwhelmed completely by compassion. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, drawing his head to her shoulder and rested her cheek against his brown curls, much in the same way that she had comforted her young siblings from time to time.


    Lyla Borelia was not lying when she said she was not much of a dancer but despite her inexperience, their impromptu turnabout was entirely delightful, probably more so because they knew it was never going to be a meticulous success. They put feet wrong, turned in the opposite directions to each other and sometimes collided when they least expected it. However, Giordi couldn¡¯t begin to imagine when he had laughed more.


    ¡°No more¡­¡± He waved his hand as the other clutched his ribs. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Me either.¡± Lyla walked her stitch off by doing a lap around the gallery. ¡°Oh that hurts.¡±


    ¡°My apologies¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I do not regret it.¡± Lyla insisted and he smiled at her. ¡°That was wonderful fun.¡±


    Giordi leaned back against the legs of one of the statues and gazed at her with naked admiration. ¡°Do you know something, Lyla Borelia?¡±


    Immediately her gaze became guarded though Giordi couldn¡¯t fathom why. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You are just about the best fun I have ever had.¡±


    Her arms immediately relaxed and the tension in her expression softened. ¡°Same to you, Giordi Gavoli.¡± She sighed and looked at her cloak which she had flung over a suit of armour when she had warmed up to the dancing. ¡°Well¡­I suppose¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, allow me¡­¡± Giordi hastened to take it and, holding it up with a flourish helped her into it. Lyla turned towards him as he brought the front together, slipping the toggle through the loop, his fingers accidentally yet thrillingly stroking the exposed skin of her neck. He swallowed, his eyes glancing upwards at her blue gaze, a blooming blush spreading across her cheeks. She licked her lips and Giordi¡¯s instincts and overwhelming desire took over as he slid his hand up her throat, fingers tangled in her hair, moving in to press his lips to hers¡­


    ¡°No!¡± Lyla gasped, recoiling.


    Giordi closed his eyes. ¡°Damn¡­damn, damn, damn¡­Lyla¡­I¡¯m¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± he paused then looked at her, confused, ¡°I¡­oh¡­by Astaril¡­what am I doing?¡± Lyla sank onto the nearest pew which was at the opposite end of the gallery to where they had entered. Her long fingers slid up her face, her ringlets tumbling forward like a veil and her shoulders bowed sharply.


    ¡°Lyla, forgive me¡­¡± Giordi groaned, walking away then turning back towards her. ¡°I¡­lost myself in the moment.¡±


    ¡°I have lost myself completely.¡± Lyla lamented.


    ¡°But I should not have presumed that I would be permitted to kiss you.¡± Giordi scrunched his eyes shut, mentally kicking himself. ¡°I mean, you are a woman of nobility,¡± this phrase only seemed to invoke a lamenting moan from Lyla, ¡°what right have I, a low class birth minstrel and a rather shabby one at that, to imagine that I could take such a liberty? You have every right to be disgusted and I blame you not for your rejection for it is only fair...¡±


    ¡°Oh would you just shut up!¡± Giordi was stunned as Lyla stood up and walked away from him. ¡°For once¡­let someone else speak!¡± Giordi clamped his lips together. Lyla looked at him with bright blue eyes, her mouth opening to say something but she was suddenly stricken with mutism. ¡°I¡­¡± She stammered several times then groaned and turned to flee¡­


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    ¡­and Giordi was resolved to let her. He watched her reach the doors and slip out of the gallery, the hem of the blue gown the last thing he saw go. He closed his eyes and slumped onto the pew, leaning forward and sighing so deeply, he probably filled the cavity of the gallery with his wordless lament.


    He was so lost in his self pity he didn¡¯t hear footsteps approach him and only knew someone was in the room with him when they sat so close on the pew that their heat mingled with his. Giordi sat up and twisted, Lyla¡¯s blue eyes gazing into his.


    ¡°Lyla?¡±


    She scooped her fingers through his blond curls and pressed her soft lips against his in a long, tender kiss. Giordi sank into it, even leaning forward slightly when she drew back. He opened his eyes and saw Lyla stand and hurry to the door, this time looking back at him once before she disappeared again.


    This time Giordi¡¯s sigh was filled with tremors of pleasure that rippled through the atmosphere, brightening the hues of the paintings and coating everything with a sheen of brilliance.


    Verne fled from the gallery, down the stairs, around to the right and waited in a shadowed alcove in case she was followed. Her heart was hammering and her mouth was dry yet she knew it had nothing to do with exertion or exercise. Not even dancing with Giordi had had such a powerful effect on her¡­well, it had been profound¡­then she had kissed him.


    Verne closed her eyes and refused to entertain the memory. She had to concentrate and make sure she could slip back to her room without being seen. It would be hard to explain away her presence in a part of the fort that she had no business being. She dashed down the corridor towards the door, wrenched the handle and pushed it open, flinging herself in and closing it behind her.


    ¡°Verne?¡± Aalis¡¯ voice was quivering with concern.


    Verne closed her eyes and breathed in and out. ¡°I kissed Giordi.¡± The words leapt out of her mouth without pause or consideration. It was as though she had to tell someone or else it might not have happened.


    ¡°You kissed¡­¡± Aalis paused. ¡°You mean, he kissed you?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean¡­he was going to¡­then I kissed him.¡± Verne ran her hand through her ringlets, pulling them out of their tight curls into looser strands. ¡°I¡­what was I thinking? I must have been out of my mind!¡±


    ¡°To kiss the man you love?¡± Aalis huffed sadly. ¡°No, out of your mind would be not kissing him.¡±


    Through the haze of heightened adrenalin and reeling senses, Verne heard heavy grief. She stood upright and peered into the room, finding Aalis sitting on the window seat at the far end.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Verne moved closer. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Aalis nodded even as tears trickled out of her eyes. Verne hurried forwards. ¡°Aalis? What happened?¡±


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°Judd was here.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡± She nodded. ¡°Why?¡±


    She gave a small huff. ¡°He saw the dress. He knows, Verne.¡±


    Verne sank onto the window seat, the tremor of horror that someone else knew her secret coming in second to the concern she felt for her friend. ¡°That can¡¯t be all,¡± she probed gently, ¡°surely?¡± The stream of tears down Aalis¡¯ face traced the line of her jaw, collected at her chin and dripped into her lap. There was quite a damp patch on her dress. ¡°Was he angry?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Aalis sniffed, ¡°not at first¡­not until I told him¡­¡± She sobbed brokenly, unable to say what she had said.


    ¡°You told him you couldn¡¯t love him the way he loves you.¡±


    Aalis nodded. ¡°Verne¡­you should have seen his face! I broke his heart! After everything I have done, I still ended up wounding him!¡±


    Verne grasped Aalis¡¯ hands and held firmly to them. ¡°Aalis¡­why did you break his heart?¡±


    She looked up, aghast. ¡°You know why.¡±


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡± Verne went to protest but was silenced as Aalis held up her hands. All her nails were dark and cracked. ¡°No¡­¡± Verne grasped them and stared. ¡°But¡­they weren¡¯t like this before!¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Aalis drew her hands back and shivered, ¡°ever since the channel¡­since the sirens¡­my toenails were the first to change and after the hydra the fingernails on my left¡­but now all of them¡­¡±


    Verne studied Aalis. ¡°You never said¡­and we¡¯ve shared a room anytime it was possible¡­and you still kept them hidden?¡±


    ¡°I¡­was¡­frightened.¡±


    It hurt that she hadn¡¯t been confided in but Verne could see how distressed Aalis was. ¡°Do you think,¡± she said, offering some kind of logical thought, ¡°that the sirens did this to you?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it.¡±


    ¡°Why? They might have tainted you somehow. I mean, the water couldn¡¯t have been tainted or else my nails would have blackened from when I fell in but maybe one of them¡­¡±


    ¡°I killed one.¡± Verne¡¯s word died out. Aalis gazed at her sadly. ¡°The men were all tied together, you had fallen into the water and the siren closest to me mocked my impotence, laughing because no matter what I did to defend any of you¡­I could not touch them. I lunged for its neck and actually felt it beneath my fingers so I squeezed¡­and sucked the life out of it.¡±


    Despite the fur cloak, Verne shivered. ¡°I take it the rest of the sirens didn¡¯t want to risk your ire?¡±


    ¡°I guess so.¡± Aalis gazed out of the window at the black sky through the thick glass.


    ¡°But¡­if you¡¯ve never touched taint and it can¡¯t be passed down from parent to child¡­¡±


    ¡°That is according to the Order of the Grail,¡± Aalis admitted then sighed, her tears drying out on her skin, ¡°although, that being said, I know my family were never tainted¡­but ever since I was a child, I have been different.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    Aalis hugged her body. ¡°I¡­I can hear voices.¡±


    ¡°Voices? Now?¡±


    ¡°No, when I was a child. Always talking, always filling my head with overlapping noise. I could not sleep and I became so desperate I tried to knock myself unconscious.¡± Verne¡¯s usually quite reserved heart broke at her tale. ¡°I thought I was insane and I think others felt the same way. But after a while I started to realise that the voices were actual conversations between people around me, in other rooms¡­people who were nowhere near me at all.¡± Verne swallowed, not sure she could say anything of any relevance to what Aalis was speaking about. ¡°I seem to absorb sound through objects that we both have in common with.¡±


    ¡°Like¡­¡±


    ¡°Floors.¡± Aalis pointed. ¡°Everyone in Fort Mavour stands on a floor somewhere and if I were to put my hand on the stone here,¡± she rested her fingers against the wall next to her, ¡°and concentrated, I could hear conversations and¡­other encounters, in almost every corner of the fort.¡±


    ¡°But¡­this place is huge!¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Aalis dropped her hand. ¡°It is not just sound but I absorb other things as well.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°Toxins from blood, even infections and when I touched the water in the Fort Faine forest, I could tell it was contaminated.¡±


    Verne¡¯s head reeled. ¡°You¡¯ve been able to do all this since you were a child?¡±


    Aalis nodded. ¡°In the end, the only relief I found was to be isolated in a room, far, far away from anyone else. I slept on a bed suspended from the ceiling where the only things connecting me to anything else were the loops the chains of the bed hung from. It did not stop the chaos in my mind but it was a great deal quieter.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t imagine¡­¡±


    ¡°Then, as I grew older and into adolescence, I seemed to become better at managing the absorption, even to the point where I could be among others again.¡±


    Verne glanced at her hands. ¡°Were your nails like this then?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Aalis shook her head.


    ¡°If you began to be able to control it and you could interact normally¡­why hide in the forest and call yourself a witch?¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes. ¡°Because¡­I have killed with these powers.¡±


    ¡°The siren, sure¡­¡±


    ¡°No, before the siren.¡± Aalis closed her eyes, tears slipping out from beneath her lashes. ¡°I¡­lost control and blacked out. When I came too and I saw what I had done¡­I ran away and ended up cared for by the witch, Dragoslava. And that is how Judd and Caste found me, years later.¡± She shivered, the warmth of the fire fighting against the chill of the outside world and Aalis was pressed up against the glass. Verne removed her cloak and draped it over her. ¡°So you see¡­after we leave here, I will return to the village I came from because I am too dangerous to be around people permanently.¡±


    ¡°And Judd will leave you there, broken hearted.¡± Aalis flinched and looked away. ¡°Because that¡¯s what he is going to be, Aalis. That¡¯s what he already is.¡±


    ¡°What would you have me do?¡± Aalis cried softly. ¡°If it is uncovered that Judd has had an association with a witch, his knighthood would be revoked! I would be responsible for ruining his life!¡±


    Verne opened her mouth to argue¡­when she realised she couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± Verne blurted then sagged against the window frame. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She admitted softly and they both sat on the window seat, each overwhelmed by the fullness of their hearts yet the lack of fulfillment of their souls.

 It looks as though I am not the only one keeping secrets

    The next morning, Verne lay awake in the master bed she shared with Aalis. It had been a long, restless night. Verne had spent enough time sleeping next to Aalis to know when she was really asleep and when she was lying still. So it was no surprise to her when she swung her legs over the side of the bed and pulled the heavy curtain aside that Aalis rolled over.


    ¡°Are you getting up?¡±


    Verne nodded. ¡°No point prolonging the inevitable.¡± She moved over to the fire and poked around the ashes, finding hot coals that were hibernating deep within, pulsing softly. Verne quickly and expertly built a fresh fire over the top of the coals. When she was sure that there would be a hearty blaze shortly, Verne poured some water from a jug into its matching bowl and as quickly as she could, used her hands to wet her hair then dragged a comb through it until every ringlet, curl and lock was dead straight.


    She heard Aalis sit up when she pulled a sharp blade out of her bag and hacked off the excessive length, bringing the straight strands up to her shoulders once more.


    ¡°Oh Verne,¡± Aalis said softly, ¡°you are really not going to tell him?¡±


    Verne shook her head, smiling sadly as she gathered  the uneven lengths of black hair and tossed them onto the flames which gobbled them up eagerly.


    ¡°How much you guess from a simple haircut.¡±


    Aalis sighed. ¡°It is not a simple haircut. You are retreating into the Verne we first met, terse and silent, short black hair and,¡± Verne tied the bandana around her head, ¡°wearing your customary bandana.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget my trousers, tunic, vest, coat, boots, scarf and gloves.¡± Verne said, throwing off her nightshirt and dressing quickly. ¡°There is frost on the outside windowsill. Dress warmly today.¡±


    Aalis didn¡¯t have the heart to argue, bundling her clothes into her swag. She dressed in her nomad clothing, making sure to wrap the fur mantle around her shoulders. As she checked the room for anything she had missed, Aalis noticed the blue gown was still draped over a chair, the black fur cloak as well.


    ¡°What should I do with the dress?¡± She asked, looking at Verne who was lacing her boots up, tightening them resentfully, crushing her rediscovered femininity back beneath leather, cotton and an assumed mask.


    ¡°It¡¯s yours. You paid for it.¡±


    ¡°I bought it for you.¡±


    ¡°Aalis,¡± Verne stopped and closed her eyes, ¡°I am never going to have the opportunity to wear it again.¡±


    ¡°You never know¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes I do!¡± Verne cried, softening her tone but sharpening her gaze. ¡°Last night was incredible but it¡¯s over.¡± She returned to her laces. ¡°Better to leave it as a wonderful memory than destroy it in the harsh light of reality.¡±


    Aalis swallowed and picked it up. ¡°I will put it in my swag and should the opportunity arise, I will sell it on the journey home. The fur cloak as well.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Verne said tersely, buckling her belt around her waist. They both looked up at the knock on the door and it opened a crack.


    ¡°We¡¯re awake in here and are packing.¡± Giordi¡¯s voice reached them. ¡°We need to wait until the Donimedes are decent to give a courteous farewell but when we receive word that they are ready, Judd wants to leave immediately.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Thank you Giordi.¡± Aalis answered when Verne would not. Aalis sat on the bed and tugged on her thick, fur lined boots and grasped the shawl she had been gifted with from Lady Jocasa.


    ¡°Going somewhere?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Not far.¡± Aalis insisted. ¡°There is something I need to do before we leave but I will return well before that happens.¡±


    Caste¡¯s eyes felt gritty and sore. It was a familiar sensation, of reading by candlelight long after natural light had passed, as well as his body¡¯s first, second and third cries for sleep. He packed a few final belongings into his swag, yawning which only seemed to make him feel more tired. When he had gone to Judd¡¯s chambers to show him the proof of the slaying of the minotaur, Judd had informed Caste that they would be leaving in the morning.


    ¡°If only that was all he had told me.¡± Caste grumbled, seeing a piece of parchment sticking out of his swag. He was undecided how he felt about Judd¡¯s intention but there was no misinterpreting Caste¡¯s ire at being included in it.


    Caste picked up the box that had travelled with him all the way from Astaril, containing various bits and pieces of withered, bloodied and disgusting monsters, evidence of Judd¡¯s kills. He opened the box and quickly counted all the pieces, coming to the grand total of nine. Up until yesterday, there had only been eight but with the addition of a minotaur horn, there were now nine. Caste sighed and took the piece of paper from the lid of the box which listed all the monsters Judd was supposed to kill.


    There had been great rejoicing in Fort Mavour that they had witnessed Judd slay the final monster on the list, making his knighthood a matter of confirmation and formality as opposed to the adolescent dream he had possessed when first leaving Astaril.


    However, there were ten monsters on the list.


    Caste traced his finger down the carefully written monster titles.


    ¡°Basilisk, orthros, goblin/goblins, cockatrice, an ogre, a werewolf, a creature of unnatural size, a unicorn¡­and a minotaur is number ten.¡± He sighed and pressed back the pressure in his mind by squeezing his nose. ¡°Just missing the witch¡­¡±


    Caste¡¯s preferred method of viewing the world in black and white was so coloured with grey that it was hard even for Caste to see where the lines of distinction were anymore. He opened his eyes and glared at the list.


    ¡°Somehow this is all your fault.¡± He said to the list. Despite wanting to screw it up and cram it in the box, along with all his frustrations, slamming the lid closed and locking it for good measure, Caste¡¯s sensibilities dictated that, as always, he had to neatly fold it.


    So he was surprised and a little concerned when he noticed that the bottom corner of the well-travelled piece of paper was creased, as though it had been caught carelessly in the lid and unforgivably folded over¡­a thing Caste was very careful to avoid.


    He tucked it into the box, unwilling to think on anything else that would upset him and closed the lid, hearing footsteps approaching the room.


    ¡°Do you need any help packing?¡± Cleric Rodel asked behind him.


    ¡°Actually, I think I have it all under control.¡± Caste said, putting the box in his bag and buckling the flap in place.


    ¡°As always.¡± Rodel nodded, Caste slinging his swag onto his back. ¡°I just received word that Sir Donimede is ready to farewell LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Then my time here is at an end.¡± Caste slid his other arm through the swag, feeling his already tired body ache at the weight. He hoped he would be able to let either Quell or Zeke carry it once they reacquired their mounts from the Mavour stables.


    ¡°I will walk with you.¡± Rodel offered yet, despite his friendly gesture, they hardly spoke, travelling from corridor to stair to corridor, heading down to the foyer in silence. ¡°You did not get much sleep.¡±


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    Caste had been unable to smother his yawn. ¡°I got enough.¡± He excused.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a question,¡± Rodel said rather firmly, ¡°I know it. You left the feast with the excuse of being overly tired but when I returned to my room, you were not there and did not arrive until much later.¡±


    Though phrased lightly, Caste could feel rather than hear the accusation beneath his tone¡­and Caste was already ginger and anxious.


    ¡°Then you must have come back quite late as I tried to sleep but the chaos of the day kept my mind awake,¡± Caste retorted, ¡°so I repaired to the library to copy some notes of the sporadic tomes of Mavour until the work exhausted me enough to sleep.¡± He looked at Rodel with his emerald green eyes. ¡°What were you doing up so late? Following a certain daughter?¡±


    Rodel stopped on the stair, his faded blue eyes sharpening. ¡°I don¡¯t think I care for your tone.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I care.¡± Caste returned, not stopping his stomp down the stairs. He didn¡¯t bother looking back at Rodel, knowing he wasn¡¯t accompanying him anymore, heading straight to the foyer where Giordi, Verne and Aalis were waiting in a huddle, Judd standing apart from them, adjusting his sword. Caste didn¡¯t look at him, standing with the other three and Judd didn¡¯t try to catch his gaze. There was very little time to speak when Sir Donimede descended upon their party, looking like a ghost, his skin even paler in the cold light that drifted through the windows. If the chill from beneath the doors was anything to go by, it was a frigid day in Mavour.


    ¡°Sir Donimede.¡± Judd walked towards him and bowed.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre,¡± Donimede remained on the second last step, taller than Judd by a head and a half as he did so, ¡°off to Astaril to claim your knighthood.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a long journey and I am looking forward to¡­Lady Jocasa¡­Willower¡­¡±


    Sir Donimede turned, unable to mask his surprise at the presence of his wife, wrapped in a gown of billowing proportions. Despite the obvious nature of the gown, to be worn in the bedchamber, Lady Jocasa managed to look as regal as she had the night before, possibly after beauty ointment was smothered over the shadows beneath her eyes. Her formally curled and arranged hair was in waves down her back and around her face. Willower appeared to be better ready for the day, dressed in a deep blue gown and her robe, a navy fur lined ensemble designed to keep out the worst chill.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre,¡± Lady Jocasa came down to his level and held out her hand to him, ¡°we could not let you go without seeing you off ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Forgive the earliness of the hour at which I feel propelled to leave,¡± Judd apologised sincerely, ¡°I had hoped¡­¡±


    ¡°You are eager to receive your knighthood and I am joined with my daughter,¡± she glanced at Willower then back at Judd, ¡°in saying, no one deserves it more. Think of us when you are in Astaril, receiving your earned appointment.¡±


    ¡°I shall never forget your hospitality and kindness.¡± Judd kissed her hand lightly then stepped back. ¡°I wonder¡­might I speak with your daughter before I go?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Judd held his arm out and Willower took it as he escorted her to the empty corner of the foyer where they could speak in private.


    ¡°Willower,¡± Judd licked his lips, so ashamed, ¡°my conduct last night¡­no matter my personal consternation, I had no business kissing you in that manner,¡± he swallowed, ¡°I am so sorry.¡±


    There was a long, heavy pause before Willower spoke.


    ¡°I am not.¡± Judd frowned and lifted his brown eyes to meet her tender gaze. ¡°In that moment, Judd LaMogre, I was blessed with a revelation of¡­scathing proportions.¡± Willower¡¯s eyes flickered briefly towards her parents as she shifted her shoulders so there was no way that they could read her lips, let alone hear her words. ¡°I told you once that I would happily accept a proposal of a man that I knew was in love with someone else just for the sake of being married.¡± She pressed her lips together. ¡°When I said that, it was the absolute truth, that I might finally earn my father¡¯s love and escape my spinster burgeoning status.¡± Judd went to argue but Willower put her fingers to his lips. ¡°These past few days have been wonderful¡­yet yesterday¡¯s events made me doubt myself and your kiss¡­¡± She brushed a curl from his forehead. ¡°I realised I might be able to stomach such an arrangement¡­but that little by little, day by day, I would die inside,¡± her hazel eyes dropped to the ground, ¡°all for the sake of being called the wife of a man who does not love me and for a father¡¯s approval who has no love for anyone other than himself.¡± He breathed in deeply and let it out, his heart aching for Willower. ¡°I know that now, as sure as I know that I would prefer to be alone than to accept such a proposal.¡±


    ¡°Willower¡­¡± Judd took her hands and held them. ¡°You deserve so much better.¡±


    Willower smiled. It was sad but he noticed there was a peace in them. She wasn¡¯t jittery with pretence or suffocating with desperation. She had found herself.


    ¡°I know I agreed to this farce of falling in love with you, Judd LaMogre, but in doing so, it is possible I have already begun to,¡± he cringed, ¡°so if you ever fall out of love with whoever it is you were kissing last night¡­and I have not fallen out of love with you¡­I hope you will call on me.¡±


    Judd nodded and smiled as best he could. ¡°Then that is how we will leave it.¡± He said through his tight throat. ¡°Thank you for everything, Willower.¡±


    He led her back to her parents and she stood behind her father. After another few bows and words, Judd slung his swag on his back and led his companions out of the foyer. He breathed in the icy air, allowing it to soak into his lungs as he carried his pack down the steps to the upper bailey where Xenon, Quell and Zeke were already waiting with Captain Chael and his eager seconds, Arsch and Kipre. Even sword master Roust was there. As the others loaded the two smaller horses with their belongings, Judd shook hands with all the men.


    ¡°I¡¯d say it would be dull around here without you,¡± Chael chuckled, ¡°but the truth is, with the Arena out of commission and locked up until the walls around it are re-enforced, Roust¡¯s guards will be occupied within the fort, and my soldiers will be patrolling close to the wall outside of it. We don¡¯t know if what happened weakened the integrity of the wall and will be looking for cracks and damage.¡±


    ¡°We have our work cut out for us.¡± Roust added. ¡°But that¡¯s what we do. My biggest regret was that, with the amount of noble bloods trying to escape the Arena, my men couldn¡¯t get in.¡± He looked at Verne and Giordi. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to point out your inventive method of circumventing doors and stairs to my men.¡±


    ¡°After surviving Sir Fereak¡¯s death drop, the leap into the Arena was not nearly as intimidating.¡± Verne explained.


    ¡°Should any of my men baulk at the Arena drop, I¡¯ll be sure to send them to Fort Omra to remind them how fortunate they are.¡± Roust chuckled. ¡°Safe travels, LaMogre. While I¡¯m sure you would survive almost any monster attack, I think you have more than earned a reprieve.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be toasting your knighthood, you can be sure of that.¡± Arsch looked at Kipre who nodded.


    Judd thanked them all and mounted Xenon. The gates to the upper bailey opened and he began to lead his small party out.


    ¡°Uh¡­Judd?¡± Giordi whispered. ¡°I know he acted out against you but¡­what about Suvau?¡±


    Judd¡¯s face remained impassive and stony.


    ¡°You can¡¯t just leave him here.¡± Verne insisted.


    Still Judd said nothing. Aalis uncurled one of her hands from beneath her mantle and the shawl draped over her front to touch his leg. ¡°Judd¡­please¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold your tongue,¡± he snapped harshly, shocking them all with the force of his words, ¡°and know your place.¡±


    Aalis recoiled to stand with the other two, Caste trailing along behind. The marketplace filled with civilians waving him out, cheering his name and saluting him. He waved back at them, urging Xenon towards the front gates. He had to farewell the gatekeepers and waved to the scouts then rode out onto the road that led due north. It was all the others could do to keep up with Xenon¡¯s brisk pace, Quell and Zeke happy to be stretching their legs and enjoying the fresh, albeit icy, air. In fact, Judd had moved ahead so quickly there was almost no breath left for them to speak.


    Wanting to preserve the look of Judd being their master, and by the way he was acting, he had been taking lessons from Donimede, Verne and Giordi were reluctant to put Aalis and her cargo onto the back of one of the horses until they were out of sight from Fort Mavour¡¯s lookouts.


    ¡°I promise,¡± Verne panted, ¡°the moment we can, you can ride and rest, Aalis.¡±


    Aalis nodded, breathless and being cautious.


    ¡°I know Judd was anxious to leave Mavour¡­but this is ridiculous!¡± Giordi gasped.


    ¡°Nearly there.¡±


    The rise itself was not enough on its own to prevent the eager eyed lookouts of Mavour to see them, however, there was a thick line of trees that followed a stream which was the unofficial northern border of Fort Mavour¡¯s territory. As they headed for it, Judd looked back at them, already at the tree line.


    ¡°Oh look,¡± Giordi huffed, ¡°our gracious master has stopped to let us catch up.¡±


    ¡°It was your idea for Judd to foster the appearance of arrogant master.¡± Verne groused.


    As they got closer, Judd urged them to follow him, fording the stream and through the natural barrier to the other side. Immediately he turned around.


    ¡°I apologise for the manner in which I have been behaving,¡± he immediately announced, catching them all off guard and silencing their complaints, ¡°it has been¡­a very difficult time.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Verne muttered, folding his arms, ¡°all the food at the feasts, the dancing, the romancing of Donimede¡¯s daughter¡­¡±


    ¡°And I promise I will explain all of it,¡± Judd paused, ¡°but for now, we must make haste.¡±


    ¡°To Astaril for your knighthood?¡±


    Judd sighed then turned to Caste who kept his eyes down. ¡°Actually, I need to head east.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s east?¡±


    ¡°A small palisade that the nomads use when bringing the wild horses they¡¯ve captured and tamed to Mavour for trading. I saw it on one of the patrol rides.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Giordi looked around at them, ¡°east? Why aren¡¯t we heading north?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, stopping off at the nomads to explain to Yolana where her husband is?¡±


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°East first. We set up camp and I will explain what really happened.¡±


    Suddenly there was an indignant squall from Aalis¡¯s arms, still hidden beneath her shawl. Judd looked at Verne and Giordi who gaped at each other as if trying to work out what to say. He turned back to Aalis who unhooked her shawl at one shoulder and drew a small, dark skinned baby out of concealment. Judd drew back the edge of its swaddling clothes, his little face scrunching up at the touch of cold air after being so warmly ensconced.


    ¡°It looks as though I am not the only one keeping secrets.¡±

 That’s the sum total of your plan?!

    It was an accusation without heat, as though his heart had been wounded yet imagined it deserved to be so. Judd grasped Xenon¡¯s reins and led them east. The palisade was on the wrong side of the tree line for his purposes but utilised a natural rock formation as part of its structure to shield those who camped within from monsters and other invaders. In fact, the whole area was rock which made it even less likely of monster attack as they could not burrow through it.


    In the palisade was a corral for the horses with some shelter and a single, decent sized round hut with a thick thatched roof and clay sealed sides. Judd made sure the horses were fed and watered before ducking his head and entering the hut, knowing that there were four pairs of eyes staring at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to rescue Suvau,¡± he announced, answering the first and foremost question in all of their minds, ¡°and not just him. I¡¯m setting all those Maul slaves free.¡±


    Aalis nursed the babe she carried, having it suck milk from her fingers that she had made sure to purchase and store in advance. Now that Judd knew about it and they were in a safe place, she could hold him comfortably. Giordi sat cross legged and leaned forward, questions in his eyes and a slightly slack jawed look to his face. Verne sat back against the side of the hut, arms folded, long legs stretched out in front of him with his ankles crossed. Caste refused to look at Judd at all, staring at his own hands and had been similarly subdued all day.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to rescue the Mauls from Fort Mavour?¡± Giordi asked when the silence had stretched out to painful proportions. Judd nodded. ¡°From Sir Donimede?¡± Judd nodded again.


    Verne lifted his gaze a little. ¡°Is this because of what Suvau did in the Arena?¡± Judd sat down opposite them with his back to the doorway. ¡°Because he attacked you?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t attack me.¡±


    ¡°Looked like it to me.¡± Giordi snorted.


    ¡°That¡¯s what he intended,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t have all the answers for you. I don¡¯t know Suvau¡¯s side of the story. All I know is when he knocked me down to hit me¡­he was pulling his punches.¡±


    Giordi raised an eyebrow. Verne rolled his eyes. ¡°It means he wasn¡¯t hitting him with his full strength.¡±


    ¡°Oh. And that meant something to you?¡±


    ¡°It did when he spoke to me while barely hitting me.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°Suvau thinks he knows of a way to get his people out into the wall and needs my help.¡±


    ¡°The wall? Why not through the city?¡± Giordi closed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Never mind. That was a stupid question.¡±


    ¡°He thinks he knows a way?¡± Aalis asked.


    Judd cringed. ¡°Look, it was a very brief conversation¡­more like an angry, word per punch, communication. Tomorrow night, eastern wall, open door. Save my people.¡±


    Everyone was silent¡­everyone but Caste that is.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you had me research the blueprints of Fort Mavour on?¡± He exclaimed, the words bursting out of his mouth in fury. ¡°That¡¯s the sum total of your plan?!¡±


    ¡°He risked his life to tell me it!¡± Judd returned. ¡°I had to take him seriously. Then Donimede offered to have him killed so I had to leave him there, probably for the best so he could do his part from his side.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Verne sat up, ¡°tomorrow night? That¡¯s tonight. Eastern wall¡­that¡¯s how you know he¡¯s going to bring his people through the wall. Open door?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what Fereak said about the doors of the wall? They¡¯re bolted and barred. Besides,¡± Judd licked his lips, ¡°I think the Mauls will be in poor condition. Even if Suvau was able to get them out of the wall, if a monster attacked, they¡¯d have even less chance there than in the Arena.¡± He sighed and nodded. ¡°So I¡¯m going to get them out of there.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll help.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Verne and Giordi gaped at Judd. ¡°No?¡±


    Judd shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t let you.¡±


    ¡°And why not?¡± Verne said with a challenge in his voice.


    ¡°Go on, Judd,¡± Caste snapped tightly, ¡°tell them why you won¡¯t risk their lives¡­just yours and mine?¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­whose and why?¡±


    ¡°I needed to know where the doors in the wall are,¡± Judd explained, ¡°in order to approach the wall without being seen, I¡¯ll have to ride in the dark which means I need to have a good idea where the closest door to the fort is before setting out. I asked Caste to copy some of the blueprints of Fort Mavour which include the wall fortifications and doors.¡±


    ¡°And in doing so, you have included me in this¡­treasonous activity.¡±


    ¡°Treasonous?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Caste stood up, his red hair wild and his green eyes darting all over the place. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re going to be stealing¡­from a knight!¡±


    ¡°Caste,¡± Judd faced him, ¡°those people are being whipped by Terras and killed by monsters! You can¡¯t turn a blind eye to it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not blind. I¡¯m respectful.¡±


    ¡°Respectful.¡± Caste nodded furiously at him. ¡°Of a man like Donimede?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a holder of a knighthood, bestowed by King Rocheveron!¡± Caste roared, their small hut filled with anger and fear. ¡°He might be the most arrogant, despicable, foul mouthed man in all of Terra¡­but he¡¯s a knight! He¡¯s his own authority, entrusted with by the King! And when he catches you¡­¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Judd vowed.


    ¡°When he catches you,¡± Caste reiterated in a hard tone, ¡°he will be able to act as judge, jury and executioner. You will be killed¡­and all those associated with you.¡±


    Judd gazed at Caste sadly. ¡°Are you worried about my neck or your own?¡±


    ¡°I told you,¡± Caste pointed at him, ¡°that my being assigned to you on this ridiculous knighthood would be the end of me. But I began to hope that maybe, just maybe, I would survive your foolishness and return to Astaril and my beloved order¡­now, when all you have to do is receive your knighthood, you drag me into this folly!¡±


    ¡°If I am caught,¡± Judd allowed, ¡°I will claim full responsibility.¡±


    ¡°And how long do you think it¡¯ll take someone like Alast or Rodel to whisper in Donimede¡¯s ear that you couldn¡¯t have done this without intellectual help?¡± Caste demanded, going to his pack and pulling the parchment out with his tracings on it. He waved it at Judd. ¡°Do you really think they¡¯ll believe you when it was impossible without knowledge that could only be found in the Mavour library? Knowledge traced onto this parchment in my handwriting?¡±


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    Judd closed his eyes and sighed. ¡°Caste¡­if I could have done this without you, I would have. But I can¡¯t¡­and I can¡¯t leave those souls in that fort to make sport for people who feasted and danced and celebrated hours after an innocent man was murdered for the sake of their entertainment.¡±


    ¡°And your knighthood.¡±


    ¡°Caste!¡± Aalis gasped.


    ¡°That was unfair, cleric.¡± Verne added.


    Caste¡¯s jaw was hard yet it quivered slightly. He looked away from Judd. There was an awkward silence filled only with the yawning of the baby in Aalis¡¯ arms and the gurgle he gave as he settled into his nap.


    ¡°I know what my knighthood cost,¡± Judd said softly, ¡°that¡¯s why I can¡¯t ever let it happen again. Suvau¡­he¡¯s our friend, Yolana¡¯s husband and Emeri¡¯s father. He needs us¡­and I won¡¯t abandon him.¡± Judd held out his hand. ¡°The map, please.¡±


    Caste looked at his hand, unwilling to meet his eyes. ¡°And if I refuse?¡±


    Judd kept his hand outstretched. ¡°Suvau is a strong man but even he won¡¯t last long in that place. Please, Caste¡­let me help him and his people. I won¡¯t force you or steal it from you¡­but I am asking you to imagine if you could live with this knowledge?¡±


    Verne, Giordi and Aalis held their breaths as Caste wrestled internally. He looked like a statue, not blinking, barely breathing¡­the only movement being his fingers tightening on the scroll trapped in his fingers. Finally, violently, he thrust it at Judd who caught it.


    ¡°Take it,¡± he said venomously, ¡°but know that I am done.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t involve you any further in this.¡± Judd vowed.


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand,¡± Caste leaned towards him, bristling with fury, ¡°I am done. Never ask me for anything, ever again. I will not comply and I will not assist. I will only do that which is within the realm of my role as the cleric on your knighthood quest. Apart from that¡­do not speak to me.¡± He pushed the heavy leather flap away from the door and stormed outside.


    Judd¡¯s shoulders bowed and he scrunched the scroll in his hands tightly.


    ¡°Caste will cool down,¡± Giordi insisted gently, ¡°he always does.¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s right,¡± Judd whispered brokenly, ¡°I have pushed him so much further than he ever deserved. This was my quest and everyone else joined of their own volition. He was only ever obligated to me, assigned against his will. And in the end, I betrayed his trust.¡±


    Giordi stood and put his hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Then we need to ensure this endeavour is successful.¡±


    Judd nodded and knelt, spreading the map out on the ground and peered at it in the light of the hut. It would not take long for the shadows to lengthen and the sun to set. Days were terribly short this far south however, Judd wanted to try to scout out the land from a distance before he attempted to navigate it in the dark. Not that a long night was a bad thing. This far south, he knew he ought to be more concerned with moving further north as soon as possible but a long night meant an earlier start on his rescue, more time to get the Mauls out of Mavour territory and, with the soldiers concentrating patrols close to the wall, there was less chance of them being discovered¡­if Judd could figure out where Suvau would most likely be waiting for him.


    Thankfully the early morning patrols with Captain Chael had helped him become familiar with the general landscape and with the copied blueprints in front of him, Judd could trace a shallow gully, filled with stones built as a firebreak between fields, that lined up vaguely with the first door. It was too close for comfort to Mavour and what with extra soldiers because the structural integrity of the Arena was in question, there would be more soldiers than ever¡­but Judd couldn¡¯t take the risk that Suvau would come to the same conclusion and go to the second door.


    As he poured over the details, Aalis changed the bumfodder of the baby swiftly, wrapping him up warmly then scooping him into her arms.


    He wanted to ask her about the baby.


    He wanted to ask her about a lot of things.


    But Judd¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t take it at the moment.


    There was a great deal at stake and to be distracted by another, gut wrenching rejection, would only serve to dishearten him. So he kept his eyes down and his mind on the task at hand. Eventually Caste came inside, unable to stand the cold any longer but he made a point of sitting with his back to Judd and refused to engage anyone in conversation. Giordi and Verne collected firewood but Judd had to warn them that it was not to be lit until dark and only so long as the hut was closed up, the smoke escaping through the hole in the roof.


    ¡°Fire can be seen at a great distance at night.¡± He explained, rolling the map up, chewing on some dried meat to keep his stomach from making too much noise. ¡°Make sure to keep the leather flap tightly closed and I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t risk a lookout spotting the smoke while it¡¯s light. You¡¯ll have to wait until dark to light the fire.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take all necessary precautions.¡± Giordi promised.


    ¡°And if I¡¯m not back by dawn, I want you to pack up and head for the northern nomad camp,¡± he held his hand up before Giordi could protest, ¡°that¡¯s not up for discussion.¡±


    Giordi nodded obediently. ¡°Fair call.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Judd drew the flap aside and looked at the sky, ¡°the sun is going down. There¡¯s less than an hour before only the memory of light remains. Should be enough time to reach the gully I need to ride down.¡±


    ¡°You are taking Xenon?¡± Aalis asked, speaking to him for the first time in hours.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about the state of the Mauls.¡± Judd picked up his cloak and swung it around his shoulders, flicking it over the sheath of his sword. ¡°If needed, some of them can ride him.¡± He tugged on his gloves, wrapped a scarf around his neck and put his hood up, looking at Giordi. ¡°How did we go gathering warm clothing for the Mauls to wear?¡±


    ¡°Verne¡¯s on it. He¡¯s outside.¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯ll be off.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound like you¡¯re just popping out for an ale.¡± Giordi remarked then pulled a bottle of liquor out of his pack. ¡°Here, take this.¡± He held it out. ¡°A small sip here and there will help chase the chill away in your bones.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Judd pocketed it. ¡°Look after each other. See you soon, Caste.¡± The cleric refused to acknowledge his farewell. Judd sighed and ducked his head as he pulled the leather flap aside, making sure it rested securely in place. Verne was by the horses, bundling every cloak, spare shirt, trouser, socks and gloves into a swag they¡¯d emptied. ¡°That¡¯s great, Verne. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Verne said as Judd hoisted the swag onto Xenon¡¯s back, ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡± Judd answered without pause.


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m telling you what not to do.¡± Judd grouched.


    ¡°I am going with you, end of story.¡±


    ¡°Verne¡­¡± Judd turned to him, the memory of the night before returning to him as Verne¡¯s blue eyes blazed into his own. ¡°You¡­you¡­just¡­you can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Verne demanded and Judd¡¯s eyes flickered away. His shoulders bowed and he shook his head. ¡°Because I¡¯m a¡­a¡­uh¡­¡±


    Judd opened one eye and peered at her, seeing her ingrained protective habit slam into place, strangling her words.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± He winced.


    ¡°Well¡­you know¡­I think¡­¡±


    Judd sighed and tilted his head back. ¡°Yeah¡­I know.¡±


    ¡°There you are then.¡±


    ¡°There I am where?¡±


    ¡°Refusing to let me help.¡±


    ¡°Oh come on, Verne!¡± Judd shook his clenched hands. ¡°You just¡­you can¡¯t go and it¡¯s got nothing to do with¡­that¡­thing.¡±


    ¡°There has to be a reason and that can only be it! After all, you never baulked at my aid before.¡± Verne folded her arms. ¡°Unless you¡¯ve suddenly decided that I¡¯m made of glass just because I have breasts?¡±


    ¡°Thanks for that mental image!¡± Judd closed his eyes and laughed. ¡°Verne¡­you are beyond a doubt the bravest and most competent person in the battlefield that I¡¯ve travelled with. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything you¡¯re frightened of.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡± Judd pushed his hands through his hair. ¡°So¡­Caste was right to be cautious. I mean¡­if I¡¯m caught, I can deflect blame from him by saying he copied the plans to the wall because I lied about needing them for my knighthood quest.¡± He put his hand on Verne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I can protect him. I can¡¯t protect you, someone who volunteered¡­and that I would never be believed to have been able to force.¡± He dropped his hand and turned to Xenon, checking his saddle. ¡°You¡¯d wind up in the stocks with me or worse, in prison.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be popular.¡± Verne joked and Judd looked at her, pained. ¡°Right¡­poor taste.¡± Verne cleared her throat. ¡°Judd, Suvau is my friend and that place is worse than Maul¡­because its humans enslaving, torturing and murdering other humans. At least monsters don¡¯t differentiate. We all bleed red.¡± Judd pressed his forehead against his saddle. ¡°Is that a yes?¡± Judd grunted. ¡°I¡¯m taking that as a yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d have a hard time stopping you¡­and I¡¯m running out of daylight.¡±


    ¡°Well then,¡± Verne untied Quell, already saddled and ready to go, ¡°shall we?¡±


    Judd chuckled and nodded. ¡°We shall.¡±


    They mounted their horses and left the palisade, Giordi opening the gate for them and closing it behind. Judd looked over his shoulder then back at Verne.


    ¡°He already knew you were coming with me, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah.¡±


    Judd frowned. ¡°Does he know?¡±


    ¡°Know what?¡± Verne made an ¡®O¡¯ with her mouth and nodded. ¡°Oh¡­that¡­no, he doesn¡¯t¡­and I don¡¯t want him to know.¡±


    Judd nodded, realising that, had he not seen the gown and recognised Verne at the feast, he would still be ignorant which seemed to be Verne¡¯s preference.


    Verne glanced at Judd. ¡°You know this will all be for naught if Suvau can¡¯t get the Mauls into the wall.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Judd admitted, following the line of the rocks, keeping as much of a barrier between himself and the wall as they backtracked almost as far as they had come, ¡°but Suvau took a big risk to communicate so little in a very dangerous moment. If there is any chance at all, he won¡¯t let that slip away.¡±

 I will show you the way…but I will not force you

    The Mauls had been left alone since Suvau had returned from the Arena. Not even Jole had come to give them rations. Suvau¡¯s stomach was growling like a werewolf and his was not the only one. Even the other prisoners who were used to Urik¡¯s spiteful displays of power that involved nearly starving them to death, could not silence the beast in their bellies.


    Suvau was very concerned. He was hoping for the evening ration to let him know what time it was or for any of his fellow prisoners to return from the fields where they had been permitted to work. But no one had been allowed out and so far, no food had arrived.


    It was possible that they were being punished for his actions in the Arena.


    Suvau went over it all again in his mind, trying to work out if he couldn¡¯t have made a different choice or at least communicated better with Judd but the options he had at his disposal were few and far between. He reasoned that, if for some reason Judd didn¡¯t understand what he¡¯d said, he might be able to break out of the wall himself¡­if he didn¡¯t pass out from hunger.


    He tested the strength of the manacles on the wall, knowing he¡¯d have to sacrifice some of his precious energy in breaking free and probably a great deal more in freeing the others. He wondered if he ought to at least pull his out of the wall to prove to himself that he could do so. However, just as he had made up his mind, they heard keys in the dungeon door and looked up to see Jole¡¯s hefty form fill the rectangle of dull light. He stomped down the steps, no bucket of slops or ladle in his hands.


    Clearly his visit was not about food.


    Suvau was surprised when Jole gestured for him to bring his hands in front then used cuffs to lock his hands together, releasing him from the wall manacles. Suvau was marched up the steps to where Urik was waiting. Without a word he turned and led Suvau through the fort into a room where there were vats of steaming water.


    ¡°Bathe.¡± Urik ordered. Suvau looked at him, astonished and a little suspicious. Urik looked pointedly at Jole. ¡°Go on.¡± Jole¡¯s hesitation was small but both Urik and Suvau noticed it. ¡°Oh stop pouting! Donimede demanded a scapegoat for the Arena debacle. He was hoping LaMogre would make a complete arse of himself at the feast¡­but all Donimede got was humiliated and Jocasa is certainly displeased with him. A smarter man knew that ruse was never going to work. LaMogre doesn¡¯t have a vindictive bone in his body. He would never kill a man in cold blood. He doesn¡¯t have the fortitude for it. Now bathe the Maul!¡±


    Jole tore Suvau¡¯s loin cloth off, at which point Suvau decided he would prefer to be in the water than out. It was hot and the salt in it stung the cuts on his body, his knuckles aching and his back still healing from Urik¡¯s whipping. He ducked beneath the surface and rinsed his hair until his scalp was so clean it tingled. His dark hair dripped with water, the braids from his temples becoming fully saturated. When Urik ordered him out, he was given a towel and dried himself as best he could. He didn¡¯t pay his imprisoners any heed for if they chose to ogle him, then they had their own issues that no modesty would be able to remedy.


    ¡°Put this on.¡± Urik held out a clean loin cloth, tied at the hip with an ornate buckle. The fabric only went halfway down Suvau¡¯s thighs and when he walked, the edges did not always meet.


    Urik marched Suvau back the way they had come but veered off before they went near the Arena. They seemed to be taking passages and stairs meant for servants so that they could make discrete entrances and exits from their master¡¯s chambers. There was no one about on them and as they climbed higher and higher, Suvau was painfully aware that they were getting further and further from the dungeon, the Arena and his imminent escape plan.


    They left the narrowest set of steps, emerging into a corridor where there was a set of doors with statues of maidens with their hands outstretched on either side of them. In their hands were lit candles and draped around their stone heads were wreaths of dried flowers.


    Urik knocked on one of the doors and immediately opened it as though knocking was a mere formality. Suvau nearly reeled at the wall of warmth that he walked into as Jole propelled him into the room. The fort was cold, the stone never really giving up its chill yet in this elegant and opulent chamber, the fire was so well tended and large, the heat in the air was like a giant blanket that wrapped around him.


    Urik pointed to a spot on a rug.


    ¡°Stand there.¡± Suvau did so, looking around the room with his eyes, keeping perfectly still otherwise. He noticed the plush bed covered in furs and draped with silk sheets from the four posts in the corners. There were highbacked chairs in front of the hearth and a table with a bowl filled with fruit. Sitting by the fire in a dark green gown, was a woman with red hair. Urik turned and cleared his throat. ¡°My lady¡­¡±


    ¡°Leave it on the table and get out.¡±


    Urik was not at all upset by the coldness of her words. He laid the key on the table and went to leave. ¡°You know what I am capable of,¡± he threatened softly, ¡°know that if you fail, I will kill every single Maul but you¡­and make you watch.¡±


    He stalked away, taking Jole with him and the doors closed, sealing Suvau in the chamber with the woman. She did not say anything, her wave of curling red locks rippling down her back when she picked up a brush and ran it through the strands.


    ¡°I must say,¡± she spoke at length, her hazel eyes appraising him, ¡°you are even better looking up close than you were in the Arena.¡± Suvau remained silent. Unless asked a direct question, he guessed it was best not to speak. ¡°I was supposed to be watching Judd LaMogre kill his minotaur¡­but I found watching you to be a much more enjoyable spectacle.¡± Still he said nothing. The woman the brush down. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±


    Suvau could only imagine one woman who would have the power, the gall and the knowledge to be able to summon a slave to her chambers.


    ¡°Lady Jocasa Donimede.¡±


    Her lips pursed together in pleasure. ¡°I see,¡± she said as she stood up, ¡°Urik told me you were not some witless slave.¡± She went to the table, her hips swaying with practiced rhythm. ¡°If that is true, you must be aware of the¡­precariousness of your situation.¡± She slid the key off the table and held it up. ¡°A single offense¡­and my husband would hang you from the south side of the wall and let the monsters of Maul feed on you while still alive.¡±


    Suvau wondered if she knew that she would probably be hanging there next to him.


    ¡°So¡­I will unlock these cuffs¡­and we can relax a little.¡± She walked towards him, every pore of her body oozing a lustful desperation as though she was making her own honey, sickly sweet and thick. ¡°Would you like that?¡± Suvau didn¡¯t answer as she traced the key up his arm, across his chest then down the middle, heading for his cuffed hands. ¡°Of course you would.¡±


    She stood in front of him and slid the key into the lock and gave it a quick turn, the cuffs falling off, striking the rug with a dull thud. ¡°There now, that was not so hard¡­¡± Her eyes gleamed with a wicked pleasure. ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°Suvau.¡±


    ¡°Suvau,¡± she said and to his shame, a thrill ran up his spine, ¡°how it rolls off my tongue¡­Suvau¡­¡± She walked backwards to her chair and sat, her eyes grazing him so deeply he wondered if she would draw blood. ¡°A slave as smart as you must have realised why you are here.¡± Suvau had to keep from asking if she meant Fort Mavour or in her bedchamber. ¡°I have what you would call¡­an arrangement with Urik. I provide additional funds to his income and in return he provides me with those who catch my eye in the Arena. And Suvau,¡± she leaned forward, her gown gaping scandalously, ¡°you have captured my eye like no other¡­as I see I have captured yours.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Suvau¡¯s skin become hot and he cursed his eyes that travelled her curves before realising what he was doing and looking away. Jocasa¡¯s affected laugh made him cringe.


    ¡°Other than the natural, primitive even, need for a man to be so satisfied¡­there are other rewards.¡± She stood and walked to the bowl of fruit, taking an apple from its apex and tossing it to Suvau who caught it, its polished red and yellow exterior giving off a wonderful aroma that had his stomach churning like it was a pit of vipers. ¡°Of course¡­these rewards are proportionate to the, well let¡¯s use the word ¡®effort¡¯, that you put in to¡­¡± She let her eyes do the talking, fluttering to the bed then back to Suvau who set the apple back with the rest of the fruit. He swallowed, an unconcealable display of tension which Lady Jocasa immediately interpreted as a symptom of his unspoken libido. ¡°So, Suvau,¡± she walked back to him, her fingers trailing down his chest to the ornate buckle on his loin cloth, ¡°shall we repair to the bed¡­and you can show me how much effort you can put in?¡±


    He could feel the loin cloth ties coming loose from the buckle, his hand slapping down on them, holding them tight. ¡°My lady,¡± he squeezed out through his thick tongue, ¡°there has been a grave error. I am a married man.¡±


    ¡°I am a married woman.¡± Jocasa was not dissuaded. ¡°Such legalities are not romantic in the boudoir where love from marriages has long since faded.¡±


    Suvau shook his head. ¡°The love I have for my wife has not faded. It is as vibrant as the day I married her.¡±


    ¡°Which only makes you that much more desirable,¡± Jocasa said, moving in even closer, ¡°the Maul I was with before was only too hasty in taking me up on my offer. But a man like you would know how to satisfy his wife¡­so satisfy this wife.¡±


    Suvau blinked and looked at her. ¡°I told her I would return to her.¡±


    ¡°And perhaps you even meant it,¡± Jocasa lamented, ¡°but the truth is, you will never leave this place. For a Maul, Fort Mavour is another word for death. Though you have only been here a few days, you know Urik¡¯s methods¡­and how he has a remarkable penchant for breaking soul, spirit and body. But I,¡± she walked around him, her fingers trailing lightly across his skin, ¡°can be your salvation.¡±


    ¡°Salvation?¡± Suvau trembled with pleasure and cursed himself the moment after.


    ¡°The rewards I spoke of earlier¡­not just food and warmth¡­and a warm bed and body,¡± she pressed up against his back then went up on tip toe and whispered in his ear, ¡°if you please me¡­I can keep you out of the Arena.¡±


    Suvau blinked. ¡°You can?¡±


    ¡°If a Maul pleases me, I pay Urik small bonuses to keep them out of the Arena.¡± Jocasa moved around in front of Suvau. ¡°I would not want to watch my preferred lover to perish as a monster lure.¡±


    Suvau closed his eyes, his heart aching like someone had injected it with monster toxin. He didn¡¯t even notice Jocasa leaning in towards him, her lips trailing up his neck then down his chest¡­until he yanked himself out of her space.


    ¡°No!¡± He cried, bumping the table, causing the bowl of fruit to upend, its contents scattering across the rug.


    Jocasa¡¯s eyes were wide and her expression was one of utter disbelief. ¡°No? You dare refuse me?¡±


    ¡°My lady, you are not my wife and that is not our bed.¡± Suvau insisted. ¡°Even if I am gone a hundred years, I will remain faithful to my wife.¡± He knelt, picked up an apple and held it out to her. ¡°I am not hungry for anyone else.¡±


    Jocasa¡¯s nostrils flared. She smacked the apple out of his hand. ¡°You have made a grave mistake.¡± She snarled, pulling on a bell rope. ¡°Urik will make sure you suffer in the Arena until you are begging to bed me.¡± Urik was quick to arrive. ¡°Take this Maul away.¡±


    ¡°Would you care for the other?¡±


    ¡°I am not in the mood!¡±


    Urik bowed, picked up the cuffs and locked them around Suvau¡¯s wrists, Jole glowering at him from the doorway. He was marched down the stairs and corridors, into the depths of the fort until Suvau reached the dungeon. The other prisoners looked up at his arrival.


    ¡°You should have kept that apple.¡± Urik sneered. ¡°You missed out on your rations.¡±


    Suvau slumped on the crate and Jole shackled him back into place.


    ¡°Goodnight. Sweet dreams.¡± Urik taunted and let Jole slam the door.


    The prisoners waited for Urik¡¯s footsteps to quieten before Gustin spoke up.


    ¡°We saved some for you. Well¡­some of us did.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Palo snapped.


    Suvau shook his head, his body thrumming with a burn in his veins that he only ever wanted to experience with Yolana. ¡°I don¡¯t need it. I just need to get out of here. We all do.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really serious about escaping?¡± Gustin huffed. ¡°I thought that was just ¡®new slave in the pit¡¯ talk.¡±


    ¡°I am very serious.¡± Suvau stood up and turned to the wall. He put one foot up on it, braced and pulled hard. The mortar around the manacles came away almost too easily. He made sure to scoop them up before they hit the ground.


    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Palo snorted, ¡°you¡¯re free!¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡± Suvau held up the key he¡¯d swiped when he¡¯d picked up the apple. Jocasa had left it in the lock of the cuffs and he¡¯d been able to grab it without her noticing.


    ¡°Like that key will fit all these.¡±


    ¡°The funny thing about manacles and keys and the simplistic design of them,¡± Suvau murmured, sliding it into the lock, ¡°is that most of the time you can just change the depth of penetration and angle and¡­¡± The cuffs opened and he pulled his hands free.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be¡­¡± Gustin let Suvau unlock his manacles. ¡°How¡¯d you learn that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a weaponsmith. I cut my teeth on manacles and keys.¡± Suvau continued to work, unlocking everyone¡¯s cuffs. ¡°I could have made do with a strong piece of wire but a key is much easier.¡± Within five minutes, he had unlocked everyone¡¯s bonds.


    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose that key will work on that door?¡±


    Before Suvau could answer Palo interrupted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if he has keys to the entire fort! The moment a guard, a solider¡­a servant or any Terra sees us, the alarm will be raised and we¡¯ll be lined up and executed.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not escaping through Fort Mavour. We need to get to the pit.¡±


    ¡°And out through Maul? Are you insane!¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± Suvau loomed over Palo, ¡°for a lad who is sure he¡¯s going to die, you avoid death a lot.¡±


    ¡°You bet I do!¡± Palo retorted. ¡°When it¡¯s insane and stupid and¡­¡±


    ¡°And Ermaus died¡­because Urik was infuriated by Donimede.¡± Suvau snapped back and Palo flinched away. ¡°Not for any reason except his own survival, securing his lifestyle. But Ermaus knew I had a plan to get you all out of here¡­and I think¡­¡±


    ¡°You think he gave himself up,¡± Oska said softly, ¡°because he believed it was possible?¡±


    Suvau sighed. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know¡­but if he had to die¡­then he¡¯s the last to die.¡± He looked around the dungeon where dark skinned faces, stained with hopelessness and fear gazed back at him. He wanted to tell them about Lady Jocasa¡¯s displeasure with him and Urik¡¯s threat. He wanted to make them realise that, because of his refusal to bed her, it was likely that they would all suffer. But he was ashamed of his reaction to her, grieved that his body had responded to her presence as though he had no control. Suvau had always maintained a steep level of control in his body¡­but when it came to passion and intimacy, he came undone like a youth panting over their first crush. He had kept that passion entirely for Yolana yet it seemed, not even two weeks after being apart from her, that he was unable to suppress his desire.


    He picked up the iron plate that had secured his manacles to the wall. Gustin was right to be concerned. The manacle key, while a simple design, would not work on the door. Fortunately, there were many other ways to open a door.


    ¡°Oska, bring me the other plate,¡± Suvau ordered, scraping at the wood the hinges of the door were bolted into the frame, ¡°do as I do.¡±


    Oska came up beside him and mimicked his actions. ¡°You really think this plan of yours is going to work?¡±


    Suvau couldn¡¯t look at him, his own shame and overwhelming suspicions making it hard for him to be objective. ¡°I believe so. No one would expect us to escape through the pit.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unique, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Oska seemed to be on the verge of asking something but clamped his lips shut instead and worked with an almost possessed focus. However, Suvau knew he wasn¡¯t so much focussed¡­as desperately trying to forget or ignore.


    Suvau¡¯s hinge gave way first then Oska¡¯s. While the door remained wedged in the frame, it only took a hefty pull by the two of them to yank it out of the opening and carefully set it aside. Suvau peered out into the empty corridor.


    ¡°Not a soul,¡± he looked back into the dungeon, ¡°let¡¯s go.¡± He was unsurprised at their reluctance.


    ¡°If we¡¯re discovered,¡± Gustin said softly, ¡°the punishment would be worse than what we already endure.¡±


    If Gustin, the mostly likely of prisoners to be eager to leave was hesitant, Suvau knew the rest would be even more so.


    ¡°What do you think will happen when Urik discovers the door is no longer on its hinges and your manacles are loose?¡± He demanded sharply.


    Gustin¡¯s eyes dropped.


    ¡°We¡¯ll pin the blame on you.¡± Palo spoke up from the darkened corner. ¡°After all, it has been all your doing.¡±


    Suvau wanted to pummel the young man, his hands curling into fists. Oska was silent as well. It was possible that he¡¯d have to drag them one by one, kicking and screaming, into the pit. Suvau began to wonder if he would be able to save anyone but himself.


    Then he realised, that was all he could do.


    ¡°I¡¯ve opened the door,¡± he said softly, ¡°and I will show you the way¡­but I will not force you.¡± He paused, gazing around their fear soaked expressions, the hope of living long since beaten out of them. ¡°I am not your master and you are not my slaves. This time,¡± he stepped over the threshold and in the corridor beyond, ¡°you have a choice.¡±

 It would take a miracle for us to get out of there

    Judd crept along the firebreak, lined with stones, which could either be filled with water if the fields were on fire or, if filled with oil, could provide barriers of fire. Despite the frantic need of monsters to devour humans, even they baulked at firewalls. It was harder to walk silently on the stones than it was on the grasses, however, Verne suggested he make the effort to move quickly and quietly on the firebreak as the stones would not give away his tracks going towards the wall or the tracks of many Mauls hurrying away from the wall.


    He glanced over his shoulder, unable to see Verne in the darkness. Xenon had been quite indignant that Judd was going somewhere without him. Verne had to hold tight to his reins. Thankfully the big stallion had a soft spot for the archer and conceded¡­somewhat.


    ¡°Petulant child.¡± Judd eyed his horse and Xenon winked at him.


    Verne promised to stay with the horses in the closest cover they could find near the firebreak and the wall. Since then, Judd was on his own.


    But it wasn¡¯t like he was bereft of thoughts.


    There were many things his mind wanted to ponder.


    The discovery of Verne¡¯s true gender.


    The enormity of the task he faced in rescuing the Mauls.


    The unlikelihood that he would succeed with so little to go on.


    The fact that he was indeed stealing from Sir Donimede, committing a very serious felony.


    His own heartbreak when Aalis had told him that his love for her would only ever be one sided.


    All of which were nipping at his concentration, wanting to be heard and deliberated upon at length.


    However, Judd closed the lid on everything, even anything to do with the rescue of the Mauls. He had to keep his eyes cast upward to the top of the fast approaching wall yet remain completely silent in his approach.


    Eventually he could no longer keep an eye on the soldiers patrolling the top of the wall. He was so close he had to be even more careful at being quiet, sometimes hearing them exchange words as the patrol routes crossed paths. He was relieved when he made the base of the wall, knowing it would be very difficult to see him unless the moon was shining directly on him and the soldiers looked straight down. Judd paused to catch his breath then turned, heading for the first door. The going was slow, the grass was dry, rustling at every movement and the little stones liked to burst beneath his boots.


    He reminded himself over and over that the nights were long and there was still plenty of time¡­


    ¡­until he reached the first door, thick, wooden panels reinforced in a metal frame¡­with a big padlock hanging from it.


    Judd looked at it and swore.


    Suvau hurried his people from the more used corridors and into the passage that went around the outside of the pit. And as he counted their number, he was relieved to see that it was indeed all of them. Gustin was the first, then Oska and one by one the Mauls peeled themselves from the terror of the dungeon that kept them bound with fear, out into the corridor. Even Palo.


    Suvau put the door back in place so that it looked like nothing was wrong. Even the door itself hadn¡¯t been damaged. The first anyone would know of their disappearance would be if someone attempted to open the door and it fell inwards.


    Since Jole had doled out rations, Suvau was relying on the habit that no one would even be close to the dungeon for many hours until ration slop was due again at daybreak.


    By then, Suvau hoped to be long gone.


    And not just long gone.


    Long, untraceable, gone.


    Thankfully there were no guards assigned to the Arena that they had seen. Donimede had probably assigned extra soldiers to the top of the fort, imagining they would be able to see anything heading towards the battered Arena as they had done in the past. There were crates and sandbags piled up against the doors that led directly into the Arena but they were removed quickly with the many hands that were starting to shake with the notion of freedom.


    Suvau opened the door and, after a quick scan through the pit, waved the Mauls in to join him. They clustered together, all having had done some time in the pit and no doubt, remembering every painful, terrifying moment in vivid detail. The monster corpses hadn¡¯t been removed to burn. Ermaus¡¯ body was hidden beneath and while Suvau hated that the elderly slave would receive the same fate as the monster corpses, he was grateful that his fellow Mauls wouldn¡¯t have to see what had befallen the kind man.


    He led them towards the gate. It was pitch black outside. Not even a faint glow of the fires of the mount of Maul reached them. There were no stars either so while the mount might be quiet, it was still smoking.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to need someone to climb up that rubble,¡± he pointed to the broken pillar and half collapsed balcony, ¡°to reach the gate mechanism. We need to lift it.¡± He looked at Oska. ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°I thought you said we weren¡¯t going into Maul.¡± Oska hesitated.


    ¡°What I said was, we were escaping through the pit.¡± Suvau¡¯s ire was rising at Oska¡¯s clear reluctance. ¡°Get up there and lift the gate.¡±


    Oska shifted on his feet. ¡°Why don¡¯t you lift the gate?¡±


    Suvau glowered at him, leaning towards his brother in law. ¡°Because I¡¯ll be down here, holding it up for you.¡±


    Oska swallowed and nodded, turning towards the rubble. He had only begun to climb when they heard applause. Suvau turned to the pile of rubble and looked up at what Oska was staring at. To their dismay, Urik stood on the balcony, Jole behind him, the slave driver clapping slowly with a mocking expression on his face.


    ¡°Well done,¡± Urik said dryly and the Mauls whimpered and gathered behind Suvau who put his hand out to protect them, ¡°out of all the escape attempts¡­this would have to be the most inventive. Out into Maul¡­quite frankly I can¡¯t believe this one,¡± he sneered at Suvau, ¡°talked any of you into it. As bad as you might think you have it in Mavour, I guarantee you, it¡¯s ten times worse out there. You¡¯ll be a walking buffet, a feast for the monsters¡­who¡¯s going to protect you then? Him?¡± Urik snorted. ¡°He¡¯s already damned you twice, once for refusing to break in the Arena and now, tonight, in the bedchamber of Jocasa Donimede,¡± Suvau felt Oska¡¯s eyes flicker to him briefly, ¡°do you really think you don¡¯t all suffer when one of you rebels?¡± Urik sighed and shook his head. ¡°Perhaps I have been too kind. Perhaps you need to be reminded of just how good you have it¡­and how precarious that goodness can be. Ah!¡± He snapped as Suvau took three steps towards him. ¡°You won¡¯t make it before I sound the alarm¡­would you care to damn them a third time? Or have you forgotten what happened to that old Maul that survived so many years only to be killed when you defied me? Now on your knees, all of you! Put your hands behind your heads!¡±


    Suvau bristled, knowing they were well and truly screwed. Oska dropped to his knees and Suvau could hear the others doing the same. Suvau saw Urik¡¯s deadly smile and felt his knees quiver. He didn¡¯t want to submit. He didn¡¯t want to let this despicable man win¡­but if he didn¡¯t¡­how many more of his people would suffer?


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Yolana,¡± he whispered, falling to his knees, putting his hands behind his head, ¡°forgive me¡­¡±


    ¡°Jole!¡± Urik said over his shoulder. ¡°Bind them and take them back to the dungeon¡­except for that one,¡± he pointed at Suvau, ¡°he¡¯s going to stay near the Arena so he can hear every scream, every whimper, every monster¡¯s thrilling cry as it sinks its teeth into the flesh of his people.¡± Urik leaned forward. ¡°And when you¡¯re well and truly broken, I¡¯ll toss you to Jocasa as a plaything. After all, I have come to enjoy my little bonuses.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s eyes glittered, his throat so tight that when he heard the snapping sound of a neck, he thought for a moment that he had snapped his own.


    Urik sagged over the balcony¡¯s edge, his head flopping lifelessly as Jole stood over him. Those brutish eyes took a moment to survey the corpse of his master then he looked at Suvau and nodded. He moved out of sight, Suvau scrambling to his feet.


    ¡°What was all that about?¡± Gustin breathed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±


    ¡°You think he¡¯s gone to raise the alarm?¡± Oska hissed.


    Suvau didn¡¯t have to answer as the gate began to rise. Suvau darted towards it, waiting until it was high enough that he could slide beneath.


    ¡°Hold it!¡± He called as loudly as he dared and the gate stopped. Suvau slid into the lefthand side of the wall, squeezing past the counterweights and into the space beyond. His heart leapt joyfully and he ducked back out. ¡°All of you, into the wall.¡±


    ¡°Into the wall?¡± Palo whimpered. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! It would take a miracle for us to get out of there.¡±


    ¡°One miracle down,¡± Suvau gestured to the gate, ¡°just one to go¡­come on.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Gustin announced and led the way, all the Mauls following him, their order determined by the degree of their hesitation. Oska was last and he paused by Suvau.


    ¡°What are we going to do about him?¡± Oska asked, pointing at Jole who was at the balcony¡¯s edge again.


    Suvau looked at the man. ¡°Come with us.¡±


    ¡°What!¡± Oska snapped. ¡°Suvau, a single act does not erase all that he has done! Urik might have been our master, but he couldn¡¯t have brutalised us without Jole.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s remarkable what people will stoop to in order to survive.¡± Suvau said flatly and Oska recoiled. ¡°Get into the wall with the others and keep them quiet.¡± Oska did as he was told. Suvau looked up at the balcony where Jole watched him. ¡°Whatever you did to keep the gate from dropping, let it go slowly. I¡¯ll hold it up until you come through¡­but be quick about it.¡±


    Jole nodded and disappeared again. Suvau braced himself against part of the wall and as the gate began to drop, he put his shoulder beneath the bottom bar and grasped it with both hands.


    ¡°Jole¡­run!¡± He grunted.


    For a hefty man, Jole was surprisingly fast to scramble down the sloping balcony onto the rubble and thudded down into the pit, running towards Suvau.


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Suvau heaved and panted.


    Jole ducked his head and put his hands beneath the gate, pushing it up. Suvau gasped in relief and they shuffled along the gate towards the narrow passage between the walls.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to run.¡± Suvau warned. ¡°Ready¡­go!¡± He darted from the gate, scraping against the wall as he tried to put as much space between himself and the gate for Jole to get through. However, when he looked behind, Jole was not there. Suvau darted forward, finding a crack in the wall to peer through. To his horror Jole was on the Maul side of the gate. ¡°How¡¯d you manage that?¡± Suvau shook his head. ¡°Never mind¡­I¡¯ll try to lift it and if you do the same¡­¡± Jole shook his head at Suvau. ¡°Jole¡­¡±


    The hefty man stepped back, smiling for the first time, possibly in years. He pointed at the tracks through the Arena which faded at the barren rock the gate was driven into. Then he moved his fingers, as though someone was walking away from the gate into Maul.


    ¡°You¡­you¡¯re going to make tracks¡­so that anyone who finds Urik and follows our tracks¡­will think we escaped into Maul¡­¡± Jole nodded. Suvau closed his eyes. ¡°But¡­you¡¯ll die.¡± Jole shrugged and Suvau suddenly saw a man who had done what he could to survive¡­by turning himself into something he despised. ¡°You¡¯re saving us¡­to make amends.¡± Suvau breathed as Jole nodded then gestured at him to go. ¡°Jole¡­thank you.¡±


    Jole shook his head as if Suvau¡¯s thanks were unnecessary then turned his back and walked away from the gate, keeping to the shadows as he disappeared into the chasm. Suvau watched until he could see him no more then forced himself to turn and chase after his people. They weren¡¯t too far in, waiting for the one who had promised to lead them to come to the front of their line. It was almost entirely black inside the wall but oddly enough, there was a little light from the lanterns that sat on top of the wall, used by soldiers to warm their hands and light their path. These little streams of light were like rays of hope between long stretches of darkness.


    There was some rubble and a fallen beam or two that they had to take great care to not knock or trip over. Suvau guessed that they were the remains of the wall when the earthquake that tore into Fort Mavour, allowing Donimede to construct the Arena, damaged the wall. After they clambered past the beams, Suvau was relieved to discover that the way was relatively easy going, the gap between the walls widening to its original width. However, dust sprinkled down from above as soldiers patrolled back and forth, crossing over, sometimes talking and the real challenge of being quiet began. Palo gave a muffled snort, clasping both hands over his nose, unable to stop the sneeze. Suvau held his hand up for them to freeze. Those that did not see his hand, bumped into the person in front of them.


    ¡°You¡¯d better put your feet in hot water when you get back to Mavour.¡± The soldier above their heads replied. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re getting a cold.¡±


    Suvau cringed and waited.


    ¡°Funny, I was just thinking you sound like my mother.¡± The other soldier retorted, walking back towards Mavour.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡±


    He breathed out and swallowed. He had to wait a moment to let his heart sink back down into his chest, having leapt into his throat.


    As they passed from beneath the soldier¡¯s post, the space in the wall became maintained and even reinforced. There were racks on the wall, spears and weapons hanging from hooks, shields resting in piles and swords in barrels. It was a wall armoury, something Sir Fereak mentioned weeks and weeks ago. Unfortunately, while the maintenance of the armoury meant the ground was at least clear of rubble, there were suddenly metal rods, blades and shield stacks that would make an inexcusable racket should they fall.


    Suvau led his people past them, his pulse racing when he spied the doors then he heard the familiar sound of metal being drawn out against metal. He spun around and yelled silently at Oska who had begun to pull a sword out of a barrel. The blade had scraped against the edge of another but now, even though Oska had frozen and the sound had stopped, there was a terrible decision to be made. Continue to pull the sword out or to slide it back in, each option making silence an impossibility.


    Suvau pushed past Gustin and gestured furiously at Oska who shrugged at him as if Suvau was being unreasonable but began to put the sword back in. There was a scrape of metal and both men froze. Suvau glowered at Oska then put his hands on the hilts of the other swords, holding them as still as he could. Oska shifted the sword gently, out of contact with the rest of the blades, able then to draw it out without touching anything else. Suvau pointed at the sword then at the ground. Oska sighed but did as he was told, leaving the sword by his feet.


    Suvau was losing track of the amount of times he was going to have to thump his brother in law for being an idiot. He turned to the door and put his hands on it. Unsurprisingly, because they were the entrance into the part of the wall that was being used as an armoury, the doors would not budge with a light press. Suvau clucked his tongue and tried to peer out around it.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Oska demanded in a whisper. ¡°Open the doors!¡±


    ¡°They are barred from the outside.¡± Suvau explained.


    ¡°What?¡± Palo said, standing behind them. ¡°You mean¡­we can¡¯t get out?¡±


    ¡°Calm down.¡± Suvau ordered. ¡°I have help coming on the other side.¡±


    ¡°Help?¡± Oska was aghast. ¡°What help?¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°LaMogre? The one whose knighthood got Ermaus killed?¡±


    Suvau glowered at Palo. ¡°Donimede and Urik got Ermaus killed. LaMogre will come for us.¡±


    ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡±


    ¡°Suvau?¡± Suvau¡¯s spine nearly liquified in relief. He knelt, hearing LaMogre¡¯s voice near the bottom of the door. ¡°Is that you?¡±


    ¡°Judd, we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Thank Terra¡­I was starting to wonder if I got your message wrong. Listen, Suvau, we have a problem. I can¡¯t open this door. It¡¯s not barred. It¡¯s locked.¡±


    Suvau swore softly. ¡°Donimede takes his weapons storage seriously.¡±


    ¡°And his doors. These things are fortified. There¡¯s no way to force them open so close to Mavour without alerting the patrols.¡±


    Suvau closed his eyes. ¡°How far away is the second door, do you know?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not close¡­but I doubt Donimede has an armoury at every set of doors. Even if they¡¯re locked, I¡¯ll have a better chance of getting it open without bringing Chael, Roust and every soldier and guard down on us.¡±


    ¡°Then that¡¯s what we do.¡± Suvau decided.


    ¡°You know,¡± Judd paused as a soldier walked overhead, waiting for him to move away, ¡°you have to get to the second door, get out and travel across Mavour territory without being spotted by dawn.¡±


    ¡°Which is why we must make haste¡­silent haste.¡±


    ¡°And if the way is blocked?¡± Judd listened but Suvau didn¡¯t answer. ¡°What if you can¡¯t make it? How will I know?¡±


    ¡°If you need to leave to avoid being seen, you leave.¡± Suvau ordered.


    ¡°Then know I¡¯ll be back tomorrow night, and the next, until I get you out of there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d argue with you,¡± Suvau sighed, ¡°but it¡¯s kind of hard to do so when I can¡¯t intimidate you from in here.¡±


    Judd gave a soft laugh. ¡°To the second door. I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±

 You’ve been preoccupied with your feet

    Caste couldn¡¯t sleep. He¡¯d tried but the reality of the situation was his very reputation hung in the balance. Forget being executed for collusion in the felony of stealing from a knight, Caste knew his livelihood in the Order would be shattered because of LaMogre¡¯s sense of righteousness.


    He hated that he was being forced into an action he would not have taken otherwise.


    Yes, he lamented Suvau¡¯s pitiable state and despite his aversion to Mauls, he would not want the big man to endure Fort Mavour and Donimede¡¯s brutality. But, upon weighing up the odds of the snippet of communication and the likelihood that Suvau would be able to get the Mauls out of Mavour and into the wall without being discovered, Caste had decided the odds were slimmer than Judd LaMogre attaining knighthood.


    The problem was, now that Judd was only a single mark away from knighthood, he had clearly decided that any action, no matter how foolhardy, was plausible!


    And dragged others into his wake of foolishness.


    He shivered, the coals no longer warming him like they had when the fire was new. Caste couldn¡¯t risk stoking it, the night starting to wane. So he shifted closer to it, bringing his knees up to his chest and blowing into his hands. On the other side of the hut, like a cocoon, were Aalis and Giordi¡¯s bodies curled towards each other. It would almost be romantic but for the presence of the Maul baby between them, sharing their warmth. Giordi snored lightly but Aalis was completely silent and still.


    How she could sleep so soundly at a time like this was beyond Caste.


    And then he decided he couldn¡¯t handle the chill anymore. He stood up and wrapped himself in every available blanket he could reach and staggered out of the hut, closing the flap tightly behind himself. The air outside was bitter but Caste couldn¡¯t pace inside without waking the baby.


    Even he had his limits of selfishness.


    Outside he huffed into his hands again and stamped his feet, almost jogging on the spot to get the blood flowing through his legs. He was so busy trying to keep warm that he almost missed the kneeling form of Aalis beyond the palisade. Caste frowned and glanced at the hut then closed his eyes and groaned silently. She had used blankets to form her body¡¯s shape to keep the warm air around the baby. No wonder she was sleeping so silently!


    He shook his head, walking to the palisade. No doubt she was as worried about Judd as Caste but the cleric knew their worries were based upon very different motivations. Caste didn¡¯t want to be caught. He knew it. Everyone knew it. He was selfish, trying to protect himself while others suffered¡­but LaMogre asking Caste to help him was the last straw of compliance.


    Aalis, on the other hand, despite being a witch and a perfectly executable person even without the entanglement of stealing from a knight, was always moved by compassion. It was why she was awake now, watching and waiting, worried about Judd, not because she might be caught and exposed but because lives of Mauls hung in the balance.


    It was brave.


    It was selfless.


    Two things Caste knew he wasn¡¯t.


    But no one had ever looked out for him. Caste had learned to do so himself. Anything Judd or the others had done to protect him was only a result of being Caste being forced to go on this ridiculous knighthood quest. He hadn¡¯t asked for it and he certainly hadn¡¯t wanted it.


    He just wanted to go home.


    As he wrestled internally, a thought nagged him and finally broke through into his consciousness that Aalis wasn¡¯t moving. Caste approached the palisade, risking frostbite to wrap his fingers around the sharpened posts, opening his mouth to speak when he saw the land between the campsite and the wall was well lit with the light of the moon. Caste¡¯s heart sank. No one could move in that expanse and not be seen. Whatever cover there had been at the start of the night was gone.


    It was like a barren chess board. Even a single piece would protrude and be noticed immediately.


    Caste closed his eyes, knowing that Judd was about to fail spectacularly, just one monster mark shy of his knighthood and all those with him would be stained by association.


    He glanced at Zeke, the only mount left and felt a surge of selfishness as he wondered if he could saddle the placid mount and take off without anyone noticing. He could ride to Fort Mavour and decry LaMogre, thereby distancing himself from the ¡®almost¡¯ knight¡¯s actions. It was a hateful thought, even to Caste as he imagined Verne, Giordi and the Maul babe caught in the net, dragged before Donimede. His stomach churned and he felt weak and despicable.


    He sighed and hung his head, knowing that, if he had the choice, he couldn¡¯t run. He mightn¡¯t like his companions all that much but he couldn¡¯t turn them in. Besides, knowing his luck, it would only backfire on him in some inexplicable way.


    Resolved to the inevitability that, when the soldiers arrived to arrest them, Caste would be standing with his companions and not against, he went to return to the hut¡­


    ¡­and saw a wash of fog rising across the ground between the campsite and the wall. Caste dashed to the fence line, eyes wide, chill forgotten as he watched the fog, faint at first, begin to thicken and become opaque, its embrace obscuring everything. The trees looked as though they were planted in it, rocks and boulders disappeared and the landscape became hills and valleys of white.


    Caste¡¯s breath stalled then, inexplicably, his eyes dropped to Aalis, her fingers splayed on the ground, every one of her dark nails exposed. Caste glanced between Aalis and the fog several times before clutching his blankets around himself and fleeing back to the hut, shaking violently.


    ¡°Too much,¡± he shivered, curling up into a ball, ¡°too much¡­¡±


    Judd was walking as quickly as he dared along the base of the wall. Despite being chilled to the bone from barely moving as he had waited for Suvau for over an hour at the door, Judd would have welcomed a rainstorm or violent wind. Anything that would cover his dash from one door to the other. Unfortunately it was a clear night with little cloud cover. Had Judd needed to run across the fields, he would have been easily seen. Thankfully the firebreak and trees along either side of it had concealed his approach and he hoped there would be another way of hiding his and a whole lot of Mauls retreating from the wall.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    He recalled Verne waiting with the horses and closed his eyes. They hadn¡¯t discussed a secondary plan in case the first one failed. Verne would still be waiting where Judd had left him¡­her¡­


    He¡­well, she¡­had the horses and the warm clothing. And while the nights were dangerously cold, dawn was even more so.


    The challenges were mounting and time was fast ebbing away. If he couldn¡¯t get the Mauls out of the wall within the next two hours, there would be no way they¡¯d make the tree line cover before the sun came up.


    And he wasn¡¯t even sure he knew just how far along the next door was.


    Riding on Xenon, Fort Mavour¡¯s territory was easily traversed.


    On foot, it was a lot further and Judd was growing tired.


    When the ground became softer he took some more risks, jogging on the grass then stifling a groan as his boot sank into mud. He had to pull it out, kick off what he could and continue to jog. Finally he spied an irregularity in the wall¡¯s relatively smooth surface. It was the slightly protruding stone edge of the frame for the doors. Judd would have given a shuddering sob of relief upon seeing it except he was somewhat breathless and he was pretty sure there was a soldier on the wall above.


    He sidled up to the door and eyed the beam that barred it from opening. There was no lock this time. Donimede didn¡¯t have weapons stored beyond it that he wanted to protect. This beam was to keep monsters, who might get into the wall, from bashing their way through wood and not stone. Though Judd would be able to unbar the door in theory, he was suddenly confronted with the physical strength required to do so. The beam would be difficult for Suvau to lift. Judd looked up at the wall, listening for the soldier. He couldn¡¯t see anyone up there but there was a lamp which usually meant there was a poor, lonely soldier on sentry duty standing near it, trying to soak up its pathetic warmth.


    Judd put his hands on the end of the beam and tried to lift it. He barred his teeth and put his back into it, feeling it shift slightly. It was taking all of his strength to heave it up just that small amount.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I can do this¡­¡± He whispered. ¡°Maul¡­I¡¯m not strong enough.¡±


    He paused and breathed, reasoning that, until he heard Suvau¡¯s voice on the inside of the wall, there was little more he could do except wait. He paced back and forth, his muddy boot becoming terribly cold and his hands wanted to slap themselves together, trying to bring feeling back into his fingers.


    ¡°Breathe¡­just breathe¡­keep moving¡­¡± He chanted softly to himself, retracing his steps over and over. While the pacing was keeping him from freezing, every turn reminded him that time was wicking away. It would not be long now until Judd would face the very real possibility that he¡¯d have to abandon his friend.


    ¡°No¡­not again.¡± Judd vowed. ¡°Not again¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd?¡± He jolted and looked at the door. ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­Verne?¡± He leaned towards the door then shook his head and turned to where Verne was standing behind him. ¡°What in Maul¡­¡± Verne put her finger to her lips and he nodded. ¡°Why¡­how¡­¡±


    ¡°I could see you run to the first set of doors then, after nearly two hours, run back this way.¡± Verne explained in his ear. ¡°I brought Xenon and Quell as far across as I could then as close as I dared.¡±


    ¡°How are you hiding them?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­Judd?¡± Verne turned and gestured.


    Judd beheld the landscape and gaped. A thick fog had obscured Mavour territory. It was covering the ground, as opaque as whipped butter, smearing everything in five foot thick icing.


    ¡°How did I not see that?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been preoccupied with your feet.¡± Verne rolled her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve got to get that bar off.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m relieved you¡¯re here. I don¡¯t think I can do it on my own.¡± Judd admitted then paused. ¡°Are you sure you can¡­do this?¡± Verne put her hands on her hips and gave him her hardest, sharpest glare. Judd recoiled, knowing he was treading on thin ice. ¡°Right, sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°Need to be quiet.¡± Verne added. ¡°There¡¯s a soldier up there.¡±


    ¡°Then on three?¡± Judd braced himself in the middle of the two metal arms that held the hefty wooden bar while Verne took one end. ¡°One¡­¡±


    ¡°Just go already.¡± She hissed and they pushed upwards together, able to lift the bar out of its snug metal arm embrace¡­but then they wobbled, unable to drop it silently. Verne¡¯s end fell from her shoulder and sank into the muddy ground¡­but the end they hadn¡¯t been able to lift, while no longer in the metal arm, was too close to the wall and clunked against it loudly.


    Judd and Verne froze, cringing and waiting in agonising silence¡­


    ¡­only to hear the soldier on the wall above snore loudly.


    Judd sagged against the wall while Verne turned around on the spot, both wanting to cry out with relief yet both unable to do so. When they had recovered, Judd eased open one of the doors, feeling how stiff the hinges were. No one had used this door at all for a long time and when he put his head inside he could see why.


    ¡°Verne, look.¡±


    There were beams and rubble on both sides of the door and even one in front of it.


    ¡°Do you think that cave in will be enough to stop Suvau?¡± Verne asked softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Judd tapped his teeth together and looked at the fog. ¡°I¡¯m going to see how far along I can go. Can you get the horses? We¡¯ll need to make a quick escape on them.¡±


    ¡°On it.¡± Verne dashed away while Judd eased past the first beam and began to shuffle his way along. This section of the wall was in bad shape on the inside. He marvelled that it had not been knocked down and simply rebuilt. Building over the top of the debris would have been difficult to say the least. As he edged further and further from the door, he heard a scuttling in the darkness.


    ¡°By Andigre¡­not another spider¡­¡± He whispered. ¡°Suvau?¡±


    Out of the almost opaque blackness, a face appeared, startling Judd with the whites of their eyes and teeth. Judd slapped his hands over his mouth, silencing a yelp of fright.


    ¡°Suvau?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Gustin,¡± the young man said, ¡°Suvau is¡­he¡¯s behind us.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Judd LaMogre. Suvau is a friend.¡± Judd stepped aside. ¡°Keep going to the open door where Verne is waiting with clothing and horses. Take care to remain silent, there is a soldier overhead.¡±


    Gustin nodded and moved past him, near a dozen Mauls following him. Judd nodded to each of them, seeing the fear in their expressions but also relief that there was an end to their long, claustrophobic night. Judd was not surprised that Suvau would be at the rear, making sure no one was left behind. But he was filled with grief at seeing him stumble forwards, his arm draped over another Maul¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Judd asked, dashing towards them, taking Suvau¡¯s other arm.


    ¡°The way was completely blocked,¡± the Maul explained, ¡°Suvau was using his back to move a beam out of the way when it slipped from its resting place and hit him hard. He was conscious enough to tell us to move on¡­then he blacked out.¡±


    Judd helped the Maul manoeuvre Suvau to the doors. Though he was struggling with staying conscious, when he was awake and aware, he did what he could to do what they needed but it didn¡¯t last long and he would slump again, his body shaking.


    Outside the wall, Judd waved to Verne who immediately understood and brought Xenon over. Suvau couldn¡¯t be roused so they draped him over Xenon¡¯s back.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got to get him to Aalis.¡±


    ¡°What about the door?¡± Verne nodded.


    ¡°You lead whoever can go with you now. I¡¯ll follow.¡± Judd grabbed the man who had shouldered Suvau and another Maul who looked less ragged and exhausted than the others. ¡°Hey, I need your help. We have to put the beam back.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± The taller man asked, watching as Judd closed the door.


    ¡°Because a patrol only needs to see the missing beam or open door to start to work out where you escaped from¡­and then there are few places you could go.¡± Between them they were able to lift the beam up and onto the metal arms then follow Verne¡­not that they could see him to follow him. The fog was like trying to walk through soup. They could have been going in circles except for the lamps on top of the wall. The little specks of gold were all that they could see and as long as they kept one directly behind them, Judd knew they were heading to the edge of Mavour territory.


    Staggeringly, against all odds, Judd was astonished to realise they had succeeded.

 I never thought my journey to knighthood would turn me into a felon

    Aalis escaped the hut, needing to breathe. It was partially because she had been working nonstop since Verne brought the Mauls to the nomad¡¯s palisade, Judd bringing up the rear with Suvau barely conscious, slumped over Xenon. But it was mostly because she needed distance from the heartache. As a healer she had learned to be dispassionate, to separate her emotions from her patient in order to do what was necessary. But after hours of tending, feeding, dressing and soothing the Mauls, Aalis¡¯ heart couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She stretched her arms and breathed in and out several times, moving away from the hut, allowing the cool air to slap some sense into her.


    The sun was well overhead but it was still cold enough for her breath to turn white with every exhale. Aalis rubbed her hands together and went to where her pack rested on the ground next to where the horses were stabled. She rubbed Zeke¡¯s muzzle then opened her pack and dug through it. Normally their belongings would be in the place they were sleeping but with a dozen Mauls, an imminent knight and a stubborn archer, space in the hut was less than abundant. Giordi was looking after the Maul babe, freeing Aalis to do what she needed to.


    Her medicinal supplies had taken a substantial plummet and she frowned at their food situation.


    ¡°We stocked up before we left Mavour, but still¡­¡± She mused. ¡°That was for six people, not eighteen or nineteen¡­I have lost count.¡± She sighed and looked at the trees. ¡°I do not wish to wake Verne¡­perhaps hunting for food can wait until tomorrow. I can make our supplies stretch.¡± She glanced at the hut, glad all was quiet then picked up her herb collection pouch and slipped out of the palisade. Her trained eye was able to sight mushrooms and even some potatoes and carrots, seeded by a breeze when the Mavour fields were being planted. At the edge of the stream Aalis was able to find medicinal herbs as well as some for flavour. Feeling pleased with her bounty she rinsed all the potatoes and carrots then returned to the campsite.


    She knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to cook until night fell as the smoke would give away their location and an eager scout might find them so Aalis set aside her vegetables, imagining that she would use some of the dried meat and stock from their supplies with them to make a nourishing stew. But there was nothing stopping her from prepping her medicinal herbs and pounding the leaves and roots to make a paste for the open wounds she knew would need redressing.


    It was familiar work, things she knew how to do, possibly even a little too well.


    Aalis found her mind could wander while she added a little water and a touch of salt.


    Her thoughts naturally veered towards Judd, causing her ribs to feel as though they were caving in, her heart cringing at the memory of Judd¡¯s heartbroken expression. She looked at the trampled herbs in her mortar, all solid forms pulverised into paste.


    ¡°You finally find a man who really loves you,¡± she said softly, ¡°and the proof is in the way you reduced his heart to this¡­¡± She closed her eyes and willed herself to think of something else, anything else¡­and found herself thinking about the moment when she nearly lost him.


    The minotaur had Judd pinned in the Arena, about to kill him outright with a single blow.


    Aalis had leaned forward, feeling something leave her body and the world around her slowed. The sounds dulled, drawn out and quiet and the people¡¯s movements became so slackened it was as though they were not moving at all. Aalis had felt tendrils of herself trail out of her fingertips, like roots through the earth, spreading and deepening until she felt them wrap around the black, shaggy minotaur directly in front of her. It was as though they were drawn to something which was hidden around his neck, something that knew her better than she even knew herself¡­as if it was a part of her or had been.


    As the tendrils reached it, curling about the leather pendant, soaking into it through the cracks until it reached the emerald core, Aalis felt herself pulled forward, power absorbed out of her.


    The minotaur turned its head and looked at her. ¡°Gairil?¡±


    ¡°I¡­am not she.¡± Aalis said softly.


    ¡°You wield the same power as she.¡± It replied with a deep, baritone voice. ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°In a battle for your life.¡±


    ¡°What am I?¡±


    ¡°A minotaur.¡±


    It closed its eyes. ¡°I¡­remember¡­falling in battle. I had heard the cry to retreat¡­but my beloved was gone¡­so I chased the monsters into Maul until Maul made me one.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ eyes stung. ¡°I am so sorry. I need your help.¡±


    ¡°As one whose presence can only be linked with Gairil, ask it of me.¡±


    ¡°Save that man.¡± Aalis begged.


    The minotaur held her gaze. ¡°Will he end the madness?¡±


    ¡°If I know him at all¡­he will not stop until his last breath to do so¡­please¡­¡±


    ¡°Then it shall be done.¡±


    Aalis had breathed in sharply and the bubble that had enveloped her and the minotaur burst with violence, the world suddenly joining them, loud, bright and harsh. The minotaur had done as she asked and though she knew it pained Judd, when its life was ended, there was peace in its eyes.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± She whispered, not for the first time since that terrible day and she knew it would not be the last. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She gathered what she needed to prepare the stew and heaved it into her arms, nearly falling over from the weight.


    ¡°Hang on, Aalis.¡± A familiar voice reached her, and strong hands pushed her upright before she could tumble.


    ¡°Thank you, Judd.¡± She said quietly and went to move past him.


    ¡°H¡­How long?¡±


    ¡°I am sorry?¡±


    ¡°Until the Mauls can move?¡± Judd asked abruptly then cringed and waved his hands. ¡°Not that I¡¯m insensible to how battered they are or want to push them¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± She stopped him blundering any further, doing her best not to meet his gaze but if she had looked up for even the smallest moment, she would have seen he was doing the same. ¡°I understand that we are on borrowed time¡­¡±


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    ¡°Stolen.¡±


    ¡°Stolen time,¡± Aalis corrected, ¡°but they are extremely malnourished, there are open and infected wounds and Suvau was badly concussed so any time that you can give me, I will take.¡±


    Judd folded his arms and nodded, still not looking at her. ¡°The longer we stay here, the greater the risk of being discovered and then it won¡¯t just be the Mauls in the dungeon but probably all of us as well.¡±


    Aalis held her armful of vegetables like a shield. ¡°The answer to your question lies in tension between those two conditions.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Then¡­I¡¯d like to stay tonight but leave tomorrow and put as much distance as we can between us and Fort Mavour and Chael¡¯s patrols.¡±


    ¡°I will treat them accordingly.¡± Aalis replied and went to escape his presence when Judd¡¯s voice reached her, subdued and unlike his usual self.


    ¡°You know, I never thought my journey to knighthood would turn me into a felon.¡±


    ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°I stole, Aalis. I stole from a knight.¡± Judd cringed. ¡°I know Caste adheres a little too hard to the black and whites of this world without flexibility for compassion¡­but I have to admit¡­my actions grate on my conscience.¡±


    Aalis paused. ¡°If you had to make the same choice again¡­would you choose differently?¡±


    ¡°Not a chance.¡± Judd chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d do it all over again¡­¡±


    Aalis smiled. ¡°That is a good way for a knight to be.¡±


    ¡°Yes but¡­¡± Judd stopped her from walking away. ¡°I can¡¯t change all the folly of this world on my own or even in my lifetime. Surely you know that, Aalis.¡± She gazed at him as he stuck his hands in his pockets and kicked at a stone. ¡°I¡¯m only one man, not even a knight yet already a criminal and there are many men in power like Donimede who see nothing wrong in what they were doing.¡±


    Aalis was glad her arms were taken up with produce or she would have darted forward and grasped his hands in hers. It would be cruel after she had already broken his heart.


    ¡°Judd, I do not ever wish to be in a world where there are rules that protect men like Donimede from doing what they did to Suvau and his people.¡± She insisted gently but firmly. ¡°This has to stop.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°and I promise I will try.¡±


    ¡°I know you will.¡±


    Despite their reluctance to be in the conversation, neither of them were in a hurry to escape it now.


    ¡°You know, you¡¯ve changed a lot,¡± Judd shook his head then added in a hasty blurt, ¡°I mean, from how frightened you were of Suvau in the beginning.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ mind immediately recalled the vision she had endured in the mangrove swamp, of Suvau on the bloody battlefield, Caste dead nearby and the land strewn with countless corpses, men and monsters. She had done her best not to think of it and there had been much to occupy her thoughts but in the blink of an eye, it returned and her heart trembled and retreated in her chest.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s understandable.¡±


    Aalis blinked. ¡°Understandable?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­you were raised in that village, as far north as you can go¡­what are the chances you would ever even see a Maul?¡±


    Aalis laughed, hiding her gasp of relief. ¡°Yes¡­yes of course.¡± She licked her lips and glanced at the hut. ¡°Well¡­I should¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Judd nodded and turned away, allowing Aalis the chance to escape.


    Moving the Mauls from the palisade was not an easy task, especially with Suvau drifting in and out of consciousness. It was he they looked to for direction and were hesitant to do anything without his confirmation. However, Suvau was able to be coherent for enough time to order them to listen to Judd as they would him. After that the Mauls, though anxious, obeyed Judd¡¯s direction. Verne, Giordi, Judd and Oska cobbled together a sledge, dismantling part of the stable in order to do so. Anyone who could carry a pack or swag did so and the Mauls took it in turns to ride the horses. Suvau lay on the sledge, protesting in between dozing.


    Judd never felt more relieved when he looked behind and couldn¡¯t see Fort Mavour anymore because of the thick tree line.


    ¡°Not that I think anyone would have realised the deception Suvau pulled off.¡± He remarked to no one in particular but Giordi heard him and side stepped towards him as they continued across the prairie, heading steadily north.


    ¡°Not much in the way of intuitive brilliance amongst the military types?¡± He asked, hiking his pack onto his shoulders.


    ¡°Chael and Roust aren¡¯t fools,¡± Judd insisted, ¡°but how are they going to find out Suvau didn¡¯t lead them into Maul?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like they can send out a search party.¡± Giordi nodded.


    ¡°And even if they did suspect they went into the wall, they would assume that they are still in there¡­because they wouldn¡¯t suspect I would be on the outside, helping them escape.¡±


    Giordi raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re convincing yourself.¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe we pulled it off.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it was not the most brilliant of escape plans,¡± Giordi admitted, ¡°but the success of it lies in the arrogance of the might of Mavour. They would never assume that they could be fooled¡­¡±


    ¡°Not to mention the man who made sure to leave some tracks heading into Maul.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°He¡¯s dead by now.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he just didn¡¯t want to live anymore.¡± Giordi grimaced. ¡°Not the way I would choose to go. So¡­where to now?¡±


    ¡°North to the winter camping grounds of the combined nomad clans.¡± Judd tapped his teeth together, clambering up a steep incline. ¡°I¡¯m hoping Chief Bear and Elk won¡¯t mind a few extra guests and Yolana must be terribly worried about Suvau.¡± Giordi nodded, wincing slightly, coughing to cover it but Judd spotted his pretence. ¡°Something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Your back paining you?¡±


    Giordi gave a small shrug. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I haven¡¯t carried a pack since the whipping post and I swear one of the scars keeps rubbing.¡±


    ¡°Let me.¡±


    ¡°No, I can carry it.¡± Giordi refused. ¡°We all carry our weight in this fellowship. Some of us are even carrying others.¡±


    Judd saw Giordi¡¯s eyes alight on Aalis. ¡°The baby?¡± Giordi nodded. ¡°Did you know anything about it?¡±


    ¡°Nope. No one did until we were in the foyer, waiting for Donimede to grace us with his presence and Verne and I noticed she was carrying something.¡±


    They continued to cross the prairie, rolling hills, rocky outcrops and light dustings of snow. Their progress was slow and Judd was tempted to harass them into a faster pace. He had to remind himself that they were out of sight of Fort Mavour and would be difficult to trace after using the stream to break the entry and exit points of their tracks. Had the party been made up of able bodied persons and they¡¯d forced themselves to hurry, they could make the northern campsite by the following night but at the pace they were setting, Judd knew they would spend at least two nights in the exposed prairie.


    ¡°I wonder where it came from.¡± Judd mused.


    ¡°The baby?¡± Judd nodded. Giordi sighed dramatically. ¡°I was wondering when we would have to have this conversation. You see, Judd¡­when a man and a woman¡­¡±


    ¡°Knock it off.¡± Judd pushed him aside and chuckled. ¡°That I know. I¡¯m just wondering where that particular baby came from.¡±


    Giordi clucked his tongue. ¡°Well¡­there is one scenario that seems plausible.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me your theory and I¡¯ll know whether or not my suspicions are ludicrous.¡± Judd muttered.


    ¡°I¡¯m imagining that a certain lady took a certain liking to a certain Maul in the Arena¡­and made him a certain offer he could not refuse.¡±


    Judd sighed. ¡°Jocasa?¡±


    ¡°She is the only one with enough power and influence in Mavour to be able to manipulate the Maul and bribe the slave master,¡± Giordi nodded, ¡°and she gave birth just days before we arrived.¡±


    ¡°So¡­the baby¡­the one Donimede calls his son¡­it isn¡¯t his?¡±


    ¡°That would be a question you would need to ask Aalis,¡± Giordi shrugged, ¡°but substitution or ¡®fudged¡¯ adoption has been practiced in noble families before.¡±


    ¡°So Donimede¡¯s son, the one that he crowed over Willower with, isn¡¯t even his own bloodline.¡± Judd pressed his fingers to his nose.


    ¡°Look at it this way. The baby will be treated to an education and lifestyle that would have to be far beyond his natural existence and the nobility will get a fresh injection of blood into their line. Everyone wins.¡± Giordi mused. ¡°The question I would be asking is, which of our Mauls is the father.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the question I already know the answer to.¡±


    ¡°The tall, handsome one?¡±


    ¡°I was going to say the one without very few scars.¡± Judd sighed. ¡°The rest look like they¡¯ve got scars over scars¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s also the fact that the other Mauls aren¡¯t overly friendly with him.¡±


    ¡°If sleeping with Jocasa kept him out of the Arena, one of the others would have had to take his place.¡± They both looked up as Verne jogged over. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get tired?¡±


    ¡°Caste said there¡¯s a nomad palisade we can reach before sundown but we¡¯ll need to veer to the east,¡± Verne said, ignoring his question, ¡°we could travel further on our northerly heading, but we¡¯d end up camped in the middle of nowhere, very exposed.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll head for the nomad camping ground.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°So¡­Caste is speaking to you?¡± Giordi asked pointedly.


    ¡°Well yeah,¡± Verne shrugged, ¡°I haven¡¯t irritated him yet¡­but there¡¯s plenty of daylight left.¡±

 Stay back, LaMogre, this is between me and my own!

    Verne jogged from their position in their convoy and went to go past Aalis who seemed to be struggling with her shawl.


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Verne unhooked it from where it was caught on her mantle, ¡°there.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I was starting to panic.¡± Aalis looked down at the baby in her arms who was awake and gazing at the blue/grey sky above. ¡°For someone so small, he gets heavy. I thought I could adjust my shawl to take more of the weight.¡± She shook off the shawl and Verne took it.


    ¡°How is he?¡±


    ¡°Well, although I will be happier when Yolana can look after him.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°I do not have much experience with babies.¡±


    ¡°Looks like it comes naturally to you.¡± Verne tilted her head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know the first thing to do with a baby.¡±


    ¡°Just the opening I was hoping for.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­what?!¡± Verne cried in alarm as Aalis thrust the baby into her arms. ¡°No¡­I can¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Watch his head!¡±


    ¡°Sorry!¡±


    Aalis took the shawl from Verne and adjusted the way it bore the weight of the baby, spreading more of it across her back from where it had been biting into her shoulder. She looked at Verne¡¯s stricken expression and laughed.


    ¡°He will not bite.¡±


    ¡°I could handle biting,¡± Verne seethed, ¡°but crying, pooping¡­crying¡­¡±


    ¡°He is happy. Just¡­hold him,¡± Aalis looked up, ¡°and go see what Caste wants.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± Verne looked up and groaned at Caste¡¯s pointed look. ¡°Apparently I¡¯m the go between so Caste doesn¡¯t have to talk to Judd.¡±


    ¡°I promise I will take him from you¡­when I have untangled this mess I have made.¡± Aalis gave her a push. ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Eh¡­¡± Verne looked down at the baby who blinked big hazel eyes and made a cooing sound. ¡°Just so you know, this is temporary¡­I don¡¯t do babies¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey Verne,¡± Giordi called from the rear, ¡°looks good on you!¡±


    Verne¡¯s face flamed and she charged ahead, less frightened of carrying the baby than she was of any conversation alone with Giordi. In the company of others it was not so bad¡­unless it was Aalis¡­or Judd, both of whom knew she was a woman which made Verne feel self conscious¡­and that only left Caste, who was not overly talkative and Suvau who was unconscious.


    ¡°Should have kept my mouth shut and not told anyone.¡± Verne muttered. ¡°Come on baby. Caste is giving me dagger glares.¡±


    Caste was at the front of the convoy. Oska was leading Xenon who pulled the sledge with Suvau resting on it. Caste was not walking with Oska but on the other side of Xenon as if the tempestuous stallion was some form of protection against Caste¡¯s imagined contamination.


    ¡°Judd agrees that the palisade is the right place to go.¡± Verne confirmed. Caste nodded, remaining tight lipped and stern. When Judd had remarked that Caste was still speaking to Verne and Verne had joked about it, it was at the very edge of truth. Caste spoke to her but only when necessary and because there was a diminishing circle of others he would tolerate. Verne knew Caste wasn¡¯t angry with her, he was angry with Judd but because Verne had gone with Judd, she was tainted by association.


    The sad part of it all was, Caste¡¯s way of protecting himself was to isolate himself¡­and that was a lonely existence to endure.


    The baby gave a squark, his face scrunching into a tight expression, about to let out a wail and Verne trembled. ¡°Maul¡­what do I do with it?¡±


    ¡°How should I know?¡± Caste exclaimed.


    ¡°You¡¯re the learned scholar.¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t many books in the Order¡¯s library on child rearing.¡±


    ¡°And I bet if there were, you wouldn¡¯t have read them.¡± Verne looked over her shoulder. ¡°Aalis!¡±


    ¡°Coming,¡± she hurried to the front, ¡°oh baby, baby¡­are you hungry?¡±


    Verne handed the baby over and stepped back so far that Aalis wouldn¡¯t be able to force it on her again. Aalis tucked it into the crook of her arm and cooed at the babe, flicking the lid open of her waterproof pouch. Thankfully the weather had been cool enough to keep the milk fresh, not freezing and not hot but she would be relieved to reach the nomad camp where there would be goats or cows to supply milk or Revna might be able to nurse him.


    ¡°How is it possible that we have a Maul baby in our company?¡± Caste asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. ¡°Another thing stolen from Mavour?¡±


    ¡°Actually, he was rescued.¡± Aalis explained. ¡°A certain mother needed to give him up to keep him safe.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    The three of them turned to Oska who ducked his head beneath Xenon, coming to their side of the stallion. Caste immediately put Verne and Aalis between himself and the Maul as he looked at them with disbelief on his handsome face.


    ¡°He¡­I was asked to smuggle him out of Mavour.¡± Aalis said timidly, her arm curling around the baby protectively.


    Oska stared at the child, his jaw slack and his eyebrows oblique. ¡°This¡­this is¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know!¡± Caste stuck his fingers in his ears and began to hum tunelessly.


    ¡°Is this baby¡­¡± Oska looked at Aalis.


    ¡°Lady Jocasa¡¯s¡­and¡­¡±


    ¡°Mine¡­¡± Oska breathed. They were only faintly aware that they had halted, the convoy that had been spread out a little starting to catch up with them. Oska¡¯s hands were trembling. He shook his head, backing away. ¡°No¡­no it¡¯s not possible¡­she always made sure¡­¡±


    ¡°There was one time,¡± Aalis stopped him gently, ¡°where common sense died to heartache.¡±


    ¡°She¡­promised me¡­it was not¡­¡±


    ¡°Look at him.¡± Verne snorted. ¡°It hardly has Donimede¡¯s pallor.¡±


    Aalis licked her lips, looked at the little boy she was nursing and, despite wanting to keep him in her arms, stepped forward to hand him to Oska. ¡°Do you want to¡­¡±


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    ¡°No!¡± Oska recoiled like she had offered him a poisonous snake, Xenon¡¯s head tossing as he bumped against him. ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the hold up?¡± Judd called as he and Giordi, bringing up the rear, approached their position.


    Oska grasped Xenon¡¯s reins and almost yanked the stallion forwards, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the baby. Aalis felt tears trickle down her face and rubbed them off on her mantle as Judd moved in closer.


    ¡°Is everything alright?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Verne said firmly. ¡°Just¡­stopped for a rest.¡±


    Not that Judd was fooled for a moment but he did what he could to move past it.


    ¡°Then we¡¯d better push on.¡±


    By the same time the following day, Suvau was spending more time awake than asleep. At Aalis¡¯ orders he was to be very careful about pushing himself. He was glad he had her authoritative word on the subject because, after a week in Mavour, Suvau¡¯s body had reached its limits and gone beyond. It saved his pride that he ought to be walking and leading his people when he wasn¡¯t sure he would last an hour on his feet before keeling over.


    The final stretch within the wall had been a blur of blinding pain, dusty vision and unconsciousness. Suvau had to be reassured, during the times he was awake in the hut, that they had indeed escaped the wall and Mavour.


    Unfortunately, because he was resigned to being dragged on the stretcher, there was little else to do with his time than think¡­and Suvau¡¯s mind always returned to the same thing, angry, hurt and resentful.


    Because they were still very far south and the land, especially at night, was known to be stalked by monsters that the wall had not kept out and the soldiers had not stopped, their journey north was not a direct route. They aimed for campsites of safety rather than shortening the journey and ending up camped out in the open. The first night was spent in a nomad palisade of reasonable size and, going by the firewood stacked near the ring of stones, recent use. The posts were strong and in good condition and there were several solid structures that helped deflect the wind.


    The second night was after a long day of hiking northward. Caste insisted Chief Elk had marked another palisade on his map but just as Judd had given the call for them to stop and start to make camp, to have enough daylight left to do what they could to fortify their position, Verne¡¯s sharp eyes sighted the campsite.


    Suvau had insisted on walking. The sledge tended to slow them down as it needed to be dragged over the most even ground which meant some time demanding detours. They pushed hard to the palisade, relieved to be there as the shadows grew long and an even longer howl echoed towards them.


    ¡°Wolf,¡± Verne announced, ¡°not monster.¡±


    ¡°Unless it¡¯s a werewolf.¡±


    Verne pointed at the moon which was already sailing its crescent smile across the darkening sky.


    ¡°Not a full moon. Just a regular wolf.¡±


    ¡°Regular wolf is bad enough.¡± Judd barked, bringing up the rear, closing the gate behind them then looked around the campsite. It was smaller than the one they had stayed in the night before and not in the best condition. The Mauls huddled together, the howl of the wolf bringing back some terrible memories. ¡°I know you¡¯re all tired but we need to check the fence for gaps.¡±


    Suvau stood up but Aalis pushed him down.


    ¡°But I¡­¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She ordered then put the baby in his arms. ¡°You have done more than enough and your body is still healing.¡±


    Suvau looked at the child who stared up at him with an air of surprise, Suvau¡¯s dark skin a contrast to all those who had nursed the baby so far. The babe¡¯s skin was about Emeri¡¯s hue and he had black hair which was typical of his people. But his eyes were far lighter, amber brown with flecks of green in them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got some good colour there,¡± Suvau reassured him gently, ¡°yes you do,¡± he took the little fingers that waved about and let them curl around his thumb, ¡°when we find a looking glass, you can see just how handsome you are little man.¡±


    Some of the Mauls built a fire while Verne gutted and skinned rabbits he¡¯d managed to kill on the day¡¯s march. Aalis had her cooking pot out and was cutting up the remaining vegetables and herbs from her supplies. Suvau heard grunting and twisted to see Judd and Oska heaving the sledge up onto its side to block a gap in the palisade. Judd brushed his hands off and looked around.


    ¡°No shelter¡­but at least it isn¡¯t raining.¡±


    Oska¡¯s eyes shifted to Suvau, dropped to the baby then darted away, hurrying out of sight. Suvau had to be mindful not to grind his teeth.


    ¡°Here,¡± Aalis held out her arms and he handed the baby to her, ¡°he will be hungry soon.¡± She watched as Suvau stood up. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Just stretching and trying to stay warm.¡± He assured her. Aalis¡¯ expression told Suvau she didn¡¯t believe him but he turned and walked in the opposite direction of Oska. He swung his arms, feeling the muscles tighten and ache, warning him that it was not just the concussion that had caused his nearly three day convalescence. It was the battering his body had taken before that. And while remaining strong and stalwart had been essential in getting his people to trust that he could free them from Mavour, there were others now who could take some of the strain.


    Only not all of them would pull their own weight.


    Suvau clenched his teeth. He put his hand out to grasp part of the palisade, leaning down and shaking his head. ¡°Now is not that time,¡± he whispered to himself, ¡°not now¡­¡±


    ¡°Suvau?¡± He cringed at the sound of his name called by the one person he did not want to speak to. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m well.¡± Suvau said tightly, his anger churning into a ball of resentment in the pit of his stomach. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Aalis wanted me to check on you¡­should you really be up and moving about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m feeling a great deal improved.¡± Suvau replied sharply.


    ¡°Really?¡± Oska¡¯s voice came closer. ¡°You¡¯re looking a little shaky.¡±


    ¡°I am well enough.¡± Suvau grunted, wondering if Oska was truly so ignorant that he was mistaking Suvau¡¯s tremble of overwhelming emotion for the shakiness of frailty.


    ¡°Well enough to do what?¡±


    Suvau closed his eyes. ¡°This.¡± He spun around, his fingers already curled into a tight fist which connected with Oska¡¯s jaw, bone jarring, skin bruising almost instantly. Oska nearly went down, stumbling backwards as Suvau advanced on him, his fists flying. ¡°You bastard!¡± He roared, his fury unleashed. ¡°You sold yourself to Jocasa for the sake of bedchamber pleasures and damn apples while the others starved!¡±


    Oska deflected Suvau¡¯s blows, unable to defend himself with any of his own, staggering into the centre of the camp in order to get away from his brother in law.


    ¡°I had an opportunity and I took it!¡± Oska argued with the stubbornness that came from desperation rather than conviction. ¡°I wasn¡¯t harming anyone!¡± He swung his own fist but Suvau caught it and pushed him backwards, Oska tripping over a swag, landing hard on his back.


    ¡°What about the Mauls that took your place because you were selling your body to be spared the pit?¡± Suvau snapped. ¡°What about them?¡±


    ¡°Like they would have done any different!¡± Oska protested, unable to get up.


    Suvau went to leap on him, blinded and unreasonable, when Judd suddenly threw himself on Suvau¡¯s body, pulling him back.


    ¡°Suvau!¡±


    ¡°Stay back, LaMogre!¡± He ordered, throwing him off. ¡°This is between me and my own.¡±


    ¡°And who made you judge and jury?¡± Oska clambered to his feet, hands out in front of him as if he was trying to calm a frightened, angry horse.


    ¡°I¡¯m neither,¡± Suvau¡¯s muscles flexed, ¡°I¡¯m the executioner.¡± Oska¡¯s eyes widened at the violence of Suvau¡¯s tone. ¡°Those you left behind,¡± he jerked his head to the other Mauls who had all gathered, ¡°they already hated you in that dungeon and I could not work out why. Why weren¡¯t you scarred? Why were your chains well oiled and used? Because you were summoned frequently, to fill your belly and secure your own safety.¡± Oska¡¯s mouth turned down and his hands dropped to his sides. ¡°Every time you made the two backed beast with Jocasa, one of your own was taking your place in the pit!¡±


    Oska swallowed, his jaw trembling. ¡°You¡­you don¡¯t know what she said¡­I¡­couldn¡¯t refuse her.¡±


    Suvau¡¯s red haze turned black. ¡°She said you were only too hasty in taking her up on her offer.¡±


    Oska¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°She said that?¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°How¡­¡±


    ¡°Because she tried the same tactic on me.¡± A flare of shame curled over Suvau, reminding him of just how strongly he had been aroused in Jocasa¡¯s bedchambers.


    ¡°I¡­I thought¡­¡± Oska sank onto the ground. ¡°I thought she cared¡­that it wasn¡¯t just¡­¡± He lowered his head, his hands over his face.


    ¡°Whatever you fooled yourself into thinking it had become,¡± Suvau ignored his own shame by pushing through it aggressively, ¡°you cannot deny that you thought of no one but yourself.¡±


    ¡°What do you want of me?¡± Oska asked hollowly. ¡°Do you want me to admit I¡¯m not as strong as you?¡± He looked up at Suvau. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not. I never was. And¡­being in the pit was the single most terrifying hour of my life! I barely survived against small monsters! I wouldn¡¯t have lasted a month!¡± He stood up. ¡°So yes, I took Jocasa up on her offer but I didn¡¯t know it would be ongoing. I thought¡­I thought just once¡­just¡­a glimmer of hope¡­¡± He looked at his hands. ¡°I would have given anything for it in the pit¡­so when she offered, I took it and no, I didn¡¯t hesitate to let her use me¡­even when I thought¡­¡±


    His confession, broken and soaked in self loathing, had taken most of the fire out of Suvau¡¯s anger. The air was sharpening as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon with only the fleeting memory of light keeping the sky from turning black. The Mauls stood divided, some enjoying Oska¡¯s humiliation and others honest enough in their own hearts to know that they would have done the same as he.

 Judd, please…you cannot let this happen!

    Aalis moved between Suvau and Oska.


    ¡°Jocasa¡¯s motives were made out of desperation, lust and heartbreak,¡± she admitted, ¡°and even the damning consequences of giving birth to a baby of mixed races has not seemed to have curbed these emotions¡­but you ought to know, Oska, that she did not have to let this baby live.¡± Aalis stroked the babe¡¯s face gently. ¡°She could have thrown it from the wall into Maul or stuffed it in a chest and hidden its body in a forgotten room of the fort¡­instead she reached out to me to smuggle him out of Mavour. That means, despite her questionable motives, she could not harm the life you and she forged within her.¡±


    Oska folded his arms, looking away. ¡°The only thing she was protecting was her bloodline in him.¡±


    ¡°What about you, then?¡± Aalis asked, stepping towards him. ¡°This baby needs you.¡±


    Oska shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You selfish, lazy¡­¡± Suvau seethed.


    ¡°No!¡± Oska barked. ¡°No! I won¡¯t have anything to do with it! It only reminds me of my own folly!¡±


    ¡°What about the knowledge that, despite the folly, you were blessed with a son?¡±


    ¡°My son!¡± Oska snorted. ¡°Look at him! He has her eyes!¡±


    ¡°He is clearly part Maul.¡± Aalis argued.


    ¡°Then he will never have a place anywhere in this world! Where will he exist? Amongst Mauls who despise him or Terras who subjugate him?¡± Oska demanded. ¡°Better that Jocasa had let him die than allow him to live alone, isolated forever.¡±


    The callousness of his statement had them all shocked, their protestations dying in the face of something they couldn¡¯t even conceive of.


    ¡°Oh¡­well then,¡± Giordi darted forward, the only person apparently capable of movement, snatching the baby out of Aalis¡¯ arms, ¡°let¡¯s let the wilds decide, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Giordi!¡± Aalis shrieked, running for him as he strode to the palisade.


    ¡°Gavoli, what in Maul are you doing!¡± Judd barked.


    ¡°It¡¯s an old parable from ancient Terra,¡± Giordi held the baby tightly, ¡°when the birth of a baby threatened to tear the newly formed Astaril apart. He was an illegitimate child and a possible alternate successor to the throne.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking about the ¡®Justice of Maul¡¯, aren¡¯t you?¡± Verne said, taking hold of Aalis¡¯ arms, drawing her back.


    ¡°That¡¯s the one,¡± Giordi nodded, ¡°the baby was left unprotected. It was reasoned that if there was enough of Andigre and Grail¡¯s blood in the child, the monsters would leave it be.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s outrageous!¡± Suvau nearly lunged at Giordi but Judd held him back.


    ¡°That is the old law¡­and I think it¡¯s high time we renewed it.¡± Giordi waved his hand to a small outcrop nearby, outside the safety of the palisade. ¡°If there is no place in this world for it, then we will let the wilds decide if it should suffer the foolishness of our time or enjoy the peacefulness of death.¡±


    ¡°I will not let you!¡± Aalis bolted towards him, trying to rescue the baby, wrestling with Giordi before Verne was able to pull her into his chest, sobbing. ¡°No¡­it is not fair! You cannot do this!¡±


    Giordi raised his eyebrows, clutching the bundle in his arms. ¡°If the father does not want it¡­¡± Oska¡¯s eyes looked away. ¡°Then the justice of Maul shall decide.¡± He clambered out of the palisade and took the baby to the outcrop, laying it carefully on the stone.


    ¡°He¡¯s out of his mind!¡± Suvau barked.


    ¡°You will hold your ground.¡± Judd warned, pulling out his sword. ¡°You will heed.¡±


    Suvau bristled and fumed as Giordi returned to the palisade as the last faint blue light blinked out of existence and night settled in fully. There were only a few moments when they could still see the abandoned bundle before it disappeared into the darkness.


    ¡°Oska¡­¡± Suvau looked at him who shook his head. ¡°Oska¡­do something!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a father!¡±


    ¡°Yes you are! That¡¯s your son! Damn it, LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold, Suvau,¡± Judd reiterated, ¡°hold or I will stop you.¡±


    The Mauls shifted, divided by their own confusion and dread. The wash of night soaked into the landscape and the howls of the wolves came closer. Aalis sobbed relentlessly, held firm against Verne.


    ¡°Oska,¡± Suvau said brokenly, anger gone as the minutes cruelly crawled past, ¡°to take your first step of being a father¡­all you have to do is go out there¡­and save your son.¡±


    ¡°Wolf¡­¡± Verne said. ¡°I can see eyes. They¡¯re close.¡±


    ¡°Judd, please¡­you cannot let this happen!¡± Aalis fell to her knees.


    ¡°It¡¯ll all be over soon.¡± Judd¡¯s voice cracked.


    ¡°He will have a place with you,¡± Suvau whispered, ¡°no matter the rest of the world¡­he will always know his place if you just¡­¡±


    But his words went unspoken as Oska ran to the fire and grasped the end of a flaming branch. He turned and ran to the palisade, scraping himself as he climbed through it, tearing his thin clothing in his haste.


    ¡°Verne, go!¡± Judd cried and Verne clambered onto the palisade, braced on the thick logs, arrow in his bow, covering Oska¡¯s sprint to the outcrop. In the all consuming darkness, the torch was all that they could see, highlighting the edge of Oska as he reached the bundle and grasped it then ran back to the palisade.


    Suvau shuddered, his shoulders bowing with relief as Oska stood outside the fence line with the baby in his arms. Then Oska looked up and let the wrappings fall open, no child in sight.


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    His face was sodden with tears as he held out the empty cloth. ¡°I¡­what have I done?¡±


    ¡°Oska,¡± Giordi called, helping Aalis to rise, her cowed form having hidden the baby in her arms, ¡°your son is safe.¡±


    Oska climbed over the palisade and darted to Aalis, pausing in front of her, his arms shaking.


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    ¡°But¡­but¡­¡±


    ¡°That antiquated method of ¡®justice¡¯,¡± Giordi used his fingers to emphasise, ¡°can stay as a cautionary tale of what not to do.¡±


    Oska seemed frozen, frightened though willing. Aalis eased his son into his arms, gently moving his hands to hold him securely. The baby blinked and squirmed, tears of his father dotting his face. He opened his hazel eyes and saw Oska above him and gave a happy gurgle.


    Oska¡¯s laugh was brittle but sincere. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± He rasped.


    ¡°Jocasa had not given him one and I did not think it my place to do so.¡± Aalis tucked the baby¡¯s hand into the wrapping, out of the cold air. ¡°It is up to you, now. You are his father.¡±


    Oska swallowed and looked at his son. ¡°Would it be tactless to call him¡­Ermaus?¡± He lifted his head and looked at the other Mauls who paused and considered this.


    ¡°I think it would be a nice way to remember him.¡± Gustin nodded.


    Suvau came up to Oska¡¯s side. ¡°Ermaus,¡± he said, his deep voice rumbling as only Suvau¡¯s could, ¡°a fine, strong name.¡±


    ¡°I promise to raise him to be a better man than I.¡± Oska vowed.


    ¡°The funny thing about becoming a father,¡± Suvau put his hand on his shoulder, ¡°is that you grow with your child.¡±


    The Mauls moved back to the circle of light from the campfire and the pot that was bubbling with stew. Judd walked over to Giordi and punched him in the shoulder.


    ¡°You scared me half to death!¡± He groused. ¡°Leaving the baby out in the wilds?¡±


    ¡°First of all, ow,¡± Giordi rubbed his arm, ¡°second, I was never, ever going to do that¡­which you must have known.¡±


    ¡°I knew enough to trust you but even then I was wondering if that minotaur knocked all common sense out of me.¡± Judd sheathed his sword.


    ¡°Well, thank you for the trust¡­even though it hurts.¡± Giordi winced and looked at Verne and Aalis. ¡°Bravo to you both for your excellent performances.¡±


    ¡°You told that parable once or twice in Mavour alone,¡± Verne folded his arms, ¡°I know how it ended.¡±


    ¡°I must have missed that. How does it end?¡± Judd looked at the three of them.


    ¡°The story has two variations,¡± Aalis admitted, ¡°in one, the baby is killed and the current bloodline of Astaril monarchy, preserved.¡±


    ¡°And the other?¡±


    ¡°A grieving widow comes across the baby, takes it into her arms and heart and raises it to be a mighty young man who, one day, becomes a knight.¡±


    ¡°I prefer that ending.¡± They headed to the fire. ¡°How did you swap baby for, well, the not baby.¡±


    ¡°When I tried to take the baby from Giordi, I succeeded.¡±


    ¡°And she gave me a shawl and I pulled one of the wraps from little Ermaus,¡± Giordi grinned, ¡°turned my back as if ¡®protecting¡¯ the baby I was about to discard to the wild¡­and put Aalis¡¯ shawl out into the darkness¡­¡±


    ¡°You put a hole in it too.¡± Aalis draped it over her shoulders.


    ¡°I think you did more than that.¡± Judd paused and watched the Mauls settling in, softly spoken conversations merging and blending across their company and for once, including Oska in them. ¡°I think you gave that baby a place to be.¡±


    It was a weary convoy that finally reached the northern nomad camp by mid afternoon of the fourth day¡¯s trek. It was a large palisade close to the forest at the southern end of the Hump. Though the climate was not a great deal warmer, the ground was more fertile in the cooler months, there were trees bearing seasonal fruit and there were more animals to hunt and better weather to do so in. It was a hunting party that came across them, dragging their kills behind their mounts and spotted them from atop a rise. Judd was nearly overcome with relief, wanting to collapse knowing that they were not just close to solid sanctuary, but going in the right direction.


    Despite the apparent triumph of freeing the Mauls from Mavour, Judd did not feel entirely secure in its success until they were welcomed into the large, almost grand, northern palisade of the nomad¡¯s winter camping grounds. He had mounted Xenon and rode to the front to greet Chief Elk and Chief Bear, both of whom seemed genuinely pleased to see him. He knew Verne and Giordi would ensure no stragglers would be left behind but he felt the need to explain the presence of so many extra people.


    Suvau was grateful to be tall, looking over the heads of the nomads who crowded around them, searching for familiar faces. When he saw Yolana¡¯s eyes and her broken expression, he dropped what he was carrying, pushed through the crowd and wrapped his arms around her.


    ¡°My love, oh my love.¡± He cried softly.


    ¡°Suvau¡­¡± She said his name, every pore of his body aching with relief that he had returned to her.


    ¡°Father!¡± Emeri pressed against his side and he scooped an arm around her shoulders and held her tightly. ¡°We were starting to become so worried¡­¡±


    ¡°I knew you said not to worry,¡± Yolana kissed him, ¡°but it has been over two weeks, nearly three¡­¡±


    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Suvau pressed his forehead to hers. ¡°I swear I will tell you all about it¡­but first, there is someone¡­¡± Suvau stepped aside so that Yolana could see her brother walking towards her somewhat sheepishly.


    ¡°Oska?¡±


    ¡°Yolana.¡±


    She lunged for him, all reserve gone as she sobbed. ¡°I thought you were dead!¡±


    ¡°I was sent to Fort Mavour,¡± Oska nodded at Suvau, ¡°it was your husband¡¯s stubbornness that saved all of us.¡±


    ¡°I cannot take full credit.¡± Suvau insisted.


    ¡°Uncle Oska!¡±


    ¡°Emeri! Look how much you have grown! You¡¯re a young lady now¡­when did that happen?¡± Oska ruffled her braids.


    ¡°Uncle Oska¡­who is that?¡± Emeri said, going up on tiptoe to look at the baby he carried.


    ¡°This is Ermaus,¡± Oska explained, ¡°he is your cousin.¡±


    ¡°You have a son?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Oska smiled, ¡°and a handsome little lad he is.¡±


    Yolana cooed at little Ermaus. ¡°There are a thousand stories to be told, I am sure. But we have the time and the safety to hear them now.¡± She slid her hand into Suvau¡¯s. ¡°Come.¡±


    Giordi and Verne watched the family reunite from a distance.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re feeling pretty pleased with yourself?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Rather substantially, actually.¡± Giordi grinned. ¡°Come on Verne,¡± he slapped his back, ¡°smile! We made it!¡±


    ¡°I am smiling.¡±


    Giordi snorted then clapped his hands. ¡°Now, I really should see how Revna is.¡±


    Verne blinked. ¡°Well¡­of course¡­she¡¯s your wife.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be daft,¡± Giordi rolled his eyes, ¡°that all ended at the whipping post. But I did promise to make sure she and Mali were alright.¡±


    ¡°Then be off with you.¡± Verne urged. ¡°Before someone else¡¯s baby needs rescuing.¡±


    ¡°It is becoming a habit!¡± Giordi laughed and jogged away. Verne sighed then turned her attention to the Mauls who were gathering together in fear. She knew the feeling. The nomads were robust and seemed to have a resting face akin to a glare. She doubted they had ever seen as many dark skinned souls in one place and never within the safety of their palisade. Verne decided, rather than give in the to the unwelcomed ache of her heart, to distract herself by taking care of the Mauls. It seemed Chief Elk and Chief Bear were waving them towards the meeting hall and Verne hoped that they would be able to properly clothe all the Mauls and feed them until their bellies ached with fullness and not because of the lack.


    She waved to Emeri who was looking over at the incoming crowd with interest. Emeri waved in return then spied Aalis and Caste at the back of the convoy, leading Quell and Zeke. After giving Aalis a hug and a cursory greeting to Caste, Emeri showed them to the stables.


    ¡°And our tent is just here,¡± she pointed it out, ¡°although I am not sure it is large enough for twenty people, including a baby.¡±


    ¡°I am hoping the Mauls your father, Judd and Verne were able to rescue will be able to have their own space.¡± Aalis explained.


    ¡°There are so many of my people.¡± Emeri admitted. ¡°I never thought to see so many again.¡±


    ¡°And there are several young men amongst their number.¡± Aalis teased lightly then snapped her fingers. ¡°Which reminds me¡­I need to prepare a very strong anaesthetic. One of them has a badly healed broken arm and the only way to fix it¡­¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Emeri shuddered. ¡°That¡¯s all you¡­¡±


    ¡°It is good to see you.¡± Aalis touched her arm then handed the reins of Quell to Caste. ¡°Would you be able to relieve them of their packs?¡±


    Caste nodded, taking both sets of reins as Aalis hurried away. Emeri kicked the grass tuft at her feet while Caste avoided her gaze.


    ¡°I am glad that you came back safely, Caste.¡± She said quietly.


    ¡°Not that I ever thought a nomad camp would be thought of as ¡®safe¡¯,¡± Caste muttered, ¡°but compared to what we¡¯ve been through, safe is a term relative to that which we have endured.¡±


    ¡°No, not just that you¡¯re here¡­but that you seem unharmed.¡± Emeri explained. ¡°My people¡­not even the Mauls of Fort Omra have ever been so brutalised.¡± Caste swallowed. ¡°Thank you for doing whatever you did to help make it happen.¡±


    ¡°Emeri¡­¡± He said tersely but what was about to follow was left unsaid as Judd jogged over to him.


    ¡°Caste, Elf and Bear are deeply curious about what happened and why there are so many injured Mauls with us. Hello Emeri.¡± She gave a small wave, recognising that Judd needed Caste¡¯s full attention. ¡°Even with Elk¡¯s limited understanding, I¡¯m struggling to get across what happened. I need my interpreter¡­if you would be so kind.¡±


    Caste nodded then looked at the two sets of reins in his hands. Emeri took them from him.


    ¡°I will see to Quell and Zeke. Go. Judd needs you.¡±


    She watched them hasten away, sighed and took the two horses to the corral where they were happy to have their backs relieved of the weight of many packs.

 She was…incandescent

    The nomad¡¯s northern camping ground, because it had to be large enough and flexible enough to contain the two nomadic groups that banded together in the colder months to share resources, had both a feasting hall and a meeting hall. Unlike the tents that could be disassembled and transported to the next palisade, these two structures were solid with pillars for the corners, along the sides and grand arches for the rooves, filled in with thatch. Any gaps between the pillars along the walls were filled in with tapestries, hung and pegged, making both locations warm and enclosed.


    To Suvau¡¯s unending gratitude, the two chiefs had decided to make the meeting hall the recovery space for his people. Food was cooked and brought to them and even the sternest nomad could not resist handing over a warm piece of clothing to the poor souls who had been sharing cloaks and going without shoes. For the first time, even since escaping Mavour, there were signs of relief and even tentative hope on their faces. There was something indomitable about the nomads, kindred spirits in a sense that they, too, knew what it was like not to fit into the ¡®permitted¡¯ civilised mould of Terra.


    The language barrier was always going to be a problem but it seemed to fade into the background as the nomads came in, one by one, handing clothing and food to the Mauls. Words weren¡¯t necessary¡­although Suvau realised he would have to speak with his own people and tell them the cautionary tale of Giordi Gavoli and Chief Elk¡¯s daughter.


    He looked around for the minstrel, knowing the scars on his back would punctuate his tale strongly. He couldn¡¯t see Gavoli but he did spy Revna reclined against a mound of cushions, a baby in her arms. From the way she was holding him, he knew she was filling his belly but the way Oska was sitting nearby, Suvau suspected that the baby was not Revna¡¯s son, but actually little Ermaus. His beautiful wife sat next to her brother, holding, what Suvau suspected, was Mali, Revna¡¯s son, speaking with Oska who nodded and talked.


    He wondered if Oska would ever tell Yolana what happened in Maul.


    But his wife was no fool. She would work it out, if she hadn¡¯t done so already.


    Revna finished feeding little Ermaus and handed him back to Oska who had gone from reluctant father to adoring. He thanked Revna who took Mali back from Yolana. Suvau watched the exchange, smiling with contentment, his wife tucking her hair behind her ear. She leaned down to speak with Revna and the chief¡¯s daughter nodded and almost waved Yolana away.


    Suvau watched Yolana as she walked to the flap between tapestries, leaving the meeting hall for some unknown reason. But as she was about to slip out, she turned and caught his gaze¡­and the look in her eyes left no room for doubt. Suvau got to his feet and followed her out of the meeting hall, gasping sharply at the cold snap in the air. Yolana was already moving away, letting her swaying hips do all the talking. Suvau hurried after her as she wove her way through the nomad camp, between tents to one in particular and ducked inside. Suvau didn¡¯t hesitate, feeling the flaps of the tent close firmly behind him, Yolana¡¯s arms wrapping around his neck, her lips pressing against his.


    ¡°Revna said we could use her tent.¡± She whispered. ¡°I have missed you so much¡­¡±


    Suvau had never had a problem responding to his wife¡¯s passion in the past. He welcomed her as much as she welcomed him. But tonight, the way she was caressing him, brought the memory of Jocasa¡¯s bedchamber back to him and he shuddered then removed Yolana¡¯s hands from his body.


    ¡°Yolana, before we¡­you must know what happened in Mavour.¡±


    Probably not the heady sentiments she was hoping for but Yolana immediately recognised her husband was uncharacteristically reserved.


    ¡°Very well.¡± She said, kneeling in front of him as he sat on the bed.


    Suvau looked at his clasped hands, feeling how tightly his fingers were straining. ¡°The evening we were to escape¡­I was summoned to a noblewoman¡¯s bedchamber.¡± He licked his lips, giving a half shrug. ¡°She¡­saw me fight in the pit.¡±


    ¡°I suppose she wanted that kind of passion in bed.¡±


    Suvau was relieved he didn¡¯t half to spell out what Jocasa intended to Yolana but he was faced with another doubt and looked into Yolana¡¯s eyes desperately.


    ¡°I swear, I never yielded.¡±


    Yolana didn¡¯t look relieved and he realised that she never doubted him. However, she was concerned. ¡°Then why is there shame in your eyes, Suvau?¡±


    He closed them. ¡°Because¡­even though my head and heart both said no, my body¡­¡± Suvau covered his face with his hands, feeling sick at the memory. ¡°It was no little reaction¡­and the worst part was, she knew it.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± He cringed, waiting for her to berate him and he was resolved to accept it. ¡°Was she¡­subtle?¡±


    Suvau let out a little huff. ¡°As subtle as a cat in heat.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful?¡±


    He dropped his hands and gazed at her. ¡°Nothing compared to you,¡± he insisted, ¡°but yes¡­a lovely Terra.¡±


    Yolana took his hands and kissed them. ¡°Well, I am not saying I would not scratch her eyes out should our paths ever cross,¡± he chuckled softly, ¡°in a vulnerable position, your head and heart restrained a very natural, involuntary reaction of your body.¡±


    Suvau gazed at her, overcome with relief and appreciation for his wife.


    ¡°I love you, Yolana,¡± he cupped her face, ¡°only you with all of me.¡±


    Yolana let him kiss her, feeling his lips trail across her cheek and down her neck. ¡°Head, heart¡­and body?¡±


    ¡°All of me.¡± Suvau¡¯s rumble could have been mistaken for a wild cat¡¯s purr.


    Yolana pulled away from him slightly, her eyes gleaming with intent. ¡°Show me.¡±


    Aalis made sure Gustin was tucked in warmly, being very careful not to knock his arm which was wrapped firmly in a sling so that it rested against his chest. The young man winced but remained asleep, highly sedated. He was in a quiet corner of the meeting hall, the final step of freedom for him being the most painful. She crept away from him to where one of the Mauls, Palo, was standing.


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    ¡°I doubt he will sleep the night through,¡± she admitted, ¡°so if he wakes, have him drink this pouch of goat¡¯s milk.¡± Palo nodded. ¡°I will return in the morning to check on him.¡± Aalis reassured Palo before walking over to Verne.


    ¡°Well done.¡± Verne nodded.


    ¡°You helped.¡± Aalis insisted.


    ¡°Hey, I could have just as easily broken the wrong arm without you telling me what to do.¡± Verne looked at where the young man slumbered, Palo taking up bedside vigil. ¡°Do you think it¡¯ll work?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure,¡± Aalis sighed, ¡°his arm was badly healed for a number of weeks. Hopefully he will regain full use of it but at the very least, now that the break is set properly, it will not pain him like it did before.¡± She yawned and covered her mouth, embarrassed. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all tired.¡± Verne nodded then yawned. ¡°See what you started? Come on, you¡¯ve done enough.¡± She put her hands on Aalis¡¯ shoulders and propelled her out of the meeting hall. ¡°You also need rest.¡±


    ¡°I will not deny I am rather tired.¡± Aalis pulled her mantle close around her shoulders. The meeting hall was deliciously warm and easy to sink into a stupor within. The cold slap of air woke her up and kept her from tripping over her feet. After leaving Mavour, Aalis had returned to wearing her thicker, heavier over gown with two layers beneath that could be seen as she walked. She retained her fur mantle and wore her nomad fur lined boots which were excellent protection against the bite in the breeze.


    Verne walked beside her, comfortable in her boots and trousers, tunic, vest and cloak. ¡°I was worried about the nomads when we first met them,¡± Verne admitted, ¡°I was sure they¡¯d gut us in our sleep¡­but they¡¯d have to be just about the best people in all Terra.¡±


    ¡°I heartily agree with that.¡± Aalis rubbed her gloved hands together. ¡°I think they also enjoy stories and the tale of the liberation of the Mauls from Mavour. Chief Elk and Chief Bear were entranced.¡±


    ¡°With Caste relating the story.¡± Verne chuckled then sobered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much he would appreciate relaying it, enforcing his reluctant capitulation in it and hearing it applauded.¡±


    ¡°No, perhaps not.¡± Aalis shivered. ¡°The air is so dry¡­¡±


    ¡°Might snow overnight.¡± Verne peered at the sky, unable to see many clouds. They wove their way along the winding path between the nomad tents. ¡°Aalis, when Giordi said he was going to put little Ermaus out in the wilds¡­did you know he was faking?¡±


    Aalis sighed and shrugged. ¡°I¡­had a brief vision of what he intended.¡±


    Verne eyed her from beneath the bandana that was part of her archer appearance. ¡°When he touched you?¡± Aalis cringed. ¡°It¡¯s just you said you sometimes¡­never mind.¡±


    Aalis swallowed. ¡°I am not used to talking about it,¡± she said quietly as they picked their way over tent pegs and cords drawn tight, ¡°but yes, when Giordi grabbed Ermaus out of my arms, I had a sudden impression of what he wanted to do.¡± She looked at Verne shyly, wondering if she was about to find the limits of the archer¡¯s understanding.


    ¡°You can read minds?¡± Verne asked with a hint of admiration.


    ¡°I do not think so,¡± Aalis shook her head, her dreadlocks pinned back within her hood, ¡°it was more like¡­such a strong thought and intent in Giordi¡¯s mind that it hit me but it took a moment or two for the entirety of his plan to sink in.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s remarkable.¡±


    ¡°You can talk. You picked up on his intent just from the title of the parable.¡± Aalis tilted her head. ¡°I remembered it afterwards but you knew it straight away.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not forget,¡± Verne warned, ¡°that there were two endings to that story. There was the happy ending and then there was the awful ending. Giordi could have intended either.¡±


    ¡°But you knew he would not.¡± Aalis pressed her lips together. ¡°You must really care for him to trust him like that.¡±


    Verne blinked. ¡°Judd trusted him too and I don¡¯t see him playing dress up and prancing about like a demented noblewoman.¡± Before Aalis could protested, Verne shrugged. ¡°Besides, he¡¯s probably forgotten all about Lyla Borelia by now.¡±


    They pulled the flaps of their tent aside and slipped into the quiet space that had not changed all that much even though it had been dismantled and reassembled three times since Chief Bear originally allowed them to occupy it. Inside Giordi sat cross legged on the covered ground, quill in his teeth, ink well beside him with parchment covered in scribbles and his lute in his hands, plucking on the strings.


    ¡°Giordi?¡± Aalis took the quill from his mouth. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I was suddenly struck with inspiration.¡± He beamed, a smear of ink at the corner of his lips. ¡°I had to write it down.¡±


    ¡°More on the ballad of LaMogre?¡± Verne asked, immediately sinking into her male persona, quiet and terse.


    ¡°No, no, this one is quite new.¡± Giordi held out the parchment. ¡°Would you care to hear?¡±


    ¡°As long as it is not comparable to the ¡®Lament of Sir Olrig the Wise¡¯.¡± Aalis warned. ¡°Fifty four verses are a trial when I am not sleepy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the honest truth.¡± Verne muttered.


    Giordi cleared his throat. ¡°Ahem, well, allow me to regale you with just the first few verses¡­because that¡¯s all I have.¡± He plucked the strings, tuned them then began to play.


    ¡°Oh maiden fair,


    With raven hair


    Won¡¯t you hear my desperate prayer?


    Oh maiden who,


    With eyes of blue,


    My roaming heart you did subdue.


    Oh maiden kiss,


    Sweet Terra bliss


    Now I can only reminisce.


    For maiden fled,


    No word she said


    And now my heart is dead.¡±


    Giordi lifted his head from the parchment. ¡°Too much?¡±


    Aalis hand to put her hand over her mouth in a thoughtful pose just to disguise her need to clamp her jaw shut which had fallen open in astonishment.


    ¡°Well¡­I¡­¡±


    ¡°You hate it?¡± Giordi moaned and leaned back on the ground, his lute tumbling out of his hands. ¡°Ugh¡­I know¡­it¡¯s not enough.¡±


    ¡°The ending killed it for me.¡± Verne said in a bored tone. ¡°And now your heart is dead? What is that, some sort of dramatic minstrel lie?¡± Giordi sat up and missed Aalis¡¯ glare at Verne who dropped her chin lower, her eyes going quite flinty.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­if you must know, it¡¯s how I felt after she left.¡±


    ¡°After who left, Giordi?¡± Aalis asked. ¡°I have not heard you speak of her before.¡±


    ¡°Lyla Borelia,¡± Giordi smiled warmly, ¡°I met her at the feast in Mavour. Lyla¡­even her name is musical in the way it just rolls from my tongue. Lyla¡­¡± Verne snorted. ¡°Snicker all you want, stoic archer, but I was not expecting to be so overtaken by a single evening.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t most of your dalliances in the space of a single evening?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, but this was no dalliance. It was¡­¡± Giordi smiled wistfully. ¡°It was so much fun.¡±


    ¡°Fun?¡± Aalis said before Verne could speak.


    ¡°We laughed so much,¡± Giordi chuckled, picking up his musical notes, ¡°usually when a woman laughs at my attentions, it¡¯s flirtatious.¡± He giggled dramatically. ¡°Oh Gavoli, how droll you are.¡±


    ¡°Kill me now.¡± Verne rasped.


    ¡°But with Lyla, it wasn¡¯t like that. We just laughed and spoke on many things. She has a fantastic wit about her and her observations of the world, probably because of her isolated upbringing. And she had wonderful ideas about paintings, seeing things I thought no one else but I had seen¡­and we danced¡­badly.¡± He sighed. ¡°Best night ever.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Aalis shifted sideways, out of Verne¡¯s reach, ¡°was she beautiful?¡±


    ¡°She was¡­incandescent.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just a word to get out of saying that she wasn¡¯t beautiful.¡± Verne said, striking out verbally because she couldn¡¯t reach Aalis.


    ¡°I admit she wasn¡¯t as voluptuous as many of the other women but I swear, there was something,¡± Verne held her breath as Giordi pondered his words, ¡°luminous about her. Fresh, like she had come forth from a giant flower, fully formed, having observed the world from a distance but finally a part of it¡­I should write that down.¡±


    While he was distracted by his fleeting thoughts of brilliance, Aalis risked a glance at Verne and her expression could have curdled cream. But before there was any mouthing of words or stern sign language, the flaps to the tent opened.

 Any knight who requested it would probably find himself on the executioner’s block

    ¡°Gavoli, why must you always use my ink, quills and parchment without asking?¡± Caste demanded, followed by Judd who held the flap open for Emeri who had a basket of bread and roast meat in her arms and a pouch of wine on her hip.


    ¡°Because you never say yes.¡±


    ¡°Because you never ask.¡±


    Giordi looked up. ¡°May I use your ink, quills and parchment?¡±


    Caste folded his arms. ¡°No!¡±


    Giordi threw up his hands and Caste rescued the ink well before the minstrel kicked it over, scraping back his belongings, muttering to himself.


    ¡°It¡¯s like having children.¡± Judd lamented. ¡°Do I have to bang your heads together?¡±


    Caste and Giordi looked at Judd in disbelief¡­and a little fear.


    ¡°Oh please do.¡± Verne chuckled.


    ¡°It¡¯s what my mother always said to my brothers and I.¡± Judd took off his cloak and boots, putting the latter out of the tent.


    ¡°Back so soon from the table of Elk and Bear?¡± Verne sat up. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not halfway through a barrel of ale and half a pig.¡±


    ¡°Actually, they told Caste and I to go to bed.¡± Judd sat down, forming a vague circle with the others in the tent. ¡°After we ate half a pig and drank far too much ale.¡± He looked around. ¡°Suvau and Yolana not here?¡±


    ¡°I was the first to arrive and it was empty.¡± Giordi said, shuffling across to make room for Emeri to sit after she set the food and wine in the centre of the circle, forcing Caste to move over, grumbling as he did so.


    ¡°They must have found somewhere else to¡­you know.¡± Emeri shrugged.


    ¡°Know what?¡± Caste asked and three cushions flew at him. ¡°What!¡±


    ¡°From the looks my mother was giving my father,¡± Emeri said, trying another tactful line, ¡°they will be ¡®lying together¡¯ in the most literal sense as translated from ancient Terra texts.¡±


    As Caste¡¯s face flamed into bloom and Giordi raised his eyebrows at him.


    ¡°That¡¯s the passage that comes before the genealogy, you know, who begat who?¡±


    ¡°I know what it means.¡± Caste growled with gritted teeth.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Judd called, bringing attention back to him, ¡°I was hoping they would be here but in truth¡­they don¡¯t need to be.¡±


    ¡°Care to elaborate?¡± Verne asked, pouring the wine into a bowl then dipping some bread into it.


    ¡°Well,¡± Judd leaned forward, ¡°I know we only just arrived and I¡¯m not thinking about leaving tomorrow, but¡­¡±


    ¡°You want to discuss your return to Astaril in order to receive your knighthood.¡± Aalis said softly.


    ¡°Are you really so eager to do so?¡± Giordi couldn¡¯t get the ink smears off his hands so stopped trying. ¡°I mean, we¡¯ve met a few by now. You really want to be one of them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be one like them,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°but I need to be a knight, on equal standing, with them¡­in order to stand against them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking about challenging Donimede¡¯s use of Mauls as slaves?¡± Emeri breathed, her voice filled with tentative hope.


    ¡°That¡¯s where I would start,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°my ultimate goal would see your people being recognised as people and not¡­¡±


    ¡°Sub-humans, lower class humans¡­Maul people.¡± Caste rattled off.


    ¡°Will that be the boon you ask for?¡±


    ¡°Boon?¡± Verne looked at Emeri. ¡°What boon?¡±


    ¡°A newly appointed knight is offered a boon,¡± Emeri explained, ¡°since the time of Andigre, it has been the tradition of the king to offer anything the knight requests, up to half his kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Not that any of you listen to the voice of reason,¡± Caste spoke up, ¡°but Judd won¡¯t be able to overthrow the dictates of the Order of the Grail in regards to the people of Maul with his boon. It¡¯s not reasonable.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like it would be less than half of Rocheveron¡¯s kingdom.¡± Giordi shrugged, sucking his fingers free of meat juice and ink.


    ¡°It¡¯s not possible.¡± Caste argued. ¡°The ¡®half the kingdom¡¯ traditional offer is never to be taken seriously. Any knight who requested it would probably find himself on the executioner¡¯s block.¡±


    ¡°Nothing ventured¡­¡±


    ¡°No headless nights¡­¡± Verne finished Giordi¡¯s sing-song voice.


    ¡°The boon is usually a personal request, for a preferred fort appointment or marriage to an appropriate noblewoman.¡±


    ¡°Why would that be necessary to request to be a boon?¡± Emeri asked. ¡°I thought knights could only marry noblewomen.¡±


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    ¡°Most knights, despite the nobility of their name, are quite poor.¡± Judd explained. ¡°Knights who request the boon of marriage are usually asking for the equivalent of a dowry or income¡­without coming out and actually saying, I need some coin to set my future wife up in the manner to which she has become accustomed.¡± He waved his hands. ¡°We¡¯re getting off track.¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Aalis said quietly, ¡°what is it you set out to do on this quest?¡±


    He swallowed. ¡°I wanted to become a knight. I want to be a good knight and do all the things I can to stand up for those who suffer injustice and cruelty and stupidity¡­but first I need that knighthood so that the people in power will hear me when I speak.¡±


    ¡°And you have more than earned it.¡± Giordi said firmly. ¡°Then, I guess, the only real question is¡­when do we leave?¡±


    ¡°Before when,¡± Judd looked around at them all, ¡°I want to talk about who. Caste, of course, will travel to Astaril with me.¡±


    ¡°Which has less to do with the knighthood and more to do with returning to his beloved Order of the Grail.¡± Verne remarked and Caste lifted his chin.


    ¡°I made no pretence about the end goal of my being on this quest. I will fulfil my requirements according to my appointment and we will go our separate ways.¡±


    ¡°I understand that completely.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°So, Caste is coming with me as well as Aalis as I made a promise to escort her back to the village she came from.¡± Though he was speaking about her, no one could miss the fact that Judd would not look at her. ¡°After that¡­given everything you have all been through¡­I didn¡¯t want to assume you would want to make the journey.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your consideration, but I¡¯ll be by your side to the end.¡± Suvau announced, pushing his large form through the flap, drawing Yolana behind him, their fingers entwined and the cohesion in the atmosphere between them so close that it was impossible to notice where one person ended and the other began. ¡°I apologise for our delay. We were¡­¡±


    ¡°I know!¡± Caste yelped before they could continue.


    Suvau blinked at the cleric, sitting next to his wife as everyone made space for them.


    ¡°The reason for your tardy arrival has been well and truly covered.¡± Giordi explained in an exaggerated whisper and Suvau nodded then turned to Judd.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Suvau started at Judd¡¯s blunt tone. ¡°No?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Judd shook his head.


    ¡°I made a vow¡­¡±


    ¡°Suvau,¡± Judd stopped him, ¡°I appreciate your vow and the stubbornness to see it through. But after the torment you suffered in Mavour, the whipping and fighting monsters with your bare hands¡­¡± He stopped when Suvau gestured at him to stop talking, Yolana¡¯s eyes wide with horror and Emeri¡¯s fingers over her mouth. ¡°Oh¡­right¡­you haven¡¯t told them yet¡­¡± Judd cleared his throat. ¡°Look¡­there is a time and a place to recognise that you have fulfilled your vow. You were instrumental in helping me find and kill that minotaur. You have done what you set out to do.¡±


    ¡°I vowed I would stand by your side until you claimed your knighthood,¡± Suvau argued then paused, ¡°unless you do not wish me to be by your side in Astaril¡­¡±


    ¡°Which we understand.¡± Yolana added.


    ¡°I would gladly have your husband with me,¡± Judd insisted and as Caste began to protest he held up his hand to silence him, ¡°and damn the narrow minded people who would judge us poorly because of it. But Astaril is a long way from here and I plan to head east first, to Fort Bastil where Oster Agress is, then northward to Fort Faine and make sure the farmers are being treated well by Sir Jesa and from there we have a straight shot to Aalis¡¯ village then west to Astaril.¡± He winced as he looked between them. ¡°You have already suffered absences from each other. I don¡¯t want to be the reason you endure another one.¡±


    Suvau licked his lips and paused, looking between his wife and his daughter. ¡°Would you allow me time to talk it over with my family?¡± He asked gently.


    ¡°Tomorrow is all I can give you.¡±


    ¡°And whatever I decide?¡±


    Judd nodded, pressing his lips together. ¡°Suvau, in my mind you are a human being with a right to make your own decisions. I am not your master and will accept your decision.¡±


    The mood was quiet afterwards, Yolana and Emeri both huddling close to Suvau as though sensing they might lose him again and everyone feeling the weight of the undecided decision.


    ¡°So,¡± Judd cleared his throat, ¡°Verne and Giordi?¡±


    ¡°Well, of course I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Giordi declared. ¡°I need an ending to my epic lyrical masterpiece of Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°You just want to go to Astaril and find your mystery woman.¡± Judd teased. ¡°Lydia Boris?¡±


    ¡°Lyla Borelia.¡± Giordi correct curtly.


    ¡°Borelia¡­¡± Aalis and Verne looked nervously at Caste who mulled the word over, his brow creased in thoughtfulness. ¡°Borelia¡­nobility in Astaril?¡± Giordi nodded and Caste snorted. ¡°Good fortune with that.¡±


    ¡°For your edification and information, she already kissed me.¡± Giordi retorted.


    ¡°I have heard of noblemen and women ¡®slumming¡¯ it before¡­¡± Caste danced his fingers in front of Giordi¡¯s face.


    ¡°Before they get into a hissy slapping fight,¡± Verne rolled his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m going with you too but I have to ask, what about the Mauls? I don¡¯t feel right abandoning them.¡±


    ¡°That was part of the reason our talk,¡± Judd clicked his fingers at Caste and Giordi, breaking up their silent fight as he gained his cleric¡¯s attention, ¡°with Elk and Bear went so long. They have offered to share their nomadic life with the Mauls.¡±


    ¡°Truly? Both of them?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Judd nodded, taking some meat dipped in wine, ¡°Elk was more than happy to have all the Mauls stay with him but his people trade with Mavour and stick to the western prairies. He admitted it wasn¡¯t safe. But Chief Bear¡¯s clan suffered several able bodied losses when the unicorns stampeded the palisade. There¡¯s space within his clan, they live on the steppelands for three quarters of the year and while they trade with Fort Bastil and Omra, only envoys go, not the whole tribe.¡± Judd turned to Suvau. ¡°I know there¡¯s a language barrier and some of your people might want to return to Omra¡­¡±


    ¡°Not when there¡¯s even the remotest possibility of being recaptured and sent back to Mavour.¡± Suvau said firmly. ¡°Besides, if any did, it might start questions about where the escapees really went and that could land the nomads in trouble.¡±


    ¡°If envoys travel to Omra, word might be able to be given to the families of the Mauls we rescued,¡± Yolana looked at Emeri who nodded, ¡°to give them some peace.¡±


    ¡°I will speak with my people about the offer from Chief Bear,¡± Suvau promised, ¡°the nomad clans will not separate for another two or even three months so they will have time to recover and consider their options. And should I accompany you to Astaril, the round journey would take a month perhaps. I would be back well before the clans split.¡±


    ¡°Even if Judd stays in Astaril, I¡¯ll be free to accompany you back down here.¡± Verne offered and Suvau nodded his thanks.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to stay in Fort Faine with your people?¡± Caste asked, surprised.


    ¡°I joined them as I did you. I have no family.¡± Verne said lightly and Aalis¡¯ brow furrowed. ¡°I like these nomads and I doubt the glamour of Astaril has anything in it to tempt me to stay.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Lyla Borelia has a friend she can introduce you to?¡± Giordi teased.


    ¡°Maybe you need to lay off the wine.¡± Verne groused.


    ¡°So,¡± Judd said loudly and all eyes turned back to him, ¡°the day after tomorrow is when we leave. If you¡¯re coming, have all your belongings packed and ready to go.¡± Everyone nodded or acknowledged his words. ¡°Then, without further talk¡­I am going to go to bed.¡±


    The last piece of bread soaked up the last dribble of wine in the bowl and the last piece of meat was devoured as they settled into making their sleeping spaces. Aalis lay down on her side, a fur covering her, her head resting on the crook of her arm. She could see Judd from her position, rolled the same was she was facing so that all she could see was his back.


    ¡°Could someone blow out the lamp?¡±


    Aalis sat up and extinguished it with a single breath and the tent plunged into slumber.

 What about putting one’s pride and ego and reputation aside and standing up for what is right?

    Caste spent the single full day he had before they left the nomad camp in preparing his belongings. Unlike the others who only need fret if they left a sock behind or misplaced their favourite set of gloves, Caste¡¯s packing had to be methodical and exact. He couldn¡¯t afford to leave anything behind. After all, what would a bunch of illiterate nomads and Mauls do with his copy of ¡®The Exegetical Implications of the Second Coming¡¯? Probably use it as fire starter.


    After the lights had gone out in the tent, Caste had made a mental list of the things he needed to pack and check then repack the following day. The first thing he did when he woke up was use his rescued ink and quills and parchment to write a list. He ignored Giordi¡¯s teasing and Judd¡¯s warning about being ready, choosing to prepare well so that he packed well.


    All those with lesser responsibilities scattered the moment they could, throwing all their belongings into their swags at the last minute and winding up with each other¡¯s clothing in their haste. But Caste would not be so rushed or so incompetent.


    However, he found he was a little light when it came to putting his hands on his physical belongings. He checked through his swag and pack, unable to locate a specific chest. The hateful nip of panic began to gnaw at him and he ignored it as best he could, laying everything out on the ground in the tent and glaring at it as if they could possibly be concealing the chest within their grasp.


    ¡°Uh, Caste?¡± Emeri¡¯s voice broke into his anxious haze. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°No I am not.¡± He groused. ¡°When I left for Mavour I was promised that the belongings I left behind would be faithfully transported from the southern camp to this one. But it seemed my faith was misplaced as I am missing a chest.¡± He groaned and ran his hands through his red hair. ¡°It¡¯s probably been left behind¡­out in the rain¡­exposed to the elements. A monster has probably chewed its way through it or these nomads thought it would make good firewood.¡±


    ¡°Caste!¡± Emeri yelled in his face to get his attention, standing in a corner of the room where her sleeping mat was. She drew back a cover. ¡°Is this the chest?¡±


    Caste¡¯s spine rippled with relief as he darted towards it, unbelieving yet knowing it to be true.


    ¡°It is! It is!¡± He exclaimed then glared at Emeri. ¡°What¡¯s it doing in here?¡±


    ¡°Well, it is obviously very old and despite the care and attention made to preserve it and its contents, there are clear signs of decay on the corners and mildew trying to form.¡± Emeri patted it gently. ¡°Something so delicate could not be left out in the elements despite everything being covered with waterproofed sheeting so I brought it in here, kept it off the ground and tried my best to discourage the mildew.¡± She took the handles on either end and picked it up. ¡°Here.¡±


    Caste eyed the box, recalling its contents and the danger he had faced, both planned and unplanned, in order to retrieve it.


    ¡°Caste, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Emeri insisted, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to worry you. I thought I was looking after it the way you would want it to be.¡±


    Still he didn¡¯t take it, his forehead in a perpetual frown.


    ¡°Keep it.¡± He said quietly.


    ¡°Caste?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t belong to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes it does.¡± Emeri tried to hand it to him but he stepped back. ¡°It was part of the pile that you made me swear not to leave behind before you left for Fort Mavour.¡±


    ¡°Well, now I¡¯m giving it to you.¡±


    ¡°But why?¡± Emeri asked, stepping towards him then pausing as he recoiled.


    Caste turned aside, wringing his fingers. ¡°You recall how Jerom thought it would be amusing to trap me in the flooded foundations of Fort Omra?¡±


    Emeri put the chest down and folded her arms. ¡°You say amusing, I say murderous attempt.¡±


    Caste nodded. ¡°Well, the reason I went down there was to retrieve that chest.¡±


    They both looked at it. ¡°But why?¡± Emeri asked. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t open it?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. It wasn¡¯t mine.¡±


    Caste wasn¡¯t sure his restraint for knowledge would have held him back like Emeri¡¯s had done for her then he realised she didn¡¯t know what was in it. He floundered then knelt and opened the chest, finding the letter he had read upon opening, what felt like, a lifetime ago.


    ¡°Here.¡± He said, holding it out to Emeri.


    She took it and unfurled its edges, her keen brown eyes skipping across the inked words.


    ¡°To whoever finds and reads this confession, I pray you live in an enlightened era where the contents of this chest, in which I seal this letter, will be far better received than my time.¡± Emeri read aloud as she put her hand out, sitting down blindly, not willing to take her eyes from the letter. ¡°My name is Cleric Iliet and the contents of this chest have passed from cleric to cleric of Fort Omra, sometimes discovered and other times not. I will be blunt and allow the dictates of your conscience guide your heart and hand. In this chest is evidence of a civilisation before the construct of the wall, even before the rampage of monsters began. A civilisation of people we have come to term as ¡®Mauls¡¯.¡± Emeri gasped softly, her fingers trembling. ¡°We, the officers of the Order of the Grail, have done these souls, who had as much right to the respect and civilisation of Terra as any pale skinned human, a great disservice. They are not humans twisted by the mount of Maul or tainted in any other way than with our own prejudice. The Order of the Grail, out of fear and racism, devalued and dehumanised these people and this was passed with great authority from the throne of Astaril itself to the very reaches of Terra. It should never have been so. Upon my discovery of this chest I did as my training dictated and sent copies to Astaril only to be told to burn the chest and its contents. I wrestled with my conscience until I was confined to my bed with a dangerous fever only to rise weakly, seal the contents securely and hide the chest in the flooded foundations on a ledge that had no sign of water damage. Perhaps one day there will be a braver cleric than I to be bold against these unjust foundations but until then, I pray that these remarkable records remain safe.¡±


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    Emeri was quaking with emotion as she looked at Caste. ¡°Unjust foundations¡­that is what he wrote in the notion of the fort records. Unjust¡­he was not speaking of the foundations of the fort but of the foundations of Astaril!¡±


    ¡°It would seem that way.¡± Caste nodded.


    ¡°Then, that means this chest¡­¡± Emeri knelt in front of it, her hands hovering over it. ¡°Knowledge of our forgotten heritage¡­of our culture¡­¡± Caste nodded again then jumped as Emeri stood up and advanced on him. ¡°You have to take it to Astaril!¡±


    ¡°What? No!¡±


    ¡°Caste, you must!¡± She exclaimed. ¡°That chest contains the proof of our humanity.¡±


    ¡°I will not take it to Astaril.¡±


    Emeri¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°But Caste¡­it¡¯s the truth!¡±


    Caste snorted. ¡°Truth¡­your truth. Your heritage. Your culture that would be considered blasphemous to the Grail¡¯s foundations.¡±


    ¡°Unjust foundations!¡±


    ¡°That chest has no business being in Astaril.¡± Caste could see that his words were bouncing off her, not even registering in her mind as she paced.


    ¡°It would be presented as evidence before King Rocheveron and the old laws would be challenged against its proof. Along with Judd¡¯s voice after he is knighted, we could begin to see real change until my people are freed from all servitude and persecution!¡± Emeri lunged at him, throwing her arms around him. ¡°Caste¡­you have saved us!¡±


    Caste disentangled himself immediately and put distance between himself and the confused young woman.


    ¡°It will never work.¡± He argued. ¡°Cleric Iliet already wrote about how he tried to submit the documents to the Order. They burned them and told him to do the same to the originals.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps he did not stand up for what was right, but he begged those who read the letter afterwards that we might find the courage ourselves.¡± Emeri held out the letter. ¡°An enlightened era! A time where the Order would not be so full of corruption and pride.¡± Caste closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his nose, pacing back and forth. ¡°That time could be now!¡±


    ¡°Emeri, you such a fool.¡± Caste turned on her and hurt flashed across her open, honest face. ¡°The Order would no more welcome that chest of blasphemy now than it did when Iliet discovered it.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡±


    ¡°Yes I do!¡± Caste snapped. ¡°Because Cleric Severo tried the same thing as Iliet and received the exact same response! Burn the lot!¡±


    Emeri¡¯s eyes were as wide as could be, clutching the letter to her breast, standing in front of the chest as if to protect it.


    ¡°No¡­they couldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°They did.¡± Caste flopped his hands to the sides. ¡°Why do you think he hung himself?¡±


    Emeri¡¯s rich complexion became a shade lighter. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Caste paused. ¡°No one told you?¡± He didn¡¯t need an answer as she sank to the floor. ¡°It was after the hydra, or maybe before¡­¡±


    ¡°I knew he had died but to hang himself¡­¡± Emeri¡¯s kind eyes filled with tears. ¡°But why then? What happened to him?¡±


    Caste cringed and squatted down in front of her. ¡°He saw me with the chest. He told me what he had done, sealing it into the foundations because he couldn¡¯t burn it.¡±


    ¡°That poor man¡­to have been so disappointed by the Order that he would drink himself into a stupor¡­¡± Emeri wiped at her cheeks but more tears fell. Caste sighed and drew his handkerchief out of his pocket and held it to her. She took it, sniffing. They were quiet for a time, each wrestling with the future and grieving for the past. ¡°You could still do it, you know.¡± Caste glanced up at Emeri whose eyes were cast to the side. ¡°Take the chest to Astaril, present it to King Rocheveron¡­¡±


    ¡°It would have to be authenticated by deacons, archdeacons¡­even by Bishop Peele,¡± Caste argued softly, ¡°and I guarantee you, it would be rejected, denounced and burned.¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, better that it stay here with you and your people.¡±


    ¡°What about truth?¡± Emeri whispered. ¡°What about putting one¡¯s pride and ego and reputation aside and standing up for what is right?¡±


    Caste licked his lips. ¡°Cleric Iliet wrote about an ¡®enlightened age¡¯ in which the chest¡¯s contents would be accepted¡­clearly we¡¯re not there yet.¡±


    Emeri¡¯s brown fingers curled around his as her face moved in closely. ¡°Caste, an enlightened era where powers and authority are transparent does not happen because we wish it. It happens when good people stand up for what is right¡­like you did¡­when you saved me,¡± he shook his head but she wouldn¡¯t relent, ¡°when you said all those things in front of Fereak and Jerom¡­to protect my people¡­to protect me. I didn¡¯t realise how brave you were before¡­I know you have the courage to do this.¡±


    Caste lifted his eyes, so close to Emeri he could feel her breath, count her eyelashes and smell the warmth of her skin.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Caste said softly and she blinked, disappointment growing with every word he uttered. ¡°I will not lose my place in the Order, will not endanger my ambition or sacrifice everything I have worked for, for this.¡± He stood up and backed from her. Though the distance was not great, it was as wide as the wall was long. ¡°Perhaps one day, if I become bishop, I will be able to effect change on this scale¡­¡±


    Emeri stood up as well, her lips trembling even as her jaw tightened and her eyes became hard though they filled with tears. ¡°No, Caste Undern, if you cannot stand for justice and truth now, excusing your actions with hollow promises of future hope, all for the sake of your ambition, you will only do the same again to protect your damn position.¡±


    Caste had nothing to say to that because he knew, in his heart, she was right.


    So he turned and left the tent.

 All of us have to take responsibility for our part to play in the world

    ¡°Oh where, oh where has my wondering heart gone?


    It has run away from me


    Without apology


    To nestle in the breast of a fair maiden, no less,


    With eyes as blue as the sea.


    Oh where, oh where has my wondering heart gone?


    I search hither and yon


    Yet I am left, forlorn


    With but the memory of a fair maiden¡¯s kiss,


    And all I can do is mourn.


    Oh where, oh where has my wondering heart gone?


    And will it ever return


    Or am I doomed to yearn?


    For her sweet embrace, for her lips, her face,


    All others I now doth spurn.¡±


    Giordi¡¯s voice carried across their party, his lute in his hands, singing mournfully to himself even as he rode on Zeke. He trusted the sturdy horse to follow where the others led and risked not holding on so he could play and sing whenever the mood took him.


    ¡°Not another melody about your broken heart and lost love.¡± Verne muttered on the back of a chestnut mare with white socks on her long legs and bright eyes.


    ¡°Hey, while he¡¯s singing about that, he¡¯s not singing about me.¡± Judd chastened his archer. ¡°I¡¯ll take anything over the ¡®ballad of Judd LaMogre¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I did come up with another verse!¡± Giordi crowed. ¡°Want to hear it!¡±


    Judd groaned and rubbed his face with his hands. Suvau nudged his horse, a hefty black gelding with a slightly curly mane and tail and a lopsided white star on its forehead, alongside Xenon. The gelding was the only mount Judd had ever known to be bigger than Xenon but that was because Artur was a Clydesdale, a large horse used primary for pulling ploughs. On anything smaller, Suvau would have looked ridiculous and he was wary of straining a horse¡¯s back. However, Judd was willing to concede to Suvau towering over him on his mount for he knew that Xenon could outpace and outlast any of them and for all Artur¡¯s bulky intimidation, he was a very docile horse.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to get used to the ¡®ballad of Judd LaMogre¡¯ when you receive your knighthood.¡±


    ¡°You know, when I was young, I dreamed about minstrels singing songs of my daring deeds and grand battles,¡± Judd glanced back at Giordi who was strumming and humming to himself, ¡°now I wonder¡­what was I thinking?¡±


    ¡°That heroes are better held up as unattainable, unknowable figments of grandeur?¡± Suvau chuckled and Artur bobbed its head as if laughing with the big man. ¡°Don¡¯t begrudge Giordi¡¯s songs about you for there will be little boys playing heroes and knights with wooden swords, listening to those words and dreaming of becoming someone just like you.¡±


    Judd smiled. ¡°I do like the idea of inspiring others¡­perhaps I need to remind myself of that more often.¡±


    The sun was bright and joyful and the air, while not hot, was pleasant. It was a far cry from the chilled ground, grey skies and threatening weather of the south but that was what happened when one travelled north steadily for two weeks, allowing for the crossover from west to east. They had used the same path through the forest that they had when Judd had killed the cockatrice, not long after Giordi had joined their party. Emerging on the other side they made a distinct northward shift in direction but still headed east for Fort Bastil.


    Judd had not intended to go into the fort, preferring to spend a night with the farmers, see how Oster Agress was and to thank him for the armour that had saved him many times. However, Sir Alaykin had been made aware of Judd¡¯s arrival and insisted on inviting him to dine with them which Judd conceded to. Sword master Dalain Thiery was there and it was hard for Judd to recall that he was not the inexperienced novice who had beaten the bully through stubbornness and Oster Agress¡¯ skilful direction. However, whether Sir Alaykin had words with Dalain or the sword master was intimidated by Judd, he barely spoke to him and did not challenge Judd to another duel.


    For that Judd was extremely thankful.


    Not that he didn¡¯t think he could best Dalain now.


    But he was feeling somewhat weary after all that they had endured and looked forward to a quiet evening. Judd was grieved to hear that Alaykin¡¯s wife had died after giving birth but was pleased to see the knight presented his baby daughter with as much pride and pleasure as Sir Donimede had done with his son. Alaykin¡¯s eyes were filled with wonder for his daughter and Judd raised a glass and toasted her health and beauty.


    ¡°Judd,¡± he jolted, broken out of his reverie as Verne trotted alongside him on Shela who was sprightly and almost daring in her approach, ¡°if I¡¯m any judge of distance, if we push hard, we¡¯ll reach Aalis¡¯ village by nightfall.¡±


    Judd clucked his tongue and looked at the sky. ¡°Everyone,¡± he called, ¡°we¡¯re eating on horseback.¡±


    ¡°I will do my best.¡± Aalis said, going through her pack, tearing pieces of bread and cheese from larger chunks and handing them out to everyone. She was astride a dappled grey horse with long black eyelashes and a fine head.


    Aalis had surprised them all in Fort Bastil when she revealed her small fortune and set about finding everyone a mount to ride. She would have purchased from the nomads but they had no use for Astaril gold for there was little that the Terras had that they wanted and that which they did, was traded for with horses they captured on the steppelands and prairies. Caste and Giordi were given Quell and Zeke as mounts, Caste needing something docile and Giordi, happy to have a horse that followed others without much nudging from himself. Artur was spotted in the fields, the owner happy to give him up when he saw the flash of gold. Shela was from the stables of Sir Alaykin as well as Aalis¡¯ mount, Liada. There was a sturdy horse just for carrying the tent Chief Elk and Bear had insisted they take and Caste¡¯s pack which was by far the heaviest out of anything they had to transport.


    As a convoy, they were a rather intimidating, if a little mismatched, sight.


    Judd accepted his bread and cheese from Aalis, trying not to meet her gaze, knowing their time together was drawing all too quickly to a close.


    They had ended up spending two nights at Fort Bastil before heading for Fort Faine. Judd was not sure if Sir Jesa remembered that he had once threatened him or if was no longer willing to follow through on the threat as the knight was welcoming enough. His cleric, O¡¯Dear, even rounder than before, seemed inclined to question Caste to death over supper. To Judd¡¯s relief, the farmers who had felt the need to flee because their orchards were dying, had been treated well and Sir Jesa had kept his promise. Aalis checked the trees in the orchard and pronounced that they were a great deal healthier and predicted a fine harvest to come.


    Claud and Kurst welcomed Verne back, asking him what his journey had been like and the things he had seen and was any or all the rumours they had heard, true?


    They spent two nights there, Judd reluctant to leave. He knew, once they did so, the final stop his journey¡¯s end would be the nameless village he had found Aalis in. Or had she found him?


    They still needed to camp outdoors but with the tent of the nomads sheltering them, able to keep out the frigid weather of the south let alone the weak chill of the north, camping was a great deal more pleasant than it used to be.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    As much as Judd wanted his journey to be over, and there was no stopping the march of time or the steady pace of their mounts, he didn¡¯t want to reach the forest he could see at the base of the northern mountains.


    Part of him wanted to insist on camping one more night before getting there.


    The other part, wounded and wistful, knew that everyone would know why he paused.


    So he pressed on as if his heart wasn¡¯t in danger of tearing in two.


    As they took the narrow paths between high crests of thick heather, riding in single file with Suvau bringing up the rear, the line of the trees broke apart, revealing the clearing the village had been built into.


    It hadn¡¯t changed at all. There was still clothing hanging from lines stretched between the mud brick houses with thatched rooves and manure on the ground from livestock that roamed freely. There were still children who ran around bare foot, playing contentedly before catching sight of the rather intimidating entourage.


    ¡°Father!¡± Anto cried. ¡°Father, father! It¡¯s Judd LaMogre!¡±


    Judd swung himself out of the saddle and stepped forward to greet the surge of children who crowded around him, talking over the top of each other, each with something desperately important and loud to say. He chuckled and ruffled their hair.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre! You took my advice!¡± Anto beamed. ¡°You didn¡¯t get dead!¡±


    Judd laughed. ¡°It was good advice.¡±


    ¡°LaMogre!¡± A barrel chest man came forward, familiar though it felt like a lifetime ago that he had seen him. ¡°Well met, legend of Terra!¡±


    ¡°Klin, how are you?¡± Judd was pulled into a firm, hard embrace.


    ¡°We are all well,¡± Klin looked around, ¡°did you bring our Aalis back to us?¡±


    Judd went to reply but Aalis was already pushing to the forefront. ¡°Klin!¡±


    ¡°Aalis, my girl!¡± He bellowed and hugged her. ¡°Look at you, Terra travelled and not a scratch.¡±


    ¡°Maybe one or two.¡± She smiled. ¡°Anto, look how much you have grown!¡± She moved into the midst of all the children, talking with them, none afraid of her dreadlocks or not so ¡®normal¡¯ appearance. Judd¡¯s heart ached when he saw just how at home she was in the village, the rest of the adults coming forward to greet her.


    ¡°Look at you, LaMogre,¡± Klin slapped his arm, ¡°barely the clothes on the back when you set out and a broken sword if memory serves¡­and now see your entourage!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I hope it¡¯s alright if we stay the night before heading to Astaril?¡±


    ¡°The legend of Terra in our village! We¡¯ll never let that story die!¡± Klin waved them forward. ¡°I see you did not lose your little cleric, either.¡±


    ¡°Caste Undern, you remember Klin?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Caste said tersely.


    ¡°This is Verne, an archer and warrior,¡± Judd introduced them all, ¡°this is Giordi, a minstrel who is quite handy with a bow these days and this is¡­¡±


    ¡°Whoa¡­¡± The children gasped as Suvau walked into view, leading Artur rather than ride him, knowing he was an intimidating sight even when not on the back of a large horse.


    ¡°Is¡­is that¡­a Maul?¡± Klin whispered, his arm outstretched as if to protect the children.


    ¡°This is Suvau,¡± Judd explained, ¡°a friend and the very best of men.¡±


    Suvau bowed to Klin who was stunned by his presence. Judd couldn¡¯t blame him. Mauls were contained to the south. To children in Astaril, they were the stuff of scary stories, told of like monsters to keep them in bed at night. The village children were wide eyed and gobsmacked. Aalis eased her way out of their cluster, lowered Klin¡¯s protective arm and took Suvau¡¯s hand, drawing him into the village.


    ¡°This is my friend, Suvau.¡± She announced firmly.


    Suvau squatted down, reducing his great height. ¡°Hello children.¡± He said gently.


    One little girl, with more gaps in her mouth than teeth, gazed at him in wonder.


    ¡°Do you not like baths?¡± Suvau tried not to smile. ¡°I don¡¯t!¡±


    He chuckled then held out his hand. ¡°I am not dirty. This is my colour.¡±


    ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Anto touched his skin lightly. ¡°Are you from Maul?¡±


    Caste swallowed and shuffled his feet.


    ¡°I was born in Fort Omra.¡± Suvau told them. ¡°I have a wife and my daughter is about¡­your age.¡± He pointed to a young woman with messy blonde hair.


    ¡°Well,¡± Klin swallowed, ¡°any friend of Judd LaMogre¡¯s is a friend of ours. Please, come,¡± he urged them forward, ¡°though, there are so many of you. I am not sure where I can put you all that honours your station.¡±


    ¡°We have a tent and we have supplies to share.¡±


    ¡°And we have cider,¡± Klin nudged him, ¡°brewed by myself. We shall drink to your health and your knighthood! Come!¡±


    The village, though hardly affluent, did not hold back in its celebration. Judd was reminded strongly of the first night he had spent there, when Klin had delayed his departure for the forest to kill the witch by putting meat on a spit and celebrating his presence. Then he had only had Caste for company and in all honesty, to which he knew the cleric would confirm, he hadn¡¯t been the best of companions.


    Giordi played his lute and sang, the villagers dancing merrily about, the children skipping and laughing, taking turns to stare at the nomad tent which baffled their young minds and ignited their curiosity. Through the evening, Judd was prevailed upon to tell of many of his adventures, some of which he begged for Giordi to tell instead yet found the children were delighted when he simply sat on a log and told them the stories himself. Suvau was careful not to encroach, knowing he was an unknown element, a dark skinned man of Maul and a little frightening at times. He watched the festivities from the sidelines yet, probably at Aalis¡¯ urging, was always offered something to eat and drink. Caste was doing what Caste did best, sitting at the edge of the firelight, book in one hand and some cider in the other. Verne leaned against a tree, long legs stretched out, watching the dancing with a smile and Aalis skipped and danced around the fire with the children until she was breathless and begged for a reprieve, her hands clutching at her breast, her dreadlocks loose and not hidden away.


    ¡°As a location,¡± Giordi said, sitting beside Judd causing him to realise he was staring at Aalis and looked away, ¡°it¡¯s not the most auspicious of villages for your knighthood quest to have begun in.¡±


    ¡°Maybe not auspicious but memorable.¡± Judd huffed. ¡°I ran from here, blinded with fear from Aalis¡¯ forest tunnel of terror.¡±


    ¡°Yes but I can hardly put that in a song, can I?¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s not heroic enough?¡±


    ¡°Because it talks about a witch you went to kill and did not.¡± Giordi pointed out. ¡°I mean I can¡¯t really sing, Judd went to kill the witch, ran in fear until he got a stitch but when he discovered her ruse, went up against an ogre and did not lose¡­then by her face was bewitched.¡±


    ¡°I never believed she was a witch,¡± Judd argued, ¡°and I am not bewitched.¡±


    ¡°Yes you are. We all know it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Judd hung his head. ¡°Giordi¡­what am I going to do? She won¡¯t come with me. She maintains that we made a vow, that she would help me do that which I needed to, to become a knight then I had to bring her back here.¡±


    Giordi sat up. ¡°Well, problem solved!¡±


    Judd raised his eyebrows. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°The vow has been fulfilled.¡± Giordi nudged him. ¡°Aalis is back in her village.¡±


    ¡°Where she intends to stay!¡±


    ¡°But what if she doesn¡¯t? What if she¡¯s just testing you to see if you will hold true to your word?¡± Giordi nodded at Judd who frowned. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know at all for certain¡­¡±


    ¡°But I suppose it is possible¡­¡± Judd whispered.


    ¡°What¡¯s possible?¡± Verne joined them, sitting on an upright log.


    ¡°Oh¡­Judd¡¯s knighthood.¡± Giordi fudged the topic over.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible. That¡¯s imminent.¡± Verne corrected. ¡°Although, don¡¯t you have one last thing on that list?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Judd sat up, ¡°I need to kill a witch.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re not going to.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think she is one!¡± Judd argued.


    Verne gave Giordi a look and rolled his eyes. Giordi nodded towards Caste and they glanced at him, reading and ignoring everyone around him.


    ¡°He makes his presence known by making it known that he doesn¡¯t want to be present.¡± Giordi chortled.


    ¡°You know, for all Caste¡¯s irritations, and I¡¯ll admit there are a few,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°I put him through a great deal.¡±


    ¡°No more than the rest of us.¡± Giordi shrugged.


    ¡°Yes but the rest of us didn¡¯t have his strict knowledge and dos and don¡¯ts base.¡± Verne pointed out.


    ¡°True¡­isn¡¯t it liberating?¡±


    ¡°What I mean is,¡± Judd took a roasted apple on a stick offered from Anto, Verne and Giordi accepting one each as well from the beaming boy, ¡°in Fort Mavour, even though everyone kept harping on how I had slain the minotaur, the last monster on my list¡­he never piped up and corrected them even though he knew it wasn¡¯t true.¡±


    Giordi stopped before taking a bite while Verne chewed slowly. ¡°And that¡¯s a virtue?¡±


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to correct me when we first started out.¡±


    ¡°You think he came to trust and respect you? Or he just gave up trying?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to think he came to trust me,¡± Judd sighed, ¡°not sure he does anymore¡­not after I practically threatened him to get the blueprints of Mavour.¡±


    ¡°Trust goes both ways.¡± Suvau said, coming up from behind them, having overheard much of their conversation, hunkering down in their midst. ¡°You trusted Caste not to give up what you were planning.¡±


    ¡°But was it trust or obligation¡­or fear¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s up to him to work out.¡± Suvau¡¯s voice was firm but gentle. ¡°All of us have to take responsibility for our part to play in the world. We each have decisions to make that affect those around us. For my part,¡± he clapped a heavy hand on Judd¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I am pleased your journey brought us together. Not only did you save my life and then my family¡¯s, but you saved all those weary and beaten souls in Mavour.¡±


    ¡°A song of liberation I can never sing.¡± Giordi lamented lightly.


    ¡°One day I hope you can.¡± Judd looked at Suvau. ¡°I promise I will get you back to your family.¡±


    ¡°They understood my conviction to stand by my word.¡± Suvau rumbled then yawned which set off all of them. ¡°Forgive me. Too much cider and good food.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m beat too.¡± Verne announced, standing up. ¡°Aalis?¡± She heard her name and ducked through the ring of playing children, her cheeks flushed and her eyes as bright as stars. ¡°Where are you camping tonight?¡±


    ¡°In the tent, naturally.¡± She smiled, making sure not to look at Judd. ¡°It would seem wrong not to do so after all we have been through.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll lay out your bedroll then.¡± Verne saluted and headed off with Suvau, Caste seeing an appropriate time to abandon the festivities chasing after them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll play a ditty then to bed I shall go a-swiftly¡­¡± Giordi yawned. ¡°That was a terribly rhyme.¡±


    ¡°You make them all the time.¡± Judd chuckled.


    ¡°Have you drunk too much wine?¡± Aalis added.


    ¡°Have you tasted the roasted apples?¡± Judd kissed his fingertips. ¡°Sublime!¡±


    ¡°Or is it past your bedtime?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Giordi laughed and stood up. ¡°This pantomime of mealtime showtime is tantamount to committing a crime. So I shall resign for I am past my prime and into bed I will climb.¡± As he walked away, he began to strum a ditty and the children gathered around him, eager to hear his next song. Judd looked up at Aalis, now the only two left out of the group. She tucked a dreadlock back behind her ear and smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°I should probably go to bed as well.¡± He said, standing up. ¡°The last leg of the journey starts tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it does. Goodnight, then.¡± Aalis said, almost bobbing in a curtsey. Judd gave a slight bow in return and retreated to the tent.

 Travel safely and look after each other…and thank you for all the memories

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s everything.¡± Verne patted Aalis¡¯ pack. ¡°Need help carrying it to your home?¡±


    ¡°No, I will take my swag and essentials now and return for the rest later.¡± Aalis promised. The village was quiet in the light of the new day, the ashes of the fire hiding the warm coals deep in their embrace. Giordi, Judd and Suvau had dismantled the tent and packed it up while Verne made sure the dreadlocked healer had all her belongings separated from the rest. There were only a few villagers about, those that had to rise early to milk the bellowing cows whose udders were full to bursting. Apart from them, everyone else was still slumbering after a late night of drinking, eating and dancing.


    ¡°What about Liada?¡± Giordi pointed to the grey mare who was nibbling on some tender grass.


    ¡°I do not think I could care for her properly.¡± Aalis admitted. ¡°Besides, she really was Shela¡¯s friend in Fort Bastil. I think they need to stay together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± Verne promised then looked to the others as they gathered near Aalis. ¡°Well¡­I guess that¡¯s that.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Caste cleared his throat and put his hand up timidly. ¡°Not wanting to put a dampener on what is probably already going to be a painfully tearful and emotional farewell¡­¡±


    ¡°I am ready to do that which I promised.¡± Aalis nodded. ¡°You will not offend me, Caste.¡± She waved him forward and he drew the piece of parchment from his vest, stained with monster blood in nine places. He rested it on the little chest he had collected almost all items of proof of monster kills within. Aalis took a small knife from her boot and removed her gloves. Her dark nails were alarmingly stark against her pale skin as she used the knife to prick her thumb.


    Judd was trying to look casual about the whole transaction, as if he was just waiting to be proved right. She had stopped hiding her nails on the journey back while in the company of friends. Judd had reasoned that it was a staining of some sort, possibly from all her herbal preparations. He felt a thrill run through him as Aalis bled red, not green. His chest puffed up with air and he watched with confidence as Aalis pressed her thumb to the parchment in the circle that lined up with the word ¡®witch¡¯.


    For a moment they all held their breaths¡­


    ¡­then the blood reacted with the pigment in the parchment designed to identify deformed monster blood and turned a deep shade of purple.


    Caste sighed. ¡°Well¡­there it is.¡±


    Aalis nodded as Judd looked between them.


    ¡°No, the other circles are blue¡­it¡¯s not the same.¡±


    ¡°Witch blood is not the same as monster blood. The parchment has been treated accordingly.¡± Caste said quietly. ¡°The reaction is well within the reaction limits.¡± Judd¡¯s heart sank as Caste looked at Aalis. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Aalis smiled. ¡°It is as I have always said.¡±


    ¡°I do need¡­¡± Caste wiggled his fingers at her. ¡°Proof of the kill.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Aalis untied her knotted dreadlocks and shook them loose. She took the knife and cut one free from underneath at the very back. She rubbed her thumb on the end of it, the blood staining the silvery white dreadlock with its crimson hue. ¡°Will this do?¡±


    ¡°Perfectly.¡± Caste took it, opened the little chest and tucked it inside.


    ¡°Then, there is nothing left to do but say goodbye before you lose anymore daylight.¡± Aalis looked at Verne and put her arms around him. ¡°Thank you for being my confidante and friend.¡± Verne hugged her awkwardly but sincerely and looked like he was swallowing down his emotion. Aalis turned to Giordi. ¡°I am sure that one day, I will be hearing many Gavoli originals sung around the campfire, commonly known and deeply appreciated.¡± He chuckled and nodded, embracing her. Aalis looked at Suvau and sighed. ¡°I am so glad my ignorant fear of you did not stop us from becoming friends.¡± Suvau put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. ¡°Caste,¡± the red headed cleric looked up almost anxiously, ¡°I hope you find fulfillment and peace in your beloved Order.¡± He licked his lips and nodded as she turned finally to Judd. ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, interrupting her flow, taking her hands in his, ¡°for having faith in me and putting it into practice time and time again.¡±


    Aalis bit her bottom lip as he kissed the tops of her hands, rubbing his thumbs over them.


    ¡°You are more than welcome.¡± She stepped back, drawing her fingers out of his grasp to pick up her pack. ¡°Travel safely and look after each other¡­and thank you for all the memories.¡± She gave Judd one final glance before she drew her pack onto her shoulder and headed out of the village.


    The five remaining souls watched until she disappeared between the trees, the forest consuming her within seconds. Slowly each one of them turned and looked at Judd who made a single step in the direction Aalis had gone as if waiting for her to come back.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Judd.¡± Giordi said softly.


    They watched him as he lowered his head, shaking it¡­then he turned to them and held up his hands.


    ¡°Wait¡­just one moment¡­just¡­¡±


    Without finishing his thought or intention, Judd spun on his heel and sprinted after Aalis, jumping over a fallen tree, following a faded path, feeling the atmosphere of the forest deepen around him.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± He cried, seeing her grey gown sweeping ahead. ¡°Aalis, wait!¡±


    ¡°Judd, please go away.¡± She said, not turning to look at him.


    ¡°Make me,¡± he yanked his shirt out of the grasp of a clingy branch and jogged in front of her, ¡°and know that I won¡¯t be fooled by your witchy tricks this time.¡± Aalis folded her arms and looked to the side. ¡°Come with us to Astaril.¡±


    ¡°You are making this so much harder on both of us.¡± She muttered.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Aalis pushed past him and continued to walk so fast she was almost running. Judd matched her stride. ¡°Aalis¡­come with me.¡±


    ¡°When will you listen to reason!¡± She cried. ¡°I am a witch, confirmed by the Order!¡±


    ¡°So?¡± She huffed at him. ¡°Suvau is a Maul and I want him by my side. He isn¡¯t a monster and neither are you.¡± Aalis shook her head, refusing to stop. Judd batted leaves out of his face, the forest seeming to sense an unwanted visitor and throwing every stumbling block and face slapping branch into his path. ¡°Things need to change!¡± He darted ahead of her, blocking her way, forcing her to stop.


    ¡°You cannot take on the world¡¯s problems alone. You told me that and you were right!¡± Aalis argued, her alkaline features sharp and pained. ¡°You need to have wisdom in choosing which battles to fight. A single witch¡¯s life does not compare to the lives of hundreds of Mauls.¡± She struck her chest. ¡°My presence would only serve to discredit you. They will say I have manipulated you, that you are in my thrall¡­¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Judd said brokenly, ¡°but not out of witchcraft, but out of love.¡±


    Aalis closed her eyes and turned aside. ¡°Judd¡­¡±


    ¡°And I know what you are going to say, that you and I made a vow and though it hurt me to hear it,¡± Judd took her hands and brought her about to face him, her eyes opening like she was wincing at a bright light, ¡°it is important to honour such promises.¡± Aalis swallowed, sensing he was not finished. ¡°But you have done as you vowed, helping me succeed on my quest and I have fulfilled my part of it, returning you to your village.¡± He licked his lips and stepped closer. ¡°So let¡¯s make a new vow¡­¡±


    Aalis looked at their hands together and shivered. ¡°For a moment, pretend that we did make a vow to be together,¡± Judd held his breath, ¡°how would you ever know, for certain, if I wanted it or was compelled into it?¡± She peered up at him and his good natured, kind face that had become so familiar to her. ¡°When will you accept my word as you did Suvau¡¯s in accompanying you to Astaril?¡±


    Judd licked his lips. ¡°Aalis¡­I can¡¯t lose you. I can¡¯t bear this ache in my heart of being in love with you when I know¡­at least I hope, you are in love with me too.¡± He lifted her hands and kissed them, pressing his cheek against the back of them.


    Aalis swallowed hard. ¡°Judd¡­it is not just I who need you to go¡­you need to leave me.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°You need to go to Astaril and meet people and be knighted.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± He whispered brokenly.


    ¡°You need to fall out of love with me¡­and give me the chance to do the same with you.¡± His brown eyes lifted and met hers as she stroked his cheek. ¡°Please¡­Judd¡­¡±


    She drew back from him and slowly, carefully, she walked around where he stood in the middle of the path, heading deeper into the forest. She did not look back and she did not slow until she was gone from sight. Judd looked at his hands, empty and forsaken then walked in the direction he was facing, out of the forest into the village. He strode past the others, grabbing his pack and heading for Xenon.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Aalis?¡± Giordi asked softly.


    ¡°She¡¯s not coming.¡± He said angrily, his heart hurting so much he thought he might snap in two. He put his foot in the stirrup and swung himself onto Xenon¡¯s back. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve wasted enough daylight.¡±


    He didn¡¯t look to see if they were following him. He simply left the village, mustering a small wave to Klin and Anto who had risen to see them off then turned Xenon¡¯s head towards Astaril.


    The hut was a mess of spider webs and the cave it was butted up against had a layer of dust over everything. Aalis put her pack down and immediately picked up her stubby straw broom. She chased away the spiders, apologising for dislodging them then collected all their webs in the broom. She shook out what she could from the cave and swept it as clean as possible. She knew it would take time for it to become the liveable, homey nook she had once found such comfort in.


    If only she could find it now.


    Aalis caught sight of her nails and sighed. She shook her head, knowing there was no one to hide them from now. Not that she had bothered for the past two weeks. However, not even that display of witch-like attribute had dissuaded Judd.


    She closed her eyes and mentally kicked herself for thinking about him again.


    ¡°You said it. You meant it. Now you need to look after yourself.¡± She said sternly and arranged some sticks and a few larger branches to build a fire. All her water pouches were empty so she gathered them and went to the stream. At its edge she knelt, remembering the first time Judd had seen her and she had seen him. Not striking perhaps in appearance and certainly na?ve and inexperienced¡­but she had immediately liked his sincerity and hope.


    Aalis realised her lips were curling up at the corners and forced them down.


    ¡°Stop it.¡± She snapped at herself. ¡°It is over.¡± She hauled the pouches out of the stream and carried them to her cave, hanging them from a hook and using their contents to fill her pot. As she looked about, reacquainting herself with her isolated existence, Aalis spotted the animal skulls hanging like a demented mobile. She smiled and gave the string a tug, the jaws of the skulls clattering as if the dead of the forest were hungry for blood. And at her feet was the stain on the ground where she had made a puddle of fake blood that he had stepped in.


    How Judd had run in terror from her horrors. She had scared him witless, even with her dramatic death throes in terrible spasms and foaming at the mouth.


    But he had come back. He had been frightened in the moment but after it had passed, he had looked at it in a new light¡­and looked at her without any fa?ade or pretence covering who and what she was.


    Aalis huffed. ¡°No pretence?¡±


    She sighed and leaned against an oak tree, feeling salty tears well up in her eyes. She hated feeling this way. She hated how he had made her feel and she hated that he wasn¡¯t around to make her feel it anymore. She was alone, forever in this forest, the mad witch of the north, Dragoslava, the demented and insane.


    Aalis turned and pressed her hands against the tree, knowing that she was more isolated than ever. Her nails were damning proof. Even if people looked past her dreadlocks and slightly unusual apparel, her nails screamed ¡®witch¡¯, condemned for something she had never had a choice in and that she would give up if she could.


    Her forehead pinched against the bark, Aalis¡¯ nails digging into its surface. She could feel rage rising, frustration at the life she had been dealt, a ball of resentment building in the pit of her stomach, churning like she was about to vomit. Every hateful, sleepless night she had endured while the thoughts, words and deeds of others wound endlessly through her mind returned to her, the loss of her mother, her brother, the loss of everything she knew, the face of her tormentor, her whole world crashing down, splintering like a broken mirror until she was a thousand distorted versions of herself, all screaming to be heard.


    Aalis did not realise she was screaming until she heard the tree crack. The entire trunk ruptured beneath her grasp and she staggered backwards, dragging her hands out of its surface, looking up in horror as the great oak tore in two as though a giant had grabbed both sides and pulled it apart. Birds fled in alarm, getting away as quickly as possibly as the leaves began to curl and wither, the branches blackening and the whole tree started to die.


    ¡°No, no, no!¡± She cried grasping it. ¡°I am sorry! I am so sorry!¡±


    But no matter what she did, she could not stop the deathless march of decay and in less than a minute, the entire tree was a lifeless husk.


    Aalis put her hands over her mouth, filled with a horror she had only felt once before. It was a vile tasting revelation that, whatever the reason for her abilities, they were capable of killing. She looked down at her hands that had only ever tried to heal. And what should have been of great comfort was a sickening blow when she saw that her nails were clean and clear.


    She had poured the toxin of the stain into that poor tree.


    She was cleansed.


    It was dead.


    And Aalis was alone.


    She tucked her arms around herself, sniffing like a child, almost crying out for her mother to comfort her. But there was no one¡­


    ¡­until she heard a twig crack behind her.


    Aalis¡¯ heart leapt and she spun, Judd¡¯s name springing from her lips.


    But it wasn¡¯t he. As Aalis¡¯ eyes widened and she readied herself to flee, a sharp pain filled her mind and as she dropped to the forest floor, struck from behind.


    And then there was nothing.

 Alright, which one of you ticked off the cleric?

    There were two main reasons why, when Astaril was founded, it was done so on the eastern side of Italea Bay. First, it was almost as far north as one could go before mountains and forests and mountains covered in forests began to inhibit any grand structures or large cities. Secondly, and this was the reason it was built on the western side of the continent, it was nestled up against the most picturesque bay in all of Terra. It was made out of curved corners and sweeping inlets, creating so much bayside property that all the nobility of Terra had views of the bay. There were vineyards and streams, bridges of stone and well tended roads. The bridges crossed over the bay several times at its narrowest points, becoming a river that went nowhere and the weather was almost always clement. Enough rain to keep that which was meant to be green, lush and verdant and soft sunshine that sparkled from the water¡¯s surface as though the lake was filled with diamonds.


    While the forts were built with offense and defence in mind, slab sides, hard lines, strong designs and using somewhat ugly stone to make the structures as strong as possible, the city of Astaril suffered no such limitations. And as the land grew more and more cultivated the closer the travellers came to the outskirts of the city, the buildings, even the farmhouses and outer taverns, were prosperous and tastefully designed. They could choose quality over quantity when it came to their appearance. Another stark difference was the amount of vegetation around Astaril. Taverns had climbing roses and grapevines and there were plenty of orchards with fruit hanging heavy off their branches, the weather clement enough that the trees happily produced a harvest most of the year.


    Unable to reach Astaril the night before, Judd had pondered camping in a farmyard or barn but Verne showed the gold coins Aalis had given him, stating she had no use for money. Giordi added that a room with a bath would help wash off the travel grime and a soft, plush bed would revive their weary expressions. After already experiencing two meals where Aalis had not cooked for them, the greatest clincher in the deal was the lamb stew that wafted from the tavern they elected to stay in. The tavern owner was more than a little perplexed at the sight of Suvau but at Judd¡¯s personal request, allowed him to enter.


    It seems his name had begun to hold more than a little weight.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to wield the name of LaMogre myself,¡± Giordi winked in the room afterwards, ¡°could get me out of all manner of trouble.¡±


    ¡°You do that and I¡¯ll denounce you without a second thought.¡± Judd¡¯s joke was not without brittle edges. His companions knew he was suffering grievously from a broken heart and didn¡¯t take it personally.


    Judd went to bathe and the others let him have the bath to himself.


    Verne looked around as he unpacked, chewing the inside of his mouth. ¡°It just feels wrong without her.¡±


    ¡°Wrong and empty.¡± Suvau nodded. ¡°But she made a decision to protect Judd.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡± Caste said unexpectedly and they all stared at him. ¡°What? Aalis is a confirmed witch. Judd might have found himself demoted from knighthood not long after he reached it should she have been exposed in his company.¡±


    Verne leaned against the wall and folded his arms. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re willing to accept the ¡®kill¡¯ of a witch on your list. Isn¡¯t that a violation of trust with the Order?¡± Caste gave Verne a dirty look and he held up his hands. ¡°It¡¯s not a criticism, more an¡­observation.¡±


    Caste hung his cappa clausa up, stroking it to encourage the creases to smooth out. ¡°She is no threat to anyone¡­and in the time spent in her company, Aalis did a great deal to help and even save others.¡±


    ¡°So¡­maybe witches aren¡¯t so bad after all?¡± Giordi raised his eyebrows. ¡°Just maligned souls who need help, not hate?¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Caste raged, firing up in the blink of an eye. ¡°To denounce Bishop Peele and all the archdeacons, deacons and clerics, mocking their tireless works and endless research until the very foundations of the Order are shaken?¡± He saw their stunned expressions and realised he was standing with his fists clenched tightly, anger making him feel red and go the same colour. He blundered something unintelligible and stormed out of the room, taking his clean clothes with him.


    ¡°For the record,¡± Giordi said quietly, ¡°I did not mean to set him off like that.¡±


    ¡°Right, because you never do that.¡± Verne rolled his eyes, hunting through his swag. ¡°Where are my clean clothes?¡±


    ¡°Maybe in Judd¡¯s swag?¡± Giordi tipped over the flap and poked gingerly through the contents.


    ¡°Giordi¡­¡± Verne hissed.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t seen it before¡­wait, what is that?¡± Giordi spied some material and grasped it, drawing the garment out of the swag, its luminous blue hue dulling everything in the room. ¡°Wha¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Suvau recoiled. ¡°Is that¡­Judd¡¯s?¡±


    Verne¡¯s eyes widened in horror at the sight of the dress Aalis had bought for her in Fort Mavour.


    ¡°No,¡± Giordi breathed, ¡°it¡¯s¡­Lyla¡¯s.¡± He held it, shaking his head, stunned and confused. ¡°This¡­this isn¡¯t possible! It can¡¯t be¡­how is it here?!¡±


    ¡°Alright, which one of you ticked off the cleric?¡± Judd demanded, coming into the room in fresh clothes, his dark curls tousled roughly with a coarse towel which he dropped on the floor. ¡°Giordi, I¡¯m looking at¡­you¡­¡±


    Judd was rendered mute at the sight of the dress in Giordi¡¯s hands. Aalis had begged him to pack it in his swag, hoping he would be able to give it to Verne at a later date, preferably when Giordi was not around. She said she had not dared risk it in her swag lest the connection be made and Verne had flatly refused to transport it, frightened even by its presence, let alone the exposure that could come of its discovery¡­


    ¡­all of which was a moot point as Giordi had found it in the last place they expected him to.


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi swallowed, ¡°this dress¡­it¡¯s the one Lyla Borelia wore at the feast in Mavour.¡± He walked towards him. ¡°I could never mistake it as any other as it is as unique as she was. Where did you get this dress?¡±


    Judd floundered, eyes flitting up briefly to see Verne shaking his head, panic in his eyes.


    ¡°I¡­I think it was Jocasa¡¯s gift to Aalis for agreeing to smuggle little Ermaus out of Mavour. Aalis asked me to pack it in my swag. It was left there by mistake.¡±


    Verne blinked the sweat out of his eyes. Giordi shook his head. ¡°No, no, no¡­¡± He resisted the news, his fingers hooked into the fabric. ¡°Lyla wore it at the feast. She wore it!¡±


    ¡°Maybe Lady Jocasa gave it to Lyla to wear for the evening?¡± Verne asked, trying to temper his voice so that it didn¡¯t come out in a high pitched squeak. He succeeded¡­somewhat.


    ¡°You did say,¡± Judd cleared his throat, ¡°Lyla seemed a little out of her depth¡­perhaps she was not used to finery like this?¡±


    Giordi paused to ponder this, Judd risking another glance at Verne who looked like he was on the verge of having a stroke.


    ¡°She said she was not accustomed to upper class socialising,¡± he said softly, his fingers gently clutching the gown, careful not to fray it but unable to keep from holding it like he would have Lyla¡¯s hand, ¡°perhaps Jocasa had a kind heart and put Lyla in one of her daughter¡¯s dresses for the evening¡­so she would look less out of place.¡± Giordi seemed to be convincing himself of his own dramatic tale. ¡°Little did she know she would be the highlight of the entire evening, more glorious than any of them¡­¡± He sank onto his bed and closed his eyes. ¡°I am sorry, Judd, for accusing you¡­¡±


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°I¡¯m hardly in a position to berate you for the bleeding reactions of a fractured heart.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°As I am unlikely to find a use for it¡­why not keep it?¡±


    Giordi shrugged and put it aside. ¡°Sell it. Without Lyla in it, it¡¯s just a dress.¡± He breathed out heartily, slapped his knees and stood up. ¡°Well¡­I need to bathe and wash off this melancholia I seem to have developed.¡± He gathered his clothing and left the room. Suvau put his hand on Verne¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°We will do the same.¡± He said and propelled the lightweight archer out of the room, Verne unable to come up with a reason why he could not bathe. Suvau marched him down the stairs to where the bathhouse was on the ground level. Verne ducked out of his grasp as they approached the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll¡­wash up some other time.¡± He insisted, edging away. Suvau looked around himself then eyed Verne seriously.


    ¡°Sooner or later, you are going to have to tell him.¡±


    Verne froze. ¡°You know?¡± She whispered. Suvau nodded. ¡°Not you too¡­how? When?¡±


    ¡°Yolana and Emeri picked it up and perhaps, in conversation about you, Yolana might have let slip an odd ¡®she¡¯ and ¡®her¡¯ without meaning to betray your confidence.¡±


    Verne covered her face and groaned. ¡°And you never said?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you were hiding your gender or trying to change it¡­¡±


    ¡°What!¡± Suvau clapped his big hand over her mouth, which covered most of Verne¡¯s face. She yanked his hand down and put her hands on her hips. ¡°I would never!¡±


    ¡°Hey, I lived in Fort Omra where Sir Fereak was a man¡¯s man, in the literal sense of the word.¡± Suvau shrugged helplessly. ¡°I¡­did not want to betray or embarrass you.¡±


    ¡°I seem to be managing that all on my own.¡± Verne moaned. ¡°What am I going to do?¡±


    ¡°Tell him.¡±


    ¡°Any other ideas?¡±


    Suvau folded his arms. ¡°Have you not been listening to Giordi¡¯s songs?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s deluded!¡± Verne hissed. ¡°Out of his mind!¡±


    ¡°For you!¡±


    ¡°Then why isn¡¯t he out of his mind, for me?!¡±


    Suvau stared at Verne, astonished. ¡°Because you have maintained a convincing fa?ade of maleness. You can hardly blame him for not realising the truth.¡±


    Verne dropped her hands and slumped against the wall. ¡°Why can¡¯t he just¡­see me?¡± She asked quietly. ¡°He looks at me and sees Verne. He doesn¡¯t even recognise the eyes, the hair¡­¡± She looked up at Suvau. ¡°Do I really look so different?¡±


    ¡°I never saw you in the dress,¡± Suvau pointed out, ¡°but I think it was not just the way you looked but your very presence was different.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just the thing,¡± Verne glanced around to make sure they weren¡¯t heard, ¡°I¡¯m not sure which one of me is the real me. Prancing about in a gown and curls¡­or this¡­¡± She gestured to herself. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where I fit in, in this world. I¡¯m like Ermaus, stuck between two places.¡±


    ¡°Ermaus found his place,¡± Suvau squeezed Verne¡¯s shoulder, ¡°you will too.¡± He sighed then looked at the bathhouse door. ¡°Go down to the women¡¯s bathhouse and freshen up. I¡¯ll cover for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Verne whispered and moved away. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was comforted or cornered that yet another person was aware of her secret. Now only Caste and Giordi were unaware. However, Verne knew that, even if everyone but Giordi in Terra knew, Verne would still baulk at telling him. Part of her heart was injured that he hadn¡¯t worked it out for himself and the rest of it was relieved.


    Somehow, both parts were still weeping.


    Judd wasn¡¯t sure who it was that had snuck out of the tavern after the owner crowed his praise at the ¡®great Judd LaMogre¡¯ staying in his humble inn, but someone had alerted the sentries who guarded the official start of Astaril¡¯s boundaries. They were stationed at the bridge which crossed a narrow portion of Italea Bay, an important entry and exit point to the city.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre,¡± one greeted, so stiff Judd was worried he¡¯d break his back, ¡°we heard you had returned to Astaril. Welcome back.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Judd nodded at them from atop Xenon.


    ¡°Not that we wish to question you,¡± the second guard cleared his throat, ¡°but¡­the Maul, sir? Astride a horse?¡±


    ¡°Suvau is a travelling companion and a more than competent bodyguard.¡± Judd could hear Suvau cracking his knuckles behind him and gave a smile rarely seen for the past two days. ¡°I vouch for him and all those within my entourage.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± The guards saluted and Judd felt himself return it jauntily.


    ¡°At ease and keep up the good work.¡±


    They crossed the bridge, the path becoming a lightly gravelled road. Verne leaned down and peered at it. ¡°What is this stuff?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Crushed oyster shell.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°What we don¡¯t eat, we use elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of oysters¡­¡±


    ¡°The roads are paved within the city¡¯s heart.¡± Caste huffed as if the composition of the road was of little consequence and he was probably right.


    ¡°I must say,¡± Giordi leaned back on Zeke, ¡°those guards seemed to hop to quite sharply at your presence.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­I wonder who ran ahead and told them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re just that recognisable?¡± Judd snorted at Giordi¡¯s comment. ¡°You¡¯re not the run of the mill visitor to Astaril. Not a tradesman or even a nobleman. You have the presence of a knight.¡±


    And in his armour, on top of Xenon, Judd knew that was the truth. Giordi had urged him to wear it, insisting that his entry to the Terra¡¯s beautiful city should be proud and triumphant. He was clean after his bath and his clothes didn¡¯t stink of horse¡­although that was merely a matter of time. As the buildings began to grow in number around them, starting to form winding streets, Judd noticed people peering out of windows and looking up from their gardens to study him and his companions. He knew there was a great deal of pointing and whispering at Suvau. Judd wondered if he was the first ever Maul to be in Astaril and even if not, he was the first in the memory of several generations at least. But Judd could not be blind to the amount of people pointing and whispering about him. There was no denying or ignoring the attention he was receiving and as they continued further into the city, the buildings starting to cluster, rising in multiple stories, the clamour only increased.


    The buildings of Astaril were made from sandstone. Countless tonnes of stone had been carted down from a quarry to the north, the jewel of Terra cut from deep within its breadth.


    ¡°LaMogre!¡± One citizen cried while a woman shrieked giddily when Judd waved at her.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre! He¡¯s here!¡±


    ¡°The hydra slayer!¡±


    ¡°Champion of Bastil¡¯s tournament!¡±


    ¡°Gutter of giant spiders!¡±


    ¡°Goblin killer!¡±


    ¡°Slayer of the mighty minotaur!¡±


    ¡°Minotaur?¡± Judd whispered to Caste. ¡°Did news travel here that quickly?¡±


    ¡°The list of kills required for fulfillment of the knighthood quest have been posted on notice boards around the city.¡± Caste explained. ¡°Everyone knows, for you to have returned, that you must have killed one.¡±


    ¡°And it is possible Sir Donimede let a homing pigeon loose to bring the news here faster.¡± They looked at Giordi who shrugged. ¡°So, maybe not Donimede¡­but there were other noblemen and women at Mavour and I wager they all had their own means of communication.¡±


    ¡°Including gossip.¡± Judd waved to children gathered on a corner who squealed with delight. ¡°Where to, Caste? The Order?¡±


    ¡°Do you know¡­I never thought to ask.¡± Caste admitted as their company was bathed in shade from the buildings on one side, glistening water on the other. ¡°It makes sense to go to the Order first to authenticate the kills.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to have to ride all the way back down to Fort Verion to be knighted, am I?¡±


    ¡°If you do, I won¡¯t be required to accompany you.¡± Caste retorted. ¡°We need to head up that rise. The Order is that large building you can see against the hill covered in lush vegetation.¡±


    ¡°And has the second best view in all of Astaril.¡± Giordi teased.


    ¡°Hard to compare with the castle.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°So we need to take this¡­road¡­what is that?¡±


    He reined in Xenon¡¯s stride as an envoy of men dressed in the livery of royal guards astride immaculately preened horses, trotted towards them in perfect synchronisation. In fact, their motions were so in sync that it was hard not to become hypnotised by them. White and blue with dashes of royal purple made up the colours of their tunics and their armour was polished to a blinding shine.


    ¡°Uh¡­should we be worried?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°Smile, Suvau, smile!¡± Giordi whispered, nearly giggling.


    ¡°Something tells me a smiling Maul would alarm them more.¡± Verne snapped at him.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre?¡± The lead guard said, stopping his horse several feet before Xenon who glared at the pretty horses with an element of disdain. Their tails were bound and their manes were tied in knots down the nape of their necks. Their tack was gleaming with gold buckles and their saddles were leather, gleaming from excess polish. By comparison, Xenon with his unfettered mane and tail, groomed but shaggy and free and his nomad style riding tack, was almost wild and dangerous.


    ¡°I am.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°Your arrival has been anticipated by King Rocheveron himself and he bids you join him.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Judd blurted automatically.


    The guard, with a strap beneath his chin so tight that he wondered if it was holding his helmet or his head on, turned on his horse, trotted through the envoy which neatly sidestepped to the edges of the road and held still. Judd felt panicked. He was sure he was supposed to do something but he couldn¡¯t work out what.


    ¡°Ride up behind the leader.¡± Giordi hissed.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Judd nudged Xenon and he and his party filled the space that the soldiers, who were now facing away from them, had left. The lead guard seemed to have eyes in the back of his head and knew when Judd was behind him, urging his horse into a quick walk. As Judd and company followed, the guards turned their mounts on the spot and fell in behind them, forming an impromptu parade which grew with every second that passed. Word was spreading. Judd LaMogre was in Astaril and the crowds were beginning to flock, some drawn out of interest, some out of nosiness but most out of adoration, cheering and calling his name until there were at least a hundred, if not more, people behind them by the time they reached the gates of the castle.

 Our journey has reached a crossroads and I doubt the roads we travel will ever meet again

    ¡°Open these gates in the name of King Rocheveron for admittance of Judd LaMogre, hero of the knighthood quest of Sir Rylan!¡±


    Two guards walked to the gates, unlatched their link and drew them apart to allow the envoy through. They closed before any of the civilians could enter, their bodies pressed up against the gate, trying to catch a glimpse of Judd LaMogre.


    ¡°Did anyone think those gates looked a little flimsy?¡± Verne whispered.


    ¡°Hush.¡± Caste rebuked.


    ¡°I had the same thought.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°A minotaur would bend those like you can bend a bow.¡±


    ¡°Hush, I said.¡±


    ¡°Hey Judd,¡± Giordi leaned forward, ¡°give them a wave.¡±


    Judd twisted and saw the dozens of faces pressed against the gates, those behind on tiptoe peering over the tops of the heads of those in front. He lifted his hand and punched his fist into the air. The crowd cheered and applauded. Giordi chuckled and saw Caste¡¯s glare.


    ¡°Oh hush.¡± He snorted.


    Judd shook his head and turned to behold a building he had only ever seen from afar but one he had dreamed about being welcomed into one day almost every night as a boy. The castle of Astaril, seat of the monarchy whose genealogy could be traced all the way back to Andigre and Grail and the founding of the united people of Terra, was a building unlike any other.


    It was composed of five structures, the largest and unsurprisingly most impressive of which was the central palace, built from white and grey stone. It was rumoured to have marble floors and pillars, statues overlaid with gold and giant basins, so large Judd could recline comfortably in one, filled with fresh lilies every day. There were purple velvet curtains with gold trim, walls covered in detailed murals, rugs so plush you could lose your feet in them and a throne room so large, Verne would have trouble hitting the other side with an arrow.


    The other four structures, though nothing compared to the main castle, probably equalled the same amount of building materials when added together. They were towers, each one climbable on the inside to a high point at the very top and connected to the castle by great, narrow arches, supported by beams that created a pattern of shadows as they crisscrossed, holding the arches in place. The towers were in very specific locations, one precisely north of the castle, one east, the one to the south slightly favouring the west and the tower to the west was north westerly and rested on an island in the bay.


    This lopsided arrangement of towers would baffle anyone who did not know the history of Terra and the foundation of Astaril but to those who did, immediately recognised that the castle and its towers formed the four pointed star that had become the symbol of Andigre, of Grail and of the four spire knights. The towers did not rest on the points of the compass but rather, beneath the stars in the heavens that formed the constellation of the four pointed star. Four points and the central star, brighter and larger than the others with a slight blueish glow on clear nights which hung above their continent.


    Judd and his companions looked up at the front fa?ade of the castle, fifty times more opulent than the most exquisite wall fort and tried not to tremble. In the courtyard after the gates, past the walls where hedges grew and tall trees blocked the nosiest of civilians, was a fountain feature depicting Andigre kneeling before Grail, his hands outstretched as he looked up at her, water pouring from his palms. Behind the fountain was a lowered dais, where the king made proclamations from and Sir Rylan and his blushing bride, Genovieve had waved to the people of Astaril on their wedding day. On either side of the dais, almost embracing the fountain in a wide hug, were two curved sets of stairs that led to the balcony that the dais was a step down from.


    Judd dismounted and allowed a guard to take Xenon¡¯s reins. He waited until his companions were gathered around him, Caste clutching at the chest and sack which contained the larger evidences of monster kills, before following the lead guard up the steps. They passed a guard on every second step and white stone basins on the alternate steps, each basin large enough for a tree to be planted, their leafy heads carved into perfect spheres.


    At the top of the steps they walked across the balcony to the centre, the lowered dais behind them and faced the grand double doors made from multiple oak trees, the lopsided four points of the stars of Astaril around the central golden emblem that crossed over both doors. On either side of the doors were bay windows which were so large they had smaller bays within each of the windows. On top of these were balconies that overlooked all of Astaril and faced the bay of Italea. If Judd kept looking upwards, he suspected he would fall over onto his back, a point confirmed when Verne gave him a light shove to keep him from doing so.


    The lead guard rang the bell and the doors opened with a deep, throaty groan. Judd¡¯s spine trembled.


    ¡°Remember,¡± Giordi whispered, ¡°you earned the right to be here.¡±


    Verne looked at him. ¡°What about us?¡±


    ¡°Fleas upon the back of a grand steed.¡± Caste murmured and Giordi smirked, putting his hand up to hide it.


    ¡°Let us hope we are not swatted.¡± Suvau said softly as they followed Judd into the foyer, staircases and balconies filling their gaze, white and grey stone, pillars and swooping carved curves. The air was bright, clean and fresh, curtains softening the sun¡¯s gaze made from so much fabric Judd was sure he would be crushed beneath their weight. The guard bowed to a servant who was so heavily powdered and in such fine clothing he clearly ranked high amongst those who worked in the castle that he hardly deserved the word. The servant bowed to Judd then turned and walked away, Giordi waving at Judd to follow yet again.


    They were led up two sets of stairs, along a corridor tastefully adorned with paintings that made Giordi gasp, weapons that made Verne whistle and parchments of such rarity that they were mounted and encased in glass that made Caste whimper. Suvau followed, awed by it all, never having known there to be so much wealth in all Terra, let alone in Astaril alone.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The servant knocked on the door he had stopped in front of and, after it opened, slid inside and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Presenting Judd LaMogre who has returned after completing Sir Rylan¡¯s knighthood quest.¡±


    Judd walked into the room, feeling his insides quiver like jelly as he laid eyes on King Rocheveron. He had, of course, seen the monarch before but from a distance so great that his own father could have stood in his place and Judd wouldn¡¯t have known the difference. Rocheveron was as tall as Judd but had been bowed by age, his shoulders weighed down by the amount of robes he wore, richly clothed in royal blues, purples and pristine whites. The strong colours seemed to sap a little of the robustness from his face, his grey eyes watery and limpid and his hair snowy white, tied in seven tails that were quite long down his back. His beard was also white and tied in three strands which he had a tendency to stroke with bejewelled fingers.


    Next to the King was a man who was corpulent enough that his robes were not enough to disguise his girth and going by the familiar cappa clausa, the four star pendant he wore and the expression of superior disdain on his brow, Judd immediately recognised him as being an officer of the Grail, one of Caste¡¯s own colleagues.


    Judd stepped forward to bow, opening his mouth to greet the king when he heard the sound of blades clashing and spun around to see the king¡¯s bodyguards, who had been unseen until that moment, with their swords crossing Suvau¡¯s chest, the edge of the blades at his throat.


    ¡°Hold!¡± Judd ordered instinctively. ¡°You will not harm him!¡±


    The bodyguards did not drop their arms but they also did not hurt Suvau.


    ¡°Sire,¡± the Officer of the Grail said in a simpering, wary tone, ¡°that is a man of Maul.¡±


    ¡°I may be old, but my eyesight is not so poorly diminished that I cannot see.¡± King Rocheveron waved away his concern. ¡°I was informed you travelled with a Maul but to bring him here¡­¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Judd turned and gave his most sweeping, respectful bow, ¡°Suvau is not a savage or a threat. He has saved my life several times and I his. We are bonded by blood and loyalty.¡±


    King Rocheveron stroked his beard, flicking his fingers slightly. The bodyguards dropped their blades and stepped back¡­but not much. Judd looked at Suvau with the question in his eyes. Suvau nodded, reassuring him that he was not harmed and bowed to the king.


    ¡°Your reputation proceeds you, Judd LaMogre,¡± King Rocheveron waved him further in, reclined upon, not a throne but a grander chair than most knights had their forts, ¡°I have listened to the news of your conquests with increasing interest and informed the guards that, when you returned to Astaril, I wished to meet you.¡±


    ¡°You honour me, Your Majesty,¡± Judd bowed again, ¡°for I am not yet a knight and do not deserve such consideration.¡±


    ¡°Well, before we become carried away with all the possibilities the future might hold,¡± King Rocheveron spoke calmly and slowly, ¡°allow me to introduce Archdeacon Adamis who was here when news of your arrival was announced.¡±


    ¡°Archdeacon Adamis,¡± Judd bowed, more shallowly but he immediately turned to Caste, ¡°Cleric Caste Undern has never lost faith in the Order and maintained a strong presence of its foundations throughout our journey.¡± Judd missed Caste¡¯s surprised glance. ¡°I could not have completed my quest without him.¡±


    ¡°Of course, the completion of the quest will have to be verified.¡± Archdeacon Adamis said firmly.


    ¡°Cleric Caste has been extremely diligent in recording my kills and collecting the evidence,¡± Judd promised, ¡°all of which I believe are in that case and that sack.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± King Rocheveron turned to Adamis, ¡°why not cite it now? You are an archdeacon, after all.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Adamis cleared his throat, covering his stammer, ¡°it would need to be verified by Bishop Peele, who would be here today if not for a bad cold that has kept him confined to his chambers¡­but perhaps a brief eye cast over the list and evidences would dispel any obvious doubts.¡±


    ¡°Use my desk.¡± King Rocheveron waved to the marble topped carved red wood antique. Archdeacon Adamis gave Caste a pointed look and they walked to the desk together and laid the chest and sack onto the marble surface. Judd noticed one of the bodyguards stayed near Suvau while the other put himself between the chest of monster parts and the King. ¡°LaMogre,¡± Rocheveron gestured for Judd to come closer and sit in the chair he guessed Archdeacon Adamis had been sitting in, ¡°while I know of your companions, would you do me the courtesy of introducing them?¡±


    ¡°Of course. This is Verne Sachon, primarily an archer but a fine warrior who joined my party in the forest surrounding Fort Faine.¡±


    ¡°Where you slayed the goblin horde?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty,¡± Judd nodded, ¡°Verne did not baulk from their claw like hands and jagged teeth. Though he did not know me, he did not hesitate to stand with me.¡±


    ¡°Well met, Verne Sachon.¡± King Rocheveron nodded and Verne bowed.


    ¡°This is Giordi Gavoli, a minstrel and an archer of¡­¡±


    ¡°Intermittent skill.¡± Giordi offered.


    Judd laughed softly. ¡°Perhaps not the greatest warrior but brave and his music has helped feed and clothe us and he has been instrumental, if you pardon the pun, in tutoring me on my manners.¡±


    ¡°A civilised minstrel?¡± King Rocheveron raised an eyebrow and Giordi bowed elegantly. ¡°I see the evidence now. And your Maul?¡±


    ¡°Suvau who joined us officially after an¡­incident in Fort Omra.¡±


    ¡°Where you slayed the hydra?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Suvau and Verne dropped from the very top of the wall on lines pegged tightly to the ground so that we could attack it. He is strong in heart as well as body.¡±


    ¡°How interesting,¡± King Rocheveron paused, ¡°I thought I heard tell of a healer in your party? A nomad woman?¡±


    ¡°She,¡± Judd licked his lips, ¡°after helping me reach the end of my knighthood quest, it was decided that she should remain with her people.¡±


    ¡°Ah, of course.¡± King Rocheveron looked up as Archdeacon Adamis hovered nearby, waiting for his presence to be noticed. ¡°Your conclusion?¡±


    ¡°It will need to be verified by Bishop Peele,¡± Judd and company held their breaths, ¡°however, all marks have been made on the parchment and all evidence is present.¡±


    Judd¡¯s shoulders couldn¡¯t help but sag in relief. He nodded then felt King Rocheveron¡¯s hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Congratulations on your imminent knighthood, Judd LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± He said, feeling a little lightheaded.


    ¡°Word will be sent to Sir Rylan in Fort Verion after Bishop Peele¡¯s confirmation. I have no doubt he will want to travel to Astaril for the knighting ceremony as you are the first and only successful questor to have returned since it began.¡±


    ¡°We will take this evidence to Bishop Peele at once.¡± Archdeacon Adamis promised as Caste gathered the chest and sack into his arms. He went to follow Adamis after bowing to King Rocheveron but paused at the doorway and turned to Judd.


    ¡°Upon delivering these items to Bishop Peele, my responsibility to your knighthood quest is concluded,¡± Caste said somewhat stiffly, ¡°and our fellowship is at an end.¡±


    Judd stood up before Caste could leave. ¡°No middle-class nobody attempting to fulfill his dream of knighthood could have asked for a better cleric. I hope I will see you again?¡±


    ¡°Not likely,¡± Caste said in a hard tone then immediately followed it up with, ¡°our journey has reached a crossroads and I doubt the roads we travel will ever meet again.¡±


    Judd nodded, hiding the hurt. ¡°Well¡­I wish you all the best, Caste Undern.¡±


    Caste nodded, turned while his head was still down and scampered out of the room, following the heels of Archdeacon Adamis.

 Just when I thought this day couldn’t become any more miserable…

    The Order of the Grail was a welcomed sight after months of traipsing through the wilds, suffering poor hospitality or camping on the side of the road, wet, hot, tired and at the mercy of every monster and vagabond that might come across their path. Caste felt like weeping at the sight of the auspicious building made from grey stone. Against the softer colours of Astaril, the starkness of the stone was the choice the original founders made to ensure that, whatever else might befall, the Order was strong and not to be taken lightly. There were no pretty statues of love or towers for the stars but sharp arches, narrow columns and high ceilings.


    Archdeacon Adamis brought Caste to the main doors which had a grand antechamber, the walls inscribed with the founding principals of Astaril. After the antechamber was a courtyard where several deacons walked, their hands tucked into the folds of their cappa clausa, speaking softly to each other or staring vaguely up at the sky.


    After the antechamber was the Hall of Rote where novitiates, who were attempting to secure their place as a cleric, copied the same precepts, letters and approved doctrines into leather pouches. Each paper would be checked by deacons, every line scrutinised for minute mistakes, regardless if they were accidental or a result of lazy copying. That way, when the novitiate became a cleric, they had the founding principals drilled into their heads over and over and the leather pouches would be bound together, forming their own copy of the doctrine of Astaril.


    It was tedious, exacting work, especially when a single mistake meant the entire page had to be rewritten. Some novitiates abandoned their dream of becoming a cleric because they had to write the same passage or letter a dozen times. Caste was quite proud of his extremely low rewrite rate, less than a dozen over the course of, what was supposed to be three years of intense training done in just under two years. There were rows of tables, uncomfortable pews and the bowed heads of novitiates scribing constantly. The rule was they were to work in complete silence so the only sound in the air was the scratch of quill on parchment. Three deacons were assigned to the hall each day to watch over the novitiates as they scribed and copied. They sat at the front of the Hall of Rote, reading whatever paper had last been handed to them, checking that each had been copied without fault.


    A novitiate would know their work had been approved when the deacon checking it would indicate that they could move on to the next letter or doctrine to be copied. A deacon who rose from the table and strode down the hall, paper in hand, was a sure sign that a novitiate was about to have to redo all their work. In that moment, the air in the hall went from silent to breathless as they waited to see who would have to strain their silent groan as their work was returned with hard lines and an even harder expression.


    Archdeacon Adamis led Caste along the side of the hall, past the bookshelves lined with countless letters, notations, missives, testaments and observations in book form. In the centre of the hall was the ink well refilling table and novitiates sometimes used the opportunity to refill their well to have a reprieve from their aching necks and backs and to work out the cramps in their fingers. Every novitiate¡¯s allocation of papers was renewed each morning inside their desk along with their quills, a small blade to sharpen them and plenty of blotting paper.


    Even though Caste was very young to have completed his novitiate, he found the faces and bodies of the adolescent males to be even younger still. They were a mass of spots, untidy hair, shadows beneath their eyes and red around the eyes of the ones missing their families. For most who entered the Order of the Grail, it was something they always wanted to do. Those that thought it was a doddle and didn¡¯t want to go into the family business or curb their lazy disposition to accept an apprenticeship, soon fled back to that which they had first so despised. The others who wanted to do it were more likely the ones who lasted. There was a third group that made up a small portion of the novitiates and those were the ones who couldn¡¯t do anything else. They were unlikely to ever receive an apprenticeship, had no family business to embrace even the clumsiest of children and not talented enough to make it on their own. Often those were the novitiates who worked the hardest because if they failed there, there was nowhere else for them to go.


    Caste knew he was receiving curious glances and felt himself puff up, hoping he made an admirable spectacle. Even the deacons looked up and one jaw dropped completely. Archdeacon Adamis did not pause through the hall so the interruption lasted less than a minute but Caste felt great pride at walking through the hall yet also great relief at leaving it behind.


    He had wanted to be there and he had the mental capacity to handle the work well. Perhaps his urge to complete the work so quickly was seen as arrogance but it was less about the work than it was about the social interactions¡­if that¡¯s what intimidation and torment was excused as.


    Caste had not been widely liked as a child and his faint hope that he would be welcomed by similar maligned souls in the novitiate program was dashed when brash individuals in his class, too lazy to take up a physical apprenticeship and just smart enough to pass the entry exams, banded together. They had called themselves ¡®alphas¡¯ and proceeded to make Caste¡¯s life a misery when it should have been fulfilling.


    And the deacons did nothing about it so Caste took matters into his own hands and was promoted ahead of the alphas and all others in his class, relieved to be out of their clutches only to be assigned to Judd LaMogre not a year later.


    After the Hall of Rote they climbed a dark wood staircase with white marble busts of all the bishops who had previously served as the head of the Order set in alcoves, their names and years they had given in the role engraved on brass plates. By the time deacons became one of the twelve archdeacons and had a shot at becoming bishop, they were hardly young men. Between age, bad health and the odd carriage incident, the average time for a bishop to serve was under a decade which was why Bishop Peele¡¯s stint at twenty eight years was so impressive, second only to Sagges who made it to the awe inspiring three decade mark.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Clerics who did not continue in the Order often went on to apply for positions as tutors in noble families or accountants for tradesmen who could not add up a column of figures like the former cleric could not hammer a nail. Some clerics were assigned to forts, learning from the cleric prior to them if they were alive like Deacon Alast and Cleric Rodel or thrown in the deep and trusted in their training to survive. Most of what they did was record keeping which was not that different from their novitiate work.


    There weren¡¯t a lot of clerics in the Order of the Grail¡¯s building except those who preferred dusty corners and dustier books, happily scribing away where no one would bother them, maintaining the records of the Order. So the men that passed Caste on the stairs, whispering as they went, had to be deacons. There was little to tell between the position except for the lustrous quality of their clothing and the precious metal of their lopsided four pointed star¡­and that their hair was often greying.


    Caste¡¯s red shock of hair, green eyes and arms clutched around his chest and sack were something of an oddity as he followed Archdeacon Adamis up through the chambers of the deacons where Caste had been looking forward to his own room and study space. They were not excessive but they did mean he could escape the world by shutting the door.


    The next storey was set aside for the twelve archdeacons, men who had tuned their focus into certain areas and gained renown for their papers, their achievements and discoveries and mostly, for not falling into the trap of romance, getting married and losing the battle with the desire for physical intimacy.


    Finally, the last staircase, which was set at the back of the Order¡¯s property, at the top of the building, with the mountain as a backdrop and Italea Bay laid out like a sapphire blanket, was the bishop¡¯s abode. He had his own grand bedchamber, bath and servants who served him in his personal dining room where it was rumoured he never ate off the same plate twice. He had his own private library which was also his office/den. Caste had been in it once before and recalled the cabinet of hefty decanters filled with richly hued liquors took up almost as much space as the grand fireplace, two dark green plush wingback chairs sitting in front of it and a desk of wood so smoothly polished you could see your face in it.


    There was a vestibule outside the den. Calling it a ¡®landing¡¯ seemed irreverent given the illustrious chambers that branched from it through three separate doors. Archdeacon Adamis bade Caste to sit on a chair near the den door.


    ¡°Wait here while I make sure Bishop Peele is well enough to receive you.¡±


    Caste nodded, licking his lips in anticipation. Adamis knocked on the door nearest to Caste, the door swinging in as though it had not latched properly. He was called inside and gave the door a push to close it but the door caught on a corner of a rug which must have been the reason it hadn¡¯t been closed properly before and remained ajar.


    ¡°Adamis,¡± Bishop Peele¡¯s voice was gravelly and unfortunately congested, ¡°what brings you here when I made it clear I was not to be disturbed?¡±


    ¡°I apologise for the interruption of your convalescence, Your Eminence¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre has returned to Astaril.¡±


    ¡°LaMogre¡­LaMogre¡­the knight assigned to Fort Faine?¡±


    ¡°No, Your Eminence. You remember Sir Rylan¡¯s knighthood quest proposal and the clerics assigned to the first born sons of middle class families?¡± Caste couldn¡¯t tell if Bishop Peele¡¯s huff was confirmation or a stifled sneeze. ¡°Judd LaMogre set out on the quest months ago and has returned, to all accounts after a cursory examination of requirements by myself, successful.¡±


    ¡°He would have to be the only one.¡± Caste heard the clink of glassware and wondered if the poorly Bishop was pouring himself some medicinal comfort. ¡°Who was the cleric assigned to him? Tiele? Rodel? There are so many names I forget most of them. Well, whoever they are, being associated with a successful questor will warrant immediate promotion to deacon.¡±


    Caste¡¯s heart thrilled at the news. He had been on the fast track of promotion to the office of deacon but after being assigned to the knighthood quest and Judd LaMogre, he thought it was just another dashed hope. But from the sounds of it, with Judd LaMogre¡¯s success and elevation, Caste was rising along with it.


    ¡°Bishop Peele¡­¡±


    ¡°Once all the evidences are sighted and confirmed by myself, of course.¡±


    ¡°Your Eminence¡­¡±


    ¡°Such a diligent officer of the Grail will be given a weekly placement at my table and what with his fresh, worldly perspective and experience, he could well have a niche into which the role of archdeacon would naturally fall.¡±


    ¡°Bishop Peele!¡±


    ¡°Have no fear, Adamis, your post will not be in danger. I¡¯ll retire one of the other archdeacons who have exhausted their active usefulness in the role should this young cleric¡­cleric¡­cleric who?¡±


    ¡°Caste Undern.¡±


    Caste held his breath, his name spoken aloud and all his hopes and dreams stretched out before him like the firmest, grandest road in Astaril.


    ¡°Not Undern!¡± Peele¡¯s gravelly and congested voice was so unexpectedly sharp that Caste jolted like he¡¯d been slapped. ¡°That pedantic, neurotic perfectionist was the most disliked and shunned novitiate that ever clawed his way up to the rank of cleric!¡±


    ¡°His work was impeccable allowing him to graduate a year before any of his peers¡­¡±


    ¡°What do I care about his abilities when his very nature makes me want to pull fingernails? Do you know he had the gall to correct ¡®discrepancies¡¯ in several of my papers and presented them to me with supporting documentation? The presumption!¡±


    Caste was numb. He felt nothing as he heard them speak. Not anger, sorrow or despair. Just a wave of numbness as though his whole body had gone into shock.


    ¡°I agree, Your Eminence. It was why his name was at the top of the list to be assigned a middle class questor.¡±


    ¡°We should have chosen a more incompetent first born¡­¡± Bishop Peele groused.


    ¡°The temporary knighthood academy set up by Sir Rylan to train these men warned us that, out of the list of risky first borns, LaMogre was the least likely to succeed and the most likely to be killed, taking his cleric down with him. It¡¯s why we paired them together.¡±


    ¡°He simply didn¡¯t have the decency to die out in the wilds¡­and not only that, to return successful¡­now there¡¯s no escaping Undern! Just when I thought this day couldn¡¯t become any more miserable¡­you¡¯d best send him in and get it over with.¡±


    However, when Archdeacon Adamis opened the door, calling Caste to enter, he found the vestibule empty.

 That’s not a knighthood…that’s a nightmare!

    ¡°Come in, come in, the more, the merrier. Come and see my son, the soon to be Sir Judd LaMogre!¡±


    ¡°Father, I am not a sideshow attraction.¡±


    ¡°Of course not! You¡¯re the main event! Come in, come in¡­is that your delicious fish stew I smell, Aunt Curlis?¡±


    ¡°Only the best for Edmen¡¯s boy!¡±


    ¡°Take a whiff, Judd! It¡¯ll remind you of all you missed while travelling the wilds.¡±


    ¡°Mmmm¡­fish stew. That¡¯ll go great with the fish pie mother made, the oysters, raw and marinated my sister brought and grandmother¡¯s ¡®octopus surprise¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Uncle Judd? Is it true you killed a sea serpent?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­no.¡±


    ¡°Awwwww¡­¡±


    ¡°But we did attack a swamp monster.¡±


    ¡°Oooh!¡±


    ¡°And barely survived a channel full of sirens.¡±


    ¡°What do they do?¡±


    ¡°They¡­well¡­they trying to seduce men¡­¡±


    ¡°What does seduce mean?¡±


    ¡°Hey¡­why don¡¯t you go have something fishy to eat?¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡±


    ¡°Judd, I brought you some food. I noticed you haven¡¯t had a chance to eat.¡±


    ¡°Mother¡­¡±


    ¡°Your father¡¯s got you standing here like a trophy and you need to eat. You¡¯ve lost so much weight!¡±


    ¡°I really haven¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Leesha, I¡¯m just being proud of my son and he¡¯ll become overweight the way you¡¯re force feeding him.¡±


    ¡°How can you get fat on fish? Oh Judd, look who it is! The Rushavers. You know their eldest daughter always had her eye on you and now her sister has reached marrying age as well.¡±


    ¡°I just need to step outside for some fresh air¡­¡±


    Judd escaped the ever decreasing space of his parent¡¯s house¡¯s living and dining rooms and the foyer. There were people everywhere, primarily family but now neighbours and business contacts were arriving, most of whom Judd had only been aware of at the very edges of his consciousness before he¡¯d left on his quest, let alone now when his world had expanded but the capacity of his mind had not. There was only so much room in his head for all the names of people coming to congratulate him and praise his parents on his success.


    He managed to reach the courtyard without being waylaid by anyone else, discovering that he was not the only one in need of some space. Giordi and Verne sat on the delicate chairs around a table, the courtyard almost completely consumed by climbing vines with sharp thorns and flowers in pink and purple hues, so thin that they rustled when brushed and sounded like paper.


    Judd sank onto one of the chairs, leaned back and put his hands over his face.


    ¡°Starting to regret your knighthood?¡± Verne asked around a mouthful of fish cake.


    ¡°That¡¯s not a knighthood¡­that¡¯s a nightmare!¡± Judd groaned, feeling a smile tweak at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°They¡¯re just proud of you. Especially your father.¡± Giordi held up something called a shrimp and eyed it suspiciously before putting it back on his plate.


    ¡°I know. It¡¯s quite a different tune to the one he was singing before I left.¡±


    ¡°Was it called ¡®Breaking father¡¯s heart with a dream of your own¡¯?¡±


    Judd chuckled and nodded. ¡°With a chorus of fish singing ¡®it was good enough for me, why not you?¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid,¡± Giordi tilted his head, ¡°fish can¡¯t sing.¡±


    Judd shook his head and glanced back into the house that was so full of energetic and enthusiastic souls that they had completely missed the fact that their guest of honour had fled. It was a familiar sight for Judd, however. His family loved having everyone to their home for social suppers and delicious dinners, usually with a fish theme as there was always plenty to be had. Children ran about, ducking beneath elbows, narrowly avoiding colliding numerous times while babies slumbered in their mother¡¯s arms and adolescent cousins huddled in corners or sprawled on the stairs in ways that would have the nobility horrified by their casualness.


    It was his home and he loved it¡­


    ¡­but it felt a great deal smaller now.


    His eyes caught sight of his father speaking animatedly with his uncles, roaring with laughter, his father¡¯s brothers slapping him on the back, congratulating him for raising such a standout son.


    ¡°Truth is, even though I didn¡¯t mean to hurt him¡­I know I did.¡± Judd said softly.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem too bitter about it.¡± Verne observed.


    Judd smiled. ¡°That¡¯s my father. All or nothing.¡±


    ¡°Your mother is lovely too. And your sisters.¡±


    Judd turned sharp eyes onto the minstrel. ¡°Giordi¡­¡±


    ¡°An innocent observation!¡±


    ¡°Oh, so they¡¯re not good enough for you?¡±


    Giordi gaped at Judd then turned to Verne. ¡°Help me out here!¡±


    ¡°Why? Any minute now Judd will break your nose.¡± Verne folded his arms and sighed. ¡°All double talk aside, it seems like a nice place to grow up.¡±


    ¡°It was.¡±


    ¡°Was?¡±


    Judd cringed. ¡°I think my mother half expects me to move back in.¡±


    ¡°And marry you off by the sounds of things.¡±


    ¡°That too.¡±


    ¡°Judd! Judd!¡±


    ¡°Dael! Come here!¡± Judd waved a young lad, tanned by the sun with dark curls just like Judd¡¯s, out to the courtyard. ¡°Verne, Giordi, this is my youngest brother.¡± The boy was about ten years old and gave Giordi and Verne an idea of what Judd must have looked like at that age. He was bare foot and bright eyed, clutching a hastily rolled up piece of parchment in his hands. ¡°What do you have there?¡±


    ¡°This was the list posted outside the place where you trained to be a knight!¡± He declared, holding it out.


    ¡°For all of two weeks.¡± Judd was still astonished he had been allowed to leave Astaril at all.


    Giordi and Verne leaned forward to study the parchment. ¡°It¡¯s covered in names.¡± Verne said, confused.


    ¡°I recognise some of these¡­¡± Judd confessed.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°They were the other middle class first borns who tried to do what you did. See how they¡¯re all struck out except for your name!¡±


    Judd¡¯s eyes saddened slightly. ¡°Some gave up before the end of the two weeks and most of the others returned to Astaril before a month was over¡­but some died on this quest. I am one name out of dozens¡­¡±


    Dael, ten years old and brimming with pride, missed the sombre tone to Judd¡¯s voice. ¡°My brother is famous!¡±


    Giordi, seeing Judd was distracted and melancholy, ruffled Dael¡¯s hair. ¡°You bet he is.¡±


    ¡°Hey Judd? Can I see your Maul?¡±


    Judd blinked and looked at his brother. ¡°He¡¯s not a pet!¡±


    ¡°Please!¡± Dael¡¯s eyes were filled with unrelenting adoration.


    Judd sighed and stood up. ¡°Alright, but you¡¯re going to meet him as a person.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Judd chuckled and waved to the other two then led Dael inside, past the groups of relatives, hiding from his mother who was speaking animatedly with two young women who were pinching their cheeks and fluffing their hair, up the stairs, around the cousins who were so consumed with their own conversations that they missed him entirely and along the landing to Judd¡¯s old room. He knocked then entered, Dael hovering behind.


    ¡°Suvau?¡± Judd opened the door wide. ¡°I would like you to meet Dael, my youngest brother. Dael, this is Suvau.¡±


    Suvau stood up then squatted down, diminishing his impressive height. ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡±


    Dael¡¯s eyes went as round as saucers, his mouth opened and he yelled in fright, bolting from the room, across the landing and down the stairs. Judd watched him go, straight into the skirts of their mother and sighed, looking back at Suvau who pushed himself upright.


    ¡°Sorry Suvau¡­¡± Judd gestured helplessly.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who frightened him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that.¡± Judd moved into his old room and sat on his bed, the motion sending dozens of papers pinned to the wall fluttering. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for their reactions and how you have to be hidden up here.¡±


    ¡°Judd, when I first arrived, I made your niece cry.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t. Our ignorance did.¡±


    Suvau nodded, appreciating Judd¡¯s candour. ¡°The kindness of your family still shows. Your mother brought me food. She knocked, handed it to me, backed away and left but I appreciate her willingness to try. This is a tribute to your influence.¡±


    Judd leaned back on his bed, picked up a dislodged paper, shook his head at what was written there then sighed. ¡°One family at a time, huh?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°I promise to get you back to yours as soon as possible.¡± He crumpled the paper, tossing it in the air and catching it. As he did so he studied the big man who stood near the window, gazing at the lights of the city. ¡°You must be missing Yolana.¡±


    ¡°It is more Emeri I am concerned about.¡±


    Judd frowned, surprised at the seriousness in Suvau¡¯s tone. He sat up, perplexed. ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°There was a sudden increase in Mauls in the nomad camp¡­all of whom are male.¡±


    ¡°And you think some of them have their eye on her?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Suvau sat on the floor, ¡°she was coming to terms with a possibly lonely life and now she has a great deal of male company, some quite close to her age with wounds that need care and attention¡­¡±


    ¡°Not to mention those lads probably haven¡¯t seen a woman up close for many months¡­¡± Judd added then caught Suvau¡¯s slightly panicked glare. ¡°Sorry¡­but I can¡¯t see Yolana being an absentminded mother. She¡¯ll keep an eye on Emeri.¡±


    ¡°She can be downright terrifying,¡± Suvau chuckled and Judd could feel the bass through the floor, ¡°I suppose I simply don¡¯t want to miss seeing love bloom for her.¡± He paused, his eyes studying Judd. ¡°You seem to be handling the loss of certain company members better today.¡±


    Judd shrugged. ¡°Not really. Just too overwhelmed by everything not to realise she¡¯s not beside me or behind me, always watching my back and healing it when the occasion called for it.¡±


    Suvau raised an eyebrow. ¡°I was talking about Caste.¡± He said, deathly serious then smiled, showing his bright white teeth when Judd looked stricken. ¡°You have lost two companions in three days. It cannot be easy.¡±


    ¡°The loss of Aalis is something I can only hope lessens with time,¡± Judd admitted quietly, ¡°but Caste¡­it hurt that he washed his hands of us so quickly but in a way I feel like I deserved it.¡±


    ¡°How so? You didn¡¯t assign him to your quest.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Judd swallowed, ¡°he¡­I put him in a position that contradicted his training when I asked for his help to rescue you and your people.¡± Suvau blinked, not having heard this part of the tale before. Judd rubbed his hands together, his fingers already smelling like fish after only a few hours in the home of his family. ¡°He helped me ¡®steal¡¯ you from Donimede. Nothing else I¡¯ve asked of him ever did that before. It didn¡¯t have to do with Maul and Terra but with the trust we had begrudgingly cobbled together over months in each other¡¯s company and how I broke it.¡±


    Suvau nodded. ¡°Out of all of your companions, the little cleric was the one who did not want to be there. While it pains me that law trumps compassion for my people in his heart, it could not have been an easy journey for him.¡±


    Judd breathed out in a great huff and nodded. ¡°He is happy where he is.¡± He stood with purpose and strode to the door. ¡°Now, if you will excuse me¡­I have to inform my mother that neither of the Rushavers daughters are quite right for me and attempt to swallow some of my grandmother¡¯s octopus surprise.¡±


    Suvau went to the door to watch him go. ¡°What¡¯s the surprise?¡±


    Judd paused at the top of the stairs. ¡°One year she forgot to cook it¡­and the damn thing climbed out of the tureen and made a break for the door.¡±


    Suvau leaned towards him, deeply curious. ¡°What happened to it?¡±


    ¡°I caught it and let it go in the bay,¡± Judd looked back at Suvau, ¡°if it survived my grandmother¡¯s kitchen, it deserved to go free.¡±


    Giordi whistled, hands behind his head, admiring the view from the staggered pathways that led down to the wide boardwalk that wound along the Bay of Italea.


    ¡°I¡¯d forgotten just how beautiful this place is.¡± He nodded.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Verne folded his arms, ¡°you poor little first born son of a middle class family.¡±


    Judd laughed and waved them forward, insisting on taking his friends down to the bay where they could see where he had spent much of his time. Giordi and Verne walked easily, enjoying the sunshine and admiring the view. Suvau was less bold in his presence although nothing was ever going to obscure the darkness of his skin and abnormal presence in Astaril. However, with Judd beside him, acting as both guide and guardian, the inhabitants of Astaril they passed, men with their ladies shaded with lace parasols and children wearing clothes without blemish, stared but did not reproach. Some tipped their hat to Judd while others stopped to congratulate him on his knighthood quest success.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d become quite so recognisable.¡± Judd admitted as they continued to stride towards the boardwalk.


    ¡°I think it has less to do with you and more to do with¡­¡± Giordi gestured to Suvau. ¡°After all, hundreds saw Suvau ride into Astaril with you yesterday. They¡¯d only have to see him to know that you must be Judd LaMogre.¡±


    Judd turned to Suvau. ¡°You are quite distinctive.¡±


    ¡°I blend in better in the dark grey of the southern forts,¡± Suvau said with a grimace, ¡°than here where it is white and sandstone and light grey. But it is no wonder that the people of Astaril and much of Terra believe everything they are told about themselves.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°I see no lack. There is nothing here that would make a citizen not believe that they rule and reign over all.¡± Suvau explained.


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Giordi leapt over the wall at the lowest end of the slope that led to the boardwalk, landing nimbly on the boards and stretching his arms, ¡°and yet so untrue at the same time.¡±


    ¡°How true.¡± Judd followed him and beamed. ¡°This is where I lost many days, fishing pole in hand, feet in the water¡­swimming to the island out there and back again, skin tasting like salt¡­¡±


    ¡°You know, when I think of fisherman and the docks of Astaril, this is not what I had in mind.¡± Verne admitted. ¡°It¡¯s very¡­clean. Where are the tattered boats and smelly ships? Where are the barrels of pongy fish and lurking octopi?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the northern Astaril docks,¡± Judd pulled off his shoes and socks, Giordi and Verne doing the same, ¡°they¡¯re closer to the open waters where the fish are plentiful and it¡¯s where the shipyards are based. My family used to live up there for several generations but moved here because of its ¡®better¡¯ location.¡± He looked at his fingers when he used them to emphasis the word and groaned. ¡°Bloody Caste¡­¡±


    ¡°He left a lasting impression, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Giordi laughed.


    ¡°Where are we heading?¡± Suvau asked in a soft voice.


    ¡°Well my mother made me promise I¡¯d have you all back for a late breakfast,¡± Judd shook his head, ¡°which will probably turn into a smorgasbord of food stuffs in quantities that could feed half of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°And half of Astaril will probably turn up if last night¡¯s turnout is anything to go by.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll walk until the island is on our left, not right, then head home back up the slope.¡± Judd paused and looked at Suvau who hovered behind them. ¡°Suvau?¡±


    ¡°Would it be alright if I caught up with you at your home?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­you sure?¡± Giordi looked around. ¡°Without Judd to validate your presence¡­¡±


    ¡°I will be sure to tell any who inquire I am here under the good graces of Judd LaMogre, champion of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you start.¡± Judd snorted. ¡°Come on then you two¡­¡±


    Giordi jogged to fall into step with Judd. ¡°Do you think Suvau will be safe?¡±


    ¡°Are you making merry?¡± Verne said dryly. ¡°No one would dare touch Suvau. Have you seen the way they skirt around him? They¡¯re afraid that the colour of his skin might rub off on theirs.¡±


    ¡°I also don¡¯t want him to feel like a prisoner,¡± Judd admitted softly, ¡°at the home of my parents, he has to be confined to my old room because of the way visitors and guests react to him. Suvau will be fine. I want him to enjoy the fresh air¡­and beat you two in a race.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­wait, what?¡±


    ¡°One, two¡­go!¡± Verne yelled and sprinted ahead, Judd roaring and taking off after him while Giordi scrambled to keep up.


    Suvau watched them run up the boardwalk, sensing that Judd was trying to give him some space, trusting him to take care of himself on his own in Astaril. For that Suvau was grateful but he suspected he wouldn¡¯t be on his own for long. As he had stepped onto the boardwalk, he had spotted a familiar tuft of red, giving off copper and gold hues in the effulgent sunshine. The others had missed it owing to a parasol of peach and cream blocking their lower line of sight.


    Once Judd, Verne and Giordi were scampering up the boardwalk, acting like three tearaways and not a knight, an archer and a minstrel¡­which seemed to be the beginning of a humorous story, Suvau turned and walked past the woman with the parasol. She gasped at the sight of him, darting away as if he could molest her with his very gaze. She might have been peeved to have looked back and realised he hadn¡¯t given her a second glance as he walked to where a cleric, out of place in his dark red cappa clausa and heavy robes, stood on the very edge of the boardwalk, staring at the water.

 Then you have to run to the castle and do whatever it takes to get inside and stop this

    ¡°Caste? What are you going out in the streets with the common, unfiltered folk?¡± Suvau joked lightly, trying to ease into approaching him as the cleric had a serious, even hopeless presence about him. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be living the good life, surrounded by deacons and bishops and books¡­¡± Caste continued to stare at the water but Suvau suspected he wasn¡¯t even aware he had spoken. ¡°Caste?¡± He called again then edged closer, staring to wonder just how quickly the fabric of the cappa clausa could become saturated and if Caste was calculating the depth of the water. ¡°Little cleric?¡± Caste still gave no hint that he had heard Suvau. The big man was now close enough to put his hand on Caste¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What is wrong?¡±


    Caste blinked, his freckles dull against the pallor of his skin and the shadows beneath his eyes deep enough to drown in. ¡°I¡¯m not dead.¡±


    Suvau was taken aback. Of all answers he could possibly conceive, that had to be the farthest from his mind. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡±


    ¡°Not according to Archdeacon Adamis who, when the opportunity arose to assign a cleric to a knighthood questor, made sure I was given to the least likely to succeed¡­and the most likely to get me killed.¡±


    His voice was hollow with no emotion attached to his words. Suvau would have understood sorrow or anger or offence but Caste¡¯s despondent demeanour was lacking any connection with all the emotions he was undoubtedly dying from on the inside.


    ¡°Caste¡­are you sure?¡± Suvau asked gently, making sure he had a grip on the hood of the cappa clausa.


    ¡°I overheard Adamis speaking with Bishop Peele.¡±


    Suvau swallowed and edged closer, moving his arm around Caste¡¯s shoulders and turning him away from the water, heading for the low wall against a backdrop of excessive shrubbery. ¡°Not that I am a believer in the Order of the Grail but surely the Bishop rebuked his words.¡± Caste allowed himself to be moved and even to sit on the top of the wall, Suvau leaning next to him.


    ¡°No. He agreed with everything Adamis said.¡± Suvau¡¯s heart twisted as Caste¡¯s jaw quivered. ¡°He couldn¡¯t understand why I hadn¡¯t the decency to die out in the wilds¡­¡± Suvau¡¯s teeth clamped together, furious. ¡°He called me pedantic¡­neurotic¡­a perfectionist.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Suvau tried a little levity if only to disrupt his own fury, ¡°you are.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Caste stood, spinning around to face Suvau, ¡°but I thought in the ranks of the officers of the Order of the Grail, I would be appreciated and respected even if I was never liked.¡± He began to pace, his emotions racing to catch up with him, his hands gesturing wildly while his fingers were hooked and tight. ¡°I was willing to give my all, sacrifice certain liberties in the pursuit of truth¡­but find I am bound in the service of an Order that has proven itself as prideful, manipulative¡­even corrupt enough to plot someone¡¯s murder in a way that keeps their hands officially clean.¡± Caste ran his hands through his hair, the shock of red dislodged and unkempt. ¡°I¡­I thought I knew what I wanted!¡± He stopped pacing, staring at the boardwalk, his shoulders caving beneath the weight of broken promises and shattered dreams. ¡°Now I don¡¯t know anything at all.¡±


    Suvau pushed off the wall and turned Caste around to face the direction the others had gone. ¡°Come on.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡± Caste said, allowing himself to be propelled.


    ¡°You need to be with friends. Judd, Verne, Giordi¡­¡±


    Caste pulled out of his grasp and backed away. ¡°They are not my friends.¡±


    ¡°Caste¡­¡± Suvau¡¯s tone was warning.


    ¡°I never treated them with anything other than disdain!¡± The cleric exclaimed. ¡°I told Judd I would never see him again and deserted their company the first opportunity I could. I certainly never thought of any of you as friends.¡± Caste was scathing but Suvau could hear that his words were not externally aimed but internally felt.


    ¡°Perhaps not¡­¡± He admitted.


    ¡°I have been obstructive, abstruse, vexatious, aberrant, unpleasant or as Giordi would call me, a humgruffin¡­¡±


    ¡°And yet,¡± Suvau interrupted Caste¡¯s spiralling spiel, ¡°they respect you.¡± He caught Caste¡¯s green gaze in his dark brown ones. ¡°They appreciate you.¡± Caste swallowed. ¡°They like you. Even I do.¡±


    Caste tucked his arms around himself and looked away. ¡°If it had been up to me, I would have let you and your people rot in Mavour as slaves¡­¡±


    Suvau chuckled, surprising the cleric. ¡°Sorry, Caste, you can¡¯t push me away that easily. I know you¡¯re not nearly as compassionless as you make out.¡± He gave him a nudge, causing him to stumble into a walk beside the larger man. ¡°I can¡¯t see Judd and the other two. They must have headed back to Judd¡¯s parent¡¯s house. We¡¯ll catch up with them there.¡±


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    Caste walked up the sloped paths, each one with lush green verge on one side and on the other, picturesque views of the bay. Suvau didn¡¯t say a word and for that, Caste was grateful. For hours there had been nothing in his head except the utter bleakness of his life and how that which he had so looked forward to had suddenly become a millstone around his neck, trying to drown him.


    He had wandered the streets of Astaril after escaping the vestibule, fleeing down the stairs like a thief, not looking right or left as he hastened out of the building he had thought of so wistfully for months while in the company of Judd LaMogre and his motley band of questionable companions. He had found himself by the bay, his heavy feet taking him lower and lower until he stood at the edge of the boardwalk, staring at the water.


    And no one had talked to him or inquired why he was there.


    They had moved about him like spring blossoms, pale and fleeting.


    Caste could never recall feeling that way before.


    He had felt alone many times and even enjoyed it for the most part.


    But this wasn¡¯t about feeling alone or even lonely.


    He had felt abandoned by everyone and everything he had put any kind of value in.


    Not even Judd was without blame in that area, asking Caste to help him liberate the Maul slaves from Mavour. Aalis¡¯ collusion in the knighthood quest Caste could justify if he squinted with his conscience and admitted that, for a witch, she had never harmed anyone and done a great deal of good. But to include Caste in the plot to steal from a knight, regardless whether he was a man of virtue or disdain, had rankled badly with the cleric.


    All other offenses he had committed were rendered void compared to this breaking of confidence.


    Yet as they climbed the slope and Caste considered that he would have to face Judd after leaving him so abruptly, his pride squirmed but his heart hoped that he might not be entirely alone.


    Once they reached the city proper, they took to a side street that would cross the main road where Judd and his company had rode upon only yesterday. As the two of them approached the main thoroughfare, Caste frowned at the amount of people blocking their path.


    ¡°Well¡­we¡¯re not going to be able to go this way.¡± Caste muttered.


    ¡°What are they all looking at?¡± Suvau wondered, moving closer.


    Caste, not having the willpower to protest, followed behind Suvau whose height gave him a substantial advantage over the much shorter cleric.


    ¡°Well?¡± Caste asked, unable to see beyond the wall of backs he was presented with.


    ¡°Soldiers¡­¡±


    ¡°Astaril soldiers on patrol?¡±


    ¡°They are not wearing Astaril colours¡­¡±


    ¡°Fort soldiers? Possibly an envoy from a knight in honour of Judd¡¯s knighting ceremony. What colour are they wearing?¡±


    ¡°Dark blue.¡±


    Caste shrugged. ¡°That could be any number of forts. What is their crest?¡±


    ¡°Hold¡­I think I can see it¡­¡± Suvau¡¯s eyes widened and suddenly he ducked down to Caste¡¯s level, letting the shadows of the side street envelop him. ¡°A wild animal snarling¡­a werewolf.¡±


    ¡°Fort Mavour?¡± Caste whispered. ¡°Then you had better keep your head down.¡± Suvau nodded. Caste folded his arms, his brow creasing. ¡°I suppose it makes sense that they are here but did Donimede really despise him so much that he could not make the journey himself?¡±


    Suvau gazed at Caste, surprised. ¡°No one told you Donimede plotted to kill Judd in the Arena?¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Donimede¡¯s daughter sent Judd a warning. It was why the gate reopened ¡®accidentally¡¯.¡±


    ¡°And why Donimede committed a social taboo, bringing the man responsible for doing so into the feast. He was hoping Judd would lose face in front of the guests.¡± Caste groaned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Judd tell me?¡±


    ¡°Given what he had already put on your shoulders, perhaps he did not want to burden you further.¡±


    Caste felt a lump in his throat. He swallowed it down hard. ¡°Did you see who was leading the envoy?¡±


    ¡°A man with sizeable red sideburns and there was someone wearing your robes.¡±


    ¡°Could have been Alast or Rodel.¡± Caste had no desire to meet with either of them. ¡°What is that squeaking noise?¡± The sound was coming up the road, following the clop of hooves on the paved surface. And as it drew closer, the excited chatter of the crowd silenced into wonder and fear. It was so strong that Caste and Suvau felt it and looked at each other. ¡°What is it?¡± Caste ducked down and tried to look through legs. ¡°I can see wheels¡­maybe a cart?¡± He stepped back and jumped in vain, unable to see over anyone¡¯s shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. I am just¡­whoa!¡± He swayed dangerously as Suvau grabbed him around the waist and hoisted him into the air. Caste was so terrified at being taller than he ever thought he could be that he didn¡¯t even think of looking at the procession. ¡°Put me down!¡±


    ¡°Just look!¡± Suvau barked, leaning against the side of the building so Caste could brace himself on it. When he had determined that he could not fall, he turned his green eyes onto the procession that he could see with almost perfect clarity. Suvau kept Caste on his shoulder, wishing he¡¯d had the presence of mind to make the cleric remove his weighty cappa clausa before hoisting him up when Caste batted at his hands.


    ¡°Put me down. Put me down!¡±


    ¡°What do you see?¡±


    ¡°Put me down!¡±


    Suvau did as he was told, Caste as white as a ghost.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­a monster cage, the kind of thing smaller monsters are captured in and paraded through Astaril, usually as a boast about their skill in battle.¡±


    Suvau shook his head. ¡°So? They¡¯re from Mavour. They battle monsters all the time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a monster. It¡¯s Aalis.¡±


    They stared at each other. The sound of the procession moved away from their position and the crowds began to disperse.


    ¡°But¡­but¡­¡± Suvau began to chase after Caste who pressed his fingers to his forehead, wandering aimlessly. ¡°She is not a monster.¡±


    ¡°But she is a witch according to the Order of the Grail. They¡­they must have followed us¡­to her village¡­¡± The strain of a night without sleep and the horror at realising he had been set up to be killed piled on top of the shock of seeing Aalis in the cage. Caste was starting to descend into hysteria. ¡°She¡¯ll be killed!¡±


    ¡°Caste! Snap out of it!¡± Suvau clapped his hands, so close to Caste¡¯s face and so loudly it was like a crash of thunder and then grasped his shoulders. ¡°Where will they take her?¡±


    ¡°To the castle and before King Rocheveron where her execution will be immediate.¡±


    ¡°Then you have to run to the castle and do whatever it takes to get inside and stop this.¡± Suvau ordered and Caste nodded. ¡°I will go to the LaMogre¡¯s house and bring Judd as quickly as I can but you must delay the execution! Go!¡±

 I would do so hastily, for your imminent knighthood is all but forsaken

    The sun was bright but the air was crisp yet by the time Caste reached the castle gates, he had worked up a sweat. After Suvau had pushed him in the direction of the main road, Caste had run like a newborn foal, staggering about, stunned at the sudden ejection into the world. Once he regained a drop of sense he put speed into his stride and sprinted after the procession which had already reached the courtyard of the castle, the cage lifted by means of two bars beneath the base and carried inside. Caste waved desperately to the gate keeper but was so out of breath that he couldn¡¯t speak at all. Thankfully the guard recognised him from the day before and when Caste managed to squeak out that he was there regarding the witch that was to be presented, the guard allowed him to enter. At the doors he was met with a steward to whom he relayed a more coherent reason for his arrival. The steward left him to wait. Caste would have paced but he didn¡¯t have the energy. The steward returned and without questioning him further, escorted him up the stairs into the throne room.


    If it had been at another time when Caste was not struggling to see past the bright spots in front of his eyes and swiping sweat from his brown, he might have admired the high ceiling, the draping curtains of gold and plum, the pristine marble floor with the pattern of the lopsided four pointed star of Astaril engraved into its breadth, set with pure gold. But he didn¡¯t for his eyes grazed the throne room quickly, seeing no sign of the soldiers or of the cage holding Aalis.


    King Rocheveron was on his throne, his bodyguards standing on either side, glowering at anyone who met their gaze with a continuous stare. Archdeacon Adamis caught sight of Caste and waved him forwards, his expression a mask of complete serenity.


    ¡°Come forth, young deacon,¡± he declared, ¡°with your extensive experience in the wilds dealing with all manner of monsters, your views and opinions on this unexpected monster presentation will be very interesting to hear.¡±


    Caste tucked his hands into his sleeves and nodded, walking the length of the straight line of plum carpet to the marble dais where the throne rested.


    ¡°Deacon Undern,¡± King Rocheveron greeted as Caste bowed low before him, ¡°Archdeacon Adamis was telling me that Bishop Peele has approved your elevation of rank. Congratulations.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Caste bowed again.


    ¡°Please, join us.¡±


    Caste nodded and moved to stand beside Adamis. The taller man leaned over slightly and whispered, ¡°you left us somewhat unexpectedly and without apology yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­that is what happens when you forget to shut the door.¡± Caste was so rattled he didn¡¯t look to see what Adamis thought of his remark as the doors to the throne room both opened.


    An Astaril guard appeared with the Fort Mavour procession behind him. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± he announced, ¡°the cage has been inspected and the restraints of the witch are secure.¡±


    ¡°Proceed.¡± King Rocheveron approved.


    The guard stepped aside and allowed the soldiers of Fort Mavour, in their dark blue tunics and snarling crests, to enter. Four of the strongest soldiers carried the cage, the wheels left behind so that they did not mark the white and grey marble expanse with smears of grime from the outside world. In front of the procession was Captain Chael who appeared a little worse for wear, his sideburns a tad untidy and he looked as though he had lost weight. But he carried himself well despite his hardships.


    Alongside Chael was an officer of the Grail and Caste felt his spine curl as Cleric Rodel¡¯s eyes caught sight of him and narrowed.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± the captain bowed as his soldiers set the cage before the throne and the bodyguards of the king put their hands on the hilts of their swords, ¡°I am Captain Chael of Fort Mavour and at Sir Donimede¡¯s behest to bring this witch, Dragoslava, before you.¡±


    Caste kept his mouth shut, not sure what Rodel did or did not know about Aalis. He gazed at the cage. He had seen monster processions in the past, snarling beasts of demented forms, some rattling the bars, trying to swipe onlookers with their claws before being beaten back into their tiny space. He had even seen witches, flinging curses, pointing stained fingers, rage seething from their yellow eyes.


    That was not the sight before him now.


    Aalis was on her knees in the cage which was too low to sit properly in and not long enough to lie down unless she curled up in a ball. Her clothing was torn and stained. Caste had never known her not to look after her appearance and even following months of travelling with Judd, she had never appeared as bedraggled as she did now. Her hands were bound in front of her, chained to the floor of the cage and her dreadlocks hung around her face. Through the gaps between of the silvery white strands, he felt her lavender gaze on him. Her eyes closed and her head lowered further.


    Did she think he had something to do with this?


    Caste realised she had no reason to think otherwise for he stood with King Rocheveron and Archdeacon Adamis in judgement over her.


    ¡°And where was this deformation found?¡± Adamis asked superiorly.


    Caste clamped his teeth together.


    ¡°In the northern most village of eastern Astaril.¡± Chael announced.


    Rocheveron frowned. ¡°That is hardly Sir Donimede¡¯s realm to govern, though monster extermination is the responsibility of any knight no matter where it may be. How did he come to know of it?¡±


    ¡°Cleric Rodel is the one who informed Sir Donimede of the presence of the witch,¡± Captain Chael gestured to the handsome young officer of the Grail, ¡°along with some¡­disturbing revelations.¡±


    ¡°Cleric Rodel¡­apprenticed to Deacon Alast.¡± Adamis said softly in Rocheveron¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Step forward and speak.¡±


    Rodel bowed and did so. ¡°Your Majesty, I not only bring this witch before you, with the invaluable assistance of Captain Chael and his men,¡± Chael did not seem appeased with Rodel¡¯s condescending inclusion of his help, ¡°but about her association with one whom all of Astaril appears to be prematurely celebrating.¡± Caste wondered if Rodel knew just how bitter he sounded.


    ¡°Please, continue.¡± King Rocheveron waved to him.


    ¡°Judd LaMogre, the one and only ¡®successful¡¯,¡± Caste hoped he didn¡¯t look as foolish as Rodel when he used his fingers to emphasise words, ¡°knighthood questor colluded with this abomination. The witch, Dragoslava, assisted him in his quest, luring monsters, manipulating men and women to their cause. And their fraternisation was not just as colleagues but a physical relationship.¡± Caste¡¯s face reddened and he suspected Aalis was blushing also. ¡°LaMogre became so enamoured by this witch that he allowed her to manipulate him into helping her enter Fort Mavour, disguised as a nomad bride.¡±


    ¡°We have LaMogre¡¯s former cleric, now deacon here.¡± King Rocheveron turned to Caste. ¡°Did this indeed happen?¡±


    Caste swallowed. ¡°Judd LaMogre did smuggle her into Mavour, disguised as a nomad,¡± Rodel¡¯s chin lifted with triumph, ¡°however, Aalis has only ever acted as a healer and companion.¡±


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    ¡°You see how familiarly he speaks of her?¡± Rodel accused.


    ¡°As an officer of the Grail,¡± Adamis turned to Caste, ¡°you were trained to recognise the signs of a woman contaminated by tainted waters. See now, her fingernails!¡±


    ¡°Display them, witch.¡± The King ordered.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Rodel stammered as Aalis uncurled her fingers and stretched them out, her nails clear and clean. Caste¡¯s spine trembled.


    ¡°Rodel?¡±


    ¡°Allow me to explain,¡± Rodel insisted, ¡°when we discovered Dragoslava in the forest, we watched, hidden, as she used her contamination to kill a giant oak.¡±


    ¡°This I can confirm as truth.¡± Chael nodded. ¡°I have seen many monsters in Mavour but never have I seen someone curse a tree, as tall as this room and caused it to tear itself asunder and rot from the inside out.¡± He gestured to the other soldiers, two of whom looked familiar as young officers that had idolised Judd in Mavour. ¡°All those here bore witness.¡±


    ¡°Sire,¡± Adamis leaned towards the King, ¡°a cleric¡¯s word ought to be enough but to have the witness of an entire regiment¡­¡±


    ¡°It is damning,¡± Rocheveron nodded, ¡°even without the evidence of the blackened nails.¡± He sighed. ¡°To be associated with Judd LaMogre¡­¡±


    ¡°Who used her abilities to manipulate circumstances with the final battle with the minotaur, communing directly with the beast itself!¡±


    Caste gaped at Rodel. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rodel cut him off sharply, ¡°I was behind you, risking my life to pull you to safety when I saw the way Dragoslava stopped the world and spoke to the monster.¡±


    ¡°She kept it from rampaging and killing all those who gathered to watch the final battle!¡± Caste exclaimed. ¡°Her actions saved so many!¡±


    ¡°It matters not! Any act of fraternisation with the deformed, the corrupted and the abomination of Maul is reprehensible.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Adamis sighed dramatically as if he was deeply grieved while his fingers wrung together in pleasure, ¡°LaMogre must be made to respond to these allegations at once but irrespective of his answers, this witch must be executed at once.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Caste blurted as the doors to the throne room opened and Judd¡¯s voice cried out over the top of his.


    ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Oh thank Terra¡­¡± Caste nearly sagged.


    ¡°Stand down!¡± The guard at the door tried to stop him. ¡°You have not been announced!¡±


    ¡°Let him come forward.¡± King Rocheveron said sternly. ¡°LaMogre has much to answer for.¡±


    Judd glared at the guard who was still grasping his arm¡­until Suvau came up behind him and grabbed his wrist and lifted his hand so that Judd could hurry forward, Verne and Giordi hard on his heels.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Judd bowed, his eyes flitting towards Aalis in the cage who remained downcast despite the sound of his voice causing her to gasp softly, ¡°please, I can explain.¡±


    ¡°I would do so hastily,¡± Rocheveron warned, ¡°for your imminent knighthood is all but forsaken.¡±


    Judd paused to breathe. ¡°King Rocheveron,¡± he began slowly, ¡°I met this young woman, Aalis, in the forest of my first kill. She was hiding there because she feared this very outcome, that because of her unwanted abilities, she would be condemned. Aalis was the first to believe in me and her healing abilities saved my life, the lives of my companions and the lives of so many Terras, treating fevers, setting bones¡­she has never harmed anyone.¡±


    ¡°You see how completely within her thrall he is?¡± Rodel pointed. ¡°She even had him attempt to seduce the eldest daughter of Sir Donimede! He forced himself upon her with passion unrestrained yet she knew it was not she whom he was really bussing.¡±


    ¡°Oh Maul¡­¡± Judd covered his face. ¡°Aalis had nothing to do with that! I made a mistake! She is innocent and is no threat to anyone!¡±


    ¡°The healthy oak she tore apart, twisted and decayed, says otherwise.¡±


    Judd glared at Rodel then saw Chael¡¯s expression. ¡°He speaks the truth, LaMogre¡­¡±


    Judd closed his eyes. ¡°So what if she has power? You and I wield swords. The Order of the Grail condemns with a well worded letter. Knights whip Mauls into a bloodied mess to entice monsters into an arena!¡±


    ¡°We are men,¡± Adamis said so smoothly that his arrogance would have been hypnotic if it wasn¡¯t so repulsive, ¡°and as such, are deemed superior to rule.¡±


    ¡°Deemed by men, you mean.¡± Judd argued.


    ¡°See how she has addled his mind?¡± Rodel exclaimed.


    ¡°I am not addled!¡±


    ¡°You must be, LaMogre,¡± Chael said, his tone grieved but firm, ¡°why else would you be in the company of a Maul who supposedly helped others of his ilk escape?¡± Judd knew everyone was looking at Suvau now and while the big man was perfectly capable of defending himself, Judd put his arm out as the soldiers of Mavour frowned at him, including Arsch and Kipre. ¡°If he lives, it is reasonable to assume the others do too¡­¡±


    ¡°Mauls stolen from Mavour.¡± Rodel almost crowed. ¡°Fraternising with witches, manipulating monsters to your own ends and stealing from the very knight who hosted you so generously in his fort? Your list of offences grows every time you open your mouth! You condemn yourself!¡±


    ¡°Then condemn me!¡± Judd snarled at him, stepping forward then turned to Rocheveron. ¡°Your Majesty, condemn me. I will not fight any accusation. Only spare Aalis, I beg of you.¡±


    ¡°You have no right to spare this witch for she,¡± Rodel grasped the strap at the top of the cage and yanked it up, pulling Aalis¡¯ head up, her dreadlocks falling back to expose a bad bruise on her forehead, the eye below squinting and darkened and her lip was broken and encrusted with blood, ¡°is condemned by the Order of the Grail itself! You have no authority!¡± He let go of the strap as Judd advanced on him, grabbed by Suvau and the others, his hands balled into fists, his rage blazing out of control. ¡°You must not strike an officer of the Grail!¡±


    ¡°I wish to see this woman!¡±


    They all stopped and turned to Rocheveron who stared at Aalis trembling in the cage.


    ¡°Your Majesty?¡± Adamis asked, sure he had heard incorrectly.


    ¡°Open the cage and let me look at her.¡±


    Arsch and Kipre looked at each other, confused. Chael hesitated but unhooked the key from his belt.


    ¡°Your Majesty¡­I must protest.¡± Rodel argued. ¡°The witch is dangerous!¡±


    ¡°According to you, she is capable of tearing asunder a great oak,¡± Caste pointed out and Rodel¡¯s blue/grey eyes glowered at him, ¡°in comparison the cage would be a small feat to destroy. She could have escaped at any time.¡±


    Chael swallowed, unsure and uncertain.


    ¡°Let me look on her and see¡­¡± Rocheveron commanded.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty¡­¡± Chael bowed and slid the key into the lock. Making a point, Rodel stepped back from the cage, distancing himself from the witch, the men who defended her and the soldiers who were no longer following his orders. Caste noticed Adamis also took a subtle step back while the bodyguards of the King readied themselves for an unleashed monster attack.


    After Chael unlocked the cage, Aalis¡¯ hands remained bound, her head still lowered, her throat encased in a collar strapped to the top of the cage. Chael went to unbuckle the bonds but at Aalis¡¯ flinch he recoiled.


    ¡°For Terra¡¯s sake¡­¡± Judd strode to the open cage and slid the bonds loose. ¡°Aalis¡­I won¡¯t let anything happen to you. I promise¡­forgive me for leaving you alone.¡± He undid the collar and carefully helped her crawl out of the cage and stand shakily, everything aching because she had been hunched over for so long. She stank of sweat and fear, blood and urine. Judd tried to look into her face, brushing back her dreadlocks but the way she had been treated had beaten any strength out of her, her shoulders and head bowed in defeat. He looked at Rodel and Chael. ¡°This woman is a threat to you? I thought you would know better.¡±


    He helped Aalis shuffle forwards a step, her body leaning heavily on his. ¡°Aalis, this is King Rocheveron. King Rocheveron,¡± Judd turned to the King, ¡°this is¡­¡±


    ¡°Genovieve?¡±


    Judd blinked, King Rocheveron¡¯s whispered words, a broken entreaty he was not expecting. He opened his mouth but could not think of anything to reply, so stunned was he by the King as he came down the steps of the dais, his hand reaching out to Aalis. She whimpered, clutching her hands to her breast.


    The bodyguards slammed into place, their weapons drawn, forming a sharpened steel barrier between their monarch and the witch. Judd drew his sword, putting himself between the bodyguards and Aalis but they didn¡¯t have the opportunity to forge sparks. King Rocheveron thrust them aside and knelt on the marble floor in front of the collapsed Aalis, his hands reaching out to her face.


    ¡°Genovieve,¡± his hands bearing age spots, faded and creased, brushed the dreadlocks aside to stroke her chin tremulously and lift her countenance to meet his own, her eyes closed, tears trickling out of them, ¡°is it really you?¡±


    Aalis bit her bottom lip and sniffed, opening her eyes and gazing at him fearfully.


    King Rocheveron gasped. ¡°Oh¡­those eyes¡­only Viene my beloved wife and my daughter possessed them¡­Genovieve!¡± He got to his feet, helping Aalis rise, shaking hard. ¡°My girl¡­I thought you were dead!¡±


    ¡°I am so sorry, father¡­¡± She wept, her words lost in her sobs. Rocheveron threw his arms around her body, embracing her tightly in swathes of velvet and anointed with tears.


    ¡°Come¡­Come my beautiful daughter. Come¡­¡±


    Without another thought to the others in the throne room, Rocheveron escorted Aalis into the castle, his bodyguards following him dutifully and Adamis with a look of fundamental astonishment on his face. In fact, they all had the same expression.


    All except Giordi who came up beside Cleric Rodel, so stunned he didn¡¯t see the minstrel approach, and put his arm on his shoulder and leaned casually.


    ¡°We may have fraternised with witches, manipulated monsters in the Arena and stolen Mauls out of bloody, torturous slavery from beneath your very nose¡­but I would not trade places with you for all the gold in Terra.¡± He slapped Rodel¡¯s shoulder with his hand and walked away. ¡°Good fortune with that!¡±

 I dare because I am a pedantic, neurotic perfectionist

    Judd and his companions were moved to the room where they had been introduced to King Rocheveron the day before. Cleric Rodel, Captain Chael and the Fort Mavour soldiers had not accompanied them but where they were was not in the forefront of any of their minds. Judd sat on one of the windowsills, leaning against the frame, arms folded, gazing into the royal gardens. Caste was on a chair, almost entirely still, only his eyes blinking frequently and his lips moving silently. Verne was at the mantlepiece above the fireplace, long fingers tracing around the base of the vases, tapping on the dustless shelf, shaking his head now and then. Suvau studied all of their states, calm and solid like an anchor in a storm. Giordi was the most restless, pacing back and forth, talking to himself.


    He had paused long enough to accept some refreshments of wine and sweet cakes from a servant who had no news to give them except that they were bade to wait until called upon. However, despite the wine having a heady aroma and the sweet cakes, glazed with delicate sugar flowers and thick, vanilla icing, Giordi continued to pace, wine undrunk and cake, uneaten.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­it¡¯s incredible to think that this entire time, we had the daughter of King Rocheveron wandering the wilds with us! And not once,¡± he leaned towards Verne, ¡°not once did she let on!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already said this.¡± Verne squeezed the bridge of his nose and grimaced.


    ¡°Yes but it¡¯s worth repeating! To imagine that she was hiding in the village, coaxed out into the length and breadth of Terra, even as far as the south and yet she never said, never used her influence¡­it¡¯s unbelievable!¡± He went to take a bite of his cake then put it down, distracted by another thought. ¡°Perhaps she has amnesia and forgot about her life here¡­and the blow Rodel dealt her restored her memory¡­but then why did she not warn Chael or the soldiers? Was she hoping that they would be served an alarming justice for striking the only surviving child of Rocheveron?¡± He shook his head, raising his glass to his lips then set it on a table, not even looking at where it was perched. Suvau lunged forward to keep it from plummeting to the ground, its aubergine shade undoubtedly able to permanently stain the plush white carpet. ¡°No, that does not ring true. Aalis, I mean, Genovieve, never demonstrated any kind of petty or malicious behaviour, unless of course that was her Aalis persona and not Princess Genovieve¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°For the love of Terra, shut the Maul up!¡± Verne snapped. Giordi stopped, stunned. Verne faltered as though unsure as to why he¡¯d erupted. ¡°I¡­I mean¡­¡±


    ¡°I was just thinking out loud.¡± Giordi said in less of a protest and more of a confession. Verne closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.


    ¡°I¡­have no answers for you.¡±


    ¡°Can I ask,¡± Suvau¡¯s deep voice rumbled with a kind of calming weight that caught most of their attentions, ¡°who is Genovieve?¡±


    They all looked at each other. Verne shrugged. ¡°If we hardly knew who she was, it¡¯s unfair to expect Suvau to know when Terras kept his people in the dark.¡±


    ¡°Genovieve was, is, the daughter of King Rocheveron,¡± Caste explained, ¡°twin sister to Nicolin who was the heir to the throne.¡±


    ¡°Was?¡±


    ¡°He died in his sleep four, nearly five years ago.¡± Caste clucked his tongue. ¡°Perhaps a week later, Genovieve was pronounced dead of the same malady that killed her brother.¡±


    Suvau nodded. ¡°So¡­who is Aalis?¡±


    They were all silent for a moment. Shadows danced across the soft hues of the room, cast by the long reaching branches of trees, their jagged leaves waving in the breeze.


    ¡°King Rocheveron believes her to be his daughter.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­but what do you think, Caste?¡± Giordi asked, sitting on the chair near the deacon as he had been promoted to being, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. ¡°Surely you must have an opinion on the matter?¡±


    ¡°The Order of the Grail is not known for its mistakes,¡± Caste faltered, swallowing, ¡°however, it has come to light that not all their decisions are without fault.¡±


    Giordi frowned. ¡°So is she or isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°I think she is.¡± Verne glanced at them, turning to lean against the wall, folding his arms. ¡°Certain things she said¡­the way her past was always obscured¡­the way she speaks¡­¡±


    ¡°No contractions?¡± Verne nodded. Giordi sighed. ¡°I noticed that too. For all the shift in language, it¡¯s hard to change fundamental training.¡± He shook his head and stood up. ¡°It¡¯s just so unbelievable. I mean¡­how did the Order get it so wrong?¡±


    ¡°What of physicians? Of servants?¡± Suvau asked urgently. ¡°Surely her father would have laid eyes on his child before she was buried.¡±


    ¡°She wasn¡¯t buried.¡± Caste explained. ¡°She was cremated.¡±


    Suvau frowned. ¡°Is that normal? In the south we cremate any dead. Monsters have been known to dig up graves and disturb burial plots. I did not think Astaril would be so restricted.¡±


    ¡°Special permission was given for her to be cremated as she was so far away and transporting a body such a great distance was not appropriate.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°The princess was declared dead and cremated in Fort Verion,¡± Judd said suddenly from the windowsill, arresting all of their attentions as he swivelled around to face them, his face pale but calm, ¡°where she was in the care of her husband, Sir Garo Rylan.¡±


    With his final three words, Judd managed to suck the air out of the room. They stood in the void, agape and frozen, trying to comprehend what he had said.


    ¡°She¡¯s married?¡± Judd nodded, swallowing. Verne floundered. ¡°Sir Rylan¡­he¡¯s the one who started your knighthood quest?¡±


    ¡°Started, founded¡­he was supposed to knight me himself.¡± Judd shrugged helplessly.


    ¡°Married to Sir Garo Rylan¡­¡± Giordi¡¯s eyes widened before they closed and he shook his head. ¡°Oh Judd¡­the vow!¡±


    Judd nodded while the others looked on, confused. ¡°I thought of that.¡±


    ¡°Thought of what?¡± Caste asked.


    ¡°Aalis kept saying that her journey ended when I returned her to her village. That¡¯s the vow we made at the very beginning. When I¡­¡± Judd swallowed. ¡°When I told her how I felt about her, she kept talking about how she could not break her vow¡­¡±


    ¡°She meant her vow to love no other than Sir Garo Rylan.¡±


    Everyone knew he had to be in so much pain yet they could not stop themselves from staring at him.


    ¡°Judd¡­¡± Verne breathed. ¡°Judd, what will you do?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Nobody knew what to say. Each of them were consumed with their own thoughts and concerns.


    Giordi grimaced. ¡°Not to pile onto the issue at hand¡­but is anyone else concerned that we were followed by soldiers from Mavour?¡±


    Suvau looked at him. ¡°You¡¯re thinking, did they see us at the nomad camp?¡±


    ¡°More to the point, did they see Mauls at the nomad camp?¡±


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°I confess, that was my immediate reaction.¡±


    ¡°Chael seemed surprised to see you.¡± Verne tapped his teeth together. ¡°That¡¯s got to be of some comfort¡­¡±


    ¡°I doubt Chael would talk to me at the moment.¡± Judd admitted, folding his arms.


    ¡°Yeah but where is he now?¡± Giordi shrugged. ¡°Chael could use a friendly face while behind bars.¡±


    ¡°I could be joining him.¡± Judd pointed out then they all stood up as the door to the door swung open and King Rocheveron entered. Judd immediately began to approach him. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd LaMogre,¡± Rocheveron grasped Judd¡¯s hand and almost knelt before him, ¡°please allow me to kiss your hand, the man who restored my daughter to me.¡± He did so, Judd feeling the touch of tears as the King bestowed an honour reserved for the greatest of heroes. King Rocheveron stood up, giddy and weepy at the same time as though he was drunk on joy. ¡°You have given this heart, weary and aged, reason to be joyful once more. Whatever it is you ask of me, I would gladly give it.¡±


    Judd swallowed and drew his fingers out of Rocheveron¡¯s grasp. ¡°Your Majesty, while I am not insensible of your generosity, you ought to know that I had no inkling Aalis was your daughter.¡±


    ¡°None of us did.¡± Giordi spoke up, making sure that Judd did not stand alone in his admission.


    ¡°To accept that which you offer, even if it is praise alone, would be dishonest.¡± Judd added.


    King Rocheveron was not dissuaded in his appreciation and urged Judd to sit in a chair, sinking into one near it. ¡°Is it not true that my beloved Genovieve was protected by you as she travelled Terra in your company?¡±


    Judd could not resist a small chuckle. ¡°Actually, sometimes it was Aalis¡­forgive me, Genovieve, who protected us.¡±


    ¡°Truly remarkable!¡± Rocheveron gushed. ¡°She tells me that you faithfully returned her to where she had been found, fulfilling your promise to do so.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­yes,¡± Judd stammered, ¡°but I swear, if I had any notion that we were being followed, I would never have left Aal¡­Genovieve, vulnerable.¡±


    ¡°None of us would.¡± Verne nodded.


    ¡°The actions of Mavour¡¯s cleric and captain were not your responsibility¡­but had you not interfered, I would have ordered the, so called, witch¡¯s execution and seen only afterwards that it was, indeed, my beloved Genovieve.¡± Rocheveron¡¯s cheeks became wet with tears, the horror of what had almost happened causing him to tremble with fear. ¡°You defended my daughter and restored her to me. Please¡­ask it! Anything at all!¡±


    Judd glanced at the others, namely Giordi, hoping for a sign of encouragement or wisdom. He didn¡¯t know how to correctly handle an emotional monarch. But even they looked bemused and somewhat alarmed. All except Suvau who, having the least the lose given he was already considered sub-human, sat on a footstool.


    ¡°Why did you lie about your daughter¡¯s death?¡±


    Rocheveron stiffened. Caste cleared his throat, aiming it at Suvau then quickly continued the thought.


    ¡°She was supposedly cremated yet she is here¡­unless there is a possibility Aalis is not Genovieve?¡±


    ¡°There can be no mistaking her.¡± Rocheveron returned strongly. ¡°Those lavender eyes are passed down from the line of Andigre and Grail through the female lineage. Even when only sons have been borne, even two or three generations might pass but the moment a daughter is born, she always has those eyes. Viene, my beloved wife, was a descendant. I,¡± he sighed sadly, ¡°I am simply king by default, married into the family because I possessed a secondary and much fainter connection to the throne through my mother¡¯s lineage. This girl you know as Aalis can only be Genovieve.¡± He swallowed and nodded, leaning back against the chair. ¡°But you are right to inquire for the lie must now be exposed.¡± Everyone sat down to listen to the old man¡¯s tale. ¡°My Nicolin was robust and healthy and everything I hoped for in a future king. I knew I could pass the throne of Astaril onto him with confidence. It was my comfort after Viene died for we had struggled to conceive for so long. Genovieve¡­while no less a child of mine, was not as strong as her brother. She suffered terribly as a child. We¡­thought¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis talked about how she thought she was insane.¡± Verne offered gently.


    ¡°I see she trusted you with her childhood trauma.¡± Rocheveron sighed. ¡°She was as pale as milk, her hair as black as a raven¡¯s feather with luminous lavender eyes, endlessly plagued by nightmares until she was little more than a ghost. I heard someone call her the spectre of Astaril. But when she grew older, the nightmares and voices in her head lessened.¡±


    ¡°Did you ever think that she might have been tainted?¡± Caste asked tentatively.


    ¡°It was talked of much by Peele and the Archdeacons.¡± Rocheveron nodded. ¡°However, there was no physical evidence and then, as the voices quietened, her health began to improve. She was not robust but there was hope that she might live a spinster life¡­until Sir Rylan fell in love with her.¡± Judd felt everyone try not to look at him as Rocheveron continued. ¡°I was surprised by the strength of his ardour. I would not have let Genovieve marry anyone she did not love but she welcomed his proposal, incandescent in love. After the wedding, she left Astaril to live with Sir Rylan in Fort Verion until word was sent of Nicolin¡¯s death.¡± Rocheveron paused, his jaw trembling as the emotion of the memory returned sharply. ¡°Then I was told that my beloved Genovieve¡­¡±


    ¡°Died of the same malady?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Rocheveron shook his head, ¡°my daughter, upon reading of her brother¡¯s death, was so overcome with grief she drank herself into a haze, took herself to the top of the wall and threw herself into Maul.¡±


    The day, so bright and cheerful dulled in the wake following Rocheveron¡¯s confession.


    Caste frowned. ¡°But¡­the Order¡­Sir Rylan¡¯s cleric¡­¡±


    ¡°It was all a lie.¡± The King stated brokenly. ¡°Bishop Peele and the Archdeacons felt it was the best way to soften the blow, to have Genovieve¡¯s death likened to Nicolin¡¯s demise, the unknown cause attributed to their being twins.¡±


    ¡°The Order felt it best¡­to lie?¡± Caste¡¯s tone was brittle. He felt Suvau¡¯s hand on his shoulder, like he was extinguishing the flame of a candle, smothering the deacon¡¯s temper before it flared up.


    ¡°I was sodden with grief,¡± Rocheveron croaked, ¡°my beautiful son dead and with no explanation and even as I began to rise from the haze, I received word of Genovieve¡¯s terrible act and had a stroke.¡±


    They all sat up, stunned. ¡°That was never admitted.¡± Judd paused, thinking. ¡°You did not make public appearances for a time but no one ever thought¡­¡±


    ¡°The Order covered it all up,¡± Rocheveron reassured him, ¡°my stroke, the truth behind the death of Genovieve and the way in which to conceal the fact that there was no body to intern.¡±


    ¡°Her urn is just filled with ash scraped from a hearth?¡±


    ¡°I suspect so.¡±


    Caste looked like he was the one about to suffer a stroke.


    ¡°I suppose the Order also wanted to protect Sir Rylan¡¯s reputation.¡± Verne remarked and Rocheveron nodded.


    ¡°He would have become King, just as I did, as we married into the Andigre/Grail lineage. After Genovieve¡¯s death I believe Bishop Peele and the Archdeacons discussed, at length, the best person to succeed me upon my death. In the end, it was Sir Garo Rylan. He commands the loyalty of the fort knights and their soldiers.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like more of a threat than a prodigy.¡± Giordi murmured.


    ¡°Nicolin could have handled him,¡± Rocheveron heard the minstrel and answered him firmly, ¡°Garo and Nicolin were friends despite the age difference of ten years. Nicolin did not want to leave the defence of the south only to the southern forts. He was aware of the amount of power those forts command and wished to distribute and rotate it. He had such plans for a truly united Terra. I hope Sir Rylan will be like minded in his plans for the future.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Caste raised one hand slightly, ¡°did Genovieve tell you how she survived Maul, if she even went over the wall at all?¡±


    ¡°She would not say and there were other more pressing concerns, most of which concerned you and her adamant insistence that you were her protector.¡± Rocheveron gestured to Judd. ¡°I hope to hear more of her story, of what happened to her and why her hair is¡­¡±


    ¡°Dreadlocks?¡±


    ¡°White.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But all of those are inconsequential. My daughter has returned from beyond the wall of Maul, beyond death itself.¡±


    Judd grimaced. ¡°You are not concerned about her being called a witch?¡±


    ¡°They could call her the mother of Maul and I would defend Genovieve.¡± Rocheveron stood up. ¡°I would defy even the Order of the Grail, had she been condemned by Bishop Peele himself.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty?¡± There was a soft knock on the door and a maid curtseyed. ¡°King Rocheveron, Princess Genovieve wishes to speak with yourself and Judd LaMogre and company. She was quite insistent.¡±


    ¡°Of course she may visit as long as she is strong enough.¡± King Rocheveron stood up and looked over the room as the maid hurried away, Archdeacon Adamis taking her place. ¡°We will need to organise a great celebration for Genovieve. Adamis, you can inform Bishop Peele yourself.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, before we make any hasty announcements¡­¡±


    ¡°And I will not hear any word about expense. It is not every day someone you love is returned to you.¡± Rocheveron placed cushion on a chair then another then shook his head, taking it away and brushing invisible dust from its velvet seat. ¡°We should declare a national holiday!¡±


    ¡°We should confer with the other Archdeacons and the Bishop first¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not more overcome with joy yourself, Adamis,¡± Caste said, standing up, ¡°after all, Genovieve represents the continuation of the line of Andigre and Grail. Without it, the Order doesn¡¯t stand for much at all.¡±


    Archdeacon Adamis turned on Caste with fire in his eyes. ¡°The Order has existed for hundreds of years, passing knowledge and truth down from generation to generation, not of blood but of those who are worthy to be counted as one of its officers. It is the true legacy of Andigre.¡±


    ¡°Or is it just possible that you¡¯re a little worried about how to people are going to react when they find out the infallible, irreproachable, utterly trustworthy Order of the Grail has lied to them, not once but several times.¡± Caste challenged. Verne, Giordi and Suvau glanced at each other, raising eyebrows and smothering smirks as Adamis seethed at his much shorter fellow officer.


    ¡°Do not let this promotion to deacon go to your head. I am still your superior!¡±


    ¡°Yes you are but let me assure you, in order to smooth over the outrage of the way in which the Order has manipulated and lied and deceived the people of Astaril, let alone all of Terra, you will need the superior flair and exaggeration of minstrel Giordi Gavoli.¡±


    ¡°I am for hire.¡± Giordi chuckled, bowing.


    ¡°You pretentious upstart! How dare you?¡±


    ¡°I dare because I am a pedantic, neurotic perfectionist.¡± Caste replied and Adamis recoiled slightly, suddenly afraid of what else Caste might say.

 Was anyone going to tell me that my wife was alive?

    Unfortunately, despite the curiosity of those watching it who wanted to see how the debate ended, footsteps echoed along the corridor. King Rocheveron waved Archdeacon Adamis back, hushing them into reverence as if they were about to surprise someone with a party.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± a guard opened the door before a tall body entered, his impressive demeanour filling the doorway like no one else could, ¡°Sir Garo Rylan.¡±


    Judd had come to a conclusion on his knighthood quest that the depictions given by the posters pinned to his bedroom wall and books he¡¯d collected over the years of the knights of Terra were often either exaggerated or smudged compared to the real thing. He had the profile of Sir Egrette with a list of his accomplishments underneath it but Judd could only remember the way he seemed to think it was an accomplishment to molest the latest pretty servant to enter his service. Sir Jesa had not been a proactive knight, dedicated to getting off his fort throne and protecting his people. In fact, his apathy had nearly let two score of goblins poison hundreds and overrun the weakened population. Sir Fereak was spitefully disrespectful to his wife and saw little reason to curb his soldier¡¯s lustful impulses who forced themselves upon Mauls, unless it interfered with the running and protection of his fort and his portion of the wall. And Sir Donimede was so petty and shallow that he was overcome with jealousy at Judd¡¯s fame and had schemed to see the young man murdered in his Arena where Mauls were bloodied for the sake of entertainment.


    All of them had fallen short of Judd¡¯s good opinion, which was based upon what he thought was truth. Not even Sir Alaykin had lived up to his reputation for he seemed to have enjoyed Judd¡¯s initial beating at his sword master¡¯s hand as if humiliation equalled humility.


    However, in Sir Garo Rylan, it seemed that all which was said about him was true.


    He was a handsome man, over six foot tall with a chiselled jaw and amber eyes circled with dark brown, giving him an intense, warm expression beneath his thick eyebrows with a scar nicking the outer edge of the right one. His hair was tawny ashen with golden highlights through the braided strands from his temples. He wore a sturdy leather coat with detail along the turned back cuffs in flocked velvet, the same fabric lining the inside of the coat which showed as his long stride caused the split length at the back to flare behind him. His trousers were dark brown like his gloves and his boots were supple, caramel coloured leather. Around his waist, cinching his vest over the top of an off white shirt, were a pair of belts, each one with a sheath bearing swords that had been wiped clean of almost every type of monster blood that had ever been catalogued.


    ¡°King Rocheveron!¡± He declared boldly, sinking to one knee in front of his King who was more than a little stunned by his presence, given that he was expecting his daughter. ¡°Forgive my unexpected arrival but I felt I could not tarry when I heard the news.¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan,¡± Rocheveron was struggling to contain his surprise, ¡°you¡­I was not aware word had been sent¡­¡±


    ¡°I had an instinct that some greatness was about to occur,¡± Sir Rylan stood, towering over the king who seemed so much smaller next to the bold, bright, earthy knight, ¡°I saw the signs as easily as a farmer might read the changing of the seasons. I confess, I began to believe the naysayers who said my knighthood quest was the first sign I was going mad,¡± he drew his gloves off with a wide gesture, ¡°however, my faith in the unrecognised nobility that lurked beneath the surface of disregarded middle classes has not been mislaid.¡±


    ¡°You seek Judd LaMogre!¡± King Rocheveron exclaimed, his hands trembling before he clutched them together in a habit developed to conceal nervousness. ¡°He stands behind you.¡±


    Sir Rylan whirled around and took in Judd¡¯s appearance in one experienced and critical swoop, the same way he would assess a battle situation, with confidence and accuracy. ¡°Well met, Judd LaMogre,¡± he held out his hand and grasped Judd¡¯s, shaking it vigorously, ¡°I have been following your knighthood quest exploits with ever increasing interest and when Lord and Lady Gemel told me of how you defeated not one but three minotaur¡­¡±


    Judd was very aware that his companions were looking at him in full knowledge of just who this man was to him. Not only was he atop the pedestal of all of Judd¡¯s knighthood dreams, but he was also the man with a prior claim on the heart of the woman he loved.


    It was any wonder that he managed to answer, given how stunned he was in light of all he was wrestling with internally.


    ¡°Actually¡­just the one¡­officially.¡±


    ¡°I heard that it was officially two,¡± Sir Rylan folded his arms, his lips curling up in a smile, ¡°after the larger of the two in the second wave turned on its own, something I have never heard tell of before and would have liked to see. However, all who witnessed the match and saw the monster corpses are saying you are on par with your victories with me.¡± If it had been Sir Donimede, there would have been a brittle edge to his voice and a less than subtle insult following swiftly but Sir Rylan seemed genuinely pleased. ¡°A man on par with my own accomplishments¡­and younger than I was. I think you will far outreach my reputation at this rate.¡±


    Judd swallowed. ¡°I¡­that¡¯s very generous of you, Sir Rylan¡­¡±


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    ¡°Why do we not celebrate over a drink?¡± Sir Rylan asked, waving them all to sit. ¡°Please, allow me to serve you, Your Majesty.¡± He did so, King Rocheveron seeming strangely afflicted with silence after his excessive gushing bare minutes earlier. ¡°Your family must be very proud,¡± Sir Rylan cleared his throat and studied Judd with narrowed eyes as he held out a glass of wine, ¡°they are¡­cobblers?¡±


    ¡°Fishermen¡­mostly.¡± Judd said, taking the glass.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Sir Rylan shook his head. ¡°There were so many who entered the knight¡¯s academy¡­I started to lose track of all their details. Well, they will be treated to a feast celebrating their son after an auspicious knighting ceremony.¡± He turned to the King. ¡°Of course, Astaril need not pay for any of it. It was my initiative and original outlay. I would not want to burden the throne with the expense now.¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan,¡± Archdeacon Adamis spoke, inserting himself into the indomitable flow, ¡°before you praise LaMogre too loudly, it ought to be known that there are several serious allegations against this so-called successful knighthood participant.¡±


    ¡°Allegations?¡± Sir Rylan turned from the liquor cabinet. ¡°Of what do you have to accuse him?¡±


    ¡°Putting aside the rather¡­intimate issue of fraternisation,¡± Adamis said tersely, ¡°LaMogre was accused of stealing Maul slaves from Fort Mavour. Hard to refute when one of them stands in our company as if it deserves to be here.¡±


    Sir Rylan put his glass down. ¡°I saw the Maul, naturally. One could hardly miss him,¡± he said without any fear of Suvau¡¯s size and dark skin, ¡°but before we condemn LaMogre, what has he to say about this?¡±


    Judd licked his lips. ¡°I¡­were you aware of the way Sir Donimede conducts his Arena, sir?¡±


    ¡°I would have hazard much like mine though your words give me reason to pause.¡±


    ¡°Mauls, like Suvau, are whipped until they reek of blood and are used as bait for monsters¡­all for the sake of entertainment and training.¡±


    Sir Rylan¡¯s countenance became stern. ¡°That I was not aware of. My Arena takes advantage of any monsters that stray into its breadth but I use it mostly for soldiers to train against each other. When I proposed the monsters for the knighthood quest, I chose the final beast to be a minotaur because Sir Donimede made it sound like they were territorial near his fort and could supply one if needed.¡±


    ¡°My minotaur was drawn to the Arena by the bloodied, lifeless body of a Maul,¡± Judd had to pause and regain some control, his fingers wringing the delicate stem of his glass almost as tightly as his throat was closing over, ¡°to know that my knighthood cost someone their life¡­¡±


    ¡°You did not know, LaMogre¡­¡± Suvau said softly.


    ¡°I take it you decided that it was the last life to be so abused.¡± Sir Rylan nodded.


    ¡°What abuse?¡± Archdeacon Adamis exclaimed. ¡°They are Mauls! They are sub-humans, a slave race that escaped the south when the wall was erected and have been living on our good graces!¡±


    ¡°Good graces!¡± Verne exclaimed. ¡°How can you call imprisonment, torture, slavery and death, good graces?¡±


    ¡°Not to mention the soldiers of Fort Omra see nothing wrong about raping Maul women with no consequences for their actions.¡± Giordi added.


    Adamis drew himself up to his full height. ¡°You think your opinions mean anything against the weight of the word of the Order of the Grail?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be very careful about purporting the virtues of the Order of the Grail.¡± Caste¡¯s tone was brittle.


    ¡°Regardless of their classification,¡± Sir Rylan held up his hand to stop the argument, ¡°it does not mean we can do what we like to them. Sir Donimede was out of line.¡±


    ¡°It matters not. LaMogre stole them from the knight who was his gracious host.¡±


    ¡°And I will personally pay Donimede the cost of all the Mauls,¡± Sir Rylan cut Adamis off, ¡°and as such, this matter is closed,¡± Adamis gaped, trying to work out how to argue and coming up with nothing as the knight turned to King Rocheveron, ¡°if you approve, Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°Naturally¡­¡± Rocheveron said almost weakly, his eyes darting to the door. Judd was suddenly aware that the King was not just subdued in Rylan¡¯s presence, he was anxious to the point of being afraid. And then something else occurred to Judd as Sir Rylan turned to the liquor cabinet to pick up his glass. The King had not once brought up the return of his daughter to the man who had been her husband.


    When the door opened, its detailed breadth blocking Sir Rylan from view, King Rocheveron stood up in such haste he knocked his wine over yet paid it no heed. Aalis appeared in the doorway, her face lightly powdered to hide some of the bruising and dressed in soft lilacs and blues, the delicate fabrics layered over each other, fluttering with every move she made.


    ¡°You should not be here¡­¡± Rocheveron¡¯s voice was stern, even urging.


    ¡°I was told I must not leave my bed but I could not remain still, knowing I owe you all an explanation.¡± Aalis¡¯ eyes glanced around the room but fixed on Judd and she walked towards him. ¡°You most of all. Judd¡­I¡­¡±


    ¡°Genovieve?¡± Aalis froze, her eyes widening and her lips parting as if she had inhaled but no breath could be heard. Behind her, Sir Rylan gazed at the back of her head, his amber eyes filled with wonder and hope. ¡°Can it be?¡± Judd¡¯s heart filled with dread as Aalis turned slowly, her eyes on the floor as Sir Rylan stepped towards her. ¡°My beloved Genovieve?¡± He reached out to touch her face then suddenly dropped to his knees and clutched at her hands, weeping unashamedly. ¡°I thought you were lost forever! My Genovieve!¡± The bold, confident knight was suddenly overcome with emotion and grief, and everyone was transfixed by the display. ¡°I have cursed myself every day that I ever let anything happen to you. Genovieve, I swear I will keep you safe forever!¡± He looked up at her, handsome even in grief. ¡°Genovieve¡­¡±


    ¡°Garo¡­¡± Aalis gasped so sharply it was nearly a shriek then toppled sideways. Suvau stepped in between Judd and Rylan, scooping the unconscious Aalis into his strong arms then stood by King Rocheveron with an unmoving look in his eyes.


    ¡°Forgive my daughter,¡± Rocheveron blurted, ¡°she is much weakened by her ordeal and left her bed far too soon. Suvau, was it?¡± The Maul nodded. ¡°Would you follow the maid and take my daughter to her room¡­and guard her door?¡± Suvau nodded again and carried Aalis out of the room and every eye followed her until the maid closed the door, Sir Rylan standing before it.


    ¡°Was anyone going to tell me that my wife was alive?¡± He asked quietly, stern and sharp. He turned and looked at King Rocheveron who swallowed and glanced away. Rylan¡¯s glower then moved to Adamis. ¡°You¡­stood there and accused LaMogre of crimes and defended the honour of the Grail yet not once thought to tell me Genovieve had not perished in Maul?¡±

 Oh, I do understand. You are in love with her

    Archdeacon Adamis huffed as if Rylan¡¯s interrogation was completely out of line. ¡°You were the one who sent back the report that she must have died on the rocks below the wall and devoured by monsters, the only sign she had been there, a dented, broken goblet.¡±


    ¡°If not for the Grail I never would have conceded to the farce of her dying in her sleep!¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan,¡± Judd put his hand out, doing the unimaginable by getting in Sir Rylan¡¯s way, ¡°before you are too hasty¡­Genovieve was only revealed today, scant hours ago. We have all been trying to work out how she survived Maul¡­¡±


    ¡°If indeed she was ever there.¡± Caste mused.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Sir Rylan turned on the deacon.


    ¡°The wall is made to keep monsters out of the north. I doubt someone as slight and frail as Genovieve could have survived long enough to escape it. This makes me wonder if she was ever there.¡±


    Rylan shook his head and sank onto a chair. ¡°She¡­we found slops of wine from our bedchamber to the top of the wall and the battered goblet¡­it appeared obvious what happened. I never should have left her on her own after receiving the missive about her brother, my friend, Nicolin.¡±


    Judd glanced at King Rocheveron as Garo Rylan spoke, seeing a light puckering between the king¡¯s eyebrows and the bob of his throat as he swallowed.


    ¡°Afterwards I thought, perhaps, we had been too hasty in assuming that was what happened.¡± Rylan admitted.


    ¡°You thought she might have been kidnapped?¡±


    ¡°While I could not see how, Fort Verion is guarded day and night, it was indeed possible but there was never a ransom demand or evidence to support my theory.¡± Rylan shook his head, his fingers running through his tawny tresses. ¡°How is she here? Who found her?¡± Judd grimaced and put his hand up. Rylan stood and grasped his arms. ¡°You found my wife?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know who she was.¡± Judd explained. ¡°I was on my knighthood quest, in a forest and Aalis¡­Genovieve¡­was there.¡±


    ¡°And you recognised her eyes?¡±


    ¡°I¡­did not realise the significance¡­¡±


    ¡°Then how did you know to bring her here?¡±


    Judd cringed. ¡°I didn¡¯t. When I met A¡­Genovieve, she was a healer and I was only a few days out from Astaril on my quest. She joined Caste Undern and myself and travelled all of Terra with us before I did as I promised and returned her to her home in the forest.¡±


    ¡°Then how is she here?¡±


    Judd opened his mouth, paused and turned to Archdeacon Adamis. ¡°Would you care to fill this part in?¡±


    Adamis¡¯ eyes were flinty. ¡°When Genovieve was brought before King Rocheveron¡­it was because she was accused of being a witch.¡±


    Rylan took a step towards him and in response, Adamis took two backwards. ¡°My beloved Genovieve¡­accused of being a witch? This is ludicrous!¡±


    ¡°There were witnesses of her use of unnatural powers. A cleric, a score of soldiers and their captain.¡± Adamis protested.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if she caused the seas to boil and the sky to turn red in front of Bishop Peele, the twelve archdeacons and all the officers of the Grail!¡± Rylan argued. ¡°Genovieve would not, could not, ever harm anyone! My word in Fort Verion is law and I know King Rocheveron will stand with me in defence of his daughter¡¯s purity.¡±


    Rocheveron nodded, still looking quite shocked. Judd began to wonder if they ought to call a physician for him.


    ¡°There is another matter¡­¡± Adamis cleared his throat and tugged on the collar of his cappa clausa. ¡°Princess Genovieve vowed to be faithful to you¡­but it has been several years¡­¡±


    ¡°She did what she needed to survive and I won¡¯t hear anything about it.¡±


    The archdeacon gave a small shrug and frowned quite dramatically. ¡°I would, of course, heed to your words¡­except that Judd LaMogre has been accused of fraternisation with the witch, Dragoslava¡­¡±


    ¡°Dragoslava¡­my Genovieve?¡± Rylan¡¯s amber eyes locked onto Judd¡¯s brown gaze. ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I¡­¡± Judd fumbled.


    ¡°Deacon Undern will be able to confirm it, surely.¡± Adamis¡¯ eyes showed a sinister degree of pleasure in them as he looked at Caste, everyone turning to the young deacon. ¡°You were with them the entire time.¡±


    Caste licked his lips, his green eyes darting between Judd and Sir Rylan, attempting to peel back the layers of inuendo, lies and deception.


    ¡°While I cannot say with absolution that such intimate fraternisation occurred,¡± Caste said slowly, each word deliberately chosen as he tried to give himself time to work out what the next word would be, ¡°there were instances where they were alone together¡­for appropriate amounts of time.¡±


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    Judd¡¯s heart sank as he heard Caste¡¯s words. Undern had just as good as condemned him.


    ¡°LaMogre¡­a word.¡± Sir Rylan walked to the end of the room and waited for Judd to approach, suspecting the golden knight was about to start hurling fists and strike him down. Garo leaned on the mantlepiece above the fire, his jaw tight as licked his lips.


    ¡°Sir Rylan¡­¡±


    Garo Rylan lifted his hand and Judd¡¯s words were cut off as if a sword had severed his tongue.


    ¡°This is not easy for me to say,¡± Rylan said darkly then looked at Judd, deathly serious, ¡°but if you brought comfort to my wife in my absence¡­then I thank you.¡±


    Judd rubbed his forehead. ¡°Sir Rylan¡­please understand¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I do understand. You are in love with her.¡± Rylan nodded at Judd¡¯s jaw drop. ¡°I see it in your eyes, as plain as your Maul is dark. I could never condemn a man for falling in love¡­and acting on it when you didn¡¯t know she was someone else¡¯s. You protected her in the wilds and enjoyed the thrill of her delicate embrace,¡± Judd blushed hard, ¡°but while you had her for a time, she is mine forever. I won¡¯t let her be taken from me again¡­unless you plan on challenging me to a duel for her hand. Can you understand that?¡±


    Judd nodded, too stunned by Rylan¡¯s blunt words to know how to respond.


    ¡°Then it is settled.¡± Rylan strode back to the company that had been trying to conceal their desperate interest in their hushed conversation. ¡°There will be no recriminations against LaMogre for his actions, regardless whether the accusations be of fraternisations with a witch or Genovieve. In fact, the matter ends in this room. I will not have my wife¡¯s reputation brought into question.¡±


    Judd felt like he was sinking deeper and deeper into turbulent seas. Sooner or later the air was going to run out in his lungs and he would drown.


    ¡°There is a small matter of¡­tradition,¡± Caste spoke up, ¡°in regards to a wife who has not been¡­faithful.¡±


    ¡°Caste!¡± Verne hissed.


    Rylan¡¯s eyes narrowed to slits and his hand shifted instinctively to the hilt of one of his swords. ¡°Be very careful, deacon, on what you say next.¡±


    ¡°I speak not of Princess Genovieve¡¯s reputation but about the tradition of reconciliation,¡± Caste explained, standing up to speak, his hands becoming expressive not unlike Giordi when telling a story, ¡°you see, in the past, in the tomes of ancient Terra, the wife of a prominent male citizen who had been caught in adultery or accused of being unfaithful, would naturally be put to death.¡± Giordi slapped his forehead and groaned. ¡°However, if the husband chose to forgive grievances, there was a process of reconciliation.¡±


    ¡°You speak of the ¡®Rite of Purification¡¯?¡± Adamis asked and Caste nodded. The archdeacon snorted. ¡°That hasn¡¯t been put into practice for decades!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still a part of Astaril law.¡± Caste argued. ¡°Following the tradition would allow for the law to be fulfilled, making any future recriminations void, thus protecting both husband and wife and time for Princess Genovieve to regain her strength.¡±


    ¡°What would the rite involve?¡± King Rocheveron asked. ¡°The details of the tradition escape me and I am reluctant to put Genovieve through any more trauma or trial.¡±


    ¡°She needs not endure anything other than time.¡± Caste explained. ¡°As LaMogre is the one Princess Genovieve fraternised with, regardless of when any fraternisation occurred, the tradition states that she must be kept in isolation with obvious essential needs addressed, until the week following her monthly discharge. This proves two things. That she is not with child and that the emission is a natural purge.¡±


    There were red faces all round, Verne¡¯s the most flushed of all. Not even Caste, as the speaker, had been spared from the telltale heat of embarrassment.


    King Rocheveron glanced at Judd and at Adamis then to Sir Rylan. ¡°I approve of this tradition in fulfillment of the law. Sir Rylan, do you concur?¡±


    Sir Rylan frowned. ¡°I would take her as my wife here and now. I have no fear of another man¡¯s seed. But, perhaps, it would be best. I would not want there to be any question of who my children¡¯s father really is should we conceive an heir. It was our dream when first married to begin a family immediately and while it was unfulfilled, I hope to continue in that dream.¡± He nodded and stood up. ¡°Well done, Deacon Undern. I see why Judd LaMogre was assigned you as his representative of the Order of the Grail. You are wise for one so young.¡±


    ¡°Sir Rylan,¡± King Rocheveron stood, ¡°please, will you not stay in the castle tonight while we finalise the details?¡±


    ¡°Your hospitality is always welcome.¡± Sir Rylan turned to the room and bowed before leaving it, Archdeacon Adamis, knowing he had no friends left in it, also exited on the heels of both king and knight.


    Judd stood up and closed the door.


    ¡°What in Maul were you thinking?¡± Verne exploded at Caste. ¡°You threw Judd before Rylan, practically saying Judd and Aalis tumbled endlessly while on the quest!¡±


    ¡°I said nothing so coarse!¡±


    ¡°You might as well have!¡± Giordi agreed. ¡°It is only to Sir Rylan¡¯s credit that this didn¡¯t end in a duel at dawn!¡±


    ¡°What were you thinking, Undern?¡± Judd turned on Caste, his voice hollow yet grieved. ¡°Have I so insulted and offended you that you would try to get me killed? That you would sully Aalis¡¯ purity? You know she and I never once bussed, let alone ¡®tumbled¡¯.¡±


    Caste gazed at Judd sadly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it worth the risk¡­to have the time to work out why Aalis is so frightened of Sir Garo Rylan?¡± Judd paused, stunned. Caste looked around at the others then back to Judd. ¡°Why she never once told us who she was? Why she lived in hiding in a forest under a false name? Why she never tried to return to her husband or to her father and Astaril?¡±


    Judd faltered, shaking. ¡°You¡­I thought I was the only one who thought Aalis was¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd, she was terrified.¡± Verne insisted.


    ¡°And Rocheveron knows something about it too.¡± Giordi added. ¡°The look on his face as Rylan came into the room¡­how he kept looking at the door nervously and never told Rylan about Aalis until she burst in and was unable to be stopped?¡±


    ¡°And had Suvau ¡®guard¡¯ Aalis bedchamber door?¡± Caste finished.


    ¡°You picked up on that?¡±


    ¡°Obviously.¡± Caste nodded. ¡°I know I played a dangerous hand¡­but I could not think of any other way to keep Rylan away from Aalis until we know the truth behind what happened when she disappeared.¡±


    ¡°I¡­I thought¡­you were trying to get me killed.¡± Judd rasped.


    Caste stared at a spot on the rug. ¡°You and I may have had our disagreements,¡± he admitted softly, ¡°but I never wished you harm. My job was to try to keep you alive¡­or at least be nearby to record how you died.¡±


    Judd laughed. It was all he could do. It was all he had left to do, his emotions were so wrung out and empty after the gauntlet they had run. He reached out and clasped Caste¡¯s hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re a good friend, Undern.¡±


    Caste looked at their joined hands, swallowing hard as he felt Judd¡¯s friendship for the first time like a pillar of strength. ¡°I could have been a better one.¡± Caste admitted. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve never had much practice¡­and you¡¯re all impossible to like.¡±


    They shared a soft laugh, Verne tapping his teeth together. ¡°So, if Aalis is going to be in isolation, how are we going to talk to her?¡±


    ¡°That I don¡¯t know.¡± Caste pulled a face. ¡°It was the only snag in an, otherwise, beautiful plan.¡±


    ¡°I also want to know how Chael and Rodel tracked us and what they saw.¡± Judd nodded then turned to Caste. ¡°I suspect they won¡¯t talk to me or any of the others but perhaps they¡¯d like to confess to Deacon Undern?¡±

 If that’s the sum total of your argument, I’d get comfortable in there

    It was a little known fact that there were prison cells beneath the castle in Astaril. When the city was formed and the castle foundations laid, they were a very necessary part of the security and safety of the new united clans and a way for Andigre to secure criminals until he was ready to pass judgement. For nearly a quarter of a century, it was the primary location for imprisonment. However, since the building of a fortified gaol that removed the distasteful presence of prisoners out of the castle, the cells had not been used. Half of them had been repurposed, encompassed into other aspects of the castle so that only four cells remained.


    Caste Undern applied for permission to speak with Cleric Rodel and Captain Chael and was directed to the guarded door which led down a set of narrow steps that widened as they reached the base, the entire prison in white stone and grey bars. The cells had no windows or any access to the outside except the stairwell so the prison was illuminated with lanterns that hung from the ceiling down the middle of the dead end corridor with two cells on either side.


    ¡°This is a prison?¡±


    Caste looked at Suvau who studied the prison with a critical eye.


    ¡°I take it Fort Mavour¡¯s dungeons weren¡¯t so clean?¡±


    ¡°Certainly not.¡±


    ¡°At least you didn¡¯t have to defecate in a bucket in front of your cellmates.¡±


    Suvau nodded. ¡°You are right, of course¡­we didn¡¯t have buckets.¡±


    Caste cringed then paused on the bottom step where they were greeted by a guard in purple, blue and white livery. ¡°We are here with permission to speak to the prisoners.¡± Caste held out the signed missive to the guard who studied it then looked at Suvau.


    ¡°Should your Maul be present, Deacon Undern?¡± His voice carried strongly through the prison.


    Caste cringed and turned to Suvau. ¡°Maybe you should wait here.¡± He admitted to the big man in a low whisper. ¡°These soldiers already count your people as less than human. I don¡¯t really want your presence muddying the waters.¡±


    ¡°Was that a dirty skin joke?¡±


    Caste paled, his freckles becoming the only colour on his face. ¡°Suvau¡­I swear, that¡¯s not what I¡­¡± Then he caught sight of his wink and groaned. ¡°That was uncalled for.¡± He walked into the prison, hearing soldiers stand to their feet and move towards the bars. Caste was not there to speak with the soldiers but he could hardly miss the copper red of Chael¡¯s sideburns as he came as close as he could.


    ¡°Have you come down here to gloat?¡± He demanded.


    Caste was going to pass by but stopped and turned to the captain. ¡°I was not the one who imprisoned, beat and accused the King¡¯s daughter.¡±


    Chael¡¯s countenance was pained. ¡°Do you think we would have done so if we had known?¡± He demanded, gesturing to his men. ¡°What do you take us for? Fools?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Caste turned and looked at the single occupant in the cell on the other side of the passage, still wearing his dark red cappa clausa, sitting on the hard bench with an even harder expression, ¡°just misinformed.¡±


    Rodel¡¯s eyes turned to him, every word spoken in the prison able to be heard by all as they bounced off the stone walls. ¡°You gave the gall to accuse me of misinformation when it was yourself and LaMogre who smuggled a witch into Fort Mavour, manipulated the match against the minotaur and stole slaves from Sir Donimede.¡± He accused grimly. ¡°Yet there you are, on the wrong side of these bars according to your crimes! Where is justice? Why have you been promoted rather than excommunicated from the Order? And where is LaMogre? Why is he not here?¡±


    Caste clasped his hands within the sleeves of his cappa clausa and took a deep breath as he faced the imprisoned cleric. ¡°All costs of the theft have been guaranteed by another. As such, the charge has been dropped,¡± Rodel¡¯s turned his head to stare at the wall opposite him, refusing to meet Caste¡¯s eye, ¡°as well as any collusion or coercion with any monster of Maul, including the allegations of fraternisation with a witch.¡±


    Rodel¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°But¡­she is! She is a witch!¡±


    ¡°Rodel, you are in enough trouble as is¡­¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± He stood and grasped the bars. ¡°I watched as she communed with the minotaur so that it would do her bidding! She has ties with Maul! We are all witnesses to the way she sank her hands into a tree and withered in from the inside out, tearing it asunder!¡±


    ¡°This witch you condemn and refused to name is Princess Genovieve, daughter of King Rocheveron and heir to the Astaril throne.¡±


    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t matter her name or status,¡± Rodel argued, ¡°she is a witch!¡±


    ¡°Actually, her abilities differ greatly to the tainted souls of women that the Grail has catalogued in the past. In fact, in Archdeacon Gerion¡¯s thesis, ¡®Condemning the Tainted¡¯ we see¡­¡± Caste heard a deep throated grunt and turned to see Suvau shaking his head. ¡°Right¡­of course. I need to remain focused and not descend into debate and facts.¡± He paused to collect his thoughts. ¡°Despite the witnesses to this accusation, it has been overthrown by a higher authority.¡±


    ¡°The King is being manipulated by a witch of Maul! Of course he would declare her innocent! Are Archdeacon Adamis and Bishop Peele out of their minds?!¡±


    ¡°Actually it was Sir Garo Rylan who overthrew the charge, in agreement with King Rocheveron.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Kipre said nervously, ¡°Sir Rylan is here?¡±


    ¡°He arrived but two hours ago.¡±


    Kipre groaned and squatted down. ¡°We¡¯re dead. We¡¯re so dead.¡±


    Caste studied Rodel who was losing confidence as his anger began to diminish in the face of overwhelming despair.


    ¡°But¡­even then¡­LaMogre¡­he and the wit¡­Genovieve¡­Sir Rylan would never knight a man who undoubtedly bedded his wife.¡±


    ¡°Even the charge of fraternisation has been appeased with the ¡®Rite of Purification¡¯.¡± Rodel sank onto the bench, his head in his hands.


    Caste studied the pathetic sight of the imprisoned cleric. He couldn¡¯t have beaten him better if he had taken a mace and clubbed him half to death. Rodel wasn¡¯t bleeding blood but hope was leeching from every pore.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Why are you even here?¡± Rodel whispered, his voice captured against the stone.


    ¡°Though we are hardly friends, we are both officers of the Grail.¡±


    ¡°You think I need to confess my deeds?¡± Rodel snorted, his voice thick with disdain. ¡°What is it the great and mighty Deacon Undern would like me to say?¡±


    Caste moved closer to the bars, his fingers curling around one. ¡°Tell me that this venture from Fort Mavour didn¡¯t have anything to do with sabotaging Judd LaMogre¡¯s knighthood,¡± Rodel opened his mouth to protest, ¡°or of ingratiating yourself to Sir Donimede in the hopes that he would condone his eldest daughter¡¯s attachment to a cleric?¡±


    Rodel paused then Caste heard Arsch swear behind him, their words, though soft, caught by the ears of the soldiers.


    ¡°This¡­this was all because you¡¯re languishing for Willower Donimede?¡± Arsch exclaimed. ¡°You told us we were performing a service to Astaril by exposing corruption in the only successful knighthood questor! You drove us across Terra because of a woman?¡±


    ¡°I swear,¡± Chael looked out from between the bars, his teeth gritted together and eyes as dark as thunder, ¡°if I ever get out of here, I will make you pay for the lives of the soldiers killed because of your lascivious nature!¡± He struck the bars, causing them to ring out then turned his back on Rodel, yelling a wordless curse. From the expressions of the other soldiers, though Chael had been unintelligible, they all shared his sentiment.


    Caste pressed his fingers to his nose. ¡°Tell me what happened,¡± he said softly, ¡°and for the sake of the men imprisoned in these cells, leave nothing out.¡±


    Rodel swallowed and looked at his shoes that peeked out from beneath his tunic¡¯s hem. ¡°After the feast, after seeing LaMogre nearly devour Willower with his ardour, I was in a daze. That she loved him was obvious but for him to kiss her and not actually love her¡­how dare he?¡± Rodel breathed in sharply through his nose. ¡°I hoped, with his departure, that it would be the end of it and I swear, I was willing to let him go without exposing him and wounding her. However, at supper the night you left Mavour, all the guests who remained were gushing about imminent wedding plans, fabric for a gown¡­they all believed Willower and LaMogre had reached an understanding yet not one of them saw the grief in her eyes. She did not protest but she did not agree.¡± Rodel paused. ¡°How can her own kin be so unaware of the sorrow of their own child?¡±


    ¡°So you took it upon yourself to avenge Willower¡¯s broken heart.¡±


    ¡°I approached Sir Donimede after the meal and told him of my suspicions.¡± Rodel nodded. ¡°I told him, if we could catch up with your company, remove the ¡®nomad healer¡¯ from Judd¡¯s presence and show the proof of her witch nature, then LaMogre would be disgraced, his chances at knighthood destroyed and Willower would see him for what he was¡­a charlatan.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention Donimede, who was insanely jealous of Judd to the point of trying to kill him in the Arena by ¡®accidentally¡¯ raising the gate, would be very, very grateful to you.¡±


    ¡°I hoped for the gratitude,¡± Rodel admitted in a flat tone, past the point of attempting to lie, ¡°but I swear, I didn¡¯t know about Donimede trying to kill LaMogre. I just thought he didn¡¯t like him.¡±


    ¡°I suppose you were too busy mooning over Willower Donimede to notice.¡± Caste leaned on his left against the bars. ¡°You set out the day after we left?¡±


    ¡°With Captain Chael and a full regiment.¡±


    ¡°What did Deacon Alast have to say about it?¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t consulted.¡±


    Caste closed his eyes and tried to contain his groan. ¡°Then what?¡± He asked tightly.


    ¡°We rode north, taking, what we thought was, the most logical path you would have advised, going directly from Fort Mavour to Astaril.¡± Rodel shook his head. ¡°However, despite our haste, we missed you.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t go north,¡± Caste explained carefully, ¡°we headed east.¡±


    ¡°That was our conclusion when we had ridden past the southern end of the Hump without any sign of you.¡± Rodel nodded. ¡°We were out of food and had several injuries following a werewolf attack in the night as we camped. We made for Quarre to regroup and tend the wounded. While there, one of the soldiers, who had followed LaMogre¡¯s progress, recalled that he first came down the eastern side of Terra.¡±


    ¡°We wanted to go back to Fort Mavour,¡± Captain Chael said tersely, ¡°however Rodel argued that we had yet to do that which we were sent out to and ordered us east.¡±


    ¡°You outrank Rodel in a military situation. You could have ignored his order.¡± Caste pointed out then saw guilt flash on Chael¡¯s expression. ¡°Oh I see¡­it was a matter of pride for you too.¡±


    ¡°My men and I welcomed LaMogre. He inspired the soldiers and I judged him to be of good character.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­at least this isn¡¯t on all Rodel¡¯s shoulders.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Chael sneered. ¡°Ask him where the cleric took us next?¡±


    Caste turned to Rodel. ¡°Down south again and through the forest?¡±


    Rodel rubbed his hands together and sighed. ¡°No. We headed directly east from Quarre.¡±


    Caste stared at him, unable to fathom the preposterousness of his statement. ¡°You crossed the ¡®Hump¡¯? At Quarre? It¡¯s the peak of its mountain range! And infested with basilisk!¡±


    ¡°I found a map that showed a path winding through the mountains. I thought it was worth following.¡±


    ¡°Goats would have had trouble with that path!¡± Arsch snapped.


    Rodel put his head in his hands. ¡°Two out of our three horses fell to their deaths from the path and one soldier as he tried to save them. We became lost, suffered a horrific rainstorm¡­then had to leave one soldier as an endless lookout. A basilisk must have caught him during his shift. He was stone when we woke up. Then we finally escaped the mountains and headed straight to Fort Bastil where we found we had missed you by not one day!¡±


    ¡°Thus you continued northwards instead of returning to Fort Mavour¡­¡± Caste sighed, astonished at how Rodel¡¯s need for revenge had driven all sense and reason out of him.


    ¡°We stopped at Fort Bastil to recover and replenish supplies then went on to Fort Faine and requested Sir Jesa¡¯s monster cart which our remaining horse dragged to the village.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t confront us there?¡± Caste asked, looking between the cells.


    ¡°I was at the front and saw you leaving the village and that the witch, I beg your pardon, Princess Genovieve, was not with you.¡± Kipre explained. ¡°We entered the village and demanded to know where she was.¡±


    ¡°I doubt they would have just told you¡­¡± Caste said quietly, catching their expressions. ¡°What did you say or do?¡±


    Captain Chael hung his head. ¡°Threatened to beat their leader in front of his son.¡± He felt rather than saw Suvau¡¯s dangerous glare from the stairwell. ¡°We did nothing to them!¡±


    Caste closed his eyes. ¡°And then?¡± He asked, trembling even as his jaw tightened.


    ¡°We followed the path into the forest and came upon this woman as she destroyed the oak tree. She heard us and went to flee¡­and that¡¯s when Rodel hit her with pommel of his hilt. She dropped like a stone.¡±


    Caste shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s some damning narrative¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes but you can understand, we were just following Sir Donimede¡¯s orders,¡± Captain Chael insisted, ¡°and on the word of this cleric, we were right in pursuing your party.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the sum total of your argument, I¡¯d get comfortable in there.¡± Caste retorted.


    ¡°Deacon Undern,¡± Chael begged, ¡°I will bear the full responsibility for the actions of my men. I am not trying to escape judgement. But in the absence of Sir Donimede, I was in charge. Please, if there is any mercy to be had, spare my men.¡±


    Caste nodded then looked at Rodel. ¡°What of the cleric? What say you about him?¡±


    ¡°He can rot for all I care.¡± Chael¡¯s response lacked any mercy at all. ¡°To have led us on this mad chase was bad enough¡­but to find out it was because he was thinking with his groin and not his head¡­¡±


    Rodel cringed and cowered even further into the darkest corner of his cell.


    ¡°I will do what I can.¡± Caste promised then turned and left, joining Suvau at the base of the stairs. They climbed halfway before Caste paused and put his hand against the wall, shaking his head. ¡°Wasted lives¡­and not just the ones that will be executed but the potential¡­the position¡­¡± He licked his lips and breathed. ¡°But at least the location of your people remains a mystery.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Caste.¡± Suvau nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s just one answer amidst a sea of questions.¡± Caste lamented. ¡°Maybe Judd will have good fortune in trying to speak with Aalis.¡±


    ¡°Not from what I was privy to before being replaced by four armed guards.¡± Suvau admitted as they continued to climb. ¡°King Rocheveron is letting no one in to see Aalis. It might keep Rylan away from her but it keeps all those that she trusts from her as well.¡±


    Caste eyed the big man as they stepped out of the stairs and along the corridor. ¡°You noticed her terror?¡±


    ¡°I could feel how cold she became and how she trembled in my arms,¡± Suvau nodded, ¡°I also heard a father¡¯s concern when he asked me to guard her.¡± He stopped Caste. ¡°If he is so worried about her, why promise to give her back to the man that terrifies her?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s probably the biggest question.¡±

 You would trade her for a few years more on the throne?

    Judd had been given a room in the castle. Actually, everyone, including Suvau, had been invited to stay the night but, in a building as large as the castle of Astaril, everyone had their own rooms. Judd was in the most opulent, sumptuous, beautifully appointed and tastefully decorated bedchamber he had ever had the pleasure of occupying. And yet, rather than enjoy the plumpness of the mattress, the softness of the pillows or the silky soft fur of the rug before the generous hearth with the fire scented by the wood that burned brightly, Judd was pacing.


    Up and down, up and down until he feared he would give the beast that had lost its life to become a floor covering, a bald spot. He was bare foot, dressed in clothing provided by the servants, silky trousers and a white shirt that alarmed him with its sheerness yet covered him appropriately. He tapped his teeth, unable to order his thoughts and calm his mind.


    He desperately wanted someone to talk to, to find one of his companions and try to unravel the consternation of the day¡¯s events. But Judd didn¡¯t know where they were or even where he was in the castle. He had followed the servant after dinner in the dining room where Sir Rylan had kept up a steady stream of dialogue as though the tension in the room was not felt by him at all. Judd couldn¡¯t understand how he could be so obtuse when they were all dull and distracted.


    It had been a relief to escape to his bedchamber but now Judd wondered if the four walls would send him mad.


    Why hadn¡¯t Aalis told him who she was?


    Why hadn¡¯t she returned to her father?


    What happened to her in Fort Verion?


    How did she escape?


    Why was she so afraid?


    Why couldn¡¯t Judd figure anything out on his own?


    He was scraping his fingers so hard through his hair he began to think he¡¯d be fast in following the rug in its bald spot when there came a knock on his door.


    Flooded with such violent relief that he almost fell over, Judd dashed to the door and opened it. ¡°I was just debating about knocking on every door to find¡­Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°I must speak with you, LaMogre.¡± King Rocheveron slid into the room and closed the door behind himself.


    ¡°Uh¡­of course,¡± Judd turned to face him, tugging on his nightshirt, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was expecting Caste or Giordi¡­¡±


    ¡°No, no, please¡­do not trouble yourself.¡± Rocheveron put his hand on the back of one of two chairs in front of the fireplace. He had lost his kingly demeanour, upright and controlled. His hair was almost scraggly and his shoulders were bowed. If not for his robes, Judd could have passed him in the street and not paid him a second glance or recognised him. ¡°Judd LaMogre¡­I need your help.¡±


    ¡°Anything, Your Majesty.¡± Judd promised.


    King Rocheveron turned to face him, his grey eyes as troubled as a sky during a storm at sea. ¡°You have to help me save my daughter.¡±


    Judd¡¯s jaw fell open. He clamped it shut and closed his eyes. ¡°You¡­you mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rocheveron nodded, ¡°from Sir Garo Rylan.¡± He shook his head. ¡°That she should come back from the dead only to lose herself to him again¡­¡±


    ¡°If you knew he was so bad, why let her marry him?¡± Judd urged as Rocheveron sank into the chair and he took the seat opposite.


    ¡°Because I did not know,¡± Rocheveron insisted, looking ten years older than he had just the day before, ¡°I still do not know. Only suspect¡­¡± He put his shaking fingers to his mouth and Judd started to recognise how frail he was. ¡°Genovieve was an unwell child, given to hysterics and insomnia, to the point where Viene and I began to think she was not right in her mind. When she reached adolescence, there was a quietening in her mind and she began to sleep properly and regain her health. However, I never intended for her to wed. Nicolin was perfectly capable to inherit the throne and I imagined Genovieve would enjoy a retiring life in her brother¡¯s shadow. Then Sir Garo Rylan began to visit the castle, invited by Nicolin who was a good friend of the knight.¡±


    Rocheveron shivered. Judd stood and put another log into the hearth, stoking the coals. He also drew a blanket from the bed and draped it over the King¡¯s knees.


    ¡°Do you think Rylan preyed on Genovieve?¡±


    ¡°That was the strangest part,¡± Rocheveron shook his head, ¡°there was no air of particular regard or flirtation between them. I do not believe they were ever left alone. Even when Genovieve took a turn in the gardens after eating a meal quietly with the three of us and Rylan would join her in the fresh air, Nicolin made sure to keep watch over them both.¡±


    Judd sat back in his chair, leaning forward. ¡°What changed?¡±


    ¡°Rylan approached me and said he was desperately in love with Genovieve. I was so astonished I could hardly contain my surprise. He said he had already spoken to Genovieve about his affections and she had given him permission for him to ask me for her hand¡­¡±


    Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°What did Genovieve say?¡± Judd asked, still struggling to put Genovieve, raven haired princess together with Aalis, silvery dreadlocked healer. They seemed almost irreconcilable.


    ¡°She believed herself to be in love,¡± Rocheveron sighed, ¡°whatever qualms I had about the union, I kept silent. Genovieve adored Garo without reserve or reason.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you set Sir Rylan the challenge of killing a minotaur?¡±


    ¡°I thought it would be enough to give him pause to wonder if Genovieve was really the kind of woman he wanted to marry.¡± Rocheveron admitted. ¡°To be his wife would mean becoming the lady of a wall fort. It was not the position of a mousy woman and, had he failed to do as I asked, it would mean I would not have to hurt my daughter with a refusal.¡±


    Judd groaned, pushing his hands through his hair. ¡°Then Rylan brought back three minotaur heads and you couldn¡¯t deny him.¡±


    ¡°If I had any serious doubts about Rylan, I would have said so,¡± Rocheveron insisted, ¡°but even Nicolin said, though the proposal was unexpected, that Rylan was the best man he knew. My only doubts were about Genovieve¡¯s ability to be the wife of a knight. They married, spending the wedding week in this very castle with Genovieve appearing bright eyed and joyous every morning. Then they travelled to Fort Verion.¡±


    Judd gazed at the King, unwilling to ask anymore but knowing that he had to hear it. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nicolin decided to tour the forts, travelling down the eastern side of Terra then along the wall. He was looking forward to seeing his sister for, as different as they were even as twins, they had been very close. He stayed in Verion for three nights then, forsaking the rest of his tour, returned immediately to Astaril with a disturbing report of Genovieve¡¯s wellbeing.¡± Judd could tell that neither of them wanted to continue the conversation. ¡°Nicolin voiced concerns that Genovieve was¡­bruised where clothing and powder could not conceal the discolouration. He said that she was not much more than skin and bones and was frequently in need of rest.¡±


    The arms on Judd¡¯s chair were starting to feel the pressure of his clenching fingers. ¡°Did Nicolin ask Genovieve about it?¡±


    ¡°He said she claimed she was well and happy but Nicolin swore it was a lie. He even questioned Rylan about Genovieve¡¯s exhaustion. Rylan said they had been trying to conceive and that Genovieve might already be with child.¡± Rocheveron¡¯s voice was hollow, like the timbre of a winter breeze through fragile autumn leaves.


    ¡°Nicolin didn¡¯t believe that either, did he?¡±


    ¡°No. He returned to Astaril incensed, demanding I let him return to Fort Verion with a legion of troops to remove Genovieve, forcibly if necessary. He raged about his sister¡¯s condition and condemned Garo Rylan with the protectiveness, not just of a brother but of a twin.¡±


    Judd was starting to guess the rest of the story but urged the King to continue. ¡°How did you respond?¡±


    Rocheveron closed his eyes. ¡°I confess¡­I wondered if Nicolin had suddenly taken leave of his senses. He was the one who had assured me of Rylan¡¯s good intentions and character yet three months later, he was damning the man as a brute, a malicious abuser of his wife. I could not conceive it¡­and I reacted poorly.¡±


    ¡°You argued in Rylan¡¯s favour?¡±


    ¡°Full of pride and refusing to listen.¡± Rocheveron shuddered. ¡°Nicolin and I had never fought like this before. I finally said we would discuss it in the morning, hoping one of us, if not both, would have come to our senses¡­that was the last thing I said to him.¡±


    ¡°He died that night?¡± Tears trickled out of the King¡¯s eyes as he nodded. Judd wished he could have comforted the elderly man but he was battling an alarming revelation. ¡°Nicolin came from Fort Verion directly?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Is it possible Rylan poisoned him?¡±


    ¡°If he did, it was a poison unknown to the Order. None of them could have killed without prior effects or without evidence and there was no sign of trauma except for a tiny drop of blood in his ear that that physician said could have been the result of a tumour¡­or stroke. I¡­I blamed myself. That I had somehow¡­¡± Rocheveron hunched over, sobbing into his hands. Judd forgot he was a King and knelt before him, his hands on the older man¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Nicolin was healthy and strong. A single fight would not have done this to him.¡± Judd said firmly, letting him release his grief. When his sobs softened Judd sat back a little, gazing at his grey crown of hair. ¡°I know what happened next. Rylan sent word of Genovieve¡¯s death, the Order covered it up then, five years later, she is dragged before you as a witch.¡±


    ¡°Without a word of explanation.¡± Rocheveron croaked. Judd stood and poured him a glass of liquor. The King tipped it down his throat, the heady liquid sinking deep into his chest.


    ¡°What about Rylan? What has she said about him?¡± Judd asked as he stood over the King.


    ¡°She refuses to say anything about him or what she endured.¡±


    Judd stared at him. ¡°If you know or even think she¡¯s in danger, don¡¯t give her back to Rylan!¡± He could hardly believe he was berating the King of Astaril.


    ¡°And if I don¡¯t, Rylan will muster all the might of the wall forts and declare war!¡±


    Judd paused. ¡°You really think he¡¯d do that?¡±


    ¡°Nicolin was sure Rylan would not give Genovieve up without a fight or else he would have brought her home with him.¡± Rocheveron put the glass down, watching the flames dance across the crystal surface. ¡°I am not sure that Astaril¡¯s soldiers, even if we could convince the northern forts to stand with us, would be enough to stop him.¡±


    Judd sat on the edge of the chair and made sure to catch the King¡¯s eye. ¡°Is temporary peace really worth your daughter¡¯s life? You would trade her for a few years more on the throne?¡±


    ¡°You do not understand,¡± Rocheveron exclaimed, standing and pacing, ¡°Genovieve will not say a word against Rylan! She is resigned to return to him! It is she who knows the truth about what happened five years ago but until she speaks¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t wait until your daughter asks for help!¡± Judd roared, forgetting his place, his manners and any ambition he had of knighthood. ¡°If you know her life is in danger, you defend her! You couldn¡¯t when she was a child, when the nightmares tormented her but the nightmare has become real. It is alive and ready to possess her again. You have to make a choice!¡±


    ¡°And condemn many lives in the process.¡± Rocheveron argued. ¡°She will not let it happen!¡± He paused and stepped closer to Judd. ¡°But¡­if word circulated of his actions, of what happened to her while she was in his care, support for Rylan might waver. If Genovieve could confirm it¡­¡±


    ¡°The knights of the southern forts might think twice about supporting a brute who they hold up as a paragon of virtue.¡± Judd nodded. ¡°You need to convince her.¡±


    ¡°No, you need to convince her.¡± Rocheveron clapped his hands on Judd¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You who have protected her in the past, she will trust! I failed her as a father and as a king but you have not failed her as a the man she loves.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Judd lowered his head, ¡°whatever else you might believe, Aalis and I¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you love her?¡±


    He gave a sad laugh. ¡°Probably since the first day we met.¡±


    ¡°Then, please, give her love to hope for. It might be the only thing that could save her life.¡±

 Screw the rest of Terra, I am going to protect you

    Judd had once read a story about a princess locked in a tower, waiting for her prince to come rescue her. The prince had heard about the princess from a far away country and had journeyed across the sea, battling sea monsters and crossing unfamiliar land, defeating brigands and bandits to arrive at the base of the tower. Ultimately, the romantic value of the story had been captured in the single scene at the end when the prince had rescued the princess who had fallen in love at first sight though she didn¡¯t even know his name. Judd had imagined himself in the role many times. Of course, in his head, he had been a knight, not a prince but had done much the same as the prince in the story had, reaching the tower and climbing it despite being clad in all his armour and often being much taller and more handsome than he felt he was in real life.


    As he climbed the narrow stairs to the top of the castle¡¯s centremost point, he recalled the story once more. The prince had gone most of the story without his princess. Judd¡¯s princess had been by his side almost the whole time. The prince had climbed the tower¡¯s exterior while Judd had a perfectly usable staircase to ascend and the prince had been dressed in his finest, most royal, garments while Judd was bare foot, in dark grey silk trousers and a white nightshirt.


    Aalis was in the room she had slept in as a child. It was the highest point of the castle proper, a pretty dome like a crown to all those who were outside, looking up. However, as Judd climbed into the round space, he discovered that it was not just an adornment, but a bedroom. There was a grand bed suspended from high arches of the ceiling, white and gold ropes forming a sling to hold the bed up off the floor. The ropes also made a rectangle above the bed, allowing for sheer white drapes to softly hang over the bed and sweep across the marble floor, like a woman lying on the edge of a riverbank might trail her fingers across the surface of the water.


    Directly above the bed, in what would have to be the absolute middle of the castle, was a skylight in the shape of a star, its rays separate panels of glass, all of them cut from glass that was lightly frosted around the outer edges and clear in the middle. There were windows around the outside of the circular room, each one designed to curve, forming the dome with the arches. The windows were also frosted in the same way, allowing starlight to glimmer softly and the moon¡¯s brittle glow to cast shifting shadows from the clouds in the sky across the floor.


    Judd came to the top of the stairs, ascending through the floor, facing the end of the bed. For a moment, he couldn¡¯t see Aalis. She sat on the side of the bed, facing away from him, her silvery dreadlocks loose down her back and dressed in layers of the palest lavender, grey and white. Her feet did not reach the floor and she was as still as a statue.


    Judd licked his lips, wishing he knew what to say. ¡°I know now, what you meant¡­about the importance of the vow you made,¡± he said as softly as he could, feeling like he would shatter the world by breaking the silence, ¡°you weren¡¯t talking about my promise to you. You meant your vow¡­to Garo Rylan, to be faithful as his wife.¡±


    He edged around the corner of the bed, Aalis staring forwards without speaking.


    ¡°Aalis¡­Genovieve,¡± he paused, unable to work out what to call her and saw her throat shift as she swallowed, as though both names pained her, ¡°you couldn¡¯t tell me then. Would you tell me now?¡±


    He stood in front of her, her lavender eyes blinking slowly. The bruises on her body were already fading and her lip was almost healed yet she seemed frighteningly close to death, so strong was the air of despair around her.


    ¡°There is not much to tell.¡± She said softly. ¡°This room¡­this was my childhood.¡± She gestured to the space without looking at it. ¡°Separated from everyone as I could hear everything they said and thought, even into the night, sometimes so loud it was as though they were in the room with me. The suspended bed brought some relief and sometimes, in those precious times when most of the castle slept, I would lie on the bed, looking up at the stars¡­and hear music.¡±


    Judd¡¯s skin prickled in awe.


    Aalis licked her lips. ¡°I gave little thought to love. My greatest concern was if I would be able to sleep more than a few hours. Then I met Garo. He was kind, polite and handsome and a great friend of Nicolin. I was shy and enamoured but never gave weight to my whimsical wonderings. Often I would go into the royal gardens. Walking bare foot on the grass and being amidst nature seemed to filter the chaos, like a refreshing bath. Rylan and Nicolin would accompany me after supper. They would talk, I would wander and we would go inside. One day, Nicolin was summoned in to address a matter. Garo promised to see me inside safely. As I paused in the vestibule to put my shoes on, Garo caught me around my waist and set me on a ledge, offering to do so. When he slid the second shoe onto my stockinged foot,¡± Aalis shivered, ¡°his hand caressed my ankle and calf¡­sliding up my leg as he stood up. The next I knew, he was kissing me passionately and I was lost in his embrace. A moment later he recoiled and dropped to one knee, apologising for his actions. He said he was desperately in love with me,¡± Aalis gave a small, sad laugh, ¡°me¡­the raven haired spectre of castle Astaril. He asked if he could petition my father for my hand. My heart leapt in joy and I agreed without hesitation.¡±


    She stopped speaking. Judd was tempted to urge her to continue but didn¡¯t want to unsettle her.


    ¡°The night we were married, I waited for him in our chambers here in this very castle. I was nervous about my role as a wife in the bedchamber yet, I confess, I was eager too. When Garo came in, he knelt before me and said he could not make love to me in the home of my father. He said it grated against his sensibilities and begged that I would not think less of him to wait until we were in Fort Verion.¡± Aalis closed her eyes. ¡°His eloquent plea only increased my love. We stayed a week in the castle then took almost the same again to travel south. I was in a covered carriage as we entered the main thoroughfare and into the fort itself. Garo was protective of me, attending my needs himself and refusing servants. I was too bewildered to pay any much attention, never having left Astaril before.


    He opened the door to his bedchamber, richly furnished, deep colours, dark woods¡­so different to my own cold existence. I turned to him, thinking this was the time I would fulfill the most important role as a wife¡­that was when he struck me.¡±


    Judd bristled but contained it. Aalis continued, her tone void of emotion.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°I¡­was so shocked I think I was still smiling even as my skin stung from the blow and I looked at him again when he slapped me so hard I dropped to the ground and he kicked my chest, winding me. Several more blows later he stood over me and said, now you will never forget your place.¡±


    ¡°Aalis¡­¡±


    ¡°There was rarely a day that went by that he did not hurt me. I felt as though I was being punished, as though I was something he despised but I could not fathom it.¡± Her statuesque fa?ade cracked slightly as her brows furrowed. ¡°Had I failed him? Hurt him?¡±


    ¡°You must know, Aalis, it was he who failed you!¡± Judd insisted.


    Aalis blinked, tears trickling down her frosted cheeks. ¡°I was not permitted to leave the bedchamber for a month and only given scraps to eat. Then Garo would have me dress as a servant to pour wine at his feasting table when he dined with other knights.¡±


    ¡°No one recognised you?¡±


    ¡°I was a faceless servant.¡±


    Judd groaned. ¡°I cannot believe no one asked where you were!¡±


    ¡°When the knights inquired, Rylan would give some¡­tasteless explanation,¡± Aalis trembled, ¡°that I was too sore from Rylan¡¯s appendage to walk or that I was sleeping off a night of intimate escapades¡­¡± She closed her eyes, shame pouring out of her. ¡°Apart from our first kiss and a light press on our wedding day, he never touched me intimately yet the way he extoled our imaginary exploits in the bedchamber¡­I felt such shame¡­¡±


    Judd turned away and pressed his fists to the edge of one of the arched windowsills, lowering his head, his shoulders quaking in fury.


    ¡°What about when Nicolin visited?¡± He asked through heaving breaths.


    ¡°Garo warned me if I let on, even for a moment, that I was not happy¡­he would kill Nicolin.¡± Aalis shook with the same fear as she¡¯d felt then. ¡°I tried so hard to convince him. My beloved brother¡­he was not fooled at all. I could see it in his eyes. I was so happy when he left, thinking that he had escaped Garo¡¯s reach¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you received word of his death.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ jaw hardened. ¡°It seems as though you are the only heir to the throne now. You should have pleased me better. That is what Garo said to me as I read the letter. He poured two goblets of wine and made a mocking toast to the dear departed prince and left me kneeling on the floor.¡± She looked at her hands. ¡°I was shaking harder than I am now, the endless stretch of a tortuous existence before me, married to the man who murdered my brother and who would, because of my heritage, take the throne one day¡­then something¡­happened.¡±


    Judd turned to her. ¡°What happened, Aalis?¡±


    ¡°I am not sure, I was not sensible of it at the time but it has happened since,¡± Aalis admitted, ¡°I felt a blow or perhaps a push¡­like there was a great gale in the room and suddenly the door was opened and it rushed out¡­I was so upset I could not tell anything was wrong. I escaped the bedchamber and made it to the top of the wall. No one had stopped me. I had seen no one. I looked down at the rocks far below and poured the wine from my goblet before dropping it. It descended rapidly for a split second then¡­stopped.¡±


    ¡°Stopped?¡± Judd paused. ¡°On the ground?¡±


    ¡°It stopped in the air, on its way to the ground yet frozen¡­as if it were no more than a painting.¡± Aalis shook her head. ¡°I was so frightened by it, by the thought that I would end up the same way, forever falling, that I hastened inside and found everyone in the fort was struck down. Some were standing, some were sitting¡­but they were all still¡­no breath, no pulse¡­not a single blink.¡± She looked at her fingers, weaving them together and resting them in her lap. ¡°I know now that I have a unique ability to stop time, protecting myself in a bubble.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how you stopped the hydra.¡± Judd breathed.


    ¡°Only part of it. That was why it screamed and convulsed, because part of it was out of rhythm with the rest of it.¡± Aalis swallowed. ¡°It happened in the Arena, when you were going to be killed¡­and with the ogre, the first monster you slayed. I stopped it for as long as I had¡­this unknowable power pouring out of me¡­but in Fort Verion, I thought I had killed every last person, their bodies seized and frozen, mad statues of themselves.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you asked if Rylan was dead¡­you were sure you had killed him.¡±


    ¡°And I ran,¡± Aalis nodded, ¡°I escaped the fort, ran into the wilds¡­I was mad with terror and my body was raging out of control¡­then I collapsed. I should have died but Dragoslava, the woman who was tainted by the waters of Maul, saved me. For days I was in a delirium. She thought I would not survive. When I woke, I was exceedingly weak and my hair was stripped of all colour. I travelled north with Dragoslava and hid in her forest, learning how to be a healer¡­and never told anyone who I was for I was too ashamed of myself and what had happened to me¡­and of what I was and what I could do¡­¡±


    Judd was reeling with all he¡¯d heard but he forced himself forwards and sat on the end of the bed. ¡°Aalis, the people of Terra need to know what kind of man Garo Rylan really is.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°He needs his reputation to be destroyed.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°His conduct must be made known!¡±


    ¡°To what end?¡± Aalis demanded.


    Judd twisted and stared at her, astonished. ¡°To keep you from him!¡±


    ¡°Judd, Rylan will declare war on Astaril and kill my father, not to mention all the soldiers and citizens that stand against him if he does not have his way!¡±


    ¡°Sounds like he¡¯s after the throne anyway,¡± Judd argued, ¡°at least this way, he won¡¯t be given it. He¡¯ll have to take it.¡±


    ¡°I cannot allow my people to go to war over me!¡±


    ¡°And I cannot allow you to return to that bastard!¡±


    They stared at each other, each more worried about the other than themselves.


    ¡°Judd¡­Rylan is ruthless. He killed Nicolin¡­¡± Aalis sobbed.


    ¡°All the more reason that such a man cannot be king.¡± Judd insisted.


    ¡°It is my word against his.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if it was all of Astaril¡¯s word against yours,¡± Judd scooped her fingers into his grasp and kissed the tops of them, ¡°I believe you.¡±


    Aalis¡¯ expression crumpled like parchment. ¡°But I lied to you¡­every day¡­¡±


    ¡°Aalis, this is very simple,¡± Judd forced her chin up, ¡°do you want to go back to Garo Rylan? Not Genovieve out of deceived, na?ve love and not the princess protecting her people. Do you, Aalis, want to return to being his wife?¡± Her lips trembled and she shook her head. ¡°Then¡­I¡¯ll challenge Garo Rylan to a duel.¡± Judd stood up and Aalis gasped, following him. ¡°I¡¯ll fight him for the right to be your husband.¡±


    ¡°Judd!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t even give him the chance to rally his treacherous forces.¡± Judd turned towards her. ¡°With your testimony of Rylan¡¯s cruelty, the challenge to a duel will be supported. He won¡¯t be able to turn me down. In fact, I¡¯ll go to him right now and challenge him!¡±


    ¡°He will kill you! Garo Rylan is a dangerous and experienced warrior!¡±


    Judd smiled so serenely that Aalis was stunned. ¡°I¡¯m no slouch myself. Aalis, I won¡¯t allow myself to fail. I can¡¯t. Not when you are what is at stake. Screw the rest of Terra,¡± he knelt before her, his hand over his heart, ¡°I am going to protect you.¡±


    Aalis trembled as Judd stood and turned to leave.


    ¡°Judd¡­¡± Her gown lightly quivered with the force of the emotion pulsing through her body. ¡°Would you carry my favour into battle?¡±


    Judd smiled and stepped back towards her. ¡°A handkerchief?¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Aalis licked her lips, ¡°the original meaning of the word favour, was a kiss.¡±


    Judd blinked. ¡°Uh¡­kiss?¡±


    ¡°Bestowed upon the knight whom the lady favoured.¡±


    Judd cleared his throat and took a step towards her. ¡°I¡­I thought¡­ahem¡­what about the vow?¡±


    Aalis bit her bottom lip. ¡°I just¡­wanted to know what love, true love, felt like.¡±


    Judd let out a small laugh, nervous and excited, his heart fluttering wildly. He slid his left hand around her waist, settling into the small of her back as he drew her forward, closing the gap between them, pressing his lips against hers in a long, tender ¡®favour¡¯.


    Judd drew back, trembling, his eyes closed. ¡°I¡­I hope¡­¡±

 Caste being nice. It’s kind of…unnerving

    He didn¡¯t get to finish the sentence for Aalis wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him without reserve. She was so slight he wasn¡¯t pushed backwards but he was stunned for a moment, a brief giddy moment before he returned with equal voracity. His nightshirt was opaque but thin and he could feel her hands grasping at him, his own hands circling her waist until there no room for a single sheet of parchment between them. Her soft moans and sighs nearly drove Judd mad and he felt her lift one leg, hooking it over his hip. His hands lifted her up entirely, her legs locking around his waist as he carried her three steps to the bed, her body sinking into the plush depths of mattress and sumptuous linen as he leaned over her, their amour rising at an alarming rate.


    Then he threw himself backwards, chest heaving and shirt, irreparably creased, hair dishevelled as he put distance between himself and Aalis who sat up, far too close and desirable.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he wheezed, ¡°steal you from him or take what is not mine.¡± He held his hand out as she opened her mouth to protest. ¡°I won¡¯t make love to you like a thief. When we do, it will be without question, without doubt¡­without grievance.¡± He caught her gaze and had to look away, her lavender eyes too much for his heightened state not to respond to. He turned and put his hand on the rail that led down the stairs.


    ¡°Judd, promise me,¡± Aalis begged, ¡°do not go to Garo tonight. Please¡­wait.¡±


    Judd licked his lips and nodded. ¡°I promise.¡± He rasped and fled down the stairs, leaving Aalis brushing her fingertips over her lips, tears trickling down her cheeks.


    Judd almost burst out of the door at the bottom of the stairs and closed it behind him, leaning against it.


    ¡°So¡­how¡¯d it go?¡± Giordi¡¯s voice taunted lightly.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s pretty obvious how it went, don¡¯t you?¡± Verne replied.


    Judd glared at them. In order to get past the isolation restriction of the Rite of Purification, Rocheveron had anticipated Judd visiting Aalis and had provided uniforms for Giordi and Verne so they could act as the guards stationed by the door.


    ¡°Well¡­what did she say?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure she said anything.¡± Giordi insinuated.


    ¡°I¡¯m riled up and your pretty nose makes a tempting target.¡± Judd snapped, the rush of passion receding too slowly for his liking and he flapped his nightshirt, trying to cool down.


    ¡°Duly noted.¡± Giordi said, taking a step back.


    ¡°Well?¡± Verne demanded.


    ¡°Aalis told me what happened, about what Garo did to her.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°It¡¯s an ugly story and I don¡¯t intend to let him get away with it.¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°I am going to challenge him to a duel.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to fight Sir Rylan?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Judd caught their expressions. ¡°You don¡¯t think I can beat him?¡±


    ¡°I think¡­I think if love always won, then this world would be a nicer place.¡± Giordi admitted, shifting uncomfortably in the royal guard livery. ¡°But if there was ever going to be a man who could beat Garo Rylan, it would be Judd LaMogre.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­hold up,¡± Verne glanced between them, ¡°you can¡¯t challenge a knight unless you are a knight. And you¡¯re not a knight.¡±


    ¡°I doubt Rylan will knight me just so I can challenge him to a duel but thankfully, King Rocheveron can knight me with a letter opener for all I care.¡± Judd looked around. ¡°Where is His Majesty?¡±


    ¡°He retired to his chambers.¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t have the fortitude to wait?¡± Judd¡¯s tone was a little scathing.


    Verne eyed him sharply. ¡°He¡¯s old and frail.¡±


    ¡°And didn¡¯t fancy pacing the cold corridor for hours,¡± Giordi cleared his throat, ¡°I don¡¯t think he expected you to come down until morning.¡±


    Judd rolled his eyes. ¡°Am I that obvious?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Verne and Giordi said together.


    ¡°Well¡­nothing happened.¡± Judd paused. ¡°I am concerned about King Rocheveron¡¯s safety. It seems as if Garo managed to kill Nicolin even though they were at opposite ends of Terra.¡±


    ¡°Which is why Caste insisted King Rocheveron sleep in a different room without informing anyone.¡±


    Judd breathed out, relieved. ¡°He¡¯s annoying¡­but he¡¯s brilliant.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s part of what¡¯s annoying about him.¡± Giordi slapped Judd on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll keep watch until we¡¯re relieved. Aalis is safe up there and Rocheveron¡¯s safe as well.¡±


    ¡°Make sure to bolt your door shut and close the windows.¡± Verne ordered.


    ¡°Yes¡¯m.¡± Judd nodded and descended through the castle to where his room was waiting for him. The fire had died down a little but it was still warm and the light was dim but hardly so dark he couldn¡¯t see. Judd closed and bolted his door, closed and latched the window then checked under the bed and in every crevice and corner of the room until he was satisfied that the room was empty except for himself.


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    The bed was like a giant warm hug. Judd knew he ought to be worried about duelling Sir Rylan and about what else tomorrow might bring but all of it was dull noise and blurred colour compared to the memory of Aalis¡¯ kiss. He licked his lips, his mind drifting over all of it, the silkiness of her gown, the softness of her lips and the way he knew, without any room for doubt, that she was meant for him.


    Not unsurprisingly he drifted into sleep filled with dreams as warm as the embrace of the woman he loved. He rolled onto his side, rising slightly through the light layers of slumber, feeling something touch his neck. He slapped at it, imagining that it was a moth or other nocturnal bug that had the audacity to think it was worthy of a room in the castle of Astaril. A second later, though he was sure he¡¯d sent the bug flying, he felt something in his ear and despite grabbing for it, his fingers came away with nothing.


    Judd, jolted from sleep, didn¡¯t have time to imagine the worst when searing pain stabbed through his body, paralysing him in a silent scream of horror as his brain felt like it was turning to mush.


    A parade of servants entered the dining room and laid an array of breakfast dishes on the table that had the four guests pressing their lips together to stop the saliva from dripping. There was porridge with a side of fresh milk with an inch of cream sitting on the top and a pot of honey and another jar of brown sugar. There was bread, toasted and butter on a tray, a curl already to be scooped from its surface. There was stewed fruit in what smelt like an alcoholic brew and a platter of cooked bacon, three different types of cheeses and warm, watered down wine to accompany it.


    ¡°Should we wait?¡± Verne whispered to Giordi.


    ¡°I get why you would think I¡¯d know when no one else would,¡± Giordi whispered back, ¡°but as it happens, I¡¯ve never eaten at the table of a king before.¡±


    None of them had ever been in a dining room so bright and airy before, either. There were windows along one side of the hall, overlooking the royal gardens, Italea Bay gleaming in the soft morning light in the background. The ceiling was painted with murals of angelic beings, adorned with wreaths of green with white flowers in delicate star shapes, playing with banners of peach silk across a softly clouded sky. The table was able to seat at least twenty and for the amount of food, it looked like the servants thought that¡¯s how many they would be feeding though there were just for four of them in the room at the time. The chairs were straight backed and very high with peach velvet seats and backrests in the white wood with gold detail.


    ¡°Ahem,¡± they looked up at the head servant, ¡°King Rocheveron has told me to relay that you will be breaking no custom or manner in beginning to eat while the food is hot.¡± He announced.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± Giordi crowed and stood up and started to serve himself. ¡°Suvau, sit and try some of this fresh milk and cream.¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± the head servant cleared his throat, ¡°perhaps your¡­Maul¡­would be more comfortable eating somewhere else? The kitchen, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°With the servants, you mean?¡± Verne asked with a sharply raised eyebrow.


    ¡°I do not wish to cause trouble.¡± Suvau insisted.


    ¡°Suvau is one of Judd LaMogre¡¯s companions,¡± Caste¡¯s tone was hard and unyielding, ¡°as such, he is to be afforded the same courtesy as any Terra.¡±


    The head servant barely batted an eyelid, bowing. ¡°Yes, Deacon Undern.¡± He even went so far as to pull the chair out next to Caste after laying a place setting for Suvau.


    ¡°Sit, Suvau.¡± Caste ordered and Suvau did so.


    ¡°I¡¯d never believed it if I hadn¡¯t seen it.¡± Giordi chuckled.


    ¡°I have been known to sit before.¡± Suvau replied dryly.


    ¡°Not that. Caste being nice. It¡¯s kind of¡­unnerving.¡±


    ¡°Do not fear, Gavoli,¡± Caste eyed the porridge with suspicion, choosing to eat a piece of fragrant spiced toasted bread smothered in butter instead, ¡°I promise never to unnerve you with niceness.¡±


    ¡°I think you just did.¡± Verne cleared his throat and looked around, seeing that they were alone. He leaned forward. ¡°Where¡¯s Judd?¡±


    ¡°Probably sleeping in after speaking with Aalis.¡±


    ¡°Giordi!¡±


    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t do those inverted comma things. I wasn¡¯t suggesting anything.¡±


    ¡°You were last night.¡±


    ¡°You were first.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re like a pair of bickering girls¡­¡± Caste rolled his eyes. ¡°Verne, pass the mulled wine.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Verne did so, sitting back on the chair. ¡°Maybe one of us should rouse him.¡±


    ¡°If he is going to challenge Sir Rylan as you said he plans to, he will need all the rest he can get.¡± Suvau filled a bowl halfway with porridge then filled the rest with stewed fruit, the milk and a generous drizzle of honey. Caste eyed it with disgust, eating his crunchy spiced toast.


    ¡°Just so long as he gets here before Rylan does.¡± Verne muttered.


    ¡°Why are you so concerned?¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you more so?¡± Verne turned on Giordi. ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to look a little awkward when Judd asks King Rocheveron for a knighthood in front of the man he plans to duel?¡±


    ¡°First of all, breathe,¡± Giordi snatched the bowl of brown sugar from Verne and scattered it on his porridge, ¡°second, isn¡¯t it possible that Judd has already thought of that and gone directly to King Rocheveron before coming to breakfast?¡±


    Verne frowned. ¡°Oh¡­I had not thought of that.¡± He sighed and rubbed his eyes. ¡°Maybe I should have slept in later¡­¡±


    ¡°Thankfully we didn¡¯t have a very long shift posing as guards.¡± Giordi dug into his porridge.


    Suvau was already halfway through his large bowlful of breakfast, able to eat twice as much as any of them with a single mouthful. He licked his lips and glanced around at them.


    ¡°Do we have any clue as to what was disclosed last night?¡± He asked gingerly.


    The two who had pretended to be guards shook their heads. ¡°None,¡± Verne shrugged, ¡°Judd only said it was an ugly story. Personally I think it would be harder for Aalis the more who know the details of it.¡±


    ¡°Secrets are harder to keep the more who know them.¡± Suvau said with a raised eyebrow and Verne gave him a dirty look.


    The doors to the dining hall opened and the head servant appeared. ¡°Please stand for King Rocheveron.¡±


    They scrambled to do so and watched as the King entered, perhaps not as rested as he ought to look though none would point that out. There was light pink beneath his eyes as if the shadows of tiredness were just waiting to blacken and his skin was pale.


    ¡°Good morning, honoured guests.¡± He greeted, moving in front of the chair at the end of the table and sitting, not once looking to see if the servant would pull it out or push it in at the right time. ¡°Please, sit down.¡±


    They did so, waiting for the flurry of servants to come forth and serve the King his breakfast for him. When his plate was laden and his cup full, he dismissed the servants and looked around.


    ¡°How did you fare last night?¡± He asked Verne and Giordi.


    The archer and minstrel exchanged a glance. ¡°Uh¡­we slept very well, thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Giordi replied.


    ¡°I am pleased to fear that,¡± Rocheveron leaned forward, ¡°but how did your nightly vigil fare? Is there any news?¡±


    They all stalled, feeling a little alarmed.


    ¡°You have not spoken to Judd LaMogre this morning?¡± Caste inquired.


    ¡°I have seen no one.¡± King Rocheveron¡¯s brows became oblique and concern entered his eyes. ¡°I thought he would be here.¡±


    ¡°We have not seen Judd this morning.¡± Giordi tapped his teeth together.


    ¡°I see,¡± the King nodded, his utensils held limply in his hands, ¡°perhaps he has overslept¡­¡±


    Verne rolled his eyes and stood up, tossing down his napkin. ¡°Forgive me, but I am going to check now.¡±


    ¡°No arguments here.¡± Giordi conceded as Verne went to go to the door but didn¡¯t make three steps before it swung open and he froze.

 Kill me or imprison me…and the result is the same

    Sir Garo Rylan strode into the room, like a wholesome heaping of autumn handsomeness. He looked around with his amber eyes, bowing to King Rocheveron.


    ¡°King Rocheveron, please excuse my tardy arrival for breakfast. I fear your beds are far too comfortable. I have overslept.¡± He chuckled and looked around the room. ¡°I see I am not the only one. Judd LaMogre is not here either. I hope he has not become lost.¡±


    ¡°Will you not sit down?¡± King Rocheveron asked, gesturing to the chair on his left. Garo Rylan nodded and moved around the table to sit. Verne looked at Rylan who was serving himself breakfast with carefree gusto and speaking lightly with the King. He glanced at the other three who didn¡¯t know what to say or do. Verne gritted his teeth and returned to his chair, glaring at his breakfast as if it was what had thwarted him.


    ¡°Has there been any word on Genovieve¡¯s wellbeing?¡± Garo asked with such sincerity, the other diners would not have doubted his concern for his restored bride had they not borne witness to Aalis¡¯ terror or given a hint that he was not the man he claimed to be.


    ¡°Genovieve will be tended by a single maid who will accompany the royal physician to examine her this morning.¡± Rocheveron explained. ¡°His initial assessment was, despite several bruises and a lack of nourishment, probably owing to her transport from where she was captured to Astaril, she was in excellent health.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, those who captured her.¡± Garo picked up a piece of bacon. ¡°I would very much like to have a say in their punishment for what they put her through.¡±


    Caste¡¯s green eyes were flinty. ¡°Even though they didn¡¯t know who she was? Or that her capture actually restored her to her father and husband?¡±


    ¡°Duly noted, Deacon Undern,¡± Garo nodded, ¡°restoring my wife to me, though they were ignorant of her true identity, will keep them from execution¡­but to have abused her so cruelly¡­I will not stand for that.¡±


    There was a loud clatter as Giordi dropped the jug of cream on the rim of his plate. Though unfortunate, it covered up Suvau cracking his knuckles. Caste glared at both of them, shaking his head slightly, seeing they were about three seconds away from trying to kill Garo Rylan themselves. Despite the thick air of animosity at the table, Garo was cheerful and pleasant as though he could not sense their ire.


    ¡°It is my understanding LaMogre spent time with the captain and his men in Fort Mavour,¡± Rylan said as he enjoyed his breakfast, ¡°I should like to confer with him on the level of penalty to be exacted. He must be a deep sleeper.¡± He glanced at the clock set in a lopsided four pointed star arrangement as if time was at the centre of all things. ¡°Perhaps a servant should be sent to rouse him?¡±


    ¡°I believe that would be wise.¡± King Rocheveron nodded to the head servant who bowed and left the room.


    Caste, Verne, Giordi and Suvau all found it difficult to continue to eat. They did their best to look as though they were at ease, pushing the food around their plates, wondering just how and when Judd would challenge Rylan who kept up a steady flow of conversation, unaware or uncaring of their tension.


    Then footsteps echoed hurriedly towards the dining room. Everyone stopped what they were doing to turn to the door. Everyone except Rylan who was enjoying his second helping of spiced bread. The steps approached the door then paused as if collecting themselves. Giordi wanted to roll his eyes at the delay and Verne was hard pressed not to grind his teeth. Suvau breathed in and out deeply and Caste yanked his hands out of his mouth, stopping himself from tearing at his nails.


    The door opened and Judd walked in, tucking his shirt into his trousers.


    ¡°King Rocheveron, I apologise for my slumber,¡± he bowed, ¡°I slept like the dead.¡±


    ¡°I only wish I looked as well rested as yourself.¡± Rocheveron said with a light tone and waved Judd to the place on his right. ¡°Will you not sit and enjoy some breakfast? I believe Sir Rylan would like to speak with you.¡±


    ¡°I would very much like to do the same.¡± Judd said with only a light twitch in his jaw betraying the depth of his anger in the presence of Garo Rylan. He didn¡¯t seem to be in a rush to confront the knight, sitting on the King¡¯s right and admiring the breakfast feast. ¡°It all looks delicious.¡±


    ¡°Please, eat your fill.¡±


    Giordi felt Verne kick his ankle. He glanced at the archer whose bright blue eyes flicked towards Rylan. Giordi had been so relieved to see Judd, he hadn¡¯t thought to look back at the knight but as he did so, he caught sight of unguarded emotion on the older man¡¯s face. It was surprise and rage in one fiery blend, the corners of his mouth turned down as though Judd¡¯s presence was an affront. Giordi glanced at Suvau and Caste and saw that they had picked up on Rylan¡¯s animosity and exchanged worried glances.


    ¡°What is it you wished to speak to me about, LaMogre?¡± Rylan asked tightly, struggling to recapture his mask of goodness and control.


    ¡°Oh I think we can enjoy some breakfast before we plunge into business,¡± Judd said almost gaily, like a sparrow taunting a cat, ¡°but first, King Rocheveron,¡± he turned to the grey haired majesty, ¡°could we please ask Princess Genovieve to join us?¡±


    Rocheveron was understandably surprised yet nodded even as he signalled for a servant to do as he was asked and Garo Rylan frowned.


    ¡°Forgive me but, is not the ¡®Rite of Purification¡¯ achieved on the condition of isolation?¡±


    ¡°I hope the Order will concede to a slight variation in conditions?¡± Judd looked pointedly at Caste who nodded.


    ¡°As long as the princess does not interact directly or without chaperone with Judd LaMogre.¡± Caste said as strongly as he could.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Then, I would also like to make a stipulation,¡± Rylan said in a darkened tone, ¡°that you will address Genovieve by her title of ¡®Lady¡¯ for once she married me, she became Lady Genovieve as she is my wife.¡±


    ¡°I will attempt to do so,¡± Judd promised as though Rylan was not glaring daggers at him, ¡°however, I beg your prior forgiveness if, by a slip of the tongue, I call her Aalis, for that is how I knew her.¡±


    Suvau swallowed, hearing Judd¡¯s emphasis on the word ¡®knew¡¯. It was as though he had put his fingers in the air and gestured in front of Rylan¡¯s face which had the same effect as taunting a bull with a piece of red cloth.


    ¡°LaMogre, is it my imagination¡­or are you goading me this morning?¡± Rylan challenged lightly. ¡°I thought we put our differences behind us yesterday.¡±


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    ¡°You certainly put me behind you yesterday,¡± Judd replied, ¡°however, as gracious and condescending as you were to me, you will find me to be less so.¡±


    Rylan put his cutlery down. ¡°And what do you have to accuse me of?¡±


    Judd put a piece of bacon in his mouth and chewed it. ¡°Let¡¯s find out, shall we?¡±


    Footsteps approached the dining hall again, hurriedly like Judd¡¯s though softer and at the door they paused, a hand lightly knocking before the door opened and a young woman, a maid judging by the quality of her clothing, appeared.


    ¡°Your Majesty,¡± she quivered, ¡°the Princess Genovieve¡­¡±


    Judd, who had risen in anticipation, stared at the maid who shook like an autumn leaf in a winter breeze. Her face was as white as a sheet and she struggled to meet anyone¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Where is my daughter?¡± King Rocheveron asked, fear causing his tone to quiver.


    ¡°The Princess Genovieve¡­¡± The maid¡¯s voice broke as she gave an unguarded sob.


    Judd stared at her, his bones as cold as ice. ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°In her room¡­¡±


    Judd flung the door open before he¡¯d heard the last of the maid¡¯s words and sprinted along the corridor to the stairs, climbing higher and higher until there was nowhere left to go except the door where two guards stood, speaking softly before springing apart and trying to look official. Judd paid them no heed as he ran up the narrow stairs into the tower room, the physician standing near the top of the stairs. He protested in stammers but Judd swept past him to where Aalis lay on the marble floor, her eyes closed and her dreadlocks crushed like a cushion beneath her head.


    ¡°Aalis!¡± He cried, kneeling by her side. ¡°Aalis!¡±


    Her skin was as cold as the room around her. He could have been touching a statue. He cupped her face, trying to feel for a pulse but everything was a blur.


    ¡°We found her like this only minutes ago¡­¡± The physician said from behind.


    ¡°Aalis?¡± Judd begged. ¡°Caste! Caste, help me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here¡­¡± Caste froze at the sight of Aalis on the floor. ¡°By the stars¡­¡±


    ¡°I cannot tell. Caste¡­please!¡±


    Caste knelt by her side and put his long, nervous fingers against her wrist. Judd wrung his hands, watching Caste whose face was impassive as he laid Aalis¡¯ hand back down.


    ¡°Judd¡­I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°No! No, you didn¡¯t wait long enough!¡±


    ¡°Judd, there is no pulse! No breath¡­she¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it!¡± Judd roared. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± He pushed Caste out of the way and scooped his arms around her body, drawing her into his lap. ¡°Aalis¡­please wake up. Please¡­I was going to make you so happy¡­I was going to give you all the love you could hold and more.¡± Her face became dotted with Judd¡¯s tears as he sobbed. ¡°Aalis¡­not now¡­please¡­not now¡­¡±


    Caste was never more uncomfortable than when in the presence of extreme emotion. He stepped back, Judd¡¯s anguish tearing at him so painfully Caste wished he could remove his own heart so he wouldn¡¯t have to feel it.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He asked in a broken whisper.


    ¡°There was no sign of trauma, no wounds or bleeding apart from a little blood in her ear.¡± The physician explained softly. ¡°She was on the floor when the maid and I arrived.¡±


    ¡°Just like that?¡± Caste asked, studying Aalis¡¯ body. ¡°Her hand¡­it was like that?¡±


    He pointed to the hand on the far side. Aalis¡¯ fingers were stretched out, her palm pressed against the marble.


    ¡°Exactly so,¡± they both turned as the sound of a wheezing monarch reached them, ¡°Your Majesty, I am sorry¡­¡±


    ¡°My daughter!¡± Rocheveron howled, running to where Judd cradled Aalis¡¯ lifeless body. ¡°My beautiful, beautiful daughter¡­Genovieve¡­no!¡±


    The physician drew a vial out of his cloak and tipped a little of its contents onto a handkerchief. ¡°Your Majesty, you must calm down. You are not strong enough¡­¡±


    ¡°My daughter¡­Genovieve¡­¡±


    The physician didn¡¯t ask permission, putting the cloth beneath Rocheveron¡¯s nose, the strong vapour bringing down the height of his stroke inducing panic. He tried to help him rise, Suvau¡¯s strong arms circling his chest and lifting him up even as he wept uncontrollably and was escorted down the stairs. Verne and Giordi had also entered the room, both staring at Judd as he rocked Aalis¡¯ body in his arms, crying over her.


    ¡°What¡­happened?¡± Verne rasped.


    ¡°Probably what happened to Nicolin five years ago.¡± Caste said without confirming or denying anything. ¡°No sign of a wound or trauma¡­apart from a little blood in her ear.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Judd looked up. ¡°Blood in her ear?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what the physician said.¡± Caste explained as Judd brushed Aalis¡¯ dreadlocks aside. Somehow, he knew exactly which ear to look in. Judd shifted out from beneath her body and laid it down with tenderness, brushing her lips then standing up, soaked in sorrow. ¡°Judd?¡±


    ¡°Where is he?¡±


    Verne and Giordi stepped out of the way as Judd left the tower and stormed down the stairs, hearing the physician argue with Sir Rylan.


    ¡°¡­must wait until the King has regained composure and health.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me I must wait for justice for the death of my wife? While she was in his care? After I suffered accusations from her brother that I was neglecting her! I will not! This is unacceptable! Out of my way, Maul!¡±


    ¡°Rylan!¡± Judd bellowed and the knight looked up as he barrelled towards him, his fist striking his face hard, snapping his head back, causing the older, stronger and more experienced man to stumble. ¡°You bastard!¡±


    ¡°LaMogre! You dare strike me?¡±


    ¡°I dare strike a murderer!¡± Judd was about to launch himself at Rylan but Suvau caught him. ¡°Let me go! I¡¯m going to tear him apart!¡±


    Rylan bristled as Verne, Giordi and Caste, as well as a dozen guards, came up behind the King, inserting themselves between the knight and monarch but not between LaMogre and Rylan.


    ¡°You have the nerve to accuse me of murder? I who have only just found my beloved wife again to have her taken away from me by incompetents, fools¡­and cowards?¡± He snarled. ¡°She was mine!¡±


    ¡°She was not a possession. She is a person!¡± Judd strained against Suvau. ¡°She was a person¡­and you took her life!¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t meant to be her!¡±


    In the silence after Rylan¡¯s statement, the knight drew himself up to his full height, like a cat that had made an embarrassing or damning misstep and was trying to make out that it intended to do so all along.


    ¡°No,¡± Judd¡¯s teeth were barred, ¡°it was meant to be me. I felt death pull on me then fade¡­I thought it was a dream.¡±


    Sir Rylan¡¯s fa?ade of goodness was well and truly gone as he looked down at Judd with disdain.


    ¡°You were not worthy of her¡­yet you stole her from me¡­¡± He drew his swords and slashed against the bodyguards who had slipped around behind to attack Rylan from the rear. One was caught badly and the other leapt aside, grazed but still standing. ¡°Treachery¡­assassinations¡­the so called noble blood of Andigre is over.¡± Rylan¡¯s eyes darted to King Rocheveron. ¡°You¡¯ve already lost the throne. Give it to me¡­¡±


    ¡°Never.¡± Rocheveron mustered a single strong word, righting himself to deny Rylan as firmly as he could.


    ¡°Then you will lose it by force,¡± Sir Rylan¡¯s eyes gleamed with lustful fire, ¡°and if you think the overfed, satin clothed pompous military force of Astaril is any match for the might of the south, you are even more deluded in your superiority than I imagined.¡±


    ¡°You really think we¡¯d let you go to start a war?¡± Giordi mocked.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t¡­my soldiers have orders to open the gates of the Arena of Fort Verion and the gates of the upper, middle and lower bailey¡­and let countless monsters into Terra.¡±


    His words sucked the air out of the corridor. ¡°You¡­even if the monsters ravaged your enemies, you would have to deal with an infested Terra.¡± Verne exclaimed.


    Rylan tilted his head with arrogance. ¡°My soldiers and those of every knight of the wall forts, are not afraid of monsters. They know how to kill them. I wager yours don¡¯t.¡± He held Judd¡¯s stare without flinching. ¡°Kill me or imprison me¡­and the result is the same.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying¡­¡± Giordi whispered.


    ¡°No,¡± Judd said quietly, ¡°he¡¯s not.¡±


    Sir Rylan smiled like the conversation was a friendly banter and not filled with death threats. ¡°I rally my troops on the hillock before the northern border of Fort Verion where the mount of Maul burns directly behind.¡± He tucked on his coat and flicked up the collar. ¡°If you are wise, you will meet me there and surrender¡­though I am quite hopeful you will continue to be fools.¡± He turned and glared at the bodyguard behind him and the other troops that had arrived. ¡°Get out of my way.¡±


    ¡°Let him pass¡­¡± Rocheveron said weakly and they watched as Sir Rylan strode between the two lines of soldiers that held against the walls with complete confidence and not as if he had just declared war in the stronghold of his enemy. He pushed open the doors at the end, disappearing from sight and Judd let out a shuddering sigh.


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±


    They turned to see Rocheveron collapsed on the ground, wheezing frantically, unable to catch his breath. No more thought was given to Rylan as the guards, Judd and his companions and the royal physician scrambled to keep the King alive.

 She was our friend…and she’s gone now

    With the help of Suvau, Verne and Giordi, Caste was able to lift Aalis¡¯ body from the floor of her tower bedchamber to be laid out respectfully on her bed. Though they were all in shock over Aalis¡¯ death, Verne seemed to be taking it the hardest. He seemed almost completely broken and very unlike Verne¡¯s usual stoic nature.


    ¡°Rylan said, it was meant to be Judd,¡± Giordi stroked Aalis¡¯ dreadlocks, causing them to spread out around her head and face, ¡°how was it Aalis who died?¡± He looked at the others, none of whom were without a mark of grief upon their expressions. ¡°Did he release a poison into the tower, knowing that Judd would be here but it struck Aalis down instead?¡±


    ¡°The way Rylan spoke of Genovieve, that Judd had stolen her from him and given his lust for the throne of Astaril, I cannot believe he risked it.¡± Suvau¡¯s voice, though deep, was soft and sombre.


    ¡°Judd wouldn¡¯t have left her alone up here if he thought she was in any danger.¡± Verne said, jaw quivering with barely restrained emotion. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡±


    ¡°It does when you know just what Aalis was capable of.¡± Caste confessed quietly. ¡°She¡­could draw infection from a person by touching them, suck the monster toxin from their veins¡­¡± He felt their eyes on him, astonished and doubtful.


    ¡°When? How!¡± Giordi gasped.


    ¡°Aalis showed me as much when you survived the whipping post but had been bitten,¡± Caste explained without looking at Giordi, gazing steadily at Aalis, ¡°she drew the poison from you¡­into herself before expelling it, vomiting the toxin out of her body.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying, Caste?¡± Suvau asked sternly.


    Caste licked his lips and hovered his hand over Aalis¡¯ feet, walking up the side of the bed to her head.


    ¡°I think, whatever Rylan did or released to kill Judd¡­Aalis somehow took it on herself.¡±


    Giordi closed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°How is that even possible?!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Caste admitted, ¡°but Aalis¡¯ abilities were not the typical aberrations of humanity the Order has recorded in women after being exposed to tainted water. She was¡­powerful¡­¡±


    They all gazed at the lifeless form of Aalis, without breath or pulse.


    ¡°Aalis once said, if she concentrated, she could hear the voices of people in the same building as she,¡± Caste, Giordi and Suvau turned to Verne who swallowed hard against the lump in his throat, ¡°it¡¯s what nearly drove her mad as a child. As she grew older, she could block it out¡­but I think those abilities stayed.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Giordi licked his lips, ¡°you¡¯re saying Aalis drew whatever poison was trying to kill Judd into herself¡­from within the walls of this castle? That sounds¡­impossible.¡±


    All four stared at Aalis, awed and frightened.


    ¡°What was she?¡±


    ¡°She was our friend¡­and she¡¯s gone now.¡± Verne sniffed, taking Aalis¡¯ hands, weaving her fingers together to rest on her abdomen. ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± He turned and left the room, shoulders quaking in silent sobs.


    Giordi kissed his fingers and lightly touched them to her forehead. ¡°Thank you for saving my life, Aalis¡­and for many fine meals.¡±


    Suvau put his large hand over her clutched fingers. ¡°Brave, so very brave.¡± He shuddered and followed Giordi to the stairs.


    Caste folded his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t know why people talk to corpses. It¡¯s not like they can hear anything we say.¡± He muttered. After a moment he glanced around the room and, seeing he was alone, put his fingers over hers. ¡°Goodbye.¡± He whispered then removed his hand and undid the ties of the silk gathered above her bed, allowing it to fall, forming a veil between Aalis and the rest of the world. He went to the top of the stairs, paused with a frown on his face then, shaking his head, descended to the landing below.


    At the bottom he saw the shrinking bodies of Verne, Giordi and Suvau at the end of the corridor but before he followed their exit, he turned to the guards.


    ¡°By the word of the Order of the Grail, none shall enter this tower, lest it be myself or King Rocheveron.¡± Caste commanded the guards.


    ¡°Yes sir.¡± The guards responded as Caste closed the door tightly.


    He walked the length of the carpet, rubbing at his eyes, when dull footsteps jogged towards him.


    ¡°Deacon Undern,¡± the servant bowed, ¡°King Rocheveron commands your presence.¡±


    ¡°At once.¡±


    Caste thought it strange that the servant led him, not to the chambers of the King where he presumed he would be resting, but to the throne room. Only the day before, Aalis had been wheeled across its ample marble floor in a cage as a cleric condemned her, soldiers imprisoned her and Judd defended her.


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    King Rocheveron was on his throne, his eyes rimmed with red but holding his head up through strength of will. On his left his physician hovered, understandably agitated that his patient was not in bed like Caste knew he ought to be following the collapse due to poor health, old age and a terrible shock.


    On his right, Bishop Peele stood, having rallied himself from his chambers, the seriousness of his cold diminishing in the light of recent events. He was tall with broad shoulders and his cappa clausa hung from them almost as though it was hanging on a clothesline. His hair was dark grey with wild silvery spirals through it and was quite plentiful around the sides of his head but there was an unfortunate bald patch in the middle, dotted with age spots. Perhaps it was why he kept his chin lifted, looking down through his spectacles. Now and then his hand would dart out of his sleeve and press a silk handkerchief to his nose before disappearing into the folds once more. Alongside him Archdeacon Adamis also stood, their stance almost identical with their hands clasped dutifully inside their cappa clausas, practiced superior expressions on their faces.


    The servant gestured for Caste to join the line of four people standing in front of the King. He stood beside Judd on his right hand side, Verne, Giordi and Suvau on his left.


    In a serious and rather stiff pose on the same side as the physician, though not on the dais with the King, standing on the floor of the throne room, was a soldier and judging by his uniform, decorated with insignias and epaulettes with impressive gold tassels, he was a high ranking officer. In his hands was a beautiful sword, one only a knight or king would possess.


    Caste wasn¡¯t sure if he was tardy and had missed their reason for being summoned but held fast, hoping revelation would be forth coming.


    He wasn¡¯t disappointed.


    ¡°You who stand before the throne of Astaril have borne witness to the declaration of war against its people,¡± King Rocheveron said, a quaver in his voice that he could not quite subdue though this, in fact, made his courage to speak all the more impressive, ¡°Garo Rylan, once a knight sworn to protect its borders, has threatened, intimidated and is under suspicion of the murder of Prince Nicolin¡­attempted murder of Judd LaMogre and manslaughter of Princess Gen¡­,¡± he swallowed and tried to say her name again but it came out as a croak, as though stating it would be to face a reality his heart couldn¡¯t handle, ¡°Geno¡­¡±


    ¡°The Princess Genovieve,¡± Bishop Peele said, stepping in to give the grieved King a moment to compose himself, ¡°word was received an hour ago that Garo Rylan was seen leaving the borders of Astaril, riding hard and fast to the south where he will rally any forces not loyal to the throne to his cause.¡±


    ¡°This treacherous action and the betrayed trust placed in his knighthood, must be addressed,¡± King Rocheveron lifted his head, ¡°as such, the might of Astaril¡¯s military force will march south and meet Rylan and any that choose to align themselves with him.¡± He breathed deeply. ¡°Judd LaMogre, where will you stand?¡±


    Judd lifted his head, all joy gone from his countenance. ¡°I will defend the throne of Astaril,¡± he said quietly but firmly, ¡°from the likes of Garo Rylan.¡± He turned to the military officer and bowed. ¡°My sword is yours wherever you will point it.¡±


    The officer blinked and licked his lips then turned to King Rocheveron with a question in his eyes.


    ¡°No, Judd LaMogre, I did not summon you here to ask you to serve in the offensive,¡± King Rocheveron¡¯s grey eyes met Judd¡¯s deep brown ones, ¡°I summoned you here to ask you to lead the offensive.¡±


    Somewhere in the back of Caste¡¯s mind, it was amusing that Judd was the only one not expecting Rocheveron to ask Judd such a thing. Amusing yet entirely in line with Judd¡¯s character. Perhaps in the beginning he had enjoyed the idea of a grand parade, balls in his honour, feasts where his accomplishments were toasted¡­but the fantasy of adolescent dreams had rubbed away during his quest. He was no longer interested in glory or fame. The quest had sanded him back until his core and his truest beliefs were all that remained.


    But had the knighthood quest and his broken heart done too much damage?


    Was there enough left of Judd LaMogre to say he would stand and be recognised?


    Judd swallowed, fingers twitching slightly. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± he said as he looked at the floor, ¡°I am not a leader¡­¡±


    Giordi barely stifled his snort and Verne closed his eyes to hide his eye roll.


    ¡°You have not been in Astaril for some time,¡± King Rocheveron replied, already anticipating Judd¡¯s reluctance, ¡°your name is well known by all residents, noble or common, lord or tradesman. Children pretend to be you, young men dream of being like you¡­and the soldiers of Astaril need a figurehead to follow, an inspiration¡­you are just such a man!¡± Rocheveron¡¯s words became stronger and louder as Judd shook his head. ¡°You succeeded in the knighthood quest.¡±


    ¡°Rylan¡¯s quest,¡± Judd almost snarled, ¡°to have been in his thrall¡­to have extolled him as a man of integrity and honour¡­¡± He looked down at his hands and dropped them. ¡°I am no knight.¡±


    ¡°You are not,¡± King Rocheveron pushed himself upright and held out his hand, the soldier placing his bejewelled sword into the King¡¯s grasp, ¡°but you shall be. Judd LaMogre¡­step forth and kneel.¡±


    Judd¡¯s feet seemed to have become moulded to the floor. It took a nudge from Suvau to propel him forward but when he knelt, he did so heavily. King Rocheveron lifted the sword and touched Judd¡¯s shoulders lightly with the tip.


    ¡°For integrity where others sought fame, for courage where others hid behind rank, for proving you have the heart of a knight like Andigre, not because of the quest you completed, but because of the character revealed as you did so, I name thee Sir Judd LaMogre, Knight of Astaril.¡± The King handed the sword back to the soldier. ¡°Rise, Sir Judd LaMogre.¡±


    Judd¡¯s dark curls remained downcast, and his shoulders trembled. Caste glanced at Giordi, Verne and Suvau who were at a loss as to know how to help their friend. Oddly enough, it was not one of his friends, but the King himself who came down from his throne and placed his slightly greyed hand with the spots of age marking his skin, on top of Judd¡¯s brown curls.


    ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty,¡± Judd wept, ¡°I¡¯ve lost the heart to stand¡­¡±


    ¡°Sir LaMogre, in your grief, remember this,¡± Rocheveron said softly, tears glimmering in his eyes, ¡°my daughter was willing to sacrifice herself to keep the peace but, in saving you, she made it clear that if peace was to be fought for and won, then you were the man to do so.¡±


    Judd¡¯s head bobbed and Rocheveron stepped back, allowing him to rise and stand with his chin, though trembling, up and firm.


    ¡°I will honour her memory with every step.¡± Judd vowed.


    ¡°Of that I have no doubt, Sir Judd LaMogre.¡±

 Take it to the grave, Verne

    The throne room of the castle of Astaril had known many grand functions over the course of its existence. Weddings, knighting ceremonies, funerals, presentation of royal babies and heirs to the throne, even the appointment of bishops when the previous head of the Order of the Grail died or retired.


    However, despite or perhaps because of its auspicious heritage, the throne room had never been used as a war room¡­until now.


    Tables had been carried in by a fleet of servants, each a designated area where officers of the military could gather and speak over specific topics. There was a table covered in maps, another with increasing information about weapon inventory and uniform/armour possibilities. There was one table entirely dedicated to the archdeacons and Bishop Peele who had availed their vast knowledge to the cause but preferred a place where they could oversee proceedings without needing to mingle. This table was largely unapproached.


    Oddly enough, Caste Undern, despite being an officer of the Grail, was one who did not approach the Order table. This was partially because the table allocated to the Order of the Grail officers had only thirteen seats, room enough for twelve archdeacons and one bishop. But the other reason was that Judd LaMogre moved from table to table, discussing various options and listening to advice given to him. It would have been very simple for the newly knighted, broken hearted and somewhat overwhelmed young man to make a break for it and never look back but Caste was always by his side, taking notes, assuring Judd that he did not have to remember every little detail for that was the deacon¡¯s role.


    And Caste was extremely good at it.


    He could remove himself from the emotion that others might be feeling and even succumbing to.


    Given the odds he was calculating of their chances of survival against the might of the southern fort forces, Caste found himself in a rather enviable position which he found more surprising and distracting than fear, anger or sorrow.


    Judd rubbed his forehead as he looked at the numbers of soldiers in the Astaril military.


    ¡°Please tell me you are rounding down those figures.¡± He asked Caste quietly, knowing that words in the marble hall were easily overheard despite the thrum of activity around them.


    ¡°Unfortunately they are accurate.¡± Caste admitted. ¡°Astaril¡¯s soldiers only number a third of the possible force commanded by Garo Rylan.¡± Judd groaned and rubbed his face. ¡°I¡­had to estimate the number of soldiers in each of the wall forts as these figures are at least five years old,¡± he said pointing to the clerical accounts sent from the forts, ¡°and it doesn¡¯t include the likely addition of guards that would join their ranks¡­¡± He caught sight of Judd¡¯s pained expression. ¡°I could be wrong¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather have the truth than be caught off guard.¡± Judd shook his head. ¡°What in Maul am I doing, Caste? How can I possibly lead Astaril¡¯s soldiers against the whole of the south?¡±


    Caste frowned. ¡°The numbers are not in our favour,¡± he admitted, ¡°but we may yet receive reinforcements from Fort Faine and Fort Bastil.¡±


    Judd turned and leaned against the table, folding his arms. ¡°Can you really see Sir Jesa getting off his backside to answer the call of the King, especially when it¡¯s to follow a man he threatened months ago?¡±


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t and the throne is victorious, he will quickly find himself without a fort to luxuriate in.¡± Caste pointed out.


    ¡°He might be betting against us.¡±


    ¡°He may send a few soldiers as a sign of good will without having to come himself.¡±


    Judd rolled his eyes then sighed. ¡°I suppose I¡¯d prefer six overfed and undertrained soldiers compared to Sir Jesa, even if he is a knight.¡±


    ¡°Simple mathematics,¡± Caste nodded, ¡°it is more likely we will receive two dozen or more soldiers from Fort Bastil.¡±


    ¡°And at least they will be able to hold their own,¡± Judd frowned, ¡°I am loathed to let Sir Alaykin go with us should he volunteer.¡±


    ¡°Why ever not? Sir Alaykin is an excellent swordsman.¡±


    ¡°He just had a daughter and lost his wife,¡± Judd swallowed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to make his little girl an orphan.¡±


    Caste shook his head and closed his slate where he had been using chalk to scribe figures and do his calculations. ¡°Judd, by that token there are many who could excuse their way out of battle.¡±


    ¡°How can I deny a father¡¯s plea should he make it?¡± Judd hissed, glancing around to make sure they weren¡¯t heard. ¡°Caste, you¡¯ve seen the figures¡­if we don¡¯t get some support soon, this is going to be a massacre, not a battle.¡±


    Caste opened his mouth to argue but realised he couldn¡¯t. He had studied ¡®Battle Equations for Success¡¯ at length. It had been his go to book when he couldn¡¯t go to sleep for it would knock him out in ten minutes. However, he remembered some of what he gleaned from its pages before succumbing to sleep. Had the author of the book looked at the figures on his slate, he would have advised immediate and absolute surrender to preserve the greatest amount of lives.


    ¡°Perhaps Suvau and Giordi will have more luck¡­¡± Caste offered weakly.


    ¡°You really think the outcast nomads and the subjugated Mauls would ever want to fight for the throne of Astaril?¡± Judd asked dryly.


    ¡°I think there are several who would gladly exact some vengeance of their treatment on soldiers from the south¡­¡±


    ¡°Several is not enough,¡± Judd murmured, ¡°and the throne of Astaril mightn¡¯t have condoned Maul treatment¡­but it didn¡¯t stop it either.¡±


    ¡°I think that could have more to do with the Order of things.¡± Caste grunted, casting a disparaging eye towards the Grail table where the archdeacons and bishop were debating about something. He sighed and looked down at his slate, tapping his chalk against it. ¡°Quarre may also provide some soldiers now that Sir Ector is there.¡±


    ¡°Still¡­it¡¯s not enough¡­¡± Judd turned and put his hands on the table and lowered his head. ¡°We need more¡­a lot more¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd!¡± He looked up as Verne jogged towards him, getting a glare from the archdeacons. ¡°I mean, Sir LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°You should come outside.¡±


    ¡°Fresh air might do you good?¡± Caste shrugged helplessly as Verne gestured for Judd to follow him. They left the throne room, heading for the foyer and out the front doors.


    ¡°Are we making a break for it?¡± Judd asked.


    ¡°I think you¡¯d have a hard time getting through.¡±


    ¡°Through what?¡±


    ¡°Not what. Who.¡± Verne winked and gestured to the courtyard before the lowered dais. Filling the space between fountain and gate were dozens of men ranging in age from mid-adolescents still covered in spots to older men who had a little grey in the hair on their heads, chin and in some cases, coming out of their ears. And if that wasn¡¯t enough, the gates were not shut as the flow of men was spilling out onto the paved curved road.


    ¡°Those with fighting experience move to this side of the courtyard, those without, to the other.¡± A man that Judd vaguely remembered ordered. He was in an Astaril military uniform with ashen hair and a gruff voice.


    ¡°What is all this?¡± Judd gasped.


    ¡°When war was declared, carrier pigeons were immediately sent to the corners of northern Astaril, calling for able bodied volunteers to fight.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re here to defend Astaril.¡± Judd nodded, abashed. ¡°I should have realised there was much more loyalty to the throne than what Rylan¡¯s words put into my head.¡±


    ¡°Actually I think you¡¯ll find that they¡¯re here mostly for you.¡±


    Judd turned to Verne, stunned for a moment then laughed mockingly. ¡°Yeah¡­you had me for a moment¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡±


    Judd was going to argue or perhaps turn his back and walk away when someone called out his name.


    ¡°That¡¯s Sir Judd LaMogre!¡±


    ¡°Sir LaMogre! Slayer of the hydra!¡±


    ¡°Sir Judd LaMogre who killed a werewolf!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s here! He¡¯s actually here!¡±


    Judd looked around, somewhat amused and slightly terrified at the way the men were surging forward, cheering and applauding.


    ¡°Get back you undisciplined whelps!¡± The soldier who had been organising them ordered, coming up the steps. ¡°Apologies, Sir LaMogre,¡± he said, bowing to Judd, ¡°they¡¯re bedazzled by the presence of their hero.¡±


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    ¡°I feel a little sick¡­¡± Judd said faintly before shaking it off. ¡°You seem familiar to me¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Everid, a sword master.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°I train all the soldiers in the Astaril military, a whole lot of ambitious middle class first born sons¡­and one successful knight.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where I know you from.¡± Judd shook his hand. ¡°You were part of my two week training stint before I left.¡±


    ¡°Not sure what good myself or the other masters did before you left,¡± Everid admitted, ¡°and I have to say, around the tables afterwards, we didn¡¯t give you very good odds.¡±


    Judd chuckled and nodded. ¡°I might have heard something like that.¡±


    ¡°We were wrong and a good thing too.¡± Everid sighed and shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll do some basic training of these louts here and equip them as best we can. On the journey south we¡¯ll get some more training in for what it¡¯s worth.¡±


    ¡°It could save their lives.¡±


    ¡°Honestly,¡± Everid put his hands on his hips, ¡°we could use more experienced officers. Sure we¡¯ll have grunts and foot soldiers but I wish we had more who knew the lay of the land and even though we won¡¯t be primarily fighting monsters, we could still encounter some.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll provide whatever knowledge and assistance I can.¡± Judd promised.


    ¡°Your being here, leading the fight, is an assistance that we cannot begin to calculate,¡± Everid insisted, ¡°but if you want to visit the barracks where I will be overseeing basic training, you¡¯d be more than welcome.¡±


    ¡°Of course I will make every effort.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir LaMogre.¡± Everid bowed then turned and stomped down the stairs. ¡°Knock it off before I knock your heads off!¡±


    Judd followed Verne inside, glancing over his shoulder.


    ¡°Hero worship getting to you?¡± Verne asked.


    ¡°What if they die?¡± Judd murmured. ¡°What if any of them die?¡±


    ¡°They know the risk.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Judd eyed Verne sadly. ¡°I mean I knew I could die but when I set out, I thought with a sword in my hand and two weeks of training beneath my belt, I was invincible.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe that¡¯s the message you need to give when you visit the barracks.¡± Verne shrugged at him then folded her arms at Judd¡¯s sigh. ¡°Judd, we need these men. Not just want for the sake of it.¡± They climbed the stairs to the throne room¡¯s doors. ¡°You heard Everid. Grunts and foot soldiers but what we need are experienced officers.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already suggested that you¡¯re in charge of the archers,¡± the servants opened the doors and they walked into the throne room where the bustle of war planning only seemed to increase with fervency, ¡°Suvau will be an excellent foot soldier leader and Giordi¡­¡±


    ¡°Arm him with a cart load of lutes?¡±


    ¡°You said he was halfway decent with a bow.¡±


    ¡°Halfway is a long way from the front lines,¡± Verne licked her lips, ¡°besides¡­I would prefer for him not to be there with me.¡±


    Judd scrunched his face and pressed his fingers to his forehead. ¡°Verne¡­you¡¯re going to have to tell him.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± she admitted and he glanced at her, surprised, ¡°but by the time I plucked up the nerve, he¡¯d left with Suvau. Anyway, I think something like that should wait until after the battle.¡±


    ¡°You mean if and when you are dead and don¡¯t have to deal?¡± Judd put his hand on her shoulder as Verne looked away, uncomfortable and tense. ¡°Verne, what if he dies and you never got to tell him?¡±


    ¡°You told Aalis,¡± Verne said, her tone brittle and filled with pain, ¡°does it hurt any less?¡±


    Judd closed his eyes and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­I¡¯m such a hypocrite. Take it to the grave, Verne.¡±


    ¡°Not before I¡¯ve put Rylan in his.¡± Verne retorted.


    ¡°To get through to him, we¡¯re going to need more soldiers,¡± they turned to the doors to see a young guard hurrying towards them, ¡°what¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Sword master Everid wanted to give you a recruitment estimate.¡± He said, thrusting the piece of paper towards Judd, figures scrawled on it in black.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Judd took the paper to where Caste was scribbling on his slate. ¡°Volunteer numbers.¡±


    ¡°Excellent.¡± Caste studied the numbers and wrote them down. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between the two figures?¡±


    ¡°I think one is for complete novices and the other, volunteers with some experience.¡±


    Caste grimaced. ¡°That¡¯s a big numerical difference.¡±


    ¡°One even Giordi could calculate.¡± Verne groaned. ¡°Even with all able bodied souls in Astaril given a sword, without experience or training, they¡¯ll bolt or worse, hurt themselves and their own side.¡±


    ¡°They need more time to train.¡±


    ¡°Actually they need more leaders to direct them,¡± Judd paused with a deep frown on his face, ¡°and I might just know where we can find some.¡±


    All the prisoners in the castle dungeon were unaware of what went on beyond the walls of their containment. No sound travelled through the thick stone and only if the door to the top of the stairs opened and someone happened to be walking past at the time, did anything filter down from above. The greatest opportunity they had of hearing any news was when their prison rations were delivered but even then, the guards were rather tight lipped.


    When there was a heavy tread on the stairs, not long after their rations had already been delivered, all the prisoners could not miss hearing it and looked up, anxiously anticipating a change to their isolated and confined existence.


    Judd LaMogre stepped off the bottom stair, leaving his archer behind him as he walked into the prison. He hadn¡¯t been there before and glanced in the cells to see who was imprisoned where.


    ¡°You¡¯ve come down here yourself,¡± he heard a rather embittered voice say on his left, ¡°instead of sending your Order of the Grail lapdog, LaMogre?¡±


    Judd turned to Cleric Rodel whose eyes held a great deal of contempt and a solid dose of fear in them. ¡°You will show Caste Undern the respect due as a deacon of the Order,¡± he said firmly, ¡°and you will address me as Sir LaMogre.¡±


    Rodel stood up, jaw falling open. ¡°You? A knight! That¡¯s¡­unfathomable! Unthinkable! Unreasonable!¡±


    ¡°Unstoppable and unescapable.¡± Judd responded then turned his back on the cleric, facing the two cells filled with Fort Mavour soldiers. They were all a little scruffy and rumpled though, he reasoned, in far better condition than if they¡¯d had to suffer Fort Mavour¡¯s dungeon.


    ¡°You¡¯re a knight,¡± Captain Chael said, his sideburns wiry and out of control, ¡°congratulations.¡± His tone was flat. His words were respectful without gushing. ¡°Sir Rylan must be very proud.¡±


    ¡°Garo Rylan declared war on Astaril.¡± The men in the cells, who had been determined not to look as though they were listening, though they could hardly avoid doing so, all stood and turned to Judd.


    Chael closed his eyes and shook his head. ¡°No¡­no, I cannot believe it.¡±


    ¡°You heard the rumours and the projections of his becoming king one day.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Chael exclaimed, ¡°but why would he waste lives in war when, due to his renewed marriage to Princess Genovieve, he will claim the throne like Rocheveron has.¡±


    Sir LaMogre had to concentrate hard to swallow, the corners of his mouth turning down. ¡°Princess Genovieve was found dead in her chambers the morning after you brought her before the King.¡±


    Chael¡¯s usually ruddy face paled to deathly white. ¡°I swear nothing that we did to her would have fatally harmed her.¡±


    ¡°I believe it was Garo Rylan who killed her.¡±


    The men in the cells whispered urgently to each other while Chael held Judd¡¯s gaze and shook his head. ¡°No¡­that¡¯s absurd! Why take away his solid claim to the throne?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­he confessed it was meant to be me who died.¡± His words sucked the sound out of the room. Judd held Chael¡¯s gaze, hurting so much that all he wanted to do was scream endlessly and tear his heart out of his chest. Judd licked his lips. ¡°Aalis¡­Princess Genovieve was able to save me using those abilities you attributed to being contaminated by tainted water. I think she knew Garo Rylan would use her to claim the throne¡­and wanted me to stop that from happening.¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I will be leading the forces of Astaril and any loyal knights and their soldiers south to confront Rylan and his soldiers,¡± Chael¡¯s brow furrowed even further as Judd added, ¡°and I am offering positions of leadership as officers to each of your soldiers and, of course, to yourself, to aide in our fight.¡± He knew he had everyone¡¯s attention as he continued. ¡°Those who do so will be pardoned for the offense that put them in these cells.¡±


    ¡°Those who survive, you mean¡­¡± A bold soldier from the back muttered.


    Captain Chael glared at the man as Judd unlocked the first cell door and opened it. Chael stepped out but held up his hand that no one else should follow.


    ¡°A word, Sir LaMogre?¡± He asked and Judd nodded, leading him to the far corner of the dungeon, their voices lowered to the softest whispers. ¡°You must know that this endeavour of yours will only end in the slaughter of the military of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d stand a better chance with you and your men.¡± Judd urged but Chael shook his head.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s folly I tell you. Sir Garo Rylan commands the entire might of the wall forts. Sir Fereak, Sir Donimede and Sir Egrette are all bound to Rylan out of loyalty and necessity. They rely on each other and trust the other to pull their weight. Their bonds are thicker than blood and stronger than the decrepit decay of the monarchy. Each one of them is a warrior and they have trained their soldiers to be the same. There are more of them and they are far better fighters than those in the northern forts, even than Fort Bastil.¡± Captain Chael¡¯s tone was urgent and insistent. ¡°Judd¡­forgive me, Sir LaMogre, in light of how many will die and the inevitable success of Garo Rylan, convince King Rocheveron to step down. Don¡¯t waste lives.¡±


    Judd paused, considering Chael¡¯s words. ¡°It would certainly be the least lives lost,¡± he admitted, ¡°but before you make your choice, know this, that Rylan threatened to open the gates to his Arena, the gates to the bailies and the gates to the city, allowing monsters to pour into Terra.¡± Chael opened his mouth to protest but no words came out. ¡°He had no compunction about using the might of Maul as leverage, letting countless innocents die on top of anyone who picked up a sword against him.¡± Judd put his hand on Chael¡¯s shoulder. ¡°He was able to kill Nicolin when the heir to the throne discovered how Garo Rylan was¡­abusing his sister.¡±


    ¡°Genovieve?¡± Judd nodded. Chael closed his eyes and moaned. ¡°And I delivered her to him¡­¡±


    ¡°You delivered a supposed witch to the King,¡± Judd cleared his throat, ¡°in the end, Aalis did what she thought she had to do. She died for what she believed in.¡±


    Captain Chael opened his eyes and gazed at Judd. ¡°Hard to argue against conviction like that.¡± He nodded and turned back to the cells. ¡°Soldiers of Fort Mavour, Sir LaMogre has given us a choice to fight for the throne of Astaril against Garo Rylan and the might of the south. I have chosen to stand with Sir LaMogre but I won¡¯t order a single one of you to do the same. We were ordered onto our last mission with no choice and poor information and ended up in prison. This time, the choice is yours.¡±


    ¡°You ought to know,¡± Judd held up his hand as Arsch and Kipre went to take a step forward, ¡°staying in your cells could lead to your freedom should Garo Rylan take the throne. But if you choose not to fight and risk being killed, and the throne is victorious, you will endure the punishment for which you were first imprisoned.¡±


    Arsch and Kipre glanced at each other then stepped out of the cell, going down on one knee before Judd. ¡°Our sword, when we¡¯ve earned enough trust to bear one again, is to fight for you, Sir LaMogre.¡± Arsch said strongly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be glad to have your experience and leadership.¡± Judd replied firmly. ¡°Take yourselves up the stairs where Verne will lead you to Everid, sword master who has some eager recruits who need as much expertise as you can instil in them.¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± Kipre saluted and he and Arsch led every single one of Fort Mavour¡¯s soldiers out of the cells. Captain Chael turned and clasped Judd¡¯s hand, a wordless agreement and apology in one gesture. Judd looked at the opened doors to the cells and breathed a sigh of relief. He turned follow Chael up the stairs when he heard his name called out.


    Cleric Rodel was at the bars of his cell, eyeing the stairs with wistful longing. ¡°Sir LaMogre,¡± he said again and Judd wondered that he didn¡¯t choke on his title, ¡°what about me?¡±


    Judd eyed him sadly. ¡°I am a warrior and a soldier. You are an officer of the Order of the Grail. Your fate is not within my power to control or influence.¡±


    He turned and left Rodel in his cell, climbing the stairs nimbly to find Verne waiting at the top.


    ¡°Every single soldier,¡± Judd breathed out in relief, ¡°I hope Everid takes advantage of what they have to offer. I thought you were going to take them to the barracks?¡±


    ¡°I had another guard do that.¡± Verne leaned close. ¡°We have a problem.¡±


    ¡°Just the one? You¡¯ve solved all the others?¡± Judd asked, still buoyed by the high of knowing that the Fort Mavour soldiers would stand with them instead of rotting in their cells.


    Verne¡¯s eyes were deadly serious. ¡°You need an officer of the Grail to go with you.¡±


    ¡°I want Caste.¡±


    ¡°Therein lies the problem.¡±

 I don’t want you to live a life under false obligation

    The twelve archdeacons and one bishop at the table dedicated to the Order of the Grail heard the heavy footsteps of Astaril¡¯s newest knight before they saw him burst into the war room, crossing the floor in angry strides, his face as stern as newly forged steel. His archer had to jog to keep up, whispering urged words of restraint in his ear that he seemed intent on ignoring.


    Bishop Peele peered over the top of his spectacles from his end table position, six archdeacons on either side, as if expecting Judd¡¯s imminent arrival. Judd put his fists on the table and eyed the Bishop.


    ¡°I have just been informed that Caste Undern is ¡®unacceptable¡¯ as the representative of the Order of the Grail at the front lines.¡±


    ¡°That is correct.¡± Bishop Peele said, clasping his hands together, his eyes filled with superiority.


    ¡°Just what is it about him that you find ¡®unacceptable¡¯?¡± Judd asked with a clenched jaw as Verne gestured furiously at Caste to join their discussion.


    ¡°His rank.¡±


    Judd raised his eyebrows. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°A deacon is simply not a high enough ranking officer of the Grail to advise the leader of a military offensive.¡± Bishop Peele turned to one of the archdeacons. ¡°Am I misinformed?¡±


    The archdeacon with a veritable forest of hair coming out of his ears nodded furiously. ¡°According to the agreement between the throne and the Order of the Grail, chapter three, paragraph eight, sub section¡­¡±


    ¡°You can paraphrase it later,¡± Judd stopped him as Caste reached the table, ¡°how is it possible that you let a cleric be assigned to me on my knighthood quest but the same man, now a deacon, is forbidden to accompany me on this war offensive?¡±


    ¡°Because the primary role of a cleric is to accurately record the details of a fort¡¯s activity or, in your case, the details of your knighthood journey. They might offer up some titbit of advice in the moment but ultimately, they are more of an observer than an interactor.¡± Judd glanced at Caste who gave him nothing but a blank look as Bishop Peele continued. ¡°As a knight, you are not only representing Astaril in your conduct but you will also be in need of experienced and learned guidance that comes from an archdeacon. Anything less is unacceptable.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Caste said quietly by Judd¡¯s shoulder.


    Judd paused, recalling that Caste had never wanted to go on the knighthood quest with him. He had been the party¡¯s most reluctant member and resented Judd for his ambition. He sucked air through his teeth, trying to curb his frustration and soothe his agitated pride.


    ¡°Well¡­which archdeacon will be accompanying me?¡± He asked, looking around at the aged faces that gazed back at him. ¡°We might as well start getting to know each other now.¡±


    It was an uncomfortable silence that followed, one that grew even more painfully awkward the longer it stretched out as the archdeacons looked down at their hands, to the side or anywhere that wasn¡¯t in line with Bishop Peele¡¯s or Judd¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Archdeacon Perimon is a student of the history of the Grail in times of warfare.¡± One archdeacon spoke suddenly, nervously twitching and blurting out his words, the archdeacon in question looking up with nothing less than naked horror on his aged features.


    ¡°Well¡­that may be¡­but Archdeacon Gevair is unparalleled in his knowledge of ancient weaponry and their uses.¡±


    ¡°My research is primarily theory and has no practical value,¡± Gevair retorted, ¡°not like Archdeacon Ovaris who¡­¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Ovaris shook his hands wildly as if he could blow Gevair¡¯s suggestion back into his mouth, ¡°I have a bad back and a disjointed hip.¡±


    ¡°You think you have it bad? I can¡¯t feel anything in all but two of my fingers!¡±


    ¡°What does that have to do with warfare?¡±


    Judd groaned, pushing his hands through his hair and turned to Caste as the archdeacons and bishop debated in ever increasing volumes in front of them.


    ¡°Caste¡­how can I go with any of them? It¡¯s like listening to my grandparents and their friends try to work out who is mostly likely to die first! They¡¯re not interested in defending Astaril, only in the comforts of their beloved chambers in the Order of the Grail!¡±


    ¡°To you they might be grizzled old men with one foot in the grave but they are wise and learned scholars of the Order of the Grail,¡± Caste flinched, ¡°even though they do seem to be comparing the sizes of their bunions to pieces of fruit¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, a very helpful piece of knowledge on the road to war.¡± Verne rolled his eyes as the archdeacons continued to argue. ¡°Come on, Caste, you¡¯re more knowledgeable than any of them.¡±


    ¡°Not in the areas that they are!¡±


    ¡°How is the Archdeacon of ancient Terra tea party etiquette and nostril hair removal instrument usage going to be of any use to Judd on the front lines?¡± Demanded Verne and while Judd wanted to chuckle, the hopelessness of the situation was getting out of hand.


    ¡°Caste,¡± he implored, ¡°please, you¡¯ve got to come with me.¡±


    Caste shrugged helplessly. ¡°They already told you, it has nothing to do with me. I¡¯m ¡®unacceptable¡¯.¡±


    ¡°If I see those blasted ¡®emphasis¡¯ gestures again, I¡¯ll break some fingers!¡± Judd argued.


    ¡°Lose your temper all you want but you¡¯re going against the Order of the Grail by insisting on bringing me over an archdeacon, which is exactly what Garo Rylan is doing, putting himself above the throne of Astaril.¡±


    ¡°No¡­it¡¯s not¡­oh will you all shut up!¡± Judd roared and the Order of the Grail fell silent though, if looks could kill, Judd knew he¡¯d be impaled by many pairs of eye daggers. His words hadn¡¯t just silenced their argument. Everyone in the throne room halted in their steps and stopped what they were doing to look at Judd. He breathed in and out and eyed Caste sternly. ¡°Just tell me one thing¡­are these excuses for not going with me to the front lines a cover because you don¡¯t want to?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of what I want¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Judd barked, his hands clenching into frustrated fists and Caste clamped his lips shut. ¡°I¡¯m not asking about the rules. I¡¯m asking you, Caste Undern, if you want to go to the front lines with me?¡±


    Caste¡¯s emerald green eyes looked away and he folded his arms. ¡°No,¡± Judd nodded and went to turn aside, ¡°I don¡¯t want to travel anymore and be uncomfortable and sleep on the ground and be in a battle and fight a war¡­but I want to help and support and be of some practical use to you¡­and if that means being on the front lines¡­then that¡¯s where I¡¯ll be.¡± He peeked at Judd cautiously, seeing far too much emotion in his eyes for Caste¡¯s comfort and looked away again.


    Judd licked his lips and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why I want Caste Undern with me,¡± he said, turning back to the table where the archdeacons and bishop had yet to recover from their slack jawed expressions at his rebuke, ¡°I want someone I can trust to be honest, even brutally so but who I know will stand his ground regardless.¡±


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    Archdeacon Adamis shook his head. ¡°It is absolutely unacceptable.¡±


    Judd groaned and put his hands on the table, lowering his head and wishing he had something to pummel.


    ¡°Unless you promote him to archdeacon.¡±


    Judd¡¯s eyes opened. All he could see were his boots and the marble floor stretching out beneath the table. He blinked and turned his head and gazed at Verne who raised an eyebrow at Judd, arching beneath his bandana.


    ¡°That would make him ¡®acceptable¡¯.¡± Judd nodded, standing upright.


    ¡°Well, Order of the Grail, acceptable.¡± Verne corrected and Judd agreed.


    ¡°This¡­this is¡­impossible!¡± Archdeacon Adamis blustered. ¡°Deacon Undern has only just left the office of cleric behind. He is not of the age or of the academic level that would warrant such an advancement.¡±


    ¡°It could be argued,¡± Judd said quietly, ¡°owing to Caste¡¯s experiences as he¡¯s travelled alongside me for months on end, as far down south as to be just a foot away from Maul and its atrocities, that he has a vault of current knowledge and ¡®on the job¡¯ learning that I would hazard a guess, none of the other archdeacons possess.¡± He turned to them. ¡°With all due respect, when was the last time any of you left the borders of Astaril? If at all?¡±


    Nothing. Not a word from any of them was spoken.


    ¡°Deacon Caste Undern knows the lay of the land, the ways of the people, the idiosyncrasies of me and the strengths of my companions. If you seek to replace him with someone else then please, prove to me there is any among you who are comparable to that knowledge and experience.¡± Judd urged without a shred of arrogance. Not a single archdeacon responded and Bishop Peele¡¯s chin sank onto his entwined fingers, his brow furrowed all the way up to his extreme hairline. ¡°I also want you to consider this, should Garo Rylan succeed, regardless who is at the front lines, he will eliminate the Order of the Grail.¡±


    Bishop Peele¡¯s head came up. Adamis¡¯ made a scornful coughing sound. ¡°And how can you possibly predict such an occurrence? The Order of the Grail has survived for hundreds of years!¡±


    ¡°The Order of the Grail is not only the depository of accumulative knowledge but is the testimony of Andigre and Grail¡¯s lineage and the validity of the throne of Astaril according to their bloodline,¡± Caste¡¯s voice was quiet but filled with authority, ¡°Garo Rylan¡¯s rule would be an affront to all that you stand for.¡±


    ¡°So I urge you to seriously consider Verne¡¯s suggestion and make Caste Undern an archdeacon.¡±


    Adamis shook his head and was almost comical in his mockery as he turned to Bishop Peele and instantly sobered at the look in his eyes behind his spectacles.


    ¡°Your Eminence,¡± he said, trying to recapture his levity but failing miserably, ¡°you cannot seriously be giving credence to this proposal?¡±


    ¡°And if I am?¡±


    ¡°Then¡­I fear I must remind you¡­only twelve archdeacons may serve at any time in the Order of the Grail.¡± Adamis gestured to the table. ¡°We have our twelve. There is no room¡­¡± He caught sight of Peele¡¯s steely expression and faltered.


    Bishop Peele turned to Judd. ¡°You will have your preferred archdeacon at the front lines with you,¡± he said grimly, ¡°Deacon Undern, congratulations on your imminent promotion to archdeacon.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Eminence¡­¡± Caste said, somewhat dazed then cried out as Judd thumped him on the shoulder. ¡°Watch it!¡±


    ¡°Make me.¡± Judd chuckled and Caste shook his head. ¡°Oh stop looking so sullen. You¡¯re the Order¡¯s youngest archdeacon.¡±


    ¡°If this offensive fails, I¡¯ll also be the archdeacon who held his office the shortest amount of time.¡± Caste grumbled and walked off. Judd folded his arms and looked at Verne.


    ¡°You know¡­I think he¡¯s actually pleased.¡±


    ¡°I think you might be right.¡±


    It was late when Judd headed for his bedroom on the eve of marching the Astaril force south. King Rocheveron had insisted he stay in the castle which put Judd in close proximity to the war room and any news that might arise. The servants had stoked the fire and turned down his bed. The room looked warm and inviting.


    Judd was not feeling the same way.


    He gazed at the bed, reluctant to climb into it.


    Because if he did, he would fall asleep.


    Then he would wake up¡­and leave.


    Not consciously deciding to do so, Judd left his bedroom and wandered the halls of the castle. Servants who asked him if he needed anything were met with a vague dismiss as he walked seemingly aimlessly. And yet he wasn¡¯t surprised when his footsteps led him to the corridor where the door to the tower bedroom was. Judd approached it, a little surprised that there were no guards. His fingers danced lightly over the gold doorhandle before slipping away. Judd closed his eyes and half stumbled backwards, bumping into the wall behind him and sinking to the floor. With one leg stretched out, the other bent with an arm resting on his knee, Judd just stared at the door and let tears roll down his face.


    They dried his skin and reddened his eyes but he didn¡¯t stop them.


    An unknown time later, he heard a shuffling noise and saw King Rocheveron coming towards him. He was dressed as he had been the night he¡¯d implored Judd to help save his daughter, not as a king but as an old man and a father.


    ¡°Maintaining a nightly vigil?¡± Rocheveron asked then waved Judd down as he went to stand. ¡°No, no, do not stand on ceremony.¡± He groaned as he sank to the floor and leaned against the wall just like Judd was. ¡°We will watch over her together.¡±


    Judd¡¯s eyes stung and his throat was paining him. He swallowed. ¡°I wanted to say goodbye¡­¡±


    King Rocheveron nodded and they sat in the silence of the empty corridor, a door before them representing the place both Aalis and Genovieve had gone that they could not.


    ¡°Tell me¡­have you ever heard the tale of the Justice of Maul?¡±


    Judd blinked and turned to him. ¡°I have, actually.¡±


    Rocheveron smiled though it did not reach his eyes. ¡°The illegitimate child born from a descendant of Andigre and Grail and left out for the monsters to devour, rescued by a common woman who raised the boy to be a knight.¡±


    ¡°Or eaten by the monsters.¡± Judd shuddered. ¡°That story has two ends, so I¡¯m told.¡±


    ¡°No, just the one.¡± Judd frowned as Rocheveron sighed. ¡°I am particularly familiar with that tale as it was told to me, not just as a story¡­but as my genealogy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­true?¡± Judd breathed.


    ¡°Very much so although never declared or even admitted officially¡­that is until Astaril needed a king.¡± Rocheveron¡¯s head leaned back against the wall. ¡°When I wed Viene, I was nearly twice her age.¡± He said, his gravelly tone blending with the quiet. ¡°Plucked out of a family that had already known the loss of my own mother from my home in Quarre to wed Viene¡­and only because the Order could prove I had a faint trace of royal blood.¡± Judd stared at the King who gazed forward with his grey, sad eyes. ¡°Viene was a direct descendant, but I was the male with an acceptable touch of royal blood and so when we married, I became King. I think it¡¯s the only reason Rylan did not overthrow me before.¡±


    ¡°You possessed royal blood and so you were legally the most appropriate one to sit on the throne.¡± Judd nodded.


    ¡°Whereas Rylan has no royal blood at all. Noble family but not at all royal.¡± Rocheveron sighed. ¡°Viene was very uncomfortable with me as her husband. She did not despise my position as king as much as she hated the fact that she was obligated to produce an heir from both of us. And I was extremely uncomfortable with her as my wife.¡± He cleared his throat and swallowed. ¡°You see¡­I was in love with someone else in Quarre. Or perhaps I should say, enamoured and Viene¡­I think she suspected as much.¡±


    Judd wasn¡¯t sure where the King was going with his story but he sensed the man just needed to talk and confide. ¡°Is this why it took you so long to conceive?¡± He asked tentatively.


    ¡°Viene wanted a handsome, roguish hero and instead she ended up with me, much older and less exciting than a girl¡¯s fantasy.¡± Rocheveron sighed, his grey beard draped across his dressing gown. ¡°I developed a bad case of pneumonia and was laid up in bed for weeks on end.¡±


    ¡°I was very young but I remember my parents lit candles and kept the flame going, praying for your recovery.¡± Judd recalled.


    ¡°Viene never left my side. She looked after me tirelessly and when I emerged from the weight of my illness, she was the first face I saw.¡± Rocheveron smiled at the memory. ¡°I made a decision then and there to honour the woman I vowed to love. I began to surprise her with flowers at breakfast that I rose early to pick myself. I left her notes on her pillow and made sure to notice something unique about her appearance every day. Up until and a little while after the pneumonia, our love making had been perfunctory with the intent to conceive an heir, nothing more. One evening I found her in my bed with love in her eyes and from that moment, we always shared a bed and finally, our lives.¡±


    Rocheveron turned to Judd and clapped his hand over his own. ¡°The love you have for my daughter will always be a precious thing but I want to reassure you that, should you fall in love again¡­I know Genovieve would not hold it against you¡­and neither will I.¡±


    Judd¡¯s mouth turned down and he shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± He croaked and tried again. ¡°I can¡¯t even consider such a time¡­not only because I leave Astaril to lead its military south against a much stronger enemy¡­but because it feels like I¡¯m leaving my heart behind in that room.¡±


    ¡°I did not mean to make light of the love you had for my daughter,¡± Rocheveron urged gently, ¡°only to say something now I might not have the chance to later.¡± He turned back to stare at the door. ¡°Death comes to us so quickly and unexpectedly and should you lead Astaril to victory, I don¡¯t want you to live a life under false obligation.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I¡­I promise to remember.¡± He vowed.


    Rocheveron breathed out heavily as though he had done what he had come to do. ¡°I should return to my chambers,¡± he admitted, attempting to stand, ¡°or else my physician will chew me tomorrow at length.¡±


    Judd stood and helped Rocheveron to rise. ¡°Shall I escort you back to your chambers?¡±


    ¡°I would not want to drag you away from your vigil.¡±


    Judd glanced at the door, his heart as heavy as lead. ¡°Aalis would urge me to rest¡­and I think I should listen to her for as long as her words of wisdom and kindness stay with me.¡±


    He walked with the King to the end of the corridor and left the door to the tower unopened and sealed.

 I told him he had more compassion in his soul than he liked to let on

    It took nearly two weeks to march the might of Astaril down the length of Terra in line where the southern foothills of the ¡®Hump¡¯ were starting to fade into the prairies. Though Judd was deeply concerned about leading the soldiers into battle, he was beginning to wish Rylan had picked a more northerly location.


    ¡°If he¡¯d said, I¡¯ll kick the Maul out of you at Quarre, this would all be over by now.¡± He muttered as the call came to halt their advance and set up camp which was no small feat when marching hundreds of soldiers, not to mention feeding and sheltering them.


    Had Judd been riding on his own or if they¡¯d all been on horseback, they could have pushed hard and kicked down Fort Verion¡¯s gates a week earlier. Although Judd¡¯s rump would have been a great deal sorer.


    His one great relief was that he was not in charge of the logistics of the march. Sword master Everid and Captain Chael oversaw the soldiers, experienced officers like Arsch and Kipre becoming temporary captains to outwork Chael¡¯s commands and Everid¡¯s logic.


    Even now there was a team of young men setting up Judd¡¯s tent. He would have protested it but the separation between himself and the rest of the army was a welcome relief. Judd gave without hesitation of his time, energy, enthusiasm and any wisdom he could muster to the soldiers as they marched. He encouraged, directed and led them until there was nothing more he could give.


    To everyone else it looked selfless, a renowned knight tirelessly giving his all for the fight.


    But Judd knew the truth.


    While he was doing that, he wasn¡¯t thinking about Aalis.


    At night when he was able to escape inside his tent, he was exhausted and collapsed onto his bed, giving no room for his grief to overwhelm him.


    As he watched the tent being assembled, he caught sight of Verne trotting towards him on Shela.


    ¡°Where are you heading?¡± He asked, feeling sorrow nibble at his conscious thought and doing his best to distract himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m setting up practice targets for the archers.¡±


    ¡°Are they any good?¡±


    Verne shrugged. ¡°I think I might have been too harsh on Giordi. At least he had natural talent.¡±


    ¡°These archers were trained by the best,¡± Judd raked his fingers through his curls, ¡°how is it that they¡¯re not up to your standards?¡±


    ¡°They have only practiced on stationary targets in enclosed spaces. I doubt any of them have ever tried to aim at a living creature, let alone one that¡¯s running at them with clubs and swords where a sharp gust could change their arrow¡¯s trajectory.¡± Verne removed the lute from Shela¡¯s saddle. ¡°Could you look after this for me?¡±


    Judd sighed and took it. ¡°Tell me this is a weapon?¡±


    ¡°If it is, it¡¯s only good against giant spiders and even then¡­¡± Verne pulled a face. ¡°Giordi asked me to bring it.¡±


    ¡°And you said yes because¡­¡±


    ¡°You have too much to think about and Caste would say no.¡±


    Judd nodded. ¡°I meant, why did you say yes?¡±


    Verne blushed. ¡°Because music is good for the troops. It lifts their spirits¡­¡±


    ¡°Verne,¡± Judd grasped Shela¡¯s reins and came in close, ¡°when are you going to tell him?¡±


    ¡°I thought you said I could take it to the grave!¡±


    ¡°Well¡­maybe I was wrong.¡± Judd admitted. ¡°Verne¡­¡±


    ¡°Soon.¡± Verne insisted.


    ¡°Soon? Verne, we march for the hillock tomorrow. You¡¯ve got a day left¡­if that!¡±


    Verne leaned down. ¡°Can¡¯t tell him if he¡¯s not here.¡±


    Judd eyed her. ¡°He¡¯ll be here.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not here yet.¡± Verne sat upright and nudged Shela onwards, nimbly moving through the sea of tents and groups of soldiers to where the archers were setting up.


    Verne¡¯s agitation was understandable. Suvau and Giordi had offered to travel south to see if they could convince any of the nomads or Mauls to join the fight. But at the very least, Judd wanted to make sure that the nomads moved their campsite further north. Now that Rylan knew the Mauls had escaped out of Mavour to the north and not the south, and knowing Judd¡¯s travels as he did, the nomads could have been in danger. The way the nomads could pack up and move more efficiently than any military unit Judd had ever witnessed made him wonder why they hadn¡¯t encountered them yet.


    Though he had assured Verne that Suvau and Giordi would return even if it was just them that did so, Judd was starting to wonder if they had put their personal agendas first. Not that Judd would ever blame Suvau for wanting to stay with his family. He had already risked so much and might have decided to flee the battle and hide somewhere. Giordi might have just fled. He was the least skilled in battle and the last person Judd would imagine would be on the front lines.


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s right? It looks lopsided to me.¡±


    Perhaps not quite the last person¡­


    Judd rolled his eyes as Caste supervised the erection of his person tent. As an officer of the Grail, an archdeacon no less, Caste was allocated his own tent, a dark red and white construct that screamed ¡®Order of the Grail¡¯ with the lopsided four pointed star perched on the top. His bed was not a sling or a stretcher but a proper wooden base with carved curved bedhead and a desk with all his ¡®necessary¡¯ Order of the Grail equipment.


    While Everid, Chael, Arsch and Kipre and other officers like them shared officers¡¯ tents with stretchers for beds and a little privacy, the soldiers were crammed into larger spaces, sleeping on their swags and suffering the snoring of their neighbours. However, as Judd pointed out, it was much warmer in their tents than it was in his.


    ¡°The nomads know how to build a tent that doesn¡¯t have ventilation.¡± Judd sighed, eyeing the gaps in his tent as it went up. The tent the nomads had given himself and his companions was being used for the knights who had offered their services and/or their soldiers.


    Sir Jesa had done as they suspected he would, sending soldiers in his place, citing poor health which would hinder his ability in battle. No one was surprised or even disappointed. The soldiers he¡¯d sent were not the hardiest of warriors but they did at least come equipped with armour and as a token of Sir Jesa¡¯s faith in the throne of Astaril, he had raided his weapons rack and sent what he could, spears, swords and shields.


    Sir Ector of Quarre had met the march as they passed Quarre, bringing as much food and ale as he could. He offered soldiers in his place but, in light of his age and his only recent appointment to Quarre and the amount of monsters that were eager to take the place of the werewolf, no one could blame him for doing so. The soldiers were fewer in number than Sir Jesa¡¯s but they came with experience and Sir Ector, though pulled from quiet retirement to take the post at Quarre, had been merciless in drilling them to increase their skills.


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    Sir Alaykin had been the last knight to join, cutting through the forest with his troops, using the same road Judd had crossed the forest along twice. He had brought forty feisty warriors, sword master Dalain Thiery and, to Judd¡¯s utter delight, Oster Agress. The aged sword master had been a great comfort to Judd, his gruff wisdom and blunt delivery cut through a great deal of the pomposity. When asked why he wasn¡¯t intimidated by the knights and their higher status, Oster just snorted and claimed he was too old to be scared of anything anymore. He then clipped Judd over the back of his head for poor armour maintenance which had Arsch and Kipre wide eyed and slack jawed at his lack of reverence.


    Sir Alaykin was walking towards Judd even now, tugging his gloves up higher.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why I bother,¡± he admitted, ¡°it¡¯s not like a warm wrist will keep the rest of me toasty.¡±


    Judd smiled and nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re not careful, you¡¯ll turn them into fingerless gloves.¡± He eyed the knight. ¡°I am surprised you came, Sir Alaykin.¡±


    ¡°Do I strike you as disloyal to the throne of Astaril?¡± Alaykin asked, lifting his chin.


    ¡°To be honest, I wasn¡¯t sure where your loyalty lay,¡± Judd admitted, ¡°but given that you lost your wife¡­and you have a young baby¡­¡±


    ¡°You think I should have stayed behind to be a father?¡±


    ¡°I thought it might have been an understandable excuse.¡± Judd shrugged.


    Sir Alaykin huffed through his nose and shook his head. ¡°Given your experience in my fort, it is not wonder you doubt my metal and my loyalty,¡± he held up his hand to stop Judd¡¯s protest, ¡°but understandable or not, to excuse myself from this time of action is unthinkable. The future of Astaril and indeed all of Terra, hinges on this battle. I want my daughter to live in a good world and for that, I must pick up my sword and be counted.¡±


    Judd nodded, smiling at Alaykin¡¯s conviction. ¡°Your daughter is fortunate to have you as a father.¡±


    ¡°It is I who is fortunate to have her as a daughter.¡± He corrected lightly. ¡°After losing my wife, I thought the world was ended and that all joy had been drawn from my veins¡­and then my little girl smiled at me, toothless, gummy yet utterly disarming. It was then that I realised I had a responsibility to live and to live well.¡±


    Judd swallowed. ¡°I know you¡¯ve told me but I confess, I¡¯ve forgotten her name.¡±


    ¡°Faria,¡± Alaykin smiled warmly, ¡°and to my unending relief, she seems to take after her mother.¡±


    They walked the campsite vaguely, waiting for tents to be assembled and food to be served, filling in the time talking about nothing in particular as the light faded to black and the cold breeze caused the dry grass to rustle like a restless ocean around them. Then, cutting through the general hum of activity, was a cry from the perimeter and a scout sprinted across the campsite.


    ¡°Hold it there.¡± Sir Alaykin reached him first and put out his hand. ¡°What¡¯s the word?¡±


    ¡°Sir, I just heard the whinny of horses and the thunder of hooves.¡±


    Alaykin looked at Judd. ¡°Rylan rides towards us!¡±


    ¡°Get the men ready,¡± Judd looked at the scout, ¡°take me to where you were!¡±


    They dashed around the tent ropes and avoided colliding with soldiers who were scrambling to get ready as the horn sounded for action. Judd cursed Rylan¡¯s impatience and his own trust, thinking that he should have set up an offensive perimeter and anticipated a sneak attack once the sun had gone down.


    At the edge of the campsite, Judd clambered onto a cart and peered into the darkness where the scout pointed. However, he needn¡¯t have done so. Judd could hear the approach of a sizeable force and as the riders reached the crest of the rise that they had camped back from, Judd could see flashes of eyes in the firelight of torches, heard the snort of horses and the thunderous pound of over a hundred hooves.


    ¡°They¡¯re right on top of us!¡± The scout cried even as Alaykin, with the soldiers who were following him, reached his position.


    ¡°Stop, stop!¡± Judd yelled, throwing himself in front of them. ¡°Stay your blades!¡±


    The soldiers were terrified, their swords out, huddled together as the riders surged around them, hairy, monstrous and grunting with ferocity, their weapons brandished and held high. A brute with a mask made from the skull of some beast lowered his jagged sword at Judd who eyed him grimly.


    ¡°An impudent pup,¡± the voice remarked, echoing through the bone, ¡°one not easily startled. You must be Sir LaMogre.¡±


    ¡°And you must be an idiot, Gavoli!¡± Judd snapped. ¡°Get off that horse!¡±


    Giordi yanked off the mask of bone, fur and feathers and beamed brightly as if the caper had been immense fun.


    ¡°We wanted to see just how intimidating we could make our presence.¡± He caught sight of the soldiers gathered at the edge of the campsite and pulled a face. ¡°Very is my assessment.¡±


    ¡°And if I hadn¡¯t stopped Alaykin and the rest from killing you?¡±


    Giordi held the mask up. ¡°Then Liontari would have gone down in nomadic history as a great warrior.¡±


    ¡°Bloody fool¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not entirely to blame, LaMogre,¡± Suvau announced, riding Artur and towering over all others, ¡°we weren¡¯t sure if you were friend or foe and the nomads¡­they don¡¯t do things by half measures.¡± He dismounted and all the nomads did the same.


    Judd waved Sir Alaykin forward who still had his sword in his hand. ¡°Sorry for the fright, Sir Alaykin, but this is Suvau and you have met Giordi Gavoli, my minstrel, before. They rode ahead to seek the assistance of the nomads.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­I might have mocked such an alliance before,¡± Alaykin swallowed, ¡°but that was an impressive display¡­albeit a dangerous one.¡±


    Judd chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s pretty well how they live. I¡¯d like you to meet Chief Elk and Chief Bear, of the western and eastern clans, respectively.¡±


    The nomad chiefs were ferocious in their travelling attire adorned with war masks and even when the masks were removed, they had a grim look in their eyes that made the stoutest man¡¯s knees wobble. Judd clasped their hands respectfully and spoke briefly with them.


    ¡°I cannot thank you enough for lending your strength¡­did you bring both clans?¡±


    ¡°It made sense to move all vulnerable nomads north,¡± Giordi explained as the nomads began to break away, already assembling their tents, ¡°and we knew we could ride back down with you. Elk and Bear wouldn¡¯t hear of anything else.¡±


    ¡°I wish I knew how to repay them.¡± Judd shook his head.


    ¡°When we told them of Rylan¡¯s threat, to unleash monsters into Terra just to get his way, the Chiefs were incensed by his cowardly tactics.¡± Suvau looked over his shoulder and jerked his head. ¡°They know Terra will be safer without someone like that in charge of a wall fort, especially when their campsite, palisade defended or not, would have been overrun.¡±


    ¡°True.¡±


    ¡°And look who we found on our way south!¡±


    Two burly men came forward from a group that looked like they could defend themselves.


    ¡°The Borre brothers?¡± Judd exclaimed as they greeted him loudly, slapping him on the back so hard he wheezed. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He wiped the tears from his eyes.


    ¡°Giordi and Suvau caught sight of our flocks and warned us we could be in the path of a battle.¡± Clai shrugged. ¡°So we talked it over and decided our blades are yours.¡±


    ¡°Are you certain?¡± Judd asked seriously. ¡°This isn¡¯t just a fight against a monster ambush in the night. This is against people.¡±


    ¡°You helped our family in Fort Faine because it was the right thing to do when a knight wouldn¡¯t.¡± Rai insisted. ¡°We¡¯re not going to miss the opportunity to repay that kindness, Sir LaMogre.¡±


    Judd shook his head, putting his hands on their shoulders. Clai¡¯s one good eye remained firm and Rai¡¯s crooked nose made his smile even more so but there was no mistaking their intent.


    ¡°Then you are more than welcome.¡± Judd turned around and began to falter. ¡°I¡¯m not sure where we¡¯re going to put you all¡­¡±


    ¡°Judd,¡± Giordi leaned towards him, ¡°the nomads have their camp halfway set up already and the Borre brothers are quite used to camping outdoors.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Judd reeled as the campsite swelled to nearly twice its size with the addition of so many newcomers. ¡°Suvau¡­are your people here too?¡±


    ¡°They are indeed.¡± Suvau chuckled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to leave them behind a fourth time.¡±


    ¡°Will any of them join the fight?¡±


    ¡°It depends on Terra/Maul relations.¡± Suvau nodded to where Everid and Chael were attempting to communicate with the nomads and Mauls. ¡°I should get in there. Where is Caste?¡±


    ¡°Probably in his tent¡­¡± Judd looked around then raised his eyebrows. Caste was already standing with Everid and Chael, translating for the two Terras into the nomad dialect. ¡°Well¡­what do you know?¡±


    ¡°I told him he had more compassion in his soul than he liked to let on.¡± Suvau rumbled deeply.


    ¡°You¡¯d better get in there to make sure Chael¡¯s people and yours have an agreement of all past issues put aside¡­at least for the time being.¡±


    ¡°I will do that but first,¡± Suvau¡¯s height lowered as he looked down to catch Judd¡¯s gaze firmly, ¡°how are you travelling?¡±


    Judd knew he could fob the question off and pretend he didn¡¯t understand but the truth was, it was always there in the back of his mind.


    ¡°Everything I do is in aid of not thinking about it.¡± He admitted.


    Suvau nodded. ¡°Then that is all you can do. Rest, LaMogre and let us take care of this.¡±


    Judd watched him walk away, hooking his thumbs into his belt and kicking at a clump of grass. The soldiers that had rallied themselves had returned to their tents, curious but somewhat nervous about the newcomers. The nomads were already organised and the shepherds were equally as comfortable with camping in the wilds.


    Suddenly, despite the onslaught of information, people and logistics, Judd was very alone. He turned around on the spot and wandered to his tent. The sound of company was alluring but Judd was abruptly tired beyond all measure. He needed sleep and he hoped, at least for a little while, his heart would stop hurting as he dreamed.

 But I think I might be wrong about that too…

    Caste left Terra/Maul/nomad relations in the hands of Suvau, Giordi and a big barrel of ale. Drinking and grunting would be the best way to put some of their past behind them. It wasn¡¯t a permanent solution, nor should it ever be left as it was, but Caste knew all grievances couldn¡¯t be dealt with in one evening. However, for the time being, it seemed the Mauls had agreed not to retaliate against Chael and his men. This was helped by the fact that Chael felt the Arena, while good enough for training guards and visiting warriors, was not comparable to the danger of monster attacks in Fort Mavour¡¯s territory. So there were no personal offenses or vows of vengeance to worry about.


    ¡°Just the future of Terra/Maul/nomad relations¡­and how I doubt there¡¯s enough ale in the world.¡± Caste muttered rubbing his eyes as he picked his way through the tents to where his own rested. He glared at the star perched on top, still sagging like it was too tired to stay upright. Despite endlessly nagging, it hadn¡¯t been corrected and Caste reminded himself that it would be taken down in the morning and moved again. Fretting over it would only cause him to lose sleep.


    He pushed open the flap to his tent and closed it behind him, the thrum of activity dulling, words, belches and snoring hitting the outside of the tent so that only a hum permeated. Caste immediately shrugged out of his cappa clausa, more elaborate than his previous cloaks because of his sudden elevation to archdeacon. He hung it from a hook specifically supplied and installed to keep his cloak from becoming crumpled and felt his young shoulders sag. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was tiredness or the weight of responsibility that was causing them to do so. He hadn¡¯t even had the time to take stock of what his promotion to archdeacon truly meant.


    He looked down at the pendant around his neck, its weight heavy in more ways than one.


    He yawned and turned to his desk, putting his slate onto its surface. He would record the addition of the nomads, Mauls and shepherds to the Astaril military, making sure to cite that it was all in Judd LaMogre¡¯s name. The lamp on the desk glowed dully and the room was cast in a soft, warm light.


    A cool breeze struck his back and he gasped and turned to see a hooded person enter his tent.


    ¡°Knocking is considered polite.¡± He said sternly, more so because he was cold now rather than the rudeness of the entrance of the stranger.


    She pulled back her hood and shook her many braids free. ¡°How does one knock on a tent?¡±


    Caste gaped. ¡°Emeri?¡± She smiled and nodded. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    She moved further into the tent, gesturing and explaining without meeting his eyes. ¡°When father brought word of Garo Rylan¡¯s despicable actions and if I think on that for too long I might start crying anew, the nomads decided to move their entire camp north to meet the southward bound offensive and naturally, all the Mauls, including myself and my mother, moved with them and I¡­¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Caste waved his hands in front of her face and she stopped and looked at him, ¡°why are you¡­here?¡± He pointed at her then at the ground.


    Emeri paused, biting her bottom lip. ¡°I¡­wanted to thank you.¡± Caste raised an eyebrow. ¡°The chest you gave me contains proof of Maul heritage and culture. It¡¯s¡­priceless.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t thank me for giving back what was always yours.¡± Caste argued, folding his arms as he turned away.


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t have to!¡± Emeri darted around him, not letting him get away. ¡°You could have hidden it like those other clerics did or burn it like they were ordered to¡­but you didn¡¯t. You saved it.¡±


    Caste¡¯s eyes remained steadily downcast, fixated by his feet. ¡°I mightn¡¯t have destroyed it¡­but I didn¡¯t stand up for it either.¡±


    Emeri went to put her hands on his folded arms but drew back, her fingers trembling. ¡°I¡­it was wrong of me to hold you to account for the corruption of the past in the Order of the Grail. I should never have said you put ambition ahead of truth.¡±


    ¡°But I did put ambition ahead of truth. I¡¯m an archdeacon for the love of Terra, Maul and all the stars!¡±


    ¡°They made you an archdeacon?¡± Emeri blinked. ¡°Truly?¡±


    Caste faltered. ¡°Well¡­only an archdeacon would be permitted to travel with Judd on this military offensive¡­¡±


    ¡°So you were promoted again!¡± Emeri gasped. ¡°Caste, that¡¯s fantastic!¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Caste argued, feeling worse and worse about the position the more Emeri tried to compliment him on it, ¡°it certainly wasn¡¯t based on merit. Judd didn¡¯t want a strange officer of the Grail advising him so he put his foot down.¡±


    ¡°He thinks so highly of you.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s hardly in a position to dictate the Order of the Grail¡¯s promotional structure. What does Judd know about what is required? I¡¯m just a token archdeacon!¡±


    ¡°I seriously doubt he would be able to force Bishop Peele to promote you against his will. You wouldn¡¯t have been promoted if not for the Order¡¯s faith in you to represent their wishes.¡±


    ¡°You are very, very wrong.¡± Caste paced back and forth across the rug that he had to protect him from the untamed and wild ground that the Order deemed unfit for him to lie on as an archdeacon but that had been perfectly acceptable as a cleric. ¡°You were the one who said an enlightened era occurs when those with power and in authority are transparent, laying bare their actions to the world so that corruption could not occur. Well, I think we both know that the Order is not such a place.¡±


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    ¡°Just because it isn¡¯t doesn¡¯t mean it couldn¡¯t be!¡± Emeri protested. ¡°You were the youngest cleric to be made a deacon in the history of the Grail and now you are the youngest archdeacon! You are in a place to truly effect change!¡±


    ¡°Or just defend my apathy in order to protect my position.¡± Caste pushed his hair back, releasing it so that it sprung up wildly. ¡°And yet here I am in a place I don¡¯t want to be alongside a man I never believed in, in the service of an order I trusted implicitly only to find that they have schemed and plotted and used their position to defend their way of thinking irrespective of the truth.¡± Emeri¡¯s eyes were filled with sympathy which only made Caste angrier, that she hurt for him when she had been right all along. He didn¡¯t deserve her kindness or compassion. ¡°You were right about all of it, Emeri and now I¡¯m questioning everything I was ever taught and everything I purported as being truth! It¡¯s all wrong!¡± Caste stopped pacing, staring at a blank spot on the tent wall. ¡°Maybe¡­maybe I¡¯m the one who¡¯s wrong¡­¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not!¡± Emeri grasped his arms and propelled him backwards, pushing him down to sit on the plush linen and furs of the bed. ¡°You¡¯re in a great place, Caste! You¡¯re not willing to take things at face value and turn a blind eye when the truth is an inconvenience!¡±


    Caste swallowed, all his insecurities nipping at his mind. ¡°But I¡­feel so lost¡­¡±


    Emeri¡¯s countenance creased in compassion. She sat down next to him on the bed, still wrapped in her cloak tied at the base of her throat, the dull muted blue of her gown showing as she fidgeted with the hem.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to throw everything away but look at it with a fresh perspective, with an open mind and a heart that burns for truth,¡± she urged gently, ¡°it was how you were when I first met you, before hypocrisy, corruption and fear started to crowd out the integrity you possessed, as if it was something to be ashamed of. It¡¯s an admirable quality.¡±


    Caste huffed softly, remembering the cruel and painful barbs of Archdeacon Adamis and Bishop Peele. ¡°Not pedantic or neurotic¡­or boring or maddening?¡± He asked defensively.


    ¡°No!¡± Emeri cried softly. ¡°Your devotion to truth is what I love most about you.¡±


    Caste smiled and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you to¡­wait¡­did you say love?¡± He lifted his chin and turned to face her as Emeri leaned forward and pressed her full, warm lips against his. Caste blinked, the sensation overwhelming his mind so much so that his body was stunned beyond its ability to respond.


    And when his mind suddenly lurched back to life, it was in response to the pleasure he was feeling, guilt flooding his being.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± he pulled back, shaking his head, ¡°Oh no, no, no, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Bad?¡± Emeri asked cautiously.


    ¡°Bad? It¡¯s terrible!¡± Caste exclaimed, trying to get as far away from what he was feeling as possible by standing up and turning on her as though lecturing a child. ¡°You can¡¯t just go around kissing people and telling them you love them¡­especially when they don¡¯t love you!¡±


    Emeri¡¯s brown gaze dropped and she looked down at her hands. ¡°You don¡¯t love me¡­¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Caste blurted, his words saying one thing, his heart, another. He held fast in a kind of strange panic that wouldn¡¯t let him run but wouldn¡¯t say anything else either. Emeri remained seated on the bed, her head lowered with her crown of plaits falling forward. She didn¡¯t say anything and was as still as could be, a light quiver of her shoulders giving away her emotion and just how hard she was attempting to hide it.


    Caste¡¯s heart ached at the sight, the feelings he had only acknowledged long enough to stuff into a box and lock it tight surging in strength. The box was bursting at the creases, seeping from the seams and soaking into his heart.


    He sat back on the bed, a revelation he never thought possible overwhelming every pore of his body.


    ¡°But I think I might be wrong about that too¡­¡±


    Emeri¡¯s hands remained in her lap, only inches from Caste¡¯s in his. Neither of them dared look at each other.


    ¡°Think?¡± Emeri asked softly before Caste touched her chin and lifted her face so that he could return the kiss she had given him. It was tentative and tender, Caste¡¯s hand dropping down so that only their lips touched before he drew back.


    ¡°No¡­I know.¡±


    Emeri¡¯s dark brown eyes sparkled and her full lips pursed in delight before they both leaned in for another kiss and then another and another, the warmth between them building even though only their lips were connected. Caste¡¯s face was quite flushed as he felt her withdraw slightly as her fingers tugged lightly on the ties of her cape at her throat. The weight of the hood drew the cape from her shoulders, her muted blue gown starting on the slope just before the apex of her shoulders.


    Caste licked his lips as she took his hands and lifted them to hover around her cheeks, tracing the line of her neck and shoulders without touching her.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she said softly, ¡°I won¡¯t rub off on you.¡±


    Caste met her gaze. ¡°You already have.¡± He whispered, his mouth drying out as his fingers rested on her bare shoulders, gently tracing the line across then up her neck, his hands cupping her face, leaning in for yet another kiss. He shivered as her hands slid up his chest, across the fabric of his tunic, the space between them diminishing with every second. Caste¡¯s pale hands explored every curve and line of Emeri¡¯s deep brown shoulders and neck. For a cleric like himself, they had been the only part of a woman¡¯s body he¡¯d been allowed to see and even then, he had never touched anyone like he was caressing Emeri.


    In between kisses, their breathing sharpening and becoming rapid, Emeri managed to ask,


    ¡°Have you ever done this before?¡±


    ¡°Never,¡± Caste replied without hesitation then closed his eyes, shivering as her lips pressed against his throat, his pulse beating faster than one of Giordi¡¯s drinking songs, ¡°I mean, I understand the theory behind it. It¡¯s a relatively straightforward process. To be honest, I¡¯ve never really understood the appeal¡­¡±


    He wondered if he had said something wrong as Emeri sat up, surprise on her face. ¡°Truly?¡±


    Caste swallowed and shrugged half heartedly. ¡°Well¡­perhaps the truth is I never imagined someone would find me appealing¡­¡±


    Now he was sure he¡¯d said the wrong thing as Emeri stood up and walked away from him. Her fingers reached behind to pull at the laces of her gown, loosening her corset so that the sleeves, which were too narrow to slide off her shoulders, suddenly had the room to do so and her muted blue gown slid from her body, revealing a plain underdress whose well worn white cotton did not quite obscure Emeri¡¯s richly hued curves.


    Caste gaped at her, Emeri standing before him, trembling, equal parts anticipation to nervousness. Abruptly he realised an equal expression of vulnerability was called for and stood up, yanking his tunic over his head. Unfortunately he didn¡¯t undo the toggle at the back before doing so and try as he might, he couldn¡¯t wrestle himself out of the blasted oversized shirt. He grunted and pulled, blindly trying to find the toggle, sure Emeri was fleeing the ridiculous scene or worse, trying not to laugh.


    He felt hands push him down and he plopped on the bed, Emeri undoing the toggle from behind and helping him pull his tunic off. Caste was red faced and this time it wasn¡¯t arousal but embarrassment. He burned brightly and gestured helplessly to himself.


    ¡°See¡­all red.¡± He said gruffly.


    Emeri kissed him. ¡°I love your colour.¡± She whispered in his ear.


    ¡°I love yours.¡± He breathed in return.


    Then there were no more words, no apologies or fumbled moments. And even if there were, they were the held secret in the sacred place of the bedchamber, treasured and loved.